Donation fund set up to help Pell pay legal costs

SUPPORTERS of Cardinal George Pell can contribute to the cost of his legal defence.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has shared on its website details of the fund, as has The

Catholic Weekly, but the archdiocese insists it didn’t establish the fund and isn’t managing it.

“Many supporters” wanted to contribute to Cardinal Pell’s legal costs after the 76-yearold was ordered by Victoria’s County Court on May 1 to stand trial on historical sexual offence allegations, the archdiocese’s press release said.

Supporters are directed to a trust account managed by Ferdinand Zito & Associates, a law firm in Melbourne’s northeast.

While the archdiocese helps with Pell’s living expenses and accommodation, it’s not responsible for his legal bills, the May 4 press release said.

“When Cardinal Pell took leave from his role as Prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy to voluntarily return to Australia nearly 12 months ago to fight the charges, many supporters wanted to contribute to his legal costs,” the release said.

Pell will become the world’s highest-ranked Catholic cleric to stand trial over historical sex offences after a magistrate ordered him to face separate trials on some charges while others were struck out.

He has formally pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges.