How the Catholic Church's hierarchy makes it difficult to punish sexual abusers
(AFP Photo/Filippo Monteforte)

By Mathew Schmalz, Associate Professor of Religion, College of the Holy Cross. Cardinal George Pell, a top adviser to Pope Francis, returned to his native Australia July 10 to face criminal charges related to sexual assault. While the specific allegations and names of the accusers have not been made public, Cardinal Pell maintains that he has…