Vatican No. 3 finds blame within in abuse scandal

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican’s new No. 3 accused Holy See officials Monday of downplaying the clerical sex abuse scandal in the 1990s, saying they were generally skeptical of victims and often considered them “enemies of the church” out for political gain.

Cardinal George Pell made the comments while testifying before Australia’s federal inquiry into allegations of child sex abuse in state and religious institutions. Next week he takes up his new job in Rome as prefect of the Vatican’s Secretariat of the Economy, Pope Francis’ new finance ministry.