ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Mon 24 Mar, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Alleged $5,000 abuse payment grotesque: Pell Cardinal George Pell has told a royal commission into child sexual abuse he was not involved in discussions about compensation for a victim who sued the Catholic Church and lost. The former archbishop of Sydney, Australia's highest-ranking Catholic, is giving evidence in front of a packed public gallery at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Sydney. Today he was questioned about his part in the Church's legal battle with John Ellis, who was abused by Sydney priest Father Aidan Duggan in the 1970s. Cardinal Pell denied claims from the former chancellor of the Sydney Archdiocese that he was involved in discussions about compensation payments, particularly when Mr Ellis lost his job. "[Claims that] I would agree to offer him $5,000 extra by way of compensation, I regard as grotesque," he said. More » Brandis defends 'right to be a bigot' Australia 'clutching' at information in MH370 search, Truss says Asylum seeker children 'describe Christmas Island detention centre as hell' AWU boss Paul Howes announces resignation Greens want to call Assange and Snowden to inquiry Hey Dad! actor denies he felt 'entitled' as show's star, trial hears More Analysis » Let's put refugee policy on a bedrock of decency I would like to see the same outbreak of bipartisan decency occur with asylum seeker policy as happened on Indigenous policy. This would mean never playing politics with the funerals of asylum seekers. No longer talking about "illegals" engaged in a "peaceful invasion". Not deploying the language of human rights in the service of a partisan agenda. Putting the dignity of refugees at the heart of the policy would also make it feasible for Australia to play a leadership role on the issue of asylum seekers. More » What happens to democracy if the CIA goes rogue? A holy war in the name of free speech Capitalism suddenly not looking so bad 'Weakling' Labor pulls its punches Brandis and the new era of political art It's about the media, not the plane What changed? Questions for Abbott about Sinodinos Changing of the seasons Our government and the monopoly of force Just In More Just In » Government to delay financial advice overhaul The Federal Government is delaying controversial plans to change financial advice rules announced by former assistant treasurer Arthur Sinodinos. More » Botox can help asthma patients, doctors say Brandis defends 'right to be a bigot' Asylum seeker children 'describe Christmas Island detention centre as hell' Dollar drops as manufacturing slows again in China Two struck by lightning, others rescued from cars as flash flooding hits Sydney Alleged $5,000 abuse payment grotesque: Pell Victoria Police reopen 20yo probe into Armaguard van heist Hey Dad! actor denies he felt 'entitled' as show's star, trial hears Sinodinos was warned about water company, ICAC hears World More World » Three dead, 18 unaccounted for in US mudslide Three people are dead and 18 are missing after a massive landslide slammed into a mountainside community in the US. More » Panic spreads in Guinea as Ebola virus strikes Scott blows bid for title, top spot as Every wins Six shot dead at Kenyan church in 'terror attack' Learn from the past, encourage peace: Shinzo Abe Foreign election missions pull out after Afghanistan attack Business More Business » Macquarie shares jump on profit guidance The investment bank Macquarie Group has boosted its profit forecasts, buoyed by improving results in its fixed income business. The banking giant says a pick-up in its fixed income division means its full-year profit should rise by up to 45 per cent on its 2013 result. The forecast puts the banking giant on track for an annual profit of more than $1 billion for the first time in four years. A month ago, the bank released an update offering only expectations of an "improved result for FY14 on FY 13". More » Dollar drops as manufacturing slows again in China Shareholders Association slams late company announcements AWU boss Paul Howes announces resignation Australian stocks slip as investors eye China data The week ahead in finance NSA spies on China telco Huawei: report Politics More Politics » Brandis defends 'right to be a bigot' By political correspondent Emma Griffiths Attorney-General George Brandis has defended the Government's plan to amend a key part of the nation's racial discrimination laws, saying people have "a right to be bigots". More » Greens want to call Assange and Snowden to inquiry Weatherill rejects Liberal claims he lacks mandate AWU boss Paul Howes announces resignation Labor's SA deal for power: 7 reactions after 7 days of waiting Sport More Sport » Scott blows bid for title, top spot as Every wins Adam Scott played a poor front nine to allow Matt Every to snatch the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida. More » New national rugby competition to start in August Maxwell heroics fail to save Aussies from defeat Karrie Webb wins on LPGA Tour Barca wins at Real to blow La Liga title race wide open Swans extend Longmire's contract until 2017 Science and Technology More Science and Technology » NASA camera used on Apollo Moon missions sells for $835k The only camera to return from NASA's Moon missions between 1969 and 1972 has been sold at auction in Vienna for 550,000 euros ($835,000), far outdoing its estimated price. More » Malaysia Airlines disappearance highlights doubts over air traffic radar Study examines theory that eating less makes animals live longer Big Bang echoes detected by US scientists Warming melts last stable edge of Greenland ice sheet Environment More Environment » UN climate change report card predicts Australia will get hotter By Jeanavive McGregor and environment reporter Jake Sturmer The latest United Nations report card on the impacts of climate change predicts Australia will continue to get hotter. More » Senate blocks carbon tax repeal legislation Scientists resign 'zombie' species to extinction Electric car devotees push for supercharged highway in WA No evidence to link wind farm noise to health: AMA About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. This message was sent to you at starnewsposting@gmail.com Please add newslists@your.abc.net.au to your email address book to see images by default and stop the email being treated as spam. This email address is not monitored - Please don't reply to this email. Manage your preferences | Unsubscribe | Contact Us   This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 © 2014 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters