text: Pan - I read what Collins objected to is that Pell was treated differently than other clerics who are accused.  When a priest is accused, he is removed from active ministry until the accusations are investigated.  But Pell was not.  Or, at least that is how I think priests are treated in this country, some European countries, and also, I think, in Australia.  Don't know how "universal" that is.  
  
  Pell did not voluntarily step down nor did Pope Francis require it of him.  I think it is a fair issue to raise:  Does rank exempt a bishop or cardinal from standing aside from normal duties when a (lower in rank) priest charged with sexual abuse would be required to stand aside from normal duties?
  
   The optics aren't good.  It looks as if the Church were treating an accusation of sexual abuse as not very important.