THE Catholic Church official who drafted the document setting out procedures to deal with sex abuse allegations last night described George Pell’s decision to stand aside as a “very good signal”.

Monsignor David Cappo, Vicar-General of the Adelaide Archdiocese, said Dr Pell’s action signalled he was “submitting himself to the church’s policy”.

Monsignor Cappo drafted the church’s Towards Healing document setting out procedures to deal with sex abuse allegations.

“This will be a very important test of credibility of the church’s policy,” Monsignor Cappo said.

The complaint against Dr Pell is the first time an Australian Catholic archbishop has faced sex abuse allegations.

Monsignor Cappo said it would be preferable for the complainant to take the allegation to the police, which the complainant had resisted.

“It would be the best option for the police to investigate these matters. In the public mind that would be seen as the most appropriate way to deal with the matter,” he said.

Catholic Church sex abuse victim Michael Santamaria — whose allegations against a Catholic priest were substantiated by an internal church investigation three years ago — agreed that the complainant should go to police.

“I would just encourage the person who has complained to take it to the police, they are the best people to deal with it,” Mr Santamaria said.

Religious leaders expressed shock and sadness at the allegations against Dr Pell.

But Broken Rites, a support group for victims of sexual abuse by the clergy, said the allegations reinforced its calls for a royal commission into church sex abuse scandals.

“It’s a very big problem, and more importantly the victims need to be listened to, they need some sort of restitution to bring about healing,” Victorian Broken Rites spokeswoman Chris Mac Isaac said.

A spokeswoman at the Vatican Press Office in Rome said the office would not comment.

In Australia, the Anglican, Uniting and Catholic churches expressed dismay.

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, who replaced Dr Pell after he was appointed to the Sydney Archdiocese, offered Dr Pell full support.

“Justice will now be best served by a speedy completion of the process of inquiry by Mr Alec Southwell QC,” Archbishop Hart said.

A spokesman for Anglican Primate Peter Carnley, who could not be contacted, said Dr Carnley was likely to be reluctant to comment for fear of casting a “moral stance on other’s misfortune”.

George Pell’s CV

Born June 8, 1941.

Educated St Patrick’s College and Corpus College, Victoria; Lucientiate in theology, Urban University Rome; PhD in church history, Oxford University; Masters in education, Monash University.

Assistant priest in parishes of Swan Hill, 1971; Ballarat East, 1973-83.

1981-84 principal, Institute of Catholic Education.

Member of Vatican Congregation of Doctrine of Faith; consultor to Vatican Council for Family; president of Australian Catholic University.

1991-95 Vatican Council for Justice and Peace.

1988-97 chairman Caritas Australia.

1987-96 Auxiliary Bishop Melbourne.

1996 Archbishop of Melbourne.

2001 Sydney Archbishop.