Fridae

Australia's most senior Catholic clergyman, George Pell, who consistently condemned homosexuality has been accused of molesting a 12-year-old in 1961 in Melbourne when Pell was studying to become a priest, according to press reports.

Pell has vehemently denied the allegations and announced he will step down as leader of the Catholic church in Australia until the its independent inquiry into the untested allegations is complete.

Local newspapers on Wednesday printed details of the unnamed alleged victim, saying he was a 52-year-old man with a long criminal record who claimed he and a friend were molested at a camp in 1961 by a man they called ``Big George.'' The friend has since died, according to Sydney tabloid The Daily Telegraph and the Melbourne newspaper The Age.

``To allege that I am ... personally implicated in this evil is a smear of the most vindictive kind,'' he said.

Pell who is known to openly condemn homosexuality has also spoken out against gay rights laws, refused to give gays communion and once declared that homosexuality was more of a health hazard than smoking.

He was also the subject of violent protests in Melbourne earlier this year, when he told the congregation at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney that homosexuality went against the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Details of the inquiry are expected to be released tomorrow while the Vatican has so far made no comment.