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Second Court Hearing Set for Cardinal Pell; CNN Freedom Project. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired July 26, 2017 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(SIMULCAST OF CNN DOMESTIC)

[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN NEWS STREAM SHOW HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines. The

European Union says it is concerned about a U.S. bill to impose new sanctions on Russia as it could affect Europe's energy interest, a measure

overwhelming passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The senate is now to vote on it. The EU says, America first cannot mean that Europe's

interests come last.

In the coming hours, U.S. senate will consider yet another proposal to reshape health care. Republican leaders cleared a major hurdle on Tuesday

nearly winning a vote to open debate on reform. But soon afterwards, senators rejected one Republican proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Fast-moving wildfires are raging across southern France. More than 10,000 people were evacuated overnight near the popular resort of Saint-Tropez.

Hundreds of firefighters are trying to contain the place fueled in part by a prolonged drought.

He is the most senior clerk in the history of Catholic church to face criminal charges and a Vatican treasurer. Cardinal George Pell has two

months to prepare for his next court hearing. He faces multiple charges of historical sexual assault in Australia. In his first hearing, his lawyers

said the cardinal will plead not guilty. Let's get more now from Anna Coren. She joins us live from Melbourne where the hearing took place. Anna.

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kristie. Melbourne, Australia is a very long way from the Vatican in Rome. But this is where the Vatican -- one of

the Vatican's most powerful and influential figures, Cardinal George Pell appeared here at Melbourne magistrates court to face those multiple

historical sexual abuse charges involving multiple complainants.

Now, we can't go into the charges nor can we go into the details about the alleged victims due to legal reasons. But we can tell you that when

Cardinal Pell arrived here this morning flanked by police to provide him with the security needed to get through the media scam, he was treated

otherwise like any other normal person. Cardinal Pell didn't need to appear here for this hearing, but this is a man who is known as a fighter as he

fights for his reputation and his innocence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COREN (voice-over): It was always expected to be a highly anticipated appearance for one of the Vatican's most powerful figures, but no one

expected this level of intensity. Flanked by police, Cardinal George Pell walked slowly into Melbourne magistrates court followed by his legal team.

His head bowed, his face expressionless.

Charged with historical sexual assault offenses by multiple complainants, the 76-year-old was not required to appear for this preliminary hearing.

However, with the world watching, he turned up to face court. Last month after Australian police announced the charges, he made a public statement

from the Vatican, saying he had endured a relentless character assassination and that he is innocent.

CARDINAL GEORGE PELL, CARDINAL PRELATE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: I am looking forward finally

[08:35:00] to having my day in court. I'm innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.

COREN (voice-over): The charges are the result of a two-year investigation by a special police task force, set up to investigate complaints of

widespread sexual abuse in the Catholic church and other religious institutions. It follows the Royal Commission and national inquiry into the

way organizations mishandled child sexual abuse with the Catholic church revealed as one of the worst offenders.

It found that seven percent of Australian Catholic priests had been accused of sexually abusing children between 1950 and 2010. And that within one

order, the Brothers of Saint John of God, more than 40 percent of priests had been accused of abuse. Back inside this small Melbourne courtroom, the

Vatican treasurer sat in the front row directly behind his legal team. He appeared pale and motionless. The routine hearing lasted for only eight

minutes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move back, please.

COREN (voice-over): After the brief appearance, Cardinal Pell was again forced to make his way back through the media frenzy, this time to his

lawyer's office.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

COREN (voice-over): Rough treatment. One of the pope's closest advisers would not be used to.

COREN: Now, Kristie, this was obviously a very brief hearing and Cardinal Pell said absolutely nothing, but he suddenly addressed the court, saying

to avoid any doubt. Cardinal Pell will be pleading not guilty to all those charges. This is quite a surprising move.

He didn't need to say this, but with the world watching, he obviously wanted to leave no room for a confusion. Now, Cardinal Pell will reappear

here on magistrates court on the 6th of October and that is when he will enter a formal plea. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Anna Coren reporting live for us from Melbourne, Australia. Thank you, Anna. Still to come right her on "News Stream," brick kiln workers in

Cambodia are paid meager wages. CNN Freedom Project will speak to labors who say that makes it impossible to pay off their debts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. This week, the CNN Freedom Project is investigating and exposing the use of children and bonded laborers in the brick kilns of

Cambodia. Construction is helping to power the economy of Cambodia, but the brick kilns have been plagued with allegations of debt bondage. It's a form

of modern day slavery. Alexandra Field reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is what progress looks like. Cambodia is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Construction is booming, making brick kilns one of the

country's largest economic sectors. It all starts here in the factories, largely outside the capital of Phnom Penh, where life looks very different.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I hope that the brick kiln (INAUDIBLE) will close this kiln when they run out of clay so I can get rid

of the debt and stop working here.

[08:40:00] FIELD (voice-over): Conditions are tough. Toilets are rare as well as running water. Entire families live right here at the factories.

The work is seasonal and some of workers have to return most of the meager wages they earn.

FIELD: Every worker we talk to tells us that they owe the factory owner money, either a thousand dollars, sometimes even a few thousand dollars.

It's money that they borrow to pay for medical expenses, for funerals, to support their children or sometimes to pay off higher interest loans. In

order to pay down these debts, they come to work here in the brick kiln.

In a (INAUDIBLE) report, a Cambodian (INAUDIBLE) said the widespread practice amounts to debt bondage, a form of modern day slavery, illegal

under Cambodian law. The Cambodia Labor Ministry disputes those findings. They say the kilns are closely inspected and that they haven't found any

cases of debt bondage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): All of my workers owe me money. Not some of them, but all of them.

FIELD (voice-over): A factory owner we speak to on the outskirts of Phnom Penh says it's just an advanced loan that's being worked off.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): (INAUDIBLE) are good because the bills are put on me. When they give birth, we pay. When they get married,

we also pay. So their debts increase because they borrow our money.

FIELD (voice-over): She says she pays her workers a three Cambodian riels per brick, a fraction of a fraction of a cent. Other kiln laborers say it's

impossible to pay off what they owe with the wages they earn.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We have to work here our whole lives because we borrowed money from the kiln owner and we have nothing to

reduce to debt.

FIELD (voice-over): A cycle they say they're trapped in, where they have to borrow more just for basics. When the debt grows, some become desperate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): All my children started working since when they were small like this one. They all have to work. This

little one helps to carry the bricks.

FIELD (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE) whole families who say everyone must pitch in. Adults who tell us they will never pay off what they owe, they fear

will pass it on. Alexandra Field, CNN, Phnom Penh.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: It's just a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. Tomorrow, the CNN Freedom Project will introduce you to a young survivor of child labor

at a Cambodian brick kiln. More on this story and the overall issue of child labor in Cambodia's brick kilns, Thursday, only on CNN. And that is

"News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere. "World Sport with Christina Macfarlane" is next.

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