I 'should have done more': Pell

Cardinal George Pell concedes he should have done more after hearing "unfortunate rumours" about a Christian Brother abusing children in the 1970s.

Cardinal Pell said he heard vague and unspecific rumours about Brother Edward Dowlan from about two students and two priests in 1974.

He was "quite content" when the school chaplain at Ballarat's St Patrick's College told him the Christian Brothers were dealing with it.

"I regret that I didn't do more at that stage," Cardinal Pell told the child abuse royal commission on Wednesday.

Cardinal Pell was not concerned when Dowlan was then moved, in late 1974.

"I didn't know exactly what he was accused of, but 40 years ago, or more than 40 years ago, I did not think that was unusual or inappropriate."

He had assumed the Christian Brothers were dealing adequately with the matter.

"I was not aware then of their poor record which I learnt about later in dealing with such things," Cardinal Pell said.

"I presumed when they shifted him they would have also arranged for some appropriate help."

Cardinal Pell said there was nothing specific in the accusations against Dowlan, although he admitted they included rumours of sexual activity with young people and possibly excessive discipline or violence.

"I would say that in the light of my present understandings, I would concede I should have done more."

Cardinal Pell included Timothy Green as one of the students who approached him, although he maintained he had no recollection of that happening.

"I'm certainly not suggesting Mr Green is telling lies but I am suggesting that I have no such recollection," Cardinal Pell said.

He said Mr Green could simply be mistaken given the passage of time.

Mr Green has told the commission he was 12 or 13 when he told Cardinal Pell that Dowlan was abusing boys at St Patrick's College in 1974.

"Fr Pell said `don't be ridiculous' and walked out," Mr Green said.

Cardinal Pell said if he had heard such an accusation, "that would have been significant for me and I would have accepted it and done something about it".

Dowlan has been convicted of indecently assaulting about 30 boys.