Survivors disappointed with Pell evidence

Cardinal George Pell's evidence has been received with disappointment by an abuse survivors support group watching the royal commission in Sydney.

Trish Carter says the cardinal was evasive and avoided answering some important questions as he faced the royal commission via videolink from Rome.

"He's a brilliant man and can remember a lot about his academic life, but he avoided answering anything specific," the Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN) member told AAP in Sydney.

Ms Carter, 78, said she had worked in the Catholic Church for years and couldn't believe the cardinal didn't have knowledge of the abuse.

"Nothing moves or breathes in the Catholic Church without approval from the cardinal," she said.

The still-faithful Catholic from Sutherland said she wanted the top echelon of the church to take full responsibility for the abuse of victims.

"It breaks my heart. I have really deep faith and I've taken a few risks by speaking out," she said.

John Hennessy, 79, said his hopes were dashed when the cardinal began giving "evasive" responses.

"What's troubled me throughout the commission is the witnesses and perpetrators seem to have memory loss, yet the victims have vivid memories," he told AAP.

CLAN chief executive Leonie Sheedy said she was happy the cardinal spoke in support of the national redress scheme and called on the federal government to act.

Cardinal Pell said he'd like to see a national system in which "culpable parties would contribute to the payment of whatever the findings were".