Ribbons tied on the fence of St Mary’s Cathedral by protestors at Pell’s funeral. Source : Pauline Pantsdown via Twitter.
Mourners and protestors alike attended Cardinal George Pell’s Sydney funeral on Thursday, making the service less than peaceful.
Cardinal George Pell, a controversial figure in the Catholic Church who was accused of concealing and committing child sexual abuse, which was not proven in court, died in January at age 81 of surgery complications.
Due to the allegations and controversy surrounding Cardinal Pell’s activities, it was expected that protestors would show up to his funeral.
Police were staged outside St Mary’s Cathedral, where the funeral was held, to separate mourners from protestors.
The Australian’s Chief Editorial Cartoonist Johannes Leak said the protests were “ugly” on a Sky News broadcast.
“How do you protest a funeral?” Mr Leak said on Chris Kenny Tonight.
“I mean, at the end of the day they sort of got what they wanted, didn’t they?
“He’s no longer with us.
“Leave it alone.” He said.
Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, who led the Pontifical Requiem mass praised Cardinal Pell and addressed the protestors during the service.
“Some of us were blessed to call him our friend, all of us [called him] our father in faith, so we mourn his passing.” Archbishop Fisher said.
“But he was confident, as we should be, that by God’s grace we will all meet…in Heaven.
“We pray that this giant of the Catholic Church in Australia, that the Angels receive his soul and present him to God the most high.
“Even after he was unanimously exonerated by the High Court of Australia, some continue to demonise him.” He said.
Among the protestors were those organised by Community Action for Rainbow Rights, an LGBTQ+ activist group.
Protestors were yelling “shame” and damning Cardinal Pell to hell as the service occurred, particularly as it moved outside to carry Cardinal Pell’s coffin out of the cathedral.
Protest organiser Kim Stern told the BBC that they were organising so they could ensure people knew that Cardinal Pell was a “monstrous bigot”.
“Pell stood for blatant homophobia, misogyny…covering up abuse within the Catholic Church.” Ms Stern said.
“We think it’s pretty disgusting he’s getting a send-off like this.” She said.
Other protestors spoke to Nine News about why they were demonstrating.
“I’m an abuse survivor myself and I have an organisation that supports survivors of institutional abuse.” One man said.
Out of the protestors, two people were arrested, and several verbal clashes occurred.
Political figures in attendance to the funeral included former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Senator Matt Canavan, and NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor General David Hurley, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns were not in attendance, however Mr Perrottet and Mr Albanese both sent delegates to attend in their absence.
