Protesters, mourners gather in Sydney
Mourners as well as protesters carrying rainbow flags gathered at a Sydney cathedral yesterday for the funeral and interment of polarising Cardinal George Pell, who was once the most senior Roman Catholic convicted of sex abuse.
Pell, who died last month at age 81, spent more than a year in prison before his convictions were overturned in 2020.
His handling of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests and brothers, homosexuality and abortion have angered many, prompting protesters to gather outside St Mary's Cathedral.
Cardinal Pell served 406 days of a six-year sentence over child sexual abuse allegations but always maintained his innocence.
The High Court overturned the decision in 2020.
There were tense scenes as protesters began arriving ahead of the service, with riot officers on the scene in case of any clashes.
A protester carrying a rainbow umbrella was hauled off by police in a dramatic arrest as the service got under way.
Earlier, protesters were heard chanting “George Pell go to hell, take Dutton there as well”.
One person held a sign that read “Pell burn in hell” from across the road as mourners queued to enter the church, sparking outrage.
The wild scenes come after protesters were given the green light to gather outside and hold a “loud, visible and angry” protest during the funeral after negotiations with police.
The protest has been organised by Community Action for Rainbow Rights.
NSW Police tried to stop the protest in the Supreme Court over “safety concerns”.
But the court was told on Wednesday that “alternative arrangements” had been made with protest organisers to use a different route.
The service was attended by dignitaries from across the country, including leaders of the Catholic Church and Coalition leader Peter Dutton.
But notably, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier
Dominic Perrottet did not attend the service.
Theresa Guzzo, a mourner who flew from New Zealand to attend the service, said she was against the presence of protesters. She felt Pell had become a “scapegoat” for animosity towards the Church.
“For me, it’s just inappropriate to do your protesting at the funeral where we’re saying goodbye to him, no matter what your belief is,” Guzzo said.
Pell was archbishop of Sydney from 2001 until 2014, when Pope Francis appointed him to be the first prefect of the newly created Secretariat for the Economy, tasked with reforming the Vatican’s notoriously opaque finances.
Pell had been archbishop of Melbourne from 1996 to 2001, the period during which he was alleged to have sexually abused two choirboys in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
He was convicted then acquitted after a second appeal.
He died on January 10 in Rome from heart complications following hip surgery.