Survivors of child sex abuse have started tying ribbons to Sydney‘s St Mary’s Cathedral in a final protest against George Pell’s legacy as his body arrives in Australia for burial.
Pell died in Rome on January 10 at the age 81 from hip replacement surgery complications and was Australia’s most senior Catholic member.
His legacy has remained shrouded in deep controversy since he was jailed for, and later acquitted of, several historic child sex abuse offences.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews have both denied the former archbishop of Melbourne and, later, Sydney a state burial.
Silent advocates for child sex abuse survivors have started tying colourful ribbons to the gates of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney in protest of his requiem mass and private burial service, to take place on Thursday.
Controversial Catholic Church figure George Pell (above) will be buried in the crypt of Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday
Child sex abuse survivors have began tying colourful ribbons (above) to St Mary’s gate in hopes of forcing the church to recognise Pell’s controversial legacy
However, Ballarat child abuse survivor Paul Auchettl said church employees and ‘staunch supporters of George Pell who believe we are desecrating the church’ have been removing the ribbons.
‘They hold George Pell in such high regard. That’s okay because he did do good things, but we believe to honour him properly we have to be able to talk about the legacy he’s left,’ he told the ABC.
‘So many people, as reported by the royal commission, have been harmed by his inaction and inability to move on the offenders he was constantly warned about.’
A royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse found Pell was aware of child abuse by clergy in the 1970s but did not take proper action to stop it.
Pell rejected the finding.
He was the Vatican’s top finance minister before he left to face the charges in Melbourne in 2017.
His successor as archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, will be the principal celebrant for Pell’s requiem mass on Thursday at 11am.
Advocate Paul Auchettl said church employees and ‘staunch supporters of George Pell who believe we are desecrating the church’ have been routinely removing the ribbons (above) ahead of Thursday’s service
The service will be livestreamed on YouTube, however, Pell’s burial in the crypt of St Mary’s will be kept private.
His body will lie in state at the cathedral from Wednesday morning, The Guardian reported.
St Mary’s Cathedral dean Father Don Richardson said thousands of mourners from around the world were expected to attend Thursday’s mass.
‘Cardinal Pell left a remarkable legacy for the Catholic church in Australia and this will undoubtedly be one of the most significant funerals ever held at the cathedral,’ he said in a statement on January 17.
‘Cardinal Pell was also known and highly respected by many overseas due to his numerous roles in the Vatican over many decades.’
Screens will be put out front of the church on Thursday so crowds outside can watch the service.
Masses for Pell will also be held on Wednesday at 1.10pm and 8pm for those unable to attend the main service.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk