As Cardinal George Pell’s casket was carried outside St Mary’s Cathedral for the public procession to his burial crypt, a small gathering of protesters relentlessly chanted “shame” as one played Highway to Hell from a portable speaker.
The solemn service for the divisive Catholic Church frontman in his former domain was predictably marked by heated exchanges between his admirers and detractors – and at least two arrests.
The staunchly conservative former archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney was farewelled with one last mass – an event that attracted thousands, some inside and many outside the church.
For those beyond the doors, the beginning of the proceedings were drowned out by cries of “George Pell, go to hell” as a large group of demonstrators marched from Hyde Park, away from the cathedral, towards Oxford Street.
Riot squad police were there in force and temporary fencing was used to create a buffer between the two groups and prevent conflict escalating.
A small number of mourners responded with screamed insults and obscenities while others urged police to move the protesters on.
Kim Stern, organiser for LGBTIQ+ rights group Community Action for Rainbow Rights, said they opposed “everything George Pell stood for”.
Elsewhere, protester Terry Cutcliffe told AAP pedophilia at the Catholic school he attended was covered up by the church.
He said it had been a “silly” decision to hold a public funeral, given the backlash against Cardinal Pell since his death last month.
“I think the protest has been appropriate. I thought there might even be more people because there are certainly a lot of victims of the Catholic Church,” Mr Cutcliffe said.
Theresa Guzzo, who flew from New Zealand to attend the service, said she was against the presence of protesters and felt Cardinal 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,” she said.
She said she initially “strongly” believed allegations of child abuse against Cardinal Pell but not after he was cleared by the High Court and she reviewed the evidence.
Another mourner, who asked not to be named, said she understood the protesters’ feelings and called for mutual respect.
“Respect has to go two ways,” she said.
“If people are grieving then you have to honour the deep anguish and sorrow that people may be experiencing.
“But then there’s a different kind of anguish and sorrow potentially on the other side of the road, so it’s a difficult line to walk.”
