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Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has criticized high-profile Catholic politicians Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet for lacking the “moral courage” to attend Cardinal George Pell’s funeral.
In a Facebook post, Jones said Pell, whose funeral will take place on Thursday, had been “vilified, ostracized, demonized and jailed” despite being the “most prominent Australian figure in the Catholic Church” in the past. last times.
Jones said that although Albanese and Perrottet had often professed their Catholic faith, they were “rejecting” the farewell of a man who served the church with scholarship, dignity and who had been “rehabilitated by the highest court in the land.”
Conservative commentator Alan Jones attends the funeral of Cardinal George Pell in Sydney.
Jones did not hold back in criticizing professing Catholics Albany Albanese and Dominic Perrottet for not attending George Pell’s funeral.
Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic was buried in a requiem mass at 11am in Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral, but remains a polarizing figure after spending time in jail for child sexual abuse.
Jones, a longtime conservative commentator, noted that Pell was found not guilty of child sexual abuse in a unanimous 7-0 decision by the High Court, but despite this, Catholic leaders had decided to be “conveniently absent.” ” from service.
“There is something in life that separates one from the other,” Jones wrote.
It’s called moral courage.
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton arrives for the funeral of Cardinal George Pell in Sydney.
Liberal Queensland Senator Matt Canavan was another from the conservative side of politics who attended Pell’s requiem mass.
‘Clearly, these people lack the moral courage to confront the continuing accusers of the leader of their faith who suffered but was redeemed by the courts.
Not the kind of leadership Cardinal Pell exhibited.
‘The just dinkum Catholic membership will not take such abandonment very kindly.’
Former Prime Minister John Howard, who is not a Catholic but provided character references for Pell during his court cases and often spoke of his friendship with the cardinal, was seen attending the funeral.
Former Prime Minister John Howard arrives to pay his respects to Cardinal George Pell
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott (pictured right) kneels to speak with another attendee at Cardinal Pell’s requiem mass
Former Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who studied at seminary to join the priesthood but left before following the vocation, also attended along with opposition leader Peter Dutton and National Liberal Conservative Senator Matt Canavan.
There have been clashes between those protesting the funeral and Catholic adherents.
Daily Mail Australia filmed an angry Pell supporter confronting protesters outside St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday morning, just before the funeral was to begin.
The supporter, dressed in a gray T-shirt and shorts, yelled at two protesters holding a banner reading “Pell, burn in hell” across the street from the cathedral with the word “hell” painted on it as if it were on calls.
“We want it removed,” the supporter told the police officer, who was trying to calm the man down.
The supporter then spoke directly to the two protesters holding the sign.
An order of service delivered during Cardinal Pell’s funeral which features the late cleric’s likeness.
“Take it down, you’re irritating a lot of people,” he said.
A woman next to him, dressed in business attire, held a sign that read “anti-Catholic bigotry must end.”
Police officers were also called to the cathedral on Wednesday night after mourners approached child abuse activists who had been tying ribbons to the fence.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has often cited Catholicism as one of his great influences, but he did not attend the cardinal’s funeral.
Footage captured by 9News showed supporters of the cardinal allegedly yelling at silent protesters.
Police officers were seen dispersing the crowd and talking to people after the clash.
Cardinal Pell served 406 days of a six-year sentence on allegations of child sexual abuse, but has always maintained his innocence.
The High Court reversed the decision in 2020.
NSW MP Damien Tudehope will represent Mr Perrottet at the funeral with the Prime Minister citing “prior engagements” for his absence.
Cardinal Pell, 81, died in Rome in January after complications following hip replacement surgery.