Australian Cardinal George Pell – who was convicted then acquitted of child sex abuse – will not be offered a state funeral in his home state to avoid distress for victims of abuse, Victoria’s premier says.
The former Vatican treasurer died on Tuesday aged 81.
He is Australia’s highest ranking Catholic, and the most senior clergyman ever jailed for child sex offences.
State funerals are frequently offered to notable public figures in Australia.
But the premier of Victoria – where Cardinal Pell was born and spent about half his career – said no such funeral would take place there.
“I couldn’t think of anything more distressing for victim survivors,” Daniel Andrews told reporters on Thursday.
Mr Andrews also said he was unlikely to attend the cleric’s funeral.
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SOURCE: BBC, Tiffanie Turnbull
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