Premier Daniel Andrews has stood behind survivors of child sex abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church in shooting down a State Funeral for Ballarat born Cardinal George Pell.
Pell died in Rome on Tuesday evening dut to complications suffered as the result of hip surgery.
A Royal Commission into historic child sex abuse by the Catholic Church asserted Pell knew of offences perpetrated in Ballarat and beyond, particularly around prolific offender Gerard Ridsdale.
Additionally, Pell was convicted himself of being the perpetrator of child sexual abuse, spending a year in prison before the conviction was quashed.
In saying no to a taxpayer funded funeral, Premier Andrews says he couldn’t think of anything more distressing for victims.
“These things are usually offered and there will be no offer made.
“I think that would be a deeply, deeply distressing thing for every survivor of Catholic Church child sex abuse. That is my view. And I will not do that” the Premier said.
On Thursday morning, a mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Ballarat held silence for Pell’s passing, while Father John McKay also spoke to parisioners about the historic sex abuse as “hideous and heinous crimes” that have left a traumatic mark on Ballarat.
Around 40 people attended the mass, while outside the gates of the cathedral were adorned with ribbons honouring survivors.
