George Pell’s personal secretary condemns protests as ‘tsunami of hate’ ahead of funeral

Joseph Hamilton reassures Catholics the protests are a mere ‘ripple’ as survivors of clergy abuse tie ribbons to fence around St Mary’s Cathedral

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George Pell’s personal secretary likened the “protests” about the cardinal in the wake of his death to a “tsunami of hate”, but dismissed the local criticism as “less than a ripple when viewed from the perspective of the global church”.

Pell’s death has triggered silent and peaceful protests from clergy abuse survivors and their supporters, who have tied ribbons to the fence around Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral, where the late cardinal will be buried later this morning.