Survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters have been involved in a heated clash with a group of people outside a Sydney church on the eve of Cardinal George Pell's funeral.
Hundreds of colourful ribbons were tied to the fence and gates of Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral yesterday in a silent memorial symbolising the hurt caused by child sexual abuse.
But tensions flared last night when a group of men and women with scissors and knives began cutting down the ribbons and shouting homophobic slurs.
Police officers had to intervene after the groups clashed about 8:30pm yesterday.
One woman involved in the protest, named Joanne, said she was tying ribbons when a group of people "came out of nowhere".
"They came at us from both sides and were screaming profanities and were cutting the ribbons from behind us as we tied them," she said.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has been contacted for comment.
Police say there were no arrests and no move-on directions issued, but urged anyone who is attending the church or protest today to "be respectful of each other".
Abuse survivor Paul Auchetti said the ribbons were a reminder of the church's "unfinished business" and debt to victims and their families.
The cardinal will be sent off with an 11am funeral mass, and protesters have been gathering at Hyde Park, opposite the cathedral, after an LGBTI activist group struck a deal with NSW Police.
One of the protest organisers, Kim Stern, said he was disappointed the ribbons were removed after seeing people put them up yesterday.
"There were a number of older guys there just standing, holding the ribbons, not saying anything, moving on to some others, and just standing there in thought," Mr Stern said.
"I think it really symbolised the harm the Catholic Church has caused so many countless people. So I think, you know, it's a real slap in the face of survivors that the ribbons [were removed]."
Thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral, including former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard and Liberal leader Peter Dutton.
But several politicians and dignitaries will not be attending the service, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and state Opposition Leader Chris Minns, Governor-General David Hurley and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.
Senator Don Farrell will stand in for Mr Albanese and finance minister Damien Tudehope will go in Mr Perrottet's place for the state government.
Cardinal Pell's body has been lying in state and will be buried in the Cathedral's crypt in a private service.
Cardinal Pell, who was Australia's highest ranking catholic, died from heart complications following hip surgery in Rome last month.
