Flyers advertising an event at the Nazareth House Chapel in Camberwell in support of convicted Cardinal George Pell created plenty of public backlash.
And the "day of prayer" for the cardinal, who remains in custody awaiting a June appeal date, has been cancelled.
Australia’s most senior catholic cleric was last month found guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year old choir boys in Melbourne during the 1990s.
He insists his innocence.
The cancellation of today's event followed public backlash against the prayer day being held.
A sign displayed outside the Melbourne Chapel said the event organised by Divine Mercy Publications would not go ahead.
A flyer for the "Day of Prayer" that has since been cancelled. Source: SBS News
"The planned Day of Prayer... has been cancelled."
Critics of the event online said prayers should instead be going to victims of Mr Pell's alleged crimes.
A sign outside Nazareth House Chapel in Camberwell. Source: SBS News
Investigative journalist Lucie Morris-Marr shared that sentiment tweeting: “What about a day of prayer for the choirboys? Especially the one who died in 2014?"
While, another critic, Peter Wicks, tweeted simply: “No prayers for the victims...”
Andrew Klein too questioned the services “priorities” tweeting: "Where is the outrage at the disclosure from the Royal Commission? Where is the outrage regarding institutional failure? A day of prayer for the thousands of victims of abuse?"
The event flyer included recent comments made by the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher at a mass to Catholic worshipers last Sunday.
“If we are took quick to judge we can end up joining the demonisers or the apologists, those baying for blood or those in denial,” he told the service.
“Our [Sunday] readings remind us that things are not always what they seem; that we must look beneath the surface and allow truth and justice to unfold in God’s good time.”
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne director of media and communications Shane Healy told SBS News they "were aware that the event has been cancelled."
Twitter user, Alison Baker said she supported that decision.
"Thank goodness… it’s been cancelled,” she tweeted
“How anyone could think it was a good idea, I don’t know."
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