20 August 2026
Ad Clerum re Use of Cathedral in STAN reality TV show
Dear sisters and brothers, On behalf of the Dean (who is currently on leave) and the Cathedral Chapter, I would like to apologise for the distress and anger generated by the Dean’s decision to allow St John’s Cathedral to be used as a backdrop for a reality television program currently streaming on STAN. Like many of you, l am shocked by the content, nature, and intent of the program, which does not align with the faith and values of this Diocese. The Diocese has contacted the program’s producers, requesting all vision, images and content featuring people other than The Very Rev’d Dr Peter Catt (Dean of Brisbane) be immediately removed, including the completely unacceptable vision of children in the Cathedral. As I have sought to understand how this situation has come about, conversations with multiple Cathedral staff suggest that the program’s producers misled the Dean.
Pitched as a documentary program that would explore faith, intention, and life’s complexities, through the experience of an individual who had previously been excluded from faith communities because of past involvement in sex work, the series is nothing more than click-bait, reality TV content that shamelessly attempts to validate the porn-industry. I unreservedly condemn any attempt to validate an industry that exploits women and girls and contributes to degrading and unhealthy messaging around sex and sexuality. Despite being misled by the program’s producers, it is clear to me that there are a number of gaps in our policies and procedures concerning approvals for filming in any of our churches or other properties. This is a situation which should never have happened, and have asked for an immediate review of policies and procedures to ensure thorough due diligence is carried out before any third-party is granted access to a Church site.
If you have any questions, please direct them to archbishop@anglicanchurchsq.org.au.
Grace and peace
(signed)
The Most Reverend Jeremy Greaves KCSJ
Archbishop of Brisbane
