Peter Catt has stepped down as dean of Brisbane’s St John’s Cathedral after approving filming for a controversial reality television programme inside the Anglican church.
Dr Catt said his decision followed discussions with Archbishop of Brisbane Jeremy Greaves, cathedral staff and a period of “prayerful reflection”. His final Sunday in the role is expected to be September 27, after he returns from annual leave.
The dispute centres on Turned On: Dirty Sexy Money, a Stan series about adult-content creators. Filming at the cathedral featured British performer Lily Phillips taking part in a religious ceremony intended to represent her reconnection with Christianity.
Brisbane dean accepts responsibility for cathedral filming
Dr Catt said he had believed the production was a documentary about a person who had been excluded from religious communities because of work in the sex industry. He acknowledged that the programme ultimately had a different focus.
In a letter to the cathedral community, Dr Catt said it had been his decision to allow the production to take place and that he understood it had caused concern within the Anglican community.
He also apologised after footage showing members of the congregation, including children, appeared in the programme. The Anglican Diocese of Brisbane later asked Stan to remove or blur material featuring people other than the dean.
Archbishop Greaves previously said he was shocked by the finished programme and that discussions with cathedral staff indicated the producers may have misrepresented the nature of the project when seeking permission to film.
The diocese has begun reviewing its procedures for approving filming at churches and other Anglican properties. The review follows concerns about gaps in the process used to authorise the production at St John’s Cathedral.
Dr Catt has led the cathedral for 18 years. He said he was “deeply saddened” by the impact of the controversy and had concluded that the time had come to bring the chapter of his ministry to an end.
