The Archbishop of Brisbane has apologised to clergy and parishioners after a reality TV series featuring sex workers was filmed inside a Brisbane cathedral.
The production company behind the Stan series has now responded, as a letter penned by the Archbishop claimed that producers of Turned On: Dirty Sexy Money “misled the Dean” of St John’s Cathedral.
The diocese has formally contacted producers requesting all content featuring worshippers other than the Dean be “immediately removed” including “completely unacceptable vision of children in the Cathedral.”
The production company, Mischief & Wonder, told news.com.au: “During production planning, permission was obtained directly from the Dean to film at St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane.”
“Upon receiving a request this week to remove some individuals from the scene, this was actioned immediately.”
In the sixth episode of the series, OnlyFans star Lily Philips shares her commitment to her faith, expressing her desire to reaffirm her faith.
In the episode, the star expressed her relief at finding a church that is “progressive enough” to accept her.
She attended a Mass alongside close friend and co-star Annie Knight, and the remainder of her cast made up of some of the country’s most successful sex workers.
In a previous episode, during a discussion with Cathedral Dean, The Very Rev’d Dr Peter Catt, Ms Philips asked whether the community would be open to letting her join.
“I can assure you this community is really open and accepting and really is interested in you as a person,” he explained.
He did not say some might be curious about her line of work, but it wouldn’t be fair to cast her out because of it.
“If we were to take a focus on people’s work, you know, would it be wise if I started persecuting people ‘cause they worked for a fossil fuel company? Or they were part of the banking sector?” he asked.
“There’s a sense in which we’re all caught up in a very complex existence. It’s about really thinking that people are people and people are not defined by their work.”
Images of the scenes first emerged back in April when photos leaked of the cast walking up the steps of the church.
At the time a St Johns Cathedral spokesperson told news.com.au: “The documentary makers contacted the Dean because they had somebody wanting to reconnect with her faith.”
“She wanted to reconnect to her baptism and he facilitated that as he would anyone. There was no special treatment.”
Speaking directly to news.com.au, the 25-year-old explains she believes “God’s rules have definitely evolved.”
“There was a point when … all I cared about was monetary stuff. I think what faith has helped me to do was really ground me and make me so grateful for what I already have,” she explained.
Two months on, an apology for the “distress and anger” caused by allowing filming to occur was issued by Reverend Jeremy Greaves, the Archbishop of Brisbane, last week.
“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,” he penned.
“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.”
He concluded that there “are a number of gaps” in policy and procedures with an “immediate review” before a third-party is granted access again.
St Johns Cathedral referred news.com.au to Archbishop’s letter upon request for comment.
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