Calls grow to remove all plaques of Green

A PUSH to remove and destroy a sculpture depicting convicted sex offender Monsignor Phillip Green has been broadened to removing all plaques bearing his name in Tasmanian hospitals, schools and churches.

Former Catholic priest and author of Gay with God Julian Punch says he has received messages of support for his push to remove all references to Monsignor Green from his victims, their loved ones and the broader Tasmanian community.

A member of one victim’s family, who did not want to be named for fear of retribution, said the family supported the proposal wholeheartedly.

“Sex offenders have historically been stripped of honours and awards once convicted,” they said.

Mr Punch has now called on the Archbishop Julian Porteous to meet him and others, publicly, to discuss the issue.

“We have been told the statue at St Mary’s Cathedral will be removed this week,” Mr Punch said.

“That is one step but we want it to be destroyed and for other plagues bearing his name — like the one at Calva- ry Hospital — to be removed as well.”

In 2004, Phillip Green pleaded guilty to groping a grieving 22-year-old man and received a suspended threemonth jail term.

In his book, Mr Punch al- leges Green had other victims and said that, he too, was sexually assaulted by Green in the late 1960s.

“Having the statue destroyed would give great consolation to victims. We want to discuss the possible creation of an alternative sculpture to remember the victims of sexual abuse by Monsignor Green,” Mr Punch said.

“It is timely for a proactive program of apology and reparation to be developed in discussion with Catholics and the clergy. The Archbishop needs to provide the public and Catholic faithful with assurances that old threats and intimidation are not the way to deal with this terrible affliction in the church.”