Plan for tainted plaque

A VICTIM of abuse has joined former priest Julian Punch in his push to have a bronze artwork with a likeness of convicted sex offender Monsignor Philip Green melted down and shaped into a memorial to other victims.

Mr Punch last year convinced the Catholic Church to remove the statue of the late archbishop Sir Guilford Young and Green from St Mary’s Cathederal.

It was erected in the 1980s in memory of Archbishop Young and depicts him with members of Tasmania’s Catholic community including the late monsignor, who pleaded guilty to allegations of assault in 2004.

Nicholas Taylor who claims he was abused at St Virgil’s College in West Hobart in the late 1970s and early 1980s, has written to Archbishop Porteus asking for a meeting.

“I would like to discuss a proposal the bronze from the plaque be used for another purpose,” Mr Taylor said.

“I would like to discuss with you the proposal that the bronze is melted down and a memorial is made to the victims of child sexual abuse to recognise both survivors and the ones who have passed.”

Mr Taylor said seeing the plaque melted down would help him and others compartmentalise the past.

“I also want to pay tribute to others who did not have a voice,” he said.

Archdiocese of Hobart busi- ness manager Ron Ward said Mr Taylor’s letter had been received and Archbishop Porteous was looking forward to meeting with him to discuss his concerns.

A future use of the artwork would be determined once the views of Mr Taylor and the family of the artist who created the plaque had been taken into consideration, he said.