Cathedral used as TV location for controversial Stan series — Diocese responds
From: Confidential Daily — Brisbane’s Anglican Cathedral allowed sacred worship to be filmed for an explicit Stan series, and now serious questions are being asked about the appearance of a child altar server. An episode of Turned On: Dirty Sexy Money on Stan, linked in coverage to the OnlyFans ecosystem, filmed a baptismal reaffirmation and Communion inside St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane, and promotional imagery placed sexualised visuals near the Cathedral interior.
St John’s Cathedral has acted swiftly and responsibly after footage from a commercial television production filmed on its premises caused understandable concern among parishioners and the wider public. The Diocese has published an official statement; you can read it in full here: Diocese statement on Facebook.
St John’s remains a place of worship and pastoral outreach. The Archbishop’s swift action — seeking the removal of problematic material and ordering a review of permissions and child‑safety processes — is intended to ensure the Cathedral continues to be a safe, dignified place for worship and ministry.
If you have information relevant to consent or filming on Cathedral property, the Diocese has invited people to contact the Archbishop’s office as set out in the Cathedral’s statement: Read the Diocese statement.
A pastoral response, not an endorsement
The Dean facilitated a pastoral moment when an adult parishioner sought to reaffirm their baptismal vows. That pastoral response — offering spiritual care to someone seeking reconnection with the Church — is central to clergy work. It should not be read as an endorsement of editorial choices made later by the production company or broadcaster.Actions taken by the Diocese
- The Diocese has contacted the production company and broadcaster to request removal of footage and promotional images featuring anyone other than the Dean, and specifically to ensure that any images of children are not broadcast or reused.
- An urgent internal review of Cathedral procedures for third‑party access, filming permissions and the use of images taken on church property has been ordered to strengthen safeguards and consent processes.
- The Archbishop and Cathedral Chapter have publicly acknowledged the distress caused and apologised for any upset generated by the decision to allow filming, while making clear the pastoral intent behind the Dean’s actions.
Protecting worship and parishioners
These steps show a responsible institution acting to protect children, defend the sanctity of sacramental worship and tighten governance so pastoral compassion cannot be misused by commercial interests. The Cathedral’s immediate outreach to producers demonstrates it will not tolerate uses of its sacred spaces that undermine parish life or exploit congregants.Note: Clergy provide pastoral care; broadcasters make editorial decisions. If producers misrepresented their intentions, it is their responsibility to correct the record and remove or amend material that breaches the Diocese’s expectations.
