Catholic principal explains provocative statue in Adelaide

The principal at the Catholic boys school who were forced to cover up the inappropriate statue of a saint and a young boy claims the oversight was due to only seeing the design two-dimensionally.

Blackfriars Priory School in Adelaide last week unveiled a statue of St Dominic handing a young boy a loaf of bread.

The design featuring a boy kneeling at the foot of the 12th century Spanish-born saint has caused embarrassment to the inner-city school due to its imagery of an entirely different nature.

'The two-dimensional concept plans for the statue were viewed and approved by the executive team in May but upon arrival the three-dimensional statue was deemed by the executive to be potentially suggestive,' principal Simon Cobiac said in a statement on Facebook.

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The principal at the Catholic school who were forced to cover up the inappropriate statue of a saint and a young boy says the oversight was due to only seeing the design two-dimensionally

Principal Simon Cobiac released a statement through the school's Facebook page explaining the statue

The Adelaide school has put a black cloth around the statue after images were shared on social media

A black cloth now covers the statue of the saint, who was recognised for performing the miracle of multiplying bread.

The school was forced to cover the statue with a black cloth after students took inappropriate photos on Friday, the Adelaide Advertiser reports.

This week, it was completely cordoned off. 

'As a consequence, the statue was immediately covered and a local sculptor has been commissioned to re-design it,' Mr Cobiac said.

'The school apologises for any concerns and publicity generated by this matter and is taking action to substantially alter the statue.'       

The embarrassing statue of Saint Dominic with a loaf was completely cordoned off this week (pictured) 

Images of the statue were shared on Instagram page S***Adelaide, attracting 1315 likes and more than 359 comments by Wednesday morning.

'Like who the hell designed, approved and erected it and no one thought about it?',' one critic said.

Another wondering about the vetting process.  

'Was there seriously no one that looked at this before it was installed?,' she asked.

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One woman suggested it was an innocent statue. 

'He's just giving the boy some bread,' she said.

But one man pointed out the unfortunate sex abuse connotations involving Catholic priests and young boys. 

'Hahahaha pedo priest,' he said.

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