Catholic school in Adelaide to remodel statue over concerns of suggestive nature

An Adelaide Catholic school says it will remodel a statue of a saint over concerns it is suggestive. The statue of St Martin de Porres at Blackfriars Priory was unveiled recently and depicts the saint handing a loaf of bread to a young boy, Sky News reported.

However, the unfortunate placement of the bread raised other connotations with the school apologising for any concerns the design may have caused.

Principle Simon Cobiac was quoted as saying concept plans for the statue, which was produced by a sculptor in Vietnam, were viewed and approved by the school's executive team in May.

Blackfriars Priory School said it had commissioned a new sculptor to "substantially alter" the design.

In a message posted on Facebook, principal Simon Cobiac apologised to the school community for "any concerns and publicity" caused by the statue.

He said the school had approved its design and commissioned a sculptor in Vietnam, but "upon arrival the three-dimensional statue was deemed by the [school] to be potentially suggestive".

The Adelaide Advertiser newspaper said the statue had been installed last week and later covered with a black cloth.

It drew public attention after an image of the statue was posted on a popular Adelaide Instagram account, where it attracted hundreds of comments.

"Who designed that...surely someone has to say 'mmm big mistake'," wrote one commenter, in a sentiment echoed by many.

Mr Cobiac said the design had been intended as a "depiction of the tireless work of St Martin de Porres, a Dominican brother, for the poor and downtrodden of the 16th Century".