RIBBONS tied to the front gates of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne as part of the Loud Fence Movement have been removed overnight.
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The Ballarat movement which has gone global, involves tying bright ribbons outside institutions to end the decades of silence surrounding child sexual abuse.
However, colourful ribbons tied last night at the front of St Patrick’s Cathedral are no longer present as of this morning.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne confirmed to The Courier the ribbons had been removed as it was against its policy to have anything tied to the fence.
“We were not trying to be antagonistic, it is just our policy,” archdiocese media and communications director Shane Healy said.
Mr Healy said many of the people involved with the church were not aware of what the Loud Fence movement was and what it represented.
Loud Fence creator Maureen Hatcher said she believed it may have been a case of whoever removed the ribbons not fully understanding their purpose.
“I think some people are not sure what the ribbons represent,” she said.
“They might not know what they (the ribbons) represent at all or they might think that they represent that abuse happened there and they don’t want their building scarred.
“But it isn't about that, it is about showing support for the survivors. That is the bottom line, it is about showing support for the survivors and the victims and their families, that is all it is about.”
