MEMORIAL STATUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 July 1932, Page 5

MEMORIAL STATUARY

CATHOLIC OBJECTIONS CONTROVERSY .AT SYDNEY

(United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copy ritrh t)

SYDNEY, 18th July. Controversy is still raging in regard to the group of statuary comprising the Anzac Memorial, the foundation stone of which is being laid to-morrow. The statuary, to which Roman Catholics object, includes the nude figure of a woman symbolising peace l crucified on a war standard of Mars carrying the body armour, shield, and helmet of the war god. At her feet are many dead soldiers.

The trustceg, of the memorial have written to Archbishop Sheehan expressing deepest regret- at the' intention of Roman Catholic dignitaries holding aloof from to-morrow’s ceremony, which they say will be no different from that at the dedication of the Cenotaph. The trutees also suggest that objections to the sculpture are based on misconceptions. 1 -

A large percentage of Protestant ministers already through the press have expressed objection to the use of the Cross for this particular purpose, “which is gravely offensive to ordinary Christian decency.”