Julian Porteous

{{Short description|Australian Catholic Archbishop}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox Archbishop

| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend

| name = Julian Porteous

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Archbishop Emeritus of Hobart

| image = File:JL 08943 b.jpg

| caption = Porteous in 2024

| province =

| archdiocese = Hobart

| see = Hobart

| church = Roman Catholic Church

| appointed = 19 July 2013

| enthroned = 17 September 2013

| ended = 20 June 2025

| predecessor = Adrian Leo Doyle

| successor =

| ordination = 7 September 1974

| ordained_by = James Darcy Freeman

| consecration = 3 September 2003

| consecrated_by = George Pell

| other_post =

| birth_name = Julian Charles Porteous

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1949|6|5}}

| birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| buried =

| nationality = Australian

| religion = Roman Catholic

| residence =

| parents =

| spouse =

| children =

| occupation =

| previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Titular Bishop of Urusi (2003–2013)|Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney (2003–2013)}}

| profession =

| alma_mater =

| signature =

| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Julian Porteous.svg

}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles|name=Julian Porteous|dipstyle=The Most Reverend|offstyle=Your Grace|relstyle=Archbishop|deathstyle= ||image=Coat of arms of Julian Porteous.svg|image_size=250px}}

{{Ordination

| co-consecrators = Edward Bede Clancy, Bernard Cyril O'Grady

| date of consecration = 3 September 2003

| place of consecration = St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

| ordained priest by = James Darcy Freeman

| date of priestly ordination = 7 September 1974

| place of priestly ordination = St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

| consecrated by = George Pell

}}

Julian Charles Porteous (born 5 June 1949) was the Catholic Archbishop of Hobart, Tasmania until his resignation on 20 June 2025. He was previously Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, Australia, Episcopal Vicar for Renewal and Evangelisation, and Titular Bishop of Urusi (2003–2013).{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneycatholic.org/people/bishop_julian_porteous/ |title=Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney – Our People |publisher=Sydneycatholic.org |date= |accessdate=2013-01-06}}

Porteous was installed as Archbishop of Hobart on 17 September 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiovaticana.va/page404.asp|title=Vatican Radio|website=www.radiovaticana.va|access-date=21 May 2019|archive-date=27 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427050741/http://www.radiovaticana.va/page404.asp|url-status=dead}}

In 2015 Porteous distributed a booklet to 12,000 families with children in Catholic schools across Tasmania entitled "Don’t Mess With Marriage" - the Catholic position on marriage.{{cite web|url=https://www.sydneycatholic.org/pdf/DMM-booklet_web.pdf |title=Don't Mess With Marriage |work =Catholic Bishops of Australia| author=Australian Catholic Bishops Conference|date=2015 }} The booklet argued of gay men and women that "pretending that their relationships are ‘marriages’ is not fair or just to them." There were calls by activists for others to refer the Archbishop to the Australian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. Following 6 months of deliberations, the complaint was withdrawn without a finding.{{cite news|url=https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/anti-discrimination-commissioner-reportedly-finds-archbishop-julian-porteous-in-possible-breach-of-act/ |title=Anti-discrimination commissioner notifies archbishop of possible breach of the law |work = Catholic Weekly| author=Staff Writers|date=13 November 2015 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.acl.org.au/archbishop_porteous_escapes_further_trial_but_anti_discrimination_laws_still_hinder_free_speech |title=Archbishop Porteous escapes further trial but Anti-Discrimination laws still hinder free speech }}{{cite web|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TMWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.themercury.com.au%2Fnews%2Ftasmania%2Farchbishop-promises-solid-teaching-on-sexuality-gender-and-marriage-in-tasmanian-catholic-schools%2Fnews-story%2F9e218d65d5650ac87c4d2a1652defec0&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=7ce7877e282c2c10e06d1a3600f6c864-1558410727|title=Subscribe to The Mercury|website=www.themercury.com.au}}

It has been reported that, "The real problem with the Porteous case was that it was unresolved".{{cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/in-the-fallout-of-folau-an-opportunity-to-prevent-another-porteous-case/news-story/64f74634ca87480839512b4e764ce9a1 |title=In the fallout of Folau, an opportunity to prevent another Porteous case |work =The Australian| author=Merritt, Chris|date= 6 July 2019}}

In 2022 Porteous was accused of promoting climate change skepticism in a church publication titled "Exposing the 'modern green religion'", platforming the views of mining-industry affiliated geologist Professor Ian Plimer.{{cite news |last1=Lohberger |first1=Loretta |title=Archbishop accused of promoting climate change denier's views on anniversary of Pope's landmark letter |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-13/tasmanian-archbishop-accused-of-promoting-climate-denier-views/101146274 |access-date=30 May 2024 |agency=ABC News |publisher=ABC News}} He attracted further accusations of discrimination in 2024 after publishing a public letter titled "We are Salt to the Earth", in which he denounced the "woke" movement and "radicalised transgender lobby".{{cite news |last1=Balen |first1=Clancy |title=Catholic archbishop's denouncement of 'transgender lobby', legal abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, heavily criticised |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-14/catholic-archbishop-julian-porteous-letter-to-parents-criticised/103838640 |access-date=30 May 2024 |agency=ABC News |publisher=ABC News |date=14 May 2024}}