Jose Gomez has set a stunning example of what the church should be doing. ‘I FIND these files [about priests who sexually abused children] to be brutal and painful reading. The behaviour described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests Read more
A call by the Catholic Church in Victoria for mandatory reporting by clergy who become aware of child abuse has coincided with a report that the Church’s Australian treatment clinic for priests shielded known paedophiles from police scrutiny. According to whistleblowers closely involved with the now-defunct Encompass Australasia clinic — which some New Zealand priests Read more
A parliamentary investigation into alleged cover-ups and failures to properly report child abuse by Church organizations in Australia opens today. Among recommendations that are put before the probe include a register for Church personnel and a program to monitor training for workers in religious groups. A parliamentary committee opens the hearing into the allegations after Read more
Before and during his trial Chris Kahui was taken in and cared for by Pastor Tom and Magaret Ngapera at the at the Faith Family Baptist Centre in Panmure. “I just came to support a broken family going through hell. That’s what my job is. To show the compassion and love of Christ to someone Read more
A Catholic bishop stepped down yesterday just six days before child sex abuse audits into two dioceses where he served are due to be published.
Bishop of Derry, Seamus Hegarty’s resignation on health grounds was accepted by Pope Benedict just two weeks after offering it. He left his post immediately.
Read the article...
A survey conducted in Ireland establishes half the population believes one-in-five priests is guilty of child abuse, when in fact the figure is 4%, or one-in-twenty-five. The survey, commissioned by the pro-religion Iona Institute, showed only a third of those surveyed were closer to the 4% figure and shows a clear majority of the public overestimates the number Read more
We are a resourceful nation. We say we punch above our weight. We have just staged a wonderful Rugby World Cup. Visitors from many nations have found us to be caring, warm, engaging, generous and hospitable. That’s a reputation worth having and building on. “Why then are we not as caring as a nation when Read more
An Australian report says the well-being of Australia’s children and young people has deteriorated alarmingly in the past decade – and the falling marriage rate is partly to blame. The report pinpoints the fall in the marriage rate since 1989 from seven per 1000 population to 5.5 – and the rise in children born to Read more
One hundred students of Saint Agnes Primary School in Suva will heighten awareness of child abuse at the upcoming Tadra Kahani show. The students will perform to the theme ‘Child Abuse, Every Child Has a Story’. Student representative Olly No’ora said they expected tough competition from other schools. “It will be a challenging competition but we Read more
Telling stories is an essential part of being human. Marketing those stories keeps booksellers in business so it’s an interesting twist to find that major chains intend to boycott Breaking Silence: The Kahui Case, Macsyna King’s story about the death of her twins, a tragedy that has horrified New Zealanders. “There’s no way I can Read more