Hipkins has plans to cut a 3000-strong waiting list of claimants of abuse in state care - such as children's homes - by making "rapid payments".

Survivors of abuse in religious and faith-based settings are not included.

Hipkins said the new scheme would cover both state and religious claimants, but faith-based institutions would for now provide their own claims and redress processes.

"While we are engaging with faith-based institutions, it is currently up to each of them to determine whether to introduce faster payment processes," he said.

"It's worth noting that faith-based institutions can often settle claims more quickly than these agencies."

Dave Mullin (pictured), who leads the Te Ropu Tautoko catholic church group dealing with the Commission and the Crown Response Unit, said they were closely studying the Cabinet paper that detailed Hipkins' announcement.

"We are seeking clarity from government officials on how and when matters of faith-based redress will be incorporated into this process, and we look forward to engaging in the work.

"Meanwhile, the church asks survivors who - due to serious ill-health or age - may not be able to engage with the proposed independent redress system, to approach the Church's National Office for Professional Standards" said Mullin.

However, some survivors say it would be better if the government got involved in the process.

In testimony given earlier in the year to the Royal Commission, a number of church organisations said they offered survivors an apology, an ex gratia payment based on the level of abuse, and the offer of counselling.

Testimony to the Royal Commission showed the response between various religious organisations inside the Catholic Church was not even.

Different church and faith-based groups, eg Anglican, Brethren, Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Salvation Army, also responded differently from each other.

Abuse survivor Steve Goodlass said the government had failed to honour the intent of the commission's interim payment recommendation.

"It's disturbing because the government has just redefined stuff in there and completely ostracised one group or has discriminated against faith-based survivors," he said.

"Even people in the state systems, they're getting shafted again. Why hold a commission when you're just going to exclude people and ignore key principles? It's just awful," he said.

Unhappy with how the Bishops National Office for Professional Standards (NOPS) has settled abuse cases, survivor group SNAP focussed solely on the Catholic Church's response saying it wants a more immediate reply from the Catholic Church.

It also wants the bishops to set up an independent committee with input from SNAP Aotearoa and its survivor members.

When NOPS was established, it was a body of "second instance", a place where survivors could appeal if they thought a Catholic Church body had not properly handled their case.

It was headed by retired Police Commissioner John Jamieson.

Some years later, under the leadership of former priest and social worker Mr Bill Kilgallon, NOPS became the body of "first instance" for most Catholic religious groups.

NOPS continues to operate as a place of first instance under the current director, former lawyer Virginia Noonan.

Sources

• RNZ
• Supplied

Following the announcement that Fr Allan Jones would end his term and after some reflection it was decided to split the role

• A part-time Chaplain, responsible for supporting enquirers spiritually and pastorally and for connecting CEC with the wider Catholic community;
• A full-time Director, responsible for the overall operations of CEC.

The Bishops have expressed gratitude to Vaney, who will soon complete is appointment as Vicar Provincial of the Society of Mary.

He brings with him significant experience in and commitment to the work of evangelisation, with a particular gift in enabling young people to hear and respond to the call to faith.

"He is also a noted moral theologian, with a deep interest in the theology of nature and environmental ethics," said Bishop Patrick Dunn, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

"The Director role has proved harder to fill and as such the Bishops are grateful to David Mullin who has agreed to be seconded from his work in the Palmerston North Diocese to act as Director until March 2017. "

"David is a member of the CEC Board, and will bring a wide range of business and management skills to the role, along with considerable knowledge about and commitment to the work of CEC," said Dunn.

"We are sincerely grateful to Fr Allan for his leadership of the Centre through a time of considerable change."

" He has responded with characteristic generosity and patience to the extended process of replacing him, and remained focused on CEC's vital work of invitation and introduction," said Dunn.

Mullin will begin on Monday 17 October, in a half-time capacity. Fr Allan's last day as Director on Friday 28 October.

The Catholic Enquiry Centre (CEC) promotes the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Faith. Based in Wellington since 1961, the CEC is an agency of the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand, and is supported spiritually and financially by Catholics throughout the country.

CEC invites people - via TV, online advertising, social media - to enquire about the Catholic Faith and we respond to enquirers by means of printed booklets introducing the essential aspects of faith.

Source

Supplied

Mullin said earthquake premiums had more than doubled since the Canterbury quakes, despite insurers offering less cover.

Faced with rocketing insurance premiums, the archdiocese is proposing to scrap natural disaster cover for most of its churches.

Under the proposal, 43 churches and about 60 community halls between Levin and Westport would be financially unprotected if hit by an earthquake or tsunami.

Major buildings, including Sacred Heart Cathedral and St Mary of the Angels church in Wellington, would retain some quake cover, he said.

But other smaller churches, including the centres of many suburban parishes in the Hutt Valley and Wellington, would not be covered.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: tripadvisor.com
  

The Archbishop of Wellington, John Dew, is the nominal owner of more than 170 parish buildings and more than 220 school buildings with an insured value of $350 million.

Up to 50 church buildings have been labelled earthquake risks. Further detailed assessment is now being carried out on each of these buildings, with all results published online.

Each parish will then decide whether they continue using buildings, with some preferring to make alternative arrangements until strengthening work was done, Mullin said.

The assessment of the earthquake risk for school buildings is assessed through a separate programme run by the Catholic Schools Board.

Catholic Schools Board executive chairman Gary Quirk said five schools in the Wellington archdiocese and the Palmerston North diocese require some work. The cost will be about $10m.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image Sumner Red stickered group