They said that some of the earlier responses and solutions were ill-advised and had devastating consequences. Along with the sins and crimes of the priests, religious and lay workers, they are left full of shame.

The bishops said they have heard how the response of Church leaders was inadequate, inappropriate and, in many cases, added to survivors' grief and trauma.

Renewing their sincere and unconditional apology to victims of abuse in the Catholic Church, the bishops acknowledged that words can never replace what was stolen or fully restore what was destroyed - and to this end they continue to reflect on the lessons of the Royal Commission.

Looking back, the bishops say they cannot change the past, but they can help shape the future.

The Sunday assembly also engaged in a Litany of Lament.

Shaping the future

"Starting from the place of shame and disgrace, but emboldened by hope, we as the faith community must continue working to ensure that history does not repeat itself" the bishops wrote.

They say they have made significant changes to their procedures and protocols, the prime among them being that the police are best placed to investigate criminal allegations.

They also pledge to work closely with survivors, stating "We honour them for their courage" and that they are "striving to create better opportunities to assist those who have been harmed". They have learned that "safeguarding is everyone's responsibility".

The bishops conclude their letter by quoting from Pope Francis - "Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient.

"Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated."

PM's historic appology

The NZ Bishops' statement follows on from last week's historic apology by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, acknowledging the abuse suffered by survivors in state and faith-based care, marking a significant step toward healing for many affected.

The Prime Minister's emotional apology underlines a national commitment to accountability and reform.

Source

• NZ Catholic Bishops Conference (supplied)

The idea doesn't make sense to them.

What price community good?

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki (pictured left) doesn't think much of the tax reform suggestion.

The current tax law - which exempts churches from paying taxes - reflects the good that churches do in the community, he says.

"You've got to wonder where his [Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's] head space is, because a lot of churches pick up the mess that dysfunctional governments leave in society" he told NewsHub.

Tamaki says Destiny Church's social programmes are run without Government help and have a positive impact.

"When you think about it, he's going to tax that or he's going to tax our income, I think that's what he's talking about.

"I'm going to send him a big bill at the end of every year charging all the cost that we're doing for free."

Other Christian church leaders are also up in arms.

Chris Bethwait, who is chair of the InterChurch Bureau explains.

"There's probably some perceptions out there that churches have a free ride, and aren't doing much good in the community, so why should they not pay taxes or rates?" he says.

"It would be good to have the conversation and maybe a little bit more known about what churches actually do in the community."

Why tax churches?

Some say not taxing churches is "an ungodly law".

They argue that churches going tax- and rates-free when Joe Public pays up is wrong.

Luxon (pictured right) is "actually quite open to that consideration.

"I've actually been thinking through the broader dimension of our charitable taxation regimes" he says.

Under New Zealand law, churches are exempt from paying tax but Luxon has left the door open for changes.

"We will certainly be looking at things like that this term, yep."

For now though, he says church tax reform is "not a focus".

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is also in favour of taxing churches. They don't pay rates, he says.

Under the Rating Act, religious organisations are exempt. That should change, Brown says.

"Everybody that we provide services to, which are pipes and water and roads and footpaths and rubbish collections and all those things, everybody that uses them should pay for them."

Tamaki says Destiny's Auckland headquarters does pay rates as the property is leased.

If the city's rating law did change though, other churches in Auckland - some of them on expensive sites - may find themselves with annual rates bills.

Source

• NewsHub