On 27 September, in the most detailed statement to date from any Church or the State, Catholic Church leaders expressed deep regret and committed to concrete actions to address the systemic failures that contributed to the abuse.

"We are deeply sorry to victims and survivors, as well as their whanau" stated Bishop Steve Lowe, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, and Fr Tom Rouse, President of the Congregational Leaders Council.

"We know that words alone are not enough; we must demonstrate our apology by taking responsibility and through concrete actions."

Tight timeline

The Royal Commission's final report required responses within a tight two-month timeline.

While accepting 70 percent of the Commission's findings, the Church could not fully accept some.

Acknowledging the timeline constraints, Lowe and Rouse said that the Church would continue assessing the findings and provide a more comprehensive response in due course.

Church use of psychological assessment

One critical area highlighted in the report was the Church's reliance on psychiatric evaluations to determine whether abusers could be rehabilitated.

While the Church agreed that reliance on psychiatric advice led to some offenders being reassigned to new roles, it defended this practice as being "best practice" at the time.

The Church admitted that "with hindsight, much of the professional psychiatric advice it received was incorrect".

However, the Church notes that it continues to recognise that medical professionals' opinions remain part of the process in contemporary responses to professional misconduct or abuse.

Forgiveness over safeguarding

The report also criticised the Church's tendency to prioritise forgiveness over safeguarding and accountability.

The Church acknowledged that there was a tendency to regard abusive behaviour as a "moral failure" rather than recognising its psycho-sexual nature.

Statistics differ

In its report, the Royal Commission stated that a higher proportion of survivors were in faith settings than in State care.

The religious leaders disputed some statistical claims, particularly the 'higher proportion' claim.

"Our own research presents a different perspective" the Church stated, underlining a discrepancy in the interpretation of data.

It said further work would need to be done to make an adequate comparative analysis.

Inadequate training

The Church acknowledged its historical failures in training those responsible for the care of children and vulnerable adults.

It admitted that inadequate training and a lack of understanding contributed to the harmful environment in the past.

However, by the 1990s, the Church began actively encouraging disclosures of abuse and, more recently, mandatory police vetting and safeguarding training have been implemented for all those involved with children and vulnerable adults.

Power imbalance

In response to the Commission's finding that there is a power imbalance between religious, clergy and parishioners, the Church acknowledged this.

It noted an imbalance is inherent in the relationship between clergy and parishioners, particularly during the period examined by the Inquiry.

Slow to change

In response to the Royal Commission's criticism that the Church was slow to implement changes to prevent abuse, Lowe and Rouse pointed out that some Catholic entities were "developing responses and implementing changes on par with or even ahead of state-based institutions".

They reiterated their commitment to addressing past failures and improving current practices to ensure accountability and healing.

Lowe and Rouse echoed recent comments from Palmerston North Bishop John Adams that the Church had made changes.

They reinforced the Church's pledge to be part of a broader, community-wide effort to use the report's findings as a catalyst for change.

Source

• Supplied NZCBC

Lead Coordination Minister Erica Stanford says it's critically important Government "gets it right" and the apology is well-run, survivors are reimbursed and support services are available. Continue reading

Te Ropu Tautoko, the body established to manage the Church's dealings with the Royal Commission, has initiated an anonymous electronic feedback process that is accessible from anywhere in the world.

This initiative comes as the commission's activities are set to conclude this June, with Tautoko preparing a comprehensive handover report for the Church leaders.

Tautoko is eager to incorporate feedback that represents a diverse range of perspectives on the Catholic Church's engagement with the Royal Commission, and it is looking for input that is crucial in shaping the Church's response.

The survey is designed to be completely anonymous, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their relationship with the Church, can share their views without any fear of reprisal.

Tautoko's report however will be public, offering a glimpse into the Church's introspection and response to the Royal Commission's findings.

As the Royal Commission's deadline approaches, the effectiveness of Tautoko's management of the feedback process and its impact on the Church's approach to addressing past abuses remain under scrutiny.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether the Church's actions along with the State and other faith-based organisations will foster healing and trust within the wider community.

Participate in the anonymous feedback.

Sources

• Supplied: NZCBC
• Tautoko

The church has accused the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care of wilfully "miscasting" its religion and ignoring evidence showing why it should be excluded from the inquiry.OK

In June, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses Australasia, which oversees 170 New Zealand congregations, filed for a judicial review to exempt itself from the inquiry, arguing it does not have historical abuse cases within the inquiry's scope.

The inquiry's scope was expanded to include faith-based institutions in November 2018 after lobbying from religious groups and survivors. The Jehovah's Witness faith is the only group to oppose being involved. Continue reading

She notes, "with immense sadness, the vast scale of abuse against children by clergy in the French Catholic Church since 1950, which was revealed by an independent inquiry in France.

"It is deeply unsettling to hear, yet again, that so many young people were victims of people in positions of power over them, including spiritual power.

"We are concerned that institutions that are trusted to care for the vulnerable have caused them so much physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual harm by abusing their immense power.

"This is an issue that is very relevant in Aotearoa New Zealand too.

"Our Royal Commission is currently investigating the abuse and neglect of children and others in the care of the Catholic Church and other faith-based institutions."

Pope Francis expressed sadness and shame on Wednesday in response to a report estimating that 216,00 of children were abused by Catholic clergy and laypeople in France over the past 70 years.

Reports estimate between 2,900 and 3,200 people committed the abuse. While the majority of abuse was carried out by Catholic Clergy, one-third of the abuse was conducted by laypeople.

22 cases of alleged crimes have been forwarded to prosecutors and more than 40 cases have been forwarded to Church officials because the alleged offences are too old to prosecute.

Sources:

• Voxy
• APNews
• America

Principal of Pompallier College, Whangarei, Richard Stanton told RNZ, Friday, that a former pupil approached him saying he had been raped by a priest at the college in the late 1970's early 1980's.

The former pupil did not name the priest, but Stanton did the maths and feels confident enough to name Fr Phillip Roberts.

Stanton also alleges the provincial of the Society of Mary at that time, moved Roberts from St Augustines College, Wanganui, to Pompallier College with the knowledge he had offended previously.

"It seems they had clear knowledge of the abuse, so why was he moved to our school?," The NZ Herald reports Stanton as saying.

"I assume it was known back then of his abuse while he was at St Augustine's, before he was moved here", Stanton said.

Pompallier College celebrates its 50th Jubilee in June on Queen's Birthday weekend.

The NZ Herald understands the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care has at least one complaint of abuse by Roberts.

When pressed by RNZ on Friday, the current provincial of the Society of Mary, Fr Tim Duckworth said: "All documents and other matters related to abuse by priests in the Society of Mary have been provided to the Royal Commission for Abuse in Care, in accordance with requests from the Commission.

"I will not be commenting in the media about matters before the Royal Commission."

At the Royal Commission Duckworth urged survivors with information about sexual abuse to come forward.

"I think that in all spheres of abuse, only some people come forward.

"And whether we've got the tip of the iceberg, or half of the iceberg, or whatever percentage of the iceberg... to those people who have found it too difficult to come forward, I would say that if it is a member of the Society of Mary, I really do sincerely apologise if you have never come to us. If you want to come now, at any stage, come."

Duckworth urged people to go to a counsellor to go to the police, go to a lawyer and get help to come forward.

In her closing submission to the Royal Commission, Sally McKechnie, Counsel for the Catholic Church borrowed a phrase from the Salvation Army, telling the Commission that the Catholic Church's leaders in New Zealand are not going to "duck and weave" the issue of sexual abuse.

The Society of Mary's sexual abuse contact person is Judy McCormack. Abuse complaints can be referred to Mrs McCormack on 021 909 749.

Sources

• RNZ
• NZ Herald

Where to get help

• If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline Safe to Talk on: 0800 044 334 or text 4334. (available 24/7)
• Better Blokes which provides peer support throughout Auckland, including a specific Pacific group.
• Male Survivors Aotearoa offers a range of confidential support at centres across New Zealand - find your closest one here.
• Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata: 0800 94 22 94 (available 11am - 8pm)
• If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.