Longhurst's comments, reported in the widely read publication La Croix International, are strongly critical of the very people from whom he receives his daily bread.

New Zealand's Catholic bishops employ him to teach at Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College.

He is also the leader of SNAP - the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Citing numerous broken promises, inadequate responses and apparent lack of accountability, Longhust (pictured) says "They [the bishops] have brought great shame on the New Zealand Catholic Church".

He says the bishops are overlooking the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care and adds that its final report, which shows their lack of accountability and transparency in responding to pervasive abuse, merits serious condemnation.

"Given such a finding, perhaps it would be best for the local Church and New Zealand society if those church leaders, the bishops, tendered their resignations to the pope" he says.

The problem is longstanding and is not just about the current leaders, Longhurst points out.

He says 22 years ago, a bishops' pastoral letter on abuse said "We give you an assurance of our commitment to confront this problem with openness and transparency".

Despite this assurance, the Inquiry found the Catholic bishops did not honour this commitment.

"Evidently they are not capable of making the required changes" Longhurst says.

"By such repetitive misbehaviour, they are keeping us all at risk, endangering more children and vulnerable people in the care of New Zealand's Catholic Church.

"Therefore, they themselves must be changed. They must resign."

Episcopal accountability

After publication of the Royal Commission's final report, the Catholic bishops promised "to ensure that the findings and recommendations of this significant Inquiry are not lost or confined to words in a report" Longhurst explains.

Longhurst has accused the bishops and congregational leaders of a lack of transparency.

He says he has had no response from the bishops.

Survivors appeal

Catholic survivors in New Zealand have appealed to Pope Francis three times since 2022 to ask him to hold the bishops to account.

They also asked him to respect his own calls for openness and transparency in dealing with survivors' complaints.

In addition, they asked Francis to help dismantle what they continue to call the local church's system of coverup and denial that is harming so many people.

So far they have not had a reply.

Source

• La Croix

The century-old St Colomba Centre at 40 Vermont St, with its high ceilings and timber floors, once a Marist Brothers primary school full of rich history is now the academic home for seminarians and those looking for Catholic tertiary qualifications in New Zealand.

The Catholic Theological College - Te Kupenga is New Zealand's sole tertiary provider of Catholic theological, ministry and religious education qualifications.

It offers programmes of study towards a

• Bachelor of Divinity
• Graduate Diploma in Theology
• Diploma in Christian Studies
• Graduate Certificate in Christian Leadership and Catholic Culture
• Certificate in Personal Interest.

The Catholic Theological College - Te Kupenga also offers a Safeguarding course for those working in Catholic organisations.

The Friday 13th celebrations which included Mass and a procession marked the move from the former Good Shepherd College on Ponsonby Road.

"It has been a long journey and we are most grateful for all the support and direction of the NZ bishops and the Te Kupenga Governance Board," says College Dean Dr John Evangelista.

Among those present were the Bishop of Auckland, Steve Lowe, Archbishop Paul Martin, Bishop Michael Gielen, Bishop-emeritus Patrick Dunn and Catholic Theological College - Te Kupenga faculty and staff.

The Bishop of Auckland, Steve Lowe, blessed the new campus.

Those who work at the College are very positive about the change from the old premises.

"Everyone is looking forward to welcoming back the students at the new campus," says Assistant Dean Fr Merv Duffy SM.

The Catholic Theological College had outgrown its old site.

The College serves a Catholic community of more than 470,000 including 237 Catholic schools educating 70,000 New Zealand children.

Its core task is to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for ministry in the New Zealand Catholic Church and to teach Religious Education in New Zealand Catholic schools.

The College's predecessors - Good Shepherd College and The Catholic Institute - left Catholic Theological College - Te Kupenga a legacy of resources including the century-old Marist Fathers' Colin library for for ministry and leadership formation.

Source

• CTC (supplied)
• Te Kupenga
  

Dr John Evangelista (pictured with his wife, Tina) is described as an active Catholic who has had a strong involvement in the Church both locally and overseas.

He was educated as a medical doctor and has 25 years' experience in senior management roles in the healthcare sector.

Evangelista will take up his new position at the College next month.

The New Zealand Bishops' Conference, which unanimously approved the appointment, says as Dean, Evangelista will lead the College.

The College is one of the three agencies within Te Kupenga-Catholic Leadership Institute.

It has replaced Good Shepherd College and The Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand providing courses for seminarians, and anyone who wants to study theological disciplines at a tertiary level.

"I am very excited that a person of Dr Evangelista's calibre has agreed to take on this position and look forward to his contributions to our mahi, especially in casting the net - te kupenga - far and wide so that we connect to communites across Aotearoa", Te Kupenga Chief Executive Dr Areti Metuamate says.

"We have some outstanding staff and students in the college, and Dr Evangelista is well positioned to support them and bring his own expertise and experience, taking the college to the next level."

While the Catholic Theological College has staff across New Zealand, Evangelista will be based at the Auckland campus. He will be supported in his role directly by the two Heads of Program, Rev Dr Merv Duffy SM (Level 7), and Ms Susan Wilson (Levels 5 and 6).

Until now, Duffy - one of New Zealand's preeminent Catholic theologians - has been the College's Interim Dean.

Metuamate says Duffy was "an outstanding interim Dean [who] ...made a significant contribution to theological education in Aotearoa, and he continues to be an outstanding scholar and wildly popular teacher in the College. We are very fortunate that we will continue to have Pa Merv playing a key role in the College."

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
• Image: New Zealand Now

Te Kupenga was formed on January 1 by the merger of Good Shepherd College and The Catholic Institute.

Metuamate attended Hato Paora College. He graduated from Victoria University of Wellington and the Australian National University, where his PhD was in Pacific leadership.

He has held advisory and leadership roles in both the public and tertiary education sectors, most recently as dean of St Mark's College in Adelaide, South Australia.

Metuamate has recently returned to Wellington from Adelaide with his wife, Dr Jessa Rogers-Metuamate, a distinguished indigenous academic, educator and artist from Australia's Wiradjuri peoples.

Her international research has included working with students of St Joseph's Maori Girls' College in Napier.

Te Kupenga has three operating units - Catholic Theological College (for tertiary courses and qualifications), National Centre for Religious Studies, and the Nathaniel Centre for Catholic Bioethics.

Metuamate says he is honoured to have been appointed and excited to be back home after a decade in Australia.

"My wife and I are expecting a son to be born in March, and being based amongst whanau is important for us.

It feels like the right time to return home to bring the learning and experience I have gained after 10 years working in Australian universities and organisations," said Metuamate.

"The opportunity to play a leadership role in shaping Te Kupenga and ensuring it connects and appeals to more of our people is also a key motivation for me."

NZ Catholic Bishops Conference president Bishop Patrick Dunn is delighted with the appointment.

"Dr Metuamate has emerged as the best candidate from a rigorous selection process. He is a personable and capable man, with the vision, energy and relationship skills needed to get the new organisation up and running," said Bishop Dunn.

"Areti's appointment will help drive visibility and growth for Te Kupenga among Maori, Pasifika, younger people and other important communities within our increasingly diverse Church and society," added Dunn.

"He will bring a contemporary style and quality of leadership to a new organisation that seeks to engage the Catholic and wider communities in ways that are authentic and resonant for our time."

Source
Supplied David McLoughlin
Communications Adviser, NZ Catholic Bishops
Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa