NZ bishops apologise to abuse victims

Sydney
7 July 2002

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NZ bishops apologise to abuse victims

nzbi The president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Peter Cullinane, Bishop of Palmerston North

New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have expressed “our deepest regret” in their apology for 38 cases of sexual abuse by Church officers in the past 50 years.

“The deepening realisation of the number of cases of sexual abuse perpetrated by priests or religious is a cause of grief and shame to all of us,” they said in a pastoral letter.

“The betrayal of trust and the harm that has been done, especially to the young and the vulnerable fills us … with a deep sense of sadness and betrayal.

“Jesus had exceptionally harsh words for those who offended against the innocence of children.”

Priests and lay members in positions of authority are named in the 38 cases of sexual abuse which are claimed to have been perpetrated against children and teenagers, as well as against adults receiving care from the Church.

Some of those named have been accused in more than one of the 38 cases.

The bishops said: “The overwhelming number of our clergy and religious are people of integrity, whose dedicated and generous service to God and the Church is beyond question.

“They are a blessing to all of us.

“Together with the laity they are suffering in spirit because of the same sense of betrayal.

“The past we cannot change.

“However, with hindsight we deplore past mistakes, especially those that were made by ourselves or by our predecessors in handling complaints of sexual abuse.

“To those who are victims of abuse, and to their families, we express our deepest regret and most sincere apology.

“We pledge our commitment to assist the healing of those who have been abused.”

This was the focus, they said, of the procedures they had put in place for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse.

The recently revised procedures - A Path to Healing – call for a prompt response and assistance to complainants, and provide protection and safety for the community from further offending.

They respect the right of any complainant who wants complete confidentiality and offer assistance to anyone who wants to take a complaint to the police.

The bishops said: “As we give you an assurance of our commitment to confront this problem with openness and transparency, we ask for your support and your prayers.

“We know that evil can be overcome, for St Paul assures us, ‘Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more’. (Romans 5:20)

“Let us pray for all whose lives have been blighted by sexual abuse.

“Their healing is our priority.

“And let us not forget to pray for those who have offended, that they may repent and be made whole again in the grace of Christ.”

Fr Tim Duckworth of the Society of Mary, New Zealand’s largest order of priests, also issued an unreserved apology “on behalf of brother priests and religious fore the hurt that has been done.”

He said the Church’s former policy of moving known offenders to other parishes or schools, rather than removing them from their duties, was a mistake.

Catholic communications director Lyndsay Freer said the repeat nature of offenders was not understood in the past, and a change in attitude had now occurred.

Under new Church policies, she said, any known paedophiles will be removed from their duties and victims will be strongly recommended to take criminal complaints to the police.

The St John of God Brothers, who used to run a residential home in Christchurch for boys with learning disabilities, have acknowledged making payments totalling about $NZ300,000 to five complainants.

The Catholic Church currently has 596 priests and 172 brothers in NZ.