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Several of New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are pushing for widespread background checks, with a focus on anyone who works with children.
In the Archdiocese of Wellington anyone who works or volunteers for the church and will have to undergo a fresh check every three years.
Wellington archdiocese Director of Projects and Administration, Dave Mullin, said the changes were about transparency rather than any concerns about abuse within the church community.
“Obviously we are most concerned about people who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults,” he said.
He said hundreds of people in the diocese had already been tested since the changes were introduced in May this year; so far, no previous convictions or other problematic behaviour had been uncovered among church staff, priests or volunteers.
If any convictions or other concerns were uncovered it would be up to individual parishes to make a decision on what response should be taken.
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