Church leaders to give evidence at Royal Commission on Abuse in Care

Representatives of Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian churches and leaders of the Salvation Army will give evidence later this month at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

They will be asked to explain their processes for resolving historic and current abuse claims and to respond to survivors’ evidence.

The Inquiry’s second phase, which is set to run from 15 to 29 March, will focus specifically on the senior clergy’s evidence.

The Inquiry’s first phase was held late last year.

It focused on survivors’ experience in seeking redress for abuse and/or neglect while they were in the care of faith-based institutions.

The Commission into Abuse in Care has issued a public hearing timetable and witness summaries for the faith-based witnesses.

Monday 15 March
10.00am: Opening statement – The Salvation Army.
10.30am: Colonel Gerry Walker is the Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army in New Zealand.

Tuesday 16th March
10.00am: Murray Houston is the Commercial Manager for The Salvation Army and the Manager of the Royal Commission Response.

Wednesday 17th March
10.00am: Murray Houston (continued)
11.45am Opening statements – The Anglican Church and relevant Core Participants
1.00pm Bishop Bay the Bishop of Auckland

Thursday 18th March
10.00am: Bishop Bay (continued)
11.20am: Bishop Carrell is the Bishop of Christchurch

Friday 19th March
10.00am: Archbishop Richardson has been a Bishop of the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki since 2008. From 2013 he has been the Archbishop of New Zealand and one of the primates of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia/Te Hahi Mihinare ki Aotearoa ki Niu Tireni, ki Nga Moutere o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa.

Monday 22nd March
10.00am: Archbishop Tamihere, Archbishop Fereimi Cama and Archbishop Richardson (the Primates)

3.30pm Opening Statement – Catholic Church and any relevant Core Participants

Tuesday 23 March
9.00am Reverend Dr. Thomas P. Doyle via Audio Visual Link from the United States
Dr Doyle is an ordained Catholic priest, cannon lawyer and addictions therapist.

2:30pm Br Peter Horide is a religious brother in the Marist Brothers.

Wednesday 24 March
10:00am: Br Peter Horide (continued)
11:30am: Virginia Noonan is the Director of the National Office for Professional Standards (NOPS).

Thursday 25 March
10:00am: Fr Timothy Duckworth is the Provincial of the New Zealand province of the Society of Mary (often known as the Marist Fathers and Brothers).

Friday 26 March
10:00am: Cardinal John Dew is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand.

Monday 29 March
10:00am: Closing addresses – all Core Participants

The hearing will be open to the public, provided Covid-19 Alert Levels allow. It will be livestreamed with links provided at the Royal Commission’s website.

The hearing will be postponed at Alert Levels 3 and 4.

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