In a display of silence, the John of God Brothers headquarters, based in Rome, did not open the door to Marylands survivor Darryl Smith. Smith, a long-time voice for sexual abuse survivors, was sexually abused as a child while at John of God Brothers residential schools in both New Zealand and Australia. Pleased that finally Read more
A man who suffered sexual abuse as a child at the hands of the Brothers of St John of God is upset. Darryl Smith (pictured) was one of dozens of boys who suffered “extreme abuse and neglect” at Marylands School. Complaints show the school’s abusive reign ran from 1955 to the late 1980s. Now 59, Read more
The head of the Fiji Catholic Church has made an apology for the behaviour of Catholic priests, religious and teachers who allegedly abused Fijian children. Archbishop Peter Loy Chong was responding to a news report on TVNZ by pacific correspondent, Barbara Dreaver. For the last year, 1 NEWS has been investigating claims of historic sexual Read more
A church abuse survivor has supported calls for religious groups to waive victims’ secrecy obligations at Royal Commission hearings. Author Mike Ledingham welcomed Wednesday’s announcement that Crown agencies would lift confidentiality obligations on State care abuse survivors. Simon Mount QC, counsel assisting the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, said he expected churches to Read more
Dunedin sexual abuse survivor, Darryl Smith, has been unsuccessful in his attempt to meet Pope Francis. “We were blocked by the Swiss Guard who dismissed the letter from Bishop Dooley”, writes Spokesman for the Auckland-based Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Institutions, Dr Murray Heasley. Heasley is in Rome with Smith. Writing on Facebook, Heasley reports,”They Read more
Donna Harper is the mother of a survivor of priest abuse, but she still has faith in the Catholic Church. The Nashville native wants to do her part to protect children in her diocese and help other victims and their families overcome some of that animosity she knows well. So, Harper said yes more than 15 years Read more