The Royal Commission into historical abuse in state care and faith-based institutions on Tuesday met representatives of organisations responsible for the care of abused children. Tuesday’s hearing was “procedural”. It is the first step in a very long and complex process. The inquiry has grown since its inception to become the largest in New Zealand’s Read more
Sexual abuse perpetrated by Roman Catholic priests has been headline news for years. But even with so much press attention, there are many commonly accepted myths about this issue. Remarkably, quality evidence-based research and facts about the problem doesn’t always receive attention while sensationalized stories that create a particular—but sometimes false—narrative do. This ultimately misinforms Read more
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has established a chapter in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Aotearoa New Zealand chapter, was founded by Dr Christopher Longhurst (pictured), a lecturer in theology at the Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand and survivor of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and brothers. The New Zealand chapter Read more
Some of the ribbons removed from a fence outside Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Onehunga, Auckland have been put back. They had been tied to the fence on Saturday, 1 June to honour survivors of sexual abuse as part of the launch The Catholic Boys which recounts the abuse experience of three brothers Read more
An Argentine bishop who is said to be close to Pope Francis is on trial at the Vatican. He has been accused of sexually abusing seminarians. Francis says he received the results of a preliminary investigation into Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta two weeks ago. As a result, he ordered the case be handed over for trial Read more
Former Dunedin priest Magnus (Max) Murray has been removed from the priesthood following a formal church judicial process. While some have welcomed the laicisation, others say it’s too little and too late. Read more
Victims of a paedophile priest from Dunedin are pleased Father Magnus Murray had been laicised. The Catholic Bishop of Hamilton Steve Lowe said he laicisation had been “a complicated process because of Murray’s age and health”.. Continue reading
Poland is planning to double jail terms for convicted paedophiles after a documentary on priest sex abuse sparked outrage in the country. The documentary includes harrowing testimonies from victims and has been viewed more than 18 million times. Convicted paedophiles could now face up to 30 years or even life in prison. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Read more
Five sexual abuse victims of priests will sue the Vatican to get names and details of the priests involved, an attorney for the group says. The lawsuit in the US federal court aims to compel the Vatican to open its archives and “release all the identities of thousands of offenders known exclusively by the Vatican Read more
Survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of clergymen are outraged three senior bishops attended a funeral celebrating the life of an abusive priest. In 2003, Laffey admitted he had sexually assaulted Mike Phillips in the mid 1960s, when Phillips was a 13-year-old altar boy at St Mary of the Angels Church in Wellington. Laffey retired from his Read more