Heasley is an Auckland-based spokesperson for the Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Institutions and their Supporters.

He was speaking from Rome to the Otago Daily Times' Insight.

"It displayed a tone-deafness and insensitivity to the victims of the most horrific child sex abuse that was particularly unfortunate given the reason for the summit," he said.

Heasley said the only positive to come from events in Rome was a "clear shift" in the narrative, towards the voices of survivors and advocates.

That included a haka performed by Heasley at St Peter's Square, which drew international media attention and sought to show survivors were now "warriors in a battle in which we will prevail".

It also included support from the Ending Clergy Abuse Global (ECAG) group, which endorsed a resolution from Heasley calling on the Vatican to instruct New Zealand's bishops to open all archives to independent scrutiny.

"New Zealand is now squarely in the global spotlight after this Rome summit," Heasley said.

Peter Isely, a spokesperson for ECAG, said groups demanded "concrete" measures and didn't see them, despite the pope promising exactly that.

"Why can't he enact zero-tolerance into church law? He has the power to do that."

There are some who believe at least a little progress has been made. If "zero tolerance" - a phrase with many meanings - means holding bishops accountable for failures to act on abuse allegations, then the meeting demonstrated that real progress is underway."

Source

• odt.co.nz
• commonwealmagazine.org
• Image: screenshot newshub.co.nz

"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 looked at us as if we were crazy, even thinking such a meeting was possible".

Heasley says the Swiss Guard told them that to get an audience with the Pope they had to follow a long and time-consuming protocol.

"It was of no importance that a survivor be given priority in Survivor Week, despite a 40 hour flight from Dunedin", he wrote.

After a demonstration in St Peter's Square with massive international media attendance, (pictured) Smith was interviewed by ABC (Australia).

Smith flew to Rome with a letter of introduction from Dunedin bishop, The Most Reverend Michael Dooley.

Dooley also helped pay for his trip.

Speaking at Auckland Airport before his departure on Tuesday night, Smith said he was both excited and nervous ahead of his long flight.

He expected the nerves would be joined by a feeling of anger as he finally met with church officials at the Vatican.

"It depends what they have to say. If they're negative, I'll tell them what I think of them.

"It's going to be quite a big step to go and see these people and actually talk to them," Smith said.

This last weeks some 190 participants, including New Zealand's Cardinal John Dew, were in Rome at the request of Pope Francis to discuss the sexual abuse crisis engulfing the church.

Sources

• Facebook - Dr Murray Heasley
• CathNews
• Meeting the Protection of Minors in the Church