New Zealand’s law enforcement agencies say the internet is increasingly putting kids at risk of of online sexual exploitation. New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Police and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) work in partnership to identify child victims and target offenders involved in the online sexual abuse of children, in New Zealand and Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Sexual abuse’
Beatitudes Community – probe into troubled past
Monday, November 13th, 2023
The Beatitudes Community’s murky past is under the spotlight. A series of scandals has been casting a shady light on some members. The Community, which has links to New Zealand, is a 50-year-old French Catholic group. It was inspired by the Catholic Charismatic movement Located in Leithfield, North Canterbury, the Beatitudes Community is in the Read more
Israel-Hamas war: NZ Human Rights Commission urges reporting of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism
Thursday, October 19th, 2023New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission has urged people to report any instances of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism or other discrimination as the conflict rages between Israel and Hamas. It comes after reports of disorder at Auckland War Memorial Museum when a small number of Palestinian sympathisers gathering to rally against the building being lit up in Israeli Read more
Synodal church must be more accountable
Thursday, October 12th, 2023
The ongoing synod on synodality is an opportunity for the church leadership to become more accountable towards sexual abuse cases, increase laity participation, and bring more transparency within the Catholic Church, says an expert. “A synodal Church is a listening Church… but it needs to go a step further: a synodal Church is an accountable Read more
Celibacy – not a direct cause of sexual abuse
Monday, October 2nd, 2023
Celibacy is not a direct cause of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. The comments come from Hans Zollner SJ, a distinguished psychologist with a doctorate in theology. He made the comments in an interview with Infovaticana. “Celibacy is not a direct cause of abuse; what can become a risk factor is a ministry poorly Read more
Church leadership not delivering – victims left wounded
Monday, October 2nd, 2023
In what some call a scathing statement, the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors blasted Church leadership for not delivering on sexual abuse prevention outcomes. The Commission is condemning Church leadership for its glaring failures to prevent abuse. Established by Pope Francis in 2014, the commission has pledged to push church authorities for Read more
John of God Brothers Rome – no open door to NZ survivor
Monday, October 2nd, 2023
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
NZ Catholic bishops promote open informed life discussions
Thursday, September 28th, 2023
In a significant move, the NZ Catholic bishops are promoting open and informed life discussion through a modernised and broadened document, Te Kahu o te Ora – A Consistent Ethic of Life. The modernisation seeks to fill a twenty-six-year gap and reflect some of the modern challenges. Dr John Kleinsman, director of the NZ Catholic Read more
Archbishop Martin does not expect women priests in his lifetime
Thursday, September 7th, 2023
Women priests are unlikely to become a reality in the Catholic Church during his lifetime, says retired Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin. Martin (78) also discussed clergy sexual abuse and policies of the Church, including the ban on condoms during the AIDS crisis. “I’d be very worried about consultations, which lead to frustrated expectations which Read more
Sexual abuse survivor says Catholic offer of help ‘two-faced’
Thursday, August 31st, 2023
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