Posts Tagged ‘Sexual abuse’

Vulnerable adult definition clarified by Vatican

Thursday, February 8th, 2024
Vulnerable adult

The Vatican has narrowed the definition of cases directly overseen by its main doctrinal office, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. On January 30, the dicastery announced that it would specifically investigate and judge cases involving individuals “who habitually have an imperfect use of reason.” This announcement delineates the jurisdiction of the doctrinal Read more

New online technologies putting Kiwi kids at risk of sexual abuse

Thursday, November 23rd, 2023

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

Beatitudes Community – probe into troubled past

Monday, November 13th, 2023
Community of the Beatitudes

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, 2023

New 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 - sexual abuse

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
NZ Catholic bishops

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

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