New Zealand Church vows ‘concrete actions’ against abuse in response to Royal Commission
(Charles Collins. Crux)
Church leaders in New Zealand say they are renewing their “sincere and unconditional apology” to people who suffered abuse in Catholic settings, but must “demonstrate our apology by taking responsibility and through concrete actions.”
New Maori Queen in New Zealand is Catholic
(THE CATHOLIC WORLD. Francesca Pollio Fenton).
The new Maori Queen Kuini Nga wai hono i te po — who is Catholic — leaves the waka (canoe) following her father, Maori king Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, on Sept. 5, 2024, in Hamilton, New Zealand. / Credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images
Bishop John Adams may welcome expelled Christchurch priests
(Cath News New Zealand).
Bishop of Palmerston North John Adams has not ruled out accepting the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer’s priests into his diocese.
(Charles Collins. Crux).
On Wednesday, a commission in New Zealand singled out religious communities — and in particular, the Catholic Church — for failing to address or prevent abuse children and vulnerable adults in care facilities.
Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer claim human rights violated
(Cathnews New Zealand).
The Congregation of The Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer say Bishop Michael Gielen’s orders to expel them from the diocese and prevent them from celebrating sacraments are human rights violations.
A Christchurch-based Catholic order has had its authority removed and its priests have been stripped of their religious faculties, after an investigation by the Vaticaninto allegations of unauthorised exorcisms and spiritual and psychological abuse.
New Zealand bishop expels traditionalist order
(Luke Coppen. The Pillar).
Bishop Michael Gielen announced July 13 that priests of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer — also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists — would no longer be allowed to minister in his Diocese of Christchurch. He said he had also asked all professed community members to leave the diocese, located on New Zealand’s South Island. Gielen, who was appointed Bishop of Christchurch in May 2022, explained that he took the step following an apostolic visitation — a Vatican-ordered inquiry — of the community, led by the retired Australian canon law expert Bishop Robert McGuckin.
(National catholic Register. Ac Wimmer).
A Vatican-led review of an abuse complaint against New Zealand Cardinal John Dew has concluded that no further Church inquiry is required, according to a statement by Archbishop Paul Martin of Wellington provided to CNA on Wednesday. The allegation of historical sexual abuse had been raised against Dew around the time he retired as archbishop of Wellington in May of last year. The archdiocese said on June 5 that New Zealand police had also conducted a lengthy inquiry that led to a decision not to file any charges. The accusations dated back to the 1970s and involved an alleged incident at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Upper Hutt, roughly 20 miles northeast of Wellington, where Dew was serving as an assistant priest at the time. “Cardinal Dew immediately stood aside from all public Church activities while the police investigated the allegations,” Archbishop Martin said. “When the police advised in March that no charges would be laid, Cardinal Dew continued to stand aside while a separate Vatican review proceeded, using the Church’s international procedures for complaints against bishops.”
(CNA. AC Wimmer)
A Vatican-led review of an abuse complaint against New Zealand Cardinal John Dew has concluded that no further Church inquiry is required, according to a statement by Archbishop Paul Martin of Wellington provided to CNA on Wednesday.
The allegation of historical sexual abuse had been raised against Dew around the time he retired as archbishop of Wellington in May of last year.
The archdiocese said on June 5 that New Zealand police had also conducted a lengthy inquiry that led to a decision not to file any charges.
The accusations dated back to the 1970s and involved an alleged incident at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Upper Hutt, roughly 20 miles northeast of Wellington, where Dew was serving as an assistant priest at the time.