New Zealand

Vatican and Christchurch bishop strip authority from Catholic order The Sons after unauthorised exorcisms

(Michael Morrah. The New Zealand Herald).

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

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.

Vatican Clears New Zealand Cardinal John Dew of Abuse Allegations

(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.”

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Vatican clears New Zealand Cardinal John Dew of abuse allegations

(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. 

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