Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in New Zealand

There have been a number of Catholic sex abuse cases in New Zealand, linked to Catholic schools.

Cases

The first recorded case was in 1900. Allegations of cruelty toward children residing at the Stoke Industrial School (also known as St Mary's Orphanage) instigated a Royal Commission and the eventual prosecution of two Marist Brothers. Edouard Forrier (Brother Wybertus) was charged with five counts of common assault. They were also charged with five counts of indecent assault of which they were acquitted. The alleged incidents occurred between September 5, 1893 and June 1, 1897.[1]

Marist Father Alan Woodcock abused children at St John's College in Hastings, St Patrick's College in Upper Hutt, Highden in the Manawatu and Futuna in Wellington. After he left the Marist Priesthood and left New Zealand to live in England, he was extradited back to New Zealand and convicted of 21 sex offences committed between 1978 and 1987. The abuse continued despite the knowledge of Father Michael Curtain and Father Fred Bliss.[2] Tracking him down abroad was done with the assistance of the Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth.[3]

John Louis Stevenson (known as Brother Bernard) and Brother Andrew Cody of the Hato Paora Māori Boys school in Feilding were convicted of sexual offenses and jailed.[4][5]

In 2011 a staff member of St Bede's College, Christchurch admitted to being a sex offender before he was employed at that college, but was allowed to remain as a teacher.[6] In 2018, abuse victim advocates called for the resignation of the school's rector for continuing the staff member's employment.[7]

In 2017 and 2018, the issue was raised of Magnus Murray, a Catholic priest, who taught at St Paul's College, Dunedin, until 1972 and was later convicted of child sexual abuse.[8] Allegations were also made against former Christian Brothers Junior School principal, Desmond Fay.[9] Michael Dooley, Bishop of Dunedin, acknowledged the offences of Murray and Fay and apologised for the "suffering endured by victims and their families".[10]

Marylands School

Marylands School, which was operated by the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, a Catholic religious order in Christchurch, was the centre of a number of sex abuse cases. By 2006, the Australasian branch of the St John of God order had paid out $5.1 million to survivors who had been sexually abused at the school.[11] A nonprofit trust, the Survivors of Sex Abuse Trust, worked with many of the victims. Over 120 complaints were made in regard to sexual and physical abuse alleged to have occurred at the school.[12] Many of the offences were committed in the 1970s.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Stoke School Scandal, New Zealand Herald, Vol. XXXVII, Issue 11483, 21 Sept. 1900, 6.
  2. ↑ "Police may go after the clergymen who hid abuse". nzherald.co.nz. 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  3. ↑ Bingham, Eugene (2012). "Sex abuser's sisters bring him home to face justice". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 22 April 2012. Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth
  4. ↑ "Jailed churchman was sexually abused as child". nzherald.co.nz. 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Catholic brother sent to jail for abusing boys". The New Zealand Herald. August 27, 2005.
  6. ↑ 'Teacher stayed working even after admitting abuse' on Otago Daily Times website, 7 September 2018, viewed 19 September 2018
  7. ↑ 'School stays silent amid calls for resignation' on Otago Daily Times website, 19 September 2018, viewed 19 September 2018
  8. ↑ 'Paedophile remains a priest' onOtago Daily Times website dated 2017-08-11, viewed 10 September 2018
  9. ↑ 'Scale of abuse revealed' on Otago Daily Times website, dated 2018-09-07, viewed 2018-09-10
  10. ↑ Letter dated 22 August 2018 by Bishop Michael Dooley, published on Catholic Diocese of Dunedin website; archived on Internet Archive on 2018-09-10.
  11. ↑ Henzell, John (2006-03-17). "Trial attempt to regain faith". The Press. p. 1.
  12. ↑ Martin, Yvonne (2007-06-21). "Fresh allegations against order". The Press.
  • Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust - New Zealand support group
  • Burns, Paul (Feb 24, 2014). "Sexual Abuse by New Zealand Clergy". Site 50. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
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