(ZENIT News / Wellington, 07.25.2024).- On Wednesday, July 24, a New Zealand commission sharply criticized religious communities, particularly the Catholic Church, for their failure to address and prevent abuse of children and vulnerable adults in care facilities. This conclusion came after a six-year investigation by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, which examined cases from 1950 to the present.
The commission’s final report described the abuse as «unimaginable» within both state and religious institutions, revealing that at least 200,000 people had been abused in these care settings over the decades. The report, presented to New Zealand’s Governor-General on June 25 and then to Parliament on July 24, highlighted the lifelong impact of abuse on survivors.
«Abuse and neglect in care have had lifelong consequences for survivors. Many have died under care or committed suicide afterward. For others, the impacts are ongoing and compound daily challenges,» stated Arrun Soma, an advisor to the commission, on July 24.
Soma emphasized that religious institutions had unique factors that contributed to the abuse. «The assumed moral authority and reliability of clergy and religious leaders enabled abusers within these institutions to act with impunity. Religious beliefs were often used to justify the abuse and to silence survivors. Hierarchical and opaque decision-making processes obstructed scrutiny and reporting,» he said.
In faith-based care settings, abuse was often framed as a religious transgression, requiring survivors to forgive their abusers and suppress their anger and guilt. Many abusers were simply relocated and continued their misconduct elsewhere. The report noted that up to 42 percent of individuals in religious care across denominations were victims of abuse.
The Catholic Church in New Zealand acknowledged during a 2020 briefing that allegations had been made against 14 percent of its clergy during the investigation period. The report also called for an investigation into New Zealand and Australian Catholic priests sent to Papua New Guinea after abuse allegations.
Soma criticized the broken state of New Zealand’s care system and called for a comprehensive overhaul to prevent further national catastrophe. He urged religious institutions to withdraw from providing care and adopt transparent national standards and complaint processes in their pastoral care.
In response, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) issued a statement: «We have received a copy of the Final Report and will read and review it carefully. The government has much work to do, and many others, including Church leaders, have a special role in ensuring the findings and recommendations are acted upon.» The statement, signed by Bishop Steve Lowe, NZCBC president, emphasized the Church’s commitment to eradicating abuse and ensuring safe communities.
Over the past 30 years, the Catholic Church in New Zealand has made significant strides in responding to abuse allegations and protecting children’s rights. The Church vows to continue improving and ensuring its communities are safe places.
Soma concluded with a stark reminder of the enduring trauma faced by sexual abuse survivors, impacting their ability to maintain healthy relationships and leading to emotional and psychological isolation. He stressed that everyone in New Zealand must play a role in preventing abuse, ensuring harmful beliefs are challenged, and abusers are identified and stopped.
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