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“We need to normalise the discussion around male sexual abuse. If we as adults can’t talk about it freely, than how on earth do we expect children to be able to come forward and report it?”
– Ken Clearwater.
Marist Brother continued teaching despite known history of sexual abuse over decades
Evidence has revealed that the Marist Brothers knew one of their members was offending against children over decades, but didn’t prevent him from being around children. One of his victims, who asked to be referred to only as James, described…
Catholic Church has ‘no understanding about trauma and sexual abuse’ – victim
Witnesses at the Abuse in Care Royal Commission have recounted gruelling memories of being abused while in the care of churches. During the week and next week, the Commission is hearing from 25 survivors. The witnesses have agreed to go…
Abused as a boy, man calls for independent investigation
A man who suffered horrific sexual abuse at two Dunedin schools says an independent body should be established to investigate church abuse cases. The man, named only as Marc, presented his evidence to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse…
Abuse victim tells Royal Commission ‘boys at boarding schools are at risk’
A man abused while at a Catholic boarding school in the early 1950s says he is not convinced the church’s approach to dealing with abuse has changed at all. The 81-year old Mr F did not tell anyone of the…
Abuse hearing: Catholic Church told sexual abuse victim that abuse was not criminal, offered him $5000
A former Catholic boarding school student who was abused by a priest says the Catholic Church repeatedly tried to minimise his abuse and deny that it was criminal offending. The former student, now aged 81, was sexually abused by Father…
Upper Hutt sexual abuse victim says abuser was quietly moved to South Island school
A former Catholic boarding school student who was abused by senior staff says one of them was quietly moved to another school in the South Island without being punished. Patrick Cleary died in July, aged 82, before he could give…
Catholic Church abuse survivors describe ‘horrific’ experiences, trauma to Royal Commission
Survivors of abuse at the hands of Catholic clergymen have spoken of their shame, trauma and the struggle to get redress from New Zealand church leaders. The first of 25 witnesses told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in…
Royal Commission told Catholic Church needs to stop honouring paedophiles
A man who was sexually abused as a boy at St Patrick’s College, Silverstream only ever wanted the photographs of his abusers removed from the school’s hall, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has heard. Tina Cleary’s…
Abuse survivor pleads with public to wake up to child abuse
A man who was in both faith-based and state care wants the public to wake up to historical abuse and be concerned that it could still be happening. Darryl Smith, 57, first went into care at the age of seven…
Survivors group calls for independent authority to redress abuse claims
A group representing survivors of abuse while in faith-based care believes victims could die before there is any satisfactory resolution to their claims against churches. The Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based institutions wants an independent authority set up…
Abuse in Care: Catholic Church loses bid to keep names of abusers secret
The Catholic Church has lost its bid to keep the identities of perpetrators and those accused of covering up abuse secret at the upcoming Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry hearing. The hearing, beginning on Monday in Auckland, will…
Survivors prepare for Abuse in Care redress hearings
The chair of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care, Judge Coral Shaw, today declined all but one of the non-publication applications made by lawyers acting for the Catholic Church, the Salvation Army and the Anglican Church. The applications asked…