MEDIA RELEASE

Nationwide New Zealand
2 September 2024

New Zealand Catholic Church Suppresses Abuse Report

Catholic Church leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand have refused to fully disclose an independent report on how they have handled abuse complaints.

Survivors of abuse by Catholic priests say the Church’s refusal to release the independent GCPS assessment report into its complaints process is another coverup.

Earlier this year, at the request of survivors of child sexual assault by Catholic priests in New Zealand, senior clerics of the New Zealand Catholic Church, Bishop Stephen Lowe and Rev. Thomas Rouse, committed to having the Church’s complaints process and compliance with policy independently assessed.

In late July this year, the GCPS assessment report called Te Aromatawai mo nga Paerewa Tiaki Tikanga, An Assessment of the Implementation of the Safeguarding Culture Standards of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, was given to the church group Te Rōpū Tautoko which coordinated the New Zealand Catholic Church’s response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.

A summary of the report published on Te Rōpū Tautoko’s website last month revealed serious deficiencies within the Church’s handling of complaints. The deficiencies included the failure of the Church’s Professional Standards Office (NOPS) to adhere to the principles of its complaints protocol “A Path to Healing.”

However, while the Summary stated, “the assessment identified some evidence to support this,” no evidence was provided in that Summary.

For immediate release 

August 29, 2024

We are troubled an accused priest is conducting youth retreats. Although Canada isn't bound by the Dallas Charter, all priests should be. We ask his order and Canadian church officials to forbid this public ministry. Suppressing him will support those who have alleged harm caused by him. Fr. Thomas Rosica was the principal organizer of the 2002 World Youth Day, a Vatican advisor and media attaché, and was a fixture in Catholic media and television for nearly two decades, before his prominence was stalled by 2019 reports of widespread plagiarism. The priest was also a high-profile participant in the Vatican’s 2019 global abuse summit, convened by Pope Francis, where he urged that the problem of clerical sexual abuse not be “ignored.”

https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/rosica-faces-sexual-assault-lawsuit

CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board of Directors President, Interim Executive Director  ([email protected], 814- 341-8386) 

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For Immediate Release August 15, 2024 

Press Conference:  Wyndham Hotel NRG Houston, Texas. 2 pm Friday, August 16^th. SNAP, www.snapnetwork.org, is proud to host our annual conference this weekend at Wyndham Hotel NRG Houston, TX.

The conference runs from August 16th to 18th. This event allows us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We are so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and hear powerful messages from keynote speakers such as Cindy Clemshire. Cindy is the courageous Baptist survivor who last month told The Wartburg Watch that Dallas megachurch founder and pastor, Robert Morris, began sexually abusing her on Christmas Day, 1982, when she was only 12 years old. Cindy said that the assaults continued for four-and-a-half years. Although this was not the first time Cindy had spoken out, the blog piece launched a media storm that ultimately resulted in Pastor Morris stepping down from his pulpit.

Cindy has transformed her experiences into a powerful mission to educate others about grooming and the prevention of sexual abuse. She is a passionate advocate for changing laws to eliminate the statute of limitations for sexual abuse victims, making these changes retroactive to ensure justice for all.

Through the great work to make our conference and network a success, we are continuing our mission for survivor voices. Our work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors continues as we gather this weekend.

Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.

As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, please share the great work SNAP does to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.

CONTACT: Eduardo Lopez de Casa, SNAP Board of Directors, SNAP Houston ([email protected], 832-641-6319); Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board of Directors President, Interim Executive Director  ([email protected], 814- 341-8386) 

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For immediate release: August 8, 2024

UNRECONCILED, a one-man show written by Jay Sefton and Mark Basquill and performed by Jay, will be premiering in Belfast, Ireland, on August 9, 10, and 11. The production will take place at the Cultúrlann Theatre as part of the Féile an Phobail. Ticket details can be found here.

The play depicts the true story of an adolescent actor cast as Jesus in a school play directed by a priest. The story chronicles a survivor’s journey as he confronts his past and discovers the courage to use his voice and redefine what reconciliation means.

You can read more about the production here. Rave reviews from the American production can be found at this link as well as this one.

Our European Coordinator, Marc Artzrouni, will be representing SNAP at the premiere in Belfast. Following the show there will be a Question and Answer with Jay and Marc. 

CONTACT: Marc Artzrouni, SNAP Europe, ([email protected], +33 - 6 95 73 65 92), Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 814- 341-8386) 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

For immediate release: August 7, 2024

Dozens of Missouri clerics were sued for child sexual abuse last month. But, apparently Bishop James V. Johnston did not ask a single staffer to see if any of those clerics are or were in his diocese. That seems astonishingly irresponsible to us. Yet it is sadly very typical of the callous and reckless way he and so many other Catholic officials treat serious reports of horrific crimes.

Even now, in his vague, terse announcement that Deacon Ralph Wehner has been suspended, Bishop Johnston refuses to clearly admit that this is the same man who reportedly molested a St. Louis boy at least three times.

Kansas City Catholics, especially those at Good Counsel Parish (where Deacon Wehner's been working) should be outraged. They should carefully ask their kids if the deacon ever did or said anything that made them uncomfortable, and report any suspicions or knowledge of wrongdoing- however slight - to law enforcement immediately.

CONTACT: David Clohessy, SNAP Missouri ([email protected], 314-566-9790), Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 814- 341-8386) 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

For immediate release: August 5, 2024

During his brief tenure in Rhode Island, Bishop Richard Henning has done absolutely nothing to show that he will be any different or better on abuse than any US bishop anywhere. 

Bishop Henning has been in Rhode Island for a year, and we in the survivor community have heard nothing of substance from or about him regarding abusive priests or their victims.

We can assume he agrees with his predecessors and Rhode Island church lobbyists who have fought long and hard against reforming predator-friendly state laws. In fact, besides Rhode Island Catholic officials, the only group that opposed these legislative reforms has been insurance companies.

With church lobbyist, Rev. Bernard Healey, as his public voice in the State House urging legislators to block survivor-friendly bills, most child sexual abuse victims in Rhode Island are denied a chance to expose their perpetrators in court.  That, of course, leaves innocent children vulnerable to horrific crimes. 

For Immediate Release

Aotearoa New Zealand, 31 July 2024

No ‘Zero Appetite’ For Culture Of Abuse In New Zealand Catholic Church

Survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests demand more than Catholic Bishop of Palmerston North John Adams' faith-based assertions that he “believes there has been a culture change” in the Church. (Stuff, July 30)

Bishop Adams knows he has currently at least one priest in ministry under church investigation, contradicting his talk of “zero appetite for abuse”.

At least two Palmerston North senior clergyman accused of sexual assault, one of a child and one of a young man, are still in active ministry and being protected today by Bishop Adams.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in Aotearo regards the Bishop's attempts at marketing a new and improved Catholic Church as mere spin.

For Immediate Release July 25, 2024

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Missouri volunteer director of SNAP, 314 566 9790, [email protected]

We commend these wounded survivors for their courageous efforts to protect kids by exposing clergy who commit and conceal heinous crimes against children.

We are very grateful to them because any information about clergy sex crimes and cover ups is an immense gift to parents, police, prosecutors, parents, parishioners and the public. Girls and boys are safer now because these victims are speaking up and filing suits.

We’re not surprised that dozens more victims are now finding the strength to step forward and seek justice. It’s long been obvious that hundreds of clergy abuse victims are still suffering in shame, silence and self-blame, numbing their deep pain through drugs, alcohol, agoraphobia, anorexia and other self-destructive behavior. It’s also long been obvious that child abuse victims come forward when they are able to remember, recognize and deal with it, and not before.

For Immediate Release July 24, 2024 

During this presidential campaign, we hope that both major political parties will commit to a crackdown on child sexual abuse. Governments and law enforcement have powerful tools if they choose to exercise them. 

We call on both political parties to take action to protect our communities, as well as to support those who have been grievously harmed by sexual abuse. We also call on them to make stronger laws and enforce them to keep our communities safe. Our politicians can learn from what went wrong in the past to improve their policies and actions that will keep children and the vulnerable safer. Each of our candidates for higher office should commit to this change, now. 

SNAP, in conjunction with KeepKidsSafe.org and others, a blueprint for federal reform was developed. We hope that both candidates will read and endorse the suggested changes. Together, we can make the future safer for today's children. 

CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, PA Survivor & SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 814- 341-8386) 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)