Defrocked priest denies rape claims
The defrocked former Catholic priest at the centre of a rape accusation says the allegations against him, from more than one complainant, are “all created”.
The Waikato Times tracked down the former priest, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to a quiet residential address in the Bay of Plenty.
He was asked directly about allegations that he raped a woman during a house blessing – and about his “dismissal from the clerical state” – officially termed “laicization”, but more commonly referred to as defrocking, by the Church.
“I don’t like to comment at all,” he said. “You can ask my lawyer.”
When asked directly if he wanted to respond to the allegations of sexual offending, he said simply: “It’s all created”. “Nothing to say.”
The man’s lawyer, via an emailed statement, said that “all allegations are strongly denied”.
“They have been the subject of extensive and thorough investigations by the Roman Catholic Church and the NZ Police – over many years,” the lawyer said.
“The result is that no Police charges were laid, and no further action taken.
“In particular, the NZ Police reported that they had “carefully considered the circumstances and available evidence” and there would be no charges.
“The decision to ‘defrock’ was made from Rome.
“That decision is accepted (but the process by which it occurred is not).
“Any questions about the decision to ‘defrock’ should be directed to Rome.
“In any event, the person who these allegations focus on, is now elderly, retired and wants to live a private life with dignity.”
Police told the Waikato Times they “can’t comment on a named individual in this instance”.
According to Christopher Longhurst, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) national leader, “denial is a common response, especially in faith-based situations because of the higher expectations on priests and the church’s determination to avoid scandal”.
“However, denial cannot change the truth of crimes perpetuated by priests against vulnerable persons.”
The Waikato Times called on the former priest just days before the release of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care report, which estimated that 200,000 vulnerable people – children, students, patients and new mothers – faced abuse and neglect, including torture, rape and medical experimentation, in facilities and homes they were meant to be cared in.
Longhurst also said it was unusual for a priest to be kicked out of the church.
“This practice is rare when the reason for it as an imposed punishment is not grounded in a criminal conviction. In the case of [the priest], indeed it has been imposed as a punishment.”
Longhurst said the Church had known about this, and other cases of alleged abuse, “for years”.
The Waikato Times first revealed allegations against the former priest back in October 2023 from a woman we called Cathy, to protect her anonymity, and questions over his conduct date back to 2015 when he wasbanned from practising in the Hamilton Diocese which covers 44 churches in the central North Island.
Cathy told the Waikato Times she remained frustrated he cannot be named as she wanted her story told so “he doesn’t have power and control over me anymore, that he took away when he entered my house to do a house blessing and sexually assaulted me”.
The Waikato Times was also able to reveal he had been defrocked after obtaining a letter sent to Cathy from the Bishop of Hamilton, Richard Laurenson.
Laurenson also confirmed in a conversation with the Waikato Times that more than one complainant existed.
Laurenson’s letter described the defrocking as “the most serious and grave punishment the church can impose on a priest for his actions”.
He also told Cathy, “it is now up to the police to take matters any further, should they feel they can”.
Laurenson also told Cathy “no apology seems adequate for all those for whom his actions have hurt”.
“I am saddened by the hurt inflicted on you, and in as much as I can, I extend my apologies.”
Cathy also expressed disquiet in an email to Laurenson, seen by the Waikato
Times, that the defrocking had not been announced to the congregation.
However, Laurenson said that placed him in a difficult position as the man had taken previous legal action against the church and other complainants had not wanted any announcement to fellow parishioners.
The Vatican has also been approached for comment but at the time of writing, no reply has been received. Laurenson also declined to speak to the
Waikato Times for this story.