Church seeks role in inquiry
The Catholic Church has written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asking for religious organisations to be included in a royal commission looking into abuse in state care.
The New Zealand Catholic bishops and representation from Catholic religious orders wrote to Ardern, Minister for Children Tracey Martin and Sir Anand Satyanand, chairman of the Royal Commission into Abuse in State Care.
The letter, signed by Bishop Patrick Dunn, the president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and Sister Katrina Fabish, RSM, congregational leader of the Sisters of Mercy, said they supported the work of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care but wanted the inquiry’s terms of reference broadened to include a range of Church institutions.
“We are of the firm view that no individual should be denied the possibility of making a submission to this government inquiry. It would be wrong if some individuals felt excluded from this process simply because their path of referral to an institution was different from someone else’s,” the letter said.
“We assure you once again of our support and our desire to learn from this national undertaking which we are confident will contribute positively to the strengthening and safeguarding of our whanau, communities and society.”
The terms of the upcoming royal commission on abuse in state care excludes institutions such as churches unless children were sent to them by the state.
Ardern has previously said that state care survivors did not want their cases “diluted” by the commission looking into abuse by the Church.
Ms Ardern said that distinction was made because the state had essentially been a parent in the past so needed to take responsibility.
The royal commission will focus on the victims, including any systemic bias based on race, gender or sexual orientation, but it will not compensate individual victims.
It will begin hearing victims’ stories within six months, with the aim of reporting back by the end of the parliamentary term.
The inquiry is expected to cost $12 million in its first year.