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Allegations of Abuse in
Institutions |
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The former Salvation Army officer
convicted of sexual offending against children at Temuka's Bramwell Booth
Home was later asked to leave the church because of ongoing "impropriety".
Church spokesman Major Ross Gower
yesterday confirmed John Gainsford resigned in 1983 because his behaviour of
a "moral nature" was inconsistent with the church's teaching. If he had not resigned, his
position would have been terminated, Major Gower said. Gainsford, 69, was last week found
guilty of 23 indecency and rape charges involving eight children who had been
at the home when he was manager in 1973-74. He had earlier pleaded guilty to
a further four indecency charges. After indecency allegations were
made against Gainsford, he was transferred from Temuka to work with adults on
the church's alcohol treatment programme in Auckland. "It did appear what he had
been accused of in Temuka was part of a pattern, and when that became evident,
it certainly meant that there was an issue there," Major Gower said. "It was put to John that now
was the time to leave. "There were issues that kept
on recurring – one here, another there. "Issues
of impropriety were brought to our attention and when they were viewed in the
context of what had allegedly happened (in Temuka), and now proved in a court
of law to be true, the Salvation Army said this is not going to continue
under our watch." While not willing to discuss in
detail what was on Gainsford's personnel file, Major Gower accepted there was
a public interest in the case. The matters which led to
Gainsford's resignation were of a moral nature. "They were not compatible
with the Salvation Army Christian understanding of what the moral stance should
be." |
