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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Evening Post
April 17, 2002

No priestly sex crisis here - Cardinal
by Antony Paltridge

The Catholic Church's rules about celibacy do not lie behind what are relatively rare cases of sexual abuse by priests, says Cardinal Tom Williams.


New Zealand's most senior Catholic cleric does not believe New Zealand Catholics will have to face the sexual abuse crisis that has rocked the Church in the United States.

In recent weeks the US Catholic Church has been rocked by allegations of child abuse levelled at priests and has paid millions of dollars to settle claims against it.

But the Most Rev Cardinal Tom Williams said he did not believe there would be "any surprises" for the Catholic Church in New Zealand.

"It's just from what I know of my men primarily. They are a hard working and loyal group and honest to God about their ministry."

Cardinal Williams said he was dismayed by the events unfolding in the US, although his only knowledge was from media.

"One case of sexual abuse by a priest is one too many and is a cause of profound regret," he said.

But Cardinal Williams questioned the impression of widespread sexual abuse, pointing out there were more than 40,000 priests in the US.

"Where there has been research, the highest estimate of incidence is 2 percent. At least 98 of every 100 priests are carrying out their ministry and serving their people with very real dedication."

Cardinal Williams rejected suggestions that celibacy was linked to abuse.

"I have seen no research to substantiate any such link," he said.

"Clerical sexual abuse is a tiny fraction of total sexual abuse."

There are 596 Catholic priests in New Zealand.

The cardinal said he did not believe Catholic clergy were any more likely to commit sexual offending than any other denomination or profession.

While he did not know the number of cases in New Zealand, he said, "there has been a very small number of cases over a lengthy period".

Catholic Communications director Lyndsay Freer, Auckland, said she understood the Church's complaints committees had dealt with four cases of inappropriate sexual conduct by priests in recent times.

Three cases did not involve children or teenagers and the fourth, which did, was historical and the alleged perpetrator had since died.

There were currently no Catholic clergy in prison for sexual offences, she said.

Cardinal Williams said the New Zealand Church had developed detailed procedures for handling complaints of sexual abuse. Complaints were investigated by an abuse protocol committee in each diocese, made up of men and women with expertise concerning sexual abuse.

"There is no attempt to conceal, but rather to ascertain the truth, provide assistance to the victim and take appropriate action in regard to the offender."

Cardinal Williams rejected suggestions that a papal directive, issued last year in Latin, signalled a move away from those protocols.

The directive requires all bishops, once a preliminary investigation has established there are reasonable grounds for the complaint, to refer the matter to Rome. It made no reference to civil authorities.

Cardinal Williams said the directive was designed to ensure international uniformity of process and sentence.

"The rights of the complainant are in no way limited or infringed. Complainants, of course, are always informed of their right to go to the civil authorities and will be given assistance to do so should they desire."

Rape Crisis national development co-ordinator Margaret Crook said abuse by clergy was not common but neither was it rare.

Abuse by clergy, just like doctors or teachers, was an abuse of trust.

"The ultimate abuse is your parent and I would say that someone who you trust, like a priest or minister, would be the next level," she said.

She said people abused by clerics often found it difficult to come forward.

"It's your word against a man of God . . . `They are never going to believe me'."

Wellington police child abuse team member Constable Karen Vaughan said accountability was the key to handling complaints and the Catholic Church had put procedures in place. In the past, clerics who faced complaints had been simply moved and "put somewhere else", but that was not the case now, she said.

It was easier for abusive ministers to gain someone's trust, she said.

"If you were Joe Bloggs off the street it would take time to get alongside a family, gain their trust, whereas a priest would not have to work so hard because it's automatically there."

Wellington Sexual Abuse Help Foundation manager Marian Kleist said she did not believe celibacy was an issue in sexual abuse by priests. "It's about power and control issues. It's not about your chosen sexuality."

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DISGRACED CLERGY OF VARIOUS CREEDS

May 2000: Titahi Bay Baptist Church pastor Paul Edgecombe Simpson sentenced to two years jail for indecently assaulting an 8-year-old girl in 1975. The offence occurred before he became a pastor.

October 1999: Catholic priest Patrick Arthur Thomas Thwaites jailed for 2 1/2 years for indecent assaults on boys in Christchurch and the West Coast.

July 1999: Manurewa, Auckland, church minister Joseph Teruakirikiri Riwai Martin sentenced to preventive detention for 20 sex charges involving seven boys and young men.

February 1997: Papatoetoe, Auckland, Presbyterian minister Ross McDonald Durham jailed for 4 1/2 years for sex offences against a teenage boy.

February 1997: Catholic Brother Bryan McKay, principal of Hamilton's now closed Marist Intermediate School from 1978 till 1980, was jailed for 21 months for indecent assaults on seven young pupils.

July 1995: Former Anglican minister Marc William Lenton, Nelson, sentenced to two years' jail on three charges of having unlawful sex with a girl.

December 1994: Auckland Marist brother Charles Robert Afeaki sentenced to eight years jail for sex offences against boys.

July 1994: Catholic priest Peter Gwynne McCormack, vicar-general of the Palmerston North diocese, sentenced to four years in jail for eight counts of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

December 1993: Catholic Brother Bernard Kevin McGrath jailed for three years in Christchurch for sexually abusing six boys.

March 1993: Father Robin Paulson sentenced to 12 months periodic detention for sexually abusing boys in Gore.

1992: Samoan New Life Church pastor Reti Filipo sentenced to 11 months jail after pleading guilty to charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl.

March 1990: Father Mark Mannix Brown jailed for 15 months for indecently assaulting two altar boys in Hamilton between 1980 and 1986.