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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Press
May 11, 2002

US sex-abuse scandal mirrors NZ - ex-priest
by Yvonne Martin

Former Christchurch priest John Gawith says the Catholic clergy sex-abuse scandal -- and official cover-up -- in the United States mirrors what occurred in New Zealand in the 1980s.

He left the priesthood in 1989, disillusioned with the church's conservatism and its reluctance to tackle sex-abuse problems. The culture among Catholic leaders at that time, as in the US, was to protect their own and transfer errant priests to other areas, Mr Gawith said.

He remembers at least three NZ cases where priests accused of sex abuse against children were reassigned to different parishes or schools. One of them was transferred to Ireland.

Mr Gawith, now a psychologist living in Takaka, said it is time for celibacy to be made voluntary and for the Church to become more democratic.

"They are holding on to celibacy, no women priests and no altar girls, and yet this (sex scandal) is going on," he said.

Mr Gawith said the church's hierarchical structure dated back to the Middle Ages, with the Pope as king on top.

"It needs a major overhaul and rethink for the 21st century. Good Catholic people in the pews should have a lot more say in how the church operates, rather than the cardinals who have been colluding with perpetrators in the US."

Mr Gawith said the church began addressing its clergy-abuse problems in 90s. "But are they doing enough?"

Complaints of sexual misconduct against priests are dealt with in-house by professional standards committees picked by bishops -- unless complainants go to the police.

Christchurch's complaints committee has handled six allegations against priests in the past decade and investigated another eight on behalf of other religious orders in the diocese.

Priests with sexual problems or those wanting psychological assessment are now sent to an Australian therapy programme called Encompass Australasia.

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