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Accusations of Abuse in
Institutions
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Index: Accusations in Institutions
The Press
September 3, 2002
Sisters of Nazareth
Letter to the Editor
by Patricia Hendriks (Worters), Sockburn, Aug 29
Re
the alleged abuse by the Sisters of Nazareth in Christchurch (August 16): I was
brought up by the nuns, from 1941 to December 1955, from the age of 2 1/2 years
to 16 1/2 years -- all of my childhood.
I was sheltered, clothed, fed, educated, disciplined, and above all, given
stability. I was given an excellent set of moral values that have held me in
good stead, and for all of this I am very grateful.
There was caning (sometimes unfair), as was the custom in schools back then, to
keep discipline. I never saw nuns using the cane at random, or any of the
macabre allegations claimed.
My memories of Nazareth House, for the most part, are very pleasant and very
often extremely funny to recall. Do we want another witch hunt, reminiscent of
the