www.peterellis.co.nz
: seeking justice for Peter Ellis : mail to:
[email protected]
Accusations of Abuse in
Institutions
Index: Home Page Peter Ellis
Index: Accusations in Institutions
|
<<< earlier News Reports July
2002 later >>> |
2002-0731 - The Press - More
ex-pupils claim abuse
by
Yvonne Martin - -More men are emerging saying that they were abused as boys by brothers
of a Christchurch Catholic residential school, as well as by older students. A
total of 48 men have now come forward claiming sexual abuse during their time
at
2002-0731 - The Press -
Bishop apologises to family
by
Cate Brett - The Catholic Bishop of Christchurch has apologised to a family of
former parishioners for failing to adequately support them after their 17-year-old
son was sexually assaulted by a fellow priest. The boy was the first known
victim of Father Alan Woodcock whom Wellington police are trying to extradite
from Ireland
2002-0727 - Southland Times
- Abuse victims continue to come forward
by
Kirsty MacNichol - Six Invercargill men who claim they suffered sexual abuse as
children at the hands of Catholic brothers have reportedly come forward
following publicity about such incidents in Christchurch.Allegations have been
made that some pupils at Marylands, the St John of God Order's former
residential school in Christchurch, were sexually abused before the 1970s.
2002-0724 - The Press -
Extradition ' could take years'
NZPA
- Police attempts to extradite former Marist priest Alan Woodcock for alleged
sex offences could take years if he does not come willingly, a lawyer
experienced in extradition proceedings says. Upper Hutt police said on Monday
they would try to extradite Woodcock, 54
2002-0724 - Dominion Post
- Extradition order might be delayed
by
Grant Fleming - Police attempts to extradite former Marist priest Alan Woodcock
over alleged sex offences could be delayed for years if Woodcock does not come
willingly, according to a lawyer experienced in extradition proceedings.
2002-0723 - Dominion Post
- Extradition move on former priest
by
Grant Fleming - Police will try to extradite former Marist priest Alan Woodcock
over alleged sex offences. Woodcock, 54, allegedly abused nine boys in the
2002-0722 - The Press -
Damaging secrecy
The
visit to Christchurch by the head of the St John of God Order suggests that at
least one part of the Catholic Church is seriously attempting to heal the
wounds caused by the sexual abuse that has taken place within its fold. But
worrying questions remain about how effective that effort will be.
2002-0720 - The Press - Abuse
complaints legitimate - brother
by
Yvonne Martin - The troubled Catholic order facing a new wave of sex abuse
allegations against its brothers plans to seek independent advice on the
claims. Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian leader of the St John of God
Order, has spent the last four days meeting with 19 men who claim they were
abused as boys at the former
2002-0719 - The Press -
Complainant says payout not fair
by
Yvonne Martin - A secret payout made to a group of 14 women beaten by Catholic
nuns, on the condition that they keep quiet, has the support of the
Christchurch Bishop. Bishop John Cunneen, who as head of the
2002-0719 - The Press - Bishop
supports keep-quiet clause
by
Yvonne Martin - A secret payout made to a group of 14 women beaten by Catholic
nuns, on the condition that they keep quiet, has the support of the
Christchurch Bishop. Bishop John Cunneen, who as head of the
2002-0718 - The Press - Nuns' order
in secret payouts
by
Yvonne Martin - A group of 14 women who were beaten as girls at a
2002-0718 - One News - Church
sex claims "horrifying"
The
stories of sexual abuse coming from those who lived in a Catholic residential
school in Christchurch during the 60s and 70s are horrifying and traumatic,
says the Australasian head of the Order of St John of God. Brother Peter Burke
has fronted up to hear stories of at least one predatory paedophile molesting young
school boys.
2002-0718 - Dominion Post -
Secret payments
A
group of 14 women who were beaten as girls at a
2002-0717 - The Press - Men
'positive' after meeting
by
Tara Ross - Ten men who allege they were abused at a Christchurch Catholic
boarding school met the visiting leader of the order last night to discuss the
past. Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian head of the St John of God Order,
is in
2002-0717 - Dominion Post -
Police consider report
Police
are still considering if they will extradite former Marist priest Alan
Woodcock, who is accused of sexually abusing nine boys in
2002-0713 - The Press - Rush of
sex-abuse calls
Calls
continue to flow in to three Catholic freephones set up to help victims report
sexual abuse by priests and brothers. The St John of God Order has had 58 calls
since a sex abuse problem was exposed at its former
2002-0713 - Dominion Post
- Sex abuse hotline fields 12 complaints
A
sex abuse hotline set up by the Catholic Church has so far received 12
complaints. New Zealand Catholic Church spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said on
Thursday that about 25 calls had been received since the line was set up a week
ago, 12 of which had been referred to the church's regional complaints protocol
committees.
2002-0712 - The Press - Venue
upsets alleged victims
by
Yvonne Martin - Alleged sex-abuse victims who are meeting the visiting leader
of a troubled Catholic order are upset that the proposed venue is its
solicitor's office. Brother Peter Burke, the Sydney- based Australasian head of
the Order of St John of God, visits next week to meet 11 alleged victims and
family members linked to the former Marylands residential school
2002-0712 - The Press - Abuse of
trust
Letter
to the Editor by Rob Ritchie - John Bluck (July 1) clearly believes churches
have suffered enough as a result of shame-filled headlines about sexual abuse
by clergy. I take a different view, formed from a decade of child protection
social work where I learned to seek the perspective of those who have
experienced the direct impact of abuse.
2002-0711 - The Press - Four
brothers accused
by
Yvonne Martin - Four Marist Brothers who worked in the
2002-0710 - The Press - Abuse probe
begins
by
Yvonne Martin - Police are investigating several complaints of sexual abuse
from former pupils of a Catholic residential school in
2002-0710 - Dominion Post - Nine
sex complaints against former priest
Upper
Hutt police are now investigating nine sex abuse complaints against former
Marist priest Alan Woodcock and expect to make a decision on his possible
extradition today or tomorrow. Woodcock, 54, is understood to be in England
2002-0708 - Dominion Post -
More complaints to abuse hotline
A
Catholic order rocked by sex abuse allegations in New Zealand has received six
fresh abuse complaints against its members since it set up a hotline for
victims just over a week ago. Society of Mary New Zealand deputy head, Father
Tim Duckworth said yesterday that the new complaints came from seven callers
but they would not be easy to investigate as all but one of the alleged perpetrators
were now dead.
2002-0706 - The Press - Church: Letter
to the Editor
by
D J Round - Fresh from crucifying Peter Ellis, we now embark on another
witchhunt, one fuelled just as much by anti-Catholic feeling, and Press
language more appropriate to Steven King novels, as by evidence
2002-0706 - The Press - Church: Letter
to the Editor
by
Sean J Moore - Cate Brett (Mainlander, June 29-30) tries to reassure readers of
The Press that her newspaper is not anti-Catholic. It is, and virulently so.
Through innuendo, half-truths, and hearsay she and others attempt to find guilt
through association while indulging in their own prejudiced view of the Church
that Christ founded.
2002-0706 - The Press - Church: Letter
to the Editor
by
Leon Scott - It was with disappointment that I read Cate Brett's article,
"It's not a case of Catholic bashing" (Mainlander, June 29-30). Due
to our isolation and secularisation it is sometimes easy to mistakenly consign
to the ashes, as she did, the Church
2002-0706 - The Press - Church: Letter
to the Editor
by
Stan Fitchett - I was abused when I was a teenager, and my life since that
traumatic event nearly 50 years ago has been sheer hell. It occurred when my
platoon sergeant bawled me out in front of the rest of the platoon, and called
me an indolent individual born out of wedlock - or words to that effect.
2002-0706 - The Press - Church: Letter
to the Editor
by
Ken Clearwater - I would like to take this opportunity to thank Matt Conway,
Yvonne Martin, and The Press for the courage that was taken to expose the evil
side of the Catholic Church and religious orders.
2002-0706 - The Press - Abused await
leader
by
Yvonne Martin - Several men alleging they were abused as boys at a Christchurch
Catholic boarding school are delaying any legal action until they meet a Church
leader. Five men claiming they were abused over four decades at
2002-0706 - NZ Herald -
Complaints against ex-priest mount
by
Catherine Masters - Six new complaints have been lodged with the police against
a Catholic priest featured in the Weekend Herald last week for abusing boys in
the 1980s. They follow three existing complaints from police investigations
into the then Father Alan Woodcock in the 1990s.Upper Hutt CIB head, Detective
Sergeant Murray Porter, expects the number to grow. Woodcock was defrocked some
years ago and the Herald understands he is unemployed and living in
2002-0705 - Southland
Times - Programme to help children to talk about sexual abuse
by
Julie Asher - Programmes in school encouraging children to speak up about
sexual abuse should mean it would be dealt with immediately and not left for
decades, the Otago-Southland Diocesan chief executive Father John Harrison said
yesterday.Police had one complaint last week from an Invercargill man who
claimed he was abused by a priest at the St John of God school, in
Christchurch, in the 1960s and a Dunedin man had come forward with allegations
of abuse by a priest at St Clair in the late 1950s.
2002-0705 - The Press - Sex-abused to
consider group action
by
Yvonne Martin - Victims of alleged abuse at a Catholic boarding school are
considering taking group legal action, as complaints against members of
religious orders flood in. Former
2002-0705 - Evening Post - Good people
impugned
Letter
to the Editor by George Bignell - I refer to the article headlined Police May
Extradite Accused Priest (The Post, July 1), and particularly the claims by
Brent Cherry regarding St Bernard's College as well as other colleges. His sweeping
statement has cast a shadow of doubt over many good men and women who have
taught at that school.
2002-0705 - Dominion - Church
helpline for abused
With
calls reporting sex abuse flooding in, the Catholic Church has set up an 0800
helpline number to streamline the process and direct callers to the appropriate
diocese or religious order. Catholic communications director Lyndsay Freer said
a central point of contact was needed to ensure complaints were directed to the
appropriate place
2002-0704 - The Press - Tremain
cartoon
Letter
to the Editor by Ken Orr - The cartoon of Tremain (June 29) is slanderous and
deeply offensive to Catholic readers of The Press
It will be seen by many as an attack on the Catholic church. Sex abuse is a
tragedy, and not a subject for humour. It will do nothing to assist the healing
of victims.
2002-0703 - The Press - Catholic
sex abuse? News to me
by
Mike Crean - Not all Catholic clergy are child-sex abusers. I had close
relationships with many priests and never knew of sex abuse. From the age of
eight, I regularly donned the long black soutane and frilly white surplice of
an altar boy in our parish church.
2002-0703 - The Press - Church
inundated with abuse calls
by
Yvonne Martin - The Catholic Church is considering how to deal with sex-abuse
complaints pouring in against members of its religious orders. Two toll-free
hotlines set up by the St John of God Order and the Society of Mary (Marists)
to help people report abuse claims have been inundated with calls. The St John
of God Order has logged 37 inquiries since last Friday. The Society of Mary's
vice- provincial, Father Tim Duckworth, said about 50 calls had been received
by his order since Sunday.
2002-0703 - The Press - Abuse of
trust, but much good work too
Letter
to the Editor by Ngaire Stackhouse - In support of the St John of God brothers:
my son spent 6<> years in their care at Marylands in the 1960-70 period,
and their care and attention to his needs will always be remembered with
gratitude. His comments have always been that it was the best school he ever
attended. I agree, as it helped him to reach his full potential, having been
employed by the same firm for almost 33 years.
2002-0703 - Dominion -
Sex-abuse claims mount against ex-Hutt teachers
Allegations
of sexual abuse are mounting against two former Hutt Valley teachers, one of
whom is a former Catholic priest who may be extradited from England to face
charges. Upper Hutt police have received three new sexual abuse complaints
against Marist priest Alan Woodcock, who taught at St Patrick's College,
Silverstream, in the 1980s.
2002-0702 - The Press - Accused
priest faces extradition
New
Zealand police are reconsidering whether to extradite from England a former
Catholic priest accused of abusing teenage boys, as the number of complaints
about the clergy mounts. The decision follows revelations that Marist priest
Alan Woodcock, a music teacher at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, in the
1980s, allegedly sexually abused four boys before being removed from the
school.
2002-0702 - One News - Church
considers response to abuse
The
Catholic church is looking at compiling a list of all child sex abuse
complaints against clergy in New Zealand to find out exactly how big the
problem is. A Lower Hutt counsellor working with victims, Brent Cherry, says
recent publicity has prompted people to call him, naming clergy who have not
yet been identified as offenders, and he expects the number of complaints to
rise.
2002-0702 - Evening Post -
Sex-abuse claims climb
by
Grant Fleming - Publicity about two former Hutt Valley teachers, who allegedly
sexually abused boys in their care, has sparked more complaints to police. In
the past week, Upper Hutt police have detailed allegations against one of them,
former Marist priest Alan Woodcock, who may be extradited from England to face
the growing number of accusations against him.
2002-0702 - Dominion -
Police may extradite ex-priest on sex claims
by
Glen Scanlon - New Zealand Police are reconsidering whether to extradite from
England a former Catholic priest accused of abusing teenage boys, as the number
of complaints about the clergy mounts. The review of the file follows
revelations that Marist priest Alan Woodcock, a music teacher at St Patrick's College,
Silverstream, in the 1980s, allegedly sexually abused four boys before being
removed from the school.
2002-0702 - Dominion -
Complaints mount against former priest
New
Zealand police are reconsidering whether to extradite from England a former
Catholic priest accused of abusing teenage boys, as the number of complaints
about the clergy mounts. The decision follows revelations that Marist priest
Alan Woodcock, a music teacher at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, in the
1980s, allegedly sexually abused four boys before being removed from the
school.
2002-0701 - The Press - Sufferer
rejects apology on abuse
by Lois
Watson - A Christchurch man who received a secret $30,000 payout from a
Catholic religious order, after alleging sexual abuse, has spurned an apology
from church leaders. "The damage is done," the man, who asked to be
called Patrick, said.
2002-0701 - Evening Post
- Police may extradite accused
by
Kathryn Powley - Upper Hutt police will today review the case of a former
Catholic priest accused of serial sex offences against teenage boys to see if
there's evidence to extradite him from England. The move comes after fresh
claims at the weekend that former Marist priest, Alan Woodcock, described by
one of his victims as "a dog on heat", abused several teenage boys in
the Wellington region in the 1980s
2002-0701 - Dominion -
Bishops apologise for sex abuse by priests
In
an unprecedented move, Catholic bishops at weekend Mass services throughout New
Zealand offered an apology to victims of sexual abuse by priests. The apology
coincided with revelations that Marist priest Alan Woodcock, a music teacher at
St Patrick's College, Silverstream, in the 1980s, allegedly sexually abused
four boys before being removed from the school.