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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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Index: Accusations in Institutions

<<< earlier News Reports Oct-Dec 2002 later >>>

2002-1230 - The Press - Bishop made trip to see abuse complai
NZPA - The head of the Catholic Church in Auckland made a discreet pre- Christmas dash to Australia for an unusual intervention in a sexual- abuse complaint. Bishop Patrick Dunn cancelled three days of appointments in the build-up to one of the church's most important festivals to meet three brothers allegedly abused by an Auckland priest in the 1950s. He was responding to revelations this month that brothers Mike, Gerry, and Chris Ledingham were angry that they were still waiting for their case to be resolved, eight months after complaining to the church about being allegedly molested by the late Father Frank Green

2002-1228 - The Press - More sex complaints against former priest
NZPA - More sex-abuse complaints had been made against a former Catholic priest accused of paying hush money to an alleged Dunedin sexual abuse victim, police said yesterday. Detective Mark Lodge confirmed police in Dunedin had received three formal complaints of sexual abuse. He understood there had also been similar complaints from other parts of the country

2002-1228 - The Press - Lifting the veil on abuse by clergy
by Yvonne Martin - Sex-abuse shocks in the Catholic Church hit home in Christchurch mid-year. The Press' review series looks at how the church is coming to terms with the sins of its sons.

2002-1207 - NZ Herald - Abused trio get church runaround
By Eugene Bingham - Three brothers sexually abused as children by a Catholic priest in Auckland are angry they are still waiting for their case to be resolved eight months after they complained to the church.The Ledingham brothers say they feel they are being abused again because of the delay in hearing their case, despite assurances that they would be dealt with "as speedily as possible"."We feel that they only pay lip service to addressing the wrongs committed by their clergy and probably just want us to shut up, go away and hopefully die without saying any more," said Mike Ledingham, 52.

2002-1204 - Waikato Times - Church pays $1500 to abuse victims
NZPA - A beleaguered Catholic order has handed out a pre-Christmas bonus of $1500 each to 70 men who complain they were abused as boys by its brothers

2002-1204 - The Press - Order pays $1500 to 70 men
by Yvonne Martin - A Catholic order has handed out a pre-Christmas payment of $1500 to 70 men who complained they were abused as boys by its brothers. The St John of God Order mailed the payments this week to complainants from the former Marylands residential school in Christchurch, which was run by its brothers. The one-off "good faith" payments were made to tide the men over until their claims can be resolved by March. The Australasian head of the order, Brother Peter Burke, had originally hoped to settle claims this year. Brother Burke said the payment was not part of the financial offer that would be made to the men early next year.

2002-1127 - Dominion Post - Former NZ priest remanded in custody
NZPA - A former Catholic priest who allegedly went on the run after being accused of sexually abusing boys in New Zealand, was further remanded when he appeared at London's Bow St Magistrates Court yesterday

2002-1117 - One News - Civil case brought against priest
A woman who says she was a victim of disgraced high profile priest Father Jim Consedine is taking a civil case to the High Court. Consedine is best known for his work as a campaigner for prison reform, but in October he stepped down from his Christchurch parish after admitting sexual misconduct with a number of women. Bonnie Quilter, 45, first met Consedine when she was an inmate at Christchurch Womens Prison. He was the prison chaplain

2002-1115 - The Press - Jail term for raiding priest's bank accounts
by David Clarkson - A man who pilfered a well-known Catholic priest's bank accounts has hinted at a sinister background to the offending. The comments were made in the Christchurch District Court when Craig Nikora Curtis was yesterday sentenced to two years jail on charges of fraudulently using documents. Curtis, 30, had pleaded guilty to the five fraud charges, as well as threatening behaviour, wilful damage, and breach of parole. He had gone to live with Father Jim Consedine at St Joseph's Church in Lyttelton until he got back on his feet after a prison term

2002-1113 - The Press - Kiwi ex-priest remanded
NZPA - A former New Zealand priest accused of child abuse has been remanded in custody for a further two weeks when he appeared at a London court, police say. Alan Woodcock would reappear before Bow Street Magistrate's Court on November 25 for an extradition hearing, Detective Sergeant Murray Porter, of the Upper Hutt police, said yesterday.

2002-1113 - Dominion Post - Ex-priest in sex case remanded
NZPA - A former New Zealand priest accused of child abuse was remanded in custody for a further two weeks when he appeared at a London court on Monday, police said. Alan Woodcock would reappear before Bow St Magistrate's Court on November 25 for an extradition hearing, Detective Sergeant Murray Porter, of Upper Hutt, said yesterday.

2002-1107 - Dominion Post - New processes for handling abuse claims
The Methodist Church has introduced new processes for handling sexual abuse or harassment complaints. A new disciplinary code for ministers and members was adopted at the Church's annual conference yesterday

2002-1107 - Dominion Post - Abuse code
The Methodist Church has introduced new processes for handling sexual abuse or harassment complaints. A new disciplinary code for ministers and members includes updated and refined methods for processing complaints, including those of sexual harassment or abuse against clergy.

2002-1102 - The Press - Team will investigate
by Yvonne Martin - Police are planning to set up a special team to investigate complaints from men who claim they were abused as boys at a Christchurch Catholic residential school.. Police are investigating about 30 complaints so far, and the order has logged more than double that -- 70 -- which it described as"genuine and serious". The Press understands at least four brothers have been named in allegations, plus a nightwatchman. The order has hired retired High Court judge Sir Rodney Gallen to review how it has handled complaints and advise on future negotiations, including compensation. It hopes to have the process "well under way" by the end of February.

2002-1101 - The Press - Extradition may be fought
NZPA - Lawyers for a London-based former New Zealand priest accused of child abuse were likely to indicate they will fight an extradition order against him next month, police said yesterday. Alan Woodcock appeared in London's Bow Street Magistrate's Court on Monday

2002-1031 - The Press - Order hires retired judge to review actions
by Yvonne Martin - A beleaguered Catholic order has hired retired High Court judge Sir Rodney Gallen to review its handling of sex abuse complaints against brothers. The St John of God Order has been inundated with complaints from about 70 men who claim they were abused as boys by brothers who ran the former Marylands residential school in Christchurch. It has hired Sir Rodney to review the procedures it has put in place to deal with complaints and to oversee the next phase of negotiations

2002-1023 - The Press - Help for Chch priest
by Yvonne Martin - Christchurch's STOP programme for sex offenders wants to treat Father Jim Consedine, the Catholic priest who has admitted sexual misconduct towards women. The Lyttelton parish priest has stood down from duties and is being sent to a specialist Australian programme following complaints from four women of inappropriate sexual behaviour dating back to the early 1970s

2002-1022 - The Press - Group action urged against church order
by Yvonne Martin - Prominent Christchurch lawyer Grant Cameron is planning a group action against a Catholic order for alleged sex abuse suffered by boys of a former residential school. So far, he says, more than 20 alleged victims are interested in pursuing action against the St John of God Order, which ran Marylands -- a school for boys with intellectual and learning disabilities until 1984. But the action is also dividing the Marylands complainants, some of whom have faith that the order's ongoing negotiations will lead to adequate compensation. Nearly 100 men contacted the order's Sydney headquarters in the four months since The Press broke the story of sexual allegations against four brothers from Marylands. Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian head of the order who has made multiple trips to New Zealand to meet complainants, said 70 of the men have "genuine and serious" complaints about their time at Marylands. He said matters were progressing as fast as possible.

2002-1019 - Waikato Times - Priest steps down for sexual misconduct
NZPA - High-profile Catholic priest and justice campaigner Jim Consedine has stood down as Lyttelton parish priest amid allegations of sexual misconduct against women. ........Fr Consedine will attend a programme in Sydney which specialises in treating clergy for violation of professional boundaries, sexual disorders and abuse.

2002-1019 - The Press - Therapy for high-profile priest after allegations
Father Jim Consedine, a high- profile Canterbury Catholic and justice campaigner, has stood down as Lyttelton parish priest amid allegations of sexual misconduct against women

2002-1019 - The Press - Consedine sent for therapy
by Yvonne Martin - A high-profile Catholic father and justice campaigner, Jim Consedine, has stood down as Lyttelton parish priest amid allegations of sexual misconduct against women. The former prison chaplain, champion of the underdog, and leading advocate of restorative justice, has left his parish of 17 years to undergo therapy.

2002-1019 - One News - Priest admits sexual misconduct
The former prison chaplain and restorative justice campaigner Jim Consedine has stood down as Lyttleton Catholic parish priest after admitting to sexual misconduct complaints from four women.

2002-1019 - Dominion Post - Therapy for priest after sex allegations
NZPA - High-profile Catholic priest and justice campaigner Jim Consedine has stood down as Lyttelton parish priest amid allegations of sexual misconduct against women. The former prison chaplain, champion of the underdog and advocate of restorative justice has left his parish of 17 years to undergo therapy

2002-1019 - Dominion Post - Catholics to review sex abuse claims
All sex-abuse claims against the Catholic Church in New Zealand will be reviewed to see how future allegations can be better handled. The Church is also looking at ways of standardising its responses to abuse claims instead of leaving it to individual orders of priests or nuns. In a statement yesterday, the Church's bishops said they had an obligation to learn from their experience of the issue and be open to improvements.

2002-1006 - Sunday Star Times - Nun saddened by accusations
by Deidre Mussen - A nun accused of sexually and physically abusing needy children more than 40 years ago says the complainants have convinced themselves the incidents happened. Sister Bernard Mary, 69, who now lives in Christchurch, says she feels saddened rather than angry about her accusers. She says she first heard of the complaints stemming from her time at the Sisters of Nazareth's home in Brisbane when she was the congregation's worldwide head in England three years ago. After interviews with London police, they told her they would recommend dropping the case. "I wasn't surprised because (the allegations) were so outrageous - some of them were impossible."