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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Southland Times
September 1, 2003

Sadness over plea

Gore -- The guilty plea of a retired priest originally from Gore to serious historic sexual abuse charges against young boys has provoked expressions of sadness in the Catholic community.

Gore parish priest Father Pat McGettigan said Father Magnus Murray had accepted responsibility for crimes that violated the heart of family life.

It questioned the credibility of the church to teach on questions of sexuality, he said.

"The truth is that most of us are imperfect witnesses to this teaching and struggle to live up to the ideal." The church could not hide from what had happened and must stand with the victims in so far as that was possible.

"They're the ones whose lives have been destroyed, who are never going to be the full human beings they could have been as a result."