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A Path to Healing - Te Houhanga Rongo

Principles and Procedures in responding to complaints of sexual abuse by Clergy and Religious of the Catholic Church in New Zealand

August 2007

Authors

New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and the Congregational Leaders Conference of Aotearoa - New Zealand, 2007

Contents

• Foreword
• Introduction
• Part 1: Principles for dealing with complaints of sexual abuse
• Part 2: Procedures for dealing with complaints of sexual abuse

Foreword

At the annual meeting of the Bishops and Congregational Leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand held in Wellington 1-3 March 1998 Te Houhanga Rongo - A Path to Healing was accepted and approved for a period of three years after which time it was to be reviewed.

That review took place and the second edition of Te Houhanga Rongo - A Path to Healing was accepted for a five year period which has now expired.

A further review has now been completed. The process of review involved consultation with all members of the Abuse Protocol Committees from the six dioceses and the Congregations which have committees. Any suggested amendments were incorporated into a revision which was then sent out for further consideration. This process was repeated several times to ensure that consultation was thorough.

Generally, people had found that it was a good working document but some areas could be improved particularly with regard to historical complaints which were often very difficult to resolve.

The emphasis has remained on ensuring that a compassionate response is made to complainants and other parties. At the same time, a thorough investigation is required to ensure that the final outcome is fair, considerate and appropriate to all parties.

The National Office For Professional Standards accepted responsibility for consultation and co-ordinating the responses and suggestions. Then, the National Professional Standards Committee contributed to the review and recommended it to the Bishops and Congregational Leaders.

On behalf of the National Professional Standards Committee, the Bishops Conference and Congregational Leaders, I wish to acknowledge and thank all those who have made suggestions and contributed to this review.

It is our sincere hope that the processes outlined in Te Houhanga Rongo - A Path to Healing will enable swift and compassionate responses to allegations of sexual abuse.

With sincere thanks to all who contributed in any way.

Archbishop John A Dew
Chairman of the Working Party

Introduction

As bishops and leaders of religious congregations of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, we acknowledge with deep sadness and regret that a number of clergy and religious have sexually abused children, adolescents and adults who have been in their pastoral care. To these victims we offer our sincere apology.

In seeking a path towards healing, we are publishing this document of principles and procedures. The first part gives the principles that must form the basis of the Church’s response to complaints of sexual abuse. The second part describes the structures that are in place in each diocese to respond to allegations of sexual abuse and the procedures to be followed. The document includes a handbook containing detailed guidelines for the committees who will be responsible for responding to allegations of sexual abuse made against clergy and religious.

The procedures and guidelines contained in this document describe the approach which will normally be taken when complaints are referred to church authorities. There may be special circumstances when the procedures and guidelines cannot be followed exactly as indicated. However, the principles forming the basis of the procedures should always be followed.

We realise that this document will be credible only to the extent that its provisions are put into effect and are seen to address the issue of sexual abuse in the Church effectively and with real compassion.

We see it as a public document that establishes public criteria according to which the community may judge the resolve of church leaders to address the issues fairly and compassionately. If we do not act according to the principles of this document and follow procedures founded on these principles, we shall have failed according to our own criteria.

This document is not meant to be the last word on how to address the issues which have been raised. Rather it is a “living” document, to be developed and improved as experience and practice dictate. The document was adopted in 1993 and has been substantially reviewed twice since then after extensive consultation with sexual abuse protocol committees and other people. We also take note of world wide research and excellent publications from people involved in dealing with similar issues. We invite all interested persons in the community to work together to find ways to respond effectively to the evil of sexual abuse within the Church.

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