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20 October 2022 – Closing statements

17 October 2022  – Opening statements

Faith-based institutions response hearing

The Royal Commission will conduct its final public hearing from 13-21 October 2022.  This hearing will inquire into the responses of faith- based institutions to abuse and neglect under their care. This is the second Institutional Response Hearing, the first focusing on abuse of care in State agencies. Hearings prior to these included significant survivor evidence and limited institutional evidence.

The Royal Commission has a dedicated page for the Hearing on their website: 'Faith-based institutions response hearing'  Please visit the Commission's site for further information or to watch the proceedings.

What is being investigated

Leaders from several Churches and faith-based schools, including those from dioceses and congregations of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and leadership of St Patrick’s Silverstream, will be present at the hearing.

St Patrick’s College is being asked to present material as an example of a Catholic institution still offering care to young people in an institutional setting (a boarding school). The types of care offered by the Church in the past are no longer offered, such as orphanages and other residential care. Care today is offered in pastoral or liturgical settings, social service agencies, via Catholic events, and through educational settings, including the 10 remaining Catholic boarding schools.

Other Catholic leaders will speak to specific material the Commission puts to them, as well as asking questions about what has occurred in the past and looking forward to the future. Their perspectives on the responses to reports of abuse and neglect will be heard. They will also be asked what structural, systemic, or practical factors led to or added to the reported abuse or failure to report the abuse. Finally, they will be asked what lessons institutions have learned and what changes have been made to prevent and respond to abuse under their care.

How is abuse defined for the purposes of the hearing?

The Inquiry defines abuse as physical, sexual, and emotional or psychological abuse or neglect.

"Church leaders examining and acknowledging, in public, what has occurred, is part of the process that forms responses today and into the future."

Historical and
Contemporary Focus

The Royal Commission’s mandate is to examine Aotearoa New Zealand’s care system from 1950-1999. They are also to propose recommendations for change so as to safeguard abuse from continuing to the present and in the future. The Inquiry’s final report based on evidence from the public hearings, survivor and witness accounts, research, and engagements with communities will be published in June 2023.

How can I participate?

The five-day Faith-based Institutional Response public hearing will take place from 13-21 October 2022 at 414 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland.

It will be open to the public and live streamed on the Royal Commission’s website.

Witnesses

ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE SILVERSTREAM

Fr Timothy Duckworth sm - Society of Mary
View witness statement here

Clare Couch – Chairperson, Board of Proprietors
View witness statement here

Sean Mahony – Chairperson, School Board
View witness statement here

Rob Ferreira – Rector
View witness statement here

THE DIOCESES AND CONGREGATIONS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Cardinal John Dew – Archbishop of Wellington, Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Palmerston North and President New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
View witness statement 1 here
View witness statement 2 here
View witness statement 3 here

Dr Paul Flanagan – Member of the National Safeguarding and Professional Standards Committee
View witness statement here

Sister Sue France – Congregational Leader, Nga Whaea Atawhai O Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.
View witness statement here

Hearing Schedule

Opening statements of St Patrick’s College Silverstream and The Dioceses and Congregations of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand will be delivered by their counsel on the day they appear (17 October).

The Commission has indicated that each hearing today will begin at 9am. 

Thursday 13 October

Morning Session

Opening statements from core participants or those granted leave to appear, excluding the faith-based institutions.

Opening statements from Gloriavale Christian Community.

Afternoon Session

Gloriavale Christian Community

Friday 14 October

No Sitting

Monday 17 October

Morning Session

St Patrick’s College Silverstream

Afternoon Session

The Dioceses and Congregations of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand

Tuesday 18 October

Morning Session

The Methodist Church of New Zealand and Wesley College

Afternoon Session

The Methodist Church of New Zealand and Wesley College

Wednesday 19 October

Morning Session

Presbyterian Support Central

Presbyterian Support Otago

Afternoon Session

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Dilworth School

Thursday 20 October

Morning Session

Dilworth School continued

Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand

Afternoon Session

Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand continued

Closins statements from faith-based institutions begin

Friday 21 October

Morning Session

Closing statements from faith-based institutions continue (if required)