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Abuse crisis New Zealand

NZ abuse royal commission details abuse at hands of St John of God brothers

The nature and scale of abuse set out in a New Zealand abuse royal commission interim report is abhorrent and should never have happened, NZ Catholic Bishops Conference general secretary Archbishop Paul Martin SM said yesterday. Source: NZ Catholic.

Abuse crisis Religious Orders

Jesuits confirm expulsion of priest

The Society of Jesus has confirmed that Fr Marko Rupnik is definitively expelled from the religious order for sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women, lamenting they couldn’t prosecute him more vigorously under the Vatican’s internal procedures. Source: NCR Online.

Abuse crisis Crime

Convicted paedophile pleads guilty to another offence

One of Australia’s worst paedophile priests, Gerald Ridsdale, has pleaded guilty to another historical sexual crime after a 72nd victim came forward. Source: The Australian.

Abuse crisis South America

Pope expresses ‘shame and dismay’ over abuse of minors in Bolivia

Pope Francis has sent a letter to the president of Bolivia expressing “feelings of shame and dismay” and a firm promise to work with the government of the South American country to end clerical sexual abuse of minors. Source: CNA.

Abuse crisis Religious Orders

Jesuits expel priest accused of abuse

The Superior General of the Jesuits has expelled Fr Marko Rupnik from the order, citing his “stubborn refusal” to obey measures imposed following credible accusations that he spiritually, psychologically or sexually abused some two dozen women and at least one man. Source: OSV News.

Abuse crisis

Abuse survivors cycle from Germany to Rome meet Pope

Pope Francis yesterday met briefly with a group of abuse survivors who undertook a bicycle pilgrimage from Germany to Rome to ask him to do everything in his power to heal and prevent abuses in the Church. Source: CNA.

Abuse crisis Safeguarding

Vatican abuse commission shifting to ‘impact-focused’ direction

The new projects and developments at the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors represent “a major shift toward a more impact-focused direction”, said its president, Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM Cap. Source: NCR Online.

Abuse crisis Insurance

Church insurer facing challenges due to abuse claims

Church leaders say they remain fully committed to engaging with survivors of abuse with justice and compassion, including in the payment of compensation, as changes at Catholic Church Insurance loom. Source: The Australian.

Abuse crisis

Government removes redress scheme restrictions

Access to the National Redress Scheme for institutional child sexual abuse will be expanded to prisoners and a wider range of former child migrants. Source: Canberra Times.