Sharing Abuse Stories without Hope of Accountability "Feels Hollow" - Anglican Church Video

By Laura Walters
Stuff
March 26, 2018

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102587362/Sharing-abuse-stories-without-hope-of-accountability-feels-hollow-Anglican-Church

The Anglican and Catholic Churches of New Zealand are making a last push to have those abused in faith-based institutions included in the scope of the Government's Royal Commission of Inquiry into State Abuse.

But the prime minister said the primary purpose of the inquiry was to hold the state to account, and there was a risk of "diluting" that responsibility if non-state institutions were included.

Last month, Children's Minister Tracey Martin and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the draft terms of reference, and scope, of the inquiry.

Anglican Archbishop Philip Richardson says if survivors - who suffered abuse while under care of a church - were going to courageously share their stories, they should be given the promise there was the power to hold the faith-based institution to account.

Headed by former Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, the Royal Commission will have the scope to cover abuses committed in the 50 years from 1950 to the end of 1999.

However, the draft terms of reference only cover those who suffered during their time in the care of the state. It does not cover those who suffered at the hands of a church, or faith-based institution.

The heads of the Catholic and Anglican Churches have met with Satyanand, asking him to include the churches, on Monday representatives from the Catholic Church wrote to the prime minister and Martin.

Meanwhile, Anglican Archbishop Philip Richardson was also calling for a meeting with Martin.

While survivors who suffered in faith-based care are allowed to share their stories with the commission of inquiry, under the current terms of reference the Government has no power to hold any church to account.

The Anglican and Catholic Churches are calling on the prime minister and children's minister to widen the terms of reference for the Government's Royal Commission of Inquiry into historic state abuse.

Those who were willing to share traumatic recounts of abuse, and be open to scrutiny, as part of a formal inquiry, would want to know their account was taken seriously, and had the ability to bring about future change.

"Without those things, I would imagine, it would feel pretty hollow."

On Monday, Ardern said she believed the primary function of the inquiry was to hold the state to account, and that viewed hadn't changed.

However, the Government was open to the feedback it received, and she would personally read and respond to the letter from the Catholic Church.

"I've always had concerns about the impact of broadening the inquiry and diluting the responsibility that we need to take for those that were harmed in state care. I still hold that view."

But Richardson said accountability of all institutions was a key element to the inquiry. It was important the investigation was future-focussed, and moved towards a better system and more protection for the country's most vulnerable people.

The inquiry had the potential to re-shape attitudes and put in place better systems, but only if the Government had the power to act on what it heard from survivors.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry - with Satyanand at its head - would also provide a level of independence, consistency of approach, and stand up to scrutiny, in a way an internal inquiry by a church or faith-based institution may not.

"Survivors and victims deserve that... If we were able to do it once, and get it right once, I think everyone would have greater confidence."

Richardson said he would like to think the scale and prevalence of the abuse suffered by children in the care of the Anglican Church - and other New Zealand churches - were well-known

The Anglican Church in New Zealand had systems to deal with allegations of historical abuse, and to stop future abuses taking place.

"That said... potentially a Royal Commission of Inquiry provides a forum and a credibility and an independence, which may give others confidence.

"While I would like to think that we have a good sense of what the scope of historical abuse of children in the care of the Anglican Church has been, we can't be categorical about that. We can't assume too much.

"That's why independence; a well-constructed inquiry; the safety of the survivors, is so critically important."

On Monday, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops and representation from Catholic religious orders wrote to Ardern, Martin and Satyanand, to voice their support for the inquiry and seek inclusion of religious institutions.

"We are of the firm view that no individual should be denied the possibility of making a submission to this Government inquiry," read the letter, which was signed by Bishop Patrick Dunn, president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and Sister Katrina Fabish, congregational leader of the Sisters of Mercy.

"It would be wrong if some individuals felt excluded from this process simply because their path of referral to an institution was different from someone else's."

In the letter, the Catholic representatives said they were "deeply disturbed when we learn of historical or current abuse that has occurred in institutions, including any run by Churches".

The church leaders said they agreed historical abuse must be examined, understood, acknowledged and addressed. And they offered support and co-operation during the inquiry.

Satyanand would report back to the ministers in charge in regards to the draft terms of reference, and a decision would be made on whether the scope would be amended.

Public consultation on the draft terms of reference were due to finish at the end of April.

Martin refused to comment on the terms of reference, or the inquiry, while public consultation was in progress.

A spokesman for the minister said she would comment once the updated terms were referred to cabinet for consideration.