NEW ZEALAND
Otago Daily News
November 13, 2018
By Chris Morris
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin says an expanded royal commission into the abuse of children may not go far enough.
Bishop Michael Dooley said yesterday he was “relieved” to hear children abused while in the care of faith-based institutions would now be included.
The decision was announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin yesterday.
But the terms of reference specifically excluded private settings for abuse involving faith-based institutions, and it remained unclear whether others – like a church presbytery or a priest’s car – were included.
That meant the victims of a paedophile priest like Fr Magnus Murray, convicted of abusing four Dunedin boys in family homes, the presbytery and on trips, could yet miss out. Bishop Dooley said if that was so, the inquiry needed to go further.
All parishioners were in the pastoral care of their priest, so any abused by clergy needed to be heard, he believed.
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