Former Catholic priest faces historic sex charges

A former Catholic priest, now living in Nelson, has been charged with historic sex offences, including indecently assaulting young girls and rape. Peter Joseph Hercock, 71, a former chaplain at Sacred Heart College in Lower Hutt and administrator at a Nelson school, appeared in the Nelson District Court last week.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/69178124/ 

Predatory priest Peter Hercock finally brought to justice

GRAPHIC WARNING: Some content in this story may upset some people In the dimly-lit room of a Wainuiomata presbytery bedroom, priestly robes lay strewn across the floor. Background music plays softly on a record player, while on the bed a drunk teenager is about to be raped by her priest.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/79401700/graphic-warning-predatory-priest-finally-brought-to-justice?rm=m 

Predator priests and pay outs - why the church investigates its own

Every surface in Sonja Cooper's Wellington office is swamped with boxes full of secrets. Each wall is lined with folders, and her shelves are stacked with cartons full of the worst memories of more than 700 New Zealanders' lives. But the human rights lawyer cannot talk about what's in the boxes.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/79684909/predator-priests-and-pay-outs--why-the-church-investigates-its-own?rm=m 

New bishop replaces convicted Australian cleric

Pope Francis has appointed a bishop to administer an Australian archdiocese whose archbishop was convicted of covering up for a paedophile priest. The Vatican said Bishop Gregory O'Kelly, an Adelaide native, will serve as apostolic administrator for the Adelaide archdiocese.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/104442651/new-bishop-replaces-convicted-australian-cleric?rm=a 

Invercargill parishes looking into potential restructuring

Catholic parishes in Invercargill may combine into one large parish because of the declining number of priests. The parishes considering restructuring include St Mary's Invercargill, St Theresa's North Invercargill, St Patrick's Georgetown and Sacred Heart Waikiwi. Reverend Christopher O'Neill, from St Mary's, said the process had just begun, and would likely take "months not weeks".

https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/88105100/invercargill-parishes-looking-into-potential-restructuring?rm=a 

The change maker: A conversation with Cardinal John Dew about the future of the Catholic Church

A wooden cross made from a lifeboat wrecked on rocks off the Italian island of Lampedusa hangs on Cardinal John Dew's office wall. The boat was carrying refugees from Africa in search of a new life in Europe when, like so many others, it crashed on the outskirts of the island. Many of the boat's occupants, including children, would have died.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111958799/the-change-maker-a-conversation-with-cardinal-john-dew-about-the-future-of-the-catholic-church 

NZ's top Catholic says time to stop calling priests 'Father' in response to sexual abuse crisis

Don't call me Father, call me John: New Zealand's top Catholic has declared he no longer wants to be referred to by his title and he's encouraging other priests to take the same step. Cardinal John Dew, the Archbishop of Wellington, says dropping the traditional title 'Father' could be one way for priests to respond to the church's crisis over sexual offending by its senior officials

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113143365/nzs-top-catholic-says-time-to-stop-calling-priests-father-in-response-to-sexual-abuse-crisis?rm=a 

Auckland Catholic sex abuse trial: Marist Brother Michael Beaumont admits historical attacks on girls... NZ

A former Catholic brother has admitted sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl in her home while her family sat in the same room, with their eyes closed in prayer. Michael Beaumont was due to face a jury trial at the Auckland District Court on Tuesday but pleaded guilty to the historical indecent assault charge. He stood holding his hands behind his back in the dock as the charge was read and he answered "guilty". Beaumont also admitted two more charges relating to touching two other girls, aged 12 at the time.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/110872193/auckland-catholic-sex-abuse-trial-marist-brother-michael-beaumont-admits-historical-attacks-on-girls?rm=a 

Sexual abuse by Catholic Brother during prayer haunted victim for 40 years... NZ

Brother Michael Beaumont was welcomed into 9-year-old Mary's* family home as a man of God. But as her devout Catholic family sat on the floor just metres away with their eyes shut to recite the rosary, Beaumont sat next to the young girl on the sofa and sexually abused her. "Fear stiffened my body as I felt 'God's' hands creep down into my pants and into my private parts," she said. "Inside, my body was screaming, desperate for my mother to open her eyes and see what Brother Michael was doing to me."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/113936111/sexual-abuse-by-catholic-brother-during-prayer-haunted-victim-for-40-years 

Childhood horrors laid bare as survivors talk of sexual abuse... NZ

Tears have taken up residence behind Grant West's bright blue eyes. He is 57 years old, a burly Kiwi living in Australia with bleach-tipped hair and a crumpled leather jacket. By his estimate, he was sexually abused by 60 to 80 men by the time he turned 18. Just two of them faced justice. His first abuser was his mother, he says. He was 4.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/115636768/childhood-horrors-laid-bare-as-survivors-talk-of-sexual-abuse