Reporting Abuse
Protecting children and vulnerable people from harm is a top priority in our Church today and flows out of the example Jesus gave us where children and the vulnerable were not only welcome but safe in His company.
Along with the other dioceses and the religious orders in New Zealand, Bishop Steve Lowe has implemented a number of Safeguarding practices to ensure we fulfill our obligations.
Procedures for the prevention of and response to sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in New Zealand have been approved by the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference and the Congregational Leaders Conference of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Safeguarding Reporting Procedures
The Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 defines child abuse as:
“The harming (whether physically, emotionally, or sexually), ill-treatment, abuse, neglect, or deprivation of any child or young person.”
If someone discloses to you that they have been harmed or abused by someone who works or volunteers for the Catholic Church, you need to:
Listen with empathy and respect.
Affirm them for coming forward to you.
Avoid asking unnecessary questions.
Encourage them to get in contact with the right people (see below), this is dependant on the nature of the complaint. You can offer to make the call on their behalf.
Record what they have said to you, as swiftly as possible after the disclosure (no later than 24 hours).
Remember, it’s not up to you to judge whether a disclosure is true or false. Your job is to make sure that the information gets to the right people as soon as possible.
Who to contact
For sexual abuse involving Clergy or Religious call the:
Police (Contact the nearest Police Station)
or
National Office for Professional Standards 0800 114 622
or
Bishop’s Office at Chanel Centre 07 856 6989
or
Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children 0508 326 459
For any other complaints involving Clergy or Religious call the:
Bishop’s Office at Chanel Centre 07 856 6989
For all complaints involving a lay person call the:
Diocesan Complaints Officer at Chanel Centre 07 856 6989
or
Police (Contact the nearest Police Station)
or
Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children 0508 326 459
Safeguarding Resources
We have developed a video series and booklet on creating a safe environment for you to use in your Parish or School. You can find it here.
