Abuse In Care Report

Dear Pastors

Abuse in Care Report

On Wednesday this week at 4:00pm I listened to some of the most moving speeches from the floor of Parliament that I have ever heard as the Royal Commissions Report was tabled. What’s more and ever so encouraging is that they came from MP’s across the political aisle. On the 6:00pm TVNZ news there was a clear statement of intent expressed - the response to this report should NOT be politicised. It was a call to a cross-party response. I couldn’t agree more keeping in mind that the Labour Government commissioned this inquiry in 2018.

Fact File

• The report is called Whanaketia: through pain and trauma, from darkness to light. This name reflects the journey that survivors have been on: from being horribly mistreated and neglected, isolated, abandoned, unseen, and not listened to – to being heard, telling their experiences, being taken seriously and now looking to the light for healing and restoration. As Christian communities we know something about this. My prayer is that our light will shine ever so brightly in our responses to this inquiry as we go forward.
• The Report is 3000 pages over 16 volumes (books) and weighs 14Kg. It covers the period 1950 to 1999. It is the longest and most far reaching inquiry in NZ’s history and one of the biggest in the English speaking world. It cost over $170m.
• In the Commissions Interim Report of February 2021, it stated the following: - “We think more than 600,000 people were in care places. We think up to 250,000 people may have been abused. We cannot be sure how many people were abused in care because not all the information is there. We know people are still abused in care now” .
• In the Commissions Interim Report of February 2021, it stated the following: - “We think more than 600,000 people were in care places. We think up to 250,000 people may have been abused. We cannot be sure how many people were abused in care because not all the information is there. We know people are still abused in care now” .
• Eight faith-based organisations were investigated. It was found that, in many faith-based institutions that provided care for children, young people and adults during the Inquiry period, that unique factors contributed to abuse and neglect, and created barriers to disclosure. These factors included:
  a. the misuse of religious power (otherwise known as Spiritual Abuse)
  b. the moral authority and status of faith leaders and the access this power, authority and status gave them
  c. sexism and negative perceptions of women
  d. negative attitudes about sex and repression of sexuality (otherwise known as the purity culture)
  e. racism and ableism based on religious concepts
  f. the interpretation of sexual abuse through the lens of sin and forgiveness. (basically meaning “say sorry, repent from your sin and move on”)
• There are 138 wide-reaching Recommendations covering:
  a. Prevention of Abuse and neglect in NZ’s care facilities
  b. Provide ongoing support for survivors (and their whanau)
  c. Overhaul NZ’s legal system to properly address the complexities of abuse experienced while in care.

* On 6th June I recommended the following response from the Christian Community.
1. That we read the RCI Report carefully. I would now add “read the relevant sections and certainly the 138 recommendations.
2. That we adopt a humble posture.
3. That we pray for God’s leading and discernment as to how to respond…...specifically what we say.
4. That you discuss it as a leadership team and together decide how you as a local church will respond.
5. That we discuss it in our pastors’ groups both inside our denominations and locally (inter-denominationally) when we meet in pastor groups in our suburb, town or city.

Here are a few links that may be of help as you endeavour to ‘come to grips’ with this ever so important document.

Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light | Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry

Righting the wrongs of the past: The abuse in care inquiry’s key recommendations | The Spinoff

‘I’m even more concerned’: A survivor’s response to the final abuse in care report | The Spinoff

https://www.leadershipworx.org.nz/blog/acknowledging-survivors/

Finally, here are list of organisations that you can refer people to. There are also well qualified counsellors in most towns and cities in NZ.
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
Samaritans – 0800 726 666
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Help (for survivors of sexual abuse) – 0800 623 1700
Male Survivors Aotearoa – 0800 044 334
Snap (Survivors network of those abused by priests)

Blessings
Alan