Statement from Provincial of the St John of God Brothers

Following the verdict in the Christchurch High Court last week, concerning a member of the St John of God Brother, Rodger Moloney, the head of the St John of God Brothers in the Australia-Pacific region, Br Timothy Graham, said that justice in this matter had been done:

“No-one could possibly say that this matter had not been subject to the most rigorous, the most comprehensive investigation and scrutiny – by the Police, by the media and now by the High Court of New Zealand,” Br Timothy said.

He said that long, drawn-out investigations and court procedures and, at times, almost saturation media coverage, had taken their toll on the victims, for whom he had enormous sympathy, and on the Order as a whole.

“As my predecessors have done, and on behalf of all the Brothers of St John of God, I apologise again – wholeheartedly and unreservedly – to the victims, their families and friends, and to the New Zealand community as a whole for the harm that was done at Marylands,” Br Timothy said.

Sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults had been a serious and widespread problem throughout society over the last century, a scandal from which the Catholic Church had not been immune: “It was crucial that justice was achieved, and was seen to be achieved, for those who suffered abuse at Marylands,” Br Timothy said.

Br Timothy said he had been comforted by the support he either felt or had received from many people in New Zealand, who knew the depth and extent of the good works done by so many Brothers over so many years – and still today by St John of God Services – for so many disadvantaged people across the country.

He declined to comment further, since the sentence had not yet been pronounced and because there was another trial in the offing.

Since assuming the leadership, Br Timothy has accepted the recommendations from its Professional Standards Committee for the Order to adopt the Catholic Church protocols – Towards Healing in Australia, A Path to Healing in New Zealand – in dealing with any complaints now and in the future.

ENDS

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