Churches seek wider inquiry

The Anglican and Catholic Churches are making a last push to have those abused in faith-based institutions included in the scope of the Government’s Royal Commission of Inquiry into State Abuse.

Last month, Children’s Minister Tracey Martin and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the draft terms of reference, and scope, of the inquiry.

Headed by former governorgeneral Sir Anand Satyanand, the royal commission will cover abuses committed in the 50 years from 1950 to the end of 1999.

However, the draft terms of reference only cover those in the care of the state. It does not cover those who suffered at the hands of a church, or faith-based institution.

The heads of the Catholic and Anglican Churches have met Satyanand, asking him to include the churches; on Monday representatives from the Catholic Church wrote to the prime minister and Martin.

Meanwhile, Anglican Archbishop Philip Richardson was also calling for a meeting with Martin.

While survivors who suffered in faith-based care are allowed to share their stories with the commission of inquiry, under the current terms of reference the Government has no power to hold any church to account.

Those who were willing to share traumatic recounts of abuse, and be open to scrutiny, as part of a formal inquiry, would want to know their account was taken seriously, and had the ability to bring about future change, Richardson said.

Accountability was a key element, Richardson said. It was important the investigation was future-focused, and moved towards a better system and more protection for the most vulnerable people.

The royal commission would also provide a level of independence, consistency of approach, and stand up to scrutiny, in a way an internal inquiry by a church or faith-based institution may not.

‘‘While I would like to think that we have a good sense of what the scope of historical abuse of children in the care of the Anglican Church has been, we can’t ... assume too much.’’

On Monday, the Catholic bishops and representation from Catholic religious orders wrote to Ardern, Martin and Satyanand, to support the inquiry and seek inclusion of religious institutions.

‘‘We are of the firm view that no individual should be denied the possibility of making a submission to this Government inquiry,’’ read the letter, which was signed by Bishop Patrick Dunn, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference and Sister Katrina Fabish, congregational leader of the Sisters of Mercy. ‘‘It would be wrong if some individuals felt excluded from this process simply because their path of referral to an institution was different from someone else’s.’’

Public consultation on the draft terms of reference finishes at the end of April.