CV NEWS FEED// A New Zealand Cardinal who was accused of sexual abuse has been cleared of all charges, according to a recent report.
Cardinal John Dew was accused of sexual assault by Steven Carvell, who alleged that the assault took place in 1977 at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
Dew resigned as Archbishop of Wellington in May of 2023, and said that the allegation arose one day after he retired. Dew also is President emeritus of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.
The allegation “dated back 46 years to when I was an Assistant Priest in Upper Hutt,” Dew stated on March 7. When he learned of the allegation, he explained, “I stated immediately, and state again now, that there have never been any instances of improper or abusive behaviour in my 48 years of priesthood.”
The New Zealand police recently concluded their investigation, and according to news outlet NZME explained that there was “insufficient evidence to lay charges.”
Dew added that he learned that the allegation was submitted to the Church’s National Office for Professional Standards and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse.
“I followed church protocols, and stepped aside from any ministry while the Police were investigating this. Thirty weeks later I was interviewed by the New Zealand Police in the presence of my lawyer,” Dew continued.
Dew added, “I do not know the person making the allegations and have never met him. The allegation against me is false, it may come from a well of anguish and grief arising from other reasons.”
“I have strenuously denied that the events described ever happened,” Dew stated:
This has now been thoroughly investigated by the New Zealand Police, others have been interviewed, and sworn affidavits provided to the Police prove that these allegations could never have happened.
The police statement to NZME added, “After conducting extensive inquiries into the case, including speaking to a number of potential witnesses, police have exhausted all available lines of inquiry into the case.”
“Evidence is often harder to locate or no longer exists as potential witnesses and suspects may pass away, and physical evidence may no longer be available,” the police statement continued, adding, “the case has now been closed; however, police will always consider new information that may come to light in relation to an investigation.”
But despite the police resolution, a news outlet aimed to publicize the allegations and ongoing investigation. Dew tried to receive an injunction to prevent the outlet from publishing the story, but the High Court struck it down. Dew appealed the decision, which failed also. Dew then went to the Supreme Court with the case.
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal on March 6, and the news outlet published the story later that day.
Dew added in his March 7 statement, “From the time that I became a Bishop, I have lived by my Episcopal motto, ‘Peace through integrity.’ Integrity has always meant a great deal to me and the words of that motto have guided my life.”
“I am acutely aware of how distressing this is for many: survivors who have put their trust in me, our church community, and my family and friends,” he concluded. “I state once again that all incidents of abuse are wrong. I hope and pray that all abuse victims will find peace and healing.”
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