Gloriavale leaders say they are “deeply sorry” for historic abuse that took place within the community and has apologised to survivors, saying it failed to provide a safe and supportive environment.
An apology letter issued by Howard Temple on behalf of the West Coast commune’s leaders acknowledged the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, which found abuse took place at Gloriavale.
“The Church at Gloriavale acknowledges that the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historic Abuse in Care during the timeframe from 1950 to 1999 found that abuse happened in this church community. We accept the Royal Commission’s recommendation to ensure the ongoing safety of people in our care,” it said.
The letter thanked those who had “spoken up” within the community and apologised that leadership “at the time did not report known instances of abuse to state authorities”.
“The vision for the community life was to provide a safe and supportive environment, but this was taken advantage of. The trust that should have been honoured was broken, and for that, we are deeply sorry.”
“To the people of Gloriavale and those who were part of the community that experienced this abuse while amongst us, we write to you with profound sorrow, acknowledging the pain and suffering that has been experienced by victims and families while within our church group.”
The landmark inquiry was released in July last year, revealing more than a third of people in state and faith-based institutions between 1950 and 2019 were abused — described as a “disgrace” and a “stain” on the national character.
The Commission recommended the most senior leaders of faith-based institutions should make public acknowledgements and apologies to survivors, including the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the General of the Salvation Army, and the Overseeing Shepherd of Gloriavale.
In his letter, Temple said the church was committed to listening to victims, “to support them to heal and receive redress”.
“As part of our commitment to change, we have provided, and will continue to provide, abuse awareness and prevention training to our children and families, promoting a culture of vigilance and care. We are committed to making our processes robust and consistent. We commit to the highest standards of pastoral care.”
Just Standfast, 72, sexually abused girls as young as seven and assaulted boys with weapons. (Source: 1News)
Gloriavale has around 600 residents.
Allegations of physical and sexual abuse have surfaced, while a high profile court case saw six former residents declared employees, not volunteers, by the Employment Court.
