Vatican flies in top Catholic to investigate allegations of illegal exorcisms

Thursday, 16 November 2023

Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer at Mt Saint Joseph’s monastery in Geraldine say prayers; from left, novice Brother Raphael, Father Anthony and postulant Brother Benedict. The picture was taken in 2021. There is no suggestion any of the men photographed were involved in the alleged abuse.

Complainants who allege they suffered abuse including unauthorised exorcisms and sexual grooming by a Catholic group in Christchurch known as the Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer have reportedly received legal letters in an effort to “silence” them.

On Wednesday, Christchurch Bishop Michael Gielen confirmed the Holy See, the Church's governing body at the Vatican, had ordered an emeritus bishop from Australia to travel to New Zealand as a representative of the Pope to interview complainants.

The representative is emeritus bishop Robert McGuckin.

Gielen, who was appointed as the Bishop of Christchurch in May last year, said the abuse allegations were brought to his attention soon after his arrival in the diocese.

Father Anthony studies scripture in his bedroom at Mt St Joseph’s monastery in South Canterbury. The picture was captured in 2021.

“I sought the guidance of the Holy See,” he said. “The apostolic visitor is appointed to act as a Papal representative tasked with reviewing circumstances identified by the Holy See.”

Dr Christopher Longhurst, a Catholic theologian and the national leader of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (Snap), said the abuse allegations were reported to the diocese in 2021 but “nothing was done”.

Snap had received reports of alleged ritualistic and other forms of faith-based abuse by priests of the Sons, including allegations of physical abuse during lengthy unauthorised exorcisms, children being isolated from their parents and then sexually groomed via text messages, and religious confessions involving sexual deviancy committed by the Sons.

It shared these allegations with Bishop Paul Martin, who was the Bishop of Christchurch at the time.

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In an email sent in November 2021, seen by The Press, Martin responded to Longhurst by saying the abuse allegations had been passed on to the Catholic Church’s national office for professional standards for further investigation, and that it was now “in their hands”.

Father Anthony (centre) with postulant Brother Benedict (left) and novice Brother Raphael at Mt St Joseph's monastery in Te Moana Gorge, at the back of Geraldine. The picture was captured in 2021. There is no suggestion that any of the men photographed were involved in the alleged abuse.

“The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and the community that gathers to celebrate the rite in Latin are following the safeguarding protocols that have been established nationally, and they are working with our safeguarding officer to ensure that these are being followed,” Martin wrote.

“These are being monitored by our safeguarding officer in the same manner as our other parish groups.”

However, neither Snap nor the complainants ever received an update on the church’s investigation into the allegations, said Longhurst.

“We believe they didn't investigate. The national office for professional standards is notorious for not investigating abuse in the Catholic Church, even after complaints are laid. Further, the complainants never learn of any outcome. Why not? Obviously, because there was no outcome. The promises of investigations is a smokescreen.”

Longhurst said after Gielen was appointed as the Bishop of Christchurch, he sent him at least two emails asking if and how the Sons were being monitored.

“We were promised a reply from [Gielen’s] PA. However, we never received any reply,” he said.

Longhurst believed Gielen only acted because the allegations had become public.

The Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer, run by Father Anthony Mary, are also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists. They have a contemplative monastery near Geraldine set on 121 hectares, and an active city monastery in St Albans, Christchurch.

In August, Gielen suspended permission for exorcisms in his diocese after a Newshub programme aired the month prior regarding allegations about the behaviour of priests of the Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer at its St Albans chapel.

Among the allegations reported by Newshub were that many exorcisms were performed without episcopal authority - a priest must have permission from a bishop before an exorcism ritual may be carried out - and that people were tied down, screamed at, and endured exorcisms lasting many hours.

“It is concerning that it requires the press to intervene before anything is done,” said Longhurst.

“The church has failed to do its duty in the first instance - it has an obligation to respond to the survivors, but they don’t do that. Only when lawyers or the press get involved, do they finally act.”

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference declined to answer questions from The Press about Martin’s alleged inaction after the allegations were first reported to him in 2021.

Longhurst said the abuse complainants were happy the issue had been escalated to the Vatican, but remained fearful of speaking to the media after receiving letters from lawyers representing the Sons attempting to “silence” them.

Professor David Tombs from the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Otago, said the decision to send McGuckin to Christchurch would not have been taken lightly.

“It signals the Vatican has genuine concerns over the issues and wants to know more.”

He said McGuckin would report back to Rome after his investigation, where his findings will be considered further. “Often these considerations take quite a long time before firm decisions are made and concrete actions are taken.”

Longhurst said it was doubtful whether the outcome of McGuckin’s visit will ever be known.

“The secrecy around handling these cases has not changed despite public promises made by top New Zealand Catholic Church officials at Royal Commission [of Abuse in Care] hearings.”

Police were unable to provide an update on its investigation into the complaints at the time of publication.