The Waiapu Cathedral doors will be open until late today to enable people to find a moment of stillness following the Royal Commission Inquiry findings, or light a candle for healing and hope for the people and families who have been hurt by institutions and churches.

The Government will release the report of the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care today.

Dean Di Woods endorsed the formal apology offered by the Archbishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa during the Sunday morning service – available on Facebook [at 32 mins]

until 5.4“When the NZ government decided to roll out the enquiry into abuse in institutions, the church put its hand up and said ‘you need to look at us too, this isn’t just about institutions – we know the church has failed in this regard as well, and your investigation needs to include us and we are volunteering to make ourselves available’.”  

“When people read this report the world out there will, quite rightly, be unimpressed with the church.  We have failed.  We are deeply sorry for the hurt we have caused to lives and families,” said Dean Woods.

Waiapu Cathedral in the Napier CBD will be kept open late this Wednesday evening for people who want to come in to pray and light a candle, and take a moment to reflect on the healing needed.  The cathedral will also be open until 5.30pm on Thursday and Friday and during the morning on Saturday and Sunday.

The Royal Commission is presenting a final, comprehensive report to Parliament today that reflects the information and evidence gathered throughout the Inquiry. It will include what they found out about the nature of the abuse, the extent of it, the impact it had on people, what has improved, and what may still need to be done. It will reflect the experiences of Māori, Pacific people and people who are disabled, deaf or have experienced mental distress.  

The wider church fully participated in the Inquiry since it began in 2018.  The Anglican church has already responded with changes to further ensure parishioners, visitors and families can be safeguarded, now and in the future.