Newshub: Closed faiths including Gloriavale, Jehovah’s Witnesses now included in Royal Commission into Abuse in Care

By Michael Morrah | Newshub |

Secretive, closed faiths – including Gloriavale, Exclusive Brethren, and Jehovah’s Witnesses – will be formally investigated by the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care.

The Commission’s Anglican investigation has also been expanded to include the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Salvation Army faiths.

A spokesperson for the Commission said expanding the investigation was to recognise the large numbers of people from each organisation willing to pass on information.

“The scope is being formally extended to recognise increased numbers of survivors from these faiths and their institutions – including schools and care homes – who have disclosed abuse to the Royal Commission.”

Newshub understands up to 60 people who left Gloriavale have engaged with the Commission’s lawyers, completing face-to-face interviews or providing written evidence.

The Gloriavale Leavers’ Trust manager Liz Gregory said she’s very pleased with the development and the way the Commission had responded to its concerns over the past two years.

“The Commission got lawyers involved to interview leavers. They worked with us to bypass some of the roadblocks we faced.”

Further reading and video: Closed faiths including Gloriavale, Jehovah’s Witnesses now included in Royal Commission into Abuse in Care