Children's author Joy Cowley has defended a Palmerston North bishop who resigned after an investigation found he acted inappropriately towards a young woman.
Pope Francis accepted Bishop Charles Drennan's resignation, after an investigation into the woman's complaint of unacceptable behaviour of a sexual nature by the bishop.
The Catholic Church's independent investigation body, the National Office of Professional Standards (NOPS), contracted an independent investigator to look into the complaint.
Cowley, who was granted the 'Order of New Zealand' in 2017, wrote in a column for CathNews New Zealand that she was "sorry that the church will lose a very fine bishop".
"I am sorry that Pope Francis didn't offer his famous response: 'Who am I to judge?' Cowley says.
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"I am also sorry for the women concerned. But I have seen how young women flirt with priests. Do they think that a vow of celibacy guarantees immunity?
"Over the past few years, when I've read about a priest charged with sexual abuse, I've known that both abuser and abused are victims," Cowley wrote for CathNews.
The young woman at the centre of the complaint asked its details to stay private, Metropolitan Archbishop of New Zealand Cardinal John Dew said in a statement on Saturday.
"The Catholic Church has no tolerance for any inappropriate behaviour by any of its members," Cardinal Dew said.
Newshub.
