A media statement from Cardinal John Dew, the Metropolitan Archbishop of New Zealand, late on October 4, announced that Bishop Drennan had resigned as Bishop of Palmerston North.

Bishop Drennan tendered his resignation to Pope Francis following an investigation into a complaint of unacceptable behaviour of a sexual nature. The complaint was made by a young woman.

Upon receiving the complaint, the New Zealand Church’s independent investigation body, the National Office of Professional Standards (NOPS), contracted an independent, licenced investigator to undertake an investigation under the oversight of Cardinal Dew. Bishop Drennan stood aside from his duties. Both Bishop Drennan and the young woman participated in the independent investigation.

The young woman has been informed of his resignation and the Church is in ongoing contact with her. The Church is committed to giving continuing support to the young woman, her family and those around her.

“The young woman has requested that details of the complaint remain private,” said Cardinal Dew.

“It can be confirmed that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation. In the eyes of the Catholic Church, Bishop Drennan’s behaviour was completely unacceptable, and it fully supports the young woman for coming forward to NOPS,” said Cardinal Dew.

The clergy, staff and church leadership of the Diocese of Palmerston North have been told of the acceptance of Bishop Drennan’s resignation and provided with guidance and resources to help them to support parishioners and other members of the Catholic community. The wider Church of New Zealand will also be advised and supported.

“The Catholic Church has no tolerance for any inappropriate behaviour by any of its members. I encourage anyone who experiences such behaviour to bring it to the attention of the Church, police or any organisation with which they feel comfortable,” said Cardinal Dew.

New Zealand media reported that Bishop Drennan’s resignation was expected a few hours before the official announcement from Rome. Initial reports made much of the fact that Bishop Drennan was a member of Te Roopu Tautoko. This body was established to co-ordinate and manage co-operation between the Catholic Church in New Zealand and the Royal Commission into Historic Abuse in Care.

Through this group, the New Zealand Catholic bishops and congregational leaders are participating in the processes of the inquiry.  

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the royal commission in February, 2018. It was initially to inquire about abuse in state care, but there were many calls for the scope to be widened. 

In March, 2018, New Zealand’s bishops and representatives of religious orders wrote to Ms Ardern and others requesting that the royal commission be broadened to include abuse in religious institutions. The Anglican Church in New Zealand made a similar request.

The broadened scope of the royal commission was announced in November, 2018. A final report is scheduled to made in 2023.

The royal commission is looking into what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in care between 1950 and 1999. It will cover abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect.

Bishop Drennan, who worked for seven years for the Vatican’s Secretariat of State under St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, was appointed co-adjutor Bishop of Palmerston North on February 22, 2011. This was the same day as a devastating earthquake struck Christchurch, where he was based, being administrator of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, which suffered severe damage.

Bishop Drennan was ordained bishop on June 11, 2011. He was installed as Bishop of Palmerston North in 2012.

Before being appointed bishop, he had been a parish priest and had served at Holy Cross Seminary and at the theologate, Good Shepherd College in Auckland. He had also been the chancellor of Christchurch diocese. He is also an ascribed member of the Institute of Charity – Rosminians.

New Zealand’s bishops are scheduled to make an Ad Limina visit to Rome later this month, with a meeting with Pope Francis scheduled for October 28. Bishop Drennan had previously been secretary of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

Bishop Drennan attended two synods of bishops meetings at the Vatican – the synod on the new evangelisation in 2012 and the synod on the family in 2015.

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“We’ve been prayerfully watching the Conclave and awaiting an announcement of a new Pope with hope and anticipation, as we take in the images half a world away, from Benedict’s farewell, to the closing of doors for the Conclave and now to this wonderful moment in history – Pope Francis giving his first Apostolic Blessing to all the people gathered in St Peter’s Square in Rome, said Archbishop John Dew, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

“It’s a wonderful time for our Church, we welcome the news that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has said yes to this special ministry that is now entrusted to him, chosen prayerfully by the Cardinal Electors on behalf of the whole Church around the world, said Archbishop Dew.

“We believe that through prayer and reflection the Holy Spirit has guided the choice of a man for the time, that whatever his papacy holds he is the man chosen for it, he said.

“We pray that Pope Francis embraces this noble calling with a generous heart that he remains a faithful servant to God and the Church, he said.

“We joined Pope Francis as he lead us all around the world in praying for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Our Father and Hail Mary thanking Benedict for his Papacy,

“Pope Francis will bring his Jesuit charism and philosophy to his Papacy, he said.

“The New Zealand Bishops will be sending an official message shortly to the Vatican to offer our prayers and support for him in his papacy,

“With modern communications and with a desire to show the world as much as possible, Vatican officials have allowed us to see through live streaming and videos many of the parts surrounding the Conclave we wouldn’t normally get to see, such as the Opening Mass, the setting up of the chimney, the room ready for the Cardinal Electors and the like,

“Voting appropriately took place in private which is important for the Cardinals to be free to quietly, prayerfully and without external pressure vote for the person they believe is being called to this special ministry, much like the democratic elections we as citizens are used to,

“The choice of the name Pope Francis could be seen as a sign of a sense of social justice and a desire to life a life of simplicity,

“It was a powerful moment of silence amid the atmosphere of elation as Pope Francis asked us to pray for him in his special ministry, before the Urbi et Orbi Blessing, for the city and the world – his first act as Pope.

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