Connie s story: Gloriavale leaver who reported father to police opens home to him
32 minutes to read
She escaped from Gloriavale and told police of the years of physical abuse she and her younger sister endured at the hands of their father. But when it was his time to get out, she took him in as she navigated the normal things most of us take for granted: technology, fashion, earning her own money and relationships. Now her family is at the centre of a civil case set to shake up the commune, writes Alanah Eriksen.
It may seem pretty normal.
A young mum in ripped jeans on a Saturday morning in a house of her own giving her two sons a glass of chocolate milk each. The little boys then playing in their lounge filled with colourful toys and watching cartoons, their mum speaking the odd word in te reo Māori.
It is alleged that Pilgrim knew of the allegations against Standfast when they first surfaced but still allowed him to teach.
Joseph Johnson/Stuff
A protest against Gloriavale was held outside the Christchurch Town Hall, before The Press Leaders Debate in October. Requests from Stuff to speak to senior leaders at Gloriavale were refused on Monday, one person saying “no one here is interested”, another saying “we don’t talk to journalists” and saying she had no comment. The Teaching Council received a complaint about Pilgrim’s alleged misconduct from Liz Gregory, the trust’s manager, on August 10. A senior investigator later confirmed that it was “investigating the allegation that Faithful Pilgrim failed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of learners”.