John Atcherley Dew
Stored: John Atcherley Dew
| His Eminence John Atcherley Dew | |
| Bishop of Archdiocese of Wellington (Emeritus) | |
| Home diocese: | Archdiocese of Wellington |
| Other diocese 1: | Diocese of Palmerston North (Apostolic Administrator) |
| Other diocese 2: | Military Ordinariate of New Zealand |
| Other diocese 3: | |
| Ordination: | 9 May 1976 by Cardinal Reginald Delargey |
| Consecration: | 31 May 1995 by Cardinal Thomas Stafford Williams |
| Rank: | Cardinal |
| Created cardinal: | 14 February 2015 by Pope Francis |
| Personal details | |
| Born: | John Atcherley Dew 5 May 1948 Waipawa, New Zealand |
| Died: | |
| Nationality: | New Zealander |
| Education: | Holy Name Seminary (Christchurch), Holy Cross Seminary (Mosgiel), Institute of St. Anselm (Kent) |
| Motto: | "Peace through Integrity" |
| Role: | Emeritus |
| Theology: | Moderate |
| Region: | Oceania |
| Rite: | Roman Rite |
| Conclave Eligibility: | Eligible |
Cardinal John Atcherley Dew, born May 5, 1948, is a New Zealand prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington since his retirement in 2023.[1] Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2015, Dew is recognized for his pastoral approach, advocating for inclusivity, particularly for divorced and remarried Catholics and the LGBT community, and for his leadership in addressing clergy abuse through apologies to survivors during New Zealand’s Royal Commission of Inquiry.[2] His motto, “Peace through Integrity,” reflects his commitment to service and transparency, notably during a 2023–2024 abuse allegation inquiry, which was dismissed by both police and Vatican reviews, allowing him to resume ministry.[3] At 76, Dew is one of four Oceanian cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, contributing his experience in fostering a welcoming Church.[4]
Ordained a priest in 1976, Dew served as auxiliary bishop of Wellington (1995–2004), Archbishop of Wellington (2005–2023), and apostolic administrator of Palmerston North (2019–2023), while holding roles in Vatican congregations for Evangelization and Christian Unity.[5] His presidency of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2009–2016, 2020–2023) and the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania underscored his regional influence.[6] In 2005, at the Synod on the Eucharist, he proposed allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion, a stance he discussed with then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, later Pope Francis.[1] Despite a 2023 abuse allegation, cleared in 2024, Dew’s legacy centers on fostering a welcoming Church and addressing past institutional failures.[3]
Biography
Birth and early life
John Atcherley Dew was born on May 5, 1948, in Waipawa, New Zealand, to George and Joan Dew, with two sisters.[1] Raised in a Catholic family, he attended St. Joseph’s Primary School in Waipukurau and St. Joseph’s College in Masterton, both staffed by religious orders.[2] His early interests included rugby and horticulture, working briefly at the Bank of New Zealand and Anderson’s Nurseries in Napier before discerning a priestly vocation.[1]
Initially hesitant, feeling unworthy of priesthood, Dew studied at the Marist Brothers Juniorate in Tuakau before committing to seminary formation.[7] His rural upbringing and early struggles with academic study shaped his pastoral humility and reliance on scripture, particularly John 15:9 (“Remain in my love”).[7]
Education
Dew studied philosophy at Holy Name Seminary in Christchurch under Jesuit professors from 1970 to 1971 and theology at Holy Cross Seminary in Mosgiel under Vincentians from 1972 to 1976.[1] He earned a bachelor’s degree in theology, focusing on scripture and pastoral ministry.[2] From 1991 to 1993, he studied spirituality at the Institute of St. Anselm in Kent, England, obtaining a diploma.[8]
His formation emphasized service, prayer, and inclusivity, influenced by Salesian spirituality and the Transfiguration narrative, which became central to his prayer life.[7] Fluent in English, Dew’s education prepared him for pastoral roles in New Zealand’s diverse Catholic community.[2]
Priesthood
Ordained a priest on May 9, 1976, by Cardinal Reginald Delargey for the Archdiocese of Wellington, Dew served as assistant priest at St. Joseph’s Parish, Upper Hutt (1976–1979), and in the Cook Islands’ Diocese of Rarotonga (1980–1982).[1] He led archdiocesan youth ministry and ministered to the Cook Islands Māori community from 1983 to 1987.[8] From 1988 to 1991, he was director of first-year formation at Holy Cross Seminary, Mosgiel, guiding seminarians in prayer and human development.[1]
His priesthood focused on youth, missionary work, and seminary formation, addressing challenges like seminarian suitability and Church inclusivity.[7] His pastoral experiences in parishes and the Pacific shaped his later advocacy for a welcoming Church.[2]
Bishop
Appointed auxiliary bishop of Wellington and titular bishop of Privata on April 1, 1995, by Pope John Paul II, Dew was consecrated on May 31, 1995, by Cardinal Thomas Stafford Williams.[5] Named coadjutor archbishop in 2004, he succeeded as Archbishop of Wellington on March 21, 2005, also serving as military ordinary.[6] Elevated to cardinal on February 14, 2015, he received the titular church of Sant’Ippolito.[1]
As archbishop, Dew promoted synodality and inclusivity, served as apostolic administrator of Palmerston North (2019–2023), and faced a 2023 abuse allegation, cleared by Vatican and police inquiries in 2024, allowing him to resume ministry.[3] He retired in 2023 at age 75 and participates in the 2025 conclave.[6][4]
| Diocese | Role | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Wellington | Auxiliary Bishop | 1 April 1995 | 21 March 2005 | Titular Bishop of Privata |
| Archdiocese of Wellington | Archbishop | 21 March 2005 | 5 May 2023 | Elevated to cardinal in 2015, fourth New Zealand cardinal |
| Diocese of Palmerston North | Apostolic Administrator | 4 October 2019 | 5 May 2023 | Concurrent with Wellington role |
Significant events
- Ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Wellington, 1976.[1]
- Served in Diocese of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 1980–1982.[8]
- Appointed director of first-year formation at Holy Cross Seminary, 1988.[1]
- Studied spirituality at Institute of St. Anselm, England, 1991–1993.[8]
- Named auxiliary bishop of Wellington, 1995.[5]
- Appointed Archbishop of Wellington, 2005.[1]
- Proposed Eucharist access for divorced and remarried Catholics at 2005 Synod.[1]
- Elected president of New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, 2009–2016.[6]
- Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2015.[1]
- Apologized to abuse survivors at Royal Commission, 2021.[1]
- Retired as Archbishop of Wellington, 2023.[6]
- Cleared of 1977 abuse allegation by Vatican and police, 2024.[3]
Books
Written about the bishop
- No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal Dew were identified.
Written by the bishop
- No books authored by Cardinal Dew were identified. He has issued pastoral letters and statements through the Archdiocese of Wellington, but no published books are documented.
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 "John Dew (cardinal)". Wikipedia. 2006-12-10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dew_(cardinal).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Cardinal John Atcherley Dew". Vatican Press. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_dew_ja.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Vatican clears New Zealand Cardinal John Dew of abuse allegations". Catholic News Agency. 2024-06-05. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257897/vatican-clears-new-zealand-cardinal-john-dew-of-abuse-allegations.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope". Vatican News. 2025-04-29. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "John Atcherley Cardinal Dew". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdewj.html.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Cardinal John Dew retires as Catholic Archbishop of Wellington". New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. 2023-05-04. https://www.catholic.org.nz/news/media-releases/cardinal-john-dew-retires-as-catholic-archbishop-of-wellington/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Cardinal John Dew". Wellington Priests. https://www.wellingtonpriests.org/index.php/vocations/cardinal-john-dew.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "DEW Card. John Atcherley". Vatican Press. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_dew_ja.html.