John Atcherley Dew was born in Waipawa, New Zealand, on 5 May 1948. He studied philosophy at Holy Name Seminary and theology at Holy Cross College, and was ordained a priest on 9 May 1976. After parish ministry he went to the Cook Islands in 1980 as a missionary, working in the Māori community. In 1988 he was appointed director of formation at Holy Cross College in Mosgiel. From 1991 to 1993 he studied spirituality at the Institute of St. Anselm in Kent, England, then served as a parish priest in Newtown, Wellington.
He received episcopal ordination on 31 May 1995 as titular Bishop of Privata and Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington on 24 May 2004 and succeeded Cardinal Thomas Williams as Archbishop on 21 March 2005; he was appointed Military Ordinary for New Zealand on 1 April 2005 and installed as Archbishop on 7 April 2005. He served as President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference beginning on 30 October 2009 and as President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania from 2010 to 2014. He participated in the Synod of Bishops assemblies on the family in October 2014 and October 2015.
Pope Francis created him a cardinal on 14 February 2015, assigning him the titular church of Sant'Ippolito. He is a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Wellington on 5 May 2023 and as Military Ordinary on 27 May 2023. He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Consequential Quotes
Let’s not be concentrating on rules, but looking for language that helps people and encourages people in their journey toward God.
Together it is not only great news for New Zealand and Tonga, but for the Oceania region. Although we are geographically far from much of the world, Pope Francis has gone to the periphery of the world to name new cardinals.
For me, it’s a heightened call to serve. This appointment has reminded me of the fact that when I was ordained a deacon in 1975 I was told ‘once a deacon, always a deacon’ – meaning that our role is always serving the people of God.
I also apologise to you on behalf of those who preceded us as bishops and congregational leaders. We offer no excuses for their actions, or for ours, that have caused you harm.
I do not know the person making the allegations and have never met him. The allegation against me is false, it may come from a well of anguish and grief arising from other reasons.
I am acutely aware of how distressing this is for many: survivors who have put their trust in me, our Church community, and my family and friends. I state once again that all incidents of abuse are wrong. I hope and pray that all abuse victims will find peace and healing.
Major Works & Initiatives
Military Ordinary for New Zealand
Appointed Military Ordinary on 1 April 2005, alongside the Wellington archbishopric; resignation accepted 27 May 2023 (Holy See biography).
President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
Served as conference president beginning 30 October 2009, per the Holy See biography; in that role he delivered the Church's apology to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care in 2021.
President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania
President of the FCBCO from 2010 to 2014, per the Holy See biography, representing the bishops of New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomons and the Pacific Islands.
Member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Appointed to both bodies on 13 April 2015; appointed a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on 28 October 2016.
Controversies
Synod interventions on Communion and language
At the 2005 Synod on the Eucharist, Dew proposed discussing a pastoral approach to admitting divorced and remarried Catholics to Communion, saying the Church would be enriched if dedicated Catholics currently excluded could return to the Lord's table. At the 2014 Synod on the Family he argued for changing language in Church documents that he said left people feeling judged. Supporters described the interventions as pastoral; the coalition Voice of the Family publicly expressed serious concern when he was appointed to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in April 2015.
Historical abuse allegation, 2023–2024
Around his retirement in May 2023, a man alleged that Dew had sexually abused him as a 7-year-old at St. Joseph's Orphanage in Upper Hutt in the 1970s, when Dew was an assistant priest. Dew denied the allegation, said he did not know the complainant and had never met him, and stood aside from public ministry. New Zealand police investigated for about ten months and in March 2024 advised that no charges would be laid. A Vatican review under Vos Estis Lux Mundi concluded in June 2024 that no further Church inquiry was required, and Archbishop Paul Martin announced on 5 June 2024 that Dew could resume public Church activities, with pastoral support continuing for all involved, including the complainant. Dew also unsuccessfully sought a court injunction to prevent Newshub from broadcasting its report, with appeals dismissed up to the Supreme Court.
Sources
- Holy See Press Office — biography
- Wikipedia
- Catholic News Service via CatholicPhilly — pastoral approach, 5 January 2015
- Archdiocese of Wellington — New Cardinals: a voice for Oceania, February 2015
- New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference — apology to victims and survivors, 26 March 2021
- Catholic News Agency — Cardinal Dew denies allegations, 7 March 2024
- Catholic News Agency — Vatican clears Cardinal Dew, 5 June 2024