Sexual-abuse Survivors Encouraged to Speak out As Royal Commission Continues to Investigate

By Mandy Te
Stuff.co.nz
June 13, 2020

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/121783442/sexualabuse-survivors-encouraged-to-speak-out-as-royal-commission-continues-to-investigate

Mike Ledingham, who was abused as a child by a Catholic priest, has renewed faith in the Royal Commission in charge of investigating abuse cases in state and faith-based care.

Ledingham and his brothers, Chris and Gerry first spoke out in 2002 about the sexual abuse they experiencedand, while he's still dealing with his demons, the 70 year old is encouraging other survivors to come forward.

“When you have been abused and cover it up and you see what the Church does, you get a bit jaded and your soul is jaded.

“I've now got to the business end [of talking to the Inquiry] and the Royal Commission wants to go forward – I've got confidence in them, they can only recommend changes be made but, to do that, they need information.”

In a statement, The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry said it wanted to speak with people who were abused while in faith-based care and sought redress either directly from the Church or other faith-based institutions or by filing civil proceedings in Court or the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

It acknowledged the disproportionate numbers of Maori in care and wanted to hear about their experiences of the faith-based claims processes. The Inquiry also wanted to hear the experiences of Pacific people as well as vulnerable adults, including people with disabilities or mental illness.

Chris and Mike Ledingham outside of Our Lady of the Assumption in Auckland, where a priest repeatedly abused them.

Ledingham said the Catholic Church owed a great debt to society and needed to address the issue of sex abuse.

When it came to sharing his experiences of sexual abuse, Ledingham said “men have masculine vanity - a lot think if they speak out, it takes their mana away”.

“We were only 7, 8, 9-year-olds kids. We had no power, we didn't know what was going on. It's taken me a few years to realise that.

“When I found out of my youngest brother's abuse – that's what led me into the fray. That was in 2002, but they've learnt nothing since then, the Church is not taking any responsibility."

Chris, Mike and Gerry Ledingham were sexually abused by a priest when they were children in Auckland.

The Palmerston North resident said the Church could never take away what had been done to them but, before he died, he hoped to see openness and honesty from them.

Steve Goodlass,? abused as a child and later at his Catholic high school, also encouraged other survivors to come forward.

“I'm right behind people coming forward and reporting to the Commission – it's the best chance we've got,” Goodlass said.

Steve Goodlass was absued as a child and later at his Catholic high school. He is encouraging other survivors to speak out about the abuse they experienced.

It was tough for survivors to come forward but having people share their experiences meant they could contribute to some action for the future, the Poolburn man said.

“I need to see change to this terrible systemic situation because children are at risk now and for the future ... all of it flows onto society.

“It's about making a change so that children in New Zealand are safe.”

Sexual abuse survivor Steve Goodlass says people speaking to the Commission is the best chance for change.

Commissioner Ali'imuamua Sandra Alofivae? said private sessions had been going on but the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to its "public-facing work”.

Alofivae has been in Auckland this week and has heard a number of stories involving the Catholic Church.

“The manipulation and the grooming that goes on ... often you're dealing with pre-pubescent young people, mainly boys – the thing they really grapple with is not just the physical abuse but the sexual abuse.”

Commissioner Ali'imuamua Sandra Alofivae says sexual abuse survivors in faith-based settings are dealing with big structures and the experiences being told to the Commission were informing the country.

By having people feel comfortable to share their experiences, people who had actually lived through the trauma were helping build a case for change.

“They've just had enough ... people have had a gutsful of this stuff ... if their story could make a difference to one other individual, it was worth them coming forward,” she said.

“A lot of people when they come to the private sessions are representing siblings or a group of friends – some people can't come forward, they've either dealt with it ...or they don't want it to be retriggered.”

“I don't think wider New Zealand appreciates the gravity of how serious the issue really is and the saddest thing is abuse isn't a new issue – it's an indictment on society.”

Claims for redress would be held from November 23 to December 11, focussing on the Catholic and Anglican Churches and the Salvation Army.

People wanting to provide information to the Royal Commission on redress processes, involving the State or any Faith-based institutions, could call 0800 222 727 for advice or email contact@abuseincare.org.nz. People could also write to the Royal Commission of Inquiry at PO Box 10071, The Terrace, Wellington 6143.