Episode 1: Mike Ledingham

Mike Ledingham and his younger brother, Chris, gave testimony at a Private Session in May 2020 before Royal Commissioner, Sandra Alofivae.

Private Sessions are one way victim/survivors can report to the Royal Commission and here is a guide to that process:

https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/survivors/private-sessions/

Mike and his brother also became part of the “Loud Fence” initiative at the June 1, 2019 launch of their book, The Catholic Boys https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/survivors/private-sessions/

This involved tying coloured ribbons to the iron railings of the fence adjacent to the church, an initiative begun in Ballarat, Australia. The ribbons represent support and solidarity with victims and survivors of sexual assault by officials of the Catholic Church and all survivors of faith-based abuse and state abuse.

Astonishingly, these ribbons were repeatedly slashed down causing outrage.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/auckland/113265186/disgust-as-memorial-ribbons-for-catholic-church-child-sex-abuse-victims-vanish?rm=a

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/116107967/commemorative-ribbons-removed-from-outside-auckland-church–again

On November 8^th 2020, the opposite outcome was achieved at St Patrick’s Cathedral in central Auckland, when the Māori Dean. Father Pa Tipene, dressed in a traditional Māori cloak (korowai), greeted Mike with a traditional hongi (nose to nose touching) and helped tie on the ribbons, some of which came for another Network member, Grant West from Ballarat, These ribbons still remain there and have grown in number

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/402855/ribbons-tied-to-fence-of-catholic-cathedral-to-honour-victims-of-abuse

If this podcast has raised issues for you and you need help, then click on the button below for a list of support services.

Were you a victim of Father Frank Greene or have you suffered abuse similar to what Mike and his brothers endured?

If you’d like assistance with

• Finding support
• Reporting your abuse to Police
• Reporting it to the Catholic Church via their “A Pathway to Healing” process
• Reporting to the New Zealand Royal Commission into Abuse in Care

Then we may be able to provide help. Members of our Network have lived experience in all of these areas and by sharing their experiences and knowledge they can make the road a little easier to navigate. Contact us in confidence.