Fijian abuse survivor calls for apology to Pacific victims
by Ellen O'Dwyer · RNZ*Warning - This story contains details of sexual abuse
A Fijian survivor of abuse by New Zealand Marist brothers wants the Pope to apologise to Pacific victims as well as those in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Catholic Church will not say whether it is urging Pope Francis to make a public apology following recommendations by the Royal Commission.
Felix Fremlin was 7 years old when abuse began by a New Zealand Marist brother, Bertrand Hodgkins, who taught at the Marist Brothers Primary School in Suva in 1979.
Another brother, Terence Payne, started teaching there shortly after and the abuse continued.
Fremlin said Payne offered lollies and chocolates to him and his brother John to get them into his room.
"Those are luxuries, coming from a poor family background, so usually they tempt us with it and tell us you come in and don't tell any other guys otherwise you have to share it with them.
"While the rest of the guys are playing around the property, we are in the room with him fondling us."
Fremlin said the abuse carried on throughout primary school in Suva, and that his brother John was also consistently sexually abused.
He knew of at least one other person who was abused by the brothers Hodgkins and Payne, he said. Both men are now dead.
Fremlin said he was beaten by his father when he told him about the abuse.
"It was hard at that time to say something against those in religious positions, no one is going to believe you, because everyone treated them like God themselves."
Fremlin said when he was a teenager he was also abused by other overseas priests, including when he was walking past the church on his way home.
He said they pulled up in a yellow van, asking him to sit inside and offering him alcohol, then molesting him.
RNZ has seen a written apology from Brother John Hazleman, leader of Marist Brothers in New Zealand and the Pacific, apologising for the abuse Felix and John Fremlin suffered.
Fremlin said he received $15,000 in compensation.
He said there are others in Fiji and the Pacific who were abused in the care of Catholic institutions, and they feared speaking out.
The abuse continued to affect him psychologically, he said.
"I just live with it every day. It's still happening on a weekly basis for me.
"From what I found out, the other survivors face the same issues. The mental aspects of it.
"There's flashbacks, lot of flashbacks."
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care called on the Pope to make a public apology to victims and survivors of abuse in Catholic institutions in New Zealand.
Fremlin said that should include Pacific survivors.
"It's the very institution that did this to us. And since he is in charge, he's partially responsible because it's been their policy of cover up."
He said it had been shown that the Catholic Church worldwide had moved paedophile brothers and priests around after allegations had been made.
"If they had a policy in place that put a stop to it instantly then none of this would have happened."
'Not unexpected'
Network for Survivors of Abuse in Faith-Based Institutions spokesperson Dr Murray Heasley said victims were deeply troubled the Pope made no apology during his recent visit to the Pacific.
"Any survivor group is going to find this shocking, but not unexpected that he did not make an apology because they have been dodging these issues."
But he said it's even more important the Catholic Church heard and dealt with complaints fairly, and that enough compensation and rehabilitation was given to survivors to help them heal.
"Many of our survivors don't have a pot to piss in and are in dire straits.
"However having said that, of course there should be an apology made. But they're very unlikely to force the hand of the Pope."
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) advocate Dr Christopher Longhurst said any apology, should not said without a policy of zero tolerance towards sexual abuse.
"The catechism of the Catholic Church states that an apology, to be truly sorry, you have to make up for the offence.
"That's Catholic Church teaching, you can't just say sorry and do nothing."
The Catholic Church in New Zealand is not saying say whether it will seek an apology by Pope Francis.
A spokesperson for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference said: "Responses to the Royal Commission will be made as part of a formal response from the Church."
According to the recommendations of the Royal Commission, faith-based and government institutions should state whether they accept the inquiry's findings by Tuesday - two months on from when the report was tabled in Parliament.
The inquiry recommended government and faith-based institutions should publish their responses to the inquiry's recommendations - including whether they accept or reject each recommendation - four months after the report was tabled in Parliament.
A Marist Brothers spokesperson said the order acknowledged there had been children in its care who had been failed in the past.
"With deep sorrow and profound regret we acknowledge the abuse that children in various countries have suffered.
"We are deeply sorry such abuse ever occurred and we apologise unreservedly for those events, and the harm that has been caused as a result."
The spokesperson said complaints were received and managed in the countries where abuse was alleged to have occurred.
The Marist Brothers encouraged anyone with concerns or complaints to raise them with the Church and with police in the relevant jurisdiction, including especially in the Pacific Islands where the Brothers have been involved for many years, the spokesperson said.
Where to get help:
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 - push 0 at the menu
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496