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The Press
June 30, 2003
Service honours abuse victims
by Ryan Keen
It
was a memorial service for the living, as well as the dead.
The men allegedly abused as boys at a Christchurch Catholic residential school
continued their healing process yesterday at St Peter's Anglican Church in
Riccarton.
It was the latest step for the more than 70 complainants of sexual abuse
allegedly suffered at
Not all the men could be there yesterday. Some were in prison, some were out of
town, and others did not feel comfortable about being inside churches.
Those who went were joined by family and friends, with the flames of 26 candles
acknowledging the men who have died or taken their own lives.
The death of the 26th man was last week. He is believed to have committed
suicide.
St Peter's vicar, Richard Barnett, opened the service, saying he wanted to
acknowledge the pain of the victims and those who had supported them.
Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust head Ken Clearwater said nobody, or any
amount of money, could change or erase the horrors of what had happened to the
victims. "We should acknowledge the survivors and how strong they must be
to be here today ... and remember those who are not," he said before
encouraging the men to share their stories and strength.
Some took the opportunity to do so and walked to the pulpit.
One of the men -- and service organiser -- Tim Beswick told how his life had
been taken away from him at the age of five.
"Mankind can do a lot of damage. At least I am able to live and face the
consequences of this abuse."
Another man said he had led a violent life of crime. He had tried to kill
himself several times. He told of how he had found the strength to carry on and
tell himself "not to let it beat you".
He felt lucky and privileged to be able to attend, and said he knew of others
in prison who could not.
"There is also one guy who didn't apply because he has a thing about being
in churches -- that concerns one of the things that happened to him."
He read a letter from another inmate who wished everyone well in the future and
expressed sorrow to the families of the men who are dead.
A letter from the Australasian head of the St John Order, Brother Peter Burke,
was read by one of the men.
In it Brother Burke said he appreciated the invitation to the service, and
apologised for not being able to attend.
"I trust today is another powerful step in the healing process that we
have already begun," the letter said.
For Mr Beswick and the men who attended, the service was a crucial step in the
healing process, and he said afterwards that he felt he could relax a bit.
"It makes me want to live again. I've always wanted to die all the time.
It's given me faith to live and move on."
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CAPTION:
PHOTO: DAVID ALEXANDER Healing process: candles burn at a church service
yesterday to honour the memory of the 26 men who have died or taken their own
lives since being the victims of alleged sexual abuse at a Christchurch
Catholic residential school.