Faith-based abuse survivor and advocate rejects King’s Service Medal, blasts Government on treatment of victims
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Mike Ledingham says he cannot accept the King’s Service Medal awarded to him this New Year. Photo / Supplied
An abuse survivor who has spent 20 years campaigning for the redress and improvement of child safety in faith-based care settings has rejected the King’s Service Medal he was awarded in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
Mike Ledingham announced his decision on social media last night – explaining it had been made after “a lot of soul searching”.
The Te Puke man had been recognised for his services to survivors of abuse in care.
“Mr Mike Ledingham wrote The Catholic Boys (2019), which outlined the effects of the abuse experienced by him and his two brothers, and how it impacted the opportunities and life choices for the three of them as survivors,” his citation stated.
“Mr Ledingham has been active in campaigning for the redress and improvement of child safety in faith-based care settings, in particular Roman Catholic Church care institutions, for more than 20 years.
“He experienced abuse in faith-based care during the 1950s and 1960s and provided his experience as evidence to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions.
“The lack of response from the Catholic Church on notification of the abuse experienced by the three brothers has driven Mr Ledingham to advocate for the investigation of silencing and covering up of reported child abuse in churches.”
Content retrieved from: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/faith-based-abuse-survivor-and-advocate-rejects-kings-service-medal-blasts-government-on-treatment-of-victims/XNFOUYASC5CJBJNKAARVL3PXJA/#google_vignette.
