Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A Catholic catechist who served at Maria Fatima Catholic Parish in Aua was suspended for one year following a sermon he delivered in October, 2024 — a decision he says was unjust, retaliatory, and rooted in misinterpretation.

"As the saying goes, the truth hurts. That is obviously the reason the decision was made," he said.

He stated that since his one‑year suspension expired last October, he has repeatedly attempted — without success — to contact Bishop Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao, head of the Catholic Church in American Samoa, to discuss the reinstatement of his catechist vocation.

In an exclusive interview with Samoa News, the disgruntled catechist, Rev. Tomasi Iosefo Taavili, detailed the events that led to his suspension and the charges filed against him.

Rev. Taavili said that on Sunday, October 6, 2024, he preached a sermon on the theme “Respect Life,” aligning with the Catholic Church in the United States’ observance of Respect Life Month, held every October. The month‑long commemoration calls on Catholics to recognize the God‑given dignity of every human person, promote a culture that cherishes life from conception to natural death, support mothers and families, and care for the poor, elderly, sick, and vulnerable.

During his sermon, Rev. Taavili referenced Jesus’ teaching on marriage from Mark 10:6–9, emphasizing the respect that must exist between husband and wife, children and parents, and clergy and parishioners. He noted that some clergy members have faced punishment or suspension for failing to uphold that respect — and that the same is true in reverse.

The former Aua catechist said he also addressed a sensitive issue: priests who have violated their vows of celibacy by engaging in inappropriate relationships with women and girls in their parishes. Rev. Taavili said he did not mince words in condemning such behavior, stressing that priests must strive to live holy lives modeled after Christ, serving God’s people with humility, faithfulness, and love. As ordained servants of God, he said, they must not give in to temptation of the flesh.

He further claimed that some women and girls involved in such “ungodly affairs” later suffered serious illnesses, and that some young women who eventually married were unable to conceive — consequences he attributed to the sin committed with priests. Rev. Taavili said he raised the matter out of concern and love for the women and girls of the Aua parish.

Two weeks after delivering the sermon, Rev. Taavili received a letter from the Parish Committee informing him that he had been suspended for one year and stripped of his catechist title. The letter listed seven charges — six filed by the parish’s two priests, Fr. Kelemete Pua‘auli and Fr. Asalemo Taulamago, and one filed by Committee Chairman Tualesolo Talo.

The first charge alleged that Rev. Taavili and his wife were absent on the first Sunday of August 2024. Rev. Taavili denied this, saying he had requested permission from Fr. Pua‘auli because they were accompanying their son, who was departing for higher education overseas, and Fr. Pua'auli had granted his request.

He also vehemently rejected the next five charges as “untrue and unfair.” These included:

- failing to visit sick and bedridden parishioners and deliver Holy Communion,

- neglecting the parish youth group,

- neglecting the parish Sunday school,

- parishioner complaints about his son bringing his girlfriend to the catechist residence,

- delivering a sermon that insinuated the parish priests were guilty of having affairs with female parishioners.

Rev. Taavili insisted he never mentioned any names in his sermon.

The seventh charge, filed by Chairman Tualesolo Talo, accused Rev. Taavili of being “too loud and aggressive” in his interactions with parishioners — an allegation he also dismissed as false.

The suspension letter was signed by members of the Parish Committee and endorsed by Bishop Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao.

Tomasi Taavili, originally from Lotofaga in Aleipata, first arrived in American Samoa in 1990. Six years later, he joined the workforce at the Samoa Packing cannery, where he remained until 2010. During his years at the cannery, he met Wendy, who would become his wife in 2000.

It was in 2004 that he felt the calling to God's work, leading him to enroll in night classes at Fatuoaiga Telosia Theological College. Balancing his studies with full‑time work at the cannery, he persevered through years of demanding schedules and was ultimately rewarded when he graduated on 22 January 2011. He was ordained soon after and began his ministry at the Leone Holy Cross Parish, where he served from 2013 to 2018. His pastoral journey continued with reassignment to Joseph the Worker Parish in Fagatogo from 2018 to 2023, followed by service at the Maria Fatima Parish in Aua from 2023 until his suspension in October 2024.

Rev. Taavili said he remains deeply hurt by the suspension and the accusations, but stands by the message of his sermon and his concern for the spiritual well‑being of the Aua parish community.

He said that although he believes his suspension was unjust, retaliatory, and rooted in misinterpretation, he chose to accept it with humility. At the same time, he vehemently denies the charges against him, calling them untrue and unfounded.

“That is what I tell my relatives and friends when they ask why we are no longer serving at our last parish in Aua,” he said.

Adding to his frustrations, Rev. Taavili said news of his suspension has reached his home village of Lotofaga, Aleipata, where the council of chiefs is now awaiting an explanation from him. Ironically, Bishop Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao — who endorsed the charges and the suspension — is not only a relative, but also from the same village. Rev. Taavili explained that under Samoan custom, individuals who become ordained servants of God are held in the highest regard and afforded exceptional respect.

“So if a member of the clergy is defrocked, stripped of his title, or suspended, it is considered a disgrace to the village name, and he and his family are punished accordingly,” he said. “Some individuals and their families have paid heavy fines, some have been ostracized, while others who committed serious offenses have been banned from the village.”

Rev. Taavili said Bishop Tumanuvao’s endorsement of the charges makes his situation with his village even more complicated. Because the Bishop is directly involved in the case, they are required to appear before the village council to explain what transpired and why the Bishop supported his suspension. He also expressed his desire to continue his calling in God's service now that his suspension has expired.

He said he intends to clarify his situation when he appears before the village council, explaining that while he accepted the suspension, he firmly rejects all the charges against him. He argued that there was no evidence to support the allegations and that only God knows the truth.  

However, he expressed his concern at a more serious allegation laid against him by Fr. Kelemete Pua'auli. Rev. Taavili told Samoa News that Fr. Pua‘auli had been telling people he was suspended because he was “taking ice” (methamphetamine).

He stated that concerned friends have been asking whether there is any truth to the allegation, noting that it paints a deeply troubling picture of him — a servant of God accused of breaking the law and committing a serious sin.

"I felt betrayed," Rev. Taavili said.

He said the seriousness of the allegation prompted him to undergo a blood test at LBJ Tropical Medical Center, which came back negative. For many people, methamphetamine remains measurable in blood for about one to three days. He explained that this was one of the reasons he wanted his situation made public, saying the accusation had damaged his reputation and cast doubt on his integrity as a servant of God. He added that if he does not receive an apology from Fr. Pua‘auli, he is seriously considering pursuing legal action for defamation of character.

Despite the gravity of the allegations and the cultural implications now facing Rev. Taavili in his home village, key questions remain unanswered as efforts by Samoa News to contact Fr. Pua'auli and Bishop Tumanuvao for comments on the matter have been unsuccessful.