Ex-seminarian Wants Apuron to Step down

Marianas Variety
November 27, 2014

http://mvguam.com/local/news/38077-ex-seminarian-wants-apuron-to-step-down.html#.VHd5B_l_uSq

JOHN Toves, who recently accused Archbishop Anthony Apuron of molesting his cousin in the 1980s, has called on the archbishop to step down.

In a letter to Apuron, Toves wrote: “Dear Archbishop, I now most respectfully, graciously, humbly and lovingly must beseech you to step down.”

Toves wrote about Apuron’s legacy and said Apuron has divided the church for too long. “You must stop and step down. If you continue, would you really want this to be your legacy? Archbishop (Felixberto Flores) would never have done this to his children,” Toves wrote. “I can no longer remain silent.”

Toves said his letter was signed and stamped received at the Chancery Office.

In another letter dated Nov. 21, Toves wrote to Deacon Larry Claros alleging that Apuron molested Toves’ cousin. Claros was appointed the sexual abuse response coordinator for the archdiocese effective Oct. 24, according to the archdiocesan website.

Toves accused Apuron of molesting Toves’ unnamed cousin in the 1980s when Toves and his cousin were seminarians at Tai Seminary. Toves recalled Apuron picking up his cousin and bringing him back with some regularity. He also wrote that his cousin told another priest of the abuse later when the two moved to a seminary in California.

Toves said he expects an investigation to be launched into his allegations and told Claros in his letter that he expects to be updated regularly about the investigation.

Policy

In 2002, the Archdiocese of Agana released its policy on sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. The archdiocese’s policy calls for any priest, deacon, employee or volunteer of the archdiocese to report the information of suspected sexual misconduct to the archbishop and appropriate civil authorities.

Afterwards, the archbishop is to promptly verify the report, notify the sexual abuse response coordinator, direct an archdiocesan investigator to do a complete investigation and direct the accused person not to have contact with the complainant or the complainant’s family.

The archdiocese has not publicly responded to Toves’ claims.