BishopAccountability.org

Support given for bill that would lift statute of limitations

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
July 30, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/07/30/support-given-bill-would-lift-statute-limitations/87696388/

Tim Rohr testifies in favor of Bill 326-33, which would lift the statute of limitations on child sex abuse crimes in retroactive cases.
Photo by Rick Cruz

Guam is on its way to becoming the first U.S. territory to allow victims of child sex abuse to sue their perpetrator at any time, without restriction, on retroactive cases.

As of Friday, there was no opposition to a bill that would remove time restrictions for suing child sex abusers. A public hearing on the bill is scheduled to resume Monday.

“We cannot continue to expect the church to fix itself in this regard,” Chalan Pago resident Gerard Taitano told senators on Thursday. “We must hold child sex abusers and their enablers accountable for their actions. Serious moral, legal and ethical questions arise whenever a prosecutor cannot adequately indict child sex predators or their enablers.”

Other U.S. jurisdictions are considering expanding or eliminating statutes of limitations on rape and child sex abuse, because of high-profile sex abuse allegations, including those involving members of the Catholic church.

In Guam’s case, the recent allegations involve the archbishop, the highest leader of the local Catholic church. The alleged sex abuses, according to his accusers, happened when Apuron was still parish priest at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Agat during the 1970s.

Sen. Frank Blas Jr.’s Bill 326-33, in its substitute form, says the intent is to remove the current section requiring “certificates of merit,” as such information would have a chilling effect on those sexual abuse survivors who choose to seek justice against their victimizers.

‘World is watching’

Five individuals have publicly accused Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron of molesting or raping four altar boys when he was parish priest in Agat in the 1970s, drawing national and international media attention. The spotlight grew bigger when the Vatican temporarily removed Apuron from the daily administration of the Guam church because of the sex abuse accusations.

“Senators, whether you know it or not, the whole world is watching,” Tim Rohr said at the public hearing.

Rohr said Apuron is a member of a very powerful and well-financed international organization, which has wrought heartache and destruction in dioceses around the world.

“The fact that it is a bishop who stands accused of these horrors, and that a major figure of the Roman Curia has been assigned to Guam in his stead, has heightened world attention on what is happening right here, right now, and in this room,” Rohr said.

“The Vatican will finally see that this hiding and moving and secreting about of those who abuse and ravage and rape our children will not only be tolerated but will be pursued and prosecuted and punished by every possible legal means,” Rohr said. “Senators, the world is watching and waiting to see if you are ready and willing to stop these monsters.”

Could file claims

The substitute bill gives child sex abuse survivors a chance not only to seek justice for the acts that have scarred them, but also allows them to file claims against institutions and organizations and other individuals who have engaged in a conspiracy to cover up those acts, said David Sablan, the president of the Concerned Catholics of Guam.

“The passage of this bill and its enactment into law will be justice served, albeit years later,” Sablan added.

Annabelle Cruz, a social worker and former administrator of the Bureau of Social Services Administration, which includes Child Protective Services, said she was compelled to share her thoughts with senators in light of recent events. Cruz said many professionals engaged with the topic are involved after the fact.

“Policymakers, educators, humanitarian organizations, religious groups and others must partner with us so that we can effectively address and help prevent the victimizing of our most vulnerable citizens, our precious children,” she said.

‘Failed to stop it’

Rosa Cruz Santos, a resident of Yona and a parishioner at Nuestra Senora De Las Aguas Catholic Church in Mongmong, said there has been much wrongdoing in the handling of child sex abuse in the church.

“When it has happened and we do nothing about it, this too is wrong because we failed to stop it,” she said.

Recently, the Archdiocese of Agana revised its policy in handling allegations of sex abuse involving the clergy by requiring the archbishop to recuse himself from proceedings when he is the one being accused of abuse. Previously, the archbishop decided whether an accusation would be investigated, even if the accusation was against him.

The Legislature’s Judiciary committee, headed by Sen. Frank Aguon Jr. will continue the public hearing at 10 a.m. Monday. The committee substituted the bill to ensure the language is consistent with the intent of lifting the statute of limitation for child sex abuse cases.

The Judiciary also sent written testimony on the substitute bill, which it said “controls the statute of limitations period for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse.”

Accusers testify

During Thursday’s public hearing, three former altar boys who accused Apuron of molesting them in the 1970s testified in support of Bill 326-33.

Another man also testified, telling the senators that his older brother, as a 9-year-old altar boy in the 1970s, was raped by Apuron. He said he kept his brother’s secret for 38 years. His brother died 11 years ago. In May, their mother came forward, saying before her son died in 2005, he told her that Apuron molested him.

Apuron hasn’t been charged with any crime. He denied the accusations of child abuse against him and threatened to sue those who publicly accused him of child molestation. He remains archbishop of the Archdiocese of Agana. Local church officials said they don’t know where Apuron is.

Four Apuron accusers filed a $2 million libel and slander lawsuit against Apuron, the Archdiocese of Agana and up to 50 other people for calling them liars after they publicly accused Apuron of child sex abuse.




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