Priest Admits He Molested Children, Says "I'm Doing Penance"

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
August 5, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/32690552/2016/08/04/priest-admits-he-molested-children-says-im-doing-penance

[statement from Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, SDB]

A former Guam priest admits to molesting young boys. In an interview with KUAM News, Father Louis Brouillard says he's repenting for his sins every day.

Earlier this week, 73-year-old Leo Tudela testified in support of Bill 326, a measure to lift the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases. In his testimony, he gave personal and painful details of at least three incidents where he was molested by members of the church. One of his alleged perpetrators was Father Brouillard. At the time, Tudela was 13 and serving as an altar boy at Santa Teresita Church.

Tudela testified, "I looked up and saw Father Louis sitting to my left and told me, 'It is OK. You will feel good and don't worry about anything.' I was shocked and felt very uncomfortable. I was shaking, scared, and started to cry. I was totally embarrassed and ashamed of what Father Louis was doing to me. He was supposed to be a man of God."

Father Brouillard is 95 years old today and lives in Minnesota. In a phone interview with KUAM, transcribed below, he admits there were others.

KUAM News - Did you molest some boys?

Father Louis Brouillard - Yeah.

KUAM News - You did? Do you know how many?

Father Louis - No.

KUAM News - Did you molest some boys while being a priest on Guam?

Father Louis - Yeah.

KUAM News - Do you remember a boy named Leo Tudela?

Father Louis - No, I don't remember him.

KUAM News - Do you remember or have any estimation of how many boys you may have molested while on Guam?

Father Louis - No, I don't have recollection of the number. No.

When asked why he molested young boys, the priest only had this to say, "Hard to say...I guess mostly it pleased the boys. I thought they were happy."

Father Louis added, "I'm sorry and I apologize and I'm doing penance for them right now. I've been working at the senior center, where they serve Meals on Wheels. I've been working there for 30 years without taking any pay. I work there every day and I take no pay for doing it. I do that in reparation for my sins. I'm sorry that it happened and I should have never allowed myself the opportunity or the time for such things. This happened long ago and time has not healed me. I'm sorry that it ever happened."

LISTEN TO KRYSTAL'S INTERVIEW WITH FATHER LOUIS

While Father Brouillard says he's paying for his sins today, the Archdiocese of Agana continues to cut a check out in his name every month, even after he was removed from the Diocese of Duluth

KUAM News - Do you still receive a paycheck from Guam?

Father Louis - Yes.

KUAM News - How much?

Father Louis - $550 every month.

KUAM News - Do you think your penance is enough for the boys to forgive you?

Father Louis - I don't think so. I can never repay all that I've done.

In a press release issued late Thursday afternoon, the Archdiocese of Agana stated "It is the practice and policy of the Catholic Church to care for its incardinated priests who are retired through pension funds, even if they reside outside the diocese. The Archdiocese of Agana confirms Father Brouillard receives a monthly pension. In his efforts to learn more about this situation, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, has directed the Archdiocese to write to the bishop of the Diocese of Duluth in Minnesota, where Father Brouillard now resides."

As we reported on Thursday, in January 2015 Guam's newly-installed apostolic administrator Archbishop Hon was notified about sex abuse allegations related to Father Louis by the Concerned Catholics of Guam organization.

Meanwhile, a December 2015 article by the Wall Street Journal states the Diocese of Duluth, where Father Louis later worked, was one of more than a dozen Catholic dioceses to file for bankruptcy to address claims of past sexual abuse, it was the enactment of the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which opened the door to multiple lawsuits. The law expanded the statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases in the state.

With Father Brouillard's confession, the Archdiocese of Agana stated that Archbishop Hon conveys his deepest apologies and that of the entire church to Tudela and all other persons who were also victimized, writing, "We are very sorry for what they experienced then and the tremendous pain they still carry today."

The archdiocese would like to meet with Leo Tudela or other persons alleging abuse. Anyone is asked to call the Sexual Abuse Response Coordinator at 727-7373.