Attorney Says More Victims Were Abused by Clergy

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
August 10, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/32724604/2016/08/10/attorney-says-more-victims-were-abused-by-clergy


Allegations of molestation made against Archbishop Anthony Apuron may have been only the tip of the iceberg. Last week, 73-year-old Leo Tudela testified before lawmakers alleging he was a victim of child sex abuse by three members of the church, one of whom was Father Louis Brouillard. In a phone interview with KUAM News last Friday, Father Brouillard admitted he had molested young boys while on Guam.

Although he couldn't recall the number of boys, he did say why he did it. "Hard to say...I guess mostly it pleased the boys. I thought they were happy," he stated last week.

KUAM News spoke with Attorney David Lujan today, who alleges there are more victims, and more priests who stand to be accused. Lujan represents other alleged victims who shared their stories earlier this year: Roy Quintanilla, Walter Denton, Roland Sondia, and Doris Concepcion on behalf of her late son, Joseph "Sonny" Quinata.

In Tudela's case, he had moved to Guam from Saipan to attend Catholic school. While an altar boy at Santa Teresita Church, he alleges Father Brouillard touched him in his sleep. He shared his story last week in an effort to compel lawmakers to pass Bill 326 - legislation that would lift the statute of limitations on child sex crimes.

According to Attorney Lujan, he's heard more details of alleged abuse by the priest. "There's a lot of them. Brouillard molested many kids. A lot of kids. He photographed them. He measured their bodies and photographed their penis," said Lujan.

Attorney Lujan also details a specific incident when a teen boy came to Father Brouillard to confess his sins. "Father Brouillard asked him if he has ever masturbated. The boy said yes. Brouillard asked him how many times do you do it daily. The boy said three or four times," Lujan detailed. "Brouillard opened the screen in the confession box and told the boy, 'I want you to demonstrate it to me.'"

Father Brouillard is 95 and lives in Minnesota. He continues to receive a $550 monthly stipend from the Archdiocese of Agana, even after he was removed from the Diocese of Duluth.

In an interview with KUAM News, he apologized to the victims and his apology was followed by an apology from Guam's interim archbishop, Savio Hon Tai Fai, who was appointed by the Vatican to oversee the Agana archdiocese while Apuron was placed on leave.

In addition, Attorney Lujan confirms he has given the Archdiocese of Agana and Apuron more time to file their responses to his clients' $2 million libel and slander suit against. The new deadline is set for September 11.

According to Lujan, Archbishop Hon is being represented by Attorney Jeff Cook, while Apuron will be represented by Attorney Jackie Terlaje. KUAM News has not received confirmation from either attorney that they have been retained by the defendants.