Archbishop Hon Circulates Petition to Veto Sex Crimes Bill

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
September 19, 2016

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/10869

[with video]

"We request the governor of Guam's consideration in vetoing the bill..." the petition says.

Guam - A petition is being circulated around catholic churches on Guam that encourages Governor Eddie Calvo to veto bill 326 which seeks to lift the statute-of-limitations for pursuing civil claims for child sex abuse.

The bill passed in the legislature last week and is now on the governor's desk for passage or veto.

The petition is displayed along with a letter written by Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana, in which Archbishop Hon talks about the "unintended consequences" of the bill.

"One of the unforeseen side effects of the bill will be to erase the good work of those in the archdiocese who serve the neediest, who provide quality education to thousands of our children including the poor, and who themselves have made enormous and selfless sacrifices for the good of others," Hon writes.

That sentence also appears in the petition and additionally says, "We request the governor of Guam's consideration in vetoing the bill and to work with the legislature to introduce similar legislation to instead specifically punish the guilty and to allow survivors to come forward and achieve justice without crippling the innocent work of countless others who share in the church's ministry of service to our community."

Meanwhile, Archbishop Hon, in his letter, says he's currently in Rome to "urge the Holy See to remove Archbishop Apuron as Archbishop of Agana and to appoint a successor."

Lawmakers passed bill 326 on September 12 with 13 yes votes and 2 excused absences. Governor Calvo has 10 days to either sign, veto or let the bill lapse into law.