Catholic Group Defends Guam Priest Accused of Child Sex Abuse
By Haidee V Eugenio
A group of local Catholics has stepped forward to defend Guam Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, saying he is being treated as if he already was found guilty of abusing altar boys. The group, which calls itself I Familan Mangatoliku Siha Pari Si Apuron or Catholic Families for Apuron, led by Dr. Ricardo B. Eusebio, disagrees with statements made last weekend by temporary Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, who is running the local church pending a Vatican investigation into the abuse allegations against Apuron. Several former Agat altar boys have accused Apuron of raping or molesting them in the 1970s, when he was parish priest. Hon, in a written statement that he instructed to be read at Sunday Mass, said he is in Rome, urging the pope to remove Apuron and to appoint a successor. "I can assure you that the gravely serious allegations against Archbishop Apuron will continue to be dealt with by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, which will hold a canonical trial," Hon stated. Hon, in his statement, also lobbied against a bill approved by Guam lawmakers that would remove the statute of limitations on lawsuits, allowing alleged victims to sue their abusers, and possibly the church. If the bill becomes law, it could cripple the local church, he said. “It is with great sorrow that we, many Catholic faithful of Guam, are expressing our deep sadness at your recent statements about Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, where you treat him as if he has already been declared guilty; therefore, stirring a public lynching,” the pro-Apuron group said in a two-page statement. They called on Hon to stop what they describe as extremely damaging efforts, and threatened to “bring our appeal to a higher authority.” They said Hon’s “attitude of considering the Archbishop guilty is unacceptable from a human point of view and from a Christian point of view.” The group said Apuron has been a protector of children and has protected Guam from the evils of gambling for years. The group also said Hon should have spoken sooner against the sex abuse bill in the Legislature. Gov. Eddie Calvo has until Friday to act on Bill 326-33 or else it will lapse into law by Saturday, without his signature. Senators said Monday they stand ready to override any veto by Calvo. Since May, Apuron has been publicly accused of raping and sexually abusing altar boys in the 1960s and the 1970s. Apuron has not been charged with any crimes.
Former island priest Rev. Louis Brouillard and the late Rev. Antonio Cruz also have been publicly accused of molesting altar boys in the 1950s and 1960s. Brouillard, who now lives in Minnesota, has admitted to molesting altar boys on Guam. “We strongly believe that child sex abuse is heinous, and that victims of child abuse deserve justice," Catholic Families for Apuron stated. "However, justice is not accomplished by Bill 326-33, and your actions do not reflect the 30 years of efforts by Archbishop Apuron to protect children." The group accused Hon of having “ideological hatred for the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, the Theological Institute and the Neocatechumenal Way.” Eusebio, the group’s president, is a member of the RMS board of directors and is a member of the Neocatechumenal Way. It is a movement within the Catholic Church whose practices are at odds with the island's traditional Catholic faithful. The Concerned Catholics of Guam, a group that has been pushing for Apuron’s removal, said Apuron should have been removed a long time ago. David Sablan, president of the Concerned Catholics of Guam, said Apuron should not only be removed as archbishop of Guam but also defrocked or laicized, “which removes him of his faculties to be a priest.” The Concerned Catholics want Gov. Calvo to sign the sex abuse bill into law. “We are praying he will sign the bill so justice can be sought by these survivors of child sex abuse,” Sablan said. The Laity Forward Movement, which has also been calling for Apuron to be defrocked, said it will be praying at the governor's office at 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. every day this week. They support the enactment of the bill into law. Senators ready Sen. Frank Blas Jr., author of Bill 326-33, said the legislative process, including two public hearings, gave ample time for anyone, including the Archdiocese of Agana, to comment on the bill before senators voted on it. Blas, R-Barrigada, said the Archdiocese of Agana’s statements concerning possible bankruptcy and disruption in school and social services are very telling. “Is the church admitting wrongdoing?” Blas said. “What about the victims? What about their lives? Are we losing sight of the fact that the bill is made to give victims of child sexual abuse to seek and get justice for what’s done to them?” Blas said the notion stated by Hon that the church will no longer exist if Bill 326-33 becomes law is untrue. “In most desolate of places, the church thrives,” he said. “And churches that were sued by victims of sex abuse are thriving, and are back on their feet. To scare people by saying this bill will lead to the demise of the church is disingenuous for the church. Is the primary concern to protect the assets or to make victims whole?” Blas said he prays that the governor sign the bill into law. The bill passed the Guam Legislature by a 13-0 vote, with two absences, and Blas said he trusts that the same senators who voted to pass the bill will again “do the right thing.” Speaker Judi Won Pat, D-Inarajan, when sought for comment, said she will support an override if the governor vetoes Bill 326-33. The governor's office on Monday stated the governor is taking comments into consideration and has asked his legal team to review the bill. He has until Friday to make a decision on the bill. “The Archdiocese has the right to voice their opinion to the Governor, but I remain steadfast in my decision to vote yes if an override is necessary,” said Won Pat, who currently is running for re-election. The speaker said the Legislature has October session scheduled for the week of the 17th. “All bills that have been vetoed by the governor will be placed on the October session agenda,” Won Pat added. Sen. Frank Aguon Jr., D-Yona, chairman of the committee that reviewed Bill 326-33 and recommended its passage, said the committee received numerous oral and written testimony on the bill, but no testimony from the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana. "What changed? What sparked this call to action?” Aguon said. Both Blas and Aguon are running for re-election. The archdiocese has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday morning to discuss Bill 326-33.
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