BishopAccountability.org

Four unprecedented lawsuits against the Catholic church are the first of many

By Rebecca Elmore
Pacific News Center
November 1, 2016

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/11453


[with video]

Attorney David Lujan holds press conference for sexual assault abuse victims. 

Guam - The statute of limitations for sex abuse has been lifted and now, in a series of unprecedented lawsuits, four victims are seeking damages against archbishop Apuron and the Catholic church.

But according to the victims' legal counsel, Attorney David Lujan, this is only the beginning.

More will come forward - that from Attorney David Lujan in a press conference today addressing the concerns of the victims of abuse within the Catholic church.

According to Lujan, the press conference was called to "remove the cancer caused by these pedophile priests and restore the Catholic church to its glory."

He reiterated that sentiment stating: "It is each victim's hope that the filings of the lawsuit will bring positive changes in the lives of all victims of abuse, resulting in a cleansing and healing of decades of old feelings of fear, embarrassment, shame, hatred, bitterness, and blaming oneself."  

Lawsuits were filed by four victims against the Archdioces of Agana, they are Roland Sondia, Roy Quintanilla, Walter Denton, and Leo Tudela. The first three allege that Apuron sexually abused them while Tudela says former Gua, priest Louis Brouillard sexually assaulted him.

Even more concerning, Lujan says "I can tell you that I've got an additional 12 clients besides the four here and I can tell you that I'm more aware of more people and that I'm in discussion with others and that its just not the Catholic church." 

According to Lujan, another four lawsuits are expected to come forward next week and another four the week after.

In addition, he revealed that at least one of his clients will file a lawsuit against a catholic school teacher.

He also says that so far, all of the victims he will be representing are males. 

Lujan emphasizes that although more than a dozen lawsuits are forthcoming, it will not results in the destruction of the church stating: "After all the church has outlived every empire and civil government known to man. The church will reform itself and become even greater." 

Lujan says all of the alleged sex abuse by members of the church happened between the 1950's to the 1980's and none of them within the last decade.

However, he says he anticipates some younger victims may come forward. 

Meanwhile, in a statement released by the archdiocese of Agana regarding today's lawsuit filings, the Archdiocese is encouraging victims to contact a priest or victim support group so they "do not have to suffer in silence anymore."




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