Archdiocese Urged to Consider 7-point Plan to Address Child Sexual Abuse

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
November 16, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/11/16/archdiocese-urged-consider-7-point-plan-address-child-sexual-abuse/93949210/

Walter Denton and Doris Concepcion, mother of Joseph Quinata, along with friends and supporters gather for a prayer vigil outside the administration office building of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School in Agat on June 9. The same building, once served as the priest's residence for the Agat church. Denton claims that he was sexually abused, in the same building, by then-Father Anthony Apuron when he served as an altar boy at the church. Concepcion says her late son revealed to her that he too was molested by Apuron, when he was a young boy.

A group of Catholics seeking Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron’s removal over multiple sex abuse allegations and other leadership decisions they find questionable has recommended a seven-point plan to address child sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Agana, including tapping the resources of other agencies on Guam.

The Concerned Catholics of Guam reached out to those who believe they are victims of clergy sex abuse, including those who have publicly accused Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, who has not been charged with any crime, and former priest Louis Brouillard, who admitted to sexually abusing at least 20 minors when he was on Guam.

Andrew Camacho, vice president of the Concerned Catholics of Guam, said the group wants the archdiocese to provide every possible option and opportunity for survivors of child sexual abuse by members of the clergy and officials within the archdiocese and its organizations.

“We also believe that such help and counseling should be handled and managed by professionals independent of the Archdiocese. Thus, survivors of these heinous acts know with confidence that their respective cases will be managed with sensitivity and objectivity. It is our hope that these survivors find closure and peace as a result,” Camacho said in a letter to Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai.

The seven-point plan the Concerned Catholics of Guam submitted for the archdiocese leadership’s review and implementation states:

Petition the Guam Bar Association president to establish a lawyer referral service practice area for child sex abuse.

Petition the Victims Advocate Reaching Out, Child Protective Services and the Healing Hearts Crisis Center to establish user-friendly procedures to provide help to child sexual abuse victims.

Petition the Guam Legal Services Corp. to establish a victims of child sexual abuse contact office, which will be a central source for provision of information services available to victims.

Establish a nonprofit foundation, whose board of directors shall be comprised of Catholic laymen with no interests in any of the Archdiocese of Agana’s affairs, and who are professionals in the area of financial trust management. The foundation would solicit, maintain, and disburse funds pursuant to its rules, to help victims achieve closure for their past ordeals.

Petition the Guam Crime Stoppers to establish specific procedures to deal with child sexual abuse victims.

Establish a board of visitors comprised of Catholic laymen having no financial interest in archdiocesan affairs. The board shall conduct inquiries into archdiocesan matters as are appropriate to ensure implementation of plans, agreements and compliance with the provisions of recommendations one through five.

Commit funds collected through the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal to be allocated to the activities set forth in recommendations one through five.

Hon, who was sent by the Vatican to oversee the Catholic Church on Guam when Apuron was placed on leave on June 6, created the Task Force for the Protection of Minors to conduct training at Guam’s Catholic schools to strengthen efforts to protect minors from sex abuse.

Hon ordered an amendment to the archdiocese’s existing policy on sexual misconduct, to include steps that must be taken if a sexual misconduct allegation is against the archbishop.

Pope Francis on Oct. 31 appointed Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes, who has rights to succeed Apuron. David Sablan, president of the Concerned Catholics of Guam, said with Byrnes now in charge the group hopes that the archdiocese still will consider the seven-point plan.

Judge recusal

As the court prepares to hear abuse cases, Superior Court Judge Anita A. Sukola recused herself from one of the child sex abuse cases filed by former altar boy Leo Tudela against former island priest Louis Brouillard, the Archdiocese of Agana and up to 50 people.

Sukola, in a Nov. 10 disqualification form, said she is closely related to several members of the Neocatechumenal Way, with an organization with the Archdiocese of Agana, and she knows Apuron personally. She said she also regularly attends Sunday Mass at the Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores Church in Tumon and has therefore been exposed to information regarding sex abuse complaints against the archdiocese.

The judge said for these reasons, she finds it necessary to recuse herself at this time.

The case was reassigned to Judge Linda L. Ingles.

The complaints filed by three other former altar boys who publicly accused Apuron of raping or sexually abusing them, Walter Denton, Roland Sondia and Roy Quintanilla, were separately assigned to Judge Michael Bordallo, Judge Maria Cenzon and Judge Vernon Perez.

Contact: heugenio@guampdn.com