Archdiocese Promises to Tend to Flock

By Sabrina Salas Matanane
KUAM
November 26, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/33796515/2016/11/26/archdiocese

Following two new allegations of sexual abuse by clergy this week, the “Archdiocese of Agana pledges to do all it can, under new leadership, to ensure that all people in our care, most especially our young and most vulnerable, thrive in a safe and loving environment fully protected from any harm,” a press release stated.

On Wednesday, KUAM News first reported two new complaints were filed in the Superior Court of Guam. 63-year-old Paul Joseph Borja alleged that while he was an altar boy at the Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey Catholic Church in Chalan Pago, Fr. Antonio Cruz sexually molested him. Borja was 12-years-old.

59-year-old Vicente T. San Nicolas also came forward. He alleged that when he was a teenager and an altar boy at San Isidro Church in Malojloj he was repeatedly molested by Fr. Louis Brouillard who was serving as the church’s priest. He alleged that the abuse occurred over a five year period. He described how Fr. Brouillard would walk around naked at the Carmelite Monastery where he lived. Court documents further stated that the priest would show him collections of various nude photos that he took of boys.

The two additional complaints bring the total to nine that have been filed against the church. One of those accused is Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Although Apuron has vehemently denied all the allegations made against him, Fr. Louis Brouillard confessed on video to molesting several boys while serving on Guam as a priest and a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts between the 1940s through the 1970s.

The Archdiocese through a press release issued on Saturday stated that it cares deeply about the protection of minors and all people entrusted to its care. The Church also extends its prayers to all victims of clergy sexual abuse, “following the latest allegations of sexual abuse by clergy made by Mr. Paul Joseph Borja and Mr. Vicente T. San Nicolas this week, we enjoin our prayers for them and their families,” the release stated.

The Archdiocese also assures the community that a Task Force for the Protection of Minors continues to train staff and faculty at local Catholic schools on the prevention of sexual abuse, safe boundaries and mandatory reporting requirements. Anyone who would like to report clergy sexual abuse is urged to call the Archdiocese’s Sexual Abuse Response Coordinator (SARC) Deacon Leonard at 727-7373 or deaconlen1@gmail.com.