Plaintiffs in Cases against Church Seeking $5M in Damages

By Sabrina Salas Matanane
KUAM
January 25, 2017

http://www.kuam.com/story/34339984/plaintiffs-in-cases-against-church-seeking-5m-in-damages

Several cases of alleged clergy sexual abuse have now been filed in federal court seeking millions of dollars in damage against the local church and the Vatican. All of the cases filed against the local catholic church in the superior court will be filed in the District Court of Guam. Just today six cases out of the 15 local cases have been filed in federal court.

According to attorney David Lujan, who represents the alleged victims, the cases were and are being moved because all the judges in the Superior Court disqualified themselves. The local Catholic church is being sued for the alleged sexual abuse, knowing about it and not doing anything.   

Several priests, including Archbishop Anthony Apuron, have been accused of sexual molestation. Fr. Luis Brouillard, who is no longer is with the local church, confessed during an interview with KUAM News last year that he sexually molested boys while he was a priest here decades ago because he thought it made them happy. In a videotaped confession he said he told the bishop at the time about it, but was told to do prayer as as penance.

According to the lawsuits filed in federal court today, the plaintiffs are each seeking up to $5 million in damages. 

According to Lujan, he will be filing the remaining cases this week.