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Attorneys: ‘Priest left trail of abused and broken children’
By Mindy Aguon
A former priest who worked in Guam and Hawaii “left a trail of abused and broken children” everywhere the Church sent him, said attorneys representing two former altar boys who allege they were sexually abused between 1986 and 1987 by Father Andrew “Andy” Mannetta. Mannetta, 61, is named for the first time in civil lawsuits filed in the Superior Court of Guam by a team of attorneys, including Attorney Anthony C. Perez, the James, Vernon and Weeks law firm in Washington, and Attorney Randall Rosenberg in Hawaii. The alleged abuse occurred while the victims were altar boys and Mannetta was the parish priest at Santa Teresita Catholic Church in Mangilao. One lawsuit, filed by “M.B.,” to protect his identity, alleges that Mannetta hosted “sleep overs” for the altar boys at the Mangilao parish rectory and required the boys to only wear their underwear. The lawsuit alleges that Mannetta would provide alcohol such as communion wine to the boys, display sexually explicit movies and command the boys to give him a group massage. At 13 years of age, M.B. alleges Mannetta would constantly compliment him, telling him “God made him special.” During one of the sleep overs, while intoxicated, M.B. alleges the priest grabbed him and said he had a “special place” for him to sleep. Mannetta allegedly took him to the bedroom of the rectory and sexually assaulted him. The lawsuit states the abuse only stopped when another altar boy began knocking on the door. M.B. left the sleep over and ran home to his residence “frightened and ashamed” and quit serving as an altar boy and attending Mass, and ceased being a Catholic. Another victim Another victim, identified with the initials “G.G.,” alleges he was sexually abused at the Mangilao parish rectory when he was 14 years old while aspiring to become a priest. The lawsuit states that beginning in 1987, G.G. began residing at the rectory to learn about the priesthood and Mannetta gave him money, complimented him and allowed him to use his vehicle even though he didn’t have a driver’s license. The altar boy recalled one evening when Mannetta called him to the couch and sexually assaulted him. The next day he stopped residing in the rectory, quit being an altar boy and had no interest in the priesthood. The lawsuit alleges that Mannetta has been accused of sexual abuse by other altar boys, resulting in civil settlements and treatments for sexual issues and alcohol abuse, and has admitted to providing alcohol to minor boys. Attorney Perez commended lawmakers for passing the law that allows survivors of sexual abuse to file claims. “Our lawmakers have sent a clear message of zero tolerance for those who prey on the most innocent and vulnerable, and for the institutions that protect these predators and conceal the evidence of their monstrous crimes,” Perez said. Attorney Rosenberger also noted that Mannetta’s assignment history shows a familiar and disturbing pattern as the “notorious pedophile” was shifted from parish to parish within Guam before he was transferred to Hawaii. “He left a trail of abused and broken children everywhere the Church sent him, until he was defrocked as a priest around 2002,” Rosenberger said. Escaped criminal prosecution Perez said Manetta has escaped criminal prosecution for his crimes against children and is believed to currently reside in Danbury, Connecticut. According to bishopaccountability.org, Mannetta was assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, San Miguel in Talofofo, Santa Teresita, and the St Fidelis Friary in Guam. He also served at the St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea, Hawaii and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Pearl City, Hawaii. The Archdiocese of Agana has previously said Mannetta was defrocked in 2002 after sexual abuse claims were raised in Hawaii. The case was settled with a $375,000 payment in 2007.
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