Accuser: Priest told him 'big boys don't cry'

By Mindy Aguon
Guam Daily Post
May 10, 2017

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/accuser-priest-told-him-big-boys-don-t-cry/article_26e9133e-349a-11e7-b2d6-07617caf6b9e.html

A third victim has come forward alleging he was sexually abused by former Guam priest, Andrew Mannetta, for two years while he served as an altar boy at the Mangilao parish in 1983.

An individual, using the initials "C.C." to protect his identity, filed a civil complaint in the District Court of Guam yesterday against Mannetta and the Archdiocese of Agana.

C.C., who is now 43, alleges that the abuse began when he was 8 years old.

Mannetta was the priest at the Mangilao church at the time and allegedly required C.C. and other altar boys to sleep at the rectory to help prepare for early morning masses.

The lawsuits states Mannetta sexually molested and abused C.C. on one sleepover. Mannetta told him, "Big boys don't cry." The victim alleges he awoke later that same night to find Mannetta touching him, again causing him to cry.

After the abuse, C.C. quit serving as an altar boy and stopped attending Mass, court documents state.

'Conspiratorial arrangement'

The lawsuit accuses Guam's archdiocese of having an internal society with a "systematic and ongoing pattern of sexual abuse of young children." The complaint states that the internal society sustained itself through a "conspiratorial arrangement" between priests and higher officials in the archdiocese, whereby they "all understood and agreed to remain quiet about the others' sexual abuse misconduct."

According to Post files, Manetta 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.

The latest lawsuit marks the 60th case filed against the Catholic Church in Guam alleging sexual abuse of children by members of Guam's clergy. C.C. is asking for a minimum of $5 million in damages.