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Church Responds to Latest Suit

By Neil Pang
Guam Daily Post
May 15, 2017

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/church-responds-to-latest-suit/article_6295ea7a-393f-11e7-9cb5-f73b54862f36.html



"We extend our prayers to the claimant, known by the initials of B.W.J., and his family." – Archdiocese of Agana

The same day news of a new lawsuit alleging child sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic school teacher became public, the Archdiocese of Agana issued a response apologizing to the newest victim as well as those recently named in several other lawsuits.

"The Archdiocese of Agana acknowledges the latest lawsuit and allegation of child sexual abuse filed involving Ray Caluag, a former music teacher at Saint Anthony Catholic School in Tamuning in the 1990s," the Archdiocese of Agana stated. "We extend our prayers to the claimant, known by the initials of B.W.J., and his family."

According to Post files, B.W.J.'s suit filed Sunday names Ray Caluag, a former music teacher at Saint Anthony Catholic School, who also may have taught for a few years at St. John's School, as his alleged abuser.

The plaintiff is a former Saint Anthony Catholic School student who alleges in the case he was sexually molested and abused by Caluag, who was his music teacher in the early 1990s. According to court documents, B.W.J. alleged he was abused by Caluag in 1993 after he got a ride home with his former music teacher following a rehearsal for a school Christmas play.

The complaint seeks $5 million in damages.

Caluag has left Guam and was recently featured in the Philippines as a music teacher in Marikina city, teaching a band that includes students affiliated with a school under the Immaculate Conception Parish in Cainta, Rizal province.

The Guam Daily Post called Caluag through a known phone number associated with him in the Philippines, but a man who answered and confirmed himself as Mr. Caluag hung up. Subsequent phone calls weren't answered.

Steps taken

The response from the Archdiocese of Agana issued yesterday states the church has "taken steps" to address and improve protection of children entrusted to their care.

"Archbishop Michael Byrnes asks all our faithful to continue to pray for victims of child abuse and to commit themselves to being vigilant in protecting all children in our Catholic Church on Guam," according to the statement.

No comment

The Post reached out to St. John's School and asked if the school administration discharged Caluag in 2013, after a past complaint in a previous school came up. However, St. John's Headmistress Patricia Bennett declined to comment, saying she could not remark on any employee, past or present.

 

 

 

 

 




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