Latest sex abuse victim: "I forgive you", by Janela Carrera, Pacific News Center (May 23, 2017)

Francis Charfauros says it was the testimony of Roy Quintanilla, who says the late Father Jack Niland ignored his cry for help when Quintanilla was sexually abused, that gave him the courage to finally share his story.

Guam - After numerous sex abuse lawsuits being filed by victims who have chosen to conceal their identities. The latest comes from a man who revealed his identity, noting that he now just wants closure.

Francis Charfauros spoke with us via Skype, opening up about his experience and sharing with us that he came forward because of others who came before him.

Charfauros’ lawsuit against the Catholic Church is now the 68^th lawsuit to be filed involving civil claims of sexual abuse. It happened 35 years ago when Charfauros was just 14 years old. He never shared it with anyone and soon the abuse became repressed memories of a painful time in his life. It wasn’t until about a year ago when Charfauros heard about Roy Quintanilla’s story.

Quintanilla was the first to publicly accuse Archbishop Anthony Apuron of sexually abusing him as a child. But it was something Quintanilla included in his testimony that triggered Charfauros’ repressed memories of a painful past to come flooding back.

"Roy was the tipping point for me. He had showed a lot of courage to do that," said Charfauros.

Quintanilla revealed last year that he had confided in the late Capuchin priest Father Jack Niland which apparently fell on deaf ears. And now Charfauros is the first to allege he was abused at the hands of Father Niland. Like many of the others who have filed suit against the church, Charfauros and his family had placed a tremendous amount of trust in the church. So much trust that Charfauros began working for Father Niland and, at the recommendation of Father Niland, even lived at the Agat church rectory.

But the young, budding, future priest had his hopes and dreams dashed and his life changed forever the night he says Niland molested him. After that night, Charfauros ran home to his mother and never returned to live at the rectory again.

"My mother actually knew that there was something wrong but she had no idea that it was that," Charfauros added.

In fact, it was Charfauros’ mother who first heard about Quintanilla’s story.

"She had told me that she remembered that evening when I came home and that she felt very strongly without knowing what was going on, I guess you can say mother’s intuition," recalled Charfauros.

Although Charfauros gave up his dreams of becoming a priest, he says his faith in God and in the church never wavered.

"My faith still remains very strong. I don’t know what I could do without that," said Charfauros as he held back tears. "It’s my faith in the lord that’s really gotten me to where I am today."

And like how Quintanilla’s story encouraged Charfauros to bring his story to light, he hopes that by coming forward, other victims of sexual abuse will find the courage to share their story as well.

PNC: "If you had the chance to face Father Niland today, if he were still alive, what would you say to him if you were given that chance?"

"I would say to him I forgive him," he revealed. "And people might think I’m crazy for that. I forgive him and I hope that’s a testament of how much I am engraved in my religion and my faith."

He added: "I would tell him that I was angry for what he did and that I would forgive him and that I have forgiven him and it was part of how I was able to get through this."