OUR VIEW: Kudos for church efforts, but community faith and trust broken

Pacific Daily News
June 04, 2017

http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/06/04/our-view-we-commend-current-church-leadership-taking-steps-toward-healing-damage/368853001/

In this April 11 file photo, Michael Caspino motions toward a hotline number during a press conference at the Archdiocese of Agana. Caspino is the executive director of Hope and Healing Guam.

This week marks a year since Archbishop Anthony Apuron was removed from the island, and a year since protesters have been demonstrating in front of the cathedral-basilica, demanding that he be defrocked.

When Apuron left the island, he had been accused of molesting Roy Quintanilla, Sonny Quinata and an unnamed cousin of John Toves. Later that day, Walter Denton would come forward, and accuser Roland Sondia spoke out the following week.

A year ago, the church on Guam was in a state of disarray.  The group Concerned Catholics of Guam had been declared a “prohibited society.” Ownership of the seminary was in doubt. There was conflict between followers of the Neocatechumenal Way and traditional Catholics.

Although many of Apuron’s actions have been reversed, accusations about sex abuse against children have become much more troubling. If allegations that have been made over the last year are true, dozens of children were molested by people in positions of power over the course of decades. One of those accused, retired priest Louis Brouillard, admitted to molesting boys. In an affidavit signed last year, he said he had confessed his actions to church leaders.

In addition to Apuron and Brouillard, Tomas Camacho, the retired bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, is accused, as is Apuron’s predecessor, Archbishop Felixberto Flores and others.

Church experts say that under a new Vatican process, Apuron’s secret canonical trial is likely to be swift, possibly concluding this summer. Because the statute of limitations has long passed, no criminal charges will be possible. Other than Brouillard’s confession, there is no evidence in any of the cases.

We commend current church leadership for taking steps toward healing damage done in the past. But there are deep wounds here, to the church, to individuals and to the community. Bonds of trust and faith have been broken. 

Decrees can be rescinded, and administrative errors can be remedied. But when adults in positions of power harm children, as Brouillard admitted to doing and others are accused of doing, the damage is permanent. That is sad for everyone.