Dozens of clergy sex abuse cases will proceed in the District Court of Guam, according to federal Judge Joaquin Manibusan. During a status hearing on Tuesday, the judge stated he wishes to move forward with the cases since no progress with settling with Hope and Healing Guam has been made in the last month.

As a result, he's vacating his intent to order a stay. This was welcome news to attorney Jacque Terlaje who represents Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

Apuron stands accused of sexually molesting four former altar boys decades ago at Mt. Carmel Parish in Agat.

In a previous hearing, the attorney stated she wouldn't participate in settlement talks until her client's canonical trial was complete in Rome. "The position is still the same," Terlaje said. "Today we had a status conference with the court and I am very pleased to see that the court has decided to move forward with our motion to dismiss, and the court has scheduled a hearing on the constitutionality issue."

As of today, plaintiffs' attorney David Lujan confirms that although he continues to speak with Hope and Healing, he has yet to receive all of the church's financial documents.

Now that the cases will proceed in the courts, plaintiffs must respond to the first eleven cases, which defendants previously motioned to dismiss.

In their motion, defense argued the law that lifts the statute of limitations is unconstitutional.

A hearing on that motion has been set for August 29.