Lawyer: Apuron benefitted the most with passage of time

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
August 29, 2017

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/08/29/lawyer-apuron-benefitted-most-passage-time/610858001/

Archbishop Anthony Apuron

A California-based attorney said Tuesday that Archbishop Anthony Apuron benefitted from the 40 years that passed since he allegedly sexually abused altar boys in Agat.

Attorney Gregory Nicolaysen said if Apuron's accusers had come forward earlier, Apuron likely wouldn't be archbishop and leader of the Catholic Church on Guam.

A hearing was held Tuesday in the U.S. District Court of Guam on motions by Apuron to dismiss the four lawsuits filed against him by former altar boys and the family of a deceased former altar boy.

"It is unfortunate that this motion (to dismiss) is even being heard," said Nicolaysen, who represents former altar boy Roy Quintanilla in his case against Apuron.

Apuron's attorney, Jacqueline Terlaje, asked the court to dismiss the four lawsuits against Apuron.

Terlaje argued that a 2016 law did not retroactively lift the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases. She also said the law is unconstitutional and contrary to the Organic Act of Guam for taking away Apuron's due process rights.

"Every person who cannot defend him or herself due to the passage of time and loss of evidences suffers extreme hardship and oppression," Terlaje stated in a filing last week, which she cited in court on Tuesday.

Magistrate Judge Joaquin Manibusan said he's taking the matter under advisement and will issue a report and recommendations.

Apuron is also undergoing a Vatican canonical trial, which started after the Vatican suspended him on June 6, 2016 because of abuse allegations.

Terlaje after the hearing said Apuron is doing well, and she will brief him about Tuesday's hearing. She said she regularly speaks to Apuron.

"He’s looking forward to a determination by the Vatican. The Vatican is supposed to be making a decision. You all know from the last statement we made on this that ... we anticipate that a decision will be forthcoming," she told reporters.

Nearly 100 other abuse cases filed against Guam clergy members and others associated with the church and the Boy Scouts of America are scheduled to go through mediation in early October.