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Active lawsuits accusing Guam priests of sex abuse now top 100
By Steve Limtiaco
[with video] [The USA TODAY Network’s Pacific Daily News has uncovered nearly 100 lawsuits with stunning accusations against the some of the most revered men on Guam – the priests.] [Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this report left out a lawsuit.] HAGÅTÑA, Guam — Two more lawsuits filed Friday in U.S. District Court here bring the number of active suits accusing clergy members and others affiliated with this island’s Catholic Church of sexually abusing children to more than 100. The two priests named in the lawsuits — the Rev. Louis Brouillard, 96, and Antonio Cruz, now dead — have been named in other suits: Brouillard is accused in 58 cases, Cruz in seven cases although the plaintiff requested an additional one that was filed Monday in federal court be voluntarily dismissed Thursday. The claim that A.J.A. filed Monday against Cruz can be brought again according to court rules, but if it is dismissed a second time, it cannot be refiled. The active suits filed in federal and local courts seek at least $655 million in damages from the Archdiocese of Agaña and Roman Catholic Church. The Boy Scouts of America often are listed as a co-defendant because Brouillard also was a scoutmaster who allegedly molested young boys decades ago while on scout trips. About 85% of the 165,000 residents of Guam — a U.S. territory since 1950 and under U.S. control since 1898 except for about 2½ years during World War II — identify as Roman Catholic, according to the CIA World Factbook. On Friday, R.E.J., a 49-year-old who still lives on Guam, accused Brouillard of assaulting him on a swimming trip to the Lonfit River. Brouillard, allegedly swam naked, encouraging the boy to swim in a deep part of the river even though he was not a good swimmer. When he faltered, Brouillard would swim over, hug him and molest him, the civil suit alleges. R.E.J., who contends that he went on outings with the scouts between 1978 and 1980, is seeking $10 million in damages. On Thursday, a former Boy Scout who grew up on Guam but now lives in Washington also filed suit in federal court here alleging similar behavior. "On numerous occasions while swimming, Brouillard would swim completely naked and routinely instructed G.M.Q. and the other boys to remove their clothes, and Brouillard would grope and touch their private parts," the lawsuit contends. "G.M.Q. was also forced to fondle Brouillard's penis." G.M.Q. wants at least $10 million in damages from the archdiocese, the Boy Scouts, Brouillard and up to 50 others who may have aided or concealed the alleged abuses. The victims of the 102 filed lawsuits are referred to in court papers by their initials to protect their privacy. All but one of the alleged victims are men. The USA TODAY Network does not identify apparent victims of sexual abuse without their consent. In his lawsuit filed Friday, R.J.S., a 55-year-old Guam resident who was an altar boy at Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey Catholic Church in the village of Chålan Pågu-Otdot, described Cruz first punching him in the head when he would make mistakes during Mass, according to his lawsuit that seeks $5 million in damages. Between 1972 and 1977, the abuse escalated. Cruz is accused of exposing himself often to R.J.S. then later molesting him. Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, himself accused of sexually abusing and raping former altar boys, previously identified Cruz as his mentor when Apuron was in seminary. “Every time R.J.S. refused, Cruz would physically abuse R.J.S. by slapping him, twisting his ear and hitting him on the head with a closed fist,” the lawsuit states.
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