Vatican Tribunal Has Made a Decision in Apuron’s Trial

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
October 2, 2017

http://pacificnewscenter.com/vatican-tribunal-has-made-a-decision-in-apurons-trial/

The decision, however, has yet to be made public.

The highly anticipated decision into Archbishop Apuron’s canonical trial has been made but what the decision is has not yet been revealed.

It’s been about a year since a canonical trial was launched on dethroned Archbishop Anthony Apuron in Rome and we are now at the precipice of what will definitely be a historical moment for the Catholic faith on Guam.

Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes gave an update on Archbishop Apuron’s trial today during a press conference at the Chancery Office.

“I was in contact with Father Justin Wachs just last week, he says that the sentence has been determined but they have to send it out to the other judges for their signatures,” said Byrnes.

Archbishop Apuron stands accused of sexually assaulting at least four altar servers in the 1970s at the Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Agat. All four alleged victims have pending lawsuits in District Court—one of whom, the late Joseph Sonny Quinata, was done through his estate.

While Apuron has vehemently denied the allegations, his image and credibility have already been tainted; so much so that even his replacement, Archbishop Byrnes, said it would be a disaster for his predecessor to return regardless of the outcome of his trial.

“Now I don’t know who the judges are but apparently they have to send it one piece of paper to wherever they’re from so once that, they’ve gotten the signatures, it’ll be delivered to me, to a promoter of justice and to the archbishop himself,” he added.

Archbishop Apuron’s legal counsel, Atty. Jacque Terlaje tells PNC that she has not received any official word or document regarding her client’s canonical trial and at this point, like everyone else, is also waiting with bated breath for what is sure to be a pivotal decision.

While Archbishop Apuron will have an opportunity to appeal, his options will be limited.

“The appeal process is different. The appeal process would be from within the congregation for the doctrine of the faith. It will be primarily a review of the process so the appeal would, from my understanding, from some other canon lawyers who have gone through this whole thing, it would be, an example, it would be sent to a judge who would just simply make sure that all the process was followed. They wouldn’t retry it, they wouldn’t bring in new evidence,” explained Byrnes.

In the meantime, sex abuse lawsuits continue to pile up against the church with over 100 filed in both local and federal court. Settlement talks were also delayed as the parties went hunting for a mediator.

As far as Apuron’s federal sex abuse cases are concerned, it appears it will be moving forward. Last week, US Magistrate Judge Joaquin Manibusan recommended denial of the archbishop’s motion for dismissal. The remaining cases against the Archdiocese were stayed pending mediation.