Guam's Catholic Church does not believe perpetrators remain in clergy

Radio New Zealand (RNZ)
October 23, 2017

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/342154/guam-s-catholic-church-does-not-believe-perpetrators-remain-in-clergy

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Guam

Guam's Catholic Church says it does not believe perpetrators remain in the clergy despite a growing number of historical sexual abuse complaints.

In the latest of more than 130 lawsuits a former altar boy alleges he was abused by a now deceased priest for five years from 1969.

Another new lawsuit alleges Archbishop Anthony Apuron advised a victim of abuse by a priest in the 1990s that prayer would help him to get over it.

But Archdiocese spokesperson Tony Diaz said under the church's new Archbishop they had adopted a charter to protect children, introduced training, and were encouraging victims and others to come forward.

"I can't say with full confidence right. We seem to be on top of the situation. The Archbishop has regular meetings with the priests themselves. So we do not believe that there are clergymen right now who have abused.

He said if anyone had an inkling of abuse they had to speak out about it.