Lawsuit: Abuse occurred at victim's home

By Mindy Aguon
Guam Daily Post
November 14, 2017

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/lawsuit-abuse-occurred-at-victim-s-home/article_34565e80-c902-11e7-89f6-3b59befe5005.html

ABUSE: A recent civil complaint filed in the District Court of Guam alleges sexual abuse in 1974 at the hands of a priest from Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey church in Chalan Pago.

A 58-year-old man alleges a priest, who was a family friend, would often visit his home when he was a teen and sexually abuse him.

L.J.G., who used initials to protect his identity, filed a civil complaint in the District Court of Guam yesterday against the Archdiocese of Agana. The case alleges the victim was sexually abused in 1974 by Antonio C. Cruz, who was a priest at Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey church in Chalan Pago.

The lawsuit alleges Cruz was close friends with L.J.G.'s parents and visited the boy's home on a weekly basis.

During those visits, documents state, Cruz sexually molested and abused L.J.G. who was 15 years old at the time.

Accused priest died in 1986

Cruz would have been held individually responsible and liable for the acts mentioned in the complaint had he not died in November 1986 at the age of 62, court documents state.

The lawsuit alleges that as a direct consequence of Cruz's "misconduct," L.J.G. has suffered harm. L.J.G's attorney David Lujan accuses the archdiocese of failing to adequately investigate, discharge, discipline and/or supervise Cruz and other priests known by the church on Guam to have sexually abused children, and failing to intervene to prevent ongoing and/or further sexual abuse, court documents state.