Clergy Abuse Plaintiffs Need at Least 2 More Months to Serve Papers in Italy, Philippines, Guam

By Haidee V. Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
February 1, 2018

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/02/01/clergy-abuse-plaintiffs-need-least-2-more-months-serve-papers-italy-philippines-guam/1085292001/

The Guam flag waves in the tropical breeze with the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica steeple set in the background on May 23, 2017.

Alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse have asked a federal judge to extend the time to serve legal documents to four defendants in their lawsuits, including the Capuchin Franciscans and the Congregation of Holy Cross, both in Italy.

Six of the plaintiffs said they also need time to find someone to translate the documents from English to Italian.

Former Catholic school teacher Ray Caluag, who is in the Philippines, and former priest Joe R. San Agustin, also known as Andrew San Agustin, who is believed to be on Guam, also have not been served copies of the lawsuits, according to the plaintiffs.

At least 2 months

The nine plaintiffs, represented by attorney Delia Lujan Wolff, on Wednesday asked District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood to extend by at least two months the time to serve legal documents to the defendants.

The judge had given accusers until the end of January to serve legal documents to all of the defendants in their cases. She said the failure to serve defendants at this point may in part be due to confusion regarding the court-ordered stay in the cases to allow for mediation and a possible settlement.

In their separate filings, plaintiffs said they don't know if the defendants are aware they are being sued, but noted the cases have been publicized in the media and are known to the public.

"There is no statue of limitations for the plaintiff to bring claims arising from child sexual abuse against defendant," the individual filings read. "Defendant will not be prejudiced by an extension as this case has been stayed for several months and continue to be stayed to allow the parties to explore settlement through mediation."

Status conference pushed back

Meanwhile, a second joint status conference for all clergy sex abuse cases filed in local and federal court has been rescheduled, from March 12 to March 20, at 9:30 a.m.

The 155 clergy sex abuses cases accused priests, clergy or others associated with the Archdiocese of Agana and the Catholic church on Guam. The accused include Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, who's on trial in the Vatican.