Lawsuit Alleges Priest Molested Boy Whose Family Cooked and Washed Clothes for Him

Guam Daily Post
July 20, 2018

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/lawsuit-alleges-priest-molested-boy-whose-family-cooked-and-washed/article_6ef3ed4e-8b3c-11e8-bfdb-a7b6f11a5a42.html

A new lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by a priest has been filed in the District Court of Guam.

In the lawsuit, a man using the initials A.J.A. names the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Agana as a corporate entity; the Capuchin Franciscans; the Capuchin Franciscans Province of Saint Mary; and other unnamed individuals and entities.

When he was 9 years old, A.J.A. was sexually molested and abused by Father Antonio C. Cruz, an ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Agana, the lawsuit states. The plaintiff now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The priest, who was assigned to the Chalan Pago Parish, died in November 1986 at the age of 62.

The victim's family would cook for Cruz and wash his clothes, the lawsuit states.

One day, when A.J.A. went to the Chalan Pago Rectory to deliver Cruz's clothes, the priest molested and sexually abused the boy, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit, filed by David Lujan on behalf of the plaintiff, also states the creation of the ritual of altar boy service as a component of the Catholic Mass ultimately became a tool by which sexually predatory priests would gain access to young boys.

The lawsuit asks for at least $5 million, to be proven at trial.