21 Priests, 7 Others Linked to Church in 200 Clergy Sex Abuse Complaints

By Haidee V. Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
January 15, 2019

https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2019/01/15/21-priests-7-others-200-clergy-abuse-complaints/2567526002/

Attorney David Lujan, representing some 120 plaintiffs for clergy sex abuse cases, on Thursday says they have not settled a single case but that could change in the next few weeks because of ongoing discussions with some religious orders such as the Sisters of Mercy. Haidee V Eugenio, heugenio@guampdn.com

Twenty-one people affiliated with the Catholic Church, including two archbishops, one bishop, priests and others, have been accused in the nearly 200 child sex abuse lawsuits filed since 2016 in local and federal courts on Guam.

The local church, however, has not yet released its list of clergy members with "credible allegations" of child sex abuse.

Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes in late 2017 said the archdiocese would work on such a list as an important part of the Archdioces of Agana's policy of protecting children, but no timeline was given.

Concerned Catholics of Guam President David Sablan said releasing that list would help rebuild trust in the church.

Guam priest on 'list' since 2013

Clergy sex abuse plaintiffs represented by attorney Anthony Perez have asked for a court order requiring the archdiocese to post on its website the names of all known clergy who are identified in complaints or those known to the archdiocese as sexual abusers.

Members and supporters of the Laity Forward Movement and the Concerned Catholics of Guam protest against Archbishop Anthony Apuron at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Hagatna on June 4, 2017. (Photo: Frank San Nicolas/PDN)

A number of dioceses across the nation have complied a list of clergy with credible abuse allegations, including the Diocese of Duluth which in 2013 listed the late Guam priest Louis Brouillard.

More than 130 Guam cases accuse Brouillard of rape, sexual abuse and sexual molestation. Up until his death on Oct. 10, 2018, the Archdiocese of Agana was still providing him a monthly stipend.

No updates

Sablan said the Concerned Catholics expect clergy members and others with credible allegations against them, either on Guam or elsewhere, should "be removed from active duty, pending an archdiocesan tribunal trial."

The Laity Forward Movement and Concerned Catholics of Guam held their last protest calling for the defrocking of Archbishop Anthony Apuron before the Vatican's decision on his removal from the Archdiocese of Agana at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna on July 9, 2017. (Photo: Frank San Nicolas/PDN)

"If found guilty, they would be sentenced accordingly. Those who have retired should also be subjected to a tribunal trial so the victims and their families can have justice and closure," Sablan said.

The archdiocese has not provided updated information on its investigation into claims against Father Adrian Cristobal, who has defied Byrnes' order to return to Guam to face at three complaints of child sexual abuse against him.

The Vatican investigated and convicted Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron in a case involving child sexual abuse allegations. The Vatican has not announced a decision on Apuron's appeal of his conviction.

Men of the church

Here are the archbishops, priests, and others associated with the Catholic Church accused in Guam-specific clergy sex abuses complaints. Many of them are now deceased.

Anderson, David (priest)

Apuron, Anthony S. (priest/archbishop)

Brouillard, Louis (priest/Boy Scouts of America scout master)

Caluag, Ray (teacher at St. Anthony Catholic School)

Camacho, Juan (priest)

Camacho, Tomas (priest/bishop)

Camacho, Zoilo L.G. (priest)

Cepeda, Raymond (priest)

Cristobal, Adrian (priest)

Cristobal, Daniel (priest)

Cruz, Antonio C. (priest)

Ellington, David Joseph (church volunteer/Boy Scout asst. master/Coast Guard)

Flores, Felixberto (priest/archbishop)

Friel, Michael Lee (priest)

H.J. (teacher at St. Anthony Catholic School)

Hafemann, Sigmund (priest)

Kamiaz, Vernon (Capuchin brother)

Leon Guerrero, Jose A. (priest)

Maddock, George (priest)

Manetta, Andrew (priest)

Murphy, Leon “Warren” (priest)

Niland, Jack (priest)

Rink, Louis William (priest)

San Agustin, Joe/Andrew (priest)

Sebay, Paul (maintenance janitor at San Vicente Catholic School)

Techaira, Raymond (priest)

Unpingco, Michael J. (teacher at San Vicente Catholic school)

Untalan, James (active parishioner at St. Anthony Catholic Church)

Other priests assigned to Guam

There are also four other priests formerly assigned to Guam who were accused of child sexual abuse in other places:

Leifeld, Gale

Nowak, Randolph "Randy"

Sutton, John Hutton

Wadeson, John (Listed by Archdiocese of Los Angeles)