Another sex-abuse victim files complaint against church

By Jolene Toves
Pacific News Center
May 13, 2019

https://pacificnewscenter.com/another-church-sex-abuse-victim-files-complaint/

An individual filed a complaint at the Superior Court of Guam, adding another case to the list of sexual abuse lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Agana.

Wishing to remain anonymous, the victim identified by the initials Z.S. had served as an altar boy at the Church of St. Jude in Sinajana since he was about seven years old.

When the victim reached the age of 15, he said Father David Anderson allegedly began touching, snuggling and groping him when he slept overnight in the convent.

According to the complaint, Father David would touch the victim inappropriately and would lay on top of the victim while he slept. The priest allegedly rubbed his genitals on the victim’s body causing “great shame and embarrassment to Z.S.

While he told his parents about what Father Anderson did to him, they did not believe him. He said the sexual abuse continued until he stopped serving as an altar boy.

According to the complaint, the victim is seeking exemplary and punitive damage relief in addition to equitable relief “for the protection of the victim and others who have been sexually abused by clergy.”

As part of the relief, he is requesting that the court order the Archdiocese of Agana to post the names of all known clergy or religious representatives identified as perpetrators in the complaint; establish a toll-free number and website for anonymous abuse complaints, and; adopt a whistleblower policy within the Church.

He is also asking the Archdiocese to hold private meetings between the victims and Archbishop; issue a letter of apology from the perpetrator to the victim, and; to remove the confidentiality provision for any future settlement related to sexual abuse entered into by the victim, except at the written request of the settling abuse victim.