GUAM
Pacific Daily News
[with video]
Jasmine Stole, Pacific Daily News May 20, 2016
A member of a board within Guam’s Catholic Church that reviews sexual misconduct complaints wrote an email to the church’s sexual abuse response coordinator Wednesday stating he believes accusations that the archbishop sexually assaulted a minor.
Vincent Pereda, the board member who wrote the email, also stated he would resign from the board immediately.
Pereda’s email addressed an accusation against Archbishop Anthony Apuron, who oversees the island’s Catholic Church.
Raymond Taitague Quintanilla, 52, on Tuesday came forward publicly accusing Apuron of molesting him as a 12-year-old altar boy about 40 years ago. Quintanilla delivered a letter for Apuron to the Chancery Office on Tuesday, detailing the abuse.
Hours after the letter was delivered, the Archdiocese of Agana issued a three-sentence statement that said it affirms its commitment to its sexual misconduct and harassment policy. In light of Quintanilla’s allegations, the archdiocese statement said the Sexual Abuse Response coordinator Deacon Larry Claros had been informed and was coordinating a response. Part of that response includes convening the Archdiocese Review Board.
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