GUAM
KUAM
[with video]
Updated: Jul 27, 2016
By Krystal Paco
According to Roy Quintanilla, Walter Denton and Roland Sondia, they weren’t invited to today’s press conference in which Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai retracted previous statements made by the Archdiocese of Agana and Archbishop Anthony Apuron.
Despite today’s retraction, the alleged victims of the Archbishop Apuron’s sexual abuse will be moving forward with the libel and slander lawsuit against the church and Apuron in hopes of getting the truth.
It’s a step in the right direction. Quintanilla, “I think it’s good that he felt compelled for whatever reason to retract those statements be it a lawsuit was what motivated them to retract it. Nonetheless, I’m glad he did.” Sondia added, “This should’ve been done when he took over as the apostolic administrator.”
And Denton noted, “It also has to stem from the pressure that he’s received from not only the victims, but the people of Guam and all the protestors coming out there every Sunday.”
Today’s retraction however isn’t enough for the three men – all former Agat altar boys who allege they were molested by Anthony Apuron nearly four decades ago. While it’s too late to pursue criminal charges, they say they’ll proceed with suing the church and Apuron for libel and slander in hopes of forcing Apuron to appear before a judge. “And if it’s going to take a month, a year, whatever it takes, we’re going to continue to fight for this,” Sondia said.
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