GUAM
Pacific Daily News
[with video]
Jojo Santo Tomas, jsantotoma@guampdn.com September 13, 2016
Church officials will investigate a report that Archbishop Anthony Apuron and another priest sexually abused an altar boy in Chalan Pago 52 years ago, according to a statement issued by the Archdiocese of Agana Monday night.
Yigo resident Ramon Afaisen De Plata, 62, told Pacific Daily News he witnessed an altar boy being abused at Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey Catholic Church. The pastor at the time, the Rev. Antonio C. Cruz, lived above the church, he said.
“When I was 10 years old, in March 1964, I witnessed Pale Antonio Cruz and Anthony Apuron molest an altar boy,” said De Plata. “I was also an altar boy at the time. During the Lenten week, about eight of us were rehearsing for the High Latin Mass services, which were very difficult. … We finished late one night and Pale Cruz asked us to spend the night. So we did.”
Ramon De Plata said he woke up to use the restroom, which was located inside Cruz’s bedroom. When he walked in, he said Cruz was lying naked on the bed with a boy, and Apuron was kneeling on the floor — all engaged in a sex act.
“The altar boy was my age, 10 years old at the time,” said De Plata. He said both the altar boy and Cruz are since “difunto,” the Chamorro word for dead.
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