GUAM
KUAM

Updated: Nov 02, 2016

By Krystal Paco

In a statement to local press on Wednesday, Archbishop Anthony Apuron welcomes his successor to Guam as the new leader of the island’s Catholic faithful. “It is with great joy that I welcome the news of the appointment of Bishop Michael J. Byrnes as coadjutor archbishop of Agana by the Holy Father,” Apuon wrote.

Apuron’s last known location was in Rome, as captured in a video statement after allegations of child molestation surfaced against him. Although he doesn’t specify, Apuron states he remains on retreat “working with the authorities in the Vatican to establish my innocence.”

As we’ve been reporting, Apuron stands accused of sexually assaulting Roy Quintanilla, Walter Denton, Roland Sondia, and the late Joseph “Sonny” Quinata – all from Agat and all former altar servers at Mount Carmel Parish in the southern village where Apuron was a priest…