GUAM
Pacific Daily News
Haidee V Eugenio, heugenio@guampdn.com June 4, 2017
The Holy See or the Roman Catholic Church could be named defendant in dozens of Guam clergy sex abuse lawsuits if the Archdiocese of Agana continues its objections to federal court jurisdiction on these matters, attorney David Lujan said.
Lujan said the Holy See’s degree of control and influence over the Archdiocese of Agana exceeds that of a parent corporation.
“Plaintiffs maintain that defendants’ continued objections to federal subject matter jurisdiction will unnecessarily expand and complicate this litigation,” Lujan said in a filing submitted by the June 2 deadline to prove federal court diversity jurisdiction over clergy sex abuse cases.
Lujan represents 44 plaintiffs who are now asking the U.S. District Court of Guam to conduct a hearing with oral argument to address jurisdiction matters.
“In view of the unique relationship between the Holy See and defendant Archdiocese, plaintiffs recommend that the parties stipulate to federal jurisdiction to avoid unnecessary proceedings aimed at establishing the true nature of the relationship between them,” Lujan said.
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