Uncovered allegations a ‘violation’ of trust in church

GUAM
The Guam Daily Post

Mindy Aguon | The Guam Daily Post

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is outraged to learn the note-taker of the Vatican tribunal involved in the canonical trial of suspended Archbishop Anthony Apuron had been accused of sexual harassment in 2014 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Rev. Justin Wachs is accused of sexually harassing a female employee of the Sioux Falls Diocese in 2014.

“The presence of Father Wachs, without his disclosing the accusations against him to the survivors, their attorneys and the Catholic faithful – was a complete violation of that trust,” said SNAP Western Regional Leader Joelle Casteix.

Keloland Investigates, a television program in Sioux Falls, uncovered the allegations and interviewed the parish employee. The woman accused Wachs of inappropriately touching and speaking with her on multiple occasions, and said the priest resigned and sought medical treatment after certain parameters had been set for his contact with her.

“We believe this violation proves once again that neither the Vatican nor its representatives take Apuron’s alleged sexual abuse of children seriously,” Casteix said.

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