GUAM/VATICAN CITY
The Associated Press
April 4, 2019
By Nicole Winfield
The Vatican has upheld its conviction of Guam’s ousted archbishop for sexually abusing minors and has added an additional penalty on appeal
The Vatican has upheld its conviction of Guam’s ousted archbishop for sexually abusing minors and has added a further penalty on appeal that effectively prevents him from presenting himself as a bishop.
The Vatican announced the definitive decision against Archbishop Anthony Apuron on Thursday. In doing so, it revealed for the first time that he had been originally convicted of sexually abusing youths in the remote U.S. Pacific territory.
Apuron has strongly denied the charges and said he is a victim of slander. His replacement hailed the verdict as necessary closure to a “long and painful period for our church.”
“The victims, survivors and their families who have suffered greatly can have some measure of solace that justice has been rendered in the church’s tribunal process,” Agana Archbishop Michael Byrnes said in a statement.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.