Deacon defends archbishop accused of molestation

GUAM
Pacific Daily News

[with video]

Jasmine Stole, Pacific Daily News May 20, 2016

A longtime Guam deacon is supporting Archbishop Anthony Apuron, who was accused this week of molesting an altar boy when Apuron was a priest in Agat about 40 years ago.

In a video-recorded message released Thursday night, Deacon Francisco Tenorio, 79, was shown seated and appeared to be reading from a prepared statement not shown in the camera frame.

In the video, Tenorio referred to a recorded statement Apuron released Tuesday in which the archbishop stated that the allegations against him were false.

“When (Apuron) spoke very directly denying any involvement in this alleged offense, I accept that this is the truth,” Tenorio said. “I know this to be the truth since I too was assigned to the Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Agat between (1973) and (1977).”

The alleged incident happened between these years. Apuron was a priest at Mt. Carmel during this time.

Roy Quintanilla, 52, on Tuesday publicly accused Apuron of molesting him one time when he was a 12-year-old altar boy.

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