Boy Sexually Abused Daily While Living with Priest

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
October 5, 2017

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/10/05/lawsuit-boy-sexually-abused-daily-while-living-priest/734492001/

A 14-year-old boy whose parents thought it would be best for him to live with a Catholic priest after he ran away from home was sexually abused daily by the priest for about two weeks, according to a lawsuit filed in local court on Thursday.

Former island priest Andrew Mannetta allegedly sexually abused the plaintiff, identified in court documents only as G.E.J. to protect his privacy, at the rectory adjacent to San Miguel Church in Talofofo in 1985.

G.E.J. is now living in Bremerton, Washington. He is represented by attorney Anthony C. Perez.

In the lawsuit, G.E.J. said he was born and raised in a family that was devout Catholic. The lawsuit says in 1985, when G.E.J. was about 14 years old, he rebelled from his parents and ran away from home for a brief period of time. That's when his parents thought the boy would benefit from staying with a priest.

"While living with Father Andy, plaintiff was subjected to daily sexual abuse," the lawsuit says. "Father Andy would order plaintiff to lie on his stomach on Father Andy's bed next to Father Andy while watching television."

The priest would sexually abuse the boy, and would grab and throw the boy back down on his stomach when he tried to get away, the lawsuit says.

"This abuse occurred approximately 10-15 times, until plaintiff left the rectory for good and returned home," the lawsuit states.

G.E.J. is the 126th person to file a sex abuse lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Agana, priests and others associated with the Catholic church.