What Archbishop Martin Krebs needs from Guam: An appeal to all Victims of Catholic Clergy Sexual Abuse on Guam and Oceania, Juan Malimungga (August 10, 2014)

What Archbishop Martin Krebs needs from Guam: An appeal to all Victims of Catholic Clergy Sexual Abuse on Guam and Oceania

Good Evening my dear friends and family,

Shocking that I would take the time two write about some of the issues that affected me and I continue to ask you today and always to keep the faith. These are very difficult times for many people and I recognize that I cannot be the sole person to come forward each and every time to fight against this kind of devious and criminal actions by leaders. Yet I do it knowing that I am putting into the universe and most importantly, to God above, that I am trying to follow his teachings in Loving my enemy as myself. And indeed, while some people may argue that I often time do this risking so much before me and my professional life, I cannot but help to state for the record, I can't do it without you! You are the ones that I am madly in love. You, the suffering Chamorro People of the Marianas, and when ever something "major" like this happens, it has been our culture "to keep silent" and "to keep quiet." And granted, this too is part of a colonial disposition - to feel helpless and to remain silent so that we don't shame anyone in public or on the radio or even on T.V. However, this kind of behavior is really the work of Satan and we must do everything in our power to get rid of these devils that roam around the world seeking for the ruin of souls. This kind of behavior by Church officials, to keep things silent, is truly a shame upon all of us, the faithful in this Archdiocese. Yet, what my hope is in all of this is to continue to teach the young people who will have my words and my actions for the remaining time that I am alive and to illustrate to them that if anything like this happens - when you are abused in any way - that you take it one step up and seek help from authorities who must listen to your story. This is in the best interest of all involved because if we just keep silent, what would happen if another boy or another girl gets hurt. You and I have the opportunity to stop those who abuse in their place. If we just remain silent and don't really do anything, then this teaches that person "NOBODY CAN GET ME!" - famous quotation used by other advocates on this island!

And we see this over and over again and again in the news media where people get away with pure murder.
My dear young people, please remember that sex is a beautiful thing between two consenting adults and while I can try my best to teach you about abstinence, I can also teach you too that sex, whenever it is not wanted, is sexual abuse. People must stop these kinds of people because it is a kind of dis-ease within our communities. Thus, even in our Church, this kind of spiritual sickness needs to be corrected because perpetrators who are found guilty will ultimately have to confront themselves in order to make a positive change in their life. And this is where the conversion of heart comes in - this have been my prayer. Yet, when you see a perpetrator who has no remorse whatsoever, endangers other children - I don't care if it is allegations - TRUST the judgement of your fellow Bishops! Yet this only tells me one thing - you are making our Archdiocese into a haven for criminals. And yes, this is what I am trying to do with my last post yesterday to the Pope and to the Vatican.

We must understand the importance of family in these times as sometimes, perpetrators are indeed family members. What is perhaps the most important thing that we need to understand is we have to challenge each other to be better than what we are in the first place. A person is never too old to learn and for this sake, I am teaching the young that if at anytime you feel uncomfortable with adults, please make sure you speak out and tell someone about it because in the end, your life will be better because you are stopping that pervert from harming more and more children and families. This is the role of rising leaders because we cannot just let it go. We cannot just let what we know go because that person has not learned the importance of honesty and truth. They still live in a world that is ethereal and out of touch with reality. Many people who went into seminary at an early age, studies show, did not develop properly in terms of their psychosexual self. And this is why I am making a point and doing what I can to help remove the stain from our island or at the very least, to challenge them to be better Christians and to step down.

Yet, I have been advised by some great priests and minister friends, from both the Protestant and Catholic side, that what would move Rome would be a letter from victims to Rome. This is my appeal to all of you today.

What the Vatican needs is a simple letter from any victim on Guam, especially any victims of the Archbishop to send a note onto the Apostolic Nuncio because this is what they need in order to act. While I can give the benefit of the doubt that Apuron is innocent, I am appealing to all of you readers who do know something to please have them come forward by writing a simple note to Pope Francis c/o: Archbishop Martin Krebs who is the Vatican representative to Guam. This would not be advertised at all on the media. This will all be confidential. Just ensure that you have a confidentiality notice in your email before you send it and you must address it to Pope Francis in care of Archbishop Martin Krebs. It is a simple note and an email that they need from you with any kind of information so that they can act. Remember, if it was for money, I helped to open the two year window for civil litigation. Since you and I did not litigate, then perhaps, this is what we can do in order to send a clear message to everyone throughout the world that GUAM is responding.

If you believe that there have been incidents in Agat Village or any other village on Guam, please send a note to him as soon as you can. This is the kind of information that the Vatican needs in order to act, otherwise, you may have to live with the fact that we may never have another chance at this ever again. I am not pushing you to do anything at all that you are not comfortable with, but what I am asking is your help to move mountains for the sake of our children on Guam.

You can contact Pope Francis by sending your email or letter to:

POPE FRANCIS
C/O:Archbishop Martin Krebs at Archbishop Martin Krebs
Apostolic Nunciature
P.O.Box 14044, 112 Queen's Drive,
Wellington, New Zealand

By Phone : (+64-4) 3873470
By Fax : (+64-4) 3878170
By Email:  nuntius@ihug.co.nz

I remember testifying for the two year window to be opened on Guam. I pray that the Guam Legislature one day removes the statute of limitations altogether so that victims can have the time that they need in order to deal with any kind of sexual abuse on this island. Other jurisdictions in the United States have learned that this is one kind of deterrent that if enough people out there know that a victim can sue his/her perpetrator anytime after the incident, this will minimize the blow to repeat offenders.

Yet we must also remember that those who commit crimes on our island must be rehabilitated and again, I hope that one day, the Guam Legislature creates some kind of half way house where many people and business partners can truly help convicted criminals who have served their time or have been pardoned to gain employment and to truly move towards rehabilitation so that they become part of our community once again in a healthy way. I often hear it that many of our brothers and sisters who do have a record are sitting at home wasting away and may potentially engage in more crimes in the future. We need to allow them their second chance. This is what we can also do to help those who need our help. And this is a Corporal Work of mercy. We cannot just throw away the key and say that we do not value life. We must always learn to be Pro-Life till the very end of our natural death.

And this is that opportunity that I am creating for Victims of Sexual Abuse on this Island. I want to ask you to take a close look at your own story and look at the larger story being told about how our island has been taken without our consent. I want you to look at how colonization is a kind of abuse that warrants your attention. In the same way, I look at my sexual abuse in the past and use it all for the Glory of God so that GOD SHINES FORTH IN MY LIFE and that ALL LIFE IS SACRED! We are given this time and place to make sure that we do what we can to help those in most need and it requires both Corporal Works of Mercy and Social Action together! This is how we move mountains when we are together.

So I appeal to you to be the difference, to be the change you wish to see in the world. We need to ensure that our islands in the Marianas and all children everywhere in Oceania know that we are doing everything we can to fight for them!

I love you Guam and I wouldn't ask of you so much, but we need to ensure that people are accountable for their actions and I cannot do this alone. I absolutely need your help to help God in this life always!

P.S. Here is a nice video from Father Tom Doyle, OP who I had the chance to meet at a conference in the Midwest United States. I have appreciated his work and his advocacy as he is such a good man and friend of the Catholic Church. I appreciate his friendship with some of our priests on Guam and I absolutely support his work and ministry. Biba Saint Dominic!