Apuron: Accusation 'a horrible calumny'

By Shawn Raymundo
Pacific Daily News
November 30, 2014

http://www.guampdn.com/article/20141201/NEWS01/312010013

Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron met privately with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Nov. 21. According to a press release from the archdiocese, Apuron described the meeting as "a grace for our Church of Guam, and a tremendous gift for me." Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Agana

Archbishop Anthony Apuron responded this weekend to an allegation that he molested a former high school seminarian decades ago, stating in a press release that the accusation is "a horrible calumny."

Apuron said because of the allegation, he is "obliged to defend not my person but the Church."

The archbishop said he intends to file a lawsuit for defamation and that any damages received will be given to charitable causes of the church.

John Toves, a Guamanian who lives in California, has stated in recent letters to the archdiocese that while he was an altar boy for then-Agat parish priest Anthony Apuron, he had personal knowledge that Apuron allegedly sexually molested a former co-seminarian.

Toves sent one letter to officials at the Vatican and the Vatican's delegate to the Pacific islands, Archbishop Martin Krebs.

"I come forward now as I realized that no one else has, and I believe the Archbishop must be held accountable for his actions," Toves wrote.

Apuron said in the press release that he has dedicated his life to spread the Catholic faith through his words and actions.

"It has been my sincere effort to urge strict respect for the teachings of our Catholic faith by leading the Church through prayer, and by example, and in my own behavior," he said.

"I trust that the members of our Guam Catholic family who have observed my actions and leadership for the last 30 years will know in their hearts and spirits that these allegations are false," he said.

Apuron met privately with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Nov. 21 where they spoke about the Catholic Church's role on Guam and in the Pacific. Toves' letter was sent to Vatican officials and Archbishop Martin Krebs the same day.

The meeting was "a grace for our Church of Guam, and a tremendous gift for me," the archbishop said in the same press release in which he responded to the allegation.

Apuron added that the pope was interested to learn about the island as they spoke about the Church's evangelization efforts in the Pacific.

"We spoke of the challenges and the joys of our local Church," Apuron said. "Pope Francis showed interest to know about Guam and the Pacific."

He also said he invited Pope Francis to come to Guam while he's in the region visiting the Philippines.

Pope Francis told Apuron he would pray for Guam and extended his blessings to the island.

According to the release, Apuron has been advised by his attorney not to answer any questions regarding the allegation.