Deacon Says Apuron Innocent: Church Won't Investigate Molestation Allegation

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno
Pacific Daily News
December 4, 2014

http://www.guampdn.com/article/20141205/NEWS01/312050028

John.jpg Meeting: John Toves, front, and Deacon Larry Claros walk out after a brief meeting at the Archdiocese of Agana Chancery, yesterday. Toves wanted to meet Archbishop Anthony Apuron regarding Toves' allegation of the sexual abuse of Toves' relative. Masako Watanabe/Pacific Daily News/mwatanabe@guampdn.com

A victim in the sexual molestation allegation against Archbishop Anthony Apuron hasn't surfaced, so there's nothing to investigate, a church official said yesterday.

Deacon Larry Claros, the archdiocese's newly appointed sexual abuse response coordinator, made the statement yesterday morning outside the archdiocese's Chancery office after a brief meeting with the archbishop's accuser, John Toves.

Toves, 50, said when he was a 16-year-old altar boy, Toves' relative and co-seminarian at a high school seminary on Guam was allegedly sexually abused by Apuron, who was a priest at the time.

Apuron issued a statement on Nov. 29 that the allegation "is a horrible calumny and I am obliged to defend not my person, but the Church."

On the advice of an attorney, Apuron said in the Nov. 29 written statement, "I will not answer any questions."

Claros said a committee in the Archdiocese of Agana that reviewed the allegation didn't see the need for an investigation.

Hours after Claros' statement to reporters, the archdiocese yesterday afternoon clarified in a written statement that the archdiocese's policy on sexual abuse is being adhered to.

"Pursuant to this policy, and to clarify the issue, the matter is currently under review," according to the archdiocese statement.

Toves traveled from San Francisco, where he lives, with the intention of confronting Apuron.

"I am demanding that he make amends to the family while accepting responsibility," said Toves, who said this is his first trip back home in three decades. He also recently sent letters about his allegation to Vatican officials.

Claros said it's a "very, very sad state that the leader of our community is going through this scrutiny, however, I do believe, I am very confident that truth will prevail."

When asked if he believes the archbishop is innocent, Claros replied: "Oh, for sure, for sure."

"There is no investigation," Claros said. "These are just allegations brought forth by Mr. Toves, and the review board has met to ... look at these allegations to see if there's anything we need to investigate and there's none," Claros said. "First of all, the victim has not surfaced."

Toves, a fitness center manager, arrived on Guam earlier this week. He's demanding that the archbishop step down.

Apuron said he's filing a defamation suit, and any damages that will be recovered "will be given to the charitable causes of our Church."

"I trust that the members of our Catholic community who have observed my actions and leadership for the last 30 years will know in their hearts and spirit that these allegations are false."

Toves yesterday said he welcomes the defamation lawsuit, because it will open the legal framework for witnesses to be summoned and for the archdiocese files to become public.

Toves acknowledged people have questions about the timing of the allegation.

Decades have passed between the time the alleged abuse occurred and the public allegation.

He said, as a devout Catholic, he kept quiet about it for a long time, but added he reached a "boiling point" to speak out against Apuron after the recent controversies in the local Catholic Church leadership.

Toves said he wants Apuron to step down and for Monsignor James Benavente to be reinstated as rector of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna. Toves also wants Santa Barbara parish priest Paul Gofigan reinstated.

He said his allegation and the local church's leadership controversies are "intertwined."

Claros said Toves needs to report his allegation to civil authorities.

Toves said his relative had a "breakdown" when both of them moved on from the high school seminary on Guam to a college seminary in Los Altos, California. The relative told church officers at the California seminary of the alleged abuse, Toves said.

Toves said his cousin has refused to speak up about the alleged abuse because he was traumatized.

Toves said he hasn't spoken to his relative about his decision to accuse Apuron publicly.

Toves also said his family is torn about his decision, saying his father supports it, but his mother no longer speaks to him.

While on Guam, Toves said, he's asking other victims of alleged sexual abuse involving Church officials to come forward for a united voice.

"A lot of people have been calling me, and they want to talk, but they are still fearful," Toves said.