Advertisement calls on victims of abuse to come forward

By Jasmine Stole
Pacific Daily News
May 11, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/05/10/advertisement-calls-victims-abuse-come-forward/84171762/

An advertisement ad, paid for by the Concerned Catholics of Guam, that was printed in the May 8, 2016 edition on the Pacific Daily News.

A full-page advertisement published in local newspapers, including the Pacific Daily News, over the weekend showed the back of a person dressed in Catholic clerical attire and featured the black, bolded words: “Were You Sexually Abused? Molested?”

The Concerned Catholics of Guam, a group that has protested the actions of the local archdiocese, purchased the ad, which asks for victims of sexual abuse to come forward.

The advertisement doesn’t accuse any specific person of abuse, but appears to link the abuse to the Catholic Church.

The Archdiocese of Agana didn’t provide a comment about the ad as of press time.

The ad stated: “If you or someone you know was the victim of sexual abuse during these periods and at these locations, you no longer have to suffer in silence.”

Below this statement is the following list of dates and locations:

Tim Rohr, a Catholic blogger, said more than one person has come forward alleging abuse and the ad was a call to other victims who might want to come forward as well.

Rohr said the years and locations listed are related to a specific person from the local Catholic Church who’s being accused of initiating the abuse.

The ad was featured in Rohr’s blog, Junglewatch, over the weekend.

In a May 7 blog post under a copy of the advertisement, Rohr wrote, “Make lots of copies and pass them out…especially in Agat.”

Gregory Perez, president of the Concerned Catholics of Guam, said he thought the ad was a good way to communicate the intent to the general public.

“I think it’s a good ad,” he said. “Hopefully it will trigger response in the community.”

The ad might also reach victims who live off-island, Perez added.

“This is a good thing to do; it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, he didn’t know if any victim had yet contacted the two people whose phone numbers are listed in the advertisement.

In addition to the numbers provided in the ad, Perez said victims of abuse can reach out to local law enforcement.

The ad also lists the names and numbers of two people — Frances Reyes Flores and Dee Reyes Peredo. When contacted by Pacific Daily News, the two women opted not to disclose if they were affiliated with either the Concerned Catholics of Guam or the Laity Forward Movement — two groups that have protested certain actions of the local archdiocese.

Chancellor Rev. Adrian Cristobal, spokesman for the archdiocese, is off-island and directed questions to the Rev. Edivaldo da Silva Oliveira.

Oliveira said a statement from the archdiocese about the advertisement would be released soon.

While the ad lists specific years between 1974 and 1984, it also notes that the inquiry is not limited to the dates and location and that all information is welcome.