Man alleges Guam archbishop molested him as a child

By Jasmine Stole And Kyle Daly
KSDK
May 17, 2016

http://www.ksdk.com/news/nation-now/man-alleges-guam-archbishop-molested-him-as-a-child/197933953

HAGATNA, Guam — A 52-year-old man from Hawaii said he was sexually abused by Archbishop Anthony Apuron when he was 12 years old.

Roy T. Quintanilla spoke at a press conference held in front of the Archdiocese of Agana Chancery Office in Hagåtña.

Quintanilla was flanked by his attorney David Lujan and others. Quintanilla said he’s been silent for 40 years. The alleged abuse deeply affected him, causing him to contemplate suicide.

"I've never stopped crying," he said.

Immediately after the press conference, Quintanilla delivered a letter addressed to the archbishop to the chancery office.

When reached by phone later, the chancery office declined comment on the allegations and would not confirm if the letter was delivered to the archbishop.

The incident took place when Apuron was the pastor of the Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Agat, Quintanilla said. Quintanilla said he was an altar boy at the time.

Apuron, he said, had asked him to stay over at his house one night and requested he sleep in his bedroom. It was then, he said, that Apuron abused him.

This isn’t the first time the archbishop has been accused of molestation, but it is the first time anyone has come out publicly with a personal account.

In 2014, John Toves, of California made numerous public allegations that a relative of his was sexually molested by Apuron when they were both altar boys three decades ago. Toves said Apuron was a priest at the time.

The alleged victim was a fellow seminarian during high school, Toves had said.

Last Friday, the archdiocese announced plans to file lawsuits against those who’ve been spreading “malicious lies” about the local Roman Catholic Church.

The release addressed a full-page advertisement that was published in local newspapers the weekend prior, that asked victims of sexual abuse to come forward. The advertisement showed the back of a person wearing Catholic clerical attire.

The archdiocese said the ad targeted Apuron.

“This demonstrates that they have no proof to substantiate any allegations and that their purpose to confuse and mislead the people or, even, to induce some to bring false testimony,” the archdiocese said of the ad in a press release.