Public weighs in on abuse allegations against Archbishop Apuron

By Maria Hernandez
Pacific Daily News
May 22, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/05/21/public-weighs-abuse-allegations-against-archbishop-apuron/84696854/

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In the midst of recent allegations of sexual abuse made by former Guam resident Roy Taitague Quintanilla against Archbishop Anthony Apuron, residents and a church official have shared their opinions on the developments.

Quintanilla, 52, spoke publicly at a press conference on Tuesday about abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of Apuron 40 years ago when he was an altar boy. Quintanilla said he was a 12-year-old altar server for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, in Agat, when the alleged abuse took place.

Apuron was the pastor of the parish at the time, Quintanilla said. He said the archbishop touched his private areas through his pants.

“I was trying my best to push your hand away; it was painful,” he said as he read aloud a letter addressed to Apuron at the press conference.

Deacon Elias “Itoy” Ruda of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, in Toto, said he doesn’t really know how to feel about the allegations.

“I’m just surprised. I’m just praying,” he said.

The news, he said, whether true or false, will possibly bring a divide in the church.

“My opinion is maybe the archdiocese is going to be divided into groups of people, but it’s better to stay strong in faith,” he said.

Mongmong resident and practicing Catholic Cynthia Agustin, 63, said her faith hasn’t been affected by the news, but said she feels there has long been a divide in the church — one that started in 2014 when the archbishop fired Monsignor James Benavente as head of the Catholic Cemeteries of Guam and removed him from his post as rector of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica. The archbishop accused Benavente of financial mismanagement.

Benavente has said the archbishop’s statements were “absolutely wrong.”

Joseph Rivera, a former director of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research, had said the “allegations of financial mismanagement were not supported by the facts.”

Agustin also said she’s felt a divide in the Church over the Neocatechumenal Way.

“We hear that these churches are for that and these churches are not, but they’re all Catholic. It’s causing a divide. It’s really bad,” she said.

As for her thoughts on the allegations against the archbishop, she said it’s up in the air.

“The audacity if this person is guilty of sexually abusing a younger person. He should not be in this capacity in this position if it is true,” she said. “He’s the only one who would know if it’s true or not.”

If it is true, she said, it “would be a bigger sin to hold that and to deny what you did.”

But, “If he’s innocent, then he’s innocent.”

As for Quintanilla, Agustin said she can’t see why he would lie about the abuse.

“He has nothing to gain in exposing himself. Nothing. The statute of limitations ran out,” she said.

Alejo Dot Dot Sr., 76, said the news hasn’t changed his beliefs as a Catholic. Ultimately, whether Apuron committed the abuse should be left to a higher authority, he said.

“It’s up to the high court. We have nothing to do with it. It’s good (Quintanilla) told everybody so that people will know, but it’s upon a higher court — a higher person (to decide),” he said.

Dot Dot was an altar boy in Mindanao, Philippines. He has never been a victim of sexual abuse, but said he “would surely consult somebody” if he had been.

When he first heard the news, he said, he told himself to not jump to any conclusions because he doesn’t know whether the allegations are true.

Ea Pinaula, 60, also said her faith hasn’t been affected by the news.

“My faith has not been affected, but it’s disappointing to hear it. It’s just that (the church is) not one anymore,” she said.