Find the Truth about Sex Abuse Allegations

Guam Daily Post
June 1, 2016

http://www.postguam.com/forum/editorial/find-the-truth-about-sex-abuse-allegations/article_c01b7e3e-27cb-11e6-a86b-0f11217da55e.html

As a secular newspaper, it is not our place to tell any church how to conduct itself. But the recent allegations of sexual misconduct by the head of Guam’s Catholic Church are disturbing. If true, they are allegations of criminal behavior of a most despicable nature. In one sense, it is unfortunate that the accusations are being made so long after the abuse is alleged to have taken place, since the statutes of limitations have long since expired, preventing the accused from being held accountable – or shown to be innocent of the allegations – in a court of law.

We find the allegations particularly disturbing because they fit a known pattern of behavior within the church throughout the world. We understand the acts of sexual predation are committed by a small number of clergy, but by all accounts, members of the church hierarchy have been involved in covering up the criminal behavior. It is a travesty that the institution that can, and should, be a source of positive moral authority in the world has been used to facilitate such evil. Unfortunately, more than a denial is needed to assure the community that the recent accusations are false.

Those who have accused the archbishop of molestation have said they would welcome the legal action that has been threatened by the archbishop as an opportunity to have the truth ferreted out in what should be a transparent proceeding conducted by neutral parties. Such a legal proceeding may be the most credible avenue to demonstrate what is and is not the truth.

In the last few years, there has been much turmoil in the church on Guam, most of which is internal to the church and best settled by the church within the church. In our secular role, we are not concerned with the power politics among the clergy, the ownership of the seminary or any other church property, what music is part of the liturgy, or how the sacraments are administered.

We are concerned, however, about the allegations of heinous criminal activity that has no place anywhere at any time, and from which the community has a moral and legal obligation to protect its members, particularly its children. It is in the interest of justice that the community know the truth about the recent allegations of sexual abuse.

Whether the accusations are attempts to gain advantage in the bickering within the church, or long overdue confrontations of a crime against childhood innocence, they warrant serious attention and a credible effort to get at the truth.