Abuse Survivors Group Says Guam a "Way Station for Problematic Priests"

Radio New Zealand
June 3, 2016

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201803094/abuse-survivors-group-says-guam-a-way-station-for-problematic-priests

An abuse survivors group says Guam has been used as a "way station for problematic priests", and abuse within the Catholic Church on the island spreads far beyond its Archbishop.

Archbishop Anthony Apuron is denying accusations he molested two altar boys in the 1970s.

But a director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, Joelle Casteix told Jo O'Brien rumours of abuse have been circulating for years and she has no reason not to believe the latest allegations

JOELLE CASTEIX: Nobody wants to accuse their Archbishop of sexual abuse. Nobody wants to sue their church. All any survivor wants is healing and to make sure their abuser is never around another kid. And so I have no reason to not believe those people who have come forward, the victim and the other victim's mother because they have absolutely nothing to gain from this except their personal vindication, that's it, and they are doing this just out of pure strength and bravery, in the face of an Archbishop who is threatening to sue and saying they are causing harm to the church. They have a lot of lose and they are still standing up for what's right.

JO O'BRIEN: The Archdiocese is calling these claims a malicious lies, insinuating there's other issues involved, and that's why this campaign is being waged against the church. What's your response to their attitude on this?

JC: It's awful that there's been no compassion what so ever for the survivors, and it would be very easy for the Archdiocese to make a statement saying, we are so sorry for any pain that these people may have suffered. When the mother of a survivor comes forward and tells her story of pain, it is very heart wrenching, and there's been no compassion what so ever. I believe that they are really in a entirely defensive mode, and it's terribly hurtful and it's pretty eye opening for Catholics who are really expecting the Archdiocese to do the Christian thing to show compassion first, and then to defend the church second.

JO: We've this second abuse claim now. What would you like to see happening?

JC: Well, the US conference of Catholic bishops have some pretty serious norms and standards they follow, and on Guam, sometimes they are a part of it and sometimes they are not, and the survivors networks abused by priests, and survivors in general and parents, nobody wants someone who has been credibly accused twice of sexually abusing a child to remain in the position of Ministry before there's been any kind of independent investigation. Secondly, it's time for the Vatican to get involved because the churches and chaos, they need Pope Francis to do what he said he was going to do, which is reach out to the people and make sure children are safe.

JO: From your understanding of what has been happening in Guam, is it more widespread than just the Archbishop himself? Is there other people within the church who may have been involved with abuse?

JC: Yes, I believe so, I've heard from a number of victims who have been sexually abused by priests on Guam and the reason for that is two-fold, number one, Guam has been a way station in many ways for problematic priests, so if there was a priest who abused on the mainland many times, he was sent to Guam to have some rest and relaxation while he still worked as a priest and molested children, and we have seen that happen in a number of cases. Another problem is that it's actually within the Catholic chaplaincy, the armed forces, we have seen a big problem of sexually abusive priests being put in the chaplaincy and I've received numerous phone calls from men and women who were abused as children by chaplains who are stationed at various bases, and for them, the chaplains are then moved on and they can't probably name this person.