National Victims Network Responds to Naming of New Administrator

By Sabrina Salas Matanane
KUAM
June 6, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/32156795/2016/06/06/national-victims-network-responds-to-naming-of-new-administrator

The Survivors Network of the Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) say its encouraged the Vatican has taken the first step in the appointment of Archbishop Savio Tai Fai Hon as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana amid sex abuse allegations against Archbishop Anthony Apuron. “Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron is now a twice-accused predator archbishop-who has also been accused of intimidating victims, bullying Catholics, and manipulating church rules regarding abuse to protect himself. But this is only a first step,” a press release stated.

SNAP is urging Archbishop Hon conduct a complete an independent investigation and act swiftly and appropriately upon the findings. The group is also asking Guam senators to revisit legislation that allows victims of sexual abuse to use the civil courts to expose their abuser and the organizations that cover-up and facilitate abuse.

The release follows:

We are encouraged that the Vatican has taken this first step. Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron is now a twice-accused predator archbishop—who has also been accused of intimidating victims, bullying Catholics, and manipulating church rules regarding abuse to protect himself.

But this is only a first step.

We urge the new administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai to engage in a complete and independent investigation of the allegations against Apuron and act upon the findings swiftly and appropriately.

We hope that the new administrator reaches out to and works with victims and local Catholics who have demanded transparency and change. Without their bravery and tenacity, Apuron's alleged crimes would never have been exposed.

We also encourage anyone who has seen or suspected abuse to report immediately to civil authorities.

Finally, we ask Guam's lawmakers to revisit legislation that allows victims of sexual abuse to use the civil courts to expose their abuser and the organizations that cover-up and facilitate abuse. It is only through this kind of legislation—that includes exposing organizations that hire and protect predators—that the people of Guam can learn the true scope and scale of the cover-up of sexual abuse.