Apuron resignation pushed

By Louella Losinio
Guam Daily Post
June 12, 2016

http://www.postguam.com/news/local/apuron-resignation-pushed/article_21323854-308f-11e6-9d20-9b05f3c0d6d8.html

MEET: Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, center in green, apostolic administrator for the Archdiocese of Agana, meets with protesters in front of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña yesterday, June 12. The protestors were calling for the resignation of Archbishop Anthony Apuron. To the left in blue shirt is Howard Denton, one of Apuron's accusers and to the right of Hon is Rev. Tadeusz Jan Nowak, who is assisting Hon. Photo by Louella Losinio

Just before the 9:30 a.m. Mass yesterday, protesters converged in front of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña calling for the resignation of Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

The group – while holding signs welcoming the new apostolic administrator – also urged Apuron to step down. The protest was peaceful and the protesters just prayed and sang religious hymns.

Lou Klitzkie, a member of the Laity Forward Movement, said: “We are here today because we want Archbishop Apuron to resign.”

In the past, the movement had organized several silent protests outside the cathedral, one of which took place Jan. 31. The group had publicly opposed decisions made by Apuron. Klitzkie reiterated the concerns made by the group.

Walter Denton, with his wife Shirley, was among the dozens of people who flocked to the cathedral to air their concerns. Denton, who was the most recent to accuse Apuron of alleged sexual molestation, said: “We are not out to get the church. This is not about the church. It is about one individual who has committed a heinous crime. That is all that we wanted to do. To expose him and what he has done to our children, to myself, to Roy, to Doris’ son.”

Denton, who flew back to Arizona at noon yesterday, added, “I am doing whatever I can to help. If there are more victims out there, I am asking them to please come forward, to seek their case.”

Hon reaches out

Before the Mass started, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, apostolic administrator for the Archdiocese of Agana, reached out to the protesters.

Accompanied by Rev. Tadeusz Jan Nowak, the archbishop spoke to the group, urging them to come and join the Mass.

The protesters said they have prayed and continue to pray. They also welcomed the new apostolic administrator but also hoped that he would listen to them and hear their message.

Denton said he had wanted to speak to the archbishop before leaving for Arizona but was unable to.

John Toves, who last year accused Apuron of molesting his cousin in the 1980s when they were still seminarians, also joined the protest. “The divide is still great,” he said.

“My point is the pain is still there and the mixed messages don’t help. That is why everybody is standing up today,” he added. Toves said they are respectful of what the Church decides but that there have been mixed messages about what will happen to Apuron.

Entrust

“Apuron will still bear the title of the archbishop of Agana," Hon said during his first address to the community, "but from this appointment on, he will not take on any decision about the archdiocese.”

He added that Apuron should also cooperate in the fulfillment of the apostolic administrator’s mandate.

Hon stressed that he has instructions from the Vatican to guide the archdiocese. He said Pope Francis, in his concern for the good of the whole church and with due consideration for the good of the faithful in Guam, has temporarily entrusted him with the administration of the Archdiocese of Agana.

“The primary concern of the administrator is to restore unity, harmony and stability,” he said.