Despite Guam's Catholic church controversy, beliefs remain strong

By Jojo Santo Tomas
Pacific Daily News
June 13, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/06/12/despite-guams-catholic-church-controversy-beliefs-remain-strong/85784906/

Questions about the leadership of Guam’s Catholic church reached a tipping point June 6, when Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Savio Tai Fai Hon to temporarily run the local archdiocese. While the move comes shortly after Archbishop Anthony Apuron was accused of sexually abusing altar boys in the 1970s, the local church and Apuron have been battling public dissent for many years.

Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz states he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a priest in California when he was 13, and said he knows of “pedophile priests” in the Guam archdiocese. Cruz stated the allegations publicly after Archbishop Apuron lobbied against Cruz’s bill to allow for same-sex marriage. Cruz called Apuron’s opposition “hypocritical.” Apuron stated, “Unfortunately, sins committed by individuals from every walk of life bear consequences that are painful and should be prevented.”

Walter Denton and his wife Shirley Denton, center, protest against Archbishop Anthony Apuron outside the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Hagåtña on June 12.

Some of Guam’s churchgoers say their faith remains unchanged despite recent controversies surrounding Guam’s Catholic church.

Archbishop Anthony Apuron faces accusations of rape and molestation in the 1970s, recently made public by multiple accusers now in their 50s.

Apuron has said that he is innocent, and is the victim of a smear campaign. He has not been charged with any crime.

Pope Francis recently appointed another archbishop, Savio Tai Fai Hon, to oversee Guam’s Catholic church while the allegations are investigated. Apuron currently remains Guam’s archbishop.

For the morning Masses, Hagåtña traffic and parking was as normal as any Sunday except from about 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica. Parishioners attending the 9 a.m. services were greeted by about 50 protesters calling for Apuron’s resignation. The protesters held signs and softly sang before they dispersed right after Hon acknowledged them at the front of the Cathedral steps. Protesters murmured their thanks at his arrival, and one man went to kiss Hon’s hand.

Later, Rob Ramirez attended the 11:30 a.m. service with his son.

The Ordot resident says his faith has nothing to do with any church controversy.

“My faith has always been guided by what I think is right or wrong. Everybody’s imperfect, but the leadership of the church is not what determines my faith. It’s always been what I’ve believed,” he said. “So if they make a mistake, I understand that they’re gonna make mistakes — but it’s not gonna shape what I believe.”

Ramirez said that he thinks Catholics are affected in some ways, but neither in attendance nor fundamental beliefs. It’s a frequent topic at work, he said.

“But as far as seeing if it’s affected anyone’s faith? Or whether or not they’re gonna go to church; or whether they think differently about the church … I don’t see that,” he said.

Theda Rios, of Dededo, said she’s noticed no drop in church attendance at Toto’s Immaculate Heart of Mary, where she’s attended Mass since August 2015.

As a longtime churchgoer and daughter of a former nun, Rios is familiar with Guam’s Catholic tenets and what’s come into question over the last several weeks, and she has not formed an opinion on who is innocent or guilty.

She said Apuron is an ordinary man whose role is to uphold the church and the faith, and he is held to the standards of the church.

“Well, I feel for the victims and I feel for him too, if it’s false accusations. If he did what he did, then he did what he did. Let the law of the land and the church decide that,” she said. “I know there’s only one church. One God. I believe that.”

The Rev. Jeff San Nicolas stood in for regular Toto celebrant the Rev. Mike Crisostomo at Sunday’s 9:30 morning Mass. San Nicolas has been a priest for 19 years and his current assignment is as principal of Father Duenas Memorial School, where he’s just finished his fourth year.

He says his faith has changed during the controversy, but not in a negative way. It has reminded him to be humble.

“Because I associate myself very closely with the archbishop, obviously, and with the clergy … when something happens to our leader, you can’t help but feel the pain as well,” he said. “In the positive sense, I still feel strongly in my faith; I still feel a desire to serve as a priest and I feel there’s a lot of good that I try to offer to the people.”

Part of that faith, he said, is the belief that Catholics in Guam will one day put these issues behind them and heal. He encouraged people to seek answers within themselves and their church, using an open mind. He added that it’s OK for parishioners to keep their opinions private, and it’s OK to have doubts. San Nicolas smiled at the thought of happier times ahead.

“No one can predict the future, but my faith tells me that ultimately … God is in charge.”