Archbishop Hon Addresses Newest Sex Abuse Allegation

Guam Daily Post
June 15, 2016

http://www.postguam.com/news/archbishop-hon-addresses-newest-sex-abuse-allegation/article_38f37330-32b6-11e6-acad-db90b31fae38.html

Archbishop Savio Tai Fai Hon - in his role as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana - responded today to the newest accusation of sexual abuse by Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

In a press release, Archbishop Hon said: “This morning Mr. Roland Paul Lizama Sondia, a resident of Guam presented to the public media accusations against the Archbishop of Agana, namely, that when he was an altar boy at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Agat, he was molested by the then Father Anthony Sablan Apuron. The Archdiocese of Agana, taking into serious consideration the allegations presented to the public this morning, will take the necessary steps to present the matter to the Holy See, which has final authority in cases related to Bishops. In the mean time, I am earnestly praying for all those concerned in this matter, without prejudice to both the alleged victim and the accused and ask for the prayers and support of the entire Church community.”

This is Hon’s first public statement addressing a specific allegation of sexual abuse against Apuron.

The accuser, Roland Sondia, said he was sexually abused by Apuron when he was an altar boy at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Agat in the late 1970s. He is the fourth person to accuse Apuron of sexual abuse since mid-May.