Turn to God with Your Burden

By Pacific Daily News
Thomas Garrido
June 17, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/06/17/opinion-turn-god-your-burden/86021612/

Roy T. Quintanilla, center, with attorney David Lujan, right, says he was sexually abused by Archbishop Anthony Apuron when he was 12 years old, at a press conference in front of the Archdiocese of Agana Chancery Office in Hagatna on May 17. Quintanilla asked for an apology from the archbishop, and encourages anyone with a similar story to step forward. "I will not be silent anymore," added Quintanilla.

The recent news on the accusations against Archbishop Apuron is tragic in many respects.

First to Mr. Roy T. Quintanilla: No one is impeccable. Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” I am a sinner and I still disappoint God and loved ones to this day. We stand alone accountable before God for our own deeds. God is the original authorized judge, jury and executioner. Roy, you have taken it upon yourself to take this tragic incident to the public light. However, the burden of proof is upon you to substantiate your charges. Your burden is great. Without a confession or proof, we expose the accused to incarceration or acts of revenge and injury to family, friends, career, employer and church.

I am not unsympathetic with you, Roy. I too was sexually abused as a minor more than 55 years ago. … You and I likely shared most of the same emotions. There are several points I am trying to make to you regarding our experiences.

One: I wished that my love for God and my parents was much, much stronger. I speak of a love that does not share with shame or fear and does not need to sum up courage to speak out to the proper people. I do not blame my parents or anyone for the lack of such a love. God had a wonderful plan for me in the future.

Two: I wished that we had God’s Bible teachings in that earlier age, at that troubling time. In our case, Roy, we would have learned from Matthew, God’s guidelines for conflict resolution (Matthew 18:15-17).

Three: Joelle Casteix and Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) must also be as discerning and loving on this matter. I still cannot recognize the value of their direction in all of this.

Roy, the burden of proof remains upon your shoulders. Your burden is one that might be carried for even longer. There is grace and hope in God. I cannot be your advocate on this journey to go public without a confession or proof of your claim.

By the grace of God, my burden has been lightened. I have forgiven my perpetrator and I rest in the loving arms for our Lord. My grief today will be for you and others who will not seek God’s strength, rest and peace. I also grieve for the accused, especially those who were falsely accused and have suffered for it.

Matthew 11:29 — Jesus tells us to “come to Him. ... Take up my yoke. ... My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

You may not reach a resolve in your current efforts. Seek God’s mercy, strength to forgive, peace and wisdom to fill your empty heart. If we had done this when we were much younger, we would not have grieved for decades.

God also reminds us in Matthew 5:44 – “Love your enemy … and pray for those you spitefully use you and persecute you.”

You and others, including our perpetrators, will be in my prayers and thoughts.