Archdiocese Acknowledges Latest Allegations of Sex Abuse

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
May 10, 2018

https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/05/10/archdiocese-acknowledges-latest-allegations-sex-abuse/597356002/

Archbishop Michael Byrnes delivers the homily during an Ash Wednesday Mass at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Hagatna on Feb. 14, 2018.

Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Tamuning around 1981 or 1982.

The archbishop asks all Catholics "to be ever vigilant in our duty to protect all children entrusted to the care of the Church."

Boy allegedly abused for about 18 years

This week, one other former altar boy, identified in court documents as J.C.C., said Father Adrian Cristobal sexually abused and raped him for about 18 years, from 1995 to 2013.

Cristobal, whom the Archdiocese of Agana believes is now in the vicinity of New York after his assignment in the Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona ended on April 11, had been directed to immediately return to Guam after the first lawsuit against him was filed on April 10.

Revamped, strengthened policy

The archdiocese, under Byrnes, has revamped and strengthened its sexual abuse and sexual misconduct policy, which requires reporting to law enforcement agencies of child abuse allegations.

The policy is also now aligned with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ stringent Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes mandatory on-line training for church personnel, teachers and volunteers.

Contact: heugenio@guampdn.com