GUAM
KUAM
by Jolene Toves
Guam – The riff continues between Father Paul Gofigan and Archbishop Anthony Apuron. In a letter Father Gofigan demands a written apology and retraction of defamatory comments allegedly made by Archbishop Apuron to about 30 clergy while on a retreat to the Philippines.
Father Gofigan gave the archbishop until noon today to issue an apology.
It was one month ago Father Paul Gofigan wrote a letter to Archbishop Anthony Apuron demanding that he retract alleged defamatory comments.
The letter alleges the archbishop made insinuations that Father Paul Gofigan was carrying out an intimate relationship with a married man. Although Gofigan has not been available for comment, Tim Rohr creator of the Jungle Watch Blog was privvy to a copy of Gofigans’s letter and posted it on his website. “Word got out you know in front of thirty people I suppose somebody talked to somebody and it got back to Father Paul, Father Paul took issue and last December 6 sent a letter to the archbishop asking him to send a letter to the clergy to set the record straight.
“Made some heavy references that it could be a sexual relationship using the words such as being intimate and also alleging that he had built a staircase to his upstairs room that the man the man would bring alcohol and booze,” he said.
Father Gofigan in his letter to the archbishop defended himself and the man he is alleged to have relations with. Gofigan said the staircase was actually built well before he even moved into his home. He also admitted that beer was one of his favorite drinks and on occasion the man in question along with other parishioners of the church would donate alcohol along with other food and supplies. Father Gofigan added that parishioners would often visit to socialize, hear confessions and seek counsel. Father Gofigan further demanded that the archbishop retract in writing the “slanderous and defamatory statements”
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