GUAM
Pacific New Center
Written by Janela Carrera
Roland Paul Lizama Sondia says Archbishop Anthony Apuron molested him when he was an altar boy in Agat.
Guam – Yet another victim has come forward with sex abuse claims against Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Roland Paul Lizama Sondia says he was molested by Archbishop Apuron in 1977.
Sondia is now the fourth victim to publicly accuse the archbishop of sexual assault.
Like the three other alleged victims, Sondia says it happened at the rectory of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Agat. Sondia was 15 years old in the summer of 1977 and one night he and a few other altar servers were sleeping over at the rectory.
“I was awakened when I felt someone tapping on my shoulder and calling my name,” says Sondia. “I looked up and it was Father Anthony Apuron.”
Sondia says Apuron gestured him to come into his bedroom. While inside, Sondia says Apuron propositioned him.
“He put his right arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer saying, ‘Do you want to try me?'” recalls Sondia. “Before I could do anything he started rubbing my privates. I loudly asked him, ‘What are you doing?’ I told him to stop but he didn’t. Instead he continued on and this time squeezing my penis and kept saying, ‘Just try me.'”
Sondia says he eventually managed to break free and run toward the door.
“I remember glancing back and he was just sitting there at the edge of his bed with his head down,” says Sondia.
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