GUAM
Radio New Zealand
An abuse survivors group says Guam has been used as a “way station for problematic priests”, and abuse within the Catholic Church on the island spreads far beyond its Archbishop.
Archbishop Anthony Apuron is denying accusations he molested two altar boys in the 1970s.
But a director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, Joelle Casteix told Jo O’Brien rumours of abuse have been circulating for years and she has no reason not to believe the latest allegations
JOELLE CASTEIX: Nobody wants to accuse their Archbishop of sexual abuse. Nobody wants to sue their church. All any survivor wants is healing and to make sure their abuser is never around another kid. And so I have no reason to not believe those people who have come forward, the victim and the other victim’s mother because they have absolutely nothing to gain from this except their personal vindication, that’s it, and they are doing this just out of pure strength and bravery, in the face of an Archbishop who is threatening to sue and saying they are causing harm to the church. They have a lot of lose and they are still standing up for what’s right.
JO O’BRIEN: The Archdiocese is calling these claims a malicious lies, insinuating there’s other issues involved, and that’s why this campaign is being waged against the church. What’s your response to their attitude on this?
JC: It’s awful that there’s been no compassion what so ever for the survivors, and it would be very easy for the Archdiocese to make a statement saying, we are so sorry for any pain that these people may have suffered. When the mother of a survivor comes forward and tells her story of pain, it is very heart wrenching, and there’s been no compassion what so ever. I believe that they are really in a entirely defensive mode, and it’s terribly hurtful and it’s pretty eye opening for Catholics who are really expecting the Archdiocese to do the Christian thing to show compassion first, and then to defend the church second.
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