GUAM
Pacific Daily News
Jojo Santo Tomas, jsantotoma@guampdn.com June 13, 2016
Some of Guam’s churchgoers say their faith remains unchanged despite recent controversies surrounding Guam’s Catholic church.
Archbishop Anthony Apuron faces accusations of rape and molestation in the 1970s, recently made public by multiple accusers now in their 50s.
Apuron has said that he is innocent, and is the victim of a smear campaign. He has not been charged with any crime.
Pope Francis recently appointed another archbishop, Savio Tai Fai Hon, to oversee Guam’s Catholic church while the allegations are investigated. Apuron currently remains Guam’s archbishop.
For the morning Masses, Hagåtña traffic and parking was as normal as any Sunday except from about 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica. Parishioners attending the 9 a.m. services were greeted by about 50 protesters calling for Apuron’s resignation. The protesters held signs and softly sang before they dispersed right after Hon acknowledged them at the front of the Cathedral steps. Protesters murmured their thanks at his arrival, and one man went to kiss Hon’s hand.
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