GUAM
Pacific Daily News
[with video]
Haidee V Eugenio, Pacific Daily News
September 20, 2016
Former altar boys who recently accused Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron and other clergy of raping and sexually abusing children said they hope and pray Gov. Eddie Calvo will sign into law a bill allowing child sex abuse victims to sue the perpetrators and the institutions with which they are associated.
Lawmakers on Sept. 12 passed Bill 326-33 by a vote of 13-0. Gov. Eddie Calvo has until Friday to act on the bill, which would retroactively eliminate the statute of limitations for civil cases on child sexual abuse.
The Archdiocese of Agana is circulating a petition asking the governor to veto the bill, saying it would financially ruin the Catholic Church and disrupt social services and schools.
Temporary Guam Archbishop Savio Tai Fai Hon issued a written statement last weekend, stating the bill has serious implications for the Archdiocese because it would lift the time restriction on lawsuits against institutions, such as the Archdiocese, that have employed those accused of sexual abuse.
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