GUAM/ROME
Pacific Daily News
Haidee V Eugenio, Pacific Daily News September 17, 2016
Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai has urged Pope Francis to remove Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron as head of the Archdiocese of Agana because of gravely serious allegations of sex abuse of altar boys.
“I want you to know that I am in Rome to urge the Holy See to remove Archbishop Apuron as archbishop of Agana and to appoint a successor,” Hon said in his two-page statement. “I can assure you that the gravely serious allegations against Archbishop Apuron will continue to be dealt with by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, which will hold a canonical trial. His Holiness, Pope Francis, is monitoring the proceedings.”
Pope Francis temporarily stripped Apuron of his administrative powers over the Catholic church on Guam and temporarily replaced him with Hon on June 6.
Hon, who is currently at the Vatican in Rome, issued a two-page statement that he wants to be read at Sunday Mass on Sept. 18.
Hon said he is reinforced in his efforts by the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Agana which has presented two letters — the first asking Apuron to resign and when that was unsuccessful, the second calling on the Holy See to remove him.
“On behalf of the Church, I want to apologize personally to the survivors of sexual abuse everywhere who have suffered so much at the hands of clergy. We cannot undo the appalling betrayal of trust and faith and the horrendous acts that clergy have committed against the youngest and most innocent among us. We are committed to helping them heal in body and soul,” Hon said.
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