GUAM
KUAM
Updated: Sep 22, 2016
By Krystal Paco
Friday is the deadline for Governor Eddie Calvo to take action on highly controversial legislation. Bill 326 seeks to lift the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases. Advocates say the bill gives justice to survivors of abuse while critics worry about the potentially crippling consequences the bill could have not only on the church, but Catholic schools and other church services.
Joe Santos is the founder of the Silent No More movement – a petition that prompted senators to introduce Bill 326. “The mission then was to get the Legislature to pass a bill that would lift the statute of limitations and civil action against abusers of child sex abuse,” he explained at a press event earlier today.
While the petition was circulated, survivors surfaced, including Roland Sondia, who alleges he was 15 years old when he was molested by Archbishop Anthony Apuron, who was a priest at the time. At today’s press conference, Sondia made one last cry to the island’s chief executive to sign the bill into law, saying, “Governor Calvo, please sign Bill 326. The Archdiocese of Agana must take total responsibility for the actions of Anthony Apuron. And the other perpetrators – this is not about money or destroying the church. It’s about the church taking responsibility.”
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