GUAM
Pacific News Center
Written by Janela Carrera
An expert in canon law says canonical trials are all “paper trials.”
Guam – The canonical trial of ousted Archbishop Anthony Apuron is “well underway,” that’s according to the archbishop who replaced him on Guam, Michael Byrnes.
But we spoke with an expert with knowledge of canonical trials, Patrick J. Wall, and he says the process is not that simple, much less for a bishop.
Apuron has gone underground since he was removed from his position has the shepherd of the local catholic faithful. For the most part, the community was told that a canonical trial was pending for Apuron.
But over the last eight months little was known about a trial he’s supposed to be facing in Rome for allegations of sexual abuse. No one knew where he was hiding. It wasn’t until recently that he was discovered in California where his attorney, Jacque Terlaje, says he’s staying to be able to “continue working on defending his innocence without distraction.”
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