GUAM
Pacific Daily News
March 19, 2018
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Guam church apologizes to child abuse victims
HAGÅTÑA, Guam — Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes on Monday said Guam’s Catholic church is beginning a new journey following a Vatican tribunal’s conviction of former Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron.
“We are becoming a better church,” Byrnes said at a press conference, three days after the Vatican announced its decision to convict Apuron in a case that includes child sexual abuse accusations.
Byrnes apologized to the former altar boys who publicly accused Apuron of childhood sexual abuse, and to the mother of one who is now deceased.
“I convey my deepest apologies to Mr. Roy Quintanilla, Mr. Walter Denton, Mr. Roland Paul Sondia, and the late Joseph ‘Sonny’ Quinata for the tremendous damage inflicted upon each of you by now Bishop Apuron and the Archdiocese of Agana,” Byrnes said.
He said the victims’ families have suffered as well.
“I apologize to them too, most certainly to Doris Concepcion, who stepped forward courageously to speak and lobby on behalf of her son, Sonny,” Byrnes said. “I issue this public apology on behalf of the entire Archdiocese of Agana.
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