HAGåTñA (GUAM)
Guam Daily Post
May 7, 2024
By John O'Connor
Rev. Luis Camacho has returned to Guam after being off island for about nine years while a canonical investigation was underway related to his arrest in 2015, according to a release from the Archdiocese of Agana.
“Father Luis’ priestly faculties remain in restriction. He has been notified that he is restricted from serving in any parish, school or archdiocesan office at this time. Apostolic Administrator Father Romeo Convocar is reviewing his case assisted by others in the archdiocese before any return to public ministry is considered,” the release stated.
Camacho was arrested in March 2015 after police officers found him in a vehicle with a 17-year-old girl at a beach in Hågat. He was charged with custodial interference, according to Post files.
The Archdiocese stated that Camacho resigned as pastor of the San Dimas & Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Malesso’ and the San Dionisio Catholic Church in Humåtak, and was prohibited from hearing confessions and restricted from celebrating mass publicly, although he could still celebrate privately.
“Those restrictions of his faculties have not been lifted. Former Archbishop Anthony Apuron sent the priest off-island to a priestly renewal program after the incident in 2015,” the release from the Archdiocese stated.
Apuron himself would leave the island after he was accused of sexually assaulting former alter boys on Guam. A Vatican tribunal ultimately found him guilty of having sexually abused minors, and Apuron was also prohibited from residing in Guam.
According to the Archdiocese, a canonical investigation on Camacho was opened after the incident in 2015. Although the Vatican has not been able to make a canonical ruling due to insufficient evidence, the case is not closed, the Archdiocese release added. But at this time, the case is filed in archives because it is not possible to proceed with a canonical ruling, the release indicated.
“Father Michael Crisostomo, the delegate for the apostolic administrator, and Father Karl Vila, an archdiocesan canon lawyer, met with Father Luis last week. The Priest Personnel Board and the College of Consultors will be asked to review his case and make the appropriate recommendations to (Convocar),” the release stated.