Deacon concerned about archbishop’s inaction

GUAM
KUAM

By Jolene Toves

It turns out Deacon Stephen Martinez not only filed a report with Archbishop Anthony Apuron about information he’s received regarding allegations of sexual contact between Fr. Luis Camacho and a 17-year-old minor but has also written a letter about how he remains “gravely concerned with a growing pattern of sexual deviancy from RMS (Redemptoris Mater Seminary) trained priests and seminaries,” he wrote.

As we reported Fr. Luis studied at RMS. The priest was arrested last week after police found him in a parked car at an Agat beach with a 17-year-old girl. He was arrested for Custodial Interference. Police said the girl was supposed to be in school at the time she was found with Fr. Luis. Although little information was released about what they were doing in the car, in his report filed with the Archbishop and Child Protective Services, Deacon Martinez alleged there was sexual contact between the two.

In the follow up letter written by Deacon Martinez he is concerned about Fr. Luis’ connection to the NCW (Neocatechumenal Way), “It is my understanding that the girl whom Fr. Luis had cunnilingus with is a member of the NCW, and her parents as well. It appears that Fr. Luis used his position of authority as presbyter of an NCW community to take advantage of this child. This is a grave abuse of trust and a tendency which a proper psychological examination may have disclosed. Unfortunately this is not the only incident which raises alarm bells about problems within the RMS formation and screening process. I certainly hope the victim’s participation in the NCW, and that of her parents, was not exploited to convince them not to press charges against Fr. Luis. Prudence would dictate this is a question an independent investigator should follow up upon,” Martinez wrote.

The Deacon also alleged other disturbing actions by members of the clergy including Fr. Edivaldo. He alleged that in November 2013 the priest during a Eucharistic Congress at Ypao Beach warned young girls in attendance about boys, ” the boys will treat girls like oranges, sucking the sweet juice from them, and when they are all dried up the boys will spit them out,” he wrote in his letter to the Archbishop.

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