Former Santa Barbara Altar Boy Alleges Abuse

By Mindy Aguon
Guam Daily Post
August 3, 2017

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/former-santa-barbara-altar-boy-alleges-abuse/article_6e695632-7820-11e7-9133-e7f50e160d02.html

ABUSE: The Santa Barbara Church in Dededo is pictured in this file photo. A former altar boy at the church has filed a civil lawsuit alleging he was sexually abused in 1980, when he was 10. He filed the lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Agana and former priest Raymond Cepeda. Post file photo

A former altar boy at Santa Barbara Catholic Church has filed a civil lawsuit alleging he was sexually abused when he was 10. He filed the lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Agana and former priest Raymond Cepeda.

A.C.J., who filed using initials to protect his identity, alleges Cepeda sexually molested and abused him while he served as an altar boy at the Dededo parish in 1980.

Cepeda was the priest at Santa Barbara Church in the early '80s and resided at the rectory.

The plaintiff, who is represented by attorney David Lujan, alleges that one day after Mass and cleaning the church, Cepeda instructed the boy to follow him to the sacristy.

Cepeda allegedly fondled and raped the boy.

Lawsuit: Church knew about abuses

The lawsuit alleges the archdiocese knew Cepeda had sexually abused minors for years. Instead of reporting the matter to law enforcement, court documents allege the church assisted Cepeda in keeping his misconduct hidden and secret.

The civil complaint seeks $5 million in damages.

Cepeda has been named in several childhood sexual abuse lawsuits and was removed as a priest in 2009 or 2010.