Former Boy Scout recalls alleged abuse

By Mindy Aguon
Guam Daily Post
August 18, 2017

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/former-boy-scout-recalls-alleged-abuse/article_fb6ca6ca-83f0-11e7-9551-13242f9610d5.html

LAWSUIT: The Boy Scouts of America building in upper Tumon is shown in this file photo. A new lawsuit accuses a Catholic priest involved with the Boy Scouts of sexually molesting and abusing a former scout on "numerous occasions" in 1977.

"Brouillard would swim completely naked and routinely instructed V.Q. and the other boys to remove their clothes. Brouillard would grope and touch their private parts."

– Lawsuit filed by attorney David Lujan on behalf of "V.Q."

In 1977, "V.Q." – using initials in recent court documents to protect his identity – joined the Mongmong Troop 18 Boy Scouts in hopes of participating in new activities and learning new things.

V.Q. said he was 14 when he joined the organization. He recalls attending meetings several times a week at the Nuestra Señora De Las Aguas Catholic Church in Mongmong to study the scout oaths and laws, and to practice marching, drills and map reading.

During those troop meetings, the boy met Father Louis Brouilard, who not only served as a priest for the Archdiocese of Agana but also as scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts.

According to a civil complaint filed yesterday in the District Court of Guam, during weekly outings with Brouillard to earn his swimming merit badge, V.Q. said he was sexually molested and abused on "numerous occasions" by the priest.

"Brouillard would swim completely naked and routinely instructed V.Q. and the other boys to remove their clothes," the lawsuit states. "Brouillard would grope and touch their private parts."

The complaint states the priest also sexually abused V.Q.

Following the alleged abuse, Brouillard would take the boys to restaurants.

Once V.Q. obtained his swimming merit badge, he quit the Boy Scouts and never again participated in any activities with the organization.

Attorney: Priests exploited relationship with Boy Scouts

The lawsuit, filed by attorney David Lujan, alleges that the Catholic Church developed and maintained a relationship with the Boy Scouts of America in Guam, by which pedophilic priests exploited the opportunity to serve as scoutmasters for the specific purpose of having access to young boys.

This relationship resulted in "numerous instances of sexual abuse and molestation" that were committed willfully by individual priests, documents state. The abuses were allowed to occur due to the gross negligence and recklessness of the Agana Archdiocese, the BSA and the Aloha Council, which failed to properly oversee and manage this relationship between the entities, according to the lawsuit.

Motions to dismiss

The Boy Scouts of America have filed motions to dismiss similar lawsuits filed against it by victims alleging abuse by scout leaders. The organization has also agreed to participate in non-binding mediation discussions that will begin in October.

V.Q. is seeking a minimum of $10 million in damages.