What Does Priest's Death Mean for Those Accusing Him of Sex Abuse?

By Krystal Paco
KUAM News
October 12, 2018

http://www.kuam.com/story/39274613/2018/10/Friday/what-does-priests-death-mean-for-those-accusing-him-of-sex-abuse


Father Louis Brouillard has died. What does this mean for the dozens who've accused him of clergy sexual abuse? Church attorney John Terlaje tells KUAM the priest's passing has no effect on continued efforts towards mediation.

He's admitted to abusing boys on Guam because he thought it made them happy. Father Brouillard in a phone interview with KUAM back in August 2016 said the following:

Leo Tudela was the first to accuse Brouillard of clergy sexual abuse. Dozens of others followed. Some accusers reported the former Guam priest and Scout Master for the Boy Scouts forced them to swim naked on swimming trips. Others reported he took nude photos of them and forced them to watch pornography and look at adult magazines. Others have accused him of rape and other sexual acts.

Brouillard, according to a press release out of the Archdiocese of Agana, died on Wednesday (Thursday Guam time) in Minnesota at 97 years old.

Though long removed from Guam, the Archdiocese of Agana continued to pay the accused pedophile priest. Brouillard told KUAM he received $550 a month.

In that same interview, he apologized for his actions, saying, "I'm sorry that it happened and I should have never allowed myself the opportunity or the time for such things. This happened long ago and time has not healed me. I'm sorry that it ever happened."

Brouillard's passing comes the same week as a motion filed in the District Court of Guam by Joe R. San Agustin, formerly known as Father Andrew San Agustin. San Agustin has made two motions demanding he face and judge and jury as soon as possible.

In his filling, he states, "If only I am given the opportunity to be heard in court - while I am still able to speak on my own behalf before I leave this world. The vast majority of clerical sex abuse cases in Guam is against deceased priests who can no longer speak on their own behalves. Guilty or innocent, they are deprived of speaking for themselves."

San Agustin - who faces one allegation made by a Saipan woman - notes his deteriorating health as a reason to expedite trial.

The church meanwhile, extends their prayers to Brouillard's family in the U.S. mainland, writing in a release, "We pray for the soul of Father Brouillard."