A deacon on Guam says it is concerning the Vatican does not appear to have begun investigating abuse allegations against the island's Archbishop.
Five allegations Archbishop Anthony Apuron raped or molested altar boys in the 1960s and 1970s have now been made over the past year.
Deacon Steve Martinez, the former sex abuse response co-ordinator for the Catholic Church on Guam, said it was right that the Vatican investigates allegations against Archbishops so there is no conflict of interest.
But he said he had seen no evidence an investigation had started or that Rome had even communicated with the alleged victims.
"If they have not it's not a good sign because some of these allegations have been out there for practically a year. It's not fair to the victims and it's not fair to the accused as well," he said.
Deacon Steve Martinez said he believed Pope Francis was serious about investigating abuse, but it needs to be done much more timely.
