20 Jan 2017

Questions over investigation into Guam Archbishop

3:34 pm on 20 January 2017

The time it is taking for the Vatican to investigate allegations against Guam's Catholic Archbishop is being questioned.

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Guam

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Guam Photo: 123rf

The Vatican placed Archbishop Anthony Apuron on leave last June after former altar boys accused him of sexual abuse in the 1970s.

In November, his successor Archbishop Michael Byrnes, said a canonical trial had been initiated.

But the Concerned Catholics of Guam President David Sablan said they hadn't heard anything about how it is going.

"We're concerned about the time it's taking because most of the facts are very clear. But I think there are others in the Vatican who are very supportive of Archbishop Apuron and if they are trying to cover up this whole mess that he has been involved in here in Guam then they would be complicit in basically what he has done to harm the church here."

Mr Sablan also questioned the Church's decision to send a priest to study in Canada, when he may have shielded Archbishop Apuron from abuse allegations.

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