4 Apr 2017

Clergy sex abuse lawsuits in Guam rise to 40

2:04 pm on 4 April 2017

Another lawsuit has been filed in Guam alleging sexual abuse by a former priest, Louis Brouillard.

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Guam

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

Pacific Daily News reports this takes the number of clergy sex abuse lawsuits in the territory to 40.

On Monday an accuser with the initials J.C.T. filed a suit in the District Court of Guam to demand a jury trial and at least $US10 million in damages.

The latest lawsuit named the Archdiocese of Agana, the Boy Scouts of America and Louis Brouillard as defendants, along with up to 50 others who may have aided, or covered up the alleged abuse.

Pacific Daily News reported Mr Brouillard was also a scout master while he was a priest on Guam.

Most of the 40 lawsuits filed so far in local and federal courts accuse Mr Brouillard, who admitted to abusing at least 20 boys on Guam when he was a priest here.

The Boy Scouts of America's Aloha Council, which has jurisdiction over the Guam chapter, has said it deeply regretted the abuse and extends its deepest apologies to victims and their families.

Late last year, after a number of allegations surfaced, Guam's government lifted a statute of limitations opening the door for the Catholic Church to be sued for historical cases.

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