Walter Denton prays as the sun rises in his backyard in Agat, Guam, Saturday, May 11, 2019. Denton is one of over 200 former altar boys, students and Boy Scouts who are now suing Guam's Catholic archdiocese over decades of sexual abuse they say they suffered at the hands of almost three dozen clergy, teachers and scoutmasters. "He took everything from me. From that day forward my demeanor changed. I break down, I hurt everyday and I still hurt," said Denton.
Now, thousands of pages of court documents reviewed by The Associated Press, along with extensive interviews, tell a story of systemic abuse dating from the 1950s to as recently as 2013. They show a pattern of repeated collusion by predator priests, with abuse that spanned generations and reached all the way to the very top of the church hierarchy.
Restrictions on suing the church were eased only after Apuron was suspended. Since then at least 223 lawsuits have been filed alleging abuse by 35 clergymen, teachers and Boy Scout leaders tied to the Catholic Church. In response, the Guam archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, estimating at least $45 million in liabilities, and survivors have until Aug. 15 to file for a financial settlement.
Despite church law that requires bishops and archbishops to maintain records on sex abuse allegations, the new archbishop, Michael Jude Byrnes, said his predecessor left him nothing. Byrnes couldn’t explain why, except to say he had heard there was “a big bonfire” outside the chancery before Apuron left.
Even before Apuron, survivors — and a frequent abuser — reported sexual assaults to the church, only to have their cases ignored. In his three decades on the island, Brouillard appears to have been Guam’s most frequent abuser, with at least 132 accusers — both men and women — coming forward over the last four years. Multiple survivors recount other priests and adults present during the abuse, including on Boy Scout excursions organized by Brouillard. He also volunteered as a swimming instructor, they say, filming boys nude and sexually assaulting them at a jungle swimming hole.
Brothers Ramon and Tomas De Plata are among 15 men who have filed lawsuits accusing Cruz, now dead, of sexual assaults. Ramon says his family complained to the village commissioner but heard nothing. “He was a natural,” remembers Denton, who dreamed of becoming a priest too. “I guess you could say I literally worshipped the ground he walked on.”
Mercy sexualabuse
Why does Guam need an archbishop? It’s a small island. Should only rate a Bishop Co-Adjutor.
So sad. Child sexual abuse is one of the most evil of crimes. The pain reverberates forever.
Why is there still such a thing as priests ? If they can't hack it anymore maybe there should be a position created where they don't have to be celibate but still be respected ?
Very sorry to hear him hurting so much 😔
I'm glad the church kicked him out, but this guy deserves prison time for his atrocities.
That F uncle needs to pay the price in a worst possible way
There can be no correlation between being a Pastor and rape. This is discrimination. Have you ever read Foucault? In order to defile sexuality; the category of sexual crimes was invented. Like this, you use the name of the priest in this common crime to defile the Christian image
Sad
Statue of limitations is over so guess a poor me post. You had decades to get it done.
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