Vatican reaches decision in Guam sex abuse case
Verdict not yet known for accused priest
HAGÅTÑA, GUAM A decision has been reached in Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron’s Vatican trial, Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes said Monday, but it is still awaiting the judges’ signatures.
Tony Diaz, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Agana, said the decision — known as a sentence — has three elements. The first is the specific charge, the second is the specific verdict — guilty, not guilty or not proven — and the third is the penalty.
Diaz said Byrnes has only been notified that there is a decision, but he does not know the specific charges, the verdict or the penalty, if any.
Diaz said the Archdiocese will share whatever information they get from the Vatican as soon as they get it.
Former altar boys have accused Apuron of sexually abusing them in the 1970s. They have filed lawsuits against Apuron and the Archdiocese.
Days after former Agat altar boys started coming forward in May 2016, Apuron left Guam. The Vatican appointed a temporary apostolic administrator. Pope Francis later named Byrnes as a coadjutor archbishop, meaning he will succeed Apuron should Apuron resign, retire or be removed.
Apuron’s canonical trial started in late 2016.
Byrnes said the information he has about the trial came last week from the Vatican tribunal’s notary, Father Justin Wachs, who was on Guam in February along with tribunal head Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke to hear testimony from witnesses in the Apuron trial.
“Justin Wachs just last week, he says that the sentence has been determined but they have to send it out to the other judges for their signatures,” Byrnes said, adding that he does not know who the judges are.
Byrnes said he’s waiting for communication from the tribunal, when asked whether Apuron was found guilty.
“I’ve heard rumors, but I will know for sure when I hear from the tribunal itself,” Byrnes said during a question-and-answer in his monthly update to parishioners.
“It’s just a matter of the judges putting their John Hancock on a piece of paper,” Byrnes said.
Byrnes said he is as anxious and curious as anybody else to know the decision in the Apuron canonical trial.
Byrnes said after Apuron’s sentence has been released, there will be an “opportunity for an appeal.”
Byrnes said as far as he knows, Pope Francis’ recent decision to rename Cardinal Burke to the highest Vatican court, called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, is not connected to the Apuron trial.
“The appeal process would be from within the Congregation of Doctrine of the Faith. It would be primarily a review of the process,” he said, adding that in case of an appeal, the question is whether the process has been followed.
In the appeal process, he said there won’t be a retrial and no new evidence will be presented.
“Honestly, with Cardinal Burke at the helm, I’m sure they followed the process,” Byrnes added.
An expert in canon law, Burke previously headed the Signatura, which functions like a supreme court, for six years, from 2008 to 2014.
Byrnes said he still believes it would be a disaster if Apuron were to return to Guam as archbishop. Byrnes has previously said church management, policies and finances were in disarray under Apuron.
After Apuron left, the archdiocese started acknowledging the clergy sex abuse accusations and extended prayers to those who brought claims against the clergy.
Apuron is one of three bishops in the Marianas accused of clergy sex abuse, along with now deceased Guam Archbishop Felixberto C. Flores and retired Saipan Bishop Tomas A. Camacho.
As of last week, 125 clergy sex abuse cases had been filed against the archdiocese, its clergy and others associated with the Catholic church.
Parties in these cases, except for Apuron, have been pursuing mediation.