Guam- Victims blast archbishop: Come clean about priest

For immediate release: Thursday, August 07, 2014

For more information: David Clohessy (314-566-9790, [email protected]) 

Victims blast archbishop: Come clean about priest

He knew about banned cleric, sex abuse allegations

LA lawyers even called and warned him, but 

Archbishop told San Francisco cleric had "good standing" 

Come clean, protect kids, SNAP says

Victims of child sex abuse are asking why the Guam Archbishop ignored warnings about a predator priest and kept the priest in active and prominent ministry. They are also demanding direct action to prevent future abuse and cover-ups.

Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), the nation's largest support group for men and women abused in religious and institutional settings, are questioning why Hagatna Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron allowed Fr. John H. Wadeson to remain in ministry after allegations of sex abuse against him became well known. 

According to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Wadeson has been accused of abuse by two children in the 1970 and has been banned from acting as a priest there.

Michael Hennigan, attorney for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said in a recent interview that the archdiocese called Apuron's offices in 2011 to warn them about Wadeson and his past. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/priest-guam-removed-la-allegations-24722938

Despite this, Apuron gave Wadeson a recommendation to work in San Francisco, which was revoked when Apuron removed Wadeson from ministry and the allegations against Wadeson made the national news. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/priest-guam-removed-la-allegations-24722938

Members of SNAP are blasting Apuron's reckless behavior and demanding concrete action. 

"How can Apuron claim to be a good and pastoral shepherd to his flock when he knowingly allowed a known predator to have a position of great power?" said Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach, SNAP Volunteer Western Regional Director. "How many warnings does Apuron need before he takes any action to protect children? It seems he only responds to embarrassment." 

The group says that Apuron must release the names of all accused clerics who have worked in the Archdiocese, turn over priest files to police and prosecutors, and reach out to all parishes, urging victims to report abuse to the police, not the archdiocese. 

Wadeson's current whereabouts are unknown.  

"Apuron also needs to take responsibility for cutting Wadeson loose. We have no idea where Wadeson is and communities can't be warned. Instead of using the pulpit to minimize Wadeson's crimes, Apuron needs to use it to promote public safety and protect children." 

The Wadeson issue is only one of many current scandals in the Hagatna Archdiocese. Lay leaders recently held a press conference to dispute claims of financial mismanagement http://www.guampdn.com/article/20140807/NEWS01/308070001/Archbishop-absolutely-wrong- and Guam Governor Eddie Calvo is criticizing Apuron for not allowing Catholic Masses at veterans' funerals http://www.junglewatch.info/2014/08/even-governor-calvo-is-waiting-for.html.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org) 

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434 cell, [email protected])