Vatican permanently removes Apuron as Guam archbishop, upholds child sex abuse conviction
The Vatican permanently removed Anthony S. Apuron as Guam's archbishop, stripped him of his title as bishop, and banned him from ever returning to the Archdiocese of Agana for sexual abuse of minors.
Rome on Thursday announced that a tribunal upheld the guilty verdict on Apuron, 73.
The Tribunal of Second Instance's decision was made on Feb. 7, 2019, and is considered final.
"This decision represents the definitive conclusion in this case. No further appeals are possible," the Vatican said.
Apuron: I'm deeply saddened
Apuron, in a statement, maintains his innocence and likens his exile from Guam to a "death sentence" for him.
"I am deeply saddened by the decision of the Holy Father to confirm the decision of the court of first instance," Apuron said in a statement emailed Thursday night by his counsel, Jacqueline Terlaje.
Apuron led Guam's Catholic Church for some 30 years before he was suspended in 2016 after former Agat altar boys came forward, saying Apuron raped or abused them when they were minors. More of his victims, including his own nephew, came forward later.
He appealed the conviction in 2018. The appeal has been concluded, the Vatican said.
"I totally submit to the judgment of the Holy Father as I thank him for allowing me to continue serving as a priest and archbishop without insignia. This sentence exiles me from my beloved Guam: a penalty analogous to a death sentence for me. I lose my homeland, my family, my church, my people, even my language, and I remain alone in complete humiliation, old and in fai...
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director