I believe the Archdiocese is looking for grounds to have the Supreme Court declare the law inorganic. If the law is struck down, then the parishes are safe. No parish need to be closed down and put up for sale as they have done in Boston. According to the Pacific Daily News:
The Archdiocese of Agana, which faces 13 lawsuits in connection with alleged child sexual abuse, has asked the Legislature for background information about the recent law that lifted the statute of limitations and made it possible to sue the church.
Among other things, church legal counsel John Terlaje on Dec. 12 asked Sen. Frank Aguon Jr. for all documents analyzing the constitutionality or legality of Bill 326-33, as well as all opinions of the Legislature's attorney, regarding the bill. Terlaje submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to Aguon, who on Tuesday raised concerns about the request.
Aguon's Judiciary Committee worked on the bill, which was introduced by Sen. Frank Blas, Jr. It lifted the statute of limitations on civil cases related to child sexual abuse, allowing victims to sue their abusers and the institutions that supported them.
Aguon said the legislative counsel's opinions on the bill are confidential under attorney-client privilege.
Gov. Eddie Calvo, who signed the bill into law on Sept. 23, at the time also questioned whether the bill is flawed.
“I recognize that Bill 326 has several legal and technical concerns. A major concern is over the bill’s retroactive application of the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases,” Calvo wrote in September. “Whether such retrospect will pass constitutional muster is unclear. Despite these questions, today I will err on the side of the aggrieved. If I am wrong, then the courts will tell me so."
In a 13-0 vote this past September, lawmakers passed the measure, which was the center of an island-wide debate. Prior to Calvo signing it, the church and several of its supporters lobbied against the measure becoming a law, saying lawsuits could cripple the church financially and impact its ability to function.
They all have been sued by former altar boys, who allege they were molested or raped decades ago.
"No parish need to be closed down and put up for sale as they have done in Boston."
ReplyDeletePlease be honest. Your concern is not the parishes. It is the Yona hotel site.
Dear Anonymous at 11:22 am,
DeleteI am honest. I would not want MY parish close down.
No parish will close down.
DeleteHowever, we the church have a responsibility to each victim in helping on a path to healing .
Tell Tim rohr his Concern of the yona hotel site.like Tim said a easily 40 Million??? At 12:22 am,
DeleteAnon 12:38 am, do you know what you are talking about? Shark lawyers on the mainland are interviewing hundreds and hundreds of mainland Chamorros right now as you read this! They are ready to recruit them to file hundreds and hundreds of lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Agana. The limit is the blue sky above you!
DeleteThe only thing these shark lawyers are waiting for is the outcome of constitutional scrutiny of Bill 326-33. If the Court says the bill does not violate the Organic Act then these lawyers will make their moves quickly. Their army of looters will inundate the courts of Guam. It is crucial for the survival of the Catholic faith on Guam to strike down this anti-Catholic bill a.s.a.p.
The Pentecostal Church, for one, loves to score against Catholics whenever it is possible. They are filthy rich in the mainland, they operate huge broadcasting networks all around the U.S. They are already eyeing the Agana Cathedral as their desired loot. As soon as the Archdiocese declares bankruptcy they will buy out the Cathedral for the Pentecostals to use for their services in the heart of Agana.
Gov. Calvo did not sign this bill by his own will. He did not like this bill at all! It was forced on him by the Rohr commando! All Gov. Calvo could do was to point out how big unconstitutional garbage heap is this bill, that he had to sign into law.
ReplyDeleteWhy, what did you expect? Garbage only produces even more garbage. It is the garbage at JW, CCOG and LFM that penetrated law making through corrupt politicians like Frank Blas, Rory Respicio and all the others who supported this garbage bill. I just hope the bill will have its full round and end up in its proper place in the garbage bin! Lol.
Then why did he sign it??? How was he forced? He could have just let it be passed by no action or just veto it.
DeleteThe Jungle threaten to take election votes, that why he sign it???
DeleteThe Rohr-Klitzkie prayer commando threatened to paint him as a supporter of pedophilia if he does not comply. Typical blackmailing strategy of corrupt politicians.
DeleteAnonymous at 4:08AM--
DeleteWhat votes? He wasn't even running...and can't run for Gov again.
We stand with Abp Byrnes in overturning Bill 326!
ReplyDeleteYou stand by the institutions that protect and his these pedophiles? You are no better than the abusers then.
DeleteDear Anonymous at 8:16 am,
DeleteI stand by the Catholic Church. I do not stand by the pedophiles. One reason why you saw little opposition to the bill is because of the uncalled "labeling" on those who oppose the bill. I oppose the bill simply because it is an unfair bill.
Anon 8:12 pm, what you say is foolish. Go to school, please, and get some decent education! Nobody is responsible for what happened before this person was born. You only want to squeeze money from the Catholic Church out of greed, greed and even more greed. Now we know who you truly are!
DeleteAnon 8:16am:
DeleteJust because one stands against this bill doesn't mean they support child sex abuse. Give me an example of a group of sane people who would support the abuse, let alone the sexual abuse of a child. It doesn't make sense. Does it?
Of course, I meant Anon 8:16 am, not Anon 8:12 pm.
DeleteThis is another blatant lie the church and several of its supporters lobbied against the measure becoming a law, from NCW, Where were you during the discussion of this Bill. Nowhere!
ReplyDeleteZoltan said the public hearing was a scam. He was there and testified against Bill 326. He was personally attacked by chair Frank Blas Aguon for criticizing the sloppiness of the bill. By the way, how did the bill end up in the Military Relocation Committee of Aguon??
DeleteThe author of the current bill was Bob Klitzkie and not Frank Blas. His draft included corporation soles as targets. Bill 326 as introduced was from Frank Blas, but Bill 326 as amended was from Bob Klitzkie who dictated the exact wording of the bill to the Senators from the audience!
Tim is saying that Byrnes isn't aware of John Terlaje's FOIA requests. That's ridiculous and an insult to Byrnes. Terlaje used the Archdiocesan letterhead.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 8:17 am,
DeleteTim Rohr is in denial. Reality will hit him very hard.
JW is scared because they know the bill is NOT constitutional! Once the facts are coming out, it will be struck down in no time.
DeleteGovernor just vetoed the reduction of pay for senators saying that if he does so it would open up a pandora's box that would affect the competitive wage salaries implemented for other government employees.
ReplyDeleteSo it's ok to open a pandora's box for one issue and not ok for another.
Great job with the double standard.