"God is my witness; I am innocent and I look forward to proving my innocence in the appeals process" - those words from suspended Archbishop Anthony Apuron in a statement to the press mere hours after a papal bulletin announced a guilty verdict for certain accusations against him.
Though it's never specified, Apuron maintains his canonical trial, in part, cleared his name. His civil attorney, Jacque Terlaje, confirming this with KUAM, as well, saying, "First of all, I want to reiterate that Archbishop Anthony was actually acquitted of the majority of the charges against him. I think this is an important fact that has been underplayed by many of the media outlets that are out there."
Suspended since June 2016 as archbishop, the papal bulletin states he is to be stripped of his title and removed from the local Archdiocese as a result of the Vatican verdict. That is, unless he appeals the sentence, which he has.
"There is an appellate process in place," Terlaje reinforced. "And he has already appealed the finding of guilt."
No word on how long that appeals process would take - but Attorney Terlaje expressing she's disappointed in the local Archdiocese for jumping to condemn their former shepherd. "I was a bit disheartened and disturbed by Coadjutor (Michael) Byrnes' statement," she stated. "To publicly condemn Archbishop Anthony without having the full information, for me, it's an unjust condemnation of him."
Archbishop Byrnes would have shown a better example had he said to pray for everyone including Archbishop Apuron. Healing begins with forgiveness, not condemnation.
"We don't know today which of the accusations Archbishop Anthony was found guilty of."
Attorney Terlaje reiterates - she's only Apuron's civil attorney. In Rome, he has canon lawyers working for him. "I don't even know what the grounds of appeal are. I'm not a canon lawyer, so I can't even tell you what Archbishop Anthony has the ability to appeal on," Terlaje said. "His canon lawyers are the ones handling that entire process, and this is the nature of the Vatican process as well - that we don't have information,"
Apuron hasn't been home since 2016, when the first allegations of clergy sexual abuse were made against him. Since then, we've only heard from him via video and e-mailed statements to Guam media.
In January, he reacted to his most recent accuser, his nephew Mark Apuron, who alleges his uncle raped him. Again, Apuron maintained his innocence, but also disclosed his deteriorating health, stating, "As I lay sick after another surgery and I face the final judgment approaching evermore close, having lost interest in this world, God is my witness: I deny all allegations of sexual abuse made against me, including this last one." In February, he was spotted in Rome amongst other priests, sitting in a wheelchair.
His last sighting prior was over a year ago, in Fairfield, California, after the plaintiffs' attorney sent private investigators to locate him. He was seen answering the door for investigators who faked a story about a missing dog.
Far from home, Attorney Terlaje reported he's never been far from heart and continues to pray for the local church, saying, "Archbishop Anthony has been consistently praying for the people of Guam. He has been consistently asserting his innocence. And he has been praying that this suffering, this problem this hurt that we have on this island is healed."
To each of his accusers, Apuron maintains it is he who is victim, stating, "As the Church in Guam is being destroyed by people who have only their power agenda at heart, may God have mercy on us all and save His Church from the powers of darkness. I pray that the truth may prevail; I pray for my accusers: fill them with what they desire; as for me, when I awake, I will be satisfied with Your face, oh Lord. (Ps. 17, 15)"
Arcbhishop Apuron showed the better example as a shepherd and a man of God, praying for his accusers.
Even with a Vatican verdict, Attorney Terlaje says it doesn't mean much for the civil lawsuits he faces here at home. "The reality of the situation...is that this particular verdict doesn't necessarily have a very big impact on the civil case," she said.
Brothers and sisters, continue to pray for our persecutors, Archbishop Apuron, and Coadjutor Archbishop Byrnes.
Diana, has the verdict affected your community in a negative way? In my community, it has hurt us a little, but it hasn’t affected our walk. I mean, the brothers in my community are still walking. I thought many would leave the community after the verdict, but we had a full Eucharist on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteDear Jane Doe,
DeleteI am glad to hear that Despite the verdict, the brothers are still walking. It is the same in my community. Christ carries our pain and suffering so that it does not really hurt us as some people think. The brothers and sisters in our communities are still walking.
I admit that I am disappointed that the Vatican did not reveal what the Archbishop was guilty of. However, I am very happy and relieved that he was acquitted of a majority of the sexual allegations. That is what we rejoice in. Also, most of us are talking about the Rome pilgrimage. We are excited to see the Pope! 😊 There are about 300 people from the communities who will be attending the pilgrimage. Imagine that! 300 people. I hope we can get front seating when we see the Pope. 😀
When the guilty verdict was announce, they expected that it would destroy the NCW, but it didn't. Our Lord Jesus Christ has been holding us up in this persecution.
DeleteThe brothers do not care about the tribunal who was not able to defend the Archbishop. It was not the tribunal who appointed Anthony Apuron OMF Cap. to lead Guam Catholics! It was the Pope. Byrnes should know this! He is never the Archbishop of Agana, but a Coadj. Is he not appointed a Coadj?!
DeleteSuspensive Effect of Appeal Canon 1638 — An appeal suspends the execution of the sentence.
ReplyDeleteIt is incredible that Msgr. Byrnes signs himself as archbishop of Agana. Because he remains coadjutor until the final sentence. I remain appalled that an archbishop does not know this and does not have the least prudence and delicacy towards a confrere bishop.
Then he made serious statements, he spoke of a "post apuron era", without knowing the sentence and again on the slope of an appeal.
In Italy it would be severely censored by the episcopal conference and the Catholic press.
I pray for the church of guam ncw and not ncw, the road taken is not for reconciliation, but for revenge, hatred and power. What a scandal.
I believe and think that Archbishop Byrnes knows more than all of us put together. If he signed his name as Archbishop and not Co-adjutor, he knows what he is doing and must have authorization from the Holy See.
DeleteGod is Still Speaking
Dear Anonymous at 7:43 am,
DeleteActually, what he call "procedural" are rules established by the Vatican, whom he is clearly going against. It was the Vatican who stated that during an Appeals, the sentence would be suspended.
Yup. Seems that the Coadjutor Bishop can't follow simple Vatican procedures.
DeleteDiana at 8:02 AM it's my understanding that the intention of Archbishop Apuron to file an appeal doesn't mean that the appeal is ongoing and therefore suspends the sentence. Just because Ms. Jacque Terlaje says that he will appeal doesn't mean that the Vatican will approve the appeal process.
DeleteJust like in local court cases, the intention of a guilty person to appeal doesn't always result in the Court hearing the appeal.
Like it or not, as long as there is no news from the Vatican that the appeal has been approved then Archbishop Byrnes has every right to drop the "Coadjutor" from his title.
Dear Anonymous at 5:10 pm,
DeleteThe INTENTION to file an appeal??? The appeal was already filed.
Post Apuron era? Really?! I don't think so!
DeleteArchbishop Apuron is here on Guam and he will remain here forever. He is every stone he moved for the Catholic faithful, for the beloved brothers who honor him as Archbishop appointed by the Pope and not the tribunal. Byrnes never appointed Apuron! Who is Byrnes, really?
Apuron is in the Guam laws of protecting of the unborn babies, in his stance against the same sex and on top against all kinds of gambling! Is this not what he did for Guam as our Catholic leader? Maybe this is so painful for the real estate profiteers led by Rohr and CCOG who take Guam politics hostage to serving Mammon who is not our God, but money! You cannot serve both God and Mammon!
I don't see the discernment in Byrnes who pushed for announcing the guilty verdict. What is it? Is he not respecting the due process? For his information everybody is entitled to due process. Even he would be entitled in similar situation. So why doesn't he show respect?
Coadj. Byrnes should have followed Vatican! What was he thinking? Is he for destroying the past of the church or building the future? He is preoccupied with the former, so he will fail with the latter! I am so sorry that Byrnes listened to the adversary. We all know where is the wind blowing from.
DeleteSomeone with a big mouth pretends to blow a 'fiery' wind. Are we afraid, brothers? Nope? Fake wind is blown from a fake corner! Haha! The brothers are laughing him off, aren't we? What a fool, you don't truly know where the wind is coming from and where is it going to. It is so futile to blow it bigger and bigger! In the end, we surely remain but your big mouth may blow up! Hear ya', Rohr?!
Dear anonymous at 5:10
DeleteWe real never know when the appeal starts because like it is the appeal is not announced and when it starts the archbishop is already appealing the decision for by gone it could be starting right now so archbishop is still the archbishop and Byrnes is still the co-adjutor
Put it this way, the Vatican never came out and officially declared Archbishop Byrnes the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Agana. Instead, he made the declaration himself. Sounds to me like a lust for power. How shameful. 😔
DeleteDiana, it is more than just lust, it is already a hungry grab of power and title! Who has the right to be called the number one person in the Archdiocese? Is it the co-adjutor? No way! Why would a co-adjutor be the number one person? Many the number two, but never the number one!
DeleteIt is about pride, rank and love a of title to deprive the rightful owner of his title of being the Archbishop of Agana without due process! It is more than shameful, it is an outrage! It is a persecution of the innocent in face of suffering. It is a persecution of everyone who believe in the one beloved Archbishop we have.
Apuron is gone... this sentence buries him in appeal processes, probably until he dies. Now the burden of the proof lies on him to prove his innocence. Byrnes has made it clear that he will side with the island's political powers, a powerful minority as they are. So the burden of his appeasement policies fall on those who sincerely are following Christ... not mammon. Time will tell whether Byrnes had any discernment at all. The most consoling fact is that the history of the saints in the Catholic Church were all persecuted, calumniated, slandered... not by secular forces... but by the Church itself. (think: St. Francis, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Gerard Magella, Christ himself.)
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 4:28 am,
DeleteThe NCW also stands beside Archbishop Apuron in his persecution for the NCW is also hated by those same political powers. The Jesuits were also persecuted by the church.
...don't forget Padre Pio de Petrelcina.
DeleteYes, there are many saints who suffered persecution. Let's not get carried away with putting Archbishop Apuron in the company of saints. We continue to pray for him and all Catholics on Guam for healing. With God, everything is possible in accordance with God's will. Peace.
DeleteSo Archbishop Apuron is gone...? Really?! In you dreams. The brothers will keep him alive on Guam in his achievements. It is not the achievement of Coadj. Byrnes! What is his achievement, anyway? The collapsing of the Catholic Church?! I am amused by you assumption.
DeleteArchbishop Apuron did something for this island for our Catholic brothers. He has a record to keep? You'll never expunge his name from the list. He will be in every stone of every church building to tell the brothers the direction. Even if he is currently not on island. Byrnes will be only in the stones that are being sold. You cannot serve both God and Mammon! You have to make a choice, brother!
Mother Theresa, Saint Bakhita in all.
ReplyDeleteLuis L. Carino -=======> Espana
The trials before the Ecclesial Court become DEFINITIVE after 15 (fifteen) days from the sentence, IF THERE IS NO APPEAL. In any case, the coadjutor did not have and does not have the right to attribute himself the title of archbishop TITULAR of Guam.
ReplyDeletePray for Apuron and Byrnes!
Byrnes is not allowing due process. He is depriving the right that is for everyone. Even he would have a right for due process when he fails or accused like Archbishop Apuron. In the time being the wicked prevails and anyone, I repeat anyone can be accused by anything. Terrible times. Does Byrnes have a sense of shame? What did he do to his fellow Archbishop?! We are called to be brothers and not adversaries.
DeleteI see that the website of your diocese has already canceled Monsignor Apuron, in reality it is still your archbishop. Antony Sablan Apuron, archbishop of Agana, is not for "procedural" reasons, but in accordance with the law and the jurisprudence of the Holy Roman Church. Dear brothers, I imagine how much pain you are feeling, for being marginalized, vilified and even slandered by your pastors. Many brothers all over the world pray for you and for your pastors. I wish you with all my heart that in your diocese may return harmony and peace, I would think of a song of the neocatechumenal path that is called "The same God" and says: "Carrying always in our bodies the death of Jesus so that in us may be shown his resurrection".Is the only spirit with which you can deal with this situation. Peace to you all and may the Lord always accompany you and your children, who may also receive a serious initiation into the faith. Sorry for my english. Happy Easter of the Lord!
ReplyDeleteWe have been restricted and now, yes, we are vilified! But we won't allow them to marginalize us. We are strong. Our communities and not shaken. We believe in the Archbishop! He has a right to due process. Byrnes cannot do nothing, but insulting everyone to steal his title. This makes us bold and strong in our faith in Christ. The brothers keep the Spirit of the Lord alive in the darkness of arrogant boasting and persecution against the innocent.
DeleteDiana, out of curiosity, how do we know "... that Archbishop Anthony was actually acquitted of the majority of the charges against him."? I don't see that in the Vatican statement. Attorney Terlaje states "We don't know today which of the accusations Archbishop Anthony was found guilty of." It seems not even the Archbishop knows if most of the charges were guilty or if most of the charges are not guilty.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to make sense of all this but it doesn't make sense to me. All we can tell is that he was guilty of something that removed him from office and exiled him from his native place.
According to news report:
DeleteThe CDF did not state the charges for which the archbishop was found guilty. Sources close to the case told CNA that the archbishop was found guilty of a minority of the allegations leveled against him.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/guilty-verdict-for-guam-archbishop-98546
The person who revealed this to the news is someone close to the case. However, the person did not reveal what the charges were.