REPOST: MARTIN HENRY ROHR - A FATHER'S DAY REMEMBRANCE

Today, while searching for something else online, I came across this article I wrote in 2021 about my Dad for Father's Day. I'd like to think my finding it just now is a message from my Dad - or about him - since I wasn't looking for it, forgot I had ever written it, and it's Father's Day. The story was published in the Pacific Daily News on June 20, 2021.

Martin Henry Rohr had a tough Ohio upbringing

Dad was a big strong man with a big strong name: Martin Henry Rohr. He was born in the 1930s during the Great Depression and grew up in what was already a hundred-year-old farmhouse outside of Massillon, Ohio, on what is still called "Mudbrook Road." 

Martin Henry was the 10th of 14 children born to Elmer Rohr, a veteran of WW1, and Helen Lindberger. ... The Ohio Rohrs were farmers who carved their life out of the tough Ohio climate, a life that hammered my Dad into a tough, massive man at an early age.

During the Korean War, Dad joined the Navy. And while stationed in San Diego, Dad met a Mexican señorita through a Navy buddy who was my mom’s first cousin. Eight children were born of this union, starting with me.

It was not an easy life. One of my earliest memories of Dad is seeing him trudging into our flooded backyard in pouring rain with a bicycle on his shoulder. Dad couldn’t afford a car so he rode a bicycle to work, and that day his bike had a flat tire.

I never knew we were poor then. Mom and Dad never talked about it. They worked and worked and worked. Dad was a milkman, a paperboy, a lineman, a ditch digger, and finally a “rod buster” - the equivalent of a human mule who carries rebar on rough and bloodied shoulders down into a ditch or onto a bridge deck.

Today, most of the freeways in and around Los Angeles are stained with Dad’s blood and sweat — and pieces of his shoulders. 

In memory of Dad’s brother, Albert, who was killed in 1934 when he fell down the cellar stairway, Dad named his second son after him. Albert, my brother, was killed in 1989 when he fell down a different stairway in Irvine, California. Dad never got over it.

Martin Henry Rohr died in February 2014. He left his body to science and there is no grave to mourn at. I believe he wanted it that way. But I don’t need a grave to mourn at. I only need to look at your picture.

Requiem Aeternam (Eternal Rest), Dad.

Your firstborn, Tim 

HOW TO HANDLE FALSE ALLEGATIONS - PART 1

LINK to online version

On Father’s Day 2014, this paper ran a feature titled “The Ultimate Father.” The article was subtitled: “Tim Rohr knows the definition of the word ‘father’ very well. He is the father of 11 children.” The article featured a big picture of my wife and I with our 11 children.

Four years later, in May 2018, I was smeared for an entire week in local headlines as a wife beater and a sexual molester of my own children.

The allegations were false, and according to credible estimates, such allegations against men in particular are false 55% of the time. But I couldn’t rely on estimates. I had to prove those allegations false or lose everything.

So how does a husband and a father defend himself against those kinds of allegations coming from his own family? And just as important, how does a man, a husband and father, recover from the angst and despair wrought by such a malignant situation?

I’ve been hesitant over the years to share any of my personal story relative to this drama for two reasons: 1) I didn’t (and still don’t) want to hurt any of my children by dragging any of this into the present; and 2) I wanted (and still want) to leave my door open for reconciliation. So other than the foregoing, I will be reserved about further details.

However, because my aim in this series of columns is to give some hope to other husbands and fathers (and even wives and mothers), who may find themselves in similarly desperate straits, it is necessary to describe the “pit” I found myself in in 2018 so I can share how I clawed my way out of it, and how, if you find yourself in the same pit, you can too.

Why and how those things happened to me at that time is not unrelated to my role in exposing the largest clergy sex abuse conspiracy and scandal per capita in the whole Catholic world. In order for the “bad guys” to “save Apuron,” it was critical that I be “taken out” before Apuron was taken down.

But I digress. I’ll get to that story another time.

So back to the point: what to do if you find yourself falsely accused of abuse by your spouse or even your children - and I should add: formally accused in a legal proceeding.

I suppose there is no shortcut through the grief, so the first thing to do is to just suffer it. Your grief will probably go through the well-known Kubler-Ross pattern of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

You don’t have to get to “acceptance” before taking the next step though. In fact, this pattern of grief can repeat many times. And there is never any predicting when that “jab of red-hot memory” - as C.S. Lewis described it - is going to erupt out of your heart and into your throat. So just accept it. Cry as much as you need.

Ultimately, though, especially if you find yourself in court, you must get your wits about you because it is very likely if you have been thus accused - falsely accused - that your accuser is hoping you will break before you can turn the tables. The idea is to accuse you of violence to make you react violently so your accuser can say “See, Your Honor. There he goes again!”

The next thing to do is get an attorney, especially if the other party has already initiated legal action. Due to court rules which set out timelines, you will need to immediately file whatever you need to file to initially protect yourself.

However, and this is a big “however,” do not - I repeat - do not leave it to your attorney to see to your interests. You must - I repeat - you must educate yourself as if you are your own attorney, at least on the procedural basics.

The failure of one of my attorneys (I had six - not including myself) to file a reply to the most damning of the allegations left the court no option but to take my children away from me - a situation that persisted for five terrible years and caused untold damage to those children.

The problem was that I didn’t even know - at the time - that I could have replied, and that had I replied, I might have put a quick end to that traumatic mess. But because I left my interests to “the professionals,” I lost my children.

More next time.

Note: For the readers of this blog, I share more details and resources at a link in the side bar: "Keep Breathing."

Tim Rohr has resided in Guam since 1987. He has raised a family of 11 children, owned several businesses, and is active in local issues via his blog, JungleWatch.info, letters to local publications, and occasional public appearances. He may be contacted at timrohr.guam@gmail.com    

TOO MANY OF US GAVE UP TOO MUCH TO JUST LOOK AWAY

By Tim Rohr

November 2, 2022. Bishop Ryan Jimenez of Chalan Kanoa, Saipan

joins an interview with Fr. Jason Granado about the work of the

Neocatechumenal Way in his then-diocese.

LINK

In DEJA VU, ALL OVER AGAIN, Frenchie refers to the documents prohibiting the formation of new Neocatechumenal Way communities - all of which are still in effect. For your reference, here are the documents with the relevant passages:

March 15, 2017, Prot. No. 2017-074, Archbishop Byrnes

"In the conversation with Pope Francis last October, he appealed to me in a particular way to do what I can to bring some healing to the divisions existing in the Archdiocese of Agana. While I have been on island only two months, hardly a day goes by when that same appeal comes to me from you. From listening to many of you I realize that a number of factors have contributed toward the divisions. I cannot deal with them all at once hence what I outline below represents a beginning…First of all, I have asked the lead catechists here in Guam to put a “pause” on the formation of new communities for a period of about a year.”

March 15, 2017, Prot. 2017-075, Archbishop Byrnes

"In the context of the pastoral charge entrusted me by the Holy Father, I present the following actions…First of all, I have asked the lead catechists here in Guam to put a “pause” on the formation of new communities for a period of about a year.”

NOTE: Because the original directive put the length of the pause "for about a year," the Neocats, specifically the Atienza's, took it upon themselves to lift the pause after "about a year," without consulting the archbishop, thus necessitating the next two documents:

August 18, 2021, Prot. No. 2021-064, Office of the Episcopal Vicar to Dr. Davide and Mrs. Maruxa Atienza

“It has come to the attention o the Archbishop the NCW has begun the work of pursuing the formation of new communities…In many of the meetings, the Archbishop has had with you, he has stressed his unwillingness to allow for new communities of the NCW to be formed. The pause dated March 15, 2017, he placed on the formation of new communities, remains in effect today.”

March, 27, 2023, MEMORANDUM, From Vicar General to Clergy, Religious, Neocatechumenal communities, School Administrators,Catholic groups and ministries

"On March 15 2017, Archbishop Michael Byrnes instructed the lead catechists of the Neocatechumenal Way in Guam to put a “pause” on the formation of new communities…let it be clear that the moratorium on the formation of new communities of the Neocatechumenal Way remains in effect unless otherwise instructed. All must abide by the directive.”

THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER DIRECTIVES, THUS THE PAUSE REMAINS IN PLACE. Nevertheless, the NCW continues to recruit local parishioners and even some pastors.

The real issue

Recently Anonymous left this comment: "What is your problem with the NCW? Pure hate against the fruits of the Holy Spirit."

Another Anonymous answered: "Liturgical abuse, doctrinal deformations, a parallel and superseding heirarchy of catechists, fraudulent convenance of Archdiocesan property, cult-like manipulation during the Scrutinies...just to get started."

While all of the above reasons are glaringly valid, the real issue is absolute and persistent "disobedience" to proper Catholic Church authorities as evidenced by the foregoing. However, I put "disobedience" in quotes because it's actually not disobedience. How is that?

The real issue is that the NCW does not recognize legitimate Catholic Church authority which is the clearest evidence that the NCW is in fact not Catholic but a parallel church with its own magisterium and authority, and to which it is singularly obedient. This is why it has been called out as a heresy by those courageous enough to do it. 

SEE: BISHOP ATHANASIUS SCHNEIDER: THE DOCTRINE OF KIKO ARGUELLO IS HERESY...A GRAVE ABUSE

Thus this is the litmus test for Archbishop Jimenez. If he doesn't handle this and handle it quickly, he will lose all authority and the archdiocese he now shepherds will descend into even deeper chaos than when he was appointed to it. 

It will be difficult for Jimenez. There is credible speculation that his rise from Filipino contract worker to the office of Bishop in Saipan was due in large part to the same forces that invaded Guam and protected Apuron. The idea was always for Saipan to be a fallback should Guam fail. 

At this point, we have only credible speculation that Jimenez owes his rise to the Neocrats (notice "Neocrats" v Neocats - emphasizing the Neocat brass), and we don't intend to investigate because we won't have to. Jimenez' action or inaction, and in very short order, will tell us who he is. 

Too many of us gave up too much to just look away.

DEJA VU, ALL OVER AGAIN

 Posted by Frenchie

For more than 3 decades the Neocatechumenal way, through its leaders, starting with Carmen and Kiko, soon to be coopted by the Genarrini brothers repeated ad nauseum that the Popes had endorsed their Sect within the Catholic Church.

Short of real endorsement they made claims over and over again that the Pope was supporting their gnostic movement despite evidence to the contrary. Many gullible people unfortunately fell for the con job and apparently continue to do so.

Here on this blog, and on many others who are aware of the Neos bait and switch tactics, people have laid bare the lies and the fake endorsements. This started with Pope John Paul II who in his zeal to endorse any movement related to the new evangelization, that was so dear to his heart, fell prey to their religious Ponzi scheme. Kiko and Carmen were relentless in getting photo ops and conferences where the Pope was present, in order to claim that his presence which they seeked at every turn, was in fact an endorsement.

It is also during John Paul II pontificate that the Neos, then in full expansion, were able to get permission to start their biggest bait and switch ever: the Redemptoris Seminaries. We on Guam were at the forefront of that money laundering system. While the efforts of several hundred faithful on our island led to the closing of said "seminary" and the uncovering of the many misdeeds of disgraced former Archbishop Apuron, despite the protection of Cardinal Filoni (aka the red Pope), the Neos never relented.

After Archbishop Hon discoveries, and his ultimate eye opening, we were granted a co Adjutor in the person of Archbishop Byrnes (who sadly left this world, after a long catastrophic illness, last week). It is to be noted that throughout his first years here, the Neos through their presbyters failed by design to recognize him as their Bishop, claiming Apuron was still their Boss despite the finding of the Vatican court and the ultimate confirmation of that Judgement by Pope Francis. Until finally Archbishop Byrnes was confirmed fully as Archbishop of Agana.

Following the decision by Archbishop Byrnes, which is still standing, to put the movement on strict restrictions in our Archdiocese, they went on acquiring a center in Asan, where they continue their separate services in total contradiction with the edict. Of course, this was allowed thanks to the lengthy illness of Archbishop Byrnes and the subsequent vacuum of power at the head of our Archdiocese, with the discreet approval of corrupt clergy members. But even as recently as this past Easter celebrations, the Chancery had given strict instructions to all Neo Presbyters to not celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass before 7.00pm. Guess what?... All parishes with Neo pastors celebrated the Easter Vigil as early as 5.00pm, in order to meet for their separate celebration of Easter at their own "center" in total and overt disobedience of Archbishop Jimenez decision.

It is obviously clear to all, but the blind and the stupid that the Way and its leaders on Island have absolutely no intention to follow the instructions of both Archbishop Byrnes, and Archbishop Jimenez.

While the Neos were checked by Pope Benedict after they tried to trick him to sign their so-called Statutes in 2012, (which they had claimed were authorized in 2008) during their yearly meeting with the Pope, in the audience hall of the Vatican, with thousands of Neos from around the world in attendance (one of these mega events they cherish, as a show of force). Unfortunately for Kiko and Carmen, Cardinal Arinze just prior to the Pope's signature uncovered the many irregularities, in the document prepared for approval, that were in contradiction with the 5 years of hard work his dicastery had done. The main effort was to try to reconcile the 13 volumes of the Catechism used by the Neocatechumenal Way, which needed numerous corrections and about 2000 references to parallel passages of the official Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Document was also supposed to give Special approval of the Neos most visible, controversial and distinctive ways of celebrating the Mass, which was not at all intended by the Vatican.

These four elements are very important if you wish to understand the heretical approach of the NCW.

• 1)Masses are celebrated in small groups corresponding to the different stages of advancement on the Catechetical journey. If in a parish for example there are 12 Neo communities, each at a different stage. There will be 12 Masses celebrated in separate places more or less at the same time, preferably on Saturday evening.
• 2) The surroundings and furnishings trace out the image of a banquet: a table with the participants seated around it. Even when the Neocatechumenals celebrate the Mass not in a parish hall, but in a church, they ignore the Altar. They put a table in the middle and seat around in a circle.
• 3) Each Biblical readings of the Mass are preceded by an extensive "monition" on the part of one or the other of the catechists who lead the community, and is followed especially after the Gospel, by "resonances" or personal reflections by a substantial number of those present. The priest's homily is added to the "resonances" without being distinguished from them.
• 4) Communion also takes place in a banquet form. The consecrated bred- a large unleavened loaf, 2/3 white flour and 1/3 whole wheat flour, prepared and baked according to detailed rules established by Kiko- is broken and distributed to those present, who remain in their places. After the distribution, it is eaten at the same time by all, including the presbyter. After that the priest goes from one person to the next with the Chalice of consecrated wine, which everyone drinks.

While there are many other peculiarities, these four are enough to understand how different in form and substance these "Masses" are from those celebrated according to the Catholic general liturgical rules.

This having been reestablished for the benefit of new readers, or simply those who have forgotten after 10 years of the Neos hiding in the shadows. Let's look at some of the latest events regarding the NCW on Guam, their strawmen and their strategy for a comeback.

Since the approved resignation of Archbishop Byrnes for health reasons, The NCW on Guam has had two approaches.

1. Ignoring the restrictions imposed by Byrnes, regarding new communities and meetings, yet not flaunting it, to avoid obvious questions from the rest of the faithful. In a way: passive resistance and continued progression, but undercover.
2. Engage in a campaign of reconstruction of their image for the general public, but also by wooing members of the clergy who for one reason or the other might feel overlooked or threatened by a possible new administration.

This pincer approach had several advantages. Strengthening their fragilized position, buying time to regroup, continue a discreet proselytization within the parishes. Put in place new figure heads that would appear more friendly and less threatening (a softer approach.) Gain new unsuspecting allies. Reassure the hardcore members that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

This was facilitated by the fact that the delegate to the NCW, deacon Martinez was feeling abandoned by his hierarchy and ended having health issues, which greatly curtailed his duties. This in turn allowed the NCW to take a lot of liberties at their new center in Asan, knowing full well there would be no reckoning, as well as creating a climate of arrogance and defiance on the part of the most vocal presbyters.

Upon the arrival of Archbishop Jimenez on August 15th, 2024, the local NCW and their handlers in New Jersey, had reasons to be optimistic. As the Bishop of Chalan Kanoa, Ryan Jimenez had a fairly amiable relation with the Neos on Saipan. While the Neos in the Northern Marianas are fairly active and have had a successful growth, without raising eyebrows, as they had originally done when they first landed in Guam in the 90s. Their history in Guam had revealed a very different and not so pleasant experience, and our new Archbishop found a very different and much more complex situation in his new Diocese. Scars were still very fresh, the damage done over 30 years of liturgical colonization by the hordes of Kiko and Carmen, under the leadership of the Putrid Pius could not be erased that easily. 

Yet, true to their form, the Neos kept pushing forward for a new reset. One of their charmers, the very dangerous Fr Prieto, was able to charm his ways into the immediate surrounding of the Archbishop who was very unaware of the potential of Boboboy. In the past Harold had been extremely successful in getting close to some of our weakest, and/or compromised priests to carry favors or exert influence through compromission.  Harold was also very successful in using his charms to sway the mind of some of our local social media mud rackers. In particular he somewhat won over the attention of Kandit News. He also was able to insert himself into the Right for life group in order to gain respectability.

None the less, the different personalities who had led the struggle against the NCW, took the time to share their concerns with our new leader. By the same token Dr Atienza and his spouse also got an opportunity to give their version of the situation. I think we can be reassured that the Archbishop is a lot less naive about the real situation of the Church in his Archdiocese and more realistic about the challenges facing him and our Church...

The NCW and their communication network.

Over the years, we have learned about the NCW communications, by trials and errors, not knowing how widespread and devious it could be

The communication is very well oiled and starts at the level of the communities. As soon as one decides to join an NCW community, this person will very slowly at first and then increasingly be exposed to one-on-one communication that follows extremely closely the so called NCW Catechism. People are paired with others in a loose but very intricate network of cohorts that follow to the letter their catechist, discuss themes and are encouraged at every step to reflect. Every outside situation is then explained through the prism of the NCW, through teaching and conversations. The role of the local responsible is extremely important in analyzing and identifying issues with the person and the group. Every outside situation is explained through that prism. People are given the why, the how and because.

This is all build around the community, the bond and dependency of the individual to the group is essential and ultimately gets very strong.

The next step is the communication with the outside. The projection of the image wanted to the outside world. There are several levels to this dimension. It is all related on how both Kiko and Carmen started their movement. Most of the wording, approach to the rationale is built around the image they decided to project.

One of the key pieces of that game on Guam is May Llanes aka Diana, who is the main actor of a local blog called "Neocatechumenal Way- An insider's view", which is picked up throughout the Neo blogosphere. Diana pushes forward the Neo narrative of the moment. Last month it was to rekindle the Apuron was a victim charade, meant to refurbish the image of the serial sexual abuser. Tim wrote extensively about that latest mental diarrhea, which was just the warming up of a 10-year-old tale.

But on the first week of June Diana was finally back flirting with her glory days, picking up one of the best Neo propaganda pieces of recent years, at least in Guam.

All local media from KUAM, the PDN, the Post, but also radio shows like the Ray Gibson Show, or Patti Arroyo (the niece of Msg Bibi) ran without checking with the story of newly minted Chamorro Priest in Rome, Fr Cody Merfalen, incardinated by the "1st American Pope"

Apparently, the story was leaked through some West Virginia paper, by the neo middlemen and picked up in unison by our local media, proud of the connection. Few of course understood that they were hoodwinked by the Neo Propaganda machine. The Vicar General on the Ray Gibson show, smelling a rat, was able to diplomatically skirt the issue and redirect the conversation. While the Archbishop on Patti Arroyo's show appeared lost for words. Later the chancery graced us with a general communique, but the Neos had their earned media hour, which was underlined by the Diana, Zenit News, and la Stampa all affiliated with Kiko and his ilk

. 

This was a typical Neo operation. Take a somewhat mundane issue: the incardination of 10 new priest in the Diocese of Rome, by its newly minted new Bishop (Leo XIV), and press the story like a lemon to get the most coverage possible. Which is exactly what they did.  Two weeks after the story of Apuron's victims dropping their civil suit, for the Neos it is like manna from the sky. And cherry on the cake to top it all, while the Pope celebrated all the communities falling under the "new evangelization" he granted an audience to Kiko, who was so elated he played his guitar for hours on end.

Diana could not be more pleased.

Of course the NCW will continue to publicize their mega meeting by region, or in Rome and Domus Galilae in Israel. 

Life goes on. The Neos will stick to their rehearsed mantra:

The Pope loves us.

We were sent by the Pope

Who are you to doubt the Pope?

Meanwhile it is rumored that Fr Merfalen is planning to visit the communities in late August, early September. Msg David Quitagua (the tall) has been spotted at the Airport, apparently bringing good news to Atienza, Eusebio and Jackie Terlaje from the East Coast where he is sheltered right now. It also has been revealed that since Krystoff has left for school, the NCW is lacking meeting areas for their growing communities, and that they are actively looking for new locations for their nonprofit located in Hawaii, with their tried-and-true approach of leasing with an option to buy. The black bags have been circulating relentlessly, and they are eyeing for property on the cheap, maybe even church property. This is something we warned they would do back in 2020.

As the old adage reminds us, the devil never sleeps.

KIKO IS WASTING NO TIME

 

SOMETIMES DOCTORS DON'T KNOW BEST

LINK to online version

Belle’s Law, aka “Guam’s old abortion ban,” (P.L. 20-134) is back in the news after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the Attorney General’s appeal of the Guam District Court’s decision to not lift the injunction on the ban which has been in place since 1990. 

The law has a rather frazzled history and maybe I’ll recount the whole mess in a future column, but for this column I am resurrecting the testimony of the late Shirley A. Terlaje who wrote in support of Bill 848, the bill that became Public Law 20-134, or “Guam’s old abortion ban.”

For those who don’t know, Shirley A. Terlaje was the wife of the late Eduardo S. Terlaje, who was a respected attorney, a four-term senator, and vice speaker of the Legislature. 

Mrs. Terlaje is also the mother of Guam’s newest Superior Court judge, the Honorable John C. Terlaje, and in the following excerpt from her 1989 testimony, Mrs. Terlaje tells us of how John came to be.

“Since the Supreme Court legalized abortion on Jan. 22, 1973, more than 14,000,000 babies have been killed at the request of their own mothers. The unborn child has become a helpless victim, left to the ruthlessness of doctors who are using their medical skill to destroy and to murder, rather than to care for the innocent unborn child. 

Certainly, it is time for us to come to the defense of all those who are being discriminated against. People who would never dream of discriminating against another on the grounds of color, discriminate against the unborn child on grounds of size, because that child is so very small that he (she) cannot in fact make its voice heard. Therefore, it is brushed aside as being of no importance. 

During the pregnancy of my sixth child, I experienced exactly this type of discrimination against my unborn child. During the first two months of my pregnancy, I had been quite sick and the doctors had done a large number of X-rays in an attempt to determine what was causing me to be so sick. 

When it was later discovered that I was pregnant, the doctors told me and my husband that in all likelihood, the child would be born deformed and brain damaged. (This was before the use of ultrasound to determine such things.) 

The doctors tried to convince us that I should go to Japan to have an abortion. Abortions were then legal in Japan, but had not yet been declared legal in the United States. My husband and I were both appalled at the idea of killing our own child, so we refused to follow the doctors' advice. 

Six months later in that year, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy, our son, John. John is now 23 years old, and is still healthy, and a great joy to all those who know him. He was born without any perceivable physical or mental defects, and tests have revealed that he has the highest IQ score of any of our 11 children. 

Regardless, of what his health or intelligence had been, I cannot imagine casting him aside, not allowing him the chance to be born. In just these few years, he has had a great impact on our family and on the lives of all who know him.”

(The full testimony can be found in the bill’s committee report dated December 22, 1989.) 

My family and I have a few things in common with the Terlaje’s. Like the Terlaje’s, we also have 11 children, and our ninth child had a diagnosis similar to John’s. And like the Terlaje’s, doctors heavily suggested that we abort him.

It was a very stressful time. In those years, Guam’s economy was in decline and our income with it, and this was our 9th child. We spent the last of our money traveling to the states to seek other medical opinions, but none were hopeful. Abortion was never an option, but the stress to do it was immense. 

Our baby was born healthy and strong, and today he is a tall, handsome, intelligent, and productive young man, who, among our 11 children, is the only one who has chosen to make Guam his home and raise his own family.

And there is a Guam-sort-of-ending to the story. Shirley Terlaje’s daughter, Maria, John’s sister, became our son’s godmother, long before I learned that doctors had told the Terlaje’s to abort their son too.

Sometimes, doctors don’t know best.

Tim Rohr has resided in Guam since 1987. He has raised a family of 11 children, owned several businesses, and is active in local issues via his blog, JungleWatch.info, letters to local publications, and occasional public appearances. He may be contacted at timrohr.guam@gmail.com   

APURON: "HOLY FATHER, I WANTED TO SEE YOU BEFORE DYING"

By Tim Rohr

SEVEN YEARS AGO (February 11, 2018), Apuron showed up at the Vatican to see Pope Francis telling the pope: "Holy Father, I wanted to see you before dying." 

SEVER YEARS LATER (May 7, 2025) Apuron appeared on "Trained-Lawyer-TV" proclaiming his innocence. Not only was he not dead, he wasn't even in a wheelchair. 

POPE LEO 14 AND THE NEOCATS

By Tim Rohr

It's funny. The big question around here immediately after Leo14 was elected wasn't whether the new pope was "Catholic" or not (an inference to the Francis confusion), but whether he was "Neo" or not. 

We can be sure that the Neocat Brass was pulling out all the stops to get one of their own into Peter's chair, and that they were doing it long before Francis breathed his last. 

We can assume that the Neocat Brass was hoping to resurrect their "Red Pope" (Filoni). I say "resurrect" because, for whatever reason, Filoni fell out of favor with Francis and was banished to the Vatican hinterlands. 

Filoni History

For those who don't remember, Filoni played a direct role in propping up the Neocats here in Guam and specifically the now-closed Neocat seminary. 

In September 2016, the Laity Forward Movement (LFM) led my Mrs. Lou Klitzkie, attempted to visit what was then the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona. After all, for years, Apuron had raised millions of dollars for the seminary from local Catholics under the banner "A Seminary for Guam!" 

So the LFM reasoned, if it's a seminary for Guam, then let's pay it a visit.

The LFM was turned away at the door. In response to the attempted visit, the now-missing Msgr. David C. Quitugua and then-acting rector of the seminary, wrote Fr. Jeff San Nicolas, who at the time was the delegate to the Apostolic Administrator, Archbishop Hon.

Msgr. David wrote:

Cardinal Filoni’s instruction is that no such “visit can be made to the Seminary. 

In response, Fr. Jeff did a press release stating:

The intent of Msgr. David’s letter was now clear to me. Neither I nor Archbishop Hon is the church authority over decision making regarding the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, even over simple matters such as who can visit. Cardinal Filoni is in charge.

(The letters can be read in full here.)

This was big news at the time because for years we knew the Neocats were running Apuron, and then after Hon took over, because he was Filoni's secretary, we figured the Neocats, through Filoni, were running Hon, AND with the specific aim to stomp out the opposition to Apuron, including discrediting Apuron's accusers.

Hon, trying to thread the needle of pretending to be in charge but really taking orders from Filoni and the Neocats, got himself in trouble when the legislation to lift the civil statute of limitations on sex abuse against minors became law on his watch, particularly because the legislation had been amended to include institutional liability, which enabled Apuron's accusers (and many others) to sue the archdiocese. 

This was a recipe for bankruptcy and Hon's action had precipitated the whole environment which gave public momentum for the law. 

This may have ultimately been the reason why both Filoni and Hon were kicked out of their very powerful positions in Rome and we haven't heard much if anything from them since.

Back to the present

Things start to make sense when we remind ourselves that the Cardinal who took Filoni's place as Prefect for the powerful Congregation once headed by Filoni was Cardinal Tagle - once the darling of the Neocats until he dissed them as I set out in this recent post. 

The Neocats have pretty much had their way with Rome for decades. Paul VI thought they were nice guys. JP2, in the spirit of New Evangelization, gave them a lot of room. Ben16 tried to rein them in, but they ran over him. Francis was too busy bashing "rigid" Catholics and making "a mess" (his words) to do much about Kiko's tribes who used the camera and microphone happy pope for constant photo ops. 

The mess in Guam was the first stumbling block for Kiko et. al, and they badly needed a pope, post-Francis, who would preserve their avenues of power in Rome, and maybe even restore Apuron - which is why Apuron's "I'm innocent" speech on the first day of the conclave is suspicious for its timing. 

However, probably like everybody else in the world, not even the Neocat insiders figured on the man who would become Leo14. And it appears that Leo is wise to the Neocats, having had to take over a diocese in Peru that was laid waste by the Peruvian equivalent of Apuron. 

See HERE for the rest of that story. 

 

KANDIT NEWS: THAT DISTURBING APURON VIDEO

By Tim Rohr

Troy Torres (Kandit News) gives his take on Apuron's "victory video." At the end of the video, Troy says he "can't imagine what caused Apuron to make that video." It's not hard when you ask "WHO caused Apuron to make that video?" Answering that question tells you everything you need to do who the real danger is. 

TROY'S TAKE 

THEY DESPERATELY WANT TO SHOOT AT HIM...AND ME

By Tim Rohr

Buried in Apuron's scripted drivel of May 7, 2025, is a not so thinly veiled reference of WHO Apuron (or more precisely, his puppet masters) is aiming at...once again. 

This is the first time I have seen Apuron take direct aim at someone who is a priest in the context of the accusations that took him out. In the past, it has been "Tim Rohr and his associates..." or his accusers. But in his gleeful little speech about his innocence he accuses a priest of transforming Guam "into a place of casinos, drugs, and prostitution," and who unites with "powerful people and corrupt regimes." 

Hmmm. I wonder who he is talking about? It's not hard. There is only one priest who Apuron has always been green with envy of. Apuron did everything he could to destroy him 10 years ago, and his lawyer did too. 

In 2017, Apuron's puppet masters went to the Neo-rag "La Stampa" and did a hit piece on me and the priest. 

In 2012, a blog called “Jungle Watch” was created online, attacking Archbishop Apuron and the Neocatechumenal Way, accusing them of manipulating the prelate and “colonizing” the entire Agaña diocese. The site is managed by Tim Rohr, a real estate agent employed by Msgr. Benavente and involved in the projected sale of the seminary. 

Really? We are supposed to believe that an Italian newspaper heard about our little ruckus in Guam and investigated? Nope. Somebody fed that story to them. And I think we all can guess who. 

Note: The "trained lawyer" is quoted at length in the story, and the author of the story, Salvatore Cernuzio, is a Neocat: 

https://www.instagram.com/cernusalvo/p/BIDz_zSD5AP/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/cernusalvo/p/BIkh_goDHC7/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/cernusalvo/p/BiYyIzpDwWv/?hl=en&img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_wxmBKxjii/?hl=en

And by the way, there were no posts about Apuron until the Fr. Paul Gofigan thing blew up in July 2013 (not 2012). And even then, there were no "attacks," there were posts about what was already in the news. The only "attacking" would come from Apuron and his in-house freaks: Adrian and Edivaldo.

While I might be a real estate agent, I was NOT employed by Msgr. Benavente as one. I was managing the gift shop. But you see, Apuron's little puppet masters needed something to explain why stories about Apuron in JW, by Sep. 21, 2017, the date the La Stampa story was published, were getting tens of thousands of views and comments. 

Apuron's puppet masters needed a motive for Tim Rohr to be doing what he was doing. So they made up the story about my being "involved in the projected sale of the seminary"...for the purposes of selling to a Chinese gambling interest. Here's more from the La Stampa story:

Everything began in 2002, when a group of Chinese entrepreneurs first laid eyes on the Accion Hotel in Yona, built as a Japanese resort in 2000 but which soon ended up in bankruptcy and set among 20 hectares of seaside property. When it first opened, the property was valued at between $60-80 million. David Lujan, their local lawyer, was authorized to offer $5 million for the site. The idea was to transform the hotel into a grand casino; this was part of a larger strategical project aiming at turning the island of Guam into a “Las Vegas of the Pacific” which would attract gamblers from China, Russia, Japan and Korea. 

In later news stories, Apuron (his attorney actually) kept up the "casino" story, and, as you can see, in his little "I am innocent" speech of May 7, 2025, Apuron returns to it.

This is not about Apuron

Apuron knows he's guilty as hell. The Vatican said so. The pope said so. The new archbishop said so. So, as I have continued to infer, this is not about Apuron. This is about fixing the black eye the Neocats got here in Guam. No seminary in the Neocat world had ever been closed...until it was closed by Archbishop Byrnes (and you see what they did to him). 

It's a long shot at this point for the Neocats to ever restore a seminary in Guam, however, to the rest of the world's bishops where they are and where they are trying to expand, they need a story to explain what happened in Guam. 

So even though they'll never restore Apuron, they can keep going with the story about how he was railroaded by "Tim Rohr and his associates" who "orchestrated" a conspiracy against poor Apuron which led to the closing of their seminary and all the bad press. 

Never mind that the Vatican sent a delegation to Guam to directly investigate Apuron. Never mind that the court of the First Instance, a Vatican tribunal, found Apuron guilty. Never mind that the court of the Second Instance, an appeal personally overseen by Pope Francis, upheld Apuron's guilty verdict. Never mind any of that. "Look over here. Look at us. Look at all the pretty things we are doing." That's what they are saying to the bishops. And you can bet they are playing up the voluntary dismissals as a verdict of "innocent." 

Trashing Tagle

We know that they are doing this because the La Stampa story was recently repeated in a story that was curiously aimed at preventing Cardinal Tagle from ascending to the papal throne: "Tagle, the cardinal who loves casinos." The date says everything: May 6, 2025. One day before Apuron took to the cameras to repeat his casino theme and one day before the conclave convened. 

When you read the Tagle story, you will see the coordination between whoever was behind that story and Apuron's references the very next day to a certain priest and this priest's alleged connections to "powerful people and corrupt regimes." Apuron had not said this before. But in his May 7 victory speech, it comes at the very end and most pointed part of his talk. He - or rather his handlers - is aiming at someone specific. And for a reason.

But why are the Neocats shooting at Tagle? 

Two reasons. One, Tagle hugely embarrassed them back in 2014 when the Neocat puppet masters were shouting about how their "initiators" (Kiko and Carmen) had been invited to Manila by Tagle. It, like everything they do and say, turned out to be a lie. And a letter, personally written by Tagle saying so, showed up on JungleWatch in a story titled NOW CLICK HERE. 

The attack on Tagle by the Neocats is easy to trace. I just did a stat search on JW for the most viewed posts in the last 90 days, and guess which one is Number 1?

Really? Over 1000 views of an 11 year old post? Oh, and then suddenly a hit piece on Tagle one day before the conclave...with a reference by Apuron the very next day? 

It's well known (in some circles) that Apuron hated Tagle. Back in the day,Tagle was just a young priest leading retreats for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Agana in Tagaytay, Philippines, a place that became immortalized on JungleWatch after Apuron, at a retreat there in May 2014, talked filth about Fr. Paul. See TANGO IN TAGYTAY.

Back to Apuron v Tagle

Tagle was a young priest when Apuron and the boys first started going to Tagaytay for their annual retreats. And of course Apuron was a high and mighty Archbishop, but also a red-hat (Cardinal) wannabe. And Tagle beat him to it. 

Worse (for Apuron), Tagle and Msgr. Benavente became friends. That's because that's what Msgr. Benavente does: make friends. And he makes friends because he's friendly. Apuron didn't make friends because he wasn't friendly. 

But on to the second reason. Had Tagle ascended to the Chair of Peter, there's a good chance Msgr. Benavente, might have gone along with him in some capacity. And that would make Benavente harder to shoot at. And they desperately want to shoot at him...and me.

More to come.

Here's Cardinal Tagle's letter:

SOME STATS

 

JW has had 162,000 views in the last 30 days

Most of the views have been of old Apuron stories from several years ago.

APURON, THE POPE, AND MOTHER'S DAY

LINK to online version

In this column, I have three topics: The Apuron Fiasco, The New Pope, and, on a happy note, Mother’s Day.

The Apuron Fiasco

After nearly ten years (and little to no action), Apuron’s accusers (the plaintiffs) voluntarily dismissed their complaints. From the news reports, it appeared they were convinced to do so by their attorney because - as their attorney was reported to have said - Apuron had “very little financial resources.”

As this was a civil liability case and not a criminal case, and Apuron had no money to sue for, there was no point in continuing the case.  In fact, it’s safe to speculate that the plaintiffs agreed with the dismissal out of  mercy towards Apuron since they were constantly told that he was too old and sickly to continue.

But being “old and sickly” didn’t keep Apuron from immediately running to a camera to slam his accusers and proclaim the dismissals as evidence of his innocence - even though the cases were never about his guilt or innocence, only his liability.

Archbishop Jimenez jumped on the matter right away. In a letter to clergy a couple days after Apuron’s video victory romp, Jimenez put the slap down on Apuron stating: “our counsel has confirmed that a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) does not operate as an adjudication about the merits of a particular case.” In other words, nothing was proved, either way.

More importantly, Jimenez reaffirmed the Vatican’s clear verdict on Apuron in a true innocent or guilty trial: “…it remains the fact that on 07 February 2019, he was found guilty of committing abuse against minors…Nothing about that determination has changed.”

Actually, Apuron was first found guilty on March 13, 2018, but the verdict only stated that he was found guilty of “certain accusations.” After Apuron lost his appeal, Pope Francis personally clarified the verdict: “guilty of delicts against the Sixth Commandment with minors. 

I’d like to say “end of story,” but it’s not. The story is about far more than just Apuron who has always been nothing more than a puppet in this horror show. It remains to be seen what the new Archbishop will do about the puppet masters.

The New Pope

Everyone who bet on this election lost. No one expected this guy. And for sure no one expected an American. Given the surprise, some believe it was a posthumous Francis punch at Trump.

There could be some truth to that given that Francis had appointed nearly two-thirds of the cardinals who elected the American, a man Francis had personally and rapidly promoted to the top of the Vatican apparatus in a very few years.

I won’t speculate further. I’ll just copy here what I posted on Facebook when I learned of the election:

“It doesn’t matter who the pope is. His only job and the only authority he has is to protect the deposit of faith as handed down by Jesus through the apostles. He can’t change a thing in that regard. That’s what Jesus meant when he promised “the gates of hell will not prevail.” And we certainly have had some popes who were right out of hell. So go on with your life and be concerned for your salvation and the salvation of your family.”

Mother’s Day

My brother Albert, a year younger than me, died in 1989. He and my mom were very close. Since his death she has often shared how she gets little messages from him, little awareness-es, you might say. Many of you who have lost a loved one, especially a child, know what I'm talking about. 

 In 2009, I sent my mom (who lives in California) a dozen roses for Mother's Day. My mom received two packages of roses, both from the same company, both sent from me. However, I had only ordered one package. She called to let me know. I checked my billing. I had only been charged for one. Apparently the flower company, FTD, had made an error.

 However, the second package had 13 roses, not 12. Even if FTD had made a mistake and sent an extra order of a "dozen" roses, it is quite unlikely that they would have made the additional error of adding an extra rose. But it was in fact 13 roses, and "no one" had ordered them.

Albert was born on the 13th of November and died at age 31. Another message from heaven? We'd like to think so.

Happy Mother's Day.

Tim Rohr has resided in Guam since 1987. He has raised a family of 11 children, owned several businesses, and is active in local issues via his blog, JungleWatch.info, letters to local publications, and occasional public appearances. He may be contacted at timrohr.guam@gmail.com     

IF I WERE APURON'S LAWYER

By Tim Rohr

If I were Apuron's attorney, I would not have let him make a public statement after his accusers dismissed their complaints and here's why.

Few people understand the whole picture, and even fewer would have understood the complexities of what a voluntary dismissal by a plaintiff means under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

On the surface, as the initial news reports demonstrated, and why the plaintiffs' attorney needed to make a clarification, it appeared that the accusations against Apuron had been proven false and the cases were dismissed. 

Had Apuron not said anything, at least not right away, more and more people would have accepted the first impression that the cases were dropped because they were proven false. It's a long shot, but he might have gained some traction with public opinion and maybe made some headway in getting his Vatican sentence lightened up if not overturned. 

But no, Jacque the trained lawyer, immediately trotted the "too old and sickly to testify" Apuron out in front of the cameras, looking all spry and chipper, and had him run off at the mouth about his innocence while taking shots at his accusers, the media, public opinion, and anything or anyone else he could shoot at. 

Obviously this provoked an avalanche of counter-fire from JungleWatch, which averages approximately 8,000 views per day (there will be more this month), but more importantly it provoked a damning letter from the current Archbishop who functionally put Apuron back in the Vatican jailhouse and reminded everybody of why Apuron was kicked out of here in the first place:

"...it remains the fact that on 07 February 2019, he was found guilty of committing abuse against minors...Nothing about that determination has changed."

A really dumb move.  

BECAUSE YOU'RE A LIAR

By Tim Rohr

Apuron at the Vatican, after he ran away from Guam in 2016

In light of what Apuron is claiming (his innocence), let us review what he claimed on April 4, 2019, after Pope Francis personally upheld his guilty verdict by the Vatican court. 

My comments in red, and all emphases added.

LINK to original copy. 

+++++

April 4, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

Statement of Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap. D.D.

 

I am deeply saddened by the decision of the Holy Father to confirm the decision of the court of first instance. I lodged an appeal against that decision last year because I am innocent and the sentence of the court of first instance had vindicated me declaring non credible the majority of the charges made against me: I believe that the facts and evidence presented demonstrated my total innocence.

Here is what the court of the first instance found on March 13, 2018: 

The Apostolic Tribunal of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, composed of five judges, has issued its sentence of first instance, finding the accused guilty of certain of the accusations and imposing upon the accused the penalties of privation of office and prohibition of residence in the Archdiocese of Guam.

Apuron and his supporters have consistently claimed that because the court did not specifically state "sex abuse of minors," that Apuron was not found guilty of that crime. However, whatever "certain of the accusations" means, it was serious enough to deprive him of his office and prohibit him from residing in Guam - forever. So whatever he did, it was obviously very serious. 

Of course we know what he did, because upon Pope Francis upholding Apuron's guilty verdict, Francis clearly stated what Apuron was guilty of:

...the Tribunal of Second Instance upheld the sentence of First Instance finding the Archbishop guilty of delicts against the Sixth Commandment with minors. 

Moreover, in addition to privation of office and prohibition from residing in Guam, the Pope went on to add an additional penalty: 

...the perpetual prohibition from using the insignia attached to the rank of Bishop. 

Yet, Apuron wants us to believe that the first Vatican tribunal and then the Pope are wrong. And he still wants us to believe given his little speech the other day after his accusers decided to dismiss their complaints after ten years of going nowhere. 

In fact, it's quite a slap in the face to them. They were told for ten years how old and sickly Apuron was and how he couldn't even sit for a single deposition, so it's quite possible out of mercy that they dropped their cases. And then immediately Apuron runs to the cameras, not looking old or sickly at all, proclaims his innocence (again), and slams the very people who showed him mercy. But that's Apuron. 

It's also quite possible that the court of the first instance, out of reserve and mercy for Apuron, did not detail the exact crimes Apuron had been found guilty of. And of course, Apuron right away ran to the cameras saying that this was evidence of his innocence. Apuron's complete disregard for the mercy the first court showed him is probably why Francis made the reason for the guilty verdict very clear upon the failure of Apuron's appeal.  

In addition to the pattern of contradictions evident in the accusations laid against me, my hopes for a successful appeal were supported by what I considered to be definitive new evidence which illustrated what I have always asserted to be a coordinated campaign against me.

As the primary "coordinator" of the alleged "campaign," I can tell you yes, it became a "coordinated campaign." I detailed the whole thing in a series I titled "Orchestrated." 

The short version is this. After Apuron kicked Fr. Paul Gofigan out of his parish, and then Msgr. James Benavente, a man living in San Francisco named John Toves publicly claimed that Apuron had sexually molested a relative. As that story gained traction, others who Apuron had sexually abused began to wake up. 

After Roy Quintanilla came forward to accuse Apuron, the news got to a woman living in Arizona who used to live in Agat, Guam, and whose son, on his deathbed, told her that Apuron had raped him. The woman, Doris Concepcion, made the story known to the press whereupon Apuron, on May 31, 2016, threatened to sue me, Doris, and anyone else involved in exposing his crimes:

Therefore, the Archdiocese of Agana is in the process of taking canonical and legal measures against those perpetrating these malicious lies. (Archdiocese of Agana, Press Release, May 31, 2016)

This is when things started to get coordinated. We had no legal protections against Apuron, and he had the money of the archdiocese to crush us. So we began working on legislation that would allow us to fight back. That legislation became the public law lifting the civil statute of limitations on the sex abuse of minors which was enacted in September 2016. 

By then Apuron had already run away and been hiding for months. The problem escalated when the guy Rome sent to run things, Archbishop Savio Hon, who worked for Cardinal Fernando Filoni, a Neocat cardinal, mocked Apuron's accusers - in a clear attempt to save the Neocatechumenal Way in Guam. At that point, the late-Senator Bob Klitzkie got involved and developed the legislation to include institutional liability, which was critical to attracting lawyers to the case. 

So yah, it was "coordinated," but not from the start. Every time Apuron made a move, beginning with his treatment of Gofigan, there was an "equal and opposite reaction." Apuron, per his recent video, is still making those moves and provoking ever more "equal and opposite reactions," if only, at this point, my reminding everyone of just how terrible this man was...and still is.

The pontifical secret prevents me from litigating my good name in public, but I wish to take this opportunity to offer my deepest thanks to the many individuals who have privately and publicly come forward in my defense, despite threats and the climate of fear on my beloved home of Guam. This climate, - shown by the local media, - which hampered the work of the court of first instance, testifies to the presence of a pressure group that plotted to destroy me, and which has made itself clearly known even to authorities in Rome. Several persons have told me - with great pain and fear and asking me not to reveal their names - they had been asked to make allegations against me, even offered money.

So pathetic. This man is either Evil Incarnate or he is sick, very mentally sick. Out of charity, I'll assume the latter. Apuron has had no problem over the years "litigating (his) good name in public." In fact, if there really was a "pontifical secret" in place, he could not have even written this very statement where he proclaims his innocence immediately after being found guilty for the second time by Pope Francis himself. 

If there really were threats, a climate of fear, a pressure group that plotted to destroy him, and people who were offered money to make allegations against him, then now's your moment Mr. Apuron. Now's your moment. There is no more legal action in either the church or the civil courts, so you are free to name names. So why aren't you? Because you're a liar. 

Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime that cries to heaven for vengeance. The desperate need for justice and compassion for the survivors is fundamental. So too is the urgent need to fight this evil always and everywhere through a transparent and courageous search for the truth.

LOL. I sure hope Apuron is truly mentally ill, because otherwise this statement is a sacrilege which itself "cries to heaven for vengeance."

The sentence of the Holy Father concludes my search for justice in the canonical forum: I owe His Holiness my obedience as a bishop, priest and son of the Church. 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 failing health.

Oh boo-hoo. Alone, old, and in failing health. Well here we are six years later and he looks just fine on his little personal TV station. He's being well cared for by his Neocat brethren. That was the deal from the outset. And he DID NOT "totally submit to the judgment of the Holy Father." If he did, he would not have immediately released this statement which functionally states that the Holy Father is WRONG. 

I offer this suffering for the Holy Father: may the Lord guide him at this difficult time at the helm of the Church; I offer my suffering to my accusers and to those who have plotted for my removal: may the Lord fill them with everything they want and pray - Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.

Oh, here we go again with Apuron mocking Jesus on the cross. And by the way, we did know what we did. Because we know what YOU DID.

I hope that one day new witnesses, who have been prevented from coming forward by the atmosphere of fear and intimidation, will yet fully vindicate my name. I also pray for my accusers and for those who have plotted against me. We will each meet before that final tribunal where the full truth will be laid bare before the Supreme Judge.

The only atmosphere of fear and intimidation - and this is on the record - was coming from Apuron who constantly threatened to sue us. And, as I already said, now's your time, Mr. Apuron. Now's your opportunity to bring forth those "new witnesses." I recommend you do it before you get to the Supreme Judge yourself. 

I pray unceasingly for the Holy Church and I look forward to the justice that awaits me beyond this valley of tears: when I awake I will be satisfied with your face, oh Lord.

You'll see justice alright. And we didn't see any tears in your video.