A certain Thomas Garrido takes the opportunity to use Roy Quintanilla's tragedy to promote himself in today's PDN:
Here is my response:
Wow. Really? So now the preachers come out. “Burden of proof”? What? Shows you don’t know what you are talking about. There is no court process open to Roy Quintanilla to do this. The statute of limitations protects Apuron from ever having to go to court. Even if there was an opportunity to go to court, Apuron has massive resources compared to Roy. As Archbishop of Agana, he is a corporation sole, and thus has all the assets of the diocese available to defend himself. He also has massive influence. How many favors could he call in? How many judges would recuse themselves even if it did go to court? Even if the statute of limitations is lifted, Apuron could never be tried criminally.
Sicker still is your assumption Roy doesn’t have a life of faith, at least one that measures up to your idea of it. You know jack nothing about Roy. Well I happen to know. I happen to know that he does have a deep life of faith, a faith that has sustained him in his wounded life, a faith that has sustained him in a 21 year long sacrifice when the duty of caring for a down syndrome brother passed to him.
I also happen to know that Roy did not want to go public about his abuse. I happen to know that he was only going to present a letter to Apuron and ask him to acknowledge what he did to him. I happen to know that it was torture for him to go public. I happen to know that he eventually did so because he knew that there were others who had suffered as he had and could be encouraged to come forward if he did, if not publicly, then at least to seek help for their wounds. I happen to know that Apuron would accuse him of spreading malicious lies and calumnies. I happen to know that Apuron would threaten to sue him into silence. I happened to know that Roy was tortured by all this and for the good of others was willing to walk into the fire and suffer criticism like the criticism you give here.
When you see these grown men cry when they tell their story. When you see the mother of a dead child weep from memory. It is not just the pain of memory, or of being held down and penetrated by an ugly man. The greater pain is that they were horribly betrayed by not only a man they trusted implicitly, but by a man who represented centuries of faith to their families Yet, each one thus far has stood up and testified how they never left their faith, how they love Jesus Christ even more. And yet you speak to them like they don’t know Jesus at all.
Seriously, what a sad moment you chose for self promotion. By the way, I’m gonna make you famous on JungleWatch.
Mr. Tom Garrido, maybe if you came out publicly about what happened to you , you would have prevented somebody, at least one person, from being molested by people held in unquestioning trust and high respect.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot deny the fact now that apuron's molestations/rape have come to public light, parents will not be so blind anymore as to allow their children spend the night at some adult's house without safeguards, no matter how public or well-liked the adult is. Thus reducing the opportunities for pedophiles to satisfy their perverted desires.
BEEP!
DeleteI'm sorry. I replied to the wrong comment.
DeleteI have so many things to say about that idiot who wrote that in the PDN but I know there are a lot of very nice Catholic folks who read this blog and they probably wouldn't appreciate my choice of words so I will just say to Thomas Garrido you BEEP BEEP BEEPITY BEEP BEEPING BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEPER
ReplyDeleteI concur. BEEP!
DeleteBeeping beephole.
DeleteTom Garrido was a Catholic but change his religion and became a Minister for some religion but not sure which one. Agree with the poor timing for him to now come out with his comment.
DeleteThomas Garrido - I am not sure why you are comparing yourself to Roy but were you molested by the Head of the Catholic Church! Were you made to be so scared after being told, "No One Would Believe You" after the horrific abuse happened? Maybe you have and I am extremely sorry but I need to analyze your points:
ReplyDeleteOne: I wished that my love for God and my parents was much, much stronger. I speak of a love that does not share with shame or fear and does not need to sum up courage to speak out to the proper people. I do not blame my parents or anyone for the lack of such a love. God had a wonderful plan for me in the future. My Answer: I also wished that your love for God and your parents was stronger but hopefully your parents loved you to the point that you will not be ashamed and fear to let them know what you are feeling. Now you understand what these boys went through. They loved their parent too but.......
Two: I wished that we had God’s Bible teachings in that earlier age, at that troubling time. In our case, Roy, we would have learned from Matthew, God’s guidelines for conflict resolution (Matthew 18:15-17). My Answer: God's teaching has always been there since forever. That is why these boys were "Altar Boys". If they did not love the God as much as they did, would they have become Altar Boys? What would you have learned from Matthew 18:15-17 if the Head of the Catholic Church was the abuser?
Three: Joelle Casteix and Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) must also be as discerning and loving on this matter. I still cannot recognize the value of their direction in all of this. My Answer: We need the intervention of a system that will investigate and protect the victims. At this day and age, there are experts who know how to handle situations like how the Head of a Catholic Church can abuse Altar Boys and get away with it, or how it can be ignored and swept under the carpet, as the saying goes.
I am not condemning you for your opinions because they are your opinions. I am just saying that there are two sides to every story and so far the stories that these courageous young men have told have are totally believable. I Am So Sorry that abuse happened to you because it should not have ever happened. God Bless You and I hope You Have Peace and Healing Soon.
I am so sorry for what you went through but we are talking about the Head of the Catholic Church on My Beautiful Island of Guam. Something has to be done and the Courageous Ones that have stepped up have done exactly done that.
By the way, is there a reason why you only mentioned Roy? There are three others - Walter - Sonny - and Roland.
He probably wrote the letter after Roy and before the others came forward. Letters to the editor can be in the queue for a couple weeks. Well said otherwise.
DeleteThomas Garrido, are you another NEO spokesman?? Back in 77 when this happened to my primo he just started his interest in seeking more on his faith by joining the altar boys, HE WAS 8 AT THE TIME AND IN THE 3RD GRADE. ''Fool'', if indeed you at one time in your life suffered abuse and went on and found peace for yourself, then, GOOD FOR YOU. No two people are alike in handling life's situation, not molestation nor even child abuse (which was also kept quiet back then.) The funny thing with people not ''trying'' to understand the victims pain by question why now? If it was your siblings, child or even then your parent would you be mouthing off like that? It doesn't effect you cause you don't know any of the victims, I do, I was even in the church choir at the time but never knew this was going on. The effect it had on Roy and Roland, they continued to serve as altar boys under Fr. Jack. They never lost their faith. Walter left the altar boys but did attend Mass with his family. Sonny, I never saw thinking he left off island.
DeleteSo Thomas Garrido.... talk to the hands and shut the craps up. Stupid A$$.
Getting sick and tired of all your, Why now questions..... really? Why not now.
Flo B.
Screwtape: Aww yes Wormwood, i see that silver trinket our brother judas is still going around, good one my little devil.
ReplyDeleteWormwood: Yes uncle and that '40 years' twisted interpretation you did was absolutely jeanous!
Screwtape: It's genius you mr. iq. Yes, oh the sin of the father always comes through when we need it. 40 years of Sins hidden, all this time in their very own 'house of god'....bwuuhahhahahahaaha...but now Wormwood, now whisper the secret words to our Prized one that his little dirty secret he foolishly iterated in that little box years ago was to ME! And now it's time to have his respite with his brother Screwtape, I will usher him into his place of joy and comfort as he so deserves.
Wormwood: Uncle say no more, my brothers Ingrapis and Disosis will begin the chaos.
This Tom Garrido works for an insurance company in Dededo. He is very anti-Catholic and a proclaimed expert about Catholicism because he once wanted to be a priest. He is a firm believer in "the Bible alone" theory, that is why he stated "I wish we had G-d's Bible teachungs at an earlier age"
ReplyDeleteThere is no use to reason with him because he will counter with every bible verse and then throw out, "Well, I was once Catholic so I know better..."
Now here he is with the "I too was once abused, so I know better" attitude - another false humility just to tote his righteousness to us heathen Catholics.
Sounds like the half-time interruptions in our Masses inviting us to "listen".
DeleteMessage to Mr. Garrido: I'm not impressed with your knowledge of the Bible. The Devil can also quote scripture very well too. As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
DeleteAnother sympathizer of Apuron no doubt. So Garrido from barrigada - Neo central, is preaching the "Forgive and Forget" doctrine, or perhaps the NCW mentality of "Do not resist Evil" God is sending this trial to you to make you stronger in your faith. This guy is full of crap. He forgets the greater obligation we have to protect the innocent and vulnerable members of society, the children from this serial pediophile. I wonder what his position would be if his son or daughter or grand children experienced what Roy and the other victims experienced? Would he be humming the same tune? As for the burden of Proof, Did not Jesus say himself that "the fact may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." Matt18:16, Is Roy, Joseph, Walter and Roland enough victims for you?and does not also scripture tell us that we have an obligation to bring to the attention of our brother the offenses he has committed, and finally to the Church, and if he does not listen to the church, to treat him as a tax collector? Matt18:15-20, So where in scripture Mr. Garrido does it say to keep the offense to yourself? to be a doormat for your brother? or a serial offender like Apuron? Your logic is lost in space.
ReplyDeleteTom Garrido's message seems to be: Love the sinner. He forgets about the rest:
ReplyDeleteBut hate the sin! The impression he left me with is that if someone murders a family member of his, he would forgive the sinner and just forget the incident. I wonder what planet Tom Garrido lives on.
This Tom Garrido works for an insurance company in Dededo. He is very anti-Catholic and a self-proclaimed expert about Catholicism because he says he once wanted to be a priest. He is a firm believer in "the Bible alone" theory, that is why he stated "I wish we had G-d's Bible teachungs at an earlier age"
ReplyDeleteThere is no use to reason with him because he will counter with every bible verse and then throw out, "Well, I was once Catholic so I know better..."
Now here he is with the "I too was once abused, so I know better" attitude - another false humility just to tote his righteousness to us heathen Catholics.
Hoping some of you are posting your comments to the PDN
ReplyDeleteEdmund Burke famously said "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". Mr Garrido, it seems like your inaction has allowed evil to exist.
ReplyDeletePray is always good, especially when coupled with true christian action. Those men that came forward undoubtedly prayed much before having the strength to come forward and reveal a truth a terrible man had been hiding his whole adult life.
Thank you to Roy, Doris, Walter, and Roland. Thank you also to their families by supporting them through their ordeal of coming forward, especially in the face of buffoons like Mr Garrido.
I again read Thomas Garrido's posting because I had this feeling that I am missing something and sensing that something is not quite right:
ReplyDeleteOne: I wished that my love for God and my parents was much, much stronger:
Why would someone wish that if he was not loved as a child? Love is a Give and Take situation. Something happened his early life to feel this way.
Two: I wished that we had God’s Bible teachings in that earlier age, at that troubling time:
Why would God's teaching at an early age be troubling? Being young is supposed to be the best time of our lives - Thank My God my parents showed us Love and Love for Our Catholic Church - but I know that it is not the same for all God's Young and Innocent Children and I wish that it was.
Three: Joelle Casteix and Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) must also be as discerning and loving on this matter. I still cannot recognize the value of their direction in all of this.
How can you explain to someone, who was mentally and physically abused in my opinion, that there are organizations out there that can help them cope with their pain.
I am not saying that Tom was mentally and physically abused but someone mentioned that Tom is "Very anti-Catholic and a proclaimed expert about Catholicism because he once wanted to be a priest". When a young man wants to be a Priest and then become very Anti-Catholic, something totally horrific happened to him and it turned him against his faith and church. I may be very wrong in my opinion but I think that Tom is reaching out for help. If not, consider me wrong and I apologize. I am off-island and I do not know the real Tom Garrido but I still feel there is something missing here.
Missing screws?
DeleteBurden of Proof? Tom where is your compassion? Roy is not suing the Archbishop! You cannot support Roy because there is no proof or confession? Who gives a hoot what you think! Where's your heart? Your self serving editorial belongs in the Ann Landers column.
ReplyDeleteNCW: No Compassion Whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteThomas Garrido, the accusations against Apuron are indeed tragic, but we have no one to blame but ourselves for trusting him. If each one of us is accountable to God, how will you account for your apathy on child sexual abuse? In Mt 19:14, Jesus tells us “Let the little children come to me.” Then in Lk 12:10, He says “Anyone who sins against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Apuron caused those four altar boys to sin, and for that, Jesus tells us in Mk 9:42 to “… tie a millstone around his neck and throw him into the sea.” So when God asks me what I did, I will say that I placed a large millstone around Apuron’s neck and then threw him into the sea. What will you say? I will be SILENT NO MORE!!
ReplyDeleteThe four little boys are innocent, Apuron himself bears the guilt of the abuse he inflicted upon these boys. He will be accountable to the Lord for this grave offense.
Deletemy two sense at pdn
ReplyDeleteMr. Garrido;
Your call for tolerance is impossible because as God fearing Christians, we are called to judge righteously, and judging between right and wrong is something we do every day, realistically, people make judgments all the time...
First Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning:
"But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil."
The apostle John issues a similar warning when he says, "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
In the New Testament, biblical and spiritual discernment is not optional for Christians IT IS REQUIRED.
By the way what is your purpose for judging anyone’s error/perceived errors in a biblical manner?
The church is built on the foundation of Christ and the authority of His Word (Ephesians 2:20)—and that means Christians should examine their own lives regularly and also lovingly challenge Christian brothers and sisters who are in error or commit sin, just like you have done.
I would encourage you to keep these things in mind as you strive daily to maintain unity in the truth of Christ (John 17:20–26). But it is God’s Word that makes the judgment on morality and truth, not our own opinions or theories.
Tom, rest assured Tony Apuron is very pleased with your letter in the PDN and would love to be chummy with you when he gets back on island. I am sure he anxious to ask you to "try him" too.
ReplyDeleteEsta.
Mr Garrido, since you publicly admitted in your letter that you're a survivor of a sexual abuse in your youth then you will make a good board candidate to sit on Archbishop Hon investigation team.
ReplyDeleteBut wait...Dave Lujan is very interested to hear your incident too. It seem like something in your past is still troubling you that made you anti-catholic. Grab the opportunity now and step up, state your case rather than sympathizing with this pedigreed child molester. Enough already.
Esta.