Saturday, August 6, 2016

WHAT HON NEEDS TO DO

Posted by Tim Rohr

I was wondering how long it would take for Archbishop Hon to get around to issuing an apology for the now-confessed crimes against children by Fr. Louis Brouillard (PDN story and KUAM story). Perhaps it was Bob Klitzkie's comments on K57 yesterday morning which prompted somebody to tell him that he better do something, but regardless of how it was motivated, Hon managed to get an apology out before the end of the day.

Our side, once again, runs the risk of sounding intolerant, by saying that it's not enough, but it's a risk, in the name of justice and real reconciliation, that we will take. Before I say what Hon really needs to do in this particular matter, let me say, more generally, that Hon needs to get out beyond his current circle of clergy advisors and talk to some real professionals. 


Till now, Hon's modus operandi has been to surround himself and consult with the people who have been either at the root of the problem to begin with, or who remained silent out of some misaligned view of their vow of obedience. Either way, any counsel Hon might get from clerics who are subordinate to him is risky at best and more probably tainted. 

On the matter of sex abuse, if I were Hon, I would have called Vincent Pereda immediately after his testimony on Bill 326-33 this past Monday. Mr. Pereda's credentials take up most of the first page of his testimony. There is probably no one on this island more credentialed to help Hon than Pereda. In addition, Pereda was a former sex abuse review board member for the archdiocese who resigned out of a sense of integrity for himself and his profession. He wasn't going to be used. 

If nothing else, immediately aligning with Pereda to address the sex abuse problem would have given Hon an instant air of seriousness. Instead, Hon has turned to Fr. Pat Castro and Deacon Len Stohr to be his point men on this matter; and while both good men, their first duty is not to their assignments, but to their vows. In doing this, Hon has shown us that he is not serious. For which victim in his right mind is going to ask for help from a representative of the same organization which produced and protected his perpetrator? And in the cases of Apuron and Brouillard...FOR DECADES!

It was quite clear from the outset that Hon did NOT want to deal with the sex abuse issue, and given our suspicions based on his 2015 visit and his now-demonstrated knowledge of Brouillard, may have been told NOT to touch the sex abuse issue by his Vatican handlers who are well known neocatechumenal hacks whose only care is to save RMS. Nothing else can explain the absolute absence of any mention of the sex abuse issue upon his arrival and no comment of substance until he was served with a suit. 

Hon's only hope of salvaging his mission, which is otherwise imploding, is to ask Vince Pereda (or someone who Pereda would recommend if he does not want the job) to serve as an INDEPENDENT point of contact for victims of clergy sex abuse. As a professional, victims would have the assurance from Mr. Pereda that they would not only receive or be directed to the correct kind of professional help needed, but that their confidence would be protected until such time, if they wish, to make their accounts public. 

Hon has told us that he takes this issue "seriously." Well then, here's his chance to prove it. 

18 comments:

  1. Brouillard is so much closer to receiving forgiveness than Apuron ever will be!

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    1. Joseph,
      You hit the nail on the head, I feel deep compassion and sense of sorrow for what Mr. Tudela and all the victims of sex abuse have experienced and had to burden all these years, However hearing Brouillard admit to his despicable actions, is quite different than someone who denies despite the testimony of not one but several victims and rather threatens the victims. In the Sacrament of Penance, not only do we have to humble ourselves, realize that we have sinned, name our sin, but confess it with sincerity, accepting the ramifications of its consequences. I agree Brouillard is closer to being forgiven, despite the severity of his actions.

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  2. Deacon Storr started his assignment as SARC by being a cheerleader for AB Hon on the morning show on K 57.

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    1. That is the problem with having a subordinate work as SARC, He will always be on the side of his boss, he cannot be objective if he wants to keep his job, or in the case of the clergy, be deemed disobedient or disrespectful to the to the Bishop. Tim is right on, Hon should have an independent expert from the lay community to provide an unbiased expert opinion on these matters of sexual abuse.

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    2. It is acceptable for a deacon working under a bushop to be SARC as long as in matters wherein the SARC is doing his job, he is not intimidated, impeded or influenced by the bishop. In the military, a SARC is under the Wing Commander of an installation but a SARC, like the inspector general, is automomous in matters pertaining to his job. There should be no question regarding this point.

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    3. I agree. Deacon Martinez did his job as SARC, irregardless of who was accused. He called out the Archbishop for several violations, and even demanded changes be made to the policy. These same changes are now being implemented by Hon.
      Only question is, why didn't Hon bring back Deacon Martinez as SARC? Was bishop Hon afraid of the truth?

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    4. Deacon Martinez was the ONLY member of the clergy who showed courage and conviction during the Apuron attack on Roy, Doris, Walter and Roland. So Mr. 7:47 PM who is it that would not be influenced by AB Hon? The new SARC, Deacon Stohr, stared out on K 57 by being a cheerleader for Hon.

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    5. Yes, Deacon Steve stood for what was right, unfortunately, this good person paid the price for his stance against Apuron and His cronies at the Chancery. This however is not Tim's point, He indicated that those experts who in their profession have experience dealing with sexual abuse, the abusers, as well as counseling victims, someone from the lay community would provide better advise to the bishop in these matters of sexual abuse. I am not sure Deacon Steve, or Deacon Storr or any of the clergy for that matter have the expertise or experience dealing with sex abuse as Mr. Pereda.

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  3. Case in point: the SARC can't be effective and trusted if he comes across as an apologist for AB Hon like new SARC Deacon Len Storr did on K 57.

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  4. Question: If Hon is serious about solving the problems of the Archdiocese, why doesn't he sit down with the ones who have complaints and work out the solutions with them, instead of talking with a bunch of sycophants who only tell him what he wants to hear? Answer: Hon is not serious. He is only going through the motions while his handlers are looking for a permanent replacement for apuron; someone who looks impartial but secretly a Neo-sympathizer.

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    1. He (Archbishop Hon) has probably done his already. By placing priest in committee. If anyone on Guam needs church assistance please refer to the proper committee they'll be glad to help you out.

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    2. Ouch! Sycophants, that is harsh! That is far from the truth because these people you call "sycophants" have questioned Archbishop Hon on his motives and his schedule strategy. The answers have not been satisfactory. You are right though on having Archbishop Hon sit down with those who have "complaints" and work out solutions. This is reality and not merely complaints by a few flippant individuals, in fact the solutions offered here at JW are sound and do-able as far as we are concerned. Perhaps it is important for local groups to indeed ask to meet with him regarding his timeline. Believe me, dear, the clergy has tried to understand his side. Maybe you will have more success in penetrating his armor, and able to dissuade him when he deflects the seriousness of the matter by injecting his humor.

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    3. "Believe me, dear, the clergy has tried to understand his side. Maybe you will have more success in penetrating his armor, and able to dissuade him when he deflects the seriousness of the matter by injecting his humor." Dear Anonymous, tell us more. I haven't seen AB Hon's funny side. I was told though that January last year when Hon was one of the visitators he laughed the CCOG president out of the room. That's when he was presented the 64 page report which included the Brouillard matter.

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  5. So far, victims of child sexual abuse have been young boys. What about young girls?

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    1. Hmmmmh....are insinuating of the other pastor of Mangilao in the 70's who now a Monsignor?

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    2. 9:17am. That would be the former administration. The one before Apuron.

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  6. Tim, you hit it right on the dot.

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  7. Tim, you hit it right on the dot.

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