Saturday, September 17, 2016

THE END OF CLERGY SEX ABUSE...MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED BY LAYMEN

The following is from Bob Klitzkie:

On June 27 at the first hearing on Bill 326-33 I submitted what at the time might have been viewed testimony that highly critical of AB Hon and the church hierarchy. However  harsh as that testimony was it apparently wasn’t harsh enough to reach Hon.

Hon’s words and deeds did nothing but disrespect all of us.  The only thing that changed Hon’s tone was being served legal papers in the lawsuit brought by the survivors.  Let me repeat for emphasis: “The only thing that changed Hon’s tone was being served legal papers in the lawsuit brought by the survivors.” He could have taken steps to avoid that event but didn’t.

Now that Bill 326 is on the Governor’s desk Hon wants to throw the clergy under the bus and enlist other unfortunates to correct another of his mistakes while Hon himself shelters behind the lines in the safety of Rome.

I for one, have seen enough.


HON, PLEASE STAY IN ROME AND NEVER COME BACK TO GUAM.

As I said in my testimony:

“When allegations of these heinous acts first surfaced on our island, my inclination was that whoever may have committed those acts should be made to pay but that the institution, i.e. the archdiocese or corporation sole, need not be held liable…”

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“Hon came on personal appointment of the Pope to clean up the mess that befalls our Church. Not only is Hon on personal assignment from the Pope but he holds the number two position of that part of Vatican governance that has primary jurisdiction of the way bishops handle child sexual abuse amongst the clergy.”

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Hon wasted his opportunity. Hon was greeted by Catholics who had high hopes for his success in cleaning up the mess and had the authority to start the clean up.  Hon almost immediately dashed those hopes.” 

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“Hon has demonstrated that if an end be put to child sexual misconduct it won’t be done by Church hierarchy, at least not while Hon is involved. It must be accomplished by laymen.”

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“…institutions or corporations sole if not the entire hierarchy of the Catholic Church can be held liable for child sexual abuse, we may be forever subjected to the Apurons and  Hons of the Church.”
Here’s some of the testimony I presented at the June 27 hearing:

“When allegations of these heinous acts first surfaced on our island my inclination was that whoever may have committed those acts should be made to pay but that the institution, i.e. the archdiocese or corporation sole, need not be held liable in order that justice be available to victims whose claims had been barred by the running of the statute of limitations. If the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse were eliminated prospectively and reopened retroactively the hierarchy and processes of the Church would be sufficient to “clean up” the Church so that child sexual abuse would become no more than a bad memory, I thought.  I was wrong. Very wrong.

***


“Scandal now saturates the Church. Scandal so egregious that the Pope has sent an Apostolic Administrator, Archbishop Hon, to take over the archdiocese in the stead of Anthony Apuron who still retains the naked title of archbishop. Hon came here with tremendous potential to do good. Hon came on personal appointment of the Pope to clean up the mess that befalls our Church. Not only is Hon on personal assignment from the Pope but he holds the number two position of that part of Vatican governance that has primary jurisdiction of the way bishops handle child sexual abuse amongst the clergy.


***

“Hon wasted his opportunity. Hon was greeted by a Catholics who had high hopes for his success in cleaning up the mess and had the authority to start the clean up.  Hon almost immediately dashed those hopes.  Notwithstanding the command that with respect to child sexual abuse survivors  “…priority must not be given to any other kind of concern." Hon has figuratively, and in one case literally, actually turned his back on the survivors. Carrying the analogy a little further, Hon’s minions have literally locked the door on survivors who would file claims  dealing with their abuse at the hands of Apuron. Hon hasn’t even taken the time to learn all their names.

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“While he holds nearly plenary power with respect to child sex abuse and to the survivors thereof, Hon has done nothing but occasionally imply that survivors’ complaints may be resolved against them in favor of Apuron.

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“Hon has demonstrated that if an end be put to child sexual misconduct it won’t be done by Church hierarchy, at least not while Hon is involved. It must be accomplished by laymen.  Given the proper tools, i.e. and abatement of the statute of limitations and a clear statement that the child sexual abusers, their enablers, aiders or abettors, those acting in concert with them and their institutions or corporations sole if not the entire hierarchy of the Catholic Church can be held liable for child sexual abuse, we may be forever subjected to the Apurons and  Hons of the Church.



Were it not for the abysmal performance of the hierarchy of Rome as evidenced by Archbishop Hon, I would be urging  you to adopt the something like the following:



Section **: 20 GCA § 2105 (c) is added to read: 

(c) Civil immunity for corporations sole. Every corporation sole organized pursuant to 18 GCA §  10102, shall be immune from civil liability for any act of child sexual abuse committed by any officer, employee, agent, religious functionary or volunteer of said corporation sole giving rise to personal liability  to said officer, employee, agent, religious functionary or volunteer.


Hon has shown me the wrongheadedness of that approach. Only a vigorous laity able to invoke the judicial power can be depended upon to root out and keep out child sexual abuse.



Hon has not only retained key members of  Apuron’s corrupt regime but enshrined them on committees that have little to do with the reason Hon was sent here.  Hon maintains a social calendar and tolerates publications that serve to prop up the naked title of Apuron as though his return is imminent. Hon allowed Apuron’s vindictive, draconian gag order against Faithful Catholics to actually take effect before he reluctantly rescinded it at the same time rescinding another gag order on a Catholic who had blown the whistle on Apuron’s purposely keeping the diocesan child sexual abuse policy weak in order to protect himself.

5 comments:

  1. The NEO's have a petition, it was read at Mt. Carmel mass this evening!

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    Replies
    1. Rose de los Reyes (Seattle, WA)September 18, 2016 at 12:19 AM

      Another example of a divided Catholic Church --- two petitions for the same purpose: against Bill 326-33. The Katolikus petition headed by the Archbishop, the NCW's peition headed likely by Pius controlling his Guam Neos from afar. And both are advocating for the support for continued clergy childhood sexual abuse cover-up.

      Delete
  2. Bob, your article is newsworthy. Please submit to media.

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  3. If this petition is similar to the one to keep Plush on island 3 years ago....you can expect most of the communities from Malta to sign them with either a Basilica location or the chapel in Yigo

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  4. The Neo's must make a decision! Are you Catholic or Protestant? There's no middle road! Come join us at the Cathedral to defend the faith or persist in the lie and continue walking AWAY.

    ReplyDelete