Thursday, December 29, 2016

A VICTIMS SUPPORT GROUP?

Posted by Tim

In his press conference on November 30, Archbishop Byrnes mentioned a "victims support group" headed by Sister Angela Perez, RSM. 

My first thought was "where did that come from?" 

As expressed in other posts, the chancery has no business - at least for the next few years - doing anything in the way of "victims support." The only "support" it should be giving is support to a professional, independent, neutral, third party to which victims may be referred. 

The Archdiocese of Agana, no matter who is running things for now, is so damaged that it cannot offer anything but a waste of time and money when it comes to interfacing directly with its own victims. 

• First there was the decades of horrific abuse that not only went unaddressed, but, as we will soon see, was aided and abetted by certain clergy and religious and even some of the people who are now being offered to us as "support." 

• Prior to our learning of these horrors, there was the firing of Sex Abuse Response Coordinator, Deacon Steve Martinez after Martinez started to do the job that Apuron's own sex abuse policy required him to do. 

• Martinez was replaced by Deacon Larry ("for sure for sure") Claros, whose only apparent assignment was to to run interference for Apuron, a role which became spectacularly clear when John Toves showed up.

• Then, after Apuron's victims began speaking up in May-June 2016, there was the "re-molesting" of the victims in the media, first by Apuron, then Deacon Tenorio, Adrian Cristobal, and Edivaldo

• Soon after the first victim came forward in May, Deacon Steve Martinez was slapped with a decree courtesy of Apuron, David the VG, and Adrian, forbidding him to speak publicly about the matter as he did on June 1, 2016

• This was followed by months of the absolute ignoring of the situation by Archbishop Hon whose very presence in Guam was necessitated by the abuse allegations. 

• Then there was the all out push from the pulpit to manipulate the governor into vetoing the only real path to justice for the church's victims. 

• And then, after the bill was passed and signed into law, there was the obvious attempt by the Archdiocese's lawyers to intimidate the lawmakers who passed the bill lifting the civil statute of limitations on sex crimes against minors, if not actually seek a path to overturn the law or at least cripple it. 

And amidst all this, the Archdiocese wants you to call 477-RAPE x ME. 

Making things even more suspicious and sinister was the selection of Sister Angela Perez, RSM as some sort of coordinator for this new "victims support group." The GUAM DAILY POST reported:
"The coadjutor archbishop also met with support groups for clergy abuse victims, working with Sister Angela Perez to further the process of communication between victims and the church."
Here are some of the comments which were posted after the news:

Absoloutely sickening to me that Sister Angela Perez has anything to do with Victims. she knew of victims for many years and freely chose to support Anthony Apuron.

Ahhhh, yes, the mighty Angela Perez rears her Ugly head. Hon thought he made a big catch there. Hon , this was not your best move. Setting up good staff takes time Angela was just too easy. Watch out Archbishop Byrnes. Your authority may soon be challenged by Angela who knows more than you do. Maybe more than any one! I thought she retired! New twist folks.

Angela Perez supported Abuse Anthony Apuron. She knew what was happening she allowed suffering in order to keep her position in schools and remain in Apuron's good graces. she is a two faced ugly woman. All victims must keep away from her. she is a no good woman.

Angela Perez had spent time praying in the 80s 90s less time shopping in Bloomingdales for her fancy cloths shoes bags kids could have been saved from abuse. But she sucked up to Apuron to keep her positions knowing full well of his abuse. woman is a total disgrace. Today she claims to support victims. " Lyin Angela" Come on Guam we need to start shouting for the removal of " Lyin Angela"

And then there is a long comment (shortened here) from Rose in Seattle. (The full comment can be read by clicking on the hyperlinked date.)

Rose de los Reyes (Seattle, WA)December 27, 2016 at 4:11 AM
As to the team that conducts the child sexual abuse safety trainings, the comments reflect a mistrust, specifically, toward Sr. Angela Perez who heads that program because of her decades long friendship with and professional collaborations with Abp Apuron. 

*****
I don't know this Sr. Angela, but obviously some do. And if what they say is true then it is quite possible that Apuron himself may be behind this "victims support group," which she heads. As stated earlier, it seems to appear out of nowhere. It just suddenly exists in Byrnes' press conference. 
It appears to me and others that some of Apuron's "friends" may have "offered their services" to Byrnes, who, not knowing their history, accepted the offer, inadvertently establishing a group that can now intervene and divert Apuron's victims away from the courts. Nice.  

P.S. As mentioned several times already, we need and want Archbishop Byrnes to succeed. However, despite the "listening to both sides" posture, I am unaware that Byrnes has met with anyone from the CCOG except for a casual run-in at the chancery with CCOG President, David Sablan, even though the CCOG gave the archdiocese TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS to help with the legal fees associated with the return of the Yona property.

The CCOG has put its money where its mouth is. It has demonstrated its desire to help and further stands ready to do so. Yet, while the archdiocese willingly accepted the money, there has been no phone call from Byrnes. True, he has only been here a short while, but apparently he has been here long enough to rehabilitate Edivaldo, send Adrian off to canon law school, and see to it that the legislature got "FOIA'd." Maybe when he gets back he'll find time to "listen" to the people who write his check rather than just the people he writes checks for. 

49 comments:

  1. So far all we've gotten from the new AB is 3rd degree byrnes.

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  2. AB Byrnes ... don't be afraid. Do what is right.

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    1. Helllloooooo? People. How can Byrnes know what to do??? From Jeff? There were reasons Jeff got appointed. He does not know a lot about Archdiocese. He has been on the outskirts plodding along in his own way. WHO is advising Byrnes? Richard and James. Buds. God help us.

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    2. From what I can gather, no one is "advising" Byrnes. I am told that he is "his own man" and he makes his own decisions. Unfortunately those decisions have consequences at our expense.

      If I were Byrnes and were thrust into this situation (I've been there in business situations) I would have immediately sat down with the opposing parties and engaged the rough and tumble stuff first in order to understand the battle.

      Instead, Byrnes has chosen (so far) to only talk to his priests. That's nice, but that's the equivalent of me talking to my employees whose first interest is to protect their jobs versus the customers who are threatening to take their business elsewhere.

      However, there is probably no need to speculate. If Filoni is in charge then everything so far makes sense.

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  3. AB Byrnes has been thrown in to the deep end! Give him time to establish himself. I feel he is genuine and will soon realise that he is on the front line and may have to give his life. Lets pray he is holy enough for the job. may be he will become a martyr of Guam

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    1. One can be genuine about how to steer a ship right into the rocks. I happen to think (know) Filoni is calling the shots.

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    2. I like Archbishop Byrnes. He seems a very nice person. Readers must remember in the world of victims everything is personal. A part of the healing is to go after those who caused the pain and those who protected abusers. Angela protected abusers and that is why she is so unduitable. However, should she be appointed to that role we respect it. However, it will not work.

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    3. To Anonymous 9:52 AM: With all due respect you contradicted yourself in the last few sentences. The victims have suffered enough. We can't inflict any more pain by having any unsuitable person or group "helping" them.

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    4. Andrew yes you are right. You know why i'm very conflicted. I got up this morning read Tims post. He is right as always. Then my first visitor I received today was at bfeakfast in something like kings but it was not kings. My host is a relative of hers. so i felt bad knowing her history by which she did defend apuron amd others for her own prosperity, and her being relative of a friend.
      In the end i have to stand with what is true Just. The good sister may be a good sister but she cannot posdibly be considered a suitable victims leader. I will have to write to her after New Year explaing my opposotion to her in a nice way. That may be the best way.

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    5. Ps. Andrew, I also meant that if Archbishop Byrnes wants to appoint Sister Angela that is his right. But it will be my right to encourage victims not to have anything contact with her group. Frankly, these are nof the names faces that will bring any form of healing to victims. Infact Angela as a leader is making angry people. and who is this other woman Sarah someone. Unless Archbishop Byrnes places trusted respected faces it will not work.

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    6. Yuuuuge example: Trump, an "outsider" does to DC. Byrnes, an 'outsider' goes to Guam. Both are 'his own man type' . Let's hope Byrnes has a lot of people knowledgeable visiting his tower. Long distance tower in Detroit for six weeks. WHO is advising in Detroit? Just an idle question.

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  4. https://www.ramseycounty.us/your-government/leadership/county-attorneys-office/news-updates/state-v-archdiocese-saint-paul-minneapolis

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  5. How can you possibly have the good sister leading a victims support group when she knew Apurons past remained silent to protect her own glory.
    Now she can be appointed to whatever Archbishop Michael asks. That is his right and her right to accept. Our right is not to attack sister angela.Our position is to make known that she is not suitable material to lead a victims abuse group.
    potential victims are placed in greater danger turning to angela. I encourage all victims to seek help from Tim Rohr, David Lujan, Joelle Snap west coast director or Deacon steve Martinez who I believe is very sincere.

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  6. It may well be time for CCOG to set up our own Victims Support group should Sister Angela lead her group. In the group I attended we were only four. Between Guam Saipan there are many victims. so even with two groups there will be enough victims for each group.

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    1. Yes, the CCOG will look into this matter. We believe a neutral third party or group is the best way to proceed in helping VCSA (Victims of Child Sex Abuse). This is part of our 7 Point plan submitted to the Archdiocese a few months ago. There is still much work to be done and we are keeping a close eye on important issues.

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    2. pss. Yes Andrew just read your 11.21am. I am on same page as you. I will reach out to Mary Angela in a respectable way outining reasons why i beleve she should not do the victims group. I will then cc to Tim. simply unacceptable when she did nothing to protect victims when she was informed.

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    3. 9:46 AM.

      Exactly what numbers do you anticipate in each group of victims?
      A. Sister Angela's group?
      B. Group B CCOG?

      How many victims groups do you forsee?

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  7. If and when byrnes decides to remove those rose colored glasses, he might just recognize the apuron approved "Henchmen" for what/who they are, but most importantly, for what THEIR NOT, and then act accordingly...

    I understand that he being the bishop he should be fatherly, even pastoral, but he is also a "teacher", so what does it say of a teacher who allows abusive students to remain in the presence of the abused...

    I think that priest these days believe they can resolve anything with just their praise and prayers, just like when hon, who thought that by apologizing for and his taking back the venomous words of apuron and his attack dogs, would clean the slate and absolve the crimes of Satan...

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  8. Without "ir-reverencing" Byrnes or his office, we, who have worked so hard to get to this place, must assume that Filoni (which means Kiko and the Gennarini's) are still running this diocese until Archbishop Byrnes proves otherwise. Byrnes himself may not even know this, though he did say in his first press conference that he "reports to" Filoni. Really?

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    1. one thing for sure-Europeans and that means Kiko and Feloni, know all about dictators, authoritarianism, the jackboot and concentration camps. Not sure that anyone from Philly would really understand what the Balkans and Europe had to endure.

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    2. I said before that I was having a hard time partaking in the joyous arrival of Archbishop Byrnes due to the NCW still running around. When I read somewhere or maybe I heard him say that he went to Rome or spoke to Filoni Baloney, my gut instinct told me that things are not as it should be. Was it Filoni Baloney who recommended Archbishop Byrnes? Why does he answer to Filoni Baloney anyway? Well like I also mentioned when Hon first arrived that his real purpose was to salvage the NCW on Guam. I think that's exactly what Archbishop Byrnes is trying to do. He seems to think Charismatic Groups are what the world needs now, esp our Island of restless natives. I don't remember reading anywhere Jesus saying go out and form charismatic groups so you can become fishers of men or join a charismatic group so you can let your light shine and others may see your deeds and praise God. Please, Archbishop Byrnes said he's gonna bring Jesus to us and he is now one of us? Oh was Jesus never here? He may be a nice guy but so was Apuron when I sat down once with him by chance and talked about the current state of the Catholic Schools in Guam.
      There needs to be a mechanism where the laity is more involved in the direction our Archdiocese is headed. Archbishop Byrnes is a man, in charge of our spiritual well being and thats where it stops. I think its healthy that we have reached a point where we can engage our spiritual leaders and ask questions that must be answered with honestly and with God as witness. I get this feeling most think the war is won. It is not won until evil is stamped out of this Archdiocese, namely the NCW and its lying deceitful leaders and faithful spawns. Get rid of them completely if they can not be rehabilitated. No moratorium, just complete expulsion. They are spiritually sick, diseased spirits given themselves over to Satan the King of lies and his false phrophet Kiko and Rome allows this bullshit NCW and other charismatic groups to continue. Archbishop Byrnes needs to hurry up and get over here. First thing he should do is break away from Filoni Baloneys control and get our Archdiocese off of the Missionary Status ASAP! He also has some questions that need to be answered as to the first steps taken in the direction he is leading our Archdiocese.

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    3. 2.21, interesting you mention charismatic, which is a label Byrnes has already got. There is a true and a false charismatic, the latter far bigger.

      In the overdose of mysticism and mystique we have had in the Hume-Murphy O'Connor days and since, and a similar era elsewhere, good dynamics and good boundaries have taken a back seat to good craic. Seeing as Kiko simply substitutes a new form of religiosity for the particular kind he takes pot shots at, it may be that the new strategy is to switch back to the so-called "happy go lucky" image cloaking what is equally wishy washy, like we had in the 70s and early 80s, maybe with a few fogeyish devotions as a front.

      Real Holy Spirit power helps people honour the indwelling Jesus by dealing with each other straight and fair and lifting up needs in prayer to Our Father (in which case devotions become genuine).

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    4. 2,21, you make another interesting point about missionary status. Seeing as all the archbishops of all the archdioceses make such a song and dance about their diocesan itinerants being part of their diocesan itinerary, and seeing as my unimportant rural diocese is in the stranglehold of the surrounding three archbishops who aren't genuinely interested in us, and who need to be asked to call off their dogs (their itinerants and compromised "families"), if you ask Abp Byrnes to get Cardinal Tobin (who is doing Mr Filoni's dirty work for him) to in turn call off his dogs and if he doesn't, you will be able to tell how honest Abp Byrnes is. If Mr Filoni is willing to give Abp Byrnes a long leash, remain on your guard for the more wishy-washy versions of "charismatic".

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  9. That's why we MUST HEY RID OF THE neos!

    No ands, ifs nor buts!

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    1. It will pan out in various different versions of honesty and dishonesty:

      - all 800 will up and infest the rest of the world's dioceses boasting of how they have been so-called "persecuted" when it was only Kiko and their other high-ups that were persecuting them;

      - they will only hold mid-week Bible studies and NOT continue any "stages" - the only honest course and one which wasn't allowed in my diocese;

      - out of sentimentality and neurotic button-pushing they twist arms and arrange to continue various ceremonies of dubious worth and power-wielding relationships.

      I say these things as one who favoured the Way myself, even in glaringly irregular circumstances, for 28 years so it can't be said I am an anti!

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  10. Tims right. ..Feloni and Kiko are still in charge. AB Byrnes is just another puppet. Unless ... he fears God or fears Feloni and kiko..."you can only serve one master !"

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  11. Support must come from independent third party professionals! Using clergy or religious is the equivalent of the wolf guarding the hen house.

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  12. No-one must be allowed to hijack the survivors' debriefing, which must remain ongoing and in their full control, lifelong. To attempt to do so is blatantly unprofessional not to mention utterly opposed to Scriptures and Christ.

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    1. it appears that there are 1m victims that need debriefing! only God can sort this!

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  13. I never heard of Sister Angela until shortly after she was appointed by Byrnes, and only in this blog. And all I have heard/read are negative comments. Perhaps she should speak out and address all the concerns mentioned in this blog about her impartiality, or lack of it.

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    1. Rose de los Reyes (Seattle, WA)December 30, 2016 at 10:03 AM

      I speak only for my comment about Sr. Angela. For my point, it isn’t a matter of her ability to be impartial or even of her ability or experience to do the work with sexual abuse survivors. The archdiocese is facing a huge issue of mistrust of the Church and many of the changes it is attempting to currently effect. Sr. Angela is a contemporary of Abp Apuron. They have known each other for decades, in part because of their active work in the local Church that cover at least a couple of decades. Professionally, in his capacity as archbishop and her capacity as teacher, school administrator and other positions held in Guam’s Catholic education system, in effect, he has been her boss. To many, this would APPEAR as if she would be partial toward him because of that history. That appearance alone will encourage the already existing mistrust.

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    2. Good point, Rose. appearances count a lot, sometimes more than the boring truth.

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    3. 9:35am is excellent. Sister Angela it would be good to come to Junglewatch and share with readers what makes you a good candidate to lead a victims group? Readers are waiting to hear from you!

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  14. Will Sister Angela be able to keep the secrets from the B-ster? If not, then the B-ster, retired or not, will tell the lawyers, for sure, for sure.

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    1. Sister Brigid will be in tricky situation, for sure, for sure.

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  15. 5:07pm. whoever you are you know alot!

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  16. 5:07 PM sure likes to stir the pot to see if anyone will bite into insinuations and hearsay. We must be responsible for what we post. These two ladies have dedicated their lives as religious women and are both professional in their fields of expertise. I hope people will not use this feed to smear the good names of others or air out their previous disagreements with the good sisters. To use this venue as personal vendetta or gossipy rumor-mongering is not fair at all. Granted we make mistakes (let one without sin throw the first stone, right?) is no reason to drag others down with comments without class or rationality. If anyone has a problem with Archbishop Brynes' appointed persons might want to take this up with him and his representatives. Or please ask to speak directly to Sr. Angela and make their point if they really are so passionate about archdiocesan agents not participating in support of child abuse survivors due to perceived conflict of interest. We need to offer solutions, not criticisms.

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    1. Yes, they are professionals.

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    2. 8:50pm. comments are simply asking if Sister Angela is right person to help victims? It appears there are question marks.
      I would have thought that the good sister reflecting on her her friendship with Apuron covering up abuse would excuse herself from presenting herself as a leader. A Woman who protected Apuron should not be considered a leader. In fact anyone who held up Apuron has no business in leadership position today. Unless we see new Faces trusted faces Impossible to begin healing.

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  17. She should step down or resign. She should know better not be there. Her "affiliation" with Apuron is grounds for removal. Many know of her past and she compromises the integrity of the new leadership at the Chancery by accepting her new posts. She does not need to be told and the rumors are true.

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  18. the rumors are true. she was informed of the Chan case study in 1992 same time I challenged Apuron. If sister persists in what she is doing she and her congregation should be held accountable for protecting Apuron and cepeda. Disgusting this nun is proclaiming herself in such a manner. Shame on her and mercy sisters.

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  19. Present your proof that Sr. Angela has direct knowledge of any of this. She was busy running AOLG school and community at that time to poke her nose on any irregularity in the Archdiocese. Why are you so convinced that Sr. Angela is evil when you don't even live on Guam? Leave us alone and deal with your own issues. Otherwise you are part of the problem.

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    1. If David Lujan has his way, she and everyone else will have a chance to prove themselves in court.

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    2. 4:17pm.
      Thankyou. At least you admit there is irregularity in the Archdiocese.
      Happy New Year Father.

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  20. we are not concerned about Angela Perez in 2016. Rather more concerned about Angela Perez in 1990s. Infact David Lujan should call all these characters to the witness stand question them on what they knew and did to stop abuse. we know who went to anthony Apuron to question him and who just sat by in their glory for power wealth position. Angela was one of them sorry. she is on my sleeze list.

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  21. Best way is for David Lujan to call everybody to the witness stand so the Jury can decide who is at fault. In meantime I can only hope that Sister Angela Perez will go back to being a school mistress where her talents are more suited.

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  22. useless debating this Sister.
    She will do whatever she likes anyway.

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  23. This post created much interest. Interesting.

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