NOTES FOR NINO

By Tim Rohr

It is now public news that "a serious allegation of clergy misconduct involving Rev. Fr. Antonino Caminiti, also known as Fr. Nino is under investigation."

According to a letter released by Archbishop Ryan Jimenez on Nov. 12, 2024, the incident occurred 11 years ago and involved "a boundary violation with an adult female during Fr. Nino’s time as pastor at Nino Perdido Y Sagrada Familia Church in Asan."

If the allegation is true, Fr. Nino should immediately publicly apologize. Given that the "violation" was with an adult female, and assuming that the violation wasn't forceable rape, an adult male, priest or not, being sexually attracted to an adult female, is a "natural" attraction, vs the "unnatural" attraction of a violation with a minor child or a male adult.

Yes, yes, I know. Some will think me a homophobe, but I'm just being realistic here. Given that this is a priest, if he was sexually involved with an adult male vs a female, it would be much worse going for Fr. Nino given the advice I am about to give. 

If it's true

Going only by the tone of the letter referring to the incident as a "boundary violation," I am going to assume that the "violation" had more to do with Fr. Nino violating his vow of celibacy and that the incident was probably at least somewhat consensual.

There is also the fact that while we could expect a child to not come forward about being sexually violated - which is why we passed a law permanently lifting the civil statute of limitations on sexual assault on minors - the other person in this case is an adult female, and for whatever reason, has only now come forward after 11 years. 

True, if she was sexually violated against her will, trauma could have played a role. But, as mentioned, unless we learn otherwise, for now, by the use of the term "boundary violation," the incident does not appear to have been the result of force.

Even if it wasn't consensual, Fr. Nino has everything to gain and nothing to lose by publicly saying "I'm sorry. I fell. I failed. Please forgive me." 

This was the same advice I gave Apuron on this blog back in 2016. Even though the accusations against him were much more serious - sexually molesting and raping boys - had he apologized, I think he would have found some measure of sympathy and forgiveness amongst the faithful of this archdiocese and might still be ensconced on San Ramon Hill, not to mention sparing the archdiocese the years of trauma which followed. 

Fr. Nino's violation, again according to the report, is exponentially more forgivable, not just by the faithful of the archdiocese, but by the general public, given that sexual unfaithfulness or at least an attraction to an adult member of the opposite sex, outside one's marriage or otherwise committed relationship, is common.

What Fr. Nino did, if he did it, is still wrong, just like adultery or even extra-marital flirting is wrong. But because it is so common, a public apology, I think, would be well accepted, and would do more for rehabilitating Fr. Nino than any "intensive renewal program" the archbishop said Fr. Nino would "undergo."

If it's false

Now, if the allegation is false, then Fr. Nino should spare no resource in proving it so. I say this out of experience. A few years ago, my name was all over the news of having abused my wife and sexually molested my daughters. You have only to google my name and the news stories, beginning with Krystal Paco's (KUAM), will come up. 

I have no problem telling you this because all of it was false and I eventually proved it to be false. Meanwhile, the most important thing I did was what I didn't do: I didn't run, run like Apuron did. I didn't run and hide and make up stories about being framed - as Apuron did.

While I was being drug through the news for a full week in 2018 (my lawyer at the time refused to permit me to publicly defend myself - I eventually fired her by the way), I continued to do my regular business and at each meeting I acknowledged the news about me to set the other person at ease. I also personally sought out all my friends and neighbors, advised them of the news - if they hadn't heard it - and let them know what was going on. 

Because the internet is forever, those stories will always be out there. But eventually, because people still saw me everyday and because I didn't flinch or hide, the lies, with some court work, died. 

In Fr. Nino's case, if the allegation is false, it is even more important for him to immediately, publicly, and openly say so and begin his journey to prove it false. And I recommend this to protect the integrity of the real victims and survivors of clergy sex abuse. 

Unfortunately, so many people are questioning the integrity of the real victims and survivors because it is quite possible that the aforementioned law and the actions of the Archdiocese have opened the door for abuse. 

I say "actions of the Archdiocese" because contrary to the characterization that the church had to be "dragged kicking and screaming into court," after Archbishop Byrnes took over, he functionally threw up his hands when he declared bankruptcy and the stream of subsequent accusers were mostly lightly vetted and eventually not vetted at all. In other words, Byrnes said "we give up, sue us." 

While it was somewhat honorable for Byrnes to do this, it opened the door for further abuse of the real victims by those who made false claims, not only by diluting the integrity of the real victims but also by diluting "the pot," meaning less money for the real victims. 

So many of the victims, real or false, hid behind their initials in their filings. "Shame" etc. was used as the reason. But I say B.S. While the violation may have happened when they were minors they weren't minors when it came time to sue. They were adults and should have acted like adults. 

Not only did Apuron's initial accusers stand up publicly to challenge Apuron when there was no law to protect them, they also publicly testified at the public hearings which led to the law. And I believe that had they not publicly and personally testified and put their faces in front of the Legislature and in the news for many months that there would be no law for anyone to sue.

Don't hide

True of false, the worst thing in the world right now for Fr. Nino is to hide in the Archbishop's house. And the worst thing for the Archbishop right now is to hide him. Come on out, Fr. Nino, either apologize or declare the allegation false and that you will prove it. Don't run and hide. That's what Apuron did. 

One last note

Nino is a product of the fake seminary (RMS). It was well known that RMS was basically a catch-all place for prospective presbyters (that's what they call them), who either couldn't be ordained elsewhere or were clearly kicked out of other seminaries. Guam's RMS was the place they ended up because Apuron would ordain anyone he was ordered to ordain by the Neocat generals who were only interested in upping their numbers of ordinations to increase their influence in Rome. 

So it's no surprise that there is another problem with a neocat product, Luis Camacho being the first. And who knows what we don't know. Several of these guys have mysteriously disappeared as I wrote about here. 

And I also know that the Neocat generals were at least partially behind the plot to publicly trash me in 2018. Apuron was found guilty by the Vatican in March 2018. Those stories about me came out in May 2018 as Apuron filed his appeal, an appeal based on the allegation that I had been behind a plot to remove him. So discrediting me, the prime - or at least most public - antagonist in the takedown of Apuron, was critical to the survival of his appeal. 

In November 2019, my case went to trial but was mysteriously interrupted after the first day and was never continued. I ended up having to take over my own case, and through court filings alone, prove the allegations against me to be false, or at the very least, unsubstantiated, which permitted me to gain custody of my son and access to a still-minor daughter. 

Apuron's personal trial is again in the news and is apparently moving forward. I find it interesting that I have never been named or subpoenaed in his case given that his primary defense was that I framed him. Maybe he knows what I know. 

Good luck Nino. Do the right thing. But don't hide.