BECAUSE YOU'RE A LIAR

By Tim Rohr

Apuron at the Vatican, after he ran away from Guam in 2016

In light of what Apuron is claiming (his innocence), let us review what he claimed on April 4, 2019, after Pope Francis personally upheld his guilty verdict by the Vatican court. 

My comments in red, and all emphases added.

LINK to original copy. 

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April 4, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

Statement of Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap. D.D.

 

I am deeply saddened by the decision of the Holy Father to confirm the decision of the court of first instance. I lodged an appeal against that decision last year because I am innocent and the sentence of the court of first instance had vindicated me declaring non credible the majority of the charges made against me: I believe that the facts and evidence presented demonstrated my total innocence.

Here is what the court of the first instance found on March 13, 2018: 

The Apostolic Tribunal of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, composed of five judges, has issued its sentence of first instance, finding the accused guilty of certain of the accusations and imposing upon the accused the penalties of privation of office and prohibition of residence in the Archdiocese of Guam.

Apuron and his supporters have consistently claimed that because the court did not specifically state "sex abuse of minors," that Apuron was not found guilty of that crime. However, whatever "certain of the accusations" means, it was serious enough to deprive him of his office and prohibit him from residing in Guam - forever. So whatever he did, it was obviously very serious. 

Of course we know what he did, because upon Pope Francis upholding Apuron's guilty verdict, Francis clearly stated what Apuron was guilty of:

...the Tribunal of Second Instance upheld the sentence of First Instance finding the Archbishop guilty of delicts against the Sixth Commandment with minors. 

Moreover, in addition to privation of office and prohibition from residing in Guam, the Pope went on to add an additional penalty: 

...the perpetual prohibition from using the insignia attached to the rank of Bishop. 

Yet, Apuron wants us to believe that the first Vatican tribunal and then the Pope are wrong. And he still wants us to believe given his little speech the other day after his accusers decided to dismiss their complaints after ten years of going nowhere. 

In fact, it's quite a slap in the face to them. They were told for ten years how old and sickly Apuron was and how he couldn't even sit for a single deposition, so it's quite possible out of mercy that they dropped their cases. And then immediately Apuron runs to the cameras, not looking old or sickly at all, proclaims his innocence (again), and slams the very people who showed him mercy. But that's Apuron. 

It's also quite possible that the court of the first instance, out of reserve and mercy for Apuron, did not detail the exact crimes Apuron had been found guilty of. And of course, Apuron right away ran to the cameras saying that this was evidence of his innocence. Apuron's complete disregard for the mercy the first court showed him is probably why Francis made the reason for the guilty verdict very clear upon the failure of Apuron's appeal.  

In addition to the pattern of contradictions evident in the accusations laid against me, my hopes for a successful appeal were supported by what I considered to be definitive new evidence which illustrated what I have always asserted to be a coordinated campaign against me.

As the primary "coordinator" of the alleged "campaign," I can tell you yes, it became a "coordinated campaign." I detailed the whole thing in a series I titled "Orchestrated." 

The short version is this. After Apuron kicked Fr. Paul Gofigan out of his parish, and then Msgr. James Benavente, a man living in San Francisco named John Toves publicly claimed that Apuron had sexually molested a relative. As that story gained traction, others who Apuron had sexually abused began to wake up. 

After Roy Quintanilla came forward to accuse Apuron, the news got to a woman living in Arizona who used to live in Agat, Guam, and whose son, on his deathbed, told her that Apuron had raped him. The woman, Doris Concepcion, made the story known to the press whereupon Apuron, on May 31, 2016, threatened to sue me, Doris, and anyone else involved in exposing his crimes:

Therefore, the Archdiocese of Agana is in the process of taking canonical and legal measures against those perpetrating these malicious lies. (Archdiocese of Agana, Press Release, May 31, 2016)

This is when things started to get coordinated. We had no legal protections against Apuron, and he had the money of the archdiocese to crush us. So we began working on legislation that would allow us to fight back. That legislation became the public law lifting the civil statute of limitations on the sex abuse of minors which was enacted in September 2016. 

By then Apuron had already run away and been hiding for months. The problem escalated when the guy Rome sent to run things, Archbishop Savio Hon, who worked for Cardinal Fernando Filoni, a Neocat cardinal, mocked Apuron's accusers - in a clear attempt to save the Neocatechumenal Way in Guam. At that point, the late-Senator Bob Klitzkie got involved and developed the legislation to include institutional liability, which was critical to attracting lawyers to the case. 

So yah, it was "coordinated," but not from the start. Every time Apuron made a move, beginning with his treatment of Gofigan, there was an "equal and opposite reaction." Apuron, per his recent video, is still making those moves and provoking ever more "equal and opposite reactions," if only, at this point, my reminding everyone of just how terrible this man was...and still is.

The pontifical secret prevents me from litigating my good name in public, but I wish to take this opportunity to offer my deepest thanks to the many individuals who have privately and publicly come forward in my defense, despite threats and the climate of fear on my beloved home of Guam. This climate, - shown by the local media, - which hampered the work of the court of first instance, testifies to the presence of a pressure group that plotted to destroy me, and which has made itself clearly known even to authorities in Rome. Several persons have told me - with great pain and fear and asking me not to reveal their names - they had been asked to make allegations against me, even offered money.

So pathetic. This man is either Evil Incarnate or he is sick, very mentally sick. Out of charity, I'll assume the latter. Apuron has had no problem over the years "litigating (his) good name in public." In fact, if there really was a "pontifical secret" in place, he could not have even written this very statement where he proclaims his innocence immediately after being found guilty for the second time by Pope Francis himself. 

If there really were threats, a climate of fear, a pressure group that plotted to destroy him, and people who were offered money to make allegations against him, then now's your moment Mr. Apuron. Now's your moment. There is no more legal action in either the church or the civil courts, so you are free to name names. So why aren't you? Because you're a liar. 

Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime that cries to heaven for vengeance. The desperate need for justice and compassion for the survivors is fundamental. So too is the urgent need to fight this evil always and everywhere through a transparent and courageous search for the truth.

LOL. I sure hope Apuron is truly mentally ill, because otherwise this statement is a sacrilege which itself "cries to heaven for vengeance."

The sentence of the Holy Father concludes my search for justice in the canonical forum: I owe His Holiness my obedience as a bishop, priest and son of the Church. I totally submit to the judgment of the Holy Father as I thank him for allowing me to continue serving as a priest and archbishop without insignia. This sentence exiles me from my beloved Guam: a penalty analogous to a death sentence for me. I lose my homeland, my family, my church, my people, even my language, and I remain alone in complete humiliation, old and in failing health.

Oh boo-hoo. Alone, old, and in failing health. Well here we are six years later and he looks just fine on his little personal TV station. He's being well cared for by his Neocat brethren. That was the deal from the outset. And he DID NOT "totally submit to the judgment of the Holy Father." If he did, he would not have immediately released this statement which functionally states that the Holy Father is WRONG. 

I offer this suffering for the Holy Father: may the Lord guide him at this difficult time at the helm of the Church; I offer my suffering to my accusers and to those who have plotted for my removal: may the Lord fill them with everything they want and pray - Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.

Oh, here we go again with Apuron mocking Jesus on the cross. And by the way, we did know what we did. Because we know what YOU DID.

I hope that one day new witnesses, who have been prevented from coming forward by the atmosphere of fear and intimidation, will yet fully vindicate my name. I also pray for my accusers and for those who have plotted against me. We will each meet before that final tribunal where the full truth will be laid bare before the Supreme Judge.

The only atmosphere of fear and intimidation - and this is on the record - was coming from Apuron who constantly threatened to sue us. And, as I already said, now's your time, Mr. Apuron. Now's your opportunity to bring forth those "new witnesses." I recommend you do it before you get to the Supreme Judge yourself. 

I pray unceasingly for the Holy Church and I look forward to the justice that awaits me beyond this valley of tears: when I awake I will be satisfied with your face, oh Lord.

You'll see justice alright. And we didn't see any tears in your video.