STEVE STANDS UP. LET'S NOT LET HIM STAND ALONE.

Wow! That's pretty good. The lead story on PNC twice in a row. Yesterday Bob Klitzkie pigeon-holing the AG on the screwy title issue and today Steve Martinez calling out the bad boys on the hill!

http://pacificnewscenter.com/local/8873

Deacon Steve Martinez was the former sexual abuse response coordinator for the Archdiocese of Agana.

Guam - In light of the recent controversy regarding Father Luis Camacho who’s now in Qatar, we sat down with Deacon Steve Martinez, the former sex abuse response coordinator for the Archdiocese of Agana, to get his thoughts on the situation.

It was just about a year ago when Father Luis Camacho was arrested by police and charged with custodial interference. He was accused of picking up a 17-year-old student without her parents’ or the school’s permission and then taking her to a secluded beach.

Although police never charged Father Luis with sexual misconduct because the minor was of the age of consent, allegations surfaced that Father Luis and the student did engage in sexual contact. Deacon Steve Martinez was the former sex abuse response coordinator for the Archdiocese of Agana.

"If they’ve been conducting their investigation based on solely custodial interference, it’s a dog chasing its tail going in the wrong direction," says Deacon Steve.

The Archdiocese of Agana launched a canonical investigation as Father Luis resigned as priest of the Merizo and Umatac churches. Then a year went by and no one had heard from him. He seemed to disappear--until recently when he popped up at a church in Qatar scheduled to host a youth retreat at the end of this month.

PNC: "Do you think it's appropriate for someone like him to be in the position he is in now?"

Deacon Steve: "It’s really not a matter of my own personal opinion, it is the church guidelines that we should be following. The church says that while an individual is under investigation and if it appears to be credible, they should be removed form ministry."

In response to the Catholic outcry over Father Luis' sudden position in Qatar, the Archdiocese yesterday issued a statement saying Father Luis is still a priest of the Archdiocese of Agana. The statement notes that the investigation is still ongoing, however, it also says that Archbishop Anthony Apuron applied precautionary measures and asked Father Luis to resign last year. The statement, issued by Archdiocese Spokesperson Father Adrian Cristobal, also notes that Father Luis was never accused of sexual misconduct. However, Deacon Steve points out that a formal complaint was filed with the Archbishop with the allegations of sexual abuse.

"So the archbishop required his removal as pastor. If the investigation is still ongoing, the question is why has it taken 13 months to determine and how can you conduct an investigation when the accused is half a world away," he points out.

Some in the community have come to Father Luis’ defense, pointing out that because the minor was 17 and the age of consent, no crime was committed.

"But church law is completely different and very clear. According to the sex abuse policy, any sexual contact with a child is sexual abuse," says Deacon Steve.

PNC: "Is there an age limit?"

Deacon Steve: "Yes and it's very clearly spelled out that the age of a child is under 18. There's no exemption for age of consent ot anything like that. So the fact that the government chose not to follow its track is, that’s their decision to make but the church is bound to follow its own requirements."

Deacon Steve also points out that even if the student were already 18 years old, because she was a parishioner of Father Luis’ church and an altar server, Father Luis was in a position of trust and therefore any sexual contact would still be considered sexual exploitation, which has the same consequences and punishment as sexual abuse in the church’s policy.

"But more important than that, how about harm to children that this is happening to? And to push a priest from one to another is like saying Guam doesn’t have room for another murderer so let’s give them a one way ticket to Hawaii and then we don’t have to worry about him," he says. "It’s pretty egregious."

MY RESPONSE TO TODAY'S STORY IN THE MARIANAS VARIETY

Here is my response to this story in today's Marianas Variety:

It is NOT an internal matter. Another lie. The canon (church law) used to threaten Deacon Steve Martinez with "censure" applies to any Catholic associated with the Concerned Catholics of Guam, not just a cleric. Canon 1374 reads: "A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or directs an association of this kind is to be punished with an interdict."

In using this canon to threaten Deacon Martinez, Archbishop Apuron has judged the CCOG to be "an association which plots against the Church", thus "a person", any person who joins this association, in Apuron's view, "is to be punished with a just penalty."

The action against Deacon Martinez is then a public matter for all Catholics. It is obvious that Archbishop Apuron has judged that anyone who differs with him is guilty of "plotting against the church."

A MESSAGE FROM DEACON STEVE MARTINEZ

"Open Communications, Not Closed Doors" – Pope Francis 12/16/14

First, let us give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, who died that we might live. We wait in joyful hope for the innocent child who will redirect the course of history. Happy Advent to all!

They say that timing is everything, and this past week was for me a reminder of that adage. Last Wednesday started with anticipation, and ended with the realization that my participation in a newly formed organization could result in censure. That means the total stripping of my faculties to carry out my ministry of service as a deacon. My day ended deep into the night, prayerfully asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and courage in a decision I had to make. I cannot discuss the details, but that event is not yet over. However, it is not the central point to this writing. It is how our Church is constantly working to bring people to God through effective communications.

PACIFIC NEWS CENTER: NEW DEADLINE FOR DEACON STEVE

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Archbishop Gives Deacon New Deadline to Cut Ties with Concerned Catholics Group

Deacon Steve Martinez says Archbishop Anthony Apuron reinstated him, but gave him a new deadline to obey his orders.

JUST AS WE THOUGHT

A new deadline for the Deacon, and of course AFTER the visitors from Rome leave. But this is also because this blew up in Apuron's face over the weekend. He did not expect Deacon Martinez to accept his censure. He expected him to cower and to crawl. He didn't and he won't. You see, unlike Apuron, Deacon Martinez is not a coward nor a bully. By the way, expect Apuron to bring in reinforcements. The kiko's are not about to lose Guam without a fight. Well, they'll get one. 

****

December 22, 2014

Subsequent to my defacto censure at close of business December 18 I received a second letter from Archbishop Anthony after close of business December 19 that I am no longer under censure, and my faculties have been restored. I gladly welcome the opportunity to continue serving the people of Guam. However, a second warning was given by the Archbishop demanding an end to my relationship with Concerned Catholics Of Guam. While still under the threat of censure, a new deadline was set for January 19, 2015.

IN THE NEWS: THE DEACON MARTINEZ SAGA

The PNC website was down over the weekend so this is the first opportunity to post this. 

Friday, 19 December 2014

Deacon Steve Martinez Fired for Being Part of Concerned Catholics Group

Written by  Janela Carrera
http://pacificnewscenter.com/guam/item/1336-deacon-steve-martinez-fired-for-being-part-of-concerned-catholics-group

Archbishop Apuron reportedly punished Deacon Steven Martinez for being a part of Concerned Catholics of Guam.

Guam - Newly formed group Concerned Catholics of Guam may have just received its first warning from the Archdiocese of Agana as the group’s treasurer, Deacon Steve Martinez has just confirmed that Archbishop Anthony Apuron has censured him.

APURON VS. MARTINEZ

According to Deacon Martinez, he was accused by Archbishop Apuron of violating the following canons:

Can. 1369 A person who in a public show or speech, in published writing, or in other uses of the instruments of social communication utters blasphemy, gravely injures good morals, expresses insults, or excites hatred or contempt against religion or the Church is to be punished with a just penalty.

Can. 1373 A person who publicly incites among subjects animosities or hatred against the Apostolic See or an ordinary because of some act of power or ecclesiastical ministry or provokes subjects to disobey them is to be punished by an interdict or other just penalties.

Can. 1374 A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or directs an association of this kind is to be punished with an interdict.

In referencing these canons, Archbishop Apuron is accusing Deacon Steve Martinez of:

1. exciting hatred and contempt against the Church,
2. inciting animosities and hatred against an ordinary (himself) and provoking subject to disobedience, and
3. joining an association which is plotting against the Church.

Upon learning of these accusations, Deacon Martinez asked Archbishop Apuron and the Vicar General for evidence of any of the above accusations. Answer: NOTHING.

Now, let's take a look for ourselves. 

For the first two, we will have to assume that Deacon Martinez is guilty of "exciting hatred" and "inciting animosities" because while he was still the Sex Abuse Response Coordinator he insisted that the Fr. John Wadeson case be held up to the scrutiny of the Archbishop's own sex abuse policy and had already begun to proceed with the investigation, which of course led to his being fired from that position.

As for joining an association with is plotting against the Church, a reference to the Concerned Catholics of Guam, the CCOG, which was only officially formed a week ago, has yet to do anything other than hold its first press conference. 

Read for yourself what was published and see if you can find any evidence of the CCOG plotting against the Church, unless of course you want to classify holding Archbishop Apuron accountable to his own policies as plotting against the Church, which is how Apuron apparently sees it. 

The letter from Archbishop Apuron to Deacon Martinez accusing him of the above and giving him the ultimatum to resign from the CCOG or suffer censure was delivered on 12/17/14 and Deacon Martinez was given until the close of business on 12/18/14 to comply.

In threatening Deacon Martinez with "censure", Archbishop Apuron incurred cause for his own censure by violating Can. 1341 which says: An ordinary is to take care to initiate a judicial or administrative process to impose or declare penalties only after he has ascertained that fraternal correction or rebuke or other means of pastoral solicitude cannot sufficiently repair the scandal, restore justice, reform the offender.

As with Fr. Paul and Msgr. James Benavente, Archbishop Apuron did NOT care to engage in "fraternal correction" or "other means of "pastoral solicitude". In fact, as with Fr. Paul and Msgr. James before him, Deacon Steve had no idea why he was being called to a meeting with the Vicar General. In fact he thought the meeting might have to do with a new assignment. 

So aside from Apuron's reprehensible bullying, confronting Deacon Martinez with the ultimatum was canonically illegal. In addition, Apuron also violated Can. 1347 §1 which states: A censure cannot be imposed validly unless the offender has been warned at least once beforehand to withdraw from contumacy and has been given a suitable time for repentance.

Deacon Martinez was NOT warned before given the ultimatum nor is less than 24 hours "a suitable time for repentance." Perhaps the soon to arrive Secretary for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples will, in turn, censure Apuron (after a suitable time for repentance of course). 

And there is also the issue of the other officers: Greg Perez, Dave Sablan, and Vangie Lujan. The above canons apply to Catholics who are within the jurisdiction of the bishop, NOT just clerics. In accusing Deacon Martinez of violating the above canons (or at least Can. 1374) Apuron is de facto accusing the other three officers of the same. 

However, because Apuron is a coward (all bullies are) he is only going after someone he thinks he can publicly flog (a la Gofigan and Benavente) and who can't fight back. 

There is more to the story.

As per Apuron's December 17 letter, Deacon Martinez was given until the close of business (5pm) on December 18 to resign "or else". However, late in the afternoon of  December 18, Deacon Martinez received a call from Fr. Adrian advising him that the Archbishop had moved the deadline until January 12, 2015. 

It appeared at first that Apuron, by moving the deadline, was willing to proceed more reasonably. However, we now can see things a bit more clearly.

The strange eagerness of the chancery to tell the media about the impending visit from Rome is dated December 18. The visitors from Rome will be here January 4 to January 10. The new deadline for Deacon Martinez? January 12.  Hmmm. 

Obviously it appears that Apuron, having received notice of the Roman visitors on December 18,, the day after he threatened Deacon Steve, realized the catastrophic repercussions should the "defrocking" of Deacon Steve hit the press just before the visitors arrived, and hurriedly told Adrian to advise Deacon Steve of the new deadline so he could smile at the Romans and then beat up Deacon Steve after they had departed.

However, Deacon Steve had no other official information other than the Archbishop's December 17 letter, and Adrian's phone call was only a phone call. And why should Adrian be trusted anyway? In addition, Deacon Steve had written his own letter to Apuron requesting to discuss the charges and (as expected) Apuron did not reply. 

Thus, Deacon Steve's ONLY option was to either resign from the CCOG by 5pm, December 18 or suffer "censure". 5pm, December 18, came and went and still no word from Apuron and no resignation from the CCOG by Deacon Martinez. At that point the "censure" automatically went into effect. 

But now we have Apuron and Adrian out there saying "We know NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING." However, the tables are turning because more and more people are saying of Apuron, Quitugua, and Cristobal: "LIARS, LIARS, LIARS." 

It is coincidental that the three Romans will arrive near the Feast of the Epiphany, Three Wise Men from afar... Too bad they will not find "peace on earth" in the Archdiocese of Agana. Anything but.

Note: Archbishop Apuron had imposed a gag order on Deacon Steve in his December 17 letter. However, as Deacon Steve shared in his December 19 letter to Apuron acknowledging the censure, he considers Apuron's gag order no longer applicable and thus the information, shared here, is being made public. 

DEACON STEVE MARTINEZ ACKNOWLEDGES APURON'S CENSURE

PDF copy here