Pacific / Guam

Another lawsuit filed against the Catholic Church in Guam

19:24 pm on 23 December 2016

Another former altar boy has filed a lawsuit against Guam's Catholic Church alleging historical sexual assault.

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Guam Photo: 123rf

Sixty-two-year-old Ramon Afaisen De Plata alleged that he was molested by Reverend Antonio Cruz, who is now dead, in 1964, when he was 10-years-old.

Mr De Plata's lawsuit is the 14th filed against Guam's Catholic Church since the government in September removed the statue of limitations that prevented historical cases from being prosecuted.

Mr De Plata also told the Pacific Daily News that a then-seminarian, Anthony Apuron, was present when the abuse took place.

Mr Apuron, who was the highest leader of Guam's Catholic Church for 30 years, is now undergoing a canonical trial in the Vatican over multiple allegations of historical sexual abuse.