17 Jan 2017

Guam concern over priest transfer to Canada

12:49 pm on 17 January 2017

Concerns have been raised on Guam about the Catholic Church's decision to send a priest accused of misconduct to study canon law in Canada.

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Guam

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

The Pacific Daily News reported a group called Concerned Catholics of Guam said Father Adrian Cristobal lied to shelter Anthony Apuron, an archbishop accused of sex abuse.

Archbishop Apuron faces a Vatican trial and a number of lawsuits on Guam over numerous historical allegations of child sex abuse.

The group accused the island's Catholic Church of sending Father Cristobal to Canada with full knowledge of his actions, which appeared to condone his misdeeds.

A spokesperson said sending the priest to study in Canada, and not the mainland United States, was suspect.

The church was yet to respond to the newspaper.

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