While Archbishop Anthony Apuron has been placed on leave, he's been appointed by the Vatican to run the show. Guam's interim archbishop has his first run-in with church protestors over the weekend.

They weren't dressed in their Sunday best - instead, dozens of the island's faithful came to church to protest for Archbishop Anthony Apuron to resign.

"Pray for us...pray for us...pray for us," was the chant emanating from scores of islands Catholics. Among them, one of Apuron's most recent accusers: Walter Denton. Denton alleges he was an altar boy at Mount Carmel Church in Agat when he was raped by then-Father Anthony Apuron. Denton is the fourth individual to publicly accuse Apuron.

He joins Roy Quintanilla and Doris Concepcion whose son, Joseph "Sonny" Quinata, was on his deathbed when he alleged Apuron molested him. Two years ago, John Toves also came forward alleging Apuron molested his cousin. Because the victim never surfaced, the archdiocese never investigated.

Amid the recent allegations, the Vatican placed Apuron on leave last week and appointed apostolic administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai to carry out archdiocese business. Hon addressed the protestors and invited them in to celebrate mass. One protestor announced, "We want to welcome you archbishop - you are sent from Rome and we trust your presence here." Hon replied, saying, "We all here are doing the will of God. We are His instruments. All of you, including myself." The protestor maintained, "We hope you also listen to us and hear our message."

Although Archbishop Hon didn't address Denton in the crowd, he did acknowledge the allegations in a vigil prayer service for unity held Saturday evening. "I myself, I do not have the gift," said Hon in his homily. "I cannot see through your heart, you are the guilty one or you, you are not. So that's why we come to pray, so that a better solution can be found. A better decision can be made in a climate of serenity.

"I understand there are different accusations. I understand that there are people who felt being hurt from their early childhood."

On Sunday night, a gala dinner was held at the Hyatt Regency to benefit the seminary. While the archdiocese continues to decline comment to KUAM News inquiries, Apuron provided a full-page statement in the fundraiser booklet addressed to seminary benefactors dated June 12, reading, "And here in Guam, the church and I personally are being constantly and rather viciously harassed. The media is disseminating many lies. And they keep increasing their ferocity."

KUAM was unable to confirm whether Apuron's message was approved by Archbishop Hon.