by Jolene Toves

Guam - John Toves continues to demand an appointment with Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Today he once again went to the chancery in hopes of scheduling a meeting but instead met with Father Adrian Cristobal who told him that a lawyer would be contacting him to make an appointment. 

Toves is accusing the archbishop of sexually abusing his relative over thirty years ago. Despite these allegations however Toves admits that he had never spoken personally to his relative about the alleged abuse.  According to Toves he obtained the information through fellow seminarians when he was in the seminary.  At this point no victim has stepped forward.

The archbishop has said the allegations are untrue. 

Late this afternoon the Archdiocese of Agana announced that the Review Board on the Policy of Sexual Misconduct convened to consider the complaint of sexual misconduct brought by Toves against the archbishop and determined that an investigation cannot be conducted based on the third party complaint received.  

The Archdiocese sent Toves a letter stating: Based on the allegations you have lodged with the Archdiocese of Agaña, and the new allegations that you have disclosed to the media on today’s date, please be advised that your requests for a meeting with the Archbishop are hereby denied.

Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D., has publicly addressed the issues you have raised, and the Archdiocese has determined how it will address this matter pursuant to its established internal policies.

For the last two days, you have appeared at the Chancery requesting an appointment, and you have brought the media with you on each occasion. Your efforts are not only disruptive to our daily operations, but serve no legitimate purpose, religious or otherwise. Therefore, you are hereby notified that any demands for an appointment or attempts to, in your own words, “confront” the Archbishop, on Chancery grounds or elsewhere, will be responded to appropriately and in accordance with the law.