Guam legislature holds abuse hearings; administrator apologizes

August 05, 2016

As the Guam legislature holds hearings on whether to lift the statute of limitations in sexual-abuse cases, a 73-year-old Hawaiian man testified that he was abused in 1956 by a priest in Guam.

Contacted at his residence in Minnesota, Father Louis Brouillard, 95, told a Guam television station that he abused boys in Guam but did not recall how many. “I'm sorry and I apologize and I'm doing penance for them right now,” he said.

In 1985, the Diocese of Duluth, where Father Brouillard subsequently served, removed the priest from active ministry.

“With the news that Father Louis Brouillard, a priest who served on Guam, confessed to having abused altar boys on Guam in the 1950s, I convey my deepest apologies and that of the entire Church to Mr. Leo Tudela and all other persons who were also victimized,” said Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai.

The prelate, who serves as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is temporarily leading the Archdiocese of Agana as apostolic administrator while its ordinary, Archbishop Anthony Apuron, is himself under investigation for abuse allegations.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Guam church issues apology to victims after priest says 'it's possible' he abused minors (Pacific Daily News)
• Priest admits he molested children, says "I'm doing penance" (KUAM-TV)
• Clergy with Credible Claims against Them Concerning Sexual Abuse of a Young Person (Diocese of Duluth)