NORTHERN MARIANAS – The Northern Marianas has been rocked by allegations its former Catholic bishop abused an altar boy when he was a priest on Guam.

The accusation comes as the Vatican has begun hearing evidence of abuse allegations against Guam’s archbishop.

A lawsuit has been filed against Bishop Emeritus Tomas Camacho, alleging he repeated raped and abused former altar boy Melvin Duenas over a four-year period in Guam in the 1970s.

David Lujan, the lawyer representing Deunas, says its the most serious allegation yet made of abuse by the clergy on Guam.

“Compared to the others, to the other priests, including Archbishop Apuron, I think in regards to the physical act, that of Bishop Camacho is probably the worst of all.”

Camacho went on to head the Catholic Church in the Northern Marianas for more than two decades – serving as its Bishop from 1984 until his retirement in 2010.

Radio New Zealand’s CNMI correspondent Mark Rabago says the allegations have provoked a strong reaction

“Everybody was shocked, especially for a Catholic island like the CNMI, they really put their priests, especially the Bishop on a pedestal here. So everybody was shocked and even accused the media of trying to fabricate stuff.”

Rabago says there have been no reports of abuse committed by Tomas Camacho in the Northern Marianas – but there have previously been concerns about abuse by other priests in the Commonwealth.

“There are also some that say, you know, that’s why I don’t go to the Catholic Church any more. They say that this has been a problem and there could, there are other priests, although nobody say the names of the priest or whoever was abused, but there have been rumours in the past.”

He says hopefully the claims of abuse on Guam could give courage to those who have been abused in the CNMI to come forward.

Investigations into the allegations against Guam’s Archbishop Apuron have stepped up, with Vatican representatives visiting to gather evidence as part of a canonical trial.

A group called The Concerned Catholics of Guam picketed outside as the officials heard testimony from Roland Sondia, one of the former altar boys accusing him of abuse in the 1970s.

The group’s president David Sablan says they wanted to show the Vatican they mean business.

“We were up there with our picket signs asking for Apuron to be defrocked.

“We just have no confidence in him anymore to be our leader. So that was one of our objectives, the second of course is to support Sondia in seeking justice.”

Roland Sondia came forward last June to publicly accuse Archbishop of sexual abuse.

“When I was an altar boy almost 39 years ago, at the age of 15, I was molested by Anthony Sablan Apuron. This was a man who I trusted and had a lot of respect for,” Sondia told the media in Hagatna st the time.

Sablan says the archbishop, who is also facing numerous lawsuits, is now believed to be living in California and they don’t want him to keep receiving a paycheck from the church for doing nothing.

He says based on the evidence lodged against Archbishop Apuron its doubtful whether the Vatican can come to any other conclusion other than to remove him from office.

But lawyer David Lujan, who represents Roland Sondia and others accusing the archbishop, questions whether the trial will deliver justice for the victims.

“I’m dubious about anything regarding the Catholic Church and how it deals with priests and sex abuse complainants. The history has been nothing but to cover up.”

The Vatican’s policy is that it alone can investigate bishops and archbishops accused of sexual abuse.

An expert in canon law says Bishop Emeritus Tomas Camacho could also face a trial by the Vatican even though he is now retired.

In response to the latest abuse claims, the Catholic Church in Guam and the Northern Marianas have issued statements saying they are committed to protecting children and young people through education and transparency.

- RNZI/PNC