A recent holy decree that attempted to stop Catholics from interacting with a group that is calling for the removal of Guam Archbishop Antony Apuron has been rescinded.

The bishop is facing allegations of sexual abuse. Three men had accused him of taking advantage of them sexually in the 1970s, when they were minors and Apuron was a Parish priest.

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Apuron, who has denied the accusations, issued a decree invalidating association with Concerned Catholics of Guam on June 5.

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, who was appointed as temporary administrator when the accusations started surfacing, rescinded the order.

Meanwhile, a third person - Roland Paul L.Sondia - has come forward accusing the Archbishop of sexual abuse.

The former altar boy said that the Priest abused him during a sleepover at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Rectory in Agat, where Apuron was Parish priest in 1977.

"When I was an altar boy almost 39 years ago, at the age of 15, I was molested by Antony Sablan Apuron. This was a man I trusted and had a lot of respect for," Sondia said during a press conference with the media.

He was accompanied by his wife, his lawyer David Lujan, and the families and supporters of the other three accusers.

The response to the latest accusation was more measured and reconciliatory compared to the replies when the first accusers came forward in May.

In previous responses, the Archbishop and the Archdiocese of Hagana promised to file lawsuits, claiming that 'malicious' lies were being peddled against them.  

The accusers are all calling for the removal of Apuron as the leader of the Catholic church in Guam.

TagsCatholic Church, sexual assault, Society news, Religion