December 06, 2013

Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D.

Archdiocese of Agana
196 B Cuesta San Ramon
Agana, GU 96910
Dear Archbishop Apuron:
At the recent clergy retreat in Manila, you were heard to say the follow-
ing:
...some people are wondering what is going on between the two of them
that Fr. Paul is willing to sacrice his priesthood for this particular man.
You were also heard to say the following:
...so many complaints were coming in about why was he still working
there and why were they so intimate, because he had built a stairway up to
his room, his room was on the second oor, and he would come in the
middle of the night with cases of beer and what not and stays there until
the early morning...
The particular man to whom you refer is, of course, Mr. Joseph Lasti-
moza, and I have to wonder who the some people are.
Archbishop, your remarks have put me in a very bad light. I can only
draw the worst of conclusions from your words between the two of
them. Did you accuse me of a homosexual relationship with Joseph Las-
timoza? As you know, Mr. Lastimoza is married and that he and his wife
have two daughters.
Furthermore, did you accuse me of improperly using parish funds or re-
sources to build a stairway to my room to further this relationship? As my
predecessors and many parishioners can conrm, the stairway was there
long before I was assigned to Santa Barbara. As for delivering beer, yes,
beer is one of my favorite drinks and, yes, Mr. Lastimoza, (as well as many
other parishioners, friends, and family) has on occasion dropped off beer
and other drinks, food, and supplies to my room (many of which are do-
FROM THE DESK OF
T (671) 488-0613 FR. PAUL A.M. GOFIGAN F

ST. ANTHONY & ST VICTOR CATHOLIC CHURCH

TAMUNING, GUAM
nated by parishioners, friends, and family), and, yes, on occasion, he
would be there, as with other parishioners, friends, and family, to talk,
laugh, converse, to socialize, to hear confessions, and to counsel, and, yes,
have drinks and food while doing so.
Archbishop, perhaps these attacks are part and parcel of the painful and
arduous experience you threatened that I would experience if I did not
accede to your demand to resign, but it is my sincere prayer that you im-
mediately set the records straight on this matter as these remarks are slan-
derous and defamatory. I would like both a retraction and an apology in
writing.
Respectfully,
Father Paul A.M. Gogan
Cc: Most Rev. Martin Krebs, Apostolic Delegate
Msgr. David C. Quitugua, Vicar General
Fr. Adrian Cristobal, Chancellor
Adolfo N. Dacanay, S.J., Advocate
FROM THE DESK OF
FR. PAUL GOFIGAN

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