THE ARCHDIOCESE OF AGANA

CHANCERY OFFICE
196B Cuesta San Ramon ! Hagta, Guam 96910-4334 ! Tel: (671) 472-6116, (671) 562-0000 ! Fax: (671) 477-3519
July 22, 2013
Archdiocese Statement Regarding Father Paul Gofigan
Effective July 17, 2013 His Excellency Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron
appointed Father Dan Bien, Parochial Administrator of Santa Barbara Church in
Dededo.
Father Dan replaces Father Paul Gofigan as the Parochial Administrator. Father
Paul is still a priest and at this time, a priest with the Archdiocese of Agana.
However, in light of specific assertions made by Father Paul in a letter he widely
disseminated publicly July 20, the Archdiocese is compelled to respond to set the
record straight. Here are the facts:
I. INVESTIGATION & COMMUNICATION -- Father Paul stated in his letter
he was asked to resign despite following the Archbishops directive. He wrote,
this entire issue could have been cleared up if they had simply spoken with me, and
done a basic investigation

The Archbishop DID in fact speak directly to Father Paul. He and the Vicar
General, Msgr. David C. Quitugua, spoke to Father Paul in a meeting July 16
as he was informed of the decision.

There WAS an investigation on the matter. Father Paul was informed of this
in that same meeting and in the letter he received July 16. He was given an
opportunity to respond.
II. SAFETY OF CHILDREN FOREMOST

Father Paul was asked to resign because he disobeyed a directive from the
Archbishop. In 2011, he was asked to terminate employment of an employee
publically (sic) known to have a sex offense on his record.

Father Paul asserts in his letter that he did terminate the employee. However,
our investigation has revealed that the person continued to have an active
presence at the parish as a volunteer. The person had keys to the facilities
and had an active role on church grounds in different ways.
It should be understood by everyone that the Church has the utmost compassion for
all people, even those who have fallen and may have committed crimes in the past.
We are all sinners; the Church is comprised of sinners. We welcome and do not bar
anyone from our Masses.
It pains the Archbishop and the Church to have to take this action against a brother
priest. Father Paul is and has long been a very good, faithful priest in the Church
on Guam.
However, especially in light of the painful lessons the Church and all of society
have had to endure in recent years and still endures we must abide by standards
that will safeguard all children in our care. As Jesus teaches us, the youngest are
among the must vulnerable among us and great care must be given to safeguard
them.
A school full of children is in very close proximity to the parish. Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine (CCD) students, Confirmation students and other youth groups
are part of the parish.
As the Archbishop clearly stated in his letter and was communicated to Father
Paul, this is a serious matter which prompted him to act decisively. It was done
with much prayer, with a review of the facts and with the ultimate consideration
being the safety of our children.
Archdiocese of Agana, 562-0000.
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