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