VIDEO: Former BBMR Director ...

By Janela Buhain Carrera
Pacific News Center
August 6, 2014

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47563:video-former-bbmr-director-rivera-to-archbishop-its-never-too-late-to-say-qim-sorryq&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156

VIDEO: Former BBMR Director Rivera to Archbishop: It's Never Too Late to Say "I'm Sorry"

Guam - Concerned about what they said are false allegations against Monsignor James Benavente, various community leaders with financial backgrounds held a news conference today to refute claims of financial mismanagement made by Archbishop Anthony Apuron against the Monsignor.

"We felt compelled to speak out after the archbishop released a statement accusing Msgr. James of financial practices that were grave and detrimental to the archdiocese. Nothing is further from the truth," said former BBMR Director Joseph Rivera.

Various community leaders with strong financial backgrounds gathered in support of Monsignor James Benavente this morning at the steps of the Agana Cathedral to address allegations made by Archbishop Anthony Apuron against the monsignor. Rivera and Art Ilagan, the insurance and banking commissioner and former director of Rev and Tax spoke on the ousted rector’s behalf. They were responding to specific allegations made by the Archbishop in a July 31st statement.

"There were five allegations on there. Of those five allegations, if you’ll note, two of them were already completed and addressed by Deloitte and Touché in their Jan. 8, 201[4] letter that was already printed also. And another two were addressed in documents that were submitted to the archdiocese, to Deacon Dominic Kim by the cemeteries staff in May 21st. So that’s 2 months prior to this letter," Rivera pointed out.

Rivera noted that the last item was in the process of being corrected and that Archbishop Apuron had even acknowledged this.

"In fact the archbishop himself in a letter dated June 26, 2014, addressed to Msgr. James--a mere 6 weeks ago--that much corrective action had been accomplished. In that letter, the archbishop, based on the recommendtaions of Deloitte & Touche instructed Msgr. James to have the financial statemetns ending June 30, 2014 ready to be submitted by Aug. 15," he said.

The news conference follows a sequence of startling events since Monsignor Benavente was fired as rector and director of the Catholic Cemeteries. A prayer service was held last week attended by hundreds in support of the monsignor. On Monday the Cathedral Museum that Monsignor Benavente pioneered was closed indefinitely and yesterday he was seen moving out of the rectory.

Rivera pointed out that it is unusual for community members of their stature to take a public position on such matters, but he personally feels the severity of the division in the Catholic community calls for action.

"I’m concerned at the division in the church. It’s uncomfortable ... we’re low key people, this is not something we do and we like to do, but we feel it’s important enough to speak the truth," said Rivera.

PNC: "Is there a personal message that any of you would like to give to the archbishop?"

Rivera: "We sure would like to see the church in Guam united and whatever these divisive elements that are out there, they need to be addressed. And we need to bring some unity and harmony back to our Catholic church here in Guam/"

PNC: "Do you think it’s too late for that now?"

Rivera: "It’s never too late. It’s never too late to say you’re sorry, 'I didn’t mean it.' It’s never too late to say any of those things."

They also indicated that Archbishop Apuron’s recent actions are out of character. Rivera says he was surprised with the Archbishop’s actions.

"I have a lot of respect for the archbishop. We worked with him. I worked with him," Rivera noted. "And he followed what we advised him. So what I’m saying is he follows his advisers and he followed us when we were advisers up to a certain point. I can only assume that that’s the same case now."