Archdiocese disputes claims about seminary's ownership

By Jolene Toves
KUAM
January 7, 2015

http://www.kuam.com/global/story.asp?s=27778683

Guam - As the Concerned Catholics of Guam organization met with a delegation from the Vatican on island for a pastoral visit late this afternoon,  the Archdiocese of Agana responds to the findings of the group's investigation into the Redemptoris Mater Seminary - and according to Father Adrian Cristobal the multimillion dollar property remains an asset of the archdiocese, despite claims and documents provided by the CCOG.

Father Cristobal, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Agana, is responding to recent concerns raised by the group which believes the seminary property is no longer an asset of the archdiocese and that the seminary is not following its intended mission to form young men into diocesan priests.

In response to questions submitted in writing to the archdiocese, Father Adrian says that could not be further from the truth 'this is totally false" . Father Adrian says the title is listed in the property of the Archdiocese of Agana. Matter of fact he also states that the property came into the archdiocese thanks to the Neocatechumenal Way.

He also responds to the CCOG's contention that in December 2011 Archbishop Anthony Apuron signed off on a declaration of deed against the advice of the Archdiocese Finance Council. Father Adrian again denies those allegations. He says it was the other way around and that the council wanted to alienate the property " in fact had the intention to sell the property to cover the debt incurred by the cathedral and catholic cemeteries."

Father Adrian said that the establishment of a diocesan seminary and a prestigious theological institute are "goods" of such paramount importance for the life of the diocese that to think to sell the property to cover a deficit is "unthinkable and it would be irresponsible for the archbishop to even harbor that idea. The seminary and the institute are both essential to help the evangelization in the Pacific." and cites that Canon Law 114 requires that a seminary possess the means necessary for fulfilling its goals including the stability of the property on which it is operating.

So who exactly has control over the RMS? According to Father Adrian the Archbishop of Agana, in this case Archbishop Anthony Apuron. While the CCOG contends that the archbishop no longer has control Father Adrian say, "I do not know who invents these things: the Redemptoris Mater Seminary is a corporation sole which means that it is governed exclusively by only one member the Archbishop of Agana." Meanwhile the CCOG believes that the archbishop is only 25% of the RMS corporation. Father Adrian acknowledges that the archbishop does have two boards to assist in matters pertaining to the seminary. A board of directors and a board of guarantors but stresses that the board of guarantors does not manage the seminary. He adds  the directors and guarantors are appointed by the archbishop and "he can change them whenever there is a need".

Meanwhile KUAM News has also learned that the former finance council that advised against the 2001 Declaration of Deed has a meeting scheduled with the visitors from the Vatican.