Concerned Catholics of Guam Exploring Lawsuit against Archbishop

By Jolene Toves
KUAM
March 12, 2015

http://www.kuam.com/story/28399523/2015/03/11/concerned-catholics-of-guam-exploring-lawsuit-against-archbishop

It has been months since the Concerned Catholics of Guam organization has requested answers from Archbishop Anthony Apuron, and according to CCOG vice president Dave Sablan, all their letters and requests for meetings have gone unanswered. "We have been wanting to know truly how he handled the transfer of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary to this new corporation that was established or to the seminary corporation that was established," he explained.

While the archbishop has maintained that he is still in control of the seminary, the CCOG believes otherwise. "We seriously doubt that he has any control as the archbishop of Agana, and so we are looking to the courts now for some remedy," Sablan added. He says the CCOG is now in discussion with their attorneys on their strategy they will take through the courts, noting, "Basically get back that seminary building and land to be under the archbishop of Agana sole, which is where it should be and that's what we are looking at right now."

As far as their other letters seeking financial accountability and transparency with regard to how the annual Archdiocesan Appeal is going to be used and how it has been used in the past Sablan says that there has been no response despite a freedom of information request. He told KUAM News, "It is supposed to go to taking care of our seminarians local seminarians who want to become diocesan priests we suspect that he is using that money actually to form these priests from off-island at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona.

"It seems to me that he is not really interested in responding to any of our requests in light of the fact that we need to know how he is spending this money and how he is managing it with regards to the affairs of the archdiocese and the various parishes."

Sablan says that he doubts the archdiocese will be cooperative in providing any documentation of finances. However he says the CCOG has recourse to bring back the seminary building and land that was transferred to the Seminary Corporation. He adds that the lawsuit will force the archbishop to respond as it is a civil matter at this point and not a church matter.