Catholic Group Continues Protest; Calls for Archbishop's Resignation

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
April 18, 2016

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/8920

Guam - Another prayer protest was held in front of the Cathedral Basilica yesterday.

The Laity Forward Movement held the protest as gatherers held signs calling for Archbishop Anthony Apuron’s resignation.

The Archbishop has come under fire in recent years over the disputed ownership of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona.

The protesters are also calling for the restoration of Father Paul Gofigan as the pastor of Santa Barbara Church and Msgr. James Benavente as rector.

Just last week the Archbishop was criticized for his handling of Father Luis Camacho, the former pastor of the Umatac and Merizo churches, who was arrested last year for picking up a minor from school without consent.

Lou Klitzkie is one of the organizers of yesterday’s silent protest.

"We’re protesting because we’re very disappointed with the poor leadership of the archbishop or lack thereof and we want the archbishop to return the RMS seminary back to the patrimony and control of the Archdiocese of Agana. We want the archbishop to restore Father Paul Gofigan and Msgr. James Benavente back to their former positions and we want the archbishop to decrease the new presbyters in the parishes," says Klitzkie. "We’re gonna continue protesting until we get the RMS back to Archdiocese of Agana."

Klitzkie says the group will also be handbilling at the different parishes around the island.