GUAM
KUAM
by Jolene Toves
Guam – With recent controversies emerging within the Catholic Church, a new organization led by parishoners has formed to be the voice of the Catholic community. Catholics from parishes across the island have organized to form the non-profit group called Concerned Catholics of Guam to investigate recent controversies within the Archdiocese of Agana and its management.
President Gregory Perez told KUAM News, “A small group of individuals have been hearing complaints of mistreatment of the clergy and the laity mismanagement of finances and assets of the Archdiocese of Agana they have decided to organize an organization for the purpose of addressing these actions by the leadership of the archdiocese.” Over the course of a year there has been the removal of Father Paul Gofigan as the head of the Santa Barbara Church in Dededo, the removal of Monsignor James Benavente as rector based on allegations of financial mismanagement, there was also the closure of the church museum, and most recently accusations of sexual molestation against Archbishop Anthony Apuron.
Believing that these are serious problems which warrant answers and truth the officers of the group Gregory Perez, president, David Sablan vice president, Stephen Martinez treasurer, and Evangeline Lujan secretary have vowed to be a formidable voice for the community.
Sablan said, “There are too many inconsistency too many untruths mistreatment too much pain inflicted especially among the elders who had taught us to keep the faith pray heal and to take care of one another our hope is to work with our leadership to find solutions and to rebuild and to restore our archdiocese.”
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