Group from Vatican on island

By Jolene Toves
KUAM
January 5, 2015

http://www.kuam.com/story/27758306/2015/01/05/group-from-vatican-on-island

Guam - A delegation from the Vatican has begun their weeklong pastoral visit. The group which consists of Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, the secretary of the Vatican congregation for the evangelization of peoples; Archbishop Martin Krebs, the apostolic delegate to the Pacific Islands; and Reverend Father Tadeusz Nowak arrived to the Guam International Airport Authority Saturday evening where they were greeted by Archbishop Anthony Apuron and KUAM News.

He would not grant an interview.

According to a press release from the archdiocese the pastoral visit is in an effort to foster reconciliation and understanding within the archdiocese. The local Catholic Church has been divided over the last several months. Some of the controversies include last year's sudden removal of Monsignor James Benavente as rector of the archdiocese, the closure of the Cathedral Museum, and allegations of sexual abuse made by a third party against the archbishop. In response to the controversies a group of parishioners came together to form the Concerned Catholics of Guam with the intent to investigate the issues within the church/ According to CCOG vice president Dave Sablan they intend to present their findings to the delegation. He says that although they have not received confirmation that they will have a private audience the organization's president Greg Perez is scheduled for a meeting on Wednesday and the CCOG will use that time if they must.