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Catholics, do not follow blindly
By Teri Untalan
This is the beginning of Advent in the Catholic Church. Rather than words to uplift the faithful during this period of preparation for the coming of Christ, the erstwhile church leaders instead continue their charade that the multimillion-dollar property in Yona still belongs to the archdiocese. A copy of a certificate of title was posted to support this claim. One can have a certificate of title showing that one owns a particular piece of property, but it would not show that said property has been leased for 99 years, for example. And a long-term lease is similar to what the archbishop of Agana, Anthony Apuron, did with the property now in the control of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. Unfortunately, rather than 99 years, this valuable piece of the patrimony of the Archdiocese of Agana was deeded in perpetuity to be used and conveyed by, and transferred and sold to, the Redemptoris Mater. Be informed that the Redemptoris Mater is not part of the Catholic Church in Guam. It is a nonprofit corporation whose organizational documents show that the majority of the principals do not live in Guam, do not worship here, and whose only connection to Guam are that they are the Neocatechumenal-responsible team for which Guam is part of their area. This deed restriction also does not limit the use of the Yona property to be solely as a seminary, as we have been told. We, Catholics, are being bedazzled with semantics. The property was not transferred, we are told. Its use was just restricted. It did not change hands, just assured that it would remain a seminary. Playing with words, telling us that we do not understand, that we do not know how to interpret the legal language does not make what was done to us untrue. Because what happened to us Catholics is that we have been robbed! The patrimony of the Archdiocese of Agana is the collection of churches and church property that is to be held in trust for the faithful of this diocese. It does not mean that Anthony Apuron, corporation sole, personally owns this patrimony. This is like being made the guardian/trustee of your incapacitated father. You are made responsible for his assets: cash, pension, property. These assets are for his use. You may take what is needed for his care, but you are not to help yourself to cash and take a trip, for example. Catholics in Guam: Open your eyes and see that we are being taken as docile, non-confrontational obedient followers. We do not owe obedience if we are being manipulated, if we are not being shown examples of good stewardship, if what we and our parents and theirs before them have given for the good of the Church, is being squandered. The Church has laws similar to civil law, called canon law, which give us, the laity, rights. We do not have to put up with church leaders trampling our rights. If your priest or lay group leader tells you to be obedient to the archbishop merely because he is our leader, you do not have to be obedient if he is in error. Our Church is not a faith of blind leadership. Blind faith to Christ, but not to man. We Catholics have an obligation to learn and know our faith. We have an obligation to correct error and to right wrongs where we are able. This is what we attested to at our Confirmation. We are in a fight not just about this property but about how we practice our Catholic faith. Make an effort to learn what is happening in our Catholic Church. Do not believe as gospel what is told by church leaders and their propaganda sheet (Umatuna), especially as pertains to finances. Find out where meetings are conducted to inform Catholics about what is happening in the Church on Guam. Donate to the Concerned Catholics of Guam as it continues to fight to save your right to worship as a Catholic. Most importantly, pray that all of us persevere in our efforts to overcome evil.
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