Seminary's Rector Says Archdiocese of Agana Is Rightful Owner

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
August 25, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/32837056/2016/08/Thursday/seminarys-rector-says-archdiocese-of-agana-is-rightful-owner


Could a lengthy legal battle be in store for the take back of the multi-million dollar Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona? While the Concerned Catholics of Guam group prepares to go to court, Guam's apostolic administrator, Archbishop Savio Hon Ton Fai, is asking the new owners to simply give it back.

And now, the rector of the seminary defies every claim made to date from the CCOG and Archbishop Hon.

No takeback of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary is necessary, according to Father Pius Sammut. In an emailed response to KUAM's questions, the rector challenges statements made by the Concerned Catholics of Guam and Archbishop Hon, who contend the Yona property was handed over to the non-profit group, RMS Corporation, through a declaration of deed restriction. That deed lists the board of guarantors as Archbishop Anthony Apuron, Father Angelo Pochetti, and Guisseppie and Claudia Gennarini. Guisseppie is the founder of the Neocathemunal Way in the United States mainland.

According to Father Pius, Apuron was protecting the seminary and the theological institute to give them permanence and stability to defend the RMS for the church. He wrote, "The deed restriction is simply an act according to canon law that allows the archdiocesan RM seminary to use that Yona property. The building is not ours, we have permission to use it until the archbishop wants, and only the archbishop or his successor can decide on this building."

Father Pius claims the deed of restriction has blocked others from cashing in and selling the property, which is estimated to value up to $75 million. He suggests a private investor could've converted the RMS into a casino, which would attract mafia, prostitution, crime and drugs. And that one day, the church will thank Apuron.

"When all this has passed, they will rediscover the valor of this archbishop and the historians will add a chapter to the evangelization of this island," his response stated.

Father Pius also claims it was the 2011 finance council who wanted to sell the RMS, but Apuron blocked the sell and was quoted, saying "over my dead body."

While Archbishop Hon has previously stated Apuron did not follow a directive given by the Holy See a year ago to rescind and annul the deed restriction, Father Pius states, "The Pope never gave any directive. It was a congregation of the Holy See, which gave this indication and, as I said, an archbishop answers only to the Holy Father."

As for the board of guarantors, Father Pius clarifies they simply act as a consultative board regarding the mission of the seminary.

While Father Pius confirms he spoke with Apuron two weeks ago, he states he doesn't know Apuron's whereabouts. He also states the archdiocese funds $80,000 to the RMS through the annual appeal. That correlates to 20% of their overall budget while the rest is supplemented by small private donations.

Archbishop Hon was unavailable to comment. He was committed to pastoral visits in Korea and Hong Kong as the secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He is scheduled to return to Guam on Friday.

Former senator and concerned Catholic Bob Klitzkie is calling Father Pius' claims "smoke and mirrors." According to Klitzkie, there's paperwork to prove the Yona property was conveyed from the Archdiocese of Agana to those listed as the board of guarantors.

"Pius is just wrong," Klitzkie said. "He alludes to canon law but this is not a matter of canon law. This is matter of Guam law. We have an opinion, a scholarly opinion from Jacques Bronze, a noted Guam real estate attorney, that says the seminary is owned by the RMS Corporation. What does Pius have other than that fairy tale called The Valor of Apuron? Nothing."

He continued, "The people of Guam are too smart for that. They're smarter than Father Pius thinks they are. That seminary does no good for Guam Catholics. It should be closed. The RMS board should pass a resolution to deed it back to the Archdiocese of Agana."