Former Archdiocesan Finance Council Members Speak out

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
August 31, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/32935584/2016/08/Wednesday/former-archdiocesan-finance-council-members-speak-out


They're looking to clear their names and clean up the church. Former members of the Archdiocesan Finance Council held a press conference on Wednesday to clarify what really happened behind closed doors.

They're not doctors, but if they were, their diagnosis for Archbishop Anthony Apuron might be "He appears to be suffering from selective memory," as noted by Richard Untalan, the past AFC president.

In a signed statement and a press conference held on Wednesday, five former members of the Archdiocesan Finance Council say they were fired from their positions not because their terms had expired, but to hide the fact Apuron and others secretly gave away the Redemptoris Mater Seminary for free. Estimated to value up to $75 million, Untalan says the funds to purchase the property weren't donated - as previously reported - but acquired in 2002 through a $2 million loan with the Bank of Guam.

The property was not intended to be limited to exclusive groups, but to benefit all local Catholics. A donor did arise, but a year later Apuron allegedly asked that donor to take credit for the purchase. That donor refused and also objected to the use solely by the RMS and the Theological Institute.

Untalan and AFC attest that all claims that they were out to sell the property to convert into a casino are lies. "The fabricated story that we tried to sell the Yona property is as far-fetched, as if we were accused of trying to sell the White House or St. Peter's Basilica or Andersen Air Force Base. We were volunteers. We have no corporate authority so sign even a check, let alone selling off a piece of valuable property," he stated. "The AFC is a consultative body."

Prior to the AFC's first meeting in January 2012, the five members were terminated from their positions, as Untalan noted, "We were fired to hide the fact that the archbishop and others secretly and in violation of Canon Law, and perhaps civil law as well, not to mention their fiduciary responsibility to the Catholic faithful, gave away the Yona property to the RMS, a separate entity controlled by the Neocatechumenal Way, for free."

Today's statement was signed by Untalan, Joseph Rivera, Monsignor James Benavente, Deacon Steve Martinez, and Sister Mary Stephen Torres. The statement was forwarded to the Guam's interim apostolic administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai.