Clergy Worried Legislation Could Bankrupt Guam's Catholic Church

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
September 19, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/33125211/2016/09/Monday/clergy-worried-legislation-could-bankrupt-guams-catholic-church

While Bill 326 is intended to give justice to survivors of child sex abuse, the Archdiocese of Agana over the weekend asked parishioners to reconsider the legislation's unintended consequences and to sign a petition to urge Governor Eddie Calvo to veto the measure that's already passed on session floor. Specifically, the church says they'd be subject to unlimited financial liability as those who've been victimized by clergy decades ago would sue the church and potentially force closure of not only vital community service providers, but also Catholic schools.

If passed into law, the Archdiocese of Agana predicts Bill 326 could force the church to go broke, saying, "The church would fundamentally go into bankruptcy, and bankruptcy would put all the assets of the diocese on the table," Father Jeff San Nicolas said. "Among those are the schools and other institutions in our church."

The archdiocese is currently circulating petitions to veto the legislation and in its place introduce a measure that holds only the abuser, not their affiliated institutions, accountable for past crimes. Father Jeff, the delegate of the administrator, admits the church was wrong not to speak up at public hearings. He assures parishioners that the church wants justice - but not at the expense of the innocent.

To address this, the church is setting up a trust fund for victims.

He continued, "We understand and we agree with its intent. Unfortunately we feel that the full story of the bill has not been told because there are unintended consequences of the bill. Mainly to curtail and to harm the good work that the church does provide. The church is already setting up a fund. It's already in the process because we recognize there is a financial responsibility that the church has towards victims. We do not want to escape that, or escape justice for the victims.

"But we do want to address that head-on."

But the petition sends the wrong message, Concerned Catholics of Guam vice president Andrew Camacho says he was surprised by the church's recent stance on Bill 326, saying, "Our position is if you are against the bill, you are for Archbishop [Anthony] Apuron and the crimes that he committed. So we are encouraging all people to support the bill to protect children and protect the future of Guam. I'm not aware of any kind of diocese that's gone through a similar kind of thing - that's actually closed down schools because of it. It's unlikely.

"Other churches, other dioceses in the states have declared bankruptcy, but they are still functioning. Bankruptcy protection helps the diocese survive, basically intact. Many of them have set up funds that help victims but it does not destroy the diocese."

According to Father Jeff, the petitions will be submitted to Governor Eddie Calvo's office by Wednesday,. According to Governor Calvo's spokesperson Oyaol Ngirairikl, the governor's legal team is reviewing the bill. Calvo has until Friday to take action.

This evening the Laity Forward Movement is planning to gather in front of the Governor's Office at Adelup to host nightly prayer vigils for survivors of sex abuse. Laity Forward Movement's Lou Klitzkie tells KUAM News they hope the governor will sign the bill so justice can be served to survivors.

Author of Bill 326 Senator Frank Blas, Jr. tells KUAM News he's hurt that the church would raise a specter of fear. "It's far from the truth," he said sternly. "As a Catholic myself, I was raised to always protect those who are innocent and those who are helpless. If the argument is to protect assets over protecting the life of a victim, what's happened?"

Blas says he's praying Governor Calvo signs the bill so that victims may have the opportunity to make their lives whole. He added, "This is not about the church. The church is going to exist. There are many good people in the church. It's not going to go away."