Church Names 9 to Council, Braces for Possible Lawsuits

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
October 6, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/10/06/church-names-9-council-braces-possible-lawsuits/91652406/

The Catholic church’s financial arm is now fully reconstituted, with nine members to help the church reposition its assets in anticipation of lawsuits by alleged victims of clergy abuse on Guam.

Father Jeffrey San Nicolas, delegate of Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, announced seven new members will join two incumbents on the newly reconstituted Archdiocesan Finance Council , effective immediately.

“After careful consideration of the background and expertise of each of these individuals, I am confident, along with Archbishop Hon, that this group will help move the archdiocese forward during this time in our church’s history,” San Nicolas said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

The seven new appointees, each with a three-year term, are:

* Attorney Eduardo “Champ” Calvo, a partner at Calvo Fisher & Jacob law firm;

* Ricardo “Rick” Duenas, chief financial officer at Western Sales Trading Co.;

* Art Ilagan, banking and insurance commissioner at the Department of Revenue and Taxation;

* Mary A.Y. Okada, president and chief executive officer of Guam Community College;

* Antoinette “Toni” Sanford, president of Sanford Technology Group;

* Joseph E. Rivera, chief financial officer of Calvo Enterprises; and

* Richard Untalan, president and chief operating officer of CU Holdings Inc.

“They bring specific and combined expertise to the Archdiocesan Finance Council in the areas of business and finance, law, tax, insurance, banking, real property and institutional management, among other skills, knowledge and experience,” San Nicolas said. “All of the members are active in the community, serving or have served in a variety of nonprofit, government, education and church leadership roles.”