Announcements Made from inside the Controversial Redemptoris Mater Seminary

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
October 13, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/33379770/2016/10/Thursday/announcements-made-from-inside-the-controversial-redemptoris-mater-seminary

Fierce bias and prejudice" is how members of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary's board of directors would describe a recent report released by the visitation ad hoc committee on the RMS. That report recommended that the Yona seminary be closed for the good of the Archdiocese of Agana - unless they could clarify the seminary's purpose, seek formal accreditation to ensure the quality of its priest formation program, and ensure financial independence.

A press conference was held today in the seminary's library. "The report on the seminary prepared by the visitation ad hoc committee shows a lack of knowledge on the seminary's reality but most of all, what we feel very strongly was there was a fierce bias and prejudice in the report," he said. "This report recommending the elimination of the RMS and the theological institute is highly damaging for our archdiocese and for the spiritual and economic capability of forming priests not only for Guam, but for all of the Pacific," he noted.


Point-by-point, members of the RMS board of directors, led by Dr. Ricardo Eusebio, defended the RMS despite the September visitation ad hoc committee report. In a press conference held on Thursday, the board maintains that the RMS is a diocesan seminary backed by the Holy Father and by more than one hundred cardinals, archbishops, and bishops; that the priests being formed are monitored by the Lateran University of Rome, the University of the Pope, and by the Congregation for Catholic Education in the Vatican; and that those priests serve in the local parishes, and often where no other priest wants to go.

While critics, like members of the Laity Forward Movement, demand they be allowed to visit the seminary because its "what they paid for" as demonstrated on Wednesday, Dr. Eusebio clarifies the RMS is only receiving an average of 5-8% from mass collection baskets. Effective immediately, he said, they'll be relying on divine providence to provide for their needs.

He explained, "The seminary and the institute will feel honored, from now on, not to receive any support from the archdiocese and to depend totally on god's providence."

Dr. Eusebio also used today's press conference to debunk any rumors that Archbishop Anthony Apuron or former RMS rector Father Pius Sammut are hiding at the seminary. "No, it's not true - but if anyone in the press can find out where Archbishop Apuron is, can you please tell me? So I will know, as well."