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Pope appoints new coadjutor archbishop for archdioces

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
November 01, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/10/31/pope-appoints-new-coadjutor-archbishop-archdiocese/93050620/

Monsignor Michael Jude Byrnes

Pope Francis appointed a new coadjutor archbishop on Monday for the Archdiocese of Agana who will have the right to succeed Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, who is facing canonical trial at the Vatican over alleged sexual abuse of altar boys.

The pope appointed Monsignor Michael Jude Byrnes, currently an auxiliary bishop in Detroit, as coadjutor archbishop for Guam, according to a press release from the Archdiocese of Detroit.

"I am humbled by the Holy Father’s decision to entrust the Archdiocese of Agana to my pastoral care," said Bishop Byrnes in the release.

A coadjutor archbishop has succession rights when a bishop or archbishop resigns, retires or is removed.

The Vatican placed Apuron, 70, on temporary leave on June 6 after former altar boys publicly accused him of rape and molestation when he was a parish priest in the 1970s, according to news files.

While Apuron was on leave, the pope appointed Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai to temporarily oversee the Catholic Church on Guam.

Apuron has denied allegations of sexual abuse against him. Hon initially asked Apuron to step down but when that didn't happen, Hon asked the pope to replace Apuron instead.

The Vatican's Oct. 31 announcement, however, does not indicate when Byrnes could succeed Apuron.

Contact: heugenio@guampdn.com




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