Guam's Filipino Community Reacts to Apuron
By Haidee V Eugenio
Multiple sex abuse allegations against priests and questionable church leadership decisions have fractured a deeply Catholic Guam, but some members of the island’s Filipino-American community say these challenges have made their faith stronger rather than weaker. They also say an imminent leadership change bodes well for an even greater church. “I learned about the church scandals and I also have questions in my mind about the archbishop. But those didn’t make me want to leave the church. If anything, they tested my faith in God and the church. My faith became stronger,” says Cynthia De Castro, a 60-year-old mother of three and a devout Catholic. “When you know that the church is hurt, you don’t leave it. You help it heal,” she adds. Some 85 percent of Guam’s estimated population of 162,742 is Roman Catholic. Filipinos and Filipino-Americans also make up about 26 percent of the island population. De Castro, a businesswoman originally from the predominantly Catholic Philippines, says she includes in her prayers those who are hurting as a result of scandals that have plagued the church. Meilou Milligan, a civic leader and lifelong educator, says restoring people’s faith in good church management requires the appointment of a new leader of impeccable character and credibility. “With all the recent scandalous stories and controversies that shattered the solemn church walls and ivory towers, the appointment of a new archbishop is a refreshing development that can resuscitate the relevance of church leadership,” she says. Pope Francis appointed on Oct. 31 a possible successor to Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, 71.
As coadjutor archbishop, Michael Jude Byrnes, 58, has rights to succeed Apuron when he retires, resigns or is removed. Byrnes was auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan prior to his appointment to serve the Archdiocese of Agana. Angelina O. Cruz, a mother of two, says Guam will close a chapter and open a new one when Byrnes arrives on Nov. 28. “Hopefully, Archbishop Byrnes will be a much better leader and that the church becomes stronger than ever. We have to move forward,” says Cruz, a law office manager and paralegal. Byrnes has a doctorate in sacred theology and a master’s degree in divinity with a concentration in the Scripture, along with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, when he initially thought he wanted to be a doctor. Imperfections Apuron, the highest Catholic leader on Guam, is facing a canonical trial at the Vatican over public allegations that he raped and sexually abused altar boys in Agat when he was the parish priest there in the 1970s. “I wasn’t happy when I heard about the archbishop accused of sex abuse. I wasn’t trying to be judgmental but when more than one altar boy came forward, that made me think,” says Cruz. But even before the abuse allegations exploded in May, Apuron’s leadership was already on shaky ground when he removed two priests, according to news files. “Hopefully, Archbishop Byrnes will be a much better leader and that the church becomes stronger than ever.” Angelina O. Cruz Against the advice and consent of the archdiocese’s own finance council, Apuron allowed a seminary and a theological institute to use a church property, worth about $45 million- $75 million, indefinitely. The seminary and institute are reportedly controlled by the Neocatechumenal Way. Apuron also did not follow Pope Francis’ instructions, more than once, to return the Yona property to the archdiocese’s control and ownership, according to Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai. The Vatican sent Hon to Guam in June to temporarily oversee the Guam church when Apuron was placed on leave. On Nov. 9, Byrnes signed a decree, canceling and rescinding the deed restriction that allowed the Neocatechumenal Way to use the Yona property indefinitely. Milligan, just like De Castro, says church controversies should not be a reason to abandon one’s Catholic faith. “The negligence and malpractices of church leaders in the island is one imperfection that needs attention. Mistakes are lessons and make us better Christian warriors,” she says. Milligan believes the Roman Catholic church is a potent force that has significantly influenced Guamanians’ cultural evolution. She says church teachings and ideals are woven into the faithful’s spiritual identity. “From my observation, Guam Catholic churchgoers are intelligent enough to understand that imperfect leaders and members will always be part of the church organization. Obviously, these imperfections explain why God is loving and merciful,” Milligan says. “The foundation of the Christian church is built on humility and love of fellow men. I believe that true spiritual maturity is the ability to deal with imperfections and work with other people for progress. This progress defines the function of the church in the community.” Manuel T. Vilaga, born and raised Catholic, also says his faith in God and the Catholic church remains impenetrable. “Humans are subject to sins and the archbishop is a human being like you and me,” says Vilaga, a site safety and quality control manager for a construction company. Vilaga, however, says it’s fair and proper to relieve Apuron of his duties and title to avoid further harming and humiliating the church’s mission and objectives. “I do believe it’s time for the Catholic church on Guam to have a new archbishop, for new leadership ideas towards spiritual and individual advancement that is very essential in the Christian community. Sometimes an overdue position makes Catholic church action plans stagnant,” he adds. Closure Cruz, who has been on Guam since 1981, says the allegations against Apuron are dividing the community. Some believe the allegations, some don’t. Ignacio Mercado, a 75-year-old Dededo resident, says Apuron is innocent until proven guilty. He says while he may receive criticism for his opinion, he thinks the former altar boys waited too long to accuse the archbishop. “I understand when you’re a child, you don’t know what you’re supposed to do. But maybe when they reached 20, they should have already said something and not wait 40 years-plus. When they knew or heard Apuron would be made archbishop, they should have said something. If Apuron did those things, he shouldn’t have made archbishop. But at this time, we should just let the (canonical) trial to proceed. Whatever the pope decides to do with Archbishop Apuron, we have to follow that,” Mercado says. Mercado, a eucharistic minister at Santa Barbara Catholic Church in Dededo, says if Apuron is found to have committed the acts alleged against him, then he should apologize to the former altar boys. “Whatever happens, my faith in God and in the Catholic church is still strong. I believe the Catholic church is the only religion built by Jesus Christ,” he says. “And I hope the new archbishop will make the people’s faith in God stronger.” Cruz, meanwhile, says the announcement of a possible successor to Apuron means the Vatican wants leadership stability to come sooner rather than later. “There has to be closure. While there’s already a successor, we still need to know if Archbishop Apuron really committed those acts. He also deserves due process. We want to know the results of his canonical trial,” Cruz says. “That will bring closure not only for the archbishop but more especially to those who said they are his victims.” Contact: heugenio@guampdn.com
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