CCOG proposes to shut down Redemptoris Mater Seminary

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
January 27, 2017

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/12470

Guam - Further attempts are being made to completely do away with the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. Earlier this week it was revealed that a lawsuit was filed against the organization for legal control over the property the RMS currently sits on and now the Concerned Catholics of Guam is urging the closure of the seminary for good.

It was over four months ago when an ad hoc committee released a report on the Redemptoris Mater Seminary that made several findings about the operations of the institution. Ultimately, the recommendation was made that the seminary be shut down.

That committee was appointed by Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai who was temporarily appointed to serve as the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana while Archbishop Anthony Apuron faced allegations of sexual abuse.

But now that there is a more permanent archbishop at the archdiocese with Pope Francis’ appointment of Archbishop Michael Byrnes, the Concerned Catholics of Guam is renewing its call for the recommendations of the ad hoc committee to be implemented.

CCOG Vice President Andrew Camacho sent a letter to the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council urging them to bring this matter to the attention of Byrnes.

How the new archbishop of Guam may proceed is not clear but his recent attempts to take over legal control of the property the RMS sits on could be an indication as to how he feels about the seminary.

Late last year, through his attorney Ignacio Aguigui, Archbishop Byrnes filed suit against the RMS for complete legal control over the multimillion dollar property. Although Aguigui told PNC that the civil complaint is more of a placeholder and protective action, the court document itself indicates there may be resistance from the people behind the RMS.

In his letter to the presbyteral council, Camacho breaks down the cost estimates of the RMS based on the ad hoc committee report. Since the seminary was first opened, the catholic church reportedly contributed as much as $17 million to operate the church so far.

“For that $17 million, we only have 8 men serving our archdiocese in parishes or as chaplains. However, there have been many complaints from respective parishioners about how these presbyters handle the affairs of the parishes to which they are assigned,” Camacho pointed out.

With millions infused into this seminary, one would think that the result would be quality priests, but Camacho says that’s not the case at all.

The seminarians don’t leave with a bachelor’s degree and they are not graduating from an accredited institution, he says. Most of the seminarians accepted into the seminary are from off-island and are “selected exclusively from Neocatechumenal Way Communities” with the "mission to spread the Neocatechumenal Way throughout the world.”

"They are not being formed for service in the Archdiocese of Agana,” he added.

In fact, of the 17 priests who have been ordained since the seminary opened, only one of them was local: Father Luis Camacho who is not serving at the Archdiocese of Agana.

Instead, Camacho proposes a different solution. Close down the major seminary and re-establish a minor seminary such as the one at Father Duenas Memorial High School.

“We need quality priests who will serve our diocese for their entire lives and at a lower cost,” Camacho says. “RMS is not the answer.”