Ccog Announces Prorated Refund to Its Donors

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
April 6, 2017

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/13282


The donations were to be used to assist in the litigation of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary dispute.

In a release, CCOG said that it no longer needs the money donated to them for the purpose of litigating the return of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. The grassroots catholic organization received over $52,000 in donations from over 300 donors to cover legal expenses in “researching the clandestine transaction and determining the legal options CCOG had to secure the return of the property.”

Of that amount, less than $40,000 was spent. The savings was realized when Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes stepped in and abolished the RMS boards, amended the articles of incorporation and got rid of a controversial deed restriction that gave the property away.

CCOG President David Sablan said the funds would be returned on a prorated basis of 25 percent of their contribution.

You can read the press release from CCOG below:

With the return of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary property in Yona back to the asset inventory of the Archdiocese of Agana, Concerned Catholics of Guam, Inc. announced the balance of their legal fund will be returned to the generous donors who helped facilitate that return.

At a recent board meeting of CCOG, it was unanimously decided to return the balance of the legal fund that was raised to secure the return of the seminary property on a prorata basis to each donor.

In early 2015, CCOG discovered that Archbishop Anthony Apuron secretly transferred at no cost the ownership of the property and building which housed the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona to a corporation controlled by the Neocatechumenal Way, a controversial organization causing division among the Catholics of Guam. CCOG launched a campaign to raise funds to secure the return of the property and building back to the patrimony of the Catholic Church on Guam.

CCOG received $52,782 from over 300 donors to cover legal expenses in researching the clandestine transaction and determining the legal options CCOG had to secure the return of the property. The total legal expense incurred was $39,496.

In June 2016, Archbishop Anthony Apuron was relieved of his pastoral duties by Pope Francis, pending the outcome of his canonical trial for allegations of sexual abuse of altar boys when he was a parish priest over 40 years ago. Pope Francis sent Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai to take over temporarily. In September 2016, CCOG agreed with Archbishop Savio to pursue the return of the property together. CCOG prepared legal documents to effect the return and provided those documents to Archbishop Savio. Additionally, CCOG advanced $25,000 to the Archdiocese of Agana to pursue litigation in court.

Court litigation was avoided when Archbishop Michael Byrnes was named Co-Adjutor Archbishop of Agana, replacing Archbishop Savio in November 2016. Archbishop Byrnes with the help of CCOG, amended the Archbishop of Agana, Corporation Sole articles of incorporation with the Department of Revenue and Taxation, removed Apuron's name and listed his name, as the incumbent incorporator.

Since the Archbishop of Agana, Corporation Sole established the corporation to which the seminary property in Yona was transferred, Archbishop Byrnes exercising his shareholder authority over that corporation, removed the entire board of directors and replaced them with himself. He further amended the Redemptoris Mater seminary corporation articles of incorporation, repealing the provision that allowed for a board of guarantors made up of members of the Neocatechumenal Way hierarchy which had veto power over decisions of the board of directors.

With these changes, Archbishop Byrnes as the sole board member of the seminary corporation then signed documents returning the seminary property and building back to the asset inventory of the Archdiocese of Agana. David Sablan, President of CCOG stated, "We sincerely thank all those who answered the call for support. The people who gave did so without any reservation for the love of our Church. We accomplished our objective in getting back our property so whatever we have in our legal fund can now be returned to our donors on a prorated basis of 25% of their contribution.

Donors are asked to please call Mr. Jerry Taitano, treasurer of CCOG who has a list of the donors and the amount each contributed at: (671) 688-1255 or email him at: gerald.taitano@gmail.com to make appropriate arrangements for a refund.