RMS property among assets Archdiocese may sell to compensate abuse victims

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
May 2, 2017

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/13456

Guam - The once-controversial Redemptoris Mater Seminary is among the properties the Archdiocese of Agana may be looking to sell as part of a larger effort to liquidate assets that will be used as compensation for clergy sexual abuse victims.

During a press conference today, Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes fielded questions about a reported list of assets the archdiocese put together of that could be potentially sold. The archdiocese has already contributed $1 million in seed money for the Hope and Healing fund that will provide counseling services and compensation to clergy sex abuse victims.

However, based on the sheer number of abuse victims who have already filed suit--58--as well as the dozens and dozens of callers into the Hope and Healing hotline, $1 million will clearly not cut it. Byrnes says the list of assets that may be liquidated include the RMS property in Yona which was mired in controversy as the archdiocese and leaders of the Neocatechumenal Way wrestled over ownership of the multimillion dollar property.

What other properties are on that list?

"We’re looking at assets that do not--right now we’re looking at assets that do not touch parish buildings or school buildings. We’re looking at those assets that are most easily liquidated. We’re still just in the process of evaluating specific assets that could be sold," said Byrnes, adding that he could not divulge much more details.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Byrnes addressed concerns about the archdiocese’s relationship with the Hope and Healing organization.

PNC: "There were concerns raised of the archdiocese’s involvement in Hope and Healing Guam with respect to its influence on picking certain board members. Is there anything you’d like to say to address that concern?"

"Insofar as we--some involvement is just inevitable because we sponsored it, we asked them to go ahead and do it so there is a relationship," he acknowledged. "The key is that I think the evaluation board that’ll be assembling is entirely walled off from the archdiocese."

A Board of Incorporators was announced last week made up of President Andrew Camacho, Secretary Julie Bollinger and Treasurer Joe Santos. While Attorney Alicia Limtiaco has been selected as the chairperson for Hope and Healing’s Evaluation Board, the remaining six members have yet to be announced.