Catholics hold last picket against Apuron

By Chloe B Babauta
Pacific Daily News
July 9, 2017

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/07/09/catholics-hold-last-picket-against-apuron/462474001/

The Laity Forward Movement and Concerned Catholics of Guam held their last protest calling for the defrocking of Archbishop Anthony Apuron before the Vatican's decision on his removal from the Archdiocese of Agana at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña on July 9, 2017. Photo by Frank San Nicolas

Catholic community groups advocating for Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron’s permanent removal held their last protest in front of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica on Sunday, in order to give the Vatican space to make a decision.

Laity Forward Movement president Lou Klitzkie, Concerned Catholics of Guam president David Sablan and Catholic issues blogger Tim Rohr announced their decision to stop picketing Wednesday night.

Rohr said it would be counterproductive to continue. The Vatican tribunal holding Apuron’s trial wouldn't want to be seen as being forced to make a decision because of community pressure on Guam, Rohr said.

Around 40 to 50 Catholics have protested every Sunday for over a year, since June 2016, according to Klitzkie.

More than 60 people attended the final picket.

“I think picketing is really what has made all the difference,” Rohr said. “Because without a public display of dissatisfaction, I don’t think the officials would’ve ever had any motivation to really do anything. But because this is out here every Sunday, Rome sees it; the public sees it; the archbishop sees it.”

Jaden Comon, 14, of Mong Mong has attended the protests since they first started.

“I’ve been coming because as a young man, I see that the church is going through a lot,” Comon said. “And as young people, we are the future of the church, so it’s our responsibility, especially when we were baptized in the faith, to come and help the church.”

Comon said he wants to become a priest when he grows up, to help the souls of the church.

“It breaks my heart to see what’s going on in the church, that the church is going through so much suffering through all these people who think they know that this is the truth, who think they know they can get away with everything,” Comon said. “But there is a God above, and a God above sends people to help, and I’m here to help these people in their fight against the evils that have infiltrated our church.”

“The lay people of this diocese who are not known for protesting their church, or protesting anything, have consistently protested for 54 weeks,” Rohr said. “As you can see, it’s not like a bunch of young rabble-rousers out here. These are elderly people.”

Rohr said the elderly join in these protests because they know about corruption within the church and want to speak up against it.

“But they never had any venue for doing anything about it, and so that’s why they’ve stayed faithful for 54 weeks to get that message across,” Rohr said.

World War II survivor Cynthia Terlaje of Asan has joined in the weekly protests to stand up for her beliefs.

“I want Apuron out,” Terlaje said. “We don’t need him as our shepherd. He should be charged just like anyone else who are abusive, especially to the children. I believe in unity, but I have to follow my heart and be just a good Catholic.”

Sunday’s picket ended at 9:30 a.m. so the groups could attend Mass held by Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes.

“We’re supporting Archbishop Byrnes’ bold actions in cleaning out the church and also to clean out evil forces from within the church,” Klitzkie said. “He’s doing the right thing.”

“We now can see that it’s important to support Byrnes, and we can’t think of a more visible way of doing that than to lay down our signs and say we’re behind you,” Rohr said. “He’s taken the lead on this, he has shown us that he is willing to call it like it is.”

Cardinal Raymond Burke, head of the Vatican tribunal holding Apuron’s trial, said the decision would be made by early summer, Klitzkie said.

Klitzkie anticipates the decision will be announced by August. She said she doesn’t know yet if they will continue to picket if the Vatican does not remove Apuron.