Weekly protests end; parishioners move to support Archbishop Byrnes

By Jolene Toves
Pacific News Center
July 10, 2017

http://pacificnewscenter.com/weekly-protests-end-parishioners-move-to-support-archbishop-byrnes/

For the last time, picketers protested outside the Agana Cathedral on Sunday.

Guam – Members from various Catholic Church groups have decided to lay down their picket signs and place their trust in Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes. Every Sunday for over a year,

Every Sunday for over a year, catholic parishioners have gathered at Agana Cathedral to send a message to the Vatican and the local Chancery requesting the removal of Archbishop Anthony Apuron. The ousted Archbishop is facing a canonical trial in Rome for the alleged sexual abuse of at least four former altar boys.  Last Sunday marked the last protest as the member of the Catholic community have decided to lay down their picket signs. According to Jungle Watch Blogger Tim

Last Sunday marked the last protest with over 100 participants as members of the catholic community have decided to lay down their picket signs. According to Jungle Watch Blogger Tim Rohr they have “effected change that no one thought was possible.”

“We had been protesting in that location, at that particular time the cathedral was the archbishops seat and 9:30 [am] was Archbishop Apuron’s mass and his name is still there and so in his absence there was no other way we could make a public statement about what we thought of Archbishop Apuron other than to protest that mass. We put the signs away at 920 and walked into mass. That was our statement to Archbishop Byrnes, ‘Okay we are on your side. Now we know you are going to do the right thing,'” states Rohr.

According to Rohr, the Vatican needs some freedom to make its decision on Apuron without appearing to be tainted by public pressure. He adds that The Vatican will soon be making a ruling in Apuron’s case.