BishopAccountability.org

Protesting Catholics retire their signs

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
July 10, 2017

http://www.kuam.com/story/35844018/2017/07/Monday/protesting-catholics-retire-their-signs


[with video]

Sunday marked the end of what's become a familiar sight for Catholics. 117 protestors on the steps of the Hagatna Cathedral officially retired their signs in anticipation for a decision from the Vatican relative to the ongoing canonical trial against Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

Whatever the verdict, this vocal group of Catholics are showing their support for Guam's new shepherd, Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes.

Week after week, nothing could stop this group from coming out in full force. Not rain. Not age. Not even disability. Now, they've retired their signs after fifty-four weeks of Sunday pickets.

Lou Klitzkie promised, "This will be our last picket."  While the messages may have changed over the weeks - depending on the latest issue plaguing the Church - they've continually advocated for the truth and transparency.

Their last message - Defrock Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Leading the pack is Laity Forward Movement's Klitzkie, who added, "We made our point."  

Among the protestors were other instigators of change in the local Church, including Joe Santos, the founder of Silent No More.

Santos' petition and pickup truck prompted the introduction of legislation that lifted the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases. To date, 80-plus lawsuits have been filed against the Church for clergy sex abuse.

Santos said, "The sign said silent no more stop child sex abuse. And of course that generated the bill which the governor signed into law which lifted the statute of limitations on child sex abuse, at least the civil portion. And so I think a lot of people have stepped forward because that law now assists them in trying to pursue justice."

Also in the picket lines was self-proclaimed watchdog and blogger, Tim Rohr. Rohr has documented the Church's hardships in his blog, Junglewatch. "I don't think anything would've happened without the picket. Without the picket there was only the blog and the blog could just simply be ignored. But the visible presence given the average age of the people who are picketing. It says that these are not just some young rousers looking for something to do on a Sunday morning," he said.

"Nowhere in the world has this happened - where the laity have quietly and consistently made a statement loud enough to remove an archbishop and effect the change that we've seen," Rohr added.

In support of their new shepherd, picketers put away their signs and attended mass presided by Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes. Now, they pray for a decision from Rome, where Apuron is currently undergoing a canonical trial. Whatever the verdict, Apuron won't be welcomed back.

"Apuron will never lead this diocese again because the people on this street have spoken, period," Rohr said. "And that will even if he did come back in some shape or form, it would be a disaster."

 




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