Catholic Group to Establish "Checkpoint" at Seminary Compound

Guam Daily Post
August 28, 2017

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/catholic-group-to-establish-checkpoint-at-seminary-compound/article_cad0d07c-8bde-11e7-a3a4-6fa9e9b2c97e.html

SEMINARY: Rev. Julio Cesar Sanchez Malagon leads a media tour of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in this file photo. The seminary tops a list of non-essential church properties that could be sold if funds are needed for settlement negotiations in sex abuse cases filed against the church. Post file photo

The Concerned Catholics of Guam plans to establish a "checkpoint" at the front gate going into former Action Hotel-turned Redemptoris Mater Seminary to count everyone going in and out of that property, the organization announced.

Concerned Catholics has earlier stated that people affiliated with the Neocatechumenal Way movement are living there, rent-free, while the archdiocese is strapped for cash.

The former seaside hotel is one of the Archdiocese of Agana's high-value real estate assets, once estimated to be worth about $40 million. The hotel project went bust and the property was donated to the church.

The old Accion hotel building and property has been put up for sale by the archdiocese, according to Concerned Catholics.

Proceeds will go toward claims and assistance of clergy sex abuse victims and their families, the organization stated.

Concerned Catholics President David Sablan wrote to the acting rector of the seminary, Monsignor David C. Quitugua, requesting information on who is living at the old Accion hotel building in Yona.

"The property belongs to the Archdiocese of Agana yet people are being allowed to stay in that building, rent-free," said Sablan.

In a meeting with chancery officials earlier this month, Sablan expressed concern that there are people, who are not affiliated with the Archdiocese of Agana, yet are staying on archdiocesan property for free, exposing the archdiocese to liability risks.

Andrew Camacho, vice president of Concerned Catholics, will head the "checkpoint" project called "Occupy RMS."

"We've organized teams of two to three individuals to establish a checkpoint at the front gate going into RMS to do a physical count of everyone and anyone going in and out of that property," Camacho said.