GUAM
Pacific Daily News

Written by
Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno
Pacific Sunday News

An attempt to transfer the title of one of the Guam Catholic Church’s largest real estate assets, the former Accion Hotel in Yona, has become a focal point in recent discussions about the local church’s financial transparency and leadership shakeup.

The controversy started weeks ago when an anonymous group of Guam Catholics issued a public challenge for Archbishop Anthony Apuron to release audited statements of the Church’s income, liabilities and assets, particularly the state of ownership of the former Accion Hotel.

The 100-room, oceanside hotel was bought more than a decade ago for $2 million, and could be worth $35 million to $75 million depending on estimates. It now is being used to host the Redemptoris Mater Seminary and a theological institute.

Monsignor James Benavente, who was recently fired from being the rector of the…