Vatican diplomats to arrive on island

GUAM
Pacific Sunday News

Written by
Maria Hernandez
Pacific Sunday News

Vatican diplomats traveling from Rome were expected to arrive on island yesterday evening, and at least one member of the delegation is expected to attend the governor’s inauguration on Monday, according to the governor’s office.

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fair, secretary of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Archbishop Martin Krebs, apostolic delegate to the Pacific Islands; and Reverend Father Tadeusz Nowak will be on island until Jan. 10, according to the Archdiocese of Agana.

The governor’s inauguration will take place Monday morning on the front lawn at Adelup. Krebs is expected to attend, according to the governor’s office.

Concerned Catholics

While the archdiocese stated in a December release that the trip is a “pastoral visit to foster reconciliation and mutual understanding in the archdiocese,” some local organizations are disputing the claim.

In mid-December, a nonprofit group called the Concerned Catholics of Guam Inc. announced its plans to investigate the management of the local church, its financial books and the archdiocese’s handling of accusations of sexual molestation against Archbishop Anthony Apuron, news files state.

Apuron, who is planning a defamation lawsuit to defend the church, called the allegation a “horrible calumny,” but declined to comment further.

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