GUAM
Pacific Daily News
Haidee V Eugenio, Pacific Daily News August 19, 2016
Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron did not follow instructions by Pope Francis to rescind and annul a deed restriction that gives a seminary and a theological institute the legal right to use church property in Yona, according to temporary Guam Archbishop Savio Tai Fai Hon.
Hon, in a written statement Thursday, called upon the seminary and the institute to obey the pope’s directives and renounce, “without any litigation,” all rights to use the property, which belongs to the Archdiocese of Agana. “Such a courageous act of renouncing will certainly earn respect and recognition from the Holy See, as well as many faithful, the Presbyteral Council and myself,” he said.
The Vatican in June placed Hon in charge of the local church, pending an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against Apuron.
The Archdiocese of Agana bought the former 100-room, oceanside Accion Hotel in Yona more than a decade ago for $2 million. It is one of the Guam Catholic Church’s largest real estate assets, estimated at between $40 million and $75 million.
The property is now being used by the Redemptoris Mater Seminary and the Blessed Diego Theological Institute.
Hon said he and the Archdiocese Presbyteral Council met with church members Aug. 11 to discuss the deed restriction, which, “has been a source of grave dispute and division in our church.” Critics have argued Apuron improperly gave control of the valuable church asset to followers of the Neocatechumenal Way. It is a recognized movement within the Catholic Church.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.