GUAM
KUAM
Updated: Oct 03, 2016
By Krystal Paco
It could be the first few steps to what could be a lengthy take back of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. In a press conference today, Guam’s Catholic church has announced they’ll be reconstituting the Archdiocesan Finance Council in an effort to address the controversies surrounding the RMS. The church also provided more detail as to a complaint filed with the Guam Police Department relative to the misuse of church funds.
Just months ago, five former members of the Archdiocesan Finance Council alleged their sudden removal in 2012 wasn’t because their terms were up – but because Archbishop Anthony Apuron needed to cover up a secret handover of the multimillion dollar Redemptoris Mater Seminary. In today’s press conference, it appears the Archdiocese of Agana is reconstituting the AFC in hopes of getting the Yona property back.
The board will be assisted by longtime archdiocesan legal counsel Ed Terlaje. Tasked to bring back the council is Father Jeff San Nicolas, who said, “To ‘reconstitute’ means what the archbishop means and what my task is – to look for membership, to have a balance in our Archdiocesan Finance Council, and to look for the talents, the skills, and the experience of those individuals who can move us through this time.”
The board needs four more members. Current members include Sonny Ada, Danny Quichocho, and John Weisenberger.
KUAM News files show the board was dissolved in 2014 when Monsignor James Benavente was removed as rector of the Hagatna Cathedral and director of Catholic Cemeteries. His removal followed allegations of financial mismanagement – all of which were cleared last Friday. Hours later, however, new allegations surfaced in a complaint filed with the Guam Police Department by the Catholic Cemeteries’ board of directors.
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