GUAM
Pacific News Center
Written by Janela Carrera
The report includes various credit card statements, family plots worth hundreds of thousands that were waived and checks written to repay loans.
Guam – Good riddance–that’s what the ousted board of the catholic cemeteries says to Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, who just fired the board and administrator last Friday.
The former board held a press conference today and simultaneously released a contentious report they believe proves Msgr. James Benavente misused cemetery funds for personal use for a number of years.
Roland San Agustin, Attorney Jacqueline Terlaje, Dennis Santo Tomas and Lillian Perez-Posadas make up the board of directors of the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Agana, all of whom were just fired by temporary church administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai.
But the four did not put up a fight to keep their positions. Instead, they said good riddance.
“This board, effectively and immediately, resigns their directorships due to the request of the delegate to turn a blind eye to the absolute misuse of funds. The board has been requested to disregard the laws and standards governing this non profit corporation and in good conscience to the church, to the truth and the laws of Guam. We decline to participate in this attempt to subvert justice for the dead and the families who’ve entrusted the cemeteries to utilize the funds paid for services for the cemeteries and not for any personal use,” announced Terlaje. …
About three hours after Terlaje’s press conference, the Archdiocese of Agana issued another statement saying they maintain their previous position regarding Benavente “as stated several times now in recent weeks.”
The full statement is below:
The Archdiocese of Agana maintains its position regarding Monsignor James Benavente as stated several times now in recent weeks. It disagrees with the former members of the board of directors of the Catholic Cemeteries of Guam, Inc. We have full confidence in our newly appointed board and interim administrator of Catholic Cemeteries. We are moving forward in this area and at all levels in our Catholic Church on Guam. It is crucial that we do so, given the challenges and tasks at hand.
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