Archbishop did not obey the Pope over property alientation

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016

Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron did not follow Pope Francis’ instruction to rescind and annul a deed restriction.

The deed gives Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Guam and the Blessed Diego Theological Institute the legal right to use the Archdiocese of Agana’s (Guam) property.

Archbishop Savio Tai Fai Honmore, the Vatican appointed administrator of the Archdiocese says that the Holy See recognised, more than a year ago,the problems such a Deed Restriction created.

Hon said. The pope had instructed Apuron more than once to rescind and annul it

“Clearly, this instruction has not been carried out accordingly.”

He said the property belongs to the Archdiocese, but its use was deeded away, indefinitely, to the seminary and institute.

In a written statement Hon, called upon the seminary and the institute to obey the pope.

He asked them to renounce,“without any litigation, all rights to use the property.”

“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.

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.

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.

Hon said the property belongs to the Archdiocese, but its use was deeded away, indefinitely, to the seminary and the institute.

Creating the deed was an unusual act, according to Hon, who said use of property normally is conceded through an internal Ecclesiastical agreement.

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