While the Vatican's ruling following its guilty verdict has banned Apuron from returning to Guam and has removed him permanently from his post, he is still a priest.

His successor, Archbishop Michael Byrnes, has apologised and pledged to help the Church and its followers in Guam.

Byrnes admits there are still plenty of questions as to why Apuron wasn't completely exiled from the Church.

"It means he can still act as a priest, he can still say Mass," Byrnes says.

"There's still some blurry areas around this for me, and I'm just trying to get my head around it."

The Church is already being criticised for what many say is a case of double standards.

In February, the Vatican expelled the former US cardinal Theodore McCarrick from the priesthood over allegations he sexually abused adults and minors.

Source

• ABC
• Image: ktuu.com

This chapter allows the debtor to propose a plan of reorganisation to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time.

Multitudes of sexual abuse claims against clergy have driven the Church to take this step.

The US territory's Archbishop Michael Byrnes decided to file for bankruptcy because it is the most expedient way to support the alleged victims.

"Over the last two years, we've done our best. We've strengthened our policies for a safe environment. We've educated over 2,000 people in the practices of safe environment protection of minors. We've made a lot of great strides.

"But our biggest issue is the almost 200 victim survivors of sexual abuse," he said.

"This path will bring the greatest measure of justice to the greatest number of victims. That's the heart of what we're doing."

Byrnes said the bankruptcy will provide "finality for victim survivors that they've been heard and understood."

His predecessor, Anthony Apuron, was suspended following accusations of abusing minors and helping hide similar abuses by priests and other Catholic authority figures in Guam. The allegations date back decades.

The allegations have resulted in the Church in Guam becoming buried under "a mound of lawsuits."

Keith Talbot, a lawyer for the Church, said the decision to file bankruptcy grew out of information from mediation sessions that began in September.

"Bankruptcy does two really good things for us.

"One is finality for the archdiocese going forward," Talbot said.

As part of the process, a judge will set a deadline — effectively a kind of statute of limitations — for claimants to come forward with any new lawsuits.

"The other part is that bankruptcy is the method to deliver the greatest measure of justice to the greatest number of victims."

Leander James, a lawyer representing several alleged victims agrees with Talbot.

"I think this bankruptcy was necessary to create an avenue toward a final settlement," James said.

"It will also provide the archdiocese with a road out of this dark jungle it's been in. For years now, they've been trying to find their way out. I think this may provide that path."

The Guam diocese is not alone in filing for Section 11 bankruptcy.

So far at least 19 dioceses and religious orders have been reported to have filed — or announced their intention to file — for bankruptcy protection in the US in efforts to settle sexual abuse claims, according to Catholic watchdog BishopAccountability.org.

To date, claims of clergy sex abuse have cost the Church more than $3 billion in major settlements and awards doled out to alleged victims.

Source

• National Public Radio
• AP
• Image: NBC News

The abuse is alleged to have happened over decades.

In a letter acknowledging a debt of justice, new Guam Archbishop Michael Byrnes (pictured) confirmed the Church's plans to enter into mediation talks.

Byrnes, in a letter, says mediation is a tangible sign the Church knows "a wrong has been done."

He described the mediation as "meaningful" and said more is needed with respect to Church investigations, processes and procedures.

Sources

• RNZ
• Image: Indian Express

Since the legislation was enacted on Guam to abolish the statutes of limitation in September 2016, 140 victims have filed lawsuits against the Archdiocese.

Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese Hagåtña in October 2016, Archbishop Byrnes faced the daunting task of promoting healing among Guam's Catholics.

The citation for the award notes that Byrnes has:

• Facilitated a review of and updates to the Archdiocese's policies on protecting young people
• Initiated training of church workers and volunteers
• Revived an independent review board on the investigation of alleged clergy abuses.

In brief remarks after receiving the award, the archbishop gave credit to others in the Church, including the many people who are part of the archdiocese's online and live training on the protection of children.

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center(NSVRC) offers the Visionary Voice Award in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month each April.

The award recognises the creativity and hard work of individuals in the United States and its territories who have demonstrated outstanding work to end sexual violence.

Each year, state, territory, and tribal coalitions select an outstanding individual to nominate for the awards.

Nominees may be partners from a local community or other outstanding individuals who have worked to end sexual violence.

The Archdiocese of Hagåtña has now formed a partnership with the government, military and private sectors on Guam to observe April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Source

• umatuna.org
• nsvrc.org
• guamcoalition.org
• Image: umatuna.org

This was the question posed by Archbishop of Hagåtña (Guam), Michael Byrnes, at a press conference on Tuesday.

He was speaking after an Apostolic Tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced that it has found the former archbishop of Hagåtña, Anthony Apuron, guilty of sexually abusing minors.

Byrnes offering apologies on behalf of the Archdiocese to those who had been harmed.

"It has been a long and painful period for our Church and our island in general," he said.

"However, few have known pain quite as agonising and extensive as the persons who first came forward nearly two years ago telling their stories of being abused by Father Tony Apuron, who later became the Archbishop of Hagåtña."

He said prayers continue to be offered for those harmed by Apuron and all victims of abuse "here and worldwide".

Byrnes also asked the people to "assist Bishop Apuron in prayer and penance, that he may find grace in repentance and mercy for his soul."

The Archbishop said, "I do not have all the answers. However, we all know what God requires of each us today and always".

He said the archdiocese will continue to work toward healing and restoration of all who have been victimised and described the policies and procedures that had been put in place.

Dave Sablan, whose group Concerned Catholics of Guam was formed around the time allegations began to surface, said the verdict was the first bit of justice but the church still had a lot of work to do.

"We can't really depend on our clergymen to take care of accusing their own brothers so we have to come in and, you know, stand our ground so to speak and make sure that things are done right and correct and, if they're not, we take them to task."

Source

• umatuna.org
• RNZ
• Image: kvue.com

A five-judge apostolic tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced its verdict in Apuron's canonical case on March 16.

The release did not specify which acts the archbishop had been found guilty of.

It said he had been ordered from office and could no longer live in the Archdiocese of Agaña.

The press release from Vatican news stated that in the absence of an appeal, the sentence becomes final and effective.

In the case of an appeal, penalties are suspended until final.

In a statement through his lawyer later on March 16, Apuron said he had already appealed the ruling.

"I am innocent and I look forward to proving my innocence in the appeals process."

In a statement, Michael Byrnes, who is now the new Archbishop of Agaña, said it had been a long and painful period for the church in Guam and for the island community in general.

"This long-awaited announcement by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is very much welcomed.

"It is a monumental marker in our journey toward healing as one Church, one people in God. I pray that all people would embrace this call for healing."

Byrnes extended his prayers as well as gratitude to the individuals and their families who came forward to share their stories of being abused by the then Father Tony Apuron.

"Regardless of whether there is an appeal or not, our focus shall remain on penance and reparation," Byrnes said.

Source

• vaticannews.va
• umatuna.org
• washingtonpost.com
• ncronline.org
• Image: usatoday.com

In that desire for accountability, he is now addressing concerns regarding the Kamalen Karidat (KK) ministries which have been raised by Concerned Catholics of Guam (CCOG).

Established in 1993, KK helps provide food and clothing to the poor and operates a soup kitchen in Agaña.

CCOG had asked Byrnes to shut down the KK programme, citing alleged mismanagement, a lack of accountability and proper documentation.

CCOG President David Sablan told the media that CCOG believes funds were used for personal and other purposes by Archbishop Anthony Apuron, not at all related to KK's mission of helping the poor.

Byrnes said he appreciated the diligence and concern of the CCOG which communicated its concerns in a formal letter to him last October.

He has instructed the legal counsel of KK to give notice of a board meeting to address these matters.

In the meantime, the services to the poor and homeless will continue but the ministries will be removed from KK and operate under the direct control of the Archdiocese.

Father Mike Crisostomo was appointed to lead KK last May.

Byrne gave an assurance that since his appointment Crisostomo has ensured that KK has practised full diligence and compliance in managing its finances, including properly documenting all contributions.

Source

• Umatuna
• Pacific Daily News
• Pacific New Centre
• Image: Pacific Daily News

Writing in Pacific Daily News, Haidee Eugenio says you can also spot him with other clergy in the food court of the Micronesia Mall in Dededo. Or having his hair cut just like anyone else.

"I hope that people will remember that I am approachable," he said. "In places like Detroit, I could go incognito. I really can't here."

He does not drive a fancy car. He usually does not have an entourage. He offered the chancery and the archbishop's residence to be among those properties that can be sold to help compensate victims of clergy sex abuses.

Given that he has lived most of his life in Detroit, where freezing temperatures are common some months, living on the tropical island of Guam means a lot of adjustments.

In October, one year after his arrival, he told Kuam News' Krystal Paco, "I'm at a lot of firsts. The first thing was getting over the shock of coming to a place I've never been before.

"I remember getting up that very first morning and one of the first things I had was a meeting with the lawyers."

Then, there were only 20 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits lodged against the Archdiocese of Agãna, now there are 140 and counting. "That's been a constant source of distress," said the archbishop. "I'd love to be able to do more. I just don't know the venue for it.

"I think once we're through with the legal case, we'll have a greater freedom to extend more pastoral care."

Byrnes is working at bringing people back to church with stronger faith than they had before.

With his groups of advisers and people he has met along the way, he is leading efforts to rebuild trust in the church. He says hope and healing ultimately come from one's faith in God.

"There's still brokenness but everything can be overcome," he said.

"I hope we can lead the church in Guam to kind of recover its mission and also even just to figure out what that specific mission is," he said.

Source

• Pacific Daily News
• Kuam News
• Image: Kuam News

Byrnes said that he learned from the Notary of Canonical Tribunal in the Vatican that "the discovery period of the trial has ended" and the three judges overseeing the case will convene to deliberate on the evidence presented.

He could not say how long the deliberation would take but did say there were three possible findings the group could render: guilty, not guilty, or not proven.

Regardless of which ruling is made, Archbishop Byrnes said he agreed with former Apostolic Administrator for our archdiocese Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai who said last September that Archbishop Apuron should be removed as Archbishop of Agaña.

"His sentiments I entirely endorse. I'm convinced actually, that this archdiocese would be unable to achieve peace really, until it's clear that Archbishop Apuron is no longer the bishop of record for this archdiocese."

Byrnes said he was not making that statement on the basis of the trial but from his experience of being here for the past seven months. He described seeing "widespread disarray" in our archdiocese and "ineffectiveness of many of the operations that you'd would expect to be going on in a regular archdiocese."

On the day before the press conference, Concerned Catholics of Guam president David Sablan and Laity Forward Movement president Lou Klitzkie, along with Catholic issues blogger Tim Rohr, announced that they would bel hold their last picket in front of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica on Sunday.

The pickets have been held each Sunday for about a year.

Klitzkie said those who have showed up at the Sunday pickets have accomplished a lot in drawing the Vatican's attention.

Source

• FaceBook
• umatuna.org
• RNZ
• USA Today

But that has not stopped her joining the weekly picket outside the cathedral in Hagåtña which is calling for the defrocking of the former Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

Concepcion is the mother of a now deceased former altar boy who was allegedly raped by Apuron in the 1970s.

She said she's glad Byrnes acknowledges that abuses by priests happened, and the church has been doing all it can to address those, including creating a Hope and Healing nonprofit to counsel victims.

Concepcion now lives in Arizona, but is visiting Guam and has made it a point of joining a picket in front of the Catholic Church in Hagåtña when she can.

She also testified before a Vatican tribunal for Apuron's canonical trial.

"Everyone's saying a decision will be out by June, I don't know for sure but I hope it's going to be soon. The Vatican has more than enough evidence."

The first picket calling for Apuron's defrocking was held on June 12 last year. The picket has continued every Sunday since then.

"Now that all evidence is in Rome, we want to see Apuron defrocked so that we can have healing in the church and healing also for victims of Apuron and other priests," Laity Forward Movement President Lou Klitzkie said.

David Sablan, Concerned Catholics of Guam president, said the group hopes the pope and the Vatican, as the centre of moral authority for the Catholic Church, will not allow Apuron to remain an archbishop or continue being a priest.

"We must be patient as we methodically clean up our church of pedophile priests, so we can begin the healing process and restore trust and confidence in our new Archbishop and the good priests of our Archdiocese. We will not ever give up on our church and faith in God," he added.

Source

• usatoday.com
• Image: usatoday.com

"It's been initiated, I know that much. The argument has been exchanged and now it's kind of like in the second phase of investigation, examination," said Archbishop Michael Byrnes, the newly appointed coadjutor bishop of Hagåtña (Guam) at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

Byrnes, who arrived on Guam at around 1 a.m. Monday, said the tribunal has been established and the Apuron trial proceeds, with more or less three judges on board.

Canon lawyer Jennifer Haselberger, a Minnesota-based expert in church law, has said there haven't been enough trials of bishops to reach any conclusion about what penalty is normal.

"It will be for the judges to determine the penalty warranted, which could be dismissal from the clerical state or removal from office," Haselberger has said.

As well as the canonical trial ten civil lawsuits have also been filed against the Archdiocese of Hagåtña and its priests — including Apuron.

The lawsuits became possible after Gov. Eddie Calvo signed a law on Sept. 23 that lifted the statute of limitations on civil cases against those accused of sexually abusing children.

Byrnes said he has read the complaints filed. "I'm aware of those. It's shocking whenever you read that kind of thing," he said.

He said he intends to meet with survivors, victims or those who have filed lawsuits against priests and the archdiocese.

But he said there are no firm dates as to when those meetings will occur.

The governor, senators and other government officials attended the prayers for the start of Byrnes' ministry.

85 percent of the island's population is Catholic.

Source

• guampdn.com
• usatoday.com
• kuam.images.worldnow.com

He added he also is aware that he will have to bring about "healing to those who said they have been abused."

"I have heard there are protests outside the cathedral with signs saying, ‘Defrock Apuron,'" Archbishop Byrnes said. "At the same time, there are those who are saying, ‘No, I think he's innocent.'"

The phenomenon is not uncommon. "It's the same thing in a parish when a priest leaves. People have to take a stand, or they think they do," Archbishop Byrnes.His assignment is permanent, he told CNS.

Even though Guam is a U.S. territory, it falls under the geographical jurisdiction of a CEPAC. "I don't even know where they meet," Archbishop Byrnes said. "I've got a lot to learn."

Byrnes told CNS his appointment is permanent.

"I'm here until I retire or until the pope says he needs me elsewhere."

He is scheduled to arrive on Guam Monday, Nov. 28 along with Archbishop Martin Krebs, the Apostolic Nuncio for the Pacific islands.

They will join Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai and Guam's clergy in a private day of recollection and Mass Monday

A Prayer for the beginning of Byrnes episcopal ministry will be held on Wednesday 30 at the Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna.

In the evening the first of novena of Masses honouring Santa Marian Kamalen will be celebrated.

It will be the first public Mass to be celebrated by Byrnes in Guam.

Byrnes will spend a few weeks on the island, then return to Detroit to gather more of his things. "I'm going to miss my friends," he said. "I'm going to miss winter."

He is taking no chances in asserting his control over the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. He filed a complaint on November 18 in the superior court against any others who might try to claim ownership over the seminary.

The filings state it is meant to be an ancillary measure to protect and preserve the plaintiff - Archbishop Byrnes' - rights with regard to the Yona properties, and that any future claimants, including members of the Neocatechumenal Way, have no enforceable legal or equity interest.

The court action follows document filings at land management last week in which Byrnes also asserted control over the seminary and removed the previous board made up of members from the Neocatechumenal Way.

Source

• catholicphilly.com
• umatuna.org
• kuam.com
• Image: iytimg.com

Some consider him to be an "outsider". Guam will be Byrnes' first long-term assignment out of Detroit, Michigan.

"I wonder about the prudence of Rome when I heard about this. It goes to show that the people that are advising Pope Francis just have absolutely no idea about Guam," said Attorney David Lujan.

Lujan is representing alleged victims of clergy sex abuse including those filing lawsuits against the church and Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

"I think it's offensive that Rome selects someone from Detroit of all places, and a white person at that, to send that person to Guam, really, to sort of shepherd us when we got numerous brown priests that were born here, that grew up here, that know the people of Guam and are part of the people of Guam, whether they're Chamorros or Filipinos..."

"We have more than enough qualified leadership in the local clergy who Rome should have contemplated. So that's my reaction to this coadjutor. I can't wait to see him served," Lujan said.

Hon Tai Fai said newly Byrnes should never be considered an "outsider"

"Archbishop Byrnes may not be given, in one instance, 'infused' knowledge of every detail of our island but he is generally informed about the current situation of the local Church and is ready, as expressed humbly by himself, to learn more from the people of God on Guam, whether they be clergy, religious, or lay," Hon said in a Nov. 3 congratulatory message to Byrnes.

While there was initial apprehension among some community members about Byrnes' selection, there is also expressed relief from some lay groups such as the Concerned Catholics of Guam, which said the appointment of a coadjutor archbishop means Apuron is on his way out.

Another group of Catholics, the Laity Forward Movement, said it will continue to lead the picket in front of the cathedral-basilica even after Byrnes has arrived on island and so long as Apuron holds the title of archbishop.

"We welcome the pope's decision to designate a replacement for Apuron," Laity Forward Movement President Lou Klitzkie said on Monday. "Apuron must be removed from the Archdiocese of Agana."

Source

• guampdn.com
• guampdn.com
• guampdn.com
• Image: umatuna.org

He has been given full pastoral responsibility and administrative authority in the archdiocese.

"I got a call from the papal nuncio (Archbishop Christophe Pierre); it was a 5-10 minute conversation, where he asked me if I would accept the appointment to become the next archbishop of Agaña, Guam," Archbishop-designate Byrnes said in an interview with The Michigan Catholic.

"I said yes, I'm willing to do whatever the Holy Father asked of me."

Byrnes was born in Detroit in 1958 and ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Detroit in 1996.

He has a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and has served as a pastor and as vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

He was consecrated bishop and appointed auxiliary bishop of Detroit in 2011.

Though he is still formally archbishop of Agaña, Anthony Apuron was relieved of his pastoral and administrative authority in June.

Since then, the Agaña Archdiocese has been cared for by an apostolic administrator, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai.

Apuron was suspended after multiple sex-abuse charges, has welcomed the appointment of a coadjutor archbishop.

He said that the Vatican's appointment of Byrnes, a Detroit was "a most welcome answer to my request for help in the governance of the island at this time."

Apuron, who has consistently denied the charges against him, said that he is currently "working with the authorities in the Vatican to establish my innocence."

Tai Fai told the National Catholic Reporter the Vatican is preparing to put Apuron on trial.

Last Tuesday he told reporters that "they just formed all the conditions for the trial."

In an interview Byrnes said he hoped that "we will be able to strengthen all our parishes' ability .. .the kind of sensitivity and awareness of protecting God's children"

Byrnes said the Guam church's victim response coordination team is "a very good first step."

"As far as the Neocatechumenal Way, I am aware of them," Byrnes said. "I met some of them, and my thought there is that we are all Catholics, we worship the same Jesus, and we might do it a little bit different in certain cases.

"But, you know, my point there would be to say that's why I need to investigate myself and come to know the people involved."

Read Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai's press release

Source

• kuam.com
• themichigancatholic.org
• ncronline.org
• ncregister.com
• catholiculture.org
• guampdn.com
• Image: i.ytimg.com