Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes, 64, has been on “extended medical leave” off the island of Guam, Archdiocesan Vicar General Father Romeo Convocar said on Tuesday. But the archdiocese did not provide further details about the medical condition, and whether it’s something that could prolong Byrnes’ absence from Guam. “Please continue to pray for our archbishop. Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Guam’
Asking pope for resolution ‘improper’
Monday, September 19th, 2022
The Vatican said judicial inquiries directed to the pope as a head of state are “improper,” concerning a case filed by a man seeking to hold the Vatican liable for the actions of Guam’s former archbishop, Anthony Apuron. The Vatican comment followed a federal judge ordering the Holy See’s counsel to report on whether Pope Read more
200 horrific sex abuse lawsuits rock Guam Archdiocese
Monday, August 12th, 2019
Over 220 former boy scouts, altar boys and students have begun a sex abuse lawsuit against 35 Catholic leaders in Guam’s archdiocese. Court documents show a systemic pattern of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy took place on the US territory of Guam for over 60 years. The sex abuse scandal and church cover-up that dates Read more
Guilty former archbishop still celebrating Mass
Thursday, April 11th, 2019
Although Guam’s former Archbishop Apuron has been found guilty of child sexual abuse, he is still celebrating Mass. 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 Read more
Vatican finds former Guam archbishop guilty of child sex abuse
Monday, April 8th, 2019The Vatican has upheld its decision convicting the former Archbishop Anthony Apuron in the U.S. territory of Guam for sexually abusing minors. “Our church on Guam can now continue with certainty, our collective journey toward healing and reconciliation. Most importantly, the victims, survivors and their families who have suffered greatly can have some measure of Read more
Guam’s Catholic Church to file for bankruptcy
Thursday, November 8th, 2018
Guam’s Catholic Church says it is going to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. 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. Read more
Guam Church to mediate with victims
Thursday, September 13th, 2018
Lawyers in Guam, representing nearly 200 people who say they were sexually abused by representatives of the Catholic Church, are due to meet with Church officials in the next week. 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 Read more
Former archbishop in robes, in Rome
Thursday, May 10th, 2018
A former archbishop of Guam has attended a religious function in Rome despite having been stripped of his office. Anthony S. Apuron lost his position in the wake of sexual abuse claims. Apuron left Guam in 2016 after accusations that he sexually assaulted four altar boys when he was a priest. His nephew, Mark Apuron, Read more
Guam archbishop defends sexual abuse claims
Thursday, February 22nd, 2018
A Guam court has dismissed part of a defamation lawsuit about sexual abuse against Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agana. He was facing several accusations of sexual abuse in the 1970s. In a public statement in 2016, the archbishop called the accusations “intentional lies.” The archbishop’s accusers brought a two-part defamation case against Read more
Guam’s Archbishop Byrnes leading by example
Thursday, November 16th, 2017
Archbishop Michael Byrnes lives a simple life. You can see him walking in his sandals in the parking lot at the Agãna Shopping Centre after grocery shopping. 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 Read more