There hasn’t been any widespread anxiety among Guam residents, even after Pyongyang vowed to complete a plan to attack waters near the island by mid-August. The people of Guam are accustomed to threats from North Korea. On Sunday priests across the island prayed for peace and a “just resolution of differences.” Continue reading
Posts Tagged ‘Guam’
Neocatechumenal Way under fire in Guam
Monday, April 10th, 2017
Archbishop Michael Byrnes issued pastoral letter last month asking the Neocatechumenal Way to put a one-year pause on the formation of its new communities on Guam. He also asked them to celebrate Mass in accordance with the Catholic Church’s general instructions and norms. Byrnes said he intends to appoint a priest delegate to review the Read more
Catholic Church of Guam sets up $1M abuse settlement fund
Thursday, March 9th, 2017The Roman Catholic Church of Guam has established a $1 million settlement fund for victims of child sexual abuse. In a news conference with his nine-member archdiocese finance council, Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes said the funds will become available as soon as the archdiocese has put in place an administrator who will be supported by Read more
Cardinal Burke says Guam abuse probe completed within months
Monday, February 20th, 2017
Cardinal Raymond Burke says he’s aiming to wrap up the sex abuse investigation involving Guam’s suspended archbishop by the “summer”. (ie. in the northern hemisphere) He is presiding over the church tribunal hearing the case against Archbishop Anthony Apuron, who faces multiple allegations of sex abuse of altar boys in the 1970s. Apuron has denied the Read more
Hon says Archbishop Apuron failed to act on recommendation given in 2015
Tuesday, December 6th, 2016
Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai said Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron had more than a year, from early 2015, to prove to the Vatican he could improve his weak pastoral governance and unify the Catholic Church on Guam. But he failed to heed the calls, and the subsequent public allegations that Apuron sexually abused Agat altar Read more
Guam: Archbishop Byrnes says first task will be to listen
Friday, November 25th, 2016
“My first job is to listen,” said Archbishop Byrnes, the newly appoint coadjutor bishop of Archdiocese of Agãna (Guam). 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,’” Read more
Mixed reaction to Guam’s new Archbishop
Friday, November 18th, 2016
Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes will arrive from Detroit on Nov. 28 and be welcomed by Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai and other clergy, the Archdiocese of Agãna has told The Pacific Daily News. Some consider him to be an “outsider”. Guam will be Byrnes’ first long-term assignment out of Detroit, Michigan. “I wonder about the Read more
1000s sign petition opposing sex abuse bill in Guam
Friday, September 23rd, 2016The Catholic Church in Guam has collected more than 4,000 signatures for a petition opposing a bill that could expose it to sexual abuse lawsuits. Pacific News Center reports the Church has delivered the petition calling on Governor Eddie Calvo to veto the bill to his office. It collected 4,500 signatures in four days for Read more
Apuron’s “gag order” rescinded by Vatican appointed administrator
Tuesday, June 21st, 2016
Vatican appointee, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, has rescinded a decree which forbade Catholics from associating with a group that is calling for the removal of Guam’s Archbishop, Anthony Apuron. Hon stated in his decree he rescinded and annulled Apuron’s decree, “After seven days of consultation and reflection, with deep concern for the best interests of Read more
Guam – Neocatechumenal leader receives hostile reception
Tuesday, April 26th, 2016
The leader of the Neocatechumenal Way in the USA, Guiseppe Gennarini, was confronted by protesters when he arrived in Guam last Thursday. The protesters were from the Concerned Catholics of Guam (CCOG) and the Laity Forward Movement (LFM). This is the latest episode in a long running conflict which has divided Catholics in Guam. It Read more