MESSAGE FROM CANDY TAMAN (via KUAM)

CANDY TAMAN ON THE BUZZ (June 24, 2015)

A translation by Joe R. San Agustin

To all my brethren here in the Marianas Islands – Christians, Catholics – kindly allow me a bit of your time so I can relay to you my feelings about what is happening here within our Church.  

When my mother gave birth to me (January 9, 1948), she carried me forward to the Altar to be made a Christian.  I was baptized in the Catholic Church.  From that day forward, as I learned to walk, my mother held my hand and led me to Church until I made my First Holy Communion, and later on was confirmed (in the Catholic Faith). I give thanks that I received the Catholic Faith.  As I grew, my parents taught me to be respectful within the community – my elders, my peers, or even younger  - my fellow Catholics. 

When I became an adult, I promised within my heart – as I began to see different kinds of Christians, practicing their faith.  And I respected them all, because they are all servants of the Lord, and do the biddings of God – I promised within my heart that I shall forever – until I die -  remain a Catholic.  Ultimately, regardless of what I see happening, I shall not give up my (Catholic) religion , because that is what my mother taught me – from the time she brought me into this world and  breast fed me -  to now.  That is my upbringing, that is my culture (heritage), that is my language.

It is so sad, such a sad thing that we see happening to our Church these days.  There is so much bitterness within our community, especially within our Catholic community.  

What, Your Excellency!   I will ask all our people to get together, and to pray for you, Your Excellency, that you cleanse (change) your conscience.  Stop deceiving your people!  O Dear God!  When the Shepherd is already disabled (“coho”), the sheep are scattered!  He (the Shepherd) was not disabled because he got sick; he became disabled because the sheep… even the sheep in Talofofo don’t even respect him!  O dear Mother!

You Christians and Catholics – do not leave your Church on account of the Archbishop!  Let us try to direct the Archbishop back, and let us try to make him understand because … perhaps he received his episcopal staff without understanding what his obligations are suppose to be.

The very first teaching (commandment) of the Lord is that we have love for one another, that we have respect for one another, so there can be peace.  When there is any wrongdoing, let us forgive each other.

Why do you do harm to those priests who are doing what the Lord taught us?  It is from them that we learn what we need to do as Catholics!  

On Sundays, I go to attend Mass at Toto Church.  -  Oh how wonderful we have here in Father Mike.  And the poor man – his heart is being ruptured, as if he had committed a grave sin, committed a grave wrong when the (AAA) appeal didn’t meet its goal.  When the (AAA) goal wasn’t met, I think that perhaps it was the Archbishop’s fault himself.   Just as Mr (Ben) Meno had said “Stop your donations, because we are not being shown what the money was being used for – rightly or wrongly.”   I personally feel that if I have but 50¢ in my pocket, I will give it as my donation.  I’ll leave it up to the Archbishop (and to the Lord) – it is he (Archbishop) who will have to give answer for it – and be sentenced for it.

Do excuse me if I should hurt anyone, but… when I was reading that article (in the PDN letter-to-the-editor) which Mr. San Agustin wrote, I couldn’t believe that he will be so disrespectful of San Agustin to stand up and tell the Archbishop that he is lying.  I couldn’t believe that he had the strength, the brash (guts) to say that.  But I believe it!  Why?  Because that man was born and educated, and taught in the Catholic way.  That was why he braved to say such words – because it is true.  Sera; magahet!

So as we continue to evaluate all these remarks on the air (fabulas de aires) we get all confused.  We don’t know now if Mr. John Toves, or Mr. San Agustin or what-you-call that organization (Vanje Lujan, David Sablan, and others) – we don’t know who’s lying, but… O Blessed Mother Mary!

Your Excellency – with all due respects to you – change your conscience.  And if you can no more face up to the truth – as they say in English: Step Down!  Do not wait for the  sheep to gather together and they then edge you out.  O what a thing the Shepherd has done to the Sheep!! 

With all due respect to those of you who are listening, I beg your pardon if my words has hurt any of you.  My name is Candy Babauta Taman.  I was born and raised up in the Catholic Church, and in no way will I leave my Faith, my Church and my religion.  A huge “thank you” and my apologies if I hurt anyone.