I have been extremely hesitant to wade into the Kamalen Karidat controversy here on JungleWatch. There are some complex legal issues that I believe are not clearly defined yet and I would prefer to leave those issues, at least at this point, to the lawyers.
In short, though, the central issue is whether or not Archbishop Apuron is still in control of the Kamalen Karidat since he retains the title "Archbishop of Agana," and KK's bylaws stipulate that there can be no "meeting" (quorum) without the presence or representation of the Archbishop of Agana (ByLaws. Article 8).
In effect, Article 8 calls into question whether or not there was even a legal meeting to elect the new board since the Archbishop of Agana (Apuron retains the title) was certainly not present, and it is an open question as to whether or not Coadjutor Archbishop Byrnes can be considered "representation."
But we'll deal with that another time.
Meanwhile, there is this troubling paragraph from the press release:
In short, though, the central issue is whether or not Archbishop Apuron is still in control of the Kamalen Karidat since he retains the title "Archbishop of Agana," and KK's bylaws stipulate that there can be no "meeting" (quorum) without the presence or representation of the Archbishop of Agana (ByLaws. Article 8).
In effect, Article 8 calls into question whether or not there was even a legal meeting to elect the new board since the Archbishop of Agana (Apuron retains the title) was certainly not present, and it is an open question as to whether or not Coadjutor Archbishop Byrnes can be considered "representation."
But we'll deal with that another time.
Meanwhile, there is this troubling paragraph from the press release:
"While the board deliberates on the issues and pending legal counsel, its members are grateful to the Archdiocese of Agana for overseeing and maintaining the operations of Kusina Kamalen, KOLG and the Catholic Pro-Life Committee during this period of reorganization."
Just personally, I was immediately troubled by the KK board being "grateful" to the Archdiocese of Agana, which of course, is in fact: the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church as it is present in the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam.
I was troubled because, in fact, feeding the hungry (Kusina), teaching the faith (KOLG), and protecting life (Pro-Life) is EXACTLY what Christ commanded his Church to do.
In other words, it is PRECISELY the Divine Duty of the Archdiocese of Agana (the Church in Guam) to DO what the KK board is saying it is grateful to "the Church" for doing - while it apparently goes through some sort of reorganization.
It is NOT the duty of some corporation, WHOLLY AND LEGALLY separate from Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church (as is KK) to feed the hungry, teach the faith, and protect life. Rather, it is the DIVINE DUTY of that Church, our Church, to do exactly this.
I believe that in the end, if justice and transparency triumphs, we will all see that Kamalen Karidat was established for other reasons than what was sold to the public.
But beyond that, it is time to place these ministries back where they belong: with the ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, and APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
