The real matter before us relative to Kamalen Karidat is not primarily whether or not it is an "integrated auxiliary" of the Church, nor is it why the corporation never had a board meeting or filed tax records in its 24 years of existence, nor is it whether or not the corporation should be dissolved or somehow transformed.
No, the real issue before us is whether or not monies raised by Kamalen Karidat, either through its fundraisers, its solicitation of donations, its commercial activities (thrift store, real estate rentals), or any other means, and thought to be destined for the care of the poor, was used by Anthony S. Apuron for his own personal purposes or any other purposes other than what was proposed to the giving public.
It is understandable that those who are now trying to "fix" the problem just want to move on, put the past behind, and get on with the ministry that KK was said to have been initially established for. But then that puts those who are now trying to fix KK at odds with not just Archbishop Byrnes' very public commitment to transparency, but at odds with the growing number of faithful and public in general who have come to expect it.
The central question is: Did Anthony S. Apuron use money either raised or generated by Kamalen Karidat for personal purposes? And if so, how much? What did he use it on? Who authorized the transfer of that money from KK to Apuron? Where are the records? And if the records aren't there, then why aren't they there? And who is responsible?
We are at a critical juncture in this diocese. People like and trust Archbishop Byrnes. Continuing to like and trust Archbishop Byrnes is critical to the recovery of this diocese, not just financially, but in terms of souls. And while the fate of Apuron relative to the outcome of both the Vatican and civil courts is not in the control of Archbishop Byrnes nor anyone else in a leadership position in this diocese, the investigation into the above questions IS.
