SO WHO THEN SHOULD BE GUAM'S NEXT ARCHBISHOP?

By Tim Rohr

It is a given that the NCW leadership is most likely pressing the papal nuncio to recommend to Rome a bishop for the Archdiocese of Agana who is supportive of the NCW. It's just what they do. 

On the bright side though is this.

Apuron has been a real mosquito on the pope's skin, and we can believe he's tired of slapping the damn thing.

While those of us who live here think we are the center of the world, Rome doesn't. 

We are a side show compared to the pope's other real world problems and he has already spent so much time and energy on Apuron. 

So I'm thinking that the pope will appoint a bishop who he believes will produce the least grief. 

Some are worried that Saipan bishop, Ryan Jiminez, will be appointed bishop of Guam's archdiocese. It's possible. But in addition to Bishop Ryan's problematic sympathies for the NCW, he's also Filipino. 

For those who are honest, there still exists - quite apart from the NCW thing - an ethnic and cultural challenge relative to Chamorros being led by a Filipino. 

Not being of either ethnicity, I don't profess to fully understand the issue. But I've lived here long enough to understand some of it. 

So apart from his NCW sympathies, the appointment of Jiminez would probably lead to more grief for the aging and evermore sickly Francis - who by this point probably wishes he had never heard the words "Guam" and "Apuron."  

So who then, should be Guam's next archbishop?

Contrary to even my own opinion and preference, I am not yet convinced that it shouldn't be a local, and in fact, a local Chamorro ("CHamoru" for those who prefer the spelling.)

However, if the choice is "a local," he should be prepared to be hated by some - if not by many. And that's a good thing. 

Being hated, of course, is right in line with what Christ prophesied when He warned: 

"And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved." - Matt. 10:22

Meanwhile, let us pray that should the new bishop be hated, that he is hated because of his faithfulness to Jesus Christ, His Bride...and nothing else.