Guam Archbishop Byrnes calls for patience as archdiocese undergoes bankruptcy process

Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes on Sunday called on the Catholic community for patience, sacrifices and collaboration as the Archdiocese of Agana undergoes a reorganization bankruptcy process.

Byrnes wrote an open letter four days after the archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy, allowing it to restructure its finances and pay off the plaintiffs in 202 clergy sex abuse claims while continuing to operate parishes, Catholic schools, cemeteries and the soup kitchen.

"We are doing this and other things in our archdiocese because there have been a great number of people — children at the time — who were gravely hurt by members of our church in the past and it is our responsibility to answer for it," Byrnes wrote.

The archdiocese listed $22.96 million in assets, with $45.66 million in liabilities including potential payments to abuse victims.

Read more: https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2019/01/21/archbishop-calls-patience-archdiocese-undergoes-bankruptcy-process/2635558002/