ARCHDIOCESE OF AGANA
CHANCERY OFFICE
196B Cuesta San Ramon + Hagitha, Guam 96910-4334» Tel: (671) 472-6116, (671) 562-0000 «Fax: (671) 477-3519
July 29, 2014
Statement from the Archbishop Anthony Apuron, OFM Cap. D.D.
‘The Archdiocese of Agana has been working diligently to review its financial
condition with the help of the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche and the
Archdiocesan Finance Officer, following the indication of Cardinal Filoni, Prefect
of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
‘Together with the Archdiocesan Finance Council, I decided that on an annual
basis the Archdiocese of Agana, Catholic Cemeteries of Guam, Inc. and the
Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Guam will publish the
financial reports and financial review.
1am pleased to tell you that through this review we have verified that the overall
financial situation of the Archdiocese is healthy and that the debt of the
Archdiocese in the past years has been reduced by twenty percent (20%).
However, two (2) entities of the Archdiocese, the Agana Cathedral-Basilica and
Catholic Cemeteries of Guam, Inc. have about seven million dollars of
indebtedness which has been reduced only marginally and which accounts for
about one quarter of the total indebtedness of the Archdiocese of Agana.
Moreover, Deloitte & Touche has determined that the accounting practices,
especially of the Catholic Cemeteries of Guam, Inc, are “inappropriate”. Deloitte
and Touche, listing the cases of inappropriate accounting, concluded that an
audit is not possible until appropriate accounting has been reestablished in ‘The
Catholic Cemeteries of Guam, Inc.
I informed the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors and the
Archdiocesan Finance Council about this situation, and they expressed their
support.
Based on these findings, I have decided that a change in administration in these
‘two entities, the Agana Cathedral-Basilica and The Catholic Cemeteries of Guam,
Ine. is necessary and urgent to reestablish proper accounting practices and to
complete the financial review, financial report and the audit.
Most Rev. Anthony S. Apuron, OFM Cap,, D.D.
Archbishop of Agana