Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes has
declared a "Year of Reparation" for the Catholic Church on Guam because
of the magnitude of clergy sexual abuses and outbreaks of violence,
child abuse, drug abuse and the highest divorce rate in the world, among
other things.
"(Reparation) is a way
of restoring the balance of justice when people have been harmed,"
Byrnes said during his monthly "Updating the Faithful" series Wednesday
morning. Byrnes said declaring a Year of
Reparation, which will begin July 6, signifies solidarity with all
victims of social ills, including clergy abuse and violence, and a
collective quest for justice.