A betrayal of trust and heritage: Where are our indigenous leaders?
Nov. 25, 2024, was a heartbreaking and infuriating day for our Chamorro and Carolinian people! Why are our indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian priests consistently overlooked to lead our faith and people? Are our indigenous priests not deemed worthy enough? Last night and today, the pain in their eyes was undeniable—our community deeply feels the weight of this injustice.
The Church in any Pacific culture, is supposed to protect the language and culture. Our Chamorro and Carolinian language and culture have withstood centuries of foreign domination. We survived the Spanish, German, and Japanese cultural purges, only to now face the slow erasure of our heritage by the very institution that should be defending it—the Catholic Church. This is nothing less than a tragedy for the people of the CNMI.
Consider this: What do we get in return after several hundreds of thousands of dollars of funding from our own Chamorro and Carolinian community to educate Archbishop Ryan Jimenez? He abandons the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa to chase personal ambition in Guam, vying for a higher title. In his place, he installs a bishop with no connection to the CNMI, someone who cannot truly understand or lead our people—shame on Ryan and shame on Tagle for allowing this to happen.
During Ryan’s tenure as bishop, we witnessed a systematic dismantling of our diocese. The schools on Tinian and Rota were shuttered. The North Star, our only indigenous Catholic print publication, ceased operation. Chamorro Masses disappeared from the Cathedral. Our beloved churches fell into disrepair—all to “save money.” But save money for what? For Ryan’s global travels and pursuit of prestige as he positions himself to climb the Church hierarchy? Is this what leadership looks like?
This is not about faith—it is about power and ambition. Ryan’s focus was not on evangelizing or uplifting the people of the CNMI; it was on funding his doctorate and seeking a cardinal’s title. And now, just three months after his departure, we suddenly have a new bishop hand-picked by Ryan and Tagle. It took seven years to appoint Ryan, but only three months for this? The manipulation is blatant, and the people of the CNMI deserve answers.
To add insult to injury, Tagle, head of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, oversees this charade. Is this his idea of evangelizing our islands—ignoring the voices of the faithful and treating the CNMI as an afterthought? His actions mock our faith and our heritage.
Let’s be clear: Our Chamorro and Carolinian ancestors protected and nurtured the Church through generations. They fought to preserve their faith alongside their culture, ensuring that both thrived against unimaginable odds. Now, it is our turn to defend our Church and identity.
We must rise together. This is not a time for silence or passivity. Share this message, speak out, and let the Church know that the Chamorro and Carolinian people will not stand idly by as our Indigenous Priests are stripped of their dignity and rightful place.
God save the CNMI. May He guide us in defending our faith and our people.
Gary Sword
Via email
Letter to the Editor
