Lay Catholics have joined dozens of priests in demanding Ruteng Diocese’s embattled bishop quit for allegedly misappropriating more than US$100,000 in church funds and having an affair with a woman.

In a July 1 statement signed by 30 people, they said “resignation” was the best course of action for Flores Island’s Bishop Hubertus Leteng as he had failed to perform his duties.

“The bishop is the shepherd, the representative of Christ, the spiritual leader, the model to live the Gospel value. Since his attitude and behaviour violate the nature and identity of a bishop, we urge him to resign from office,” they said.

If Bishop Leteng refuses to resign, they said, the Holy See must dismiss him.

“I think it would be a disaster if Archbishop Apuron were to return as the bishop of record,” said Coadjutor Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, because of the extent of the loss of trust among the faithful and the “widespread disarray” left behind in church operations.

Byrnes, a former auxiliary bishop of Detroit, spoke to the press in Agana July 6, offering an update of the canonical investi-gation and trial of Apuron and his own personal thoughts about what would be best for the archdiocese moving forward.