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Thursday, July 17, 2003
CBCP: No need for reforms on issue of celibacy
By Christine Mae A. Pelayo
ARCHBISHOP Fernando Capalla, president-elect of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said there is no need for the church to institute reforms on the issue of celibacy.
“We are going to insist more and more on celibacy and make it understood properly by the students in the seminary,” said the Davao-based Capalla, who was in Bacolod City Tuesday to attend the funeral of Bishop Emeritus Antonio Y. Fortich.
Capalla, who was appointed as member of the national government’s four-man panel of advisers to broker peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said he cannot comment on the fate of Bishop Teodoro Bacani of Novaliches, who was earlier charged with sexual harassment by his personal secretary.
Bacani and Bishop Crisostomo Yalung of Quezon are two of the churchleaders who recently figured in the alleged sexual scandals rocking the Catholic church.
Their involvement elicited diverse opinions which even prompted some quarters to call for the lifting of the vow of celibacy among priests.
Capalla said: “There has been worst cases in the past in the history of the church.” He added though that the issue is being sensationalized by the media.
On the other hand, Capalla said he will assume office as the new CBCP president in December.
He added that his priority is the church’s concern on the youth and family.
“We will just continue the pastoral priorities of the CBCP that were promulgated in the previous term of Archbishop Orlando Quevedo,” said Capalla.
He further said the CBCP will also conduct dialogues with the Muslims and other Christian religions.
“The priorities of the CBCP depend on the bishops to implement according to circumstances,” he added.
Moreover, Capalla said Filipino bishops should emulate the life and practice of Fortich, who is also tagged as the man of God and of peace for his advocacies for the poor.
Capalla said the bishops will try to do their best to approximate Fortich’s life and the legacy he left to the people of Western Visayas.
On the other hand, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, said “all the messages that were given (to Fortich) were an encouragement to live up to the ideals that the late bishop extol, preach and practice during his life time.”
Moreover, Capalla said he will miss the memories he had with Fortich whom he considered as a ‘joker.’
He recalled that he was the CBCP regional director for Western Visayas when Fortich was the bishop of Bacolod City.
Capalla said that he enjoyed Fortich’s jokes as the latter had "a very good sense of humor."
Capalla also said that Fortich had a very keen sense of ‘human touch.’
“He had touched the lives of the poor and we admire him,” added Capalla.
(July 16, 2003 issue)
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