Saturday, February 02, 2008 Nalzaro:Reassigning archdiocese priests By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
THE Archdiocese of Cebu has re shuffled the assignments of priests in its jurisdiction. His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said this is a result of the retirement of some priests. Those who had stayed in their parishes for more than six years were the ones affected.
But according to a source the reshuffling sparked intrigues and squabble among the priests. We can therefore say that, like any other organization, the Church also has intramurals within. Some priests accused their leaders, especially members of the screening committee, of playing favorites. Others lobbied for their new assignments. The cardinal, though, had the last say.
Priests with strong connections to the powers that be in the archdiocese were not affected by the reshuffling. Those without padrinos were assigned in small parishes or, worse, in remote areas. But like the military, the Church has an “Obey first before you complain” policy.
Priests accused of shenanigans were also given new assignments. Msgr. Constantino Diotay, former parish priest of Pardo, and his assistant, Fr. Domingo Tapic, were transferred to Tayud, Consolacion and to Lutopan, Toledo respectively.
The two priests became controversial when a group of people in Pardo’s Sto. Tomas de Villañueva parish launched a series of protest actions against them for alleged graft and corruption. They were accused of amassing wealth from Church donations, a charge they denied.
The group filed a formal complaint against the two priests before the cardinal but nothing has been heard of it. But why give Diotay and Tapic new assignments? Do we have a shortage of priests? Why doesn’t the archdiocese give other priests a chance to head a parish?
The cases of Frs. Oscar Ornopia and Joey Belciña were a big slap on the faces of Church leaders, who failed to impose disciplinary action on them despite accusations that they committed immoral acts. Ornopia was accused of siring two children while Belciña was accused by a young girl of raping her. The two priests denied the accusations against them. Both are now members of the team ministry in Minglanilla after they reportedly went through a “process of spirituality.”
But why were they given assignments? If they were guilty of the charges hurled against them, did they repent?
Belciña was able to settle the case filed against him in court, but this does not necessarily mean he was innocent. If he did engage in a sexual act, then he violated his vow of celibacy. As for Ornopia, why don't Church leaders recommend to the Vatican that he be given proper dispensation, that is, if he really sired two children?
Then there’s the case of Fr. Benedicto Ejares, who was accused of committing acts of lasciviousness on female students during a confession.
The problem with our Church leaders is that they are only good in criticizing social and political ills and accusing government officials of corrupt, illegal and immoral acts.
But if a priest commits grave violations, they fall silent. I am a Roman Catholic but I say some of our priests have no moral ascendancy to teach us about values because they commit more sins than us.
