|
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Vidal seeks meeting with priests' superiors
CEBU CITY -- Three parish priests named in a petition in Lapu-Lapu City will not be transferred unless Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal meets with their superiors.
"They have to go to their superiors before coming to me. The superiors then come to me to discuss the matter. Because they are recommended to the parish by the superiors, I cannot just get them out of the parish without advising their superiors," the archbishop told reporters Wednesday.
What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers
However, Cardinal Vidal has yet to receive a copy of the petition for the transfer of parish priest Pedro Arguillas and Fathers Roberto Villanueva and Fabian Cayetano.
He recommended a meeting between the petitioners and the parish priests, "so that we will all know what the problem is exactly."
Msgr. Achilles Dakay, Archdiocesan spokesman, added there was no need to publish the photos of the priests. "Di ba, we agreed on that already?" he told reporters.
"Suppose they (petitioners) wrote me a letter directly, do I have to publish it directly too?" added Cardinal Vidal.
Meanwhile, two incumbent city officials who belong to the Knights of Columbus urged a dialogue to end the misunderstanding, otherwise projects of the Virgen dela Regla National Shrine might be hampered.
"I am suggesting a tripartite dialogue that the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) should initiate to settle this unpleasant issue," said Vice Mayor Mario Amores, the K of C's program director in the Sacred Hearth Parish in Barangay Marigondon.
The national vice president of the Mother Butler Mission Guild (MBMG) also denied that her chapter in Lapu-Lapu City is involved in circulating the petition.
The three priests are in a retreat and are expected to return to the city on Friday.
Marissa Unchuan admitted they have long learned of the "little problem" between the Lapu-Lapu chapter and the priests, but thought it had already been resolved.
"We always respect the priests so much and it is our thrust to help them and maintain a harmonious relationship with them," she said. Her group hopes to meet with the three priests next week.
She also explained that under their bylaws, they cannot entrust parish items acquired through solicitations - including vestments for the priests - because in the past, some priests would bring the items to their next assignment.
Parish Pastoral Council president Vitaliano Fortich has said the priests' reported plan to take some of the parish items from the MBMG triggered the dispute.
The other reason, he said, is the MBMG's failure to account for the donations it received from parishioners.
A petition, with 1,122 signatures, appealed to Cardinal Vital to transfer the three priests. It cited the priests' alleged failure to account for the church's income and expenses from cash donations.
But Fr. Jesus Dumaual told reporters the second collection made during masses has been used for specific projects, never to buy a luxurious car for any priest.
"Tan-awa ra gud nang among service car kon luho ba na. All our service vehicles are second-hand," he said.
The Parish Pastoral Council called for an emergency meeting Wednesday on the petition, but has yet to decide whether to approach the petitioners individually or in groups.
City Councilor Damian Gomez said it is the parish that will suffer from the misunderstanding if the dispute is prolonged, because it cannot implement a project without its parishioners' support.
"Cardinal Vidal may have to step in. But it would be much better if the Parish Pastoral Council can resolve it as quickly as possible," he said. (EPB/AIV)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (November 27, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
|
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
16 rescued, 4 missing in sea mishap