Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Priest denies asking churchgoers to boycott Sun.Star Pampanga
ANGELES CITY -- The Catholic priest who allegedly asked churchgoers not to buy Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper because of its critical articles against the Panlilio administration said he was just "misquoted."
Rev. Fr. Raul delos Santos said he was "taken out of context" in his recent homily at the Holy Rosary Parish Church.
The priest did not accommodate this paper's repeated requests for a formal interview. He instead sent a text message saying, "just attend my mass and get your answers there to avoid hearsay."
However, in his homily last Monday, delos Santos only mentioned the issue in passing and not which the newspaper had "misquoted" and "taken (him) out of context."
His homily delved around the virtue of courage, discussing political issues in the province that involved the priest-turned-governor and the ones he calls as "uncooperative" politicians.
Delos Santos even told parishioners to listen so as not to take him "out of context" and that he was not politicking but preaching the virtue of accepting change.
Wishing to get categorical answers from delos Santos, Sun.Star sent a text message to him asking if he categorically denies the allegation that he asked churchgoers to boycott Sun. Star Pampanga. The priest replied: "Boycotting was your tabloid's word, not mine! Will give you a statement tomorrow!"
As of late Monday afternoon, delos Santos has not sent any statement to this paper.
Sources said delos Santos allegedly asked churchgoers in his homily not to patronize Sun.Star Pampanga, which circulates in the province and some other areas in Central Luzon.
The reason, according the sources, is because the newspaper is always coming out with negative articles against Governor Eddie Panlilio.
One of the sources who attended the mass happened to be an employee of this newspaper.
According to the source, the priest was in the middle of his homily about the feast of Sto. Niño when his topic suddenly shifted to the Provincial Government. The priest allegedly delved on Panlilio and the media's effect on the society.
At this point, the source said, the priest told churchgoers not to buy Sun.Star Pampanga.
Also earlier, delos Santos's call for boycott drew both flaks and favor from the public.
"The people should boycott Panlilio instead," a half-amused anonymous caller to the Sun.Star Pampanga office suggested.
Others have equally radical responses to the boycott call made by delos Santos at the Holy Rosary Parish Church in reaction to what he was quoted as saying by parishioners as negative reporting on the governor. (IOF/RCG)
