AN OFFICIAL of the Catholic Church said it would be the parish priest who would decide if they would allow gays from playing the role of Jesus in the Senakulo, a stage play of the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III, Media Director of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said it is the priest who knows the people in their community that is why they are leaving the discretion to them on this matter.
“Usually by common sense they will decide something that will enhance the Senakulo not something that will destroy it. There should not be any hard rule on it,” he said.
But Quitorio noted that he would rather not have a homosexual play the role of Jesus since it might create a mockery out of it.
“As much possible don’t but I cannot say that to the parish priest because they might know somebody in their community who is not only a good performer but whose face also resembles Jesus,” he said.
Earlier, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales expressed opposition on the participation of gay men dressed up as women in Santacruzan processions noting it is an insult to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Instead of giving honor to the Blessed Virgin Mary, you are destroying the devotion by having gays there instead of women. As a result it becomes a laughing matter,” he said.
But former Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz is not against male homosexuals participating in the Santacruzan for as long as they are devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Even if they’re women, but they are immoral. So to me it’s okay if they’re gay for as long as they are real devotees of the Blessed Mother,” he said. (FP/Sunnex)