A RETIRED Court of Appeals justice has questioned a post-retirement assignment given to a senior Cebu priest, saying it breaks Church tradition and could trigger discontent among clergy.
In a June 26, 2025, letter to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, retired justice Gabriel Ingles expressed concerns over the appointment of Msgr. Roberto Alesna, 75, as chaplain of the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at SM Seaside Complex in Cebu City.
“This assignment appears to deviate from long-standing practice concerning the retirement and reassignment of clergy,” Ingles said. “Why deprive the younger and equally, if not more competent and certainly more enthusiastic and active younger clergy members from performing such function?”
Ingles, an ex-seminarian and an active member of the Catholic laity, said the assignment appears to sidestep the customary practice of allowing priests to retire at age 75 — a norm observed for decades in the Archdiocese of Cebu and throughout the Catholic Church.
He said that even bishops, including Archbishop Palma, submit their resignation at the mandatory retirement age, in accordance with canon law, which requires diocesan bishops to offer their resignation to the pope at 75.
Palma retired after reaching 75 last March 19. The Vatican announced on July 16, that Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy will be Palma’s successor.
While canon law allows some discretion in reassigning priests, Ingles said pastoral decisions should be grounded in fairness, transparency and adherence to tradition.
Alesna, who served in several parishes before his retirement, was tapped to head the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel.
Ingles said other Cebu priests who reached retirement age have not received similar assignments.
“To my knowledge, other priests in Cebu who have reached this age are not reassigned,” he said.
He questioned whether Alesna’s appointment was based on the priest’s request or decided by the archdiocese.
Ingles also said a pool of young and capable priests could have taken on the role, especially with team ministry now being implemented in many parishes.
He said he believes Alesna would be willing to give way to younger priests, and warned that such assignments could create the impression that clergy, like the laity, are driven by self-interest.
Ingles said the decision could send the wrong message to both priests and parishioners about Church leadership and succession, warning that exceptions without clear justification risk eroding clergy discipline and morale.
“This assignment appears to disregard the established practice of not giving new pastoral assignments to priests upon reaching the age of 75,” Ingles said.
He said that it may also “diminish the spirit of canon law,” which strongly encourages retirement unless there are compelling reasons.
He then posed a question: “Is the chaplaincy of the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel such a compelling reason? Could this role not have been entrusted to a younger, more active priest?”
Ingles appealed to Palma for clarity, saying the archbishop is respected as a shepherd and a symbol of fairness and integrity.
“To some, this decision carries the scent of favoritism and, regrettably, even church politics,” Ingles said. “It is my humble request that clarity be given to this matter.”
Asked for comment, archdiocese spokesman Msgr. Joseph Tan said he had not heard about the issue.
“I will also ask around what this is about,” Tan said in a message to SunStar Cebu. / CAV