THE Bishop of the Diocese of Borongan, Most Rev. Crispin Varquez, has announced the dismissal from the clerical state of Fr. Pio Cultura Aclon following the alleged decision of Pope Francis.
"He is, therefore, no longer a cleric and cannot exercise priestly ministry in the Church," said the Diocese of Borongan in an advisory on its social media page on Sunday, September 17, 2023.
The diocese's announcement, however, did not mention the reasons why Aclon was expelled.
In response, Aclon demanded from Varquez and the Diocese the letter from Pope Francis.
"I give you 10 days to provide us the letter... I REPEAT, SEND THE LETTER OF POPE FRANCIS TO ME. Matters like this are communicated to the concerned individual and not on the social media platform. The social media platform is never part of the procedural process on matters like this," Aclon said.
"The Bishop of Borongan should explain this matter because HE VIOLATED AGAIN NOT ONLY MY CANONICAL RIGHT BUT ALSO HUMAN and CIVIL RIGHTS!" the priest wrote on his Facebook account.
CBCP News, the church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), reported that Aclon last served at a minor seminary in Borongan prior to his suspension from clerical duties in the diocese.
In the report, CBCP assured that there would be no cover-up of sexual abuse cases involving the clergy.
"The CBCP has also created an office that will help protect minors from alleged sexual abuses by the clergy," CBCP News said.
"Pope Francis has repeatedly apologized for the abuses and vowed to confront abusers and restore justice," it added. (Ronald O. Reyes/SunStar Philippines)