Group wants all priests in parish replaced

CEBU, Philippines - After weeks of silence, several parishioners of the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Shrine in Minglanilla, Cebu once again pushed for the replacement of all priests assigned in their area.

The parishioners channeled their concern through an “assembly” aired over dySS for two hours. It was attended by more than 50 church workers from Minglanilla composing of lay ministers, catechists.

Also present in the assembly were to acolytes alleged to have been sexually molested by a priest still assigned at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Shrine.

The assembly was supposed to be held at the town plaza but the police disallowed the same for absence of a permit.

Undeterred, the parishioners asked Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador to allow them to continue in front of the Minglanilla police station located a few meters from the shrine.   The parishioners said the community needs a fresh start following the sex scandals that have haunted it late last year.

Rowelito Plorisima, a shrine catechist who attended the activity told The FREEMAN it is high time for their problem regarding the alleged misconduct of priests to end.

“In order for the entire community (Minglanilla) to have peace, they (the priests) should leave,” Plorisima said. He added that the problem is not the people of Minglanilla, but the priests assigned at the shrine.

Plorisima said that while the priest accused of engaging in sexual trysts with several female parishioners is no longer in the parish, the wounds of the past have yet to be healed.

“They (priests) should be replaced because their treatment to some of the parishioners has gone bitter since the issue was publicized,” he said. 

Plorisima explained that their move is not to defy the decision of Archbishop Jose Palma to remove just one priest but a call for total healing of the community, he explained.

A shrine official who requested for anonymity told The FREEMAN that what the group is doing is relieving a “dead issue.” He said the group’s sentiments do not necessarily reflect those of the rest of the parishioners.  (FREEMAN)