Embattled priest gets support

ILOILO CITY — The demand raised by a "minority" for the immediate relief and transfer of the parish priest in outlying Tigbauan here has unleashed what could turn out to be "a deep and irreparable rift" in the ranks of parishioners and residents in this coastal town.

This developed as thousands of Tigbauanons will converge at the church grounds tomorrow in what rally organizers describe as a massive show of support for and reaffirmation of confidence in the embattled Roman Catholic priest.

The organizers are confident that they could drum up support from thousands of demonstrators in a "people power" style demonstration, which will vouch for the integrity and innocence of Fr. Eleuterio Carton and favor the continuation of his 20-year incumbency.

A small group calling itself the Parishioners of Tigbauan has been at the forefront of a six-month campaign to oust Carton on charges that he misappropriated funds and was responsible for the loss of precious church artifacts, including a giant bell.

The 63-year-old priest flatly denied the charges but the petitioners persisted in their campaign and filed a complaint with the office of Jaro Archbishop Msgr. Angel Lagdameo.

Carton’s supporters believe that the priest may just be an unwary victim of a "smear drive."