CEBU, Philippines – If she decides to take legal action against the priest who castigated her during the baptism of her child last Sunday, the 17-year-old mother from Mandaue City who has gained the sympathy of netizens would get ready help from the police.
Senior Inspector Marylou Cuizon, chief of the Women and Child Protection Desk of the Region 7 police, said they are willing to assist the young unwed mother if she decides to file charges against Fr. Romeo Obach, a Redemptorist priest.
Cuizon, who has seen the online video of the girl’s humiliation, said she would wait for her family to seek help from their office.
Cuizon said she would order the women and children’s desk of the Basak police station in Mandaue to look into the matter, adding that the law does not exempt priests from charges.
Obach apologized on Wednesday to the girl and her family for the “words I said and the rude attitude I showed.” But the girl said she still cannot forgive the priest as his “cruel words and pointing fingers” are still fresh in her mind.
Her parents said they would still discuss if they would take further action on the incident or not.
The Redemptorist community also issued an apology on Wednesday and temporarily barred Obach from officiating Eucharistic celebrations and giving sacraments while their internal investigation is ongoing.
“As a religious community, we do not condone such unacceptable act as it is contrary to the charism and mission for which our congregation was founded – compassion especially to the poor and the most abandoned,” read the Redemptorist statement.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma “totally agreed” with the two letters of apology and expressed confidence that the Redemptorist community will be able to address the issue justly, as he described the order to be among those displaying good and sound judgment.
However, in the event that any party questions the results of the internal investigation, the archdiocese would step in.
“As a general rule, we give the community a chance to conduct their own investigation. If we feel that some may not be satisfied, then we will come in. But knowing the capacity of the Redemptorist community, they will be able to come up with a just investigation,” Palma said.
Had Obach been a diocesan priest, the archdiocese would have a direct hand in the investigation and imposition of possible sanctions.
Palma referred to Pope Francis who recently apologized for the inappropriate acts of priests around the globe, reminding both ordained and the lay to be compassionate especially to the less fortunate and vulnerable. – Jessa Agua, Christell Fatima Tudtud, Ria Mae Booc/Freeman