Diocese warns vs ex-priest

MANILA, Philippines — The Diocese of Cubao warned Catholic faithful yesterday against a former priest who is reportedly still performing the duties of one after he was dismissed from his congregation for violating canon law.

In a statement, the diocese said that Rico Sabanal was dismissed from the Order of Carmelites on Aug. 30, 2008 for violating Canon 694.

Under this provision, a member of a religious congregation can be dismissed for having “defected notoriously from the Catholic faith,” “contracted marriage or attempted it, even only civilly” or “been illegitimately absent from the religious house… for 12 consecutive months, taking into account that the location of the religious himself or herself may be unknown.”

The diocese said it has issued circulars on Aug. 18, 2010 and April 27, 2016 regarding Sabanal’s status after receiving confirmation from the Order of Carmelites that he is no longer connected with the congregation.

Sabanal “is no longer a Roman Catholic priest and has no priestly faculty to perform any religious activities anywhere in the Philippines,” according to the diocese.

The diocese said it had to issue a warning after receiving reports that Sabanal is being invited to celebrate mass in Quezon City hall offices and different parishes and chapels within its jurisdiction even after his dismissal from the congregation.