MANILA (UCAN): Three priests in the Philippines have been permanently relieved of their pastoral and other priestly duties after they declared their intention to run for public office in elections next year, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said in an October 26 statement.
Father Noli Alparce of the Diocese of Sorsogon, Father Emerson Luego of the Diocese the Tagum, and Father Granwell Pitapit of the Diocese of Libmanan, have received decrees informing them of the sanction from their respective diocesan bishops.
The bishops were obliged by canon law to act against the three as priests “are prohibited from assuming public office which entails participation in the exercise of civil power,” the statement said.
Describing Father Pitapit’s decision to enter politics as a “sad event,” Bishop Jose Rojas of Libaman said in a letter to parishioners, “Father Granwell Pitapit decided to leave the priestly ministry and the priesthood for personal reasons.”
The bishop said, “Consequently, this decision to enter politics means his priestly functions are hereby revoked. This is deemed irreversible, thus preventing him from returning to the priestly ministry.”
Bishop Rojas said that since Father Pitapit wished to leave the priesthood, he no longer represented the Catholic Church or the diocese. He said that although the revocation is immediate, a priest could not “immediately” engage in marriage without undergoing laicisation.
“Father Pitapit is now free, that is, without incurring further canonical censure, to engage in secular undertakings that do not necessarily violate his priestly vows,” Bishop Rojas said.
The bishop noted that Pitapit no longer represents the Church “in any way” and is “not authorised to make any solicitations in the name of the Church, and neither in relation to any pro-poor programmes sponsored by the Church and the diocese.”
All three priests were also stripped of their roles in various Church agencies such as Caritas.
Alparce said he had filed his candidacy to run as a councillor in Albay province after much prayer and deep discernment.
“The first thing that I did was to pray. It was not easy. I also consulted my brother priests and, most importantly, I listened to my heart and conscience,” Alparce told reporters on October 26.
He said he had informed his bishop about his decision who in return asked for a formal letter from him to commence “proper” procedures.
Luego quit the priesthood to run for mayor in Mabini, a town in Davao province.
All three priests ran the Caritas offices in their dioceses.
