CBCP seals its lips on Butuan priest's pending rape charges
Published September 24, 2011 4:25pm
Story from http://www.gmanetwork.com/
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) declined to comment any further on the pending court cases of rape and child abuse against a priest assigned in the Diocese of Butuan in northeastern Mindanao.
Outgoing CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura said a court has already given the accused, Fr. Raul Cabonce, a chance to explain his side of the story.
“Since it was brought to court already, the most prudent thing to do is to wait for the decision of the court. The CBCP as a Church body would have to respect the forum of the civil court which is a State body," Figura said, in an article posted on the CBCP news site Friday night.
Also on Friday, the women's rights and welfare group Gabriela demanded that the CBCP intervene in the case. They accompanied the alleged victim, identified only by the assigned alias ‘Leah’ and together, they present a letter of appeal to the CBCP.
Figura said CBCP intervention is not possible at this time considering the pending court proceedings and that the Butuan Diocese is already having its own investigation.
Figura also said Cabonce should be tried before the diocese's Tribunal of First Instance before the case could even be elevated to the National Tribunal of Appeals.
Figura added the CBCP must also respect the prerogatives of Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos' authority “because he has his own power and authority over his own territory."
“The CBCP is an organization without prejudice to their power and authority in their respective dioceses. So the CBCP cannot tell them what to do and what not to do," said Figura.
Cabonce had denied the accusations and appealed to the public to “check on the background of the family of the victim before judging me."
Accuser goes to CBCP
The 18-year-old girl who had accused Cabonce of molesting her went to the CBCP office in Intramuros, Manila Friday, accompanied by Gabriela officials.
In a two-page letter addressed to CBCP vice president and incoming president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, they sought the CBCP's "immediate action."
“Knowing well that your pastoral action and intervention could make a lot of difference for Leah’s and other victims’ journey towards justice, we appeal for your immediate action," they said.
“It was very difficult for her to accept that Fr. Cabonce, a servant of God, and with whom her mother worked as catechist for five years, would become her sexual abuser," they added.
Signing the letter were Gabriela Secretary General Lana Linaban, Ecumenical Women’s Forum co-convenor Carmencita Karagdag and Sr. Mary John Mananzan, chairperson of Association of Major Religious Superiors of Women in the Philippines. — ELR, GMA News - See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/233344/news/nation/cbcp-seals-its-lips-on-butuan-priest-s-pending-rape-charges#sthash.AvfzFY4w.dpuf
father yang kaso nalang ng kapuwa mo pari ang asikasuhin mo /huwag kana makialam sa politiko.at ano ang akala mo father kayong mga pari ay banal? kaya nga marami bata sa bahay ampunan dahil karamihan anak ng mga madre inabuso ninyong mga pari.wagas kayo umarte akala mo banal .yan pang isa mong adhikain gawing santa santita si cory aquino? hello po mag-isip isip muna kayo ang pamilyang cojuangco aquino maraming dugo at buhay inutang nila sa masaker sa mendiola at hacienda luisita ..baka po nakalimutan na ninyo .huwag po kayong ingrato at ipokrito mukhang pera din pala kayo nababayaran ang katarungan ..
ReplyDeleteMasakit ang karutuhan kahit isa akong devoted Roman Catholic ang respeto ko nandyan paren kasi di ko po tinitingnan kung sino man kayo dahil si Jesus lang ang sinasamba ko.
ReplyDeleteIf ever i choose the corrupt official or disrespectful mouth or pala mura like #Duterte i rather choose #Duterte kasi his Honesty and sincerity to the poeple and by the people na kailangan ang pagbabgao at umaasang putulin na ang napamanang corruption sa ating bansa.
Parehas tau piliin ko nlng yong nag mumura ky sa nmn babalik n nmn tau sa mga corrupt
DeletePoint well-taken, author of blog. No matter how we denounce the double standard of some of our church leaders, I find the photo attachment blasphemous & downright offensive. For most Catholics & Christians, the Holy Bible is that, HOLY. While we attempt todrive home a point, may we do so while observing respect & to the sensibilities of our fellow christians. For this reason, the photo you attached here Mr or Ms Author is gravely offensive & simply taking it too far. Good write up, photo in poor taste.
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ReplyDeleteWhy are you focusing on the rape joke? Why don't you focus on Duterte's accomplishment as he provided the Aussies an instant Justice from that case?
ReplyDeleteYes it is wrong but would a mere joke be enough to discredit his accomplishments and for the leaders to sway everyone and insinuate the people to vote for the lesser candidates?
You as a church leader, should set a big example now on how to understand & forgive like what we are doin now...
As a man comin from a devoted Catholic family, it makes me disappointed to hear my Church leaders diving into these mud-slinging political discussion...
Let's the man do his job as we do ours...please separate politics from Religion.
This is a BIG NO for me...
The future of my Family lies from my decisions today...
#DU302016
father with all due respect Please lang wag ka na makialam sa POLITIKA.. ayusin mo muna yung mga gusot sa loob ng bakuran nyo po.. kasi the more na nagsasalita kayo against duterte lalo lang nauungkat yung mga dumi sa simbahan.. Wag po tayong mag malinis kung di meron tayong tinatagong dungis...
ReplyDeleteI'm a catholic again with all due respect wag nalang po kayong mang husga... thanks
"father"...pwe! ulul !
ReplyDeleteisa lang naman kasi masasabi ko nasa likod pa rin nga mga dilaw ang simbahan kita niyo naman di yan nagcomment sa mga magsasakang binaril sa mga matatandang ikinulong at yolanda funds na ginamit sa kampanya nagcomment sa walang kuwentang joke. huwag na kasi kayong magmamalinis sa dami ng paring rapist at sexual abusers hindi yan joke totoong may mga paring ilan ilan ang inabuso mula sa bata, sacristan at kanilang mga secretary. Kaya mga Filipino obey your inner voice, the voice of your conscience and not the voice of the authority of the church who declared the dilaw to be saints... di na po sana tayo magiging bulag sa katutuhanan.
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