tinanggal na si gov ED panlilio as priest from the pope of the vatican?

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Priest-turned-governor Eddie Panlilio would be dispensed of his priestly functions “whether he likes it or not,” Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said Friday.

Aniceto made the statement after Panlilio’s announcement that he would run for president in 2010 elections.


“We will write him immediately and ask him to seek dispensation. This is very critical for him and the Congregation of the Clergy because a priest cannot violate the Canon Law twice. He has crossed the border twice and this is not acceptable to the church,” Aniceto said.

He cited the example of Bishop Fernando Lugo of Paraguay who ran for president a few years ago but sought dispensation from the Vatican prior to joining the political arena.

“And there is no turning back if a priest is dispensed. The indelible marks of priesthood would have to go with it because like Among Ed, he has had a radical change of personality already… This is our original covenant with God and it is very critical in his case at this point,” Aniceto said during an interview at the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary here.

According to him, the church can and will use its prerogatives in dispensing Panlilio of his priestly duties with or without his consent.

Impossible

He added that Panlilio’s desire to return to priesthood if he loses his electoral bid is impossible.

“The Committee on Dispensation will review his plea… But the way I see it, since he has crossed the border twice and has put some questionable light on priesthood, it may not be attainable,” Aniceto said, adding that they are “currently on the Year of the Priests and Pope Benedict has asked the entire clergy to revitalize on their vocation including Among Ed.”

Aniceto said he is praying and encouraging the priest-governor to be wise enough and fulfill his commitment.

“His word to me before he ran for governor was that it would only be for one term and then return to priesthood once he has accomplished his mission of good governance… I relied on his promise…,” he said.

The prelate further said that priests have really nothing to do with politics, which is the expertise of the laity.

“With his plan to run for president, he will meet bigger tasks and challenges. Among Ed should pray a lot and he should start listening to the wise advice of seasoned politicians because politics is a special arena for the laity. He is a very good priestly, no doubt about that. We have been reaching him out to him and I ask that he listen this time,” Aniceto said.

He related that Panlilio could still continue serving the poorest of the poor outside of his political ambitions.

Aniceto admitted that he is communicating with Panlilio, much through media, to immediately decide and seek dispensation now.

Committee

He said the Vatican has already created an Archdiocesan Dispensation Committee composed of him and Rev. Fathers Lino Mandap, Marious Roque, and Ed Pangan who will review Panlilio’s case.

Aniceto explained that the committee is like a civilian court, which would process his dispensation pleas before submitting it to the Congregation of the Clergy in the Vatican where the Pope would have the final confirmation.

Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David, who branded Panlilio as “in a state of delusion” on his plans, said the priest-governor could have simply and quietly asked for dispensation without making a big fuss of it, which according to him sounded like a campaign strategy.

“We could have respected his option but what he wants is to have his cake and eat it too,” David said.

David added that with the recent developments, Panlilio could just sign a pre-formulated document leading to the dispensation of priestly functions and submit it to the committee.

Meanwhile, Banjo Serrano, one of Panlilio’s supporters and a leader of the Council of the Laity here, told Sun.Star they will try to convince the governor to just return to priesthood.

Serrano, a former seminarian and professor of ethics, said Friday morning after seeking an audience with Aniceto that the council will try to ask Panlilio to return to priesthood.

“We at the Betis community where he once served will try to ask him, beg him to just return to priesthood. We are praying very hard he will make this decision for the good of the church,” Serrano said.

source: kabkor.pampanga23

thank you for sharing.God Bless.