For child abuse, Garcia suspended since June - Dakay

CEBU, Philippines - Monsignor Cristobal Garcia has been suspended since June, way before the controversy on his alleged involvement in illegal ivory trade came out in the news.

This was confirmed yesterday by Msgr. Achilles Dakay, the spokesperson of the Cebu Archdiocese of Cebu.

Dakay, the chairman on the committee on pilgrims of the archdiocese, said that Garcia was suspended because of the child abuse case he had in the United States from many years back. From being a civil case, it became an ecclesiastical case as it was elevated to the Holy See.

Garcia was accused of having sex with two altar boys when he was still serving in California in the 1980s.

“In regard to the matter of Msgr. Garcia’s past, the case has been elevated to the Holy See and it has initiated the investigation into it long before the present controversy erupted.

I have also fulfilled the Holy See’s instructions regarding submission of documents and acting upon related consequences,” Palma said in a statement released to the media.

With the suspension, Garcia could no longer celebrate mass and can no longer hear confessions because these are his penalties based on the Canon Law for what he has done, Dakay said.

As to the time frame of Garcia’s suspension, Dakay has no idea regarding this.

“What happened in the States could be a crime but if it was a sin, on his part, that has been repented and forgiven but ang criminal aspect man gud ang na-raise ngadto sa Vatican. I really do not know, I thought it was closed in the State as civil case, I don’t know nganung naabot pa na sa Church case,” Dakay said.

Despite his suspension, Garcia is still part of the archdiocese, clarified Dakay, adding that the Vatican instructed Cebu Archbishop Palma about the suspension.

Garcia was already replaced by Msgr. Glenn Guanzon being the Chairman on the Commission on Worship of the Cebu Archdiocese.

Palma said that the Church is aware of the gravity of the crime of pederasty.

“In recent pronouncements, the Church has stated her regret for the failure to address the problem in a more decisive and effective way. Cultural practices have contributed to the misunderstanding of the problem,” Palma said.

“The principles should guide us in resolving the matter concerning the alleged involvement of Msgr. Cristobal Garcia in the illegal ivory trade, always bearing in mind the right of the person concerned for a fair and just hearing. The account given by the National Geographic Magazine needs to be assessed as to its veracity, considering that the article smacks of bias against religious practices,” Palma added.

Dakay said that he has not seen Garcia for a while now but he added that some priests saw Garcia in Makati last week before the latter landed in the hospital the other day, according to Archbishop Palma, due to diabetes.

Dakay also said that Garcia has many things to share - he has founded the Society of Angels of Peace based in Talisay; he has his own shrine, the Church of Nazarene, which is visited by many devotees during the “hubo”, a ritual bathing and changing of the clothes of Sto. Niño at the end of the annual Feast of the Holy Child Jesus every January; and he has been a spiritual adviser of the covenant communities like the Bukas Loob sa Dios.

A known devotee of the Sto. Niño, Garcia has an extensive personal collection of Sto. Niño icons, which he collected since he was young and then later on shares with the public in displays every January at the exhibits in Ayala Center and at the Talisay church.

Palma said that these collections are the family’s possessions and not the property of the Archdiocese because there are no documents to prove these are owned by the Church.

Dakay recalled that it was the late Cardinal Julio Rosales who ordained Garcia in the States. Garcia was the last priest ordained by Rosales before he died in 1983.

He was ordained as a Dominican but was expelled by the Dominican Order because of the child abuse case he faced before coming home to the Philippines.

Dakay reiterated that there is no way that Garcia’s profession as priest will be taken away from him. “We are priests forever and it’s impossible that he will be out,” said Dakay.

— /JPM (FREEMAN)