Palma to talk to priests involved in “turf war”

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will call the attention of the two parish priests in Asturias town involved in a turf tussle last Friday at a wake. This after parishioners from the town went to talk with Palma yesterday at the Cebu Archbishop’s Palace.

Palma told the parishioners that he will talk first with the two involved priests; Fr. Renato Gamorot of Sta. Lucia Parish and Fr. Virgilio Paras of San Roque Parish, in order to also hear their side regarding what happened during the incident.

Yesterday morning, seven parishioners of San Roque Parish in Asturias went to the Archbishop’s residence. One of them was Meme Toong, the sister of the late former Sangguniang Bayan member Amadeo Toong.  Meme narrated to Palma what happened last Friday night.

When Palma asked the parishioners if they thought what Paras did was wrong, all of them said yes.

Parishioners Oscar Manuel said while Paras did have the right to be told about Gamorot’s Mass, his actions were uncalled for and very unbecoming.

The parishioners then begged Palma to transfer Paras to another parish, claiming fewer and fewer people are attending Mass in the San Roque Parish.

Palma told the parishioners that he already had a heart-to-heart to talk with Paras in 2011 due to complaints from the former president of the Parish Pastoral Council about his alleged misbehavior.

“Ako na gi-remind siya (Paras), nga ‘dre ayaw tan-awa nga insulto ni sa imong maayong buhat, diba kung sa music pa kon adunay yabag, atong i-tune-up,” Palma recalled.

Palma then told them that if a priest will be transferred without solving the issue, the same thing will happen to the parish where the priest will be transferred.

“Pero kay ang usa ka konsiderasyon nga giingon namo kung pananglitan nga balhinon lang ang usa ka pari sa laing lugar without addressing the issue, pag-abot didto mao ra man gihapon kay nadala man gihapon niya iyang personality. So as much as possible, unta gi-istoryahan ug gipasabot namo sa iyaha ang iyang mga limitation with the hope nga mausab siya,” Palma explained.

Palma also said the incident could have been avoided if Gamorot had had presence of mind.

“Dunay mga butang which could have been avoided kon si Fr. Gamgam (Gamorot) dunay gamay’ng presence of mind, dili kinahanglan ug permission but all you need is to inform, general rule man ni especially kung close sa family,” Palma said.

But Palma said that even if there was no approval of the Mass conducted by Gamorot for the wake, Palma admitted that what Paras did was really not good.

“Even if walay permission si Fr. Gamgam, I agree with you nga di man angay ang iyang (Paras) gibuhat. Wa man ta to’y problema unta, kung sa ako pa to, malipay man gani ko nga adunay ni-misa, I could say go ahead, no problem, I’m happy etc. (to conduct the Mass), dili kay masuko,” Palma said.

Before leaving, the parishioners asked for assurance from Palma for the transfer of Paras.

“Dako man ang posibilidad. Pero ako pa ni i-discuss, sa pagkakaron gi-entrust man gyud ni nako sa Committee on Personnel, pero they all listen to me man. Kay ang promise ko sa ilaha this year and next year, as much as possible nga the more reshuffling, the better,” he said.

Among the complaints and anomalies of Paras that the parishioners reported to Palma was that Paras was disrespectful to the parishioners of Asturias, the reason why the parishioners no longer respect him as well. His actions after the Mass for the wake only show this, one of the parishioners said.

And because of Paras’ misbehavior, some of the Catholics in the parish reported switched religions while others attend Mass in Balamban and in Sta. Lucia. The number of people hearing mass in his parish are reportedly less than half the previous number, the parishioners said. —/BRP (FREEMAN)