Priest: No basis for charge of offending religious feelings  

MANILA, Philippines — Exorcist priest Fr. Winston Cabading yesterday said that the charge of offending religious feelings filed against him by former Commission on Elections chairperson Harriet Demetriou has no basis.

In an interview over Radio Veritas, Cabading, a Dominican priest, explained that he did not violate Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code.

The complaint filed by Demetriou, a devotee of the Our Lady of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, was reportedly based on the May 28, 2022 online talk show of Bro. Wendell Talibong of the Archdiocese of Ozamis discussing reports of a fragrant oil seeping from the image of the Our Lady of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. It was also based on the 4th National Conference on the Ministry of Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism that took place from Aug. 19 to 23, 2019.

Cabading said that according to the law, the crime of offending religious feelings is committed if the act was done during an ongoing religious ceremony and if the person commits an act that offends the feelings of the faithful.

“But it was clear to both Bro. Wendell and his listeners that it was a talk show. Even if there was an opening prayer or a closing prayer, which is a very common practice for us Catholics in such events, this was not a religious ceremony,” Cabading said.

He also denied saying hurtful words against the “alleged” Marian apparition that took place at the Carmelite monastery in Lipa, Batangas in 1948.

Cabading explained that based on the 1951 decree from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it does not recognize the apparition.

The congregation examined reports of the apparition in 1949.

“After thorough study of the available evidence, including the testimony of the prioress of the convent, on March 28, 1951 the congregation declared the events in Lipa to have no sign of supernatural character or origin,” Cabading said.

The decision was confirmed by Pope Pius XII, he added.

Cabading also cited a July 9, 2016 letter issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines encouraging devotion to Mother Mary, Mediatrix of Grace, but stressing that it should not be linked to the 1948 apparition.

Cabading said that he has forgiven those who filed the charges against him.

He was arrested on May 13 based on a warrant issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 81. He posted P18,000 bail on May 15.