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	Nalzaro: Priests Are 'Threatening' Acolytes By Bobby Nalzaro Sun.star December 18, 2011 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/2011/12/18/nalzaro-priests-are-threatening-acolytes-196500 THE acolytes in Minglanilla parish who exposed the alleged sexual misconduct of two of the five-member Team Ministry complained that they have been receiving death threats. The threats allegedly came from one of the priests who was involved in the controversy and from the team moderator. A barangay councilor who is close friend and a firing buddy of the team moderator is also allegedly harassing them. The death threats through text messages were coursed through a common friend. Plan your Sinulog week ahead and find out what's in store for Sinulog 2012. Why they are doing this? I thought they are Christians and servants of God. They are acting more like a policeman than a priest. But in fairness, only two of the five priests that compose the Team Ministry are allegedly doing this. The other two have shown humility to their parishioners. A church devotee told me that the two priests even cried and asked for forgiveness on behalf of their colleagues, when they officiated mass during the first day of the Simbang Gabi. They were apologetic. Former Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal assigned the priests there as the Team Ministry to give them a second chance after they allegedly committed wrongdoings. Well, the past is past. But it seems that some of these priests are not repenting and following the right path, as servants of the Lord. I am warning them that if they will continue to harass those who exposed their alleged wrongdoings, I will be forced to expose them and dig up their past. I am involved in this controversy because I was the one who exposed this in the media when those altar boys sought my help. The people of Minglanilla are already aware who among them are involved in the sexual misconduct. One of them was caught by the acolytes having sex with two women in different occasions at the back of the church. The other one allegedly sexually harassed two acolytes after a drinking session. The Team Ministry is also accused of using church funds and donations for lending. There is allegedly no proper accounting of the millions of donations. They hold extravagant parties for birthdays and drinking sessions are held every night at the convent. Where can you find a convent with a sauna bath? Because some of them are gun enthusiasts, they reportedly plan to put up a firing range at the church premises. But some of the parishioners opposed, prompting them to withdraw their plan. I was informed that there was a scheduled dialogue with the priests and the acolytes yesterday to resolve their conflict. Okay, fine. Anyway, the church hierarchy already acted on it. But if these priests will not reform, I will ask church officials to dismantle this team and put these priests on floating status or send them to Kintolimbo. *** Talking of the church, here's a crazy church policy. I was asked by a friend who is a barangay captain in Asturias to be one of his principal sponsors in his wedding this February at Virgen sa Regla parish in Lapu-Lapu City. The bride is from that city. The other day, he texted me and asked for my baptismal certificate because it is one of the requirements set by the church for "ninongs and ninangs." I have been a principal sponsor in several weddings, especially of my co-employees at GMA 7, but this is the first time I was required to submit that document. I told my friend that I cannot submit it because I don't have a baptismal certificate in my possession now. I still have to secure it in Dipolog City where I was born and baptized. They want me to go home or request somebody to secure it. What's the purpose of this? Just to determine if the sponsors are also Catholic? Why, if they are not Catholics, the church will discourage the would-be couple not to get them? Gahasol-hasol lang ni ug hinaggaw ning dako. Maayo man na ug ako'y kaslon. Contact: bobby@sunstar.com.ph
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