Nalzaro: Team Ministry Should Be Disbanded

By Bobby Nalzaro
The Sun.star
January 6, 2012

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/2012/01/06/nalzaro-team-ministry-should-be-disbanded-199214

A FEW years ago, then Cebu archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal assigned six priests, most of them involved in controversies, to compose the Team Ministry of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Minglanilla. The priests succeeded the group headed by the outgoing parish priest, Msgr. Esteban Binghay, who was promoted episcopal vicar overseeing the parishes under the province's first district.

The formation of the Team Ministry was a way of giving the controversial priests a second chance. Two of the priests sired several children. Another underwent rehabilitation for alcoholism and had one child. One is gay. The other was charged with statutory rape (the case was settled).

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Parishioners initially resisted the move but church officials managed to convince them to accept the priests. Everything went smoothly until recently when some church acolytes exposed the sexual misbehavior of two of the priests. They accused one priest of engaging in sex with different women on separate occasions at the back of the church. The other priest was accused of sexually harassing acolytes after a drinking session.

The first priest was sent to a retreat house in Boljoon for rehabilitation but is back in the parish. The second priest, a homosexual, has not been investigated or disciplined. I thought the conflict between the priests on one side and the lay ministers and the acolytes on the other was already settled when Archbishop Jose Palma interceded. But it has gotten worse.

The other day, lay ministers of the parish went to Palma to complain about the conduct of members of the Team Ministry, particularly its moderator. They were no longer allowed to serve during communion and the acolytes who exposed the priests' misconduct were eased out.

The acolytes were allegedly pressured to issue affidavits claiming that their earlier accusations were fabricated. The priests are also asking parishioners to sign a position paper expressing their trust and confidence in the priests. They are using the pulpit to lambast the lay ministers and the acolytes during mass supposedly for creating trouble.

Because I was the one who first exposed this in my radio program, I was accused of being used by interest groups to destroy the priests' reputation. I deny that. By the way, what reputation are these priests talking about? By violating their vows, they are themselves the ones destroying their image in the eyes of the people and God.

The priests are also violating the vow of poverty because they live very comfortable lives. Where can you find a convent with a sauna bath? They have cars and tender extravagant parties during occasions, like birthdays. Some parishioners are demanding an accounting of the huge donations the parish received. The Team Ministry refused to do so. I heard they are engaged in lending activities. Dili ba makagaba man nang magpatanto?

These priests, during their homilies, talk about love, peace, understanding and peaceful co-existence. If they want peace and understanding, they should dialogue with parishioners. They should even ask for forgiveness from them because they committed sins. But they lack humility and are arrogant. They even adopted the dirty tactics of cops who threaten those who expose their indiscretions.

I think it's time for the church hierarchy to disband the team ministry in Minglanilla for two reasons. One, so harmony between the church and the parishioners will be achieved. Two, those priests are already overstaying. I understand that priests are only given two years tour of duty. Besides, they have already benefitted from that parish. They have enough money. So they should give the other priests a chance to run that parish. I think they should be transferred to Kintolimbo.