PHILIPPINES
National Catholic Reporter
by N.J. Viehland on Jun. 20, 2012 NCR Today
MANILA, Philippines — Bishop Jesse Mercado of Parañaque denied Wednesday he misused money donated for victims of calamities and church programs, saying he was open to a probe by the nunciature.
In his statement to reporters at a gathering in Intramuros, Manila, Mercado said all the donations are properly documented and were “promptly turned over to their intended beneficiaries.”
On Monday, Rappler reported that priests and lay leaders have complained to Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppi Pinto about Mercado, saying he diverted millions of pesos of specified donations to other uses.
The funds include Sunday Mass collection donations for flood and fire victims and for rehabilitation of Haiti after the catastrophic earthquake there in 2010. The report summarized the questioned funds donated for calamities and special activities table.
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