By Leslie Ann Aquino
Another Catholic prelate has banned "healing priest" Father Fernando Suarez.
In an interview, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco confirmed that Suarez was no longer allowed to minister in his diocese.
Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco (Diocese of Cubao / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"He has no permission to minister in the Diocese of Cubao," he said.
In a circular letter dated October 30, Ongtioco said the founder of the Missionaries of Mary of the Poor and priests from his group have been banned from celebrating the Holy Eucharist and administering the sacraments in the diocese.
"They have no permission and they do not have the faculty until all the cases or allegations hurled against them are cleared," he said.
According to Ongtioco, they received several complaints against the group and other "priests" whom their parishioners found out to be non-Roman Catholic priests or former Catholic priests who were suspended.
Due to this, the prelate asked all parish priests and superiors of religious communities under the diocese to check their chapels, funeral homes, offices and possible places of worship within their jurisdiction.
"Kindly review and observe protocol and please remind designated chapel leaders and contact persons of funeral homes, malls and government offices to coordinate with their respective parishes for verification on the priest's identity," said Ongtioco.
Last month, Malaybalay Bishop Jose Cabantan also banned Suarez from doing his activities in his diocese.
“We ask their group to secure a ‘celebret’ or an endorsement from his bishop so we can allow him to celebrate Mass and does healing. But we have not received it,” he said in a CBCP News post.
Based on his Memorandum dated October 7, Cabantan said any priest who wishes to say Mass in a church other the one that he is attached must present an endorsement letter or popularly called today as "celebret" from his bishop or superior before he can lawfully celebrate the Eucharist as provided by Canon Law.