A priest has been suspended from his ministry for participating in the May 2022 polls.

The Diocese of Sorsogon announced the suspension of Fr. Emmanuel Alparce in a circular letter dated April 4.

"After having sought the necessary information and verification of facts, as well as having given the incumbent the opportunity to be heard, as required by Canon Law. 1, Most Rev. Jose Alan V. Dialogo, D.D., by the Grace of God and the favor of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Sorsogon, by virtue of my pastoral duty, to provide for the care of the souls and in conformity with the provisions of the Code of Canon Law, has decreed the suspension from the priestly ministry of the Reverend Father Emmanuel Alparce, for the following reason: Participating in the 2022 National and Local Elections as a Municipal Councilor Candidate of Bacacay, Albay," read the circular letter.

"Furthermore, the Rev. Alparce was given ample time (until March 25, 2022, the start of the official local campaign) to withdraw his candidacy. He has been warned that if he does not reform and continue to give scandal, because of his participation to the local elections, he can be progressively punished by deprivations, or even by dismissal from the clerical state," it further read.

The circular cited the Code of Canon Law 285, which states that: "Clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power."

It added that the Directory on Ministry and the Life of Priests urges clergy that priests "ought to refrain from actively engaging in politics in order to be a central point of spiritual fraternity."

"The Directory further states that the reduction of a priest's mission to temporal tasks, of a purely social or political nature, is foreign to his ministry, and does not constitute a triumph but rather a grave loss to the Church's evangelical fruitfulness," the circular read.

"Thus, the Code of Canon Law forbids clerics to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power. Instead, clerics are encouraged always foster the peace and harmony based on justice which are to be observed among people and not to have an active part in political parties," it further read.

In the circular, Sorsogon Bishop Jose Alan V. Dialogo said since Alparce is suspended indefinitely from every priestly ministry "all his faculties which were granted by my predecessor are hereby withdrawn as of this date until further notice."

"This suspension is a censure which prohibits him completely from exercising the power of order (i.e. the celebration of all sacraments) and the power of governance," he said.

Dialogo said at present Alparce holds no office and is not connected to any parish or institution in the diocese.

"He remains a priest incardinated to this diocese, not yet dispensed from his vows, especially celibacy, but without the faculty to celebrate the sacraments," he said.