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Sex scandals spur Philippine prelate to advocate optional celibacy
2003-152D
6/30/2003
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[Episcopal News Service]
A series of sex scandals that refuse to vanish from media radar screens have prompted an outspoken member of the Philippine clergy to push for 'optional celibacy' for priests as he argues clerics can work more effectively if married--a stand rejected by his superiors.
'We value celibacy, but it is preventing competent men who could be good pastors [from] serving God's people,' wrote Roman Catholic Monsignor Nicanor Bautista in a recent local newspaper article. Bautista has no parish, but is a member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), the national film and television regulator. He reiterated his position on optional celibacy after a 35 year-old secretary charged that Bishop Teodoro Bacani of the Novaliches diocese had sexually harassed her.
The allegation has grabbed media attention since it emerged on June 8. Before Bacani departed for the US on June 9, he left a letter for his parishioners expressing 'deep sorrow for the consequences of any inappropriate expression of affection to my secretary on the 26th of March (2003).' Papal Nuncio Antonio Franco, the representative of the Vatican in the Philippines, said that Antonio Tobias, bishop of the San Fernando de La Union diocese, had taken over Bishop Bacani's duties on a temporary basis from Saturday, pending results of an investigation into the allegations against him.
Bacani's was the second scandal involving a bishop to make headlines in the past six months. The first was that of Bishop Crisostomo Yalung of the Antipolo diocese, who left his office last January after reportedly having sired a daughter. Christine Rances, who said she was Yalung's lover, said she delivered his second daughter.
While the Philippine Church was trying to cushion the impact of these scandals, Bautista put his case for optional celibacy to both print and broadcast media. But his advocacy riled Catholic officials. In a letter on June 19, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin admonished Bautista, telling him to 'desist from making public pronouncements against church universal order and discipline.'
In reply, Bautista defended his own fidelity to his vow of celibacy: 'It's [celibacy] not a walk in the park, but I thank God for sustaining me. May I reiterate, I have upheld the Church's teachings, I believe in celibacy, I live it, and I'm ready to die for it.' But he said he still believed other members of the clergy could become more effective servants of God if they were given the option of marriage.
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