CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said here that his archdiocese’s tribunal is now studying the petition of Gov. Eddie Panlilio for “dispensation” from priesthood, but he stressed that the latter, who is seeking reelection in the coming elections, will remain a “priest forever”.
In an interview with Punto Central Luzon, Aniceto said that the priestly vows that Panlilio took can not be dissolved even by the approval of his petition for dispensation.
“He is priest forever and an approval of his dispensation petition would only mean he will no longer be able to practice his priestly authority on permanent basis,” Aniceto explained, contrary to the view earlier expressed by Panlilio that the permanence of dispensation has remained “debatable.”
Panlilio was parish priest of Betis in Guagua town in this province when his powers to administer sacraments were suspended after he decided to enter politics and run as independent candidate for governor in the 2007 polls.
Aniceto noted that while Panlilio formally submitted a petition for dispensation recently, another priest, Cris Cadiang, has not filed any such petition despite his running for vice mayor of Angeles City.
Cadiang abandoned the priesthood way back in 2003 and later got married in civil ceremonies. Recently, he announced his vice mayoral bid alongside Tony Mamac as his mayoral candidate under the Liberal Party.
In a recent visit, however, LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino said his party’s national leadership had yet to decide on their local bets in Angeles amid reports that Panlilio, now the provincial LP chairman, has been reluctant to endorse Mamac for the latter’s being known as owner of “girlie” bars in Pampanga and Tarlac.
Aniceto said, however, that priests who are given dispensation from their priestly ministries are still bound to observe celibacy. “They can’t marry,” he stressed.
The archbishop also said “it will take time” before the archdiocesan tribunal can arrive at a decision on Panlilio’s petition.
Aniceto was against Panlilio’s entry into politics way back in the 2007 elections.
Panlilio, whose victory as an independent candidate in 2007, was hailed as a “miracle” is again running against Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidate Lilia Pineda whom he defeated by 1,147 in the last polls.
The Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected any time to issue its verdict on the recount of gubernatorial votes in this province, as petitioned by Pineda.
In an interview with Punto Central Luzon, Aniceto said that the priestly vows that Panlilio took can not be dissolved even by the approval of his petition for dispensation.
“He is priest forever and an approval of his dispensation petition would only mean he will no longer be able to practice his priestly authority on permanent basis,” Aniceto explained, contrary to the view earlier expressed by Panlilio that the permanence of dispensation has remained “debatable.”
Panlilio was parish priest of Betis in Guagua town in this province when his powers to administer sacraments were suspended after he decided to enter politics and run as independent candidate for governor in the 2007 polls.
Aniceto noted that while Panlilio formally submitted a petition for dispensation recently, another priest, Cris Cadiang, has not filed any such petition despite his running for vice mayor of Angeles City.
Cadiang abandoned the priesthood way back in 2003 and later got married in civil ceremonies. Recently, he announced his vice mayoral bid alongside Tony Mamac as his mayoral candidate under the Liberal Party.
In a recent visit, however, LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino said his party’s national leadership had yet to decide on their local bets in Angeles amid reports that Panlilio, now the provincial LP chairman, has been reluctant to endorse Mamac for the latter’s being known as owner of “girlie” bars in Pampanga and Tarlac.
Aniceto said, however, that priests who are given dispensation from their priestly ministries are still bound to observe celibacy. “They can’t marry,” he stressed.
The archbishop also said “it will take time” before the archdiocesan tribunal can arrive at a decision on Panlilio’s petition.
Aniceto was against Panlilio’s entry into politics way back in the 2007 elections.
Panlilio, whose victory as an independent candidate in 2007, was hailed as a “miracle” is again running against Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidate Lilia Pineda whom he defeated by 1,147 in the last polls.
The Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected any time to issue its verdict on the recount of gubernatorial votes in this province, as petitioned by Pineda.
