My Personal Opinion:
Filipino Catholic Priest With Doctorate In Theology Disgraced By Sinful Sex With A Child(?) is unbelievable and unthinkable to me. Disgusting and shocking to all of us.
I am personally, morally and spiritually distraught of this nightmare of news here in the Philippines. Until now I can’t believe it. Can we still trust the priests?
Let us be reminded by Jesus, The Alpha & Omega, “If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:6
This is indeed utterly shameful to Catholic Church here in the Philippines and universally.
I am writing my personal opinion, however, not based on judgment, but we must be very careful in relation to Matthew 7:1-6 – for who are we to judge? since we’re all sinners too, however, quite strongly based on evidences as presented in the news, actually axiomatic or self-evident and thus, of course, based on the ongoing news, and indeed this is a bad news which I deplore like a nightmare.
Pedophile priests whether they are in higher echelons such as the Bishops, Archbishops, or Cardinals are some of the “rotten eggs” of the Catholic Church since the past decades. Or as Pope Francis says, pedophile priest is a ‘leprosy’ infecting the Catholic Church – Pope Francis: One in 50 priests is a paedophile. My God! What do you think is the main cause of the problem? We have to diagnose it and help those pedophile priest out of the moral trap they find themselves among other vices they have such as gambling, smoking cigarettes and drinking liquor, and at times their luxurious lifestyles as self-destructive to their vocations to bring God to souls and souls to God. Hindrances are many. They can hardly bring souls to God, to eternal life, but, God forbid, they might souls to hell.
This is a tragedy involving the name of Catholic Church here in the Philippines and it causes a universal wound to Catholic Faith that can hardly be healed over time. Naturally, the Catholic Church should defend its priests, its members from any attack whether the accusations or the allegations are true or not or simply exaggerated even to the point of usual cover-ups, quite understandably.
The priest is claimed or known to be, in the Catholic Liturgy as another Christ – https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Story/TabId/2672/ArtMID/13567/ArticleID/8029/Priest-Alter-Christus.aspx, hence, – acting in “persona Christi” – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_persona_Christi, and believed to be trans-subtantiate the ordinary unleavened bread into the BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, DIVINITY OF CHRIST – ‘Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity’: The Miracle and Gift of the Most Holy Eucharist – Living Faith – Home & Family – News – Catholic Online
This liturgical teaching of the Catholic Church is not acceptable to other Christian religions, sects and to other traditional religions in the world. But in any case, the Catholic priest is known to be revered as reverend and holy man of God according to the order of Melchisidech – BUT, what the turn of events has been inverted and they become, whether they are obsessed or possessed by satan, not just merely by fleshy desires or sex desires- being also human, with the causal effect of the hereditary nature of man, they become, ipso facto, also like any other ordinary mortal sinners like us, and even might be worse than us and might become another anti-christ – alter anti-christus acting in persona anti-christus – https://www.jesus-is-lord.com/decept82.htm
My personal opinion is like this: Well, we’re all sinners , undeniably, according Romans 3:23, and this priest in question below with position, is also a human being, person, he is not stone or a rock. He has flesh and blood. Priests have so many struggles day and night, every single hour. Priests can become LIKE CHRIST OR BECOME LIKE ANTI-CHRIST anytime. So the faith must in obedience and must be round-the-clock also.
I lived in the Seminary for almost 5 years, more than 20 years ago also for a priestly vocation but due to some problems such as finance and health and problems with some priests,etc. my vocation to priesthood was not materialized. I tried to also enter to other seminaries. But I was not chosen although I was also called. I know the CHARACTERS OF HOLY PRIESTS AND I ALSO KNOW THE CHARACTERS OF THE OF BAD PRIESTS. I met holy and bad priests. I went along with holy and bad priests. It is true that the life of the priest is lonely in the difficulty of observing their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience and not being PERMITTED by CANON LAW to marry – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_celibacy – / http://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2010/09/30/celibacy-and-the-priesthood/
Now, practically, although it is not also easy, if the ordained is no longer comfortable to his priestly ministry, and seemed to be burned out or burned by the mixed up of a marriage call, or by heat of the passion of the fleshy desires which are usually temporary only being of human nature, then the priest must seek permission from the Vatican, pe se, from the Pope, endorsed by his bishop, and be cleared, and if permitted. which reportedly there have been some priests who have been permitted to marry after studying their cases. And this way, the priests can prevent themselves from the likelihood of sinning that usually lead them to a disgraceful tragedy of scandals – http://www.ncregister.com/blog/mark-shea/scandal1 / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_cases / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sex_abuse_cases_by_country / http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/priest-boston-sex-abuse-scandal-released-prison-48913248
Scandals are terrible and rampant everywhere, the brutal truth of the saddest reality, sometimes, they are unpardonable or unforgivable. Scandals take time to heal and discard into the dustbin of history.
Now, this Filipino priest, who was revered very much by the parishioners, by people who knew/know him well and of course also contributed a lot for the Church and for the parishes he was to before, in the administrations of the Sacraments– the channels of God’s grace, has,. unfortunately, created his own self-destruction or auto-destruction, by accidents, fell short of his judgement and entrapped by his own follies. And that if he ever wanted to have sex, well, literally, in the common understanding of people, why not just get out from priesthood and get married? Some Catholic priests, well, reportedly, are keeping their mistresses – http://www.thedailybeast.com/vatican-mistresses-to-francis-make-honest-women-out-of-us. Some Catholic priests are secretly married – http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pope-married-priests-2017-story.html
This sex scandal issue is not only for the Catholic priests of the Catholic Church, but also for other Christian pastors, ministers, imams of the Islamic religion and rabbis of the Jewish religion and all other religions to be very careful about sex matters. We have too much scandals about sex matters. There are tsunamis of scandals everywhere as rampant as wild as they are infinitely. All religions and their leaders have their own unfortunate and tragic scandals. SCANDALS are, sometimes, or either or both, SEX AND MONEY destroying, by their own free-will, consent and knowledge, their vocations, their ministries and their dignity, their very lives and their credibility with foreseeable certainty of more miseries and agonies as long as they live. Equally to married life with the same scandals involving children and families, however, lesser than the SCANDALS CREATED BY THE RELIGIOUS MEN AND LEADERS OF THE CHURCHES AND RELIGIONS causing discord, friction, and even loss of faith or apostasy of the members of certain religions or faiths.
In addition to my personal opinion with due respect and with prayers, as well, that THOSE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, LEADERS, PRIESTS, BISHOPS, ARCHBISHOPS, CARDINALS, PASTORS, MINISTERS, IMAMS, RABBIS AND OTHER SPIRITUAL LEADERS, DO NOT USE THE MONEY OF YOUR CHURCHES FOR ‘SEX’ particularly of this nature, AND THUS CREATING SCANDALS WITH TRIBULATION TO YOUR LIVES AND TO YOUR CHURCHES YOU BELONG TO WITH SEEMINGLY APOCALYPTIC PROPORTION TO FAITH.
Here in the Philippines, we still have good and holy priests and pastors and ministers, imams as well, and thanks God, BUT IF SEX SCANDALS WILL CONTINUE AND OR PEDOPHILE ACTS WITH CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME PESTIFEROUS, THEN HOW CAN WE EXPECT THE ‘RESPECT TO OUR FILIPINO WOMEN AND CHILDREN and young people FROM THE FOREIGN LANDS, IF WE OURSELVES ARE ABUSING OUR WOMEN BY WAY OF PEDOPHILE ACTS AND SEXUAL SCANDALS.
IT IS TIME FOR THE CATHOLIC PRIESTS, IF THEY CAN’T CONTINUE THEIR MINISTRY OR VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD, THEN THEY SHOULD GET OUT AND MARRY , AND HAVE A FAMILY THAN TO REPEATEDLY FALL INTO THE SINS OF SEXUAL SCANDALS THAT TERRIBLY ROCK THE CHURCH, THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND SCANDALIZE THE YOUNG PEOPLE to the core. YOUNG PEOPLE MAY LOSE TRUST TO THE PRIESTS and they might listen to their sermons or advice. This is all very delicate.
IF THE CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN THE THIRD VATICAN COUNCIL (Vatican III) WILL BE ALLOWED, QUITE INDEFINITELY OR BY CHOICE, TO GET MARRIED WHILE REMAINING IN THE MINISTRY, then that might be another issue in the Catholic Church. There are signs to change the Catholic Church to save their religious people. This may be good but will also create other problems.
THE PRESENT CATHOLIC CHURCH IS HEAVILY ROCKED BY MONEY AND SEX SCANDALS that soon apostasy is becoming like a conflagration of fire with eternal impacts.
Others might consider to give comments, in majorem cautelam, however and see what we can do to help stop sex scandals in the Catholic Church and to all churches if possible, whether it is all caused by modernism, liberalism, or moral laxity or the new age doctrines or simply the urging of the flesh or the adroit temptations of satan to religious leaders and their inability to resists temptations of the flesh, the world and the devil.
We are in the nightmares in the 21st century with all forms of evils and endless crisis, other than we are in great dying of our culture and morals. Can we survive? Is there still hope?
Can we end sex scandals by studying the ‘THEOLOGY OF THE BODY’ OF POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II?
Lastly as I also encourage praying for the suspect-priest and for the victims whom I think this priest has been doing it for a quite long time already, by defects and by other reasons. I am also asking personal questions to all concerned. Your own personal opinion, analysis, or evaluation of the present situations, per se, the global situations.
Are we getting well or worse? Do we still have hope coming? What is or what are our personal proposed alternative(s). I think I need, before I hibernate these days, for a week time, 1,000 PERSONAL RESPONDENTS OR RESPONSES OR REPLIES FOR COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS.
Taytay priest nabbed for ‘booking’ 13-year-old girl
Taytay priest nabbed for ‘booking’ 13-year-old girl
Monsignor Arnel Lagarejos has been relieved of all his designations in his diocese, Antipolo Bishop Francisco de…
No VIP treatment for priest arrested with minor in Marikina
Parish priest accused of abusing minor
Parish priest accused of abusing minor
No VIP treatment for priest arrested with minor in Marikina
By INQUIRER.net
The priest arrested last Friday while allegedly on his way to a motel with a 13-year-old girl is being kept with…
Because of Facebook:? That’s all we get from Facebook for most of the times wrong uses.
Facebook is not ideal. I am asking people to stop using facebook. There are also so many dangers involved in facebooking. Don’t be idiotically duped by facebook. Stop it!
The Diocese of Antipolo (Rizal Province, Philippines) said in a July 29 statement that it is also looking into the matter.
“We assure the public that we respect the necessary procedures as provided by law in order to further investigate the matter,” the diocese said. “Let us refrain from issuing unnecessary comments that might worsen the situation. Instead, we appeal for all the faithful to pray that the truth may come out.”
With high respect to the BISHOP OF ANTIPOLO, RIZAL DIOCESE, yes, we pray, but THE TRUTH HAS ALREADY COME OUT AS WE SEE IN OUR PLAIN EYES. Veritas et Liberavit: ” Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”John 8:32
How many more pedophile priests or priests involved in sexual scandals here in the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Are there more around us?
REPENT! “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:3
Lastly, and this is a strong reminder to all, it is not enough to teach that God is only LOVE or about love or but also GOD IS THE GOD OF JUSTICE – https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God,-Justice-Of
I write this article for all people, ecumenically speaking so that all of us will pray and help one another to become good for all humanity.
I am sad reading this news. I am praying also that this thing shall end here in the Philippines for God’s sake, for our nation, for our young people and for our families.
I hope and pray this will not happen ever again in the future. We must do all our efforts to stop it.
May God forgive us if we truly contrite of heart to repentance lest we fall into final impenitence.
We must be seriously responsible to our own actions and prepare for judgment of God which is coming very soon.
I dislike reading opinions about God, because God is in you. Be a good person towards yourself and then to others… That alone will be God’s glory!
I agree with you mS.
bottom line is priests are called to emulate the life of Christ here on Earth. And it’s a never-ending mission that requires 100% commitment and effort to stand a slight chance of success.
I fully agree with you Rick.
MY ADDITIONAL BALANCED OPINION, in that “in majorem cautelam’ of my personal points concerning this former PRIEST, DISGRACED, Msgr. Arnel Lagarejos. According to the recent admission or the testimony of the girl who is known to be a child or a teenage prostitute who was transacted by a gay pimp with the apparently presumptuous priest, the sex transactions already happened twice in the past, and what happened lately last week was supposed to be the third time, if not have been nabbed or stopped by the concerned authorities.
Now, here is the simple question: ‘WHY ONLY NOW?” Why, for the very first time or even for the second time, the matter was not informed or reported immediately to authorities? What was the main motive of the gay pimp and the parents of the prostituted minor to have the priest nabbed? Who is/are behind? Was/were/is/are any reason(s) behind? That is, other than the issue of transaction sex?
I do not tolerate any form of deplorable sex engagement with a minor. This is extremely pestiferous also. But in my further personal opinion, careful analysis, hypothetically, it seemed it might have been a trap done against the priest. I call it ensnared by the devil.
First of all, the girl is already a whore or a prostitute whether she is an adult or a child or irrespective of age, so long as as there’s an agreement or consent or service the payment or payment is done and I think this is existing all over the country or even overseas irrespective this is a crime against children.
The way I look at it, with respect to the parents of the girl, the central blame should be given or directed to the parents of the prostituted girl and even file the case against them for allowing whether indefinitely or for the long-term their minor daughter to have been involved in direct or indirect transactional sex while presumably the have been aware of it. They know that their minor has been doing it since then and presumably or perhaps with their consent(????) with their full knowledge and consent, and perhaps also as might be obvious they are overwhelmed by serious money problems, etc. In addition, we cannot also excuse or exonerate the priest who is apparently guilty also with probable commission of crime, with criminal liability and culpability for tolerating and even participating CHILD PROSTITUTION, which, for sure, he knows, not just by moral and its spiritual evil implications, but also of a criminal violation that can’t just be taken for granted.
The mistake of the priest is that, out of weakness, he became morally careless and lax with presumptions, and perhaps of a failure to pray before he went to proceed to that tragic event.
I therefore deduce, all are responsible in this tragic case.
It is also a challenge to DSWD to do their best to stop, prevent child or teenage prostitution. THE DSWD SHOULD PROVIDE SIGNIFICANTLY ENOUGH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO POOR FILIPINO FAMILIES IN THE RURAL AND URBAN POVERTY AREAS AND THOSE IN THE SERIOUS FINANCIAL CRISIS TO PREVENT THE FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE INVOLVED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO ANY FORM OF TRANSACTIONAL SEX.
LET US PRAY, ASK PARDON AND THINK RIGHT! GOD BLESS US ALL AND SAVE OUR FILIPINO YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS!