Politics in religion?

THERE is a premiere parish in Cebu where the married brood, with their children in tow, manages to get free board and lodging (in-house) in every new posting of a sibling parish priest. Previous lay workers were replaced. The “religious dynasty” took over the parish office, including accounting of collections.

In Negros Oriental, there was a high official of the church prohibiting unwed parents from having their newborn kids baptized. The Sacrament of Baptism was withheld from innocent children as punishment for the sins of the parents? A mosignor friend I consulted from a nearby province said it is not done in their diocese. Perhaps it is the edict of the bishop concerned. Seeking theological explanation from “men of the cloth” in Negros, they relented in confidence, advising, to seek a convent which has a priest celebrating mass and quietly having the sacrament administered for my nephew’s child. (Pope Francis has spoken against this impervious arbitrariness). The strict watch of the diocese prescribed centralizing church collections. Priests were put on allowance. Masses and weddings in hilly chapel barangays were not allowed. To be wed or fed “spiritual mannah,” the mountain folk had to come down to municipal or city centers. Mass for the dead was limited to one, to equalize the rich and poor. Part of “political correctness”?

There was a “prince of the church” who also barred his priests saying mass in the home-chapel of his political nemesis in a plush Makati village. Hence, the high legislator sought clergy from Bulacan and other localities, with permission from their respective bishops for masses also attended by villagers.

The Lady of Montserrat in San Beda College (SBC) Mendiola, starting 2004 and carried over today, is disallowed from hosting weddings by the “head shepherd” of the Metro archdiocese. Bedans who prefer exchanging vows in the place of worship where they were reared in their Catholic formation, are now denied this