The monsignor and the minor
CATHOLICS have varied reactions when the Philippine media made a headline that a Catholic monsignor was apprehended by the operatives taking a girl (minor) inside the motel. The police officers conducted their investigation while the Catholic Church administered its own private fact-finding.
The police inquiry is made public as indicated in the blotter report. The probe made by the superiors of the monsignor is not for the Catholics to know. It will be sent to the Pope (for his eyes only).
The monsignor will be subjected to “disciplinary” action hoping that he will not repeat the same act… poor priest.
If we have to follow the ethical standards of the church, that monsignor should have avoided the “temptation” or should have prayed that the “temptation” will avoid him. We do not expect that the monsignor is taking the girl inside the motel room so that both of them can pray the rosary, or the priest will teach catechism to the girl.
Others speculate that the girl is poor in reading and the monsignor has the intention of teaching her oral reading. That could be another unbelievable speculation.
Personally, I have my sympathy to the priest because my grandfather, the late Fr. Leon, was a priest… an Aglipayan priest. When Fr. Leon was in his mission area (away from home), he would be attacked by the “temptation.” He was not entertaining “temptation,” according to him.
He allowed the “temptation” to pass through him. He would always conquer the “temptation” victoriously… but his conquest is another story. The monsignor has only one problem.
He was caught while about to commit an act. The monsignor was not careful. He could have chosen a high-end hotel if he opted to be tempted.
The operatives could not easily get inside the locked door of the hotel without being noticed by the security guards or the hotel staff. That would delay the time.
When the door swung open, the girl was kneeling as if in the act of confession. Nothing could be wrong about it.
Monsignor is not the only victim. There are other priests who have the same fate as monsignor but they have kept the faith in themselves. In the movie, “The Last Temptation of Christ,” director Martin Scorcese made a vivid portrayal of Christ… the human Christ.
Jesus stayed away from “temptation.” The fact cannot be denied that priests are only human beings and they have their biological needs.
“Temptation” can always go away, but Biology is strict. I have known of some priests that in their younger years they were chased by “temptation.”
During unholy hours, this “temptation” was getting inside their convent room. As a result, some priests became real fathers.
As real good fathers, they have not abandoned their children. As years went by, the “temptation” was also getting old and later managed to move on forgetting the role of a “temptress.” In the life of the priests now and the future priests, “temptation” will always be there.
The Catholic Church should come to think about the welfare of their priests. Priesthood should not alter the biology of the priest. They should not be made an exception in the process of “go and multiply”.
Other religions have ministers and pastors who are diligent and efficient in administrating spiritual and moral functions despite of having happy family (one wife only and children). In the Old Testament, priesthood was initiated by Moses under the Lord’s guidance.
In the New Testament, the Lord did not choose the priests to help him in his ministry but instead chose lowly workers like fishermen and a tax collector to help propagate the gospel. Under Romanism, the Church is given tremendous power over the lives of the faithful beyond that envisioned by Jesus.
As to the girl (minor) involved in the scandal, her parents should be responsible for her upbringing. No daughter will do that if the parents did their roles as responsible procreators, begetters, and guardians.
The education of our girls should be given priority and should include spiritual and moral inputs. To become a child prostitute is not a personal choice.