CBCP head to clergy: Repent for frailty

Admitting that some members of the clergy are involved in scandals, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles yesterday called on priests to reflect and repent for those times of frailty.

Valles, who officially begins his two-year term as CBCP head today, issued his first pastoral exhortation during the opening of the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons: Renewed Servant-Leaders for the New Evangelization.

The pastoral exhortation will be read in all parishes and churches during the First Sunday of Advent on Dec. 3.

While they aspire to become servant-leaders, Valles admitted that their accomplishments as priests have been marred by controversies.

“The bright lights undeniably go at times with some dim shad- ows, brought about by some of our clergy and consecrated persons themselves. There were occasions of frailty and scandals that sadden us. Such misconducts call for sincere reflection and humble repentance and reparation,” Valles said.

“May these faults point us to new and vast possibilities of renewal and communication with those who are weak and broken. May our priests and consecrated persons, in their weakness and woundedness, continue to serve and guide fellow sinners with the joy of the gospel that leads to the fullness of life,” he added.

The Catholic Church starts the sixth year of the nine-year spiritual journey toward 2021 in preparation for the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the country.

Year 2018 is dedicated to the clergy and consecrated persons, who are instrumental in helping the lay society become a community of disciples.