Ignore donation letters, bishop urges parishioners

KORONADAL CITY—Marbel Bishop-elect Cerilo Casicas on Monday warned the public about a group soliciting money that would supposedly be used for his ordination and installation as head of the South Cotabato diocese. “I have not authorized anyone or any group to solicit for my ordination and installation; the Church does not allow it,” said Casicas, who heads the St. Joseph parish in Malungon town, Sarangani province. A purported solicitation letter, which bore the signatures of Casicas and retired Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, had been circulating here. The letter seeks cash donations to buy the bishop’s ring and garments, for “stipend” for the ordaining prelate and for food during the ceremony at the Christ the King Cathedral here. “My signature and that of Bishop Gutierrez’s were forged. [ It’s] fake,” Casicas, 51, said. Local officials, including South Cotabato Vice Gov. Vicente de Jesus, received the letter.