Priest apologizes

CEBU - The priest who berated a 17-year-old single mother during a baptism last Sunday apologized yesterday, describing his behavior as unbecoming and cruel.

Fr. Romeo Obach’s letter was released to reporters by Fr. Alfonso Suico Jr., media liaison of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C.Ss.R), two days after the incident involving Kaye (real name withheld) in the Sacred Heart Chapel in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City.

“I am now making a public heartfelt apology to the mother of the child and her immediately family. The words I said and the rude attitude that I showed before I performed the rite of baptism last Sunday... was indeed unbecoming,” Obach wrote.

“I deeply regret that I have done this. I only later realized how cruel my ways to educate and impart lessons for the said event.”

The congregation also apologized for Obach’s behavior, saying it was “contrary to the charism and mission for which our congregation was founded - compassion, especially to the poor and the most abandoned.” It said that Fr. Obach has been a priest for 28 years.

Government social workers visited Kaye and her family yesterday afternoon to offer counseling.

“What the priest did to her was verbal abuse,” said Social Welfare Officer Jenneth Robles-Aquino. “There is a need to let go of her negative feelings against the priest for it might affect her.”

Aquino said they will also try to talk with Fr. Obach and let the priest explain his side. She suggested to the girl?s family not to take any legal action right away.

The incident caught the public’s eye after the girl’s mother uploaded a video clip of the incident on her Facebook page. It had been shared nearly 39,000 times as of 9 last night.

In his letter, Fr. Obach said: “I am deeply sorry to the mother of the child, her relatives, the sponsors and the witnesses of the incident. I am sorry to the Internet viewers, to the media listeners and viewers for the mistake I personally admit. I am deeply sorry and I humbly ask your forgiveness.”

No masses

The C.Ss.R has decided to keep him from saying mass, until an internal investigation ordered by his superior is completed. “Appropriate sanctions will be applied once the investigation is complete so that justice may prevail,” the congregation said.

“He (Fr. Obach) has been asked to take more time for prayer and reflection,” said Suico.

Kaye said she is still haunted every night by the priest’s words and would like him to ask for an apology from her in person.

“Bag-o pa kaayo na- hitabo ang tanan. Grabe kaayo ang iyang gipangsulti (It is all still so new and the effects of what he told me have not worn off),” she said. “Dili pa siya angay mapasaylo (I cannot forgive him yet).”

Her mother obtained a copy of Obach’s apology after she went to the Redemptorist Church with her friends yesterday afternoon.

Carlota (real name withheld) said she was no longer angry with the priest, but requested Fr. Obach to meet with them personally to settle their differences.

“Makapasaylo ta kay tawo ra man. Wala mausab akong pagtan-aw niya, pari gihapon siya (We can forgive. We are all human. I still view him as a priest),” she said.

Good missionary

Obach, who hails from Iligan City, failed to show up during the short press conference at the Redemptorist Church in Cebu City yesterday. His congregation spoke for him.

“The Redemptorist Community has always upheld the rights of the poor and disenfranchised since the first missionaries arrived here in Cebu in 1906. And this has been our conviction through the decades,” the C.Ss.R statement read.

Suico said they will welcome any complaint that Kaye’s family would file against Obach.

“It is but unfortunate that the incident involving Fr. Obach occurred, as he has been a good missionary for many years. He has served in many capacities and various places heeding the challenges of the congregation, yet he is also human and prone to lapse of judgment and imprudence,” the congregation’s statement read.

They said they “do not condone” what happened.

“We sincerely feel for the family and to them we extend our heartfelt apology,” the letter read. “We respect their situation at the moment and sympathize with their hurt and anger over this matter.”

The congregation said they will reach out to the mother’s family at the appropriate time. They also appealed for calm and sobriety from the public.

Now what?

Dilaab Foundation Executive Director Fr. Carmelo Diola advised Fr. Obach to apologize “not only to her (the mother) but to the whole church of Cebu.” KAL/With JKV & DSM