Bishop Mercado ready to quit if found guilty

From sunstar.com.ph:

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

MANILA — Accused of diverting millions of funds of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paranaque, Bishop Jesse Mercado said Wednesday that he will not hold on to the post if Vatican finds him guilty and ill-fit to stay.

According to Mercado, he serves at the pleasure of Pope Benedict XVI and will not hesitate from resigning if he is asked by the latter.

“I am always at the service of the Church and if the Holy Father thinks that I am not anymore (fit to serve), anytime,” Mercado said.

But while bowing to the power of the Pontiff, the bishop vehemently denied the accusations supposedly made by some of his priests and lay people in Paranaque.

“All donations are properly receipted and promptly turned over to their intended beneficiaries,” Mercado said.

“The Diocese of Paranaque is audited annually by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and receives a 100-percent rating,” he added.

Last Monday, reports came out that the priests and lay people of the Paranaque diocese have asked Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto to probe Mercado over alleged misuse of funds and, if possible, remove him from his post.

Mercado’s accusers said they want him to explain what happened to the funds concerning donations for Typhoon Ondoy (P1,368,236); Haiti earthquake (P168,891); Muntinlupa fire victims (P129,201); Tropical Storm Sendong (P970,589); National Youth Day (P306,123); and Alay Kapwa (P399,942).

They said this is in violation of the Canon 1300, which states that “the intentions of the faithful who give or leave goods to pious causes…once lawfully accepted, are to be most carefully observed, even in the manner of the administration and the expending of the goods…”

When asked what could be the motive of his accusers in making such accusations, the 61-year-old prelate described it as a “desperate” move by a “small group.”

“I think there are some priests who are just desperate… Some did not like what they received, what they got. That is part of the issue. They did not like it so they question,” Mercado said.

He noted that out of the 53 priests in the diocese, only five or six have “some difficulties.”

The prelate said he is ready to face Pinto if the latter finds it necessary.

“When needed, why not? Because I have nothing to hide. He is the representative of the Holy Father. I think, in the end, I will have to talk to him,” Mercado said. (HDT/Sunnex)

 

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4 Responses

  1. Eugene Poloi says:

    “deperate move of a small group”…. there is no humility in Bishop Jesse Mercado.
    Audited by Manila Archdiocese … Naku, pwede namang hindi ilabas ang baho eh. 100% ratings….those numbers are irrelevant.
    Bishop naman, karma na yan. You are very mean to priests who displeases you. You punish them nit correct them. You hide under the cloak of your cronies.
    Why wait for Rome to discover you anomalies?
    “Small group” does not mean that they are wrong because you have the “big group”. Remember, only a “small group” follow Jesus. The rest were afraid and hid under the skirt of the Pharisees.
    I long to see this day when Bishop Mercado will finally face his match.

  2. Rey Joaquin says:

    In points of argument, I agree with Eugene Poloi who seemed to be knowledgeable of the inside happenings in DOPA.

    But, let me apply the rule of the state (if this is applicable under the separation of power clause between the church and the state), that the dear Bishop is innocent until proven guilty. He should be given the utmost benefit of the doubt!

  3. Eugene Poloi says:

    I laud the priests who stood their ground to effect change in the Diocese of Paranaque. I bet those good priests banished by the “good” bishop are thinking that finally “justice has caught up with Mercado.”

  4. Ma. Tonessa Luna says:

    Mr. Eugene i think your so bitter why? do you know Bishop Mercado personally to accused him in such way? Sana lang po mainbistigahan ang parehong partido, ang isinusumbong at ang nagsusumbong,kasi baka mamaya they just doing it to Bishop Mercado because of self interest, Hindi po ako catholic, pero still i respect every person around me, and i think you should also do that specially if you belong to Catholic Church. I know Justice will prevail…