THERE is no excuse for rudeness.
When a Redemptorist priest, Fr. Christopher Romeo “Oming” Obach, berated a teenage unwed mother who went to him for her son’s baptism at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Jagobiao, Mandaue City last July 6, he was clueless that his words and action would go viral.
Three days after his shameful video was uploaded on the internet, at least 43,636 Facebook users have “shared” it, not to mention the hate comments it has elicited from among irate netizens who would not allow the priest’s rudeness go unnoticed, if not at all unpunished.
If we do the math, Fr. Obach’s video exponentially reached millions of people, and was amplified when it became a major news item, prompting him and the Redemptorist Community he belongs to issue a public apology.
Of course, it seems futile to engage Fr. Obach into any theological argument about the doctrine of original sin. As a priest, he is expected he knows his theology — or was he just absent or sleeping during his homiletics classes.
But, with all due respect, it would perhaps do well if he is reminded of a gospel story when the Scribes and the Pharisees, trying to test Jesus, brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and therefore, must be stoned to death for her punishment.
From our religion classes, we learned that Jesus replied that “He who hath no sin, cast the first stone.” Not too long ago, Pope Francis too reminded the clergy to “judge less but listen more” since that is precisely what Jesus did.
And just like the rest of the Catholic faithful, we only have sympathy for the poor teenage mom who believes that her son does not inherit the sin she may have committed. It is not however the first time we hear harsh words from our priests not only while they are on the pulpits but also in other occasions.
Some good people I know could tell anecdotes why they have avoided going to church to hear the priest’s sermon.
These anecdotes about priests’ abuses go around and passed from mouth to mouth, and now, with the help of social media, people could no longer tolerate how the clergy would talk down on ordinary people and much less, pass judgment as if they are gods.
Some people would argue that our priests are human beings too, and therefore, have their own share of human frailties. Besides, what is important is that they ask for forgiveness and be cleansed again from their sins.
The Catholic Church in the Philippines has no one to blame why the church pews are getting emptier during Sundays, and why many people, young and old, are jumping to another religious sects where they feel they are valued, respected and get inspired. Our priests should come prepared to give their sermon, and if they do, please spare us the harsh or rude words. We have had enough!
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