Mass in another parish leads to altercation Priests figure in turf tussle

CEBU, Philippines - A parish priest from the municipality of Asturias allegedly hit another priest, also from the same town, during a wake last Friday night. The reason - the other priest failed to ask for permission to celebrate mass in the other priest's area of jurisdiction.

Fr. Renato Gamorot of Sta. Lucia Parish told The Freeman that Fr. Virgilio Paras of San Roque Parish repeatedly hit him in the shoulder.

It was Liza Toong who reportedly invited Gamorot, who is a family friend, to celebrate mass at the wake of her husband, former Sangguniang Bayan member Amadeo Toong, at their house in Barangay Poblacion. The barangay is under the jurisdiction of the San Roque Parish where Paras is the parish priest.

After the mass, at around 10 pm, when Gamorot was about to leave to attend a prayer vigil, Paras arrived at the Toong residence, approached the other priest and asked him why he did not ask for permission to celebrate mass there.

Gamorot said that Paras was really angry but he tried to appease his fellow priest by apologizing.

"Nasuko siya, suko kaayo siya, isog kaayo, daku kaayo iyang tingog," said Gamorot.

Toong, who was beside Gamorot during the confrontation, confirmed that Paras was really angry at the other priest.

Despite Gamorot's apologies, Paras reportedly lost his temper and started slapping the former's shoulder.

"Kalit lang naka-feel ko naay nihapak nako. Unya kay nagsagunson ang hapak, nagkakusog nya nagkakusog, maong nakalitan ko," recalled Gamorot.

"Nakalitan gyud ko sa mga panghitabo. Pero nikalma lang sad ko, sa akong bahin nakalitan ko kay di maayo. Wala lang ko nisukol. Nalain gyud to siya (Paras). Na-insulto siguro siya. Maong nagpaubos ko kay parehas ming padre kura," he added.

Toong said she also got a scolding from Paras who reportedly told her, "Nagsalig ka nga imong bana namatay? Nganung wala man mo nananghid?" She then told her parish priest that she thought it was okay to invite another priest to say mass in their house and proceeded to apologize to Paras.

Gamorot, for his part, admitted that he did not inform Paras that he will be celebrating mass at the Toong residence because he thought that the family already informed the parish priest.

Monsignor Esteban Binghay, the Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Cebu, told The Freeman that it is a general rule that a priest should ask for the permission of the parish priest of the place before celebrating mass in the area.

 "There's a general rule, basta dili iyang sakop. Mananghid gyud sa kura paroko sa maong lugar," Binghay said.

But Binghay pointed out that if a priest just celebrated mass once, the parish priest should give due consideration and the matter should not be a cause for a fight.

"Makahimo ta pagkorehir, in a proper way. Ang mga tawo, boss man sa pari, ang pari mauy gitugyanan sa pag alagad sa mga tawo. Kinahanglan morespetar sad kami sa mga tawo nga among gisilbihan. Maka-correct mi, makabadlong mi in proper courtesy," Binghay said.

Toong, along with other parishioners, plan to go the Archbishop's Palace today to report what happened to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

When told about the parishioners' plan, Gamorot said, "Wala koy mahimo sa ilang buhaton, paabot lang pod ko ni Archbishop Palma kung unsa iyang ikasulti. Kay ako usab, plano ko mobisita ni Archbishop Palma aron makadungog pod siya mismo sa akong side."

He, however, reiterated that he holds no grudge against Paras for hitting him.

"Ako lang sang giampo nga makaamgo siya, kahibalo ko di to niya tinuyuan, nadala lang siya sa emosyon. Katong hitabo kausa ra man to. Wa man ko nagtuo nga mao toy mahitabo. In good faith ug Diniyos lang gyud to akong pagmisa, wala koy laing gihunahuna. Halad na lang pod to sa among parokya ngadto sa mga tagtungod ang pag-offer ug misa," he added.

Gamorot admitted that sometimes he conducts masses in Paras' parish without his permission especially when it is urgent and Paras could not be reached by phone.

However, whenever he meets Paras, he would always inform him and at the same time apologize.

The Freeman called Paras in his cellular phone last night to get his side but the calls were not answered. — /QSB (FREEMAN)