MANILA, Philippines -- An official of the missionary order to which kidnapped Irish priest, Fr. Michael Sinnott, belongs, has rejected his abductors? demand for a $2-million ransom.

"I do not believe it right that ransom should be paid," Fr. Pat O' Donoghue, regional director of the Society of St. Columban, said in reaction to the reported $2-million ransom demand of the kidnappers of Sinnott.

Paying ransom, O'Dononghue said, "adds to everyone else's vulnerability. We all become commodities rather than missionaries."

Sinnott, 79, was abducted by armed men on Oct. 11 from the Columban Center in Pagadian City. His abductors released a video on Saturday, showing him holding an Oct. 22 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

"It is my firm belief that Mick would be adamant that ransom should not be paid," O'Donoghue stressed in his "Reflections" on Day 21 of Sinnott's abduction.

"It's far better that the money be used for the poor who have no proper food, no medical facilities and the many without homes. (Fr. Mick) would insist that the money be used to set up other schools such as Hangop Kabattan where the most forgotten, those with disabilities, can discover their dignity and their capabilities. Mick never thought of himself and I don't believe he would be doing so now."

Sinnott founded Hangop Kabataan, a school for disabled children in Pagadian City.

Donoghue said he could hardly describe how he felt when he saw the video of Sinnott. "It was clearly Mick. It is difficult for me to even try to describe my emotions. He was alive and he looked relatively well."

But O'Donoghue also expressed doubts and worry. "I have now seen the video. Mick is reading a prepared statement. His voice is relatively strong. He even smiles at one point - seemingly at something those around him are doing. There was a sense of relief to see him at all."

O' Donoghue, however, did not believe Sinnott wrote what he read in the video. "I experienced a tremendous sadness at seeing him in this horrendous situation," O' Donoghue said.

"I would believe that all of us would know that he did not write the statement of his own volition. Words like 'indignity of it all', 'humiliation, 'exploitation' sprang into my mind. But I also realized that Fr. Mick has not lost his gentleness, which radiated through it all. He may be in a very undignified situation but he has not lost his dignity."

"He continues to be who he is, maybe even more so. God's love is still flowing through him. I am aware that I could be accused of being melodramatic, and if I am, forgive me, but the image stuck - Ecce homo (behold the man). God is in this powerfully."

O'Donoghue said he was "acutely aware the video is a week old." He said: "In the circumstances in which Fr. Mick is, that is a long time. Is his health continuing to hold up? I pray that it is. He said that he has some of his medication and that is encouraging. I hope that he will not be moved from place to place as his abductors try to ensure their own security. Yes, I am relieved but still concerned. God has allowed some light to shine in this and I am grateful. May the glimmer become the dawn and may the new day break soon when all this will be in the past."

O'Donoghue said he had come just come from the silver jubilee celebration of a contemplative Carmelite nun who was among those taken and held by kidnappers in the 1980s in Marawi City.