Priest suspended for running as municipal councilor in 2022 polls

MANILA, Philippines — A priest was indefinitely suspended in Sorsogon for participating in the 2022 national elections by running for a municipal councilor post.

Most Rev. Jose Alan Dialogo, bishop of Sorsogon, made the announcement regarding the suspension of Rev. Father Emmanuel Alparce in a circular posted Wednesday on the Diocese of Sorsogon’s Facebook page.

The circular states that Alparce is a municipal councilor candidate in Bacacay town, Albay.

According to Dialogo, the Code of Conon Law states that “[c]lerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power.”

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“The Rev. Alparce is suspended indefinitely from every priestly ministry. All his faculties which were granted by my predecessor are hereby withdrawn as of this date until further notice,” Dialogo said in the circular.

“This suspension is a censure which prohibits him completely from exercising the power of order… and the power of governance. At present, he holds no office and is not connected to any parish or institution in the Diocese of Sorsogon,” he added.

However, Dialogo said Alparce “remains a priest incarnated to this diocese, not yet dispensed from his vows, especially celibacy, but without the faculty to celebrate the sacraments.”

Dialogo said Alparce was given “ample time” to withdraw his candidacy and was warned that “if he does not reform and continue to give scandal, because of his participation in the local elections, he can be progressively punished by deprivations, and even dismissal from the clerical state.”

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