TACLOBAN CITY — A Borongan priest who is known for his devotion to the controversial Our Lady of Mediatrix of All Graces in Lipa was defrocked from priesthood due to an alleged sexual misconduct.
In an "in formationis causa" issued by the Diocese of Borongan dated 18 July but released only on Sunday, 17 September, Bishop Crispin Varquez announced the defrocking of former priest Pio Cultura Aclon.
"Notice is hereby given that the Holy Father Pope Francis has dismissed from the clerical state Pio Cultura Aclon of the Diocese of Borongan. He is, therefore, no longer a cleric and cannot exercise priestly ministry in the Church," said the statement.
The advisory was read on Sunday in all parish churches, chaplaincies and chapels of the diocese. However, the reason for the defrocking of the priest was not mentioned in the announcement posted in the diocese's official Facebook account.
But the diocese-run media outfit Este News, as well as the CBCP News mentioned that his dismissal from clergy was due to sexual abuse involving minors.
Aclon was last assigned at Seminario de Jesus Nazareno, a minor seminary in Borongan City before the diocese suspended him from performing clerical duties.
Meantime, Aclon — in a social media post on Sunday — challenged Bishop Varquez to produce the letter from Pope Francis regarding his dismissal from the clergy.
"I give you 10 days to provide us the letter. The same thing we ask to provide us the 1951 Vatican Decree issued against the Lipa Apparition. You may send it to my legal counsel, Justice Harriet Demetriou," said Aclon in his post.
He said the Borongan prelate has been telling the people about his defrocking during the death of his mother.
"Matters like this are communicated to the concerned individual, and to receive all this on my behalf is Justice Harriet Demetriou my legal counsel and not in the Social Media platform," the former priest added.