For the record: Full text of Bishop Jesse Mercado's statement on the allegations published against him by the 'Rappler'

My initial commentary on the matter:

Even though the Philippine secular media has ignored the news of the selection of Cebu as the location of the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016, it has given full play to accusations of financial mismanagement against Bishop Jesse Mercado D.D., Ordinary of the Diocese of Paranaque. The accusations have been published on Rappler, an online news portal that is strongly believed in some Church circles to have an anti-Catholic bias, due in no little part to the negative news articles and scurrilous (if not idiotic) commentary against the Church that it has produced. From the Rappler the news has been spread with glee on the social networks especially by the new generation of Filipino atheists, agnostics and Church-haters. 

The original Rappler article: LINK

Follow-up Rappler article: LINK

Third Rappler article: LINK

I do not know if there is a truthful basis to these allegations and I hope that the Holy See will investigate the matter with firmness and promptness. I am all too aware that there are many situations within the Church in the Philippines that cry out for both earthly and heavenly justice. Nevertheless, the tone and language of the Rappler articles and their misuse by anti-Catholic elements in the Philippines cannot but raise the suspicion that there is more to this series of articles than the noble desire to expose wrongdoing and financial mismanagement for the sake of the common good.

***

Full text of Bishop Jesse Mercado's statement regarding the allegations published against him by the Rappler:

From the website of the Chancellery of the Diocese of Paranaque:


DOP CIRCULAR NO. 2012-034
20 June 2012

TO:


ALL PRIESTS, LAY LEADERS, AND PARISHIONERS OF THE DIOCESE OF PARAÑAQUE


RE:


OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF HIS EXCELLENCY, MOST REV. JESSE E. MERCADO, D.D.

Peace be with you!

In order to assure the People of God in the midst of this challenging time of purification, we issue this official statement. 

1.      All donations are properly receipted and promptly turned over to their intended beneficiaries. In urgent cases, e.g, Ondoy and Sendong, the Diocese even advanced the amounts even before the second collections were mandated. Some parishes remit too late, so these funds are added to the calamity fund. A detailed report is being prepared. All expenses are studied, reviewed and properly documented in the spirit of stewardship, transparency and accountability. The Diocese of Paranaque is audited annually by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and receives a 100% rating. 

2.      The personal problems of priests are properly studied and treated by tempering justice with mercy. Priests who make mistakes but want to be helped are rehabilitated. Their reputation is protected. Nevertheless, this does not prevent some from undermining their own reputation by talking about their own situation as if they are being persecuted.

3.      The personal sharings of priests during meeting like the Ongoing Formation Seminar should be respected. To breach this confidentiality (usapang pari) is a betrayal of mutual respect and trust.

May the good Lord continue to guide and protect us in this trying moment of our journey.

+ JESSE E. MERCADO, D.D

Bishop of Paranaque

June 20, 2012

 Allegations and our Responses: 

1.      Donations not reaching intended beneficiaries. P3.2M diverted to diocesan fund and invested

Response:  Donations are regularly remitted to the intended beneficiaries. In urgent cases, e.g., Ondoy and Sendong, the Diocese even advanced the amounts even before the second collections were mandated. Some parishes remit too late, so these funds are added to the calamity fund.

The Muntinlupa fire victims were aided by the Vicariate. [When the Parish needs help, the Vicariate takes over. When the Vicariate needs help, the Diocese takes over.]

2.      Not funding social programs

Response:  Social programs are funded according to the budget policies of the diocese in order to avoid wastage of funds. Funds are thus usually released in tranches. Proper liquidation is required before new tranches are released precisely in order to ensure that the funds get to the intended beneficiaries.

3.      No money for programs

Response: There is money for programs. The funds are allocated only to projects that are worthwhile and only if they are positively recommended by their parish priests so that they are integrated into the parish program.

4.      P225,000 from PCSO stopped when Pres. Aquino came into power

Response: It was Bp. Jess who decided not to accept PCSO aid after the Senate probe on PCSO aid to Dioceses, so that government aid would not draw the Diocese into politics. It is the Diocese who now pays for the medicines for the poor formerly funded by the PCSO aid. The funds are taken from the Caritas Sunday collection.

5.      those who question financial management are either floated or replaced

a.      e.g. Muntinlupa parish priest who headed pastoral department removed as co-signatory of livelihood project for workers in Tunasan

Response: The Tunasan project was examined by the Parish Priest, who found irregularities. He therefore did not recommend it to the Bishop. However, who is the Muntinlupa parish priest mentioned by the author?

b.      five priests left the priesthood out of frustration and desperation

Response: Who are these priests? Those who left in the first 10 years of the Diocese left for personal reasons (e.g., sexual misconduct, fathering children).

c.      some have low morale and are thinking of leaving the priesthood

Response:  Why is their morale low? Bp. Jess and their fellow priests are always willing to help them.

d.      lay leaders who sought transparency are regarded as dissenters and are slowly being eased out of diocese' affairs.

Response:  Who are these lay leaders? No one is  being “eased out”.

6.      Quick to pardon priests who misappropriated Church funds, e.g., Msgr. Valenzuela – uncovered by Msgr. Gabriel in 2004. Instead of punishing Valenzuela however, Mercado simply terminated him as school director and barred him from having any assignments within the diocese. P10M declared uncollectible in October 2011. Msgr. Valenzuela allowed to resume his priestly duties in NY.

Response: The Diocese adopted many financial controls precisely because of incidences of bad investment, misappropriation, misrepresentation, etc.

Does Msgr. Valenzuela's termination, floating status and exile not constitute punishment? He is no longer entitled to pension and hospitalization. Is this not punishment?

The declaration of P10M as uncollectible was recommended by the audit of St. Andrew's School. After demanding for closure of the issue, why are they complaining that this closure was achieved?

On the distorted reporting on OGF sharing.

Response: The personal sharings of priests during meetings like the Ongoing Formation Seminar should be respected. To breach this confidentiality (usapang pari) is a betrayal of mutual respect and trust.

The personal problems of priests are being dealt with by balancing justice and mercy. Priests who make mistakes but want to be helped are rehabilitated. Their reputation is protected. Nevertheless, this does not prevent some from undermining their own reputation by talking about their own situation as if they are being persecuted.

Inaccuracies:

12% remitted by parishes, 1% for health insurance, 1% for retirement

10% estimated to be P15M

57 parishes

Response:  There are only 51 parishes, quasi-parish and national shrines in the Diocese. 10% of gross receipts of parishes are remitted to the Diocesan Fund of which majority is given to catechetical fund (c/o RCAM), investment for the retirement of priests, curia operations, clergy retreats, and clergy ongoing formation and outing. 2% of gross receipts go to the hospitalization and health services of priests.

Called mobile to no avail 

Response:  Aries Rufo contacted the Bishop's office in order to interview him about the Natural Family Planning program of the Diocese. He was of course referred to the Chairman of the Diocesan Commission on Family and Life. He never contacted the Chairman.