By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — Murcia government officials led by Mayor Andrew Montelibano and town priests Fr. Greg Patiño and Fr. Agustin Hinayan have finally patched things up, Bishop Vicente Navarra said.
Navarra said they have already reconciled their differences over the pressing problems in the municipality.
During a mass at the Immaculate Conception Church in Murcia yesterday afternoon, the bishop said the reconciliation showed “true Christianity, humility and forgiveness.”
“Let us thank God that, through His holy wisdom, the reconciliation between the town officials and the clergy materialized,” he said.
The priests had criticized the municipal officials for their alleged inaction on the problems of illegal drugs and illegal gambling in Murcia.
The officials denied the priests’ allegation, saying they have been sustaining their campaign against the said problems.
Navarra said he is optimistic that the town officials and the clergy “will stand united against the vices and evil, the enemies of the soul and morality, for the development of Murcia.”
As a gesture of reconciliation, Patiño said he is lifting the ban on receiving the Sacraments that he had imposed against Montelibano and the Catholic members of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB).
Montelibano, on the other hand, gave Patiño a copy of an SB resolution that recalls their petition for the priests’ reassignment.
“We are doing this so that Murcia will have peace,” he said. “It is hard to ask for forgiveness and be humble, but what is important is the progress of the town.”
Montelibano said that, after meeting with Navarra, “we realized that our advocacies are the same.”/PN
