By TONY CAMPOS
GSD-Tandag bureau chief
TANDAG City–The governor of Surigao del Sur has vowed to advocate reforms in the Roman Catholic priests even as he accused some of them of becoming active participants in partisan politics and of being involved in vote-buying in his province in the May elections.
Gov. Vicente Pimentel called on Roman Catholics here to stop giving money to their churches, saying these were allegedly being used to sustain the needs of the children of the priests, and to pay for cars, houses, and other luxuries.
Pimentel urged the bishop of the diocese of Tandag to impose discipline on erring priests whom he said were destroying the image of the Catholic Church.
He claimed he has received information about how priests openly campaigned against him to the extent that they allegedly engaged in vote-buying in municipalities.
Pimentel lambasted the clergy and demanded to know why some of its members allegedly orchestrated a campaign against him.
He said they even organized a caravan in the guise of an environmental advocacy but it was against mining operations. The governor said he was indirectly implicated mining.
Pimentel denounced the alleged malpractices of some priests, calling them “servants of Satan, immoral, drunkard womanizers” who use love offerings given to the church for their vices and personal business ventures.
He also alleged that some of the priests were “home wreckers,” and that others were even involved in illegal drugs.
Serious questions were also raised on the funds for the construction of a new cathedral here. The project has yet to be completed.
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