A Catholic priest, whose parish was in Quezon City, has been
stripped of his clerical obligations after he was caught on television
inside a nightclub, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines
said Tuesday.
Fr. Alfredo Guerrero was suspended
and replace as parish priest of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help by Cubao
Bishop Honesto Ongtioco last week, said Cubao diocese spokesman Fr.
Ariston Sison said on Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas.
Sison said the action was taken to "avoid further harm, further scandal and to help the priest not to fall into a greater sin.”
He said Guerrero will also undergo a rehabilitation program, which is
standard procedure for erring priests, so he would get a second chance
to reform.
In the meantime, he said Guerrero is
not allowed to officiate Mass or administer other sacraments until
Ongtioco lifts the suspension order.