Let’s forgive this priest – even if he knew what he was doing

“Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.”

Marianne Williamson

By Alex P. Vidal

Even if Rev. Msgr. Juanito Ma. Tuvilla, the parish priest of Santa Barbara, Iloilo, knew what he was doing and talking, we must still forgive him.

Some of us—especially those scandalized by his alleged “unchristian” acts—might not yet ready to smoke the proverbial peace pipe with him, but we must always be ready to open our hearts, bury the hatchet and let bygones be bygones.

In the new International Version of the Holy Bible, Luke 23:34 quoted Jesus as saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The only difference is Jesus was the one persecuted in the biblical story that happened more than two thousand years ago.

In Santa Barbara town, Tuvilla was the one accused of persecution by residents of Brgy. Dalid. 

Tuvilla’s alleged uncouth behavior started after the burial mass for a dead member of the Susvilla family of Barangay Dalid on July 19.

Ricky Dioso, a family member, was thanking those who attended the mass for the dead Susvilla family member inside the Santa Barbara Church when Tuvilla suddenly grabbed the microphone and chided the grieving family.

SWITCH

Tuvilla threatened to switch off the church’s power supply when he sensed the family still refused to leave after the mass and was taking it long for them to use the premises.

“Ano gusto niyo patyan ta kamu kuryente (Do you want me to switch off the power?),” Barangay Dalid chief Rolly Sorongon quoted the priest as saying.

Embarrassed and shocked, Dioso retorted angrily

“Paano ka nag pari? Bastos ka man (How did you become a priest? You are ill-mannered),” Sorongon quoted Dioso as saying.

The village chief, who reported the incident to media, claimed the incident shocked the people inside the church.

Rev. Fr. Alfone Marie Berbegal, who celebrated the requiem mass for the dead Susvilla family member, never questioned why it took the family too long to use the church to thank mourners.

To compound the matter, Sorongon reported further that Tuvilla called the residents of Barangay Dalid as thieves of carabaos and that the Susvillas were ill-mannered during his homily the following Sunday.

PULPIT

The priest’s diatribes in the pulpit reportedly further enraged the family and residents of Sorongon’s barangay.

Sorongon’s fellow village chiefs Jeffrey Suarnava (Barangay Sangcate), Noel Suezo (Barangay Daga) and Tim Padilla (Barangay Zone 5 Poblacion) also reportedly confirmed Tuvilla’s alleged misbehavior toward some residents.

The scandal has erupted into scandalous proportions as it came in the heels of an incident in Cebu where 59-year-old Fr. Romeo Obach humiliated an unwed teenage mother during the baptismal of her child inside the Sacred Heart chapel in Mandaue City last July 6.

When the video of the incident recorded by the girl’s 12-year-old sister went viral, Fr. Obach panicked and realized his mistake.

The girl has forgiven Fr. Obach after he wrote her a letter of apology and visited her to personally say sorry for his “cruel” words.

Forgiveness means the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) of Santa Barbara should withdraw the petition asking for Msgr. Tuvilla’s ouster.

ARCHDIOCESE

Now that his alleged misdemeanor and arrogance has been reported to the Archdiocese of Jaro which has the direct supervision over erring priests, let’s allow the chips to fall where they may and wait for the proper sanction, just in case there is one.

But hatred must be removed from our hearts.

The enmity happened with no bloodshed. Everything was a product of emotional outburst. No property was lost. No life was wasted. No one was harmed physically. If Jesus can forgive, why can’t we ordinary mortals?

Like Fr. Obach, we are confident that Msgr. Tuvilla must have realized his mistakes—human as he is.

After all, to err is human; it is a divine to forgive, as Alexander Pope had said.

If Msgr. Tuvilla is willing to face his enemies and bury their hatchets, reconciliation isn’t far-fetched.

Community leaders, municipal and provincial officials should mediate a reconciliation move between the two parties.

Let’s listen to Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”