ANSWERING the challenge of expelled priest Pio C. Aclon, the Diocese of Borongan yesterday made public a document containing the Vatican’s decision dismissing Aclon from the clerical state.
“The Roman Catholic Bishop of Borongan, through counsel, filed a Reply dated 25 September 2023 to Mr. Aclon’s allegations and demand by furnishing him with a copy of said letter from then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The same document was redacted to preserve the confidentiality of the reason of his dismissal,” said Borongan Diocese Chancellor Fr James Abella.
The Vatican decree did not provide the cause of Aclon’s dismissal. But an earlier report by the official news agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), CBCP News, Aclon was dismissed “for sexual abuse involving minors.”
The Borongan diocese announced Aclon’s dismissal on September 17.
Aclon responded by questioning the basis of the announcement, and challenging the diocese to send him the letter of Pope Francis. — Gerard Naval
