POPE Francis has expelled Filipino priest Pio Cultura Aclon who is now prohibited from participating in any priestly ministry of the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Borongan announced yesterday.
Aclon questioned the basis of the announcement and said he is giving the diocese 10 days to produce a document from the Vatican on his expulsion.
The announcement was made by the Diocese of Borongan in an official statement called “informationis causa” dated July 18 but made public only yesterday. The statement was read in all parish churches, chaplaincies, and chapels of the Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar.
The statement did not say the reason for the dismissal but a report of the CBCP News, the official news agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said Aclon was dismissed “for sexual abuse involving minors.”
The CBCP News also said Aclon last served at a minor seminary in the Diocese of Borongan before he was suspended him from clerical duties.
Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said in the official statement, “Notice is hereby given that the Holy Father Pope Francis has dismissed from the clerical state Pio Cultura Aclon of the Diocese of Borongan.”
“He is, therefore, no longer a cleric and cannot exercise priestly ministry in the Church,” he added.
In response, Aclon said, “You announced this, Bishop Crispin Varquez and the Diocese of Borongan. Now where is the letter of Pope Francis? I give you 10 days to provide us the letter.”
