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A separated monk has made good on his threat to sue Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and three local church officials for maligning him in the Cebu Archdiocese's official publication.
Venancio Cabillon, a former member of the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration (MMEA), yesterday lodged a complaint for libel at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor for publishing a notice of disconnection at the Bag-ong Lungsoranon on Aug. 9.
The former monk was hurt that in the notice, he was accused of, among others, soliciting funds and violating the vows of chastity and obedience while he was with a congregation of brothers that operates the Marian Shrine in sitio Lindogon, barangay Simala, Sibonga town.
“The alleged accusatory wrongdoings attributed to me were baseless, unfounded, and scurrilous. The said publication had caused unimaginable and untold injury to my integrity and said statements contained therein clearly had maligned and besmirched my reputation and person,” Cabillon said in his complaint-affidavit.
Aside from seeking “compensatory and consequential damages,” he also demanded an apology from Vidal and the three other respondents.
They are Frater Martin Mary, MMEA, superior of the Monastery of the Marian Shrine; Rev. Fr. Marnell Mejia, Bag-ong Lungsoranon editor in chief; and Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, director and business manager of Bag-ong Lungsoranon.
Vidal, who offered to hold a dialog with Cabillon, was not surprised by the former monk's decision to file charges.
“If that is what they feel about it, why do I insist on my own. That is their human right. Whatever happens, I leave that to the Lord. Whatever He wants me to do, it is up to Him,” the 78-year-old prelate told reporters.
“Why should I be very much concerned? I want things to be settled in the right way. Not through just hocus pocus,” he added.
Msgr. Garcia and Fr. Marnell, declined to comment
Cabillon, who was known as Frater Paul Mary at the MMEA, said he would furnish the Vatican a copy of his libel complaint.
Cabillon said he was not questioning the notice of disconnection but the publication of the grounds why he was no longer with MMEA, which he said was “false and malicious.”
According to the notice, Cabillon was no longer connected to the MMEA, and was not authorized to solicit funds in the name of the group. It also said that Cabillon broke the vows of chastity and obedience, and was a “trafficker” of members of the group, where he was a formator.
Vidal said he ordered the publication of the notice in compliance with the Canon Law, which is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Roman Catholic Church.
“I do not question His eminence' authority and wisdom. In fact I have great esteem for him. (But) were these publicity stunts included in the Canon Law? To expose wrongdoings of a separated or disconnected member? To cast dishonor upon him (Cabillon) and his family?” the former monk said.
He said the Canon Law also assured confidentiality of any part of the process that may be prejudicial to the parties.
Cabillon said he was never called for investigation. He was not also given the chance to refute the allegations against him before publishing these in the Bag-ong Lungsoranon.
“His Eminence Cardinal Vidal should have readily ascertained the veracity of those allegations which any prudent man would do before giving his imprimatur and allowing the publication,” said Cabillon, a resident of Ronda town, Cebu who was a Marian monk for more than 17 years.
When sought for comment, Cardinal Vidal said he had yet to know the details of the case filed against him.
“We have to know exactly what is that matter of libel then we can translate,” said Vidal, adding that he could not remember if this was his first libel during his tenure in Cebu.
“(This is) command responsibility, perhaps. But we have to know exactly what is the matter. We can not say anything yet,” he added.
In his complaint affidavit, Cabillon said he sought his transfer to Monastery of Our Lady in Marangog, Hilongos, Leyte on Jan. 8 because he could no longer bear the “unpleasant” activities inside the monastery.
He said some monks in Lindogon, Simala succumbed to “temptations of lust and worldly sinful weaknesses” by engaging in sodomy and fraud.
“What is regretful is that there is no showing of remorse among them (monks). They continue cultivating and propagating these beastial acts by indulging in activities that mock their vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty such as organizing a Miss Gay contest inside the vicinity of the shrine,” he said.
While he was inside the monastery, Cabillon admitted he engaged in “lascivious acts” which he “strongly” regret and repent.
He also said monks made it appear that the image of the Blessed Mother was shedding tears of blood in order to persuade devotees to donate.
The shrine became famous when word spread that the image of Mary was seen “shedding tears of blood” on Sept. 8, 1998. Sept. 8 is celebrated in the Catholic Church as the birthday of the mother of Jesus Christ.
Cabillon also complained about “overpricing of religious items and gathering (of) coins from the wishing well.”
“The shrine has long been tarnished and lost its humility and modesty through their unfettered sacrilegious acts,” he said.
Cabillon tendered his voluntary resignation as “novice master” of the MMEA on Jan. 8. His request was approved by Frater Mary on Jan. 26.
When he left Simala, Cabillon went to Hilongos, Leyte hoping to serve in the MMEA branch there.
But upon his arrival in the monastery, he said, another frater flushed a glass of water on his face and told him to “go to hell.”
Although he knelt before the frater to plead that he be admitted to the monastery, Cabillon was denied entry because he was not cleared by the MMEA in Cebu.
When he went to Simala to get a clearance, he said, he was instead stripped off his habit. His religious ring was taken away from him on June 11.
His clearance was not given.
Without asking for help, Cabillon said, residents “willingly and voluntarily” gave him financial assistance “out of sympathy.”
“I almost cried out of gratitude and for their kindness and bade them goodbye,” he said.
The circumstances, Cabillon said, probably came into the attention of Frater Mary who could have used the financial assistance given by the residents to him as a “lame excuse” that he solicited money in the name of the Blessed Virgin.
On Aug. 9, Cabillon's mother called his attention about the publication of his disconnection in Bag-ong Lungsoranon for soliciting money from different individuals.
He said his relatives and friends also read the notice which embarrassed him.
Cabillon told CEBU DAILY NEWS that he might change his mind if the respondents would go to the office of his lawyer Ivan Herrero on Sanciangco Street to apologize.
“It depends on my conscience if I will back out from the case. All I want is truth and justice. They should ask for forgiveness. Maybe I will have a change of heart,” he said.
He, however, advised Catholics and devotees of the Blessed Mary to keep their regard to the divine.
“I'm still a Catholic. But I'm no longer a monk. Don't be affected with the controversy. Go on with your devotion. Even my faith is not affected,” Cabillon said.
