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'Healing priest' barred in Malaybalay diocese

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The bishop of Malaybalay in Bukidnon has joined a number of prelates who have barred &quot;healing priest&quot; Rev. Fr. Fernando Suarez in their dioceses. In a report from CBCP News on Wednesday, Bishop Jose Cabantan said Suarez had been conducting healing masses in his diocese without the necessary permit. &quot;We ask their group to secure a &#x27;celebret&#x27; or an endorsement from his bishop so we can allow him to celebrate Mass and do healing. But we have not received it,&quot; Cabantan said. A &quot;celebret&quot; is an official document in the Roman Catholic Church given by a bishop or religious superior to a priest as proof that he is in good standing and that he be permitted to celebrate Mass outside the ecclesiastical territory where he is assigned.In a memorandum issued on Oct. 7, Cabantan urged the clergy and lay people to be vigilant and cautious about Suarez and his group. &quot;I am calling all the clergy, religious and our lay faithful to be vigilant and cautious about their presence,&quot; the bishop said. &quot;We may always show them the respect that they deserve as persons and fellow Christians but mindful always of the law of the Church concerning the proper minister of the sacraments.&quot;Several bishops had banned Suarez from conducting healing masses in their dioceses for various reasons. Among them is the former archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, who criticized Suarez&#x27;s style, noting only Jesus can do miracles such as raising people from the dead.The late Bishop Jose Oliveros of the Diocese of Malolos also barred the controversial priest.In an <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/01/11/15/pope-francis-fr-suarez-continue-healing">interview</a> with ABS-CBN’s &quot;The Bottomline with Boy Abunda&quot; in 2015, Suarez admitted that there have been misunderstandings with other bishops, but noted the main issue was only turf-related.He said some bishops allow him to freely do healing masses in their dioceses, while others only allow him to do so if he asks for permission.&quot;Kung pepersonalin ko lahat ng ayaw sa akin, baka ma-paralyze ako. Maging bitter ako,&quot; he said.(If I take personally everyone who doesn&#x27;t like me, I might get paralyzed. I will get bitter.)

The bishop of Malaybalay in Bukidnon has joined a number of prelates who barred "healing priest" Rev. Fr. Fernando Suarez in their dioceses.

The bishop of Malaybalay in Bukidnon has joined a number of prelates who barred "healing priest" Rev. Fr. Fernando Suarez in their dioceses.