CBCP: Bicol priest 'irreversibly suspended after running for mayor in Camarines Sur town

A Catholic priest was permanently suspended from his clerical duties after he sought the mayoralty post in a town in Camarines Sur town for Eleksyon 2022, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Tuesday.

According to the CBCP News website, Camarines Sur Bishop Jose Rojas said Fr. Granwell Pitapit violated the Canon Law, which indicated priests may not be involved in politics.

Under Canon Law 285, clerics are banned to assume public offices "which [entailed] a participation in the exercise of civil power."

“Such suspension is deemed irreversible, thus preventing him permanently from returning to the priestly ministry,” Rojas wrote in a circular dated Oct. 22 but sent to the media on Tuesday.

With this suspension, Rojas said Pitapit would no longer be involved with the social action programs of the diocese.

The bishop said Pitapit was still mandated to follow his priestly vows such as celibacy.

“Such vows, therefore, continue to bind him and can only be completely suppressed through the process of laicization,” Rojas said.

“Nonetheless, Fr. Pitapit is now free, without incurring further canonical censure, to engage in secular undertakings that do not violate his priestly vows,” he added.

Next year's election day is set on May 9, 2022.  -NB, GMA News