Former monk, Venancio Cabillon, who exposed alleged fraudulent and lascivious acts inside a Philippines religious community, has filed a criminal complaint for libel against Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and three other priests. Cabillon alleges the clerics, who have caused the publication of an alleged defamatory notice to the public against him, PhilStar reports.
Cabillon, who is known in his religious name as Frater Paul Mary, also named his former prior superior Frater Martin Mary, Rev. Fr. Marnel Mejia and Msgr. Cristobal Garcia as respondents in the criminal complaint he filed before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
The cardinal was included in the complaint for giving his imprimatur to the publication while Mejia and Garcia are included being editor and business director of the Bag-ong Lungsoranon, a church-based publication.
The case stemmed from the publication of the notice to the public which saw print in Bag-ong Lungsoranon on its August 9 issue.
The publication gave notice to the public that Cabillon is no longer connected with the Marian Monks Monastery in Simala, Sibonga since January 8.
The publication warned the public that he is no longer allowed to engage any transaction on behalf of the congregation or to solicit funds.
The publication also said that Cabillon “commits grave faults against the religious vows of the order, as a trafficker of our own members of religious formation, and also violates the vows of chastity and obedience.”
Cabillon objected to the grounds cited in the publication as basis for his disconnection with the congregation saying these were “false” and “malicious.”
While he admitted being a “homosexual,” Cabillon denied all the grounds mentioned in the publication.
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