Archbishop Cruz should consider retirement

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop His Eminence Oscar Cruz made yet again another controversial pronouncement. He said that he will deny baptism to children whose parents were not blessed by the sacred sacrament of matrimony. Archbishop Cruz is ready to deny these innocent children entry to Christianity.

His statement was met with criticism even from his colleagues in the Holy Order. He reasons that parents are not willing to submit themselves to the said sacrament, hence their children are not qualified for baptisms. Apparently they cannot be Christians based on his logic.

I am not a holy canon expert, but I am a Christian, a Christian Catholic to be specific. Archbishop Cruz's pronouncement is offensive and is unChristian. Many will surely be offended by his intention. It contradictory to Christian values. It is contravening Jesus' mission. Never will Jesus deny baptism to anyone. Jesus can forgive even the worst sinner provided that they show remorse to their sins. Jesus will surely embrace these innocent children to the folds of Christianity even if their parents were not bound by the sacred marriage.

Archbishop Cruz is entitled to interpret the cannon based on his conscience. But his recent pronouncement is far from being conscientious. The Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines should look into this statement further and offer some kind of rectitude if needed.

I remembered the prelate in the same hot water due to his controversial statement last March. He said that he would deny Holy Communion to the President and her family because he thinks of them as sinners. Lawmakers lead the outcry for what they felt as an irresponsible statement by seeking the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to sanction the prelate. Unfortunately, the complain fell to deft ears. A libel case was also filed against the Archbishop for allegedly branding PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) employees as GROs or guest relations officers (GRO is used interchangeably with the word prostitute)

I am hoping that this recent foul statement coming from a supposed holy man be taken seriously by the CBCP. Holy members of CBCP will not appreciate if someone or some group would log a complain in the future directly to the Holy See, the Vatican.