Philippine bishop says he might file complaint over healing priest

Published: 2008-01-29

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- A Philippine bishop said he is considering filing a formal complaint with a community of priests in Canada against a member he said is conducting healing sessions without following church guidelines. Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos told reporters at a Jan. 28 press conference in Manila that Father Fernando Suarez, a Philippine-born member of the Companions of the Cross who is drawing crowds to his healing vigils, "did not follow the instruction of the (Vatican's) Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith on prayers for healing." Since December, tens of thousands of people have been flocking to Father Suarez's healing vigils in the northern and central Philippines, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency. Bishop Oliveros said that in the Malolos Diocese Father Suarez violated the part of the Vatican's instruction that states "explicit permission of the bishop must be given in order to have a prayer session or healing session" in the diocese. The doctrinal congregation issued the instruction in 2000.

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