July 8, 2014 | 14:00
A priest caught in a social media storm over his sermon shaming a 17-year-old single mother at the baptism of her baby in Mandaue City in Cebu has apologized for his actions.
Fr. Romeo Obach issued the "public heartfelt apology" on Tuesday to the mother and her immediate family for his words and "rude attitude" before performing the rite of baptism.
"The words I said and the rude attitude that I showed before I performed the rite of Baptism last Sunday, July 6, 2014 at the Sacred Heart Chapel, Jagobiao, Mandaue City, was indeed unbecoming. I deeply regret that I have done this," he said in a statement, which was posted on the Facebook page of GMA Cebu's "Buena Mano Balita!"
The video showing Obach delivering the sermon went viral on social media.
Obach said he realized only later how cruel his ways were to "educate and impart lessons" for that event.
He apologized also to those who heard or saw his sermon through the media and the Internet.
"I am deeply sorry to the mother of the child, her relatives, the sponsors and the witnesses of the incident. I am sorry to the Internet viewers, to media listeners and viewers for this mistake I personally admit. I am deeply sorry and I humbly ask your forgiveness," he said.
But a separate report on dzBB radio Tuesday afternoon said the mother of the teenage mom is mulling charges against the priest.
The dzBB report did not give further details but said the teenage mom's mother was angry at the priest for shaming her daughter.
CBCP response
Earlier reports on GMA News' "Unang Balita" and GMA News TV's "News to Go" indicated Catholic Church officials were not happy about the sermon.
A report by Isay Reyes on GMA News TV's "News to Go" quoted CBCP Commission on Family and Life executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro as saying that "if this really happened, it is uncalled for," adding that parents should have been catechized before the event. - Joel Locsin, JST, GMA News
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