Bastos, Padre...

Retired Priest Sentenced for Bilking Two Churches

Oh, Filipino priests...
Obviously, what he did to the people of those two parishes was grimy, but a lot of people like to focus on the fact that he was married and had kids. Honestly, I've met a lot of Filipino priests with illegitimate children, or with legitimate ones. Frankly, that doesn't make them bad priests, if anything these have been some of the realest people I've ever met and they have a love of God that is hard to find in others.

My Godfather had studied in a seminary for a long time, but he met his wife shortly before he was supposed to "marry" God. He respected the laws of the church enough to drop out of the seminary but, frankly, I don't think it was necessary. He's one of the most intelligent and devout men in the world. I've been in too many masses with priests that seemed disenchanted with their profession, that preached their parts as an afterthought. My ninong lives his life for God, so he has a wife and a kid, if anything that's strengthened his faith more than anything.

Hell, my fondest memories are of 10 visiting Bicolano priests and my Ninong in the backyard singing songs and telling dirty jokes while drunk out of their minds and then celebrating a joint mass the next day. Priests are people too. I think Rome needs to take a new look at old laws.