Scandal at Simala Shrine, Cebu

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Fray Martin Mary (congregation’s superior)

I am still in shock while having this write-up.

When I was riding a PUJ (public vehicle) heading for work, I saw a local newspaper near the driver’s seat. I borrowed it and my eyes bulged as I read the headline, “‘Eskandalo’ sa simala gibutyag ” – in Cebuano. I did not read it.

And when I entered the building (where I work), the security guard handed me two newspapers (Sun Star Cebu and Phil Daily Inquirer) and reacted about the headline – “‘Scandal’ at Simala shrine“. I was smiling for I was not able to read it that time. Because of my curiosity, since Simala Shrine is a place for Pilgrimage (for Cebuano Catholic), I opened Sun Star Cebu – Scan at Simala Shrine site and read the article.

TWO ex-monks and a former devotee of a popular shrine in Simala, Sibonga town revealed yesterday allegations of corruption and sex, saying these have tainted the pilgrimage site for years.

The first few lines I read. I , you know, feel disappointed knowing a holy place like this, there abode people doing some horrifying and devilish deeds. The hell with this people.

Some shocking revelations:

Cabillon, a self-professed homosexual, said that in 2006, he had sex with a novice monk who made advances on him.

“Iya kung gisaka sa akong kwarto… Dili unta ko gusto kay naa mi gapuyo sa sagrado na lugar, pero…nagpatintal ra sad ko (He went to my room. I didn’t want to have sex but I yielded to the temptation),” said Cabillon.

Among Cabillon’s allegations were that a Miss Gay pageant had been held in the shrine and that “lewd sexual acts” were practiced there. He also accused the monks of greed.

Cabillon, who said he has been a monk for more than 17 years, also described himself as one of the founders of the shrine in Lindogon.

“Sa mga ordinaryong monghe, sige gyud nag silag pangadyi, pero sa amoa, sige lang mig kwenta ug sinseyo. Maabtan lang gud mi ug kadlawn ug sige ug pangwenta (Other monks spend most of their time praying. We spent most of our time counting loose change, sometimes until dawn),” said Dodong.

Come On! Please enlighten the public about this scandal

New update:

Let’s hear the defense of the other side… link to this whole article “Shrine workers defend monks“ Sept.19, 2009

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Sept 26: Latest update: New revelation. CrossRoad’s Blog Exclusive : Read it here ——->

Simala Scandal Silence has Broken : Exclusive Revelation

XLM

I knew some of these monks,a several month after the issue was exploded….we had common friends with the monks and we’re invited with them to a lunch in a nearby beach resort of the town area.and here is our photo..

In Jesus famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that religious impostors would say to him: “Lord, Lord, did we not . . . perform many powerful works in your name?” Yet, he would reply: “I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:22, 23) Regarding the source of the power that such ones claim to have, the apostle Paul warned: “The lawless one’s presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception.”—2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10.

Furthermore, “healings” associated with religious relics, idols, and images cannot originate with God. Why not? Because God’s Word clearly commands: “Flee from idolatry,” and “Guard yourselves from idols.” (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21) Such “healings” are part of the Devil’s ruse to draw people away from true worship. The Bible says: “Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.”—2 Corinthians 11:14

glycerin

I have a friend who tells me she sees angels, that they visit her every day. I wanted to know for certain that they were indeed angels, and asked her to pray Vade Retro Satana. A really short prayer sometimes used for exorcisms. I thought if she would be able to say it without problems, I would be relieved. But she never agreed, she just somehow had a reason why she could not say them, like it was against what she believed in, or that I needed to be lectured first to understand why it cannot be done. She tells me she worships Jesus. But is not a Catholic. What can I do? Could you possibly help? <:c

philip

‘Miraculous Healing’ Today
Is It From God?

Related topics:
Should You Believe in Miracles?
When Sickness Is No More!
IN CERTAIN lands, it is common to see pilgrims visit shrines where many claim to have been healed of maladies and sicknesses that were “incurable.” In other lands, medicine men claim to cure people by supernatural powers. In still other places, emotional rallies are held at which sick people may leap from their wheelchairs or toss away their crutches and claim to be healed.

Those who perform such cures mostly belong to different religions and often accuse one another of being renegade, false, or pagan. The question, then, may be asked, Does God work miracles through multitudes of often conflicting channels? After all, the Bible says: “God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) So, are such ‘miraculous healings’ really from God? Some healers claim to heal by the power of Jesus. Let us consider how Jesus cured others.

How Jesus Healed People

Jesus healed the sick in ways distinctly different from those of modern-day healers. For example, Jesus healed everyone who came to him for help. He did not heal certain people singled out from a crowd and send others away without a cure. Jesus’ cures were also complete and almost always instantaneous. The Bible says: “All the crowd were seeking to touch him, because power was going out of him and healing them all.”—Luke 6:19.

In contrast with modern-day faith healers, who often blame the sick for lack of faith when no healing occurs, Jesus healed even some who had not yet put faith in him. For example, once Jesus approached a blind man uninvited and cured him. Later, Jesus asked him: “Are you putting faith in the Son of man?” The man replied: “Who is he, sir, that I may put faith in him?” Jesus told him: “He that is speaking with you is that one.”—John 9:1-7, 35-38.

You may wonder, ‘If faith was not a prerequisite for being healed by Jesus, why did Jesus often say to those whom he cured: “Your faith has made you well”?’ (Luke 8:48; 17:19; 18:42) By saying that, Jesus was pointing out that those who were moved by faith to seek him out were cured, whereas people who declined to approach him missed their opportunity. Those who were healed were not healed by their faith; they were healed by God’s power. The Bible says of Jesus: “God anointed him with holy spirit and power, and he went through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil; because God was with him.”—Acts 10:38.

More often than not, money seems to play a prominent role in today’s apparent healings. Faith healers are noted for being powerful fund-raisers. One such healer reportedly raised $89 million (U.S.) in one year through his worldwide operations. Church organizations too profit from pilgrims who travel to shrines in hope of a cure. By contrast, Jesus never collected money from the people whom he healed. On occasion, he even provided food for them. (Matthew 15:30-38) When Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, he told them: “Cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free.” (Matthew 10:8) Why are the practices of modern-day healers so different from those of Jesus?

“Healing” From What Source?

Over the years, some in the medical profession have examined the claims of religious healers. What have they found? According to the Daily Telegraph of London, a doctor in England who spent 20 years investigating the subject said: “Charismatic reports of miraculous healing are not supported by a single piece of medical evidence.” Yet, many people sincerely believe that they have been cured by the power of relics, shrines, or religious healers. Could they have been victims of deception?

In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that religious impostors would say to him: “Lord, Lord, did we not . . . perform many powerful works in your name?” Yet, he would reply: “I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:22, 23) Regarding the source of the power that such ones claim to have, the apostle Paul warned: “The lawless one’s presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception.”—2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10.

Furthermore, “healings” associated with religious relics, idols, and images cannot originate with God. Why not? Because God’s Word clearly commands: “Flee from idolatry,” and “Guard yourselves from idols.” (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21) Such “healings” are part of the Devil’s ruse to draw people away from true worship. The Bible says: “Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.”—2 Corinthians 11:14.

Why Jesus and the Apostles Healed People

The genuine miraculous healings recorded in the Christian Greek Scriptures clearly identified Jesus and the apostles as being from God. (John 3:2; Hebrews 2:3, 4) Jesus’ miraculous cures also supported the message he preached: “He went around throughout the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease.” (Matthew 4:23) Jesus’ powerful works—which included not only healing the sick but also feeding the multitudes, controlling the elements, and even raising the dead—demonstrated what he will accomplish for obedient mankind under his Kingdom rule. Good news indeed!

Such powerful works, or gifts of the spirit, passed away with the death of Jesus and the apostles and any to whom they passed on the gifts. The apostle Paul wrote: “Whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are [miraculously spoken] tongues, they will cease; whether there is [divinely revealed] knowledge, it will be done away with.” (1 Corinthians 13:8) Why? Having accomplished their purpose—identifying Jesus as the promised Messiah and the Christian congregation as favored by God—such powerful works, including healing, are no longer needed; they are “done away with.”

Still, Jesus’ miracles of healing have an important message for us today. If we pay attention to and exercise faith in what Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God, we can look forward to the time when the inspired prophecy will be fulfilled both spiritually and physically: “No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’”—Isaiah 33:24; 35:5, 6; Revelation 21:4
red

lets all be reminded that they are a religious and every religious congregation will face a terrible trials, its all given by God, ibelieve on them…..
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http://www.sima.com sima

paka owaw lang mo sa laing tinoohan

http://markg87.net/ admin

mau Lgi…
Peru Cg lng bai.. lets wait for the result of the investigation,.
salamt diay sa pag-agi..

guada

indeed! kung unsa man ang mga blessings nga nahatag ninyo or kung unsa ang mga “milagro” nga inyong nasinati kana tungod og alang sa gitawag nato og FAITH. no more no less. religion cannot save you so as the church or any other priest… hibi ang mga taw sa simala as if tanan didto gkan ang milagro. look now, its all in our faith ngano tagaan ta og blessings. dli tungod sa pag antos og saka sa simbahan.

http://markg87.net/ admin

toinks! ana Ju d na guada… aheheh!
cris

saktod jud ka guada! kung wala pud moy FAITH, wala unta musaka kana’og sa simala.. ugma adto ko kay i have FAITH sa simala..

Aimee

i’ve always known Simala as a sacred place. I was never there though, but I am in shock as well..

http://markg87.net/ admin

shoCking Jud aImee… been there.. anD can say Jud na Vey saCred juD ang pLace

Technologian

Same story here… I was reading Cebu local newspaper the day after the scandal was prevailed. I don’t really understand how I will react. I’ve been on that place once, and the place is really sacred. I was actually planning to write a post about this, but since I don’t want to spread this scandal- I’ll just let others to do so… This is actually a challenge on our individual FAITH…
http://bliss-haven.net/ moonzkie

freakin a!! I don’t know what else to say.. I’m shocked and disappointed.. =.=

http://markg87.net/ admin

Bad trip Nuh?

http://bluerlyn.com eRLyN

i wonder why that guy had to go public for that? there must be something he wanted out of going public.

anyhow, nice blog you have here. care to exchange links? let me know.