Monsignor Achilles Dakay of the Archdiocese of Malacañang este Cebu give his two cents worth of opinion on the raging Cebu surgery scandal. In what could be a statement of a person probably nearing senility, Monsignor Dakay said that the real issue is gay sex. My eyebrows are raised a little bit. Maybe someone should check whether one of the perpetrators of the improper act is related in one way or another to Dakay because he seems to be protecting someone. Dakay wants to shift the focus from the culprits to the victim himself. However, in doing so, he seems to be out of tune with the world.

In the religious and spiritual aspect, yes of course, that is an issue. But that would be taken care of later. Right now, focus should be on the malpractice committed by the said medical practitioners. It’s quite myopic that we look into the case merely in relation to the gay sex incident which caused the canister insertion on the victim’s anus. What if another case comes up not necessarily arising from gay sex? What if its Monsignor Dakay (God forbid) is put under the knife? Will Monsignor Dakay be comfortable and happy that someone inside the operating room took a video of his anus and posted in Youtube for the entire world to see? Santa Banana! Would he be happy too if people in the operating room made fun of him and allow others to witness the procedure while he is sedated?

Well, gay sex is a manifestation of immorality. Accordingly, the Catholic Church (of which I belong and which I zealously defend) is the guardian in matters of faith and morals. If as Monsignor Dakay apparently say that there is a breakdown of morals in society, particularly in his diocese, then is it not a manifestation of the failure of the Catholic Church in that particular area to guide their flock? The local Catholic Church’s ways in waltzing with the corrupt and the immoral had finally yield its adverse repercussions by way of the degradation of morality in their turf. Their being so preoccupied with securing hefty donations from big time and corrupt politicians resulted in the neglect in the aspect of spiritual conversion and the promotion of morality among their faithful.

It’s a wake up call for the local church. As an unsolicited advice, maybe, the Archdiocese should consider retiring Monsignor Dakay as spokesperson and replaced him with one with a more dynamic mindset. This should be done before he could do further damage by his ill timed and inappropriate statements.