Philippines: Bishop Mercado Is Accused of Diverting Multimillion Donations

By Mauro Pianta
Vatican Insider
June 18, 2012

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/filippine-philippines-filipinas-16105/


Priests say the bishop misused huge sums of money intended as donations for victims of typhoons and disasters

Bishop Jesse Mercado is facing some heavy accusations. The man in charge of the Diocese of Parañaque, one of the richest in the Philippines, allegedly diverted multimillion donations for victims of typhoons and other disasters. The news was reported by UCAN Philippines news service. Although the article cites the website rappler.com, it does not give the exact figure but speaks generally of "millions". It does not specify where the donations were diverted to either.

What is certain, is that a number of lay people and priests have asked the Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines, Mgr. Giuseppe Pinto to intervene and remove the bishop from office. After a couple of meetings, Mgr. Pinto said he intended to bring the Mercado dossier to the attention of the Roman Curia.

The issue of financial transparency is a very delicate one in the Vatican at the moment and the Mercado case could further taint the Holy See's image.