PHILIPPINES
Inquirer
Cebu Daily News
9:08 am | Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012
If he had his way, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal would have National Geographic Magazine writer Bryan Christy declared persona non grata or unwelcome in Cebu for his “Ivory Worship” article that linked a Cebu priest to the illegal ivory trade.
Vidal’s reaction was reported by ABS-CBN TV Patrol Central Visayas, which said the prelate was upset by Christy’s artlcle that quoted Msgr. Cristobal Garcia as naming ivory carvers of Sto. Nino icons n Manila and giving tips on how to smuggle them to the United States, allegations which the cardinal said were misquotations and pictured Catholic devotees as “idolaters”.
“He (Christy) deceived us and he deceived the people whom he interviewed when he said he was trying to publish something about the devotion (to the Sto. Niño),” Vidal said during the TV interview.
(Technically, persona non grata status is a declaration for unwanted diplomats made by the host State although the term is commonly used to mean a person who is ostracized or rejected.)
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