A scale model of the proposed Mary Mother of the Poor shrine for devotees of healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez (left) stands on a 33-hectare property donated by San Miguel Corp. in Alfonso, Cavite. (INQUIRER PHOTO)
San Miguel Corp (SMC) has responsibly scuttled the 33-hectare-land-donation to self-proclaimed healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez’s ambitious plan “to construct a P1 billion ‘mega shrine’ to Mother Mary in Alfonso, Cavite, because of serious concerns about the management and financial issues.”
SMC has discovered the “healing priest”, has reneged on his vows of poverty and has “been living the lifestyle of the rich and famous, wearing expensive clothes and watches, billeting himself at 5-star hotels when he attended matches like the Wimbledon.” The investigation also revealed that his expenses and business transactions were not properly documented.
This knowledge prompted the resignations of Archbishop Chito Tagle as chair of the Mother Mary of the Poor Foundation on September 27, 2012, of Antonio Tambunting as vice chair on October 2, 2012, and of Jun Mangilit as treasurer on October 3, 2012.
Evidently, SMC president and CEO, Ramon S. Ang has been blessed with clarity of vision and wisdom from above, and he and his Board acted appropriately and swiftly.
Blatant assertion
Fr. Fernando Suarez is a 47-year-old priest who flies all over the world where Filipinos are, literally claiming to have the power of healing, and without finesse or subtlety, asking for monetary contribution for his project, which he said would be taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
According to Fr. Suarez, when he was 16, he cured a 60-year-old paralyzed woman beggar in front of Quiapo Church, who was then able to instantly get up and walk.
According to news accounts, Fr. Suarez listed another miracle to his “accomplishments.” In Canada, “he was able to revive a woman who was dead for 8 hours.” As usual, these are claims, with no credible witnesses, without medical confirmation.
Unlike Fr. Joey Faller of the beautiful mountaintop Kamay ni Hesus shrine in Lucban, Quezon, who simply says a healing mass and gives blessings for the faithful to help them heal themselves through faith and prayers, without claiming any power to heal diseases, Fr. Suarez has repeatedly told stories that suggested he was able to cure even cancer and bring back the dead.
Personal witness
I have witnessed and heard these blatant and ridiculous assertions myself when he visited the Filipino-American community in Northwest, Indiana. I was so ticked off by his claims which I thought was blasphemous that I walked out of the church. Other physicians followed.
If he could cure cancer, he should have gone to all cancer (oncology) wards in all hospitals in the Philippines and around the world and cure all cancer
victims. That would be the Christian thing to do, if he was not a fake. If he indeed had this healing power from God (as he claimed) and has not used it to save millions and millions of suffering cancer victims and their families, then he is cruel, callous and without a heart, to say the least.
An insult, medically unsafe
Fr. Suarez’s claims and behavior are an insult to the Church and to Jesus Christ, who Himself, never claimed He could cure the sick or revive the dead.
Only the witnesses in the bible stories made those various interpretations. These lies and deception by Fr. Suarez are also an insult to medical science and dangerous to patients, who would opt to stop their medical care in favor of his healing power. The risk of fast spread of the cancer due to delay or stoppage of standard medical/surgical care would lessen the chance of survival.
Most of all, Fr. Suarez is insulting the intelligence of the Filipinos, and all peoples of the world, with his miracle claims. He stops short of saying he is the messiah.
Wish there’s one
Being in the healing profession, I wish there was really one genuine healing priest or person, who actually has a sacred healing power to help cure patients we physicians are unable to cure with state-of-the-art medical science. That would be wonderful. Just like everyone else, I would happily welcome that.
Just prove it
My mind is open. As a Roman Catholic cardiovascular surgeon, I dare Fr. Suarez to cure a person with a histologically (medically) proven case of cancer. If he is able to cure, even a single case, even an early stage cancer, I would swallow my words and be his top advocate.
It pains me to see countless people, especially the poor, who are victimized by this calculating, scheming false prophet, who apparently lives off lavishly and excessively from the contributions for the “project” he receives from “his flock.” It appears that he is not only a fake but also a thief.
Banned
Fr. Suarez has been banned by the Church from saying mass in Las Vegas, among other cities, and in Canada. I am glad the truth is coming out and spreading around the globe. The scam must be contained to protect the public and the Church. The Vatican is very much against any religious scam and has sent out warnings about this type of fraud.
San Miguel Corp. has made the right decision to not be a party to this sham. The betrayal of public trust must cease. The people must open their eyes and wise up.
Let us all pray and expose this reckless imposter and help heal this cancer of corruption that preys on the unsuspecting believers and the weakest members of our society.
For a gift of health, visit philipSchua.com
Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com