Rico Sabanal was dismissed from his congregation in 2008 in violation of Canon 694, Section 2 implying he has defected from the Catholic faith or contracted marriage or attempted it, even civilly.
THE Diocese of Cubao is warning the public to refrain from inviting a certain Rico Sabanal to celebrate masses as he has already been dismissed from priesthood in 2008.
In a circular dated February 4, Fr. Frederick Simon wrote that Sabanal is a former Carmelite priest who was dismissed in August 2008 in violation of Canon 694.
Circulars regarding Sabanal’s status were issued on August 18, 2010, and April 27, 2016.
“Fr. Rico Sabanal is no longer a Roman Catholic Priest and has no priestly faculty to perform any religious activities anywhere in the Philippines,” the circular stressed.
The third circular was issued because the diocese was informed that the ex-priest is still being invited to celebrate mass in Quezon City hall offices and in different parishes and chapels within the Diocese of Cubao.
“Please refrain from inviting him and inform your parishioners,” the diocese said.
Quezon City has not issued a statement regarding the matter.
Canon Law 694 states, “A member must be held as ipso facto dismissed from an institute who:
1. has defected notoriously from the Catholic faith;
2. has contracted marriage or attempted it, even only civilly.”
In 2019, Pope Francis added a new clause to the dismissal of congregation members who have been “illegitimately absent” from the community for 12 uninterrupted months and are unreachable.
Tags: #cbcp, #expriest, #dioceseofcubao, #ricosabanal