Congregation in Philippines split after Catholic diocese condemns priest’s behaviour as an attempt to ‘capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people’

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A Catholic diocese in the Philippines has suspended a member of its clergy for welcoming parishioners to the final blessing of the Christmas Eve mass on a hoverboard.

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The priest, at the diocese of San Pablo in Laguna, was filmed riding the self-balancing scooter up and down the aisles, to the applause and evident delight of some of the congregation.

The diocese issued a statement in the form of an image post on its Facebook page on Tuesday night.

“As a way of greeting his parishioners, the priest sang a Christmas song, while going around the nave standing on a hoverboard,” it said. “That was wrong.”

It condemned the priest’s behaviour as an attempt to “capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people”, and said he would “spend some time to reflect on this past event”.



The statement said in full:

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Last December 24, 2015, before the final blessing of the Christmas eve mass, as a way of greeting his parishioners, the priest sang a Christmas song, while going around the nave standing on a hoverboard. That was wrong. The Eucharist demands utmost respect and reverence. It is the Memorial of the Lord’s Sacrifice. It is the source and summit of Christian life. It is the Church’s highest form of worship. Consequently, it is not a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people. The priest said that it was a wake up call for him; he acknowledged that his action was not right and promised that it will not happen again. He will be out of the parish and will spend some time to reflect on this past event. He would like to apologize for what happened.

The church named the priest as Father Albert San Jose.

Comments on the statement suggested the controversy had split the congregation.

Facebook user Helena Horwath expressed approval of the church’s handling of the issue.

“Very good. That is all that is needed. Let’s say an Ave for Father, especially that his vocation be rejuvenated by his time out of the Parish.”

But another commenter, Brian Hughes, said the Catholic church needed to do more to attract young people.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The diocese of San Pablo responds to the hoverboarding priest incident on Facebook. Photograph: Facebook

“Look at the faces of the kids? I agree with the formalities of mass but there is something to be said about making yourself approachable. The ‘People’s Pope’ seems to be very approachable, granted it is without the use of a hoverboard.”

More than 8,200 people like the diocese on Facebook.

The church did not address the risks of riding on hoverboards, which have been known to overheat, explode or catch fire.

The popularity of the wheeled vehicles as gifts this Christmas has led to increasing concerns about their safety.

Hoverboards have been deemed too unsafe to ride on roads or pavements in Britain; they are also banned in New York.

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Britain’s biggest retailers last week issued recalls after figures showed a large number of unsafe devices had been shipped to the UK. National Trading Standards found that, of more than 38,000 devices inspected, more than 32,000 were deemed unsafe.

Amazon pulled some models from sale earlier this month after one exploded in a shopping mall in Washington state. No one was harmed, but the incident made headlines worldwide.

