No Catholic Mass for ‘Ka Bel’ in Legazpi

By Ephraim Aguilar
Inquirer Southern Luzon

BACACAY, ALBAY—PRIESTS IN the late Anakpawis Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran’s home province have been instructed not to say Mass for him, Bishop Lucilo Quiambao of the Diocese of Legazpi confirmed yesterday afternoon.

The remains of the party-list lawmaker were flown to Legazpi City yesterday morning. Olive Lalusis, Beltran’s fourth daughter, said the family expected that the remains would be blessed in a cathedral in Legazpi.

But because of reports that priests had refused to say Mass for Beltran, the body was taken instead to the Redemptorist church in Barangay Gogon.

Quiambao told the Inquirer on the phone that Catholic priests could not say Mass for Beltran: “Since his remains were brought to an Aglipayan church in Manila, the consensus of the people is that he was not a Catholic.”

He said the Catholic Church had nothing to do with funeral services for those of other religions.

“We have Church laws to follow. It may be a hard decision but we have to defend the rights of the Church,” Quiambao said. “If we say Mass here, people would be confused about the stand of the Church.”

He said that for those of other religions, priests were allowed only to hold an ecumenical service or a prayer for the dead.

‘Sympathizer’

But a Mass was celebrated for Beltran at the Redemptorist church, which had a large “OUST GMA” poster on its fence.

“The Redemptorists are a religious congregation known to be a sympathizer of the masses,” said Tessa Lopez, spokesperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Bicol.

“This is not about Ka Bel’s beliefs or religion. It was his friends and family who requested that a Mass be offered for him,” Lopez said.

She said Beltran did not choose his friends and respected everyone’s beliefs.

Fr. Oliver Castor of the Redemptorists was in tears when he blessed Beltran’s remains with holy water.

“For me he was a person who lived an exemplary Christian life through his selfless service to the people,” Castor said.

The priest denied knowing anything about a formal directive from the bishop.

“We would rather not comment on that,” he said. “It is not the issue at hand. This is a time for Ka Bel.”

Beltran baptized Catholic

The widow, Rosario Beltran, was unhappy with the bishop’s stand.

“My husband was a Roman Catholic. They should not judge my husband that way. He was also human. The Church should do what it is supposed to do,” she said.

She added that Beltran was baptized in a Catholic church in Bacacay, and that they were married by a Catholic priest during their golden wedding anniversary on Nov. 16, 2007.

Quiambao, however, said it was possible for a person baptized a Catholic to convert to another religion.

According to Rosario Beltran, a wake for her husband was held at a church of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (or Aglipayan Church) in Manila because one of its founders, Isabelo de los Reyes, was a great labor leader.

Holding banners and streamers, about 500 activists, friends and relatives waited at the Legazpi airport for Beltran’s remains.

One of the streamers read: "Tuloy ang laban (The struggle continues), Ka Bel.”