Fr. Alarcon off to 'formative rest'
Legal trouble is officially over for Father Martin Alarcon after the woman who accused him of rape has withdrawn the case. But as for the Catholic church, everything is not yet over.
Fr. Ryan Teves, media liaison officer of the Jaro Archdiocese, said despite the dropping of the case the "church process" is still ongoing.
He said Alarcon is still not allowed to perform his priestly duties.
Teves, however, did not give definite time as to when the church could come up with a decision regarding Fr. Alarcon's case.
Teves said Alarcon is presently undergoing a "formative rest."
It would practically be a series of spiritual retreats and "a lot time" for reflection geared towards self re-evaluation, Father Teves added, while saying that such is part of the protocol set forth in addressing sexual misconduct cases involving priests.
And it is also part of the process pushed by the Catholic Church so Father Alarcon can be assisted in rediscovering his priesthood.
The "spiritual rehabilitation" comes after a welcomed development in the plight of the young priest who admitted to having been greatly shamed by the rape charges filed by a self-confessed lover.
Father Alarcon since news broke out in March maintained his innocence as he held on to his faith saying in an earlier The News Today (TNT) interview, "I got into this crisis as a priest and I shall get out of it a stronger priest."
All two counts of rape complaints were withdrawn by the 25 year-old complainant that ultimately led to the dismissal before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor.
Father Teves said the Archdiocese has yet to be officially notified though they got hold of the development from news sources.
Final decision on whether the suspension of Father Alarcon's priestly duties will be lifted is expected to happen after the "rediscovering process" cum spiritual rehabilitation where the church will evaluate if he is again fit to exercise priestly ministry.
Yet as Father Teves clarified, "Father Alarcon is still part of the Church and we consider him a brother. This process can best help him so we encourage him to embrace it."