To Whom It May Concern,

The purpose of this communication is to address the situation involving Fr. Paolo Cobangbang, who was temporarily invited by students to serve as a chaplain at Far Eastern University. We aim to provide clarification and dispel the baseless allegations regarding Fr. Cobangbang’s credentials, which have been the subject of a derogatory campaign on various social media platforms.

Clerical Status

We can confirm Fr Cobangbang is an ordained priest of the Old Roman Apostolate, and a novice affiliated with the Congregation of the Divine Charity,¹ where he is discerning a vocation to religious life. The Old Roman Apostolate is committed to preserving the traditions, devotions, teachings, and liturgical practices of the Catholic Church before the changes made by Vatican II. The Old Roman Apostolate claims no canonical status within the contemporary Catholic Church².

Originally ordained in 2022 by Bishop Artemio S. Luaton for the Assyrian Church of the East³, in 2023, Fr. Cobangbang applied for incardination⁴ into the Old Roman Apostolate Philippines Territory⁵. Abjuring heresy and swearing the Oath Against Modernism, he subsequently received the minor orders from the Titular Archbishop of Selsey in February that same year.

To discern a religious vocation, Fr Cobangbang applied to the Congregation of the Divine Charity for admittance as a novice. Following satisfactory completion and verification of background checks, identity, qualifications and references, he was incardinated and received major orders sub-conditione⁶ in February 2024 from the Titular Archbishop of Selsey⁷ in the Old Roman Apostolate chapel in Cavite, Bacoor.

Fr Cobangbang is highly regarded in the Old Roman apostolate for his unwavering dedication, fervent enthusiasm, profound comprehension of Traditional Catholic customs and beliefs, expertise in liturgy, and musical talent. He is appreciated by the faithful he serves in central Manila, particularly among some of the city’s most deprived and impoverished citizens for his compassionate pastoral approach to ministry.

FEU Sportsfest 2024

Fr Cobangbang joined Far Eastern University’s General Education Department in June 2023. He graduated from the College of the Holy Spirit Manila and pursued postgraduate studies at the De La Salle University Graduate School of Theology and Religious Education.

In his application to become a member of the teaching faculty at Far Eastern University, Fr Cobangbang explicitly disclosed his religious affiliation within the Old Roman apostolate. Furthermore, he has consistently clarified, both in the past and present, that he maintains no association with the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines.

In March 2024, independent of Fr Cobangbang’s teaching role, he was asked by members of the FEU Makati Student Council Executive Board to fulfil a chaplaincy role for a specific event, namely to offer a Mass for their FEU Sportsfest 2024. They approached him cognisant of his clerical status.

As a secular institution, Far Eastern University and the Student Council have the freedom to appoint chaplains or not in accordance with the Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas regarding “freedom of religion,” as outlined in Article II, Section 6, and Article III, Section 5. Nobody can be required to exclusively select clerics affiliated with the Roman Catholic hierarchy to provide priestly or pastoral ministry.

False Assertions

Following a Facebook post by the Student Council about the FEU Sportsfest 2024 Mass, Fr Cobangbang faced defamatory claims on social media. These allegations, which accused him of misrepresentation and being a fake priest, obviously lacked any factual basis. Throughout his time at Far Eastern University, he consistently displayed transparency and diligence with regard to his credentials and religious affiliations.

The primary source of these accusations can be traced back to a Blogger profile and Facebook page titled “The Pinoy Catholic”. This platform, authored anonymously, presents itself as a source of candid commentary on topics concerning Filipino Catholics. However, it mostly spreads unfounded allegations using derogatory language while hiding behind anonymity.

Upon being invited to disclose and prove their own credibility, the individuals associated with “The Pinoy Catholic” declined to reveal their names. This decision not only highlights their lack of integrity and commitment to their assertions, but also betrays their questionable motives. It should be noted that “The Pinoy Catholic” has no official status with the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

Conclusion

Efforts have been made to address the current situation. Discussions with the University, and the Titular Archbishop of Selsey, as well as the expectation for a chaplain to celebrate the Novus Ordo Missae instead of the Traditional Latin Mass, have led to the decision that Fr. Cobangbang will no longer fulfil such a role. He will now focus on discerning his religious calling.

In conclusion, we affirm Fr. Paolo Cobangbang’s legitimacy and dedication to his religious vocation within the Old Roman Apostolate. Despite challenges, he remains committed to his faith and pursuit of his calling. Unfounded allegations or insinuations about his credentials have been transparently and diligently addressed. We support Fr. Cobangbang’s integrity and emphasize his ongoing dedication to his spiritual journey and responsibilities within the Old Roman apostolate.

For any further inquiries, please feel free to contact this office via the Contact page.

Please note text and images are the Copyright of the Titular Archbishop of Selsey 2024 All Rights Reserved.

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1. Click here for more information about the Congregation of the Divine Charity ↩︎
2. Click here for more information concerning the status of the Old Roman Apostolate ↩︎
3. Click here for more information about the Assyrian Church of the East ↩︎
4. See Incardination Philippine Territory, Binan ↩︎
5. Securities & Exchange Commission SEC Registration No. 2023050101585-01 ↩︎
6. See also Old Roman Validity for a comprehensive treatise on the validity of Old Roman ordinations and sacraments. ↩︎
7. Click here for more information about the Old Roman apostolic succession ↩︎