The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines has confirmed that a man previously accused of falsely presenting himself as a Catholic priest has sought forgiveness and asked to be received once more into full communion with the Church.
In a statement issued on May 12, the archdiocese said that Ruel Ucat had met Archbishop Jose Cabantan and expressed “sincere repentance” for his past actions after days of public controversy surrounding his alleged activities in the southern Philippines.
The announcement followed an earlier warning from the archdiocese, published on May 7, in which Church authorities cautioned the faithful against Ucat, identified at the time as Roel Roy Banggo Ucat, saying he had no authority to function as a Roman Catholic priest.
The original statement said investigations had established that he was “neither ordained nor incardinated in this Archdiocese nor in any recognised Catholic jurisdiction” and therefore possessed no faculty to administer the sacraments or exercise ministry in the name of the Church.
The archdiocese also warned Catholics about a group associated with him known as the “Servants of Mary, Mother of the Poor Congregation”, saying it was not recognised as a legitimate religious institute within the Catholic Church.
“The faithful are hereby strongly warned to exercise prudence and vigilance,” the statement said. “Participation in sacraments administered by unauthorized individuals may lead to confusion and, in certain cases, may render the sacraments invalid.”
Church officials urged Catholics to verify the canonical status of clergy, particularly in unfamiliar chapels and communities, and encouraged parishioners to report suspicious religious activity directly to diocesan authorities.
But less than a week later, the tone of the archdiocese’s public response shifted markedly after Ucat reportedly approached Archbishop Cabantan personally to ask forgiveness and discuss returning to the Church.
In its second statement, the archdiocese said: “Mr Ruel Ucat has earnestly sought forgiveness for his past actions and expressed sincere repentance. He recently met with Archbishop Jose Cabantan to discuss his intentions.”
It added that Ucat had “formally resigned from his previous denomination” and now desired “to return to the full communion of the Roman Catholic Church as a layperson”.
“In doing so, he seeks to renew his faith and reaffirm his commitment to the Church and its teachings,” the statement said.
No further details were given concerning the denomination to which Ucat had belonged or the extent of his previous activities while allegedly presenting himself as a priest.
