NOTING the gravity of the offenses made by those schemers behind 'ghost' projects in the government's infrastructure development program, former Civil Service Commission chairperson Ricardo Saludo
is strongly suggesting the Catholic Church to excommunicate them aside from being charged in court.

Excommunication is a Catholic penalty for grave sins to warn offenders of mortal danger to their souls and prod them to repentance and reconciliation. It also aims to protect communities from gross transgressors if they are known, as many ghost project schemers are—the owners and executives of corrupt contractors, the officials approving projects and falsely certifying completion, and politicians at whose behest businesses and officials connive to defraud our nation.

According to Saludo, bishops should consider excommunicating Catholics involved in ghost projects that endanger lives, especially poor communities, by stealing funds and undermining programs for flood control.
“This penalty would be akin to then-pope Francis’ 2014 action against mafia syndicates for 'worship of evil and disavowal of the common good', warning that their crimes endanger their souls. Similarly, corrupt politicians, officials and businesspeople should be warned that their transgressions render them incapable of receiving graces from the sacraments,” he pointed out.

“Indeed, if they receive the Eucharist without first seeking forgiveness for corruption through confession, they desecrate the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ and add to their mortal sins. This applies even if they alone know their dishonesty,” he added.

The former civil service commissioner went on to clarify that those wondering if ghost-project scheming deserves excommunication should note that abortion warrants automatic excommunication.

“Now, if killing one innocent unborn child warrants a Church warning that the offenders—mother, doctor and others assisting or promoting the infant’s murder—face eternal damnation unless they seek the lifting of excommunication by a bishop, so does causing the deaths of countless innocents meant to be safeguarded by flood control projects sabotaged by grafters,” he cited.

Like criminal law, however, the Church’s canon law requires proof of sin before imposing penalties, except for automatic excommunication.

“Well, there’s plenty of proof in ghost projects: the obviously unfinished, badly done or barely started work by companies with named owners, executives and project engineers; the falsified certificates of project completion and full payment signed by specific national or local officials; and politicians who used their clout to get projects awarded to incompetent, negligent or corrupt contractors and probably got kickbacks or profits from the contracts,” he stressed.

In ending, Saludo reminded that those involved in the irregularities can deny and hide their transgressions, but God knows their offenses and they must be warned through excommunication that they face eternal damnation if they fail to seek forgiveness and absolution through Church authorities and rites.

“Such offenders know full well their actions and intentions. They must be told unequivocally that, unless they repent and confess, they are damned for eternity even if they receive communion, pray the Rosary, and read the Bible every day and donate many millions of pesos to the Church,” he concluded.