A Catholic parish in the Philippines has issued a public apology after an Easter ritual involving a live dove drew criticism earlier this week, prompting Church authorities to halt the practice.
Fr. Mariano Bartolome Jr., parish priest and rector of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Malabon, apologized in a statement issued April 8.
“As Rector and Parish Priest of the Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Malabon, I wish to convey my sincere apology regarding the reported balloon-flying incident during the Salubong ritual this past Easter Sunday,” Bartolome said.
The apology followed criticism from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, which earlier questioned the use of a live dove during the Easter presentation, where the bird was reportedly subjected to distress and later killed.
Bartolome said the parish also apologized to Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, who was present during the April 5 liturgy but was not aware of what transpired after the unveiling.
The priest said the bishop “was indeed present at the event, but witnessed only the unveiling from below the pagoda. He was not aware of what took place afterward.”
He said the parish had long used a live dove in the Salubong as a safer alternative to suspending a child dressed as an angel, a practice observed for decades.
Bartolome acknowledged that the dove had been tied to balloons and released, with its wings restrained, a move that later drew criticism.
“Our Bishop has since expressed his objection to this practice, noting that it is not only cruel to the animal but also harmful to the environment, especially to marine life that may ingest deflated balloons,” he said.
For his part, Cardinal David said April 7 he had verified the incident with parish officials and ordered that the use of birds and balloons in the ritual be discontinued.
He said he was unaware of the balloon release during the April 5 ritual and would have opposed it had he known.
“I was not aware that there was a subsequent practice of tying the pigeon to balloons, with its wings restrained. Had I known, I would have objected, because this is not only cruel to the animal, but also harmful to the environment, especially to marine life that may ingest deflated balloons,” he told LiCAS News.
“I had honestly presumed that the dove was released immediately after the unveiling,” the prelate added.
