Around 25 years ago, the homeowners association of a small subdivision called Sto. Nino Village in Banilad, Cebu would sponsor a mass every Sunday. This mass was held at the Village clubhouse, and was attended by most of the Catholic residents of the village, as calling on God had become more convenient. Several priests were invited to say mass, but the crowd had favorites even back then, as they have favorite American Idols today.

Back then the favorite priest was Achilles Dakay, then just Fr. Achilles Dakay and not yet Monsignor Achilles Dakay. Fr. Dakay was our favorite priest because his sermons always made the congregation laugh and think, and he seemed at the time a very likable person. First Sundays were reserved for Fr. Dakay, and I remember the mass goers felt a little disappointed when he could not make it to mass, and sending someone in his stead.

I stopped going to mass in 1985 (for reasons that shall be discussed elsewhere) and I left Cebu in 1999. I had not seen or heard of the Monsignor mainly because I had lost interest both in the Catholic Church and in the goings-on in Cebu City, which to me is now alien territory.

But seeing Monsignor Dakay on the news tonight, hearing him say that the medical scandal at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) is the fault of the victim and that the victim should accept some of the blame for what happened---I could not believe what I was watching and hearing. Monsignor Dakay's popularity, or at least what I remember of it, stemmed from his open-mindedness and compassion. Or maybe I remember wrongly.

Danton Remoto of Ladlad has been quoted as saying that the Monsignor's statement is expected because it only reflects the church's stand on homosexuality.

The pains and travails that can happen in any person's life seem to be magnified when the victim happens to be homosexual. This statement may be subjective, but in our hearts we know it to be true. But that is still not the issue in question in the case of the victim at the VSMMC. For me, the victim's sexuality is incidental in this case.

It is the behavior of the attending medical team that has been questioned and deemed highly irregular. The video showed not only the poor victim's state, but also the attitude and the state of mind of some of the members of the medical team. A few doctors have been quoted as being of the opinion that only the person who uploaded the video should take the full brunt of whatever sanctions are to be imposed.

I am of the belief that the video should be used to take note of who among those on the medical team snickered or laughed or made snide remarks. Their having done so does not prove that they are only human, but that they have failed to rise above the level of humor at another person's expense, to the correct behavior of people in their profession.

That, I believe, is more the scandal.

(Also posted on Balay ni Bambit)