The Catholic faithful in Cebu expressed their support for the church’s plan to split Cebu into three dioceses.

At a press conference, Archbishop Jose Palma announced that the laity issued a statement expressing their support for the plan of the church to divide the current structure in administering more than 4.5 million Roman Catholics in Cebu.

The statement of support was already sent to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown.

The proposal has yet to be sent to the Holy See in the Vatican for approval.

“I am very happy and inspired receiving the statement of the laity in the Archdiocese of Cebu in support of Sugbuswak,” Palma said in his message, referring to the brand adopted in pursuing the division of the Cebu archdiocese.

In July last year, Philippine bishops unanimously approved the plan.

Fe Barino, chair of the Commission on Laity of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said the statement laid down 18 concerns for consideration once the province is formally divided into three dioceses.

Among the concerns raised were the formation of institutes for the laity and the clergy, the strengthening of catechism through digital form, and the creation of a council or commission for the faithful, as well as parish pastoral councils.

The document also tackles the standard living allowance for diocesan priests and the hiring of human resource professionals, which will take care of the clergy’s hospitalization, retirement benefits, health management, financial sustainability, and the formation of the youth in parishes, among other issues.

Among the notable Catholics who actively discussed and approved the statements were retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and retired Regional Trial Court Judge Simeon Dumdum.

“The Pope was saying it’s about time that we see with new bishops who have new outlook and mindset as we have a past crisis we survive there should be a new way of looking at the reality,” Palma said.

Once approved by the Vatican, Cebu will have three dioceses – the Archdiocese of Cebu covering the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Metro Cebu towns and component cities; the Diocese of Danao in the north; and the Diocese of Carcar in the south.

Church leaders in Cebu see an effective administration of churches and the faithful once the partition materializes. (PNA)