Church Issues Statement After Video of Priest Asking Palm Vendors to Leave Went Viral
PALM SUNDAY – The church explained its side after a video of a priest asking a palm vendor to leave the vicinity went viral.
Last weekend, a video of a priest shouting at palm vendors during Palm Sunday at a church in Cainta, Rizal sparked online discussions. The video showed the priest scolding and asking vendors to leave the church grounds at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
According to church worker Jelma Masujer, emotions ran high after the vendors ignored earlier requests from the parish to sell only outside the church grounds. The priest had already reminded them that the area was needed for the Palm Sunday procession and program.
Despite this, some vendors stayed in restricted areas, which led to the confrontation. She added that the vendors set up stalls in areas meant for people to walk through. There were also concerns about how some vendors dressed, as churchgoers expected a more respectful atmosphere, especially on a holy day.
Longtime parishioners defended the priest, saying he is known to be kind and generous, and that the outburst came from frustration after repeated requests were ignored. Some even said they were saddened by how the video was shared without context.
The church later released an official statement, sincerely apologizing to those who were hurt or confused by what they saw. The management explained that the full story was not shown in the viral video.
Before the incident, the vendors had already been asked politely to move to a proper selling area.
The parish also asked for help from local police to ensure church rules are followed peacefully moving forward. They encouraged everyone not to spread the video further and instead focus on prayer, reflection, and the blessings of Holy Week.
In a previous post, a priest elicits reactions after asking vendors to leave church area
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
