Panama Archdiocese Clarifies Priest's Status After Controversy

The Archdiocese of Panama issued an official statement on February 13 to clarify the ministerial situation of the priest David Cosca Restrepo, following recent concerns that arose in the ecclesiastical community and public opinion. This clarification comes amid questions generated by his presence on a pilgrimage in the Vatican, which led to interpretations about his condition within the Panamanian ecclesiastical structure. According to the statement, the priest has reached the age of 75, the limit established by canon law for resigning from ordinary pastoral duties. Consequently, he ceased the active exercise of pastoral responsibilities and is currently in the condition of a retired priest. The Archdiocese also reaffirmed its pastoral responsibility and evangelizing mission, stating that institutional testimony requires fidelity to the norms and principles that govern ecclesiastical life. The Archdiocese specified that, due to this condition, Cosca Restrepo does not currently hold any ecclesiastical office or have pastoral, administrative, or institutional representational responsibilities within the local Church. Likewise, the religious institution emphasized that this participation does not imply a canonical mission, a pastoral charge, or official representation of the Archdiocese of Panama. In the statement, the Church reiterated its commitment to truth, transparency, and due process, highlighting the importance of acting with prudence and clarity in situations that generate public debate. In the document, the Church explains that the priest is not suspended from the exercise of the priestly ministry nor is there a canonical impediment on him that prohibits him from celebrating the Eucharist or other acts proper to the sacred order, in accordance with the current discipline. The statement concludes by establishing the official position of the Panamanian Catholic Church regarding the situation of the priest David Cosca Restrepo. Regarding his recent participation in public activities, the text underscores that his presence on a pilgrimage was an act of a strictly personal nature, carried out in the exercise of his individual freedom as a priest.