Retired Manila bishop Teodoro Buhain Jr., ex-aide to Cardinal Sin, dies at 87
MANILA, Philippines – Manila Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Buhain Jr. died at the age of 87 on Wednesday, November 13, the Archdiocese of Manila announced.
Buhain passed away at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City at 11 am on Wednesday.
In his role as auxiliary bishop, Buhain assisted the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, one of the country’s most powerful religious figures, from 1983 to 2003. It was under Sin that the modern-day Philippine Catholic Church reached the heights of political power, helping oust dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and actor-turned-politician Joseph Estrada in 2001.
From 1999 to 2004, Buhain was also parish priest of Quiapo Church, one of the world’s most popular Catholic shrines, which draws millions of devotees every January 9 for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
“Bishop Ted, you have touched countless lives, mentored many priests, counseled so many. You have been more than a friend to most, but an absolute pillar of strength and wisdom for your family and friends. You will be truly missed by your brothers and sisters in Christ,” said Batangas 1st District Representative Eric Buhain in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
One of his last major events in Manila was a Mass in remembrance of Cardinal Rufino Santos, former archbishop of Manila, at the Manila Cathedral on September 3, 2023. It was after him that Cardinal Santos hospital was named.
In a homily of less than two minutes, on Santos’ 50th death anniversary, Buhain paid tribute to one of Manila’s most prominent archbishops, the first cardinal from the Philippines.
“Today, I would like to say thank you publicly to God, who has used Cardinal Santos to bless me in very, very many ways,” he said. He noted it was not easy to understand the cardinal, “but he knew and he willed, wanted, what is best for everyone.”
Power and controversy
Once among the most influential figures in the Philippine Catholic Church, Buhain was born in Bacoor, Cavite, on August 4, 1937. He became a priest at the age of 23 on December 21, 1960. He was ordained as auxiliary bishop of Manila on February 21, 1983, making him one of the youngest Filipino bishops at that time.
He was also former general manager of Radio Veritas, a church-run station founded by Santos in 1969. Radio Veritas was instrumental in toppling the Marcos dictatorship under Santos’ successor, Cardinal Jaime Sin, who used its airwaves to call on Filipinos to flock to the Metro Manila highway EDSA to protect rebel soldiers — a move that would end up overthrowing Ferdinand E. Marcos on February 25, 1986.
Controversy hounded Buhain, however, as Sin was about to leave the Manila archdiocese.
Buhain resigned “with protest” from his post as Manila auxiliary bishop in 2003, as there was “no venue” for an “accurate” investigations of issues lodged against him.
He was, at that time, accused of financial and sexual indiscretions, as documented in the late Aries Rufo’s 2013 book Altar of Secrets. Explaining his side on various platforms including a #TalkThursday interview with Rappler’s Maria Ressa, the retired bishop repeatedly denied these accusations. He also filed a libel suit against Rufo, which was later dismissed.
His lawyer told Rappler in 2013 that the bishop was a victim of church politics.
Buhain said he requested a formal investigation into claims against him, but the bishop said Sin blocked any such probe to spare the Catholic Church from controversy. Two of Sin’s auxiliary bishops, Crisostomo Yalung and Teodoro Bacani Jr., had already been forced to resign at that time due to alleged sex scandals.
In their 2013 #TalkThursday interview, Ressa asked Buhain: “Cardinal Sin asked you to stay quiet at your expense. Why did you do it?”
Buhain answered: “If it is one making the sacrifice in favor of the many, why shouldn’t I? Isn’t that the example of my Lord and Master?” – Rappler.com