MANILA, March 5, 2009— While the construction of his lavish Marian shrine project is ongoing, healing priest Fernando Suarez has been getting flak from Church leaders but some insist that the project is worth the time and expense.

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles claimed that the reason for building the P1 billion-worth project is justified so there’s nothing wrong with it.

“It has been their dream and it is not bad to dream,” he said.

The church official admitted that letting Father Suarez build a Marian shrine was his own idea but the design and other plans to materialize the project is no longer his.

“But I don’t blame them,” he said.

Arguelles said the shrine could even help ease the unemployment problem, not only in his archdiocese but in other areas as well.

For as long as the poor will not be neglected, the archbishop said there’s no harm in doing a project “that might be in the future... something that humanity will thank us for.”

“I’m in favor of whatever place of gathering for rich and the poor. I’m in favor of having a place of prayer,” he said.

“But if they do it and the people will praise them or condemn them, it’s their look out,” added Arguelles.

Canon Law expert and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz earlier criticized the project, saying spending P1 billion “for Our Lady of the Poor is just too much.”

Cruz said he likes the idea of the shrine, but to build it at that cost is unwarranted, considering the country’s current economic situation.

He said that Mary does not need to have the biggest statue in the world to be erected in one of the poorest countries in the world.

What is more prudent to do at these trying times, he said, is to use the money in helping the poor, feed them, and build schools.

Suarez is gearing towards building a Marian shrine in Montemaria, Batangas— the province where he grew up. The project, being built in a five-hectare land, is expected to be completed in five years.

The shrine was initially started with a huge stage where Suarez held a healing Mass in 2006. In January 2007, a gigantic statue of Mary was built.

Aside from the statue, other plans include the building of rosary garden, columbarium, retreat and lodging houses.

The multi-million shrine is visited by hundreds of Marian devotees especially because the local church of Lipa archdiocese is supportive of the healing services of Suarez.

Fr. Suarez also intends to build a number of churches there duplicating Quiapo church, Baclaran church and many others.

He said that all the money to be spent for the building of the Marian shrine is coming from donations.(Roy Lagarde)