by RODNEY JALECO
ABS-CBN News North American News Bureau

VIRGINIA--Renowned healing priest, Fr. Fernando Suarez, finally spoke on Friday about the ban imposed against him by a Toronto diocese.

The ban was imposed because of his alleged violation of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith disciplinary norms contained in the Instruction on Prayers for Healing.

Suarez denied reports that he was banned from holding mass in Canada, and he described the controversy about his healing ministry as a misunderstanding blown out of proportion by media.

"The ban is limited to one diocese, and talks are going on between the bishop of Toronto and his superiors at the Companions of the Cross religious order," he said.

Suarez said politics is everywhere, even in the church. He added that his popularity makes him a natural target.

Meantime, another healing mass, organized by the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia, where thousands of people turned up, was held.

The organizers made sure the priest’s activities had the blessings of top church officials, strictly enforcing the diocese rules, including no pictures of the mass and healing sessions to avoid the same misunderstanding that happened in Toronto.

For many of the sick and desperate, Suarez said he offers hope but he insists that without faith, there can be no healing.

Some parishioners may still be skeptical about his healing powers, but others said that if he can bring people closer to God, he would have done his work as a priest.