Oscar Cruz

ArchdioceseLingayen–DagupanAppointedJuly 15, 1991RetiredSeptember 8, 2009PredecessorFederico Guba LimonSuccessorSocrates B. VillegasOther post(s)Personal detailsBorn(1934-11-17)November 17, 1934
DiedAugust 26, 2020(2020-08-26) (aged 85)
San Juan, Metro Manila, PhilippinesPrevious post(s)EducationMottoIustitia Custodit Innocentis Viam
(Latin for 'Justice guards the way of the innocent'; Proverbs 13:16)

History
Priestly ordination
Date	February 10, 1962
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecrator	Bruno Torpigliani
Co-consecrators	Jaime Lachica Sin, Artemio Gabriel Casas
Date	May 3, 1976
Place	Immaculate Conception, Cathedral, Manila, Archdiocese of Manila

Source(s):Catholic-Hierarchy.org^[1]

Styles of Oscar Valero Cruz
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Oscar Valero Cruz, J.C.D., D.D. (November 17, 1934 – August 26, 2020) was a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. He was the Archbishop of Lingayen–Dagupan in Pangasinan, Philippines, from 1991 until his retirement in 2009.

Biography

Oscar Cruz was born on November 17, 1934, in Balanga, Bataan, Philippines. He received his seminary training at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary, and further theology studies at the Lateran University.

His priestly ordination was on February 8, 1962, and his episcopal consecration on May 3, 1976. He was the first Filipino rector of San Carlos Seminary of the Archdiocese of Manila from 1973 to 1978. He was an auxiliary bishop of Manila (1976–1978) and archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Fernando (1978–1988). He served as a judicial vicar of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) National Tribunal of Appeals, and director of the CBCP Legal Office. He was appointed Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on July 15, 1991.

Cruz published many books, including CBCP Guidelines on Sexual Abuse and Misconduct: A Critique, and Call of the Laity.

Cruz was elected President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences and served from 1993–2000.

Controversy

Manila RTC, Branch 52 Judge Antonio Rosales on May 14, 2008, issued the warrant of arrest, granted the P10,000 bail motion, and Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz posted bail. Libel cases were filed against him after he accused the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) of using female staff to act like "guest relations officers (GROs)" during the 2004 birthday celebration of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. His arraignment was set on June 17.^[2][3]

Retirement

On September 8, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the retirement of Archbishop Cruz.^[4] He was succeeded by Socrates Villegas of the Diocese of Balanga on November 4, 2009.^[5]

Death

Cruz died from complications of multiple organ failure caused by COVID-19 on August 26, 2020, at age 85 during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.^[6][7]

See also

• List of Filipino bishops

References

External links

• Quotations related to Oscar Valero Cruz at Wikiquote
• Media related to Oscar Valero Cruz at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website^{[dead link]}
• Viewpoints: Personal Views and Commentaries of Oscar Cruz
• CBCP Online, Profile of Oscar V. CruzArchived April 9, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
• Cruz profile at Catholic-Hierarchy.org
• Cruz profile at GCatholic.org

Catholic Church titles
New title	Rector of San Carlos Seminary 1978–1980	Succeeded by Protacio Gungon
Preceded by Emilio Abera Cinense	Archbishop of San Fernando 1978–1988	Succeeded by Paciano Aniceto
Preceded by Federico G. Limon	Archbishop of Lingayen–Dagupan 1991–2009	Succeeded by Socrates B. Villegas
Preceded by Carmelo Dominador Flores Morelos	CBCP President 1995–1999	Succeeded by Orlando Quevedo