Catholic priest uses iPad to celebrate Mass

Instead of Bible, this Catholic priest uses an iPad at a Mass offered for late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo Wednesday. Photo by Chona Yu, Radyo Inquirer 990AM

MANILA, Philippines—An iPad tablet during Mass? Are you serious?

Fr. Efren Balistoy, chaplain of the Bureau of Fire Protection, and Fr. Antonio Gerente, chaplain of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, notably used iPad instead of the usual Bible during the mass offered for the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo on Wednesday, according to a report of Radyo Inquirer 990AM.
But Balistoy, who owned the iPad, immediately defended the use of technology during the Mass, saying he only uses it in emergency cases.

“Mas convenient,”  the report quoted the priest as saying.

“Wala silang Roman Missal na inihanda sa DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government). So in case of emergency, ginamit ko. Emergency cases,” he further said.

Roman Missal is a liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.

“Wala namang masama doon ang importante doon walang kaibahan sa Roman Missal. Emergency cases lang naman kasi kanina walang inihanda ang DILG. So ‘yon buti na lang dala ko ang iPad ko, ginamit ko na,” Balistoy said.