Filipino priest suspended for riding hoverboard during Christmas Eve mass

'The priest sang a Christmas song, while going around the nave standing on a hoverboard. That was wrong'

A church in the Philippines has said it was "wrong" for one of its priests to use a hoverboard during Christmas Eve mass.

The priest – who has not been identified - was suspended following the emergence of a video showing him singing while riding up and down the aisles of the diocese of San Pablo in Laguna.

The church said its clergy member would be using the suspension to “reflect on this past event”, according to a statement published on Facebook.

It read: “Last December 24, 2015, before the final blessing of the Christmas eve mass, as a way of greeting his parishioners, the priest sang a Christmas song, while going around the nave standing on a hoverboard. That was wrong.”

It added that the Eucharist was the “Church’s highest form of worship” and was not “a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people”.

“The priest said that it was a wake up call for him; he acknowledged that his action was not right and promised that it will not happen again.”

“He will be out of the parish and will spend some time to reflect on this past event. He would like to [apologise] for what happened,” the statement added.

THE FOLLOWING IS SAN PABLO DIOCESE'S STATEMENT ON THE 'HOVERBOARD-RIDING PRIEST'...

Posted by NOVUS ORDO Insider on Tuesday, 29 December 2015

The video, posted on Facebook, has been viewed more than 430,000 times. It has garnered 1,700 "likes" and 1,300 comments.

But reaction to the footage has been mixed with some condemning the priest's actions and others praising him for trying to connect with young people.

One Facebook user said: “I think it was a playful way to reach his young parishioners… Who said praying and learning the word of God cannot be fun?”

Another said: “Goodness this is quite shocking! I’m not sure what that priest was thinking. It takes away from the sanctity of worship and makes the mass so much less meaningful.”