We do not disagree with any of the statements the Catholic bishops interviewed by CBCP News writer Melo M. Acuña made about President Gloria Arroyo and her candidacy for congresswoman. But it made us uncomfortable reading ventilations that a more judicious shepherd of the flock would have chosen not to say. These statements struck us as rather unkind, coming from bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. They also made the bishops sound more like lay newspaper columnists, opposition politicians, or political commentators out to show what a bad person Mrs. Arroyo is.

She may indeed be the bad person many say she is but Catholic bishops—or even priests—should not be uncharitable, if they want to be respected as pastors speaking with the voice of Our Lord Jesus Christ and his Church.

Thank God writer Acuña only reached 11 bishops and ended up having unkind quotations from only five of them.

This is the complete CBCP News report, including subheads and errors, by Melo M. Acuña:

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Arroyo told: Quit House bid

MANILA, November 30, 2009—There is a strong demand among bishops in the provinces for President Arroyo to drop her plan to run for Pampanga’s second district in the 2010 elections.

Of the 11 bishops reached by CBCPNews, majority of them openly said Arroyo should not run for the sake of decency.

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, outgoing president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said Arroyo should retire from politics and give others a chance to lead Pampanga.

“I wholeheartedly suggest she gives others a chance to serve and not give in to temptation of power,” he said.

Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance said while no law prohibits a President to seek for a lower position, he said should not run for the sake of propriety.

“She would have shown political delicadeza or some statesmanship if she does not run,” said Trance.

He said Arroyo must have personal reasons if she runs indeed. “Maybe she has the assurance and resources to win if she runs,” he added.

Improper

As far as Laoag Bishop Sergio Utleg is concerned he said “I think she should retire.”

Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said Arroyo’s congressional bid only showed the absence of delicadeza in the country.

“It’s not proper for a former president to seek a lower position,” he said.

Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Lucilo Quiambao said Arroyo 2010 political plans might be interpreted as a means to protect her personal interests.

“The reason is political dynasty and might be interpreted to cover up for something of her son although ‘self-demotion’ but ugly,” he said.

Political survival

An arch critic of the Arroyo administration also gave his views regarding Arroyo’s plan to run in 2010 elections.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said that Arroyo’s congressional bid was motivated by political survival.

“She manifests addiction to power, exhibits lack of propriety and remains fixated to have a Cha-cha (Charter change)—once elected—as soon as possible, to target the Office of Prime Minister,” he said.

‘She’s free’

Virac Bishop Manolo Delos Santos said that if there is no constitutional impediment for Arroyo to run as congresswoman, then “let her constituents decide”.

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said the president’s decision to run “is not proper” but hastened to add “she’s free.”

Legazpi Bishop-designate Joel Baylon and Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros refused to comment on the issue.

God save Pampanga

San Fernando Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said they in the province knew that Arroyo is running for Congress.

“We knew that she’s running and she has long been campaigning using her position as chief executive without qualms,” the prelate said.

He said the chief executive has visited her district for about 50 times, visiting various villages.

“She has perfected the politics of patronage which the CBCP has condemned many times in its pastoral statements,” he further said.

The prelate also expressed misgivings about the Arroyo administration.

“As the saying goes, ‘Tell me who your friends are.’ The kind of friends Arroyo has in Maguindanao tells a lot about who she is,” he said. “The kind of friends she has in Pampanga tells no less. May God save Pampanga and the rest of the Philippines,” David said. (Melo M. Acuña)

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Gospel values must be clear

Point 50 of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which was prepared on orders of John Paul II, makes it clear that “The Church places herself concretely at the service of the Kingdom of God above all by announcing and communicating the Gospel of salvation and by establishing new Christian communities.” This document, those of Vatican Council II and others, show that it is the Church’s duty to be present also in the temporal—including the political—dimension of the world. But the doctrine always requires that the Gospel values—which include Christlike charity and compassion (including “hate the sin, not the sinner”)—be applied in the Church’s and her members’ activities in the temporal dimension.

We are glad only five of the bishops interviewed spoke with definite lack of charity. The statements of six bishops were all right.

We hope and pray that most of the Catholic bishops would prefer not to comment on purely political matters. Or if they must, may the Holy Spirit teach them to frame their discourse in less unkind terms and make the moral lessons clear and unmistakable. For as teachers and guides of the flock, their statements must always serve the Kingdom of God and never the mean tongue of the devil.