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The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has
been pilloried for refusing to join the mob calling for the
resignation of President Arroyo.
Among the most disappointed by the CBCP action,
or inaction, were the civil society groups, political opposition,
militant organizations and a giant television network whose greatest
passion is to work for the downfall of the Arroyo administration.
The insidious plot of the triumvirate in the
CBCP, composed of Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP
president, Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Yniquez, Jr. and
Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, was obviously trounced by
the bishops from Mindanao who maintained that allegations of
corruption in the Arroyo administration have not been proven in
court and, therefore, the call for a “brand-new people power”
against Mrs. Arroyo is unjustified.
As a result, Butuan City Bishop Juan de Dios
Pueblos is spearheading a move to oust Lagdameo as CBCP president
for allegedly allowing himself to be influenced by Cruz and other
radical bishops.
Hidden agenda
Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD, is a long-time friend of
media and is himself a media person writing a column at the Manila
Bulletin. I have heard the mild-mannered Father Bel several times
because he is always invited to say mass at the National Press Club
whenever an NPC member dies or when there are religious functions at
the club.
In his latest column, Father Bel said today
there is no longer any distinction between prayer rallies and
political rallies, and holy or unholy masses.
The good father said that many prayer rallies
and masses have become “forums and launching pads for political
attacks under the guise of religious activities.” And the best
example could be the so-called interfaith rally held last Friday in
Makati City.
Then he asked: “How can they be religious when
their hidden agenda is motivated by hatred and mob rule aimed at
ousting the President and destabilizing the country?”
Indeed, it is high time for the Roman Catholic
Church to reexamine its priorities and motives. Is the Church still
the voice of reason and moderation? Or is it now engaged in sowing
hatred among its flocks? What happened to the basic Christian values
of love and compassion for others?
Moratorium on politics
We still believe in the huge influence of the
Catholic Church in our lives. But while it is correct to condemn the
“continuing culture of corruption” in our country as it had done
in its latest pastoral letter, the Church could have done more.
And since its main function is to provide moral
and spiritual guidance to the faithful, the Church could have:
1. Called for a moratorium on all political
activities for at least one year. This would definitely ease tension
and help bring stability and progress to our country.
2. Started the process of true national
reconciliation by initiating a dialogue among the warring political
factions and groups, thus preventing the deterioration of the
already-precarious situation.
3. Urged the Senate to stop all its
investigations on alleged irregularities in government and let the
courts decide on the charges so that the “august chamber” can
attend to its legislative functions.
4. Persuaded former President Cory Aquino to
calm down and not exacerbate the people’s restiveness. After all,
Aquino herself has been the subject of several resignation calls
during her term, some even made through the bloodiest coup attempts
in our history. But did she resign?
5. Reminded former President Joseph Estrada that
it was President Arroyo who saved him from life imprisonment.
Estrada is now calling Mrs. Arroyo an illegitimate president,
forgetting that as an illegitimate president, her act of granting
him pardon is null and void from the start.
6. Stopped the “canonization” of Jun Lozada
by some religious factotums now that he is unmasked not just as
corrupt as the people he has accused of corruption but is also
morally-flawed having admitted that he has another family.
7. Told the Makati business leaders to
concentrate on making money instead of joining the chorus for Mrs.
Arroyo’s ouster. After all, despite the “sins” of the Arroyo
administration, they are now raking in huge profits as a result of
the improved economic conditions in the country.
8. And purged the CBCP of the Pharisees whose
actions betray their ingrained hatred for President Arroyo and thus
do not have the moral ascendancy to preach reconciliation and
Christian love.
It is not too late. The Catholic Church can
still redeem itself. And if it will do this, then it can be a true
vehicle for peace and reconciliation among our people. And the
epiphany that we have sought in our hearts for so long can be ours
finally.
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