Prelate declines Iglesia Ni Cristo invite

Monday, February 27, 2012

ARCHBISHOP Emeritus Oscar Cruz declined the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s (INC) invitation to attend Tuesday’s Grand Evangelical Mission gathering at the Quirino Grandstand, believing his presence could solidify the event’s political color.

The INC is set to hold Tuesday a rare public gathering at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila with thousands expected to attend.

But Cruz, who is former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said he would not want his attendance to be taken negatively as he is known to be a supporter of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Cruz had expressed support to Corona after the prelate visited the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court before the start of the impeachment trial.

Some sectors are alleging that the gathering is meant to show support for Corona, whose lead counsel, former Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas, is an active INC member.

“Baka hindi maganda kung ako andun. Baka maraming mag misinterpret ng hindi tama sapagkat hindi pa nga malinaw kung yun ba ay talagang Bible exposition lang o may socio significance,” said Cruz.

“Invited ako pero hindi ako pupunta,” he added.

Instead, the retired prelate said it would be better if the INC would invite Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias to the event as he heads the CBCP–Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs (ECEA).

The ECEA is mandated to foster dialogue with leaders of Christian churches and ecumenical bodies such as the National Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, and the World Council of Churches, representing the CBCP in these ecumenical associations when authorized to do so. (AMN/Sunnex)