Thursday, November 08, 2007 Acts of wickedness and cowardice: bishop By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
BACOLOD Diocese Bishop Vicente Navarra is appreciative of Mayor Evelio Leonardia's honesty in confessing his support for the operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) in Bacolod.
He, however, labeled Leonardia's decision as "wicked love for money" and "cowardice" to stand for what is right.
In his usual gentle but firm manner, Navarra does not believe that Leonardia cannot distinguish right from wrong.
"Stand for what is right and be ready to face the consequences. It's cowardice to be invoking lots of reasons when he knows very well that STL is very harmful to the people," the bishop stressed.
Navarra chided the present political leadership saying, "What kind of a government we have now. Instead of alleviating poverty, it aggravates more. It will enslave people to a life of expecting luck rather than to work hard to attain prosperity."
Navarra also warned City Government officials and those people who favor STL that "the day will come when you will meet your creator. You will be judged. Kaluoy lang kamo (I pity you)."
The bishop said the Bacolod Diocese will not cease from preaching, writing position papers, and going down to barangays to educate the people against STL and teach them the value of hard work.
