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Saturday, September 10, 2005
Church tells Miriam: No backing down now
By Lizanilla Amarga
CHURCH leaders here roundly castigated Senator Miriam Santiago for telling them to back off from issuing statements on the recent termination of the impeachment proceedings against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Archdiocese spokesman Monsignor Rey Monsanto and Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) bishop Fr. Felixberto Calang both said the church should help in the pursuit of truth amid the political turmoil engulfing the country.
Calang said their executive committee held a three-day meeting to draft a pastoral letter supporting calls for Arroyo to resign from her post.
Monsanto said since the truth connects to the moral aspect of the people, then it couldn't be said that the church is interfering with the affairs of the state. "It is merely exercising its duty as guardian of morality", he added.
The senator issued the warning amid the bishops' uneasy reaction to the termination of the impeachment complaint against Arroyo at Congress Tuesday.
Ranking members of the Catholic Bishops Conference indicated this week that the decision of the Lower House did not signal the end of the political crisis and the "search for truth."
A staunch defender of the President, Santiago said she is worried of the bishops' influence over the country's vast majority of Catholics that might trigger resentments and civil disobedience.
Moral aspects
But Monsanto explained that the church is only concerned on the moral aspects of the allegations against the Arroyo.
"For example, these cheating and lying accusations against Arroyo have moral implications. This is what the church is all concerned about, not interfering with any secular affairs," he said.
Monsanto said the church respects the separation of powers between religion and state, "in adherence to the principles articulated by Pope Benedict XVI."
He also added that while the Archdiocese respects the decision of the House of Representatives, it did not prevent the church to exercise its moral powers to call upon the people to petition the government.
In maintaining its vigilance over social issues, Monsanto said "the church is oftentimes misinterpreted as a communist front or a nuisance group."
"But let me clarify, the church is an advocate for truth and justice, and in the course of her functions, she is being misinterpreted along the way," he said.
Meanwhile, Calang quoted a message from IFI 11th Obispo Maximo Most. Rev. Godofredo David who said IFI would be coming out with a pastoral letter that the Church should accompany the people in their quest for truth.
"Not only accompany them but as church people we should lead them. The church is not a political party because we are making a stand based on moral ethics. It must protect the pillars of Filipino society and one of its pillars is its moral fabric", Calang said.
Transcend
Calang said it is immoral for a president to cheat as what President Arroyo allegedly did to the Filipino people.
"She robbed them of their sovereign will to elect the president that they truly want. The open admission of GMA that she talked with a Comelec official is unethical and immoral," Calang added.
He said the IFI was thankful despite reservations that the impeachment proceedings did occur because it was a venue to ferret out the truth.
However, Calang lamented that the administration lawmakers killed the process and failed to transcend their "political affiliations" thus leaving the people with only the option of demanding Arroyo to step down.
Calang said Santiago may take their position lightly but the church deems theirs seriously.
"We are even calling on Santiago to also join in calling for the ferreting of the truth. The call for truth is not only the right and responsibilities of politicians but also of the church. Politicians like Santiago must facilitate not block efforts to ferret out the truth," he added.
(September 10, 2005 issue)
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