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Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Editorial: Voice of reason
THE debate over whether or not the Church should have reminded its bishops never to engage in partisan politics was revived anew when one of its bishops filed the third impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
While Malacañang bristled and complained over the impeachment complaint, the Church leaders insisted it was the prerogative of the bishop to file the impeachment complaint first, as a private citizen and second, in keeping with the Church's moral obligation to seek out the truth in the case and upholding social justice.
These are all fine and dandy but whatever side of the fence one belongs to it cannot be denied that, as Mayor Vicente Emano pointed out, the Church's involvement would certainly be used to intensify public emotions over the impeachment case.
It was only a year ago when the Catholic Church issued statements cautioning all those involved in the impeachment process not to fan the flames of anarchy and respect due process and the course of legal proceedings over rallies and other mass actions.
At the same time the Church told Palace not to deny nor place stumbling blocks in the search for the truth in the alleged election cheating case brought about by the "Hello Garci" controversy.
A year later and we still have these doubts on the legitimacy of President Arroyo hanging over our heads and now the Church leaders or at least some of them are taking up with the other groups bent on ousting President Arroyo from power.
Because of their influence the Church had been reminded time and again by the country's leaders about the separation of Church and State on several issues like population control and now, the impeachment process.
Were this situation to occur in another country, say a communist controlled--or the more politically correct and acceptable term of socialist controlled--nation, the Church won't be given the light of day and would even be persecuted by that country's leaders.
Nevertheless we are in a democracy, flawed though it is and the debate on this issue is being dealt with in the court of public opinion where protagonists and antagonists from both sides are waging their war for public support.
While the Church owes up to and defends the action of one of its bishops in filing the complaint, we are hopeful that they also take the lead in becoming the voice of reason and sanity in a potentially volatile issue like the impeachment process.
(July 5, 2006 issue)
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