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Sunday, September 11, 2005
Bishops' group won't rebuke prelates critical of Arroyo
THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has no right to castigate or prevent individual bishops critical of the government from participating in rallies or voicing out their opinions against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Monsignor Hernando Coronel, secretary-general and spokesman of the CBCP, issued the statement Saturday in reaction to criticisms made by militant bishops such as Julio Xavier Labayen, bishop emeritus of Infanta prelature; Deogracias Iniguez of the prelature of Caloocan; Antonio Tobias of Novaliches; and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who have openly questioned the legitimacy of the Arroyo administration due to accusations of electoral fraud allegedly committed in last year's elections.
"The CBCP is at the service of the individual bishops. They have spoken their convictions. They can mobilize their flock in accordance to their pastoral discretion and we respect that because the conference serves the individual bishops,' Coronel said.
He also said the bishops cannot be punished by the CBCP since they do not have any authority to tell the individual prelates what to say or do, especially if the issue involves morality.
"(Every bishops) have the right to speak for their diocese and (whatever) actions they do they are not accountable to the CBCP, they are accountable to the Holy Father," Coronel added.
However, Coronel said any statement issued by a bishop against the government should not be construed as the stand of the CBCP because the group issues an official position on issues that need their organization's stand after the plenary assembly held every January and July, and through the Permanent Council, which is set to meet on Tuesday.
Asked if the council will discuss the junking by the House of Representatives of the impeachment complaints against Arroyo, Coronel said it may be tackled.
But Coronel said he is unsure if the CBCP will change its earlier stand not to join calls for the resignation of Arroyo but they batted for an investigation of the accusations against the President.
Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, outgoing president of CBCP, earlier vowed to prevent any move to reverse the pastoral statement of the group. (MSN/Sunnex)
(September 11, 2005 issue)
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