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Thursday, July 06, 2006
Bishops to examine Papal encyclical on church's role in politics
THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will dissect the encyclical issued by Pope Benedict XVI which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo claimed as prohibiting clergymen from meddling in the politics.
Fr. Juanito Figura, secretary general of the CBCP, said the bishops have decided to discuss in their three-day retreat "Deus Caritas Est," the church doctrine, which the Pope gave to President Arroyo during her visit to the Vatican last week. The bishops' assembly started last Tuesday.
He said they will also review issues hounding the Catholic Church as well as the political and economic crises in the country.
The CBCP's retreat with the theme "Towards a Spirituality of Shepherding" was inspired by contemporary documents and teachings of the late Pope John Paul II entitled "Pastores Gregis" (a post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation on Bishops) and Pope Benedict XVI's "Deus Caritas Est (encyclical letter on Christian Love)" and "Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church".
Figura said Lingayen Auxillary Bishop Rento Mayugba was assigned to discuss "Love of God and Love of Neighbor in Deus Caritas Est" while CBCP vice president and Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma will tackle "On the Social Teachings of the Church".
Malacañang accused the Catholic Church of engaging in partisan politics after Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Iniguez filed an impeachment complaint against the President.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye questioned the motive of Iniguez in filing the impeachment case saying it was done to harass the Arroyo administration.
But CBCP president and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and other bishops supported Iniguez.
Cruz reminded President Arroyo that had it not been for the help of the church, she would not be in her position. He said the church played a big part in Edsa People Power 2, which led to the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada in 2001.
"How come when the church intervention was in her favor, we heard no complaints from President Arroyo? We did not hear her invoke the separation of the church and state. Now that we are rallying against her, she insists that we should not interfere in the government," he said.
The bishops' retreat will be capped with a solemn Mass at 6 a.m. Friday, which will be presided by Rosales.
After the retreat, Figura said the CBCP will meet for a two-day plenary assembly to discuss the operations of the various commissions of the CBCP and other issues like the impeachment case against President Arroyo and extra judicial killings in the country. (MSN/Sunnex)
(July 6, 2006 issue)
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