Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Bishops set to tackle political crisis
THE officers and members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will meet on Tuesday to discuss the issues surrounding the country.
Although CBCP public affairs officer and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez admitted that the bishops are divided on certain issues as they have their own and personal opinions, he hoped that the meeting would have a united result.
"We usually have different views on certain issues but we hope we could have a united stand when we meet on Tuesday," he said in an interview before officiating mass at the Our Lady of Peace Shrine in Quezon City Monday afternoon.
He said all the bishops were invited to attend the meeting, but he doubted if all the 120 members will be able to attend.
The meeting is going to be held at the Pope Pius Catholic Center at United Nations Avenue in Manila at 9 a.m.
Asked if the agenda of the meeting is to come up with a united call of the bishops for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign, Iniguez said: "I am now trying to be more or less be objectively informed of what is happening in the country right now and what caused it. Once we know, then we can look for proper action."
The CBCP official added that he is unsure if after the meeting they will issue a pastoral statement. "I don't know. All of these remain to be seen," he said.
Members of the influential bishops group have divided opinion on the issues involving the present administration.
The statements made by National Broadband Network (NBN) deal star-witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. ignited the public's call for the resignation of President Arroyo. (FP/Sunnex)
