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Monday, March 03, 2008
Vidal defends bishops' stand
CEBU CITY -- Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal questioned on Sunday the mounting pressure on bishops to call for President Arroyo's resignation, even as he urged people to support the search for truth.
In Manila, former president Corazon Aquino said she expected public protests to eventually force President Arroyo to step down, but admitted that apathy could cause the crisis to drag.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
The Cebu archbishop considers the call for the resignation of President Arroyo, amid widespread allegations of corruption in the highest levels of the government, as "a political decision and action."
He celebrated Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after returning from Rome, a mass in honor of the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
In an interview with reporters after the mass, the prelate stressed he is just "a faithful member" of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and that his statements coincide with that of the CBCP.
"We cannot do that (calling for the resignation of President Arroyo). It is not our aim. I don't know why they are always asking us to do that because we are bishops. The opposition can do that. I am not in the opposition, nor am I pro. I am here as a shepherd for those who are here. I do not know why they like us to do that when we cannot do it. It is a political decision and action," Vidal told reporters, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
Meanwhile, Aquino told more than 1,000 students, nuns and priests, who gathered to hear her speak after a mass on Sunday, that apathy among Filipinos could stall efforts to remove the President.
Security eased
The nationally televised Senate hearings on a cancelled US$329-million deal have led to street protests, including an interfaith rally that drew tens of thousands of demonstrators to Makati last Friday.
Arroyo's chief legal counsel, Sergio Apostol, said the President was confident her opponents could not draw enough people to the streets to oust her.
The military eased a security alert in Manila on Sunday to show things were returning to normal after protests last week.
After Sunday's mass, witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. told the crowd at the University of Santo Tomas that he continued to get death threats from unspecified people. Lozada also promised not to back off from his Senate testimony.
"Behind my smile in front of TV cameras is a very difficult and sad life. Harassment, mudslinging and death threats against me continue," he said.
The CBCP reiterated in a recent statement its call for "circles of discernment" at the grassroots level, in the parishes, and schools, among others. Avoiding calls for the President's resignation or any other direct reference to the political firestorm, the bishops stressed the significance of "internal conversion through communal and prayerful discernment."
Signature
After CBCP previously called for communal action, Cardinal Vidal issued a pastoral statement urging "personal and communal conversion and collective action based on the Gospel values and social teachings of the church."
Several groups, including the party-list organization Akbayan, said they were "disappointed" with the actions proposed by the archbishop and that his pastoral statement was "accommodating" to President Arroyo.
For his part, Cardinal Vidal said what these groups are asking is already beyond his and the other bishops' capability.
He reiterated the importance of the signature campaign launched by church-based movement Dilaab last month.
"That should be done because that that is speaking for the truth. It seems that they are not satisfied with that. We do not know the whole truth. We are not people around the President. We do not know exactly everything. If (something) is part of the truth, then we are begging that it should be told," Cardinal Vidal explained.
As for parish priests who are not participating in the campaign, he commented, "We are still a democratic country."
In his homily, the archbishop asked devotees to pray to Our Lady of Fatima and pray the rosary every day "in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of war."
He did not elaborate when asked by reporters what war he was referring to in his homily.
Staying power
For devotees, Our Lady of Fatima is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary who appeared to three shepherd children-Lucia Santos, and Jacinta and Francisco Marto-in Fatima, Portugal on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917.
Cardinal Vidal narrated that it was only in 1930 when Pope Pius XI declared these apparitions worthy of belief.
"Wala sila nagdali-dali sa ilang pagtuo, sa dakong pagpaubos ug daghang pailob. They waited for the sound doctrine and strict discipline of the church, whom they believe and trust for teaching the truth and guiding them to living a Christian life," he said, referring to the Christian flock in 1930.
The Heralds of the Gospel, an international association of the Pontifical Right, brought the pilgrim icon of Our Lady of Fatima to Cebu last Saturday.
In her seven years in power, Arroyo has survived four attempted power grabs and three opposition impeachment bids over alleged corruption and vote rigging.
Analysts have attributed her staying power to the refusal of the powerful military and the Catholic Church to join calls for her ouster. Those institutions played key roles in the revolts that ousted Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada. (NRC/With AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (March 3, 2008 issue)
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