CBCP: Let us move forward

Catholic bishops urged Filipinos yesterday to move forward and help the government solve the problem of poverty instead of working for the ouster of President Arroyo.

"We should now move forward and address the more important and urgent problem of grinding poverty of our people, which is caused by excessive politicking," said Archbishop of Davao Fernando Capalla, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, in a statement yesterday.

However, the bishops also maintained that they would support other constitutional and peaceful means to know the truth.

"The search for truth must continue, but must be guided by the principles of the rule of law provided in the Constitution, and by moral principles of justice and common good as we stated in the earlier pastoral letter," said members of the CBCP permanent council in their collective statement.

The Catholic Church’s position — crucial to breaking political impasses in the past and even ousting corrupt leaders — was awaited anxiously by those at Malacañang as well as the political opposition.

Essentially, the Church’s position is unchanged.

"Let us not further contribute to this poverty by our inordinate involvement in activities that further oppress the poor and divide our people," the CBCP statement read.

Malacañang immediately expressed happiness over the CBCP’s call for the people to respect the rule of law and continue searching for the truth.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he was confident that the bishops would not change their stand on "the need for us to follow the rule of law."

"We must maintain sobriety on this touchy issue and (ask) our people not to disturb the political atmosphere that will be detrimental to the greater majority of our people," he said.

Secretary to the Cabinet Ricardo Saludo said the CBCP statement affirmed the central role of "prayer, sobriety and the rule of law in the continuing search for truth," and that it provided "wise and enlightening guidance to our people at this crucial time."

"The call for the nation to move on and to turn our attention and energies toward alleviating poverty is a sorely needed direction also being taken by the government and the great majority of our citizenry," he said.

Saludo said in the quest for truth, the people should recall the CBCP’s July 10 statement which noted that various groups might take advantage of one another and manipulate the situation for their own agenda.

"Let us all heed the preaching of the bishops for peace, truth, sobriety, rule of law and the uplifting of our poor fellow men," he said.

Vice President Noli De Castro also supports the CBCP’s call to continue the search for the truth, and for the country to move on following the dismissal of three impeachment complaints against Mrs. Arroyo.

"I agree with the CBCP’s call for the continuance of the search for the truth through peaceful, legal and constitutional means," he said.

De Castro said the government would guarantee the right of the people to free assembly and allow them to express their feelings about the current political situation.

The search for the truth should also be accompanied by a recognition of the present economic crisis brought about by rising oil prices and global terrorism, he added.

In a statement issued after a meeting of the CBCP permanent council yesterday, the bishops appealed to the Filipino people to face the current political and economic crises with sobriety and faith in God.

"We again exhort our people to intensify prayer — sustained communal and personal prayer which will open our hearts to the God among us," the bishops said.

Meanwhile, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan Oscar Cruz warned that changes in the CBCP’s position could still be made when its outgoing officials meet with its new ones on Dec. 1.

"I don’t want to preempt them but I think that meeting would be a more serious one," he said.

Cruz said the CBCP’s recent statement was "quite open and balanced," apparently sifting the issues at hand with caution and sensitivity.

He welcomed the CBCP’s call to seek the truth through other means, saying some administration officials were reportedly considering coming forward to reveal "behind the scene" information that could pave the way to a "glimpse of bigger truth."

On the other hand, Archbishop of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal asked Filipinos yesterday to stop complaining about the country’s current political and economic crises.

"Our nation’s journey must begin with our personal decision to change our ways," he said.

"Only then can we set our feet onto the way to peace. Salvation begins with the power of one. God’s will is done by the obedience of one."

Vidal, who was CBCP president during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, has discouraged the faithful from joining mass rallies by opposition groups.

"Filipinos do not seem to realize that collective efforts do not bring about lasting change," he said.

Vidal said the rule of majority would only succeed if there are individuals who would take the initiative for change.

"As always, we keep on waiting for the day when others do the will of God and only then shall we start doing the same," he rued.

"Others should change first before I change myself. But by waiting for each other, we are waiting in vain."

Vidal said it is time for Filipinos to change because now "they have lost faith, turned to different paths, always seeking for our own advantage and other gods to serve."

"We complain about corruption and dishonesty, yet given the opportunity, we could also twist the truth to serve our own interests," he said.

"We have been given the power to choose our leaders, but we did not use that power seriously and instead turned elections into a popularity contest."

In his letter to bishops and priests, Vidal likened the present situation of Filipinos to the pilgrimage of Israelites to the Promised Land, "marked by rebellion against God."

"The Israelites too were called and consulted, granted freedom and promised a land of their own, but they grumbled and turned against the will of God," he said.

Vidal said Filipinos are also on a journey to the Promised Land as they have "witnessed miracles and prodigies, experienced God’s power and mercy, and have been called and sent to give witness to other nations."

Filipinos should follow the path of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who "was faithful and fully accepted God’s will," he added.

Earlier, Vidal said that neither the outgoing nor incoming permanent council could change the CBCP’s stand.

"To me, this is a precious statement," he told reporters.

"It means that the CBCP is dynamic and continues its search for a solution. I also want to commend them for their big concern on poverty."

CBCP officials met to reassess their July 10 pastoral statement on the political issues besetting the country after House members voted to dismiss the three impeachment complaints against President Arroyo.

The meeting was attended by 10 of the 12 members of the permanent council, including Capalla, incoming CBCP president Archbishop of Jaro Angel Lagdameo, Archibishop of Tuguegarao Diosdado Talamayan, Archbishop of San Fernando Paciano Aniceto, Bishop of Masbate Joel Baylon, Bishop of Calapan Warlito Cajandig, Bishop of Calbayog Jose Palma, Bishop of Tandag Nereo Odchimar, Bishop of Jolo Angelito Lampon, and CBCP secretary general Monsignor Hernando Coronel.

The CBCP had recommended in its earlier statement the impeachment process as an option to reveal the truth behind allegations against Mrs. Arroyo, who allegedly cheated her way to victory in the 2004 election and whose family is supposedly involved in jueteng.

House Minority Leader Francis Escudero, United Opposition secretary general, said he respects the CBCP decision to uphold the rule of law.

"I respect their decision, but I disagree that we move on and simply forget," he said.

Meanwhile, five pro-administration lawmakers urged the opposition yesterday to heed the CBCP’s call and stop their moves to oust Mrs. Arroyo.

The lawmakers are: House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles, Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin, and Representatives Isidoro Real of Zamboanga del Sur, Eduardo Zialcita of Parañaque, and Exequiel Javier of Antique).

Nograles said the CBCP’s position suggests that the "people’s court" and revolutionary transitory government being advocated by the opposition have no legal basis.

"We concur with the CBCP’s call for everyone to follow the rule of law," he said.

"Let us therefore use the legal mechanisms provided for by our Constitution to prosecute those who appear to have committed crimes.

"Let us buckle down to work now. What is too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget."

Salapuddin said the CBCP’s appeal for sobriety and respect for the rule of law will help in healing the wounds of divisiveness and politics of destruction plaguing the country.

"As such, we call upon the Filipino nation to heed that meaningful call for calm and sobriety and to observe the rule of law, which is indeed a welcome development to help us move on," he said.

Real said he expected the majority of Filipinos to heed the advice of the CBCP.

"During these difficult times, when politics has divided our people, the CBCP’s pronouncement is a whiff of fresh air with salutary effects," he said. "The big segment of our population will heed its advice."

Zialcita said they totally agree with the CBCP which fully recognizes the rule of law in the search for truth.

"We completely agree with the CBCP as we have been advocating for unity and peace and respect for the rule of law in putting the political crisis to an end," he said. "The rule of law is supreme."

Javier said the CBCP’s position should touch the conscience of the opposition which has refused to abide by the will of the House majority to uphold the justice committee report dismissing the impeachment complaints against Mrs. Arroyo.

"The CBCP’s position is exactly what the level-headed members of Congress have been saying all along," he said.

"It’s just unfortunate that the opposition refused to accept the House majority’s verdict and instead opted to pursue their ouster plan against the President. We hope the CBCP’s call would enlighten them."— Edu Punay, Aurea Calica, Marvin Sy, Delon Porcalla