In a previous post, I talked about the CBCP calling our national leaders morally bankrupt. Pushing things further, three bishops called for Gloria Arroyo to resign. In that post, I had said that it is too late for these bishops to assert its moral influence, which it lost in 2004.
Not only they are casualties of Arroyo’s scorched earth policy, they are also one divided organization.
Yesterday, 18 bishops from Mindanao, led by known Arroyo apologist Fernando Capalla, rejected the 3 bishop’s call, calling it premature. From the same report:
“I think issues against her still need thorough investigation. We have to establish more concrete reason – meaning, supported by authentic evidence that cannot be denied – in calling for resignation. So it is best to just allow investigation to happen first.
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We believe that the whole truth about any moral issue must be ascertained or firmed before subjecting it to moral scrutiny and judgment.
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Otherwise, any statement on the matter may be premature and counter-productive. Hence, there is a need for a thorough and impartial investigation as prescribed by law, truth and honesty and a sense of patriotism.
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We pray for the relentless search for and courageous exposition of the truth anchored on the rule of law and moral principle. And finally we pray for sobriety, calmness and peace to Jesus Christ the prince of peace.”
And to think that the Vatican has the most pervasive intelligence service in the world.
I don’t know, maybe because there are no TV or radio sets in their parish houses, or they are getting different news reports, or they are inhaling too much smoke from mosquito repellants, or there is no electricity in their parishes, or maybe it is the distance; I can’t help but feel I was reading a Twilight Zone short story. You know, there is an appaling sense of disconnect between their statement and what is happening.
I have selected several keywords from the news report that quoted these bishops.
First, thorough investigation. With obfuscation and stonewalling tools at her disposal, can you expect any thorough investigation to be concluded, much more initiated in the first place? Just look at that blasted NBN-ZTE deal. First, in a Senate hearing, one morally-weak person invoked executive privilege, and when the frog’s about to croak, an agent (or two, if news reports are true) of Arroyo intervened. Second, the Senate summoned NEDA documents related to the deal, and the Fortress again invoked executive privilege. Frankly, I was surprised EO 464 was never invoked at all. And that is just the ZTE deal. Don’t these bishops get it? This administration will never give in to a thorough investigation; they might as well wish for the camel to enter the eye of a needle (or for the moon).
Second, premature. When will a call for resignation be mature? When government officials now officially become dogs, raping our daughters? Isn’t pillaging the national coffers enough? Isn’t an obvious rape of elections enough? Well, I do not expect an answer from them, specially Capalla. Who was the president of CBCP when envelops of money were given to bishops during a CBCP plenary? Who was head of CBCP when Hello, Garci ringtones were the rage?
Third, moral issue. The problem is that our moral sense of values, of what is right or wrong, has changed. It is not only our national leaders who are morally bankrupt. Refusal to see the truth when truths stares at them directly is a sign of moral bankruptcy. Pretending that nothing is wrong when everything or something is is sign of moral bankruptcy. Accepting money from dubious means and using it for good is a sign of moral bankruptcy. So please, dear bishops, don’t talk to us about morals. You already lost your moral ascendancy, and by the way you talk, you will not regain it soon.
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There are eleven dead people because of an explosion from Glorietta. This regime gave 10-15 thousand pesos to families of dead victims. On the other hand, around 190 congressmen received 200 thousand pesos. There is nothing wrong with that, isn’t it, dear bishops? It is just fair, right?
Damn you all.