After commenting that public sinners should not be given communion, Archbishop Oscar Cruz faces backlash from Gloria Arroyo supporters.
A group of congressmen from Southern Luzon calls for the Congressmen Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to sanction Cruz for conduct unbecoming of a bishop – if there is such a charge, that is. They threatened to elevate the case to the Vatican if the CBCP does not act on their complaint.
They might as well should. They should know their religion. Only the Vatican can impose sanctions on bishops, and the CBCP may berate Cruz, but that’s all they can do, if they will choose to do so at all.
My problem is that on this news report by ABS-CBN, Cruz was never quoted as saying directly that he will not give communion to Gloria Arroyo. Let me quote the report:
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said “public sinners” should not be given the Holy Sacrament of Communion including, he said, President Arroyo.
“I would not give communion to somebody receiving communion in public whom I know is a public sinner. I am sorry. I could be wrong and may God forgive me but I cannot do it,” Cruz said.
“It’s like throwing the body and blood of Christ into the garbage,” Cruz said.
In a breakfast forum on Wednesday, Cruz said it is going to be scandalous to grant communion to a “sinner” and one who refuse to repent for any wrongdoing.
“Hindi ka pwedeng ma-absolved and you say sorry and then you keep stolen money in your pocket. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Kung hindi magnanakaw na rin ako,” Cruz said.
Although the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) believes that the government is morally bankrupt, Cruz said only a few of them are asking for President Arroyo’s resignation.
Among the bishops who want Mrs. Arroyo to resign are Archbishop Anghel Lagdameo, Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Bishop Julio Labayen, Bishop Deogracias Yniguez, Bishop Antonio Tobias and Bishop Vicente Navarra.
Cruz however declined to identify eight bishops whom he considers as pro-administration. He said majority of the remaining bishops have yet to decide on the issue.
The bishop also urged the continuation of the ZTE hearing in the Senate as it is the only venue where truth can be revealed. With reports from Jing Castañeda, TV Patrol World
Congressman Danilo Suarez says the bishop was videotaped saying that, but again, read the report above. Unless ABS-CBN News writes reports sloppily, I deem Suarez to be over reacting. Arguing that Cruz did say that, Suarez is being intellectually dishonest and practicing selective cognition.
My question to Suarez is simple: what about your amo?
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Another Gloria Arroyo fan club has wasted thousands of pesos of their own money (I hope) for newspaper ads calling for sobriety.
Apparently reacting to planned rallies protesting Neri v. Ermita, the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said that “the issues being examined both in the Senate and in parliaments of the streets should be brought to the courts for final adjudication and closure.” The ad shows the signatures of the FPI Chairman and the President, Jesus Arranza. Yes, the same ass who told Sumilao farmers to go to hell attempted to debunk Joaquin Bernas on the Sumilao issue.
Well, Arranza together with FPI is a know Arroyo fan, and he clearly lives in Arroyo’s enchanted kingdom. It claims that the country’s economy “had never been stronger and healthier,” quoting the magical number 7.3%, and conveniently ignores other numbers, like the increasing number of poor people, skyrocketing prices of goods, and negligible foreign direct investments – signs of living in a fantasy world and another case of selective cognition.
Well Mr. Arranza and other Arroyo fans from FPI, if you want me to believe you, do this: increase the minimum wage by Php 125. If you do that, I will believe you, and will write paeans to your queen. Until then, you are still an ass.
“We plead though that in seeking truth and reform, sobriety, prudence and judiciousness should rule. For the sake of our other vital interest, the economy.” You mean your own interest. You do not speak for me, Mr. Arranza.