Group asks Church to be transparent

Militant group Bayan Muna has asked church leaders in Cebu to serve as good examples to the faithful and never tolerate corruption in any sense.

In a statement, Bayan Muna secretary general Arman Perez said that since the Catholic Church has been preaching about transparency and accountability, they should also submit themselves to inquiry.

“While our Catholic hierarchy is preaching about transparency and accountability of political leaders.  They should set a good example before the eyes of the faithful.  As they promised last 2004 that they will account all PAGCOR and PCSO donations to diocese,” Perez said.

Perez, bringing up again the issues hounding the Church, said that the issues surrounding the donations of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to church institutions have put into question the integrity of the Church.

“We hope that they are true to their words,” he said.

CBCP President Archbishop Fernando Capalla earlier said that although the Church never asked for those donations and was just a conduit for the aid to the poor, the way media presented the issues casts doubt on the Church’s integrity.

But in times of great emergency or urgency, Capalla said the Church may accept donations, which are immediately sent to beneficiaries.

It is better to be transparent to put the issues to rest, Capalla said, adding that priests are also obligated to release the list of their beneficiaries, especially their collections.

“The truth should come out.  I am very sad that they had to attack the Church when we are just accepting the donations in behalf of the poor,” he said.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal earlier said he will no longer discuss the issue, as he already made it clear the Cebu Archdiocese did not keep any of the donations and, instead, only served as a conduit. – Jasmin R. Uy/BRP