Vidal backs Palma: No priests in Tokhang

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is throwing his support to his successor Archbishop Jose Palma in disallowing diocesan priests to join the controversial “Oplan Tokhang.”

The 86-year-old prelate also has reservations since this anti-illegal drug campaign has negative connotations considering that thousands of suspected drug users and pushers were killed for allegedly retaliating during the operation.

“Well, so far, the Archbishop (Palma) said no. We will not allow the priest to go there because we know that we are for life,” he told reporters in a simple gathering in Cebu City last March 17, when he celebrated his 61st anniversary of his priestly ordination.

In its moral teachings, the Catholic Church views human life as sacred and that has to be respected and protected. Thus, killings and murders are highly condemned.

Palma earlier disallowed the diocesan clergy from joining the government's revised Oplan Tokhang, a project that targets low-level drug personalities.

Through Oplan Tokhang, a contraction of tuktok (to knock) and hangyo (to persuade), law enforcers will have to knock at the doorsteps of suspected drug users and pushers and persuade them to surrender before them.

“Tokhang was an approach to call for people to surrender but it has developed into something that is unpalatable and no longer good for (some) people,” Palma was quoted as saying.

For Palma, this police operation is “not the area of their calling” and would rather push for the archdiocese to be at the forefront in drug recovery programs as their way of supporting the present administration’s campaign.

He admitted he had turned down permissions from other priests who intend to join this police operation, as he is worried over their security and cited impropriety in priests’ involvement.

To note, diocesan priests are different from those who come from different religious orders.

The diocesan priests are those who are ordained for a particular diocese such as the Cebu archdiocese and serve ordinarily in parishes, while the religious priests are those members of orders and congregations guided with specific religious devotion.

Other socio-political issues critical to the Catholic Church is the plan to revive capital punishment.

Vidal, for his part, also raised his opposition to the death penalty bill, which has been criticized and questioned by active Catholic bishops.

“Well, I am sorry for that because we are not the author of life,” said Vidal.

Also, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines denounced the passage of the bill in the House of Representatives.

If this has been the decision of most lawmakers under the Lower House, Vidal, however, would not want to meddle anymore for he has retired from office already.

Several personalities continue to seek counsel from the former Cebu archbishop like Cebu City north district representative Raul del Mar, the only Cebuano congressman who voted against it.

“Del Mar saw me in the sacristy before he voted and he asked me ‘what do I have to vote for?’ I said you are the only name that I saw in the papers (vocally opposing the bill). Continue with that if that is your wish,” Vidal shared.

To other lawmakers, he said they are entitled to their own choice. —/GAN (FREEMAN)