Church group backs sanctions against El Shaddai leader

A Catholic Church group is supporting the call for sanctions against El Shaddai leader Mariano "Bro. Mike" Velarde for refusing to follow the Church’s stand against President Estrada.

In a statement, the KAIROS Philippines, a group under the Church, said Velarde should be sanctioned by all Catholic leaders for sticking it out with the beleaguered Mr. Estrada.

Fr. Jose Dizon, KAIROS convenor, said Velarde’s refusal to heed the call of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin to resign as the President’s spiritual adviser was a serious offense.

"His (Velarde’s) difference with the official position of the Church is not only a difference on certain political issues but a difference in moral position," he said.

Sin earlier asked the President to resign for having lost the moral ascendancy to govern the country. His call stemmed from the accusation of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson that the President had raked in hundreds of millions of pesos from illegal gambling operators and kickbacks from tobacco excise taxes.

Dizon said the Church has the divine right to demand that Velarde quit as spiritual adviser to Mr. Estrada since the issue already involves morality.

He noted that Church leaders can use the Bible’s authority in sanctioning Velarde. Quoting Matthew Chapter 18 Verses 15 to 17, he said Velarde should be informed that his position of supporting the President is morally wrong. Should he refuse to heed this admonition, then one or two more responsible Christians must be asked to persuade him.

"If he still does not change his mind, then the Church can tell it to the whole Christian community and Velarde can be expelled," Dizon said.

Velarde, for his part, has said that he would not abandon the President who is being tried for impeachment in the Senate. He explained that he would remain neutral on political issues but would continue praying and giving guidance to Mr. Estrada.

Meanwhile, a priest from Nueva Vizcaya urged the Church to expel Velarde outright.

Fr. Tony Palona, officer-in-charge of the Diocese of Bayombong, said the Church should now "draw the line" and remove Velarde for going against its fundamental teachings.

"If Velarde does not want to toe the line, he and his group are free to go anywhere they want to go," Palona said. "They will then become no different from the followers of the Society of St. Paul X who were separated from the Church for refusing to accept the Vatican II and clinging to the Latin Mass." – With Charlie Lagasca