Be a ‘president of reconciliation, Arroyo told

DAVAO CITY — Davao Archbishop and incoming president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Fernando Capalla called on President Arroyo yesterday to be a "president of reconciliation" in the midst of all the troubles besetting the country.

"I am asking her to make good her promise that she would be a president of reconciliation," Capalla said, adding that Mrs. Arroyo should reach out to all sectors of society in the spirit of unity.

He reminded the President to be guided by the principle of how to reconcile, saying, "there is no peace without justice and no justice without forgiveness."

The President surprised Capalla Thursday night when she attended the testimonial dinner for the archbishop at the University of Immaculate Conception campus along JP Laurel Avenue here.

The President, who left Davao City yesterday for Cagayan de Oro City to attend the 12th Mindanao Business Conference, arrived here last Wednesday for a three-day sortie, including a short trip to two towns in Davao Oriental.

Mrs. Arroyo, in a talk with those who attended the testimonial, cited Capalla’s role in the reconciliation process as incoming CBCP head and co-convenor of the Bishop-Ulama Forum (BUF), a congregation of Catholic and Christian bishops and Muslim ulamas.

The President said she has been seeking the guidance of the BUF on how to deal with the 12,500-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The forum has been taking an active role in helping facilitate the peace process with the MILF.

Masses For Forgiveness

Capalla also told The STAR that leading personalities, including government officials, should not use the Holy Mass to hit back at their opponents.

"It has become a common practice when we protest against anybody we use the Holy Mass, which should not be the case," he said.

"I would like to remind everyone, beginning with the President, that let us all stop using the Holy Mass as a tool in wishing a perceived enemy ill or getting back at another person. Use the Mass to forgive and unite," Capalla added.

People, he explained, should understand what the Holy Mass is all about.

"It is about Communion with the body of Christ. We start the Holy Mass with the penitential service of asking forgiveness, so how can we use it in a protest?" Capalla said.

Justices, Lawmakers Should Repent

Capalla, commenting on the impeachment bid against Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., said there is no other way to resolve the current crisis but through mutual repentance and mutual forgiveness.

"The country is now in deep turmoil because of the rift between Congress and the judiciary. That is why I am making this appeal for repentance and asking for forgiveness to everyone concerned including Chief Justice Davide, the other justices, the congressmen and other leaders to reflect deeply on their actions and that there shall also be spiritual guidance for them," he said.

The Davao archbishop explained that in spite of the prevailing crisis, there is still hope for the country. "We are Christians, we have hope and to hope is Christian."

Capalla said impeachment is actually not necessary if those involved in the rift will only have a respectful dialogue, not as friends or servants of the people, but as brothers and sisters in the faith, trusting in and humbly asking for God’s grace.

He pointed out that Davide, the other justices in the Supreme Court, and the congressmen are mostly Catholics.

"As such, I want to remind them they are members of our Holy Mother the Church and deserve the support of the Church’s moral and spiritual guidance," the archbishop said.

Capalla said the existing problem is aggravated by so much pride in the hearts of members of Congress and the judiciary, making it hard for them to reconcile and put the welfare of the country above personal interests.

"If in the moment of weakness, knowingly or unknowingly personal hurts have been inflicted, the Christian way to healing and reconciliation is to repent and to forgive. Vengeful retaliation weakens the human spirit; repentance and forgiveness heal and revive," Capalla said in a pastoral letter to his Davao constituents.

He reminded the people of the case of Pope John Paul II, who visited the prison cell of Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca, who tried to kill him in 1981, and forgave him.

Capalla clarified that he makes his appeal as Davao archbishop and BUF co-convenor.

He said he understands if Davide, said to be a leading member of the Knights of Columbus, chose to react and fight back against the congressmen who initiated the filing of the impeachment complaint against him, accusing him of corruption and misuse of the judiciary development fund.

"That was a natural human reaction to act that way when you are pricked by somebody and you are hurt. But eventually, it will pass and you are able to reach out and forgive," Capalla said.

He reminded the parties involved in the impeachment controversy of a passage from the Koran, warning them that, "if you do not forgive you cannot receive your reward" because you already receive it by retaliating and hitting back.

Capalla also quoted a passage from the Bible, Luke 11:4: "Our Father .. forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

The archbishop also asked the Catholic faithful to pray that the impeachment controversy be over soon in order for the country to move on.

"There is no future for our country without forgiveness. With forgiveness, our bright future is assured. For as Christians, we do not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future — the forgiving God," Capalla continued in his pastoral letter.

He noted that the letter was signed last Oct. 28, the feast day of St. Jude Thaddeus, considered by many Catholics to be the patron saint of desperate cases.