CBCP to close media office to avoid controversies?

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is said to be planning to shut its media office as member-prelates were supposedly becoming unhappy over the coverage by certain media outfits of the CBCP, a Church insider disclosed yesterday.

The reason for such plan, however, was not disclosed while public relations officers of the CBCP said they have not been consulted on the issue.

The CBCP has closed its doors to some media practitioners on several occasions, mostly television reporters who wanted to cover the meetings of bishops held inside the conference’s compound in Intramuros, Manila.

The CBCP secretariat, on the other hand, has already denied allegations that they favor some media practitioners over the others.

A member-bishop, however, confirmed in an interview with the Church-run Radio Veritas yesterday that he was among those disappointed with opinions and news reports by a leading broadsheet that virtually attacked former CBCP president Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla.

Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros said this newspaper has been delivering "inaccurate and biased facts about Capalla," which he described as "not true journalism."

"I wonder why this columnist keeps on criticizing poor Archbishop Capalla, who he does not even know personally. I used to like him because he writes good but now I already stopped my subscription to that newspaper," Oliveros said.

The bishop said that even other writers of the newspaper have "slanted" reports on the CBCP: Pinagtagpi-tagpi yung mga naririnig nilang hakahaka (They piece together the gossip they hear) and present them as the truth. It’s very noticeable because I know personally these events being reported incorrectly."

"Sa ibang pahayagan naman, hindi nila ginagawa ‘yan (Other newspapers don’t do that)," Oliveros lamented.

Capalla has been perceived to be a supporter of President Arroyo when under his leadership, the CBCP took a moderate stand on pressing political issues facing her administration.

Last July 10, the CBCP issued a pastoral statement after a four-day retreat of its 85 members at the Pope Pious Catholic Center in Ermita, Manila.

"In the spirit of humility and truth, we declare our prayerfully discerned collective decision that we do not demand her (Mrs. Arroyo’s) resignation. Yet, neither do we encourage her to simply dismiss such a call from others," the statement read.

The CBCP has maintained this position when it issued another statement last September that called on the Filipinos to "move forward and address the more important problems like widespread poverty."

This move was later also taken on by the Iglesia ni Cristo and El Shaddai Movement, two of the country’s most influential religious groups.

But the CBCP has clearly reiterated that the search for truth behind allegations of election fraud against the President must continue through "peaceful and constitutional means." — Edu Punay