CBCP calls for peace, sobriety

The Catholic Church called for peace and sobriety among Filipinos after President Arroyo declared a state of emergency yesterday following a foiled plot by some military officers to oust her.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said the country’s current political crises will not be solved through violent and unconstitutional means, reiterating the stand of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

"Let us act with sobriety and humility. In the eyes of God, this is the right time for us to unite and set aside our differences," Rosales told reporters after learning about the declaration.

"Let us all unite. We belong to one nation and we have one blood. Let us pray that we’ll also have one common spirit," the prelate, who was recently ordained as cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, appealed to the people.

In Iloilo, the head of the CBCP appealed to Filipinos to pray and be calm in the wake of the latest failed power grab by some military officials.

"What we can do at the moment is to pray for peace and sobriety in the face of these developments that are going on in Manila," CBCP president Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo told The STAR yesterday afternoon shortly after emerging from a Mass at the Archbishop’s Palace in Jaro.

"I am asking the people to be calm, to be sober, so that we will not simply be reacting to what is going on," he added.

In a pastoral exhortation entitled "Call to Patriotism," Lagdameo said in the meantime, "as we discern the ‘signs of the times’, we call upon all in civil society to exercise prudence, sobriety, patience and vigilance. Let us meet this event with calmness."

He also rejected the use of violence from any group that may take advantage of the situation. He asked all parties to be open to reason and respect truth and rule of law to avoid creating a belligerent atmosphere in which only innocent people would suffer.

President Arroyo declared a state of emergency, citing "systematic conspiracy between opposition, extreme leftist and rightist groups during the past few months that has been hurting the Philippines" as the main reason.

Rosales believes the declaration made by the President at around noon yesterday presents a "bad picture" of the country.

"It doesn’t look good if our government declares a state of emergency," he said. "This could be a big provocation from among the contending parties to use violence."

Rosales, one of the most senior Church leaders in this largely Catholic nation, urged all sides to discuss the issue peacefully, comparing the Philippines to a home where family members are always fighting.

Rosales stressed that the situation is "against the spirit of EDSA people power in 1986," a popular revolt that toppled a dictator and later became a model of inspiration to other countries.

"If we use violence, we would appear to be veering away from our direction and vision. Let us pray that conflicting parties would settle their issues peacefully because it is our shame to the world whenever there is misunderstanding or allegation," the prelate explained.

The cardinal also likened the country to a "nation of children" in which Filipinos ritually take to the streets to air their grievances. "We are losing respect (for) one another so we better talk it over and settle things with humility and calmness."

Rosales said this delicate situation in the country requires "intensive prayers from the heart just like what people did in EDSA 1.

"Let us ask for blessing and face the real problems. With this, we can really move on from danger to peace," he stressed.

Rosales said he learned about the presidential declaration while celebrating a thanksgiving Mass at the Manila Cathedral for outgoing Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Antonio Franco.

In Ipil, Zamboanga, CBCP vice president Bishop Antonio Ledesma said the country’s bishops maintain their position that the rule of law and Constitution should be followed and that issues should not be solved by force.

"I think it’s an indication for all of us to go back to our basic principles as we had mentioned in our pastoral statement last month. The use of violence will just give rise to more harm to the people later on," Ledesma told reporters.

Ledesma stressed that failed attempts to overthrow the government in the past proved counterproductive because they hobbled the economy.

"So in that sense, I think there is no justifiable reason for use of violence at this time."

While the bishop said the CBCP had yet to determine whether the declaration of Mrs. Arroyo had any moral basis, he believes that it "could be one way of moderating the situation."

Ledesma said the bishops would again meet and discuss the situation but at the same time maintained that they stand by their call "to pursue the truth and make sure that we restore moral values in our public life by abiding by constitutional processes."

Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa City, south of Manila, said that Mrs. Arroyo perhaps thought she was justified in declaring a state of emergency.

But he added: "I hope it will not stay long and there will be no violations of human rights."

In Dagupan City, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said EDSA 1 and EDSA 2 can be called a combined unfinished saga in the country that failed to reform Philippine politics and Filipino politicians .

Cruz, in a statement yesterday, said that "they both proved something good — the power of truth plus the strength of righteousness. Yet both fell short of their core intent: the reform of Philippine politics vis-à-vis moral development of politicians."

He said the saga is unfinished because EDSA 1 and EDSA 2 succeeded in removing the heads of unwanted governments, yet it allowed their incarnate members to remain free to again regain power and again soil governance.

He said the two EDSA movements were distinct and unique in Philippine history. Even the global community took notice of these two singular events, he said.

Whether called people power, prayer power or moral power, the two EDSA movements had one common denominator — the Filipino moral psyche, he added.

But Cruz said "Filipinos, as a basically decent and sensitive race, cannot for long tolerate and follow political leaders stained with gross amoral principles, blatant dishonesty and strongly suspect motives.

"The Filipinos are not a perfect people. But as a whole, they are neither without conscience with their pursuant ethical convictions and drives," he said.

The prelate added that good and able farmers know how to deal with bad weeds. They do not only cut their upper leaves but dig their roots out as well.

And with another people power unfolding, Cruz said the country has long been crying and begging for reform — reform of governance through the reform of those governing. Another EDSA might simply continue and prolong the same unfinished saga in the country, he said.

Cruz said "more than just dusting this or that place, what is really needed is a general house cleaning."

Meanwhile, a Church group that has been calling on the President to step down considered her declaration as a prelude to declaring martial law.

The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) claimed that "priests, pastors, seminarians, and religious groups were among those cannoned with water by police forces as they linked arms to maintain their peaceful assembly.

"We condemn in strongest terms this proclamation which is short of declaring martial law. Let us not allow the nation to be thrown into the dark days when political activists and supporters of people’s

movements demanding regime change are arrested without warrant, when freedom of the press is suppressed, and when instruments of the state are directed to quell the dissent of people," the group said in a statement. — With Ronilo Pamonag, Eva Visperas, AFP