CBCP to come up with statement on 2007 polls in meet

A total of 99 bishops attended the first day yesterday of the 94th Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), where they are expected to come out with a unified statement on the May elections.

The two-day plenary conference was opened at the Pope Pius XII Center along the United Nations Avenue in Paco, Manila.

Some 93 of the 99 bishops are active members and the remaining six are honorary members. The CBCP has a total of 129 members, 102 of whom are active and 27 honorary.

However, the number of participants to this meeting may increase, as the CBCP expects more bishops to arrive today.

CBCP spokesman Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III said that, as of 4 p.m., the bishops were still listening to committee reports and have not tackled issues dealing with the May 14 elections: "They have not started with their deliberations. There is no confirmation that they would come out with a statement, but there is that possibility."

As to the contents of the CBCP’s expected statement, Quitorio said he has no knowledge about it, adding that the bishops would give their own suggestions.

The outcome of the plenary sessions will be announced to the public at a press conference today at 2 p.m.

However, CBCP vice president and Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma was reported to have said it is possible that the bishops may come out with different pastoral statements.

Among those present in the plenary were CBCP president and Jaro Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo and members of the permanent council, Ledesma and treasurer and Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco.

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Fernando Filoni and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales also attended the gathering. Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, on the other hand, was reportedly out of the country.

Prior to the plenary, the bishops attended a three-day seminar as part of their preparation for the event. They invited speakers who were public officials, lay leaders and ranking prelates who delivered speeches related to their theme "Collaboration of Priests, the Religious and Lay in Addressing Crises in Governance." — Evelyn Macairan