ON SIN’S PRAYER RALLY CALL: Vidal prefers vigil

CEBU CITY – Church leaders in Cebu are expected to respond to the call of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin to join him in a prayer rally today amid mounting protests against the Estrada administration.

Fr. Monico Catubig of the Cebu Freedom Coalition said Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is urging parishes to hold simultaneous prayer vigils to show support for Sin.

Initially, the cardinal favored the proposal to hold a prayer rally at the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

Catubig said Vidal is being "very prudent" on the controversy confronting President Estrada.

"The cardinal is very prudent and is still weighing things. Just as well because one false move from us can lead to disastrous results," he said.

Militant organizations asked Catubig Tuesday to relay to the cardinal their plea for the archdiocese to support Sin’s call for a prayer rally.

Vidal currently sits as chairman of the coalition.

But differences in political advocacies are now threatening to break the unity of militant groups demanding Estrada’s ouster.

Sanlakas lambasted coalition leaders yesterday for asking member groups to set aside their secondary slogans and focus on the resignation of the president.

Early on, Sanlakas was advised to shed placards that tend to criticize Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during coalition rallies in deference to the Association Labor Unions- Trade Union Congress of the Philippines which is clearly advocating for Arroyo to succeed Estrada. - Freeman News Service