New leaders of the Church under fire

The Bishops of the Philippines gathered together at the Betania Retreat House in Tagaytay City from June 30 through July 7, for their 87th Plenary Assembly. They spent the first five days in prayer.

During the business meeting, from July 5 through July 7, they issued an official statement of the CBCP on Charter Change. They were one in their stand against changing the Constitution now. And they issued a Pastoral Statement of the CBCP on the moral evils of our society, especially the evils of graft and corruption. This pastoral letter begins very humbly: "We point an accusing finger at ourselves. The entire Church in the Philippines is suffering in great anguish as its integrity is raked over the coals ... But, deeply aware of our own sinfulness, we cannot abdicate our moral role to speak on the problems that beset our society."

They elected a Permanent Council that will govern the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for the next two years – 2004 and 2005 – when the CBCP is not in Plenary Assembly. They will take on this responsibility on Dec. 1 of this year. And they elected – or re-elected – Chairmen of the Episcopal Commissions, Committees and Offices, also for the next two years, from Dec. 1, 2003 until Dec. 1, 2005.

They discussed the training of seminarians and the on-going education and formation of priests and Bishops. This will be one of the prime priorities of the CBCP, for the immediate future. And they considered a document called "PROTOCOL" – guidelines for the discipline of seminarians, priests and Bishops, and an indication of what sanctions should be imposed upon offenders.

The new officers of the Permanent Council will be:

• President: Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla of the Archdiocese of Davao

• Vice President: Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo of the Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo

• Secretary General: Monsignor Hernando M. Coronel of the Archdiocese of Manila

• Treasurer: Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco of the new Diocese of Cubao

The regional representatives from Luzon will be:

• North: Archbishop Diosdado A. Talamayan of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao

• Central: Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga

• Southwest: Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr. of the new Diocese of Kalookan

• Southeast: Bishop Warlito I. Cajandig of the Diocese of Calapan, Mindoro

• South: Bishop Joel Z. Baylon of the Diocese of Masbate

The Regional representatives of the Visayas will be:

• East: Bishop Jose S. Palma of the Diocese of Calbayog, Samar

• West: Archbishop Onesimo C. Gordoncillo of the Archdiocese of Capiz

The Regional representatives of Mindanao will be:

• North: Bishop Nereo P. Odchimar of the Diocese of Tandag

• South: Bishop Angelito R. Lampon O.M.I. of the Diocese of Jolo

The Chairmen of the Episcopal Commissions, Committees and Offices:

• Biblical Apostolate.....Bishop Arturo M. Bastes SVD, of the Diocese of Sorsogon

• Bioethics.....Bishop Jose F. Oliveros of the Diocese of Boac

• Canon Law.....Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso of the Diocese of Borongan

• Catechesis and Catholic Education.....Bishop Socrates B. Villegas of the Archdiocese of Manila

• Clergy.....Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales of the Archdiocese of Lipa

• Cultural Heritage of the Church.....Bishop Leopoldo S. Tumulak of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bohol

• Culture.....Bishop Honesto C. Pacana, S.J. of the Diocese of Malaybalay

• Doctrine of the Faith.....Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle of the Diocese of Imus, Cavite

• Ecumenical Affairs.....Bishop Zacharias C. Jimenez of the Diocese of Pagadian

• Family and Life.....Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga

• Health Care.....Bishop Patricio H. Alo of the Diocese of Mati

• Indigenous Peoples.....Bishop Jose F. Advincula of the Diocese of San Carlos, Negros Occidental

• International Eucharistic Congresses.....Archbishop Carmelo D.F. Morelos of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga

• Inter-religious Dialogue.....Bishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J. of the Diocese of Ipil

• Laity.....Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes of the Diocese of Antipolo

• Liturgy.....Bishop Romulo G. Valles of the Diocese of Kidapawan

• Migrants and Intinerant People.....Bishop Ramon C. Arguelles, Bishop of the Military

• Missions.....Bishop Edwin A. de la Peña M.S.P. of the Prelature of Marawi

• Mutual Relations.....Bishop Carlito J. Cenzon, CICM, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Baguio

• Pension Plan.....Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco of the Diocese of Cubao

• Pontificio Collegio Filipino.....Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal of the Archdiocese of Cebu

• Prison Pastoral Care.....Bishop Pedro D. Arigo of the Diocese of Puerto Princesa

• Public Affairs.....Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr. of the Diocese of Kalookan

• Seminaries.....Bishop Benjamin J. Almoneda of the Diocese of Daet

• Social Action, Justice and Peace.....Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez of the Diocese of Marbel

• Social Communications and Mass Media.....Bishop Jesus A. Cabrera of the Diocese of Alaminos, Pangasinan

• Vocations.....Bishop Antonieto D. Cabajog of the Diocese of Surigao

• Women.....Bishop Emilio Z. Marquez of the Diocese of Lucena

• Youth.....Bishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona OCD of the Diocese of Infanta

The document on "Protocol" has been in preparation for two years. In this Assembly, the Bishops left all their reflections on it with a committee. This committee will draw up a final draft, and submit it to the Permanent Council, which will meet in September. Archbishop Quevedo, the current President of the CBCP, believes that they will be able to publish it in September. The Bishops would like the sanctions to be proportionate to the offenses. The punishment should fit the crime. Some forms of sexual harassment, for instance, are much more serious than others. The sanctions should reflect this.

The Bishops are making heroic efforts to be transparent. They want to be fair to all those who complain against the clergy, but they want to be fair, also, to the clerics who are accused.

Actually, our present group of Bishops are among the finest in the world. They are simple, hard working priests. They have no airs. They are close to the people. They are doing their best to help the poor. And our priests, by and large, are good men. Devout. Prayerful. Hungry to serve. The mere fact that one cleric showing signs of human weakness gets such sensational publicity is a proof of their excellent reputation. The total effect of all these attacks on the Church will be this: it will strengthen the priesthood.