Praying for the truth?

As an outgrowth of the ZTE-NBN controversy certain sectors of society headed by some Catholic groups as well as by a klatch of former key government officials, are mobilizing an anti-Arroyo bandwagon. Their aim: To precipitate another people power to end the current leadership. On top of the resign-Arroyo rally last Friday, a series of “truth seeking” masses have been held by two prominent Catholic schools in Manila.

If anything, this surging obsession to unveil the truth, the truth about government corruption particularly, is a welcome sign in a country whose very name is synonymous with dirty public service. Observing a spirited throng of seemingly well-meaning people raising their fists against public malfeasances one gets the gratifying feeling that at last people have gotten over their lethargy and are now on the warpath.

On second thought, however, one is dismayed. For the agitation is clearly aimed not so much on the error, or evil, if you choose, committed as on the alleged perpetrator of evil. Notice the actionist’s placards: Gloria resign! Tama na, sobra na! Alis ka diyan! And listen to what one Catholic bishop said on the issue: The national government is “beyond redemption” in its moral bankruptcy!

It’s clear that those who are the noisiest in the controversy have not been spared from the bite of the political bug – although they may not know it. As they focus their ire on PGMA, these people have played into the hands of the opposition, notably senator Panfilo Lacson, whose presidential ambition must have motivated him to assume the role of a chief whistleblower of the current scandal.

Two people powers have taught us that changing a regime does not guarantee a changed mode of governance – from a graft riddled one to a mission driven custodianship. And as we gaze at those at the forefront of today’s agitation we remember who they are and what they have done or failed to do during their watch in the past.

Here’s a word of wisdom from Rev. Fr. Roderick Salazar, SVD, during the recent “mass for truth” in Cebu: “What truth are we seeking such that when we find it, it will set us free?… It has to be studied. We don’t just say resign here, resign there; after that what will happen?”

Indeed, what truth are we looking for? Are we looking for the truth of whether or not the Arroyo brand of service is riddled with corruption? Why, the truth that corruption has been a stigma of her governance, is no longer debatable. Accusations abound and since many of these have not been convincingly answered, accusations have ripened into conclusions.

To know the truth, we don’t need a cry-baby to swear before tv cameras about what he knows about a government deal supposedly to cleanse his soul, as he said, as if one can do this by spewing venom against other people’s character. The truth is there – specifically insofar as one president is concerned, broadly, insofar as the array of past presidents is taken into account, and still broadly as we are all concerned.

For who among this nation of avowedly Christian die-hards can claim perfection? Those honorable gentlemen of the Senate who pose as knights of shining armor against evil, are they angels? Can they show us how they spent the millions they get each year in the guise of project expenditure? How much are they pocketing from business clients? How much is their take from selling influences?

Those businessmen who have aligned themselves with the opposition, are they clean? Who among them are declaring correctly their tax returns? How many are paying their workers decent wages? How many are not short-changing their customers through deceitful marketing practices?

Those holier-than-thou bishops and priests who are quick to say amen to disclosures of malfeasances even by characters who may have their even agenda, how many have been true to their vow of chastity, poverty and obedience? Are they chaste in thoughts and in words? What about their kind whose sexual impulses have been a scandal in their parishes, what have these political-minded clerics done?

As to poverty, go tell the marines about our “suffering” churchmen who go about in Crosswinds and Pajeros, who flock to parish houses at fiestas to satiate themselves, the while mulcting the poor for their holy men’s stipends.

Those of us lay men who are praying for the truth, let’s stop this hypocrisy. We should pray instead for ourselves and for our lapses as baptized Christians.

* * *

Email: [email protected]