EDITORIAL - Pipe dream

There is a recent development in Cebu which, on the surface, may not seem particularly interesting. On closer scrutiny, however, it is a development that can provide a real insight into two issues or concerns.

This has reference to a plea made by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who echoed a similar plea by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, for all Catholic schools to freeze all tuition fee increases this coming schoolyear in view of the global economic crisis.

While it is common for such pleas to be made, especially by parents, this is a rare time when high ranking church officials have gone out of their way to issue specific appeals directed at specific targets within their own communities.

Thus the twin appeals, but more specifically that of Vidal as it concerns us Cebuanos in particular, have assumed a special interest because of two things that may possible arise from them.

These two concerns are whether Catholic schools are willing to heed the call of a higher religious authority over a business matter, and whether Vidal wields such an authority for him to be heeded even on matters outside religion.

It would be interesting because, for the first time, Catholic schools can be weighed publicly on a matter that has got nothing to do with religion and everything about business. And for the first time too, Vidal may find himself headed toward a position of conflict.

There are those who are willing to bet that Catholic schools will ignore the appeal made by Vidal, and Rosales, in the case of Manila. After all, the prelates merely parted with appeals. No edicts or direct orders emanated from their high offices.

Vidal and Rosales are two of the few remaining bishops who have continued to have in their hearts the true vocation of the priesthood, and thus can still feel the great challenges of humanity, unlike the growing number who have come to embrace ruthless politics.

It is a pity to realize that Vidal, and Rosales in Manila, is doomed to be ignored in an otherwise very humane aspect. If there are Catholic schools willing to sacrifice business interests by freezing tuition fees, it would be as if Jesus walked again in our midst.