New CBCP president shuns politics

Drawing the line between politics and the Church, newly elected Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Angel Lagdameo urged the faithful to take a more circumspect approach on the pressing political issues facing the country.

Lagdameo said the Filipino people should reflect upon themselves the consequences before making any critical judgment over the issues.

"The issue is whether it is legal or not. We in Church don’t have the power to judge its constitutionality so we leave it to lawyers and Congress," Lagdameo said in his first public statement after taking over the CBCP leadership.

"We would like to consider it as citizen’s motivation," he said.

While some bishops made their separate critical opinions over political issues, Lagdameo apparently refused to be drawn into revealing his position on the implementation of the expanded value added tax (EVAT) law and the ongoing "people’s court" hearing by the Citizens’ Congress for Transparency and Accountability (CCTA) on the accusations of electoral cheating against President Arroyo.

Instead, the Jaro, Iloilo archbishop appealed for a more sober and open-minded approach on these issues.

Unlike his prelate colleagues in the CBCP, Lagdameo expressed a positive outlook to what could be considered negative issues.

He welcomed reports the EVAT has given the country’s economy a boost, but called on the government to show more "transparency and accountability in spending."

"If it really brings more money to the government, then we have to pursue it," he said. "But we have to make sure that it will help the nation, especially the poor who will shoulder the effects of the EVAT."

Lagdameo called on the faithful to make a thorough assessment of issues before making any stand.

"Only through this can we find the truth," Lagdameo said over Catholic-run Radio Veritas. "We have to develop the empowerment of the people."

Lagdameo has been advised by Davao Archbishop and outgoing CBCP president Fernando Capalla to avoid being drawn into political issues and focus on working on the problems of the Church hierarchy.

"It is not the role of bishops to address political issues," he said.

Lagdameo, for his part, admitted he had to confront the problems facing the Catholic Church in the country.

"Our different commissions in the CBCP are receiving many letters," he said.

Lagdameo pointed out the process of making any pastoral statement on pressing issues is not as easy.

He said all of the 119 members of the CBCP have to be consulted on their views and opinions before coming out with a collective statement.

"Making programs (pastoral letters) this early would be too sudden," Lagdameo said. "We have to wait for the plenary meeting of our members in January. For the meantime, we will be preparing for our term."

Lagdameo took over the CBCP leadership last Tuesday from Capalla. While his term will officially begin on Dec. 1, the transition period will take about a month.

Caloocan Archbishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. said the turnover of leadership is not expected to cause major changes in the earlier position taken by the CBCP.

"The new CBCP leadership will most probably take the same line and carry out the principles espoused by outgoing officials," Iñiguez told reporters following a closed-door meeting between Capalla and Lagdameo last Tuesday.

Under Capalla’s leadership, the CBCP took a more moderate stand at the height of the calls for Mrs. Arroyo to resign.

While the CBCP noted the gravity of the accusations against the President, the prelates suggested a more legal approach of seeking the truth behind the allegations.

The CBCP issued a pastoral statement last September calling on Filipinos to "move forward and address the more important problem of poverty."