CBCP to RP leaders: Be servants of the people

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro, Iloilo appealed yesterday to the nation’s leaders to become servants of the country and work together to improve the lives of Filipinos.

Lagdameo made the call during the 24th National Prayer Breakfast attended by President Arroyo, who shook hands with opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. after saying the common prayers.

In his first public statement after officially taking over the leadership of CBCP last week, Lagdameo said the nation’s leaders must work to have "integrity of the heart and credibility" to be able to ultimately become "inspiration of the people" and achieve genuine reform for the country.

For leaders to become servants, Lagdameo stressed they should prioritize the basic needs of the majority of Filipinos: food, education, housing, health and livelihood.

He admitted that such action, while necessary, would be "costly."

"Transforming to servant leadership is futuristic, very active, alive and moving. It invites a revolution from within - of the mind and of the heart. I believe that God will hear our prayers and soon change our country," said Lagdameo in his keynote speech.

The prelate noted it was Jesus Christ Himself who demonstrated in the Bible what a servant leader should do.

"In Matthew, Chapter 20, Jesus said: ‘Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many."

The prayer event was meant to allow leaders of the country to set aside their differences and join hands in prayer to improve the country’s social, political and economic conditions.

Joining the President and Pimentel were former President Fidel Ramos, Supreme Court Associate Justice Reynato Puno, Deputy House Speaker Emilio Espinosa and other government officials.

"Today we come in friendship in order to be united before God, our common father. Before God, we are friends, brothers and sisters. We are not strangers or enemies to one another, but people equally loved by God," Lagdameo said.

Echoing earlier statements of the CBCP and other religious groups such as Iglesia ni Cristo and El Shaddai, Lagdameo again appealed for leaders to end their political bickering and instead unite for the good of the country.

"We should say prayers for each other and not against each other. I challenge you to pray that the Lord in His wisdom will answer the prayer of your neighbors."

He explained the country’s problems could not be solved if leaders held onto their pride and "insisted on doing the same things," which he said would only lead to "cosmetic change."

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who also attended the annual prayer meeting, earlier said the popular people power revolutions, which have ousted two former presidents from office, had proven ineffective in bringing about lasting, genuine reform for the country.

Vidal also dismissed street protests launched by the opposition against Mrs. Arroyo to force her to resign amid charges of poll fraud in last year’s presidential election.

The CBCP, in its July 10 pastoral statement, clearly stated that while bishops support the search for truth behind this allegation against the President, they would not back any violent and unconstitutional means of political change.

In solving the conflict, Lagdameo said individual reforms through "humility, repentance, conversion and prayers" would be necessary for "national transformation and renewal." He pointed out this could address the "hardness of heart" which has been causing the problems. — With Paolo Romero