CBCP: Bishops' call for PNoy's ouster only personal opinions

MANILA, Philippines - The call of some bishops for President Benigno Aquino III to step down due to the alleged brazen corruption in government is not the stand of the entire Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, an official said Monday.

 

Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP- Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, said that the calls of bishops for the president's resignation are just their own personal views.

 

He said the official stand of the CBCP on certain issues is released after its plenary assembly which is done twice a year.

 

"We have to remember, that these bishops are making this statement in their capacity as leaders of their own Diocese and in their own personal capacity," the prelate told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

 

Secillano pointed out that bishops have the right to voice out their own opinions regarding the issues concerning the state.

 

"Ang  mga Obispo na nagsasalita tungkol sa usapin ng estado, problema sa pamahalaan, isyu ng pamayanan, kapag nagsalita ang mga Obispo ay nagri-react agad ang mga mananampalataya. Ang pananaw usually ng mga mananampalataya yung mga Obispo dapat tahimik lang at nakatutok sa isyu ng pananampalataya at Simbahan. But then, the people can be missing the point, ang mga Obispo naman mayroon din namang karapatan na magsalita, magbigay ng pahayag sa mga isyu at usapin sa pamahalan o sa society at large kasi ang Simbahan, pari at Obispo sila ang nagbibigay ng ibang uri ng pananaw at ano ang mga pananaw na yan."

 

"Tignan ang mga bagay-bagay based on the social teachings of the Church. Kasi very rich in principles ang teachings ng Simbahan about sa common good, justice, so dito natin ipinapasok na sana ang nasa gobyerno ay naglilingkod sa ating bayan pati ang mamamayan na matuto dito sa sinasabi nating Catholic Social Teachings because to sum it up, itong teaching ay nagbibigay sa atin ng konsensya in a way, kasi dito natin natutunan ang katuruan ng Panginoon," the priest said.

 

Secillano, however said that the differences in the opinions and views of the bishops do not mean the division in the Church.

 

"There should be pluralism, ina-admit natin yan, plurality of opinions, differences of philosophies, approaches and strategies lalo na at democratic setting tayo. So welcome ang lahat ng pananaw, but at the end of the day ang tinitingnan natin ay common good," he added.