Noy: Church officials silent on abuses of past gov’ts

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino, who has battled Roman Catholic leaders in the country for much of his administration, said after meeting with Pope Francis yesterday that church officials had been overly critical of him and silent about the abuses of past political leaders.

Aquino made his comments, which critics quickly denounced as inappropriate, on the second day of the pope’s visit to the Philippines, where he has been received with great fanfare.

“There was a true test of faith when many members of the church, once advocates for the poor, the marginalized and the helpless, suddenly became silent in the face of the previous administration’s abuses, which we are still trying to rectify to this very day,” Aquino said at the presidential palace as Pope Francis looked on somberly. “In these attempts at correcting the wrongs of the past, one would think that the church would be our natural ally.”

He continued, “In contrast to their previous silence, some members of the clergy now seem to think that the way to be true to the faith means finding something to criticize, even to the extent that one prelate admonished me to do something about my hair, as if it were a mortal sin.”

Aquino was referring to a remark made in 2012 by an archbishop, Ramon Arguelles, who said that the balding president “should wear a wig.”

Aquino has had a contentious relationship with the Catholic Church in the Philippines, primarily over the passage of a law that would provide free birth control devices to women. The church opposes some forms of birth control being provided under the law.

His administration has aggressively investigated his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was a close ally of the church and a supporter of the clergy’s efforts to block the contraception bill. Arroyo was arrested in 2011 and charged with election fraud, and she was later indicted on suspicion of misusing more than $8 million in government lottery proceeds. Many other officials of her administration have been implicated in corruption scandals.

Critics of Aquino reacted swiftly to his comments, with some saying that they were inappropriate for a visit intended to welcome the pope.

“Aquino used the event to discuss his issues with the church,” said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bayan, a left-leaning organization. “Unable to rise above his own concerns, he turned the event into a gripe session even as he conveniently omitted the exclusion and inequality pervading the country under his watch.”

In a statement delivered before Aquino made his comments, Pope Francis urged an audience of senior political leaders “to reject every form of corruption, which diverts resources from the poor, and to make concerted efforts to ensure the inclusion of every man and woman and child.”

“It is now, more than ever, necessary that political leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good,” he added.

In his remarks, Aquino praised past Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines who were instrumental in the overthrow of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and he called Pope Francis a “unifying and revitalizing voice” in the church.

Aquino cited the martial law regime of Marcos when his father, former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was incarcerated and later assassinated.

“I had a front row seat to that tyranny and persecution. Martial law deprived our family of a loving husband and father,” Aquino lamented.

He condemned the priests of the Catholic church for being “silent” during the entire duration of the Marcos dictatorship, but the President gave credit to clergymen like the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin for being instrumental in mobilizing citizens to join the first people power revolt that toppled the Marcos regime.

In pushing for reforms that give priority to good governance and accountability and “correcting the wrongs of the past,” Aquino always had this thought that priests “would be our natural ally.”

Half-full or half-empty

“Is it any wonder then, that they see the glass not as half-full, or half-empty, but almost totally empty. Judgment is rendered without an appreciation of the facts,” he said, citing the big difference between telling the truth and criticizing the Catholic church.

“Everything I have said has not been to criticize, but to speak the truth, for the truth shall set us all free. If we are able to settle our differences, can we not benefit our people quicker?” Aquino asked.

Aquino said he saw in the down-to-earth Pope Francis the sincerity in effecting real change, even in his own backyard as activist priest.

“I was struck by what Your Holiness recently said to the Curia, when you warned them of the illnesses that not only Christians, but anyone in a position of power, is prone to, including that of thinking one’s self immortal or indispensable, and the danger of becoming sowers of discord through gossip and grumbling,” he said.

“I appreciate and respect Your Holiness, for your role as a unifying and revitalizing voice, not just among Catholics, but also among all peoples of goodwill. Your statements bear witness to the compassion and understanding of Christ,” Aquino added.

Aquino drew laughter from the crowd made up mostly of politicians and officials of the Catholic church, when he mentioned their difficulties in providing him security, knowing fully well that he is a pope of surprises.

“Exhibiting the same humility, you eschew the trappings of your position, even to the necessary security preparations, which, I should admit, has been somewhat of a security nightmare for us,” he said.

“In all seriousness, who can deny that Your Holiness is truly living the life of one who is dedicated to advocating for the oppressed and marginalized?” Aquino said, describing the pontiff as a kindred spirit truly needed by society.

“I believe that you are one who sees things as they are, and is unafraid of asking: Why not? Some of your statements might have been shocking or offensive to some peers,” the President recalled.

“In the fight to transform society, one cannot help but be heartened by the fact that we are not alone,” he said.

“When we tread this path with people such as yourself, along with the millions you have inspired, we gain the courage to do what needs doing, the optimism to dream about what we can achieve in unity with one another, and the opportunity to turn that dream into a shared reality, with the grace of Almighty God,” Aquino declared.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda defended Aquino for the latest bashing of Marcos and Arroyo.

“One spoke of fighting corruption, the other spoke of the silence of the church in the face of corruption,” the Palace official said matter-of-factly, when sought for his reaction on the rather “un-statesmanlike attitude” of Aquino towards his political enemies.

“These are the two heads of state speaking frankly to each other, one as the pastor of the Catholic Church and the other, a member of the Catholic Church of the Philippines,” Lacierda recounted safely.

He said the President spoke of the role of the church through the years, from martial law up to the present period, and the noticeable shift in the fight for justice over the years.