At Large
Missing Cardinal Sin
By Rina Jimenez-David
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:21:00 01/22/2008
Perhaps in time we will see emerge the “whole truth and nothing but the truth” on the events that led to EDSA People Power II or “Edsa Dos,” as it has come to be enshrined in the popular memory.
Part of that supposed “truth” is the report that came out in yesterday’s Inquirer about how the late Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, defied the Vatican’s order not to take a “partisan” stance in the impeachment trial of then President Joseph “Erap” Estrada. If you will remember, it was the cardinal who called for the first massive rally around the EDSA Shrine when scandal after scandal engulfed the Estrada administration, including the attempt on the life of Ilocos Sur province’s Gov. Chavit Singson.
It was Singson’s revelations that triggered the subsequent impeachment by the House and trial in the Senate. And when Estrada partisans in the Senate voted not to open the so-called second envelope of evidence that would supposedly nail the case against the President, it was Sin once again who rallied the thousands of irate citizens who gathered before the EDSA Shrine.
Yesterday’s report said the cardinal received the “orders” from the Vatican just two days before Estrada vacated Malacañang. In response, Sin allegedly offered to resign as archbishop of Manila if the Vatican insisted on enforcing the order.
This “Vatican order” has mysterious beginnings. I do recall reading in the newspapers (and uttering a curse) at that time about some functionary in the Vatican issuing an order to the cardinal and other church officials to cease involvement in the growing anti-Estrada protests. The report also quoted then-ambassador to the Vatican, Tita de Villa, who expectedly, being an Estrada appointee, backed the order.
But the Vatican, to my knowledge, bases its actions regarding a local church on reports and analyses submitted by the Papal Nuncio, who as the envoy is Rome’s “eyes and ears” in a country. If the orders had indeed originated from reports submitted by him, what then was the Nuncio, Archbishop Franco, doing by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s side as she took her oath of office on that makeshift stage at the EDSA Shrine?
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At that time, the cardinal was already ailing and his physical condition was apparent, even in the early protest actions. It would be up to lay Catholic leaders, including the top officials of Couples for Christ, who happened to be gathered in assembly the evening of the voting on the “second envelope,” to carry the momentum of the EDSA protests forward.
But a Church source says events subsequent to EDSA II, especially the “chopping up” of the archdiocese of Manila into six different dioceses, had nothing to do with the Vatican’s displeasure -- or pleasure -- at Estrada’s ouster and the cardinal’s role in it. The division of the archdiocese, in fact, was the cardinal’s idea, since the population of Catholics in the old archdiocese, which was roughly equivalent to the composition of Mega Manila, was proving to be too heavy a burden.
Besides, if the intent of such an action was to diminish the influence of the cardinal, or of the archbishop of Manila, on national events, it was ultimately for naught. Influence and leadership, after all, are a matter of a charisma and credibility, with the faithful heeding the teaching and call of a Church leader they believe in, regardless of the size or wealth of his diocese.
But, if the intent of the supposed Vatican order was to discourage the involvement of the local Church leadership in politics, then it succeeded -- in spades. These days, the country and people are looking for moral leadership in the midst of doubts about the legitimacy of the national leadership. So far, no one from the Catholic hierarchy has stepped up, at least no one with enough authority and charisma to rally the faithful. How we miss Cardinal Sin!
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Speaking of the Vatican, there have been rumors circulating among the local clergy about moves to replace Ambassador to the Vatican, Leonida L. de Vera. De Vera has served the Catholic Church in various capacities, starting with the 1995 papal visit, the World Meeting of Families held in Manila, and other international events, and was recommended by Cardinal Sin and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
The name being floated as De Vera’s replacement is that of Cristina Ponce-Enrile, Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile’s estranged wife. Her “backers” are supposedly Tony Adriano, a furniture manufacturer with very close ties to both the Catholic hierarchy and to Malacañang and who figured in the distribution of envelopes full of cash to bishops at a meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines; and Nena Valdes, who heads the Office for Religious Affairs in Malacañang.
People are supposedly incensed at the “chutzpah” of Adriano and company, because the tradition in the appointment of a new envoy to the Vatican is to consult the Catholic bishops first before any new appointment as ambassador is made. In fact, associates of Adriano say that when they inquire from him about Ms Ponce-Enrile’s pending appointment and his role in it, Adriano does not deny anything and even hints that he might accompany the new envoy to her post.
De Vera, for her part, is said to be very hurt by developments and has even begun packing her things after hearing about the “intrigues” about her. She is a much-loved figure among priests and bishops, whose hospitality and hard work on their behalf in the Vatican have been proven time and again. She has also sponsored many young people in their studies, among them countless seminarians, many of whom are now priests and among her staunchest supporters.
More Inquirer columns
Previous columns:
The people we honor – 01/19/08
Pinoys to cheer for – 01/17/08
World's 'greenest city' – 01/16/08
What’s their beef? – 01/14/08
Searching, and not just for presidentiables – 01/12/08
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