Outside bishop’s realm of competence

It was exasperating to hear Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo talking about secular matters that are not within his realm of competence. I am referring to his latest statement dismissing the recent Pulse Asia survey which said 47 percent of all Filipinos believe impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona is guilty, and that media have not been reporting accurately on what’s going on at the impeachment trial. (“Manila bishop belittles survey on Corona,” Inquirer, 2/2/12)

In the first place, Pulse Asia is a professional survey firm and its polls have been conducted with the use of a rigorous, scientific methodology, I have no doubt as to the credibility of its polls’ findings.

Pabillo’s reaction clearly shows that he is on the side of Corona who, as Chief Justice, is accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption. Would Pabillo still defend Corona should he be convicted by the impeachment court? That’s something I’d like to see.

Pabillo admitted that he has not been watching the impeachment trial, so it’s really surprising that he can shoot his mouth off on an issue he knows very little about.

While at this, he should also try to look for a copy of the Constitution, as he clearly has not read it.  There he would find in very explicit terms that in this country, there is such a thing as separation of Church and State.

More to the point, I am really pissed off that some church prelates can be so sanctimonious while they themselves are hardly exemplars of virtue. Bishops are supposed to be the guardians of morality, but how many of them tolerate immorality for as long as the person is a big donor to the Church? I recall that a top Church official once said that he did not see anything wrong with the Church getting donations from illegal gambling operations for as long as these would be given to the poor, or words to that effect. In other words, they would accept money from the devil himself if they had their way. No wonder religion is the biggest racket in the world.

—ALBERTO LUGARTE,

[email protected]