PRUDENCE AND candor are indeed rare commodities in our society and, conspicuously, even in the Catholic Church.
It was a shock to many that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reacted to the issue of the “Pajero 7” in a way too remote from spiritual character and from what is fitting of any simple person capable of simple judgment.
What the seven bishops did by asking or “receiving” funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office—whether to buy a Pajero or a kaldero (cooking pot)—was plainly bad, irregular and unconscionable. What is outrageous is the CBCP coming to their “aid and defense” (both directly and indirectly) instead of castigating, rebuking and “restoring” them for the anomaly they committed. And what can be expected from the CBCP’s exclusive probe of the matter (but hubris) when its members, except for two enlightened bishops, continue to play blind, deaf and dumb.
The CBCP’s “sorry” gesture that came by way of a prepared speech was self-serving. Thus the bishops subtly “succeeded” in justifying the “sins” of the Pajero 7, from whom they are probably no different.
By its highly deplorable “fraternity-mentality” of coddling misfits in their fold, the CBCP only gave the impression to the public that a great number of bishops themselves, perhaps, have been into questionable dealings with government officials and institutions, and are equally guilty. In so doing and by their mere appreciation (or non-appreciation) of the issue, they have sullied their credibility as spiritual pastors and moral guardians to this predominantly Catholic nation.
And I hate to say that the CBCP bishops might have lost their right collectively to criticize any government policy or action unless they all resign and allow a total overhaul of the CBCP as an organization with an entirely new heart and unpolluted “apostolic mission.”
—RENI M. VALENZUELA,
renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com