Palace exec cites Scripture to bishops
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:30:00 11/29/2008
Filed Under: Churches (organisations), Politics, Government
MANILA, Philippines -- To bishops endorsing "people power,'' President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's deputy spokesperson has this to say: It's contrary to the Scriptures.
Undersecretary Anthony Golez bristled at the bishops' reported endorsement of extra-constitutional means to force Arroyo to step down, calling it "reckless.''
"It's a reckless and an irresponsible act unmindful of the dire consequences,'' he said over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan, wondering if the bishops wanted to foment violence against the government.
Besides, he added: "These statements are contrary to the teachings found in the Book of Romans, Chapter 13, which says that we should submit to the duly constituted authority.''
Romans 13:1-2 reads: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.''
Bishops Antonio Tobias of Novaliches and Deogracias Yñiguez of Caloocan City had indicated that they would support popular mass actions if the political and economic conditions do not improve.
Senator Panfilo Lacson defended the bishops, and said they were airing sentiments that some people could not otherwise voice in public.
"This is the sign of the times,'' he said in an interview over dwIZ. "It was expressed by two bishops but this is the sentiment of millions of Filipinos who want change.''
But Senator Richard Gordon disagreed, and said that bishops should steer clear of politics.
"They should not engage in politics because if they commit a mistake, no one's going to believe them anymore,'' he said over dwIZ.
Golez likened the bishops to a "mad piper blowing his flute while innocent children follow him to the banks of the river, and maybe drown.''
"Do they want bloodshed? Do they want chaos? Do they want hatred? Do they want division now that we're in the middle of a world economic crisis?'' he said in the radio interview.
He said it was up to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez whether to file charges against the bishops.
"I don't think any such call [for people power] will succeed because the people want critics with vested political interests to stop, and move on,'' he said.
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