MANILA, Philippines -- An official of the Catholic Bishops? Conference of the Philippines on Sunday expressed belief that even kidnapped Columban missionary would not want any ransom to be paid for his release.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, chair of the CBCP committee on public affairs, also indicated that the country?s Catholic leadership supported the stand taken by the government and Sinnott?s fellow missionaries to reject the kidnappers? demand for a $2-million ransom for Sinnott?s safe release.

?That?s the policy of the government. It should stand by that policy so that (the kidnappers) would no longer be emulated,? Iniguez told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

Asked whether the non-payment of ransom was also the stance of the Catholic leaders in the country, Iniguez said: ?Certainly.?

Iniguez acknowledged that Sinnott needed immediate help when told of Sinnott?s remarks seeking aid from President Macapagal-Arroyo, the Philippine and Irish governments and other persons for him to get out of his ordeal.

?But I don?t think even Fr. Michael will agree to ransom being paid,? Iniguez said.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP media director, said the collegial body of the country?s Catholic leaders was rejecting the ransom demand.

?(The) CBCP will not give in to ransom demands,? Quitorio said in a text message to the Inquirer.

Asked for his message to Sinnott, Iniguez expressed his sympathy and compassion for the missionary.

?Fr. Michael, we are in complete sympathy and compassion with you. We cannot accept what is being done to you,? Iniguez said.

?Certainly, we are one with those expressing their negative reaction,? he added.

Iniguez said he could not understand why the kidnappers would ask for a huge ransom.

?The very fact that they took him, that is already very heinous,? Iniguez said.

The ransom demand, Iniguez said, would only make the kidnappers even more unpopular.

Fr. Patrick O?Donoghue, the major superior in the Philippines of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, has said that the congregation doesn?t pay ransom.

In a statement sent to CBCP News, O?Donoghue expressed satisfaction that Sinnott is alive and that he has been able to get some of his medications.

?(The) past week has been very wet here in Mindanao and living in the conditions that he described can only have had an adverse effect on (Sinnott?s) fragile health,? CBCP News quoted O?Donoghue?s statement.

?I hope that he continues to be well,? O?Donoghue added.

O?Donohue said it was already three weeks since his abductors ?unjustly and harshly? took Sinnott from his home.

He called on persons who may be in a position to influence the kidnappers ?to continue their efforts to enable the abductors to see that the best and simplest way forward is for them to now release Fr. Sinnott without further delay.?

?On this All Saints? Day, let us unite our prayers with them that the hearts of the abductors will be open to compassion and fairness,? O?Donoghue said.