MANILA, Philippines -- The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has called for “radical reforms” against corruption in the country, noting that this has become a "moral and social cancer."

Citing the global financial crisis, CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said it was now time to rebuild the country, although he did not specify how it should be done.

"In response to the global economic crisis that we are facing today which everybody knows about and in response to the pitiful state of our country, the time to rebuild our country economically, socially, politically, minus corruption is now," Lagdameo said in a press conference in Intramuros Tuesday, aired live over the Catholic Church’s Radio Veritas.

"The time to start radical reforms is not later but now. The time for moral regeneration which has been long delayed, the time for moral regeneration is now," he said.

Lagdameo said the public must now "conquer complacency, cynicism, and apathy" as proof that they have matured from "political disappointments."

He said calls for radical change were borne out of the CBCP's recent moral discernment.

Meanwhile, other bishops also called for a stop to corruption, saying that population growth was not the root cause of poverty, referring to the controversial Reproductive Health bill pending before the House of Representatives that promotes the use of contraceptives but which Church leaders claim violates Catholic doctrine.

"If we have been less corrupt we have been better prepared to face global crisis. The problem of the Philippines is not population...the problem is corruption," said Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas.

"Let us not just wait let us be actively involved. Let us not just protest [but] offer alternatives," he added.

Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz meanwhile said corrupt officials would have to pay to a "higher authority" someday, aside from the human justice system.

"Perhaps who knows they might be given the punishment they deserve but that is not enough; someone else in higher authority will punish them as they deserve," he said.