No pastoral statement on Arroyo cases—CBCP

MANILA, Philippines—The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has decided against issuing a pastoral statement on current issues hounding former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the criminal charges filed against her but offered four points of reflection to help the public make a “conscientious and moral” judgment and decision.

In its last meeting for this year, the bishops, who are members of the CBCP Permanent Council unanimously agreed that a pastoral statement was “not needed” since “purely legal matters are not within their competence.”

“But they (bishops) are happy and encouraged that government that should be moving in response to these issues is actually moving now,” said CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

The bishops offered four points for reflection:

* What is truthful for all implicated?

* What is charitable for those implicated, the victims and for the Filipino people in general?

* What is just according to the laws for those implicated, the victims and the Filipino people in general?

* What is respectful of institutions involved and the persons representing these institutions?

The Permanent Council meeting was attended by outgoing officials of the CBCP, led by Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, and incoming officials, headed by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.