Bad taste for church officials to ask for gifts, says Bishop Cruz

MANILA, Philippines—There is nothing wrong to ask for something, but Church officials should consider “delicadeza (proper decorum or behavior),” said Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, a known media-savvy,  anti-gambling advocate on Wednesday.

In a hearing of  the blue ribbon committee investigating alleged anomalies in the disbursement of funds by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Francisco Joaquin III read from a letter reportedly sent by Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2009, requesting “a brand new 4×4” for his 66th birthday.

Pueblos also said in his letter, which was shown to the blue ribbon committee, that he was using a seven year-old car that was no longer in good running condition, and could not reach the far-flung areas of his Catholic constituency.

“Parang nanliit ako ng malaman ko na isa sa amin ay nang-hingi ng sasakyan para sa kanyang birthday ,” [I felt small and belittled knowing that one of us asked for a vehicle for his birthday], Cruz acknowledged.

Cruz said he does not see any violation of the law regarding such requests,  but as much as possible, church officials should not do that for ethical reasons.