Philippine bishops yesterday apologized for their role in the fund controversy at the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), where donations of luxury cars have put Catholic leaders on the spot.
Their pastoral letter “A Time of Pain, a Time of Grace” was read at the close of a national plenary assembly in Manila of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“We assure you that the bishops concerned are ready to accept responsibility for their action and to face the consequences if it would be proven unlawful, anomalous and unconstitutional,” said Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, CBCP president.
The bishops asked their followers to be “slow in judgment” and to “seek the truth always in charity.”
“Our Mother Church has been deeply wounded by the controversies in the [PCSO] that have erupted in the past two weeks … As shepherds struggling to love you like Jesus the Good Shepherd, we are sorry for the pain and sadness that these events have brought upon you,” said Odchimar.
The PCSO alleged that the vehicles were used by the past administration for political patronage at the time when calls for resignation had been hounding former President Gloria Arroyo.
Seven bishops were earlier identified as receiving donations of sports utility vehicles (SUV) from the state-owned lottery. Six are expected to attend a Senate hearing about PCSO funds tomorrow.
No mention was made in the pastoral statement about returning the brand-new vehicles, which cost at least P1 million each.
When asked by reporters, Msgr. Juanito Figura, CBCP secretary general, said the council could not decide on the issue because the donations were not given to the CBCB but to the individual bishops.
It’s up to the bishops to decide on the matter, Figura said.
“It was discussed by the permanent council and the plenary assembly, which is the higher assembly. But because the vehicles were not given to the assembly or the CBCP, it is not for the assembly to decide on that,” said Odchimar.
Odchimar said the bishops’ acceptance of the donations was done without malice.
“Out of their sincere desire to help their people, they failed to consider the pitfalls to which these grants could possibly lead them.”
“They have also expressed their readiness to do everything that is necessary to heal this wound so that we can all move forward in hope,” said the prelate.
In the wake of the controversy, the CBCP in its pastoral letter said it has also decided to “reexamine” its style of collaboration with government agencies for its social work for the poor, putting premium on respect for “pastoral sensibilities” and observance of “the highest ethical standards.”
“We shall examine our values in the light of our vocation to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We commit ourselves to the long journey of personal and social transformation required of all disciples of the Lord.”
“We plead with you to walk with us in this path of constant renewal,” said Odchimar.
The bishops admitted the issue “deeply wounded” the Church causing confusion among the Catholics “because of the apparent inconsistency of our actions with our pastoral preaching.”
“Some members of the Church believe in the innocence of the bishops involved in the issue, while others do not. There is no doubt that everywhere in the Church there is great sorrow,” they said.
The pastoral statement was described by Figura as the fruit of days of careful study, listening, meditation and prayer by the bishops.
Odchimar read the pastoral statement at a press conference at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila, where over 60 active and retired bishops from across the country have been gathered since Friday for a biannual plenary assembly.
The CBCP Plenary Council, which meets every January and July, is the highest decision-making body of the Catholic Church hierarchy in the country.
Among those present in the meeting were Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila, retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, newly elected CBCP president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and former CBCP head Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro.
Five of the seven bishops involved in the controversy were also present. They were Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Abra Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, Bontoc-Lagawe Bishop Rodolfo Beltran and Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos.
The other accused, Archbishops Romulo Valles of Zamboanga and Ernesto Salgado of Nueva Segovia, did not attend. Salgado is reportedly in the US for an appointment.
While discussing issues confronting the Church, the assembly also tackled the latest scandal to have rocked the Philippine Catholic Church.
“The document is the fruit of a sincere and wholehearted gesture of solidarity and charity of the CBCP as a body to the individual bishops implicated in the so-called controversy in the PCSO,” said Figura.
He said the statement was also the CBCP’s “special way” of expressing concern to the faithful who have been confused by the issue.
The CBCP strictly advised the media that it would not entertain questions after delivering the pastoral statement.
Figura said this was in deference to the Senate hearing on the PCSO fund mess on Wednesday.
“Please understand that … no questions will be entertained for the reason that the bishops have the consensus that they value and highly respect the forum at the Senate,” Figura told reporters.
Six of the seven bishops implicated in the PCSO fund mess were expected to attend the Senate inquiry on Wednesday, said Figura.
He said he was unsure if Salgado could attend since the archbishop was out of the country even before the controversy erupted: “As far as we know, he is abroad.”
Bishop Pueblos of Butuan, who had personally requested a Mitsubishi Montero Sports 4×4 from former president Arroyo as a “birthday gift” in 2009, earlier said he would give his complete statement at the Senate. /Inquirer