Running priest Robert Reyes has slammed Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos for justifying his acceptance of a Mitsubishi Montero from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) by calling upon the words of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin. Reyes attributed these words to the late Manila Archbishop: “He (Sin) would accept money from the devil himself if that would help the poor.”
Fr. Reyes said the late Cardinal meant those words to be a joke, and they hardly justify the act of the seven bishops in accepting donations of SUVs or UVs from the PCSO.
I disagree with Fr. Reyes. When the late cardinal uttered those words, he did not mean them to be a joke. It was in fact his defense of the Church’s position of receiving donations from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
In Oct. 25, 2000, Cardinal Sin came out strongly to defend the Catholic Church’s acceptance of P181 million in donations from Pagcor since 1998. I’m not sure about the context of his statements but I do recall that many people, then as now, are confused about the Church’s position on legal and illegal gambling.
The Church eschews gambling, but what about the Church’s acceptance of donations from Pagcor which operates lotto and gambling casinos?
Instead of blushing, Cardinal Sin squarely addressed the issue by saying: “If Satan appears to me and gives me money, I will accept the money and spend it all for the poor. It is not the practice of the Church to ask donors where their donations come from. Our duty is to make sure all donations go to the poor. The devil remains . . . my enemy but I will use his resources to feed the poor.”
Our readers may check this text through the online files of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. PDI came up with a compilation of the irrepressible Cardinal’s quotable quotes after he died in June 21, 2005.
Cardinal Sin’s position on the matter is both pointed and unpretentious. I believe he meant that the work of the Church for the poor cannot be delayed by splitting hairs whether the money is lawful or not, or whether the donation is supplied by good people or criminals. The scenario would be akin to a sick man who could die if he does not get quick medical attention. Naay nagtinga, mangutana pa ka?
So, the late cardinal, oftentimes referred to as the “Cardinal of the Edsa Revolution,” had no qualms about receiving donations from the state gaming firm to help the poor, but it did not prevent him from condemning corrupt politicians and government officials even it meant the loss of donations for his diocese.
I agree though with Fr. Robert Reyes when he said that Sin could be turning in his grave, because the Butuan prelate appeared to place more emphasis on receiving donations even from the devil, instead of citing the more significant part of Sin’s pronouncements, “The devil remains my enemy,” because to me this is about remaining steadfast in one’s faith and principles.
At the height of the campaign for the 1998 presidential elections, Sin denounced then candidate Joseph Estrada’s womanizing and gambling and named him unfit to become President. Three years later, he again called his flock to reprise their 1986 role in Edsa, to join peaceful rallies to force Erap’s ouster. At that time, Estrada was facing impeachment trials for corruption and less than 20 days after Sin issued the call, Erap resigned.
Accepting the vehicles, whether they are luxurious Pajeros, Monteros, or plain utility vehicles like L-300’s, in furtherance of the bishops’ work for the poor is not the issue but rather the silence of the majority of Philippine bishops when charges of electoral fraud, graft and corruption and human rights violations rained on the Arroyo administration from 2004 until she stepped down from Malacañang in 2010.
Had the bishops pressed for GMA’s resignation, as retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Yniguez or the late Corazon Aquino did after the 2004 Garci tapes issue came to light, would the 2007 electoral fraud, as alleged by detained Maguindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and affirmed by the fugitive Lintang Bedol, the provincial Comelec supervisor in the area, have happened?
I hope the bishops do not obfuscate the issue by presenting it as a legal question because it is first and foremost a moral issue. The fact that the seven bishops apologized for their acts is a subtle admission that they erred. Their decision to return the vehicles could mean they don’t want this embarrassing issue to linger because they cannot endure their guilt feelings, especially the censure inside and outside the CBCP.
The controversies point to a low era for the Church in the Philippines, but it could be a blessing if the bishops reexamine their priorities and mend their ways.