Transparency urged in donations Church gets

BAGUIO CITY—A bishop here said the Catholic Church could start the healing process in the scandal over bishops getting funds and vehicles from government by being transparent on donations that members of the clergy receive.

Baguio Bishop Carlito Cenzon said his diocese would publish the sources of donations, hoping that other bishops would follow suit.

He said this would help win back the confidence of the people in the Catholic Church.

He said volunteers, especially those with background in accounting, are welcome to check the diocese’s books.

“This time, let us involve the people in the healing process. People should know the projects of the diocese. From now on, this should be in the agenda of the bishops. We should [look at our] pastoral programs and ask how do we source out what we need,” he said.

He also said people should be involved “in the honest discussion on the needs of the diocese.”

“They could raise questions why, suddenly, there were people in the [Catholic] Church asking the President or congressmen for some favors. We can talk about these issues in the pastoral council,” he said.

Cenzon said it is only now that Catholic bishops could “relax and breathe” after the scandal over the acceptance of vehicles and donations from government by seven bishops hogged media limelight.

“There was no feeling of demoralization, but I have to say that I can only breathe now. It was back breaking,” said Cenzon. “We love our Church and anything that is said against it is painful even if you’re not directly involved.”

He said in 2004, he, too, was asked by some Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) people if he needed a car. “But I said, ’No, thank you,’” he said.

The bishop said he would not solicit help from politicians and government gaming firms, like the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). “We can [get] what we need from other sources,” he said.

He said tithes collected from churchgoers are considered sincere financial support. He said the Catholic Church’s Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) in 1991 asked Church leaders to be transparent in accounting and spending tithes.

According to Cenzon, the Baguio diocese has various councils that monitor and implement of projects of the Church.

But because of the recent controversy, he said he wanted to strengthen the diocese’s financial council by asking accountants and auditors to monitor the flow of Church funds.

“The process involves digging into our methods, suggesting better management, planning and accounting. We can engage them in analyzing the accounts, but these have to be the trusted people who are endorsed by parishioners. They have to be active in Church activities,” he said.