Bishops oppose charter change, warn of ‘creeping dictatorship’
The country’s collegial body of bishops has expressed its opposition to moves to amend the 1987 Constitution but stopped short of calling on the people to reject it.
Citing fears of a creeping dictatorship and a lack of transparency, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday urged legislators to set aside self-interest and to instead promote the “common good.”
Self-serving moves
In a pastoral statement, the bishops cautioned that “when the move for Charter change becomes self-serving,” such as calls for “no elections” and term extensions, “it is to be expected that citizens would react with suspicion, astonishment and exasperation.”
“In addition, the feeling of a creeping dictatorship is conjured by past experience. Moreover, political dynasties are really and factually becoming a dominant factor in our country’s political life,” the CBCP said.
The bishops issued the statement at the end of their three-day biannual plenary assembly in Mandaue City. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and at least 85 other prelates attended the plenary.
CBCP president, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, signed the statement titled “CBCP Pastoral Guidelines for Discerning the Moral Dimension of the Present-day Moves for Charter Change.”
Federal government
President Duterte supports moves initiated by Congress to change the Constitution to pave the way for a federal form of government.
In calling for the Catholic faithful’s vigilance, the bishops said: “Have an informed conscience and decide in the light of gospel values. Do what is necessary. Persuade our legislators to do only what is genuinely for the good of all on this issue of Charter change.”
The CBCP reiterated that the “provisions of the draft 1987 Constitution were consistent with the Gospel.”
Fundamental values
It cautioned that fundamental values on human dignity, human rights and religious freedom might be endangered with “a rash move for a new Constitution.”
Stressing that participation is the heart of democracy, the bishops warned that transforming Congress into a constituent assembly “is bound to be deficient of widespread peoples’ participation … and consultation.”
