Philippine - The nation`s Catholic bishops are united in giving moral guidance to the people, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro, Iloilo, head of the Catholic Bishops` Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said yesterday.
Although the bishops may sometimes have different opinions on certain issues, they are one when it comes to giving moral guidance, he said.
The reported division among the church leaders is only the perception of some people, Lagdameo said.
In fact, the CBCP pastoral letter calling for communal action released at the height of the Senate`s investigation on the national broadband network (NBN) project, he said, was approved by the whole CBCP body.
"That was approved by the CBCP body. So you see we are united," said Lagdameo.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, for his part, stressed that the bishops are free to decide on their own, adding that if they want to join the civil society-led interfaith prayer rally on Feb. 29 in Makati City, they can do so.
"The CBCP does not tell anybody to go where they should go to. It leaves everybody free. So after saying communal action each, one does what he thinks will be in accord with the call of communal action," Cruz said.
"There is nobody singing out of tune in the choir. But, of course, judging a socio-moral issue or socio- political issue, we could be different or there could be some considerations which is also a possibility," added the prelate.
Source: www.mb.com.ph (23 Februari 2008)
