Re: So whats going on in bacolod?

If the Catholic Church (and I mean this with all due respect) had their way,
the entire world would be under a socialist umbrella with everyone's
earnings going into one great pot for the bishops and priests to dole out as
they wish. No individual savings or wealth of any kind. It would just go
into grand construction projects of glorious churches and palace rectories.
My God, they would probably go back to selling indulgences. The Inquisition
wasn't all that long ago folks.

That is why churches of all stripes and colors should be completely and
totally removed from politics.

Now, one more time: PGMA won. The UN is satisfied with the integrity of the
elections. All of the countries of the world are satisfied with the
integrity of the elections. The various impeachment and court actions have
gone nowhere because there is no basis in fact for them to go anywhere.

She won. You lost. Spend the time between now and the next election cycle
trying to find someone worth voting for and someone worthy of holding the
office of President. Not some half-wit C-grade movie fossil.

"Isabel Granada" <socculturefilipino@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1142468464.196949.150250@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bishop to Arroyo: Step Down Now

Another Catholic bishop has directly demanded that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo step down from office - adding his voice to calls
earlier made by Abp. Oscar Cruz and Bps. Julio Xavier Labayen,
Deogracias Iñiguez, and Antonio Tobias. Bp. Vicente Navarra of the
Diocese of Bacolod expressed this call and has even led a prayer rally
demanding the president's resignation.

BY KARL G. OMBION
Bulatlat

PHOTO BY KARL G. OMBION
"As long as it is within the confines of the Constitution and
non-violent change, and it is truly the will of the people, I am in
favor of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down."

This was the answer of Bp. Vicente Navarra to the persistent question
of local media concerning his views regarding the growing clamor for
Macapagal-Arroyo's removal. He also said that that if President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo comes to Bacolod on March 14, he will tell her
of the real conditions of Negrosanons, and that "they want GMA to
step down now."

Navarra also referred to a Jan. 29 pastoral statement by the
influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP),
which calls for a relentless pursuit of the truth.


He however clarified that while the official position of the CBCP does
not make a categorical and unequivocal call for Macapagal-Arroyo's
resignation, the organization's stand is definitely not neutral. "The
CBCP is all out for change, either by reforms in government economic
and political policies, or by the people's clamor that GMA step down
to pave the way for a peaceful turn-over of power," he said.

Navarra explained these in a press conference last March 6, together
with representatives of the broad multi-sectoral formation Concerned
Negrosanons for Freedom and Democracy (Confredem). Members of the
Confredem include the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New
Patriotic Alliance)-Negros, Laban ng Masa (The Masses' Fight), Negros
Movement for Moral Regeneration, September 6 Movement, SEEDCORE,
Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR), Peace Advocates of
Negros.

Navarra read during the press conference his pastoral letter, which
urges the people "to defend the truth, and remain steadfast witnesses
of the truth."

"Our nation is fed with and thrives on lies, half truths and double
talks, and it is a nation not truly free," Navarra said.

"Our rightful claim for truth has never been answered, not given due
course of law," Navarra further said, referring to the killing of
impeachment proceedings, the "Garcillano tapes" scandal, and
jueteng scams, among others. He also cited the case of the undue
disbarment of Bacolod human rights lawyer Francisco Cruz, as well as
the dismissal of an illegal logging case in the town of Don Salvador
Benedicto, as "clear proofs" that "our rightful claims for truth
have never been answered."

PHOTO BY KARL G. OMBION


On March 8, Navarra, backed by dozens of clergy and leaders of
religious congregations led more than 10,000 marchers in a prayer rally
at the Bacolod public plaza to denounce Macapagal-Arroyo's state of
national emergency, threats of martial law reimposition, mining
expansion, and Charter change, among others.

In the program, Navarra read his pastoral letter, the main message of
which is to "disturb the conscience of the leaders of this land,"
and calls on the people to register their protests as Christians.

"Be more vigilant for truth, remain steadfast witnesses of the truth,
because we are adrift in a turbulent sea of lies and falsehoods,"
Navarra urged the marchers.

"We have to make our voices heard as we search for truth and for the
redress of our human dignity impaired by machinations of people with
vested and partisan interests - the very reason why as Church and
concerned citizens we strongly registered our protest against the
imposition of state of national emergency, albeit lifted already,"
Navarra also said.

After the bishop's message, representatives of cause-oriented
organizations, civil society, media, lawyers and local government units
offered their respective prayers, most of whom offered their call for
more vigilance, courage, righteousness, and resoluteness in seeking the
truth, removal of GMA, and "liberating the people."

Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, director for social action of the Diocese of
Bacolod, elated by the big turnout of ralliers, said: "I am so glad
that people have responded positively to our call, and showed their
readiness to resist the threat of martial law reimposition."

"I hope our actions and statements here will be heard in the national
level, especially in Malacañang, so they would know we are disgusted
with the way GMA runs our government and country," he said. Bulatlat


.

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