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CBCP Permanent Council Assumes Office
INTRAMUROS, 03 December 2005 -- The members of the CBCP Permanent Council assumed office first day of December 2005, as provided by its Statutes. Elected July this year by the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, the Council is chaired "ex officio" by Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, President of the CBCP, while Bishop Antonio Ledesma, of the Prelature of Ipil is the Vice President.
The members of the are: Abp. Paciano B. Anicero, Bp. Carlito J. Cenzon, Bp. Manolo a. De Los Santos, Bp. Antonio P. Palang and Bp. Gabriel V. Reyes, all from Luzon; from Visayas were Bp. John F. Du and Bp. Vicente M. Navarra; and Bp. Nereo P. Odchimar and Bp. Angelito R. Lampon, both from Mindanao.
The members of the Conference are assembled as a "Plenary Assembly" twice a year. When the Plenary Assembly is not in session, it is the Permanent Council which acts for and in behalf of the entire Conference.
The CBCP bylaws dictate that "the Council may be convened by the President at any time for the discharge of its regular functions or for special purposes. However, when the Council cannot have a quorum, the members present, together with other CBCP members available, may also act for and in behalf of the Conference."
One major function of the council is to prepare joint statements or pastoral letter of the hierarchy on matters decided by the Plenary Assembly provided that copies are sent to other members for comments before they are officially released.
The council is likewise "mandated to work with the Episcopal Commissions and assign to them functions of urgent character which may not have been taken up in the Plenary Assembly."
Abp. Lagdameo, for the meantime, will be working first on the transfer of leadership as he has to evaluate matters in CBCP commissions and concurrently consult with other prelates.
His term and other members of the council started on December 1 and will end on November 30, 2007. (Roy Q. Lagarde)
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