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CBCP President answers questions about recent developments involving bishops
A phone interview/update with CBCP President Fernando R. Capalla, done while he is on the road from Bantayan Island in Cebu where he and a number of other bishops (mostly from Visayas and Mindanao) celebrated the 425th anniversary of the foundation of Bantayan as the first parish in the Philippines.
Q: What is the CBCP doing in relation to this development at EDSA where people have flocked to the San Carlos Seminary where Sammy Ong has been allowed to stay by Bishop Bacani?
A: By law, the issues surrounding Bishop Bacani and the seminary are the responsibilities of Archbishop Rosales as prelate of the archdiocese of Manila, The CBCP, also by law, may not take over the responsibilities of archbishops and diocesan bishops. Each bishop is responsible for his diocese and is answerable only to the Pope.
Q: Since bishops are involved in what’s happening now, will the CBCP as an organization of bishops in the country not say anything at all on the issue?
A: It must be known that the CBCP is not a super body above and over the individual bishops. It may be a conference of bishops but it does not have authority over any bishop. Each bishop is responsible for his own diocese; no bishop even if he is CBCP president can speak for other bishops, or tell another bishop how to run his diocese. Let’s take this case as an example: just because some bishops are reportedly involved, and have appeared being interviewed by media, does not give the CBCP the authority to encourage or stop them. Likewise, whatever they say may not be taken to mean the stand of the CBCP or the whole Church.
Q: So when may CBCP issue statements on cases involving bishop members? Like it is a well known fact now that it was Bishop Bacani who allowed Sammy Ong to take refuge in the seminary.
A: In this case, only when these happenings become issues affecting the whole Church, should the entire Conference or its Permanent Council issue a statement—and it certainly will if that happens.
Q: Why is this so? Don’t you think that a case such as this merits immediate attention from the CBCP?
A: Because by law, the bishops may speak as a Conference only in two ways. 1) through the General Assembly which takes place in January and July every year which gathers all active bishops from all over the Philippines; and, 2) through the CBCP Permanent Council consisting of 12 bishops who represent the different regions of the entire country. The Council meets quarterly and every CBCP statement must be approved by all Council members although it is signed only by the president. As I said, when a case such as this becomes an issue affecting the whole Church—and that must be emphasized—the CBCP must come up with a statement. Meanwhile, the CBCP Secretariat is kept abreast of the current events by Archbishop Rosales and Bishop Bacani.
Q: Being CBCP President, the people would want to know how you personally feel about the events. What is your personal message on the issue?
I only would like to speak as a priest, not even as CBCP President. We must not forget the power of faith, prayer and peaceful dialogue in settling differences. We as Filipinos may be undergoing a painful process in the growth of our country, so we must believe that all of us care about the Philippines’ future. Our faith helps us see that our love for our country and concern about its future is what we all have in common. Therefore we should set aside personal differences and not allow inordinate emotions to dictate our actions. Let us be calm in our efforts to find the truth; let us not lose faith in God’s involvement in our affairs.
(Sgd) MOST REV. FERNANDO R. CAPALLA, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao
President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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