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 ardinal Ricardo Vidal, the
most senior ranking Catholic prelate in the Philippines has finally come
out against using the Church to promote political ends.
The Eminent
Cardinal, who normally avoids the spotlight, had strong words for clergy
members who use the pulpit to promote partisan political agendas.
Overseas Filipinos, increasingly frustrated by the destabilizing
politics of the opposition, salute Cardinal Vidal for taking this bold
stand.
The political chaos that now grips the Philippines,
can leave long term "scars" on the economy as well as, on its
credibility as a functioning democracy. The incessant wrangling in the
House of Representatives, and the non-stop investigations, in lieu
of lawmaking in the Senate, are enough to give even the most bullish of
foreign investors and businessmen, pause. Even expatriate Kababayans who
someday hope to retire back home are having second thoughts. And who can
blame them; from the outside, the country seems like an unmitigated
disaster!
The Arroyo administration, which came to power on the
heels of the corrupt and discredited Estrada Administration, is now
itself being dragged down by destabilizers who cannot wait for her
six-year term to end, and instead are making a grab for power by trying
to destroy her with all sorts of lies and innuendos.
 Unfortunately,
in the midst of all this, some members of the clergy have seen fit to
involve themselves in the current political turmoil, in clear violation
of the long-standing doctrine of "separation of church and state."
It is thus heartening to know that the Eminent
Cardinal saw fit to warn his fellow clergymen not to use their position
as leaders of the church to promote any political agenda. We hope and
pray he is listened to by his fellow clerics as well as the other
religious leaders in the country.
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