Cardinal Rosales regrets ‘people power’ statement

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales apologized to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for the controversy stemming from his statements against the use of "people power" in a given situation. But Rosales, in a letter to CBCP president Nereo Odchimar, maintained the situation is still not critical to warrant a popular revolt. "First of all, I want to apologize to you all for having given the wrong impression that the Archbishop of Manila was against People Power, and therefore not in consonance with the stand of CBCP," he said. Still, he said, the truth is that "we do not have those critical situations yet," and that the Church has to prepare people to go to the polls on Election Day. The text of the undated letter was posted on the Manila Archdiocese website Wednesday afternoon. Rosales was criticized by supporters of Sen, Benigno Aquino III, the Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer, after he objected on May 2 to Aquino's statement that there would be People Power should he lose in the May 10 polls. Many groups scored Rosales for saying the call for people power under such circumstances was "irresponsible and crazy." In its May 7 miting de avance the LP displayed placards chastising Rosales for his statements.

"I finally regretted the use of the words (irresponsible and crazy)," Rosales said. Rosales also said the Manila Archdiocese issued three pastoral letters on how to prepare for the election and offer prayers before and during the election. "Doing all these, we pray and hope there will not be a need for mass action. With the help of God, this is our response-ability: doing the present now!" he said. — LBG/VS, GMANews.TV