CBCP to tackle PCSO vehicle controversy in plenary assembly

The controversy over some bishops receiving vehicles from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during the Gloria Arroyo administration may top the agenda at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' plenary assembly in Manila on July 8 to 10. CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar said “We will discuss [the matter] at the plenary assembly. I still have to listen to the opinions of the other bishops." In an article posted Friday night on the CBCP news site, Odchimar also said he would try to personally get the sides of the bishops linked to the mess. He pointed out he has no personal knowledge of the supposed “grants" given to some bishops by the PCSO. The plenary assembly, to be held at the Pius XII Center in Manila, is the highest decision-making body of the bishops’ conference. It convenes every January and July. Earlier, the PCSO claimed some bishops received donations and vehicles from then President Gloria Arroyo, allegedly as political patronage. CBCP policy Odchimar admitted that as far back as January 2005, there is a policy among CBCP members not to accept funds from gambling. In the January 2005 statement, bishops made it a collective policy “to refrain from soliciting or receiving funds from illegal and legal gambling so as not to promote a culture of gambling." “But as I said, this was not generally followed for the benefit of the poor. The needs of the poor are primary important," he said. “For example, if someone sick and in critical condition comes to me, would I still hesitate to recommend him to Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and gaming Corp.)? It’s a matter of life and death," he added. Besides, he said bishops and their dioceses are independent of one another and are still directly responsible to Pope Benedict XVI. — LBG, GMA News