Nuns back Trillanes' cause; CBCP defends 'meddling' in issues

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has found allies of sorts in the form of a religious congregation that voiced support for his crusade for good governance and respect for human rights. The support was aired by Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS) which said that the call of Trillanes for genuine change in government is the aspiration of many people. "Though we do not support military takeover in government, we totally support the people's aspiration for good governance, respect of human rights and for a just and lasting peace," the group said in a statement posted Monday night on the CBCP Web site. RGS also reiterated its call for President Arroyo to quit her post, saying that she has lost the moral ascendancy to govern the country. Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) defended its statements on "political" issues, saying it is part of their responsibility "to tell the people that what is morally wrong has to be rectified." CBCP Episcopal Commission on Canon Law Chairman and Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso said the bishops and priests may get into the picture if they see "there is something wrong with governance." "His (bishop's) conscience would tell him to get out and be heard, to speak out if there's something wrong with the authorities," he said. Medroso said limiting priests and bishops to spiritual matters is wrong. "It is a very, very wrong concept of the mission of priests, bishops and religious for we do not exist in this world as spirits, we are living in this world with body and soul and precisely because of that the involvement is so close and simply we cannot separate one from the other," he said. Asked about various and at times conflicting opinions from bishops and priests, Bishop Medroso said his brother prelates and priests have different views and convictions on political issues. “We have to consider the reality that even priests and bishops have different perceptions and appreciation of events," the 69-year-old prelate said.- GMANews.TV