Sun.Star: Cardinal says Lozada's forgiven

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal urged the Catholic faithful to rejoice in contemplating the resurrected image of Jesus, in the midst of a “wounded" country. Part of his Easter Sunday activities was his public confirmation that he has forgiven Rodolfo “Jun" Lozada Jr., who accused him of leading the “Archdiocese of Malacañang" and of forbidding local priests from celebrating mass during the Senate witness’ visit to Cebu. “My initial reaction was, ‘We also have a Malacanang sa Sugbo here,’" a laughing Cardinal Vidal told reporters after the 5 a.m. mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He said he understands that Lozada “does not know what he is saying." Unlike the archbishop, several Cebuano leaders have asked that Lozada apologize to him. The archdiocese’s Presbyteral Council has also defended Cardinal Vidal, saying “there is a need for prudence in our words and actions, in our communal search for truth." The council counts as its members senior and junior priests coming from the districts of Cebu, priest formators in the seminaries, canon lawyers and other commission heads under the archdiocese. “I thank them. I am very grateful to them. But I don’t mind (what Lozada said). The words did not take anything out of me. It did not also add anything to me," Cardinal Vidal said. Joke “Well, except that I am now a congressman, not elected by the people, but elected by the few. You see, that is now my new mission. Lupig pa ang ubang congressmen. Daghan sila og mga sakop, ako wala, di ba?" he added, laughing. The prelate was referring to the statement attributed to the Black and White Movement, particularly Leah Navarro, calling him “a congressman in a cassock." The same group also accused Vidal of using “his influence to discourage Cebuanos from meeting Lozada, listening to him and judging him for themselves." “I’m very old. This does not affect me except if they would accuse me of any sin. That is something. They should ask me directly so that I could explain to them and so that there will be no more intrigues. It could save us saliva," said the 77-year-old Vidal. However, he admitted he is more worried about the reactions of the Catholic flock. “Of course, people felt that they were offended by the words. There must be something to appease them. An apology has to be enough. I do not dictate (Lozada on what to do). It is up to him. His words have not affected me," he said. Challenge When asked to comment on the subject that Lozada reportedly lost several supporters in Cebu after he called the local church the “Archdiocese of Malacañang," Cardinal Vidal said twice, “It’s good that he knows that." During his homily, the prelate asked parishioners to learn from Mary, mother of Jesus, whose humility did not change with the life, death and resurrection of her Son. “I hope that we have come to this meeting to pray that Mother Mary will be with us as we try to live out a Christian life each day as a city of God, as Easter people full of Easter joy," Vidal said. Easter is the most important Christian festival and commemorates the resurrection of Jesus. It also signifies the renewal of baptismal vows. In the country, the occasion starts with salubong, locally called sugat, at dawn when statues or actors representing the Risen Christ and Mother Mary reenact their first meeting hours after the Resurrection. Humility Vidal also delivered a separate Easter message that saw print in yesterday’s issue of the archdiocese’s weekly publication Bag-ong Lungsuranon. “Uban sa nagkahingkod nato nga pagtuo, samtang gipasigarbo nato ang pagka-Cradle of Christianity sa Pilipinas, ipadayon nato ang pag-ampo nga madasigon ug mapailubon ug ang pagbuhat nga malaumon ug mahigugmaon sa tanang panahon, aron, basin pa, magmalinawon na kita," he said. (As our faith matures, even as we take pride in being the cradle of Christianity, let us keep praying and humbly doing good deeds at all times, so that we, perhaps, may find peace.) He called on the people not to strive for material things but to fulfill the obligations of their religion, in order to help them live better Christian lives amid various challenges. - Sun.Star