After impeachment: time for renewal, healing to take place

Archbishop Jose Palma

The head of the Catholic hierarchy urged the faithful not to be distracted by the divisive nature of the just concluded impeachment trial and allow healing to take place.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said everyone should now journey together towards renewal and “begin anew.”

“Let us now turn our attention to the plight of the worker, the needs of the hungry, those who long for justice, love and peace,” Palma said in a statement.

Noting how the impeachment process had divided the nation, Palma said its time that healing takes place, even as he advised the people to accept the verdict.

“During the impeachment process we manifested our differences. We remain divided today. Can we transcend the division?” he asked.

He urged everyone to uphold the values of life, family, love of country and love of God.

“I pray that we value more things that unite our people rather than those that divide us,” the CBCP head said.

Palma noted that the impeachment process did not merely place into public scrutiny the Chief Justice and his family but also exposed the sorry state of the nation.

“On the one hand, we have seen our lights or virtues, and on the other hand our shadows or our inadequacies were also unmasked,” he said.

On Tuesday, the Senate sitting as impeachment court has convicted Chief Justice Renato Corona for culpable violation of the constitution and betrayal of public trust.

Twenty-three of the senator-judges found Corona guilty for not fully disclosing his statement of assets that include bank deposits amounting to millions of pesos and dollars.

Palma said that with the conviction of Corona the bar of transparency and accountability for public officials has been raised.

“Let these values be owned up to by all leaders. We should do the same as citizens of our beloved Philippines,” he said. (CBCPNews)

CBCP head: Impeachment over, it’s time to move on

Now that the impeachment trial is over, it’s time for everyone to move on and put the interest of the country forward, the head of the country’s Catholic bishops said.

Even as the trial has brought division among Filipinos, now is the time for opposing camps to reach out to one another in a spirit of friendship and put the good of the country ahead of personal interest, according to Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

 “I would like to underline that we can think of the things that can unite us, think of the things that can make us one and help each other, put our talents and gifts at the service of the people and believe that there is something good for the Filipino people in the near future,” Palma said in an interview Wednesday over Church-run Radyo Veritas.

We should join hands to pursue many things that could bring about development and improvement for our people, he added.

“I know that people are divided [over the verdict], some maybe happy but there are also others who are not satisfied,” Palma said.

But he also stressed that it is important to respect the judgment of the Impeachment court and accept its decision in good faith.

Twenty members of the Senate sitting as the Impeachment Court yesterday convicted Chief Justice Renato Corona for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Senators who found Corona guilty for failing to declare his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth were Senators Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Jose Estrada, TG Guingona, Gringo Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Sergio Osmena III, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel III, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla, Jr., Vicente Sotto, Antonio Trillanes IV, Manuel Villar, and presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile.

Three of the judges, Senators Joker Arroyo, Miriam Santiago and Ferdinand Marcos, Jr voted for Corona’s acquittal.

Palma said the impeachment trial should serve as a lesson for everyone, especially public officials to be transparent and accountable to the people whom they are called to serve.

He said it is the lack of transparency and accountability among public servants that is the root of corruption and the cause of poverty in the country.

All of us in whatever manner, whatever responsibility we may find ourselves holding, said Palma, we should put forward the good of the people more than our own.

Now that the impeachment is over, it is for the good of everyone that we try to become friends again, think of the good of the people and tell them, we are here for you and for your good, he reiterated. (CBCPNews)

Vatican grants special privilege to Taal Shrine

Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay

Devotees making pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay in the historic town of Taal in Batangas will now be able to receive the same plenary indulgence granted to pilgrims who visit the ancient church of St. Mary Major in Rome.

The Vatican has issued a decree signed by Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archpriest-emeritus of St. Mary Major, granting the Caysasay Shrine the same special privilege attached to the Roman Basilica.

Pilgrims who visit and pray at the Shrine will receive plenary indulgence provided they fulfill the prescribed conditions of going to confession, participating in a Mass and praying for the intention of the Holy Father.

Fr. Nonie Dolor, the archdiocesan media director, said the Vatican's pronouncement came very timely as the archdiocese is preparing for the grand celebration of its 40th anniversary.

He said a Mass of Declaration to be presided by Lipa Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles will be celebrated at the Shrine on June 3 to formally announce to the public the special privilege granted by the Vatican.

The ceremonies will include the reading of the decree and placing the original Latin text and its translation as a marker at the Shrine's entrance, according to Shrine rector Fr. Jose Maria Loyola Cumagun.

On Saturdays, the day set for devotion to Our Lady, the otherwise sleepy shrine becomes vibrant when pilgrims flock to the place to pay homage to the Blessed Virgin.

The Marian icon which is now known as our Lady of Caysasay was said to have been found by a local fisherman at the Pansipit River, according to a local legend.

The people had the Marian image enshrined at Labac where devotees flock every Saturday to pay homage.

Miracles attributed to the image attracted many devotees to make annual pilgrimages to the Shrine, especially Chinese Catholics who regard the image of Our Lady of Caysasay as their own. (CBCPNews)