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)
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