Philippine bishops refute
Duterte’s accusation against Cardinal Tagle
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| Cardinal Tagle with Pope Francis in the Philippines in January, 2015 |
President Duterte alleges Cardinal Tagle was removed from
Manila Archdiocese for meddling in politics.
By Robin Gomes
The Catholic bishops of the Philippines are asking President
Rodrigo Duterte to deal with real and urgent issues of the country instead of
wasting time on unfounded accusations.
Addressing the General Assembly of the League of Municipalities
of the Philippines in Pasay City on March 10, Duterte claimed that Cardinal
Luis Antonio Tagle was “removed” as Archbishop of Manila because Pope Francis
was angry with his meddling in politics.
"Unbelievably ludicrous," Bishop Pablo Virgilio David
of Kalookan, the vice-president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP), wrote on his Facebook account, commenting on Duterte's
remarks.
Duterte also said that the cardinal was investigated for
allegedly channelling church funds to finance the opposition Liberal Party of
the Philippines and its supporters, including the Aquino political
family.
"See, they [the Church] used the money. They
contributed to the yellows [opposition]… Don't you know? He was removed. Pope
Francis got angry because he [Tagle] meddled with politics," Duterte said.
The Filipino president has been at odds with the Catholic
Church due to their opposing stance on issues such as the war on drugs,
contraception and the death penalty.
Bishops rally around Tagle
In a CBCP statement on March 11, Bishop David asked Duterte
to stop wasting time on baseless allegations.
Pope Francis, on December 8, appointed Cardinal Tagle as the
Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Vatican
department that oversees the Catholic Church’s missionary activities
worldwide. The cardinal left Manila last month to assume his post.
“I suggest that we go back to the real issues of the day,”
Bishop David said, urging Duterte to deal with the increasing cases of Covid-19
“and how to get our act together in order to prevent it from further spreading
in our country”.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said Cardinal Tagle enjoys
a clean record with the Church. Contacted by CNN Philippines, he described
Duterte’s claims as "all lies, distortion of truth”. He said
that Cardinal Tagle's assignment in the Vatican "is a grace from God, a
gift and a blessing to the Philippines."
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the Apostolic Administrator of
Manila after Cardinal Tagle left for the Vatican, refused to comment on
Duterte’s attack against Cardinal Tagle. “No need to dignify
unfounded accusations,” he said.
Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran also stood by cardinal,
saying he “enjoys Pope Francis’ trust and confidence”. “He is a model of
humility, kindness, integrity and holiness. I am a personal witness to his
exemplary intelligence and Christian virtues,” he said.
CBCP executive secretary, Father Jerome Secillano described
Duterte’s claims as “simply twisted and reeks of intrigue”.
The Filipino president has been at odds with the Catholic
Church due to their opposing stance on issues such as the war on drugs,
contraception and the death penalty.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the Apostolic Administrator of
Manila after Cardinal Tagle left for the Vatican, refused to comment on
Duterte’s attack against Cardinal Tagle. “No need to dignify unfounded
accusations,” he said.
Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran also stood by cardinal,
saying he “enjoys Pope Francis’ trust and confidence”. “He is a model of
humility, kindness, integrity and holiness. I am a personal witness to his
exemplary intelligence and Christian virtues,” he said.
CBCP executive secretary, Father Jerome Secillano described
Duterte’s claims as “simply twisted and reeks of intrigue”.
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