Let us see the continuance of Catholic's influence here in the Philippines. Not only priests does have "CONTROVERSIES" that are now being exposed in diff. parts of the world , but also "BISHOPS" and "ARCHBISHOPS"!
Conclusion: They are SHAMELESS!
Here is the news that a bishop wrote a letter asking for a BRAND NEW CAR to the former President of the Philippines:
Lawyer Aleta Tolentino, a PCSO director, provided the Inquirer with a copy of the February 2009 letter of Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos to Arroyo, which was coursed through then PCSO director Maria Fatima Valdez.
Attached to the letter was a March 9, 2009, memorandum transmittal from “The President” to “The Chairman” of the PCSO, with the note “for appropriate action, please.”
“This document (Pueblos’ letter) really shocked us. It pains us to divulge it but this will be included in the investigation,” she said.
Bishop’s letter
Pueblos’ letter to Arroyo reads:
“I will be celebrating my 66th birthday on March 8, 2009. I know this will be a precious day and timely occasion to thank the Lord for giving me another year … After a prayerful discernment and due considerations to the existing crisis phenomenon today, I have decided not to hold a birthday party. Instead, I prefer to make use of my birthday as a day with and for myself, and with God.
“Having (been) declared, awarded and honored from your good office as ‘Peace Champion of Caraga,’ I am grateful to God that He has made me an instrument of His peace, especially here in Mindanao. I know I can do more to promote and work for peace.
“It is in this view that I am asking a favor from your Excellency. At present, I really need a brand-new car, possibly a 4 x 4, which I can use to reach the far-flung areas of Caraga. I hope you will never fail to give a brand new car which would serve as your birthday gift to me. For your information, I have with me a 7-year-old car which is not anymore in good running condition. Therefore, this needs to be replaced very soon.
Pueblos’ call for Aquino to quit
“I am anticipating your favorable response on this regard. Thank you very much. Be assured of my constant support and sincerest prayers to your Excellency.”
Last month, Pueblos called on President Aquino to resign over alleged irregularities committed by his party mates, classmates and shooting buddies.
Pueblos’ diocese was one of the six Catholic dioceses and one organization that received sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and cash donations amounting to P8.3 million from the PCSO during the Arroyo administration.
Besides the Diocese of Butuan, the recipients of the illegal donations for the purchase of 4 x 4 vehicles were the Zamboanga Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate, Archdiocese of Cotabato, Diocese of Bangued (Abra), Prelature of Isabela (Basilan) and Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc and Caritas Nueva Segovia, which covers Ilocos Sur, received financial assistance.
Using name of poor
Tolentino wondered whether the vehicle Pueblos had requested was for the poor. “This (letter) is a camouflage of using the name of the poor for self-interest,” she said.
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
I almost laugh about this, see the letter of the bishop, in the 1st and second paragraph he pretended to be humble but then his true colors showed off in the 3rd paragraph, the first two was just an "ACTING" so the President would approve his favor (inshort, PAAWA EPEK!^^)
I agree to Att. Tolentino when she said:
“This (letter) is a camouflage of using the name of the poor for self-interest,”
Ive got this comment pertaining to the video above and i am 100% agree!
Another is what Edcel Lagman, i am also 100% agree he said:WTF!! These bishops are calling for civil disobedience and telling people not to pay taxes to Phil. govt? It should be the other way around. People must go out in the street and condemn these Bishops for their bad immoral activities. They even collect jueteng money. They don't even pay taxes yet the accept donations from the government. Church should focus on their role in this society - moral and spiritual guidance! Or simply abolish CBCP! They're bunch of immoral religious leaders!
HOUSE Minority Leader Edcel Lagman yesterday described as morally offensive the acceptance of some Catholic Bishops of vehicles or cash gifts from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Lagman said the Catholic Church has enough resources to fund its own charitable institutions or foundations.
“The Catholic Church is way too rich to be a charity case and has more than sufficient resources to finance its charitable work without competing with countless indigent patients and legitimate charity beneficiaries,” Lagman said.
source: journal.com
And their solution for this very big controversy is.... (GUESS WHAT?)
MANILA, Philippines - Catholic bishops who received money from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to buy sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are willing to return the cars to the government, a church-run news agency said Thursday.
Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, who bought a P1.629-million Mitsubishi Montero from money given by the PCSO in 2009, is among the prelates willing to hand over the SUVs, according to CBCP News.
Pueblos, who is perceived to be close to then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had personally asked for a new vehicle from the Palace as a "birthday gift."
"I don't see any problem. I am riding a very old vehicle within the diocese itself. I could even ride yung mga small vehicle if it is necessary. It will not really be a problem," he said in an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas.
He added that he is willing to face an ongoing Senate investigation into the alleged misuse of funds in the state lottery agency during the Arroyo administration.
He also accused the present administration of going after critics.
"Yes, I would even like to make a privilege speech in Senate," he said. "It's a character assassination what they did to me and because of this I have also in sort of to defend myself."
Another Church official, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, said he is willing to return a P1.225-million worth Mitsubishi Estrada his diocese bought using PCSO funds in 2009.
"If they want to get it, it's ready. We can return it to them," Jumoad said, as quoted by CBCP News.
Bishops Deogracias Iñiguez of Calookan and Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon said handing over the vehicles to the PCSO may finally end the controversy.
"Just return the vehicles to put an end to this issue. Not doing so will only fuel speculations," Iñiguez said.
"Return all these vehicles to PNoy (President Aquino). They’ll make it appear that the bishops personally used those vehicles when the bishops didn't," Bastes said.
Archbishops Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Romulo Valles of Zamboanga, Ernesto Salgado ofNueva Segovia, Bishops Rodolfo Beltran of Bontoc-Lagawe, and Leopoldo Jaucian of Abra have yet to say if they will return their PCSO-funded vehicles.
source: abscbnnews.com
This is their solution, to "give back" luxury vehicles so that it would not appear that they are indeed greedy and that they use it for the "poor(?)". What else are their tactics? (Any guess?)
While citing Article 6, Section 29 (2) of the constitution that bars government from giving public funds to support a specific religious sect or group, Bernas said ruling on previous legal cases depend on the purpose and uses of the government "gift."
He mentioned the case of Aglipay vs. Ruiz on use of government funds for the issuance of postage stamps commemorating the 33rd International Eucharistic Congress of the Catholic Church, as well as the expropriation of the birthplace of Felix Y. Manalo, the founder of the Iglesia ni Kristo, for the purpose of preserving it as a historical landmark.
source: abscbnnews.com
To INVOLVE some that is not connected with the issue, so that they can be "resolved" in the eyes of the public! That is from a bias, Fr. Joaquin Bernas. Its funny to see how these priests and bishops helping each other to cover the truth, like Catholic defenders are doing, so now i believe the saying "By their fruits you will know them", because it is same as what the corrupt catholic officials are doing, they all do the same as what their Church did!
And their last step?
Philippine bishops yesterday apologized for their role in the fund controversy at the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), where donations of luxury cars have put Catholic leaders on the spot.
Their pastoral letter “A Time of Pain, a Time of Grace” was read at the close of a national plenary assembly in Manila of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“We assure you that the bishops concerned are ready to accept responsibility for their action and to face the consequences if it would be proven unlawful, anomalous and unconstitutional,” said Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, CBCP president.
The bishops asked their followers to be “slow in judgment” and to “seek the truth always in charity.”
“Our Mother Church has been deeply wounded by the controversies in the [PCSO] that have erupted in the past two weeks … As shepherds struggling to love you like Jesus the Good Shepherd, we are sorry for the pain and sadness that these events have brought upon you,” said Odchimar.
The PCSO alleged that the vehicles were used by the past administration for political patronage at the time when calls for resignation had been hounding former President Gloria Arroyo.
Seven bishops were earlier identified as receiving donations of sports utility vehicles (SUV) from the state-owned lottery. Six are expected to attend a Senate hearing about PCSO funds tomorrow.
No mention was made in the pastoral statement about returning the brand-new vehicles, which cost at least P1 million each.
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
Yes, 7 bishops received money from PCSO funds to buy luxury cars, here it is:
- Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos- P 1.704 million
- Archbishop Romulo Valles- P1.54 million
- Quevedo- P1.44 million
- Jaucian- P1.129 million
- Bishop Martin Jumoad- P1.125 million
- Bishop Rodolfo Beltran- P600,000
- Archbishop Ernesto Antolin Salgado- P720,000
Saying sorry and saying "they are ready to take responsibility on their action" means they are indeed GUILTY! They even use the name of Jesus(their God) in this controversy
"...As shepherds struggling to love you like Jesus the Good Shepherd, we are sorry for the pain and sadness that these events have brought upon you,” said Odchimar."
This is a sin plus sin, why?
They violate their 3rd commandment!
- Do not take the name of the Lord in vain
Tsk. Tsk. Well, this is how Catholics plays the game, they are not contented on using the "poor" in their reason but then they even use Jesus' name (their God), WHAT THE???
FACTS:
- Catholic Church does receive money from gamblings legal or illegal, every now and then. Even nowadays, they are adviced not to.
- They accept money from the government for the activities of CHURCH.
- They involve some for the controversy's sake.
- They are too rich for them to ask for funds in the government for their CHARITIES. and lastly,
- They are all SHAMELESS! After they condemned the government on different issues, they are the one's who are benefiting of government's money or should i say, FILIPINO'S MONEY.
