BISHOPS WANT APOLOGY FROM AQUINO OVER SWEEPSTAKES DONATION

MANILA, Philippines - The influential Catholic Church has called for an apology from President Benigno Aquino and Margarita Juico, head of the state-run lottery office, for allegedly be-smirching bishops who received donations from the government to help the poor, a local paper said.
"Now, it’s the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Aquino’s time to apologise to the people, after what they have (done),” Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo from Cotabato in the southern Philippines, told the Inquirer.

• “The anti-Catholic Church campaign has Aquino’s green light. Shall we just let this thing happen? Let’s make a stand for our faith,” Bagaforo(right photo) said.
• “Juico’s resignation is the best apology from the PCSO. Maybe the entire board of PCSO should resign,” Bagaforo said, adding, “Juico should clear the names of the bishop and leave it to the President to ask her to resign for just action.”
• “She should apologize via all media organizations. She should repair the damage done to the Catholic Church,” Bishops Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel in the southern Philippines, also told the Inquirer
• Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen (right photo) in northern Luzon, known as pro-Aquino, also chastised the president.
• “We need the spirit of integrity but also a magnanimous integrating spirit to heal all causes of division,” Archbishop Villegas said in a speech before the Rotary Club which was sent to reporters.
• “Leadership without vision is treachery to the governed. Integral leadership also means setting the path towards the future. Those who set their hearts on the plow cannot keep looking back,” Villegas said, adding, “Leadership is moving forward with excitement. The task of the leader is not only to stay clean and live by integrity.”
• Juico (right photo) revealed that her predecessor at the PCSO released P 8 million funds during the time of former President Gloria Arroyo, for the purchase of sports utility vehicles that were requested by seven bishops, to help the poor.
• Raising the issue before the Senate, Juico said the Constitution bans the release of public funds to religious leaders.

The young Aquino has challenged the strength and influence of the Catholic Church in his support for the passage of a health bill that allows the use of artificial contraceptives in government’s subsidy for the poor’s family planning program.

Source: Agency