Philippine bishops say president's 'lapse in judgment' eroded trust

Published: 2005-07-11

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- The Philippine bishops did not join the chorus of calls for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation, but they did not dismiss such calls. "We recognize that nonviolent appeals for her resignation, the demand for a truth commission and the filing of an impeachment case are not against the Gospel," the bishops said in their statement, released July 10 at their semiannual plenary meeting, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Their three-page statement presented theological reflections on political leaders' "moral accountability" as well as on constitutionality, nonviolence and effective governance. The bishops said that despite Arroyo's apology her admission on June 27 to a "lapse in judgment" for calling an election official while votes were still being tabulated in 2004 has "further eroded the people's trust on the already suspected electoral system." It "raised serious questions on the integrity of the elections," they added.

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