Philippine prelate says threat of chaos led bishops to nuance remarks

Published: 2005-07-15

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- The threat of ensuing social chaos was a major consideration that led the Philippine bishops to carefully nuance their response to calls for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign, one bishop said. "The threat of social chaos -- that was the big thing," said retired Bishop Francisco Claver of Bontoc-Lagawe. He said the bishops assessed the country's political crisis as being "of such magnitude as to polarize our people." Bishop Claver said "so many unknowns" led the bishops to agree "from the very beginning" that the political crisis was "a very serious matter" that required the bishops to talk "as a united body." In their July 10 statement, the bishops said they would not demand Arroyo's resignation, "yet neither do we encourage her simply to dismiss such a call from others," reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand.

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