Philippine bishops hold Mass amid claims of government corruption

Published: 2008-02-15

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- Philippine bishops decided not to join a protest rally against the president and alleged corruption and instead held a "Mass for truth" at their headquarters. The Feb. 15 Mass was held prior to the afternoon rally in the main business district in Manila. Opposition politicians and leftist groups protested the latest crisis surrounding President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. Arroyo and some Cabinet members are under fire amid allegations of corruption in a national broadband network contract that has since been canceled. Political opposition leaders claim the rally was the first of several. The Mass was the bishops' response to the call by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro, the Philippine bishops' conference president, for "communal action" in light of the nation's "search for truth and justice."

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .