The Catholic Church is partly to blame for the continuing culture of corruption in society and government, a bishop said yesterday. Speaking over Catholic Church-run Radyo Veritas, Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of Boac in Marinduque said when the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) condemned rampant corruption in a pastoral statement last week, they also partly admitted that the Church has failed to inculcate Christian values in Filipinos.
“It’s been very long since we were Christianized and still we Catholics and Christians do not live with honesty,” he said.
“There is so much cheating and corruption in all agencies and levels of government and other institutions. Sometimes, even the Church is not clear in its teachings.”
Evangelista said the CBCP recognized this deficiency in their pastoral statement.
“We are aware of the situation of our country,” he said.
“And the bishops know for a fact that corruption still exists from the highest agency of government to the communities and provinces.
“That is why the bishops spoke and condemned the culture of corruption from top to bottom. As they say, there are many government officials who are devout Catholics but still are involved in corruption.
“Whatever happened to the courses on good governance they took in Catholic universities? Do we need to review them? Why aren’t these working on the people?”
Meanwhile, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan Oscar Cruz has vowed to speak out against allegations of rampant corruption in government.
Speaking to hundreds of students at the interfaith prayer rally in Manila Thursday night, Cruz said he regrets his silence when the administration was first accused of corruption.
“I will not keep quiet as long as corrupt leaders continue to be in control of the government,” he said.
Cruz, former CBCP president, said his silence on pressing issues hounding the government has ended.
“Please forgive me because I was one of those who were silent,” he said. “And now it’s you, young people, who are suffering from corruption, cheating and stealing.”
The public must act and stand up for truth on allegations of rampant corruption in the government, Cruz said.
Evangelista said there is an alarming “split – level Christianity” among Filipino Catholics, or the non-practice of Christian teachings even by those who regularly attend Mass.
“This should be addressed and solved so everyone would be enlightened with the right formation of conscience of the faithful,” he said. “We have many experiences of this and I am sad.”
However, Evangelista said the Church must not be solely blamed for corruption and dishonesty in government and society, as there are other institutions that have also failed to inculcate moral values in Filipinos.
“Those in the schools are also aware of this,” he said. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Disclaimer
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