Stop masses for Lozada, Bicol bishop tells priests

by Arlie Calalo
from The Manila Standard

AN ARCHBISHOP in Bicol has barred all priests in his archdiocese from saying mass for whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada and warned them against parties that would use them for political purposes.

Nueva Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi said he was not opposed to the Catholic faithful joining protest rallies, but said the mass should not be used for politics.

In particular, Legaspi was adamant against Lozada’s use of the mass to deliver political statements against President Arroyo.

“We should not use mass for political purposes because it is sacred. It should not be used to entice the people into joining political rallies,” the archbishop said.

Legaspi added that existing Church policies prohibited priests from using the mass for political purposes.

In Cebu, a spokesman for Ricardo Cardinal Vidal denied an order was issued to stop priests from saying mass for Lozada, who visited the province for a campus tour to drum up public support for a campaign to oust President Arroyo.

“If there were priests who did it, they did on their own. There is no such directive, no order, no note verbale, no prevention of doing what they want to do,” said Msgr. Archilles Dacay, Vidal’s spokesman.

He added: “It’s a pity that there are certain people who feel that they have been pressured. Democracy works here in Cebu and Cardinal Vidal respects such rights.”

Vidal’s spokesman would not confirm reports that Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde had approached some Cebu priests for supporting Lozada.

Meanwhile, the Black and White Movement, which is organizing Lozada’s provincial speaking engagements, hit Vidal and called him a “congressman in a cassock.”

“There is a difference between critical collaboration, which allows prelates to receive state funds while preaching political moderation from the pulpit, and being a puppet of the president,” the movement said in a statement.

“The Black and White Movement believes that this is not a legal issue; it is a moral and spiritual matter to deny the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist to a Catholic. And the proof is there—as of this writing, not a single priest has accepted the invitation to say a Mass for Truth in Cebu,” the group added.

“The cardinal has used his influence to discourage Cebuanos from meeting Lozada, listening to him and judging him for themselves. Instead of prudence, Vidal prefers partisanship…

“Cardinal Vidal is a congressman in a cassock.”