A divided Church under attack

The allegation against Bishop Tobias is shrewd, manipulative and, in light of Malacañang’s theatrics about the separation of the State and Church, is simply ridiculous. What it seeks to do is cleanse the Catholic body of anti-GMA bishops while it is still not endorsing the impeachment complaint and while it is still divided on what to do with persistent questions on the legitimacy of President GMA.

Malacañang is acting like the Borgias and de Medicis of Medieval Italy. It wants to remove from the Catholic leadership those who neither accept gifts nor tolerate deception in politics – in short, those who can tip the balance against her favor. Malacañang as usual is willing to fabricate stories to control an institution that is still deemed as one of the kingmakers in Philippine politics.

If successful, Malacañang would in effect transform the Church, known for its political activism, into a puppet institution. Without the opposition of the Church, it will be able to rein in dissent from the organized Catholic communities. It will impair the capacity of the Church to mobilize in street protests – or future popular uprisings.

The attack against Bishop Tobias is also a recognition of the audacity of those within the hierarchy that speaks unequivocally for truth and justice. It means that the words and actions of the brave Bishop Tobias sting. But instead of this ridiculous witch-hunt, the government can instead support the impeachment process and help ferret out the truth, which is the real issue behind the whole crisis.