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| Bishops ‘disappointed’ over Enrile’s confirmation as RP envoy to Vatican |
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Thursday, Jun. 12, 2008 Posted: 1:34:34AM PST
MANILA - A Roman Catholic bishop said he was disappointed on the confirmation of the wife of administration Senator Juan Ponce Enrile as Philippine ambassador to Vatican City.
Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso said that while the Church respected the decision of the Commission on Appointments to confirm Cristina Castañer-Ponce Enrile's appointment to the post, some members of the clergy did not welcome the confirmation because of alleged morality issues.
After all, he said, Holy See officials still has the last say whether to approve Cristina’s appointment or not and replace the resigned Leonida Vera.
In a radio interview, Medroso said most bishops are concerned about the confirmation for alleged morality issues that might backfire on the Catholic Church.
“Yes we are disappointed because we were not consulted. The CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) should have at least been consulted to give opinion,” he said over Church-run Radyo Veritas.
Sen. Enrile earlier denied the rumors, adding that her wife's appointment was a reward for his defense of the Arroyo administration during Senate hearings.
Cristina had long been rumored to be an estranged wife of Mr. Enrile. But the Senator denied it, saying he had been living with his wife for decades.
The Vatican, in accepting an ambassador, insists that if the individual is Catholic, he or she must not be “in a state of canonical irregularity.”
Only recently, the Vatican declined official approval for Argentina’s newly named ambassador to the Holy See—Alberto Iribarne, a divorced and remarried Catholic.
Iribarne’s remarriage after being divorced precludes him from receiving communion.
The bishops’ concerns reflect criticism that the government sees the ambassador’s role in partisan political terms, and that Cristina has been appointed as a political favor to her husband, a key supporter of President Arroyo.
The prelates were also dismayed by the sudden resignation of Vera, who stepped down in January.
Political observers said that the government blamed Vera for failing to secure Vatican action to restrain bishops who have been harshly critical of the Arroyo government.
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