Cruz refuses to give communion to GMA, First Family, other ‘sinners’
By Jose Rodel Clapano
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz vowed yesterday not to give holy communion to President Arroyo, members of her family, and other known “sinners” in the country.
Cruz told the Newsmakers Forum held every Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza in Mandaluyong City that he will encourage the Catholic Church leadership, specifically the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), not to allow any publicly known sinners like Mrs. Arroyo and members of the First Family to receive communion.
“A publicly known sinner and a good number of them receiving communion in public, I think it is a scandal. I would not give communion to people whom I know as a public sinner. No,” Cruz said when asked if he will give communion to the Arroyos.
Cruz said it pains him very much to see Mrs. Arroyo and the other publicly known sinners ostensibly going to Church every time the Arroyo government is being dragged in controversy, and receiving communion in public.
“In our moral theology, that is a principle. If one gives communion to sinners the Church is scandalized,” Cruz said.
Cruz also admitted that the CBCP is divided over the clamor for Mrs. Arroyo to resign because of monetary considerations.
He said at least eight bishops, including himself, are calling for Mrs. Arroyo to resign because they believe that the Arroyo government has no moral ascendancy to govern because of the rampant corruption involving ranking government officials.
Cruz said that there are also seven bishops who are supporting Mrs. Arroyo, while the majority of the 92 bishops nationwide are neutral.
He said the call of the CBCP for Mrs. Arroyo to allow Commission on Higher Education chairman Romulo Neri to testify before the Senate, abolish Executive Order 464 and to allow the other officials who have knowledge about the national broadband network (NBN) deal to reveal what they know about the scandal, can still change.
Your reactions please




Reply With Quote
