The Archbishop of Cebu in the Philippines denied yesterday that the Catholic Church had splintered over the worst political crisis to engulf President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
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Ricardo Cardinal Vidal instead accused the Philippine media of causing dissension within prelate ranks, reported INQ7. “It’s the media that are dividing us,” he told reporters. “You make it appear as though there’s infighting among us when there is none.”

Vidal, who was recently accused along with several other bishops of receiving considerable cash donations from the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), called on the media to report truthfully rather than simply speculate.

Vidal admitted to receiving the cash donations, as did two other bishops, despite this going against normal church conduct. The Archbishop stressed, however, that the money had been used only for projects for the poor.

Ms Arroyo attended a Mass in Lipa at the invitation of bishops just before her departure for New York “in solidarity with the bishops”, said Media Secretary Cerge Remonde.

The 12-member permanent council of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines meets today to discuss the political situation in the country and formulate a response to calls for the Catholic Church to reverse its position of its July statement in which it made clear it would not join calls for Ms Arroyo’s resignation.

Impeachment complaints against the President for allegedly winning last year’s elections on fraudulent grounds were quashed in the House of Representatives last week.

Archbishop Paciano Aniceto of San Fernando City, a member on the CBCP council, however, said impeachment was an important “first step” in resolving the current political crisis.

“Let us not close our doors that easily. There are still alternatives. We are a people of hope,” said Aniceto, before calling on Filipinos to engage in “prayerful discernment so all of us will be enlightened”.

Representative Eduardo Zialcita of Paraňaque City, however, urged the CBCP to prevent prelates from issuing independent statements from the official position. Mr Zialcita, an Arroyo supporter, warned in a statement yesterday that “going against the CBCP stand is creating more confusion and divisiveness among the Catholic flock”.

Representative Jesli Lapus of Tarlac said: “The CBCP should serve as a calming voice amid the opposition’s refusal to abide by the House’s decision to dismiss the impeachment complaints against the President.

Senator Rodolfo Biazon said he was not surprised to see the Church and other religious denominations overstep legal boundaries, saying that politicians had given them the leeway to “meddle in state affairs”.