The speech of President Benigno Aquino III criticizing Filipino Catholic leaders before Pope Francis in Malacañang may have been more of a commentary against the former administration, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said on Tuesday.

 

In an interview on GMA News TV's Balitanghali, Tagle said, "'Yung komentaryo niya tungkol doon sa ilang taong simbahan na sa tingin niya ay nanahimik, sa palagay ko, isang bahagi lamang iyon ng mas malawak na komentaryo doon sa nakaraang administrasyon."

 

He added that he is not surprised over the President's speech as he has always been criticizing the administration of former Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

 

During Pope Francis’ visit to Malacañang last Friday, Aquino criticized local Church officials who were critical of his administration.

 

Aquino said “many members of the Church, once advocates for the poor, the marginalized, and the helpless, suddenly became silent in the face of the previous administration’s abuses, which we are still trying to rectify to this very day.”

 

The president said further that “(i)n contrast to their previous silence, some members of the clergy now seem to think that the way to be true to the faith means finding something to criticize, even to the extent that one prelate admonished me to do something about my hair, as if it were a mortal sin." —Amanda Fernandez/NB, GMA News