Catholic bishops: Pray for peaceful resolution of Iglesia ni Cristo dispute

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Sunday called on the Catholic faithful to pray for the peaceful resolution of the Iglesia ni Cristo's issues with the government that have taken thousands of it members to demonstrations on EDSA over the weekend.

The prelates also urged all Catholics to be respectful when talking about the situation in which the Iglesia ni Cristo is complaining of a supposed violation of its rights as a religious group, just as the Department of Justice prepares to investigate some of its leaders for illegal detention and other charges.

"No Catholic should fan the flames of dissension by rumor-mongering and by inflammatory statements. Let all be kind in disposition, respectful in speech and prudent in action," said the CBCP in a statement signed by its president, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

Iglesia ni Cristo members have been holding demonstrations at the corners of EDSA on both Ortigas Avenue and Shaw Boulevard since Friday night to protest the DOJ's impending probe.

Its members initially held a vigil in front of the DOJ compound on Padre Faura Street in Manila on Thursday night. That crowd left Manila and then marched to EDSA-Shaw on Friday night.

The bishops called on those concerned to respect the EDSA Shrine at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue.

"The EDSA Shrine is a Catholic center of worship. It is a church. There is a Catholic priest assigned to it. We ask that all respect the sacred character of the Edsa Shrine," the CBCP said.

In the statement, entitled Sons and Daughters of the Church, Citizens of the Republic, the CBCP also sought "enlightenment" on the " boundaries of the freedom of religion and the rights and the prerogatives of State."

"We appeal to our Catholic lawyers, jurists and law professors to contribute to the on-going discourse in a constructive manner, without condemnation," Villegas said.

Malacanang as well as some lawmakers are of the opinion that the separation doctrine cannot be invoked in the DOJ investigation on the Iglesia leaders.

The CBCP also warned potential 2016 candidates against taking advantage of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo's protests against the government over the criminal investigation of some of its leaders.

"No politician should gain political ground by abetting dissension or, worse, fostering disregard of the Constitution and the law," the CBCP said.

"Neither is it morally correct for any political party to aim at gaining an advantage by controlling a religious sect known to propose to its members a chosen set of candidates," it added.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, and Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas, all presumed to be running in next year's presidential elections, have made comments about the protests being held by Iglesia.

Both Binay and Poe said the protests held by the 101-year-old Church is within the right to free speech.

Roxas, for his part, said that while the Iglesia has the right to protest, "the exercise of these rights cannot impinge on the rights of others or cause inconvenience to anyone." —NB, GMA News