Pope Needs to Pray for the Diocese of Naval - With Erroring Bishop

Continue serving as shepherds, Pope tells RP bishops
MANILA, July 5, 2008— Pope Benedict XVI is praying for and praised the nation’s bishops as he urged them to continue serving as the shepherd of their flocks, Vatican Secretary of State Tarcio Bertone said.

Bertone said the Pope urged the Filipino prelates to continue acting their role as the chief catechists of their respective pastoral jurisdictions.

This means, he said, that bishops must be willing always and everywhere to stand up and teach those in need of instruction “to have their faith confirmed and purified.”

“The Holy Father prays that you will continue to nourish the mind, spiritual attitudes and moral behavior of your people with the truth of the Gospel while always remembering that the faithful need the word of their bishop,” said Bertone.

The Pope’s message was read this morning by CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo at the opening of two-day Plenary Assembly, CBCP’s 97th which is being held at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila .

Cardinal Bertone said the Pope also assured his “apostolic blessing” to the CBCP as he commend their works for the Catholic Church.

CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura said around 87 bishops—82 active and 5 retired members—were present at the regular plenary meeting as of Saturday morning.

The CBCP has 99 active and 32 honorary members.

The event was started with a Eucharistic celebration led by Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.

Aside from the reports which will be rendered by half of the 33 CBCP commissions, socio-political and economic issues will also be discussed by the prelates at their bi-annual meeting.

The Plenary Assembly is CBCP’s highest decision-making body. Composed of active and retired bishops, the Plenary Assembly meets in regular session twice a year, in January and in July. (Roy Lagarde

Imelda Marcos Factor

According to Canon Law of the Catholic Church the Discipline of a Bishop is reserved to the Supreme Pontiff. The Nuncio represents the Holy See (Holy Father) to the Philippines. But all information concerning the behavior of a Bishop is transmitted to the Holy through the Papal Nuncio. CBCP has no authority to discipline a fellow bishop, but can refer a problem to the Holy See through the Papal Nuncio. - This information was also communicated to us by letter through the former President of the CBCP - Archbishop Quevedo. Archbishop Quevedo ask the Nuncio to investagte Bishop Filomeno Bactol, Bishop of Naval.

Bishop Bactol has strong political relations with the former first lady Imelda Marcos (Imelda’s Bishop). Imelda was the person who recommended to the Holy See that Bactol be made Bishop. The Marcos Family have donated much to the Vatican over all these years. So before the investigation can get anywhere the Marocs factor needs to be overcomed.

Nuncio Archbishop Adams (an American) will need to put into practice what he has learned from the mistakes of the sexual abuse cases in the USA. CBCP knows that Filomeno G. Bactol has sexual problems with youth below the age of 16. So what will break first, good donations or cleaning up moral problems in the Diocese of Naval, Biliran.

With the resent resignations (asked to resign). of two Philippines Bishops, Bishop Nestor Carino of Legazpi on November 7,2007 and Bishop Jesus Cabrera of Alaminos , July 2, 2007. Maybe Rome is trying to clean things up!