Date:
June 2003
Politics within the Church - A Bishop under Attack
While
one of the prince's of the church took off
for the United States leaving behind allegations
of sexual harassment from his secretary another
sought to present proof that he had not sired
any children. Yet a third bishop (actually
an ex-bishop) awoke one morning last week
to find that his alleged girlfriend was pregnant
- for the second time!
The major "controversy" (if it can be called
such) surrounded the hapless 64-year old Bishop
of Novaliches who, it is alleged, put his
arm around a woman church worker and hugged
her as a sign of affection. It gets worse!
He actually did it twice - three years apart.
His detractors are now claiming this indicates
habitual sexual molestation. The heat this
issue has drawn perplexes many. There is no
suggestion of intimacy - actual or attempted.
To most people a "hug" would indicate nothing
at all or at most a minor indiscretion or
lapse of judgment. The secretary who has filed
the charges is not claiming any damages; she
simply wants the bishop to resign. This has
let many to suspect that the charges are politically
motivated. Yet there are many who have come
to the defense of the accused including the
founder of the influential El Shaddai charismatic
Catholic movement. The bishop is understood
to be an outstanding leader and one of the
prime candidates for elevation to the position
of cardinal upon the retirement of Cardinal
Sin in August this year.
Ahh! Likely therein lies the rub. It seems
likely that it is all a matter of church politics
designed to discredit the accused and take
him out of the succession shortlist.
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