Author Topic: Tagbilaran bishop frown on appointment of Cristina Enrile as Vatican envoy (Read 1338 times)

benelynne · « **on:** June 12, 2008, 12:26:25 PM »

CBCP unhappy over Cristina Ponce-Enrileâ€™s Vatican posting

By Margaux Ortiz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:10:00 06/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- An official of the Catholic Bishopsâ€™ Conference of the Philippines expressed disappointment Wednesday over the Commission on Appointment's confirmation of the appointment of the wife of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile as the new ambassador to the Vatican.

Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso, CBCP Canon Law chairman, said the group was disappointed over Cristina Ponce Enrile's appointment because the bishops had not been consulted.

â€œWe could have given an opinion. But whether or not our opinion will be received is still the prerogative of the President,â€ Medroso said over Church-run Radio Veritas.

Medroso conceded, however, that both the Vatican and the Philippines had the right to send as ambassadors who they thought were worthy or qualified as representatives.

â€œWe just pointed out what should have been the proper thing to do. But we could never really ask what is right,â€ the bishop said.

Manila Archbisop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales had earlier pointed out that although the Roman Catholic Church had no authority to appoint diplomats, its voice was still important in choosing the Philippine ambassador to the Holy See.

â€œEven if the President of the Philippines has the sole right to appoint diplomatic representatives, the Church should also be consulted especially because the diplomat would be dealing with the Pope,â€ Rosales said in February, when news about MalacaÃ±ang's appointment of Cristina Enrile first broke out.

Rosales stressed that the appointment of Cristina Enrile was a â€œsensitive oneâ€ that needed the support of Philippine Church officials but he conceded that the Church could only â€œcriticize, praise or make suggestions.â€

Several bishops had also declared that the Arroyo administration should consider both moral and professional qualifications for the post following reports that Cristina Enrile would be sent to the Vatican.

While the appointment of an ambassador to the Holy See is a purely political function, there is always a â€œmoral dimensionâ€ in the process since the envoy will represent the country in the central government of the Catholic Church, according to the prelates.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080611-142123/CBCP-unhappy-over-Cristina-Ponce-Enriles-Vatican-posting

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benelynne · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2008, 12:40:16 PM »

Other articles refer to Cristina Ponce-Enrile not as the "wife of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile Jr." but as the "estranged wife of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile Jr."

I suppose they are separated but not legally annulled? And this is the crux of the contention as to the lady's fitness for the sacrosanct office?

Editorial

Visayan Daily Star

Among the issues that have added to all the hot ones of the past few days is the one about the reported appointment of the wife of a senator as the new ambassador of the Philippines to the Vatican . The news first came out as a proposal last week, and yesterday, there were reports that the appointment had been signed by the President already.

For a few days now, there have been comments, attributed to Church sources, about the failure of the administration to consult, or refer the recommendation for the naming of Mrs. Cristina Ponce Enrile, the wife of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, to local authorities of the Catholic Church.

In a recent interview, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, expressed his disappointment over the apparent lapse on the part of the appointing authority in this regard. While he granted that it is the prerogative of the President to appoint those who will represent the country abroad, the matter of appointing the one for the Holy See, seat of the Roman Catholic Church, should have been made with prior consultation from its officials here.

It is probably not the intention of the Cardinal to discourage the elevation of Mrs. Ponce Enrile to this prestigious and sensitive position. Not only has she kept herself from any hint of scandalous or improper behavior, she is even a Papal Awardee, chosen as such because of her contributions to and work for the benefit of the Church in this country.

But perhaps, in its own way, the local officials of the Church would like to assure themselves, as well as the Holy Father himself, that the candidate for the position is one whose life and that of her family, are above reproach, and that she possesses all the required moral and professional qualifications for it.*

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Author Topic: Tagbilaran bishop frown on appointment of Cristina Enrile as Vatican envoy (Read 1338 times)

benelynne

Tagbilaran bishop frown on appointment of Cristina Enrile as Vatican envoy

benelynne

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