Statement of the CBCP Administrative Council
Crisis is always a challenge, and an opportunity. It is God’s way of directing us to united action. We have just passed through a grave crisis. This is a time of thanksgiving, a time of sincere evaluation. We are grateful to God for guiding our duly constituted government leaders to decisive judgment, and to immediate action. We thank God for having inspired loyalty and courage in the officers and soldiers defending the legitimate government, and for having preserved from harm the President of the Philippines.
Yet all of us–especially those in positions of leadership in the church and in government — are called by the Lord today to examine the basic roots of the problems that brought about dissatisfaction and unrest among military personnel, farmers, workers, teachers, and other sectors of society. This sincere evaluation will require the subordination of personal and sectoral interests to the greater good of the country. It will require the renunciation of violence to achieve change. We must realize that sacrifice is needed to bring about unity, justice, and peace.
We pray that God will continue to protect our people. We ask for light to see the root cause of our social problems; we ask for the grace of radical conversion; we ask for the courage and strength to forge unity among ourselves. And we pray to the Lord for all the casualties of the recent crisis.
This is the National Eucharistic Year. We ask all the members of the Church, who are strengthened by One Bread, to realize that we are truly One Body. We are called by God to work together, so that our nation may become One People, united in mind, and united in heart.
For the CBCP Administrative Council:
(Sgd.)+RICARDO J. CARDINAL VIDAL
Archbishop of Cebu
CBCP President
September 4, 1987
