The influential leaders of the Catholic Church may meet to discuss the call led by some of its own members for President Arroyo to resign over several controversies that her administration has already been involved in, the latest of which is the alleged Malacañang bribery of its allied congressmen and local government officials for them to support a “sham” impeachment case filed against the Chief Executive.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines public affairs chairman Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. yesterday said the CBCP could either call a special meeting to take up the issue, or discuss it during its upcoming general assembly.

“The CBCP notes serious reactions to the matter from various sectors. It will either call a special meeting to study the issue and act accordingly, or it will take up the matter in its next general assembly,” Iñiguez told a radio interview.

At an ecumenical gathering in Quezon City on Friday, Iñiguez, along with colleagues Novaliches, Quezon City Bishop Antonio Tobias and Infanta town, Quezon province Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen called for Mrs. Arroyo to step down from power over her government’s reported involvement in a string of scandals.

They said the President should resign because she is culpable for violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and that she should do so to avert a “total collapse of the government and national chaos.”

“It is time for the sovereign Filipino people whom she has betrayed to now speak up as one voice and resoundingly ask her to step down,” they said in a statement.

“If a regime is morally bankrupt, has propensity for falsehoods and repeatedly lies with impunity, there is no other alternative for the people but to demand that the leader, the Chief Execituve, Commander-in-Chief, the President, step down and resigns,” they stressed.

Other sectors have also made the same call for Mrs. Arroyo to step down.

But Malacañang on Friday shrugged off the resign calls as it accused the political opposition of being the “brains” behind the moves.

Presidential spokesman and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye also doubted that the three bishops’ stand was representative of the whole Catholic Church’s position.

Iñiguez, however, yesterday said he half-expected the Palace to react that way, but lamented it would have been better if the administration instead faced the issues head on to clear the air.

“We feel the major developments brewing in our country are stemming from the people’s loss of trust in Mrs. Arroyo. Let us see what happens next while we continue to seek the truth. Then let us act for the welfare of the nation,” he added.

Meanwhile, a group of reformists in the military and the police establishments yesterday urged the CBCP to make a categorical stand to either support the mounting calls for the Chief Executive to resign or face being treated a pariah by the masses.

Young Enlisted Soldiers Active and Retired Military Police for Solidarity (YesArms) spokesman Ismael Aparri called on the leadership of the Catholic Church to come out with a clear position on the calls particularly after former Catholic priest and now Pampanga Gov. Eduardo “Among Ed” Panlilo had told of having received P500,000 case after coming out of the Palace meeting last Oct. 11.

Aparri said its also high time that CBCP President Angel Lagdameo make a stand and support the resignation call made by Labayen, Tobias and Iñiguez.

“The people and the church have identical needs. What is good for the people is also good for the Church. If the Church wants our people to be morally honest in their living, this should start from the top, which is our government. If they (Church leaders) will tolerate corruption, bribery, and many other sins committed by our President to our people, how can they (Church leaders) expect the people to follow their teachings?” he stressed.

Aparri said it is sad that the Church’s open society, such as the Jesuits and the Opus Dei have been silent over the scandals the Arroyo government have been involved in.

“We’re appealing to the senses of our CBCP, composed of more than 140 bishops, to come out with a resignation call for Mrs. Arroyo. Otherwise our country and our government would continue to degenerate,” he said.

Sherwin C. Olaes