Vidal well-wishers and anti-PNoy advocates
DID YOU NOTICE...
... CARDINAL VIDAL’S BIRTHDAY PARTY at his Sto. Niño Village, Cebu City retirement residence was held a week after his actual birthday?
The cardinal turned 84 last Feb. 6 but the party that gathered bishops and religious leaders identified with the so-called National Transformation Council (NTC)was held on Feb. 13.
The double event -- the birthday party and the NTC meeting -- contributed to the confusion. Party guests could be confused with adherents of NTC and its campaign to seek the resignation of President Aquino.
A good example was Archbishop Jose Palma who was there to give Cardinal Vidal his birthday wish but became caught in the storm of criticisms.
That, despite the early disclaimer of Palma’s media liaison officer that the Archdiocese is not supporting the call for PNoy’s resignation. Two “opposition” broadsheets identified Palma as among the supporters of NTC.
... A QUESTION ASKED BY VIDAL’S CRITICS is why the cardinal has continued to associate himself with NTC when he must know its principal goal: to have PNoy ousted by resignation or people power.
Vidal must be aware of the signature campaign for that, which NTC says has already collected 10 million signatures, a claim that hasn’t been independently verified.
Besides, after his Oct. 1 experience, in which he was “erroneously” reported as having called for PNoy’s quitting, should he not have been more careful this time?
... POPE FRANCIS WILL HOLD A CONSISTORY next Sunday, Feb. 22, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Theme will be the family.
On the next day, Feb. 23, the Pope will concelebrate with 16 new cardinals, who include Cotabato Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo from the Philippines.
Since the creation of new cardinals was announced, there has been speculation over why Archbishop Palma wasn’t included in the list. Cebu usually has a cardinal for an archbishop: before Cardinal Vidal, there was Cardinal Julio Rosales. Cebu Archdiocese is the largest in the Philippines (with 4.6 million baptized Catholics) and in Southeast Asia, having the most number of Catholic churchgoers, seminarians and priests. Priority, it seems, was given to a much smaller archdiocese in Mindanao.
Quevedo, who’ll turn 75 on March 11, will resign as Cotabato archbishop but, already a cardinal, may be asked by the Pope to stay on until he reaches 80 unless his resignation is accepted sooner. Vidal was 79 when the pope accepted his resignation.
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Excuse for freeze of House inquiry
Was the disorderly conduct of House members at the committee hearing in the House the reason the inquiry there has been suspended?
It could be that the Palace had asked for the suspension, fearing that the trail was already leading to President Aquino. Whatever, the chaotic conduct of the hearing was used as excuse.