The Catholic Church up to the ears in politics.

President Noy Noy Aquino held on Monday a prayer meeting in Malacanang with evangelical church leaders. The bishops of the Catholic Church were excluded. The Catholic leaders claim to represent more than 80 % of the nation, the protestant coalition 3 %. The comments from the Catholic side sounded hurt. At the prayer meeting President Aquino gave a detailed account of a police counterterrorism operation 25^th of January in Mindanao, which led to death of 44 police officers.

The target of the operation was to “eliminate” a famous Muslim terrorist and bomb maker Marwan, who was hiding in Mindanao. The operation was aborted earlier several times for the leaks of the plans. Finally the intelligence found Marwan`s living place in the Mamasapano village. The commandos entered to Marwan´s hut guided by his aid. Marwan was killed, but his associate Usman managed to escape. Withdrawing from the village the police commandos encountered crossfire from the Muslim rebels. The Police commandos were underpinned on the corn field by the rebels. The fight of several hours resulted death of 44 Police commandos, 18 rebels and some civilians.

The tragic incident has evoked a lot of outrage among the Filipinos. It has raised many questions about the operation and its command. How it is possible that the Police commandos were lying under the fire on the cornfield for hours without any military cover or support? What was wrong with the lead of the operation? The responses to the questions are sought through the probes, but many of these are without proper answers.

President Aquino was put in the firing line for his position of Commander in Chief. Noy Noy Aquino has tried to defend himself and to blame his subordinates. That does not seem to calm down the criticism of the people, and the credit on him is teetering. Apart from being a huge tragedy the Mamasapano incident might spoil Aquino`s efforts to complete the peace agreement with the Muslim organizations in Mindanao within his term.

The outrage due to the botched operation has provoked cries to ouster Aquino from the Presidency. The calls to step down have come from the political opponents but from the church leaders as well. Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on the summit of National Transformation Council held on 13^th of February by five Catholic bishops in Cebu. In the statement “The NTC has strongly articulated that the President should step down.” The NTC defines itself as an ecumenical and interfaith collective that works for common good of Philippine society through rapid and comprehensive systems of change. The bishops told that they are not taking the government but help to form a government responsive people`s needs. Later on they would announce, who would compose the new “government”.

Single bishops around the country have expressed political opinions, which are siding with their NTC colleagues. The Catholic Bishops` Conference has “leaving the decision to his humble and prayerful discernment of his capacity to lead and support he has not only from officials of government but from members of Philippine society”, as President of the Conference, archbishop Villegas puts it. There is no need of good imagination, where the “discernment” should lead Aquino to. Beside the majority of the Conference there appears to be a minority of the bishops, who “are blind his (Aquino`s) misrule”.  One of the “blind” ones is cardinal archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, who told in an interview in England that he opposes ouster of Aquino and creating advisory committee for governing.

The calls on resignation raise questions on consequences and background of the action. What does the resignation means to democracy of the society and what is a value of democracy. Noy Noy Aquino is elective President, voted for President by the majority in the official elections. Who would elect acting President, if Noy Noy would step down? The calls on resignation diminish the progress of the society towards democracy. President Aquino made tragic mistakes and he will carry with this burden, but the leaders make mistakes.

The allies of the NTC bishops seem to be representative from the former President Arroyo`s administration. Collaboration with the government went smoothly during previous term. Instead of that, Aquino`s government has confronted with the Catholic Church. The RH bill was approved by The Senate and The Congress. From point of view of the Catholic Church the gates for sexual liberation were opened. During Arroyo`s term the RH bill was only pending in the administration. So there calls on the old times.

The bishops of the Catholic Church would like to sit at President`s table, as all religious leaders do. But the number of the plates appears to be limited. Everyone has to deserve one`s plate at this table. The Catholic bishops did not.