HOW A BISHOP IS CHOSEN; CARDINAL SIN CALLS FOR "PURIFICATION"

Manila, June 13, 2003 (Star) There is "no race for election, nor jockeying for position" to become a bishop, but instead, three steps are followed in appointing one, Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. told The STAR yesterday.

"The fact is, priests and Monsignori assiduously avoid even the semblance of campaigning for a position of honor," said Reuter, director of the National Office of Mass Media.

The first step in appointing a bishop takes the form of the Apostolic Nuncio "consulting existing bishops, priests, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, and (then) he records their opinion carefully," he said.

Reuter said the Apostolic Nuncio then "sends to the Holy Father all the information he has gathered." Information covers areas such as "the needs of the diocese and the kind of bishop the diocese will need, noting his character and talents, and suggestions made of a man to be chosen for this particular post."

As the third step, the Pope "makes the final decision and makes the official appointment," Reuter said.

A diocese becomes vacant when a bishop "resigns and his resignation is accepted," Reuter said, emphasizing that even if a bishop writes a letter of resignation, he "remains" a bishop of his ecclesiastical area until the Pope "officially accepts the resignation."

Reuter said that under the Canon Law, all bishops turn in their letter of resignation upon reaching their 75th birthday.

"Rome is not bound to accept the resignation. For instance, Bishop Julio Labayen, Carmelite of Infanta, has turned in his letter of resignation. But it has not yet been accepted. So he stays on as bishop of the Diocese of Infanta," Reuter said.

He noted that Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin turns 75 on Aug. 31 this year and "will surely write his letter of resignation." Pope John Paul II is "free to accept it or not to accept it," he said.

Reuter said that three new dioceses are expected to be created that will divide the present Archdiocese of Manila. "Three bishops will be appointed at the time."

Cardinal Sin calls for "purification" amid clergy sex scandal

MANILA (AFP) - Senior Philippine Catholic church leader Cardinal Jaime Sin on Friday, called on his fellow clergymen to seek "purification and conversion", following a sex scandal allegedly involving a prominent bishop.

Sin also called on the faithful to "assure your priests that you love them, that you will not abandon them and that you will always pray for them," despite the scandal that grabbed headlines in this largely Roman Catholic nation.

The scandal was triggered by the allegations of a former employee that prominent Bishop Teodoro "Ted" Bacani had sexually harassed her.

Bacani quietly left Manila early Monday after issuing an open letter that said he was "deeply sorry for the consequences of any inappropriate expression of affection to my secretary."

However, Bacani's spokesman has denied he is guilty.

Sin, the archbishop of Manila who has been both a critic and adviser of presidents, said in a statement that June 22 to 29 should be a "week of prayer for the sanctification of priests."

"To my beloved priests, let this period be a moment of purification and conversion," Sin said.

"Let us pray for Bishop Ted Bacani. Let us pray for those who have been hurt by this incident. May the truth and charity that come from God prevail," said Sin, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in this country.

Sin said the issue "has been stretched beyond proportions," by the media, adding that while it was necessary to seek the truth, "the law of charity must prevail at all times."

He did not say if he believed Bacani was guilty or innocent.

President Gloria Arroyo had earlier urged the public to stop "feasting" on the issue while church leaders have urged people not to make a rush to judgement.

The Philippine Catholic Church last year publicly apologized for sexual abuses committed by Filipino priests, but insisted that a majority of clergymen remained faithful to their vows.

The Church also admitted that some 200 priests had been investigated for sexual misconduct over the past 20 years. Some of them were dismissed, while most resigned voluntarily.