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Manila: Two influential cardinals have rejected calls for President Gloria Arroyo's resignation saying that while they seek righteousness in governance, they are not in a position to get involved in politics.
"I do not meddle in politics. I want righteousness in politics, in the church, business, among the rich and the poor," Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, the Manila Archbishop, told reporters after a meeting with farmers who have been protesting against land grabbing.
Rosales however said he reserves his right to speak up on political issues unless "the poor are getting hurt."
Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu and member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that opposition, not Catholic priests could call for Arroyo's resignation.
"Calling for the resignation of the president is not our aim. I don't know why they are always asking us to do that because we are bishops," said Vidal .
Last week, the CBCP, after emerging from a ten-hour emergency meeting, voted not to support calls for Arroyo's resignation to the dismay of civil society and militant groups.
But the CBCP asked Arroyo to repeal a presidential order, which prevents appointed officials from testifying in the Senate without her approval.
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