Priest says Church will work with Aquino

THE Catholic Church will continue to work with the new government, an official says.

“The Church will continue her critical collaboration with the state for the benefit of the country and the poor,” Father Anton Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila, said in an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas.

President Benigno Aquino III takes his oath of office at noon today as the country’s 15th president.

Catholic bishops will start that day with a Mass led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales of Manila, Bishop Deogracias Iniguez of Kalookan and former Manila Auxiliary Bishop Teodoro Bacani.

The Church leaders will read out a “12-point agenda” for Aquino, said Father Pascual. “These are advocacies of the Church based on Catholic teachings.”

Aquino is not expected to attend the Mass.

Other groups have also made demands on the incoming president.

Human rights watchdog Karapatan (Rights) has appealed to Aquino to hold outgoing President Gloria Arroyo accountable for human rights violations and prosecute her and other perpetrators.

Report from ucanews.com