MISLEADING: A big newspaper headlined “CBCP to Arroyo: Take lead vs corruption.” It gave the impression that the Church hierarchy came down hard on President Gloria Arroyo, laying on her shoulders the onus of leading the country out of its moral and political crisis.

It turned out that the paper was not telling the whole truth. The CBCP did not blame and address only the President.

In its 500-word statement issued after an emergency meeting Tuesday, the CBCP said: “…For this reason, we strongly urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found; (Emphasis mine – fdp)

As a full reading of their statement shows, the bishops were actually attributing the mess and the responsibility for correction on various individuals and institutions, not just President Arroyo and government officials.

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MEDIA BIAS: In fact, the CBCP statement also mentioned media responsibility: “(We strongly) call on media to be a positive resource of seeking the truth and combating corruption by objective reporting without bias and partiality, selective and tendentious reporting of facts;” (Emphasis mine – fdp)

We in media usually do not mind one another’s business. But this pastoral reminder from our elders in the Church opens up the subject of professional performance and accountability. 

Take, for instance, the acrimonious debate over President Arroyo’s remarks about what she did after being informed of alleged corruption in the cancelled National Broadband Network project.

The debate, resonating in the Senate, apparently takes off from generally negative media reports on her remarks. Malacanang has pointed out that what Ms Arroyo said (in Tagalog) had been twisted, taken out of context, and misunderstood.

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NO OBJECTIVITY: To start clearing up the confusion, the media may want to publish the unexpurgated transcript of the President’s radio interview where she made the remarks. The people can then make their own conclusions.

Publishing the non-revenue text of important documents eat into media time and space being sold to advertisers. But that is all right, because the press has an overriding social responsibility on top of its responsibility to stockholders.

Note also the CBCP’s reference to “objective reporting.” With due respect, wala pong ganoon. Like it or not, there is no such thing as “objective reporting.”

Any media material processed by the human mind, exercising value judgments while it works, comes out subjective. We may not like that, but that is it.

What we should demand of media is not objectivity, which is unattainable, but balance and fairness.

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CBCP TEXT: For the guidance of all men of goodwill, we therefore print below the substantive text of the Pastoral Statement issued for the CBCP by its president Angel Lagdameo, archbishop of Jaro:

“Today in the midst of restlessness and confusion, we come to you as pastors, for that is our precise role. We do not come as politicians whose vocation it is to order society towards the common good. Our message contributes to the flourishing of a democracy which must not be built only on political formulae.

“We face today a crisis of truth and the pervading cancer of corruption. We must seek the truth and we must restore integrity. These are moral values needing spiritual and moral insights.

“Therefore, we address this pastoral statement to everyone particularly you our beloved people and in a special way to our political rulers and officials.

“We are convinced that the search for truth in the midst of charges and allegations must be determined and relentless, and that the way to truth and integrity must be untrammeled, especially at the present time when questions about the moral ascendancy of the present government are being raised. 

“For this reason, we strongly:

“1. Condemn the continuing culture of corruption from the top to the bottom of our social and political ladder;

“2. Urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found;

“3. Recommend the abolition of EO 464 so that those who might have knowledge of any corruption in branches of government, may be free to testify before the appropriate investigating bodies;

“4. Ask the President to allow her subordinates to reveal any corrupt acts, particularly about the ZTE-NBN deal, without being obstructed in their testimony no matter who is involved; 

“5. Appeal to our senators and the ombudsman to use their distinct and different powers of inquiry into alleged corruption cases not for their own interests but for the common good;

“6. Call on media to be a positive resource of seeking the truth and combating corruption by objective reporting without bias and partiality, selective and tendentious reporting of facts;

“For the long term we reiterate our call for “circles of discernment” at the grassroots level, in our parishes, Basic Ecclesial Communities, recognized lay organizations and movements, religious institutions, schools, seminaries and universities. It is through internal conversion into the maturity of Christ through communal and prayerful discernment and action that the roots of corruption are discovered and destroyed. We believe that such communal action will perpetuate at the grassroots level the spirit of People Power so brilliantly demonstrated to the world at EDSA I. It is People Power with a difference. From the grassroots will come out a culture of truth and integrity we so deeply seek and build. We instruct our CBCP Commissions to take active role including networking for this purpose.”