THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines yesterday condemned what it said was the apparent acceptance of corruption in Philippine governance.

In a pastoral statement issued after its plenary, the CBCP said it is lamentable that the "subordination of common good to private good" has become blatantly exhibited in today’s society.

"We have to confess that corruption is in truth our greatest shame as a people. But if it goes unhindered, it is because, as we have had occasion to point out in the past, we all too often condone it as part of the prerequisites of power and public office," the four-page statement said.

The statement came months after Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, labeled the Arroyo government as morally bankrupt amid allegations that Malacañang gave cash "gifts" to a number of congressmen and local government officials to convince them to reject a move to impeach President Arroyo.

The bishops said what is more saddening is the fact that many of these allegations remain wanting of definite closure.

"The perception is that corruption in government is at its worst. Fraudulent projects going on unchecked despite the bad publicity given them in the media. Investigations into the truth of allegations of bribery often stymied or their results unreported," the CBCP said.

Aside from corruption, several other issues were also mentioned by the pastoral statement, which it said are of concern among the clerics and the public, that are in need of proper addressing and formal closures.

Among these are extra-judicial killings, talks of amending the Constitution, implementation of a national ID system, slow progress of genuine land reform, the stalled peace process with the communists and Muslim rebels, problems in mining, abuse of natural resources, and electoral reforms.

The bishops said although proper closure is indeed necessary, the lack of it should not cause immediate despair among the populace as it could start from within.

"In the much-needed regeneration of our politics and social life, this is where we have to start: with ourselves, as individuals, families and communities. We have always put the blame on people we have chosen to govern us. Today, we have become more aware that despite efforts, successful or not, to remove the incompetent or corrupt, our problems have remained. We have looked at the enemy as only outside of us," the statement said.

Cabinet secretary Ricardo Saludo said the problems and issues raised by the CBCP are being addressed by government and "everyone must join hands against these age-old ills to meaningfully and effectively" address them.

To better address the problems, Saludo said, Malacañang is conducting regular dialogues with bishops.

Saludo said among efforts being undertaken by government are pursuing the peace process and initiating economic reforms which he said made nine out of every 10 Filipinos more hopeful about the year ahead.

Saludo said government acknowledges much more needs to be done especially in bringing the benefits of the fiscal reforms directly to the poor; in upgrading education, health, housing, electricity and water services; and in protecting the environment and arresting climate change.

He said the government is also trying to make the democratic processes and government institutions "less prone to corruption and abuse, and more responsive to the needs and aspirations of our people."

Cerge Remonde, chief of the presidential management staff, said the CBCP statement was "enlightened and enlightening."

"The bottom line is that we should stop all the finger-pointing and mudslinging. No single individual or group of individuals, including the government or the President, can be blamed. The nation is our collective responsibility, change must come from within," he added. – Gerard Naval and Jocelyn Montemayor