BY GERARD NAVAL

CARDINAL Ricardo Vidal, archbishop of Cebu, never prohibited priests under him from celebrating Mass for NBN-ZTE star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the archdiocese of Cebu said yesterday.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, Vidal's spokesman, said in a phone interview he does not know where the report came from. "There is no order, written or verbal, or even a note from the Cardinal."

But no mass for the so-called caravan for truth and justice took place as organizers could not find a priest willing to officiate Mass.

Sr. Estrella Castalone, executive secretary of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, said the group instead decided to push through with an interfaith rally and open forum at the University of San Carlos gymnasium with students, civil society groups and religious organizations.

After that, Lozada proceeded to a media forum organized by the KBP-Cebu chapter.

Castalone said on Sunday said she was informed by Judy Adriano, their organizer in Cebu City, that Vidal had barred priests from officiating at mass for Lozada's group.

Vidal had questioned the expression of support by bishops, religious groups and students for Lozada. "Why do we have to make him a hero?" he said in a recent phone interview.

Vidal had said that Cebuanos have heard everything Lozada has to say about the bribery and overprice in the national broadband deal with China's ZTE Corp.

Archbishop Leonardo Legazpi of Nueva Caceres has prohibited his priests from holding mass for Lozada's group.

"Kung ibaba mo ang misa para magamit sa pulitika ay binababa mo ang kadakilaan ng misa," Legazpi told Radio Veritas.

Legazpi said it is up to other bishops to decide if they will allow the mass for truth and transparency but warned of Church doctrines that prohibit Masses from being used for political purposes.

Vidal, in a radio interview, called on the senators not to use the investigation of $329 million national broadband contract with China's ZTE Corp. to further their political ambitions.

"Sana maging tapat sila sa kanilang dahilan ng kanilang pag-imbestiga. Sana matupad ng tunay yun. Sana hindi magkaroon ng grandstanding o kung anuman," Vidal told Radio Veritas.

Cerge Remonde, presidential management staff director general and a Cebuano, denied he had a hand in the refusal of priests to celebrate the Mass for Lozada.

"If Cardinal Vidal and the priests of Cebu refused to say Mass for Lozada, I think it's because of one thing.according to the teachings of the Church. the Mass is the highest form of prayer and as the highest form of prayer, it's also the act of unity of people," he said.

He added that the Church also refuses to allow the Eucharistic celebration from being used for politicking, mudslinging or propaganda against the government or the President.