After the public disagreement on the Reproductive Health law, the icy relations between President Aquino and the Catholic bishops are starting to thaw.
The President has expressed willingness to hold more dialogues with the Catholic Church officials and designated Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. as his liaison officer.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda confirmed that Ochoa will be “more like a coordinator” amid efforts to improve ties with the prelates.
The assignment of a Palace coordinator on Church concerns was tackled during President Aquino’s meeting with officials of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines last Tuesday. The dialogue was an attempt to mend ties with the bishops who protested the enactment of the law on reproductive health by President Aquino.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma said they hope the President’s sustained talks with the bishops would “bridge differences” and work on shared advocacies.
“Hopefully, the meeting has given our esteemed bishops the opportunity to know and understand the President’s position on vital national issues,” Coloma said in a text message.
“We would like to continually engage them and other stakeholder sectors in dialogues that could bridge differences and lay the groundwork for solidarity and partnership in nation,” he said.
Before the passage of the RH law, President Aquino held a series of dialogues with the bishops to listen to their concerns about the measure.