MANILA, March 31, 2008—Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz has denied media reports that he has called President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a public sinner, hence she should not be given Holy Communion.

Speaking to CBCPNews, Cruz said that all he stated was, according to the teachings of the Church, a public sinner should not be given communion.

In his blog, www.ovc.blogspot.com, Cruz writes: “This is why in principle, the combined conclusion of moral and sacramental theology of solid and long standing is that Holy Communion may not be given to public sinners.”

It was the media that attached the name of Arroyo to the statement, he said.

However, Cruz, a canon lawyer and former president of the influential Catholic Bishops’ of the Philippines, said if Arroyo could not be a sinner, she could neither claim to be a saint.

Cruz is one of the bishops who have called for the resignation of Arroyo from her presidency on series of corruption issues, which she has repeatedly denied.

The present administration headed by Arroyo has been publicly accused of massive corruption in several mega projects and cheating in the last national elections. (Santosh Digal)