CBCP president: Indifference, lack of conscience fuel corruption and suffering

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David stated that indifference and lack of conscience are the root causes of corruption and suffering in the country.

He observed that politicians, contractors, and corrupt officials who tamper with the National Budget and steal billions from the treasury cannot be jailed, unlike the poor who are often bullied by "law enforcers."

Cardinal David illustrated his point using the biblical story of Lazarus, a beggar whose death, he argued, was primarily caused by the indifference of the rich man who offered no help despite having abundant food.

He drew a parallel between Lazarus' plight and that of many Filipinos who work tirelessly but still cannot afford basic necessities like decent housing, food, education, and healthcare.

The cardinal emphasized that indifference, or a lack of care and compassion, is a widespread cause of death and suffering, highlighting the contrast between the abundance enjoyed by some and the deprivation faced by others, often due to failed or ghost flood-control projects.