An activist priest today urged Catholic bishops to be discerning and refrain from “blessing” the chief justice, who is facing an impeachment trial at the Senate, lest their action be misconstrued as partisanship. “Impeachment is not a legal but a political process. Bishops should be careful of the message they are imparting to the people,” said Father Robert Reyes. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo recently officiated Masses at the Supreme Court. Photographs of Bishop Pabillo and retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz blessing Corona also appeared on national newspapers on separate occasions. In an open letter published on his blog today, Father Reyes compared the present situation to the time of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when the former president used her “uncanny ability” to befriend bishops and religious sisters. “What impression has already gone around? That some of you are quite friendly with the chief justice? I am sure that is not the case. But images are powerful and perception fatal,” he said. Archbishop Cruz agreed that some Catholic bishops, “including me,” might be used by politicians in the impeachment trial. “That is possible but that may not be their real intention. I only say and do what I believe,” he said. “I respect Father Reyes’ opinion. But all of us have our own perceptions. He should also respect that,” said Archbishop Cruz. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which will be holding a plenary this week, still doesn’t have a position regarding the impeachment case, according to Archbishop Cruz. “Definitely, if Corona will lose, that will make a big impact on the quality of power between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government,” Archbishop Cruz said.