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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines' Cardinal Sin dies |
| 2005-06-21 |
| MANILA - Cardinal Jaime Sin, a driving force behind two Philippine "People Power" revolts, died in hospital on Tuesday morning, church officials said. He was 76 years old and the officials said he died from an infection relating to a longstanding kidney ailment. "Jaime Cardinal Sin, archbishop emeritus, died early this morning," Sin's spokeswoman, Peachy Yamsuan, told reporters. The main Roman Catholic radio station played hymns to mourn Sin, who retired as archbishop of Manila in 2003, and said a wake would be held at Manila cathedral. "The nation lost a spiritual leader," said Senator Aquilino Pimentel. "He was irreplaceable." Sin was once called "the divine commander in chief" by former President Fidel Ramos for marshalling huge protests in the mostly Roman Catholic country that drove presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada from office in 1986 and 2001, respectively. "My duty is to put Christ in politics. Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of our nation," Sin said at his retirement ceremony. In February 1986, Sin rallied a million people to form human barricades on Manila's main highway and protect a puny band of 300 army rebels against advancing Marcos tanks. His radio broadcasts in support of mutineers ignited the now legendary "People Power" revolt that drove Marcos into exile and swept political novice Corazon Aquino to the presidency. His departure from the office he had held for 27 years marked the end of an unprecedented period of political activism by the Church, although it remains a potent force and a key backer of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. His death comes as Arroyo faces allegations of electoral fraud that the government says are part of a plot to unseat her. A Congressional inquiry into the allegations was due to start on Tuesday. Ordained in 1954, Sin became the youngest member of the Vatican's College of Cardinals when he was made a prince of the church at the age of 47. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 He rolled out and hit the ground running when his country and his people needed him. Name still makes me smile though. |
| Posted by: Darth VAda 2005-06-21 20:09 |
| #4 Cardinal Sin was there when it counted. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-21 18:21 |
| #3 You just have to love the names. 'Sin' and 'Peachy'.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-06-21 15:10 |
| #2 Damn, and he was one of my favorites, just because of the name.... ;) Rest in peace, sir. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-06-21 14:59 |
| #1 "Cardinal Sin"??? Items from Scrappleface should be clearly marked as such..... |
| Posted by: Jolutch Slereck9948 2005-06-21 14:58 |