MANILA - They may differ on the way to salvation, but they all agree that the road does not lead to Con-Ass, or constituent assembly.

For the first time in years, various church groups are closing ranks against fresh moves to amend the charter through a constituent assembly as they vowed to launch mammoth protests to stop the initiative.

“We should stand up and show our indignation. We need a big push. We will be with you in the streets,” Fr. Joe Dizon, chair of Solidarity Philippines said in Tuesday’s forum sponsored by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Leaders of church groups from the CBCP, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Jesus is Lord Movement (JIL), Philippines for Jesus Movement, and the conservative United Methodist Church vowed to mobilize thousands of warm bodies in Wednesday’s protest action in Makati City to denounce the latest charter change moves.

Other religious groups that will attend Wednesday’s rally include the Promotion of Church’s People’s Response, the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP), and the Interfaith Justice and Peace Network. Backing them are groups from the militant sector and the civil society.

The groups said the House move to tinker with the Constitution is clearly an attempt to prolong President Arroyo’s stay in power beyond 2010 and a prelude to her dictatorship.

Hall of Shame

NCCP secretary-general Fr. Rex Reyes described the congressmen who approved House Resolution 1109, which seeks to constitute Congress into a constituent assembly, as “pimps who traded our future,” and President Arroyo “as the greatest terrorist behind this move.”

AMRSP head Sister Mary John-Mananzan said photos of members of the House of Representatives who supported House Resolution (HR 1109) will be flashed on a wide screen in tomorrow’s protest action for induction in the “Hall of Shame.”

Dizon said the Constitution was “gang-raped in the middle of the night,” and the worst part is that "the one enjoying it happens to be a woman.”

Mananzan said political groups and politicians are welcome to participate in Wednesday’s rally to be held in Ayala Avenue in Makati, although they should limit their speeches on the charter change issue.

The Ayala rally will feature a 15-minute interfaith service, comedy skits by social satirists “Juana Change” and “Pacquito Yu,” the recitation of the Bagong Panatang Makabayan written by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, and a photo mosaic of the all congressmen who voted or supported House Resolution 1109.

Will gov't retreat?

Asked if there are other strategies being undertaken by the church groups aside from protests, Dizon said rallies and demonstrations might suffice for now.

Based on previous Charter change attempts, Dizon said that public demonstrations, if massive enough, are potent warning signals for government to back out of charter change moves.

In 2006, a huge rally led by the CBCP and participated in by various groups, prompted the government to retreat from pushing charter change.

Conspicuously absent in Tuesday's gathering were representatives from the Iglesia ni Cristo and the Catholic group El-Shaddai.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Yñiguez said the Catholic Church has not made attempt to convince the El Shaddai to join the rally, and neither has El Shaddai head Bro. Mike Velarde communicated any interest to participate.