Influential cardinal who changed Philippine history dies at 76

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2005

MANILA (AFP) — The Philippines' influential Cardinal Jaime Sin, the former head of the Catholic Church in this country who helped topple two presidents, died in hospital at age 76, church officials said.

Sin died from multiple organ failure after a lengthy struggle with kidney problems and diabetes.

As the most visible church leader in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation, Sin had played a major role in rallying public support for the popular revolt that toppled then-dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Sin had also been one of the few vocal critics of military rule after Marcos declared martial law in 1972.

He had also helped rally the public for a military-backed, popular uprising that toppled the scandal-ridden presidency of Joseph Estrada in...