CBCP Monitor - CBCP Media Office

•A3
Pope invites Copenhagen
representatives to rediscover the
‘moral dimension of human life’
•B1 Young people of Asia
•C1
Agents of renewal and
transformation
US urged to cut military
aid to RP due to human
rights record
THE US government is reportedly increasing
its military aid to the Philippines, prompting
an outcry from a ranking Catholic Church
official.
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the
US government should cut military aid to the
country due to unabated extra-judicial killings
under the Arroyo administration.
Lagdameo, former president of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, instead
Military aid / A6
The CROSS
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI
and the Order of the Knights of Columbus
Namfrel seeks early 2010
polls in ARMM
December 7 - 30, 2009
Vol. 13 No. 25
Php 20.00
DUE to the recent spate of violence in Maguindanao, a poll watchdog called on the Commission on elections to hold elections in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
ahead of the rest of the country in 2010.
The National Citizens’ Movement for Free
Elections said such move must be done so that
the poll body’s attention and that of the security
forces will be focused in the region.
If that is the case, the group said, there might
be less shenanigans.
“We urge the Comelec to consider holding an
ARMM / A6
CBCP urges restraint on martial law
By Roy Lagarde
AS martial law grips the southern province, the
Catholic hierarchy urged the authorities to exercise
restraint to prevent the escalation of tension.
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president, said it is needed so as to avoid any interpretations
in putting Maguindanao under military rule.
Such action is also important to ensure that peace and the protection of human rights in the area is the highest priority, he said.
“We call for restraint on the part of the administrators of martial
law so as not to give people the reason to suspect of any hidden
agenda behind the exercise,” Odchimar said.
“Abuse of power should be avoided and martial law should not
be unnecessarily prolonged,” he stressed.
The CBCP head’s appeal was contained in statement released
Tuesday night, his first after he assumed presidency on Dec. 1.
COURTESY CALL. Papal nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams (center) is flanked by CBCP President Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar and Palo Archbishop
Jose Palma, CBCP Vice-President, at his residence in Taft Avenue, Manila, Dec.1. Other members of the CBCP Permanent Council are Bishops Emmanuel Cabajar of
Pagadian; Edgardo Juanich of Taytay; Leonardo Medroso of Tagbilaran; Archbishop Romulo Valles of Zamboanga; Bishops Rolando Tria Tirona of Infanta; Jaro Auxiliary
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza; Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena; and San Fernando Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David. Not in photo is Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes. Also
in photo are Msgr. Juanito Figura, Secretary General; Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, Treasurer; and Msgr. Joselito Asis, Assistant Secretary General.
(CBCP) on December 1, 2009.
The 69-year-old prelate who was elected last July
by an overwhelming majority of bishops from 86
dioceses will serve a two-year term. He is the 18th
head of bishops’ collegial body.
Prior to his election, Odchimar was the vicepresident of the CBCP. He succeeds Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo who served for two terms.
Pressing issues
Odchimar vowed to be more responsive to
“urgent” issues affecting the church and the
country.
He said he will continue the projects of his
predecessor.
Odchimar was ordained priest on Dec. 19, 1964
and spent most of his priestly ministry in the
Archdiocese of Manila.
He took his Philosophy at the Sacred Heart
Seminary in Palo, Leyte and Theology at the San
Carlos Seminary in Makati City.
The CBCP head pursued further studies at the
University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary,
where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Canon
Law, magna cum laude (1982) and Doctorate in
Canon Law, also magna cum laude (1983).
Odchimar also completed masteral studies in
Business Administration at the De la Salle University in Manila.
He was ordained bishop on Nov. 27, 2001 and
appointed Bishop of Tandag on that same year.
Permanent council
Along with Odchimar, also assuming their posts
are the members of the CBCP Permanent Council
who were elected during the bishops’ plenary assembly last July.
The Council is chaired “ex officio” by the CBCP
President. His members include Palo, Leyte Archbishop Jose Palma, elected CBCP vice president.
Regional representatives are Bayombong
Bishop Ramon Villena, San Fernando Auxiliary
Bishop Pablo David, Taytay Bishop Edgardo
Juanich and Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes for
Luzon; Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso and
Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza for the
Visayas; and Pagadian Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar
and Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles for
Mindanao.
Members of the CBCP are assembled as a "plenary assembly" twice a year. When the plenary
assembly is not in session, it is the Permanent
Council that acts for the entire conference.
One major function of the council is to prepare
joint statements or pastoral letters of the hierarchy on matters decided by the plenary assembly.
(CBCPNews)
www.youthpinoy.com
“FAMILY and Life issues will be a major consideration in choosing public officials in the
coming 2010 elections and this will be an opportune time to bring public awareness to the
moral dimensions of the electoral issues,” this
was part of the resolution formulated during
the recently-concluded First National Conference of the Episcopal Commission on Family
and Life (ECFL).
With its appropriate working theme “The
Family Serving the Church and Society”, the
conference was held from November 30 to December 3, 2009 at the St. Michael Retreat House
in Antipolo City.
Commission on Family and Life Chairman and
San Fernando, Pampanga Archbishop Paciano
B. Aniceto, expressed satisfaction that the Family and Life Directors and members resolved to
pursue a more active education campaign to
promote family values.
He assured the members that the ECFL would
issue guidelines to clarify the family and life is-
sues involved in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking to the participants, he underscored the
importance of the family as the foundation of society. He remarked in his closing homily, “Just as the
house that was built on rock could withstand the
wind and rain, so must the family remain firmly
founded on God. The family is the foundation of
society and if this foundation is weak, then society
itself will be weak.”
Fr. Melvin Castro, CBCP-ECFL executive secretary said the conference was convened in order to
establish common core knowledge of family and
life issues among the Directors and members of the
Family and Life Ministry in the parishes.
The increasing concern about anti-family legislation in Congress prompted the ECFL to convene
its members and make them aware of the issues
affecting family and life.
The issues discussed in the conference were:
World Population Collapse and the Lessons for
the Philippines; Truth and Meaning of Human
Sexuality; New Age as a Spirituality of Knowledge and Experience; The Gospel of Life and
Reproductive Health; The Effects of Pornography and Entertainment Violence on the Family;
The Hidden Dangers of Sex Education; and The
Family in God’s Plan.
“In addition, topics on Home and School Partnership and the Moral Dimensions of the 2010
Elections were discussed to help the Family and
Life members engage educators and legislators
to uphold the values of marriage and family,”
he said.
Blueprint / A6
2nd National Congress of the Clergy set in 2010
CLOSE to 6,000 priests and bishops
nationwide are expected to gather
for the 2nd National Congress of the
Clergy from January 25-29, 2010 at the
World Trade Center, in Pasay City.
Fr. Raniero Cantalamesa, OFM
Cap, Papal Preacher to the late Pope
John Paul II and the present Pope
Benedict XVI, will be the Spiritual
Retreat Preacher of the congress.
His talk will center on the theme of
the Year for Priests: “Faithfulness of
Christ, faithfulness of priests.”
Imus Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle
will give a reflection on some of the
talks that will be given during the
Participants to the Clergy Congress of the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila held last
November 17.
congress.
Aside from plenary talks, other
spiritual activities such as recitation
of the rosary, station of the cross and
spiritual sharing will fill up the fiveday event.
Priests coming from far-away dioceses will be accommodated by host
families within Manila archdiocese
and neighboring dioceses of Parañaque, Cubao, Pasig, Kalookan and
Novaliches.
The assembly which is being
spearheaded by the Commission on
the Clergy of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
headed by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is in conjunction with the Catholic Church’s
celebration of the “Year for Priests”
which the Holy Father proclaimed
last June 19, 2009.
Arroyo told: Quit House bid
THERE is a strong opinion
among bishops in the provinces for President Arroyo
to drop her plan to run for
Pampanga’s second district
in the 2010 elections.
Of the 11 bishops reached
by CBCPNews, majority of
them openly said Arroyo
should not run for the sake
of decency.
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, former president of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP),
said Arroyo should retire
from politics and give others a
chance to lead Pampanga.
www.cbcpnews.com/podcast
“I wholeheartedly suggest
she gives others a chance to
serve and not give in to temptation of power,” he said.
Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance said while no law
prohibits a President to seek
for a lower position, he said
she should not run for the
sake of propriety.
“She would have shown
political delicadeza or some
statesmanship if she does not
run,” said Trance.
He said Arroyo must
have personal reasons if
she runs indeed. “Maybe
she has the assurance and
resources to win if she
runs,” he added.
Improper
As far as Laoag Bishop
Sergio Utleg is concerned,
he said “I think she should
retire.”
Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said Arroyo’s congressional bid only showed the
absence of delicadeza in the
country.
“It’s not proper for a former president to seek a lower
position,” he said.
Legazpi Bishop Emeritus
Lucilo Quiambao said Ar-
www.cbcpnews.com
To culminate in June 2010, the
celebration was declared by His
Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the
clergy to deepen their commitment
and undergo an “interior renewal
for the sake of a more forceful and
incisive witness to the Gospel in
today’s world.”
Some dioceses have also celebrated
Diocesan Clergy Congress to celebrate the Year for Priests.
The Bicol clergy had its congress
last November 9-13, while the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila’s Congress
of the Clergy was held on November
17, 2009 at the SMX Convention Center, MOA, Pasay City.
The January 2010 national congress
will be the second nationwide gathering for the clergy. The first assembly
was held on July 5-9, 2004. (Kate
Laceda)
royo 2010 political plans
might be interpreted as a
means to protect her personal
interests.
Political survival
The arch critic of the Arroyo
administration
also gave his
views regarding Arroyo’s
plan to run in
2010 elections.
LingayenDagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz
said that Arroyo’s congressional bid was
motivated by
www.cbcpmedia.com
political survival.
“She manifests addiction
to power, exhibits lack of
propriety and remains fixated to have a Cha-cha (CharArroyo / A6
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
© CBCP Media
TANDAG
Bishop
N e r e o
Odchimar
formally
assumed
the presidency of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines
Restraint / A6
Family life groups carve blueprint
for social involvement
© Noli Yamsuan / RCAM
Odchimar assumes
CBCP presidency
Due process
While the public awaits the Supreme Court decision on the legality
of the martial law proclamation, Odchimar said the church’s urgent
call is to bring justice to the victims of the Maguindanao carnage.
He said “due process” should also be granted to the accused as
warranted by the present situation and for the protection of human
rights.
“We are supposed to be guided by the rule of law enshrined in
our constitution and legislation and not by the rule of men who
imposed their will on the weak and powerless with utter disregard
of honesty and fair play,” Odchimar also said.
“The exercise of civil power should be geared towards the promo-
www.clergycongress2.org
World News
A2
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
A main goal of the UN conference is to agree on ways to keep the average rise in global temperatures
to less than 2 degrees Celsius above their pre-industrial levels.
Some scientists warn that a temperature rise greater than this would likely have a devastating impact
on the planet, especially on the world's poorer nations.
They are urging world governments to stick to the proposal of a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 amid fears that the United States and China—the world’s biggest polluters—will broker
for a reduction of only 20 percent. (UCAN)
Pope wishes success to
Copenhagen talks
VATICAN CITY, Dec.
6, 2009—Benedict XVI is
wishing success to world
leaders gathering in Denmark seeking a global
pact on climate change,
recalling that the way to
protect the earth must
include respect for God's
laws and the moral dimension of human life.
The Pope today mentioned the U.N. conference after praying the
midday Angelus. The talks in Copenhagen are set to start Monday
and run through Dec. 18.
Some 190 nations will be represented at the biggest climate change
meeting in history. Representatives are seeking a pact to replace the
one established in 1997.
"I hope that the work will help to identify actions respectful of
creation and favorable to solidary development founded on the
dignity of the human person and oriented toward the common
good," the Holy Father said.
He affirmed that to safeguard creation, people must change their
lifestyles. And he defended the interests of the poor and future
generations.
"I invite all persons of good will to respect the laws placed by God
in nature and to rediscover the moral dimension of human life," the
Pontiff concluded.
The Holy See is among the states that will be represented at the Copenhagen talks. Its delegation is led by Archbishop Celestino Migliore,
the Holy See's permanent observer at the United Nations. (Zenit)
Australian bishops ready for
canonization of Mary Mackillop
SYDNEY, Australia, Dec. 4, 2009—Bishops of
Australia gathered for their five-day plenary
session which saw them discussing issues
ranging from the protection of marriage
to the hoped-for canonization of the first
Australian saint.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) met Nov. 23-27 in Sydney.
They were visited by the president of the
Pontifical Council Cor Unum, Cardinal Paul
Cordes, to reflect with them on the charitable
mission of the Church.
And anticipating an event that will have
many repercussions in the local Church, the
bishops discussed the hoped-for canonization of Blessed Mary MacKillop for some
time next year.
According to a statement from the conference, “the bishops pledged to work [...] to
ensure that the canonization of Australia’s
first saint would be a time of grace for the
Church in Australia, noting that it would
present a wonderful opportunity to engage
with the community about what it means to
live a holy life.”
The ACBC also had to consider the Church
within the Australian society, as issues of conscience rights, abortion, and the definition of
marriage have been on political agendas.
Their discussion “touched on a number
of important areas, including the defense of
marriage as being a special kind of relationship which is defined as the commitment of
a man and a woman to live as husband and
wife to the exclusion of all others and for
life,” the statement said. “Their discussion
also affirmed that the Church deplores unjust
discrimination against homosexual people,
while confirming that in society the making
of certain distinctions is essential.
“The bishops concluded their discussion
by saying that the Church must speak up for
crucial institutions such as marriage while
supporting people in all walks of life. Basic
human rights can and should be afforded to
all people without sacrificing the bedrock of
society that is marriage and the family.”
Educational issues
The Australian bishops also took up various education-related themes.
One was the need to teach the faithful
Vatican Council ‘expert’ dies at 101
PUNE, India, Dec. 4, 2009—Jesuit F`` ather Josef Neuner, a
prominent theologian at the
Second Vatican Council has died
at age 101.
The priest died at 11.15 p.m.
on Dec. 3 at Sanjeevan Ashram
(monastery of saintly life), the
headquarters of the Pune Jesuit
province, where he had lived for
the past 15 years.
On Dec. 4, his body, draped
in vestments, with a rosary and
a wooden cross in his hands, lay
in the ashram chapel as nuns,
priests and laypeople, carrying
flowers, came to pay their last
respects.
His funeral was scheduled for
later that day and he was to be
buried in a cemetery in Pune’s
Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, where
he had taught for several years.
“He died peacefully in his
sleep,” Fr. Bertram Rosario,
Jesuit provincial of Pune, told
UCA News.
Jesuit Father Anil Soares, assistant to the provincial, said
Fr. Neuner had been admitted
© www.sosj.org.au
© www.knowledgeability.net
Notes importance of human dignity, common good
about the Eastern rites and particularly, to
meet the needs of Eastern rite students in
Catholic schools.
And for the Latin rite, the need to prepare
for a new translation of the Roman Missal
was discussed.
As well, the bishops approved two
pastoral letters: One is a letter to priests
to mark the Year for Priests; the other is a
letter to Catholic women, to mark the 10th
anniversary of the release of the Bishops’
Social Justice Statement, which followed
the “Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus”
research project. (Zenit)
to a private hospital with suspected pneumonia on Nov. 29.
“He was put on a ventilator but
responded to treatment and was
brought home” on the evening of
Dec. 3, he added.
“No one expected him to die.
He didn’t appear to be suffering
from a major ailment. He seemed
cheerful and alert to the core,”
Fr. Soares added.
Church people have hailed Fr.
Neuner as a stalwart of Church
renewal after the Second Vatican
Council (1962-1965).
He was one of four periti (experts) from India at the council
and contributed to its many
documents, especially “Nostra
Aetate” (Declaration on the Relation of the Church with NonChristian Religions) and “Ad
Gentes” (Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church).
He had worked with Jesuit
theologian Fr. Karl Rahner and
helped codify the Church’s decrees on priestly formation.
It was Fr. Neuner who drafted
Pope Paul VI’s speech to Hindus
when the pontiff visited Mumbai
(then Bombay) for the Eucharistic Congress in 1964.
Fr. Neuner had also acted as
a bridge-builder between Religious and diocesan priests, between theology and spirituality,
Christian theology and Indian
religions, India and Europe, and
the Church and the world.
He was also known for his
association with Blessed Teresa
of Kolkata and was the first to
write about her in German. He
once said that Blessed Teresa
was among those who had embodied the Vatican Council II
spirit. (UCAN)
Connection between USCCB
and gay rights activist sparks
controversy
WASHINGTON D.C., Dec.
4, 2009—Conservative blogs
were buzzing on Friday with
the discovery that a member
of the USCCB’s Subcommittee
on Catholic Health Care is an
active homosexual and gay rights
activist. However, though Mary Kay
Henry’s bio states that she is a labor adviser to the U.S. bishops, the USCCB communications director
told CNA “she is not a consultant.”
Henry, the international executive vice president for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was recently named
one of the nation’s “Top 25 Women in Healthcare” for 2009 by
Modern Healthcare. Her biography at the SEIU website explains
that “Her faith and values as a practicing Roman Catholic led
her to pursue union organizing as a vocation.”
“Mary Kay is also active in the fight for immigration reform and gay and lesbian rights. She is a founding member
of SEIU’s gay and lesbian Lavender Caucus,” her description
continues.
According to SEIU, “The Lavender Caucus is the Lesbian/
Gay/Bisexual/ Transgender (L/G/B/T) Caucus of the Service
Employees International Union whose purpose is to facilitate
open and respectful communication between the L/G/B/T
community and the labor movement.”
The last line of Henry’s SEIU bio reads, “She and her partner,
Paula Macchello, have been together for 20 years.”
Henry is listed on the USCCB website as a member of the
Subcommittee on Justice, Peace, and Human Development who
helped produce the working paper, “A Fair and Just Workplace:
Principles and Practices for Catholic Health Care.”
ModernHealthCare.com also mentions that Henry is a labor
adviser to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic
Health Care & Work Subcommittee.
However, in an email asking to confirm Henry’s advisory role
at the USCCB, Sister Mary Ann Walsh, the conference media
director simply told CNA, “She is not a consultant.”
CNA spoke with another woman in the Justice, Peace and Human Development office at the USCCB who said a press release
on the topic would be available on Friday afternoon.
But by Friday night, no press release had been posted on the
USCCB’s website.
Similarly, a call from CNA to Henry was not returned. (CNA)
© www.usccb.org
VATICAN CITY, Dec. 7, 2009—Pope Benedict XVI has called on the
UN Climate Change Conference to come up with concrete action to
combat global warming.
On the eve of the conference in Copenhagen, the Pope appealed
to all people of goodwill to “respect the laws that God has placed
in nature.”
The integrity of creation “demands the adoption of sober and
responsible lifestyles,” above all out of concern and respect “for the
poor and for future generations,” he said.
Addressing thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s Square on Sunday,
Dec. 6, the Pope expressed hope that the conference’s deliberations
“would help identify actions that are respectful of creation and that
will promote a jointly responsible development, based on the dignity
of the human person and directed to the common good.”
The UN conference runs Dec. 7-18. It brings together more than
100 heads of state and other top-level representatives of most of
the 192 member-states of the UN, including the Asian superpowers
China and India.
The Holy See, which has official observer status at the UN and full
diplomatic relations with 176 countries, is participating at the conference with a five-person delegation, including experts in the field.
The delegation is led by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy
See's permanent observer to the United Nations, in New York, who
will address the conference.
Caritas Internationalis, the umbrella organization for more than
150 official Catholic charity and development organizations worldwide, is also participating in the climate summit as an NGO. It is
bringing delegates, bishops among them, from 25 countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India and Indonesia. They will lobby
governments to reach a “fair and effective binding agreement” on what needs to be done.
Together with Catholic International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CICDSE), Caritas
is encouraging governments to seize a "once-in-a-generation chance to save the human family from a
future of climate chaos."
Pope Benedict’s words added moral weight to appeals that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and
scientists have made to the world’s political leaders, urging them to agree on the action needed to fight
global warming.
© www.propeller.com
Pope calls for concrete action
on climate
Religious leaders show solidarity
with former ‘comfort women’
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 4, 2009—Asian religious leaders
have voiced support for former “comfort women” by joining a
weekly rally calling on Japan to make an official apology for its
war-time atrocities.
“As a Japanese, I
feel shame and guilt
seeing these ‘grandmothers’ still protesting on the street. I
strongly urge the Japanese government to
make an official apology and compensate
them,” Fr. Paul Kazuyoshi Okura told
the protesters.
The secretary-general of the Committee for Justice and Peace
in Tokyo archdiocese said that on his return to Japan, he will step
up efforts to persuade his government to meet their demands.
Fr. Okura was among some 40 religious leaders from around
Asia who joined 70 protesters in front of the Japanese Embassy
in Seoul on Dec. 2.
The rally, the 894th since the weekly protests started on Jan.
8, 1992, was organized by the Korean Council for the Women
Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.
The rallies started just before a visit by then Japanese Prime
Minister Kiichi Miyazawa in 1992. Since then, they have been
held every Wednesday.
‘Comfort women’ / A7
News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
A3
Pope invites Copenhagen representatives to
rediscover the ‘moral dimension of human life’
VATICAN CITY, Dec. 6, 2009─Following the recitation of the Angelus on Sunday, the Holy Father commented on
the United Nations Conference on Climate Change which will begin on Monday in Copenhagen. He expressed his
hope that the conference would uphold an attitude of respect and responsibility for creation.
The Pontiff’s poignant message was the latest in his work to raise awareness of nature, which has led some to
name him "The Green Pope."
Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, he reiterated the same message he has given on other occasions. He stated his hope that the representatives at the conference, who come from most of the world’s nations,
will help to localize actions that are "respectful of creation and that support development, grounded in the dignity
of the human person and oriented to the common good."
For the safeguarding all of creation, Benedict XVI urged the adoption of "sober and responsible lifestyles, above
all towards the poor and future generations."
He concluded saying, "to guarantee the full success of the conference, I invite all people of good will to respect
the laws made by God in nature and rediscover the moral dimension of human life.
The Conference will convene government representatives from at least 170 countries, according its official website.
The purpose of the summit is to evaluate and renew pledges made in the Kyoto protocol and to engage greater
commitment from participating nations, especially in regard to carbon emissions. (CNA)
Suffering can benefit
the Church, says Pope
VATICAN CITY, Dec. 3, 2009─The experience of sickness and suffering can become a school of hope, maturity and union with Christ,
and benefit the whole Church, Benedict XVI says in his message for
the 18th World Day of the Sick.
This year's world day, celebrated on the Feast of Our Lady of
Lourdes, Feb. 11, coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry.
The Holy Father's message, published today in Italian with translations forthcoming, pointed out that "with the grace of God received
and lived in daily life, the experience of sickness and suffering can
become a school of hope."
In this Year for Priests, the Pope asked the sick to "pray and offer your sufferings for priests, so that they will be faithful to their
vocation and that their ministry will be rich in spiritual fruits, for
the benefit of the whole Church."
The text also mentioned those who care for the sick and suffering. Benedict XVI thanked them and encouraged them to continue
carrying out this "important task" and showing "more generous
apostolic zeal."
Specifically the Holy Father encouraged priests ─ whom he addressed as "sign and instrument of the compassion of Christ" ─ to
spare no effort in offering care and consolation.
"Time spent by the side of someone being tested is revealed
fruitful in grace in all the other dimensions of pastoral care," he
affirmed.
Love made service
The Pontiff also pointed out the need to
express the "humanitarian and spiritual action of the ecclesial community to the sick
and to those who suffer."
He mentioned health care facilities directly
managed by dioceses and those that were born
from the generosity of religious institutes.
The Bishop of Rome describes these institutions as "a precious patrimony" that
respond to the fact that "love also needs an organization, as a premise
for an ordered community service."
"The creation of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry,
25 years ago, is part of this ecclesial concern for the world of health,"
he added.
"In the present historical-cultural moment, one sees even more
the need of an ecclesial presence that is attentive and on the spot at
the side of the sick," the Pope observed.
He also called for "a presence in society capable of transmitting in
an effective way the evangelical values for the protection of human
life in all its phases, from its conception until its natural end."
Citing "Spe Salvi," the Holy Father affirmed that "what cures man
is not to shun suffering and flee in the face of pain, but the capacity
to accept tribulation, to mature in it and find meaning in it through
union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love." (Zenit)
Papal preacher says priests
should avoid ‘frenetic activism’
Father Raniero Cantalamessa
VATICAN CITY, Dec. 8, 2009—In his first
Advent reflection for Pope Benedict XVI and
members of the Roman Curia, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher of the Pontifical
Household, warned that a threat exists today
that, “because of the low number of priests,
affects the clergy and the entire Church: it’s
called frenetic activism.”
Using the writings of Abbot Chautard
as inspiration for his reflection,
Father Cantalamessa said that
in order to understand how to
follow Christ, one must journey
down a path founded upon “a
personal relationship that is full
of trust and friendship with the
person of Jesus,” who is the soul
of every priesthood.
Referring to Chautard’s book,
“The Soul of Every Apostolate,”
the papal preacher underscored
that the work was published just
a few years before Vatican II, “in a period in
which there was great enthusiasm for parish
work.” The book addressed “the heart of
the problem, denouncing the danger of an
empty activism.”
Chautard wrote: “God wants Jesus to be
life of our works.” For this reason, in reflecting on the need for priests to be servers of
Christ, Father Cantalamessa remarked, “On
the invisible passport of the priest where
‘profession’ is listed, one ought to read:
servant of Jesus Christ’.”
The essential service of the priest to the
Lord Jesus is thus “to continue His work in
the world,” by being a witness to the truth, the
saving will and the love of God for man.”
According to L’Osservatore Romano,
Father Cantalamessa also explained that
communicating Christ to others does not
mean being his successors, as “Jesus has
no successors, because He is not dead, He
is alive.”
In his work the priest must strive to make
man become friends with God, he continued,
citing the passage in which the Lord calls His
disciples “friends” and not servants.
He concluded his reflection emphasizing
the importance of prayer in the life of the
priest, as only with an intense prayer life
can a priest be fully dedicated to his pastoral
work. (CNA)
FABC official dares Asian youth: ‘Live the Eucharist’
of violence and bloodshed.”
He said the young people in
Cotabato and in other areas in
the Philippines are growing up
in the culture of political power
at any cost and the culture of
bloodshed in order to defend
their families.
He admitted it would be difficult to call on them to “live the
Eucharist.”
Quevedo recalled the experience of the victims of the
genocide in Rwanda in 1993
and 1994 where hundreds of
thousands of people died in the
conflict between the Hutus and
the Tutsis.
Many of those killed during
the genocide were Catholics
“but blood was thicker than
faith, blood was thicker than
the water of baptism” the prelate said.
He also recalled a Tutsi religious sister who witnessed the
massacre of her family inside
a Catholic church where they
fled for refuge. Her story was
narrated before the African
Synod of Bishops last month
in Rome.
The nun vowed to avenge the
death of her family. But when
she visited the prison after a
few weeks where the murderers were locked up, one of
them clung to her feet, sought
forgiveness and cried, the prelate said.
Quevedo said the nun’s first
reaction was to kick the man,
but then she
ture of retalidrew him up;
ation and
“the man was
vengeance do
her neighbor,
likewise; to
they grew up
live the Eutogether, they
charist in that
went to school
way and say
together.”
justice is to be
“She wept
done, but jusand embraced
tice with forthe man and
giveness?”
her faith in
In closing,
God came
Quevedo told
back to her
of the example
and said she
of Pope John
has forgiven
Paul II who
him,” Queveshowed the
do said, quotworld the valing the sister.
ue of forgiveTurning to
ness when he
Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI
the congregaforgave Mehtion, he asked: “Can young met Ali Agca who attempted to
people growing up in a cul- kill him. (Melo M. Acuña)
© CBCP Media
SILANG, Cavite, Nov. 27,
2009—Leading the closing liturgy of the 5th Asian Youth
Day in Cavite on Nov. 27, Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo,
OMI, underscored the value of
sacrifice even as he challenged
the youth to manifest the meaning of Eucharist in their lives.
Quevedo, who is also Secretary General of the Federation
of Asian Bishops’ Conferences
(FABC), said the coming together of the Asian youth is easy
to accomplish, but “sharing the
Word and living the Eucharist
would entail sacrifice.”
“The problem of Asia is corruption, in many countries in
Asia there is corruption, bribery, extortion but if you contribute your tithe to the temple, you
are also offering a sacrifice,” he
explained.
Quevedo said he just arrived
from his ecclesiastical province
of Cotabato which caught international headlines because
of the November 23 infamous
massacre that brutally killed
more than 57 people.
Authorities “are still finding
bodies in that killing field,” even
as he spoke, the prelate said.
`Quevedo said the massacre
took place because of two things
“a culture of political power
at any cost and a culture of
vengeance—vendetta.” It is best
described in the local dialect as
“rido” which justifies retaliation, “blood for blood, a culture
Spreading Christ’s
love through Facebook
Church in Australia suggests
getting involved, being careful
SYDNEY, Australia, Dec. 4, 2009—The Church in Australia is
affirming its desire to take advantage of social networking sites
as a way to communicate the love of Jesus Christ, though it is
recommending caution in certain respects.
A social networking protocol was approved by the Australian
Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) during its Nov. 23-27 plenary meeting in Sydney.
The bishops cite Benedict XVI in observing that communication technologies have "extraordinary potential" and can be
considered "truly a gift to humanity."
But in taking advantage of social networking opportunities, the
bishops affirmed that representatives of the Church "need to be
aware of appropriate boundaries and activities when communicating in the name of the Church in an online environment."
Being friends
The ACBC protocol makes the clear affirmation that on or offline, respect for human dignity must be priority.
The prelates then list a series of observations to help everyone
from bishops to youth ministers to exercise proper caution.
For example, the protocol notes the dilemma of having a
public or personal profile on MySpace or Facebook. It observes
that with a personal profile, there can be "a way of controlling
who appears on the person’s page as a 'friend'"; whereas with a
public profile, there is no control over "who appears as a 'fan' on
your page, but it has the advantage of people understanding that
'fans' are different to 'friends' and that no acceptance or rejection
of 'fans' is implied."
The episcopal conference stipulated that there should be
permission from the bishop for a Church worker to set up a
personal profile where those to whom he is ministering are his
"friends."
"It is advisable that people exercise great care and judgment in
accepting 'friend' requests from people to whom they minister,
especially young people," the protocol recommends. "In this way,
appropriate boundaries can be maintained."
"Moderation of official Church social networking activities is
crucial," the bishops further affirm. "Comments which are rude,
disrespectful or even bullying in nature should be immediately
removed."
Left out
Finally, the ACBC points out an issue that can sometimes be
lost in the discussion, which they titled "the digital divide."
The prelates said it is important for all Church entities, and
particularly those involved in youth ministry, "not to rely exclusively on social networking as a means of communication."
The protocol explained: "To do this could be to exclude the
poor ─ those who cannot afford a computer, who live in remote
localities with poor Internet connectivity, who struggle with illiteracy or who face other challenges which place them outside
of the online world.
"Going to Church and hearing others talk about their social
networking experiences can be profoundly isolating for those
unable to take part. Social networking should only ever be one of
a range of communication methods that we use to invite people
into closer relationship with Jesus Christ." (Zenit)
Environmental group calls for national discernment, unity
MANILA, Nov. 28, 2009—The EcoWaste
Coalition, an environmental group that
promotes eco-friendly polls in 2010, called
for national discernment and unity in the
aftermath of the Maguindanao bloodbath.
“The butchery should trigger a national
discernment and unity that will solidly reject
the four Gs that have constantly contaminated
and blemished our electoral processes: guns,
goons, gold and garbage,” they stated.
The Maguindanao massacre has taken 64
defenseless lives of ordinary people, lawyers
and journalists last Monday that were part of
the convoy of Vice Mayor Datu Ismail "Toto"
Mangudadatu of Buluan town.
The group also challenged the political
parties, candidates and supporters to honor
the victims of the massacre by “committing
to a clean, green and peaceful pursuit” political exercise.
They have also sought for the immediate action of the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) and law enforcers for a peaceful
path towards next year polls.
“We call upon the Commission on Elections and all our law enforcement agencies
to defend the ballot from warlords and their
armed thugs by implementing a total gun ban
with immediate effect,” the group affirmed.
“We urge President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo to disassociate herself from the alleged architects of the bloodbath and ensure
the rule of law and justice without fear or
favor,” they added.
The group also joined the nation in praying for a peaceful country and justice for the
victims of the tragedy.
“We grieve for all the victims of political
violence and join the rest of the nation in
praying for the reign of peace, justice and
harmony in Mindanao and throughout the
society,” they said.
Eco-waste Coalition is a network of nongovernment and public interest groups promoting ecological wellbeing. (Kate Laceda)
Opinion
A4
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
EDITORIAL
The rebellion spin
AT press time when the historic joint session of Congress
deliberating on the merits or otherwise of Proclamation 1959—that
declared martial law in Maguindanao province—is still on progress,
the growing popular logic does not see how Malacañang based
its daring on Section 18, Art VII of the Constitution that states:
“In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires
it, (the President) may, for a period not exceeding sixty days,
suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the
Philippines or any part thereof under martial law.”
Neither could the Palace—but, of course, it did—base the
proclamation on R.A. 6968 which provides that the crime of
rebellion or insurrection “is committed by rising publicly and taking
arms against the government for the purpose of xxx depriving the
Chief Executive or the Legislative, wholly or partially, of any of
their powers or prerogatives.”
Simply put, the case in Maguindanao, according to Bishop Ted
Bacani who was a member of the commission that drafted the
1987 Constitution, was a blatant criminal act and not a rebellion
against the government. He posed: “A close ally of President
Arroyo was being implicated in the massacre so how can you
justify the imposition of martial law?”
But be that as it may, or in the words of Cotabato Archbishop
Orlando Quevedo “Since Martial Law has been declared. Let it
be. I let the lawyers debate it. I pray that Martial Law resolve the
abnormal situation and deal swift justice for the victims.”
The only rub is—and this may stink as in other past machinations
authored by the powers that be—the Martial Law gambit may
actually degrade the case of a mass murder into a political rebellion
that subsumes any and all other crimes thereby paving the way
of the perpetrators out of justice and jail.
A constitutionalist par excellence, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, warns
rather seriously: “Murder committed in pursuance of rebellion
is not considered a separate crime and is therefore absorbed by
the charge of rebellion… rebellion runs the risk of being granted
amnesty, which can be pardoned by the President following final
conviction.” The drama may actually end up giving the criminals
a holiday in court.
If such should be the case, then CBCP President Bishop Nereo
Odchimar admonishes: “We are supposed to be guided by the
rule of law enshrined in our constitution and legislations and
not by the rule of men who imposed their will on the weak and
powerless with utter disregard of honesty and fair play. The
exercise of civil power should be geared towards the promotion
of the common good.”
Without mentioning the “mysteries” of the 2004 elections that
reportedly unfolded mostly in Maguindanao, is it rather possible
that the declaration of Martial Law and the consequent filing of
rebellion cases may actually be a spin?
The Manipulative use of human rights
IN the Philippines today, the incidence of human rights violations
has escalated in areas where the Military and the NPA (and other
rebel groups like the MNLF, etc.) are fighting for control. And it
is innocent civilians, who, needless to say, are subjected most to
the abuse of rights by both sides in the conflict. The situation is
most deplorable. And we cannot deplore it enough.
But even more deplorable, to our way of thinking, is a
development—hardly recognized generally as an evil, we are
afraid—in the way human rights abuses are talked about and
reported. To give it a name, we call that evil “the manipulative
use of human rights violations.”
Thus, each time that “massacres” of civilians take place (Mendiola,
Lupao, Paombong come to mind), inevitably such killings are
trumpeted here and abroad as incontrovertible proof that nothing
has changed in regard to the government’s already dismal record
on human rights violations. Now, after the discovery of the mass
graves of Quezon and the more recent slaughter of a Church
community in Davao del Sur, the very charges that are liberally
hurled against the military and government are now turned against
the CPP-NPA, the NDF and their allied groups.
What this means simply is that the issue of human rights and their
continuing violations have become a political and ideological—
not, as it should be, a human and moral— concern, and it is this
particular development that we in the CBCP would like to address
in this statement.
We find it most distressing that the killing of innocent people
and other violations of human rights are actually cause for
rejoicing. This is putting it too strongly, perhaps, but we fear it
is equivalently what is happening today in the Philippines when
one or other political group positively gloats over massacres or
cases of tortures, etc. When these are perpetrated by an opposing
group and its crime is treated as only one more piece of propaganda
ammunition to be used to destroy its credibility before the bar
of public opinion.
This is what we mean by “the manipulative use of human rights
violations”; the reprobation and publicizing by one political bloc
of violations of human rights not specifically to put a stop to them
(despite the rhetoric) but merely to blacken the political image
of the other. This is using the misfortune of others—the victim,
that is, of human rights abuse—to one’s narrow advantage. This
is putting the suffering of the people secondary to what political
and ideological mileage can be gotten from it.
The Manipulative use of human rights violations,
A CBCP Pastoral Statement, 1989
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
Abp. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD
Requiem for democracy
and press freedom
Pastoral Companion
“THINK Mindanao, Feel Mindanao, Bring Peace to Mindanao”—
the theme for this year’s Mindanao Week of Peace (November 26December 2) stands out in sharp contrast to the details surrounding
the Maguindanao Massacre that took place on November 23.
How could 57 defenseless persons, including women, human
rights lawyers, and 27 journalists be gunned down mercilessly?
For what conceivable reasons? By whom? And how could the
perpetrators have even tried to hide the gruesome evidence—slain
bodies and vehicles altogether—by burying all this into a freshly
dug mass grave? But, even as we condole with all those who have
lost a loved one, and express our outrage at this unspeakable crime,
we can try to delve deeper into the various factors that helped create the situation now confronting the nation.
First, the massacre was an attack on our democratic process. An
opponent’s filing of his certificate of candidacy was abruptly ended
en route to the COMELEC office. Already in previous elections,
voters in Maguindanao were perceived as being under the grip of
local warlords and political dynasties. The allegations of tampered
election results in the past have not been resolved—due in no small
part to the collusion of higher officials and the party in power.
Secondly, it was an assault on the freedom of the press. Media
practitioners, despite their avowed neutrality in reporting the
news, were nonetheless included in the summary execution. Here
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
A fitting burial
I WAS in Second Year High School biology
class when our teacher took us to the science
laboratory to look at bottles of dead fetus on
display inside the glass covered cabinets.
While my classmates said all kinds of gross
expressions, I stared and felt much pity at
those babies floating in preservative liquids.
My teacher’s point for showing us the bottles
was for us to learn the different stages of
development of the unborn baby.
High school days passed by and I practically forgot about that day in the lab, until I
reached college and took up Nursing in St.
Paul College (now University) in Malate,
Manila. Once again, I saw a display of specimens—not only of frogs and butterflies but
of human skeletons and fetus in bottles. This
time, it would be many days a week that we
would have to go to the lab to dissect frogs
and memorize the names of each bone in the
skeleton so that the sight of the fetus in the
bottles was taken for granted.
It was only when I got involved in pro-life
mission that I realized that keeping those
specimens in the bottles was not right. Part of
post-abortion healing is to assist the woman
bury her aborted baby. Teary-eyed mothers
come to us carrying the baby in a bottle or
Editor-in-Chief
Pinky Barrientos, FSP
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Associate Editor
Managing Editor
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Feature Editor
Marketing Supervisor
Circulation Manager
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Layout Artist and Online Editor
Comptroller
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communications Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and
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Love Life
wrapped in cloth inside a shoebox. A prolife counselor would accompany the mother
to the Tomb of Aborted Babies in La Loma
Catholic Cemetery where we have been
maintaining the area since 1992. During the
time of Sec. Lito Atienza as Mayor of Manila,
he put up Tombs for Aborted Babies in North
Cemetery in Caloocan and South Cemetery
in Makati. (Both these cemeteries are actually maintained by the City of Manila). The
burial ceremony allows the mother to finish
her grief and helps in her contrition and
healing to be able to go on in life.
Every Dec 28, Feast of the Holy Innocent
Martyrs, the Rachels Support Group of
Aborted Women gather around one of those
Tombs to have the Mass for Aborted and
Miscarried Babies and to listen to testimonies
on how abortion was not the answer to their
problem pregnancy but in fact, had rendered
more devastation to their life.
I was very happy then when I learned that
St. Paul University in Malate had buried the
fetus specimens in the science lab this year.
The President of the University, Ms. Wynna
Marie Medina accompanied me today to
the garden inside their campus where the
Knights of Columbus erected for them a
Fr. Melvin P. Castro
Speaking of Mary
Pedro C. Quitorio
in Cagayan de Oro, where the provincial government recently
erected a monument to Press Freedom, the additional names of
slain journalists will likely fill up the remaining spaces reserved
for these modern-day martyrs.
But thirdly, it was a blow against the peace process itself in
Mindanao. The governance of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been discredited and placed under
the supervision of the central government. The institution of the
ARMM in the first place was meant to provide the initial answer
to the Muslims’ clamor for self-determination. Yet, it is this very
institution that has fallen captive to the forces of traditional politicians, compounded by other cultural practices such as the rido
among feuding families.
What then can be done? The calls for immediate justice, regardless of political ties, have been made. Beyond this, in our own
localities, we can ensure that the democratic process and freedom
of the press are duly respected, particularly during this election
period. We can make sure that the era of “guns, goons, and gold”
becomes a thing of the past. And that we can focus more on principles, party platforms, and people’s participation.
The task forward is painstaking and daunting. But it is the only
viable alternative to the marshalling of more backhoes to bury
democracy and press freedom into the ground.
AT the Sea of Galilee, we were provided with a boat where the 21
of us Filipino pilgrims were all on board. As we started the ride, the
boat operator suddenly played the Philippine National Anthem and
the crew members raised a small Philippine flag. It was a wonderful
surprise to see and hear the Philippine symbols in a foreign land and
over the lake where the Lord walked over, at that.
While riding the boat, we read the Gospel part that speaks of the storm
over the lake, and the apostles had to awaken the Lord, and with one
word of His, the storm calmed down. We took the opportunity to pray
and ask the Lord to calm and dispel all the storms in our lives. And that
when we do pass through the storms of our lives, we shall be strong and
at peace, for the Lord is not only near us but is actually with us.
The next day, October 15, Memorial of Santa Teresa de Jesus, better
known as St. Teresa of Avila, we started the day by celebrating the
Holy Mass at Dalmanutha, traditionally the site where Jesus sighed
for mankind. It is a place of meditation marked with a Cross facing
the peaceful waters of the Sea of Galilee.
After the Holy Mass we then proceeded to Yardenit, part of the Jordan
river which is located within the state of Israel. Although it is not the
actual site of Christ’s Baptism, it is part of the Jordan River nonetheless.
There we renewed our Baptismal vows, to renounce forever Satan, his
pomps and works, and to affirm our faith in God, one in Three Divine
lovely monument on the spot where they
buried all the fetus and human bones that
had been displayed for the past 50 years in
their science labs. They acknowledged that
it was when I conducted a pro-life seminar
in their school that they decided to have a
ceremony of burying these human dead with
the entire student assembly attending and
praying. The administration informed me
that they would hold a ceremony every year
during Pro-life Month in February to honor
these dead in order to help the students appreciate the humanity of the unborn.
I believe that the dead unborn babies
should be buried and not put in display
in the school laboratories. Schools can easily buy plastic, rubber or resin models to
teach the development of the baby inside
the womb. Videos and photos abound with
such instructions that it is not necessary to
have those displays of fetus in bottles. They
deserve a fitting burial that their own mother
was not able to give them.
This December 28, let us remember our
beloved children who were not given birthdays. For sample prayers and Mass for the
Unborn, contact Pro-life Office at 733-7027,
0919-233-7783 or email life@prolife.org.ph.
Retracing the Footsteps
of Christ (Part 2)
Persons. It was such a touching experience to have renewed our Baptismal promises in the very water with which the Lord was baptized. The
Jordan River is said to be the “most alive” river since all the water it
receives from the Sea of Galilee it simply passes on to the Red Sea.
There was no big crowd that morning, and we were able to have
our silent part totally to ourselves, there was even a closed circuit
camera that allowed everything to be recorded and, of course, its
DVD recording to be sold to us later on (yes Virginia, almost everything has to be paid for in our contemporary lifetime).
After lunch we drove towards village of Ein Karem, which means
“the spring in the vineyard.” There we first visited the Church of
St. John the Baptist, built on the traditional home of Zacharias and
Elizabeth. A stone marker points to the exact place where St. John
was born. Outside the Church, one will see the Benedictus, the words
uttered by Zacharias after his tongue was loosened right after the
birth of St. John, translated into many languages.
And deeply Marian as we are, from the gate of the Church of St.
John the Baptist our small group proceeded to the Church of the
Visitation in a procession, praying the Rosary and singing Marian
hymns. One can just imagine and feel the delight that as we were
praying the Second Joyful Mystery, we were actually retracing the
Mary / A6
Opinion
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL
Spaces of Hope
WHEN the tide is raised all sorts of boats rise with it, from large to
small ones, from the lowly banca to the mighty battleship, and from
the old to the new.
Raising the tide is a good metaphor for the challenge of promoting principled partisan politics in the country today. The rising tide
of public dissatisfaction over the low tide of corruption and bad
governance can be addressed by calling on people to step up rather
than step down.
This is indeed a tall order. The way we conduct our elections can
arguably be considered the original sin of graft and corruption.
Raising the tide begins with a realization that elections are partisan
by nature since voters have to choose among candidates. How they
make up their minds results in either principled or unprincipled
partisan politics.
There is a river of change flowing through our land, fed by various tributaries of change. Meaningful political change is one such
tributary. People are searching for meaningful political change that
leads to a transformed nation. This river must be connected to a
bigger body of water. It cannot rise solely by its own power.
This body of water is our Christian faith. The common civic space
we share with people unrelated to us or whom we do not even
know need to be nurtured by the ocean of Christian ideas, ideals,
moral and spiritual energies. Church leaders do not directly engage
in partisan politics but help raise the tide by providing moral and
spiritual guidance. The lay faithful, on the other, are called to be in
the frontlines of such work.
The Church has been trying to raise the tide of politics by ensuring credible elections. Now another effort has begun that is distinct
from, parallel with, and complementary to this usual engagement,
and seeks to help emerge credible candidates.
This beyond-the-usual engagement assumes that good intentions
are not enough and that there is room for conversion in the line of
Zacchaeus. This requires providing “evangelical formation and
pastoral accompaniment to a new generation of Catholics working
in politics” (Benedict XVI). By opening this gate, the Pope opens the
door to the circles of discernment for elections or CiDE, an initiative
promoted by the Dilaab Movement.
CiDE is a process of accompaniment by forming the practical
Raising the tide of
Philippine politics
consciences of voters and candidates by raising specific questions
on the kinds of leader people seek. It sets into motion a bottom-up
mechanism for answering these questions in a deliberate, proactive,
methodical, communal, and God-centered way. CiDE helps release
and channel pent-up energies of people for meaningful political
change from a faith perspective.
But CiDE is just one side of the coin, so to speak. The other side
is Candidates’ Circle of Discernment or CCiD.
Last November 20, 2009, an extraordinary gathering took place at
the Talavera Retreat House in Greenbelt Drive, Quiot, Pardo, Cebu
City where 11 of Cebu’s political aspirants for 2010 responded to
the invitation for a day of listening and discernment initiated by
Dilaab.
This was a low-key, non-partisan, non-media and by invitation
only—the event provided spiritual space for individuals who have
decided or are still deciding to run for an elected office in the province of Cebu.
Running for a public office is no walk in the park. Becoming a
public servant is a very demanding role vis-à-vis oneself and one’s
family. It is not for the fainthearted. Those who are thinking of running for public office need all the help they can get to arrive at a
wise decision. This requires a practical process of decision-making
that involves the self, one’s family, and other significant others. It
demands listening. Thus the theme: “Listening, the Crucial Quality
for Individuals Discerning an Elected Position.”
With the help of the COMELEC, partners and friends with associations to the various political parties, over 250 invitations were sent to
potential political aspirants from the barangay to the congressional
levels in the province of Cebu. The response was highly encouraging. However, due to conflict with prior critical official and personal
commitments, several could not make it to the first recollection but
committed to join the forthcoming event.
Calmly sitting side by side while listening to God speak to their
hearts were known rivals and allies in the political arena. Everyone
had only positive things to say about the discernment recollection.
Among the feedback: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet my
would-be co-candidates and get to know them better… Although I
Hope / A7
Jose B. Lugay
Changing of the guards
A CHANGE in any system, process or
procedure sometimes brings with it unanticipated surprises or even problems. To
a tourist in Buckingham Palace, one of the
attractions was the changing of the guards.
Her majesty’s roaming guards wore plumed
headgear and sabers dangled at their sides.
At the command of the leader, they moved in
unison, swinging their arms with precision,
lifting them higher than usual; footsteps
marching in cadence, turning and stopping
all at the same time. Tourists including myself went nearer to get candid photographs
of the ritual and as we crowded nearer and
nearer to the marching guards, one of them,
bothered by the disturbance, lifted his foot in
a skewed direction kicking one tourist right
smack on his butt. While it was unbecoming
of a Buckingham Palace guard to show his
anger in this way, the violation of a procedure (to provide free space for their movements) triggered this untoward action.
When one is planning for change, like a
takeover of the functions of one leader by
another, it pays to be meticulous in arranging
the program of activities. LAIKO recently
had a change in leadership after a 10-year
stint of Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes as Chairman
of the Episcopal Commission on the Lay
Apostolate (ECLA) of CBCP and National
Director of LAIKO. His tenure, taking over
from then Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, was
smoothly done since Archbishop Lagdameo
was chosen by CBCP as a continuing member
of ECLA as Vice-Chairman. In the same way,
with the takeover of Bishop Jess Mercado
as Chairman of ECLA, Bishop Reyes, as he
retires this year, will serve as Vice-Chairman
Laiko Lampstand
of ECLA with 4 other member bishops. The
changing of the guard within an organization that is vital to the lay movements and
Diocesan Councils of the Laity benefits
greatly if the transition is smooth.
Last November 24, the 2008-2009 LAIKO
Board arranged a Thanksgiving Mass for
Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes at Pope Pius XII
Catholic Center followed by a Testimonial
Dinner at Sampaguita Dining Hall, PCC.
The chapel was filled with the leaders of
27 member lay organizations, 6 Archdiocesan Councils of the Laity and other guests
enough to fully pack the Church. At the
Sampaguita Hall, the arrangement was
festive with a printed backdrop of Bishop
Gabby looking as young as when he worked
as the late Cardinal Sin’s right hand man.
His homily during mass reminded us all
that the laity is called to be holy. While the
participants agreed that becoming holy no
matter how difficult, is the direction that
all members of LAIKO should take, it is
easier said than done. During the sharing of
memories by LAIKO stalwarts—Atty. Pedro
Ronquillo, Engr. Jose Lugay and Dr. Jose
Villanueva—who had more chances as past
LAIKO officers to work closely with Bishop
Reyes, they recounted their experiences in
dealing with the Bishop acting as Chairman
of ECLA. He was uncompromising in his
stand when it comes to defend the integrity
of LAIKO as they serve the Church and lay
communities. LAIKO’s Executive Assistant,
Joseph Jesalva, shared an incident which is
remembered by all members of the Board at
that time—Bishop Reyes refused to accept a
large donation from the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes to support the 50th Anniversary
of the Catholic Action of the Philippines. It
was the LAIKO Board’s resolution to hold
the celebration at the Philippine Convention
Center. This was estimated to cost more than
P1 million. The offer of PCSO would have
been the answer to the prayer of LAIKO’s
officers. Joseph was agog and surprised why
such an offer was rejected outright by Bishop
Reyes and calmed down only after hearing
his explanation and motivation—LAIKO
should be protected from interest groups
who had hidden agendas that may question
the integrity of LAIKO’s programs once we
become beholden to the donor. The late Sonia
Ronda saved the day when she assured the
Bishop that there will be monetary support
for this important activity even if she had to
hock her residence to produce the cash. In the
end, the donations came fast from member
organizations and Mrs. Ronda’s loan was no
longer necessary. The exit of the 2008-2009 LAIKO Board and
the coming in of the newly elected LAIKO
Board for 2010–2011 with Bishop Jess Mercado as the new Chairman of ECLA was also
well planned and started with the celebration of the mass at CBCP’s chapel where the
induction and oath taking took place. This
was last December 4, with the atmosphere of
Christmas prevailing, considering the early
media hype egging everyone to patronize
certain places to shop for Christmas. An early
Christmas celebration held at the LAIKO
Building complete with games and exchange
of gifts induced everyone to know each other
specially the newly elected ones from Luzon,
Laiko / A6
Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD
By the Roadside
SOMETIMES conversations linger in your mind. One did in mine.
I mean the one I had with Lola Nena (not her real name) several
Advents ago. She used to take care of a barangay chapel where I
would celebrate Mass on schedule. I remember one rather murky
Advent Sunday when I casually asked her a standard question
after Mass: “Lola, what’s your Christmas going to be like?” I was
caught off guard by her honesty. “Maluya, Padre…” ‘Maluya’ is
the Waray’s way of saying “Nothing much”. But what struck me is
what it literally means. It means ‘weak’, ‘vulnerable’. I don’t recall
what I said to her but her word kept haunting me like a ghost past
Halloween.
At first I thought of what she meant. That she didn’t have much
money to celebrate the holidays by. That living alone and raising
a grandchild almost single-handedly wasn’t exactly her idea of a
‘perfect Christmas’. That being virtually forgotten by her relatives
who pretended she lived somewhere far (maybe, I thought to myself, for fear of being asked to play Santa Claus to her) and by her
own children who themselves were struggling to survive in a place
called Manila didn’t sound like ‘silver bells’ to her even when noisy
carolers said so. That being made to subsist on what her children
sent her—quite infrequently—and what she could eke out of selling
‘bibingka’ (rice cake) and ‘salokara’ (rice pancake) didn’t give much
cause for singing ‘hosannas’ in celebration.
But in all this what I found even more baffling was, Lola Nena’s
voice didn’t have any trace of complaining. To her everything was
just a statement of fact fully noted, assessed and accepted. To her
everything was said simply to answer my question.
Nonetheless, the word wouldn’t go away. In fact, it came back to
me with the full force of impact not unlike a Manny Pacquiao’s left
hook to the jaw (sorry for the analogy to non-boxing fans) when I saw
the image of the baby Jesus being carefully placed on the crib during
that Christmas Midnight Mass. Exactly. The baby Jesus struck me as
‘maluya’, as weak and vulnerable, just like Christmas as described
by Lola Nena, just like Lola Nena herself and, if you wouldn’t mind,
just like you and me, just like the rest of humanity.
Perhaps without meaning to, Lola Nena took me to the very heart
of Christmas. The only Son of the Almighty God preferred to leave
the inestimable power and glory of being at the Father’s side in
Weak and vulnerable
order to share our weakness and vulnerability as creatures, as human beings, so he could later take us where we could share his life.
Long ago it was heard that the God of Abraham was a God who
loved Israel as a son. It never occurred to anyone that this God is
Love itself. Nor did it dawn on sages and kings that this God didn’t
just talk the talk. He also walked the walk. In fact, he walked the
infinite distance between heaven and earth, between Godhead and
humanity so we would have a glimpse of Love, his Love, that it is
as real as the sun, the snow and the rain, as well as the joy and the
pain of being human.
There were Christmases I spent in some places of opulent Europe
and America as a student priest. But I must confess that I often
missed the stark Christmas of Lola Nena. And I wondered why. I
stumbled into an answer after one Christmas Midnight Mass in an
Italian village as I watched people sang carols, shook hands while
exchanging greetings and kisses, and disappeared into the night
leaving behind a deafening silence. A thought crossed my mind.
How easy it is to hide your weakness and vulnerability behind a
multi-layered façade of efficiency, wealth, comfort, sense of power
and self-sufficiency. How easy it can be to make the crib just a
piece of decoration when you think you need nothing, unmindful
of having received everything.
To me Lola Nena’s assessment of her Christmas nearly equaled the
experience of being inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
and being shown by the tour guide the place where Jesus, according
to tradition, was born. I was shocked to find myself in a cave-like
compartment so small, dingy, damp and remarkably unimpressive.
“Maluya,” as Lola Nena would say.
The bottom line is: Love isn’t love unless it makes us weak and
vulnerable, just as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity had
become. The shining testament of Love isn’t a Taj Mahal or a Palace
in the Sky. It is a baby so weak and vulnerable he knows what you
go through when you are hungry, tired or thirsty, when you are full
of energy and happy, when you are sad or lonely.
No wonder God loves the weak and vulnerable. He used to be one
himself. No wonder we should also love the weak and vulnerable.
We love ourselves in them. Nay, we love our God in loving them.
Have yourself a blessed little Christmas!
A5
Nicolo F. Bernardo
Lifeguard
Loving God and the
Healthy Brain
IS belief in God good for the brain?
It depends on the kind of God you believe in.
This is the gospel being spread by neuroscientist Andrew
Goldberg and therapist Mark Waldman in their work How
God Changes Your Brain (Ballantine Books, 2009). The authors,
dubbed as “neurotheologists,” have been exposing brain-scan
studies suggesting how prayer and meditation—especially
contemplation on a loving God—can reduce stress, depression
and anxiety, and increase feelings of security and compassion,
which are definite brain uppers.
Goldberg, an associate professor in radiology in the University
of Pennsylvania, popularized the new interdisciplinary field of
“neurotheology” with his earlier books Born to Believe, Why We
Believe What We Believe, Why God Won’t Go Away, and The
Mystical Mind. His findings, including studies on glossolalia or
“speaking in tongues,” had been featured in BBC, Good Morning
America, Discovery and National Geographic Channel. Some
clips are also in the You-Tube.
According to the authors, contemplating on positive imagery
and grand themes such as God strengthens neurological circuits
associated with cognitive health, consciousness, empathy, and
social awareness. They question the recent spate of antireligious
books by Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) and Christopher
Hitchens (God is Not Great) that argue that religious beliefs are
unhealthy, dangerous, and bad for the intellect.
“Mantras and repetitive prayers like the Rosary have been
shown to have a distinct, powerful, and synchronous effect on
the cardiovascular rhythms of practitioners,” write Goldberg
and Waldman. They also found out that “expectation” or faith
governs the neurological mechanism called the “placebo effect”
which stimulates the immune system and a person’s motivational system.
Our image of God makes us understand our brains and ourselves. From early childhood on, the authors show how God is
understood in one’s mind from personal ideas, images, sensations, and relationships, with their definite effect on specific
brain structures. In other words, the way you think of God also
reshapes your brain, for better or for worse.
In studying the state of mind and brain activity of different
believers and unbelievers, they found out that an experience of
God as loving and compassionate, in a way that decreases guilt,
fear, anger, or religious anxiety, is associated with a healthy
functioning anterior cingulate of the brain. A close relationship
between “you” and “God” as to feel His presence also wires up
the parietal-frontal lobe. This is very evident among charismatics and mystics. Further, a person who feels safe in God has the
brain’s striatum at work.
A philosophical, intellectualized God, meanwhile, dealing
with spiritual issues of “why, what, and where,” gets the frontal
lobe more involved. “A person with an overly active frontal lobe
might become absorbed in mathematically proving the existence
of God,” the authors suggest.
On one hand, a simplistic image of God mostly conceived
by young children, which can hardly process abstract spiritual
concepts, is associated with occipital-parietal circuitry.
Then, the god of fundamentalists and fanatics: an angry,
frightening, punitive and authoritative God, which suppresses
the frontal lobe’s ability to logical thinking and overly stimulates
the amygdala.
Goldberg and Waldman caution against anti-social religiosity
based on fear and negativity. “Focus on fear may damage the
anterior cingulate, and when this happens, a person will lose
interest in other people’s concerns or act aggressively against
them,” they say. Brain-scan studies have shown that anticipation of a future negative event willed by God turns down
activity in the anterior cingulate, generating higher levels of
neuroticism.
Incidentally, fear-based faith creates symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Highly anxious individuals are usually attracted to fundamentalist religions since their absolutist
and strictly structured belief codes provide them their needed
certainty.
Research has also shown that religious self-loathing can evoke
feelings of depression and thoughts of suicide where logic and
reasoning have little effect. In the words of the authors:
“When things don’t go the way we think they should, the
brain will wonder what went wrong…If you blame yourself,
guilt can shut your frontal lobes down. If that happens, you lose
your ability to analyze the situation, and the longer you stay
focused on negative self-beliefs, the more likely you become
depressed.”
The authors’ prescription? Smile, laugh, and talk with others.
Finally, the no-God brain. The brain scans of atheists and
agnostics show little activation on areas that activate meaning,
value, pleasure, or discomfort. Thus, subjects with neural damage were found to be either obsessed with religion or has no
interest in religion at all. “If the emotional circuits of your brain
are weakly stimulated, then God will have little meaning in your
life,” write the authors.
Atheists can benefit from meditation though. But like the believers, they must meditate on something transcendent or other
grand themes.
All these studies seem to support the healthy image of God
by Jesus—a loving, positive Provider, in contrast with controlfreak and vindictive pictures of deities of old, or, of having no
God at all. Our frontal lobes (the most recently evolved part
of the brain) provide us with a logical concept of a rational,
personal, and loving God, while our limbic system (the oldest
part of the brain) creates an emotionally meaningful experience
of Him. Accordingly, in order to have a positive perception of
God, one needs to have just the right balance of frontal and
limbic activity.
Meanwhile, going to church has also been shown to improve
brain function, but only if done frequently, or for many years,
observe the authors. Studies have shown that regular attendance
at religious activities lowers blood pressure and reduces risks
of death. For older individuals, religious activity has increased
benefits.
Mind-map proponent Tony Buzzan makes a similar observation in his The Power of Spiritual Intelligence. “Ritual can be
considered a hearth to which you go for warmth, rest and regeneration…gives you order, stability, security, and certainty,”
writes Buzan. “The value of ritual comes from the ‘good news’
center: the Brain Front!”
On the other hand, people under “religious struggle”—those
who are preoccupied by thoughts of being punished by God,
possessed by demons, remunating guilt, discontent and fear, or
having negative attitudes toward the clergy, have shortened life
span, and poorer recovery rates from illnesses.
While the authors do not seek to prove or disprove the existence of God, or the personality He really has, or the belief system
one should subscribe to, the studies they collated suggest the kind
of God perhaps only a sound mind can think of. Their findings
are themselves a revelation: a peek into the signposts of a healthy
brain and perhaps, its loving and rational Creator.
Local News
A6
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
Missionaries call for breakup of
Panlilio faces grave sanction
political dynasties
REDEMPTORIST Missionaries of the Cebu Province called for the
dismantling of all political dynasties in the Philippines particularly
in Maguindanao.
“We call for the dismantling of all political dynasties in Maguindanao and in the whole Philippines,” the missionaries said.
In this light, the group urged the government for the immediate
passing of an enabling law, “with provisions that give teeth for its
uncompromising implementation for the whole country.”
“The continued existence of political dynasties is one of the root
causes of this dastardly crime,” the missionaries said.
The group also dared President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to
instantaneously tear down all the political, military and economic
powers of all family dynasties involved in the Maguindanao carnage
that is “if it is in her Constitutional Emergency Powers in Maguindanao not to wait for any enabling law.”
“We also call on our government leaders to act swiftly and
bring all the perpetrators of this heinous crime behind bars,”
they declared.
The group also registered their condemnation to the “barbaric massacre of civilians and journalists in Maguindanao.” (Kate Laceda)
Restraint / A1
First time
President Arroyo on Sunday declared
martial law in Maguindanao, seemingly to
quell an alleged rebellion.
Arroyo’s controversial move is the first
time martial law has been declared in the
Philippines since the reign of Ferdinand
Marcos, who had the whole country under
military rule from 1972 to 1986.
Officials insisted martial law was necessary as heavily armed gunmen threatened
violence if their Ampatuan clan leaders were
taken into custody.
Within hours of the declaration, police
arrested five members of the Ampatuan
political clan—including the patriarch and
the governor of Maguindanao—who are
suspected of masterminding the killings.
Andal Ampatuan Sr. had ruled the province with Arroyo’s support and the backing
of a private army.
Authorities said the discovery of big weapons caches on Ampatuan property hardened
their resolve to impose martial law.
Short martial law
The CBCP did not pose any objection to
the imposition of martial law so far.
But like the position of Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato who has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over Maguindanao,
it wanted the martial law lifted as soon as
possible.
“We stand by the position taken by the
Archdiocese of Cotabato within whose eccle-
© www.bayan.ph
tion of the common good,” he added.
Odchimar also called on the Arroyo administration to justify its basis for declaring
martial law, amid criticisms from various
sectors of being inconsistent with constitutional provisions.
Militant groups demand justice for victims of Maguindanao massacre and call on government to scrap martial law.
siastical jurisdiction the tragedy occurred
and martial law imposed,” Odchimar said.
Quevedo earlier said he hoped the state
of martial law “will be only for a short
period.”
“The longer it is, the more likely human
rights violations occur,” Quevedo said.
“Let the lawyers debate martial law.
Meantime, let it be. Legal problems were
posing obstacles to arrests and searches. I
hope the martial law can facilitate the pursuit
of justice,” he said.
Unconstitutional
The lone bishop member of a commission
that drafted the 1987 Constitution asserted
that there was “no just cause” for such decla-
ration and should therefore be scrapped.
According to Bishop Emeritus Teodoro
Bacani of Novaliches, the Constitution that
they hewed in 1986 does not provide martial
rule can be imposed without an actual rebellion taking place.
“The case in Maguindanao was a criminal
act and not a rebellion against the government,” he said.
“A close ally of President Arroyo was being implicated in the massacre so how can
you justify the imposition of martial law?”
Bacani furthered.
The bishop said the government’s basis for
placing Maguindanao under military rule is
weak and inconsistent with constitutional
provisions.
Military aid / A1
want the Obama administration to strongly denounce the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines
since 2001.
He said not being vocal on this issue sends a
wrong message to the Philippine government.
“The US government must reconsider its financial
support for a military that is accused of violating human rights in the name of war on terror,” he said.
According to the prelate, the Obama government
must then “shift” its military aid to the hundreds
of hungry and uneducated Filipinos.
He said freedom from poverty and lack of education is the most basic human rights. “Human rights
violations will continue if they will not be served,”
Lagdameo said.
Philippine authorities earlier said the US govern- Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo
ment has committed to increase defense and security
assistance for the Philippines.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the
US Congress has pushed for a higher US military aid to
the Philippines in 2010 compared to previous years.
Romulo said the US has doubled the amount of
military aid to the Philippines for next year.
He said the Obama administration has recommended $15 million in regular military assistance,
but the US Congress increased it to $30 million.
However, $2 million of the allocation “may not be
obligated until the Secretary of State reports in writing
to the committees on appropriations” the Philippines’
compliance on several conditions which include the
prosecution of human rights violators, and an end to
military harassment of civil society. (CBCPNews)
Mary / A4
steps of Our Lady as she went to visit and
serve her cousin Elizabeth.
There near the gate of the Church of the
Visitation were two very interesting statues
in metal, that of Our Lady and St. Elizabeth,
with that of St. Elizabeth obviously pregnant. We entered the rather small Church,
prayed there, and outside where the multilingual versions of the Magnificat, Our
Lady’s song as her response to St. Elizabeth’s
praise. The Tagalog version could not be
absent, and singers as we are (well, that is,
our group excluding my non-singing self),
we sung the Ang Puso Ko’y Nagpupuri.
At the Upper Chapel is the Blessed Sacrament, there we paid our visit and to my
surprise, a painting of the Wedding Feast at
Cana, with the following words at the bottom, Mediatrix Nostra Potentissima. Indeed,
there at the Wedding Feast when Our Lady
acted as truly the Mediatrix between men
and Christ who is ultimately the source of
and who is All-Grace.
From Ein Karem, in the late afternoon, we
travelled towards the Holy City of Jerusalem,
the highlight of our pilgrimage.
We arrived already in the evening, going straight to the hotel knowing that the
next days will be spent in this holiest of all
cities. Truly, if in our religious pilgrimage
the highlight is Jerusalem, in our spiritual
pilgrimage on earth the ultimate end is the
Heavenly Jerusalem.
Early the next day, we left for the town
“City of Bread,” Bethlehem. There, true to
its name, was where Word became Flesh
that became our Heavenly Bread. At the
Shepherd’s Field, we celebrated our Christmas Mass. Just a note, in the Holy Land, as
in other duly recognized shrines, one can
celebrate the Mass proper to that Church. Hence, even if it were not Christmas, one
is allowed to celebrate Christmas Day Mass
in Bethlehem.
After the Holy Mass, we excitedly proceeded to the Basilica of the Nativity which
houses the Grotto of the Nativity and the
Altar of Christ’s Birth. A silver star marks
the traditional place where Christ was born.
The line of people was long! We had to wait
our turn and, mientras tanto, we prayed the
Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. It was
such a wonderful feeling as we drew close
to the exact site and when it was our turn
to venerate the exact place, one but cannot
help to feel the divine presence. There at that
exact very place, God became man and dwelt
amongst us. The very reason of everything
and for everything, there at the simple but
most hallowed of place, He was born. I am
very sure for those who have been there, each
succeeding Christmas celebration would be
a deeper and more special one having seen
and touched where Christmas begun.
After lunch we proceeded to the Church
of St. Peter in Gallicantu, literally the cock
crows signifying the fulfillment of Christ’s
prophesy that Peter would deny Christ three
times before the cock crows.
The door of the Church shows it all. On one
side of the panel is Christ with three fingers
straightened looking at Peter telling him that
he would deny Christ three times and at the
other side of the door panel is Peter with the
rooster near him, his left hand at his chest, his
right raised up palms open as if saying, No,
I can’t do that to you.
The place was originally where the house
of Caiphas, the High Priest, stood. And at the
lower part of the Church is where the prison
cells are located, including a pit where Christ
was probably kept some hours before He was
sentenced to death. It was at that pit that He
was all alone, it is a cold and dark pit. We read
part of the Gospel, sang a religious hymn, and
where we spent some moments of silence to
contemplate Christ’s passion. During that
silent moment, the lights were put off, and
one can just feel the coldness and darkness of
being alone. Shut off from the world outside,
with memories of betrayal in His heart, what
could have Christ felt? But He endured it for
you and me… (to be continued)
Laiko / A5
Visayas and Mindanao regions.
There were calendars galore, not
because of LAIKO’s “kaya natin”
financial status but because of
outgoing President Linda Tacorda’s perceptive analysis that
LAIKO calendars distributed to
the dioceses of different regions
will be an effective instrument
for LAIKO’s programs to be remembered and thereby establish
a continuing relationship with
them.
LAIKO’s changing of the
guards was well planned and
it augurs well for a brighter
cooperation among the member
organizations and dioceses in the
coming years.
SUSPENDED Catholic priest, Eddie Panlilio, current Pampanga
governor, is facing a major sanction as he opted to continue his
political career over his priesthood.
Laicization, a grave sanction that strips Panlilio of all ties to
the priesthood, maybe imposed on him for “disobeying” orders
to quit from politics.
San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said Panlilio
has to abide with the impending sanction “whether he likes
it or not”.
“He cannot disobey the church law twice. I’m sorry for that,”
he said.
The sanction, according to Aniceto, would finally allow
the governor to take government office without violating
church law.
Panlilio filed his certificate of candidacy for re-election under the Liberal Party, of which he is the Pampanga’s provincial
directorate.
Aniceto said the Catholic hierarchy will definitely have to
initiate the necessary dispensation procedures for the priestturned governor.
“That’s a very sad decision because that means that he has to
abide with the impending sanction that the church will impose
on him,” he added.
The archbishop said they have exerted all efforts to ask Panlilio
to remain with them.
“But now that he is running again we have to initiate the
canonical process. He will not be working as a priest anymore,”
he also said.
Once dispensed from his clerical duties, there’s no more
turning back for Panlilio—he can no longer officiate in Masses
and other sacraments for the rest of his life, another bishop
said.
Archbishop Oscar Cruz, head of the Catholic bishops’
dispensation office, earlier said Panlilio will be released
from his priestly obligations the moment Pope Benedict XVI
dispenses him.
Cruz added that Panlilio should have sought dispensation
during his 2007 gubernatorial campaign. (CBCPNews)
At the time these activities
were happening, good news
about the new CNN hero, Efren
Peñaflorida and his kariton pushcart filled the air—an inspiration
to similar advocacy groups of the
Church. The DepEd realizing
that this affected their image
negatively positioned to give
support to Efren’s volunteers—
another case of changing of the
guards for the education of street
children
Then came the Maguindanao
massacre of 57 men and women
including 30 media workers and
the wife of the candidate of ViceGovernor Mangudadatu who
was going to the COMELEC of-
fice in Maguindanao to file their
certificates of candidacy. The
gruesome murder of innocent
victims has continued to be in
the headlines since November 23
until today, December 6, when
Malacanang declared martial
law for Maguindanao after arresting the father of the governor. What is the reason for this
senseless killing of innocents?
It is an attempt of the Ampatuan family to thwart the changing of the guards after the 2010
elections. The control of power
– over men and government
funds and resources are the main
issues. Election, a political activity, decides that the winner takes
over from the losers in managing
all government positions. The
rules of the game in a democratic
country like the Philippines are
full of anticipatory measures to
prevent cheating, and for this
reason Congress approved the
implementation of the automated elections. The rules of the
game changed and it is obvious
to the Ampatuan family that
the Mangudadatus have a big
chance to win. The Ampatuans, a
typical warlord political dynasty
used their highly armed civilian
volunteers to prevent the changing of the guards that would
end their stronghold of power
in Maguindanao.
Blueprint / A1
The national conference was attended by 146 participants from
47 dioceses nationwide. Castro noted that this was 50% of all the
dioceses and archdioceses in the country, thus ensuring a good
representation of the members of the Commission. The participants
were the Family and Life Directors of the parishes and their lay
collaborators.
The participants received a message from Pope Benedict XVI
through Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State.
The Holy Father conveyed his spiritual closeness with the conference delegates and assured them of his prayers and blessing, that
they may carefully discern the challenges married couples and
families faced and elaborate on new strategies to help them live their
vocation with joy and fidelity.
This was the first time that the ECFL held a national conference.
Participants asked for a regular gathering in order to be updated
on the family and life issues and be able to formulate plans among
themselves, prompting the ECFL to institute the National Conference as an annual activity.
Castro announced at the closing that the 2010 conference would be
on Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, 2010 at the same venue, the St. Michael Retreat
House in Antipolo City.
Incidentally, the reported release of the Commission’s “Catechism
(Guidelines) for Filipino Voters” did not push through as the original
materials were submitted to CBCP President and Tandag Bishop
Nereo Odchimar for his imprimatur. (Melo Acuña)
ARMM / A1
early election in the ARMM, perhaps one week early, and to put the
entire ARMM, especially Maguindanao, under Comelec control,”
Namfrel said.
But a bill for early elections must first be approved by Congress
in order for early voting to be held.
Namfrel made the appeal following the poll-related violence that has
claimed 57 lives so far in Maguindanao province on November 23.
Among the fatalities were members of the Mangudadatu clan—
Genalyn Mangudadatu, the wife of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmail
Mangudadatu and his two sisters.
Mr. Mangudadatu asked his wife to file his certificate of candidacy
for governor of Maguindanao to the provincial capitol in Shariff
Aguak.
The group of Mangudadatu, however, was stopped along a
checkpoint in Barangay Saniag in Ampatuan town and was brought
to the remote area of Barangay Salman where the gruesome killing
was done.
More than a dozen journalists, who were invited to cover the event,
were also among the fatalities.
For the poll watchdog, the recent incident is not just mere electionrelated violence but “criminal acts that need to be dealt with to the
fullest extent of the law.”
Namfrel also urged the dismantling of all private armies and the
confiscation of their firearms starting with known warring factions
not only in Maguindanao but also other “hot spots” during elections.
It also called on the poll body to impose the total gun ban now
and not wait until January 2010.
“We call on the PNP (Philippine National Police) to strictly implement the ban to prevent further violence as we approach the 2010
elections,” Namfrel added. (CBCPNews)
Arroyo / A1
ter change)—once elected—as soon as possible, to target the Office
of Prime Minister,” he said.
‘She’s free’
Virac Bishop Manolo Delos Santos said that if there is no constitutional impediment for Arroyo to run as congresswoman, then “let
her constituents decide”.
Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said the president’s decision
to run “is not proper” but hastened to add “she’s free.”
God save Pampanga
San Fernando Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said they in
the province knew that Arroyo is running for Congress.
“We knew that she’s running and she has long been campaigning
using her position as chief executive without qualms,” the prelate
said.
He said the chief executive has visited her district for about 50
times, visiting various villages.
“She has perfected the politics of patronage which the CBCP
has condemned many times in its pastoral statements,” he further
said.
The prelate also expressed misgivings about the Arroyo administration.
“As the saying goes, ‘Tell me who your friends are.’ The kind of
friends Arroyo has in Maguindanao tells a lot about who she is,” he
said. “The kind of friends she has in Pampanga tells no less. May
God save Pampanga and the rest of the Philippines,” David said.
(Melo M. Acuña)
Diocesan News
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
Briefing
Redemptorists seek justice for massacre victims
DAVAO CITY—The Redemptorist Missionaries of the Cebu
Province are demanding justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre. In a statement, the missionaries also called for
the dismantling of all political dynasties, saying it is one of the
root causes of “this dastardly crime.” (Mark Ventura)
Prelate asks people to open their hearts wide
VIGAN, Ilocos Sur—Nueva Segovia Archbishop Ernesto Salgado urged people to accept Christ with a wide open heart.
In his homily during the archdiocese’s celebration of Christ
the King feast on Nov. 22, he called on all to welcome in their
hearts God “whose will, must reign over the wills of men.”
(Fran C. Quitoriano)
Local parish launches ‘Messengers of Hope’
TUGUEGARAO CITY—With 115 families still reeling from the
effects of typhoon “Pepeng” last October, Fr. Carlos Evangelista, parish priest of St. Thomas Aquinas in Abulug, Cagayan
launched “Messengers of Hope”, a fund-raising project to help
farmers in Barangays Bannag and Gara-gara recover and start
working on their livelihood. (Buddy Cagurangan)
MILF: Beheading is barbarism
COTABATO CITY—Saddened over the brutal killings in
Maguindanao, the MILF leadership stressed that beheading is
an act of barbarism that no civilized society will condone. MILF
Secretariat chairman Muhammad Ameen said the killing and
beheading of some 46 individuals in Maguindanao is purely
outrageous and deserves the condemnation of every rational
person. (Mark S. Ventura)
Study shows strong clamor for peace talks’ resumption
DAVAO CITY—A recent study showed a unified clamor of
Mindanaoans for peace and not war. Conducted by Konsult
Mindanaw, the research arm of the Bishops Ulama Conference
(BUC), the study showed that the people there want peace talks
to continue in Mindanao. (Mark S. Ventura)
Pampanga archbishop respects Arroyo Congress’ bid
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—San Fernando Archbishop
Paciano Aniceto said he respects the decision of President Arroyo to run for a congressional seat in 2010 for Pampanga’s 2nd
district. Aniceto said he is “respecting” the decision of Arroyo,
saying that it is her prerogative. “She is our President. I believe
that the President is a mature leader and that is a privilege,”
he said. (CBCPNews)
Maguindanao killers terrorists, says prelate
COTABATO CITY—Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin
Bagaforo said the killers and the masterminds of the Maguindanao massacre “should be treated as terrorists of the first
degree.” He said the perpetrators are criminals. “I condemn
them and ask God to punish them,” he said. (Melo Acuña)
Church marks centennial of Ilocano bible
BAGUIO CITY—Thousands of people in the Biblical Apostolate
have participated in the Ilocano Bible Centennial Celebration
held at the Teacher’s Camp, last Dec. 2. With the theme, “May
They Be One: 100 Years of Solidarity for the Word,” the event
aimed at providing opportunity for the Ilocanos to come
together in worshipping God and expressing solidarity in
spreading the Word. (Kate Laceda)
Hope / A5
do not have party mates, at any public forum I can promote this, I
will,” said Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo. “I highly recommend this
to all candidates,” commented Rachel ‘Cutie’ del Mar. Mary Ann
De Los Santos said, “If possible (make it) massive for all who are
planning to run for office and if possible conduct seminar or retreat
to voters too so that we can totally change our country.”
We seek to raise the tide by proposing standards for a new political culture that makes room for Christian humanistic values and
principles. This new effort by the Catholic Church is distinct from,
parallel with, and complementary to the Church’s usual engagement towards ensuring credible elections by seeking to help emerge
credible candidates.
CCiD is one of several others that Dilaab hopes to run in Cebu
and across the country as it moves towards finding the right leaders
for a broken Philippines.
The initial impact of CCiD can be gleaned in a new term agreed
upon by the participants. They are no rivals or enemies but “cocandidates.” It is a good step in the right direction.
May They Be One Bible Campaign
When floods brought by Ondoy swept through parts of the Metropolis, some
of the main casualties were the Bibles of Bible ministers of Our Lady of Grace
Chapel in Brgy. Malanday, Marikina City. The ministers were then faced with
this dilemma: How can they share the Word of God to the parish with about
100,000 people, if they themselves didn’t even have their own copy of the
Bible? On November 20, the dilemma was resolved when the first tranche of
May They Be One (MTBO) Bibles were distributed in the chapel. Subsequent
distributions for lay leaders and members of the church are on schedule. The
Bibles came just like a stream of fresh water to thirsty souls. But the blessing
didn’t stop in the Bible Distribution. Parish priest Fr. Emmanuelle Borelli also
said that the recipients of the MTBO Bibles will undergo Modular Seminars so
that they will learn to interpret the passages correctly and apply the lessons in
their day to day living. Likewise, weekly trainings are being held to equip lay
leaders to hold their own Bible Sharing Activities.
Target No. of Bibles for Distribution for 2009:
100,000 cps.
No. of Bibles Distributed (from Jan 2009 – November 23, 2009): 88,971 cps.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
RTPV Tagalog
TEV English
BPV Bicol
RCPV Cebuano HPV Hiligaynon RIPV Ilocano
PNPV Pangasinense TOTAL
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
40,034 copies
10,382 copies
1,004 copies
24,912 copies
7,003 copies
4,432 copies
1,204 copies
—
88,971 copies
Parishes/Communities served: Over 300
Total Funds Needed for Printing and Transport of Bibles in 2009: P10M
MTBO Prayer
M – ake us love your Word, O Lord.
T – each us to listen and live by Your Word.
B – less those who promote Your Word
O – pen our hearts that we may be generous, that others might have a
copy of the written Word.
Support the May They Be One Bible Campaign and help bring God’s
Word to more Filipino homes. Your contribution of at least P150/month will
enable a poor family to own a Bible. For more Campaign info-visit, email or
call ECBA – Fr. Oscar Alunday, 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. Telefax
no. 5279386; ecba_cbcp@yahoo.com; PBS-Mrs. Perry Cartera/Mrs. Juliet
Rivera at 890 UN Ave., Ermita Mla.; perry@bible.org.ph;juliet@bible.org.ph;
Tel. nos. 5215785/5246523 loc.150, 154-157, Fax No. 5215803; 09178590019
/09156727492 /09182802775
A7
‘Don’t be bystanders,’
prelate urges faithful
will focus, among others, “on encouraging
PALO, Leyte—Palo Archbishop Jose Palma
the lay to be more active and not to wait for
has called on the Catholic faithful to be
the priest on what to do.”
pro-active in participating any Church“Majority of our lay are only waiting for
related activities and stop being mere
the priest on what do. They are always on
“bystanders.”
the receiving end. There is no “owning”; that
The call of the highest Church official in
we are all part of the Church,” Palma said.
the region was made yesterday as he led
The Church, he said, is encouraging ora Holy Mass coinciding on the launching
ganizations or activities which are focused
of the Diamond Jubilee of the archdiocese
on the teachings of God and on Catholic
in 2012.
Church like the Couples for Christ and
By becoming more active, the faithful will
pastoral councils and the Basic Ecclesial
not only help flourish further the Catholic
Communities (BEC).
religion in the region but more so spread the
The BEC, in particular, is being pushed
words of God, the archbishop said.
with intensity by Palma.
“As Catholics, we should not only be
And in line with the Diamond Jubilee celmere participant bystanders but be active
ebration of the Archdiocese of Palo, several
participants,” Palma said.
goals are to be undertaken, the archbishop
As a diocese, Palo was established in 1937
said.
thus its 75th year celebration. It was, howevAmong these goals include the intensificaer, made into an archdiocese on November
tion of the ongoing formation of the clergy
15, 1982 by the late Pope John Paul II.
and its future members or those under
A Mass presided by the archbishop at the
training in the seminary; the intensification
Palo Metropolitan Cathedral on Dec. 2 was
of the pastoral program like the BEC and
attended by hundreds of priests belonging
restructuring of the archdiocesan financial
to the archdiocese.
system.
Palma admitted that several Catholic
And during the Holy Mass held yesterday,
faithful appear not to be active in joining
the revised statutes of the Parish Pastoral
activities organized or supported by the Palo Archbishop Jose Palma
Catholic Church thus his appeal for them to be more active as Council as amended and the Parish Finance Council were solemnly
the archdiocese is preparing to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee promulgated by Archbishop Palma.
The statutes are to take into effect all throughout the archdiocese
in 2012.
The forthcoming Diamond Jubilee celebration of the archdiocese of Palo. (LSDE/CBCPNews)
© Dennis Dayao / CBCP Media
CBCP Monitor
Lipa declares 21 pilgrim churches
LIPA CITY—As the church enters the new
liturgical year of Advent, Lipa Archbishop
Ramon C. Arguelles will formally proclaim
21 pilgrim churches in the whole metropolitan province under his jurisdiction.
The proclamation of pilgrim churches
is in preparation for the 1st Centennial
Celebration in 2010 of the Archdiocese
of Lipa.
“From April 10, 2010 to April 10, 2011,
the local Church of Lipa will celebrate
is Jubilee Year as Pope Benedict XVI has
endowed the Archdiocese of Lipa with
special grace throughout the year,” the
65-year old prelate said.
Noting the pilgrim churches proclaimed
by Pope John Paul II during the great jubilee year of 2000, Arguelles announced that
plenary indulgences are gained in visiting
these pilgrim churches.
“This means that every time a pilgrim
visits any of these 21 churches he receives a
plenary indulgence under the usual conditions,” he emphasized.
These conditions include the reception
of the Sacrament of Reconciliation within
the octave before or after the prayerful
visit, participation in the Eucharist and
Communion on the said day, praying one
Our Father, a Hail Mary, a glory Be and the
Apostles Creed for the intentions of the Holy
Father and doing an Act of Charity.
“A plenary indulgence is the Church’s
way of remission of all punishment due to
forgiven sins which can be applied to oneself
or the souls in purgatory and it cannot be
applied by one to another person still living
on earth,” he further said.
Listed as Pilgrimage Churches are the Parishes of St. John the Baptist (Lian), Immaculate
Conception (Balayan), St. Francis Xavier (Nasugbu), St. Raphael (Calaca), Minor Basilica
of St. Martin of Tours (Taal), Shrine of Our
Lady of Caysasay (Labac, Taal), Archdiocesan
Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Sta.
Teresita), minor Basilica of the Immaculate
Conception (Batangas), Most Holy Trinity
and Shrine of the Glorious Cross (Pallocan
West, Batangas City), St. John Nepomuceno
(San Juan), Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph
the Patriarch (San Jose), Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian (Lipa), Archdiocesan
Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer (Banaybanay),
Divino Amor Chapel (Redemptorist, Lipa
City), Monastery of Mt. Carmel of Our Lady
of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace (Antipolo del
Norte), Monastery of Clarisas Capuchinas
Sacramentalis (Lipa City), Monastery of St.
Benedict (Pinagtung-ulan, Lipa), St. Padre
Pio (Sto, Tomas), St. John the Evangelist
(Tanauan), Immaculate Conception (Bauan),
Monastery of Minim Nuns of St. Francis of
Paola (Lumbang, Lipa City), Nuestra Señora
de Soledad (Darasa, Tanauan City), Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (Sabang,
Lipa), Binakalan Church (Alitagtag) and
Holy Family (Bolo).
“The year 2010 is very crucial for the
local Church of Lipa which was founded
on April 10, 1910 by Pope St. Pius X,” the
prelate said.
He added the Diocese of Lipa comprised
then of the whole provinces of Laguna,
Batangas, Tayabas (now Quezon, Aurora
and Marinduque) and Mindoro island.
He recalled it was Pope Paul VI who elevated Lipa into a Metropolitan See in June
20, 1972 with the Dioceses of Lucena and
Gumaca in Quezon, Boac (Marinduque),
the Apostolic Vicariates of Calapan in
Oriental Mindoro and San Jose in Mindoro
Occidental and the Prelature of Infanta
(parts of Aurora and Quezon provinces)
as suffragans. (Melo M. Acuña)
Prelate: Advent time calls for ‘inner journey’
DAVAO CITY—A departure
from the usual notion that Advent is the time when people expect and prepare for Christmas,
Davao Archbishop Fernando
Capalla said that it is a season
which calls the faithful to embark on an inner journey.
According to him, this journey includes self-discovery
through sustained and intense
self-awareness or mindfulness
as other religions teach it.
“In this sense, it is the Lord
living in the core of our being
who is expecting and beckoning us to come inside. Our
coming, our advent into this
timeless presence is being
awaited,” he said.
Archbishop Capalla also explained that the Christian to
be authentic and real needs to
struggle to get in touch with the
real self through prayer and selfawareness exercises.
“It is not an easy struggle but
it is the only way to a godly and
holy life. We are embodied spirits. Our main problem in life is
Archbishop Fernando Capalla, DD
the utter neglect of the spirit in
us,” he said.
He also said that the real self
is not the thought or desire or
behavior but it refers to this
witness to conceptual thinking,
emotional reaction and sensory
perceptions.
“If the thinking, feeling, and
perceiving processes are flawed
and disordered, it means that
the person is only in touch
with his/her false or unreal
self,” said Archbishop Capalla.
(Mark Ventura)
‘Comfort women’ / A2
The Asian religious leaders, who participated in the rally,
were attending the “Second Asia Inter-religious Conference
on Article 9 of the Japanese Peace Constitution in Seoul” from
Dec. 1-4. They came from countries and territories including
the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The conference sought the preservation of Article 9 in
Japan’s constitution that prevents the nation from ever
going to war again. Concern is mounting over moves by
conservatives in Japan to try and repeal the article.
Religions represented at the conference included Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Won-Buddhism, a Korean
indigenous religion.
Gil Won-ok, 82, one of four former “comfort women”
at the rally, told participants that about 90 of the original
234 Korean women who had identified themselves as
“comfort women” are still alive, and that Japan should
address their grievances before they all died.
In tears she said, “Many Koreans hailed our nation’s
liberation from Japan in 1945, but we hid ourselves because we had the scars of being sex slaves on us.”
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez of Kalookan, the Philippines, expressed his solidarity with the victims, noting
that many women in his country also suffered the same
fate during the war.
“These Koreans have protested almost 900 weeks,
which surprises me. This should have been finished a
long time ago,” he said. “If the new Japanese government
makes an official apology, then the women’s wounds can
begin to heal and real forgiveness can be made.”
According to historical records, about 200,000 young Korean women were forced to serve Japanese troops as “comfort women” or sex slaves during World War II. China,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also had women
who were forced into becoming “comfort women.”
Despite an apology made to Korea’s national assembly by Miyazawa in 1992, Japan has denied official
responsibility over the use of women as sex slaves during
wartime. (UCAN)
A8
People, Facts & Places
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
CBCP Media Office launches podcast
Internat’l film critic to hold
seminar on Asian Spirituality in film
© Dennis Dayao / CBCP Media
THE public can now listen to news and information resources from the CBCPNews Service, the official
news service of the Episcopal conference, whether in or outside the country.
The Media Office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has launched its
podcast facility at the CBCP headquarters in Intramuros, November 30.
Former CBCP president and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo led the blessing of the podcast studio
and state-of-the-art equipments for podcasting.
The podcasts aim to further spread the Word through the contemporary means of communication,
which is the Internet.
“Actually this is my last official function here as CBCP president and I am happy to be part of the
launching of this podcast,” said Lagdameo in a speech.
He said the church has always wanted to embrace new technology to carry out its mission of evangelization.
Lagdameo added that the church live in a day of great opportunity and its leaders must continue to
take advantage of every means of communication available.
On Dec. 1, Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar officially assumed as the new CBCP president, replacing
Lagdameo who served the post for four years or two consecutive terms.
The CBCP’s podcast program, which can be accessed at www.cbcpnews.com/podcast, also has other
categories like reflections, interviews and other online resources.
Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP Media Director, said catechetical materials in audio format will be
podcasted in the next few months.
“This new podcasting initiative compliments our audio and video streaming and enables us to spread
the Gospel to an even wider audience,” said Quitorio who initiated the project. (CBCPNews)
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo blesses the CBCP podcast facility at the CBCP Headquarters, Intramuros, Manila.
film critics and writers/directors including Clodualdo del Mundo
Jr, who will talk about the Philippine film experience.
Other film educators are also expected to speak on the works of
Ishmael Bernal, Mike de Leon and Brillante Mendoza.
CFA has been conducting the Film and Faith Seminar Series with
Malone every January since 2007. Film and Faith 1 was on Jesus films
and the pastoral use of cinema. In 2008, the Film and Faith 2 seminar
focused on using media for values education. Malone went to Cebu
that same year to reprise the Film and Faith 1 seminar. In January
2009, Film and Faith 3 was a more extended seminar on “Search for
God in Films”, with a week-long
film festival that featured Signis
award-winning films.
Malone is a former member of
the Pontifical Council for Social
Communications and was the
first President of SIGNIS, the
international Catholic body for
film, radio, and television. He
is an internationally known lecturer on film and media education. He is a regular member of
the Catholic Jury at International
Film Festivals such as Cannes,
Venice, Berlin as well as in Asia,
Africa, and the Americas.
Aside from being a film reviewer and speaker, Malone
is also the renowned author of
several film books. In his 36 years of study and practice of film criticism, he has written some 25 books, including “Movie Christs and
Anti-Christs” “The Film” and “Films and Values.” He is co-author
of “Lights, Camera...Faith!” a 3-volume movie lectionary. CFA has
also published two of his books, “Film and Faith” and “Film, Faith
and the Church”.
Slots for the seminar are limited. Those interested in participating
may contact the CFA Training Department at 713-2732 or 713-2972
or email training@cfamedia.org or cfamedia_training@yahoo.com.
There are special discounts for early registration (by December 18)
and discounts also for groups or for Signis members. (Bob Lopez)
© CFA Media
INTERNATIONAL film reviewer and author Fr. Peter Malone,
MSC, will be back in Manila in January for another Film and Faith
Seminar, this time on Asian Spirituality in Film.
The seminar, which will be open to media educators, communication students, catechists and film buffs, is scheduled on January 11-13,
2010 from 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m., with free film screenings at 5:30p.m.,
at the CFA Lagerwey Hall in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Malone, who had been giving seminars on film in the country
since 2007, will be discussing the setting for Asian spirituality, the
nature of faith, belief and commitment.
Since Asia is the region where
the major religions of the world
originated, he observed that
“Asia is often associated with
spirituality, the many different
ways in which these religions,
Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism,
Christianity and Islam, grew and
developed.”
He said the Asian cinema
has a unique way of storytelling and visualizing the human
condition.
“This means that when we
search for spirituality in Asian
cinema, we enter into different
mind-sets and religious contexts
and find different expressions
and images from those of the Fr. Peter Malone, MSC
West where Hollywood film-making became a popular norm for
the movies,” he explained.
In our globalised world (including the movie multiplexes that
abound almost everywhere on each continent), there are interchanges
of stories, remakes of Asian stories in Western style – but, also, a
growing appreciation of distinctive Asian cinemas,” he added.
Examples of films dramatizing the major Asian religions and
traditions will be shown. Well-known directors such as Satyajit Ray
(India), Akira Kurosawa (Japan), Zhang Yimou (China), Kim-Ki-duk
(South Korea) and Lino Brocka (Philippines) will be cited.
On the third day of the seminar, Malone will be joined by Filipino
Lay leaders gather to tackle role of laity in politics, governance
A TWO-DAY gathering of lay
of national and local new leaders
leaders in the Diocese of Daet has
would be selected.
tackled the important role of laity
The well-attended event was
in achieving social transformaheld under the auspices of the
tion in the country.
local organization of Council of
The event, billed as the First Dithe Laity. Representatives from
ocesan Convention of the Council
all the 30 parishes comprising
of the Laity and themed “Laiko:
five vicariates participated in the
Instrumento ng Pagbabago sa
convention.
Simbahan at Lipunan”, was held
Daet Bishop Gilbert A. Garcera
at the Nazareth Development
invited sectoral representatives
Center of the Socio-Pastoral Acand various professionals whose
tion Center Foundation, Inc. last
interventions on the floor made
November 20-21, 2009.
the convention even richer.
Dr. Linda T. Tacorda, National
Garcera appointed Engr. VictoPresident of the Council of the Lay leaders from Daet diocese meet for a two-day assembly on November 20-21. rio F. Corporal as President of the
Laity, lectured the participants on the impli- placency and lethargy so as to help in the Council of the Laity of the Diocese of Daet.
cations and ramifications of vital role of the transformative struggles for personal and
He also appointed other officers to the
laity in the Church in all facets of social life social progress.
Commission among the nominees. Msgr.
which includes politics and governance.
The convention was held at an auspicious Romeo A. Violeta, P.C., chairman of ComShe also encouraged the participants to time when the country prepares for the up- mission on the Laity, gave his all-out support
get involved and go beyond their com- coming electoral exercises where the new set to the lay ministry. (Abel Icatlo)
Pinoys join Bibliodrama
workshop in Indonesia
REPRESENTATIVES from the parishes, schools and communities in the Philippines comprising of religious men and women
and seminarians have participated in the Bibliodrama workshop
held November 18 in Bandung, Indonesia.
Resource speakers were Sr. Emma Gunanto, organizer of the
first Bibliodrama workshop in Indonesia in 2006 and Fr. Oscar
Alunday, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission for Biblical Apostolate (ECBA).
Alunday said that the participants graduated as a new community of potential members of Bibliodrama Indonesia.
“The group was a good combination of how committed women
and men can team up with religious women and vice versa,”
the priest said.
Bibliodrama formation started in Indonesia in the summer city
of Bandung in the island of Java in 2006.
It was organized by Sr. Gunanto, an Ursuline Sister who
has been involved in the Biblical Apostolate for many
years now.
Bibliodrama is an approach which interprets in a form of an
artistic representation the chosen biblical texts prepared by the
participating group.
“ECBA is happily sharing its services to the Asian churches as
partners in the vast responsibility of animating Biblical Pastoral
Ministry,” he said.
ECBA is the Biblical Commission of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines tasked to spread the Word of God in every
individual and community. (Kate Laceda)
Christ the King Symphony
Orchestra to hold concert in Manila
THE Archdiocese of Manila
will present the Christ the King
(CKC) Jose Gomez Symphony
Orchestra in a concert at the Paco
Catholic School’s Jaime Cardinal
Sin Auditorium in Manila on
Dec. 11.
The 60-piece orchestra is
composed of high school students of the Christ the King
College which is run by the
Franciscan (OFM) Congregation in Calbayog City, Samar
province.
The 7 p.m. concert, which will
also feature the Las Piñas Boys’
Choir, will be for the benefit of
Pondo ng Pinoy, a movement for
expressing love for God through
love for fellowmen as symbolized by small but constant acts
of selflessness.
Pondo ng Pinoy is being
practiced in more than 14
Archdiocese, dioceses and apostolic vicariates in Luzon and
has undertaken projects and
assistance for the poor such
as housing, feeding, microfinance, scholarships, environmental protection, health and
livelihood.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales personally
invited the CKC Jose Gomez
Orchestra after he heard them
during a talk on Pondo ng Pinoy
in Calbayog Diocese.
He also described the group
a “unique group of musicians”
whose music and the love and
discipline in their performance
could bring joy and hope to
all of us.”
The orchestra’s Manila performance will be the last in a series
which includes Santuario de San
Antonio in Forbes Park on Dec.
7, Mall of Asia on Dec. 8, VOT
in Sampaloc on Dec. 9 and San
Pedro Bautista Parish in Quezon
City on Dec. 10.
For information on tickets please call MAPSA office,
5643712-13, 564-4084 and look
for Noel Misamis. (CBCPNews)
Markings
CELEBRATED. Fr. Francois Jourdan, 30th anniversary of sacerdotal ordination, December
9, 2009. A member of the Congregation of
Jesus and Mary (CJM), also known as Eudist
Fathers, Jourdan was born in France and was
ordained priest by Msgr. Armand Le Bourgeois,
a Eudist Bishop. He finished Doctor of Theology and Islamology in Catholic Institute and
Sorbonne University, both in Paris. In his early
years as Eudist priest he served in the Eudist
Parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Ris-orangis,
Paris. His missionary assignments include a
mission post in North Benin, Africa, and Morroco where he worked for the promotion of
interreligious dialogue with the Muslims. He also accompanied pilgrimages in the Muslim countries around Mediterranean Sea. An advocate for
non-violent actions, Jourdan taught theology and Islamology in Catholic
University in Parish for 15 years. He has published several books in French.
Jourdan is currently the formator of their formation house in Tagaytay City
where he resides together with two other Eudist priests from America and
Colombia. The congregation works for the formation of priests, religious,
seminarians and lay church ministers.
LAUNCHED. Three-year preparatory
period leading to the 75th jubilee celebration of the Archdiocese of Palo as a
diocese in 2012. A concelebrated Mass
led by Palo Archbishop Jose Palma at
the Metropolitan Cathedral on December 2 kicked off the three-year preparation period. With the general theme
“This is the will of God, your holiness” (1
Thessalonians 4:3), the whole preparatory period spans three years, which
would be divided into three stages,
each with their particular aims: the first
year would be on remembering, looking
back on the collective experience of the
diocese since its creation; the second
year (from 2010 to 2011) is aimed at
proclaiming the blessings received
during that time; the third (from 2011-2012) is aimed at the thanksgiving
aspect of the Jubilee, for all of the blessings received, and the Jubilee
year itself, from Nov. 28, 2012 to Nov. 28, 2013, would be aimed at the
celebratory aspect. As part of the preparations, the executive committee
responsible for the Jubilee, chaired by Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, JCD, vicar
general of the Archdiocese of Palo, has defined the goals to be hopefully
achieved before the Jubilee itself, which are first the intensification of the
on-going formation of the clergy and its future members, still under training in the seminary; second, the intensification of the pastoral program,
especially of the Basic Ecclesial Communities in the archdiocese, and
thirdly, the restructuring of the Archdiocesan Financial System. During
the Mass, the revised statutes of the Parish Pastoral council and those of
the Parish Finance Council, fruit of much discussion and reflection, were
also solemnly promulgated.
DIED. Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Ozamiz, Monsignor Emie O. Bienes, 63,
died of liver cancer, December 4, 2009. Born
on September 3, 1946, he was ordained
priest on April 21, 1976. He celebrated the
33rd anniversary of his ordination to the
priesthood on April 21, 2009. At the time of
his death, Bienes was parish priest of St.
Michael Parish, Tangub City and Vicar General of the Archdiocese. A teacher before
entering the seminary, Bienes was former
staff of St. Mary’s Theologate Seminary in
Gango district in 1977-79. The Catholics of
the Archdiocese of Ozamiz have lost a kind
and dedicated priest, a good friend and
trusted member of the board of consultors. The archdiocese will offer a
nine-day requiem masses for Msgr. Bienes in all parishes and has called
on all priests and religious to include in their mass intentions the eternal
repose of Bienes’ soul.
Pastoral Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 – December 30, 2009
B1
Message of the YAsians of the 5th Asian Youth Day to the Young Asians
Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were sitting there; he then did the same with
the fish, distributing as much as they wanted. (John 6:11)
WE are YAsians!—the young Asians of
the 5th Asian Youth Day, coming from
countries all over Asia. We gathered for
the grand YAsia Fiesta in the Diocese
of Imus (Cavite, Philippines), 20-27
November 2009. As one, we ate a lot,
we prayed a lot, we played a lot. We
shared stories, we laughed, we cried, we
made many new friends! We walked, we
listened, we talked. We feasted and we
celebrated our faith—all in the spirit of
coming together, sharing the Word and
living the Eucharist.
YAsia Fiesta made us rediscover our
giftedness, openness and youthfulness.
We experienced again our creativity
and richness in talents. Despite barriers
especially in language, we were able to
reach out to one another and respect our
differences. Because we are young, we
are full of energy, and we recognize that
there is so much more in our lives.
We also realized the vast opportunities
before and around us. Ours is a
generation enriched with technological
advancements for our efficiency and
convenience. Our church in Asia is
open to learn and collaborate. Also
ours is the rich living Christian heritage
beginning with Abraham to Joseph,
Mary and our Savior
Jesus Christ until our
present age. Indeed,
we young Asians are
so privileged and
blessed!
Yet we also
acknowledge with
humility all the
Message / B2
The lights
illuminating the
Our Lady
of the Pillar
Cathedral in
Imus, Cavite
cast a joyous
glow down
b e l o w. T h e
smiles on the
faces of the
A s i a n Yo u t h
Day pilgrims
were unmistakable; it was
enough to give
hints on what
most of the people already knew.
AYD was going to
be a meaningful
and memorable
event.
-- All photos © Roy
Lagarde/CBCP Media
Young people of Asia
Agents of renewal
and transformation
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
THE young face of the Asian Church
shone brightly in a faith-gathering of
close to 2,000 young people coming
from all over Asia and the Philippines
at the recently-concluded 5th Asian
Youth Day (AYD5) hosted by the
Diocese of Imus, in Cavite.
Nourished by the Word and the
Eucharist, participants to the 5th
Asian Youth Day ended their fiveday gathering with a statement
containing their commitment to
deepen their love for the Word of
God and the Eucharist despite the
many challenges they experience
along the way.
The Asian youth assembly which
carried the theme “Young Asians:
Come Together, Share the Word,
Live the Eucharist” aimed to inspire
the young faithful to live more
profoundly their Catholic faith.
Youth participants came from
across Asia, representing China, Hong
Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Taiwan,
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand,
Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore, Timor Leste, Bangladesh,
India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
Kazakhstan, Kyrjyzstan, Mongolia,
Siberia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
and other Asian delegations from
Australia, Germany, France and the
Netherlands.
The regional counterpart of the
World Youth Day, the Asian Youth
Day is usually held on years when
There are a lot of
issues confronting the
Church and society
today where the
youth can actively
participate and bring
about the needed
changes we all desire.
As they themselves
acknowledged, they
are sent to “live
out God’s love” and
called “to transform
unjust structures
and to respect the
dignity of all men and
women, to work for
reconciliation, fight
poverty and create a
civilization of peace
and harmony.”
there are no World Youth Day
celebrations. It was initiated by the
youth desk under the Office of the
Laity of the Federation of Asian
Bishops Conferences (FABC)
to help the Asian youth
deepen their spirituality and
become effective witnesses of
Christ’s love to one another.
The first AYD celebration
began in Thailand in 1999,
followed by Taiwan in
2001, India in 2003, and
Hong Kong in 2006.
YAsia Fiesta!
The AYD5 slogan YAsia
Fiesta aptly conveys a
joyful atmosphere which
truly characterized the
youth event. But in
the words of Bishop
Joel Baylon, Chairman
of the Episcopal
Commission on
Youth of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines,
the gathering
was not merely a
festivity devoid
of spirituality,
instead it was
a faith-filled
e n c o u n t e r
manifested
in
joyful
celebrations.
“Festive
Young / B7
Asian youth renew commitment to church
ASIAN Catholic youth leaders
departed Manila on Nov. 28
as they pledged themselves to
help spread the Catholic faith
after a 4-day gathering in Cavite
province.
Over 1,500 young faithful
gathered at the Rogationist
College in Silang town Nov. 23
to 27 for the 5th Asian Youth Day
(AYD) hosted by the Diocese of
Imus.
Despite the “difficulties
that beset” them, the youth
acknowledged they have much
to contribute to the church.
“We will deepen our love
for the Word of God and the
Eucharist to keep the fire of Christ
in us burning,” they said.
The commitment was
contained in a statement read
out at the closing Mass presided
by Cotabato Archbishop Orlando
Quevedo, secretary general of
the Federation of Asian Bishops’
Conferences.
Freedom of faith
The statement cited various
challenges facing the youth and
their Catholic faith and how they
could help overcome them.
“Many among us find it
difficult to identify ourselves
with Christian beliefs and
practices even if we were
baptized Christian at an early
age,” it read.
“Worse, some of us live in
circumstances with little or no
freedom in religious expression,”
the statement added.
Christianity is a minority faith
in Asia and oppression
among the believers has
long been hampering the
believers to practice their
faith.
Many Christians in
some Asian countries are
forced to renounce their
faith or threatened with
violence.
‘Loss of self-identity’
The AYD delegates
said poverty and
the lack of equal
opportunities are
also some of the
facets that affect
the church and the
people.
“We are also
Asian / B2
Korea
to
host
next
Asian
Youth
Day
IT was confirmed. Korea will
host next Asian Youth Day set
for 2012.
Filipino Bishop Rolando Tirona
of the Prelature of Infanta made the
announcement at the culmination
of the 5th Asian Youth which ended
Nov. 27 at the diocese of Imus in the
Philippines.
Tirona is the chairman of the Office
on Family and Life which handles the
Youth Desk of the Federation of the
Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).
“I am pleased to announce that the
next Asian Youth Day will take place in
Korea,” he said.
The Korean section of the congregation
broke out in loud cheers at the
announcement.
Tirona concelebrated the mass at the
Rogationist College in Silang, Cavite at the
final event of this year’s Asian Youth Day.
The liturgical celebration was presided
over by FABC secretary general and Cotabato
Archbishop Orlando Quevedo.
Concelebrants include Papal nuncio to
the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph
Adams and several other bishops from across
Asia, mostly Filipinos.
“I thank you all for your participation here in
Cavite and look forward to seeing you all again
in three years’ time,” Tirona said.
Reportedly, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of Korea lobbied hard for their country to host
Asian Youth Day in 2013.
Speaking to CBCPNews, Fr. Cho Jae Hyen
Pio, youth ministry leader for Korea’s Catholic
Church, said he hopes the gathering will have a
broad impact.
“I hope it will strengthen the faith, I hope it will
reinforce all those values that make Korean society
good like solidarity and respect for life,” he said.
Young Korean Catholics attending the
celebrations in Cavite were jubilant after the bishop’s
announcement.
“I expect Korea to show Asia just how wonderful
we are,” one young woman said.
“Korea’s going to be great—we’re all feeling very
good,” a young man said.
Asian Youth Day is held during the years when no
international World Youth Day celebration is organized,
which is once in every three years.
It was first held in Thailand in 1999, Taiwan in 2001, in
India in 2003 and in Hong Kong in 2006. (CBCPNews)
B2
Mentioning
bishops in the
Eucharistic Prayers
Updates
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 – December 30, 2009
The duty to observe the
authentic Magisterium
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina
Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)
A: An article on precisely this theme was published in
Notitiae, the official organ of the Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Sacraments. The title of the Italianlanguage article, written by Ivan Grigis, is translated as
“Regarding the Mention of the Bishop in the Eucharistic
Prayer” (Notitiae 45 (2009) 308-320). Although it is a study
and not an official decree, the work gathers all the relevant
official documentation on the subject.
The article begins from an observation of a subtle change
in the rubrics in the 2008 reprinting of the official 2002
Latin Missal. In the new version, No. 149 of the General
Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) is modified so
that a bishop celebrating outside of his own diocese should
first mention the diocesan bishop and then refer to himself
as “your unworthy servant.” Formerly, he had first referred
to himself and then the local bishop.
The author adduces that this apparently minor change
is actually based on an ecclesiological principle insofar
as, after the pope, ecclesial communion is established
through the diocesan bishop who as shepherd of that
portion of God’s people convokes them to the Eucharist.
Therefore, whosoever legitimately presides at the Eucharist
always does so in the name of the local shepherd and in
communion with him.
Another change in the reprinted missal is the footnote
at the corresponding part of each Eucharistic Prayer
explaining the optional mention of other bishops. The 2002
footnote says that the coadjutor auxiliary or another bishop
can be mentioned as described in GIRM No. 149. The 2008
version eliminates the clause “or another bishop.” This is
consistent with GIRM No. 149, which only foresees the
mention of the coadjutor or auxiliary and excludes that of
other bishops, even if present at the assembly.
In order to summarize the various rules, we can say the
following: The diocesan bishop or his equivalent must
always be mentioned by name in every celebration.
If there is just one coadjutor or auxiliary, he may be
mentioned by name if the celebrant wishes.
If there is more than one auxiliary, they may be mentioned
collectively, that is, “N., our bishop and his assistant
bishops.” They are not named separately.
Since only those bishops who actually possess pastoral
authority in the diocese are named, it follows that no other
bishops are mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer even if they
happen to be present and are presiding at the celebration.
In this latter case, the presiding bishop refers to himself
in the first Eucharistic Prayer and the other prayers if
celebrating alone. Concelebrating priests however, do not
mention this bishop’s name in the corresponding part of
the other Eucharistic Prayers.
In such cases, a petition for the presiding bishop should
be included in the prayer of the faithful.
Apart from the aforementioned article, we could mention
a couple of special cases. Priests celebrating in Rome can
say simply, “N., our Pope,” and omit any reference to the
diocesan bishop. Some say “N., our Pope and Bishop,” but
this is not strictly necessary, since being Pope and being
Bishop of Rome are one and the same.
During a time of vacancy of the episcopal see, the clause
“N., our Bishop” is simply omitted. The same criterion
is observed for the mention of the pope during a sede
vacante. The name of a temporary diocesan administrator
is not mentioned.
Message / B1
difficulties that beset us. In some ways, there seems to be differences
in understanding of our value, presence, role and potential as young
people both by the church and by ourselves. Many among us find
it difficult to identify ourselves with Christian beliefs and practices
even if we were baptized Christians at an early age. Worse, some
of us live in circumstances with little or no freedom in religious
expression.
We are also burdened by the extremely uneven distribution of
wealth in our countries, which results in the inequity in economic and
educational opportunities. We too are being negatively influenced
by the mass media and new media which in many ways lead us to
the loss of self-identity with their emphasis on consumerism and
secularism.
We are YAsians! Being nourished by the Word and the power
in us, young people—that power to dream, to influence, to make a
difference and to change the world. This is indeed our new season
of grace!
Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those
who were sitting there; he then did the same with the fish, distributing
as much as they wanted. (John 6:11)
We are the fish. We are the loaves—taken, blessed, broken and
shared. We are YAsian! And so are you.
(Note: This statement was read at the closing Eucharistic celebration of
5th Asian Youth Day, November 27, 2009)
Asian / B1
burdened by the extremely uneven distribution of wealth in our
countries, which results in the inequity in economic and educational
opportunities,” they said.
“We too are being negatively influenced by the mass media and new
media which in many ways lead us to the loss of self-identity with
their emphasis on consumerism and secularism,” they added.
The challenges, the participants said, emphasized the need for
them to be more involved in their parishes and their church.
“We are YAsians! Being nourished by the Word and the Eucharist,
we dare to face and overcome these challenges,” according to the
statement.
“We commit ourselves to renew, strengthen and practice our
Christian faith in word and deed, prayer and service, even if others
may judge and think of us differently.”
“With our Church, starting from our families, parishes and
local Christian communities, we shall build bridges of peace,
understanding and love. We confess our limitations and we beg our
elders for support. We appeal to our Church to enable us to live our
faith,” it also said. (Roy Lagarde)
www.i1.trekearth.com/photos
Q: During Mass, at the moment of mentioning the
local bishop, our parish priest has a habit of mentioning:
“Our bishops N.N., N.N., N.N.”—and mentions the local
archbishop and another two bishops. Thus, he does not
make any distinction between the local bishop and other
bishops. I wish to know whether there is a directive about
this matter.—P.G., Qormi, Malta
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
Introduction
Time and again, I have been approached
by concerned Catholic parents regarding
the religious education of their children in
Catholic schools and universities. Especially
notorious were the cases of a number of
theology professors in a Catholic University
in Manila who openly declared that they
were atheists, and of those professors in
another Catholic University in Quezon
City who were in open support of the
Reproductive Rights Bill, which had been
publicly denounced by the Catholic Bishops
of the Philippines as patently opposed to the
teachings of the Church on sexual morality.
In both cases, the university authorities
declared that the university had to respect
the academic freedom of the professors. The
question is: Doesn’t Canon Law provide for
the protection of the integrity of Catholic
Doctrine, as taught in officially Catholic
educational institutions?
Canon Law indeed has enough provisions
to protect the integrity of Catholic doctrine
and identity of officially Catholic educational
institutions. Among other means, anybody
who teaches theology at the tertiary level is
obligated by Canon Law to make a Profession
of Faith and to take an Oath of Fidelity to
teach in the name of the Church.
Three Categories of Truths
On 9.1.1989, the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith published new formulas
for the Professio Fidei et Iusiurandum
fidelitatis in suscipiendo officio nomine
Ecclesiae exercendo (AAS 81[1989], 104 106),
to replace the previous formula of 1967.
These formulas were approved by the Roman
Pontiff in a special Rescript dated, 19.IX.1989
(in AAS 81 [1989], 1169). An attentive reading
of the pertinent paragraphs of the Profession
Fidei shows that there are three categories
of truths, enunciated as follows:
1st Category: “[E]verything contained in
the Word of God, whether written or handed
down in Tradition, which the Church either
by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary
and universal Magisterium sets forth to be
believed as divinely revealed.” These are
truths found immediately in Revelation,
which the Church vouches for as contained
in Revelation. These are supposed to be held
“with firm faith”, because their certainty has a
twofold basis: the authority of God Revealing
(fides divina) and the infallible teaching
authority of the Church (fides catholica).
These are commonly referred to in Dogmatic
Theology as De fide Divina et Catholica or
simply dogmas. Examples of these truths
are (1) the Three Persons in One God, (2)
the two natures in the one Person of Jesus
Christ, (3) the Immaculate Conception, (4)
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
in body and soul to Heaven.
2nd Category: “[E]verything definitively
proposed by the Church regarding teaching
on faith and morals.” These constitute what
Dogmatic Theology has always referred
to as Catholic truths or Church doctrines,
which are to be accepted with a faith based
on the sole authority of the Church (fides
ecclesiastica). Even if the Profession fidei did
not expressly state it, these are as infallibly
certain as dogmas proper.
3rd Category: “[T]he teachings which
either the Roman Pontiff or the College of
Bishops enunciate when they exercise their
authentic Magisterium, even if they do not
intend to proclaim these teachings by a
definitive act.” These are the teachings for
which the CIC stipulates “A religious respect
of intellect and will, even if not the assent of
faith” (c.752).
Source of Confusion
While the 1st and 3rd Categories of truth
had their corresponding provisions in the
Code of Canon Law, there was no expressed
provision for the 2nd Category. Thus, cc.750
& 752 described the 1st and 3rd Categories
respectively, and c.1371 provided for the
penal sanction for their violation. This has
given rise to not a few cases of open dissent,
perhaps emboldened by a seeming lacuna in
Canon Law, especially as regards the penal
provisions.
A more attentive reading of the Profession
fidei, however, coupled with a solid
grounding in Dogmatic Theology, shows
that there was really no lacuna. As Ott would
affirm, the 2nd Category are “as infallibly
certain as dogmas proper”—i.e., the norm for
the 1st Category should hole also for the 2nd.
Hence, when the CIC expressly provided for
the 1st and 3rd Categories, it tacitly provided
also for the 2nd Category of truths.
Nevertheless, since abuses have arisen,
and such may be legally defended against
sanction with the principle of “nulla poena
sine lege”, the Supreme Church Authority
came up with new legislation in 1998 to fill
up that seeming lacuna, in the following
way: c.750 of the Code of Canon Law will
now consist of two paragraphs; the first will
present the text of the existing canon; the
second will contain a new text. Thus c.750,
in its complete form, will read:
Canon 750 − §1. Those things are to be
believed by divine and catholic faith which
are contained in the word of God as it has
been written or handed down by tradition,
that is, in the single deposit of faith entrusted
to the Church, and which are at the same
time proposed as divinely revealed either
by the solemn Magisterium of the Church, or
by its ordinary and universal Magisterium,
which in fact is manifested by the common
adherence of Christ’s faithful under the
guidance of the sacred Magisterium. All
are therefore bound to avoid any contrary
doctrines.
§2. Furthermore, each and everything
set forth definitively by the Magisterium
of the Church regarding teaching on faith
and morals must be firmly accepted and
held, namely those things required for the
holy keeping and faithful exposition of
the deposit of faith; therefore, anyone who
rejects propositions which are to be held
definitively sets himself against the teaching
of the Catholic Church.
Canon 1371, n.1 of the Code of Canon Law,
consequently, will receive an appropriate
reference to c.750, §2, so that it will now read:
Canon 1371 ─ The following are to be
punished with a just penalty:
1° a person who, apart from the case
mentioned in c.1364, §1, teaches a doctrine
condemned by the Roman Pontiff, or by an
Ecumenical Council, or obstinately rejects the
teachings mentioned in c.750, §2 or in c.752
and, when warned by the Apostolic See or
by the Ordinary, does not retract;
2° a person who in any other way does
not obey the lawful command or prohibition
of the Apostolic See or the Ordinary or
Superior and, after being warned, persists
in disobedience.
Ordinary and Universal Magisterium
It is fitting to note also that almost all
infallible teachings in the field of morality
are contained not in solemn definitions (so
called definitive acts or definitively proposed
in the language of the Profession fidei and
in the CIC), but precisely in the teachings
of the ordinary and universal Magisterium.
This has led some to think that there are no
infallible teachings in the field of morality,
inasmuch as, in fact, there are no texts in
which such infallibility is explicitly claimed.
This assertion fails to recognize, however,
that the ordinary and universal Magisterium,
which by nature does not adopt such solemn
expressions, is precisely the normal way
in which the infallibility of the Church is
exercised.
As Pope John Paul II affirms, “The
Magisterium (...) includes the charism of
infallibility, which is present not only in
the solemn definitions of the Roman Pontiff
and the Ecumenical Councils, but also in the
ordinary and universal Magisterium, which
can be considered the usual expression of the
infallibility of the Church.”
Practically all concrete and absolute moral
norms that are under debate today (e.g.,
abortion, contraception, homosexual acts,
premarital relations, euthanasia, divorce,
masturbation), have been taught by the
ordinary and universal Magisterium and are
hence infallible.
Reach of “religious respect (obsequium) of
intellect and will”
A final observation regarding the so-called
religious submission of the intellect and will.
This means more than the usual obedience
required for the legitimate command of
the hierarchical authority of the Church.
Specifically, it means:
1) The ordinary response will be a sincere
adherence not only of the will but also of the
intelligence. In an exceptional case, a teaching
might not be intellectually convincing. Then
the first duty is to doubt oneself, giving
credibility to the Magisterium. This does not
mean that one must stop working on research
and presenting the authorities—in a private
way—one’s own reasons and the possible
formulations that one might suggest as being
better suited for expressing the truth.
2) In any case, religious submission implies
the obligation to avoid every dissent; the only
thing admissible is to suspend or withhold
assent. If dissent is made publicly and
obstinately, opportune sanctions would be
in order (c.1371).
i Ref. Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Tan
Books and Publishers Inc., Illinois (1960), p.9.
ii Address of 15.X.1988. In Ramon Garcia de Haro, Marriage and Family in the Documents of the Magisterium,
Ignatius Press, San Francisco (1993), p.49.
Features
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 – December 30, 2009
B3
CBCP review of 2006-2009
2006. The CBCP declared the
year 2006 as a “Year of Social
Concerns” under the auspices
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and
the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
[cf. “Renewing our Public
Life Through Moral Values”
Pastoral Statement, January
29, 2006].
At that time we observed
that economic benefits were not
being sufficiently shared with the
poor, that apathy and cynicism
in politics, and loss of trust in
political leaders, have taken
hold of the mind and hearts of
many Filipinos. The root cause
of this crisis, we said, is the
erosion of moral values. Among
the responses we proposed was
the promotion of a spirituality
of public service, integrity and
stewardship. But we believed
that even our best efforts in
addressing the problems will
come to nothing without the help
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and
the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
(2006 was the 150th Anniversary
of the Feast of Sacred Heart
instituted in 1856.)
Other social concerns we
identified were the mining issues,
the alleged “Peoples’ Initiatives”
to change the Constitution (which
did not push through because of
the vigilance of the citizens), the
controversial “Da Vinci Code,”
the notorious Fertilizer Fund Scam
and the spread of Small Town
Lottery or STL. Two breakfast
fellowships with Christian Church
Leaders and some government
officials were held to share our
common concerns.
2007. In January 2007 the CBCP
recalled the 40th anniversary of
the Rural Congress of 1967 which
came to the crucial conclusion
that “The Church must go to the
barrios.” The greater number of
the poor are in the rural areas.
Therefore, attending to the rural
poverty would be to help lessen
the urban poverty. The CBCP
said that the one big means
of alleviating rural poverty is
through a determined, vigorous
and honest implementation of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP). [Pastoral
Statement: The Dignity of the
Rural Poor, January 28, 2007].
In 2007 the CBCP also
commended the group of lay
faithful who worked with great
enthusiasm and dedication
for the May 2007 elections.
These lay groups were the PPCRV, NAMFREL, NASSA-VOTE
CARE, Simbahang Lingkod
ng Bayan, the Catholic Media
Network, Legal Network for a
Truthful Election (Lente). These
dedicated groups undoubtedly
contributed to the emergence
of a new political consciousness
among the electorate. Vigilance,
volunteerism and coordinated
action characterized their work.
We advocated for Electoral
Reforms through revamp of the
COMELEC, the holding of those
responsible for anomalies in past
elections as accountable to the
people, and the modernization
of the electoral system in time
for 2010 Election, continuing
education of voters, the cleaning
and publication of voters’ list
long before election. [Pastoral
TOP: Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, speaking in a joint media forum
of CBCPNews and CMN on the issue of corruption in government.
ON BACKGROUND: At a protest rally in Luneta. BELOW: At a press
conference with Bishop Broderick Pabillo (left) and Archbishop Antonio
Ledesma (right) during the 2nd National Rural Congress.
sector will not only threaten
the farmers but also imperil
food security itself. Conversely,
distributing land to small farmers
will provide equitable economic
opportunities on the rural area and
eventually reduce poverty and
unrests.” (Agrarian Reform, May
18, 2008). Important highlights of
2008 were the launching of the
Year of St. Paul and the holding
of the Second National Rural
Congress on July 7-8, 2008 in San
Carlos Seminary, Makati.
A special plenary assembly
was held on November 14, 2008
in order to articulate the CBCP
opposition to the Reproductive
Health Bill 5043. (Pastoral
Statement “Standing Up for the
Gospel of Life”)
In 2008, there were series of
Bishops–Legislators’ caucuses on
Rural Concerns and on Family
and Life Issues held. There
was also held a seminar on the
Theology of Pope Benedict XVI.
Statement, on the 2007 National
Elections, July 8.]
The CBCP endorsed a one
year journey “Towards the
Second National Rural Congress”
(July 16, 2007). In this year we
commemorated the centenary
of the Episcopal Consecration
of Bishop Jorge Barlin (1906),
expressed concern on the nation’s
housing problems and on the
Human Security Act vis-à-vis
terrorism.
2008. In 2008 the CBCP stated
that the “darkness in our situation”
which consists in the subordination
of the common good to private or
personal good is due to the lack
of a social conscience. The CBCP
said: “To journey to the light,
we need first to realize that we
have contributed not a little to
the common malaise – because
of the decisions we have made,
decisions that flowed from what
we have become because of our
unconcern, inaction, apathy, often
thinking only of our interest. And
so with little sense of the future of
our country, we vote for people
we should not vote for... We
have to confess that corruption is
in truth our greatest shame as a
people.” (Pastoral Letter “Reform
Yourselves and believe in the
Gospel” (Jan. 27, 2008)
There is need for personal and
communal conversion towards
a social conscience. “This
conversion is for all of us: laity,
religious, priests and bishops.”
We reiterated the call for “circles
of discernment” in all sectors
or levels of the community, in
order that through communal
and prayerful discernment,
the roots of corruption may
be discovered and destroyed.
[Pastoral Statement, Seeking
the Truth, Restoring Integrity,
February 26, 2008].
As part of the celebration of
the NRC-II, we advocated the
extension of CARP with reform.
“Abandoning the agricultural
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
AS the outgoing CBCP
Permanent Council welcomes
the incoming Permanent Council,
I wish to express my profound
gratitude to the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) for entrusting to me the
presidency of our conference
for two consecutive terms from
2006 to 2009.
The effective management of
any institution depends largely
on the day to day working of
its Secretariat and subordinate
personnel. We have such in the
CBCP, working along with 26
independent and interdependent
Episcopal Commissions
concretizing the CBCP Vision
and Mission.
The objectives of the CBCP
include among others the
formulation of general decrees,
pastoral policies and doctrinal
declarations to enlighten and
guide people’s consciences in
meeting emerging challenges
and new problems arising
from changes in society (Cf.
Constitution, Art. 1, Sec. 2).
Let me review what the CBCP
had articulated in our effort to
shepherd and guide our country
in the last four years through our
Pastoral Letters, Statements and
Exhortations.
The commitment of the Church
would consist in building in
our land “a civilization of love”
(Centessimus Annus, 10), by
building character through honesty
and integrity, by building capacity
through empowerment of the
poor, and by building community
through formation in the spirituality
of citizenship. [Pastoral Exhortation
“Building a Civilization of Love”
May 11, 2006].
The Year of Social Concerns
gave emphasis on the importance
of the Social Doctrine of the
Church as integral part of
our evangelizing ministry, as
emphasized in Pope Benedict
XVI’s first Encyclical “Deus
Caritas Est.
The burning issues which were
being discussed were: the family
under siege by the reproductive
health bills, the prospect of
charter change, the controversial
impeachment process, which
did not occur, the clamor for the
reform of COMELEC, advocacy
contra extra-judicial killings and
endemic corruption in public
and private life. [Shepherding
and Prophesying in Hope, July
9, 2006]
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
By Archbishop Angel N.
Lagdameo
2009. At the NRC-II the rural
poor were given the opportunity
to articulate their concerns. It was
an opportunity for the church on
various levels to listen and discern
her specific role in accompanying
the rural folk in their journey; the
small farmers, landless workers,
fisherfolks, indigenous people, rural
women and rural youth. (Pastoral
Exhortation: God Hears the Cry of
the Poor, January 25, 2009).
At the Rural Congress we
declared that in the fight against
graft and corruption, we should
encourage our lay faithful to
accompany and support upright
public officials in their efforts to
serve the people in transparency
and truth. We further declared
that “we shall direct church
institutions and organizations
to be more engaged in works of
solidarity, justice and charity for
the poor in rural areas.” Scripture
warns us: “He who shuts his ear
to the cry of the poor will himself
also call and not be heard.” (Prov.
21/13)
In June of this year 2009, we
declared the post-Pauline year
as the Year of the Two Hearts
of Jesus and Mary for Peacebuilding and Lay Participation
in Social Change, inspired by
St. Paul’s reflection on “Christ
as ambassador of Peace and
Reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5/18-20;
Eph. 2/12-18). In this year of the
Two Hearts “We challenge our
Catholic Laity to take the lead
in the task of moral renewal
towards a deeper and more
lasting change in the Philippine
society … urging (them) to give a
concrete expression to Christian
discipleship through responsible
citizenship.”
What a providential
coi n ci de n ce , t h e Y e a r of
Two Hearts which the CBCP
announced for the Philippines
has also been declared by Pope
Benedict XVI for the Universal
Church as “Year for Priests”
with the theme “Faithfulness of
Christ, Faithfulness of the Priest,”
CBCP Review / B7
© Dennis Dayao / CBCP Media
CBCP Monitor
B4
Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 – December 30, 2009
Martial law in Maguindanao:
A pastoral perspective
By Archbishop Orlando B.
Quevedo, O.M.I.
Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, OMI
“BISHOP, what is the Church’s
position on Martial Law in
Maguindanao?” Muslims and
Christians have asked me this
question. I have reflected on
the question in the light of the
situation in Maguindanao and
of the social teachings of the
Church. It is difficult to provide
an indisputable answer. I can
only provide some prudential
pastoral guidelines for our
faithful to consider.
The situation of injustice and
unpeace in Maguindanao is very
complex. One has to consider
the incredible proliferation
of firearms, legal and illegal,
throughout the province—
and these not only in the
hands of so-called warlords,
CVO’s and police. Liquidations
by motorcycle-riding men,
kidnapping by armed groups,
despite deterrence provided
by the army’s Operation Tugis,
still occasionally take place.
Rido between some MILF
commanders and the Ampatuan
clan has been going on since
Datu Saudi Ampatuan, the
young enlightened mayor of
Datu Piang, was killed some
years ago. This cycle of violence
has affected the peace process
in that area and its surrounding
municipalities. Guns seem to be
everywhere. The functioning of
courts of justice and of election
bodies have been highly suspect
for a long time partly due to
the political allegiances of
court officers. Competence,
transparency, and accountability
in political governance in many
places have to be significantly
improved. In Maguindanao,
family name and relationships
is most important.
The aftermath of November
23, 2009, that day of infamy,
shows how slow government
reaction can be, given all the
above circumstances. Media
and politicians from far away
Manila do not seem to be
familiar with these social,
political, and cultural situation
in Maguindanao. They seem
to think that the police and
the military can easily go into
an area and just arrest the
suspected culprits. Even a
“state of emergency” did not
seem adequate to cope with the
situation.
Thus, a declaration of martial
law. What do I think about it?
Having reflected on the social,
political, and cultural situation
I have described above in the
light of the social teachings of
the Church I offer the following
prudential guidelines for our
faithful in the Archdiocese of
Cotabato:
1. Martial Law is a last
resort. I am not a lawyer and
a constitutionalist. I shall leave
the legal and constitutional
debate to them. I do not know
if all other recourse to resolve
the above situation, particularly
the appalling and most dreadful
crime of November 23 that
cries out to heaven, would be
adequate. The complexity and
the abnormality of the situation
and the need for swift justice for
57 brutally massacred innocent
civilians would dictate an
extraordinary measure. Since
Martial Law has been declared.
Let it be. I let the lawyers debate
it. I pray that Martial Law resolve
the abnormal situation and deal
swift justice for the victims.
2. Martial Law is double
edged. Military rule is out of the
ordinary. The use of weapons to
impose that rule is very risky
for human rights. We know that
even the suspects in the massacre
have human rights. Therefore,
even as justice for the victims is
to be pursued, it should not be
by doing injustice to the accused.
A wrong cannot be made right
by another wrong. Justice is to
be pursued in a just way.
3. Martial Law, as a last
resort, may be necessary only
for the decisive resolution of the
problems in Maguindanao I have
described. Once it is no longer
necessary, it must immediately
cease. The shorter the time, the
better. This is because of the
double-edge nature of Martial
Law. The longer it is exercised,
the more likely it would be for
human rights to be violated
and for weapons to be used
for evil.
We continue to pray for the
victims and their families, some
of whom are our own friends. We
pray for the quick apprehension
and fair trial of all suspects. We
pray for the disbanding of all
armed groups, the confiscation
of all illegal arms, the reform and
restructuring of electoral, peace
and security agencies. We pray
for the arrest and prosecution
of kidnapping and liquidating
bandit groups. We pray for the
return of functioning governing
municipal and regional agencies
not beholden to any political
name. We pray for all the people
of Maguindanao, Christian,
Muslims, Lumads, Buddhists,
Confucianists, etc. that all may
live in peace together as brothers
and sisters, with leaders that
are, in a very true sense, public
servants.
Filipinos in Berlin unite in their faith and traditions
By Fr. Edwin Corros, CS
COLORFUL posters of varied activities
depicting an assortment of cultural and
religious programs dominate the walls
of the office of the Filipino chaplain in
Berlin. The posters were personally
conceptualized by Fr. Adonis Narcelles,
SVD who has been serving the Filipino
community of migrants in this famous
German city for at least five years now.
Along those posters were paintings of
different Filipino artists who had lived
and passed by Germany; a testimony
to the strong and vibrant presence of
Filipino culture in the country. This is
how Filipino culture was brought and
nourished in this city where local arts
and culture are well expressed in their
buildings, streets and houses. Thanks to
the leadership of the Filipino chaplain,
whose work is not only to look after
the spiritual and religious needs of the
Filipino migrants, but also helps them
get assimilated into their host country
without sacrificing the loss of their
Filipino identity. This is due perhaps to
the fact that once upon a time, Filipino
national hero Dr. Jose Rizal used to
inhabit the city.
There are approximately 2,000 Filipino
migrants residing in Berlin according to
Fr. Adonis. Their number may not be
that significant compared to other cities
in Europe, but the Filipinos in Berlin
are lucky to enjoy also the presence
of the Philippine Embassy albeit not
necessarily its services. In this city,
the Filipinos are found working in
diverse jobs. Among them are in the
embassies and consulates where most
Filipino drivers had carved their distinct
professional mark among the foreign
diplomatic communities. Asked why
the Filipino drivers are famous among
foreign diplomats? It was not only the
skills of the drivers that earned them
the jobs, but the trust and efficiency that
the Filipino drivers had demonstrated
towards their work. A not so minuscule
example of such character could be
found on how much these drivers take
care of the vehicles entrusted to them.
They do not only keep the diplomat’s
vehicle clean or literally spotless, they
take care of them as they would their
own cars. They could be likened to
the Filipinas in Italy to whom Italian
employers entrust their house’s keys.
The Italians believe that when they come
home, the house is clean and nothing is
missing in the house.
Besides having memorized the
streets and mastered the highways
of Germany, Filipinos also sung well
in cultural centers of Berlin. They are
mostly known in singing operas on
stage. Unfortunately, the Filipino media
are not that familiar perhaps of their
lot, but definitely Berlin has already
been conquered by these Filipino artists
besides New York and London. The
media lapse could be possibly attributed
to the language barrier. Not many
Filipino media people have facility in
another foreign language other than
English which perhaps could be their
most convenient vehicle to international
reportage. Hence, the Filipino artists in
Germany are not that well known in the in the same airline that I took, a group their families overseas is an infrequent
Philippines. Moreover, some Filipino of well wishers were there to provide occasion and I have to be sharp in
painters have also made Berlin as their comfort and moral support. These remembering the significant and
people had been part of their circle of wonderful experiences that I have
home.
In the past, the Filipinos in Germany friends, but now are forced to go back. gained. It is very important to appreciate
had been famously identified working Their only mistake was they were caught the varied and distinct characteristics
in the health sector. Along with nurses working without proper documents. of the Filipino migrants in Berlin
from Korea and Taiwan, Filipinos went Such a dramatic scene at the departure from those in other countries. The
to Germany at the beginning of the area of Berlin-Tegel International capacity of the chaplain to unite the
seventies when the country was in need Airport has made me imagine how their many Filipino organizations in the
of nurses and medical technologists. families in the Philippines would now city is an outstanding character of the
They had married and maintain their face the immediate cut to their daily chaplaincy’s work among the migrants.
families too in Germany. Their children expenses as the regular remittance will The chaplaincy has also expressed great
are equally successful in their chosen no longer be coming. I was hoping their concern on the plight of undocumented
professional careers. Some had become loved ones had invested properly the Filipinos. Furthermore, it has raised
lawyers or bankers; while others are in fruits of their labor while working in grave concern on some unexpected
universities and in business. Many of Germany, so that their life would not tragic situations involving Filipinos.
them are still well rooted in the language become miserable.
Such as the case of a German who had
In such a very short visit, I have committed suicide after having gravely
and culture of their parents albeit
not necessarily speaking
assaulted two Filipinas.
the Tagalog language.
The first Filipina whose
They too have been well
eyes were plucked and
accompanied by their
will remain blind was
parents and always loved
reported to be his second
to go back to the Philippines
wife. The second Filipina
for the holidays. They are
he attempted to kill by
lucky to live in two or
driving through her flower
three different cultures.
shop, and was still in a
At one point Filipino, at
critical condition when
another time German,
the sad news came out on
and thirdly Filipinothe local media was his
German, whichever is
first wife with whom he
most convenient. It can be a
was divorced. The reason
disadvantage sometimes.
for both attacking them
The Filipinos married to
violently was not clearly
the locals are equally big
given. Such horrible
in number. They came in
news has left the Filipino
the late eighties and early
community in shock
nineties. They are well
especially among those
The author giving a talk to the Love Flock Community in Berlin.
adjusted too to the local
married to the Germans.
customs and traditions
One of them confided to
and many speak the
me that she was not able
German language albeit
to sleep the whole night
not necessarily fluent.
when such news was
They are very active in
heard and seen on TV. It
church life and some are
was big news in Germany,
successful in bringing their
but may not have reached
husband to the Catholic
the Philippines shores.
faith. Many times they have
The most privileged part
become more missionaries
of my visit was to celebrate
than some of the priests
mass for the Filipinos
that I have come to know,
on a Sunday. The mass
for they employ a lot of
was attended not only by
influence on the life of
Filipinos but by Western
their German husband
people as well. It was a
and especially on their
clear observation that the
children. They may share
whole Sunday afternoon of
different interests, but
the chaplaincy was hectic,
Fr. Edwin Corros (center) with Fr. Adonis (2nd from left) and Mass servers
before celebrating the Mass with the Filipino community.
their German husband
notwithstanding the damp
apparently shows a lot of
and cold weather. Several
respect concerning the faith
groups were taking time
learned so many things about the meeting their own members and
needs of their Filipina wife.
Another emerging group of Filipinos Filipino migrants in Berlin. The chaplain constituents before and after the mass.
in Berlin are those who had arrived in an has developed a lot of interesting Early that afternoon I was invited by
irregular manner. They came as tourists activities for the Filipino, but what is the chaplain to deliver a reflection to the
and later on had overstayed their visa. most successful was his capacity to Love Flock Community who gathered
They work in odd jobs without real bring other migrants to the Filipino regularly at one room of the SVD
protection. They could get dishwashing mass celebrated in English. He has Building. After the mass, a forum was
jobs or work as servers or cleaners in the also assisted me to visit some Filipino held in its meeting hall. Facilitated by
restaurants, but most of them work in the families. This is very important as such the chaplaincy, foreigners married to the
households—employment preferably occasions had provided me to share Germans were given the opportunity to
chosen to inhibit themselves from the more intimately with our Filipino listen to important issues which deals on
public’s eyes. Some were accidentally migrants the concern of the Church in marital relationship. A Filipina German
apprehended in the streets and were the Philippines for their kind. Every lawyer for a family court was invited to
eventually deported. Their situation has encounter with the Filipino migrants talk about marital rights. Unfortunately,
become the concern of the chaplain as was a chance to make them feel the typical of most migrants, most Filipino
well, but the Filipino community had concern of the Church for them. It was parishioners did not take advantage
been more sympathetic to their plight. an occasion to explain what ECMI has of this important forum where the
At the airport where some of them been doing back in the Philippines.
invited speaker could enlighten them
The exposure to the migrants and of their spousal rights in Germany,
happened to be flying back to Manila
especially in the event that their marital
relationship breaks down in the future.
The attempt to invite such speaker is
laudable as it prevents people from
experiencing abuse. Unfortunately in
normal circumstance, people prefer to
stay away and just seek help when such
unfortunate event happened to them
later. This was echoed by some Filipinas
married to the Germans who had gotten
the same impression while attending the
forum. “And they will just run to Father
Adonis when such thing happen later,”
another lady commented.
Generally, ECMI’s visit to the Filipino
community in Berlin was very positive.
It has allowed the commission to
implement the norms and directives
from the Apostolic See. Coordination
with the receiving and sending Churches
was achieved even if it did not give
ECMI the opportunity to meet any local
Church official and solicit certain opinion
regarding the presence of the Filipinos in
his diocese. What was important however
was for the chaplaincy to be allowed to
operate according to the directives of the
Church to which the German Church
has been very supportive. Moreover
the visit has allowed ECMI to touch base
with the chaplaincy and experience the
actual situation of the Filipino migrants
in Berlin whose reality is distinct from
the other migrant Filipinos also present
in Europe.
The Society of the Divine Savior (SVD)
has been very supportive and active in
the migrant ministry and the positive
fruits of their mission were astonishing
in the kind of migrant communities
that the missionaries had accompanied
in various cities where many Filipino
migrants are present. The work of the
SVDs among the migrants is not only
limited to the Filipinos. I have witnessed
this in Portugal where I have also visited
the Filipino community in Lisbon. In the
case of Berlin, the chaplain has employed
a lot of Filipino cultural activities based
on the country’s traditions to keep the
community actively participate – an
approach that will surely keep them
together more than just staging a social
group. The Filipino community in Berlin
is a showcase of how effectively migrants
could contribute to society when well
facilitated by a chaplain who has
successfully united the usually difficult
Filipinos to gather together. The varied
organizations and associations take turns
in the animation of the various works and
ministries during Church’s celebrations.
The community of Filipinos in Berlin
simply reveals the result of the passion,
hard work and sincere dedication of Fr.
Adonis Narcelles in his ministry. His
witnessing as messenger of the Divine
Word is indeed translated in his work
among the Filipino migrants in Berlin.
(This article was written after the brief visit
of Fr. Edwin D. Corros, CS, the executive
secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the
Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
(ECMI) of the Catholic Bishops Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP), to the Filipino
Chaplaincy in Berlin last November 18-24,
2009. For more information about the Filipino
Chaplaincy in Berlin, please contact Fr. Adonis
Narcelles, SVD at frdonsvd@yahoo.de.)
Statements
B5
Urgent call for speedy
dispensation of justice
THE Maguindanao massacre, perhaps one of the
most gruesome incidents in the history of violence
in our country, and the controversial imposition
of martial law, though presently localized, have
aroused the attention and concern among the
Filipino people as a nation, and of the world.
Though the Supreme Court has still to rule on
the factual bases of the declaration of martial
law, and Congress has still to decide in joint
session whether to stop or extend its imposition,
our urgent call is for the speedy dispensation
of justice to the victims of the mass murder, for
the granting of due process to the accused as
warranted by the present situation and for the
protection of human rights.
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 – December 30, 2009
www.bayan.ph
We are supposed to be guided by the rule of law enshrined in
our Constitution and legislations and not by the rule of men who
imposed their will on the weak and powerless with utter disregarded
of honesty and fair play. The exercise of civil power should be geared
towards the promotion of the common good.
Biases for and against the administration can befuddle the issue.
We appeal for sobriety not to let wild speculations and conjectures
fly and at the same time we call for restraint on the part of the
administrators of martial law so as not to give people the reason
to suspect any hidden agenda behind the exercise. Abuse of power
should be avoided and martial law should not be unnecessarily
prolonged.
While the administration has to give justification on the propriety
of their action to Congress within 48 hours and to the Supreme Court
on the legality of the imposition, we the concerned people hope
and pray that the Prince of Peace in the atmosphere of Christmas
would heal our troubled land wounded by fraternal strife, restore
understanding and guarantee an honest election reflective of the
will of the people.
We stand by the position taken by the Archdiocese of Cotabato
within whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction the tragedy occurred and
martial law imposed.
A crime that cries out to heaven
TO all People of Good Will:
Last Monday, 23 November
2009, the shocking news of
a horrifying massacre began
circulating through radio,
text messages, and word of
mouth. Twenty four hours
later, there were sti ll n o
complete and accurate reports
on what really happened
along the highway between
Shariff Aguak and Kauran,
Ampatuan, Maguindanao. The
number of people massacred
continues to rise even now,
family-members, friends, legal
advocates, journalists, and
civilians who found themselves
in the wrong place at the wrong
time.
From the beginning there
was no doubt that we were
hearing or reading of a tragedy
unprecedented in the history
of the once empire province
of Cotabato, unprecedented
in its ferocity, brutality and
brazenness.
People cry out to God and to
one another, “How could this
thing happen?” And as more and
more bodies were unearthed
from that now infamous “killing
field,” the wailing and grieving
of hundreds of families related
to the victims as brothers,
sisters, mothers, fathers,
cousins, nephews and nieces, in
laws or friends are turning into
righteous rage and the natural
desire for vendetta. For the sake
of humanity we must not give in
to this desire to seek vengeance
that can so easily spiral into a
cycle of violence.
From the depths of my soul
as a religious leader, I condemn
in the strongest possible way
this barbaric act of massacre as
a conscience-less crime that cries
out to heaven.
As a citizen I demand that
the government, without fear
or favor, use all its powers and
decisively act to identify and
arrest the perpetrators and
apply the full force of the law
on them.
As a believer in the God of all,
I pray for the souls of the victims
and ask the Lord to console,
comfort, and give strength to
their families. I grieve with
them and express my deepest
sympathies.
Many politicians and nonpoliticians have quickly blamed
others for this shocking tragedy.
This is only partly right and
conveniently absolves us from
any culpability. My sense of
history leads me to believe that
somehow we all share the blame
to a certain extent. A culture of
impunity has, indeed, grown
through the years. Political
administrations and officials
from all parties from the 1960s
to the present have cultivated
and exploited to their own
advantage a social structure of
traditional leadership that was
meant to be for the good of the
people. This was so with powerful
political families in other parts
of the country. We have not
tried to change this culture of
political convenience and thus
allowed a culture of impunity
to endure through successive
administrations. Elections have
not and will not change this
situation. We simply get more
of the same.
We need to change from the
bottom-up, from individuals
to families, from families to
communities. We need to change
our values that tolerate evil or
choose the lesser evil. We need
to learn new values that will
transform our cultures from
within. For Muslims the Koran,
faithfully and correctly followed,
will be a guide. For Christians,
the Holy Bible, also faithfully
and correctly interpreted, will
provide direction for value
transformation.
Beloved People of Good Will,
yes, indeed, we must condemn.
We must demand decisive action
for justice. We must pray. But we
also must begin to change. With
the grace of God, we can.
+ORLANDO B. QUEVEDO,
O.M.I.
Archbishop of Cotabato
November 26, 2009
www.bayan.ph
www.bayan.ph
Press Statement of Butuan Bishop on
Maguindanao Massacre
THE Diocese of Butuan greatly laments and
joins the Filipino nation in mourning deeply
and in condemning strongly the bastardly act
and barbaric massacre of 47 innocent people,
their civilian supporters, mostly women,
including lawyers, drivers and national and
local journalists and media practitioners
recently in Ampatuan town province of
Maguindanao. The convoy was COMELECbound to file the Certificate of Candidacy
and for other election related purposes
when ambushed. Whether it was politically
motivated or not, the mass killings remains to
be the sole but biggest heinous crime against life
and an affront to democracy, against peace and
order and a great security threat to Mindanao
and the entire country.
We join with the government authorities and
all civilized and humane societies to uphold the
majesty of the law and justice and the inviolable
respect for human life at all times.
We appeal to the masterminds and the
perpetrators of the crime to surrender
immediately to the government authorities
because crime does not pay and violence only
begets violence and not peace.
We recommend that the full force of the law
and the greatest penalties be meted to those
suspects if found guilty to stop the senseless
killings and violence.
We further recommend that those involved
in the mass killings should be barred from
running to any elective or from holding any
appointive positions in government.
Finally, as Bishop of Butuan, I pray for the
abiding love of God for the full enlightenment
of all brethren in Mindanao as we celebrate the
Mindanao Week of Peace 2009.
May the blessings of the Almighty God be
upon all of us.
+JUAN DE DIOS M. PUEBLOS, D.D.
Bishop of Butuan
November 24, 2009
+NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, DD
Bishop of Tandag
CBCP President
December 08, 2009
Celebrate, promote, and
defend human rights
A Pastoral Letter of the Isabela Ecumenical
Confence (IEC) To the People of God in
Isabela and All provinces
THE Isabela Ecumenical Conference (IEC) joins the People of
God in celebrating Human Rights Day. Born of historical struggles
for justice and recognition of the dignity of the human person and
community and the integrity of creation, the peoples of the world
in solidarity have set up Human Rights not only to guide and judge
themselves, but also, and above all, Government in all its forms, in
the duty to promote the progress of the people in economic, political
and cultural areas of social life.
Very good news today is that there is now a Philippine LAW
AGAINST TORTURE. The Isabela Ecumenical Conference joins
the nation in welcoming the signing into law of Republic Act 9745,
penalizing acts of torture in the Philippines. We are happy that the
people has RPA 9745 as another standard, aside from the UN
protocols on human rights and the Convention Against Torture, by
which to judge government performance to promote and defend
human rights. We pray the law will be effectively implemented.
The United Nations’ Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) mandates
its signatories to “take effective legislative, administrative, judicial
or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under
its jurisdiction.”
The law accords with values of the Gospel.
The signing into law of RPA 9745 does not wipe out the dismal
human rights record of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and
that of past dispensations. The many cases of torture, such as that
of the Manalo brothers and of the Filipino-American activist Melissa
Roxas highlight the government’s deficient and defective political
will in the area of human rights. We remember these and cry out
with you: “Never Again!”
We agree with Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo,
principal author of the Anti-Torture Law, that the law is a step
forward. Roneo Clamor, deputy secretary general of human rights
group Karapatan, rightly said the law is long overdue, but still a
welcome development.
The passage of the new law adds joy to our celebration of Human
Rights Day.
Ours too is the commitment of the Church present and vibrant
in various Christian denominations to help local churches,
people’s organizations, non-government organizations, human
rights advocates, and solidarity groups educate our people on
the new law and enhance their organized power to have the law
implemented, human rights violators brought to justice, and victims
justly compensated.
Some of the features of the anti-torture law are:
* Criminalization of all forms of torture — physical, mental,
psychological and pharmacological (the latter is done through
administering drugs);
* Non-justification for torture and other inhuman punishments
* Penalization of torturers as principals, as well as their superiors
in the military, police or law enforcement establishments who ordered
the torture;
* Submission by the military of monthly reports listing all its
detention centers, including safehouses, to the Commission on
Human Rights;
* Prohibition to maintain secret detention centers.
* Imposition on torturers of a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,
and other penalties ranging from a minimum of six months to a
maximum of 12 years of imprisonment depending on the gravity
of the offense;
* Provisions for the protection of complainants and witnesses
and persons involved in the prosecution and the establishment of
rehabilitation programs for victims.
It remains for the government to pass the Anti-Enforced
Disappearance Bill House Bill 2263) and the House Bill 3259 or the
Command Responsibility Bill. Command responsibility that holds a
superior responsible for crime/s committed by his/her subordinates
for failing to prevent the said crime/s or punish the perpetrator/s.
For now let us all own and help implement the law against torture
and work for its further improvement for the good of all, specially
the least of our brothers and sisters.
Our pastoral blessing to all.
For the Isabela Ecumenical Conference:
MOST REV. JOSEPH A. NACUA, OFM Cap, D.D. (Diocese of
Ilagan)
RT. REV. ALEXANDER WANDAG (Episcopal Diocese of
Santiago)
RT. REV. EPHRAIM FAUTAGANA (IFI Diocese of Isabela)
Ref lections
B6
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 – December 30, 2009
Fourth Advent: Bursting with excitement
4th Sunday of Advent, Year C (Lk. 1:39-45) December 20, 2009
www.cts.edu
By Fr. Joseph Pellegrino
ONE of my favorite Dennis the Menace
comics is set at this time a year, a few days
before Christmas. It’s a cold day, and Dennis’s
father is lighting a fire in the fireplace. Dennis
comes running in yelling, “Are you crazy?”
Like so many other children, he was already
looking up the chimney waiting for Santa.
Is there anything more exciting in our
world than children waiting for Santa? Sure
there is: a pregnant woman waiting for her
little love to be born. Today’s Gospel presents
two such women. Mary and Elizabeth are
bursting with anticipation, with expectation.
Mary is a young girl, newly married, with a
baby announced by an angel and conceived
miraculously. Elizabeth is an older woman,
one who thought her chance to have a child
had passed. Her baby, conceived naturally,
was also announced by an angel, the same
angel in fact, Gabriel. The women know
that not just their lives will be changed,
but the world will be changed. They greet
each other, and the baby within Elizabeth,
the future John the Baptist, recognizes
the presence of the Messiah within Mary.
Elizabeth is overwhelmed with excitement
as she realizes that her child would have a
vital role in God’s plan for His people. Both
women proclaim their gratitude to God for
working His wonders within them.
Perhaps, as a final preparation for
Christmas, we can spend a few moments
reflecting on the great Gift God has given
us and focus on the gratitude we owe Him.
The great gift of Christmas, of course, is the
gift of His Son. The Christian existentialist
Soren Kierkegaard told a parable to help
explain this gift.
Once upon a time there was a king who
was rich and powerful. The King was very
unhappy, though. He wanted a wife to be his
queen. Now a political marriage could easily
have been arranged with another country
but that is not what the King wanted. He
wanted someone whom he could love and
who could love him. Only real love could
fill his vast, empty castle and life.
One day the King was riding through
the streets of a small village kin a remote
corner of the kingdom when he came upon
the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He
immediately fell in love with her. But there
was a problem: she was a peasant girl. The
problem was that he wanted to win her love,
not buy her love.
One of his counselors told him to just
command her to be his wife. Any girl,
especially a peasant girl, would jump at the
opportunity. But the King would not do that.
He could not command love. Besides, for the
rest of his life he would wonder if she was a
loving wife or a loyal subject.
Another counselor told the king to that he
should call on the girl as her King, shower
her with presents of diamonds and gold and
silk gowns, and give her the opportunity
to realize that he truly loved her. But the
King would not do that. For the rest of his
life he would wonder if she loved him or
his wealth.
A third counselor told the king to dress as
a peasant so she would not be overwhelmed,
and gradually reveal his power and position
until she was ready to join him in the castle.
The king did not like the thought of deceiving
her. If their relationship was based on
deception, how could she ever love him?
Finally, the King knew what he would do.
He renounced his royal robes, his power
and authority. He became a peasant in that
remote village, living and working and
suffering beside the other peasants. After
a number of years, he won the heart of the
beautiful young girl. He took his new wife
to another village in another country, where
no one could have guessed who he was.
After many years, he became sick, and wife
loved him and cared for him. He died a
peasant, but at his funeral the people looked
at his wonderful, caring and in many ways
extremely beautiful wife and said, “That man
married a queen.”
God is the King. He is the Divine Lover.
We are the object of His love. Only God
would love so much that He would become
one of us to win our love. St. Ireneus, an
early doctor of the Church, wrote, “Because
of his great love for us, Jesus, the Word of
God, became what we are in order to make
us what he is himself.”
This is the mystery that excites us. It is
the same mystery that excited Mary and
Elizabeth. They realized that they had each
in their own way been chosen to be vehicles
of God’s plan of love. Elizabeth’s son, John
the Baptist, would point to this Love become
flesh. Jesus, Mary’s son, would be this love.
We also have been chosen to be part of this
plan by the One who loves us and who calls
us to make His Love a reality for others.
With deep gratitude we pray: Lord of all
love, you have come to us so we can come to
you. You have become physical so we can
become spiritual. You have embraced us with
your Love so we can embrace others with your
love. We thank you for choosing us to be part
of your plan. We thank you for allowing us
to join Mary and Elizabeth in the excitement
of your Coming Presence. We ask you now
to give us the strength and the courage to
proclaim your Presence with our Lives.
There might be only a few days left, but:
Happy Advent, everyone!
Fr. Russell Bantiles
COGITO
Bishop Pat Alo
What’s happening in Maguindanao?
OVER a month of literary slumber (I have
not written for a month in my column in
The Davao Catholic Herald, named Cogito)
is shaken and awakened by the horrors of
Maguindanao carnage, of such repugnance
that it could even make a mute shout.
In these last few days, everyone here in
Pamplona (those who know that I am from
Mindanao) is asking me, “¿Qué está pasando
allí en tu tierra?” (What’s going on there in
Mindanao?). Full of embarrassment, I simply
answered with a deep sigh and asked them
to pray hard for my land.
Everybody’s question is: how is it possible
for man to plan and execute such a barbaric
act? Looking at every detail of it—from the
way the victims are abused (especially the
women), tortured and killed to the manner
of trying to hide the crime, dumping them on
shallow improvised graves—one could make
an idea of the abysmal darkness that lurks in
the concience of the mastermind.
How is it possible? It is only possible when
God is absent in that conscience. As the
Second Vatican Council teaches, when God
is absent in human horizon, not only does
man vanish but also he turns against himself;
he becomes autodestructive and turns into a
beast for his fellowman.
I am one with those who explicitly
condemned these brutal killings. I joined the
voice of those who cry for justice in behalf
of the victims, whose blood—like that of
Abel—is clamoring to heaven. Filled with
indignation, I also contemplate painfully
these heartbreaking incident.
But with a firm grip on my Christian
faith, I know “God can write straight with
crooked lines” and that, if God allowed
this to happen—as He could never will evil
things to occur—in the words of St. Paul,
“Everything works for the good of those who
love the Lord”.
As faithful Christians, what are we to do
aside from condemning reasonably the crime
and demanding rightly justice? Let us cling
to God’s mercy and grab God’s hand more
firmly, knowing that all our hope is in God
alone. But in saying this, I am not suggesting
a certain kind of passive reaction—a mere
shrugging of shoulders. Prayer is more
efficient and powerful than action.
Letusnotcontentourselveswithcondemning
this evil act—let us condemn all evil of this
kind! I am saying this because it is very
scandalous to hear people and institutions
condemning the Maguindanao massacre,
yet would not even raise a voice against the
rampant abortion happening around the
world. I am not diverting attention here, just
widening our perspective of what is evil.
Besides, let us not be contented with
condemning the evils outside of us—we
should not forget to condemn also the evils
that we carry within us. Because the evils
that we see around are mere reflections of
the evils that man—by keeping himself away
from God—has succumbed himself to.
We denounce rightly this evil in
Maguindanao. But don’t you think we need
also to denounce our own personal evils—
our sins—in the Sacrament of Confession?
Perhaps, in doing so, God will have pity on us
and will put an end to these exterior evils. Only
when man is purified from his interior evils
can the evils of this world be eradicated!
And you might rightfully say, “The
perpetrators, the criminals should be the first
to purify themselves—confess their crime
and suffer the punishment!” That may be the
ideal thing. But it is not a matter of who’s to
do it first! What’s important is that everyone
does what corresponds to him: condemn
evil—outside and inside of him.
Perhaps, it is the “straight line” or the
“good” that can be gleaned from this
horrifying crime. One day, Jesus asked His
disciples, “Do you think those people Herod
decapitated are more sinful because they
have fallen into such a sad fate? Of course,
not. But if you will not repent, you too will
experience the same.”
Never do we think that the Maguindanao
victims are more sinful than us because they
suffer such fate. But yes, we agree that what
occurred to them is a frightful evil, as frightful
as our personal sins. The only true evil, says
St. Augustine, is moral evil, that is, our sins.
How I wish I could feel as dreadful towards
the horror of my sins as I do towards this
heinous crime!
Why this heinous crime? The answer is
neither too impersonal nor too enigmatic.
Heinous crimes are always possible for
people who have let God slipped off their
conscience, who have denied God a little
room in their heart, who have never felt
any repulsion towards any minimal offense
against God. A heart that has no room for
God is never neutral—it is always filled
with evil. St. Augustine says, “We are all
capable of all heinous crimes in the world.
But thanks to God’s grace we are preserved
from them”.
Fr. Francis Ongkingco
WHATEVER
Spiritual hyperlinks
ONE day God went to check
Heaven’s pearly gates. He heard
them squeaking badly and
wanted to see if St. Peter had
already oiled them. When He
reached the gates He was not
only surprised to see Peter—as
usual—sleeping on the job, but
also the gates left ajar. Every now
and then they gave out a gentle
harmonious squeak when a stray
celestial breeze blew by.
“Peter, wake up!” God said
trying to control Himself. “Didn’t
I ask you to watch over the gates
and oil them?”
“Uh? [HO-HUM] Ah…ehhr…,”
St. Peter tried his best to hide a wide
yawn escaping from his mouth.
“Yeshh…, I mean, yes, Lord. I’m
sorry. I know you’ll be saying
something about the ‘flesh and the
spirit’ or sumthin’ like that.”
“Never mind, Peter! But why
haven’t you oiled them yet?”
“[YAAHWN!] I’m sorry, Lord!
I was up all night.”
“All night? Doing what?”
“Surfin’ the net…,” he rubbed
both eyes trying to focus on the
conversation.
“The net? But didn’t I tell you
that it only wastes a lot of your
heavenly time?”
“I know, Lord. But you should
really check out this craze of
social networks down there!”
Peter said excitedly.
“You mean social notworking?”
“Oh, come on, Lord, just give
it a try,” Peter insisted.
“Okay, okay, okay,” God said
and took a seat. “Now what am
I supposed to do?”
“It’s so easy, all you have to do
is click on the links, Lord,” Peter
felt proud to be teaching God a
thing or two.
God took the mouse and
started surfing. “Let’s see, I’m
interested in checking out this
priest who’s been writing silly
articles,” God’s face lighted up
with interest. “What did you say
his name was again, Peter?”
“Oh, you mean Father so-andso?” Peter scratched his head.
“Yeah, that one!” God’s
concentrated intensely on the
page as it started to load.
“Yup, that’s him alright,” Peter
said rather blandly.
“You don’t look so excited,”
the Lord noticed Peter’s
expression.
“Oh, no, no…, except that…
Oh, it’s nothing, go ahead, check
him right out!”
God clicked on the profile. The
browser took a while processing
the request, and then suddenly the
screen goes blank and the following
error popped out: ERROR 404:
Unresolved link. Please contact
your internet provider.
“Now what’s that supposed to
mean,” God was puzzled.
“Oh, nothing really, it’s just
that most of the links in his page
are broken,” Peter said.
“I thought you said you were
working on him the other day,”
God frowned at Peter.
“Yes, Lord, but you just have
to give me…,”
“Wait, let’s see check out this
link that says prayer life…,”
God surfed back to the page
and clicked on the link. The
screen went blank and there
was a longer delay this time.
“This is taking an eternity,” God
remarked. Then the same error
popped out.
“He must have something
at least,” the Lord said a little
concerned.
“Why don’t you try that one
that says Related links,” Peter
suggested.
“What’s that supposed to be?”
the Lord said.
“I don’t know,” Peter shrugged
ENCOUNTERS
Erosion of
vocations
IN the diagnostic loss of vocations to priestly or religious life,
we must realize how the temptations of the world, the devil
and the flesh (or inner pride) work. As in the natural elements
mostly the erosion takes time and is unnoticed. That’s part
of the strategy of the devil, to come in unnoticed. He always
paints evil under the guise of good to deceive people.
That’s why, even in the matter of obedience which is the
foundation of religious life, as St. John of the Cross puts it,
one must be cautious always to do things within the bounds
of obedience. And since obedience ultimately is directed to
God, one’s obedience must be irrespective of the human
characteristics of the authority in the compliance of orders.
Otherwise it becomes a purely human obedience, not an
obedience of faith to the invisible God, the very source of
merit and victory.
In that feeling of freedom and pride of disobedience, you are
just doing harm to yourself. Once you find yourself reaching
a point of no return after those little infidelities, you realize
the truth of the prophet Samuel’s reproof to King Saul who
was rejected by God for not following instructions, rather he
took what was precious in the war booty under the pretense of
reserving them for temple offerings. The prophet’s words: “Is the
pleasure of Yahweh in holocausts and sacrifices or in obedience
to the voice of Yahweh? Yes, obedience is better than sacrifice,
submissiveness better than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).
Even the little acts of dishonesty in finances can cause erosion
in a vocation since the little is always interconnected to the
whole, as a part to the whole. Such as for example dishonesty
in handling money that is not yours or not paying rightful
debts. Jesus’ own words attest to this. “And so I tell you: use
money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure
that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents
of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can
be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things
will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with
money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine
riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours,
who will give you what is your very own?” (Lk. 16:4-12).
Wealth is external to man, the spiritual gifts are an intimate
possession of man.
To end, let’s not forget history: the fall of Lucifer and his
angels from heaven now become Satan and his tempting
devils, the fall of our first parents Adam and Eve, and the
many who lost their vocation and even became leaders of
deviating movements. Let’s pray for them and thank God for
His gracces on His faithful and humble people who continue
to follow His ways of love and forgiveness.
his shoulders.
The Lord clicked on the link
and the screen goes blank and the
message appears: PROHIBITED
PAGE—MAY BE HARMFUL
TO YOUR COMPUTER;
TROJAN APPLICATIONS;
MATURE CONTENT; ILLEGAL
SOFTWARE, etc.
“I’m done with this priest, why
don’t you erase his account!” the
Lord said.
“Lord, be patient. Give me some
time and I’ll figure a way to get his
links connected,” Peter begged.
***
May the Lord who clicks on
the links of our life not find them
broken or unfortunately revealing
that our hearts and minds are far
from Him. The page of our life is
the only one we will have. It is
something our Lord always reads
and it is up to each one to enrich
and update that daily page so that
we may be able to offer God a new
love each time.
God clicks on some aspects of
our life not because He’s out to
investigate what’s wrong with
us. Rather, He does this in order
to see how He can help open us
to new and fruitful horizons in
our piety, sacrifice, good deeds,
and above all, how you and I can
abide more with His will.
Let us foster a firm resolve to
review and improve our spiritual
hyperlinks so that they truly link
us back to God’s heart. These
links are: our prayer, sacrifice,
the sacraments, virtues and our
sincere love for the souls around
us whom we can link back to
God’s love.
(Note to reader: HTTP Error 404
is an error message which means
that the web page you are looking
for cannot be found. The 404 error
is also known as “File not found”,
“Not Found” and “Gone”.)
Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 – December 30, 2009
B7
The ruling elites and Christmas
THE Christmas and political
season have opened in the
Philippines and it is not a very
happy one. The hoped for
and promised freedom from
poverty, fear, oppression and
violent death that the birth of
Jesus of Nazareth brought to us
2000 years ago is still beyond the
reach of most Filipinos.
Catholicism in the Philippines should have
redeemed the nation and imbued its rulers
and the majority of its people with strong
values of social equality, justice and good
governance but it has tragically failed. The
good faithful Christians somehow cannot
elect a government where the majority of
officials are people of integrity.
Most of us grew up with Christmas
candles, generous gift-giving and pious
church-going believing Jesus would lead us
to a Kingdom of truth, peace and happiness.
But it hasn’t happened. He said we ought
to build that Kingdom here and now with
unselfish attitudes and a love of justice. He
recognized the poor as the blessed that God
wants to be lifted up. Mary, his mother,
said the mighty oppressors were to be
put off their thrones and sent away empty
while those that hungry for justice would
have their fill as we read in the Gospel of
St. Luke.
Instead of this liberating and enlightening
good news of a Kingdom of justice and
sharing what was fostered instead in
the Philippines for some time was an
interpretation of Christianity that extolled
servitude and presented Christ as a meek
and mild teacher who humbly submitted
to torture and death, and we were to
imitate Christ. Humility and servitude was
promoted as virtue, injustice and hardship
was the suffering that would lead to eternal
reward in the next life according to this
warped theology.
The ruling elite welcome religion and
give donations so long as it supports
their ideology and life style. They oppress
the poor with military and police power
and become even wealthier. The hateful
Herods of this day now rule with power
and impunity above the law that has been
shaped and manipulated by their kin to
further their own political and economic
ambitions. Democracy is largely a facade
for the rich oligarchy.
The birth of Jesus, beautiful and sweet
as we may want to paint it was marred
by dire warnings, death threats, and the
massacre and slaughter of the innocent
children. The powerful ruler, King Herod,
eliminated with brutality and death all
possible political opposition after he heard
that a new born child would depose him.
Two thousand years later, in our “modern”
world, the old ways of political savagery of
obliterating opponents continues.
Assassinations, bombings and last
November 23, 2009 the massacre of 57
people, thirty of them journalists, the rest
lawyers, passers-by and members of the
rival opposition family of Vice Mayor
Esmael Mangudadatu. Their convoy of
vehicles was diverted at gunpoint, driven
to a remote area of Ampatuan town where
they were brutally slaughtered.
They were on their way to file his
candidacy to stand for election as governor
of Maguindanao. He dared not go himself.
Mayor Andal Ampatuan, the son of the
incumbent governor, who was to stand
for governor and replace his father in May
next year is in jail and accused of the brutal
mass murder.
Like Herod, he was incensed and outraged
that anyone would dare to stand against him,
his father, or his family dynasty. Backed
by his all-powerful presidential-approved
heavily armed civilian militia, he was indeed
the feared warlord of Maguindanao. His
father had delivered the province in a single
block vote for President Gloria Arroyo in the
previous elections. Like all petty dictators
and tyrants, Herods, and Hitlers, he felt
covered by the presidential mantel, the
cloak of invincibility, the power of impunity.
The thought that he or his family would
have to answer to the Filipino people for
his alleged crimes is beyond his arrogant
imagination.
At Christmas we ought not to forget
the harsh social and political realities into
which Jesus was born; realities he came to
transform with love and justice.
www.blogs.tampabay.com
By Fr. Shay Cullen
Young / B1
Impressions on the AYD5
www.cbcpnews.com/podcast
YOUNG people come together
and Share the Word and Live the
Eucharist. We find God in our
country, in our friends and the people
here especially in Pasig because we
have been there many times.
─Nuttaya Thitimethisak and
Penpannee Jocharoenpanich,
Thailand
I DIDN’T know how powerful the
youth here until today. We had a
mass and we had the last prayer in different languages. I really feel touched
because God has really sent us from the different parts of the world and we
all speak to God . . .no matter how old you are, no matter what language
you use. [It was] really fantastic.
─Fung Ki Kam, Hongkong
IT is very dynamic. Quite interesting.
─ Shawn Wong, Singapore
IT is a very great experience to be here and
meet such wonderful people from around
the world. The geographical barriers are
not here. We feel one with Christ and it is a
festive experience. We feel comfortable. We
are very joyous. It is a tradition to share the
faith among young people and also there are
many young people from around the world
who are sharing and we find something in
common and that we are Catholics and we
are all part of it. It is great to be here.
─Sajish Jose and Ruveena, India
I FEEL very happy. I am glad to be here. The Eucharist is one thing that
empowers us to do many things.
─ Margret Sumer, Bangladesh
THE Asian Youth Day is a very spiritual
experience not only for the Filipino delegates but
all the Asian youth because this event is a good
jumpstart to appreciating the Word of God and
to living the Eucharist.
─John Perez, Philippines
IT is a very enriching experience. My relationship
with God has grown. Our love for each other has
been expressed in our love for God. Actually, I
was touched by the homily of the bishop. He says
young Asian come together, why? Because we
share the Word, we share one body of Christ. In
Christ we are one.
─Theology student from China
(Note: More audio interviews of Asian delegates maybe accessed at www.cbcpnews.com/podcast.
Daily news of the event are archived at www.cbcpnews.com and at www.youthpinoy.com)
dancing and singing during fiesta
are what we Filipinos are known
for. This typical expression of faith is
something unique that we can offer
our delegates,” Bishop Baylon said.
The five-day event was preceded
by a three-day immersion in parishes
called “Days in the Diocese” where
delegates stayed with different host
families and experienced the realities
of Philippine life.
Many of the foster families who
had given accommodation to the
delegates had been devastated by the
recent typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng
which inundated a greater part of
Metro Manila and environs. But
despite their sufferings and want the
foster families insisted on lodging
the delegates in their homes.
The sense of volunteerism shown
by foster families who adamantly
took in the delegates assigned to
them, and of the many youth who
had made themselves available
throughout the entire event really
amazed Bishop Baylon. The prelate
said that the situation of foster
families can teach a lesson or two to
AYD5 participants on the meaning
of poverty and suffering.
“Hopefully, their days in the
diocese will make them realize that
in the midst of poverty, the Church
is alive because of the faith and hope
of the people, remain unwavering,”
he said.
Indeed, the immersion program
left quite an impression on the
participants. For many who live in
countries that restrict if not ban the
public expression of the Catholic
faith, the Filipinos’ exuberant
demonstration of religiosity comes
as truly invigorating.
One of the participants, Rosa Da
Lima from Indonesia marveled
at the way Filipinos celebrate the
feast of Christ the King. She said
the obvious devotion of the people
to the Eucharist and the long
procession that accompanied the
Blessed Sacrament really touched
her because it was something that
she had not experienced in her
country. Others, meanwhile, were
awed by the generosity and cheerful
attitude of Filipinos who remain
joyful and faith-filled despite
poverty and want.
Asian youth today
To reiterate the words of Bishop
Cornelius Sim of Brunei, one of the
plenary speakers during the AYD5
event, the youth of Asia today are
facing enormous challenges in the
face of “rapid modernization and
globalization, diversity and plurality
of cultures.” Their social status
renders them “powerless” even
as they try to compete in the vast
exchange of diverging views and
ideas around them.
The youth event then was a great
opportunity for these young people
to find their voice, to build their
confidence and hone their skill to
become effective evangelizers of their
own fellow youth in a continuously
changing world deeply mired in
consumerism and materialism.
Sharing among them the importance
of the word and the Eucharist in
their lives, they realized that living
the word and the Eucharist means
speaking out for the truth.
In 2008, the Youth desk of FABC
Office of the Laity conducted a survey
among the youth on the importance of
the Eucharist in their lives. The study
revealed that a certain percentage
of Catholic Asian youth have little
understanding of the Eucharist. The
results of the survey were made public
during the FABC regional conference
in Manila in August 2009.
Infanta Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona,
who currently chairs the FABC Office
of the Laity that commissioned the
poll, said the survey’s outcome
presents a challenge to the Church,
especially to Catholic leaders, who
have greater responsibility in the
formation of the faithful, particularly
young people. He acknowledged
the need for the Church to reach
out to the youth sector to make
them understand that the Eucharist
is a “very powerful force” that can
prod them to become “agents of
transformation.” The study provided
a situationer for the Asian youth
assembly where the youth were
challenged to live and love the
Eucharist.
At the opening of the AYD5 in the
Diocese of Imus on November 23,
Bishop Tirona noted that the theme on
the word of God afforded the youth
participants a climate to share stories
imbued with faith to one another.
“The challenge for the youth is to
continue telling stories to one another
which maybe sad stories, wonderful
or triumphant stories, but are stories
about themselves, and which are
stories of God,” he said.
Hope of the Church and society
Tagged by United Nations as the
most populous continent in the world
with more than 3 billion population,
Asia with its teeming young people
must have been in Pope John Paul II’s
mind when he said that the future of
the world and the Church belongs to
the younger generation.
“Christ expects great things from
young people,” the pope said in
his apostolic letter Tertio Millennio
Adveniente. “If they succeed in
following the road which he points
out to them, they will have the joy
of making their own contribution to
his presence in the next century and
in the centuries to come...”
Would the young people of Asia
dare make a difference in the face of
unjust societal structures that breeds
poverty, corruption and unpeace?
Bishop Tirona believes so, affirming
the great contribution the youth can
give in the area of evangelization, of
renewal and transformation.
Indeed, there are a lot of issues
confronting the Church and society
today where the youth can actively
participate and bring about the
needed changes we all desire. As they
themselves acknowledged, they are
sent to “live out God’s love” and called
“to transform unjust structures and
to respect the dignity of all men and
women, to work for reconciliation,
fight poverty and create a civilization
of peace and harmony.”
Coincidentally, as the youth
gathered and shared among them
their potentials to make a difference,
the world bestowed honor to Efren
Peñaflorida, an Asian and a Cavite
native. CNN named him “Hero of
the Year” for his innovative work of
teaching children using a “pushcart
classroom”. Peñaflorida reached out
to the young and made a difference
in their lives by educating them, thus
giving them hope and the chance
to see the world beyond their poor
social conditions.
Now that is what the youth
are challenged to do. Where the
adults have faltered and failed, the
young can learn and succeed. The
responsibility of guiding them lies
in the families, communities and
parishes where these young people
belong.
CBCP Review / B3
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in commemoration of the 150th
Anniversary of St. John Mary
Vianney. Pope Benedict XVI has
articulated the purpose of this
Year for Priests: “The Church
needs holy priests,” holy priests
who will guide the lay faithful
in their participation in the
renewal of church and society.
In response to the Pope’s call
for the Year of Priests there will
be a Second National Congress
of Priests to be held in January
2010.
We see how the hand of God
is guiding the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines in
this last four years: we placed 2006
the Year of Social Concerns under
the auspices of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus and the Immaculate Heart
of Mary. And this year in June we
declared the “Year of Two Hearts
for Peace and Lay participation
in Social Change.”
As shepherds and guardians
of the flock, our reading of the
“Signs of the Times” goes on
as we have been doing. Our
advocacies for the good of the
church and our country continue.
In our conference, no one can
ever be an isolated performer.
The 10-member Permanent
Council and the 30 Chairmen
of the various Commissions,
Committees and Offices together
with the Secretariates have all
been working together each with
no little sacrifice, like a chorus
singing the Magnificat or the
Gloria in Excelsis.
I had the distinct privilege of
presiding at our CBCP General
Assembly. I am sorry for whatever
mistakes or failures I may have
committed during my watch. But I
was as confident as the CBCP was
that it is the Lord that watches over
our Conference.
My gratitude to the CBCP can
never be as great and as profound
as the trust that it has gifted me
with.
B8
Entertainment
Moral Assessment
Aiden Breslin (Dennis Quaid)
is a workaholic detective who
specializes in forensic dentistry.
He buries himself in his work in
order to fill in the void left by the
death of his wife after she lost her
battle with cancer. In the process,
Breslin has become an uncaring
and detached father to his two
sons and is more concerned with
the mystery behind a series of
killings rooted in the Biblical
Prophesy of the Four Horsemen
of the Apocalypse. As he is lead
from one murder to another
and draws closer to solving the
puzzle, he realizes the shocking
connection between himself, the
four cases and the family he has
abandoned.
HORSEMEN begins with a
story about four psychologically
imbalanced
people
impersonating the symbols
of death and destruction in
Revelations and ends to become
a frustrating mellow drama about
the victims of social indifference
and parental desertion. The
MAC en COLET
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 – December 30, 2009
Technical Assessment
 Abhorrent
 Disturbing
 Acceptable
 Wholesome
Exemplary
 Poor
 Below average
 Average
 Above average
 E
xcellent
director’s attempt to force feed
the message to his audience
turns to be a muddled series
of carnage scenes and lecture
about not neglecting our loved
ones. The camerawork is not
tight enough to deliver effective
tension filled moments. The post
production works are decent
but not outstanding. And for
a mystery-thriller, it fails to
achieve that “edge of your seat”
experience for the audience.
Is work priority over family?
The obvious and expected
answer is “no”, however, there
are instances when this is easier
said than done. In these times,
when most families have both
parents working to support
the needs of their children, it is
almost easy to rationalize that
the time spend away from the
home is actually time sacrifice
to build the home. But is it really
worth it? The movie reminds
us that parents need to care for
their children physically and
emotionally. Nothing can ever
Title: A Christmas Carol
Cast (Voice): Jim Carey, Steve
Valentine, Daryl Sabara,
Amber Gainey,Meade
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producers: Jack Rapke, Steve
Starkey, Robert Zemeckis
Screenwriters: Charles Dickens, Robert Zemeckis
Music: Alan Silvestri
Editor: Jeremiah O’Driscoll
Genre: Animation/ Drama/ Family/ Fantasy
Cinematography: Robert
Presley
Distributor: Walt Disney Studious Motion Pictures
Running Time: 96 mins.
Technical Assessment: 
Moral Assessment: ½
CINEMA Rating: For viewers
age 13 and below with
parental guidance
replace the time one spends with
them to share memories, lessons
and experiences. However, this
message is drown in the series
of senseless killings, gruesome
violence, offensive scenes and
language.
Ni Bladimer Usi
Buhay Parokya
Look for the images of the
Nativity, Christmas Card and
Bethlehem. (Illustration by
Bladimer Usi)
Title: Ninja Assasin
Cast: Rain, Sung Kang,
Randall Duk Kim,
Jonathan Chan-Pensley, Yuki Iwamoto, IIIYoung Kim, Ben Miles,
Naomie Harris
Director: James McTeigue
Producers: Grant Hill, Joel
Silver, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Screenwriters: Matthew Sand,
J. Michael Straczynski
Music: Ilan Eshkeri
Editor: Gian Ganziano,
Joseph Jett Sally
Genre: Action/ Crime/
Drama/ Thriller
Cinematography: Karl
Walter Lindenlaub
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Location: Berlin, Germany
Running Time: 99 min.
Technical Assessment:  ½
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above
Lord Ozunu (Sho Kosugi) is master of a secret society that
abducts children, adopts orphans and then raises them to
become ninja assassins. One of the orphans trained from
childhood is Raizo (Rain), groomed by Lord Ozunu (Sho
Kosugi) to become his successor, and favored over his own
son Takeshi (Rick Yune). Raizo manages to escape the isolated
training camp when his sweetheart, a fellow trainee, is ordered
killed by Lord Ozunu as she is caught one rainy night while
attempting to escape. Soon a fugitive in Europe, Raizo crosses
paths in Berlin with Mika Coretti (Naomi Harris), a Europol
agent who traces a link between the Ozunu and recent political
assassinations. In hot pursuit of Raizo, the Ninja assassins
move West, marking for assassination Mika and everyone
else involved in the Europol investigation. Raizo manages to
escape the Ninja assassins while protecting Mika from the same,
but the long and bloody trail of dead bodies finally leads to a
confrontation between Raizo and Ozunu and Takeshi.
Ninja fans would perhaps go for the action here, finely
choreographed combat scenes that spill blood at every twist, kick,
chop and turn. The story is of revenge, flimsy and implausible,
and certainly possesses no motive that would ever justify the
body count—that is, if the viewer can even keep track. If you
are sensitive, you might wince at certain scenes, as when a very
young boy is whipped mercilessly with nary a whimper allowed to
express his pain. Beastly! You might also tend to duck in your seat
when those double-edged, four-point star-shaped blades virtually
whiz past you to decapitate or mutilate human beings. The fight
scenes, though, are rather dark—to minimize the revolting visual
violence?—but what the eyes cannot see, the ears can hear in the
superbly engineered sound design: guns bursting, chains, swords
and other deadly metal gadgets clashing, immersing the audience
in all in the name of revenge.
99 minutes of unadulterated murder and bloodletting can
weary even the most insensitive viewer. Telling ourselves
the fight scenes are only dance steps—and the blood only
ketchup—we endured it to the finish in order to give it Ninja
Assassin fair judgment. But we also found ourselves wondering
if people that inhuman could really exist—kidnapping or
adopting orphans and raising them into ogres. It reminded us
of photographs circulating in the net of 8-year old boys armed
with assault rifles and programmed to hate humanity and kill
half of it. One thing we have learned from CINEMA’s nineyear existence is: if some movies are not to your liking—like
slapstick, stupid horror flicks and this bloody thing—you
can still get your money’s worth if you let them lead you into
closely examining the human condition. All movies—from
corn to porn—reflect reality somehow, reality outside or inside
our minds, and being aware of the sickness in reality could
provide us with the impetus to work for its healing. Meanwhile,
be warned: the carnage in Ninja Assassin is enough to make
burgers to feed America for a day. Pass the ketchup, please.
CBCP Monitor
C1
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI
and the Order of the Knights of Columbus
By Joseph P. Teodoro, Vice President-Fraternal Benefits Group
The Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Phils., Inc. (KCFAPI),
a non-stock and non-profit mutual benefits association is registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. It is under the supervision of the Insurance Commission and observes sound actuarial principles.
KCFAPI started its operations in September 1958 from an initial capital of P32,000 which was donated
by 64 KC members and councils.
After 50 years of fraternal service in providing a second-to-none life insurance coverage for KC members and their immediate families (wives, parents and children), KCFAPI has also served the Church
by giving support to CBCP and the community through outreach projects like the Gawad Kalinga and
disaster relief aids.
Today, KCFAPI, in fulfillment of its avowed mission of contributing to membership development
and worthy causes for the good of the Order and of the Nation, has sponsored the 2009 Search for
The Outstanding Knights of Columbus Awards (TOKCA).
The TOKCA aims to recognize the outstanding achievement of members in their respective professions worthy of emulation.
Here are the two hundred eighteen (218) members who accepted the nomination of their councils and
endorsement by their council chaplains. By all measure, they deserve their nomination to the TOKCA.
FINAL NOMINEES
LUZON
VISAYAS
MINDANAO
ACADEME
ANICETO B. LOZANO
BENJAMIN A. ILUMIN
EDILBERTO A. LINA
EMITERIO L. TIBURCIO
FAUSTINO F. MAURICIO
FERDINAND T. CALLUENG
GAUDENCIO J. RODRIGUEZ
LEOPOLDO FELIX G. SAQUING
MARCELO M. ROGUEL
MAURICIO P. PANGDA
ACCOUNTANCY & BUSINESS
HONESTO R. DEQUITO
ALFREDO E. EDUSADA
CATALINO S. ABACAN
DALMACIO H. GREGORIO
DANILO T. CHUA
FELIX L. GALANG, JR.
FERNANDO V. MARCELLANA
FRANCIS JEHU C. SEBASTIAN FRANCISCO E. GEMENTIZA
3468
7653
3941
4267
6000
4103
7957
14653
11852
JOVEN P. DY
MARIO R. NERY
PETRONILO A. RAMIREZ
REYNALDO B. ODULIO
RICO M. DIÑO
ROGELIO T. SANTOS
RUBEN C. CRUZ
TEODULO C. SANDOVAL
WILFREDO N. ACASIO
AGRICULTURE
ALFREDO G. PARINAS
AMOR M. CAPILLAN
ANTONIO R. SUMAYAO
BENITO P. DELA CRUZ
CRISPULO D. BAUTISTA
FRANCISCO I. DALANGIN
IRENEO A. UYAM, SR.
12347
12507
8618
6146
5739
6838
6219
JOHNY N. NODORA
LAURINO D. MACADANGDANG
MARIO G. HIPOLITO
RAFAEL D. GUERRERO III
TEODORO S. SALAZAR
VICENTE C. BAYUCAN
8559
11289
5234
5377
6737
3705
ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ATILANO V. GABERTAN
CARLITO B. VILLOCILLO
CELSO V. VALDECAÑAS
CESAR L. MADRIAGA
CIRILO M. VERA CRUZ
DOMINGO R. PEQUENA, SR.
DOROTEO M. FLORES, JR.
EDILBERTO O. ABRIL
ERNESTO D. LUNARIA
ERNESTO R. REVERENTE
11953
6300
3887
8626
12341
9198
6285
6300
12125
13882
FROMENCIO M. JONATAS
GREGORIO B. SALTING, JR.
MARTIN C. ILAO
NICOMEDES L. CALIGING
RAMON P. DAWAS
ROBERTO C. RIVERA, SR.
RODULFO A. QUINTANA, JR.
SAMUEL S. SABIDO
SIXTO B. LUZ
11183
4073
6300
6285
3363
5072
12342
14323
6737
DOMINGO L. ZOILO
ROY M. NACARIO
11073
6309
BENJAMIN O. MINDAJAO
VICENTE M. BEDUYA, JR.
3108
6982
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ANTONIO C. CABEL
BENITO I. GO
BENJAMIN A. HERNANDEZ SR. BIENVENIDO N. ORTIZ
BONIFACIO C. ENRIQUEZ
CARLITO N. GALAMGAM, SR.
CARLOS A. ANACTA
DEOGRACIAS S. SALUMBIDES EDGARDO Z. CUNANAN
EDUARDO C. SANTOS
FRANCISCO M. QUE, SR.
GERVACIO E. SALUMBIDES
8626
4073
8626
11417
4073
12205
4267
6681
6737
14779
6285
7439
JOSEFINO M. MANIPOL, SR.
JUAN D. DULALIA, JR.
LEON B. APOSTOL
NARCISO C. CRUZ
ONOFRE O. BATALLONES, JR
ORLANDO L. AQUINO
OSCAR B. BANZON
RAMON C. TOBIAS
RICARDO G. CACHOLA
ROBERT I. ROSALES
RODOLFO H. MANALO
8626
9440
11183
9160
4104
6303
3887
10399
10643
12892
4407
AMBROSIO VIDAL B. JO, JR.
ERNESTO E. DEIPARINE, JR
NELSON G. LOPEZ
RAMON D. PACLIBAR
11131
5882
9466
5550
ADRIANO B. GOLINGAN, JR.
ALDO U. CARACHO
ALEJANDRO C. NAVATO
ANITO B. LIBRANDO
CARLITO S. CASINO
GREGORIO G. SARMIENTO
JUAN S. ACAIN, JR.
ROLANDO C. QUIDILLA
6501
8167
8330
6603
8167
9573
6835
4576
GOVERNMENT SERVICE
ALBERTO B. FARAON
ALBERTO I. GABRIEL
ANTONIO C. PARAGAS
ANTONIO M. VENTURA
ARMANDO C. VELASCO
ARTURO J. ANGARA
DAMIAN A. DULDULAO
DIOCAESAR S. SUERO
FELICISIMO I. GUERZON
FORTUNATO Z. BEBIRO
HIPOLITO C. MAMURIC, JR.
HORACIO S. TIBANGAY
JAIME H. MANIEGO
JOSEPH R. ORTIZ
LORDAW B. ROXAS
LUCIANO T. PEROS
MANUEL I. FRILLES
7957
4267
11289
13146
3363
9489
10268
8711
6285
13150
3706
6219
10104
4073
10825
4758
6141
MARIO R. ALMADIN
MELITON G. DASSUN
PEDRO M. MANLANSING
RAMON O. GIRON
REYNALDO B. BELMONTE
REYNALDO DT. PARAS
REYNALDO O. PAMBID
REYNALDO P. VENTURA
RICARDO G. CANDIA, JR.
ROCKY L. VALDEZ
RODOLFO C. BALINO
ROLANDO B. BRAGADO
RONNIE ISIDRO S. LLAGAS
RUSTOM B. LINGAN
SANCHO N. DE LA ROSA
VENANCIO G. SANTIDAD
WILFREDO W. BIGORNIA
12041
12368
11183
10695
6838
3468
10638
3695
8492
9087
6219
12352
5183
6219
4334
4640
12427
CLAUDIO C. BONIOR
DARIO A. NUEZ
DEMETRIO C. DIMARANAN
EFREN T. HERERRA
GERARDO S. SOLAS
ISABELO C. ARBITRARIO
MATEO B. BALDOZA, JR
9218
9218
3288
5623
6036
10747
5887
BENJAMIN M. MONLEON
DECOROSO M. GARCIA
HERSON D. DEMA-ALA
JOSE C. ALFANTA
JOSE C. VILLAFLOR
MAXIMO L. MEDADO
NESTOR I. VILLANUEVA
ROBERT N. CONG, SR.
JOURNALISM & MEDIA
FREDDIE G. LAZARO
LAW & JUDICIARY
ADOLFO R. MALINGAN
ALLAN S. MONTAÑO
ANTONIO C. QUINTOS, SR.
GABRIEL A. DALADAG
JOVEN F. COSTALES
JUANITO A. ORALLO
MEDICAL & HEALTHCARE SERVICES
ANTONIO B. DICTADO
ANTONIO F. BOADO, JR.
APOLINARIO A. PILIT
EUGENIO ANTONIO S. LAVARIAS
GIL M. MARASIGAN
GREGORIO T. DE GUZMAN, JR.
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
6002
6300
14592
13803
11183
14359
8567
3706
5204
6219
PATRICIO T. TENEDOR
PONCIANO A. MENGUITO
RODOLFO L. CARTAGENA
ROLANDO A. ALIP, JR.
ROMEO V. SANTOS
ROMULO Q. APOLONIO, SR
SAMSON G. PAGATPATAN
TEODORO T. GATURIAN
ZOILO B. BALLESTEROS
7813
8263
8198
13740
3468
6285
5431
9011
13464
10695
3695
4073
3692
14592
4073
14405
13548
14323
9095
CENON R. AGBAYANI, JR.
DIOSCORO A. AVERGONZADO
ELPIDIO M. CABACABA
NOENI S. NEPOMUCENO
EMILIO C. NUEZ
10088
9218
4432
9466
9218
5097
8167
6651
4269
8434
9517
5098
3343
ROSELO C. ACEDILLA
6511
ALBERTO P. FUENTES
GENEROSO B. MARAGUINOT
MARTELIANO A. ALCONTIN
PAUL V. BORJA
4269
5121
10125
4269
6941
13770
8864
6835
8434
11863
4576
4269
DALMACIO C. GRAFIL
RESSURRECCION S. SALVILLA
8236
5028
INDALECIO DALE B. GARCIA
5351
5698
8185
ALFREDO J. LAGAMON
3108
MATEO P. VILLONES
8812
LUIS MEINRADO C. PANGULAYAN
PEDRO S. PRINCIPE
PURISIMO S. BUYCO
RODOLFO P. BELTRAN
RODRIGO V. COSICO
13548
9382
7745
6000
11954
GERVASIO A. LOPENA
WENIFREDO C. CUATON
4103
6838
6285
5893
6681
5739
JOSE ARNEL G. MANALILI
JUAN I. PIZARRO, JR.
RONILO S. BARASHARI
VICTOR C. SALVADOR
ZACARIAS C. CANDELARIA
4317
5708
7415
3363
10582
JUANITO M. AYA-AY
TEODORO A. ANDO
CANDIDO M. JOAQUIN
12548
ROGELIO A. MANGALIMAN
13723
PEPITO O. PALOMERO
6152
DERICO G. LAGUA
EDUARDO P. TUAZON
JAIME R. ROXAS
12584
3887
9440
JERICK M. JONATAS
JOSE S. PANGAN, JR
MIGUEL TENG YU
11183
10582
1000
FLAVIO S. SIGAYA
VALENTIN G. OLANDRIA
7508
5883
6287
11754
3887
6219
5178
6285
AVELINO G. DIONGSON
CLENIO T. DUMLAO
EDWIN C. ALIDO
ERNESTO G. TAPALES
GENEROSO G. LAMAYO
ISABELO M. DEL ROSARIO, SR
PAULINO R. REOMERO
VICENTE G. TELMOSO
14782
4638
The Cross
C2
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
Chairman’s
Message
President’s
Message
Antonio B. Borromeo
Patrocinio R. Bacay
THE beautiful season of Christmas is once more around us. It is the time of the year that makes us long to
be with our loved ones, with people who count on us. It arouses a feeling of wanting to share something
of ourselves to dear ones and friends. Natural instincts fill our hearts and thoughts mainly with wanting to
make the day most special for our families and people who can very well afford to make their day as they
wish it to be.
Should Christmas really be that way? Should we devote our efforts on family who are special to us each
day of our lives? Should we not instead turn our hearts and thoughts first to the least of our brothers? Should
we not pray for more compassion so we can moderate the love of self and hurry to the relief of those in need?
Perhaps make us see a neighbor as another self? During this challenging time in our lives, we have to look
for where compassion is directly needed, where you and I can help someone forget he is the least.
Perhaps hoping to make him start believing he can have a better life and strive for it. Then that would be
a true Christmas for him and for us.
May our Christmas never be without Christ. May all the wonderful moments of Christmas fill you and
your loved ones with happiness. May the New Year be more fruitful for each one of us.
FIRST of all, I would like to greet each and everyone a
Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Much
has been accomplished this year and for that I am most
grateful to all of you who have exerted your best to
achieve our goals for the year. But above all I would
like to thank the Lord for His continuing guidance
and support for without this we cannot accomplish anything.
Fr. George J. Willmann has given his life to the Knights of Columbus and as brother Knights,
it is incumbent upon us to share our life not only to our family and friends but specially to
the less fortunate brethren in our community. Let us do this not only this Christmas but also
throughout the year.
As we enter 2010 with hope and renewed vigor, let us remember to anchor all our thoughts
and actions towards the will of the Lord.
For next year we will also be giving due recognition to The Outstanding Knights of Columbus Awardees in Cebu. The names of the 218 nominees from various fields of endeavours are
listed in this issue.
Once again, a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you brother Knights and your
families.
For Brother Knights, by Brother Knights
Something We can Proudly Announce
By Joseph P. Teodoro, Vice President – Fraternal Benefits Group
members who have given their complete trust and confidence by
placing their life insurance coverages to KCFAPI.
We must also thank the area managers, fraternal benefits associates, team leaders and fraternal counselors whose professional commitment, devotion to service and hard work made this achievement
possible.
FC from Biñan Council leads race for FC of the Year Awards
TEOFILO Samson, a fraternal counselor (FC)
from the Biñan Council 7957, is leading the
competition for those vying for the “FC of
the Year” awards.
The result was based on the October 30,
2009 tally of the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc.
(KCFAPI), organizers of the FC of the Year
awards.
This award is given to a fraternal counselor
with the highest FYCI from new businesses
brought in during the required period of
time provided that the FYCI is at least 1.5
million pesos and the FC has insured at
least forty creditable new paid lives during
the period.
According to Joseph P. Teodoro, VicePresident of the Fraternal Benefits Group,
“closely contesting him (Samson) are the
Last year’s FC of the Year Lauro Evangelista of the Central Luzon Believers; Amado
Miranda from the Central Luzon Diamonds;
and Multi-awarded Rey Segismundo of the
Northwestern Luzon Thunders.”
The awards night has been set on March
5-7, 2010 at the Legend Palawan Hotel in
Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The FC of the Year and the Runner-up
finishers are entitled to bring their spouses
and two of their children to the Annual
Awards Night. As part of their prize, they
may also bring their spouse to the Asian
Trip. (KCFAPI News)
KCFAPI conducts voters’ education in Bataan
IN its aim to educate the general
public about the automated election system through networking,
the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) has recently
conducted a Voters’ Education
seminar in Orani, Bataan.
This seminar, already on its second level was conducted by volunteer educators who attended
the first seminar given by no less
than Commission on Elections
(Comelec) Commissioner, Rene V.
Sarmiento, also an active member
of the Knights of Columbus. Organized and headed by Council 3888
Participants of the voters’ education headed by Council 3888 Grand Knight Arthur
Matias and Daughters of Mary Immaculate 1089 Sto. Rosario Circle Regent Lariza
Mina held in Orani, Bataan last November 29.
Grand Knight Arthur Matias and
Daughters of Mary Immaculate
1089 Sto. Rosario Circle Regent
Lariza Mina, the seminar was held
last November 29, 2009.
Michael B. De Castro, from the
Financial Management and Accounting Services Department
and Gerard Joseph C. Francisco
of the Corporate Audit Department, were the volunteer educators of the said seminar. Both are
employees of KCFAPI.
Over 50 persons attended the
seminar which was composed of
members of the Knights of Columbus Sto. Rosario Council 3888,
and Daughters of Mary Immaculate 1097 Sto. Rosario Circle.
At the end of the seminar, the
audience expressed their support in continuing the networking/educating their families and
communities on the new election
system. (KCFAPI News)
Fraternal Benefits Group holds Luzon Area Meeting
THE Fraternal Benefits Group (FBG) has
recently conducted an area meeting at the
Knights of Columbus main office in Intramuros, Manila.
Attended by Luzon Area Managers, this
meeting was held last November 24, 2009.
It was facilitated by Joseph P. Teodoro,
Vice-President of the FBG and Gari M. San
Sebastian, Manager of the Fraternal Benefits
Services Department.
Among the matters they discussed were the
possibility of achieving the DRIVE 110 or simply the “Php110 million target” in 2009 and
the updates on the 2009 sales production.
The group also deliberated on the
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and
Threats (SWOT) analysis or the strategic
planning method needed to attain the objectives of the team on sales.
Additional matters they talked about con-
cerned the plans and programs of the FBG in
2010 which may include the establishment
of talent management-IIAP; product portfolio; corporate strategy and other major
programs.
For the year 2010, the theme of the Knights
of Columbus Fraternal Association of the
Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) is “Get Everyone Achieve Records (G.E.A.R.) 5 Cambio
Quinta.” (KCFAPI News)
Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the
Philippines Inc.,
an established Mutual Benefits Association is currently looking for:
Auditor
Underwriting Supervisor
Underwriting Assistant
Accounting Staff
BRO Staff
If you are dedicated, service-oriented, and have the promising potential to
join us in our continuous drive to provide mutual aid, assistance and excellent
service to our members. Kindly send your comprehensive resume’ thru fax
number 527-2244 or hand-carry resume’ with a 2x2 photo and transcript of
records to:
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL
ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.
Gen. Luna cor. Sta. Potenciana Sts.,
Intramuros, Manila
You may also call 527 – 2223 local 202 for queries and look for Ms. Kristianne or
Ms. April of HRCC.
KCFAPI shall endeavor its best in improving its services to
merit the trust of more KC families and continue to be successful
next year.
Call your fraternal counselor to find out how you and your loved ones
can be a part of KCFAPI’s vision and mission or dial (02) 527-2243.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
General Policy Statement on
Promotion of Goods and Services
other than Knights of Columbus
Insurance and Financial Programs
AS a general policy, the Supreme Board of Directors does not permit
and will not authorize any member of the Order or any Knights of
Columbus subordinate council or assembly to enter into any contract,
agreement, or informal arrangement, or to use one’s membership in
the Order, in connection with the promotion of any product or service
other than Knights of Columbus insurance and financial programs.
The purpose of this policy is to preclude the use of, among other
things, the Order’s name, emblems, events, meetings, membership
lists, and facilities to promote such other products and services. The
Board wishes to minimize the risk that anyone would draw the mistaken conclusion that the Knights of Columbus (a) has endorsed the
product or service being offered or (b) has guaranteed the integrity of
that product or service. Obviously, the Board cannot make any such
endorsement or guarantee about any product or service other than
those offered by the Knights of Columbus through its own insurance
and financial programs. Furthermore, the Board wishes to avoid
any business association that might expose the Order to liability if a
product or service does not meet a customer’s expectations.
The Board’s position with respect to such proposed contracts,
agreements, informal arrangements, and memberships is based on
Section 162.11 of the Laws of the Order, which regulates the use of
the name and emblems of the Order. On August 2, 2009, the Board
reaffirmed this provision, adopting a board rule of interpretation
with respect to Section 162.11. Below is Section 162.11 and the
Board’s definitive rule of interpretation, which shall be binding on
all members of the Order and all subordinate units.
SECTION 162 OF THE LAWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Any member of the Order who after trial, excepting where it is provided that no trial shall be had, shall be found guilty of the conduct
specified in the subdivisions following shall be fined, suspended or
expelled as set forth therein, to wit:
USING NAME OF ORDER
11. Using the name of Knights of Columbus or his membership in
the Order in connection with any business or social or other enterprise, without permission of the Board of Directors: fine, suspension
or expulsion.
The Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines Inc., is an established and
progressive mutual benefits association operating for 51 years, has been
highly committed to provide mutual
aid and assistance to its members
and their immediate families.
KC Fraternal firmly believes that
the continued progress and success
of the association depends to a great
extent on its human capital.
KC Fraternal also believes that
through training and a host of
other benefits if coupled with hard
work, will help employees and the
association attain their goals and
objectives.
In our continuous drive to provide
excellent service to our members,
we are currently on the look-out for
individuals with promising potentials. He must be dedicated, service
oriented, and willing to undergo
training
Our compensation and employee
benefits are comparable, if not
better than most companies of our
same size and nature of business.
VOTE RE-AFFIRMING RULE GOVERNING
THE USE OF THE NAME AND EMBLEMS OF
THE ORDER
Board of Directors, August 2, 2009
It shall be a violation of Section 162.11 of the
Laws of the Order for any member, acting individually or through any state council, subordinate
council, assembly, chapter, home corporation, or
affiliated entity, to use the Order’s name, emblems,
or membership lists, or any Knights of Columbus
facility under his or its control, for the purpose of
promoting, endorsing, selling or advertising any
product, service, or business or social enterprise
other than the Order’s insurance program. This
prohibition extends to all publications, websites,
mailings, electronic communications and social networks, contracts, promotional items, and sponsorships associated with a Knights of Columbus state
council, subordinate council, assembly, chapter,
home corporation, or individual Knight. This prohibition shall not impair the ability of any Knights
of Columbus state council, subordinate council,
assembly, or chapter to (1) use the Order’s name,
emblems, or membership lists, or any Knights of
Columbus facility to conduct ordinary fraternal,
charitable and fund raising activities, or (2) publish
advertisements in a fraternal publication such as
a council bulletin or a convention or event book,
provided that the product, service, or enterprise
being advertised does not relate directly or indirectly to any non-Knights of Columbus insurance
product or annuity.
This rule does not supersede any other rules, motions, and resolutions requiring the prior approval
of the Board of Directors for the use of the Order’s
name or emblems. If a member wishes to use the
Knights of Columbus name, emblems, or any
membership list in connection with any business
or social or other enterprise that is not part of the
ordinary business of the Order, he should contact
the Office of the Supreme Secretary, through his
State Deputy, for prior approval.
LAYOUT BY LAURENCE JOHN R. MORALES
AS of this writing, which is one month before the year ends, KCFAPI
has surpassed the first year contribution income (FYCI) of P102
Million it has generated during the year 2008. KFCAPI has posted
P106 Million in FYCI and well on its way of hurdling the 2009 FYCI
target of P110 Million and may even be more.
We would like to thank all the brother knights and their family
The Cross
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
C3
A Season of Hope
Whereas consumerism brings anxiety and restlessness, with Christ’s
birth comes the gift of hope
By Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson
DECEMBER marks the official start of winter in most of the Western
world. Yet, it is not the only winter that the world is facing. Demog-
raphers increasingly speak of a “demographic winter” wherein birth
rates fall below replacement in most industrialized countries.
There are many causes of this phenomenon, as Pope Benedict XVI
noted in 2006. He pointed out, though, that the “ultimate roots can
be seen as moral and spiritual; they are linked to a disturbing deficit
of faith, hope and, indeed, love. To bring children into the world
calls for self-centered eros to be fulfilled in a creative agape rooted in
generosity and marked by trust and hope in the future.”
Indeed, such a decline is nothing short of a lack of hope. A materialistic mindset replaces hope in a real future with something else:
an immediate desire for consumer goods and status. This mindset is
sadly brought home to us at this time each year, as Christmas seems
each year to become more of a consumer season than a Christian
one.
In his apostolic exhortation on the Christian family, Familiaris
Consortio, Pope John Paul II observed: “In the richer countries …
excessive prosperity and the consumer mentality, paradoxically
joined to a certain anguish and uncertainty about the future, deprive
married couples of the generosity and courage needed for raising
up new human life: thus life is often perceived not as a blessing, but
as a danger from which to defend oneself” (6).
A society with no hope in the future and a resulting lack of openness to life is, not surprisingly, a society that would trade a celebration of birth for one of consumerism.
A purely materialistic view of Christmas—even more noticeable this year as recession-affected merchants desperately seek to
improve their profits—can be a symptom of this same hopeless
outlook on life.
Of course, as Christians, we have the reminder of our hope in
salvation that comes with Christ’s birth at Christmas. With this
event, the process of our own redemption is made possible. Christ’s
birth—as the angels told the shepherds—heralds “peace on earth
to men of good will.”
That is quite a contrast to the anxiety of the consumer mentality.
In addition to Christmas, the Church gives us other feasts in December that highlight hope, love and new life.
On the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we remember the hope
that Mary brought—and continues to bring—to this entire hemisphere. She appeared as a pregnant woman to a defeated people in
search of meaning. Through her message that each person is loved,
she brought the indigenous Mexicans to the fullness of hope in her
son Jesus Christ.
Finally, we celebrate life within the family on the feast of the Holy
Family, where Christ spent 30 of the 33 years of his life. It is a good
opportunity for us to reflect on our own lives and on the way we
bring up our children.
The Christian has hope—on earth and in heaven. Those who put
consumerism first have only anxiety and possessions, which do
nothing to decrease the restlessness of our hearts. As St. Augustine
famously wrote, our hearts are restless until they rest in God. This
rest in God gives the Christian hope, while the consumer has only
yesterday’s purchase.
Hope is no small matter. In 2007, Pope Benedict wrote an entire
encyclical on it. His words deserve serious thought: “If we cannot
hope for more than is effectively attainable at any given time … our
lives will soon be without hope” (Spe Salvi, 35).
Our hope must be based not simply on the here and now, but on the
hereafter; and not just on ourselves, but on the one who made us.
Life, children and family are all founded on love. During Advent
2007, Pope Benedict reminded us that “hope, like faith, is demonstrated in love.”
As we celebrate the feasts of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Christmas
and the Holy Family this month, let us remember that they are feasts
of hope precisely because they celebrate Christ’s life and loving family, and his greatest gift of love to us: our salvation.
Vivat Jesus!
KCFAPI holds corporate planning conference
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association
of the Philippines, Inc (KCFAPI) has recently held
its yearly corporate planning conference.
This was held at the Golden Sunset in Calatagan,
Batangas last November 20-21, 2009.
Present during the planning were the Group
Heads/Vice Presidents and the Department
Heads/Managers of the Association along with
their Supervisors.
This was headed by KCFAPI President Antonio
B. Borromeo and Executive Vice-President Ma.
Theresa G. Curia.
This conference was organized to be able to
present the yearly reports of every department
and to prepare and discuss the various plans and
programs of KCFAPI in 2010.
The said planning ended with the organization
of the management direction which is to accelerate
their performance in the year 2010.
This year’s theme is “Get Everyone Achieve
Records (G.E.A.R.) 5.”
KCFAPI is a mutual benefits association of the
Knights of Columbus Philippines which is committed to provide fraternal benefits to all KC members
and their immediate families. (KCFAPI News)
KCFAPI Officers and Supervisors during the corporate planning conference held at the Golden Sunset in Calatagan, Batangas last November 20-21, 2009
You may contact KCFAPI through
our TEXT CONNECT INFORMATION SYSTEM (TEXT BILIS)
Send to: 0917-825-KOFC or 0917825-5632
To register
KCREG<space>FCCODE<space>
PINCODE<space>CONFIRM CODE
Example: KCREG 00000 123456
123456
To inquire allowance
ALLW<space>FCCODE
<space>PINCODE
Example: ALLW 00000 123456
To inquire for Submitted, Released
& Paid BCs
SRP<space>FCCODE
<space>MMYYYY
Example: SRP 00000 012008
To inquire for the status of Benefit
Certificate
BCINQ<space>ACCOUNT#<space
>BIRTHDATE
Example: BCINQ 1002840
01061971
To text a particular Department
DEPTCODE<space>Your
N a m e < s p a c e > Y o u r
Message
Example: To text Underwriting
Department for follow-up
UND Juan Dela Cruz Follow-up
application of Bro. Joel Garcia
DEPTCODE:
UND - for Underwriting
FBG - for FBG
FMAS - for FC’s Account
SERVICE - for BC Services
CORPSRV
- for FADB
FGJWF for Foundations
The Cross
C4
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 25
December 7 - 30, 2009
KC councils join ‘Light
Up for Christ’ Program
IN preparation for the celebration of the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Knights of Columbus councils Orderwide participated
in the “Light Up for Christ” Program.
Launched by the Supreme Council, the event was held last December 1, 2009, 8 p.m.
A simultaneous lighting of decorative lights of Christmas
trees, Nativity scenes and Advent wreaths around the perimeter of their respective Churches were held by all knights
worldwide.
According to Numeriano R. Torreno, Chairman of the Light Up
for Christ Program, the event was a sign of unity and solidarity in
welcoming the birth of our Savior.
He also thanked the parish priests, chaplains, parishioners and
“all the Brother Knights together with their families and friends
who participated in this meaningful event.”
A sample prayer service blessing has been released by the
Knights of Columbus Jurisdiction which served as a guidance
prayer for the event. (Kate Laceda)
Supreme Knight lauds KC Philippines
for responding to typhoon victims
LUZON State Deputy Alonso L. Tan disclosed that Supreme Knight, Carl A. Anderson, has lauded the KC Philippines for
immediately responding to the needs of
Brother Knights during the recent typhoons
that affected thousands of brother knights
mostly in Luzon.
“We were commended by no less than Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, whom he said,
was pleased with the immediate response
of KC in the Philippines to the needs of the
Brother Knights,” Tan said.
Tan added that the Supreme Knight even
justified that the action made by the state
was “really volunteerism.”
The Supreme Knight acknowledged KC
Philippines during the recently held November 20-22, 2009 Mid-year meeting of State
Deputies in Orlando Florida.
Present along with Tan were Visayas State
Deputy Dionisio R. Esteban and Mindanao
State Deputy Sofronio R. Cruz.
The meeting primarily focused on membership recruitment and development of the
new councils.
Tan said the recruitment of “young,
Catholic and eligible gentlemen” to fortify
their membership was suggested during
the meeting.
The retention programs, new goal structure and other activities and events of each
state were also discussed.
Bishop William E. Lori, Supreme Chaplain,
meanwhile, called for the continuous support
of seminarians and priests especially in relation to the celebration of the Year for Priests.
A total of 74 State Deputies who came from
countries like the United States, Canada, and
the Philippines attended the meeting.
The Director for the Philippine Affairs,
Eduardo G. Laczi, also witnessed the meeting. (Kate Laceda)
Columbian Squires conduct leadership training
THE Columbian Squires recently held a Youth
Leadership Training Seminar at the Knights of
Columbus main office in Intramuros, Manila.
Intended for the Circle Counselors and Youth
Directors, the said seminar was organized last
November 21, 2009.
The seminar opened with an inspirational talk
from Arsenio Isidro G. Yap, State Secretary of the
Knights of Columbus Luzon Jurisdiction.
This was followed by a series of talks from
Frederick Emerson Castro, State Squire Training
Director, Ph.D., and Ramon Sanchez, State Squire
Executive Secretary.
Castro discussed on the youth of today wherein
he emphasized the outlook of the current generation about the Church.
“It is sad to know that many youth consider the
Church as merely a physical structure. Many youth
do not consider participating in the Church activities
as putting into life their Christian faith,” he said.
He also affirmed that the awareness of the youth
in the current social issues and belief in the Church
do not denote their involvement in its relative
activities.
Sanchez talked about the context of the squires
counselors.
Meanwhile, Jose F. Cuaresma, Squires Chairman
and Mark Anthony Lodrigito, State Squire Director for Squires Advancement Promotions, further
discussed on the Squires Advancement Program.
The seminar ended with the prayer for the
beatification of Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ, who
is the Father of the Knights of Columbus in the
Philippines.
The Columbian Squires of the Knights of Columbus Luzon Jurisdiction is a dynamic organization of young Catholic gentlemen inspired by
Bro. Barnabas McDonald, its founder.
It is a group of Catholic young men between
the ages of 10-18 who are members of a unit
called CIRCLE.
The group develops responsible youth leaders
through spiritual, physical, intellectual and civic
cultural formation. (Kate Laceda)
State New Council Development Chairman attends Pampanga Charter Presentation
SK Narciso M. Maniacup, PGK during the presentation of the Charter Certificate to GK Adrian N. Anicete as witnessed by
Rev. Fr. Laudemer H. Mangune, Charter Chaplain and SK Aurelio C. Caparas, State Chairman and Council Development
last November 7 in Macabebe, Pampanga.
STATE New Council Development
Chairman Aurelio J. Caparas attended
the Charter Presentation and Installation of newly-elected officers of the San
Rafael Council No. 14846.
This was held at Casa Simpauco,
Caduang Tete in Macabebe, Pampanga
last November 7, 2009.
The attendance of Caparas was in lieu of
the absence of the Supreme Board of Directors and Luzon Deputy Alonso L. Tan.
Caparas presented the Charter Certificate to Charter Grand Knight Adrian
N. Aniciete and Fr. Laudemer A. Mangune, the Council Chaplain.
The formal installation of the Coun-
Installation and charging of council Officers held last November 7 at Macabebe, Pampanga.
cil officers was headed by Narciso M.
Maniacup, PGK, District Deputy of S-17
while the induction and oath-taking of
service program personnel was led by
Aniciete.
Installed officials of the San Rafael
Council were headed by Grand Knight
Adrian N. Aniciete and Deputy Grand
Participants of the Strategic Planning Process Seminar with resource speaker Mr. Norman L. Goss (seated 6th from left)
of The Harry Pound Company held last November 17 at KCFAPI home office in Intramuros, Manila.
Knight Mario M. Cunanan.
Among those installed were Chancellor Arturo C. Cunanan; Financial
Secretary Joseph C. Sunga; Recorder
Domingo I. Cabrera; Treasurer Benjamin B. Sunga; Advocate Reynaldo C.
Bautista; Warden Albert M. Bonifacio;
Inside Guard Orlando P. Carreon;
Outside Guard Redito Y. Calanoc and
the three Trustees namely; Jaime F.
Masangkay (Trustee for 3 years); Felix
N. Reyes (Trustee for 2 years) and Jose
S. Mercado (Trustee for 1 year).
The event opened with a Eucharistic
celebration presided by Mangune and culminated with a fellowship. (KC News)
Officers of KCFAPI and Subsidiaries during the awarding of the certificate of appreciation to the resource speaker,
Mr. Norman L. Goss (3rd from right) for the Strategic Planning Process Seminar held last November 17.