•A3 Pope prays for
courage, comfort in
the Church
‘Junk anti-life candidates’
By Roy Lagarde
WITH less than a month be-
fore the midterm elections, a
Catholic archbishop called on
voters to shun candidates who
support birth control.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop
Socrates Villegas said that moral values
instilled in pro-choice bets and those
who favor divorce, abortion and gay
marriage are questionable as it implies
of being ‘anti-life’.
The call was contained in a pastoral
letter and seen as an attack to the gov-
ernment’s allies who pushed a contested
contraceptives law that was passed last
December.
“We advise you not to vote for
the candidate if the candidate cannot
declare a categorical and clear ‘no’ to
divorce, abortion, euthanasia, total birth
control and homosexual marriages or
‘DEATH’ issues,” Villegas said.
“Pro-choice is anti-life,” he added in
a pastoral letter read at Sunday Masses
in the archdiocese.
Known as the Reproductive Health
law, the legislation opposed by the
Church requires state funding for
contraceptives and mandates that sex
education be taught in schools.
The Supreme Court, however, has
suspended the implementation of the
law as it resolves several legal challeng-
es filed by different lay organizations. A group of Catholic doctors and nurses hold red ribbons as they continue to protest the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) law at the Arellano University in Manila, April 14,
Candidates / A6 2013. The red ribbon protest highlighted a pro-life seminar organized by the university’s Catholic Doctors and Nurses Guild.
White Vote Movement advocates
involvement in social transformation
“ANO ang susundin natin, ang
batas ng tao o ang sinabi ng
Diyos? (What shall we follow,
the law of man or the word of
God?)”
This was among the questions
Bro. Mike Velarde, founder
and Servant Leader of Catholic
group El Shaddai, posed to tens
of thousands gathered at the
Amvel Business Park where the
announcement of the senatorial
candidates being endorsed by
the White Vote Movement was
made.
The six candidates are Joseph
Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada,
Antonio Trillanes IV, Gregorio
Honasan, Cynthia Villar, Aqui- El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde leads various lay Catholic leaders
lino “Koko” Pimentel III, Ma. during the launching of the “White Vote” movement which seeks to tap
Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay. millions of their followers to vote for “pro-life and pro-family” candidates in
The White Vote Movement, of the May 13 elections.
Local PPCRV remains operational
REGARDLESS of issues questioning the
credibility of the Parish Pastoral Council for
Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the national
level, the local levels have not been affected
and still continue their operations in plan-
ning and voter’s education.
In the diocese of Kidapawan, around 30
members of PPCRV together with some
members of the National Citizens’ Move-
ment for Free Elections (NAMFREL) con-
ducted their organizational planning and
meeting last April 9, to discuss preparations
for the upcoming midterm polls.
Fr. Rogelio Nim, director of the Parish
Pastoral Council in the diocese said the
Church attendance ‘on the increase’ – Bishops
Despite claims of diminishing Church attendance, Sunday masses and
other celebrations remain well attended by Catholic faithful.
•B1 Preach with your life,
with your witness •C1 The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI and
the Order of the Knights of Columbus
Casiguran marchers
return to Manila
AFTER four months of waiting, Casiguran
locals who marched 357 kilometers to Manila
last December are going to back to press
Malacañang to fulfill its promise to look into
their concerns against the Aurora Pacific
Economic Zone (Apeco).
The 120 farmers, fishermen, and indig-
enous peoples will stage their “Lakad Kata-
rungan, Lakad Matuwid na Daan” starting
April 16. They are expected to arrive in
Manila on April 22.
The protesters, including Casiguran par-
ish priest Fr. Joefran Talaban, will be trav-
April 15 - 28, 2013 Vol. 17 No. 08 Php 20. 00
Marchers / A6
Photo courtesy of CDNG
Church pushes Gospel-
oriented prison laws
WITH more than 95,000 inmates ative Justice and UN Tokyo
which Velarde is spokesperson, serving time in the country’s Rules or the Non-custodial
is a coalition of Catholic lay prison system, there is a great Treatment of Persons Deprived
organizations initiated by the need for programs that bring of their Liberties,” Diamante
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas hope to people behind bars. said.
(LAIKO) and which was formed The prison ministry of the “It will also underscore the
in response to perceived mount- Catholic Bishops’ Conference of need to lobby for the enactment
ing sentiment among different the Philippines (CBCP) is meet- of laws that will be in conso-
lay groups in the country re- ing that need through seminars nance with the Gospel values,”
garding the lay faithful’s role in and the aggressive campaign for he added.
preserving core family values. restorative justice. Aside from Diamante, other
“No one forced them. Those On April 26, the Episcopal Com- speakers are Msgr. Gerard Aris-
Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
which could not be gathered mission on Prison Pastoral Care ton Perez of St. Peter Cathedral
have now gathered together (ECPPC) is bringing its Seminar- and Gerard Ian Bernabe, Na-
[on their own],” Velarde said, Workshop on Restorative Justice tional Coordinator of Volunteers
adding that the country has not and Alternatives to Imprisonment in Prison Service.
prospered partly because the to Tuguegarao City. Diamante said they will tackle
people lack unity. Rodolfo Diamante, ECPPC ex- the issue on the Current Crimi-
The event started with a Eu- ecutive secretary, said the event nal Justice and Restorative Jus-
charistic celebration in which is in coordination with the Dio- tice and Alternatives to Impris-
Bishop Teodoro Bacani, El Shad- cese of San Fernando and will be onment.
dai’s spiritual adviser, empha- held at the Parish Pastoral Center Tuguegarao Archbishop Ser-
White Vote / A6
of the city’s St. Peter Cathedral. gio Utleg is also expected to
It will be attended by gov- grace the occasion to give a talk
ernment agencies and non-
government organizations and
and hold Mass for the partici-
pants.
meeting is just part of the initial steps in volunteers involved in working Similar seminars have also
ensuring a clean, honest, accurate, mean- for the welfare of the prison been held in the Archdiocese
ingful and peaceful (CHAMP) elections in community and their families of San Fernando, Pampanga,
the diocese. in Region 2. and the Dioceses of Bacolod,
Kidapawan diocese covers 11 towns of “The seminars will take up San Pablo, Baguio, Butuan and
North Cotabato and 1 town in the province the salient features of Restor- Lucena. (CBCPNews)
of Sultan Kudarat which comprises a total
of 448,962 Catholics.
“True to its advocacy in achieving
Bishop to Aquino: Use pork barrel
FILE PHOTO
CHAMP elections, there will be two vol-
unteers present in every clustered precinct
for ‘Magna Carta for the Poor’
in the diocese plus they will establish an
assistance center which will be present in PPCRV has tapped the participation of students
every voting center and will assist possible and young people for voters’ education and poll
PPCRV / A6 watching in the coming May elections.
AS far as bishops and priests Masses to be held in shopping
Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
are concerned, the number of malls to accommodate more
Catholics is increasing, refuting churchgoers.
a survey that one of 11 faithful “I think a scientific study
sometimes considers leaving should be made to validate
the Church. such observation,” Ongtioco
Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
Pollster Social Weather Sta- said.
tions (SWS) also claimed that “In the diocese, I do not see
there is a decline of Catholics at- this observation and in fact
NASSA chairman and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo urges
tending Masses from 64 percent the number of churchgoers in- government to pass a law that would cover the basic needs of millions of
to 36 percent. creased because we have mall poor Filipinos.
But Cubao Honesto Ongtioco Masses,” he said.
said the survey is contrary to In Quiapo Church, officials THE government should use the Poor instead of giving it to law-
what is actually happening be- noted a significant increase of pork barrel funds to finance the makers, a church official said.
cause they even have to allow Attendance / A6 proposed Magna Carta for the Pork Barrel / A7
 A2 World News CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013

Demographic shifts mean Europe no longer

Catholic Church’s center
OXFORD, England, April 13, 2013—The
election of Pope Francis, an Argentine,
to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics
confirms what observers have long
known: Vast demographic shifts in the
Catholic population are reconfiguring
the face of the church and shifting the
institution’s center from its historic
European heartland.
What that means for the church
remains unknown, but Europeans
who have long viewed themselves as
Catholicism’s traditional guardians are
likely to find they will have to share that
role with others.
“Although the bishop of Rome is
its head, the church’s center is no
longer in Europe, and the presence
of an Argentine pontiff expresses the
new situation,” said Jesuit Father Paul
Zulehner, retired professor of pastoral
theology at the University of Vienna
and one of Austria’s leading social
scientists.
“With many Catholics already com-
ing here from other parts of the world,
it looks as if we’ll be learning from the
church’s peripheries in the future, as
much as from its center,” the priest told
Catholic News Service.
Europeans made up more than
half of the 115 cardinals who elected
Pope Francis, with 28 from Italy alone.
European cardinals were prominent
among those mentioned as top papal
candidates.
However, the church’s relative
strength in Europe has declined sharply
as the Catholic population worldwide
quadrupled over the past century to
nearly 1.2 billion, according to the
Vatican’s statistical yearbook for 2013.
Catholics make up about 16 percent of
the world’s population, about the same
percentage as a century ago. A closer
look at where Catholics live illustrates
the changing body of the church.
Whereas two-thirds of the world’s
Catholics lived in Europe in 1910, fewer
than a quarter do today, reported the
U.S.-based Pew Research Center’s
Forum on Religion and Public Life.
In Manila, Philippines, there are more
baptized Catholics than in traditionally
Catholic Netherlands.
France and Germany each boasted
twice as many baptized Catholics as
Brazil in 1910. Today Brazil, with 126
million Catholics, has more than three
times as many as France or Spain;
Mexico, with 96 million Catholics, has
2.5 times as many as France.
Overall, Catholics in Europe have de-
clined from 38.5 percent to 23.7 percent
of the population since 1970, according
to the World Christian Database com-
piled by the Gordon-Conwell Theologi-
cal Seminary of South Hamilton, Mass.
John Wilkins, former editor of The
Tablet, a British Catholic weekly, said
the demographic shifts have deep im-
plications for Europe at a time when
confidence has been eroded by high-
profile sex abuse scandals and many
Catholics believe deliberate attempts
are being made to marginalize Europe’s
Christian traditions.
“Europe’s view of itself as the tradi-
tional center (of the church) has long
been an anomaly, given the church’s
steady decline here, so this is bound to
change,” Wilkins told CNS.
“The perspectives and priorities
will be different in the future, and the
questions which preoccupy many Euro-
peans, from contraception to women’s
ordination, may well seem less pressing
than the universal issues of poverty and
social justice which preoccupy the new
pope,” Wilkins said.
As priestly vocations and church
attendance have plummeted across Eu-
rope, Catholic bastions such as Slovakia
and Poland provide a third of all Euro-
pean ordinations and a clergy presence
throughout the continent.
Still, the church is growing in Scandi-
navia and attracting vibrant devotions
in the former Soviet Union. Germany
and Austria remain theological pow-
erhouses. Multiethnic assimilation is
boosting the Catholic presence in France
and Belgium.
At the same time, Pope Francis’s
native Argentina is home to 31 million
Catholics, the same number as Germany
and Congo, according to the Pew Re-
search Center.
Latin America as a whole was home
to a quarter of the world’s Catholics a
century ago, but now, combined with
Caribbean nations, hosts 39 percent;
sub-Saharan Africa claimed just 1 per-
cent of worldwide Catholics in 1910 and
now has 16 percent.
In Asia and the Pacific, Catholics
have multiplied nearly tenfold, from 14
million to 131 million over the century.
Father Zulehner, the Austrian soci-
ologist, said some of the statistics need
interpreting.
Just as the U.S. Catholic Church has
been boosted by immigrants, the Euro-
pean church also has seen an influx of
Catholics from the developing world
who have brought elements of their
own religious culture and spirituality
with them, leading to a more diverse
church, Father Zulehner said.
“We’re witnessing pluralization
rather than secularization, as members
of all faiths and none live and work
together,” he said.
“This process of opening up could
revive the Christian faith in Europe by
dispelling old stereotypes about our
thousand-year Christian history,” the
priest added.
Wilkins thinks the new pope’s ideals
of poverty and simplicity could also
instill a new dynamism that could lead
Catholics to rethink their priorities. The
image of “a pope of austerity for an age
of austerity” could well prove attractive,
he said.
“This emphasis on putting the poor
first could echo right through the church
here,” Wilkins said.
“When the church’s credibility has
been badly damaged, he offers the kind
of priestly authenticity we need. I think
Europeans will see the gifts a pope from
outside has to offer.”
Father Zulehner agreed.
If the church’s tarnished image could
be changed, the Austrian priest said,
Europeans searching for God could be
brought into a new encounter with the
Catholic faith.
“The arrival of a pope from another
world, unconnected with the medieval
background of European Catholicism,
could create a modernizing drive,” he
said.
“The demographic changes can’t be
reversed, and the Eurocentric era is
clearly over. But if this helps European
Catholics think as part of the universal
church, it’ll be a good sign for the fu-
ture.” (CNS)

US bishops urge support for
international arms treaty
WASHINGTON D.C., April 13,
2013—In a letter to Secretary of
State John Kerry, a representa-
tive of the U.S. bishops’ conference
asked that the Obama Adminis-
tration hasten to review and sign
a treaty to decrease arms trade.
Archbishop likens immigrants to ‘Les Misérables’ hero
MIAMI, Florida, April 12, 2013— Similar marches have taken
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of place recently across the country,
predominance of commercial or
Miami made a plea for immigra- culminating in a large march on
economic considerations, and
tion reform at a rally on Satur- April 10 in Washington, D.C.
an inadequate elaboration of the
day, noting that like the hero of The rallies come as a group of
principles of sufficiency, of vic-
“Les Misérables”, migrants wish eight senators—the “gang of
tims’ assistance and of the need
to “redeem themselves with hon- eight”—prepares to introduce
to reduce demand for arms.”
est work.” immigration reform legislation
However, accepting the treaty

Jonathan Martinez | Florida Catholic

“As a world leader and a
major arms exporter, our nation
should set a positive example for
other nations to follow in efforts
to reduce the flow of weapons
into situations that violate hu-
man rights and cause terrible
suffering,” said Bishop Richard
E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa in
an April 11 letter.
In an April 2 vote at the United
Nations, the U.S. joined a large
majority of countries worldwide
in agreeing to adopt a treaty that
would regulate international
trade in conventional weaponry.
But, come June 3 when the treaty
opens for signature, President
Obama will still need sign it and it
remains unclear if U.S. will ratify
it—a move which would need two-
thirds of the senate’s approval.
Bishop Pates, who serves as
chair of the Committee on Inter-
national Justice and Peace for the
U.S. bishops’ conference, urged
Secretary Kerry “to expedite a
thorough review of the Treaty
so that the President can sign it
in early June.”
The bishop noted that the trea-
ty is not perfect, but called the
measure “an important step.” He
said he agreed with the position
of the Holy See, which noted that
there are flaws in the treaty.
This can be seen, the Vatican
has said, particularly in “the
“Our immigration laws need in the coming weeks.
would still be “a positive step in
to be changed,” the archbishop Archbishop Wenski reminded
promoting human rights and dig-
urged at a march held April 6 in listeners in Miami that Christ
nity and in building a more peace-
downtown Miami. taught that laws serve human
ful world,” Bishop Pates said.
Some 2,000 people partici- persons, and not the other way
“My hope is that our nation will
pated in the rally and 20-block around. Law, he said, “is meant
give further impetus to this process
walk, which also drew interfaith to benefit, not to enslave man-
by joining other leading countries
leaders including a rabbi, an kind.”
as a signatory in early June.”
imam, and pastors of Christian He pointed to the Boston tea
The bishop also echoed ear-
denominations. party participants and Rosa
lier statements by Archbishop Archbishop Thomas Wenski speaks at a rally on immigration in Miami on
During his remarks to the Parks as examples of those who
Francis Chullikatt, Permanent April 6, 2013.
crowd, Archbishop Wenski dis- have broken human laws.
Observer of the Holy See to the
cussed the Victor Hugo’s 19th “When laws fail to advance in the country, and reducing the hensive reform—that includes
United Nations in New York,
century novel “Les Misérables.” the common good, they can and backlogs in processing family a path to citizenship to those
saying that the Vatican “viewed
The book tells the story of Jean should be changed,” he noted. reunification visas, which “keep already in the country and pre-
its adoption as constituting a
Valjean—a man who was impris- The archbishop said that families separated for intolerable serves family unification as a
step towards establishing in the
oned for having stolen a loaf of America’s immigration laws lengths of time.” bedrock principle of any immi-
world a culture of responsibility
bread to feed his starving rela- are “antiquated and inad- “Illegal immigration should gration legislation.”
and accountability.”
tives—and the “bitterly zealous equate for the promotion and not be tolerated,” emphasized A nation, he noted “that hon-
The bishop also appealed to
legalism” of Inspector Javert regulation of social and eco- Archbishop Wenski, but at the ors law breakers like the patriots
the teachings of the Catholic
who pursues him. nomic relations of 21st century same time, “fixing illegal im- of the Boston Tea Party, a nation
Church—of which Secretary
“Today,” the archbishop said, America.” migration does not require the that can allow the dignified
Kerry is a member.
“modern day Javerts, on radio One participant at the Miami ‘demonization’ of the so-called defiance of Rosa Parks in her
He emphasized that the “Cath-
and T.V. talk shows, fan flames rally held a sign proclaiming that ‘‘illegals.’” act of lawbreaking to touch its
olic Church has a longstanding
of resentment against supposed “Migration is a human right.” America, he said, should re- conscience, is a nation that also
commitment to protecting hu-
law breakers, equating them Archbishop Wenski said that main a place of opportunity for can make room for modern-day
man life and dignity,” pointing
with terrorists intent on hurt- immigration reform take into ac- those willing to work hard. Jean Valjeans.”
to church teachings to explain
ing us.” count “both human dignity and “We can provide for our na- Archbishop Wenski conclud-
how reducing the presence of
“However, these people only the national interest,” lest the tional security and secure bor- ed, saying, “we can be a nation
firearms within the population
ask for the opportunity to be- existing bad laws are replaced ders without making America, of laws, without becoming a
is “a means to this end.”
come legal – to come out of the by “worse ones.” a nation of immigrants, less a nation of Javerts. As Jesus re-
Bishop Pates also referenced
shadows where they live in fear He voiced support for a future land of promise or opportunity minded the embittered zealots
his own travels in Sub-Saharan
of a knock on their door in the legal guest worker program, an for immigrants.” of his day, laws are designed for
Africa and meetings with local
dead of night or an immigration “earned” path to legalization for “The ‘gang of eight’ need to the benefit—not the harm—of
leaders who “repeatedly ex-
raid to their work place.” the 10 million workers already move forward—with a compre- humankind.” (CNA)
pressed profound concerns for
the untold human suffering that
result from the unregulated flow
Bishop: North Korea’s threats might aim to increase aid, preserve pride
of arms.” (CNA) CHEJU, South Korea, April 12, 2013—The pealing for mercy for a “silly flock” whose ideology declared by Kim’s dynasty. The
head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of actions are causing hunger, suffering and ideology and philosophy of superiority of
Korea said North Korea’s recent threats of drawing people to violence and death. Korean history and culture advocated by

Vatican Briefing aggression may be an attempt to shore up

foreign aid while preserving pride.
“It is our presumption that they wish to
Under supreme leader Kim Jong Un,
North Korea announced it launched a rocket
in December and conducted its third under-
the North Korean ruler and his predecessors
have prevailed through the 60 years follow-
ing the Korean War, he said.
draw out some financial assistance from ground nuclear test in February. In March, However, this philosophy of isolation and
Pope, UN head discuss crises in Syria, Korea
abroad without conceding their pride or the U.N. Security Council condemned the autonomous economy has only “completely
Recognizing the important role each other plays on the global self-esteem,” Bishop Peter Kang U-Il of nuclear test and imposed tougher sanctions demolished their economy,” leaving the
stage, Pope Francis and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Cheju, South Korea, said in an April 9 email on North Korea, including financial restric- North to suffer the same fate as other social-
met at the Vatican April 9, discussing common efforts to pro- to Catholic News Service. tions, cargo inspections and a ban on exports. ist countries whose economies collapsed,
mote peace and protect human dignity. “The United Nations He said Catholic bishops “feel very sorry” North Korea announced March 30 that Bishop Kang said.
and the Holy See share common goals and ideals,” the UN that the tension provoked by North Korea’s Kim had declared a “do-or-die” battle “I think we need much patience in dealing
secretary-general told the pope as the two sat across from each threats is making “the whole world very against invasion after a U.S. stealth bombers with the people of (North Korea) who have
other at a desk in the papal library. Reporters were ushered uncomfortable and anxious.” drill. In an April 9 television announcement, been isolated for (a) long time from modern
out of the room at that point. The two spoke specifically about Though South Koreans “appear to be calm government advised foreign institutions world,” he added.
“situations of conflict and serious humanitarian emergencies, and tranquil,” they may feel uneasy about and enterprises, including tourists, to take He also called for “much compassion”
especially in Syria,” but also about the ongoing tensions on the present escalating atmosphere between measures to prepare for evacuation and their while the North showed “very one-sided
the Korean peninsula and in several African countries “where two Koreas, Bishop Kang said. South Kore- safety in case of war. obstinacy” in foreign relations. “They have
peace and stability are threatened,” said a statement from the ans might have been very used to the threats, Bishop Kang said North Korea might be never experienced modern democratic order
Vatican press office. (CNS) but “one could not deny the possibility of threatening war because it cannot revitalize in their near history,” the bishop explained.
unexpected military clash.” its economy and rise up from its “destitute He said he sees “the violent way of
Safeguarding creation expected to be major theme at The bishop personally appealed to people situation” without foreign investments, but presenting their requests to the world” as
WYD in Rio of Korea to pray for the peace in the penin- needs to maintain its “self-respect or self- evidence of the desperate situation that they
When hundreds of thousands of young Catholics gather with sula. He offered a prayer he composed ap- reverence,” which the bishop traces to the could not survive. (CNS)
Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro in the summer, reflections on
safeguarding the environment will be part of the program. The Church of the Holy Land in Rome to meet the Pope
Like earlier editions of World Youth Day, the July celebration
in Rio de Janeiro will include morning catechetical sessions JERUSALEM, Israel, April 13, speaking community of the “Our challenge and mission,” In his Easter homily, the pa-
and afternoon cultural events. “From the beginning of plan- 2013—The meeting between the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. he added, “is to live and bear triarch explained that the new
ning — under Pope Benedict XVI — we thought that a major pope and a delegation from the He spoke to AsiaNews ahead of witness to the unity of Christ evangelization must “start from
theme in Brazil, known as ‘the lungs of the world,’ would have Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem the visit to Pope Francis in the even in a divided society. This is Jerusalem,” thus, showing that
to be the environment,” said Marcello Bedeschi, president of will take place at 11.30 am on Vatican by an official delega- our duty and vocation, to show “the Lord invited us here to
the John Paul II Foundation for Youth, a Rome-based orga- 15 April in the Vatican. Msgr. tion from the Patriarchate on the world that unity, friendship bring the light of the faith in the
nization that assists with World Youth Day planning. (CNS) Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of 15 April. and reconciliation are possible centre of the Middle East, where
Jerusalem, will lead the group. According to Fr. Neuhaus, the within the Church.” Christianity was born, where
The vicar for Hebrew-speaking Church in the Holy Land “is a The visit will be led by Msgr. every Christian was born.”
Vatican spokesman denies report that Benedict XVI is ill
Catholics explains the Church’s very privileged Church, because Fouad Twal, patriarch of Jerusa- On that occasion, Msgr. Twal
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi says that con- mission to the Holy Land, which it is present in all sections of so- lem. The delegation will also in- also invited the pope to visit the
trary to a report in the Spanish daily El Mundo, the Bishop- is “to bear witness to the unity ciety. Living in a highly divided clude Msgr. Marcuzzo, auxiliary Holy Land, a wish already ex-
emeritus of Rome, Benedict XVI, is not suffering from any of Christ even in a divided country is also our vocation.” bishop of Israel; Msgr. Shomali, pressed on the day of Card Ber-
illness. The report in El Mundo by Rocio Galvan quotes state- society.” He stressed that a majority of auxiliary bishop of Jerusalem; goglio’s election to the papacy.
ments made by Spanish Vaticanista Paloma Gomez-Borrero “We are going to see the pope the Patriarchate’s Catholics is Msgr. Laham, auxiliary bishop of In the past hundred years,
in Madrid during the presentation of her most recent book. to bring him greetings from the made up of Arab Palestinians Jordan; and Fr. David Neuhaus, three of Pope Francis’ predeces-
In comments to CNA on April 10, however, Fr. Lombardi Holy Land and present him and Jordanians, but that there vicar for the Hebrew-speaking sors visited the Holy Land: Pope
underscored that Benedict XVI “does not have any illness” the reality of our Church and are also new Hebrew-speaking community. Msgr. Ilario Anto- Paul VI in 1964, Pope John Paul II
and that “this has been certified by his doctors.” (CNA) community,” said Fr. David communities within Jewish niazzi, the new archbishop of in March 2000 and Pope Benedict
Neuhaus, vicar for the Hebrew- society. Tunis, will also be present. XVI in 2009. (AsiaNews)

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013
Pope prays for courage, comfort in the Church
VATICAN City, April 14, 2013—
Pope Francis encouraged the
Church to proclaim the Gospel
with “frankness and courage”
and prayed for persecuted Chris-
tians worldwide in his Sunday
address at St. Peter’s Square.
In his Regina Caeli address
before more than 80 thousand
people, the Holy Father sum-
marized a passage from the Acts
of the Apostles while explaining
that its contents are relevant for
everyone, especially for those
persecuted for their belief in
Christ.
He drew attention to one of the
readings for the Third Sunday of
News Features
ing in Jerusalem “filled the cities
with the news that Jesus truly
had risen” despite attempts by
the authorities to silence them
by imprisonment and scourging.
In addition to that opposi-
tion, the Apostles, Pope Francis
noted, were not well-educated,
but rather “simple” men.
Nonetheless, they were success-
ful in their testimony of the Risen
Lord because of the Holy Spirit.
“Only the presence of the Risen
Lord with them, and the action of
the Holy Spirit can explain this.
It was the Lord, who was with
them, and the Spirit, who moved
them to preach,” he said.
powerful and personal” that
they did not fear persecution
and even saw it as a “badge of
honor.”
The Holy Father said that this
episode tells us something very
important, which applies “to the
Church in every age, and so to us.”
The Apostles’ example teaches
us that “when a person truly
knows Jesus Christ and believes
in Him, one experiences His
presence and the power of His
Resurrection in one’s life, and
one cannot help but communi-
cate this experience.”
Overall, if a Christian “en-
counters misunderstanding or
A3
with love and with the power
of truth.”
This teaching is especially
relevant to the “many Christians
who suffer persecution in many,
many countries” throughout the
world today.
The Pope asked for the Blessed
Mother’s intercession that the
Church would proclaim the
Gospel with “frankness and
courage” while bearing witness
through “signs of brotherly
love.”
He asked the Church to pray
for our persecuted brothers and
sisters “from our heart” that
they could “feel the living and

CTV
Easter, Acts 5:27-32; 40B-41, in He explained that their en- adversity, one behaves like Jesus comforting presence of the Risen
which the Apostles’ first preach- counter with Christ was “so in His Passion: one responds Lord.” (CNA/EWTN News) Pope Francis leads the Regina Caeli on April 1, 2013.

At Rome’s cathedral, Pope Francis Pope urges doctrinal office to act

celebrates God’s patience ‘decisively’ against sex abuse
ROME, April 8, 2013—Celebrating his
first Mass in the cathedral of Rome,
Pope Francis called on Christians to
trust in God’s endless patience and
mercy.
“God always waits for us, even when
we have left him behind! He is never far
from us, and if we return to him, he is
ready to embrace us,” the pope said in
his homily April 7 at the Basilica of St.
John Lateran.
The pope commented on the Gospel
reading (Jn 20:19-31) for Divine Mercy
VATICAN City, April 5, 2013—Pope because he brought that perversion
of Rome. Francis reaffirmed the importance of with him from before his ordination,”
Shortly after responding decisively to the problem of and not even priestly celibacy would be
the start of the sexual abuse of minors by members able to “cure it,” the future pope said in
the liturgy, of the clergy and called on the Vatican the book, “Pope Francis: Conversations
Cardinal office dealing with suspected cases to with Jorge Bergoglio” by Sergio Rubin
Agostino continue carrying out its mandate. and Francesca Ambrogetti.
Vallini, pa- During an April 5 meeting with Because such a perversion already
pal vicar for Archbishop Gerhard L. Muller, prefect would be present in a candidate, he
Rome, read of the Congregation for the Doctrine of said, “it’s necessary to pay lots of at-
a profession the Faith, the pope discussed the office’s tention to the choice of candidates to
of obedi- various responsibilities. the priesthood.”
ence to the However, he made a particular He said the archdiocese of Buenos
pope on be- point of highlighting its work to Aires had been very “rigorous for many
Stephen Driscoll | CNA

Sunday, in which the risen Christ ap-
pears to St. Thomas and lets him touch
his wounds, dispelling the apostle’s
doubts about Jesus’ resurrection.
“Jesus does not abandon Thomas in
his stubborn unbelief,” Pope Francis
said. “He does not close the door, he
waits.”
“God is patient with us because he
loves us, and those who love are able
to understand, to hope, to inspire con-
fidence,” the pope said. “They do not
give up, they do not burn bridges, they
are able to forgive.”
In response, Pope Francis said, the
faithful must show the “courage to trust
in Jesus’ mercy, to trust in his patience,
to seek refuge always in the wounds of
his love.”
“How many times in my pastoral
ministry have I heard it said: ‘Father I
have many sins,’” the pope said. “I have
always pleaded: ‘Don’t be afraid, go to
him, he is waiting for you, he will take
care of everything.’”
The Mass was the occasion for Pope
Francis to take formal possession of
the “cathedra” (chair) of the bishop
half of the counter clerical sexual abuse, telling years already,” noting how only about
diocese. Archbishop Muller he wanted the con- 40 percent of candidates were actually
Then the gregation to continue with the policies admitted into the priesthood.
pope sat on of retired Pope Benedict XVI wanted He also described how candidates
the raised and “to act decisively concerning cases undergo in-depth psychiatric tests to
m a r b l e of sexual abuse,” the Vatican said in look for different forms of deviant ten-
chair in the Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran for Divine a written statement released after the dencies, including “megalomaniacal,
b a s i l i c a ’ s Mercy Sunday, April 7, 2013. meeting. dishonest and criminal” tendencies.
apse, where The pope, the statement said, asked In “On Heaven and Earth,” a 2010
he received representatives of his basilica in memory of Blessed John the congregation to continue: “promot- book of conversations with a Buenos
flock, including clergy and laypeople. Paul II. ing measures that protect minors, above Aires rabbi, the then-Cardinal Jorge
The pope exchanged a few words Also on Sunday, the pope led a crowd all; help for those who have suffered Mario Bergoglio said, when it is discov-
with each, taking a bit of extra time in St. Peter’s Square in praying the such violence in the past; necessary ered that a priest has engaged in such
with a Franciscan friar and married “Regina Coeli” at noon. Speaking from procedures against those found guilty; behavior, it is imperative that no one
couple accompanied by their four the window of his private office in the (and) the commitment of bishops’ con- “look the other way.”
children. Apostolic Palace, the pope commented ferences in formulating and implement- “One cannot be in a position of power
Following the late-afternoon Mass, on the day’s Gospel reading, observing ing the necessary directives in this is and destroy the life of another person,”
the pope appeared at the balcony in how the apostles had taken courage area that is so important for the church’s he said.
the basilica’s facade, where he briefly from the resurrection. witness and credibility.” The proper action to take against an
addressed a crowd of several thou- “May we too have more courage to The pope also assured victims that abuser, he said, would be to prohibit
sand people, wishing them a good testify to faith in the risen Christ!” he they had a special place in his heart him from exercising his ministry and
evening and urging all to “go forward said. “We should not be afraid to be and prayers. begin a canonical process in the diocese.
together ... in the joy of the resurrec- Christians and live as Christians. We Pope Francis was holding private “I don’t believe in those positions that
tion.” should have this courage, to go and meetings in early April with the indi- propose supporting a kind of ‘corpo-
Before the Mass, Pope Francis was announce the risen Christ, because he vidual heads of various Vatican offices rate’ spirit in order to avoid damaging
joined by Rome’s mayor, Gianni Ale- is our peace, he has made peace, with and congregations. According to the the image of the institution,” he told the
manno, in a brief ceremony rededicat- his love, with his forgiveness, with his Vatican schedule, the pope had at least rabbi, Abraham Skorka.
ing the square on the west end of the blood, with his mercy.” (CNS) an hour slotted for the 11 a.m. meeting The future Pope Francis said mov-

Papal washing of inmates’ feet inspires

with Archbishop Muller. ing an abusive priest to another parish
As archbishop of Buenos Aires, the in an effort to protect the image of the
future pope had said his archdiocese church had appeared as a “solution” at

prisoners, volunteers alike had been very attentive to the problem

MANILA, April 10,
2013—Pope Francis did
not only break tradition
when he washed the
feet of young inmates
last Holy Thursday, he
also uplifted the dignity
of law offenders and in-
spired prison volunteers
to continue their min-
istry.
Such was the feel-
ing of Rudy Diamante,
executive secretary of
the CBCP Episcopal
Commission on Prison
Pastoral Care, when he
action reminds the
Catholic faithful of the
Church’s preferential op-
tion for the poor, which
includes prisoners.
“It’s very inspiring and
reminds us that ‘there
is so much hope’ in the
prison pastoral minis-
try,” he added.
Diamante said the
Holy Father literally
“uplifted the dignity”
of the prisoners when
he chose them over other
lay faithful for the re-
enactment of Christ’s
and “rigorous” in its screening and se-
times in the United States, but that it
was “foolishness” because the abusive
lection of candidates for the priesthood priest only takes his problem with him
Walk the talk and religious life. to a new parish.
Diamante urged Sex abusers suffer from a “perver- He said he admired “the courage and
Church leaders to follow sion of a psychological kind” that is honesty of Benedict XVI” in confronting
Pope Francis’ example of not caused by or directly linked to the problem, calling for “zero toler-
“walking the talk.” celibacy, he said in a book-length series ance” and enacting stricter measures to
Priests should try to of interviews. protect children and to punish abusers.
reach out to the people “If a priest is a pedophile, he is so (CNS)
who cannot reach them
including prisoners who
could not leave detention
to go to Mass or attend
Youth need to be challenged
worship gatherings. Pris-
oners are among those into priesthood
that the Church should
try to reach out to,” he
said.
Diamante likewise
Vatican Radio Facebook Page

saw the footage of Pope
Francis’ extraordinary
way of re-enacting Jesus’
washing of the feet of
his apostles at the Mass
of the Lord’s Supper on
Holy Thursday.
“It’s a big deal for us,
both inmates and volun-
teers,” Diamante said,
adding that the Pope’s
washing of the feet of the
12 apostles.
“What we saw was a
great deal of humility on
his part. A man of such
rank kissed the feet of the
lowly prisoners, show-
ing that he is willing to
go down to their level
because they are equals,”
he said.
urged bishops to include
the prison pastoral care
in the diocesan pasto-
ral plan and diocesan
budget.
“The prison pastoral
care should be part of the
diocesan pastoral plan
and included in the dioc- Pope Francis kisses the foot of a young
inmate at Casal del Marmo detention center
esan budget,” he added. in Rome where he celebrated Mass on Holy
(KB/CBCPNews) Thursday.
Nirva’ana Delacruz

Korean missionaries in PHL asking for prayers

NAVOTAS City, April 8, 2013—Ko-
rean missionaries who are running a
daycare center for indigent children
and feeding malnourished kids in
this city are appealing to Filipinos to
pray for peace in North and South
Korea.
Sr. Kim Lucia of the Seoul-based
Sisters of the Our Lady of Perpetual
Help said they have not heard news
about the brewing war straight from
their congregation, adding that they
rely only on news reported by Phil-
ippine media and those published in
the internet.
“We are worried,” she admitted.
“Please pray for our country.” Sr. Kim
is one of the three Korean missionar-
ies who run the “Tahanan ni Maria”
(House of Mary) school that educates
and feeds five- to six-year-old children
belonging to poor families under the
parish of San Lorenzo Ruiz and Mar-
tyrs Church in Kaunlaran Village in
this city.
“Tahanan ni Maria” was built
within the parish grounds in 2006
and is now second home to some 106
pre-school students.
The Korean missionaries also hold
feeding programs to three other ba-
rangays in Lichangco, Tumana and
Kapitbahayan. The program benefits
at least 300 children on a daily basis.
They also help fund the education of
indigent students through scholar-
ships, and give free medical consul-
tation and medicine to poor families
who frequent their clinic than the
government-run health centers.
“Our missionary work continues,”
she said, “despite what’s happening
in Korea.”
Sr. Kim said they are doing mission-
ary work in the Philippines as a way to
pay back a historical debt of gratitude.
“During the Korean war, other
countries helped us even though they
also have poor people to attend to.
They helped us back then so this time,
we want to help other countries back,”
she added. Their congregation is pres- Fr. Francis Lucas talks to some young Filipinos from the Middle East after his workshop.
ent in Kazakstan, Peru and China for
mission work. MARIKINA City, April 8, 2013—Far CFC–Youth for Christ International
Although admittedly having a from being a stodgy state of life, priest- Leaders’ Conference (YFC–ILC), he also
hard time conversing with Filipinos hood is not unlike the extreme real- recounted how despite unbelievable
because of their poor command of ity shows on TV. This is how a priest challenges, he sees the “mistake” of
the English language, Sr. Kim said suggests young people can be initially entering the priesthood as one he will
Korean missionaries are inspired by encouraged to look into and consider never regret.
the Filipinos’ way of life. the vocation of priesthood. “The greatest vocation, the greatest
“Filipinos are very poor yet they “For me, young people need to be chal- profession rolled into one is the priest-
have warm hearts and firm belief in lenged. Reality shows are very popular, hood, to be a missionary at that, to serve
God, which make them still happy especially the extremes…I see the voca- others,” Fr. Lucas, who is also the execu-
despite their poverty. It makes me tion of the priesthood as one of the ex- tive secretary of the CBCP–Episcopal
wonder how they can be poor but still treme challenges,” said Catholic Media Commission on Social Communication
happy,” she said. Network president Fr. Francis Lucas. and Mass Media, added.
“It’s a pity that Filipinos always In an interview, Fr. Lucas said the Though of course, young people will
have a problem. They always lack priesthood can be compared to an eventually realize that there is more
money to go to the hospital, to buy extreme reality show with challenges to the priesthood than Survivor-style
their food and to afford education like obeying one’s bishop, serving and challenges, Fr. Lucas said, it is a step by
but they still find reasons to be being one with the poor, and dealing step “heart and mind” discovery that
happy. This is why we are trying our with affluent, well-placed people who requires guidance from good role mod-
best to help them as Jesus told us to are used to getting their way. els, catechists, parents and lay groups.
help poor people,” Sr. Kim said. (KB/ While giving a workshop on com- The YFC–ILC workshop was held
CBCPNews) munication theology and the New at the Marikina Convention Center.
Evangelization last Saturday at the 20th (Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz)
A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013

EDITORIAL

Pacem in Terris
APRIL 11, 2013 was the 50th anniversary of Pacem in Terris. But it
looked like it just slipped by with nary a whimper, at least in this part
of Christendom—and, curiously, for one reason or the other. In the
Philippines, as perhaps in other parts of Asia, the social teachings of
the Church are not as religiously favorite as, say, traditional religious
beliefs or the most recent social advocacies.
This social encyclical that was issued on April 11, 1963—in the
thick of the cold war or barely two years after the erection of the
Berlin Wall and few months after the Cuban Missile Crisis—may
be rivaled only by Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum. It was touted
as a “platform for Catholic social action.” On its release, it has
immediately gained wide attention even from non-Catholics. The
United Nations, in fact, held a three-day special conference on this
document. It was the first time—and, certainly, the last time—that
the New York Times printed a papal encyclical in toto.
One can only think of two reasons, among others, why this social
encyclical gained so much attention at that time: one, because of
Pope John XXIII’s conspicuous mediating role in averting the Cuban
missile crisis, for which Premier Nikita Khruschev of the USSR
reportedly said, “In regard to what Pope John did for peace, his was
humanistic assistance that will be recorded in history.” And, two,
because of the raging debates on-going at the halls of Vatican Council
II that after a year or so issued a Decree on Religious Liberty which
apparently was substantially influenced by the perspective of this
monumental papal document.
At a time in history characterized by an enormous build up of nuclear

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

arsenal and a worsening cold war brought about by new frontiers in
geo-politics and ideological differences, Pope John XXIII in Pacem
in Terris offered a plausible option, not only to Catholics, but to all
men of goodwill that peace on earth is possible through the divinely
established order. He called for disarmament and supported the United
Nations as a worldwide authority that could end conflicts between
nations. He encouraged economic cooperation among nations and
stressed that no country may pursue its own interests in isolation.
He stressed that public authorities have a special obligation to serve Oscar. V. Cruz, DD
the less fortunate and posited that no law contrary to the moral order
is ever binding on citizens. He made prominent the growing rights What’s happening?
Views and Points
of the working class, the advancement of women, the spread of
democracy and the strong conviction that war was surely not a way
to obtain peace and justice.
Despite massive technological advancements and the end of the cold
war with the collapse of the USSR and the Berlin Wall nothing much THERE is much truth to the claim: “It’s more proliferation of illegal drugs, the phenom- their pro-poor, pro-people, pro-development
has really changed especially in terms of economic cooperation or fun in the Philippines!” Yes, there are those enon of unbridled criminality even against stance? Is there anyone among both the
otherwise and the constantly shifting geopolitics. With the presently beaches with their sand, gentle waters and women and children, not to say anything incumbents and the candidates who does
gaping conflict in the Korean peninsula, the global war against clean surrounding. Yes, there are places in about the ready availability of high, middle, not proclaim his/her honesty and integrity,
terrorism, the religious fundamentalism in Muslim nations and the the country that are still luxuriously verdant and low cost prostitution both in urban and industry and dedication to public welfare?
deeply entrench self-interest of the West, perhaps there is a pressing and impressive to behold as they still remain rural areas. Is it not true that in the last analysis, all the
need for a re-statement of Pacem in Terris—but in the language of
untouched—not yet exploited, not yet des- As some kind of a crowning glory of the sitting as well as aspiring politicos practically
the present and to the same targeted men of goodwill that may still
be in the works. ecrated—by irresponsible mining, inordinate same “fun”, there is the ever entertaining profess their respective sainthood?
logging and other manifestations of human and amusing as well as disgusting “Only More than credible socio-economic plans,
greed. There is even now the newly discov- in the Philippine Politics!” Translation: programs, and projects, the more important
ered yet already well-known “Underground Politics in the country has been long since pre-occupation of the so-called political par-
Laity’s involvement and leadership in politics River”—a marvel of the world that is amaz- the cause of laughter and tears, of applause ties in the country is what color they wear,
ing to behold, awesome to remember. and curse—ultimately leading to the poverty what motto they shout, what entertainment
IN the Philippines today given the general perception that politics In addition thereto—or it is precisely as and misery of millions of Filipinos vis-à-vis they provide the electorate—not to mention
has become an obstacle to integral development, the urgent necessity a downright negation of the said “fun”— the dynastic power and wealth of but a few what “things” they give away to get their
is for the lay faithful to participate more actively, with singular there are the infamous casinos all over the clans. Philippine politics is definitely a big votes. Yes. There are still some intelligent
competence and integrity, in political affairs. It is through the laity country now envisioned to soon become cause of Philippine catastrophe. and capable, honest and dedicated aspirants
that the Church is directly involved. the gambling capital in this part of the Questions: How could politics be a liability for public office on the occasion of the forth-
world—not to mention the envisioned des- to Philippine society? Are not all incumbent coming elections. But even if all are elected,
Charges of careerism, idolatry of power, egoism and corruption tination of crooks and gangsters from the politicians dedicated to public service? Do there are so few to make a difference in
that are oftentimes directed at persons in government, four corners of the globe. There is also the not all candidates for public office pledge Philippine politics. Sad but true!
parliaments, the ruling classes, or political parties, as well as
the common opinion that participating in politics is an absolute
Fr. Roy Cimagala
Democracy hacked
moral danger, does not in the least justify either skepticism
or an absence on the part of Christians in public life. (cf.
Christifideles Laici, #42)
Our Plenary Council stands on record to urge lay faithful to participate
actively and lead in the renewing of politics in accordance with
Candidly Speaking
values of the Good News of Jesus.
But that politics may truly be renewed, let us all be reminded that WE need to be wary of a certain Democracy has become a and autonomy. the push to legalize same-sex
Catholic who are given a charge of public life faithfully abide by observable drift in world devel- purely human game with hardly But these days, it would seem marriages by presenting it as a
the Gospel and by the moral and social teachings of the Church, opments, especially in the area any relation to a law that ulti- that any appeal to God in work- way to have a kind of marriage
given the parameters of religious liberty. In a special way, in the of politics, which show signs mately comes from God. It has ing out our politics and all other equality is a clear example of
context of our political imbalances, the following truths must guide that things are taken out of their exaggerated and absolutized its temporal affairs like our busi- how democracy is defaced and
the participation of Catholics in political life: a) that the basic proper foundation. principle, coined by the Ameri- ness, culture, education, etc., is has gone amok. It is not anymore
standard for participation be the pursuit of the common good; b) This refers to the general un- can President Lincoln of being a taboo, is a no-no, is a contradic- inspired by God’s law, but rather
that participation be characterized by a defense and promotion of derstanding, with its related way “government of the people, by tion to our very humanity, our by human preferences.
justice; c) that participation be inspired and guided by the spirit of of living it, of the very concept the people and for the people.” rights and freedom, etc. We need to overcome this
service; d) that it be imbued with a love of preference for the poor; of democracy. There are indica- It seems the general and com- And so, from this weak con- prejudice that, I imagine, comes
and e) that empowering people be carried out both as a process and tions, each time getting clearer, mon understanding of democ- ception of democracy, graver from a certain mentality that at
as a goal of political activity. that democracy is practically racy now has practically for- errors start getting committed least sidelines God if not deny
hacked and then defaced in the gotten that all authority comes not only individually but also his existence and his providence
Catholics in politics have to work in favor of legislation that is sense that it is detached from its from God and should be used in collectively. Now RH is ok with altogether.
imbued with these principles. Knowing that the wrong behavior and proper life source. accordance to God’s laws that ac- its open approval of contracep- We need to realize that espe-
values are often rewarded or left unpunished, Catholic politicians Democracy, as articulated by tually allow a certain autonomy tion. Divorce is being mulled. cially in this crucial aspect of
have to put teeth to good legislation by making certain that the many of our political leaders given our human condition. In other countries, abortion is our life—our politics that affects
correct system of rewards and punishment be strictly enforced in today here and abroad, is openly This autonomy is supposed already legal, euthanasia is ap- all of us—a clear and strong
public life. being removed from God as its to accommodate the many dif- proved, and same-sex unions are reference to God is made as one
source and is slowly but steadily ferent and legitimate options promoted. All these coming as a of democracy’s fundamental
The over-all value that must be infused into the political order has to being propped up by mere hu- we can have in pursuing our result of a so-called democratic principles.
be that of solidarity, with expressing concretely the commandment of man maneuverings with the temporal affairs, like our poli- mentality where if there is a ma- Otherwise, we would be left
live, urges “the active and responsible participation of all in public more powerful and gifted in tics, but options that do not go jority or a significant number of on our own, and with that, we
life, from individual citizens to various groups, from labor unions terms of talents, money, popu- against God’s laws. Otherwise, the people asking for anything can never have some universal,
to political parties. All of us, each and everyone, are the goal of larity if not in terms of guns and that autonomy is abused and regardless of its morality, then absolute basis for what is good
public life as well as its leading participants. (Acts of the Council, goons getting undue advantage would already be a distortion if it should be given. and bad, what is fair and not fair.
nos. 348-353) of the others. not a negation of such freedom In the United States today, Candidly Speaking / A7
-- Acts and Decrees of the Second
Plenary Council of the Philippines, 1991 Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, SThD
Active, Seasonal and Nominal
Catholics: How many? Along The Way
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

ONLY 37 percent of Catholics regularly
attend Sunday Mass and only 29 percent
regard themselves as very religious. This
is the findings of the SWS survey released
last week. Some bishops and priests
thought that this is not accurate since they
noted that the number of Masses and Mass
Pedro C. Quitorio Ronalyn R. Regino attendance has actually increased.
Editor-in-Chief Layout Artist How should we interpret this survey
result and what challenges does this pose
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Gloria Fernando for the Church in the Philippines?
Associate Editor Marketing Supervisor For me, 37 percent of Catholics who at-
tend mass regularly is relatively high. In
Roy Q. Lagarde Ernani M. Ramos 1990, a preparatory document for PCP II
News Editor Circulation Manager mentioned that only 15-20 percent of Cath-
olics regularly attend mass. That’s even a
Kris Bayos Marcelita Dominguez high estimate according to some analysts
Features Editor Comptroller who thought that it’s less than 10 percent.
We need to take into consideration that
most of the parishes in the countryside
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communica- have a network of barrio chapels or Basic
tions Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business offices Ecclesial Communities that are far from
at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. the parish center.
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940 These communities do not have the
luxury of celebrating the Eucharist once a
week. Usually, the parish priest can only
come once a month or once every two
months to celebrate Mass with these com-
munities. Instead, they have a weekly bible
service or Liturgy of the Word presided by
lay liturgical leaders.
For a parish with over 50 thousand
parishioners, an average of five thousand
regular church goers every Sunday would
already be high. The number would in-
crease during lent, advent (especially the
Misa de Gallo) and the parish fiesta and
the novena-masses before the fiesta. Even
the weekly bible-service celebrated in the
chapels would not get over 50 percent
attendance, except during the special
liturgical seasons. A BEC bible-service in
a barangay with a membership of around
200 families would usually have 20-40
regular attendees.
We may never get to know the exact
percentage of Catholics who attend mass
regularly. We won’t have an accurate
figure of Catholics who are living actively
as genuine disciples of Christ. This means
not just attending Mass regularly, but also
active involvement in the parish, BECs or
Church organizations and movements. We
won’t know exactly how many Catholics
have been truly evangelized and have
gone through a process of personal conver-
sion. We don’t have any idea how many
Catholics have imbibed the teachings and
values of Christ as taught by the Church
or how many Catholics come together to
listen and reflect on the Word of God, and
filled with missionary dynamism share it
with others. We don’t know how many
Catholics, guided by the Church’s social
teachings, are involved in works of char-
ity, justice and peace, promotion of human
rights—including the right to life, and
environmental advocacy.
All we know is that their percentage is
low. It would be good news if they make
up 37 percent or even 20 percent—that
would be too good to be true. They are
just a minority but they are making a dif-
ference. This is what the BECs and other
Along The Way / A7
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago
Duc in Altum
IS there really a Catholic Vote?
This is the question that has
been asked by many since the
Pro RH politicians argued that
there is no Catholic Vote. The
passage of the RH law is a
wakeup call to every Catholic
and Filipino family. Our reli-
gious and constitutional rights
were violated, and now is the
appropriate time to unite as a
people of God.
We must always remember
“Where a divided vote changes
nothing, a united vote changes
everything.”
The Sangguniang Laiko ng
Pilipinas (or Laiko, formerly
called Council of the Laity of
the Philippines), which is the
lay arm of the CBCP Episcopal
Commission on the Laity, was
approached by various groups
seeking for guidance and en-
dorsement on their initiatives to
organize a synergistic campaign
for legislators who will stand
up for the authentic promotion,
preservation and defense of the
people of God. This was an off-
shoot of the passage of RH law.
At that time, Laiko was told
that around 7 groups, who
called themselves almost a syn-
onymous name, as “Catholic
Vote”, have bonded distinctly
from each other, but for the same
cause and instituted moves to
vote for legislators who will fight
against the looming D.E.A.T.H.
Bills (Divorce, Euthanasia or
mercy killing, Abortion, Total
Population Control, Homosexu-
ality or same sex union) and any
bills which are anti-family, anti-
life, anti-Church, anti-religion.
Thus, the Laiko Board decided
to call upon its members, 50
Archdiocesan/Diocesan Coun-
cils of the Laity and 51 affiliated
National Organizations, to a
discernment and consultation
meeting where the crucial role of
the lay faithful are called, by vir-
tue of our baptism, to respond to
the many critical challenges that
confront the Filipino family. The
call in particular, is to respond
to the challenge of deliberately
organizing for the same cause, as
citizens of the Kingdom of God
and our beloved country, in the
forthcoming national elections.
The discernment and consul-
tation meeting has resulted in
the creation of the “Lay Solidar-
ity Coalition for the Preservation
of Life and the Filipino Family”
or in short “Lay Solidarity for
Family and Life” which decided
to endorse candidates for sena-
tors. The vision-mission is the
protection and preservation
of Filipino family and life. In
search for a more apt and catchy
name, it adopts the name “White
Vote Movement,” Vote for Fam-
ily, Vote for Life. Their website
is www.whitevote.org which
states the details and a video on
the movement.
***
It may be recalled that the
CBCP issued a Pastoral Letter
after its January 2013 Plenary As-
sembly, “Proclaim the Message,
in Season and Out of Season”.
The CBCP declared that “Human
life must be respected and protected
absolutely from the moment of con-
ception. From the first moment of
his existence a human being must
be recognized as having the rights
of a person – among which is the
inviolable right of every innocent
being to life” (Catechism of the
Opinion
‘Where a divided vote changes
nothing,a united vote changes
everything!’
Catholic Church or CCC, no. 2270).
The use of artificial means to prevent
human life from being conceived is
evil (CCC, no. 2370). Sexual acts
are forbidden outside of marriage
(CCC, nos. 2390-91).”
Thus, our bishops categori-
cally stated: “We support and
encourage the participation of the
laity in electing competent and
morally upright candidates who are
faithful to their correct and informed
conscience.”
Why should we, the laity, be
proactive in this electoral exer-
cise? Let us be reminded of the
role of the laity:
As laity, we are called to share
in the mission of Christ’s Church
by living in the midst of the
world and addressing all its
problems and concerns with
the divine message of salvation.
(Decree on the Apostolate of the
Laity, Pope Paul VI, November
18, 1965, (3)).
As laity, we are called to com-
munion as the people of God,
where there is a diversity of
ministry but oneness of mission.
Our mission is to affirm the unity
in diversity of the various valid
approaches taken by Catholics
in political life: running for and
holding public office, civil ser-
vice, educating voters, promot-
ing the integrity of the political
process (e.g., poll watching by
PPCRV), etc.
The Church is a living and
functioning body and we as
members bring diverse, but
complementary gifts, talents,
ministries, and responsibilities.
In living out our vocation as the
lay faithful, we “can never remain
in isolation from the community,
but must live in a continual interac-
Fr. Russell A. Bantiles
tion with others, with a lively sense
of fellowship, rejoicing in an equal
dignity and common commitment
to bring to fruition the immense
treasure that each has inherited.”
John Paul II, Homily at the
Solemn Eucharistic Concelebra-
tion for the Close of the Seventh
Ordinary General Assembly of
the Synod of Bishops (October
30, 1987)
“Lay believers are in the front
line of Church life; for them the
Church is the animating princi-
ple of human society. Therefore,
they in particular ought to have
an ever-clearer consciousness
not only of belonging to the
Church, but of being the Church,
the community of the faithful on
earth under the leadership of the
Pope, the common Head, and
of the bishops in communion
with him. They are the Church.”
CCC 899.
“Whoever is not against us is
for us.” (Mark 9:38-40). Jesus
reminds us of the call for har-
mony. It is a call for tolerance
and respecting the freedom of
conscience of another. It is a
call to appreciate that anyone
regardless of group or affilia-
tion can do the work of Christ
because the Master does not
discriminate. So must we as His
servants gathered in His name.
Lay Christians need to per-
meate social, political, and eco-
nomic realities. “The initiative
of lay Christians is necessary
especially when the matter in-
volves discovering or inventing
the means for permeating social,
political, and economic realities
with the demands of Christian
doctrine and life. This initiative
Duc In Altum / A7
A5
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola
Spaces of Hope
I Vote Good
MY team had been excitedly preparing for a house-to-house
visit in two sitios of Barangay Luz in Cebu City for Dilaab’s I
Vote Good campaign. I braced myself for the sweltering heat
that oozes out of tightly-packed houses during a summer day.
I was not mistaken.
So from 7 to 11 a.m. last Sunday 14 April, about 40 volunteers
gathered at the capilla of Sitio Kalinaw (“peace”) for a prayer-
ful send-off. The campaign would cover another adjacent sitio,
Sto Niño. The volunteers had stickers and flyers with them that
declared that “I matter. My vote matters.” Another one said:
“Kandidatong Mopalit, Korapsyon Kapalit.” The team sought
to convince people to vote good by not selling their votes and
by choosing candidates discerningly.
There was a festive air in the gathering as an original song
by a Bisrock (“Bisaya rock”) band, Assembly Language, titled
“Tayo Na” dominated the acoustic space. The catchy tune had
a challenge: “Tayo na, buksan ang mga mata, magtanong at
makisuri habang tayo’y bata pa.” Local residents, led by their
chapel leaders, including Jerome, a special child, soon joined
the Dilaab volunteers. All became human billboards with a
t-shirt giveaway, complementing streamers that were hung
in the area.
This could very well have been a group of political cam-
paigners, only that we were not rooting for a person or a party
but campaigning for voter’s values rooted in the biblical fact
of being created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:27);
hence, endowed with intelligence and free will. Vote buying
violates this fundamental truth.
After I gave them and their articles a blessing (“for the
sending of missionaries,” with some changes), they were off.
The team split into two groups. Then, with local-resident
volunteers leading the way, a spokesperson knocked at the
door and explained our presence. I soon found myself shar-
ing a brief thought: “Tulo ka adlaw nga kalipay, tulo ka tuig
nga pagmahay” (“three days of happiness; three years of re-
morse”). For those who agreed, a sticker was posted outside
their home and a flyer on the campaign with explanation on
the LASER test was given.
I ended with a blessing: “For peace, good health, disasters
averted, and for enough prosperity to show that God blesses
those who do his will” and sprinkling of holy water upon the
household and on the Vote Good sticker.
No single household turned us away and one could feel
joy in the people we visited. Someone even observed that
they were consoled at our message and presence. During a
post-activity assessment one local resident was so effusive
in her gratitude. After an initial apprehension thinking we
were a party list group, she was so happy this happened in

Why the RH law can

never be catholic
PARDON my insistence on this issue. But
there’s an erroneous thought that goes
around today insisting on the compatibility
of the RH law with Catholic doctrines. While
I admit that the RH law issue is already irri-
tating to tackle about, what is more irritating
is the fact that RH law advocates, who could
not make Catholics pro-RH, are now trying
to make the RH law catholic.
In clarifying this question, I am simply
doing my ministry as a priest, that is, to
“proclaim the message, in season and out of
season” (Cfr. 2 Tim 4:2). It is because, today,
as in the time of St. Paul, some “people will
not put up with sound doctrine, but having
itching ears, they will accumulate for them-
selves teachers to suit their own desires, and
will turn away from listening to the truth
and wander away to myths” (2 Tim 4: 3-4).
I don’t think the RH law only provides for
“choice according to religious conviction”,
as one intellectual claims, for two reasons:
first, I don’t think laws only provide op-
tions or choices. The helmet law which took
effect in Davao City recently does not only
Fr. Francis Ongkingco
Cogito
provide for a choice on whether or not a Catholic doctrines simply because the law
motorist would use standard helmets. The “provides for choice according to religious
law prescribes it under penalty. Do you conviction” is seriously flawed and is com-
think the RH law only provides for a choice pletely missing the point. The point at issue
on whether an adult married Filipino couple here is not whether Catholics have or don’t
would use condom or rhythm method? Tell have choices. The central point is that the RH
it to the marines! If the law only provides law promotes contraception, something that
for a choice, why the need to make it a law? Catholic teaching cannot tolerate.
Don’t couples already have a choice before While it is important to emphasize that
the RH law? people should have choices, it is equally
Secondly, I don’t think the RH law guar- important to analyze what kind of choices
antees religious conviction when all it pre- people should have. Freedom does not
scribes and promotes is the contraceptive consist merely in having choices. True free-
mentality which is contrary to the religious dom is choosing the good. Evil choice is not
conviction of the majority of Filipinos. By freedom; it is slavery. If married couples are
promoting the use of contraceptives, the law given the choice to use contraception, this is
is insensitive to the religious conviction of an evil choice. Hence, it does not make them
the Catholic majority. Besides, it endangers free: it enslaves them.
the conscience of all Catholics who are striv- Therefore, something in the RH law is
ing to be good Catholics through obedience intrinsically evil: the promotion of contracep-
to the Magisterium. Is that the way the law tion. That alone makes it incompatible with
guarantees the free exercise of religious the Catholic doctrine. Even non-Catholics
freedom and conviction? with good will and who are lovers of life will
Moreover, the argument of those who surely reject the RH law. How much more a
hold that the RH law is compatible with the Catholic priest like me?
‘Quid Ploras?’
her barangay.
The mainly-youth group of volunteers beamed with well-
deserved pride. But we had only begun. A mass at the capilla
was slated that evening with a “pulong-pulong” (“townhouse
meeting”) afterwards.
Sweating from the heat of the sun, we felt closer to what Pope
Francis refers to as “shepherds living with the smell of sheep.”
***
The manifesto of the I Vote Good campaign begins:
Can a vote fix a pothole? Unclog the drainage in a street?
Provide safe drinking water? Or reduce crime and corrup-
tion?
Many think not. It is, after all, such a heavy load and a huge
task for such a little vote.
But think of it as a voice. Your voice. One that says “No” to
all the problems that plague us today. And “Yes” to change.
Yes, to what really is good…
The way we conduct our elections is the original sin of graft
and corruption in our country. Many problems start here.
Candidates are convinced they have to buy votes and so they
look for investors. When such candidates make it, they have
to repay these investors.
On the other hand, voters look for the lesser evil only to fall
into the quagmire of lesser evil becoming greater evil once in
power. Or voters assume a “gambling mentality” by choos-
ing candidates who are more likely to win, without any other
consideration. Problem is, when such candidates win, most
become losers due to poor governance and corruption.
In the 2010 elections, Dilaab launched the “I Vote God”
campaign to combat vote buying and encourage people to use
the LASER test. LASER stands for lifestyle, action, supporters,
election conduct, and reputation. This time around, to cast an
even wider net, with “I Vote Good” campaign.
The I Vote Good campaign is inspired by what a Cebuano
priest had done in the 2004 and 2007 elections in his rural par-
ish. Fr. Virgilio Pedrano had preached against vote buying and

Whatever
“WHY are you crying?” This is weep when they are helpless
what we often ask a child wan- and seek adults to give them se-
dering alone, lost and looking curity. But what happens when
for his parents or guardians. adults cry?
The situation detaches us from When adults—that is, you
whatever we may have been and me—cry, there is always a
doing and delays us from getting reason. When someone cries for
to where we are going if only to no reason, then it is most likely
help him. that he has lost his wits or due
Young as they are, they are to some uncontrolled burst of
in no condition to give us any psycho-emotional reactions from
clue about how to recognize or stress or tension. Only man can
locate their parents. We stoop cry, and crying in man is not a
down to comfort them and try mere biological-chemical reac-
to extract whatever information tion, but is revealing of the deep
from their clothes, bags and even inner longing in his heart seeking
toys. When all else fails, the most comfort.
we could at least obtain is their ***
name.  This was precisely what Mary
We calm the child and head Magdalene heard as she wept
for the paging system to ‘lo- by the empty tomb where she
cate’ the parents. I amuse supposed our Lord’s body re-
myself when this happens by mained. Her intentions were
wondering who is really lost: simple: to return through hidden
is it the child or his parents? and simple gestures the great
The child restlessly continues things that Jesus had done for
to cry, and can only finally be her, especially by freeing her
comforted when he ‘finds’ his from the demons that enslaved
parents approaching the PA her soul.
booth. Once again we hear the All throughout our Lord’s
parents asking: “Why are you Passion we could imagine how
crying?” this woman must have wept
Adults naturally know the bitterly and continuously. There
answer to why children cry. The was nothing in this world that
question is not demanding an would contain her grief, with
answer, because it is meant to the exception of rendering for
bridge comfort and encourage- Jesus’ corpse simple burial ritu-
ment to a lost or hurt child. It als. But her ordeal was further
really means: “Don’t cry because aggravated when she found the
I’m here!” Children naturally tomb empty. How this must
have re-opened the wounds of
her sorrows.
So great was her sadness, early
Christian authors would amaz-
ingly observe, that she was not
even consoled by the vision of
angels in the tomb. Nothing in
this world could now satisfy
the love that has grown in her
heart for Jesus. That was when
our Lord approached her from
behind and asked: “Woman,
why are you crying?”
Again it is the same question
but no longer asked by just any
man but by one who is perfect
God and perfect man. His ques-
tion was not seeking a response,
but was actually an answer to
all of Magdalene’s longings: the
only thing that matters in life
is finding God and possessing
Him. When this is attained then
one would no longer have rea-
sons to cry.
I find it strange that there are
person’s who deify science and
technology. They seek to mea-
sure and quantify everything
in life so as to reject God’s exis-
tence. Crying, they would very
well explain, is due to glands,
hormones, triggers and many
other bio-chemical sources. But
this why of science is nothing but
a how of things. In reality science
can only go so far as to elaborate
on how things happen, but never
why they are so.
Can you imagine trying to
comfort someone weeping by
expounding on the bio-chemical
processes of his or her tear
glands? Even though how sci-
entific our explanation may be,
it will not help a person confront
realities such as sadness, love,
forgiveness, loyalty and even
death. This is why I believe that
man’s tears, like prayers, actu-
ally contain eternal lessons.
When Jesus asked Magda-
lene, ‘why are you weeping?’
Our Lord was not saying that
we should not feel sad, but He
was reminding us through her
that even in this life—although
we may shed tears—there is
really no room for the only sad-
ness: of being without God, be-
cause Christ’s presence in our
life, unless willfully rejected
through grace sin, can never
be removed.
Man’s earthly life, in this
valley of tears, can never guar-
antee true and lasting happiness.
Besides external trials, there is
the burden of our disordered
tendencies (i.e. our sinful con-
dition), which we will never
overcome without divine help.
These are not merely negative
obstacles or weights, they too
remind us that our deepest
longings (e.g. happiness, peace,
justice, forgiveness, etc.) can only
be fulfilled one day in Heaven
where ‘God will wipe aware our
every tear.’
convinced the local politicians not to buy votes. Most complied.
He then undertook a barangay-to-barangay campaign remind-
ing people that “God blesses those who do not sell their votes
but he remembers those who do so.” People still recall how,
in his sutana and carrying a walking stick, he made the sorties
even up to the late evening.
The result? Five of the seven barangays greatly reduced the
incidence of vote-buying. Voters and politicians continue to
be thankful for this change that has made their town “more
peaceful” even after Fr. “Ver” was moved to another parish.
***
I Vote Good requires circles of discernment. Such circles can
be as informal as the family meal, a gathering of barkadas at a
sports event or in the mall, even a social network. Members
of a discernment circle—taking its cue from “circle” as a set
of coplanar points equidistant to the center—share radical
equality. The focus is on shared charisms and competencies.
Circles of discernment do not call for a new organiza-
tion but only the reconfiguration of existing Church—and
other—networks so they become attuned to political realities
from the perspective of their Christian faith. Hence, a CFC
household retains its nature and purpose as understood by
the members of the CFC, only that it conducts its meeting as
a circle of discernment.
On the other hand, “discernment” means “to separate.” At
a distance, things seem to merge and parts are often indistin-
guishable. Elections can be a very confusing affair with all
its noise and images. Only the truly discerning can separate
substance from images. Discernment is a prayerful process
leading to communal action seeking to do God’s will. This
is crucial since most Filipinos are God-fearing but many are
not discerning enough with regards socio-political issues. Or
we as Church may just have not paid enough attention to the
discernment process.
This lack of discernment is seen in the usual way the Church
engages elections. We come out with broad guidelines (e.g.
“maka-Dios”), conduct voters’ education, and do poll watch-
ing. Yet, after many years, many politicians still do not promote
the common good and the truly God-fearing among them
seem to be in the minority. In reality, more concrete and par-
ticular data and information are needed to form the so-called
practical conscience. This implies a deliberate, organized,
Spaces on Hope / A7
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013

Bishop calls for tighter security Detained voters critical in senate, council races
POLITICIANS should carefully study
the stance they will take on issues
Republic Act 10389, which releases
an indigent detainee under the cus-

around Tubbataha Reef

THE government should enforce ‘tight-
er’ security measures to protect the
Tubbataha Reef after a Chinese fishing
vessel ran aground the marine park, a
Catholic bishop said.
Palawan Bishop Pedro Arigo said the
incident is “unfortunate” considering
that it happened just days after a US
warship that hit and damaged the pro-
tected area was finally removed.
“I don’t know if the authority has the
capability but what is really needed is
a stricter, closer and tighter security in
the area to avoid this kind of incident
again,” Arigo said in a radio interview.
But the bishop said the problem is
that the government lacks resources
to enforce maritime law around the
concerning Death Penalty and Juve- tody of a qualified member of the
nile Delinquency as detainees and barangay, city or the Church where
prisoners can help make or break the he resides through the concept of
race of national and local lawmakers. recognizance.
support and funding to our coast guard Rudy Diamante of the CBCP Epis- “Inmates who cannot post bail be-
for them to have modern equipments,” copal Commission on Prison Pastoral cause they cannot afford to can still
he said. Care (ECPPC) said the 72,000 prison- be released to the custody of qualified
“And if there’s a need for more man- ers participating in the upcoming members of his community because
power that will secure the area, the May polls may dictate the results of of this legislation,” he said.
government should do something about the national senatorial race and the Diamante said the “act institution-
it, Arigo added. local election of councilors. alizing recognizance as a mode of
The Chinese fishing vessel manned “The right to suffrage is a basic granting the release of an indigent
by 12 persons ran aground the famous human right that should not be taken person in custody as an accused in
marine sanctuary last Tuesday, where away if you are detained. This is why a criminal case” is set to take effect
a US minesweeper got stuck in January prisoners, despite being deprived this April.
and was only removed few days ago. of their liberty, are instrumental in The law aims to promote restor-
The Philippines asked the United naming the 12th and 13th senate seat ative justice, especially among indi-
States to pay a fine of $1.5 million for the occupants,” he said. gent detainees, whose offenses are
2,345 square meters of coral reef dam- Diamante urged politicians to not punishable by life imprisonment
aged caused by the grounding. also visit jails and other detention or death.
The Aquino government, meanwhile, facilities to make their stance regard- “This legislation will also help
has charged the Chinese fishermen ing Death Penalty and the full imple- decongest crowded jails and prison

Unesco World Heritage site.
“We don’t have these modern equip-
ments so this is really our problem so
I hope government will give enough
with poaching, facing up to 12 years
and fines that could reach more than
P4 million depending on the violations.
(Roy Lagarde)
FILE PHOTO
mentation of the Juvenile Justice and facilities by up to 70 percent because
Welfare Act 2006 known to prisoners. this number represents the detainees
On a different note, Diamante that are qualified to apply for recog-
Bishop Pedro Arigo hailed the 15th Congress for enacting nizance,” he added. (KB/CBCPNews)

‘Botika ng Simbahan’ should have pharmacists
TO protect people from un-
necessary risks while taking
medicines that are sold over the
counter, the Philippine Pharma-
cists Association (PPA) urged
Church pharmacies to hire even
one pharmacist.
Some dioceses have opened
a “Botika ng Simbahan”—an
outreach that gives the poor
‘botika ng baranggay’ which is
a program of the Department of
Health that sell over the counter
and cheaper medicines. So in
order to protect all of us citizens
who need to intake a certain
medicine, it is best that every
pharmacy in the country should
have a pharmacist working,”
Robles said in a Church forum.
Cardinal Tagle to hold Mass on Labor Day
tendency that the person who
bought certain over the coun- MANILA Archbishop Luis cal gathering and solidarity
ter medicine can take it and be Antonio Cardinal Tagle will be lunch with the workers will
overdosed. We are always here holding a Mass at the Quiapo be held at the Plaza Miranda,
to help the Church train person- Church for the country’s work- outside the church.
nel who sell over the counter ers on Labor Day, May 1. On April 19, the CWS will
medicines to also give advice on Several priests and bishops also hold a forum on labor is-
how many dosage to take, etc.,” are expected to concelebrate sues at the Sto. Domingo Parish
Robles added. with Tagle “to pay tribute to the Church’s Multipurpose Hall in
She pointed out that they have workers’ invaluable contribu- Quezon City.

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

greater access to medicines at an
affordable price.
Dr. Yolanda Robles, the ex-
ecutive vice-president of PPA
said Republic Act 5921 states
that every pharmacy, either big
or small, should have a phar-
macist.
“The ‘botika ng simbahan’ of
the Church is also classified as a
Robles however stressed that
they are willing to partner with
the Catholic Church in teaching
hired workers for the “botika
ng simbahan” on how to handle
medicine and sell it rightly.
“We are aware that over the
counter medicines like antibi-
otics can be bought without
drug prescription. So there is a
no intention of stopping the
“botika ng simbahan” that sells
medicine without a pharmacist
in their staff.
“All we want is to help them
train pharmacy personnel to
know how to sell over the coun-
ter medicines,” Robles furthered.
(Jandel Posion with reports from
Regine Villalon)
tion to our society.”
Various labor groups are
also expected to grace the occa-
sion organized by the Church
People Workers Solidarity
(CWS), National Clergy Dis-
cernment Group and Promotion
Archbishop Luis Antonio of Church People’s Response.
Cardinal Tagle After the Mass, an ecumeni-
With the theme “The Hopes
and Dreams of the Workers”,
the forum hopes “to rekindle
the fire, unity and shared aims
among church people and
workers of a better society
where there is fullness of life
and equal dignity of all peo-
ple.” (CBCPNews)

Marchers / A1 Attendance / A1
elling by caravan and legal case against Apeco ernment backed out from peoples met with Aquino ment of livelihood proj- churchgoers and devotees of the also doing well, Jaro Archbishop
foot throughout central is ongoing, and regional the promise it made,” last year after a 350-kilo- ects for them. revered Black Nazarene. Angel Lagdameo said.
Luzon and Manila. government offices in he said. meter, 18-day march to For lowland farmers, That is why Msgr. Clemente “It’s a matter of minus and
“They are going back San Fernando. He said that they are dramatize their opposi- the government, he also Ignacio, Quiapo Church rec- plus. There are these who no
with their stories of The marchers are ex- particularly asking the tion to the project. said, likewise assured tor, could not believe with the longer go to Sunday Mass but
growing unrest at the pected to arrive in Met- result of the National The priest said they that the 105-hectare Es- result of the survey, suppos- there are also new Catholics who
government’s non-ful- ro Manila by April 22, Economic and Develop- are also asking the teves Agricultural Res- edly conducted last February started to go to Sunday Mass,”
fillment of most of its where they will remain ment Authority’s review government to stick ervation cannot be con- or two weeks before Pope Lagdameo said.
pledges,” Talaban said. until their demands for of the contested Aurora to its promise to grant verted to any other land Benedict XVI resigned from “The nine Masses in Jaro ca-
Since their meeting land titles, a credible Pacific Economic Zone 11,900-hectare certificate uses. his post. thedral are still filled to capacity.
with President Benigno economic review of (Apeco) project. of ancestral domain title “Four months after the The survey, however, was Priests maintain their Masses in
Aquino III last Decem- Apeco, and a morato- During their dialogue for San Ildenfonso Pen- dialogue, there’s no clear only released on April 8, same towns and barrios. This is the
ber, he alleged that Ape- rium on Apeco’s budget with Aquino and some insula. result on these prom- day that the Church’s biggest observation in our 93 parishes,”
co continued to commit are met by the govern- cabinet members last De- According to him, the ises,” he lamented. lay groups have combined he added.
violations such as illegal ment. cember, he said the gov- Aquino administration Talaban along with the forces to muster of millions of In Mindanao, the Diocese of
land conversions and il- ernment assured them pledged to renew the 120 marchers and other votes for senatorial candidates Marbel in South Cotabato had
legal logging. Where is your promise? that the review would Integrated Social For- Casiguran residents are who opposed a contraceptives just erected a new parish last
In that six-day journey, Talaban has asked be completed within two estry contracts covering returning to Manila to law. December 30 to accommodate
the Casiguran marchers President Benigno Aqui- months. 288-hectares for another demand the accomplish- Bro. Mike Velarde’s El Shad- the spiritual needs of people in
will be visiting Baler, no III to keep his promise “But until now, we 25 years. ment of Aquino’s prom- dai group and other lay orga- the area.
Baguio, San Jose City, to look into their con- are still waiting for the He added the gov- ises. nizations have launched the In fact, according to Marbel
Pampanga, and Bulacan. cerns against the coun- result. The NEDA should ernment also ensured “The fight continues. “White Vote Movement” to Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, they
They will also be mak- try’s first economic hub release it as what they’ve respect for small fish- We are going back to de- campaign against those who will inaugurate another new par-
ing key stops at the Su- in Aurora province. promised,” said Talaban. erfolk’s fishing rights mand fulfillment of their supported the passage of the ish this coming June 24.
preme Court office in “We are really disap- Some 120 farmers, fish- within the Casiguran promises,” Talaban said. Reproductive Health law. “In our 26 parishes, church
Baguio City, where a pointed because the gov- ermen and indigenous bay, and the establish- (CBCPNews) “I don’t have that kind of attendance is going up. I have
Candidates / A1 observation (decreasing Church visited 17 parishes (recently) and
attendance) because churchgo- the findings showed vibrancy,”
Boundary be beyond such,” Villegas said. ported the RH law, a contro- to terrorism or the use of goons ers in Quiapo are increasing,” he said. “All have integrated par-
The pastoral letter also “Religions that waltz with poli- versial measure that provides for self protection within or out- Ignacio said. ish pastoral action plans based
warned church leaders and lay tics will die by politics”. state funding for contraceptives side the campaign period In Visayas, church attendance on the diocesan strategic plan.”
Catholic groups against endors- “The Church must guide and should not be elected. • only shows religiosity dur- in Iloilo province’s 93 parishes is (Roy Lagarde)
ing specific candidates, saying not dictate. The Church must Aside from not voting pro- ing the campaign period or
that it is a bad idea for the church unite and not contribute to the choice candidates, church lead- antagonistic to church teachings PPCRV / A1
and ministers. division. The Church must pray ers should also encourage voters and practices
The archbishop stressed that and not add to the confusion. not to support candidates who: • is unfaithful to his or her election problems that include Ginny de Villa talked about “En-
when the church endorses can- The Church must heal and not • has been linked to drug marriage vows disenfranchisement of voters gaged Citizenship” for national
didates, its spiritual mission will inflict hurts. The Church must trade, drug possession and drug • has other members of the and other related scenario,” and local situations while Ramil
be compromised and religion be in the world but not belong use or who receives money from immediate family in government Nim added. Remulla, a faculty of Social
will be “reduced” to a political to it,” he added. illegal gambling or has done positions already He also calls for additional Sciences Department of DLSU-
party. nothing to stop illegal gambling volunteers with the require- Dasma talked about “Empower-
“We will be lonesome wid- Voting guide like “jueteng” “We submit these guidelines ments of being a registered ment” and the right of suffrage
ows after the elections for mar- Instead of naming names and • has been convicted for a to you and plead with you to voter, a legitimate resident of of every Filipino together with
rying partisan politics during creating further division, he also criminal offense bring them to prayer. If Jesus his/her parish and should be Catholic Social Teachings and
the campaign,” Villegas said. said that church leaders should • supports black sand mining would vote, for whom would non-partisan. Filipino Social Values.
According to him, the en- just provide guidelines for voters and tolerates irresponsible quar- he vote? Vote like Jesus. If you Romulo Guillermo, PPCRV
dorsed candidate may win but for an informed choice. rying or illegal fish pens cannot find Jesus from among Support voter’s education deputy co-
the Church “always ends up Villegas said Church interest • has not done anything until the candidates just make sure Unlike other archdioceses ordinator discussed about the
loser” because its mission will is best served if its leaders and now to uplift the plight of the you do not make Judas or and dioceses which earlier this automated elections, how to be
be tarnished with the “stain of laity will help voters examine poor Barabbas win,” he also said. month cut ties with PPCRV, a volunteer and poll watching.
the mundane.” the candidates “diligently” in the • buys votes or distributes “If you sell your vote, you Kidapawan remains solid in its Meanwhile, (Ret.) Commodore
“The Church should not be light of the Catholic faith. goods during the campaign sell something sacred; you make support to PPCRV and sees no Amado Sanglay, the PPCRV
perceived as winning or losing Without naming names, he period yourself a cousin of Judas too,” conflict with the stand of the Cavite lay coordinator gave the
an election. The Church must said those candidates who sup- • has been involved or linked said Villegas. Catholic hierarchy in coming participants an idea about the
up with a Catholic Vote for the diocese’s PPCRV task force for
White Vote / A1 upcoming polls. the midterm polls.
“It is very clear that PPCRV In a related development, the
sized the responsibil- the task to just anyone. of responsibility… they servants. They should Family Rosary Crusade, will not endorse any candidate diocesan youth ministry gath-
ity of the lay faithful to “Nasa inyong kamay are the ones to endorse be for God, life and fam- Family Rosary Crusade but will help in the education ered some 150 young people in
participate in putting ang magandang kinabu- people who will be ily,” Bacani pointed out – Youth Ministry, Holy campaign of voters to discern the diocese for voter’s educa-
morally upright political kasan,” Bacani told the good for the nation. toward the end of his Name Society of the the right candidate to be voted. tion at the St John Nepomucene
candidates in positions congregation. That is a right, it does homily. Philippines, Kababaihan We also have Catholic solidarity Parish in Alfonso, Cavite on the
of power and distin- The bishop also ex- not violate the guide- Member organiza- ng Maynila, Knights movements here in the diocese same day.
guished this from the plained that the teach- lines of the Church,” tions of the coalition are of Columbus – Luzon that are active with the Catholic Aside from the activity last
role of the clergy. ings of the Church en- he said. Adoracion Nocturna Jurisdiction, Legion of Vote, so we asked them to stick April 6, the diocese also con-
“Impart correct teach- courage ordinary lay While the laity may Filipina, Archdiocesan Mary, Live Christ Share with their movement and not ducted a recollection for PPCRV
ings and strengthen mo- citizens to take seriously choose to endorse or not Council of the Laity Christ Movement, Live anymore join PPCRV to avoid and local candidates in Cavite
rale—this is the role of the duty to elect—in- to endorse specific can- of Lipa, Archdiocesan Pure Movement, Light issues,” Nim furthered. province at the Holy Rosary
the bishops, said Pope cluding the option of didates, nobody can say Council of the Laity of of Jesus, Lord’s Flock, Chapel of DLSU-Dasma last
[Emeritus] Benedict XVI endorsement of individ- that endorsement is for- San Fernando, Pampan- Marriage Enhance- Imus diocese April 9.
in an encyclical that he uals running for public bidden for them, and in ga, Bukas Loob sa Diyos ment & Team Services, Meanwhile, in the diocese of Manila Archbishop Luis An-
wrote. And Pope Francis office—good leaders, fact it is the lay people’s Covenant Communi- Mother Butler Mission Imus, around 160 people gath- tonio Cardinal Tagle, the former
said… but direct par- pointing to the Second duty as responsible citi- ty, Catholic Teachers’ Guild, National Sandi- ered for the Pinoy Big Voter’s bishop of Imus was the recol-
ticipation in the trans- Plenary Council of the zens and Christians, the Guild, Children of God gan Foundation, St. Pe- Seminar at the De La Salle lection master and guest of the
formation of society, Philippines in 1991 prelate added. our Father of All Man- ter Community, St. John University-Dasmariñas (DLSU- event.
that is the work of the as one of the bases on “Pray together, dis- kind, Christian Family Apostle & Evangelist Dasma) Alumni Building last On April 20, the diocese will
laity,” Bacani said in his which this duty is an- cuss, act, so truth will Movement, Children of Assn., Teodora, Teresian April 6. also organize a Walk for Peace
homily. chored. prevail. Some base their Mary/Prayer Partners Association, Women of The seminar aimed to edu- from 6 a.m. to 12 noon at the
The prelate urged the “It was said in the decision on bribe, popu- Ex Seminarians for Asia for Development, cate parish coordinators to be Cathedral of the Our Lady of
people to embrace the re- Second Plenary Council larity, dancing talent… Life/ Kilos Laiko, Fa- and Young Christian facilitators of voter’s education the Pillar. (Jandel Posion with
sponsibility to transform of the Philippines, to we are not looking for milia Community, Fam- Workers of the Phils. in their respective parishes. reports from Christopher Mai-
society and not to leave lay people in positions celebrities but public ily Renewal Movement, (CBCP for Life) PPCRV’s executive director tem and Esteve Mata)

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013
Naval diocese opposes Biliran Geothermal operation
NAVAL, Biliran—Residents and
clergy of the Diocese of Naval
in Biliran province vocally ex-
pressed their opposition on the
drilling and operation of the 1st
geothermal exploration in the
island paradise.
In a letter sent to the Depart-
ment of Energy (DOE), Biliran
Diocesan News
A7
land is endowed with natural The magnitude of the opera- and well-being of the people.
resources that are inherent to it: tion also means the emission of “However, a geothermal proj-
water freely flows down moun- toxic gases like carbon dioxide ect in Biliran province would
tainsides, the presence of water- and hydrogen sulfide that could be a misplaced project because
falls and pristine beaches which harm the health of people and the island carries in itself a
are the major tourist attractions animal alike and affect global fragile ecosystem and volatile
of the province, the blessing of warming, will be as great. geographical condition that are
the forests, sauna and fauna, “Water in Biliran, reputed easy prey to the hazards and
among others. The island thrives to be the sweetest water in the dangers we have mentioned,”

residents and the clergy stressed
that the geothermal explora-
tion undertaken by the Biliran
Geothermal Incorporated (BGI)
poses danger to the environment
and the people.
“Biliran Province is a small
island province proudly called
‘paradise’ by us and visitors
alike. The island sits on a vol-
canic plate and is almost on the
path of storms and typhoons. It
is also vulnerable to landslides
and erosions being mountain-
ous,” parts of the letter read.
“On the other hand, the is-
on the produce of the lands (rice
and coconut primarily) and the
bounty of the sea,” they said.
If the geothermal operation
pushes through, they argued,
the island being beautiful yet
made vulnerable already by its
fragile ecosystem and volatile
geographical condition, could
be more exposed to the dangers
of geothermal operation.
“We are concerned of the
imbalance the geothermal opera-
tion would bring to the ecosys-
tem and also the consequences
later of natural and man-made
www.biliranisland.com
world, is one of our important said the group.
assets. If contaminated and pol- With this, they elevated the
luted by the geothermal opera- matter to the government agency
tion through reckless release of concerned and asked for their
water wastes into rivers, could kind and prompt action to stop the
damage aquatic life and make implementation of the operation.
The geothermal project in Biliran island is heavily opposed by residents
and clergy alike for the harm it might cause on the environment. water unsafe for drinking and “We appeal to your good office
irrigation. What is once an island to take into consideration the wel-
disasters and calamities, espe- of Biliran province go, Mr. Secre- with water abundance could be fare and interest first of our people
cially that if fully operational, tary? What would happen to our an island of waste and contami- and environment over the welfare
the area of geothermal block upland rice and forests? What nation,” they emphasized. and interest of the proponents. For
would comprise approximately would happen to our natural The group pointed out that “Daang Matuwid” does not only
260 square kilometers –more resources and the beauty of the they are not against any develop- mean good governance; among
than a third of the whole island- ‘paradise’ we are proud of?” ment project that preserves the others, it also means integrity of
province!,” they added. the group asked DOE secretary integrity of the environment and creation and the people,” they
“So, where would the people Carlos Jericho Petilla. ecosystem and assures the health furthered. (Jandel Posion)

Church group urges candidates to champion

urban poor’s plight Briefing
Catholics in Davao to hold 1st traditional pilgrimage
CEBU City—A church group called on less?” the group DAVAO City—As part of the celebration of the Year of Faith, Catholics in
political candidates to champion the asked in a press Mindanao will hold the 1st Catholic Traditional Pilgrimage on April 27,
plight of the urban poor amidst ongo- statement. 2013. Organized by the Latin Mass Society (LMS) of Davao, the event is part
ing demolition of their homes in Cebu At the Election of the activities recommended by the Pontifical Commission for the New
City’s barangay Luz. Summit held in Evangelization. Bro. Ryan Mejillano, founder of LMS, said the pilgrimage
Fr. Vicente Dayao, convenor of Cebu Cebu City last Feb- will be traditional in the sense that pilgrims will not ride a bus while going
City’s Archdiocesan Discernment ruary 23 this year, in pilgrimage but instead, will walk for 12 kilometers. (Jandel Posion)
Group (ADG) on Urban Poor said elec- the urban poor pre-
toral candidates should demonstrate sented the follow- Electoral group urges P-Noy, Binay to focus on issues not
that their reason for running is not for ing agenda to sum-
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

campaigns
personal gain “but to serve the people mit participants,
especially the poor.” which include po- ANTIPOLO City—Ecumenical electoral watch group Pagbabago! Cebu
“Now is the time to do something litical candidates. chapter called on President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar
to stop demolitions and all forms of “No to forced Binay Sr. to focus on good governance, instead of joining the respective
human rights violations against the eviction and de- political rallies of their respective parties. Rev. Jessie Primacio, co-chair of
marginalized sectors!” he declared. molition. Yes to Pagbabago! Cebu said the two top executives should minimize their presence
The discernment group—composed urban land reform. One of the several households destroyed in last year’s demolition in grand rallies for it sends an impression to the public that they are much
of priests, religious, and laity—lament- Implement on-site in Barangay Luz, Cebu City. focused on campaigning for their senatorial and local bets, rather than solv-
ed the ongoing demolition of urban development of ing the burgeoning problem in the health, education and housing sectors.
poor’s houses which began April 10 in the urban poor “They could show their support for their bets anyway in many other ways
but the government proceeded with the
Sitio Lubi, Barangay Luz. communities in public and private lots.” destruction of 32 households. without abetting a culture of patronage and blind loyalty from an uncritical
“Why are our poor brothers and The city government began demoli- crowd,” Primacio said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Dayao lamented the government’s
sisters in Sitio Lubi, Barangay Luz, tion of houses in Barangay Luz middle lack of concern on the plight of the ur-
treated not as human beings who of last year despite appeal of poor ban poor despite the group’s appeal to Rural missionaries-Mindanao co-founder dies at 63
have the right to adequate shelter? households to appropriate the lots to expropriate the lots to them. QUEZON City—Sr. Virginia “Virgie” Arocha, MSM, one of the founders of
When will our hearts of stone turn them “so they could pay for these lots The group held a prayer service for Rural Missionaries of the Philippines–Northern Mindanao Region (RMP–
into hearts of flesh which beat of love directly to the city government.” the victims of demolition on April 15 NMR) and the organizer of the Promotion of Church People’s Response
and compassion for our neighbors, Expropriation of lots would have at the gate of St. Joseph’s Cemetery, (PCPR)-Lanao chapter, died of cardiac arrest, believed to be due to her
especially the homeless and power- averted the knocking down of houses, Barangay Luz. (CBCPNews) lingering illness and diabetes. She was 63. Aside from PCPR and RMP, Sr.
Arocha is also one of the members of the Sisters’ Association in Mindanao
(Samin), an alliance of religious nuns in the area. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Bacolod launches Family and Life Center Remains of Filipina who died in Bahrain brought home
BACOLOD City—The San Law. The Diocese believed cial methods of contracep- The Center will conduct MANILA—The body of Kathleen Ann Viray Ilagan, the 31-year old pastry
Sebastian Cathedral of Ba- that artificial methods of tion can eventually lead to individual coaching, group chef who allegedly committed suicide inside the Philippine Embassy’s
colod diocese has launched contraception, particularly the unraveling of the moral teaching and teachers’ train- shelter, arrived on April 16 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in
on March 31 the San Sebas- the use of pills and other fabrics of Filipino society, ing for scientifically proven Parañaque City. Monterona said that doubts remain about Viray’s gruesome
tian Family and Life Center contraceptives, are harmful the degradation of women as and effective Natural Plan- death, since the police report stated that Kathleen had hung herself to death,
in an effort to provide natural to the health of mothers since “sex objects” and the destruc- ning Methods. on a doorknob, which is only waist-high. He also said that while there were
family planning services to there are cases that showed tion of the family. Married couples are invited repatriation documents and police reports, no autopsy report was included
married couples. adverse side effects such as As alternative to these ar- to visit the San Sebastian Fam- in the papers inserted in Kathleen’s casket. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
The NFP services are the cancer among those who are tificial methods of contracep- ily and Life Center from Tues-
Center’s response to the using these. tion, the San Sebastian Fam- day to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 Summit on social communications and mass media slated
growing need among Catho- On moral grounds, artifi- ily and Life Center would p.m. and Sunday 9 to 11 a.m. or MANILA—The Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and
lic couples who would like to cial contraception is against provide Marriage and Family they may contact for appoint- Mass Media (ECSCMM) together with the University of Asia and the Pacific
follow the Catholic teachings God’s will since it does not Counseling so as to have an ment and inquiries the follow- (UA&P) is organizing the 1st National Social Communications and Media
on Family Planning. follow the natural law and integrated approach to Fam- ing numbers: 09173011625, Summit on April 23, aimed at understanding deeper the challenges that con-
The Diocese of Bacolod does not respect the integrity ily Planning according to 09173275955, 09238476167, front media practitioners as Catholic Communicators. Media practitioner’s
has, for years, been in the of personhood. The rampant the teachings of the Catholic 09212749230, 09071085765. (Fr. active participation is very vital as the commission gives due importance
forefront against the RH availability and use of artifi- Church. Mickey Cardenas) to Social Communications and Media in the context of Faith and Politics,
especially now that the country is gearing towards the 2013 general elections
Spaces of Hope / A5 when all these are put in a crucial situation. (Jandel Posion)
and concerted effort which does not in European countries to require their form and kind.
leave politics and elections to media, members to vote as a block, which in This is no cohabitation either between
endorsements, campaign materials, essence, was to require their members the Church with any political ideology Along The Way / A4
and other usual sources of information to follow or tow party-lines, regardless or grouping since the effort focuses on
and even enticements. of their personal beliefs and conscience individuals, not groups. And discern- renewal movements are trying to the marginal and nominal Catholics.
These circles, then, represent a way of dictates. “Block-voting” was generally ment continues. accomplish—small groups and com- They are all members of the Church
proceeding with a communal-discern- invoked as party directive, a duty to the *** munities of Catholics, acting as salt, with varying degrees of participation
ment process to prayerfully identify party, and non-compliance therewith We returned to the chapel after the leaven and light in the midst of a ma- and involvement.
candidates who are worthy (or unwor- resulted in suspension of privileges or visits. I sat close to Jerome who gave me jority who are living as nominal and Since the majority of Catholics are
thy) of our vote. Or else why form such dismissal from the party.” a beautiful smile. Although his speech seasonal Catholics. either seasonal or nominal, and even
circles? Their judgment—resulting from This is not the vision of lay-led circles is incomprehensible, he knew what was When we look at the Church as a many of those who are active are
a prayerful process of discernment— of discernment since the list of those happening. And he felt good. whole, we have to look at it as com- still devotional or liturgical, there
need to be shared with others as a form deemed worthy of voting is the fruit of (For more info/queries please email posed of three concentric circles. is a need for new evangelization.
of Christian service. collective discernment, not a product of us at dilaabfoundationinc@yahoo.com. There is a small inner core of Catho- The creative minority in the Church
Is this “block-voting”? One writer one man or one group. The list will not ph or visit us at www.votegood.net or lics—lay, religious and ordained— are to be the agents of new evange-
notes, “‘block-voting’ was commonly be imposed on voters, but will merely like us at facebook http://www.face- who are living actively as disciples lization. Hopefully, those seasonal
used by political parties and groups suggest. There are no sanctions of any book.com/ivoteGOOD). of Jesus and involved in the life and Catholics will become more active
mission of the Church. Then there and the nominal will become seasonal
Candidly Speaking / A4 is a bigger middle core of seasonal or even active. What matters is not
Catholics who are involved occasion- just the quantity but the quality of
We should not be afraid Christ himself said that or not? Does he know how voke unnecessary conflicts ally and seasonally. Finally, at the Church membership. There is much
that this attitude of put- we should love our enemies to put God in his political and troubles, but it has to outer core, which is the largest, are to be done.
ting God in our politics and he even died on the cross agenda? Does he realize be done. We just have to
and democratic exercises for the love of all, including that democracy is one im- pray and hope for the best, Duc In Altum / A5
might compromise the those who did not and con- portant venue where our humble enough to learn from is a normal element of the life of the launched through a press conference on
freedom of the non-be- tinue not to love him. duty to give glory to God is whatever mistake we may Church.” CCC 899. April 8, the Feast of the Annunciation.
lievers, since if we truly Thus, in electing our pub- expressed? commit along the way. Catholics have a moral obliga- It endorsed the first batch of candi-
believe in God then we lic officials, we need to see This, of course, is not go- But, yes, we need to restore tion to promote the common good dates on April 13 at Amvel Complex in
would know how to treat how each one of them is ing to be an easy task. It’s a the true nature and character through the exercise of their voting Parañaque City: Mitos Magsaysay, J.V.
those who don’t believe in regarding his understanding very sensitive and volatile of democracy. Let’s keep it privileges (cf. CCC 2240). It is not just Ejercito, Gregorio Honasan, Aquilino
God in charity. of democracy. Is God in it issue that can easily pro- from being hacked. civil authorities who have responsi- Pimentel III, Antonio Trillanes, Cynthia
Pork Barrel / A1
bility for a country. “Service of the Villar.
common good require[s] citizens to ***
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick vetoed the proposed Magna Carta for “The government said it has no fulfill their roles in the life of the po- From the Archdiocese of Cebu, after
Pabillo said the millions of poor Filipi- the poor, saying that the government money but they are giving out hefty litical community” (CCC 2239). This a discernment process, The Lay Initia-
nos need a measure that would provide does not have the money to imple- pork barrel funds to lawmakers,” Pa- means citizens should participate in tive For Election (LIFE) announced
them shelter, livelihood, education and ment it. billo said. the political process exercised in the its endorsement of 12 senatorial and
health services. Under the measure, the government Pork barrel, formally known in the ballot boxes. local candidates at the Archbishop’s
He said the government money is mandated to ensure five basic rights Philippines as the Priority Develop- A Catholic’s vote must be circum- Residence covered court. LIFE is com-
should be handled by concerned agen- for every Filipino: food, education, ment Assistance Fund, is money taken spect. “A well-formed Christian con- posed of the Council of the Laity of the
cies of the government to provide the shelter, employment, and health from the national budget that funds science does not permit one to vote for Archdiocese of Cebu and several big
important needs of the people, and not services. projects of senators or congressmen. a political program or an individual lay organizations. It is headed by Mrs.
by lawmakers. Aquino said the budget required in A lawmaker is entitled to P70 million law that contradicts the fundamental Fe Barino.
“If they are going to utilize it prop- the bill is way beyond the capability of in PDAF every year and a member of contents of faith and morals” (CPL ***
erly, it will really help the poor and not the government to address the basic the Senate, P200 million. 4). CPL Congregation of the Doctrine Belated Happy Birthday to my broth-
coursed it through the hands of legisla- needs of the people. Many bishops have been calling on of the Faith, Doctrinal Notes on Some er-in-law Celestino Rosales, husband
tors because that is not their job,” said The President, for instance, cited the the government to abolish the pork bar- Questions regarding the Participation of of my sister Violy Santiago. Happy 23rd
Pabillo, head of the church’s National provision on shelter, which is around rel fund, which according to them, have Catholics in Political Life. Wedding Anniversary to my brother
Secretariat for Social Action. five million social housing units and been one of the sources of corruption. *** Roberto and sister-in-law Ma. Loreto
President Benigno Aquino earlier would cost roughly P2.32 trillion. (Roy Lagarde) Thus, the White Vote Movement was Santiago.
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013

Pope Francis names new Imus bishop

POPE Francis has appointed a Batangue-
ño as the new bishop of the Diocese of
Imus in Cavite.
The appointment of current Boac
Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista is Francis’
first appointment to the Catholic hierar-
chy in the Philippines.
The Imus diocese has been without a
bishop for more than a year after Luis
Antonio Cardinal Tagle was installed
Archbishop of Manila in December
1986 and was appointed third bishop
of Boac in December 2004 by Blessed
John Paul II.
The 52-year old bishop is currently
a member of the Permanent Council of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP).
Evangelista also chairs the CBCP’s
Commission on Vocations and a mem-
ber of the Commission on Seminaries.
procession with the statue of the Our
Lady of the Pillar.
“I’ll do my best to learn the dance,”
Evangelista said as he burst into laugh-
ter.
The bishop said the call to serve in
the Diocese of Imus, which has 10 times
as many Catholics as Boac, was “a big
challenge.”
The Imus diocese, which com-
prises the entire province of Cavite,
“I don’t know the concerns that I will
have to face but it’s all up to God. As I
said to myself, I’m just His instrument,”
he added. “This is God’s work. I will
follow the direction that He wants.”
Evangelista said it is also sad that he
will leave the people of Boac, which he
served for more than eight years.
“I’d like to thank them for all their
support and prayer. I will always pray
for them as I’m doing it now,” said

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

2011.
With the transfer of Evangelista to
Imus, the Diocese of Boac is known as
a “vacant see” and remains so until the
appointment of a new bishop.
Evangelista was born on May 8,
1960 in San Jose, Mabini, Batangas. At
26, he was ordained a priest in June
Ready to learn ‘caracol’ dance
The newly appointed Imus Bishop
may have to learn how to cut a rug the
Caviteño way.
He said there would be many things
that he will have to familiarize in his
new diocese including the popular
“Caracol”, a traditional Caviteño dance-
is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Evangelista who will be installed as
Manila and serves around 2 million Imus bishop on June 5.
Catholics. “It’s the same thing that I will do for
“I really think that this is not a the people of Imus… I’ll pray for them
simple responsibility but my dis- and I’ll do everything to bring you
position is that I did not plan this, closer to God with the help of the priests
I’m just following God’s will,” said and other servants of the Church,” he
Evangelista. said. (Roy Lagarde) Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista

Bishops to consecrate PHL to Mary AYD preparations unmoved

THE Catholic Bishops’ Con-
ference of the Philippines has
decided to hold a simultaneous
national consecration to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary on
June 8.
Eager for Mary’s guid-
ance, especially during the
nine-year preparation for the
com ing 500th an n i v ers a r y
of Christianity’s arrival in
the country, all bishops and
priests will consecrate the
Philippines to the Blessed
In preparation for the conse-
cration itself, catechesis on Mar-
the CBCP Permanent Council.
The Episcopal Commissions
by military tension in Korea
ian consecration will be done in on Liturgy and Social Commu- ESCALATING tension between out the continent, including
the dioceses, down to the parish nications and Mass Media, Amb. North and South Korea has not ECY.
levels starting May. Howard Q. Dee of Bahay Maria- affected the ongoing prepara- “The latest meeting was about
It will feature the 33-day Assisi Development Foundation, tions for the 6th Asian Youth finalizing the schedule and flow
preparation for consecration, as Fr. Yulito Ignacio, and the CBCP Day (AYD), which will be held of program for the Days in the
taught by St. Louis de Montfort, General Secretariat, will assist next year in Daejeon. Diocese, actual AYD, and the
who also talked about how an Bishop Afable in promoting and Organizers of the AYD in Asian Youth Ministers meeting
individual’s personal consecra- planning for the consecration the Diocese of Daejeon has thereafter,” he said.
tion to Mary could be nothing and related pre-events. not communicated any plans Garganta reminded Filipinos
else but a “perfect consecration The decision to have a na- of postponing or cancelling who may be interested to join
to Jesus.” tional consecration was agreed the youth gathering sched- the AYD to expect that the event
Digos Bishop Guillermo Af- upon by the CBCP during its uled on August 10 to 20, will be different from the World
File Photo

Virgin Mary on June 8, at 10 able, heads the ad hoc commit- 106th Plenary Assembly last 2014, according to the CBCP Youth Day (WYD).
a.m. in all dioceses, prelatures tee spearheading the national January 28. (Nirva’ana Ella Episcopal Commission on “Though it looks like the
and vicariates. consecration, as designated by Delacruz) Youth (ECY). WYD, the AYD is different.

9,000 youth rock with God at

“There is none so far,” ECY ex- Even the mechanics for AYD
ecutive secretary Fr. Conegundo set limitations in the number of
Garganta told YouthPinoy when delegates that each country can
asked if AYD organizers issued send to join the AYD, unlike

Liveloud concert any announcement relative to

INSTEAD of an ordinary Friday night out,
9,000 young people from all over the country
and the world gathered in the sweltering
summer heat to praise God at the Liveloud
concert last April 5.
CFC–Youth for Christ members, some
coming from as far as Canada, Australia, U.S.
the political turmoil in the host
country.
parents to be our first guides to know Jesus. The ECY organizes the Filipi-
Can you hug them if they are with you no delegates who will participate
now?” Villegas asked the crowd. in the AYD and communicates
He also encouraged the YFCs to seek directly to the AYD organizers
God’s comfort in the sacrament of reconcili- under the host diocese. Garganta
ation. said the ECY is scheduled to
Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz
the WYD which is open to all,”
he said.
“The number of people joining
the AYD will be dependent on
the country’s Catholic popula-
tion,” he added.
The priest also said the AYD
should not be an alternative
to the WYD since the former

open the application process for is open to Asians only, and

and the Middle east, came and stayed for a
marathon worship that started at around 8
p.m. and ended at close to midnight.
Reminders of His love
Goi Villegas, who led the participants
into worship during the Liveloud concert,
reminded thousands of YFCs, “If you feel
unworthy, you are not alone. God anointed
people to remind you of God’s love for us.”
He also encouraged the participants to see
that primarily, these people are their parents.
“We have our parents. God anointed our
Benefit run raises funds for WYD volunteers
FROM Manila to Pampanga
and down to Davao, people are
signing up to join ‘Run for Rio’,
a benefit run for the Filipino
international World Youth Day
volunteers
Close to a thousand people
joined the ‘Run for Rio’ last April
7 at the U.P. Academic Oval, in
Diliman, Quezon City with more
Not my story, but God’s
In between several songs, YFCs like Ana-
bel Britanico shared about personal struggles
and how Jesus saw them through.
Britanico shared onstage about the tragic
deaths of her aunt, uncle and finally, her own
brother and how the experience revealed her
true calling – to trust in God.
“This is no longer my story, but it is the
story of God’s outpouring strength in me. I
believe that I am called to trust in my God
completely, to recognize that God is God all
the time,” she said.
interested pilgrims towards the
end of 2013.
During the third AYD prepa-
ratory meeting last March 11 to
15, the Diocese of Daejeon and
the Youth Desk of the Federation
Young faithful light candles during the “Liveloud”
Praise Concert at the Marikina Sports Complex, of Asian Bishops’ Conferences
April 5. (FABC) met with representatives
of youth commissions through-
The Liveloud concert kicked off the YFC
international leaders’ conference proper at
the Marikina Sports Complex. (Nirva’ana
Taize permanents in PHL
Ella Delacruz)
to gather for retreat
IN line with the activities
launched during the visit of
whom are from Metro Ma- the French Taizé Brothers to
nila, while the rest are from the Philippines this year, the
Batangas, Bataan, Pampanga Taizé community permanents
and Bulacan, share the hope in the country will gather
that WYD will not just be an for a retreat as part of their
opportunity to serve other commitment to support the
young Catholics and meet continuing ‘pilgrimage of
Pope Francis in Brazil, but also trust on Earth’.
a “life-changing” experience. The Taize permanents are
“It is our hope and prayer that those who have been sent to
Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz
encouraged young Filipinos to
still consider participating in the
upcoming WYD, which is set on
July 17 to 28 in Brazil.
The ECY has extended the
deadline for application to be
part of the ECY-Philippines Del-
egation to the WYD up to April
15. (YouthPinoy)
bring more people to discover
the beauty of living in a filial
relationship with God.
Organized by the CBCP’s
Episcopal Commission on Youth
(ECY), the weekend retreat is
also open to other persons who
have visited the Taizé commu-
nity in France for short period
of time.
Registered participants are
expected to be at the Betania

who joined another run that hap-
pened the same day, but miles
away along Roxas Avenue in
Davao City
On April 21, people in Pam-
panga will run too in support
of the international volunteers
at 4a.m. in the Clark Parade
Grounds.
According to ‘Run for Rio’
project head John Benedict Mor-
all volunteers and pilgrims for participate in the 3-month im- Retreat House in N. Domingo
WYD 2013 would encounter Our mersion in the life of the Taizé Ave., Quezon City at 1 p.m. on
Blessed Lord… Armed with that community in France. April 26. The retreat will culmi-
encounter, we can go and make Slated on April 26-28, the nate about lunchtime on April
disciples of all nations,” Mortel weekend retreat aims to pro- 28, Sunday.
explained. vide support to permanents as To register and get further
Fourteen of the more than a hundred officially recognized WYD international Online registration on www. they continue with their daily details, email ECY at ecynsya@
volunteers from the Philippines are organizing the ‘Run for Rio’ event to runforrio2013manila will be life and tasks in their respective gmail.com or call at (02) 527-
raise funds. open until April 6; 11:59pm. communities and missions, and 9567. (Jandel Posion)
volunteers formally accepted by there, several preparations have Registration fee for the 2.2 km
the delegation secretariat of the been made including publicity run is Php250; Php350 for the 4.4

tel, the idea to raise funds by
setting up a series of runs for
the benefit of WYD volunteers
came up during an interesting
Skype conversation among the
first batch of international WYD
CBCP – Episcopal Commission
on Youth that heads the official
Philippine delegation to WYD.
“There were several sugges-
tions, but this fun run was decided
to be the first one to be held. From
Markings
and logistics,” Mortel added. km; Php500 for the 8.8km and
Php700 for the 11km run.
Armed with the WYD encounter The 28th World Youth Day
Fourteen WYD international will be held from July 23-28,
volunteers who are organiz- 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ing ‘Run for Rio’, most of (Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz)
ORDAINED. Rev. Pablo Fuertes Ramirez, O.Carm was ordained to
the priesthood on April 2, 2013 in St. Julian Parish, Janiuay, Iloilo by

SSVP national convention marks founder’s birth anniv

A THREE-DAY convention in
Western Visayas will highlight
Blessed Frederic Ozanam’s
bicentennial birth anniversary
on April 23.
Organized by the Society of
St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in
the Philippines, the 2013 Na-
tional Convention is themed
“Witnessing the Faith with the
Poor” and will mark Blessed
Frederic Ozanam’s Bicenten-
nial Birth Anniversary on the
2nd day of the summit.
Some highlights of the con-
vention are the Eucharistic
Mass to be celebrated by Jaro
Archbishop Angel Lagda-
meo at the Jaro Cathedral for
Ozanam’s birth anniversary
celebration, the amazing race
dubbed as “Amazing Grace”
which is an apostolate to 10
areas (orphanage, Asilo de
Molo, abused women, street
children, hospital charity
ward, persons with disabili-
ties, feeding program, pedi-
atric ward, Iloilo City jail),
the Vincentian Idol, and the
election of the SSVP national
president.
Other activities during the
three-day convention include
workshops, Taize prayer, inputs,
plenary, reporting, synthesis, pre-
sentation of the current national
president and the installation of
the new national president.
Fr. Joel Eslabra will give the
keynote address while Msgr.
Meliton Oso will discuss the
the Most Rev. Rochus J. Tatamai, MSC, DD, Bishop of the diocese of
Bereina, Papua New Guinea. Fr. Ramirez has been working in Papua
New Guinea for two years before his ordination to the priesthood. The
Carmelite order has established a presence in Papua New Guinea upon
topic “Year of Faith and the the request of the bishop of Bereina to help evangelize a population of
Poor”. seven million people where about 800 different languages are spoken.
Bishop Tatamai explained in his homily that in his diocese alone, which
Organizers believe that by has 16 parishes, 10 different languages are spoken. Fr. Christian
showcasing the life and works Buenafe, O.Carm., Commissary General, announced at the end of the
of their founder, Bl. Frederic ceremony that the newly ordained Carmelite will be officially assigned to
Ozanam, society’s members Papua New Guinea. A native of Janiuay, Iloilo, Fr. Ramirez thanked the
will gain a deeper understand- absence of an RH Law in their time, as he found his vocation nurtured
in a family of 10 siblings that produced one priest, one religious sister,
ing of his spirituality and make and mothers and fathers of families.
him a model in serving others,
especially the poor. ORDAINED. Rev. Jose Paulo Lanuza and Rev. Michael Andres Pajares
The three-day convention were ordained to the priesthood on March 14, 2013 at the San Sebastian
Cathedral by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra. Both hailed from the
is slated on April 22-24 at the Diocese of Bacolod, whose vocation were nurtured by the parishes of
Punta Villa Resort in Iloilo St. Jude Thaddeus Parish and Shrine in Alijis, and St. Joseph the Worker
City. (Jandel Posion) Chaplaincy in Paglaum Village.

CELEBRATED. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Ramon A. Pet, HP, priest of the Arch-

Forum for workers to be held in QC

diocese of Jaro, celebrated his 50th sacerdotal anniversary on April 1,
2013 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, Jaro Metropolitan
Cathedral, Jaro, Iloilo City.

A FORUM for workers and Church people
will be held in commemoration of the anni-
versary of the International Labor Day this
coming May 1, 2013.
Organized by the Church People Workers
Solidarity (CWS), the forum, themed “The
Hopes and Dreams of the Workers” will be held
at the Sto. Domingo Church’s Multipurpose
Hall, Institute of Preaching, Quezon City on
April 19.
The event aims to rekindle the fire of soli-
darity and unity among Church people and
workers to work for a better society where
there is fullness of life and equal dignity for
all people.
Organizers are expecting around 100 lay
leaders, members of different Church and
workers’ community and individuals for the
half-day event.
Mr. Elmer Labog, co-chairperson of CWS
will discuss the topic “Historical Struggle
of the Workers and the Challenges today”
while Sr. Emelina Villegas, ICM, CWS con- CELEBRATED. Silver jubilee of Sr. Maria Miraflor Aclan Bahan, RVM
from Maanas, Medina, Misamis Oriental; Sr. Maria Charita Pagupat
venor, will talk about the “Church Response Cabunoc, RVM from Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental; Sr. Maria Elizabeth
in the Historical Struggle.” Funan, RVM from Webha, Atambua, Timor, Indonesia; Sr. Mary Ann
There is no registration fee but CWS Saguenza Moraga, RVM from Jimalalud, Negros Oriental; and Sr. Maria
said donations from participants are most Delia Perseveranda Serviño, RVM from Ligao, Albay on February 2,
2013. Together with the silver jubilarians, 5 other sisters also celebrated
welcome. their golden jubilee on the same day. Sr. Maria Athanasia Corales Daga,
Additional information about the event is RVM from Palo, Leyte; Sr. Maria Domitilla Pascual Enriquez, RVM from
available by reaching CWS on their landline Norzagaray, Bulacan; Sr. Maria Generosa Lego Grana, RVM from Jaro,
(02) 584-3190, mobile number 0921-4141089 Leyte; Sr. Maria Amparo Calo Sanchez, RVM from Butuan City; and Sr.
and e-mail address at churchfortheworkers@ Maria Celestina Tapaoan Viernes, RVM from Claveria, Cagayan.
gmail.com. (Jandel Posion)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 8
April 15 - 28, 2013
Pastoral Concerns B1

Preach with your life,

with your witness
(Homily of Pope Francis on the 3rd Sunday of Easter at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, April 14, 2013)

© Stephen Driscoll / CNA

DEAR Brothers and Sisters!
It is a joy for me to celebrate
Mass with you in this Basilica.
I greet the Archpriest, Cardinal
James Harvey, and I thank
him for the words that he has
addressed to me. Along with
him, I greet and thank the various
institutions that form part of
this Basilica, and all of you. We
are at the tomb of Saint Paul, a
great yet humble Apostle of the
Lord, who proclaimed him by
word, bore witness to him by
martyrdom and worshipped him
with all his heart. These are the
three key ideas on which I would
like to reflect in the light of the
word of God that we have heard:
proclamation, witness, worship.
1. In the First Reading, what
strikes us is the strength of
Peter and the other Apostles. In
response to the order to be silent,
no longer to teach in the name of
Jesus, no longer to proclaim his
message, they respond clearly:
“We must obey God, rather
than men”. And they remain
undeterred even when flogged,
ill-treated and imprisoned.
Peter and the Apostles proclaim
courageously, fearlessly, what
they have received: the Gospel of
Jesus. And we? Are we capable of
bringing the word of God into the
environment in which we live? Do
we know how to speak of Christ,
of what he represents for us, in
our families, among the people
who form part of our daily lives?
Faith is born from listening, and
is strengthened by proclamation.
2. But let us take a further
step: the proclamation made by
Peter and the Apostles does not
merely consist of words: fidelity
to Christ affects their whole lives,
which are changed, given a new
direction, and it is through their
lives that they bear witness to the
faith and to the proclamation of
Christ. In today’s Gospel, Jesus
asks Peter three times to feed his
flock, to feed it with his love, and
he prophesies to him: “When you
are old, you will stretch out your
hands, and another will gird you
and carry you where you do not
wish to go” (Jn 21:18).
These words are addressed
first and foremost to those of
us who are pastors: we cannot
feed God’s flock unless we let
ourselves be carried by God’s will
even where we would rather not
go, unless we are prepared to bear
witness to Christ with the gift
of ourselves, unreservedly, not
in a calculating way, sometimes
even at the cost of our lives. But
this also applies to everyone: we
all have to proclaim and bear
witness to the Gospel. We should
all ask ourselves: How do I bear
witness to Christ through my
faith? Do I have the courage of
Peter and the other Apostles, to
think, to choose and to live as a
Christian, obedient to God? To
be sure, the testimony of faith
comes in very many forms, just
as in a great fresco, there is a
variety of colours and shades;
yet they are all important, even
those which do not stand out. In
God’s great plan, every detail is
important, even yours, even my
humble little witness, even the
hidden witness of those who
live their faith with simplicity in
everyday family relationships,
work relationships, friendships.
There are the saints of every
day, the “hidden” saints, a sort
of “middle class of holiness”,
as a French author said, that
“middle class of holiness” to
which we can all belong. But
in different parts of the world,
there are also those who suffer,
like Peter and the Apostles, on
account of the Gospel; there
are those who give their lives
in order to remain faithful to
Christ by means of a witness
marked by the shedding of their
blood. Let us all remember this:
one cannot proclaim the Gospel
of Jesus without the tangible
witness of one’s life. Those who
listen to us and observe us must
be able to see in our actions
what they hear from our lips,
and so give glory to God! I am
thinking now of some advice
that Saint Francis of Assisi gave
his brothers: preach the Gospel
and, if necessary, use words.
Preaching with your life, with
your witness. Inconsistency on
the part of pastors and the faithful
between what they say and what
they do, between word and
manner of life, is undermining
the Church’s credibility.
3. But all this is possible only
if we recognize Jesus Christ,
because it is he who has called us,
he who has invited us to travel
his path, he who has chosen us.
Proclamation and witness are
only possible if we are close to
him, just as Peter, John and the
other disciples in today’s Gospel
passage were gathered around
the Risen Jesus; there is a daily
closeness to him: they know very
well who he is, they know him.
The Evangelist stresses the fact
that “no one dared ask him: ‘Who
are you?’—they knew it was
the Lord” (Jn 21:12). And this is
important for us: living an intense
relationship with Jesus, an
intimacy of dialogue and of life,
in such a way as to recognize him
as “the Lord”. Worshipping him!
The passage that we heard from
the Book of Revelation speaks
to us of worship: the myriads of
angels, all creatures, the living
beings, the elders, prostrate
themselves before the Throne of
God and of the Lamb that was
slain, namely Christ, to whom be
praise, honour and glory (cf. Rev
5:11-14). I would like all of us to
ask ourselves this question: You,
I, do we worship the Lord? Do
we turn to God only to ask him
for things, to thank him, or do
we also turn to him to worship
him? What does it mean, then, to
worship God? It means learning
to be with him, it means that
we stop trying to dialogue with
him, and it means sensing that
his presence is the most true, the
most good, the most important
thing of all. All of us, in our own
lives, consciously and perhaps
sometimes unconsciously, have
a very clear order of priority
concerning the things we consider
important. Worshipping the
Lord means giving him the place
that he must have; worshipping
the Lord means stating, believing
– not only by our words—that
he alone truly guides our lives;
worshipping the Lord means that
we are convinced before him that
he is the only God, the God of
our lives, the God of our history.
This has a consequence in our
lives: we have to empty ourselves
of the many small or great idols
that we have and in which we
take refuge, on which we often
seek to base our security. They
are idols that we sometimes
keep well hidden; they can be
ambition, careerism, a taste for
success, placing ourselves at the
centre, the tendency to dominate
others, the claim to be the sole
masters of our lives, some sins to
which we are bound, and many
others. This evening I would like
a question to resound in the heart
of each one of you, and I would
like you to answer it honestly:
Have I considered which idol lies
hidden in my life that prevents
me from worshipping the
Lord? Worshipping is stripping
ourselves of our idols, even the
most hidden ones, and choosing
the Lord as the centre, as the
highway of our lives.
Dear brothers and sisters, each
day the Lord calls us to follow
him with courage and fidelity;
he has made us the great gift of
choosing us as his disciples; he
invites us to proclaim him with
joy as the Risen one, but he asks
us to do so by word and by the
witness of our lives, in daily life.
The Lord is the only God of our
lives, and he invites us to strip
ourselves of our many idols
and to worship him alone. To
proclaim, to witness, to adore.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary and
Saint Paul help us on this journey
and intercede for us. Amen.

It takes courage to trust in Jesus’ mercy, to

trust in his patience
(Homily of Pope Francis on the 2nd Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, April 7, 2013)
IT is with joy that I am celebrating
the Eucharist for the first time in
this Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral
of the Bishop of Rome. I greet all of
you with great affection: my very
dear Cardinal Vicar, the auxiliary
bishops, the diocesan presbyterate,
the deacons, the men and women
religious, and all the lay faithful. I
also greet the Mayor, his wife and all
the authorities present. Together let
us walk in the light of the risen Lord.
1. Today we are celebrating the
Second Sunday of Easter, also known
as “Divine Mercy Sunday”. What
a beautiful truth of faith this is for
our lives: the mercy of God! God’s
love for us is so great, so deep; it is
an unfailing love, one which always
takes us by the hand and supports us,
lifts us up and leads us on.
2. In today’s Gospel, the Apostle
Thomas personally experiences this
mercy of God, which has a concrete
face, the face of Jesus, the risen Jesus.
Thomas does not believe it when the
other Apostles tell him: “We have
seen the Lord”. It isn’t enough for him
that Jesus had foretold it, promised
it: “On the third day I will rise”. He
wants to see, he wants to put his
hand in the place of the nails and in
Jesus’ side. And how does Jesus react?
With patience: Jesus does not abandon
Thomas in his stubborn unbelief; he
gives him a week’s time, he does not
close the door, he waits. And Thomas
acknowledges his own poverty, his little
faith. “My Lord and my God!”: with
this simple yet faith-filled invocation,
he responds to Jesus’ patience. He lets
himself be enveloped by divine mercy;
he sees it before his eyes, in the wounds
of Christ’s hands and feet and in his
open side, and he discovers trust: he
is a new man, no longer an unbeliever,
but a believer.
Let us also remember Peter: three
times he denied Jesus, precisely when
he should have been closest to him;
and when he hits bottom he meets the
gaze of Jesus who patiently, wordlessly,
says to him: “Peter, don’t be afraid
of your weakness, trust in me”. Peter
understands, he feels the loving gaze
of Jesus, and he weeps. How beautiful
is this gaze of Jesus—how much
tenderness is there! Brothers and sisters,
let us never lose trust in the patience and
mercy of God!
Let us think too of the two disciples
on the way to Emmaus: their sad faces,
their barren journey, their despair. But
Jesus does not abandon them: he walks
beside them, and not only that! Patiently
he explains the Scriptures which spoke
of him, and he stays to share a meal
with them. This is God’s way of doing
things: he is not impatient like us, who
often want everything all at once, even
in our dealings with other people. God is
patient with us because he loves us, and
those who love are able to understand, to
hope, to inspire confidence; they do not
give up, they do not burn bridges, they
are able to forgive. Let us remember this
in our lives as Christians: God always
waits for us, even when we have left
him behind! He is never far from us,
and if we return to him, he is ready to
embrace us.
I am always struck when I reread
the parable of the merciful Father; it
impresses me because it always gives
me great hope. Think of that younger
son who was in the Father’s house, who
was loved; and yet he wants his part
of the inheritance; he goes off, spends
everything, hits rock bottom, where
he could not be more distant from the
Father, yet when he is at his lowest, he
misses the warmth of the Father’s house
and he goes back. And the Father? Had
he forgotten the son? No, never. He is
there, he sees the son from afar, he was
waiting for him every hour of every
day, the son was always in his father’s
heart, even though he had left him,
even though he had squandered his
whole inheritance, his freedom. The
Father, with patience, love, hope and
mercy, had never for a second stopped
thinking about him, and as soon as he
sees him still far off, he runs out to meet
him and embraces him with tenderness,
the tenderness of God, without a word
of reproach: he has returned! And
that is the joy of the Father. In that
embrace for his son is all this joy: he has
returned! God is always waiting for us,
he never grows tired. Jesus shows us
this merciful patience of God so that we
can regain confidence, hope—always!
A great German theologian, Romano
Guardini, said that God responds to our
weakness by his patience, and this is the
reason for our confidence, our hope (cf.
Glaubenserkenntnis, Würzburg, 1949,
p. 28). It is like a dialogue between our
weakness and the patience of God, it is
a dialogue that, if we do it, will grant
us hope.
3. I would like to emphasize one other
thing: God’s patience has to call forth in
us the courage to return to him, however
many mistakes and sins there may be
in our life. Jesus tells Thomas to put
his hand in the wounds of his hands
and his feet, and in his side. We too can
enter into the wounds of Jesus, we can
actually touch him. This happens every
time that we receive the sacraments with
faith. Saint Bernard, in a fine homily,
says: “Through the wounds of Jesus I
can suck honey from the rock and oil
from the flinty rock (cf. Deut 32:13),
I can taste and see the goodness of
the Lord” (On the Song of Songs,
61:4). It is there, in the wounds of
Jesus, that we are truly secure; there
we encounter the boundless love of
his heart. Thomas understood this.
Saint Bernard goes on to ask: But
what can I count on? My own merits?
No, “My merit is God’s mercy. I am
by no means lacking merits as long
as he is rich in mercy. If the mercies
of the Lord are manifold, I too will
abound in merits” (ibid., 5).
This is important: the courage to
trust in Jesus’ mercy, to trust in his
patience, to seek refuge always in the
wounds of his love. Saint Bernard
even states: “So what if my conscience
gnaws at me for my many sins?
‘Where sin has abounded, there grace
has abounded all the more’ (Rom
5:20)” (ibid.). Maybe someone among
us here is thinking: my sin is so great,
I am as far from God as the younger
son in the parable, my unbelief is
like that of Thomas; I don’t have the
courage to go back, to believe that
God can welcome me and that he is
Courage / B5
 B2 Updates CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 8
April 15 - 28, 2013

The Theologico-Canonical Foundations

of the Parish Office
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, JCD
THERE is an oft-repeated misconception
that Law and Spirit, or Law and Pastoral
Care are two divergent forces and that
in a reality like the Church, the latter
should prevail. This is what in canonical
circles is referred to as the anti-juridicist
tendency, which became prevalent in the
decade preceding and then in the decade
following Vatican Council II.
The root of the error is a wrong
notion of the Church itself, considering
it as a product of the protagonism of
men─each inspired by the Holy Spirit, of
course─which cannot be ossified in a legal
system. With this attitude, the principle
of salus animarum suprema lex is then
subjectified and relativized to become
each one’s personal interpretation of
what constitutes the good of souls.
In short, without a clear idea of what
the Church is as established by Jesus
Christ, and therefore of what objectively
constitutes the good of souls in the
Church, then these so-called pastoralist
would reduce the right conduct of
Church affairs to what they subjectively
think is the good of souls. The result of
all these was the doctrinal, disciplinary
It is this juridic structure of the
Catholic Church─more precisely, certain
fundamental aspects of it─that I want
to tackle in this article, to serve as the
bases of a deeper understanding of curial
praxis in general, and the parish office in
particular.
I. The Hierarchical Structure of the
Church as the Fundamental Principle of
Ecclesiastical Organization.
A. The fundamental error in the
post-Conciliar crisis of discipline in
the Church is the same error that Martin
Luther made in starting the Protestant
Reformation: considering the Church as a
human construct, paying lip service to the
action of the Holy Spirit at the individual
(personal) and therefore subjective
level. These people─epitomized by the
movement Wir sind Kirche in Europe, the
Theology of Liberation in South America,
and the pro-choice pseudo-theologians
everywhere─would claim that the Holy
Spirit acts in each individual Christian,
such that their views on dogmatic
matters─e.g., contraception, women
ordination, priestly celibacy─should
be placed on equal footing as the
Magisterium of the Church.
Vatican Council II, in its landmark

and eventually vocational chaos that the
Church found itself in towards the end
of the papacy of Paul VI in which, to cite
a few examples:
the Sacrament of Confession was
trivialized, with general absolution and
direct confession to God becoming the
norm;
the identity of the ministerial priest was
reduced to a simple functional minister,
who therefore can be replaced by equally
deputized and trained laypersons who
might also discharge such functions;
all of which resulted naturally in
the drastic drop in vocations to the
priesthood and to the religious life.
Thank God the Church is not just our
project, but is rather one of the Blessed
Trinity. Hence, the powers of hell can never
prevail against her, and in the opportune
time, God raised for her an apt and able
Shepherd─in the person of John Paul
II, who was beatified in 2011─to restore
order to the chaos. In effect, during the
long papacy of John Paul II, he:
established the means for bringing back
doctrinal orthodoxy in the Catholic
Universities, Colleges and Schools,
starting with the seminaries; and
published the Catechism of the Catholic
Church, the Compendium of the Social
Doctrine of the Church, and a veritable
library of the Magisterium in various
papal documents;
re-established discipline in the Sacraments
in particular and in Divine Worship in
general;
promulgated the new Code of Canon
Law, by which the juridic nature of the
Church was reaffirmed.
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church,
Lumen Gentium, reminded everyone
that the Church was not constituted
and therefore cannot develop as a
result of a democratic process, in the
way human political communities are
established and developed. The Church
was constituted formally through a
Trinitarian action: Jesus Christ, following
the Will of the Father, gives the mandate
to the Apostles to teach all nations (what
he had previously taught them) and to
make disciples of them, baptizing them
(sanctifying them through the visible
signs he established which are the
seven Sacraments), and leading them
authoritatively in a new way of life (the
way), promising them that he would
be with them (i.e., their successors the
Bishops) up to the end of the world.
B. The essential elements of the
Church then, as we see it on Pentecost
Sunday, are as follows:
1) People of God: a community of believers,
who have been convoked (that’s what
the word ekklesia means = an assembly
that has been convoked) and reborn
through the sacraments of Christian
initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and
Holy Eucharist).
2) Proper Pastor: the Bishop, successor
of the Apostles, who receive from Christ,
through the laying on of hands, the
ontological capacity for the sacred power,
which is subsequently conferred on him
by the Ecclesiastical Supreme Authority
(the Pope, the Vicar of Christ) through
the missio canonica, such that they can
teach and govern in persona Christi capitis.
3) Presbyteriuim: a group of sacred
ministers (priests), gathered around
and united to the Bishop, who act as his
immediate collaborators in the 3-fold
mandate received from Christ:
to authoritatively teach the Word of God
contained in Revelation (Scripture and
Tradition);
to administer the Sacraments, which are
the visible signs instituted by Christ, to
give grace;
to effectively bind the faithful to a way
of life, which is Christian.
The Church is intrinsically hierarchical
and charismatic. It is charismatic, since it
began to exist and develops in time as
a result of the action of the Holy Spirit,
following a Trinitarian design. It is also
hierarchical, since that development goes
through the agency of a duly constituted
hierarchy based on the Apostles (who
were taught and commissioned directly
by Jesus Christ) and their successors
the bishops, helped directly by their
presbyterium (sacred ministers). my sheep!
The Church develops as a result of
the interplay between the ministerial
priesthood (those constituted as sacred
ministers by the sacrament of Holy
Orders) and the royal priesthood
(those constituted as people of God
by Baptism). The establishment of
hierarchical jurisdictions is a function
of the hierarchy’s mission to effectively
deliver the means of salvation (the
Word and the Sacraments) to all souls,
beginning with the baptized.
II. The Pastoral Dimension of the Parish
Office
A. What is the Pastoral Care of Souls?
This expression has been quite abused,
leading to some confusion as regards the
proper roles of the clergy and the laity
respectively. In the name of pastoral
care, the most varied activities have been
carried out by sacred ministers─activities
which the non-ordained could have
carried out better─, while strictly priestly
tasks have been usurped by laymen. On
the other hand, very mundane tasks─e.g.,
fund-raising, cultural activities and the
like─have been carried out by laymen,
calling them pastoral work or ministries.
Properly speaking, the pastoral care
of souls refers to the three-fold task of
teaching, sanctifying and governing,
which Christ entrusted to all the Apostles
(and the bishops their successors), but
primarily to Peter to whom alone Christ
gave the command: Feed my lambs; feed
The institutionalization of those tasks
which are necessary for the pastoral care
of souls is what gives rise to ecclesiastical
offices, each one of which is a set of tasks
for which a necessary empowerment
is given for its effective execution. Put
another way, an ecclesiastical office is a
task or a set of tasks, for the pastoral care
of souls, for which the adequate share
in the sacred power given by Christ to
the Apostles is attached in order for its
effective execution.
© CBCP Media
B. Ecclesiastical Organization.
The organization of ecclesiastical
offices─therefore the organization of
functions for the pastoral care of souls─is
what gives rise to what is known as
ecclesiastical organization. It is the
ecclesial equivalent of the government
bureaucracy in the purest sense of the
term [the word bureau = office].
Such an organization is necessary
because of our temporal condition, where
all the baptized─like all other members
of society─are subject to the conditions of
time and space. Spiritual realities─growth
in grace and virtue─are inseparably
linked with physical phenomena.
A bureaucratic framework is needed
for the effective delivery of the means
of salvation.
This is the origin of the juridic
dimension of the Church and ultimately
the bases of the Diocesan Curia and,
mutatis mutandis, the Parish office.
For the effective flow of pastoral care,
organized into specific tasks by specific
offices in the Church, the work of the
Diocesan Curia and the Parish office is
indispensable. Thus, the Parish office is
not just a bureaucratic set-up of pencil-
pushers; on the contrary, it is a necessary
organization at the service of the pastoral
care of the faithful: their motto could
very well be to keep the sources of
salvation—the preaching of the Word
of God and the administration of the
Sacraments—flowing smoothly.

Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the following queries:
Using the purificator Women as Masters of Ceremonies
on the lips Q: There seems to be a trend in
some U.S. dioceses to appoint
female laity as masters of
from the point of view of
interpretation of liturgical law
as I believe it now stands. It must
likely presumed that this task
would be carried out by the
bishop’s secretary or another
The present Ceremonial of
Bishops makes no mention
Q: I wonder if the priest can use the purifier to clean the wine of obedience to the master of
on his mouth after drinking from the chalice, knowing that ceremonies. Is this liturgically be admitted, though, that the law cleric designated to accompany ceremonies nor specifically
the purifier is used to clean the vessels. —J.T.P., Ho Chi Minh correct? The Ceremonial of as such is not perfectly clear. the bishop on his visits in the requires him to be a priest. In
City, Vietnam. Bishops, under the section As our reader points out, the diocese. In fact, in the previous fact, No. 35 says that during the
entitled “Offices and Ministries Ceremonial of Bishops refers to legislation the bishop’s master celebration “he should exercise
A: In principle the answer would be no, at this moment. in the Liturgy of Bishops,” a male in referring to the master of ceremonies was necessarily the greatest discretion: he is not to
In his handbook “Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite,” speaks in paragraphs 34, 35 of ceremonies and clearly makes a priest at least 25 years old. speak more than is necessary, nor
now-Bishop Peter Elliott describes this moment of the priest’s and 36 as pertaining only to the a distinction when it comes to the The law said that all those replace the deacons or assistants
communion: masculine gender, stating that sacristan. The question is: Does involved in the celebration at the side of the celebrant. The
“Taking the purifier in his right hand, he transfers it to his “he (the master of ceremonies) this reflect a legislative intent or should be attentive and obey him master of ceremonies should
left hand, saying quietly, ‘May the Blood of Christ … life’ shall be responsible for or should does it simply presume the reality without discussion. During the carry out his responsibilities with
then reverently and without haste he drinks the Blood of the do this or that.” In contrast, the at the time of publication? celebration he was director and reverence, patience, and careful
Lord, holding the purifier beneath his chin. If he consumes next section, on the sacristan, My personal opinion is that not a server. attention.”
the contents of the chalice, he should not tip the vessel high. speaks as “he or she should do the Ceremonial of Bishops did Assistant masters of ceremonies The use of “he or she” when
He places the chalice on the corporal, transfers the purifier to this or that”—clearly allowing for not have a specific intention of could be subdeacons or even referring to the sacristan also
his right hand and carefully wipes the lip of the cup, while the use of either gender. Please excluding women but simply younger. If an ordai ned master of reflects the reality on the ground,
keeping his left hand on the node or base. If a pall is used, comment on the legitimate use reflected the law in force at its ceremonies was lacking, then he as women have often served
this is removed before he takes the purifier and replaced if of female laity in the role of publication in 1984. This law could be substituted by another as sacristans in churches and
the chalice is empty. masters of ceremonies. -- G.F., precluded services at the altar minister. But the law indicated convents.
“Alternatively, the celebrant may take the chalice in both New Orleans, Louisiana being carried out by women. that in this case he should not Ther efor e, I wou ld sa y
hands, saying quietly, ‘May the Blood of Christ … life.’ Then A: I will address this question Likewise, the Ceremonial also give orders to ordained ministers. Women / B3
reverently and without haste he drinks the Blood of the Lord.
He places the chalice on the corporal, takes the purifier in
his right hand and carefully wipes the lip of the cup, while
he keeps his left hand on the node or base. This procedure is
Singing the Gospel
more convenient if the chalice is full.” Q: I know that the Gospel is to be sung during ability of the minister to do so adequately, and to the particular musical traditions of each
However, in the context of the purifications Elliott makes Christmas and Easter Holy Mass. Because the overall pastoral efficacy of the practice. local language.
a different observation: each are a “season,” does that entitle or That said, it is highly recommendable to Regarding the importance of singing at
“After drinking the ablutions, the celebrant wipes his lips require the deacon or priest to sing the Gospel sing the Gospel on all major solemnities and Mass, the Introduction to the Roman Missal
with the purifier, if this is necessary. He leaves the purifier on every Sunday of the season or just during feasts so as to underline its importance within says the following:
the altar or credence table, where the servers cover the chalice.” the octave of said season? For the past four the celebration. “39. The Christian faithful who gather
Manuals for the extraordinary form are even more detailed to five years I have been singing the Gospel The liturgical norms also highly recommend together as one to await the Lord’s coming
but generally concur in not foreseeing a purifier (also called a during the “Christmas and Easter season.” the singing of the responsorial psalm. are instructed by the Apostle Paul to sing
purificator) used in the manner of a napkin or a handkerchief, Are we to proclaim, emphasize via song, This does not mean that the singing of together psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
not even in the case of the ablutions. the good news of the season? I do not see the other readings is to be excluded if the (cf. Col 3:16). Singing is the sign of the heart’s
I believe that the reason for this difference is not as much a a clear-cut word in the General Instruction readers can be sufficiently well trained. The joy (cf. Acts 2:46). Thus Saint Augustine says
question of hygiene, as one of appropriate use of the liturgical of the Roman Missal or in the missal itself. Gregorian tradition has several chants that rightly, ‘Singing is for one who loves.’ There
object. -- C.D., Pendleton, California are commonly used in solemn Masses. One is also the ancient proverb: ‘One who sings
The principal function of the purifier at the moment of chant is for the Old Testament, another for well prays twice.’
communion from the chalice is to prevent any drop of Precious A: Actually there is no rule which would the Epistle, and a third for the Gospel. The “40. Great importance should therefore be
Blood from falling or sticking to the rim of the chalice. This is oblige the Gospel to be sung in any particular importance of the latter is underlined, not attached to the use of singing in the celebration
not usually a danger when a priest carefully consumes from season nor any norm that would restrict its just by the fact of its being sung, but by the of the Mass, with due consideration for the
the chalice and there is no need to wipe the lips. being sung outside of these seasons. solemnity of the introduction, the procession culture of the people and abilities of each
The purifier would, however, be used in this manner if some In other words, the Gospel could of the Book of Gospels, the use of incense, liturgical assembly. Although it is not always
Precious Blood accidentally spilled on the chin. theoretically be either sung or read on any and its proclamation being reserved to an necessary (e.g., in weekday Masses) to sing all
During the ablutions it might be necessary to wipe the lips day of the year. The choice as to do one or the ordained minister. the texts that are of themselves meant to be
after drinking. This case might arise if there were many small other is based on such circumstances as the In recent years, several composers have sung, every care should be taken that singing
fragments in the water, some of which might stick to the lips. solemnity of the liturgical day or season, the proposed relatively simple chants adapted Sing / B5

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 8
April 15 - 28, 2013
Elections as manipulation—in one easy lesson
By Lope C. Robredillo
VARIOUS may be the ways of describing
it, but the process involved in putting
candidates into office, whether
national or local, entails a great deal
of manipulation. In theory, election is
supposed to be a free one, or it is not an
election at all. But, as normally happens,
people’s freedom to elect someone is
unjustly diminished by various factors
that are in the hands of candidates
themselves, their managers, or the
powers behind them. Politicians use
various strategies and tactics in order to
misinform, disinform, confuse, mislead,
disorient and even coerce people into
voting for them. Efforts at manipulation
are matched by the passivity of the hoi
polloi that predisposes them to accept
whatever candidates or their handlers
present to them either as true, good,
desirable, or valuable. As a consequence,
it is not surprising, since these forms
of manipulation lower the bar on
the quality of candidates and doing
politics, that rarely does our country get
political leaders who rise above personal
ambition or family interest.
Features
recommend them, thereby strengthening
their image and popularity. No wonder,
TV personalities are often seen at rallies
and in tarpaulins! Absattarov calls this
“recommendation principle.” In “carry-
over principle,” qualities and properties
of the candidate are identified with the
qualities and properties of a known and
authoritative person or idea in order to
associate the former with the latter. Thus,
for instance, a candidate might claim that
he would like to continue the struggle of
Ninoy Aquino! Propagandists also use
“simple-people principle” whereby the
interest of the candidate is identified with
the interests and expectations of the silent
majority, or of the simple people. This is
seen is such slogans “Erap para sa mahirap,”
“Mataas na ang presyo ng galunggong,”
“Free college education!” etc. Suddenly, a
candidate becomes a frequent churchgoer,
and even receives communion in order
to turn to his advantage the religious
sentiments of voters!
Appeal to Emotions
When plea is made to reason, people
may react by determining whether the
information they receive are true or not,
and may decide to choose candidates
impurity, the disgust response will be
imprinted for a long time.
Interest Groups in Election Process
But packaging the candidate is just
one aspect of political manipulation.
Since in this country, the main thrust of
election is simply to capture political
power—not really to choose those
who could best govern the country—
the election process itself is being
manipulated in order to achieve the
desired outcome. Several examples can
be cited, but a few may suffice. In the
choice of candidates themselves, political
parties manipulate the procedure in such
a way that those who are accepted to run
are not necessarily those who would lead
the country into its greatness or the best,
but those whose war chest is assured,
whose territorial jurisdiction can deliver
votes, and whose popularity can attract
millions. Understandably enough,
those who run for national office may
not have even discharged the office of
a barangay captain, nor have sufficient
experience in government bureaucracy.
A candidate may not have a single
known qualification except that he is a
son or daughter of a former senator or
Especially in areas where the locals are
perceived to be hostile to the candidate,
supporters could be trusted to gather
crowds by “hakot” from neighboring
barangays and towns to show that even
in the territory of an adversary, he still
commands a huge crowd of supporters.
Yet, even in friendly territories, “hakot”
is often the standard system, because
it creates a fiesta atmosphere, giving
an impressive image to candidates.
In the rally itself, politicians and their
supporters try to manipulate the crowd
by engaging in character assassination in
the hope of eroding the moral authority
of their rivals. Oftentimes, half-truths are
presented as the whole truth, political
adversaries are ridiculed or sweeping or
unfounded charges are made.
Before the advent of computerized
elections and the use of precinct
count optical scan (PCOS) machines,
manipulation during elections ranged
from the subtle to the scandalous.
Among the most common, as listed
by the CBCP in its “Catechism on the
Church and Politics,” were: using “flying”
voters; intimidating voters with the
use of violence and even by murdering
political opponents and their supporters;
B3
vote (negative voting). Being poor, voters
find it hard to resist these offers that are
euphemistically called “blessings” being
shared by candidates to the electorate.
Of course, this perpetuates dirty politics
and encourages graft and corruption, but
although politicians know that it could
empty their pockets, and even make
them pawns of their higher-ups if they
are not to run into debts, yet they cannot
steer clear of it, because it is one of the
most effective forms of manipulation to
assure votes.
There are, of course, other forms of
manipulation where money is directly
involved. Here, politicians act like
funding agencies to answer the needs of
their constituents in the hope that, come
pay-back time on Election Day, these
will vote for them. No wonder that even
projects funded from government coffers
are credited to them—“Priority Project
of Mayor/Governor/Congressman
So-and-So.” In the provinces, where
fiesta tradition is strong, politicians are
expected to shower cash when they are
requested to dance at fiesta ball. But
manipulation often becomes personal;
to make sure that voters remain on
their side on the political fence, they

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

To be sure, since manipulation is,
more often than not, introduced quite
imperceptibly in their consciousness,
people hardly suspect that they are
being manipulated in their choice of
candidates. In most cases, they do not
perceive any external compulsion; which
is why, they feel that if they vote for a
particular aspirant, they do so freely.
They are not aware of any influence
from spin doctors who induce them to
act on something they never intended
to do previously. They scarcely suspect
that some factors have forced them to
choose one over another. They do not
see that their judgment is formed on
the basis of what manipulators provide
them, or only within the limits that these
handlers allow them. They seem not to
realize that their perception has been
shaped in accord with the outcome that
manipulators intend them to achieve.
Appeal to Reason
It is impossible to discuss all the forms
of manipulation; but we can focus on
three elements commonly associated
with election in Philippine politics, and
give examples of each—image-making,
election process and money. When it
comes to packaging a political contender,
election is probably like advertising—
it can also be described as an art of
deception. Understandably enough,
many principles of advertising come into
play. In fact, people in advertising are
often enlisted to handle image-making.
In this area, appeal is made to reason.
Facts are manipulated to serve the made-
over image of the candidate. As R. B.
Absattarov, in his “Political Manipulation:
Concept and Definition,” notes, the
volume of information accessible to
ordinary citizens is reduced, partly true
but tendentious information is given,
information that could undermine the
candidate is concealed, and excessive
information to deprive them of the
possibility of acquiring true estimate
is consciously granted, among others.
To make their candidates attractive
to voters, manipulators likewise use
names or picture them with known
movie stars, sportsmen and other
celebrities as if to suggest that these people
on the basis of truthfulness of their
image. But far more subtle forms of
manipulation appeal to emotions in
order to influence voters’ choice. Here,
manipulators address the emotional
systems of viewers’ brain to achieve the
outcome of the electoral process. The
key emotions that are engaged are fear,
anger and disgust.
In “The Psychology of Manipulation
in Political Ads,” Joe Brewer points out
that fear is a natural response to threats.
We have a “fight or flight” system that
increases our alertness so that, when a
new threat appears, we can make rapid
decisions. Because of this alertness, we
tend to break the world into absolutes
(black or white, right or wrong, good
or bad) and become less attuned to
nuanced information about a person’s
moral character or the details of a policy
proposal. Rather, we tend to fall back
on our herd mentality and easily align
ourselves with people we consider to be
like us. During the cold war era, when
the word “communism” instilled fear
among the populace, candidates, like
the revered Claro M. Recto, who were
labeled communists did not make it to
the office they aspired for, though they
were among the best men this country
ever produced. Today, some candidates
may in hush-hush be branded as
murderers, terrorists or butchers, either
literally or figuratively, to create fear.
According to Brewer, anger arises
when we feel pain. When associated
with injustice, it is directed toward the
instigator of the harm to the effect that
we tend to have a lower sensitivity
toward his feelings, and hardly show
compassion for him. In the 1960s, the
murdered body of Moises Padilla was
displayed, no doubt to elicit anger
among voters. Disgust, on the other
hand, is our body’s way of saying that
we have been poisoned. When we are
disgusted, our body releases memory-
enhancing hormones that encourage us
to remember the source of contamination
so it can be avoided in the future. The
physical experience of disgust can be
associated with the moral concept of
purity. If a political label, e.g., pro-
Gloria, or pro-Marcos, is associated with
president.
It happens, though, that manipulators
are themselves pawns of a bigger
power that likewise manipulates them.
People run not because they have the
rare conviction to be of service to the
nation, but because they represent
vested interests that have to be politically
protected. In this respect, candidates are
no more than masks of interest groups,
individuals, or corporations whose
stakes are high in the choice of leaders.
Once catapulted into office, they have
no other choice but to defend, care for
and enhance the interests of those that
supported them—even against the
well-being of the poor. A councilor who
promised barrio folks that, if elected
as mayor, he would defend their land
from environmental destruction may,
upon assumption of office, suddenly
turn around and extol to high heavens
the benefits of mining—all because his
candidacy, unknown to his constituents,
was paid for by a mining corporation.
Manipulations Before and During
Elections
During campaign period, there are
several manipulations engaged in, but
the most common politicians resort to
is political rallies. This is not to say, of
course, that all rallies are manipulative.
But because they are designed to show
the spontaneity of support by voters for
an aspirant, it often happens that they are
staged deliberately to draw big crowd.
Since rallies that tackle real issues do not
attract wide audience, still less sustain
their attendance, they are carefully
planned for entertainment circuses and
black propaganda. If a proclamation
rally cannot afford known movie and
TV personalities, one can be sure that
there will be gay entertainers, comedians,
magicians, singers and—above all—sexy
dancers in skimpy clothes, shaking to the
tune of “Harlem Shake.”
To boost the number of attendees,
volunteers and campaign workers, as
Kyle Becker points out in Handbook of
Political Manipulation, are even made part
of the crowd, sometimes well dressed to
indicate that those in attendance are not
merely coming from the “bakya” crowd.
scaring voters away through threats of
violence; deliberately making voting
paraphernalia unavailable and precincts
inaccessible; bribing election officials,
including teachers who count the votes;
tampering with ballots; deliberately
miscounting votes; changing election
results; delaying the tabulation of final
results in order to create opportunities
for changing the results.
With the introduction of automated
elections, today’s technology, however,
eliminated a number of these forms of
manipulation; but there are quarters that
claim that even PCOS machines are not
immune to it; if computers can be hacked,
it stands to reason that it is possible
to manipulate computerized election
results. In his “The Hacking of the PCOS
Machine in Biliran in the 2010 Elections,”
Jerry Ocampo claims that it occurred in a
Visayas province in the contest between
Glenn Chong and Rogelio Espina for a
congressional seat.
The Power of Money
Finally, a component that is almost
always inseparable from manipulation
is money. In order to manipulate people
or the result of elections, funding is a
sine qua non. Indeed, almost all forms
of manipulation that we have seen so
far cannot succeed without it. Which is
why, in order to win, a politician needs
truckloads of money. Logically enough,
it is most likely that pork barrel will
never be abolished; politicians need
it to remain in power. Those who do
not have monetary arsenal must seek
funding elsewhere—illegal gambling,
drugs, graft, pay-offs, smuggling, Big
Brother, multinationals, etc.—in order
to manipulate people and events and
ultimately capture power.
The use of money in manipulation
is nowhere clearer than in the buying
of votes, usually on the eve of or
during Election Day. Exploiting the
poverty of the majority, volunteers
and supporters of candidates pay off
voters amount ranging from as low
as P20 to as high as P20,000 to ensure
victory. Money is offered not only to
vote for a certain candidate (positive
vote buying), but also not to cast one’s
dole out cash for various needs—burial,
hospital, wedding, and many more.
Thus, people become willing tools of
political manipulation; they hardly think
of rising from that notch of being victims
of the political process.
Need for People of Critical Mind and
Sense of Social Responsibility
It is time to conclude this brief lesson.
Looked at from the point of view of
manipulation, the electoral process
appears to be a battle for the control of
people’s mind. It is about management of
their political consciousness and behavior
to pressure them into acting against
their own interest, and even against
their conscience. Because freedom is
diminished, the search for truth and the
common good are sacrificed, and human
dignity is trampled upon. There is thus
some truth to the saying that elections
begin as a farce and end as a tragedy.
But, in the face of all those forms of
manipulation, how indeed can the bar
on the quality of candidates and politics
be raised? How can we ever produce
politicians who can go beyond their
personal ambition and family interest?
Part of the solution should really
come from the electorate. One cannot
overemphasize the importance of
forming discerning and responsible
citizens and communities, people
who have critical mind, high critical
standards and strong sense of social and
political responsibility. They are the ones
who can really face well-honed forms of
manipulation without compromising
moral integrity and ethical principles.
But alone, they might not be able to
do so. In today’s complex society,
they will need external structures that
systematically support and encourage
them. This underlines the necessity of
groups, communities, churches and
organizations that have a role to play
especially in their formation and in
their advocacy. Only then can we have
an electorate that truly writes its own
political history, not passive individuals
easily swayed by the whims of their
manipulators, always playing the role
of historical victims in our unchanging
politics.

Women / B2

that the use of distinctive
pronouns in the Ceremonial
simply reflects the fact that the
possibility of a female master
of ceremonies was probably
never even imagined. Since
this is insufficient to answer the
question regarding the present
legality of female masters of
ceremonies, we must look
elsewhere for the reply.
In 1994 the Pontifical Council
for Legislative Texts published
an interpretation of Canon 230.2
of the Code of Canon Law. This
canon states that “Lay persons
can fulfill the function of lector
in liturgical actions by temporary
designation. All lay persons can
also perform the functions of
commentator or cantor, or other
functions, according to the norm
of law.”
The same pontifical council
was asked if the liturgical
functions which, according to
the above canon, can be entrusted
to the lay faithful, may be carried
out equally by men and women,
and if serving at the altar may be
included among those functions,
on a par with the others indicated
by the canon.
The council replied
affirmatively, according to the
instructions given by the Holy
See.
This interpretation specifically
addressed the question of female
altar servers, but the criteria used
would logically appear to cover
the case of a female master of
ceremonies among the “other
functions” mentioned by the
canon.
Therefore, I would say that,
lacking any specific instructions
to the contrary from the Holy See,
a female master of ceremonies is
possible from the point of view
of liturgical law.
It should be remembered that
Canon 230.2 has a permissive,
and not a preceptive, character.
There is no right on the part of the
faithful to aspire to this function.
Also, permissions given in
this regard by some bishops
can in no way be considered
as binding on other bishops.
In fact, it is the competence
of each bishop to make a
prudential judgment on what to
do, with a view to the ordered
development of liturgical life in
his own diocese.
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 17 No. 8
April 15 - 28, 2013

The road to same-sex ‘marriage’ was

paved by Rousseau
By Robert R. Reilly
INELUCTABLY, the issue of “gay” rights
is about far more than sexual practices.
It is, as lesbian advocate Paula Ettelbrick
proclaimed, about “transforming the
very fabric of society … [and] radically
reordering society’s views of reality”.
Since how we perceive reality is at stake
in this struggle, the question inevitably
rises: what is the nature of this reality?
Is it good for us as human beings? Is it
according to our Nature? Each side in
the debate claims that what they are
defending or advancing is according to
Nature.
Opponents of same-sex marriage say
that it is against Nature; proponents
say that it is natural and that, therefore,
they have a “right” to it. Yet the realities
to which each side points are not just
different but opposed: each negates
the other. What does the word Nature
really mean in this context? The words
may be the same, but their meanings are
directly contradictory, depending on the
context. Therefore, it is vitally important
to understand the broader contexts in
which they are used and the larger views
of reality of which they are a part since
the status and meaning of Nature will be
decisive in the outcome.
Let us then review briefly what the
natural law understanding of “Nature” is
and the kinds of distinctions an objective
view of reality enables us to make in
regard to our existence in general and
to sexuality in particular. The point of
departure must be that Nature is what
is, regardless of what anyone desires or
abhors. We are part of it and subject to it.
It is not subject to us. Thus, we shall see
how, once the objective status of Nature is
lost or denied, we are incapacitated from
possessing any true knowledge about
ourselves and about how we are to relate
to the world. This discussion may seem at
times somewhat unrelated to the issues
directly at hand, but it is not. It is at its
heart and soul. Without it, the rest of our
discussion is a mere battle of opinions.
The discovery of Nature was
momentous, as it was the first product
of philosophy. Man first deduced the
existence of Nature by observing order
in the universe. The regularity with
which things happen could not be
explained by random repetition. All
activity seems governed by a purpose,
by ends to which things are designed
to move. Before this discovery, in the
ancient, pre-philosophical world, man
was immersed in mythological portrayals
of the world, the gods, and himself. These
mythopoeic accounts made no distinction
between man and Nature, or between
convention and Nature. A dog wagged
its tail because that was the way of a dog.  is, and why it is not something else. This
Egyptians painted their funeral caskets
in bright colors because that was the way
of the Egyptians. There was no way to
differentiate between the two because
the word “Nature” was not available in
the vocabulary of the pre-philosophical
world.
According to Henri Frankfort in Before
Philosophy, it was Heraclitus who first
whole. It is logos which makes the world
intelligible to the endeavor of philosophy,
ie, reason. In the Timaeus, Plato writes,
“... now the sight of day and night, and
the months and the revolutions of the
years, have created number, and have
given us a conception of time; and the
power of inquiring about the nature of
the universe; and from this source, we
have derived philosophy, than which no
greater good ever was or will be given
by the gods to mortal man.” Through
reason, said Socrates, man can come to
know “what is”, ie, the nature of things.
Aristotle taught that the essence or
nature of a thing is what makes it what it
is not a tautology. As an acorn develops
into an oak tree, there is no point along
its trajectory of growth that it will turn
into a giraffe or something other than an
oak. That is because it has the nature of
an oak tree. By natural law, in terms of
living things, we mean the principle of
development which makes it what it is
and, given the proper conditions, what
The term “teleological”, when applied at all times, everywhere, for everyone.
to the universe, implies that everything For the first time, reason becomes the
has a purpose, and the purpose inheres in arbiter. Reason becomes normative. It is
the structure of things themselves. There through reason—not from the gods of
is what Aristotle called entelechy, “having the city—that man can discern what is
one’s end within”. The goal of the thing just from what is unjust, what is good
is intrinsic to it. These laws of Nature, from what is evil, what is myth from
then, are not an imposition of order from what is reality.  Behaving reasonably or
without by a commander-in-chief, but doing what accords with reason becomes
an expression of it from within the very the standard of moral behavior.  We see
essence of things, which have their own one of the highest expressions of this
integrity. This also means that the world understanding in Aristotle’s Nicomachean
is comprehensible because it operates on Ethics. 
a rational basis. As classics scholar Bruce S. Thornton
It is by their natures that we are able expressed it: “If one believes, as did many
to know what things are. Otherwise, we Greek philosophers from Heraclitus on,
would only know specificities, and be that that the cosmos reflects some sort of
unable to recognize things in their genus rational order, then ‘natural’ would denote
and species. In other words, we would behavior consistent with that order. One
only experience this piece of wood (a could then act ‘unnaturally’ by indulging
tree), as opposed to that piece of wood in behavior that subverted that order
(another tree), but we would not know and its purpose”.  Behaving according to
the word “tree” or even the word “wood”, Nature, therefore means acting rationally.
because we would not know the essence Concomitantly, behaving unnaturally
of either. In fact, we would know nothing. means acting irrationally. This notion
Nature is also what enables one of reality necessitates the rule of reason.
Reason and morality
This is relevant to man alone because
only he possesses free will. He can choose
the means to his end or choose to frustrate
his end altogether. This, of course, is why
“moral” laws are applicable only to man.
These moral laws are what natural law
means in regard to man. That man can
defy moral law in no way lessens the
certainty of its operation. In fact, man not
so much breaks the moral law as the moral
law breaks man, if he transgresses it. In
short, when we speak of man’s Nature, we
mean the ordering of man’s being toward
certain ends. It is the fulfillment of those
ends which makes man fully human.
What is man’s end? In the Apology,
Socrates said that, “A man who is good
for anything…ought only to consider
whether in doing anything he is doing
right or wrong – acting the part of a
good man or bad…” The Republic states
that “the idea of the Good… is seen
only with an effort; and when seen, is
also inferred to be the universal author
of all things beautiful and right, parent
© Pinky Barrientos, FSP / CBCP Media

Order in the Universe – Aristotle’s Laws of light and the lord of the light of this
of Nature visible world, and the source of truth
There are two basic, profoundly and reason in the intellectual”. Since
different anthropologies behind the Socrates, we have called man’s end “the
competing visions of man at the heart good”. This end carries within it an
of the dispute over same-sex marriage. intimation of immortality for, as Diotima
For an understanding of the original said in the Symposium(207a): “… love
notion of Nature, we will turn to those loves good to be one’s own forever. And
who began the use of the term in hence it necessarily follows that love is
classical Greece, most especially Plato of immortality”.
and Aristotle. To present the antithesis of
this understanding, we will then turn to
At the heart of the debate over same-sex marriage are fundamental The good for man, Aristotle tells us,
is happiness. However, happiness is

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who eviscerated
the word of its traditional meaning in
the 18th century and gave it its modern
connotation. The older anthropology is
Aristotelian, which claims that man is
by Nature a political animal for whom
the basic societal unit is the family. The
newer is Rousseauian, which claims that
man is not a political animal and that
society in any form is fundamentally
alien to him. These two disparate
anthropologies presuppose, in turn, two
radically different metaphysics: one is
teleological; the other is non-teleological,
or anti-teleological. Again, the first one
has its roots in Aristotle, the second in
Rousseau. These two schools of thought
provide convenient and necessary
philosophical perspectives within which
to understand the uses of the words
“natural” and “unnatural” as they are
variously employed by the proponents
and opponents of homosexual acts and
same-sex marriage today.
questions about who men are and how we decide what makes us flourish.
grasped that the universe is an intelligible
whole and that therefore man is able to
comprehend its order. If this is true—and
only if it is true—man’s inquiry into the
nature of reality becomes possible. The
very idea of “Nature” becomes possible.  is manifested through either instinct or
How could this be? Heraclitus said that
the universe is intelligible because it is
ruled by and is the product of “thought”
or wisdom. If it is the product of thought,
then it can be apprehended by thinking.
We can know what is because it was made
by logos. We can have thoughts about
things that are themselves the product
of thought.
As far as we know, Heraclitus and
Parmenides were the first to use the
word  logosto name this “thought”
or wisdom. Logos, of course, means
“reason” or “word” in Greek.  Logos is
the intelligence behind the intelligible
it will become when it fulfills itself or
reaches its end. For Aristotle, “Nature
ever seeks an end”. This end state is its
telos, its purpose or the reason for which
it is. In non-human creation this design
physical law. Every living thing has a telos
toward which it purposefully moves. In
plants or animals, this involves no self-
conscious volition. In man, it does.
Anything that operates contrary to
this principle in a thing is unnatural to
it. By unnatural, we mean something
that works against what a thing would
become were it to operate according to its
principle of development. For instance,
an acorn will grow into an oak unless
its roots are poisoned by highly acidic
water. One would say that the acidic
water is unnatural to the oak or against
its “goodness”.
not whatever we say it is, but only that
thing which will by our nature truly
make us happy. Since man’s nature
person to recognize another person as a is fundamentally rational, happiness
human being. What does human nature will consist in the knowledge and
mean? It means that human beings are contemplation of the ultimate good.
fundamentally the same in their very (That good, the theologians tell us, is
essence, which is immutable and, most God). Aristotle explains that happiness
profoundly, that every person’s soul is is achieved only through virtuous actions
ordered to the same transcendent good – the repetition of good deeds. Deeds are
or end. (This act of recognition is the considered good and bad, natural and
basis of Western civilization. We have unnatural, in relation to the effect they
forever since called barbarian those who have on man’s progress toward his end.
are either incapable of seeing another So, it is through Nature that we come
person as a human being or who refuse to understand the proper use of things.
to do so.) Both Socrates and Aristotle said The enormous importance of this for our
that men’s souls are ordered to the same topic is that, since the purposes of things
good and that, therefore, there is a single are intrinsic to them, man does not get
standard of justice which transcends to make them up, but only to discover
the political standards of the city. There them through the use of his reason. He
should not be one standard of justice can then choose to conform his behavior
for Athenians and another for Spartans. to these purposes in a life of virtue, or
There is only one justice and this justice to frustrate them in a life of vice. He can
is above the political order. It is the same Road / B7

May They Be One

• No. of Dioceses participating in the Bible Campaign – 85 out of 86 Dioceses
• Bibles Distributed (Jan 1, 2013 - Apr 5, 2013): 72,936 copies
• Bibles Distributed by Languages - Bicol (1,865 cps.) Cebuano (14,164 cps.) English TEV (8,628
cps.), English NABRE (1,130 cps.) Hiligaynon (8,490 cps.), Ilocano (2,122 cps.), Pampango (601 cps.)

Bible Campaign • Parishes/Communities served in 2011: 1,369

• Total Bible Distribution: (Jan 2009- Apr 5, 2013): 881,555 cps.
Help Put a Bible in Every Filipino Home • Target No. of Bibles for Distribution for 2013: 600,000 cps.

The Wind, the Waves and the Word

IN 2004 when typhoons Undang,
Winnie and Yoyong were wreaking
havoc in many parts of the country,
the parish of St. Joseph Spouse of
Mary in Looc, Romblon turned to God
for help and protection. Parishioners
read, meditated on and applied in
their lives John 15:1-17, portions of
which says ...You did not choose me
but I chose you and appointed you
to go and bear much fruit, the kind of
fruit that endures. And so the Father
will give you whatever you ask of Him
in my name (15:16).
Morning and evening, the parish-
ioners read and mediated on the
passage. The result was nothing
short of a miracle. God spared Looc
from being ravaged by the super ty-
phoons. The parishioners, hearts filled
with thanksgiving, held a feast in honor
of Christ the King, bringing offerings of
palay, bananas and farm products to
the church. In 2006, the Looc parish-
ioners again experienced the power
of prevailing prayer and God’s Word
against typhoons and volcanic eruption
and similarly, against typhoons Pedring
and Ramon along with earthquakes and
tornadoes in 2011.
Each rescue encounter from the Lord
brought much rejoicing and thanksgiv-
ing to the parishioners and elicited
from them a response of praise and
thanksgiving offering of their harvest.
While the series of typhoons and
natural mishaps devastated nearby
towns and provinces, the town of
Looc was peaceful and safe. Looc’s
shield of protection was reminiscent
of the Israelite experience in Exodus
9:25-26 “All over Egypt, the hail struck
down everything in the open, including
all the people and all the animals. It
beat down all the plants in the fields
and broke all the trees. The region of
Goshen where the Israelites live was
the only place where there was no hail
(Exo.9:25-26).
Jesus, the Living Word took over the
reins of nature. Even the wind and
the waves obey Him Luke 4:41b. May
They Be One Bible campaign seeks to
bring the Bible to every poor Filipino
home so that household members may
experience the power and love of the
Living Word.
Members of the MTBO Advisory Committee: Bishop
Broderick S. Pabillo DD, Fr. Oscar A. Alunday, Mr. Rod
G. Cornejo, Mr. Rene E. Cristobal Sr., Dr. Philip C.
Flores, Mr. Dante M. Lanorio, Fr. Antonio B. Navarrete,
Dr. Natividad B. Pagadut, Mr. Albert S. Tanlimco and
Atty. Jose Tale.
Pray that plans to hold the Handwritten Unity Bible
activity will push through with many participants
nationwide, particularly among churches/parishes and
megachurches, schools, businessmen’s groups.
To learn more about how you can be part of the
Campaign and make significant change, call us at PBS
526-7777, ECBA 527-9386 or visit www.bible.org.ph
and www.ecba-cbcp.com. Donations can be made by
making a deposit to the following bank accounts: PBS-
MTBO Account #3903-0649-34 (BPI Sta. Mesa Branch)
Fax deposit slip to 521-5803 or ECBA-CBCP Account
#0251-021376 (BPI-Tayuman Branch) Fax deposit slip to
527-9386. For credit card payments – go to PBS website
(www.bible.org.ph)
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 8
April 15 - 28, 2013
B5

Celebration of the National Consecration to the

Immaculate Heart of Mary on June 8, 2013
YOUR Eminences/Excellencies/
Reverend Administrators:
In 1975, the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines,
in its Pastoral Letter titled “Ang
Mahal na Birhen”, detailed the
place of Mary in the history of the
Philippines and demonstrated
how deeply the Blessed Virgin
Mary is part of the Filipino
heritage and identity. Indeed,
Filipinos would always hold
on to the devotion to Mary
as a source of inspiration and
an aid to salvation. Having
appraised such deep devotion,
the Second Plenary Council of
the Philippines aptly puts it: the
outstanding characteristic of the
Church in the Philippines is to
be “pueblo amante de Maria”—a
people in love with Mary (cf.
PCP-II, n. 153). Thus, it is always
our dream and hope that we,
as a Filipino nation, may not
only grow in our devotion to
Mary, but above all, may acquire
a deeper understanding of
Mary’s role in the Church in the
flow of divine grace through faithful an opportunity to Q. Dee of Bahay Maria- Assisi
the intercession of Mary, our rediscover the Christian faith Development Foundation, Fr.
Mother. Such maternal care we and intensify our efforts for a Yulito Ignacio and the CBCP
continue to implore especially renewed integral evangelization General Secretariat.
in important events of our (New Evangelization), this Attached herewith is the
nation. In fact, in 2009, the CBCP Episcopal Conference deems it suggested plan of activities
invited the Filipino faithful to providential to declare in one prepared by the Committee.
start preparing spiritually for accord, during its 106th Plenary Instructional and campaign
another crucial transition in the Assembly last January 28, 2013, the materials will be sent once
life of our nation—namely, the holding of a simultaneous National ready. An in depth explanation
National Elections of May 2010— Consecration to the Immaculate of the rationale of the national
by declaring the Year of the Heart of Mary on June 8, 2013, consecration will be contained in
Two Hearts for Peace-building Feast of the Immaculate Heart of a CBCP Pastoral Exhortation and
and Lay Participation in Social Mary, at 10:00 in the morning a Primer now being prepared.
Change from June 2009 – June in all the Cathedrals, Parish Meanwhile, I am earnestly
2010. In that year, the bishops Churches, Shrines and Chapels appealingtoalltheMostReverend
call on the faithful to consecrate in the respective Arch/Dioceses, Ordinaries to organize arch/
the country to the Sacred Heart Prelatures and Apostolic Vicariates. diocesan executive committees
of Jesus through the Immaculate For a well-coordinated for the said celebration.
Heart of Mary on the very days and fruitful celebration of May Mary, Mother of God
of their feasts. such momentous event, the and Mother of the Church, look
Realizing once more the need CBCP Permanent Council has upon her “pueblo amante”, the
to invoke the loving guidance designated an ad hoc Committee Philippines, with a mother’s eye
of our Mother, especially as the to plan, promote and spearhead and guide it along the paths of
Philippine Church has embarked the national consecration. His justice, truth and love. Amen.
on a nine-year spiritual journey Excellency, Most Rev. Guillermo Given at the CBCP
towards the great jubilee of the V. Afable, Bishop of Digos, Headquarters, Intramuros,
Fifth Centenary of the Christian acts as Chairperson, with the Manila this 3rd day April 2013.
Faith in our beloved land assistance of the Episcopal

FILE PHOTO
Philippines. come the year 2021 ushered Commissions on Liturgy and + JOSE S. PALMA, D.D.
Time and time again, we by the observance of the Year Social Communications and Archbishop of Cebu
have experienced tremendous of Faith which offers for every Mass Media, Amb. Howard CBCP President

The Church and our Elections

MY dear people of God:
As responsible citizens of heaven and
citizens of our nation, we must face the
forthcoming elections always from the
viewpoint of faith and with the mind of
the Church enlightened by the values
of the Gospel.
Our Gift
What can the Church—bishops,
priests and laity gathered by the Spirit
of God—contribute to the forthcoming
elections?
Our best contribution is to PRAY
that the Lord of history guide every
voter and guide every candidate
in the forthcoming exercise of civil
responsibility. It is only the Lord who
can give us peace during elections. It is
only God who can enlighten us in our
decision making so that the voice of
Pastoral Letter for the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan
social teachings about the promotion
of the common good, the challenge of
solidarity, the spirituality of stewardship
and similar teachings must be taught
more vigorously and passionately. The
best time to teach these gospel lessons
is now as we choose our civil leaders.
The Church must be a MOTHER and
TEACHER of voters and candidates
together. The Church must be a mother
and teacher also for all the candidates
from opposing political parties. As
mother she loves all and refuses no one.
As a teacher, she rebukes with love; she
corrects with mercy; she guides firmly
always celebrating what is right and
beautiful among her opposing children.
She must be an example of humility in
the midst of arrogance. She must be a
reminder of the presence of the divine
among us.
When elections are PEACEFUL and
HONEST, the Church WINS in the
elections. When elections are morally
credible and losers and winners stay
civil and courteous, the Church wins
in the elections. When every vote is
cast from CONSCIENCE and not from
convenience, the Church has truly
become the formator of conscience
and has shown herself as a mother and
teacher, faithful and obedient to her
Master and Lord. Candidates and voters
are children of the Church. Candidates
against one another are brothers and
sisters in God.
The Church must guide and not
dictate.
The Church must unite and not
contribute to the division.
The Church must pray and not add
to the confusion.

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

the people can truly reflect the voice of
God. If we cease to be a praying people
and lose our link to God, our humanly
inspired decisions can only lead to the
loss of our soul as a nation. Prayer is the
most important untapped resource in
nation building often ignored and even
ridiculed. The Church must restore the
confidence of our citizenry in prayer.
Remember EDSA.
The Church can also contribute
a reverential SILENCE in the forum
of public discussion. Silence is the
language of God. We must regain our
vision to be a contemplative Church
and refuse the temptation to be
popular and attractive. The silence of
contemplation is the only antidote to
the insane and ridiculous campaign
strategies that we watch. The silence
of contemplation is the cure to the
disgusting, unreal and chaotic flavour
of the election period. The Church can
be a prophetic sign of the mystical
silence of God in the midst of the
cacophony of mud throwing and name
calling in campaign platforms.
The Church is the CONSCIENCE
of society and it must remain so. The
beatitudes need to be re-proposed.
The Ten Commandments need to be
re-injected into the lifeblood of our
national conscience. The Catholic
Our Boundary
What must the Church—bishops,
priests and laity—not do during this
campaign and election period?
When the Church ENDORSES
CANDIDATES in political elections
she always ends up a LOSER. The
endorsed candidate may win in the
votes but the Church never wins with
him. In endorsing candidates, the
Bride of Christ the Church tarnishes
her spiritual mission with the stain of
the mundane. The endorsed candidate
might win but religion has been reduced
to a political party; religion has been
used for political gain and our spiritual
mission has been compromised. We will
be lonesome widows after the elections
for marrying partisan politics during
the campaign.
The Church must refuse to play with
the fire of political power or it risks
burning herself. The Church does not
win when her endorsed candidate wins.
The Church should not be perceived
as winning or losing an election.
The Church must be beyond such.
Paraphrasing the Lord in the Garden
of Agony, those who live by the sword
will die by the sword. RELIGIONS
THAT WALTZ WITH POLITICS WILL
DIE BY POLITICS.
The Church must heal and not inflict
hurts.
The Church must be in the world
but not belong to it.
Our Guidance
How can we your shepherds help
you to exercise your civic duty as
Catholics? What guidance can the
pastors give to the flock entrusted to
their care? We your archbishop and
priests in Lingayen Dagupan admonish
you to examine your candidates
diligently in the light of our Catholic
faith. We advise you not to vote for the
candidates if:
1. The candidate cannot declare a
categorical and clear NO to divorce,
abortion, euthanasia, total birth
control and homosexual marriages or
D.E.A.T.H issues. Pro choice is anti life.
2. The candidate has been linked to
drug trade, drug possession or drug use
or receives money from illegal gambling
or has done nothing to stop illegal
gambling especially jueteng. Silence is
consent.
3. The candidate has been convicted
for a criminal offense. Government
officials must be honorable.
4. The candidate supports black
sand mining or tolerates irresponsible
quarrying or illegal fish pens. Nature
is our mother; if you can rape your own
mother, what else will you not do?
5. The candidate has not done
anything until now to uplift the plight
of the poor. Performance is better than
promises.
6. The candidate is giving money
or distributing goods to voters during
the campaign period. Vote buying is
prostitution.
7. The candidate has been involved
or linked to terrorism or the use of goons
for self protection within or outside the
campaign period. Peace is the only way
to peace.
8. The candidate shows off religiosity
only during the campaign period or is
antagonistic to church teachings and
practices. Corruption and hypocrisy are
twins.
9. The candidate is unfaithful to his
or her spouse and children. Corruption
begins at home.
10. The candidate has other members
of the immediate family in government
positions already. Promoting family
welfare and promoting the common good
cannot mix.
We submit these guidelines to you
and plead with you to bring them to
prayer. If Jesus would vote, for whom
would he vote? Vote like Jesus. If you
cannot find Jesus from among the candidates
just make sure you do not make Judas or
Barabbas win.
If you sell your vote, you sell something
sacred; you make yourself a cousin of Judas
too.
Our Prayer
May Mary, Mirror of Justice, whom
we tenderly venerate in Manaoag as
Our Lady of the Rosary, help you to be
good disciples of the Lord and patriotic
citizens of our country.
From the Cathedral of Saint John the
Evangelist, Dagupan City, April 14, 2013
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan

Courage / B1
Press Statement
Archdiocesan Discernment Group
waiting for me, of all people. But
God is indeed waiting for you; he
asks of you only the courage to go
healed. Remember what Saint
Paul says: “What shall I boast of,
if not my weakness, my poverty?
Sing / B2
by the ministers and the people
is not absent in celebrations that
occur on Sundays and on holy
days of obligation.

Urges Electoral Candidates to Help

to him. How many times in my Precisely in feeling my sinfulness,
pastoral ministry have I heard in looking at my sins, I can see “In the choosing of the parts
it said: “Father, I have many and encounter God’s mercy, his actually to be sung, however,
sins”; and I have always pleaded: love, and go to him to receive preference should be given

Stop Demolition in Barangay Luz

IN view of the ongoing
demolition (which started last
April 10, 2013) in Sitio Lubi,
Barangay Luz, Cebu City, we,
priests, religious, and laity of
the Archdiocesan Discernment
Group (ADG) on Urban Poor
ask: Why are our poor brothers
and sisters in Sitio Lubi, Barangay
Luz, treated not as human beings
who have the right to adequate
shelter? When will our hearts of
stone turn into hearts of flesh which
beat of love and compassion for our
neighbors, especially the homeless
and powerless?
In the middle of last year,
the ADG on Urban Poor was
informed that the Cebu City
Council’s Committee on
Housing recommended for the
demolition of 32 households
in Barangay Luz. This was
their response to the appeal
of the poor households for
expropriation of their lots so
that they could pay for these lots
directly to the city government.
Expropriation would have
averted the demolition.
In the Archdiocese of Cebu
Election Summit last February
23, 2013, one of the urban
poor sector’s agenda was the
following: No to forced eviction and
demolition. Yes to urban land reform.
Implement on-site development
of the urban poor communities in
public and private lots.
We call on local and national
candidates to listen to the agenda
of the urban poor. We ask them
to show us that indeed, they are
running for office, not for selfish
reasons, but to serve the people
especially the poor. Now is the
time to do something to stop
demolitions and all forms of
human rights violations against
the marginalized sectors!
We also call on concerned
citizens to join us in a Prayer
Service with the victims of
demolition on April 15, 2013,
4:15 pm at the gate of St.
Joseph’s Cemetery, Barangay
Luz (Assembly at 4:00 pm at the
CCTN Gate).
For reference:
FR. VICENTE DAYAO
Convenor
Archdiocesan Discernment
Group on the Urban Poor
April 13, 2013
“Don’t be afraid, go to him, he is
waiting for you, he will take care
of everything”. We hear many
offers from the world around
us; but let us take up God’s offer
instead: his is a caress of love.
For God, we are not numbers,
we are important, indeed we
are the most important thing to
him; even if we are sinners, we
are what is closest to his heart.
Adam, after his sin, experiences
shame, he feels naked, he senses
the weight of what he has done;
and yet God does not abandon
him: if that moment of sin marks
the beginning of his exile from
God, there is already a promise
of return, a possibility of return.
God immediately asks: “Adam,
where are you?” He seeks him
out. Jesus took on our nakedness,
he took upon himself the shame
of Adam, the nakedness of his
sin, in order to wash away our
sin: by his wounds we have been
forgiveness.
In my own life, I have so often
seen God’s merciful countenance,
his patience; I have also seen so
many people find the courage
to enter the wounds of Jesus by
saying to him: Lord, I am here,
accept my poverty, hide my sin in
your wounds, wash it away with
your blood. And I have always
seen that God did just this – he
accepted them, consoled them,
cleansed them, loved them.
Dear brothers and sisters, let
us be enveloped by the mercy of
God; let us trust in his patience,
which always gives us more time.
Let us find the courage to return
to his house, to dwell in his loving
wounds, allowing ourselves be
loved by him and to encounter his
mercy in the sacraments. We will
feel his wonderful tenderness, we
will feel his embrace, and we too
will become more capable of mercy,
patience, forgiveness and love.
to those that are of greater
importance and especially to
those to be sung by the priest
or the deacon or the lector, with
the people responding, or by the
priest and people together.
“41. All other things being
equal, Gregorian chant holds
pride of place because it is
proper to the Roman Liturgy.
Other types of sacred music, in
particular polyphony, are in no
way excluded, provided that
they correspond to the spirit of
the liturgical action and that they
foster the participation of all the
faithful.
“Since faithful from different
countries come together ever
more frequently, it is fitting
that they know how to sing
together at least some parts of the
Ordinary of the Mass in Latin,
especially the Creed and the
Lord’s Prayer, set to the simpler
melodies.”
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 17 No. 8
April 15 - 28, 2013

Shepherds, strong in
faith and full of love
Good Shepherd Sunday; April 21, 2013
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
BEING mostly a shepherding
people, the Israelites/Jews
enjoyed thinking of the Lord as
their divine “Shepherd.” They
expressed their faith and trust
in God’s provident care and
protection by singing: “The Lord is
my shepherd, there is nothing I shall
want . . . I fear no evil!” (Ps 23:1.4)
And the Lord did take care of
his “flock” in all circumstances.
In most cases, however, He
entrusted the ordinary care of
Israel to “human shepherds”: the
political and religious leaders of
His people. These were expected
to be the symbols and instruments
of the fatherly concern which the
www.ferrelljenkins.files.wordpress.com
own flock personally. (See Ez
34:11-16.)
Such a promise was fulfilled
eminently in Jesus Christ, the
Son of God made man. In his
short earthly existence, through
his teaching, his miracles, and his
loving kindness, Jesus showed
himself in innumerable instances
that he was, indeed, the good
shepherd who really cared for
his “flock.” Eventually, he went
to the extent of laying down his
life for his sheep, thus living
up to the definition of “good
shepherd” which he himself had
given. (See Jn 10:11.)
After his resurrection Jesus
did not forget his “little flock”
of frightened disciples. First of
all, he reawakened in them their
28:19-20), and their successors.
They were to watch over the
whole flock which the Holy Spirit
had entrusted to their care. That
meant they were to shepherd “the
Church of God which Christ has
acquired at the price of his own
blood” (Acts 20:28).
These human shepherds are
the ones who, all through the
centuries, and in all communities,
have been given the task of
strengthening the faith of the
other believers and of making
visible the caring presence of
the eternal Shepherd, through
their dedication, their patience,
their concern, their selflessness.
These are the people called
to be “sacraments of Christ’s
shepherding love.” We need

Divine Shepherd showed for his
people at all times.
Often, however, the leaders
turned into “bad shepherds”
who pastured themselves, while
treating the sheep harshly. (See
Ez 34:3-6.) The Lord threatened
to dismiss those bad shepherds,
and promised to take care of his
faith in him, which had been
badly shaken by the events of his
Passion and Death on the Cross.
Knowing that he would not be
visibly present among them any
longer, he entrusted them all to
the care of Peter, the chief “vice
shepherd” (see Jn 21:15-17), and
of all the other apostles (see Mt
many of these lamb-shepherds,
for our needs are plenty. But
especially we need to see that
their faith is strong and that they
are holy – that they resemble him,
the Holy Lamb and Shepherd, as
far as their human frailty allows.
For this intention, we are invited
to pray today in a special manner.

What fashions a new, wonderful world

By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
WE Christians have something
wonderful to look forward to: a
totally “new world.” This will consist
in a condition of perfect happiness,
characterized by the absence of any
form of suffering and by the deepest
experience of God’s saving presence.
(See today’s Second Reading, especially
vv. 3-4.)
Such a world, so different from the
present one, will not be the product
of man’s ingenuity, planning, or
efforts. By ourselves, we are incapable
5th Sunday of Easter; April 28, 2013
of creating our own heaven. We are
even unable to conceive it in our
imagination, for we do not know what
is really fulfilling for us.
The “new world” we eagerly await
is the creation of God’s love for us.
He alone knows what can make us
really happy forever. He alone can
make this plan a reality.
Y e t , s u c h a n e w w o r l d a n d
new Jerusalem will not be simply
a priceless gift distributed
indiscriminately to all men,
including those who persistently
reject it. God treats us as adults. He
respects our freedom and values our
cooperation. He actually solicits it, comparison between God’s role and sacrificing love of God and neighbor
gently and constantly. He wants us ours. Yet, it is God Himself who has which Jesus taught his disciples with
to be the ones who supply the labor, chosen us as His “partners.” Such his example, even more than with his
while He supplies the planning, the has been His will and pleasure. It words.
bricks, the mortar and the stones is His love which transforms our A love patterned after that of
needed to build the “world” in which suffering and feeble efforts into a Jesus for his disciples is the only
alone we will feel at home. In this humble contribution to the building valid passport that will enable us to
way, the world without tears, death, of the “house of love” that we call enter the “heavenly Jerusalem,” our
mourning. . . will be not only a gift “heaven.” true homeland. Without a Christ-like
from God, but also the fruit of our That final result will be like a love, we would feel total strangers
cooperation. splendid flower blossoming out of a and out of place in God’s Kingdom.
In practice, then, the “new world” dark, small, unattractive seed — the With it, we shall feel perfectly at
will be the result of two loves: God’s seed of our life on earth . . . . The home, and enjoy the fruit of even the
love for us, and our love for Him vital force that makes our poor efforts tiniest acts of brotherly love done in
and our neighbor. This is quite an produce such a disproportioned imitation of Jesus, “the Teacher of
uneven partnership, for there is no result is our Christ-like love, the self- love.”

Bishop Pat Alo

ENCOUNTERS God sees his own

Irenical approach
IN the present question of dialogue
among Christians the above-mentioned
approach which is tantamount to the
‘friendly’ approach is the one mostly
applied. Its name originates from the
Greek word ‘eirene’ which means peace.
This “Irenical” approach does not mean
that the Catholic waters down the truth,
but he learns how to present it so that
it will be better understood and more
easily received.
The facts speak for themselves. The fact
that the Catholic Church has grown in
number in spite of opposition and various
trials and happenings argues in its favor.
After all, in this free world, no one is
forced to this or that faith denomination
or religious group. Each one must freely
choose where he or she believes the truth
is. On our part however, we should help
Bo Sanchez
out that persons may be freely aided to
seek and encounter the truth. After all,
that’s what Jesus really wants us to do
so we may together find the “truth that
sets us free” (Jn. 8:32).
The complete paragraph was quoting
the words of Jesus in Jn. 8:31-32: “Jesus
then went on to say to those Jews who
believed in him: ‘If you live according
to my teaching, you are really my
disciples; then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.” Jesus
talks about the freedom to do good,
not the license to do evil. That is what
freedom really is.
In this multi-faceted world, a world of
so many opinions we must do our part
to exert effort to search for the truth
amid the many diversities of words and
thoughts. Yes, amid the confusion of so
and cares for them
Reflections on the 4th Sunday of Easter
much unhappiness. Let’s seek for that By Fr. Joseph Pellegrino
touch of divine truth that will finally
bring us the needed consolation. We  
must not forget the words of our divine CHRISTIANS have a very interesting laundry service. Or
Master—‘everyone who searches, always at least it seems that way if you listen to the second reading
finds’ (Mt. 7:7). from the Book of Revelation.  People are presented from every
Christ convinced people not just by nation carrying palm branches and wearing long white robes,
mere words but mainly by His life and robes that they washed and made white with the blood of
works that show God’s accompanying the lamb. I’m sure you can all recognize that this is just a
power. Towards the end of St. Mark’s little sampling of the elaborate symbolism of the book of
gospel you read how God shows the Revelation. The long white robes represent the baptismal
powerful signs or miracles of His commitment of people from every nation. Their palm branches
approval. “These are the signs that will refer to their being martyrs or witnesses to Christ. The
be associated with believers: ion my name white color means their purity, single purpose in life, to
they will cast out devils; they will have serve God. This purity, this whiteness, is attained through
the gift of tongues; they will pick up sacrifice. They wash their robes white then by following Jesus
snakes in their hands, and be unharmed in sacrifice, in the blood of the lamb.
should they drink deadly poison; they God is very much aware of their sacrifice, their efforts to
will lay their hands on the sick, who will serve his kingdom. 
recover” (Mk. 16:17). He knows us. He sees our efforts. He protects us. So often
we have this terrible image of God as watching for us to slip
up so that he can say, “Gotcha”.  But God sees the entirety of
our lives, not just our mistakes. He sees our intentions, our
desires, and all that we do. I often will tell people that God sees

Soulfood sacrifices we make that have become such a part of our lifestyles
that we just take them for granted.  God sees them. Like the
numerous times you stop whatever you are doing to make
time for someone else, your spouse, your children, a person

Remind yourself that you’re a saint within
ONE day, a teac h er aske d
her students in class to
write the names of the
oth er s tud en ts o n a p i e c e
of paper. “ A n d l eave sp a c e
be tween e ac h n am e,” s h e
in st ructed .
When they finished, the
teacher said, “Underneath
each name, I want you to write
the good things you see in
that person.” Immediately, the
kids busied themselves with
the task and took the whole
class to finish it.
The teacher took the
papers home and collated
the material. On one piece of
paper per child, she wrote all
the positive qualities written
by their classmates.
On the next class, she
handed out the papers to the
kids. They were very happy
to read the letters. “Wow, am
I really this person?” some of
them gushed.
Many, many years later, the
teacher received a phone call.
One of her former students,
who had become a soldier,
was killed in battle. Would
she want to attend the funeral?
She went and saw many
of her former students
condoling with the bereaved
family. As she stood beside
the coffin, looking at the
lifeless body of a young man
in uniform inside, a middle-
aged woman approached her.
“Are you my son’s grade
school teacher?”
“Yes,” she said, “you must
be his mother. My deepest
condolences.”
“I’d like to show something
to you,” the mother said. “My
son had this inside his wallet
when he died.” She pulled out
that needs your attention. God sees those times even if you
don’t give them a second thought. He sees. He knows. He
loves. He protects.
 The reading from  Revelation  particularly applies to
martrdom. Directed as all the readings during the Easter
a worn-out piece of paper. It The teacher was moved season are to neophytes, the newly baptized, as well as to
was obvious that it had been beyond words. all Christians to help us focus on the fundamentals of the
folded and unfolded many Why would a simple piece faith, this reading reminds us that Christianity demands
times. of paper mean so much? martyrdom. All Christians are called to be martyrs. The
Even before it was opened, Because here’s the truth: word martyr means witness. We may or may not be confronted
the teacher already knew Life can be rough. At various with the choice of torture and death to preserve and give
what it was. It was the piece time, it can even be cruel. witness to our Christianity, but we always have to give witness
of paper that contained the Every time we fail, every to our being Christians. This means putting others before
list of positive qualities his time we receive criticism, ourselves. It means standing up for what is ethically, morally
classmates saw in him. Kept every time we get rejected, we right even when, as so often, we are in the minority and an
and read all through the years. doubt our worth. We doubt object for scorn. It means keeping the source of our strength,
By that time, her other our goodness. our faith life, flourishing through prayer and meditation,
students had gathered around We are very desperate for through the sacraments and community worship.  These are
both of them. love. just some of the myriad of ways that we are called to give
A young man beside the We need to love the saint witness, be martyrs for Christ.
teacher said, “Uh, I carry mine within us. John saw a huge crowd there in heaven. A number no
wherever I go too.” Friend, love yourself. one could count. Today we ask ourselves, “Are we in that
A woman from behind said, Each day, celebrate your crowd?  Are we wearing long white robes as a symbol of our
“I still keep mine. It’s in my positive qualities. Celebrate commitment to Christ? Do we carry palm branches as a sign
diary.” your goodness. Celebrate that we are witnesses to Christ, martyrs? Do we continually
Another man said, “I display your beauty. join Jesus in sacrifice, thus washing our robes in the Blood
my list on my desk at home.” Thank God for how of the Lamb?” 
Another woman said, “It wonderful He made you. Today we pray for the courage to live out our baptismal
seems like all of us kept that Love the sinner and the commitment.
paper all these years!” saint within.
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 8
April 15 - 28, 2013
B7

NASSA surveys stand of Caritas Manila helps

2013 senatorial candidates
THE National Secretariat for Social Action,
Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines exposed the
stand of the 2013 Senatorial Candidates on
various National Social Justice Issues such
as mining, freedom of information, national
land use policy, political dynasty, pork barrel,
agrarian reform, same sex marriage, RH bill,
divorce, and contractualization.
“As part of our Voters’ Education with
our Diocesan Social Action network under
the Good Governance Program, we sent
out a survey to all Senatorial Candidates
last month, aiming to gather and provide
information on the candidates’ position on
a wide range of national issues that affect
“As we make public the findings in the
survey, we hope that both candidates and
voters can re-align their action and plans
(hopefully towards a more equitable and
just society) according to the information we
will disseminate and apply critical analysis
which can form a basis of their final vote,”
CBCP-NASSA stated.
“We chose to send our survey to the
candidates via their declared political
parties, as well as all published and available
contact means. However, we found
difficulties in identifying the contact details
like phone, fax and emails of the declared
Political Parties the candidates belong to;
and when we did find, some of them have
restore dignity of NBP
inmates through art
not done so past the deadline.
In the survey process, NASSA has taken
note of the following: 1) the political party
headquarters did not seem to be coordinating
with their own candidates as they had to
still contact them one by one eventually and
still not responded at all; 2) some candidates
are not reachable through their personal or
published contact means; 3) some are also
passing around on who and how to talk to
them directly on the survey questions; and 4)
some candidates did not put a clear position.
Therefore many candidates’ positions and
responses were missing.
During National Social Action General
Assembly (NASAGA) last August 2012

the people and how candidates respond
to them, in hope of raising some political
consciousness of voters,” the CBCP-NASSA
cited in a statement released on April 8.
The statement added that the issues are
selected in the context of NASSA’s advocacies
and the current trend of “development” in
economic, political or social aspects.
The social advocacy arm of the CBCP
clearly explained to the candidates that
Election survey is an opportunity for the
people to discern whether they want future
lawmakers to be truly for the people, or for
profits or the influential in society.
Road / B4
choose to become fully human, or
to dehumanize himself. However,
if his choice is the latter, he will
not present it to himself in those
terms. As Aristotle said, he must
see what he selects as a good in
order for him to be able to select
it. If he chooses to rebel against
the order of things, he will present
this choice to himself not as one
in favor of disorder, but as one
for order – but of another sort. He
will, as we have said, rationalize:
vice becomes virtue. It is to the
construction of this other sort of
“order”, to this alternate reality,
that we now turn. One of its
modern architects was Rousseau.
Rousseau’s Inversion of Aristotle
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-
1778) turned Aristotle’s notion
of Nature on its head. Aristotle
said Nature defined not only
what man is but what he should
be. Rousseau countered that
Nature is not an end—a telos—
but a beginning: Man’s end is his
beginning. He has no immutable
nature. “We do not know what
our nature permits us to be”,
wrote Rousseau in his Emile. A
20th century version of this view
was offered by John Dewey, who
said: “human nature is not to have
a nature”. There is nothing man
“ought” to become, no moral
imperative. There is no purpose
in man or nature; existence is
therefore bereft of any rational
principle. This means there is
no entelechy, no such thing as
‘having one’s end within,’ as
Aristotle put it. In fact, reason itself
is not natural to man, according
to Rousseau – whereas Aristotle
said it is man’s very essence. For
Rousseau, the roots of reason are
in the irrational. Reason is the
servant of the passions, not of
the truth.
Contra Aristotle, Rousseau
asserted that man by nature
was not a social, political animal
endowed with reason. Unlike
Aristotle, Rousseau does not
begin with the family, but with an
isolated individual in the state of
nature, where the pure “sentiment
of his own existence” was such
that “one suffices to oneself, like
God.”  Nature becomes a secular
substitute for the Garden of Eden.
Yet this self-satisfied god was
asocial, amoral and pre-rational.
His couplings with women were
random and formed no lasting
attachment. The family was not
natural to him. As Rousseau
wrote in his Discourse on the
Origin of Inequality , “… there was
one appetite which urged him
to perpetuate his own species;
and this blind impulse, devoid
of any sentiment of the heart,
produced only a purely animal
act. The need satisfied, the two
sexes recognized each other no
longer, and even the child meant
nothing to the mother, as soon
as he could do without her.”
(Rousseau, in fact, abandoned
his five children.) The Marquis
de Sade expressed a thoroughly
Rousseauian sentiment in his
novel Juliette, when he wrote that
“all creatures are born isolated
and with no need of one another”.
It was only when through some
unexplainable “accident” one
man was forced into association
with another that his godlike
autonomy ended. “Man is by
nature good”, said Rousseau, but
we have somehow fallen from
FILE PHOTO
changed and the offices either refused to and subsequent meetings and orientation
receive other candidates of the same party, seminars, it was clear that voters’ education
or gave us the contact details at the senate for the upcoming election will be one of
or congress offices so we can approach the main focus of the network, both at
Inmates sell their products to prison guests in this file photo.
ourselves,” NASSA furthered. the diocesan and national levels. While
However, the CBCP-NASSA still have at diocesan and local levels, the issues of IN cooperation with Shangri-la EDSA Plaza, Caritas Manila
to contact the candidates one by one, like concern would be different, NASSA at the held a three-day Art Exhibit at the Level 3 of the Shangri-la
independent candidates. There were also national level has identified 10 national Plaza Mall on April 12 to 14, 2013.
some candidates who do not have contact issues mostly related to current or upcoming Dubbed as “Restoring Dignity Through Art”, Caritas Manila
details in the web site and other personal Bills/Laws and targeted the Senatorial showcases art pieces and products made by inmates from the
and intrusive ways have to be employed to Candidates. National Bilibid Prison and urban poor communities being
reach them. For offices or representatives The survey will be used for the on-going assisted through its Livelihood and Restorative Justice (RJ)
who have received the surveys and have voters’ education in all dioceses and other Programs.
promised to submit, many of them still have religious groups. (SocialActionNews) Featuring pyrography on wood as the art medium, proceeds
of the sale of the art pieces will financially support the inmates’
families. Such empowerment helps restore their dignity despite
serving time for their offenses.
Nature. What man has become is forms of association which have Once society is atomized, once The products, as part of Caritas’ Social Entrepreneurial
the result not of Nature but of this enslaved him to other men and the family ceases to interpose Program, are being sold and marketed by Caritas Margins,
“accident”, which also in some kept him always outside of itself between the individual getting its name from the “marginalized” sector: the prisoners
way ignited his use of reason.  himself. He must sever, as much and the state, the state is free to and the urban poor. As Pope Francis has divinely been inspired
Rousseau stresses the accidental as possible, his relations with his transform by force the isolated by St. Francis of Assisi, the Church defends “the poorest, the
character of man’s association in fellow members of society so he individual into whatever version weakest, and the least important” in society.
society in order to emphasize its can return the sentiment of his of “new man” the revolutionary Caritas Manila is the lead social services and development
unnaturalness and artificiality. own existence to himself. How visionaries espouse. ministry in the Archdiocese of Manila, chaired by Luis Antonio
It was not necessary. In fact, can this be done? G. Cardinal Tagle. Caritas Manila has been exemplifying its
it shouldn’t have happened. The artificial family “Church of the Poor” mission since 1953. It celebrates its
Aristotle taught that you cannot The state demands complete Here is the point of huge Diamond Jubilee in October this year.
reach perfection by yourself; man dependence significance for our subject. If the To know more about our programs and how you can help,
needs society and the political Rousseau described the family is artificial in its origins, as visit www.caritasmanila.org.ph or call (632) 562-0020 to 25.
order to reach his full potential. accomplishment of this condition: Rousseau claimed, then it can be (Caritas Manila/SocialActionNews)
The polis is necessary to him. “Each person would then be changed and rearranged in any
Rousseau asserted the opposite: completely independent of all way the state or others may desire.
man begins in perfection, which his fellowmen, and absolutely It is simply a shift in convention, “Reason is, and ought only to be, can will whatever he can bring
the formation of society then takes dependent upon the state”. The state a change in a cultural artifact. We the slave of the passions and may about whether or not it was held
from him. could restore a simulacrum of that can revise human relations in any never pretend to any office other to be contrary to natural law.”
Here is how Rousseau stated original well-being by removing way we choose. Whoever has than to serve and obey them”. Nothing less than this is what is
his thesis in his Discourse on the all of man’s subsidiary social sufficient power may make these Reason is not, then, the means by playing itself out in the same-sex
Origin of Inequality: “… this state relationships. By destroying man’s alternations to suit themselves. which man reaches his end in the marriage struggle.
[of nature] was the least subject familial, social, and political ties, the There is no standard in Nature knowledge and contemplation of Though not directly speaking
to upheavals and the best for state could make each individual to which they must adhere or the good. It is a tool for satisfying of Callicles or Rousseau in Salt
man, and that he must have left totally dependent on the state and by which they can be judged. the passions. The inversion of of the Earth, the then-Cardinal
it only by virtue of some fatal independent of each other. The state If we do not have a Nature, Aristotle is complete. Joseph Ratzinger said something
chance happening that, for the is the vehicle for bringing people then there could not possibly that characterizes this school of
common good, ought never to together so they can be apart: a sort be a problem with homosexual Natural laws or natural rights? thought: “the idea that ‘nature’
have happened. The example of of radical individualism under state acts or same-sex marriage – or A modern day version of has something to say is no longer
savages, almost all of whom have sponsorship. with many other things, as well. Callicles would not speak as admissible; man is to have the
been found in this state, seems to Rousseau’s program was to Pointing out that there has never frankly as he did to Socrates. liberty to remodel himself at will.
confirm that the human race had politicize society totally and been such a thing as homosexual He would cloak his inversion of He is to be free from all of the prior
been made to remain in it always; his first target was society’s marriage in history is superfluous natural law in the language of givens of his essence. He makes of
that this state is the veritable youth foundation—the primary means to this point of view since man’s “natural right”, so that it might himself what he wants, and only
of the world; and that all the by which men are curbed of “nature” is malleable. It is the seem to be the same, while in this way is he really ‘free’ and
subsequent progress has been in that total self-absorption to product of history. History moves actually being its opposite – just as liberated. Behind this approach
appearance so many steps toward which Rousseau wished them to on and man changes with it. Or did Rousseau. If you are an active is a rebellion on man’s part
the perfection of the individual, return—the family. To destroy the rather man can change himself homosexual, you claim a “right” against the limits that he has as a
and in fact toward the decay of family Rousseau proposed that according to his desires, as long to sodomitical acts and same-sex biological being. In the end, it is a
the species”.  its primary function of educating as he has the means to do so. marriage. Though “natural right” revolt against our creatureliness.
In his Discourse on the Sciences its children be taken from it and Since things do not have ends sounds like natural law, it is not, as Man is to be his own creator—a
and Arts, Rousseau purported to given to the state. “The public in themselves, they can be given Fr. James Schall has explained, at modern, new edition of the
show the destructive influences authority, in assuming the place ends by whoever is powerful all similar. “Modern natural right immemorial attempts to be God,
of civilization and “progress” on of father and charging itself with enough to do so. theory”, he writes, “is a theory to be like God.”
men, whose “minds have been this important function (should) This is the philosophy of the of will, a will presupposed to This is the anthropological and
corrupted in proportion as the acquire his (the father’s) rights Sophist Callicles in the Gorgias, nothing but itself. In its politicized metaphysical perspective within
arts and sciences have improved”. in the discharge of his duties”. when he says to Socrates: “the fact formulation, it has been the which the same-sex marriage
In his workRousseau, Judge of The father is supposed to console is this: luxury and licentiousness most enduring and dangerous movement makes its case. To
Jean-Jacques, he describes himself himself with the thought that he and liberty, if they have the alternative to a natural law that accept same-sex marriage means
as having advanced the “great still has some authority over his support of force, are virtue and is based in the ontological reality to accept the entire perspective
principle that nature made man children as a “citizen” of the state. happiness, and the rest of these of what man is. from which it comes, including
happy and good, but that society His relationship with his children embellishments—the unnatural Once natural right becomes the assertion that “human nature
depraves him and makes him has metamorphosed into a purely covenants of mankind—are all the understood foundation of is not to have a nature”. But natural
miserable....vice and error, foreign political one. mere stuff and nonsense” (492c). political life, the state is free to law is nothing other than what it is
to his constitution, enter it from Rousseau’s attack upon the With the support of force, virtue place any content into it that it to be a human being. Its rejection
outside and insensibly change family and his exclusive reliance becomes whatever you choose. It wants, including the rewriting is a denial of humanity, of what is. 
him.”  Speaking of himself in the upon the state as the vehicle of is not conforming your behavior or elimination of natural law.
third person, Rousseau wrote that man’s redemption is the prototype to the rational ends of Nature, but The older constitutional tradition (Robert R. Reilly is the author
“he makes us see the human race for all future revolutionaries. The conforming things to your desires. thought that the state was itself of  The Closing of the Muslim
as better, wiser, and happier in program is always the same: Reason becomes your instrument both a natural result of man’s Mind. He is currently completing
its primitive constitution; blind, society, responsible for all evils, for doing this. For Rousseau, nature and, in that capacity, a a book on the natural law argument
miserable, and wicked to the must be destroyed. To promote man is a creature of desire and check on the state. But if man has against homosexual marriage for
degree that it moves away from it.” universal “brotherhood”, the appetites, to which his reason is no ‘nature,’ he is freed from this Ignatius Press.  This article is
The society resulting from that only source from which the word subordinated. Rousseau’s host restriction. Modern natural right lifted from MercatorNet that has
“fatal chance happening” has “brother” can draw meaning— in England, David Hume, wrote means that nothing limits man or republishing agreement with CBCP
corrupted man. This is Rousseau’s the family—must be eliminated. in  A Treatise on Human Nature: the state except what he wills. He Media Office.)
substitution for original sin.
Through his association with
others, man lost his self-sufficient
“sentiment of his own existence.”
He began to live in the esteem of
others (amour propre), instead of in
his own self-esteem (amour de soi). In
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 B8
Rediscovering the
heart of faith—service
By Fr. Shay Cullen
WHEN he bent down on his
knees in the youth detention
jail in Rome last Holy Thursday,
washed and kissed the feet of
the juvenile prisoners and also a
mother and child and a Muslim,
Pope Francis sent a message to
Catholic Church leaders and
to the world. It seems to say,
change is here, we have to leave
behind the pomposity, clerical
child abuse and domination
wherever it may be, and be
humble servants of the poor
and the wretched and give them
dignity, justice and hope.
“To wash your feet, this is a
symbol, a sign that I am at your
service. But it also means that
we have to help each other.” He
then showed understanding of
youthful impetuosity and their
quickness to anger.
“It was normal to get mad at
others, but let it be, let it be. If
that person asks you a favor, do
it. Let’s help each other. I do it
with my heart because it is my
duty as priest and as Bishop;
I have to be at your service.
It’s a duty that comes from my
heart because I love doing this,
because this is what the Lord
taught me.”
He was of course imitating
Jesus of Nazareth who washed
the feet of his disciples as
would a humble servant. Jesus
was a charismatic leader with
a passion for justice, equality
and sought a spiritual and
social revolution. How could
the future leaders of the church
be credible and teach, guide
and expect others to follow
moral principles and behavior,
TITLE: It takes a Man and a
Woman
LEAD CAST: John Lloyd
Cruz, Sarah Geronimo,
Isabelle Daza, Matet de
Leon, Joross Gamboa,
Guji Lorenzana, Rowell
Santiago, Gio Alvarez
DIRECTOR: Cathy Garcia-
Molina
SCREENWRITER: Carmi
Raymundo
GENRE: Drama, Romance,
Comedy
RUNNING TIME: 120 minutes
DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema
& Viva Films
LOCATION: Philippines
Technical Assessment:
 ½
Moral Assessment: Stryder (Ronan), one of the remaining uninhabited humans, is
 ½
CINEMA rating: V 14
MTRCB rating: G
Film is indeed a powerful
medium for teaching history.
Had we not watched Lincoln
and been awed by the riveting
performance of Daniel Day-
Lewis, the United States’ 16th
president would have remained
in our mind as nothing more than
a shiny marble statue.
Lincoln chronicles the last
month, January 1865, in the life
of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th
president of the United States,
as he zeroes in on the last and
greatest win of his political
career—the abolition of slavery
in America.
Director Spielberg does right in
depicting a Lincoln that is at once
iconic and human. Far from being
a traditional bio-pic that tends
to paint a glossier-than-reality
picture of a revered character,
Lincoln shows how a principled
man may still be admired despite
his political savvy that enabled
him to resort to the maneuverings
prevalent in his time.
President # 16 has been played
by so many estimable actors since
1930, but in Lincoln, the role is not
played, it is lived—to the point
that it becomes difficult to tell
whether it is the actor Day-Lewis
inhabiting the Lincoln character,
or the spirit of Lincoln inhabiting
the actor’s body. A well-chosen
cast combined with matchless
supporting performances—
notably by Tommy Lee Jones (as
Thaddeus Stevens) and Sally field
(as Mary Todd Lincoln) add to an
authentic reliving of Lincoln’s
struggle towards his goal. To the
last detail, the rich production
sets are adjudged faithful to Abe’s
life and times, bringing the past
vividly back to life to afford the
viewer a peek into history.
The sessions in Congress
where the battle over the
13th Amendment is raging is
particularly eye-opening to
contemporary political observers.
if they themselves did not teach
by example. That is what Jesus
was saying by his actions. Pope
Francis seems to be repeating
that message.
Blessed are the poor, Jesus
said, theirs is the kingdom
of God. This is what Pope
Francis was saying also in
a symbolic way. He sees a
Church where humility has
been replaced with arrogance
and pomp, and privilege
has replaced compassion
and justice. He knows that
abusive priests were allowed
by some irresponsible Bishops
to continue to abuse children
with impunity. He knows
that despite past apologies to
victims by the previous Popes,
church structures have not
changed sufficiently to restore
the trust and confidence of
Catholics in the Church as a
reliable, open, transparent,
credible institution. Mitered
heads may soon roll. Since his
installation several years ago,
my Bishop has never visited
the homes for the juveniles
in conflict with the law or the
homes for the sexually abuse
victims.
It’s time to change
Jesus challenged the religious
authorities and infuriated them.
Then they plotted his downfall
and had him convicted as a
political rebel and given the
death penalty. They accused
him of trying to be a King when
in fact that was what he totally
repudiated. That is the cruel
drama that we re-enacted last
Holy week. Pope Francis will
be walking on a few precious
toes before long.
 Exemplary
They reveal that some things in
the field of public service have
not changed—and perhaps never
will—such as under the table
deals, patronage positions as
bribes, presidential strategizing
and pressure on the House of
Representatives to ensure the
passage of an amendment, etc.
The latter may evoke a feeling of
déjà vu in people quite familiar
with the debates that not too
long ago raged over an RH bill
in the Philippine Congress, and
the nonchalance with which
some lawmakers dismissed the
Executive railroading of the
contentious bill. In his rush
to pass the 13th amendment,
Lincoln utilized all the tricks in his
arsenal. Sounds familiar? But of
course, presidential maneuvering
Features
Jesus gave us the example of
that special challenging love
that drives a person to care for
the stranger, and to help the
poorest and most exploited and
abused of society.
We can clearly see the message
of Pope Francis when he was on
his knees before the prisoners.
He established by his words
and action the rights, dignity
and the fact that they should
have a place in the world. He
seems to be signaling to all
Catholics to be a servant, a
helper and to realize that being
a follower of Jesus of Nazareth
has duties and obligations that
go far beyond attending mass
and church ceremonies. This is
what Pope Francis said of his
mission today.
“I would like it to go out to
every house and every family,
especially where the suffering
is greatest, in hospitals, in
prisons. Most of all, I would
like it to enter every heart, for it
is there that God wants to sow
this Good News: Jesus is risen,
there is hope for you, you are
no longer in the power of sin, of
evil! Love has triumphed, mercy
has been victorious!”
Well, it’s going to be a
troubling future for many a
traditional conservative cleric
if the Pope expects the clergy
to do as he does and skip the
scarlet robes, gold braided
vestments and privileges and
live outside the gilded palaces
in small apartments like the
Pope himself. Next, he might
expect them to take public
transport like he did as Bishop
and Cardinal in Buenos Aires
or even more challenging, to
imitate Jesus of Nazareth.
Moral Assessment
 Abhorrent
 Disturbing
 Acceptable
 Wholesome
 E
of the Legislative branch takes on
a different coloration depending
on the issue at hand: a law
abolishing slavery is not the
same as a law establishing a
contraceptive mentality.
It might also come as some
form of warped consolation
to Filipinos that their present-
day solons’ (mis)behavior
is civil compared to that of
the insult-hurling American
counterparts in 1865. If in 1865
their congressional session room
resembled a saloon filled with
trigger happy cowboys, ours
in 2012 was simply reminiscent
of classroom of overgrown
kindergarteners who couldn’t
differentiate between study
and play. One noticeable thing,
though: the 1865 lawmakers
Pope Francis washes the foot of a young inmate in Rome’s Casal del Marmo during the Mass of the Lord Supper on
Holy Thursday.
Technical Assessment
 Poor
 Below average
 Average
 Above average
xcellent
hurled verbal darts at one another,
but God was acknowledged in the
process of lawmaking. In the 2012
RH arena… well, make your own
conclusions.
KudostotheSpielberg-Kushner
tandem that brought out the
Oscar-winning performance of
Day-Lewis, the Abraham Lincoln
that came alive onscreen proves
worthy of the reverence accorded
him by his countrymen—a doting
father, a sympathetic husband,
a statesman made of fire and
ice, wisdom and wile, a soul
blessed with courage and grace,
a human being who passionately
went after his dream and paid
the price for it. Certainly a very,
very far cry from being a mere
marble monument. (Teresa R.
Tunay, OCDS)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 8
April 15 - 28, 2013
© Vatican Radio Facebook Page
TITLE: The Host
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Jake Abel, Max Irons, Chandler
Canterbury, Frances Fisher, Diane Kruger, William
Hurt
DirectOr: Andrew Noccol
GENRE: Sci-Fi Drama
Location: Future time
Distributor: Open Road Films Entertainment Films
Distributors / Viva Films
Running Time:125 minutes.
Technical Assessment: 
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: V14
MTRCB rating: PG 13
In the future, humanity is taken over by extra-terrestials called the
Souls. Although they are peaceful and caring, the Souls need to
enter into a human body and take over its mind and life. Melanie
captured by the Seeker (Kruger) and infused with the soul named
Wanderer in the effort to discover the whereabouts of the last
groups of insurgent humans. However, Melanie fights back and
struggles to control her mind and body. Wanderer, in the meantime,
discovers Melanie’s past, grows sympathetic towards her plight
and slowly forms an alliance with her. Together, they escape the
attepmt of the Seeker to transfer Wanderer into another body and
enter Melanie herself so she can get the information she needs.
Melanie and Wanderer flee into the desert and is soon found by
her Uncle Jeb (Hurt). They are taken into the insurgent’s hideaway
where Melanie is reunited with her boyfriend Jared (Irons) and
little brother Jamie (Canterbury). However, the group, save for
Uncle Jed, do not realize Melanie is still alive and almost has her
killed believing she is an evil parasite. Slowly, the humans and
Wanderer begin to understand and appreciate each other and
stand side by side for the
survival of their own race.
The host’s storyline
shows potential with
its unique take on alien
invasion and Meyer’s
subtle spirituality. As an
author, she is consistent
in her respect for life
and dignity of humanity.
But the film translation
suffers irrevocably either
from poor script or from
the source material
itself. The film falls flat
with an unimaginative
screenplay, painfully
dragging direction and
overall monotonous
performances from the
cast. The love triangle is just dreary. The romantic build, just like
the plot development, takes up so much time and patience. But
the worse part is how the writer/director chose to show Melanie
and Wanderer living together in the same body. The production
design is laughable in its simplistic assumption that aliens and
advance technology should only be pristine white or mirror-plated.
These scenes hurt the eyes as much as they hurt one’s sanity. The
host is easily one of the worst movies adapated into screen.
Thefilmmakesonenotablepremise—peacefulco-existence.Beitouter
space creatures and human beings, the normal and the supernatural, or
primitive and advance technology, co-existence, according to the film, is
possibleprovidedthereisrespectandlove.Meyerpresentsalieninvaders
as the SOUL—peaceful, kind, trusting, and overall good natured except
thattheyneedabodytolivein,whilehumansareviolent,aggressiveand
selfish. Her premise may lack theological or literary depth but it leads
us to ask what it means to be human. Does possessing free will and a
body suffice or is humanity something at the core of life where love,
respect and sacrifice exist. There is a sense of spirituality in the film as it
echoes how we understand lour body and soul. It parallels the struggle
most people encounter as they resolve the conflict between human and
divine will. More than trying to save humanity from invaders, the film
is a story about the nature of love—for family, friends and life.
 CBCP Monitor
C1 Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013

The Cross

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI and the Order of the Knights of Columbus
CATHOLIC Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III was awarded with the exclusive edition of KCFAPI watch led by KCFAPI Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr., KCFAPI
President Guillermo N. Hernandez and KCFAPI Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa G. Curia. Also in photo are State Deputies Arsenio Isidro Yap (Luzon), Rodrigo Sorongon (Visayas), Balbino Fauni (Mindanao),

FBG awards BC Holders with

and KCFAPI Independent Trustees Juan Abraham Abando, and Emiliano Deliverio.

‘timeless watch’
THE Fraternal Benefits Group (FBG)
of the Knights of Columbus Fraternal
Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KC-
FAPI) awarded qualified Benefit Cer-
tificate (BC) holders with the exclusive
edition of KCFAPI watch last April 5 at
the Social Hall, Fr. George J. Willmann
SJ Center in Intramuros, Manila.
“With KCFAPI’s aim to increase the
coverage of our KC members and their
families, we have launched this pro-
gram inspired by no less than the Chair-
man of the Board of Trustees, honorable
former Chief Justice Davide,” said Vice
President for Fraternal Benefits Group
Gari M. San Sebastian.
He added that the watch is the symbol
and reminder for the BC holder of their
continuing support and dedication for
the coverage that they availed of from
KCFAPI.
“This is not actually for the KCFAPI
only but for their [Brother Knights]
families and beneficiaries as well. This is
just a first step so that all our BC Holders
may later find value on their insurance
coverage at KCFAPI. And as a member,
this is the primary objective of the K of
C: to render financial assistance to our
members and families and through the
insurance program that we are able to
manifest or concretize the primary duty
of a Knight which is to be a provider
whether he sticks around or provide
his families’ benefit who will be left
behind,” San Sebastian added.
He also cited that the KCFAPI Watch
is a privilege and a reminder that they
will enjoy the 24/7 coverage or what
they called the insurance benefits from
KCFAPI just like what the 26 brother
knights and families did —they were
able to avail the KCFAPI watch.
“We would like to thank first and
foremost the guidance of the Holy Spirit
through the inspiration and initiative of
our Board of Trustees led by Chairman
Davide, KCFAPI President Hernandez,
State Deputies and the management who
are very supportive of the FBG programs
and acknowledge the group effort of
our sales force from Area Managers and
Fraternal Counselors. With this, we are
requesting all our members to avail this
privilege as a Knight and at the same time
to increase their coverage up to the maxi-
mum level,” San Sebastian furthered.
FBG Manager Michael Cabra also
acknowledged the awardees through
his message.
“I would like to take this opportunity
to congratulate all the KCFAPI watch
recipients –a big number of them from
Luzon Jurisdiction, for the KCFAPI
employees who availed of the 2 mil-
lion benefit program, thank you for
setting the example. You really Walk
your Talk! For the FCs who were able
to convince their BC Holders (KCFAPI
Watch awardees), may you have more
JUMBO FYCs to come,” Cabra said.
The ‘timeless watch’ has the signature
of KCFAPI Chairman and former Chief
Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. inscribed
on it. It was launched late last year
during the weeklong celebration of
KCFAPI’s 54th anniversary. To avail of
the watch, the Benefit Certificate (BC)
holder must get a P2,000,000.00 cover-
age on a single Benefit Certificate.
Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr.
delivered an inspiring message and re-
marked that his signature on the watch
is the same signature he affixed on
documents when he was at the Supreme
Court and a Philippine Representative
to the United Nations.
Among the prominent awardees were
the KCFAPI President Guillermo N. Her-
nandez, KCFAPI Executive Vice Presi-
dent Ma. Theresa G. Curia, and Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Media Director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III.
Other awardees were Danilo Sanchez,
Milagros Sanchez, Maria Ofelia Som-
era, Gari San Sebastian, Angelito Bala,
Edwin Dawal, Christine Joy Infante,
Michael Cabra, Neil Jerome Rapatan,
Adrian Boston, Jude Bigornia, Anthony
Boaging, Emilia Boaging, Ana Kristel
Yap, Virgilio Matias, Elena Bernabe,
Gerardo Alday, Marcial Abucay, Ar-
lene Flores, Manueline Garcia, Reupert
Manuel Garcia, Arnel Uy, and Rema
Pazvia Cabatu. (Yen Ocampo)

KC Phl welcomes St. Camillus’ relic Relic of St. Camillus in

THE Fourth Degree Honor Guards
of the Knights of Columbus in the
Philippines provided security for
the relic of the Heart of St. Camil-
lus de Lellis, patron of the sick and
hospitals, which arrived in the
country last February for a series of
pilgrimages until March 10.
Brother Knights all over the
country were requested to ac-
company the relic in its series
of pilgrimages across the nation
in preparation for the 400 years
Anniversary Celebration of St.
Camillus’ death in July 2014.
The relic was brought to
Davao City last March 4 to 5.
Meanwhile, Fr. Renante Sentillas,
rector of St. Camillus College Semi-
nary, advised sick people not to lose
Mindanao
hope as the help coming from God
is ever present through the various
health care ministries being imple-
mented and other people willing
and ready to serve them.
“The sufferings we experience
in our daily life can be redemp-
tive and salvific if we accept
them, bear them, and carry them
in our daily life. It is not that easy,
but it is not impossible,” Sentil-
las added. “Many sick people
have lived saintly and heroically
braved Christian life by carrying Inset is a photo of St. Camillus’ relic escorted by Brother Knights and
their sufferings wholeheartedly.” authorities in Calbayog City. (Photo from The Camillians‘ official
(KC News/Jennifer M. Orillaza) Facebook page)

Council 5739 helps build seminary

THE Knights of Columbus’ San Fabian
Council 5739 helped in the ongoing con-
struction of Mary Help of Christians
Theology Seminary of the Archdiocese of
Lingayen-Dagupan in Barangay Palapad,
Pangasinan.
The Council Chaplain and Parish Priest
Msgr. Oliver E. Mendoza tapped the services
of the local Brother Knights to contribute vol-
untary workforce in the ongoing construc-
tion of the seminary, according to Brother
Pompeyo Tercero.
“Some materials, like the bricks came from
Laguna and Mindoro. Hopefully, this semi-
nary will be blessed by Archbishop Soc on
May 28 or in June before the start of school
year 2013-2014,” he added.
The San Fabian Knights of Columbus
Council 5739 also planted trees around the
vicinity of the construction site.
Meanwhile, the San Fabian Council is con-
tinuing its visitation of the Icon of Our Lady
of Perpetual Help every week. Voluntary
donations given every 9th day of the novena
Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 5739 render voluntary work to build the
Archdiocese’s Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary.
will go to the Olupan ng mga Pari para sa
Bokasyon or the K of C Priestly Vocation
Program.
“To date we have already received an
amount of ten thousand pesos remitted to
the parish office for credit to the vocation
account of the Archdiocese. This council
activity is continuous and passes each mem-
ber's family whole year round,” said Tercero.
(KC News)
Relic of St. Camillus. This re-
cent picture was taken at the
Chapel of Southern Philippine
Medical Foundation where the
4th Degree Honor guards of
various Davao 4th degree As-
semblies provided the security
and honor from the airport to
the different hospitals in Min-
danao. These Honor guards
were from Mabutas Assembly,
Davao Gulf Assembly and Clo-
Luzon Jurisdiction gets
‘triple number one’
FOR the third time for this
Columbian Year 2012-2013,
the Luzon Jurisdiction of the
Knights of Columbus in the
Philippines received “Triple
vis Thibault Assembly headed
by their different Faithful Navi-
gators: Alberto Malcampo, Boy
Pancha and Hernando Jordan,
respectively. District Master
Rey Trinidad coordinated with
these assemblies for a smooth,
orderly and peaceful guarding
of the relic of St. Camillus de
Lellis, the patron Saint of the
sick, hospital and healthcare
workers. (MindanaoNews)
of December, they were already
a serious contender in all three
major categories until the his-
toric Valentine's Day and the
day after they got the Triple

Mass Wedding Feeding Program

Number One” in the three ma-
jor categories of recruitment
in gross intake, membership
growth net of suspensions, and
net of suspensions, deaths and
withdrawals.
“We got this Triple Number
One as of March 29. Category
‘One’ is the most difficult. Last
Columbian Year 2011-2012,
Mindanao was 12th, Luzon was
14th and Visayas was 18th. All
Mass Wedding. K of C Council 4639 in General Santos City three jurisdictions were never a
sponsored a "Kasalang Bayan" wherein 12 couples recently said "I Feeding Program. More than 100 children in Nueva Ecija became factor in the top five of category
Dos" at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church. Council beneficiaries of the Knights of Columbus Council 4073’s feeding ‘One’ - Gross Intake,” said Lu-
members and the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) acted as program held recently in coordination with the Vialogo Company. zon Deputy Arsenio Isidro Yap.
wedding sponsors. He added that since middle
Number One for two consecu-
tive years.
“Three months to go and I'm
hoping, I'm praying and I'm
dreaming that our Jurisdiction
would make history by being
Triple Number One for the
Columbian Year 2012-2013. A
feat that is difficult to achieve
if ever it was achieved at all
by any jurisdiction in the past
and with the concerted effort of
the State Officers and District
Deputies. Let us encourage our
Grand Knights to do their part
and make this dream a reality,”
said Yap. (Luzon News)
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C2 Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013

Hilario G. Davide, Jr. The Cause for the Beatification of

Chairman’s Message
EASTER Sunday is the greatest solem-
nity of the Liturgical year—more than
Father George J. Willmann, SJ
Christmas or any other major celebra- EMULATING the virtues that gation for Causes of Saints in en the fame of Sanctity of Father • Submission of Reports on
tions. It is the feast of feasts. It is the bespeak of sanctity of a person, Rome, a person may be elevated Willmann, may we call on all answered prayers through the
day that gives meaning to all our days. like Father George J. Willmann, to the honors of the altar if he has Brother Knights, their families intercession of Father Willmann;
“If Christ has not risen, our preaching is what we need today to draw lived up to a “heroic” degree of and friends to respond to the • Visitation of his tomb in the
is useless and so is your faith,” says St. us into a deeper living out of the the supernatural virtues of faith, following appeal: Sacred Heart Novitiate Cem-
Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians fullest meaning of our Catholic hope and charity, as well as the • Submission of testimonies etery, Novaliches, Quezon City.
(15:14). Faith in the context of increasing cardinal virtues of prudence, on Fr. Willmann’s heroic virtues; • Membership to Fr. George J.
This may be the reason why the Eas- secularism. Thus, we believe, is justice, fortitude and temper- • Recitation of Prayer for his Willmann Fellows.
ter Vigil celebration is so elaborate. It one of the most important objec- ance. We believe that Father Beatification in private and dur- This is a challenge for all of us
has so many readings that details about how God prepared tives in initiating the Cause of Willmann practiced them all to ing K of C meetings and affairs; Knights of Columbus members,
the world for the resurrection of His Son by dying on the
the good Father George. an exceptional degree. • Invocation of his interces- who dearly love Father George
cross and ultimately becoming victorious over death. In this
As prescribed by the Congre- In order to establish and wid- sion in our prayers; J. Willmann, SJ.
celebration, there is also the blessing of the fire, the lighting
of the paschal candle and the renewal of baptismal promises.

Prayer for the Beatification of Father George J. Willmann, SJ

The Easter liturgy is not only nostalgic about those Easter
celebrations when I was young in my home parish in Argao,
Cebu, but it also brings a sense of newness as a Catholic real-
izing how Christ provokes new life by his resurrection. Pope
Francis talks about this newness in his homily at his first Easter LORD God, look down upon us, A man leading other men, in the
Vigil as Pope. This newness, he says, sometimes comes as your children, who are trying to war of good against evil, in the war
surprises—but we should not be afraid of God’s surprises. serve You with all our hearts, in of the Gospel of Life against the
In utter simplicity that characterizes his person, Pope Francis our beloved land, the Philippines. Culture of Death. Make him the
exhorts us in his Easter homily: “Let us not be closed to the Deign to raise Fr. George J. Will- lamp on the lamp stand giving light
newness that God wants to bring into our lives! Are we often mann, of the Society of Jesus, to to all in the house.
weary, disheartened and sad? Do we feel weighed down by the honors of the altar. Make him the city set on the
our sins? Do we think that we won’t be able to cope? Let us not He is the wise, strong, cheerful, mountain, which cannot be hid,
close our hearts, let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: dauntless model that all of our so that all of us may learn from
there are no situations which God cannot change, there is no Filipino men need in this new era, his courage, his integrity, his in-
sin which he cannot forgive if only we open ourselves to him.” in this new millennium. He was domitable spirit in the struggle to
With this thought, I wish to greet my fellow Knights, like- your Knight, Your gentle warrior, lead men to God, and to bring God
wise the Officers and Staff of the Knights of Columbus Fra- especially in his ministry with the to man. We ask you this through
ternal Association of the Philippines, Inc., a most meaningful Knights of Columbus. Christ our Lord. Amen.
Easter. May the Risen Lord bring joy and fulfillment to our
endeavors throughout the year.
Vivat Iesus!
Michael Cabra

Guillermo N. Hernandez My Brother's Keeper

President’s Message Golden Eggs with KCFAPI
In such a short span of time since he
became the leader of some 1.2 billion
Catholics worldwide, Pope Francis has EGGS, in general, are a tra- We at KCFAPI feel the same Egg found during the hunt on which increases every year until
become so amazingly popular. I don’t ditional symbol of rebirth. In way for every benefit certificate Easter Sundays. it doubles to P2Million on the
think this is on account of what he has Christianity, they symbolize the delivered to our fellow Brother KC Assurance plan is one ninth year and up. No other
said to us as by far as it just largely empty tomb of Jesus. Though Knights and family members. example of a Golden Egg. A financial company can offer this
resonated what his predecessors had an egg appears to be like the We believe that in each Benefit forty year old Brother Knight much of a guaranteed protection.
voiced out before. His actions are the stone of a tomb, a bird hatches Certificate we deliver, a new who gets a P1Million insurance Indeed a Golden Egg available
ones that make the difference, they are from it with life. Similarly, the life will soon benefit from it. coverage will only save about only for K of C Brother Knights
something else. Unprecedented and so Easter Egg, for us Catholics, is The period of insurance con- P80,350 every year. It is only and immediate Family members.
endearing, they radiate the very traits a reminder that Jesus rose from tribution may appear like a 40 P220.00 per day for the next 6 For a comprehensive presen-
of a Pope that the modern world so desperately needs at this the grave, and that those who day season of Lent for some, years. He would have contrib- tation of KC Assurance plan,
time. Simple, humble, compassionate and loving, he easily believe in Him will also experi- but maturities and Family uted only a total of P482,100 for please feel free to contact a
becomes the Holy Father for everyone even to non-Catholics ence eternal life. Benefit is indeed like a Golden a P1Million insurance coverage fraternal counselor in your area.
and especially for the poor, the youth, the sick and troubled.
From the simple robe and the simple cross that he used
when he first appeared in the balcony of Vatican as the new
Pope, he has already broken some centuries-old tradition and
protocol in the way he conducts himself especially in public.
It was just so natural and irresistible for the Holy Father to
personally make himself available to the faithful. Kissing the
sick, embracing the children and even walking the streets of
Vatican unannounced, he prefers to be himself—as he was as
Cardinal Mario Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina—to the dismay
and chagrin of his security detail. No doubt, Pope Francis at
this early has shown us what a Catholic should and must be,
the one at the top bending down to touch those below.
In Buenos Aires where he was once a Jesuit Provincial and
later as Archbishop, he is simply called “Fr. Jorge” who is
popularly known for taking the bus, cooking his own meals,
paying his own bills and taking time with people in the streets
that, like him, live in simplicity. His taking of the name “Fran-
cis”, which is unprecedented, signals of what kind of pope
he wishes to be: a reformer that works through evangelical
spirituality and radical poverty—like St. Francis of Assisi.
With his example that is worth emulating not only by
bishops and priests but also by lay persons, I must say that
like what Blessed John Paul II foresaw in his Tertio Millennio
Adveniente during the Great Jubilee Year 2000, the Church is
now at the “springtime of new Christian life.”

FBG to hold Service Training in 3 Jurisdictions

TRAINING is the key to compet-
itiveness and staying competi-
tive is the key to sustainability.
With this as inspiration, the Fra-
ternal Benefits Group (FBG) of the
Knights of Columbus Fraternal
Association of the Philippines, Inc.
(KCFAPI) conducted a simultane-
ous Fraternal Service Training
nationwide which started second
week of April and runs until the
fourth week of the month.
The training will provide an
opportunity and broad struc-
ture for the organization and
will also help the participants
in attaining their personal
growth, according to Fraternal
Benefits Group Manager Mi-
chael Cabra.
Specific topics to be discussed
are the sales processes and plans
and programs of the group. The
training also aims to help the
fraternal counselors become fa-
miliarized with the Order of the
Knights of Columbus and history
of the insurance arm of the Order.
An Area Managers’ meeting
was also held on April 16 at the
KCFAPI Social Hall in Intramu-
ros, Manila. (Yen Ocampo)

FBG visits Northern and Northwestern Luzon

THE Fraternal Benefits Group
of the Knights of Columbus
Fraternal Association of the Phil-
ippines, Inc (KCFAPI) headed
by the Vice President for FBG
Gari San Sebastian held a se-
ries of meetings in Northern
and Northwestern Luzon from
March 26 to 28.
More than 20 Fraternal Coun-
selors attended from Northern
Luzon Cordillera Braves includ-
ing the Area Manager of the Year
Salvador R. Aspuria, Sr. and
three other awardees including
the FC of the Year Runner Up,
Anthony N. Boaging.
“We discussed about the first
quarter performance and activity
strategy to hit early attainment
and target in 2013 and to surpass
their performance in 2012. I also
gave them some updates on
KCFAPI products, sales analysis,
product re-orientation, FC incen-
tives programs, and FBG plans
and program for the year,” said
San Sebastian.
Meanwhile, the KCFAPI-FBG
went to Vigan with the North-
western Luzon Thunders last
March 27.
“One of the District Deputies
Mario Valmaceda handed over
to me a new council, a newly
formed council for possible
chartering within this year,” San
Sebastian added.
He likewise mentioned that
the Northwestern Luzon Thun-
ders group was able to hit their
first quarter target and according
to Area Manager Josefino Va-
lencia, they are very optimistic
that they will hit their assigned
targets for the year.
He added that they also held
a membership campaign for
growth & development and FC
recruitment. (FBG News)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013
The Cross C3

A Pope of Charity, Unity and Fraternity

The faithful, charitable witness of Pope Francis highlights the timeless importance of the Knights’ founding principles
By Supreme Knight Carl A.
Anderson
JUST days ago, I stood in St. Pe-
ter’s Square in Rome as the new
Holy Father, Pope Francis, was
introduced. As the pope came
out onto the balcony to address
Rome and the world for the first
time, he said: “And now let us
Givney speak of our Order’s call
to charity, unity and fraternity.
The pope’s address was a clear
call to these virtues, which are
the fundamental principles of
our Order.
How inspiring for us to have
those principles highlighted and
reinvigorated by Pope Francis’
call for charity, love, trust, frater-
nity and brotherhood—and how
those of our Holy Father. And
in many ways, we share a very
similar history with him.
His roots, like the Knights, are
in the Americas. And as more
than one person has remarked
to me, Pope Francis is the son
of European immigrants in the
New World, just as Father Mc-
Givney was. What’s more, Pope
Francis—like Father McGivney
St. Francis’ life, like that of
our new Holy Father, was a
daily witness to love of God and
neighbor—and ours must be too.
Our principles are just words if
we do not live them out.
In his first homily as our Holy
Father, Pope Francis said, “If we
do not profess Jesus Christ, things
go wrong. We may become a char-
itable NGO, but not the Church,

Alan Holdren / CNA

begin this journey, [together] as
bishop and people. This journey
of the Church of Rome, which is
to preside over all the Churches
in charity, is a journey of frater-
nity, of love, of trust between us.
Let us always pray for one an-
other. Let us pray for the world,
so that a great brotherhood may
be created.”
When I heard those words, I
felt the way our first supreme
knight, James T. Mullen, must
have felt 131 years ago when
he heard Father Michael J. Mc-
clearly his words highlight the
timeless relevance of our Order
131 years after its establishment
by Venerable Father McGivney!
The pope’s election was a
joyful moment for the Knights
of Columbus and the Church.
We have in Pope Francis a holy
man, a dedicated man and a
man who will lead the Church
forward in its mission of the new
evangelization. As his greeting
to the world made so clear, there
is much in common with the
core principles of our Order and
and generations of Knights af-
ter him—is well known for his
personal work with the poor and
those most in need.
Even his choice of name—
Francis—evokes not just St.
Francis of Assisi’s charity, but
also the words the Lord spoke
to that humble saint: “Rebuild
my Church.” It is a stirring re-
minder of the need to continue
our work of the new evangeliza-
tion, of rebuilding the Church
through prayer and living out
faith through charity.
the Bride of the Lord. When we
are not walking, we stop moving.
When we are not building on the
stones, what happens? The same
thing that happens to children on
the beach when they build sand-
castles: everything is swept away,
there is no solidity.” Let us also pray for our Holy bors. In short, let us take the call
So as we celebrate Pope Fran- Father as he requested the eve- of both Father McGivney and
cis’ election and the recent 131st ning of his election, and let us Pope Francis to heart and live
anniversary of our Order’s work even harder for those who out charity to our neighbor, in
founding, let us all as Knights need the most help in our soci- unity with our Church and our
redouble our efforts as men of ety. Let us invite the men of our Holy Father, and in the spirit of
faith—and men of action based councils to become even more fraternity.
on that faith. active in service to their neigh- Vivat Jesus!

FBG to hold service training Pope Francis could renew Catholicism

program
THE Fraternal Benefits Group (FBG)
of the Knights of Columbus Fraternal
Association of the Philippines, Inc.
(KCFAPI) will hold a two-day fraternal
service training program on April 25-26
at the KCFAPI Social Hall in Intramu-
ros, Manila.
The training will provide orientation
to participants regarding the Order of
the Knights of Columbus and its insur-
ance arm, the KCFAPI whose primary
objective is to provide optimum mutual
benefits to all its Brother Knights and
their immediate families.
First Degree Exemplification
The participants will also learn the
featured plans of KCFAPI like KC
CARES and other insurance benefit
plans.
Regular speakers are Benefit Certifi-
cate Holders’ Relations Office Manager,
Edwin B. Dawal and Underwriting De-
partment Manager, Carmelita S. Ruiz.
FBG Vice President Gari San Sebas-
tian and FBG Manager Migz Cabra will
discuss the fraternal service program
and incentives, sales technique, and
updates regarding the various KCFAPI
products. (KCFAPI News)
in Americas, says Knights’ chief
JUST as Pope John Paul II influenced
many in Poland, the rise of an Argentin-
ian to the papacy is set to dramatically
change the lives of many Christians,
according to the head of the Knights of
Columbus.
"I think it offers the same kind of a
potential for a great renewal of Catholi-
cism and Christianity all throughout the
Western Hemisphere," Supreme Knight
Carl Anderson said.
Last March 13, the 76-year-old head of
the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, Cardi-
nal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected
Pope. A humble man by all accounts, the
Jesuit priest took the name Francis after
the famous 13th-century saint of Assisi.
Anderson compared the recent elec-
tion to Bl. John Paul II's election in 1978
that brought hope to Eastern Europeans
in the midst of the Cold War.
"35 years later now," he said, "we have
a Pope coming from Latin America,
from the Americas, and I'm sure in
the United States so many millions of
Hispanic Catholics are looking now to
Pope Francis as someone who will really
change their lives for the better, too."
Since 1881, Anderson's Knights have
made it their mission to offer assistance
to people throughout the Americas and
abroad according to their founding
principles of charity, unity and frater-
nity. Their presence is felt throughout
the United States, Mexico and the Carib-
bean and even overseas through their
1.8 million members.
They have also been prominent in
promoting Bl. John Paul II's idea of
uniting North and South as "a single
entity with a Christian heritage and a
Christian future," as Anderson put it.
The Knights are enthused that this
concept is well engrained in the experi-
ence of the Buenos Aires-born Pope.
"Pope Francis speaks directly to that,
is a product of that," said Anderson.
"His entire ministry has been that and so
we're going to be strongly united with
him in moving this forward."
Their work of better uniting members
of the Catholic Church in the Americas
has been given a major boost with the
election of a Latin American pope.
"I think the next step will be to bring
this reflection more closely into North
America and into the entire Western
Hemisphere, that we can begin to do
the work, not just speak about the
potential but begin the actualization of
the potential."
For the Knights, said the Supreme
Knight, "it's going to be a very important
pontificate."
As for their specific work at this
point, he concluded, "we need to take
our part and cooperate with so many
others in the Church's reality, build the
Church like the Lord said to Francis
and I think we're going to see Him say
the same thing to Pope Francis." (CNA/
EWTN News)

The K of C Council 15139 conducted a first degree exemplification rites last March 31
at their chamber in Maywood Village 2, KM 18, Parañaque City

Visayas Jurisdiction holds simultaneous Walk

for Life rallies

Brother Knights from different councils participated in the Walk for Life rally held on
March 23.
THE Knights of Columbus Visayas Ju-
risdiction led by State Deputy Rodrigo
N. Sorongon held a simultaneous Walk
for Life Rally last March 23 in three re-
gions -Western Visayas, Central Visayas
and Eastern Visayas.
The rally demonstrated their op-
position to any form of abortion.
Right to life participants from Iloilo
Province - South, Central and North
marched through the streets around
Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral and
proceeded to the Auditorium for a
short program.
Rev. Father Esperidion Celiz and Rev.
Father Nathaniel Genpeson in their
separate messages, commended the out-
standing public witness of the brother
knights to the fundamental human right
to life and to the moral imperative of
upholding the dignity of each member
of human family. (VizNews)

News Briefs
CONGRATULATIONS to newly Chartered San Mateo Municipal College Council 15660
and to District A-12 District Deputy Charlie Maghanoy and Council Grand Knight John
Noland Santiago. Council 15660 is the 1st College Council in the Province of Rizal and
in the Diocese of Antipolo.

***

The K of C Council 8254 will be holding a family day on April 21. This activity aims to
strengthen the relationship of the families, according to Diego A. Arias, Council Director.

***

The Fr. Alfredo Paguia SJ Council 3362 which considers the Metropolitan Cathedral of
Immaculate Conception as its home is the host for the visiting Relic of St Therese in
Zamboanga City which started last March 12. Great task awaits members of the Council
during the arrival, veneration and sending off of the Relic.

***

The Visayas Jurisdiction will conduct their 9th Visayas State Convention on May 18-19
at the Bohol Tropics Resort Hotel.

***

A Blood Letting Program was recently held through the K of C Visayas Jurisdiction and
spearheaded by Brothers Nelson Lopez and Vic Buendia (Iloilo South and Central). More
than a hundred people voluntarily donated blood at the Alta Tierra Integrated School at
Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City to save other people’s lives.

C4
FBG creates fanpage
for AMs, FCs
Visayas Jurisdiction holds
bloodletting activity
THE Knights of Columbus Visayas Jurisdic-
tion in South and Central Iloilo organized a
bloodletting program in cooperation with
the Philippine National Red Cross.
The event was held at the Alta Tierra Vil-
lage in Jaro, Iloilo and was organized by two
pro active Provincial Deputies, Nelson Lopez
and Vicente Buendia, Jr., and supported by
various district deputies and councils.
Other activities were also held on the same
day, like eye consultation, food nutrition,
therapy, insurance promotion and member-
ship campaign.
“This multi-faceted activity was the first
of its kind. In totality, the project was a
great success,” said Visayas Deputy Rodrigo
Sorongon.
Exemplification
A day earlier, Bro. Sorongon together with
State Program Director Noeni Nepomuceno
and State Essay Chairman Edgardo Gerada
went to Eastern Visayas to hold Third Degree
Exemplification rites.
Exemplification Teams for the Third De-
gree in the Eastern Visayas Region were also
Nueva Ecija and Aurora hold 2nd
Grand Family Day
Children playing with the clowns during the second Knights of Columbus Grand Family Day in Nueva Ecija and Aurora last April 6.
THE provinces of Nueva Ecija Martinez, Pasky Carbero, Mon-
and Aurora held their second chit Ocampo, Romy Estrella.
Knights of Columbus Grand Also in attendance were KCFAPI
Family Day last April 6 at the Vice President for Fraternal Ben-
Crystal Wave Resort Hotel and efits Group Gari San Sebastian
Restaurant in Talavera, Nueva and Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
Ecija. ence of the Philippines (CBCP)
Hundreds of Brother Knights for Life Network Administrator
together with their families at- Raymond Bandril.
tended the event including some
Luzon state officials such as Boni
Central Luzon Area Manager
Manuel Naldoza noted that the
Kcfapi makes its mark in the Year of Faith
KCFAPI had its maiden two-hour session
of a series of monthly catechism last March
21, 2013 with the theme revolving around
“The Season of Lent in the context of the
Year of Faith”.
The catechist was none other than Bro.
Chito Jongco who is currently the Head
Servant of the Beloved of the Lord Com-
munity and a member of the Catholic
Lay Preachers of the Philippines and the
Federation of Transparochial Charismatic
Community. He likewise gives talks to
different spiritual communities and even
in government agencies like the Armed
Forces of the Philippines and the Senate.
He has a radio program in DZRV, Veritas
Station, aired every Sunday from 9:30-
10:00pm.
In response to the call of the Catholic
The Cross
Brother Knights of South and Central Iloilo.
present to observe the ceremony based on
the new exemplification handbook.
The following day, the same team went
to Central Visayas Region to hold the Third
Degree exemplification.
The local team is hoping to precisely and
with uniformity execute the ceremonial
procedures as mandated by the new Third
Degree Exemplification handbook.
guests enjoyed the raffle prizes,
free ice cream, pop corn, cot-
ton candy for the children, fun
games, welcome drinks, pick a
prize discounted entrance fee
for K of C members and families,
photo booth, among others.
“There were a lot of games and
prizes prepared for the kids and
sister wives. There were 1000
servings of ice cream, 1000 wel-
Church to develop and demonstrate one’s
faith, the KCFAPI, will invite various
speakers to help employees appreciate,
practice and profess their faith. The line-up
of monthly themes has been selected by
KCFAPI’s spiritual director, Msgr. Pedro C.
Quitorio III.
Bro. Chito cited several examples from
the bible why humans reject God’s call by
making three excuses: cannot attend to
God’s invitation because he is busy taking
care of his land, busy attending to his oxen
and lastly, attending to his newly-wed wife.
Bro. Chito explained that these excuses are
symbolisms. The land stands for the tangible
properties we own such as houses and cars,
the oxen symbolizes business or occupation
and the wife represents our family or loved
ones. He asked the participants to make
THE Fraternal Benefits Group
(FBG) has revived its Facebook
fan page for more interaction
between the Area Managers and
their Fraternal Counselors.
Many appreciated the activi-
ties and events of FBG using the
social media, according to FBG
Manager Michael Cabra.
“We also developed a face-
book fan page for our Area
Managers and their Fraternal
Counselors and every time we
have meetings, Fraternal Ser-
vice Trainings events, we keep
it posted and updated as well,”
Mr. Cabra added.
Bro. Migz mentioned that
“Top AM for the Month” will be
announced using facebook and
other social media.
Mr. Cabra also urged his fel-
low Brother Knights to ‘like’ and
‘share’ their three FB fan page
-KCFAPI-FBG, KCFAPI-AM,
and KCFAPI-FC. (FBG News)
Bro. Sorongon met the Provincial Deputies
and District Deputies of Eastern and Central
Visayas, and discussed the membership
campaign, council reactivation, payment of
Supreme Dues and Council management.
He also invited them to campaign for more
participants to attend the upcoming Visayas
Convention on May 18-19 at Bohol Tropics
Resort in Bohol. (Anthony Nazario)
come drinks 600 cotton candies
for the children and participants,
entrance, zipline, rooms all at
50% off and a lot of surprises,”
said Naldoza.
The second K of C Grand Fam-
ily Day was a joint project of the
Roundtable of District Deputies
of Nueva Ecija and Aurora and
the KCFAPI- Central Luzon
Conquerors. (KCFAPI News)
no excuses and always heed God’s call or
invitation.
He then discussed the difference between
praying and merely reciting a prayer. As
compared to just saying a prayer, talking
to God requires some sense of action. One
cannot be inconsistent, praying faithfully
and doing wrong things at the same time.
He made mention of several wrong beliefs
that some Catholics still practice, including
“knock on wood”.
The speaker concluded the catechism by
inviting the participants to attend more spiri-
tual gatherings, read the bible and attend
prayer meetings to deepen or enrich one’s
faith in the Lord. He reminded everyone
never to use “being busy” as an excuse for
not doing the work of God. (Lei Ann B.
Palacay)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 17 No. 08
April 15 - 28, 2013
Forum on
family, culture
of death slated
Sunstar Editor Nini Cabaero receives a plaque of appreciation from
K of C Provincial Deputy Ramon E. Aguilar. Cabaero delved on the
importance of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill and its implications
during the Forum: Culture of Life. Looking on is Communications
Director Emm R. Espina.
A FORUM about the continu- Editor Nini Cabaero, who
ous assault of the culture of delved on the Freedom of
death on the family and society Information Bill and its im-
was held by the Knights of plications on the basic rights
Columbus Visayas Jurisdic- of the public to have access to
tion last March 16 at the Sacred public records.
Heart Center, D. Jakosalem St. The forum which was or-
Cebu City. ganized by the Knights of
The forum, entitled the “Fo- Columbus Metro Cebu, the
rum: Culture of Life”, aimed Knights Journal and Skygo was
to create more awareness es- participated in by personalities
pecially in the wake of the from the academe, profession-
passage of the RH Bill, Divorce als, and media.
Law, and Freedom of Informa- Provincial Deputy Ramon
tion. Aguilar announced that the
Resource speakers were law- forum was only the start of an
yer and author Makilito Ma- advocacy initiated by the Metro
hinay, who discussed the RH Cebu Knights and will be held
Law. Bro. Mahinay is a fourth on a bi-monthly basis in the
degree knight. succeeding months. (Ramon E.
Also invited was Sun Star Aguilar/VizNews)
2013 FC of the
First Quarter
BROTHER Lauro
L. Evangelista, also
known as Bro. Lar-
ry, has been with
KCFAPI since 2001
under the effective
leadership of Cen-
tral Luzon Believ-
ers Area Manager
Bro. Efren M. Ca-
supanan.
Bro. Larry is a
consistent awardee
since he started as
a fraternal coun-
selor, a three time
Fr. Willmann, SJ
–Knights of the
Round Table or
WKRT and 2 times
FC of the Year in
2008 to 2009.
He is blessed
with a loving wife, cited when he was informed
Cecilia, a science teacher at of the good news. He said, “I
Marcelo H. Del Pilar National really worked hard for it, and
High School and two kids, hope to continue until I attain
Ces Lauraine, age 15, a 3rd my dream of P5Million FYC
year High School student of for 2013”. Kudos to you Bro.
MHPHS, and Marc Emman, age Larry! May you have more
11, a Grade 6 student of Plaridel benefit certificates to close and
Bible Church Sunbeam School, continuously inspire other fra-
Malolos Bulacan. ternal counselors. (Migz Cabra
He was so happy and ex- / FBG News)
Chamber Blessing
Chamber Blessing. The blessing of the newly constructed K of
C Chamber of Sto.Rosario Council 14273 of Bgry. Igang, Pototan,
Iloilo was held last March 31 led by KC Chaplain Fr. Bernard
Taypen. Visayas State Treasurer Jun Jo led the ribbon cutting
ceremony, assisted by Grand Knight Julius Decepulo and Brgy.
Captain of Brgy. Igang Jssie Almeria, who is also a senior Knight.