cbcpmonitor vol14 n18

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Vol. 14 No. 18 August 30 - September 12, 2010 Php 20.00

Bishop seeks ‘new

life’ for justice system

www.cbcponlineradio.com

•A3 Building EcclesialCommunion is the

Key to Mission

Groups urge DENR toact against illegal sale of

cyanide

CONCERNED groups and individuals havepetitioned the Department of Environment andNatural Resources (DENR) urging the agency

to stop the illegal sale of cyanide used for clean-ing jewelry.In a letter sent to DENR Secretary Ramon

Paje and EMB Director JuanMiguel Cuna, thepetitioners led by EcoWaste Coalition, a toxicwatchdog, said the deadly concoction anyone

Corruption, sign of lack of democracy—EBF

THE pervasive corruption in all levels of Philip-pine society is just but a symptom of a biggerproblem, an ecumenical religious group said.

The Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum (EBF), agroup of Catholic and Protestant Bishops,

priests and nuns, in a statement said the big-ger problem in the country today is the lack ofdemocracy in economy and politics.

And it is seen in how the country patterned itseconomic policies to suit the “demands of glo-balization, specically of the world-dominating

Cyanide / A7Corruption / A6

Justice / A6

Pro-lifers / A6

DOH plan / A7

Pontiff says MotherTeresa ‘invaluable’ for

the world

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By Roy Lagarde

THE Aquino government has beenurged to address the injustices in thecountry, which, according to a Catholicbishop, is the root of the recent bloodyhostage crisis.

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B o n g D

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© R o y L a g a r d e / C B C P M e d i a

Long courtship seen as one key to successful marriage

Muslim / A6

PRO-LIFERS have renewed the call onlegislators to pass two important bills inCongress which support the promotion and

defense of life.The lobby group in a statement urgedlawmakers to deliberate on and pass twoproposed life bills titled “Citizen ProtectionAct” and “Protection of the Unborn ChildAct 2010.”

The call was made after a Manila police-man turned hostage taker killed eight HongKong tourists seen in television worldwide.

“Why a dismissed policeman should beallowed to possess a high-powered rie isan issue that lawmakers should addressas they deliberate on a proposed bill call-ing for stricter measures for the carrying ofrearms,” said Andrea Mendigo of Pro-LifePhilippines Foundation.

Pro-lifers urge lawmakers to pass bills that promote life

Muslim leaders endorseCDO archbishop topeace negotiating team

Respect life in all levelsBut support for life should be applied in

all human activities, said Mendigo, as one

cannot condemn a law enforcer in torturinga prisoner and yet advocate the murder ofdefenseless and voiceless human beingsthrough abortion.

Mendigo was referring to a police inspec-tor and his men who were earlier implicatedfor torturing a prisoner inside a Tondo policeprecinct after a video of the act was shownon television.

“Respect for life must apply in all humanactivities, whether it be in sports, sexualencounters, or one’s profession,” Mendigostressed.

She said doctors “who perform abortionson the one hand, and deliver healthy babieson the other hand, may feel conicted in their

professional psyche.”“We all are part of the web of life,” she

said. “When we begin to devalue the life of

one member of the human race, we escalateinto the cheapening of the rest of humanlife,” she added.

Mendigo said legislators should considerthis “domino effect” when they deliberate onthe bill calling for protection of the unbornchild.

HB 13Stepping up its lobby to gain support

for the bill, Prolife Philippines has recentlylaunched an online petition to push the pas-sage of the measure “An Act Providing forthe Safety Protection of the Unborn Child’,also known as HB 13.

Courtship / A7Illustration by Bladimer Usi

•B1

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the justice system needs some xing and the resolutionof pending cases should be expedited.

He said the “defective” and slow pace of the justicesystem is what triggered the hostage taker RolandoMendoza to commit the crime.

Although, the bishop condemned the incident,Pabillo said the hostage taker felt injustice wasdone to him.

“He is also a victim of injustice,” said Pabillo whoalso chairs the National Secretariat for Social Action— Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferenceof the Philippines (CBCP).

On August 23, in front of the Quirino Grandstand inManila, Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus with 21 HongKong tourists and four Filipinos on board.

Mendoza, 55, was honored by police chiefs in 1986

Catholic bishops sprinkle holy water over owers offered for the victims of the recent bloody hostage taking after a Mass on Aug. 31 at the Quirino Grandstand, the site of the incident.

The CrossA Supplement Publication of KC Life and

the Order of the Knights of Columbus

C1

DOH planto lift ban onorgan donation

alarms bishopsTHE Department of Health’s plan toreview the existing ban on organ dona-tion from non-related Filipino donorsto foreigners has alarmed the Catholichierarchy.

Catholic Bishops Conference of thePhilippines’ President and TandagBishop Nereo Odchimar has expressedconcerns on Health Secretary-designateDr. Enrique Ona’s statement regardingthe possibility of “amending, if not re-versing, the country’s policy on organtransplantation.”

Odchimar has raised the issues in aletter sent to President Benigno Aquinoasking him to implement the rules andregulations on organ trafcking.

Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros,

Chairman of the CBCP Ofce on Bio-ethics recommended that the bishops’conference make appropriate represen-tations with President Aquino to strictlyimplement the DOH AdministrativeOrders 2010-0018 and 2010-0019, as wellas “The Implementing Rules and Regu-lations on Organ Trafcking” whichtook effect on June 21, 2009.

The CBCP remains committed to pro-tect the marginalized sectors of societyfrom falling to organ trafcking.

Ona’s recent media interviews re-vealed his opposition to the total banfor foreigners to receive organs fromliving non-related Filipino donors as thehealth executive expressed support forwhat he referred to as “gratuity pack-ages” for possible donors.

The Department of Health in 2008,

has issued a ban for foreigners’ access toorgans from living non-related Filipinodonors.

The sanction was made to protect themarginalized Filipinos who are proneto abuses and exploitation which havebeen rampant before the ban.

Odchimar said he is optimistic Aqui-no will respond accordingly to the is-sues raised in the said letter.

MUSLIM leaders in North-ern Mindanao and CaragaRegions have endorsed thearchbishop of the Archdio-cese of Cagayan de Oro tosit in the government panelnegotiating peace with theMuslim separatist group inMindanao.

Mitocur M. Macabando, Al

Haj, director of the Nation-al Commission on MuslimFilipinos (NCMF) in CaragaRegion (Region XIII), saidArchbishop Antonio J. Ledes-ma, S.J., D.D., will “greatlycontribute to the attainmentof lasting peace in Mindanao”if he sits in the government

AMID the growing number offailed marriages, the Catho-lic Church’s family and lifeministry thinks that a lengthycourtship before marriage couldremedy the situation.

Fr. Melvin Castro believesthat there’s a relationship be-tween courtship length andmarital success and that thelonger a couple’s courtship is,the more successful the union.

In other words, he claimed,both very fast and very slow tomarry couples are more likelyto go on separate ways than anaverage-length courtship.

An “ample time” for court-ship is important, he said,because it is the period whichan unmarried couple become

personally and intimately ac-quainted with each other.

“You don’t have to rush intomarriage but you have to pre-pare for it instead,” said Cas-tro.

“Adequate time for courtshipis needed because that’s wherean unmarried couple gets toknow each other very well,”he said.

Castro is executive secretaryof the Episcopal Commission onFamily and Life of the CatholicBishops’ Conference of the Phil-ippines (CBCP).

He added that couples whocruise through courtship andengagement prior to marriage atan average speed, which is “one

Members of the Interfaith Forum for Peace, harmony and Solidarity prayedafter partaking meal during a dinner meeting at the Archbishop’s House onAugust 28. (L-R) NCMF-13 Director Mitocur Macabando, Al Haj; ArchbishopAntonio J. Ledesma, two sisters of Our Lady’s Missionaries; 4th ID RomanCatholic chaplain Fr. (Major) Leonides Cruel Jr; NCMF-10 Director OmbraGandamra and 4th ID Muslim chaplain Capt. Farouk Sarip.



A2 Vol. 14 No. 18August 30 - September 12, 2010

CBCP Monitor

Iraqi archbishop warns minorities could be‘scapegoats’ after US withdrawal

World News

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ESZTERGOM, Hungary, August 27,2010—Representatives of the Councilof European Episcopal Conferences areaiming to present the Church’s outlookon the gifts of creation by way of a“green” pilgrimage.

The Sept. 1-5 event will bring pilgrimsby boat from Esztergom, Hungary, toBratislava, Slovakia; by coach fromBratislava to St. Polten, Austria; by trainfrom St. Polten to Lake Erlaufsee, andon foot for 10 kilometers (six miles) toAustria’s Shrine of Mariazell.

The pilgrims will reect on the themechosen by Benedict XVI for the 2010World Day of Peace: “If you want tocultivate peace, protect creation.”

“We thought of a pilgrimage in the heartof Europe because it seemed to us themeans most in accordance with our aims,”explained Father Duarte da Cunha, gen-

eral secretary of the Council of EuropeanEpiscopal Conferences (CCEE).

“The ecological ‘crisis,’ understoodas the irrational and irresponsible useof the gifts of creation, which we areexperiencing in Europe today, is notdivorced from the continent’s current

ROME, Italy, August 26, 2010—Civil war could be on the horizonin Iraq, according to a high-rankingCatholic prelate in the country.Minorities, including Christians,would suffer most if that were thecase, Archbishop of Kirkuk LouisSako told SIR news on Thursday.

As President Barack Obamabrings the number of Americantroops in the Middle Easternnation down to 50,000 by nextMonday, Archbishop Sako toldthe Italian bishops’ news agencythat the future looks grim for the

country’s minorities.“The war of 2003 turned Iraqupside down,” said the arch-bishop, referring specically tothe nation’s army, security, econ-omy and national unity. He alsolamented that the country hasbecome polluted, corrupt and“intellectually impoverished” inrecent years, the latter due to the

VATICAN CITY, August 21, 2010—ThePontical Council for the Laity (PCL) has an -nounced that the Congress of Asian CatholicLaity will be held in Seoul, South Korea fromAug. 31 to Sept. 5 under the theme “Pro-claiming Jesus Christ in Asia Today.”

The congress will bring 400 hundredpeople together, including representativesand bishops from 20 countries from withinthe Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferencesand delegations from 35 different AsianCatholic lay associations, movements andcommunities.

According to a statement distributed

through the Holy See’s Press Ofce, the PCLinitiative aims to strengthen local Churchties with Rome.

“The decision to focus on Asia expresses amissionary concern for a continent that ... isnow emerging as a key player in an age of im-mense transformation,” the statement said.

The Council for the Laity noted that thechoice to host the congress in Korea “mani-fests the Church’s pastoral attention forAsian lay Catholics who are called to witnessto Jesus Christ in communion with their pas-tors, and to proclaim the Gospel of Christ asa universal gift of salvation.”

Pontical Council for Laity organizesevangelization congress in Asia

Bishops planning ‘green’ pilgrimage

moral crisis, in fact one inuences theother,” he added.The priest pointed to Benedict XVI’s

teaching that true concern about theplanet cannot exclude a “serious reec-tion on human ecology, a spiritual con-version and a change in life styles.”

“Often the theme of safeguardingcreation is focussed on scientic, po-litical and ethical issues. We think thatit is also important to remember thespiritual, theological and anthropolgi-cal vision which is at the basis of realconcern for creation and is not tied tomere political and/or economic aims,”Father da Cunha afrmed. “We cannotcontinue to tackle the issue in segments.The human person is whole!”

Among those who will be meetingthe pilgrims along the way are CardinalPeter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-

Budapest and CCEE president; Car-dinal Peter Turkson, president of thePontical Council for Justice and Peace;Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard ofMalines-Brussels; and Cardinal Chris-toph Schonborn, archbishop of Vienna.(Zenit)

The congress will place a special focus onthe history of the Church in Asia as well ascurrent challenges to evangelization in theregion. Addresses, panel presentations andextensive discussions will examine manyelements from within this framework. Someof the topics to be covered include the for-mation of laity, Christian witness in society,religious freedom and the role of women inthe Church.

The experiences of movements and com-munities on the forefront of evangelizationwill also be presented during the congress.(CNA)

loss of teachers who have beenkilled or ed the violence.

While granting that thereis generally greater liberty inthe country, he said that themovement towards democracyis “slow” due to the long-termplans of the U.S. government.

“It seems to me that the U.S. mayhave never wanted to resolve theproblems of Iraq (by) fostering andprotecting the formation of a stronggovernment,” he noted, addingthat the pressure being exerted onthe local government by neighbor-

ing nations is “worrying.”And with the U.S. withdrawal, hetold SIR, “Iraqi fear of a civil war thatcould bring ethnic and religious divi-sion to the country is increasing.”

He predicted that Sunni, Shiiteand Kurdish factions would each beable to gather an army, while leav-ing the minorities as “the scapegoatsof this situation.” (CNA)

Vatican Brieng

Aim to Present Church’sOutlook on Creation

MADRID, Spain, August 27, 2010—With WorldYouth Day Madrid less than a year away, youngpeople from various countries in Latin Americaare coming up with creative ways to raise themoney needed to attend the event.

According to WYD Madrid 2011 organizers,young people like Karen, Paulina and Nataly inMedellin, Colombia, are holding bake sales andmaking breakfast at their parishes.

“After WYD in Sydney, we saw a video of thePope announcing that the next one would be in Ma-drid,” Karen said. “We were lled with emotion andwe asked the Lord to help us attend,” she added.

Deissy and her friends, also from Colombia,have been selling lunches in their city and goingdoor-to-door to ask for donations.

In the Brazilian capital of Brasilia, many youngpeople are taking on extra jobs in order to raisemoney. “We are doing everything we can,” says

a young Brazilian named Ieda.Young Catholics in Arequipa, Peru are sellinghomemade key chains, bookmarks and books withreligious pictures. Most of the young people agreethat the trip to Spain begins with their work toraise money. (CNA)

Young people nding creative ways

to raise money for WYD Madrid

DENVER, Colorado, August 29,2010—Two Catholic bishops willtake part in a Denver marathonin October. One is running toraise funds to pay off the $2.07million debt on his diocese’scathedral, while the other is join-ing local Catholics to increaseprayers for and awareness ofvocations to the priesthood andreligious life.

Bishop of Springfield, Ill.Thomas J. Paprocki, a longtimemarathon runner, has announcedhe is training for the Oct. 17event. In a statement from theDiocese of Springeld, the 58-year-old prelate said he enjoysrunning and has participated in16 marathons.

“This year I have decided todedicate my marathon effort tohelp pay off the debt of the recentrestoration of the Cathedral of the

Immaculate Conception in Spring-eld,” said the bishop, who tookover the diocese in June.

“Catholics in the Diocese ofSpringeld in Illinois can takerightful pride in our beautifulmother church, especially themany people who have alreadycontributed generously to helppay the restoration costs,” hecommented.

However, he explained that“unexpected expenses” hadcaused the debt and he would liketo “retire this debt completely.”

He invited tax-deductible pledgedonations and asked for prayerintentions for him to include whilehe is running and praying.

“As sacred Scripture says, ‘Letus run with endurance the racethat is set before us’ (Hebrews12:1). Your support will be great-ly appreciated by me and all

Catholics who gather and prayat our magnicent Cathedral,”Bishop Paprocki wrote.

The “Rock ‘n’ Roll DenverMarathon” website says that thetime limit for the full marathon issix hours, a pace of 13:45 minutesper mile.

Auxiliary Bishop of Denver James Conley will also take partin the event.

Natalia Fletcher, executiveassistant in the ofce of priestlyvocations, responded to a CNAinquiry about the bishop’s par-ticipation. She reported thatBishop Conley and Bishop Pap-rocki attended graduate schooltogether in Rome. Conley latertold CNA in an e-mail that thetwo had run together in Rome,but not in a marathon.

The Denver auxiliary bishopwill join archdiocesan vocations

director Fr. Jim Crisman and twoSt. John Vianney seminarians aspart of a relay team to increasesupport for and awareness ofvocations. He will run 8.9 milesof the course and is followinga training regimen of 15 milesper week.

In the past he has run in theColfax 1/2 Marathon, the Chi-cago Marathon, the Rome Mara-thon, the Monte Carlo Marathon,the Pikes Peak Ascent and theRome-Ostca 1/2 Marathon.

According to Fletcher, thearchdiocese asks other runnersand teams of runners to signup for the event. Rather thanseeking financial donations,the archdiocese asks that run-ners seek pledges of prayers forvocations to holy orders and tothe consecrated life within theArchdiocese of Denver. (CNA)

Bishops to run in Den ver m arathon to pay off cathedral debt and boost vocations

Bishop Paprocki and the renovated Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception inSpringeld

SANTIAGO, Chile, August 27, 2010—One ofthe 33 miners trapped in the San Jose Mine inAtacama, Chile has promised his family thatonce rescued, he and his wife will ofciallymarry in the Catholic Church.

According to the Spanish daily, La Razon,Esteban Rojas received a note from his wife,

Jessica, expressing her hope that once he isrescued, “we will nally get married in theChurch.” The two have been married civilly

for 25 years.Rojas responded: “Hi Jessica, thanks for

your concern and for praying that we are allright. Say hello to the children, the grandchil-dren, my in-laws and my parents … I love youall, and keep praying that we get out of thisplace. And when I get out, we’ll buy a wed-

ding dress and get married in the Church.” Jessica says she trusts Esteban will keephis promise, and has told friends she will

be sending them a gift registry soon. “Asyou know, I need a stove and refrigerator!”she joked.

According to La Razon, the trappedminers have lost 22 pounds because of theunderground pressure and temperatures inthe mid-90s. Each day after eating and plan-

ning their schedule, they read their messagesand organize the supplies that are being sentdaily. (CNA)

Chilean miner promises to marry in the Church after rescue

Archbishop Louis Sako

Catholics told to follow St. Augustine’s examples

Benedict XVI urged the faithful for a continued search forthe “profound truth”, after the example of St. Augustine. Inan Aug. 25 general audience at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, thepope told around 3,500 people that no one should be afraidto encounter truth, which could “nd us, get hold of us andchange our lives.”

Pope condemns Somalia hostility

The pope condemned the continued ghting between gov-ernment forces and militant Islamist group Al-Shabaab thatleft many dead and injured in Somalia’s capital of Mogadi-shu. Benedict XVI also expressed his closeness to the victims.From Castel Gandolfo, he said at the general audience thathe is “close to all the families of the victims and all of thosewho, in Somalia, suffer due to hate and instability.”

Indulgence for Cuban patron pilgrimage

A plenary indulgence will be granted by Benedict XVI tothose taking part in a pilgrimage and national mission inhonor of the 4th centenary of Our Lady of Cobre, Cuba’spatron. In preparation for event, which will be marked in2012, a pilgrimage is already underway as the image of theVirgin travels throughout the country.

Vatican mourns death of ex-Italian P resident Cossiga

The Holy Father is mourning the death on Aug. 17 of Fran-cesco Cossiga, 82, who was president of Italy from 1985 to1992. Cossiga had been rushed and admitted to the hospitalearlier with respiratory problems. Reports said that the pon-tiff sent Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella to visit the formerpresident in the hospital. Cossiga was born July 26, 1928,in Sassari, Sardinia.

Heaven is found within God’s love, pope says

Heaven is not a location in the cosmos, but a place withinGod where those who believe in him will enjoy his loveforever, Pope Benedict XVI said. Celebrating a Mass Aug.

15, the feast of the Assumption of Mary, he said that whenthe Church afrms that Mary was taken, body and soul, intoheaven, it is not referring “to some place in the universe, astar or something like that.”

Church asks aid for Pakistan ood victims

The Vatican reiterated its appeal for solidarity and concreteaid for the millions of people affected by ooding in Pakistan.At a weekly general audience Aug. 18 in Castel Gandolfo,Benedict XVI cited “the dear population of Pakistan, recentlystricken by serious ooding, which has caused numerousvictims and has left many families without a home.”

US told to leave behind peace in Iraq

The powerful United States has a duty to leave behind peace,not chaos, when many troops, who left Iraq on Aug. 31,are nally withdrawn from Iraq, said several Iraqi churchleaders. “We desire, we ask, and we scream for peace andsecurity,” Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni ofBaghdad said in an interview with Vatican Radio Aug. 19.

About 50, 000 US troopers remain in the area until the endof 2011 to continue training and assisting security forces.




CBCP Monitor

News Features

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VATICAN City, August 26,

2010—Mother Teresa of Calcuttawas an “invaluable gift” for theworld during her lifetime, andshe continues to be so throughthe ministry of the order shefounded, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope afrmed this in amessage to the superior-generalof the Missionaries of Charity,Sister Mary Prema. The mes-sage was made public today, the100th anniversary of the birthof Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, thefuture Blessed Teresa.

The Holy Father’s messageinvites the Missionaries of Char-ity to continue to follow BlessedTeresa’s example.

He said: “Having respondedwith trust to the direct call of the

Lord, Mother Teresa exempliedexcellently the words of St. John:‘Beloved, if God so loved us, wealso must love one another. ...[I]f we love one another, Godremains in us and his love isbrought to perfection in us.’”

“May this love continue to in-spire you, Missionaries of Chari-ty, to give yourselves generouslyto Jesus, to all those you see andserve, that is, to the poor, themarginalized, the abandoned.I encourage you to draw con-stantly from the spirituality andthe example of Mother Teresaand, following in her footsteps,to accept Christ’s invitation:‘Come and be my light.’”

The Pontiff expressed his trustthat the year of the centenary

“will be for the Church and forthe world an occasion of fervent

gratitude to God for the invalu-

able gift that Mother Teresa was inthe course of her life and that shecontinues to be through the lovingand tireless work that you, herspiritual daughters, carry out.”

At homeAccording to AsiaNews, the

message was read this morningby Archbishop Lucas Sirkar ofCalcutta during a Mass presidedover by Cardinal TelesphoreToppo, archbishop of Ranchi,India, in the Motherhouse of theMissionaries of Charity.

Some 1,000 people attendedthe Mass, celebrated in the centerwhere Mother Teresa’s remainsrest, UCAN agency reported.

Before the start of the ceremo-

ny, a simple homage took placeduring which Sisters Nirmala Joshi and Mary Prema, MotherTeresa’s first and second suc-cessors as superiors of the Mis-sionaries of Charity, released awhite dove and balloons.

For his part, Cardinal Toppolit a candle and put it next tothe tomb. “In this centenary, wemust listen to Mother’s messagethat we have been created forgreater things, to love and to beloved,” he said.

The Mass was presided overby the cardinal and concelebrat-ed by Archbishop Sirkar, as wellas retired Archbishop HenryD’Souza of Calcutta, Bishop Sal-vadore Lobo of Baruipur, and bythe postulator of Mother Teresa’s

cause for canonization, FatherBrian Kolodiejchuk. (Zenit)

Pontiff says Mother Teresa‘invaluable’ for the world

Fisherfolks’ alliance urges DENR to act on Aurora eco-zone

CardinalGeorgeannounces

Vaticanapproval of new RomanMissalImplementation Setfor First Sunday of

Advent 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. August 20,2010—Cardinal Francis George, OMI,Archbishop of Chicago and President ofthe United States Conference of CatholicBishops (USCCB), has announced thatthe full text of the English-languagetranslation of the Roman Missal, ThirdEdition, has been issued for the diocesesof the United States of America.

The text was approved by the Vatican,and the approval was accompaniedby a June 23 letter from Cardinal Llo-vera Antonio Cañizares, Prefect of theCongregation for Divine Worship andthe Discipline of the Sacraments. TheCongregation also provided guidelinesfor publication.

In addition, on July 24, the Vaticangave approval for several adaptations,

including additional prayers for thePenitential Act at Mass and the Renewalof Baptismal Promises on Easter Sun-day. Also approved are texts of prayersfor feasts specic to the United Statessuch as Thanksgiving, IndependenceDay and the observances of feasts forsaints such as Damien of Molokai,Katharine Drexel, and Elizabeth AnnSeton. The Vatican also approved theMass for Giving Thanks to God forthe Gift of Human Life, which can becelebrated on January 22.

Cardinal George announced receipt ofthe documents in an August 20 letter tothe U.S. Bishops and issued a decree ofproclamation that states that “The use ofthe third edition of the Roman Missalentersinto use in the dioceses of the United Statesof America as of the First Sunday of Ad-vent, November 27, 2011. From that date

forward, no other edition of the RomanMissal may be used in the dioceses of theUnited States of America.”

The date of implementation waschosen to allow publishers time to pre-pare texts and parishes and dioceses toeducate parishioners.

“We can now move forward andcontinue with our important catecheti-cal efforts as we prepare the text forpublication,” Cardinal George said.

In the coming weeks, staff of thebishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worshipwill prepare the text for publicationand collaborate with the staff of theInternational Commission on Englishin the Liturgy (ICEL), which will assistBishops’ Conferences in bringing thetext to publication. In particular, ICELhas been preparing the chant settingsof the texts of the Missal for use in the

celebration of the Mass. Once all neces-sary elements have been incorporatedinto the text and the preliminary layoutis complete, the nal text will go to thepublishers to produce the ritual text,catechetical resources and participationaids for use in the Liturgy.

Receipt of the text marks the start ofproximate preparation for Roman Mis-sal implementation. Before rst use ofthe new text in Advent 2011, pastors areurged to use resources available to pre-pare parishioners. Some already havebeen in use; others are being releasednow. They include theParish Guidefor the Implementation of the RomanMissal, Third Edition, and Become OneBody, One Spirit in Christ, a multi-media DVD resource produced by ICELin collaboration with English-languageConferences of Bishops. Both will beavailable from the USCCB. Informationon resources can be found at www.usccb.org/romanmissal.

Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson,New Jersey, Chair of the Bishops’Committee on Divine Worship, voicedgratitude for the approval.

“I am happy that after years of prepa-ration, we now have a text that, whenintroduced late next year, will enable theongoing renewal of the celebration of theSacred Liturgy in our parishes,” he said.Msgr. Anthony Sherman, Director of theSecretariat for Divine Worship of theUSCCB noted, “A great effort to producethe new Roman Missal for the UnitedStates, along with the other necessaryresources, has begun. Even as that workis underway a full–scale catechesis aboutthe Liturgy and the new Roman Missal

should be taking place in parishes, so thatwhen the time comes, everyone will beready.” (USCCB News)

VATICAN City, August 27, 2010—ThePontifical Council for InterreligiousDialogue sent a message to Muslims,underlining the need for a joint effortagainst violence.

The message, published today by theVatican, was sent to all Muslims on theoccasion of the end of Ramadan, whichthis year will take place Sept. 10.

“Throughout this month, you havecommitted yourselves to prayer, fasting,

helping the neediest and strengtheningrelations of family and friendship,” themessage afrmed. “God will not fail toreward these efforts!”

The message, which was signed by thecouncil president, Cardinal Jean-LouisTauran, and secretary, Archbishop PierLuigi Celata, centered on the theme,“Christians and Muslims: Together inovercoming violence among followersof different religions.”

The prelates noted that this theme is,“unfortunately, a pressing subject, atleast in certain areas of the world.”

They acknowledged that “the JointCommittee for Dialogue instituted bythe Pontifical Council and al-AzharPermanent Committee for Dialogueamong the Monotheistic Religions hadalso chosen this topic as a subject ofstudy, reection and exchange duringits last annual meeting,” which took

place in Cairo last February.In their message, the Vatican ofcials

underlined some of the conclusionspublished at the end of this meeting.

“There are many causes for violenceamong believers of different religioustraditions,” they noted.

The message outlined some of thesecauses, such as: “the manipulation ofthe religion for political or other ends;discrimination based on ethnicity or

religious identity; divisions and socialtensions.”

“Ignorance, poverty, underdevelop-ment are also direct or indirect sourcesof violence among as well as withinreligious communities,” it added.

Common goodThe prelates exhorted: “May the civil

and religious authorities offer their con-tributions in order to remedy so many

situations for the sake of the commongood of all society!

“May the civil authorities safeguardthe primacy of the law by ensuring true justice to put a stop to the authors andpromoters of violence!”

The message also highlighted some“important recommendations” pub-lished after the February meeting.

Among these, it included: “to openour hearts to mutual forgiveness and

reconciliation, for a peaceful and fruitfulcoexistence; to recognize what we havein common and to respect differences,as a basis for a culture of dialogue; andto recognize and respect the dignity andthe rights of each human being withoutany bias related to ethnicity or religiousafliation.”

The message underlined the “necessityto promulgate just laws which guaranteethe fundamental equality of all.”

It also recommended recalling “theimportance of education towards re-spect, dialogue and fraternity in thevarious educational arenas: at home, inthe school, in churches and mosques.”

“Thus,” the prelates urged, “wewill be able to oppose violence amongfollowers of different religions andpromote peace and harmony amongthe various religious communities.”(Zenit)

Vatican to Muslims: let’s ght violence togetherStress importance of education toward respect

MANILA, August 22, 2010—A church-based lay or-ganization has called on President Benigno Aquino IIIto implement a genuine agrarian reform for farmersin the interest of social justice.

The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP),a national church organization who work with therural poor for land, justice, freedom and integrity ofcreation, said Aquino should make sure farmers getthe land they till.

In a statement, the group urged Aquino to “showhis support for the social justice component underly-ing land reform and ensure that land distribution isparamount and not allow alternatives such as thestock distribution option.”

“We particularly call on him to express this prin-ciple in relation to Hacienda Luisita; we also call onhim to enact a law carrying genuine agrarian reformfor the tillers,” the group stated.

The statement was issued during the RMP’s 26th Na-tional Assembly held in Davao last August 12 to 16.

RMP pointed out the lack of services, landlessness

and displacement as some of the underlying problemsthat burdened the rural poor.

“Land is still not distributed to the tiller, as there isno genuine agrarian reform and no basic services to

the farmers. Land is still monopolized by landlordsand corporations, as seen with the creation of SpecialEconomic Zones, open-pit mining, logging, planta-tions for biofuels and export crops. As such, land isbeing converted, and the effect is the destruction ofour ecology, the displacement of farmers, sher folkand indigenous peoples, and the worsening of foodsecurity,” the statement partly read.

The group also decried the human rights violationsagainst the poor perpetrated by some members of thearmed forces.

“We see clearly how the Armed Forces of the Philip-pines, along with the paramilitary and private armiesare being used to protect the interes t of the landlordsand corporations resulting to an ever increasing num-ber of human rights violations,” the statement said.

It also criticized the armed forces’ counter insur-

gency program dubbed Oplan Bantay Laya, sayingthat it targeted those “who defend the legitimateinterests of the rural poor.”

“Under Oplan Bantay Laya, civilians become ‘collat-

eral damage’ as they become victims to militarization.This systematic disregard of human rights institution-alized through Oplan Bantay Laya under the guise of“wiping out insurgency” only exacerbates the poverty ofthe people, creating a culture of fear,” it further said.

The group urged Aquino to abolish the controver-sial anti-insurgency program, and as Commander inchief “lead the army to protect the people and not theinterest of big business.”

The gathering drew some 80 women and men,priests, religious and rural lay missionaries from allover Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Themed “Paigtingin ang gawaing RMP tungo sapagtugon sa mga hinaing ng mga dukha sa kanayu-nan”, the national assembly also coincided with theRMP’s 41st anniversary of foundation. (Pinky Bar-rientos/CBCPNews)

Implement genuine agrarian reform for farmers, Aquino told

ANTIPOLO City, August 28, 2010—ThePambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Ma-mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamala-kaya) has called on the Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources(DENR) to break its silence to the pos-sible environmental problems that theproposed Aurora Special EconomicZone Authority (Aseza), will create inthe near future.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando“Ka Pando” Hicap said, EnvironmentSec. Ramon Paje should speak upabout the status of the application ofthe Aseza’s environmental compliancecerticate (ECC), a clearance that theDENR is issuing to corporations, agen-cies, and other entities that certies theproject or an endeavor is environmen-

tal-friendly.“If they had already issued Aseza anECC, the public has the right to know on

what basis that the Environmental De-partment had issued such certication,as people from Casiguran, Aurora—those people who are the directly af-fected by the project—continuously airtheir opposition to the creation of bothAseza and Aurora Pacific EconomicZone and Freeport,” Hicap said.

Earlier, the Pamalakaya and the localenvironmental groups in Aurora hadissued statements with regard to theissues of land grabbing by the Angaraclan in order to pursue the project andthe possible environmental degradationas the project proceeds.

“But up to now, Paje is on silent modeand it seems he does not want to bebothered by the growing oppositionagainst the ambitious project of the rul-

ing Angara political dynasty in Auroraprovince,” Hicap said.Hicap also accused Paje and the

DENR of being “powerless” and“afraid” in confronting the reigningpolitical dynasty of the Angara familyin Aurora.

“The Aseza does not represent thereal interest of the people. It was madein the name of the ruling political dy-nasty in Aurora province that is whyit should be billed as Angara SpecialEconomic Zone Authority because itis only meant for the powerful Angaraclan. The sad part of the tale is that theDENR is not doing its assignment forthe sake of people’s environment andwelfare,” the sherfolks’ leader said.

In 2007, the father and son tandem ofSen. Angara and Rep. Sonny Angara hadled separate bills in the Senate and theHouse of Representatives, respectively

that aimed to create a special economiczone in the province of Aurora.Republic Act (RA) 9490 took effect as

a law last April 22. However, this wasamended and RA 10083 came into being.

According to the law, the 13,000-hectare coastal area of the province willbe developed into a model agro-marinecenter with a sh port, processing andcanning plants.

Pamalakaya fears that if the projectwill pursue, the livelihood and homesof the sherfolks and some indigenouspeoples, will be severely affected.

On July 21st, the Catholic Bishops’Conference’s National Secretariat forSocial Action, Justice and Peace (NAS-SA) had issued a statement, favoring thepostponement of the project.

Pabillo assailed the provisions of thelaw that allows the implementers of theproject to conscate lands, even those

are under the comprehensive agrar-ian reform project (CARP).(Noel SalesBarcelona/CBCPNews)




CBCP Monitor

An icon of love for the poor

BARELY two decades after the dawn of a new outlook of the social doctrine of the Church in Rerum Novarum of PopeLeo XIII, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was born in the world

that would challenge her to live her whole life in pursuitof—in the words of Centessimus Annus of Pope John PaulII—“the defense of the human person and the safeguardingof human dignity.”

Of late, or on the dates surrounding August 26, the world hasmarked in so many ways the celebration of the centennial of the birth of Mother Teresa that would even include a rallyof supporters in front of the Empire State building in NewYork that has refused the lighting up of the building in blueand white on the 100th birth anniversary of a Nobel PeaceLaureate. (But several theater marquees and billboards inTimes Square have illuminated in blue on Aug. 26 to honorthe nun whose blue-striped white habit became a symbol of care for the poor throughout the world.)

Among those outside the connes of the Catholic Church,Mother Teresa was acknowledged as an icon of love for thepoor. To mention just a few, Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia,for instance, remembers her as “An example of seless

devotion to charity. I hope she can be a good example toall charity workers and philanthropists.” The former primeminister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif regarded her “as a rareand unique individual who lived long for a higher purpose.Her life-long devotion to the care of the poor, the sick andthe disadvantaged was one of the highest examples of serviceto humanity.” Boris Yeltsin of Russia was quoted as saying“All the life of this great woman was the bright incarnationof service to the high humanitarian ideals of goodness,compassion, selessness and faith.”

The love for the poor has been, of course, a byword byanybody especially beginning with the 60s or perhaps afterthe Second Vatican Council. Even politicians who dreamedof scoring a win would use this as a battle cry. The leftists,too, with their structural analysis, or dialectical materialismif you may, would also end up crying for the poor. TheSecond Plenary Council of the Philippines challenged churchleaders to go for a preferential option for the poor—whichuntil today has remained just that.

But in Mother Teresa, the extreme love for the poor wasneither ideological nor philanthropic. It was not even anecclesiological mandate or, as some familiar faces aroundwould boast, “an apostolate.” It was simply living the Gospelwhere the poor is encountered as a Good News and not as aburden or a social responsibility.

In her Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1979, Mother Theresasimply said: “I choose the poverty of our poor people. But Iam grateful to receive (the Nobel) in the name of the hungry,the naked, the homeless, of the crippled, of the blind, of the lepers, of all those people who feel unwanted, unloved,uncared-for throughout society, people that have become aburden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”

The evils of rampant gambling

THE moral evil of such large-scale, systematic gambling isnot simply because it is illegal. It is truly immoral underthe circumstances that it operates and in the evil effects thatit has spawned.

Today, gambling is, indeed, a social cancer, gradually andsurely destroying a great many of our positive social andmoral values. It is a social scourge that is debilitating evenour moral sense, our ability to distinguish right from wrong.It is deeply infecting us as a people.

Rampant gambling, particularly in its form of jueteng, hasbecome a way of life for many. People no longer care ordare to condemn it because: (a) no effective action againstgambling has ever been taken by our political and policeauthorities, except through some token occasional raidsagainst small-time gambling operators; and (b) very powerfulpeople operate gambling.

Through jueteng and other forms of rampant gambling, values

are distorted. Hard work, rational reection and planning thatare trademarks of responsible human work are substitutedby irresponsible risk-taking. Laziness is promoted whilethe dream of easy money becomes an obsession. The poorare exploited. Power and money are used to protect—aswell as to enforce submission to—the system. The valuesof the Gospel and of the Kingdom of God are put aside forthe sake of prot. So long have we complained about thedisappearance of such values as industry, thrift, truth, honestyand integrity, and justice.

Make Yourselves a New Heart and a New Spirit, 1998

EDITORIAL

I l l u s t r a t i o n b y B l a d i m e r U s i

Opinion

Pedro C. QuitorioEditor-in-Chief

Pinky Barrientos, FSPAssociate Editor

Melo M. AcuñaManaging Editor

Roy Q. LagardeNews Editor

The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communica-tions Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business ofcesat 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO.Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940

Kris BayosFeatures Editor

Gloria FernandoMarketing Supervisor

Ernani M. RamosCirculation Manager

Marcelita DominguezComptroller

[email protected]

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Candidly SpeakingHigher sense of

purpose needed

NOW that we are enjoying aowering of technological de-velopment, we need to realizemore deeply that the quantumleap in that area calls for amatching quantum leap in oursense of purpose. Otherwise wewould get what is tantamountto an overdose.

I think such assertion is com-monsensical. Yet we ignore it,mainly because the so-calledoverdose is not so much painfulas it is euphoric. The danger isnot immediately felt and seen. Itcan hide behind many rational-izations and justications. Theoverdose assumes the characterof a sweet poison.

Many times in my chats withyoung fellows in the front lines

of this warp-speed technologi-cal progress, I get the impres-sion that there seems to be end- Candidly Speaking/ A6

Lovelife / A7

make use of these technologicalmarvels. I’m afraid that withoutthis clear sense of purpose, moreelevated than the usual practicallevel, we would end up wal-lowing more deeply in our ownworld, increasingly insensitiveto the ultimate dimension of ourlife, which is spiritual, moraland supernatural.

In fact, this wallowing phe-nomenon is what we are seeingthese days in the electronicworld. What begins as humanlyvalid practical uses sooner orlater deteriorates into inhuman,sinful modes if not animatedproperly by spiritual and moralvalues.

There are now a lot of inanitiescirculated around electronically.

Subtle and even open forms ofhuman moral anomalies likevanity, envy, sensuality, greed,

Jueteng – STL tandem,a formidable political

force NOW it can be openly and pub-licly told what was probably al-ready known before but remain

unsaid or underestimated. Therewas strong and solid reasonbehind the fact that all the post-Martial Law administrationsin the past shamelessly dancedwith jueteng lords. Now, there ismore forceful and cogent causewhy even the present adminis-tration—with anti-corruptionand pro integrity as its loud andrepeated battle cry—express-ly and officially declared thateradicating jueteng was not andremains not a “priority”.

And as a matter of course,much less does the PNP togetherwith local public ofcials look atneutralizing jueteng as anythingrelevant. In fact, recently a for-mer president at that, fervently

and loudly proclaimed that jueteng should be “legalized”—in the spirit of the saying that if

you cannot lick ‘em, then join‘em. Simple yet devoid of prin-ciple, and wherefore ethicallyat broke.

If by itself then, jueteng wasnot only a national shame butalso fearsome social cancer, verymuch more it is during thesetimes since Small Time Lottery(STL) became its intimate buddy,its bosom partner—makingthemselves an awesome andfearful pairing. In case thereare people who are still unawareof it or who miss the sinistersignificance and forebodingconsequences of the JUETENG–STL TANDEM, let them knowthe following on-the-groundrealities.

her child was breaking her heart.It was a one night and two days trip to

Manila – a hard travel, more so for a preg-nant woman. But her persistence to reachManila and go to that church in Quiapo washer main goal.

Having worked in Manila in her earlytwenties as a housemaid, she knew howto get there. Once inside Quiapo Church,she knelt to pray, getting up only to have adrink from one of the nearby vendors out-side the church. Several hours passed, she just stayed there, having no other place to

go to. Sometimes, she dozed off on one ofthe benches. Other times, she would make around of the statues, praying in front of eachone, especially to the statues of Jesus, theBlack Nazarene to whom she had a specialdevotion as her employer had introducedher to the practice visiting Quiapo churchevery Friday.

Late afternoon, a woman whispered to herthat if she had a problem, she could go to theChurch ofce and ask for help. The woman

Simple faith

NENA was one month pregnant on theirthird child when she got widowed. Herhusband died in a tragic accident. He fellfrom a coconut tree and hit his head on astone. Because they live in a far away bar-rio in Samar, they could not bring him to ahospital so he died in the arms of Nena, a fewhours after his friends discovered him underthe tree, still breathing but severely bleeding.His brother made a wooden cofn and thefamily and a few friends walked three hoursto the nearest cemetery to bury him.

Although in grief and devastated as to

where she will get the meals for her childrennow that her husband was gone, Nena didnot lose time to request her mother to takecare of her children while she will try herluck in Manila – nd a job and hope that shewill be able to meet people who will helpher during her pregnancy till she deliversthis baby. In her mind, the only way she andher two children will be able to go throughthe rest of their life was to put her baby foradoption even if the idea of separating from

Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS

Love Life

said she had been noticing her for the pasthours clinging to her bags, and guessed thatshe was in trouble. The woman admittedthat she was helped by the staff some timeago when she also had a problem, that iswhy she is one of the volunteers now inthe parish.

Shyly, Nena went to the CounselingCenter inside the parish hall. She pouredout her story. The counselor lost no timein contacting the Good Shepherd Sisters ofWelcome House a crisis shelter for women.In Welcome House, Nena was nally ableto rest and have a full meal.

She participated willingly in the day today routine of the clients – battered women,abused girls, unwed mothers and troubledteens. Nena was more mature than mostof them and so she acted as their big sis-ter for the three weeks she stayed there, aprime example of generosity, diligence andhonesty.

When asked by Sr. Joan, the sister-in-

There is such a especiallyforceful pairing between the twoin the sense that STL is used as

a cover-up of Jueteng which islike a giant octopus with its hugetentacles in powerful grip of thecountry as a whole. Further-more, it is a categorical certaintythat the pairing is under the com-mand of exactly the same longoperating jueteng lords them-selves. And as a deadly matterof course, STL uses the juetenghierarchical structure, givingpayolas to the same protectorsin the persons of infamous localpublic ofcials and PNP author-ities—who thus cannot but bowlow and well before their saidbeneciaries.

The jueteng–STL tandemmakes and unmakes local andregional politicians by using—

releasing or withholding—itspractically inexhaustible gam-bling funds for political purpos-

es. Blessed are those politicianswho enjoy the favor and supportof the operators of the jueteng-STL tandem, and damned arethose who cross them in one wayor another. The same Jueteng-STL tandem has slowly butsurely become a formidablepolitical force.

It then become perfectly un-derstandable that even the in-cumbent administration thatis supposedly the incarnationof honor and probity does nothave vanishing jueteng from theface of the land as a “priority”.This will be courting politicaldisaster—especially so duringelection times. How sad yethow true!

less possibilities of usages andadvantages that the electronicworld is now offering us.

More inventions and innova-tions are made. Just recently,in fact, I have been invited to atalk on blogging and on otherprograms like Tiddlywiki thatprovides tremendous and verypractical facilities for takingnotes.

I’m at the moment just dis-covering the wonders of the Fa-cebook and struggling, dummyand unteachable as I am, to copewith its many possibilities. Andhere comes other programsknocking at the door for me toconsider. I’m not sure anymorewhether I’m simplifying mylife or complicating it. Anyway,

we’ll see…Thing is we need to have ahigher sense of purpose to truly

egoism, etc., are having a eldday in this arena.These dangers can start with

people, especially the youngones, to waste a lot of timeand to express and cultivatetheir youthful weaknesses withnuclear dynamics.

I remember reading an articleabout the Google CEO warningthat young people should beallowed to change their namesafter some time because theywould already have compro-mised their future with theirresponsible things they haveposted on the net. Their cyberpast would just be too hot tohandle.

I have even seen in the webwanton displays of poor taste

and impropriety on the part ofsome Church and spiritual lead-

Oscar V. Cruz, DD

Views and Points

P U B L I C A T I O N

L A Y O U T B Y K R I S B A Y O S




CBCP Monitor

Coming home

MY friendship with Grace beganas a choice between her andher best friend and colleague,

Vicky, and Jacky Chan. Yes, youread it correctly: Jacky Chan,the actor.

It was sometime in 2006 andI was attending a training con-ducted by Cheche Lazaro of theProbe Team. Cheche’s groupincluded her cousin, Vicky,and her teammate, Grace. “Iam looking for a volunteer formy rst point,” invited Vicky.I raised my hand, not knowingwhat I was getting into. “Pleasestand here and face the group,”Vicky gently instructed me. Idid. Then she tossed a bunchof small balls at me and said:“Here, Fr., catch!” I tried my bestbut caught only a ball or two.

This was my rst exposure tothe dynamic duo. “Too many

messages and words beyondthree syllables are akin to toss-ing too many balls,” Vicky con-cluded. Lesson one: focus. Wewere on our way to understand-ing some key communicationprinciples.

Later that morning, I actuallyfound it hard to focus. A friendhad texted to inform me that shehad reserved a chair for me ina room where they were host-ing Jacky Chan of the DrunkenMaster fame. Jacky and myfriend were partners in a café

Opinion

Fr. Russell Bantiles

Cogito

crucial period of transition thatmerged three separate advocacygroups to a single movement.

Three children gave birth toa mother. It was in this chal-lenging and difcult period oftransition that Grace was heavensent.

Many of Dilaab’s initiativesstarted as gut-feel efforts withminimum market study andproblem-tree analysis. In hind-sight, I would like to think theywere leadings of the Spirit.If Grace, with her corporatebackground, felt uneasy withthis arrangement she seldomshowed this.

Grace was very generous withher time, talent and treasure. Sheeven made a monthly pledge ontop of her volunteer work, andher Makati penthouse becamea home for Dilaab volunteers

who came in from Cebu. At thethick of our CiDE commitments,Grace even surprised a Dilaabteam with a two-day blissful restat a retreat-haven in Cavite.

*****One can say that Grace was an

effective midwife in the birthingprocess of Dilaab (Cebuano for“conagration” or Tagalog for“tongues of re” – “dila” and“alab”). For two days in late2006, Grace and Vicky volun-teered their expertise for a shield

Jose B. Lugay

Laiko Lampstand

A Mother Teresa miracle?

MAYBE it was a miracle ofMother Teresa, or maybe itwas what some call a “God-incidence”.

I think the year was 1992, andMother Teresa may have beenin New York City to receive theKnights of Columbus’ highesthonor, the Gaudium et SpesAward. I was not working forthe K of C at the time; in fact, Iwas a seminarian with the Arch-diocese of New York. So whensome friends told me MotherTeresa was in the South Bronx,I went with them by subway tosee her.

There was a long line ofpilgrims streaming out of theCatholic school gym that morn-ing, but everyone was patient

and high-spirited. A buzz wentthrough crowd, not to see a ce-lebrity but to meet a holy woman

but must share the graces.”A few days later, I was coming

out of the St. Paul’s bookstore inmidtown, when someone calledmy name. An older woman whoI knew from church came shuf-ing toward me, saying that shehad visited Mother Teresa in theBronx over the weekend. “Forsome reason, she gave me twoMiraculous Medals, and I’vebeen thinking for days now whoI should give the second medalto. When I saw you, I knew thatyou were the one.”

She handed me the medalfrom Mother Teresa, and I toldher the story of how I had givenmy medal to a boy on the sub-way. We both held back tears,recognizing the hand of God,

and how privileged we were tohave his holy ones among us,such as Mother Teresa.

who by her very presence spokeof God. I got on the line andbegan to pray the rosary quietlyto myself, as many others weredoing. Eventually, I got to thestage where Mother Teresa wasgreeting people, but she was sur-rounded by so many sisters andwell-wishers that I could not seeher small gure in the crowd.

Suddenly, I felt a wrinkledyet strong hand grab my hand.I looked down and saw Mother,her eyes so alive as they stared atme as though I was the only onethere amid the crush of human-ity. “God bless you,” she said inher simple voice, as she pressed aMiraculous Medal into my palm.I walked ahead, off the stage.

My friends also got Miracu-

lous Medals from her. We talkedabout the experience on the sub-way ride back to Manhattan. As

Issues on education

and climate change AFTER the delivery of the SONA of President BenignoSimeon Aquino, media has been delivering news aboutchanges in personnel of important positions of govern-ment including cabinet secretaries, and heads of importantdepartments and bureaus. I closely watch the changes andpronouncement of these two departments, the Departmentof Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and Departmentof Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) since theirpolicies affect the future of the young gener ation includingmy eight grandchildren.

We are particularly interested on the present administra-tion’s governance that affects future generations. Amongthe many issues, let us focus first on the education of theyoung. Pope John Paul II predicted that “The future ofevangelization depends in a great part on the Church of theHome.” This means that what affects the children todaywill be reflected in their behavior in the future and it is their

formation in the home by their parents that is the criticalfactor. Of course there are also many influences from thelearning environment where they acquire their values. Inhis Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, paragraph52, Pope John Paul II described the threats on the youngand the future generation: “In places where anti-religiouslegislation endeavors even to prevent education in thefaith and in places where widespread unbelief or invasivesecularism makes real religious growth practically impos-sible, the “Church of the Home” remains the one placewhere children and young people can receive an authenticcatechesis.” The present discussions among legislators andadvocacy groups clearly indicate the present danger.

Put yourself in the current scenario and assess these inthe light of the Church teachings. The RH bill particularlythe sex education imposed on the very young in school iscarefully watched by our Pro-Life groups. The appoint-ment of the La Salle President, Brother Armin Luistro asthe Secretary of Education was a good move by P-Noy butthe coast is still not clear since the reproductive health is-sue is still in the agenda of the 15th Congress. The recent

pronouncements of foreign funding sources who advocatethe decriminalization of abortion here in the Philippines isone that is referred to by Pope John Paul II as anti-religiouslegislation endeavors.

Even in the United States, malevolent forces operatingagainst the family is working double time. We cite theCalifornia Supreme Court’s ruling supporting same sexmarriage. Here in the Philippines these forces representedby certain feminists are introducing a bill in Congress thatwould legalize divorce. These are the different forces thatfuture generation of young Filipinos fac e that would causethe breakdown of the Church of the Home, that is, theCatholic family as an institution.

Even for the sake of argument that the above-mentionedforces are not working in the Philippines, there is still acultural force that prevents the marriage of poor people inChurch. These are caused by cultural val ues held sacred inthe family life of Filipinos. The marriage ceremony is alwaysfollowed by “handaan” the wedding feast attended by allclose relatives and neighbors. The D and E population inthe urban areas and provinces postpone their getting mar-ried due to lack of funds for the marriage celebration. Butyoung people in love cannot wait.

They eventually become “live-in” partners sans mar-riage. To counter this trend family life groups make ittheir apostolate to sponsor mass weddings and celebratea simple “salo-salo” with all the ninongs and ninangs joining the “Cana” marriage feast. This fulfills the sacredduty of man and woman to become husband and wife inthe Catholic tradition.

The issue on education, that is, the addition of twoyears—one year of pre-school training, and one additionalyear of high school—is the new administration’s policy pro-nouncement. This elicited many reactions. Some say that thepriority is to build more schools, train and hire more teach -ers, provide adequate learning tools, books and c omputers,etc. But if the Philippines will not follow internationalstandards, we will be the only nation that will produce lo wquality education compared to the whole world!

As usual the problem is affordability—while the govern-ment supports the tuition fees of enrollees in government

schools, the C, D and E parents complain that they stillneed funds to support the daily transportation and mealsof children. Hence, P-Noy’s economic team is mandatedto find sources of funds to support this policy.

While we worry about the education of the young, theirschooling is also affected by the coming of the typhoons.We rely on the weather bureau for their forecast in orderto anticipate when classes will be suspended or not. Thisbrings us to the inaccurate reporting of the last typhoon,Basyang, that passed through Metro Manila. With ourexperience of the devastation caused by typhoons Ondoyand Pepeng, we are all concerned about coming disasters.The failure of PAG-ASA to accurately predict the passingof typhoon Basyang through Metro Manila plus the sev-eral hours of brownout and lack of water supply, angeredP-Noy. The dismissal of PAG-ASA’s head, Prisco Nilo,caused the people to think how the previous administra-tion failed in the governance of this particular servicegroup. The whole world woke up to the warnings of AlGore regarding the effects of climate change—the changein weather patterns, the melting of the ice cap and the rise

of the sea level which our grandchildren will experiencewithin their lifetime.

Today our government bureaucracy, down to the lo-cal government, has not realized that this disaster-pronecountry with its volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, typhoonsand floods, need support for scientific instruments as wellas well-schooled scientists. Our weather forecasters useantiquated equipment. However, the bureaucratic red tapeto get the budget approved for modern equ ipment like theDoppler radar for rainfall monitoring, took PAG-ASA anunusually long time. Procuring the equipment once thebudget was approved also took 3 years before the equip-ment was finally delivered. Maybe P-Noy was right afterall in firing Prisco Nilo.

People expect that the present Aquino Administrationthrough his well selected cabinet secretaries can ferret outwrong policies, wrong governance and put a stop to blatantmisappropriation of the people’s money by those entrustedto manage the system. While P-Noy strives to perform whathe promised to do in his SONA, the numerous correctivemeasures that he will have to do are almost insurmountable.President B. Aquino needs all our prayers to succeed.

(A response to an article titled “Filipinowomen need safe and legal abortion in RP” byEnGendeRights, August 2, 2010, posted in ABS-CBNews.com. See http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/ insights/08/06/10/filipino-women-need-safe-and-legal-abortion-rp).

ONE needs not study Logic or Philosophyto see how this article is replete with lots offallacious arguments. I am not exaggeratingwhen I say that the bottom line of what ittries to convey is this: that we should saveour women from numerous maternal deathsbrought about by unsafe abortion methodsby legally killing our children! In what fol-lows, I shall unmask each of these fallacies

and argue that abortion is immoral becauseit an act of murder. Legalizing abortion doesnot change its immorality, for what is legalmay not necessarily be morally right.

The article opens with this afrmation:“Filipinos should address the issue of accessto safe and legal abortion in the country. Theimpact of lack of access to safe and legal abor-tion is a grave public health issue as shownin the report of New York-based Center forReproductive Rights titled, ‘Forsaken Lives:The Harmful Impact of the Philippine Crimi-nal Abortion Ban’, which was released todayat Annabel’s restaurant. In the Philippines,over half of all pregnancies are unintendedand one-third of these unintended pregnan-cies end in abortion. Due to the illegality ofabortion, Filipino women induce abortionclandestinely through unsafe methods.”

The report cites recent statistics showingabout half a million Filipino women yearly

who, because of various reasons includ-ing rape and dire socio-economic reasons,induce abortion with about 1000 womendying and 90,000 being hospitalized due tocomplications from unsafe abortion. Thismeans that the illegality of abortion does notstop abortion but only makes it dangerousfor the health and lives of Filipino women,’said Attorney Clara Rita A. Padilla, Execu-tive Director of EnGendeRights, and former

The rst most efcient solution is for themother to decide NOT TO ABORT. This isthe safest means to avoid numerous maternaldeaths. Second, we need to persecute legallythose who are doing abortion illegally inthis country. If women would not abort andthe law is implemented well, I am sure theproblem will be solved.

The second fallacy is the appeal to author-ity. The report of New York-based Centerfor Reproductive Rights (CRR) claims to bean authority on this subject because it hasconducted a statistical study on abortion inthe Philippines. Padilla’s argument appealsto this authority and argues that we shouldconsider its ndings in addressing “the issue

of access to safe and legal abortion in thecountry”. The basic structure of Padilla’sargument is this: CRR is an authority on thissubject. CRR conducted this study and saysthat the impact of the illegality of abortionin the Philippines is harmful. Hence, CRR’snding and conclusion is true.

Any law student who studies Logic coulddemonstrate well how illogical this argu-ment is. CRR’s nding cannot be true simplybecause it claims authority on this subject. Itcan be true only if it follows logical reason-ing, which I doubt it does. Hence, to arguethat CRR’s conclusion is true because it is anauthority on this subject is a fallacy.

I don’t doubt the professional authorityof CRR in conducting statistical studies. Butgiven the fallacious reasoning of its conclu-sion (namely, that illegal abortion causes nu-merous maternal deaths), what I doubt is itsmoral authority. When an argument does not

follow reason, it cannot have moral authoritybecause as St. Thomas Aquinas said, “Themoral law is that part of the eternal law thatapplies to human choices and can be knownby our natural reason”. Hence, what does notfollow logical reasoning cannot claim moralauthority. The CRR cannot have the moralauthority on this subject simply because itlacks logical reasoning. Then, why shouldwe appeal to it? (To be continued)

Fallacies of legalizing

abortion (Part I of II)

Visiting International Legal Fellow at Centerfor Reproductive Rights”.

The basic structure of the argument isthis: because abortion is illegal in the Phil-ippines, women clandestinely abort theirbabies through unsafe methods and manydie due to complications. Therefore, toavoid numerous maternal deaths, abortionshould be legalized to provide safer abor-tion methods.

The rst fallacy committed in this argu-ment is confusing cause and effect. Thebanning of abortion is not the direct causeof the numerous deaths of women whoabort their children. Hence, the conclusionon the legalization of abortion to curb these

deaths is fallacious. The illegality of abortionis simply a contributing or circumstantialfactor that drives women to clandestine abor-tion employing unsafe methods, but neverits cause. Abortion is harmful (may causenumerous maternal deaths) not because itis illegal. It is illegal—not legally allowed—because it is harmful: it causes the death ofchildren and – as Padilla has cited—possiblythat of the mother.

But what directly causes these numerousdeaths of women is the women’s decision toabort. Had they not decided to abort theirchild, they would never have died of unsafeabortion methods. Now, legalizing abortiondoes not guarantee that these deaths wouldnot occur. Instead, if abortion is legalized,more women would be encouraged to abort.The legalization of abortion would only raiseto the highest level the risk of numerousmaternal deaths.

A corollary fallacy in Padilla’s argumentis this: legalizing abortion brings about saferabortion methods. This is absolutely false!Abortion, whether legal or illegal, is neversafe because it always puts the mother’s lifein great danger, while it kills mercilessly thechild. That which kills is never safe!

So that women should not die due tocomplications from unsafe abortion, the bestsolution is not the legalization of abortion.

venture.I entertained the idea of sneak-

ing out of the training workshop,

only that we were supposed todo some role playing. I decidedto stay put.

I had made the better choice.

*****I soon struck up a friendship

with the two ladies from theworld of branding. I was inunfamiliar territory and theypatiently facilitated my entryinto it.

Grace was passionate abouther craft and was a highly ar-ticulate, gentle, playful and keenobserver when she facilitatedseminar-workshops. She wrotein a purposeful frenzy using“meta cards” to bring togetherideas of participants. She wasthe original “flash woman”

although one can sense herwriting barely kept up withher thought processes and thesynapses that connected art,anthropology, geography, mu-sic, food, and other interests,including the Bible.

She was especially adept atgathering the “snapshots” oftable discussions to producea “panoramic picture” usu-ally written on a piece of tablenapkin. Many strategic insightsemerged in this manner.

Dilaab, at this time, was in a

and branding workshop. Thekey insights are all captured inve symbols inside a shield. A

tagline was conrmed: “Ignitingspaces of hope” and a simplemessage was born: “A goodChristian, a good citizen and agood leader.”

A few months later, in early2007, they were at it again, fa-cilitating an anti-narcopoliticstool that eventually became theLASER test for lifestyle, action,supporters, election conduct andreputation.

Grace also helped emergeCiDE (Circles of Discernmentfor Elections) through two work-shops in 2008 leading to theformation of the short-livedHEARTS and Pearl networks.These two were precursors ofCiDE that began in earnest onlyin early 2009 with two national

consultations and proceededwith the conduct of CiDE semi-nars in different parts of thecountry.

Another defining momentwas in December 2008 and Janu-ary 2009 with the formulation ofDilaab’s understanding of “pas-toral accompaniment.” This wasbased on our lived experienceswith partners from the PNP andelected ofcials. Grace also lefther imprint here.

This was no small feat. The

the car lled up, I gave my seatto a young Hispanic mother andher boy. Filled with joy, I heldout the Miraculous Medal andasked the mother if she everheard of Mother Teresa. She nod-ded, of course. The boy lookedat the medal and reached out tohold my hand closer. Withoutthinking, I said, “Would youlike it?” He nodded yes. Hismother pulled a cord from hisneck which already held otherreligious medals. I helped herplace the Miraculous Medal onthe cord next to the others. Myfriends looked at me in disbelief.How could I give away a medaltouched by a living saint? I wasthinking the same thing, but de-fended my action while still feel-

ing the emotional sting of part-ing with something precious:“We cannot cling to holy things

Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL

Spaces of Hope

Brian Caulfeld

Half a World Away

Spaces / A7




CBCP Monitor

Local News

Pro-lifers / A1

Muslim / A1

Corruption/ A1 Candidly Speaking / A4

Justice / A1

AN ofcial in the Catholic Church’s

family ministry was indignant whenPresident Benigno Aquino rejected di-vorce but said separated couples shouldbe allowed to remarry.

Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretaryof the Commission on Family and Lifeof the Catholic Bishops’ Conference ofthe Philippines, said such stand is “tan-tamount to supporting divorce.”

“We are happy that he is against di-vorce. However what he is advocatinghas the same effect as divorce,” saidCastro.

Mr. Aquino, last week, said he isagainst the legalization of divorce,which is proposed by some femalelawmakers in Congress as an option forcouples in failed relationships.

“I cannot support something like theydo in Las Vegas. The stereotype is youget married in the morning and you

get divorced in the afternoon,” he toldreporters at an event in Pasay City.

But Mr. Aquino stressed that sepa-rated couples should be allowed to

CARITAS Philippines urged theFilipino faithful to help provide aidto ood-ravaged Pakistan as the 20million people made homeless grewincreasingly desperate.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broder-ick Pabillo, the agency’s president,said they are already trying to makeconsultations with other bishopson how they could help the reliefefforts.

While they are still waiting ofcialreports from Caritas Internationalis,he said they are already preparingto make a public appeal for assis-tance.

“We are now making an appeal toall the dioceses to help us providenancial assistance for ood-devas-tated Pakistan,” Pabillo said.

The prelate said donations may be

coursed through Caritas Philippines,the charity arm of CBCP’s NationalSecretariat for Social Action, Justice

and Peace (Nassa).Vatican-based Caritas Internation-alis earlier appealed for US$5.5 mil-lion to help Pakistan’s ood victimsas the “situation grows increasinglydesperate.”

It said over 1,600 people diedin the disaster as new torrentsinundated more Pakistan villagesespecially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwaand Balochistan as well as partsof Punjab and Azad Jammu andKashmir.

“The priority is to ensure peoplehave food, water, shelter and medi-cal help. There are so many peoplewho are in grave difculty,” saidAnila Gill, secretary general of Cari-tas Pakistan.

“It’s such a traumatic situationfor those who have lost everything

and who have to rely on otherseven for a drink of water,” she said.(CBCPNews)

CBCP official wary of Aquino’s stand on divorce

Caritas Philippinesappeals for aid infood-hit Pakistan

ers, as in priests and bishops,as they frolic in the beach withcompanions that can only raiseeyebrows, engorging them-selves in parties, and otherforms of frivolity. There seemsbe no concern of avoiding pos-sible scandals.

More dangers are still in store.Those who are more intellectu-ally gifted or more business-minded ply their trades in pur-suit of purely human gains thatmay lead them to be materially

richer but spiritually poorer.The bargain is utterly unfair,but it’s resorted to with gusto.

Of course, Godless ideologieswould not be long in coming.They in fact are now proliferat-ing, giving the impression theyare the mainstream in our worldtoday.

We should not just stand by inthe face of these developmentstaking place right before oureyes. We need to at least encour-age everyone to use these newpowers with a greater sense ofresponsibility, hooking them to

©

R o y L a g a r d e / C B C P M e d i a

a higher sense of purpose. Andthis is none other than to usethem for the ultimate purposeof our life here on earth. Thisis where religion has to comein, where our relation withGod has to come in. This mostimportant aspect should not beostracized.

Some great effort is denitelyneeded here, since rst of all,we have to break that deep-seated prejudice against religionwhen we engage in our earthly,

mundane affairs. If we ever talkabout religion, we seem to con-ne it only inside churches andplaces like those, but not in oursecular concerns.

Our sense of naturalnessseems to be twisted at the root,since it seems to be incompat-ible with anything spiritual andsupernatural. We need to cor-rect this irregularity, withoutgoing to the extreme of behav-ing in some strange, unnaturalway.

A higher sense of purpose canhelp us do this.

remarry especially when a union is ir-

reparable no matter what interventionsor counseling is done.

Current laws in the Philippinesstate that legal separation does not al-low remarriage and the CBCP ofcialadded that it also does “not dissolvemarriage.”

“The legal remedies for marriages indistress are more than enough underexisting laws. Marriages in difficultsituations cannot be addressed by newlegislations,” Castro said.

The Catholic Church is against di-vorce, adding that it is not the answerin differences between couples and theyshould take into consideration a holisticapproach.

Castro said divorce could serve asan “easy way out” for couples whichshould not be allowed since marriageis a holy contract and a covenant for a

lifetime.“Legalization of divorce will create

more marital problem,” he said.(CBCPNews)

Fr. Melvin Castro

US economy”, they said.“…what has been considered

as economic growth did notactually translate to jobs andwelfare for the people… [but]was characterized by a wideningdisparity between the glaringlyfew rich and the numberlesspoor—the rich became richer andthe poor were buried further indebt and poverty,” they furthersaid.

According to statistics theannual net worth of the top 20

richest Filipinos is equivalent tothe combined annual net worthof the more than 52 millionFilipinos.

The Church leaders said elec-tions may be an expression ofdemocracy, but not the choice ofleaders voted into ofce.

“Our historical experienceshows that however repeatedlywe underwent elections, the ba-sic situation of our people neverchanged because those elected toofce carry their vested interestsinstead of their constituents,”they stated.

A typical example, accordingto them, is the 30-year old agrar-ian reform program that hasseen many presidents into ofcebut was never implemented asrequired by law.

This lack of democracy is alsoapparent in the situation of theindigenous peoples and Bang-samoro communities in Mind-anao, whose call for self-determi-nation remain unheeded.

Aggressors have taken over theancestral lands of the tribal com-

munities in pursuit of so-called‘development projects’ leavingthe indigenous people “to ghtamong themselves for what mea-ger resources are left,” they said.

‘Militaristic approach’The EBF also criticized the

government’s militaristic ap-proach in solving the insurgencyproblem, saying the launchingof Oplan Bantay Laya duringMacapagal-Arroyo’s admin-istration led to thousands ofextra-judicial killings and forceddisappearances.

as one of the country’s top 10 modelofcers. He was, however, dischargedin 2008 for his alleged involvement indrug-related crimes and extortion.

The disgruntled officer hijackedthe bus in a bid to clear his name anddemanded that he be reinstated toservice.

After a 12-hour bloody drama, ninepeople died—Mendoza and eight tour-ists.

Church ofcials supervised a memo-rial service for the fatalities on Aug. 31,exactly nine days after the incident.

In his homily, Pabillo said the hostageincident is a clear manifestation of how“justice delayed” can have “dire conse-quences” for the country.

The prelate said a repeat of such ascenario is imminent if its root causeswill not be properly addressed.

“Mendoza is not the only one whohad been deeply wounded by the slowgrind of our justice system. There arestill many who are crying for justice,”he said.

“Let those who dispense justice dotheir job well, and soon! This terrible

case is also calling out to heaven for justice.”

InvestigationThe Manila prelate also called on the

authorities to conduct a swift, thoroughand honest investigation on tragic endof the hostage crisis.

He said there should be “no white-wash, no scapegoat” in the investigationof the hostage crisis that left eight HongKong tourists dead.

“Not only the Chinese are calling fora just a swift investigation of this case.We Filipinos demand the same from ourofcials,” Pabillo said.

“Bring out the truth; let those respon-sible, whoever they maybe, be held ac-countable… Let there be new life nowfor our justice system.”

Pabillo also chairs the National Sec-retariat for Social Action—Justice andPeace of the Catholic Bishops’ Confer-ence of the Philippines (CBCP).

He said he is hoping the Aquinogovernment will prove itself differentfrom the past administration whoseinvestigation “usually end up with

The Aquino government hasannounced on August 16 thatit would continue to implementOplan Bantay Laya as an internalsecurity policy.

“Instead of addressing the rootcauses of these rebellions, gunpowder is addressed with morere,” the group said on Aquino’sdecision.

Resume peace talksThey urged President Aquino

to go back to the negotiation table

with the NDFP (National Demo-cratic Front of the Philippines)and resume the peace talks.

The government (under Ar-royo) and the NDFP werealready advancing into its sec-ond substantive agenda of thepeace talks when it was stalleddue to rampant extra judicialkillings.

“We call [on] the GRP and theNDFP to go back to the negotia-tion table and resume long stalledpeace talks immediately anddiscuss and agree on measuresto address the root cause of the

armed conict,” the church lead-ers said.

They challenged both groupsto “manifest that the peaceprocess is on top of their prior-ity; [ have] emissaries from theparties to talk even outside theformal conferences if negotiat-ing panels are not yet ready;constitute immediately their ne-gotiating panels and schedule assoon as possible the resumptionof talks; adhere to previouslysigned agreements such as the

Hague Declaration, JASIG, theCARHRIHL, etc; move forwardto the discussion of the secondsubstantive agenda which is theComprehensive Agreement onSocio-Economic Reforms (CAS-ER); and acknowledge that thepeople are essential stakeholdersin the issue of peace.”

“Justice should always be atthe heart of our efforts in achiev-ing a sustainable peace – a peacewhich is not the silence of gravesbut a peace which is the rightfulreign of democracy,” they fur-ther said. (CBCPNews)

nothing.”“We want an investigation with cred-

ibility and that is the kind of change inthe system that we are asking,” he toldreporters after the Mass.

‘Black eye’Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales earlier

said the Philippines is in the dock againbecause of the tragedy that gained in-ternational attention.

He said the incident fueled by theway authorities handled the situationwas a big blow to the image of thecountry.

“It’s really a black eye. That’s theworst thing that happened to us,” saidRosales.

Police ofcials admitted there havebeen shortcomings in the way the crisiswas handled. The damage, however,has been done even before the hostagedrama ended.

CBCP President Bishop Nereo Odchi-mar also appealed to the internationalcommunity not to hate all the Filipinosbecause of what happened.

The hostage taking incident, Odchi-

mar said, could have happened else-where and the blame for the incident

should not go to all the Filipinos.“This incident does not reect the

peace loving attitude of the Filipinosand I hope the international communitywill not put this against the Filipinos,”he said.

Hong Kong denounced in strongestterms the incident and the way theauthorities handled the crisis, calling it“regrettable” and “disappointing”.

Aside from HK, the incident, hasalso spurred other nations like Indo-nesia, Thailand, Nepal, Iran, Pakistan,and Russia to issue a travel ban to thePhilippines.

New life in the mediaAs the standoff was aired on live

television—both local and interna-tional media—netizens from all over theworld were already hitting the police fortheir actions.

Many also criticized the media for notfollowing the guidelines for journalistsduring a hostage crisis.

Local media, they said, should have

been more concerned about the hostag-es’ safety than getting exclusive footage

of the incident.During the Mass, Bishop Pabillo

called on the media to consider respectfor the authority, life and protection ofbasic human rights in their coverage.

“We are also asking for new lifefrom our media people. Media is notmeasured by its ‘live’ and ‘exclusive’coverage. Respect for authority, respectfor life and the protection of basic rightsare also to be considered,” he added.

Other prelates who concelebratedwith Pabillo were Bishops DeograciasIñiguez of Caloocan and Honesto Ong-tioco of Cubao together with severalpriests.

Before the Mass a group of Buddhistmonks also offered prayers to the vic-tims.

Among the government officialswho attended the event were ManilaMayor Alfredo Lim, Tourism SecretaryAlberto Lim, Justice Secretary Leila deLima, Foreign Affairs Secretary AlbertoRomulo and Chinese Ambassador to thePhilippines Liu Jianchao.

The bill, led by Rep. RoiloGolez, seeks that governmentprotect the life of the unbornchild from contraception, speci-cally recognizing that “concep-tion is the moment of fertiliza-tion.”

A link to the petition, whichis hosted on the Petition Onlinesite, was posted on the website(www.prolife.org.ph) of the Pro-Life Philippines.

“The bill acknowledges theunborn child as a human beingwith a human personality and

extends the mantle of legal pro-tection to the child from the mo-ment of conception,” read partthe petition referring to HB 13.

“The bill aims to enhance thehealth of the mother by avoidingmeans that may adversely affect theviability of the unborn child in allstages of its maturity,” it added.

Petitioners said that they sup-port the bill because it promotesthe right of the mother and the

children especially the unbornchild to assistance includingproper care and nutrition.

The campaign is supported byvarious educational and advo-cacy organizations opposed tothe Reproductive Health bill thatpushes the government to fundmodern contraceptives.Reject contraceptives

The Catholic Bishops Confer-ence of the Philippines (CBCP)in a recent statement has urgedPresident Benigno Aquino toreject policies that push for arti-

cial birth control.Church leaders stressed thatarticial contraception not only

panel that is negotiating peace with theMoro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Our brother Archbishop Ledesmawill serve as a spiritual guide to thegovernment peace panel and we knowthat he will greatly contribute to thenegotiations,” Macabando told thisreporter on the sideline of the regulardinner-meeting of the Interfaith Forumfor Peace, Harmony and Solidarity at theArchbishop’s House on August 28.

Macabando said that the spiritualfactor of the conict in some parts ofMindanao has not been given impor-tance by the negotiating panels of the

government and MILF and it is hightime that this be tackled during thenegotiations.

“For me, I believe that the problemis a problem of the heart. It is the heartthat urges people to commit crimes andit is also the heart that urges people todo good. Therefore, we have to addressthe issue of the heart,” he said.

“If we will be successful in addressingthis issue and change people’s heart to dogood, then we can say that we have solvethe problem in Mindanao,” he added.

Ombra Gandamra, NCMF-10 director,agreed with Macabando’s proposal.

“His proposal is a very good pro-posal and we will sign the manifestoendorsing the good archbishop if there

is already one,” he said.The NCMF is the newly-created agencyof the government that has taken over the

functions and responsibilities of the de-funct Ofce on Muslim Affairs (OMA).

Gandamra said he is urging Maca-bando to immediately make a manifestoof endorsement and let Muslim leadersand other peace advocates sign it andsubmit it to Malacañang.

Several Good Shepherd sisters andsisters of Our Lady’s Missionaries, whoattended the meeting also agreed withMacabando’s proposal. They said it wasa good one and that they will sign theendorsement once asked.

Ledesma is the chairman of the Epis-copal Commission on Inter-religious

Dialogue (ECID) of the Catholic BishopsConference of the Philippines (CBCP).He is also convenor of the Bishops-

goes against Church teachingbut also put women’s healthat risk.

“With the utmost concern andurgency we express our strongobjection to the fundamental as-pects of House Bill 96. The basisof our moral objection is onceagain the central religious truthof the divine origin and divineimage of the human person, ofone’s being and life,” read the

CBCP statement.“Science has proven that somecontraceptives render the moth-

er’s womb inhospitable, therebycausing abortion,” it added.

The prelates instead supportedthe pending “Act Providingfor the Safety Protection of theUnborn Child and for OtherPurposes” or HB 13 led by Rep.Roilo Golez.Unequivocal support

El Shaddai Charistmatic leaderBro. Mike Velarde also voicedout its unequivocal support

for the passage of HB 13, as itpromised to block the passage ofreproductive health bill through

the movement’s party list group,Buhay.

He is encouraging legislatorsto drop any support for articialcontraception and push insteadfor the passage of the measurethat seeks the protection of un-born children.

“We would be going around inCongress to [persuade] congress-men to support our advocacy,”Velarde told reporters during

the group’s 26th anniversarycelebration on August 21. (PinkyBarrientos/CBCPNews)

Ulamas Forum (BUC), co-chair of the Phil-ippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP),as well as founder and board member ofthe various non-government organizations(NGOs) that are working for peace anddevelopment all over the Philippines.

The Interfaith Forum for Peace, Harmo-ny and Solidarity, headed by MonsignorRey Monsanto, H.P., J.C.D., convened themeeting at the Archbishop’s House onAugust 28, Feast of St. Augustine, patronsaint of Cagayan de Oro City.

Muslims leaders, including the Mus-lim chaplain of the 4th Infantry Division,Capt. Farouk Sarip and Fr. (Major) Le-

onides Cruel, Jr., 4th ID Roman Catholicchaplain, also attended the meeting.“There are two happiest moments for us

Muslims during this season of Ramadhan.One is to break the fast, and two, to breakthe fast with friends like you,” Gandamratold those who attended the meeting to theapplause of everyone in attendance.

Convened by Ledesma, the InterfaithForum is a group of religious leadersand development workers in Cagayande Oro who meet regularly to promotepeace, harmony and solidarity betweenMuslims, Christians and Lumads. It iscomposed of Muslim imams, asatidz andother Muslim leaders, pastors, priestsand religious leaders from the Inde-pendent Church, Evangelical Churches,

Roman Catholic Church, as well as mem-bers of NGOs involved in peace-buildingefforts in the city. (Bong D. Fabe)




CBCP Monitor

Solon scores PNP on inept handling of hostage crisis

CAGAYAN DE ORO City—The chair of the Senate Commit-tee on Justice and Human Rights has scored the police for itsineptitude in handling the hostage crisis and urged the Aquinoadministration to totally revamp the country’s police force,including changing the color of its uniform. But Sen. FrancisEscudero said he “cannot blame the Aquino administration”for the botched hostage rescue operation, saying the newadministration “is barely 60 days old.” “The PNP has beenunder the supervision and control of the previous administra-

tion for nine years,” he said. (Bong D. Fabe)

Priests urged to ght against corruption and injustice

OZAMIZ City—A Martial Law activist turned RedemptoristBrother Karl Gaspar urged the Mindanao clergy to use thepower of the pulpit to ght corruption and injustices in thecountry. In a talk given during the Alumni homecoming atSaint Mary’s Theologate Seminary, Brother Karl Gaspar de-livered a lecture on the national situation and told the clergyto work for the promotion of justice. He said the clergy hasa lot to do in order to address the country’s social problems.(Wendell Talibong)

Watchdog assails regulation on use of Facebook,

Twitter by gov’t workers

ANTIPOLO City—Militant center for government employees,Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement ofGovernment Employees (Courage) had assailed Marikina Rep.Federico Quimbo’s HR No. 184 that seeks the regulation of theusage of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter

in all government ofces and instrumentalities. In a statement,Courage said, Quimbo is “barking at wrong tree” as he claimsthat the use of Twitter, Facebook and other networking sitesis adversely affecting the productivity and quality of serviceof government workers. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Movie proceeds to feed hungry Filipino children

MANILA—A movie that tells the greatest miracle of the 20thcentury will be shown in special screening to raise funds forthe benets of malnourished children. Hapag-Asa, a programof the Pondo ng Pinoy that feeds at least 120,000 poor chil-dren each year, will be the recipient of the proceeds of “The13th Day”— a movie on the miracle of Fatima. The lm onthe three young children who witnessed the apparition ofOur Lady at Fatima will be shown in cinema in time for thecommemoration of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Maryon Sept. 8. (CBCPNews)

Civil society plays vital role in ensuring accountability

in governance

CAGAYAN DE ORO City—To ensure accountability and trans-parency in all local government units, civil society organizations(CSOs) must get involve in governance, the regional director ofthe Department of Interior and Local Government in NorthernMindanao (DILG-10) said. “The wish of the secretary (JesseRobredo), in line with the vision of the President, is transpar-ency and accountability in governance (TAG). But this cannotbe done by us (in government) alone. This can be done with theinvolvement of others in the civil society organizations,” stressedDILG-10 Regional Director Loreto Bhagwani. (Bong D. Fabe)

Law prohibiting use of styrofoam in schools, led

QUEZON City—Kabataan partylist Rep. Raymond Pala-tino has led a bill prohibiting the use of styrofoam andother synthetic food containers, which he said are harmful toMother Nature and people’s health. HB No. 2676 or An ActProhibiting the Use of Polycarbon Plastics, Styrofoam andother Synthetic Materials Harmful to the Environment in allFood Service Establishments in All Educational Institutionsaims to eliminate the use of non-biogradable food containersin all food establishments, within and outside the premises of

schools all over the country. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Hong Kong OFWs to gov’t: Probe ‘mishandling’ of

hostage crisis

ANTIPOLO City—Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in HongKong urged the government to probe the possible “mishan-dling” of the hostage crisis by policemen last August 23, whichled to the killing of eight of the 22 hostages, all Hong Kongnationals, at Luneta Park in Manila. In a statement, DoloresBalladres-Pelaez, chairperson of the United Filipinos in HongKong (Unil-HK) said that Filipino workers in the former Brit-ish colony were appalled by the hostage drama which has lastedfor 10 hours and was aired, simultaneously over radio andtelevision networks, here and abroad. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Bishop favors Charter change for peace in Mindanao

MARAWI City— For peace with the Moro Islamic LiberationFront, a Catholic bishop has favored the idea of Constitutionalamendments just to reach an elusive peace agreement withthe rebels. Marawi Bishop Edwin De La Peña sees no prob-

lem with Charter change if only to accommodate the validdemands of the MILF in the peace process. (CBCPNews)

Diocesan News

Brieng

DOH plan / A1Courtship / A1

Spaces / A5

TAYABAS, Quezon—Catholic Churchleaders urged government authoritiesto improve services and implementreforms in various agencies in the after-math of the fatal hostage crisis involvingthe police force last week.

Describing as unfortunate the hostageincident that left eight HongKong tour-ists and the hostage taker dead, CebuArchbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidalcalled for a further retraining of thepolice force.

The Philippine government shouldsubject the police to a further retrainingto avoid similar incidents in the future,the cardinal said. The retraining willhelp them see where they have failed,he explained.

For his part, Boac Bishop ReynaldoEvangelista also urged the governmentto do everything it could to improveservices from the villages to the policeforce, and in various departments in thebureaucracy.

“The unfortunate incident may havebeen a product of neglect and lack oftraining and we could not point the

blame to anyone, but the governmentand its leaders should take it as a chal-lenge to further improve its services,”he opined.

The prelates also ask the Filipino peo-ple to pray for the grieving families andthe repose of the souls of the victims.

Vidal called on everyone to “lettime heal the wounds inicted on thevictims and their closest relatives andfriends.”

He added that we should allow theChinese people’s anger to subsidebecause nobody thought the incidentwould have a bloody end.

“We should ask the Chinese forforgiveness and understanding as weexpress our deepest sympathies for theirloss and we’ll join them in prayers thattheir dearly departed with rest in peaceand the wounded recover in due time,”the cardinal said.

Saddened by tragedyIn an earlier interview, CBCP Presi-

dent and Tandag Bishop Nereo P.Odchimar said he was saddened bywhat happened and mourns with thebereaved families and condoles withthe victims’ relatives.

“We did not expect things to happen

that way,” Odchimar said.He further said ordinary citizens likehim cannot do anything but pray for thevictims and their relatives as well as the

incident’s survivors.Former CBCP president and Jaro

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo andLucena Bishop Emilio Marquez ex-pressed solidarity with the Filipinonation in praying for the victims andsurvivors.

The prelates said they also join theFilipino families in praying that theirHong Kong-based workers will not besubject to any form of discrimination orany untoward treatment like dismissalfrom work.

“While we cannot prevent the nega-tive reaction from Hong Kong and Chi-nese residents and leaders, I can onlyhope reason and sobriety will prevail,”Lagdameo said.

The archbishop noted that PresidentBenigno Aquino has already began withthe right foot forward by apologizingto his counterpart in Hong Kong andhis constituents after the unfortunateincident.

He said there is a possibility that theCatholic Bishops Conference of the Phil-ippines will also make representations

with their counterparts in Hong Kongalthough it would depend on the deci-sion of the CBCP Permanent Council.(Melo M. Acuna)

Church leaders call for reform s in police force

Odchimar Vidal

EvangelistaLagdameo

Lovelife / A4

charge, how she could everhave left home with no plan asto where to stay in Manila, hersimple reply was – “I just trustedin the Lord to watch over me andto send me someone who willhelp me. My only plan was tostay in Quiapo church until helpcomes. And, Sister, He did notabandon me. I cannot get overthe fact that a woman would ap-proach and tell me where I canget help. And then, all of you,Sisters, are gifts of God to me. Iwill never forget you. “

Nena was transferred to aMaternity Home a few weeksafter her stay in Welcome Housewhere she will spend the rest of

her pregnancy. She will be seenby an obstetrician regularly,given prenatal vitamins, and

lady who was uncomfortablewith priests, policemen andpoliticians when she first be-came involved with Dilaab hadreached out to all three!

*****Her journey with Dilaab was

also the coming home of a beau-tiful soul.

In the early months of 2009,we noticed that Grace had a drycough that refused to go away.“It’s just allergies,” she assuredus as she put all her heart as aDilaab volunteer.

The cough persisted and wewere worried. Meanwhile Gracecontinued to make herself avail-

able, even joining us in La Union,Dagupan, Lipa, Tagbilaran, andother places.

MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon—Revenge byirate Maranao Muslims could be the moti-vation in the Aug. 29 grenade attack on theSan Vicente Ferrer parish in Kalilangan,Bukidnon that wounded two parishioners,the bishop of Malaybalay said.

Those who were wounded were sit-ting on the last pews near the entranceof the church, said Bishop Jose AranetaCabantan, bishop of the Diocese of Ma-laybalay.

Cabantan said the attack happenedpast 8:00 in the morning while the pa-rishioners were praying the “Prayers ofthe Faithful.”

The other grenade that failed to explodewas detonated by the Kalilangan policewho were also in the church hearing themass of Fr. Art Paraiso, said Cabantan.

“Policemen who were in the church

helped Fr. Paraiso in calming the parish-ioners down. They then all went outsidethe church and Fr. Paraiso proceeded tosay the mass outside,” he said.

Cabantan said that the attackers wereteenagers who were riding in tandem ona motorcycle.

“According to the police, the one whothrew the grenades was more or less 12years old who immediately escaped onboard the waiting motorcycle,” he said.

The attack on the church was the firstin the history of the town, the bishopsaid.

He said that according to the police,Sunday morning’s attack could be tied tothe recent attack by Maranao Muslims ona Rural Transit of Mindanao, Inc. (RTMI)in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte last weekand also on the killing by Maranao Mus-

lims of an RTMI bus driver in Wao, Lana odel Sur two weeks ago.

Cabantan said one of the drivers of theRTMI bus plying the Cagayan de Oro-Kalilangan route told the police that hewas the target of the killers of the driverwho was recently killed in Wao becausehe was the one who run over and killeda Maranao Muslim boy.

“The police theorized that the attackon the church could be tied to the attackson the RTMI and that the attackers were just exacting revenge on the Christiansfor the killing of the Muslim boy by a busdriver,” he said.

The San Vicente Ferrer parish has morethan 20,000 parishioners.

Kalilangan is one of the more progres-sive towns of Bukidnon. It is the las t townbefore Lanao del Sur. (Bong D. Fabe)

2 wounded in grenade attack on Catholic Church

NAGA City—A priest from theArchdiocese of Caceres has beenelected president of the Interna-tional Association of CatholicMissiologists (IACM) during theorganization’s recent confab inTagaytay City.

Fr. Andrew Recepcion, theMission Director of the Archdio-cese, was one of the 80 partici-pants coming from various partsof the world engaged in Catholicmission activities.

Recepcion also currentlyserves as the Executive Secre-tary of the Naga TercentenaryCelebration Committee.

ence along with Imus BishopLuis Antonio Tagle, and BishopSilvester of Punalur, Kerala.

The papers presented in theGeneral Assembly dealt with themain theme ``New Life in Jesusin the Areopagus of a GlobalizedWorld`` but from the perspec-tives of the different continents.

Study groups deliberated onthe following sub-themes: Proc-lamation and Witness, Dialogueand Religions, Religious andSecular Fundamentalism, Hu-man Rights and Eco-justice, andIndigenous Peoples.

Fr. Joseph Puthenpurakal,

Naga priest elected prexy of Catholic Missiologists

join the other mothers waitingfor the arrival of their babies. Asocial worker will show her thedifferent options regarding herbaby – legal adoption, tempo-rary foster care until she is ableto take back the child, or to re-turn to Samar with the baby withsome nancial assistance.

To those who think that abor-tion would have been an easierway for Nena so that she wouldbe free of the “burden of preg-nancy” and of raising anotherchild, using as an excuse thedeath of her husband and direpoverty, Nena is a shining ex-ample of SIMPLE FAITH thatGod will provide.

“Pregnant? Need help?” Call733-7027 or contact Sr. Pilar at0920-945-5494.

In early 2010, Grace was di-agnosed with a relatively mildform of leukemia which re-quired a lot of blood transfu-sions. A short time later, she wasalso diagnosed with malignanttumor in her womb. She wasdying. Soon she went to confes-sion and received the sacramentof the sick.

In one of my visits to thehospital, after we had prayedthe rosary, Grace held my handand with a faint smile repeatedlytold me: “Only one thing mat-ters, Fr M., only God matters.Tell people to x their gaze on Jesus.”

Last 8 August 2010, our dear

Grace died. She had made theright choice. Welcome home,Grace.

The letter was received by the Office of the President at 10:45a.m. on the same date with the appropriate bar code of RE0005410.

If and when the spirit of Republic Act 6713 is considered, allletter writers will receive an appropriate response as it mandatesgovernment ofcials to promptly act on letters and requests fromthe general public within 15 working days.

Section 5, Paragraph A of the same Code of Conduct and EthicalStandards also calls on government ofcials to reply with the ap -propriate action taken on the request.

The said republic act was approved last February 20, 1989 dur-ing the incumbency of President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino.(Melo M. Acuna)

to two years”, are most likely to be easygoing and levelheaded.The CBCP’s National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal (NAMT)

receives an increasing number of at least 130 annulments casesyearly but majority of these cases are dismissed due to lack ofevidence.

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, NAMT chairman, said onlyaround 10 cases pass the rst phase of the evaluation process andthe number would be further reduced as the cases progress.

Cruz said most couples who want to go on separate ways citereasons such as mental disorder, personality maladjustment, soc ialimmaturity and other matters pertaining to child-raising.

The prelate stressed the hike in annulment cases is a lso an indica-tion of the decline in the Filipino value system. (CBCPNews)

Cyanide / A1

can easily buy in the market has led to asenseless death of many.

“This deadly concoction has become amodern day scourge linked to senselessdeaths of young, adolescent and adult Fili-pinos,” the petitioners said.

The group said the concerned governmentagencies should get its act together and movedecisively “mindful that we are racing againsttime to save the next Filipino from gettinginjured and killed by cyanide poisoning.”

“Where people are exposed to lethal harm,

apathy and indecisiveness must never be anoption,” they further stressed.

Among the petitioners were BishopDeogracias S. Iñiguez of CAMANAVA(Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valen-zuela), chemical safety campaigners, healthadvocates, environmental lawyers and social justice activists from Luzon, Visayas andMindanao.

Petitioner Fr. Benigno P. Beltran, SVD, whoused to live in Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Ma-nila said he knew of many young people in the

area who died of cyanide poisoning.“I know several young people in the slums

who committed suicide by ingesting silvercleaning liquid,” he said.

The group said the DENR and EMB shouldimplement the ban imposed in 1997 againstthe use of cyanide in silver jewelry cleanersand promote non-toxic alternatives instead.

They also urged the agency to conscatecyanide-laced silver cleaners that are beingsold in the market and charge violators.(CBCPNews)

Together with Recepcion, theother newly-elected members ofthe IACM Executive Board wereSr. Nzenzili-Lucie Mboma fromRome (Vice President), Fr. Fran-cis Vincent Anthony SDB fromRome (Executive Secretary), Fr.Kevin J. Hanlon MM from USA(Treasurer) and six continentalrepresentatives that include Fr. John M. Prior SVD as a represen-tative from Asia.

His Excellency Most Rev. Ed-ward Joseph Adams, Papal Nun-cio to the Philippines, was themain celebrant at the inauguralEucharist of the IACM confer-

SDB, director of Don BoscoCentre for Indigeneous Cultures,was the leader of the groupwhich discussed the sub-themeIndigenous Peoples.

The week-long Conferenceemphasized that the sense ofmission and the systematic studyof missiology should act as asynoptic discipline bringing to-gether other theological subjectsat the service of the proclamationof the Good News.

The next Conference and As-sembly in 2013 will be hostedby one of the African countries.(Federico Jose Lagdameo)



Vol. 14 No. 17August 30 - September 12, 2010

CBCP Monitor

A8 People, Facts & Places

P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f U S T O f c e f o

r C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t

© N

o l i Y a m s u a n / R C A M

AT least nine prelates from NorthernLuzon have graced the launching of theUniversity of Santo Tomas’ communitydevelopment project in Tuguegarao Citylast week.

The prelates, led by Tuguegarao Arch-

bishop Diosdado Talamayan, joinedthe community of UST alumni andacademic ofcials, led by Vice RectorFr. Pablo Tiong, O.P., during the ofcialcommencement of the UST Simbahayan400: Tomasino Para sa Simbahan, Tah-anan at Bayan last August 18.

Under the Simbahayan 400, theuniversity’s centerpiece project in linewith its forthcoming quadricenten-nial anniversary by 2011, UST alumninationwide are encouraged to initiatecommunity development projects andseek the backing of the university fortheir projects’ realization.

Tiong said no less than 400 commu-nity projects on education and valueseducation, livelihood, healthcare, peaceformation, housing, site planning andecological management are targetedfor completion by next year, coincidingthe year-long celebration of UST’s 400thfounding anniversary.

Aside from Talamayan, Tuguega-rao Auxiliary Bishop Ricardo Baccay,Urdaneta Bishop Jacinto Jose, NuevaSegovia Archbishop Ernesto Salgado,Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio, Bagu-io Bishop Carlito Cenzon, Bayombong

North Luzon bishops rally behind UST’s dev’t projects

LAUNCHED. Online petitionto support the passage of “AnAct Providing for the SafetyProtection of the Unborn Child’by Pro-life Philippines Inc., alobby group against abortion.Also known as House Bill 13filed by Rep. Roilo Golez,the measure seeks that thegovernment protect the lifeof the unborn child from con-traception. The bill also looksto go further than existinglegislation protecting fetusesby specically recognizing that“conception is the moment offertilization.” A link to the petition, which is hosted on the Petition Onlinesite, was posted last week on the website (www.prolife.org.ph) of thePro-Life Philippines. The petitioners said they support the bill because itpromotes the right of the mother and the children especially the unbornchild to assistance including proper care and nutrition. The campaignis supported by various educational and advocacy organizations op-

posed to the Reproductive Health bill that pushes the government tofund modern contraceptives.

INSTALLED. Frt Ryan Jay Aban,Frt. Joseph Baslao, Frt. RogelioMonton, and Frt. Dexter Pri-ete to the Ministry of Lectors;Frt. Ryan Digal and Frt. PeterPocbit to the Ministry of Acolytesamong the Mission Society of thePhilippines (MSP) in a simpleceremony during the celebra-tion of the Eucharist at the MSPSeminary Chapel in TagaytayCity. Fr. Alfredo Africa, MSP Fa-

ther Moderator ofciated the ceremony held on July 15, 2010. The newMSP Lectors are rst year Theology students while the new Acolytesare second year Theology students.

CELEBRATED. Lay Forma-tion Center (LayForce) of theArchdiocese of Manila, 25thanniversary of foundation, July17, 2010. A brainchild of the lateCardinal Jaime Sin, Layforce isa house of prayer and a center

of spiritual formation for the lai ty.It envisions a kind of lay forma-tion that “embraces the fullnessof life towards radical opennessto life through integral humandevelopment.” Located withinthe sprawling compound of theSan Carlos Seminary complex,the formation center has beeninstrumental in providing the laitya holistic program that helps thembecome more effective lay ministers in the Church. Since its foundation,the programs offered by the formation center have grown and expandedto meet more effectively the needs of the laity. Since November 2009until the present, Layforce is under the leadership of Manila AuxiliaryBishop Bernardino Cortez in partnership with Dr. Gaines Marie Rosarioof the Commission on the Formation of the laity

DIED. Fr. Albert Meersschaert, CICM, 95, August 12, 2010. A member of the CICM congregation, Fr. Meersschaert had served in variousposts during his stay in the Philippines. He was assistant priest inBayombong, Nueva Vizcaya from 1948-1951; prefect and professor at the Lipa Major Seminary, Lipa, Batangas City from 1951-1953; andprofessor/prefect/rector at the San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, MakatiCity from1953-2004. He was also a confessor at the Edsa Shrine untilhe became sick. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosalessaid Mass for him on August 15 and Lingayen-Dagupan ArchbishopSocrates B. Villegas on August 16. He was buried at the MaryhurstSeminary Chapel in Baguio Ci ty on August 17, 2010.

Markings

Bishop Ramon Villena, Iligan Bishop Joseph Nacua, and Tabuk Bishop Pru-dencio Andaya graced the Simbahayan400 launching and aired support to theuniversity’s initiative.

“The strong support of the bishops

of North Luzon is enough for us tocall the event a success. The warm ac-ceptance of the bishops and alumni ofNorthern Luzon to the UST delegateswas overwhelming. In our short stayin Tuguegarao City, we came to realizethe close bond between the Archdioceseand the Dominicans. We felt at home inthe city when the natives of the placenarrated to us a lot of historical eventswhich proved that Tuguegarao was re-ally a Dominican territory,” said Prof.Marielyn Quitana, executive director ofthe Simabahayan 400 project.

For hosting the launching, the Arch-diocese of Tuguegarao will be the rstbeneciary of the UST Simbahayan 400project. Bishop Jose came to the eventwith his community developmentproject proposal for Villasis, Pangasinan

while Bishop Andaya requested for aleadership training program for dioc-esan workers in Tabuk, Kalinga.

“All the other bishops expressed theirappreciation of our program and theyall look forward to work with Simba-hayan 400 in the future projects fortheir communities,” Quintana added.(Kris Bayos)

PARAŇAQUE Bishop Jesse Mercado, whois also Chairman of the Episcopal Commis-sion on Laity (ECL) of the Catholic BishopsConference of the Philippines (CBCP), willhead the Philippine delegation to the AsianCongress for the Catholic Laity.

Organized by the Pontical Council forthe Laity, the confab is themed “Proclaiming Jesus Christ in Asia Today” and will be heldin Seoul, Korea on August 31-September 5,2010.

Among the delegates are the bishop con-ferences in Asia. Representatives from thePhilippines include ECL Board members,some from the youth sector and Dr. ZenaidaRotea, MD, Executive Secretary of the Of-ce on Women and a Board Member of the

World Union of Catholic Women’s Organi-zation (WUCWO).

A number of lay associations and move-ments and new ecclesial communitiespresent in the Asian continent will also beparticipating in the congress.

Among the topics to be taken up duringthe congress are the life and mission of theChurch in Asia, the mission and vocation ofthe lay faithful in the light of the post synodalapostolic exhortation, Christian formation ofthe laity and lay missionary efforts in Asiaas well as the active participation of the laityin the missions of the Church.

Rotea will be part of the panel discussions. Shewill talk about the roles of women in the Churchand in Society under the category of areas and

priorities in the evangelization of Asia.The panel discussions are about the lay

movements and new communities in thelife and mission of the Church in Asia andthe areas and priorities in the evangelizationof Asia.

There will also be group workshops and

sharing on the lectures and discussions ofthe congress for the participants.

Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Chairman of thePontical Council for the Laity, will be maincelebrant during the opening and closingEucharistic mass at the Seoul Cathedral withthe participation of the local community.

The event is being sponsored by theCatholic Laity of Korea headed by ProfessorThomas Hong-Soon Han. (Kate Laceda)

Bishop heads RP delegation to Asian confab for the laity

Naga to hold Int’l Pilgrims’ Congressfor Peñafrancia devotees

Blessed Mother Teresa,‘icon of compassionand mercy’—Nuncio

ARCHBISHOP Edward JosephAdams, Apostolic Nuncio tothe Philippines, hailed BlessedMother Teresa of Calcutta as anicon of compassion and mercywho had centered her life withGod.

“We look to her as an exampleof Christian life and of Christianmission. She is an icon of com-

passion and mercy and a sourcefor inspiration for us as we seekto follow Christ and his ways,”he said.

Adams expressed his admira-tion of the saintly nun duringthe Eucharistic celebration heldyesterday at the Manila Cathe-dral in commemoration of thecentenary of Blessed MotherTeresa of Calcutta.

Mother Teresa was born as Ag-nes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August26, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia.

She had received numerousawards and distinctions in rec-ognition of her work for the poorand outcasts of society. Amongthose were the Pope John XXIIIPeace Prize (1971) and the NehruPrize for her promotion of inter-

national peace and understand-ing (1972).

Mother Teresa has also re-ceived the Balzan Prize (1979)

and the Templeton and Magsay-say awards.

The nuncio also said thatMother Teresa as a holy womanand a messenger of God was ablessing to every faithful.

“This holy woman, a mes-senger of God whose life wasmarked by love is a blessing.The celebration of her centenary

intends to thank God for the lifethat has reached each one of usthrough her,” Adams said.

“Mother Teresa is indeed asshe described herself a mission-ary and an ambassador of Hisholy peace. Her hands, her arms,her gesture, her smile all carriedthis message,” he added.

Adams further said MotherTeresa’s life was wholly cen-tered in God, that she saw theface of Christ in the sufferingsand difculties of other people,especially the poor and outcastof society.

“She devoted her energy tothe service of those in need butagony and suffering was not thecenter of her attention insteadher life was devoted for his God.

She offered herself to God with-out conditions for His purposesno matter what she felt,” Nunciosaid. (Kate Laceda)

Lipa to host nationwide Marian CongressDEVOTEES and lovers of the Blessed Virgin Maryare set to gather in a three-day nationwide Mariancongress in Lipa on September 8-12.

To be held at the Carmelite Monastery Chapel,the First National Marian Congress will feature asspeaker Rev. Fr. Manfred Hauke, a well-knownwriter and Mariologist.

Fr. Hauke is the president of the German Mario-logical Society, and author of the book “Mediatressof All Grace”.

The congress will kick off with a 5 p.m. Mass atthe San Sebastian Cathedral on September 8, birth-day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and ends with the

Seventh National Day of Prayer for Peace and forthe Sanctication of Priests on September 12.The National Day of Prayer for Peace and for

the Sanctication of Priests is a yearly event thatdraws Marian pilgrims all over the country to prayfor peace and the clergy.

On September 11, Fr. Edgardo Arellano ofEWTN and the Oblates of the Two Hearts willfacilitate a whole night vigil at the Lipa Cathedralto cap with a dawn procession to the proposed newparish of the Mediatrix of All Grace. ArchbishopRamon Arguelles will preside the 6 a.m. Mass.

Cebu archbishop Cardinal Ricardo Vidal willofciate the closing Eucharistic celebration onSeptember 12 at the Carmel Monastery.

Expected to attend the Marian Congress and

pilgrimage are all lovers of Mary, priests, nuns,Mariology students, media and lay organizations.(CBCPNews)

CBCP ofce nds home for handicapped childTO a child, especially with disability, a home isalways synonymous with love, care and protectionfrom all life’s uncertainties.

The Episcopal Commission on Health Care(ECHC) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of thePhilippines (CBCP) has recently helped a handi-capped child to nd his permanent home.

Joel Samal, a handicapped child who had been aban-doned immediately after his birth, has found a home ina community of persons with disabilities in Cebu.

The child was being taken care of by AnecitaSamal, an elderly poor lady, but since the boywas growing heavier and needed more care, she

turned to the nuns for help.In turn, Sr. Margaret McConville from the LittleSisters of the Assumption has asked the help of

the CBCP commission.A Cebu-based community called the “Mission-

aries of the Poor” that takes care of persons withdisabilities agreed to welcome Joel to Cebu City.

The institution has already accepted some 25abandoned severely disabled children in theircommunity in Naga City.

Currently, there are about 40 persons withdisabilities in Cebu. They also accepted a wholegroup of abandoned mentally ill patients in theirorganization.

The ECHC has extended their gratitude to themissionary community and to the Superferry -

Aboitiz Transport System Corporation for theassistance they have provided to the commissionand the child. (Kate Laceda)

HUNDREDS of devotees of the Our Ladyof Peñafrancia are expected to attend the

International Pilgrims Congress (IPC) inNaga City on September 16 to 17.

The gathering of pilgrims, not just ofFilipinos but also those coming fromthe other countries will highlight andculminate the Archdiocese of Caceres’Tercentenary devotion to Our Lady ofPeñafrancia.

Organizers said that over the years, thedevotion to what the Bicolanos refer to as

“Ina” has taken root in various parts of thePhilippines and other continents.

The IPC, they said, will then be an oppor-tunity for the faithful to reect more on thesignicance of their devotion.

With the theme “Thanskgiving, for grow-ing in holiness under the mantle of Ina”, thegathering seeks to encourage more people to

live in holiness like the Blessed Mother.The Caceres archdiocese will mark the

300 years of devotion to Our Lady of Peña-francia with a Pontical Mass to be presidedby Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi at theNaga Metropolitan Cathedral on Sept. 10.

Several bishops and priests will con-celebrate and thousands of devotees areexpected to attend in the Eucharisticcelebration. (CBCPNews)

The nuns of the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Te-resa, sing during the Eucharist held at the Manila Cathedral in celebration of thecentenary of her birth.

The Thomasian Alumni with Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan and the different bishops and priests of Northern Luzon at the St. Peter’s Cathedr alduring the Simbahayan program launching in Tugueagarao last August 18.



B1 Vol. 14 No. 18Augus t 30 - September 12, 2010

CBCP Monitor

Pastoral Concerns

w w w . k a r n a t a k a c a p s . c o m

M is sion / B 7

Message of His

Holiness, Pope

Benedict XVI, on the

occasion of the World Mission Sunday 2010

Dear Boths nd Sists,Th month of Octob, with th

clbtion of Wold Mission Sundy,offs to diocsn nd pish communitis,instituts of consctd lif, cclsilmovmnts nd th nti Popl of Godn oppotunity to nw th commitmntto poclim th Gospl nd to givpstol ctivitis gt missionypspctiv. This nnul vnt invitsus to liv intnsly th litugicl ndctchticl, chitbl nd cultulpocsss though which Jsus Chistsummons us to th bnqut of his wodnd of th euchist, to tst th gift of hispsnc, to b fomd t his school nd toliv v mo closly unitd to him, outch nd Lod. H himslf tlls us, “Hwho lovs m will b lovd by my Fth,nd I will lov him nd mnifst myslfto him” (Jn 14: 21). Only on th bsis ofthis ncount with th Lov of God thtchngs lif cn w liv in communionwith him nd with on noth ndoff ou boths nd sists cdiblwitnss, ccounting fo th hop thtis in us (cf. 1 Pt 3: 15). an dult fith,cpbl of ntusting itslf totlly to Godwith a lial attitude fostered by prayer,mdittion on th wod of God nd studyof th tuth of th fith, is pquisitfo futhing nw humnism founddon th Gospl of Jsus.

Futhmo, in mny countis thvious cclsil ctivitis sumd inOctob, ft th summ bk, nd thChuch invits us to ln fom My, bypying th Holy rosy, to contmpltth Fth’s pln of lov fo humnity, tolov h s h lovs h. Is not this lsoth mning of mission?

Indd, th Fth clls us to b sonsnd dughts lovd in th blovd Son,

nd to cogniz tht w llboths nd sists in him who isth gift of slvtion fo humnitydividd by discod nd sin, ndth vl of th tu fc of Godwho “so lovd th wold tht hgv his only Son, tht whovblivs in him should not pishbut hv tnl lif” (Jn 3: 16).

“W wish to s Jsus” (Jn12: 21), is th qust in John’sGospl tht som Gks, whohd ivd in Juslm fo thpschl pilgimg, ddss to thapostl Philip. It lso sonts inou hts duing this month ofOctob which minds us thtth commitmnt to, nd tsk of,Gospl poclmtion is duty ofth whol Chuch, “by h vyntu missiony” (ad gnts,n. 2), nd invits us to bcomchmpions of th nwnss of lifmd up of uthntic ltionshipsin communitis foundd on thGospl. In multithnic socitytht is xpincing incsinglydistubing foms of lonlinssnd indiffnc, Chistins mustln to off signs of hop ndto bcom univsl bthn,cultivting th gt idls thttnsfom histoy nd, without

fls illusions o uslss fs,must stiv to mk th plnt hom fo ll popls.

Building Ecclesial

Communion is theKey to Mission

C O N T R I B U T E D P H O T O

C O N T R I B U T E D P H O T O

Lik th Gk pilgims of twothousnd ys go, th poplof ou tim too, vn phpsunbknown to thm, sk blivsnot only to “spk” of Jsus, butto “mk Jsus sn”, to mkth fc of th rdm shinout in vy con of th thbfo th gntions of thnw millnnium nd spcillybfo th young popl of vycontinnt, th pivilgd ons towhom th Gospl poclmtionis intndd. Thy must pcivtht Chistins bing Chist’swod bcus h is th tuth,bcus thy hv found in himth mning nd th tuth fothi own livs.

Ths considtions f toth missiony mndt thtll th bptizd nd th ntiChuch hv civd but thtcnnot b fulfilld without pofound psonl, communitynd pstol convsion. In fct,wnss of th cll to poclimth Gospl not only ncougsvy individul mmb of thfithful but lso ll diocsn ndpish communitis to intglnwl nd v gt opnnssto missiony cooption mong

th Chuchs, to pomot thpoclmtion of th Gospl inth ht of vy pson, of

vy popl, cultu, c ndntionlity in vy plc. Thiswnss is nouishd thoughth wok of Fidi Donum pists,consctd popl, ctchists ndly missionis in th constntndvou to ncoug cclsilcommunion so tht vn thphnomnon of “intcultulity”my b intgtd in modl of

unity in which th Gospl is lvn of fdom nd pogss, souc of bothhood, humilitynd pc (cf. ad gnts, n. 8). ThChuch in fct “is in th ntu ofscmnt sign nd instumnt,tht is, of communion with Godnd of unity mong ll mn”(Lumn gntium, n. 1).

ecclsil communion is bonfom th ncount with th Sonof God, Jsus Chist, who, thoughth Chuch’s poclmtion chsout to humn bings nd ctsfllowship with himslf nd hncwith th Fth nd th Holy Spiit(cf. 1 Jn 1: 3). Chist stblishsth nw ltionship btwnmn nd God. “H vls to ustht “God is lov’ (1 Jn 4: 8) ndt th sm tim tchs us tht

th fundmntl lw of humnpfction, nd consquntly ofth tnsfomtion of th wold,is th nw commndmnt of lov.H ssus thos who tust in thchity of God tht th wy oflov is opn to ll mn nd tht

th ffot to stblish univslbothhood will not b in vin”(Gudium t sps, n. 38).

T h C h u c h b c o m s“communion” on th bsis ofth euchist in which Chist,psnt in bd nd in winwith his sacrice of love buildsth Chuch s his Body, unitingus with th Tiun God nd with

on noth (cf. 1 Co 10: 16ff.).In th apostolic exhottionScmntum cittis I wot,“Th lov tht w clbt in thscmnt is not somthing wcn kp to ouslvs. By its vyntu it dmnds to b shdwith vyon. Wht th woldnds is God’s lov; it nds toncount Chist nd to blivin him” (n. 84). Fo this son theuchist is not only th soucnd summit of th Chuch’slif, but lso of h mission: “nuthnticlly euchistic Chuchis missiony Chuch” (ibid.),which cn bing ll to communionwith God, pocliming withconviction “tht which w hvsn nd hd w poclim lsoto you, so tht you my hv

fllowship with us” (1 Jn 1: 3).D finds, on this Wold

Mission Sundy in which thht’s gz xtnds to thimmns spcs of mission, lt usll b potgonists of th Chuch’s



B2 Vol. 14 No. 18August 30 - September 12, 2010

CBCP MonitorUpdates

By Fr. Jaime Blanco Acha-coso, J.C.D.

IN cnt Wokshop of th

excutiv Committ of thCnon Lw Socity of thPhilippins, ngging qustionws gin isd: Wht is thcnonicl sttus of Bsic ecclsilCommunitis (BeC)? Th mttws isd by th cnon lwysfom Mindno (pists nd bishop), bcus of th gowingfictions btwn th cclsisticlogniztion nd th so-clldbsic cclsil communitis. Inth pst, this qustion hd lwysbn sidlind by th lck ofny cl thologicl notion ofsuch communitis; hnc—thgumnt wnt—it ws futil tottmpt cnonicl nlysis ofth poblm.

This tim, howv, it wspointd out tht vn if it might

b pmtu to ttmpt denition of the canonical statusof Bsic ecclsil Communitis,som woking guidlins mightb in od, by wy of dlimitingth scop of pstol ction ofsuch communitis, in ccodncwith Chuch Lw. In shot, vnif it might not b possibl toctgoiclly stt wht CnonLw stts ths communitis, it might b possibl to dwfom xisting lgisltion whtths communitis not. Inmo pcticl tms, phpsw cn gln fom Cnon Lwwht ths communitis mynd my not do.

In fct, this is th tsk thtth Cnon Lw Socity of thPhilippins poposd to tckl in

its Ntionl Convntion in My2011. as stting point fo thcnonicl invstigtion, th CLSPExecom identied a little-knowndocumnt of th Holy S, whichws issud in 1997. To ousintst in this topic, w shllvisit tht documnt in this ndth following issu of th CBCPMonito.

The Instruction Ecclesia deMysterio

On 13 Novmb 1997, thPo Pfct of th Conggtionfo th Clgy, psntd to thPss th Instuction ecclsi dMystio, On Ctin Qustionsrgding th Collbotion ofth Non odind Fithful in

th Scd Ministy of Pists.The document reafrmed thetching of th Scond VticnCouncil (spcilly of LumnGntium, n.33 nd apostolicmactuosittm, n.24). Its minpupos ws to cknowldg ndpromote what is specic to thevoctions of th ly fithful nd ofodind minists, with th golof ncouging l communionin th Chuch.

In th dcd pio to thdocumnt’s publiction, Bishops,pists nd ly popl hdbn qusting uthoittivdictivs on th idntity ofpists nd ly popl withgd to pticul css ofpstol ctivity impoplyxcisd by non odind

fithful. Thus, n Int-dicstilCommission ws stblishdfo tht pupos, coodintd

by th Conggtion fo thClgy nd involving svn othdicasteries: the Pontical Councilfo th Lity, th Conggtionfo th Doctin of th Fith,th Conggtion fo Divin

Woship nd th Disciplin of thScmnts, th Conggtion foBishops, th Conggtion fo thevngliztion of Popls, thConggtion fo Instituts ofConsctd Lif nd Socitis ofApostolic Life, and the PonticalCouncil fo th Intpttion ofLgisltiv Txts.

In sis of mtings, thisCommission wokd out txtwhich ws snt to th Psidntsof th episcopl Confncsnd to th individul Bishopsof th diocss wh this issuws considd most ugnt.about 92 pcnt of thosqustiond w in fvo, butskd tht mbiguous wodingb voidd in th txt, tht thmost uthoittiv lgl fom

possibl b usd nd, givn thugnt nd fo clifiction,tht th documnt b publishdwithout dly. Th Commissionscupulously followd thsinstuctions.

On 15.V.1997 th txt wsdiscussd by th hds of thdicstis of th romn Cui inth psnc of th Holy Fth.Spcil ttntion ws pid in thislst stg to citicl obsvtionsuntil cl convgnc of viwsmong th bishops concndws chd. Th sult of thislngthy nd thoough pocssis th Instuction w nowconsiding.

Preliminary hermeneuticclarifcations

Fo coct undstndingof the document, we must rstconsid som of its fomlspcts.

1. an Instuction is ndministtiv povision. asc.34, §1 stts, instuctions “clifyth psciptions of lws ndlbot on nd dtminn ppoch to b followd inimplmnting thm”. Thus,it dos not ct nw lw,but mly insists tht th lwcuntly in foc b obsvd. Thsm c.34, §1 stts tht thy “givn fo th us of thos psonswhos concn it is to s tht thlws implmntd nd obligsuch psons in th xcution ofth lws.” Thus, n instuctionhs lso bn chctizd sn intnl gnl dispositionof th cclsisticl ogniztion,which is dictd to th uthoityor titleholder of an ofce who ischgd with th xcution ofth lw.

2. an Instuction hs immditffctivity. Th documnt wsdtd 15.VIII.1997 but wsnot publishd until 13.XI.1997.Sombody could objct thtit gv no indiction of whnit would go into foc. Tht isbsiclly unncssy, sincn Instuction mly mindsth cipints of n obligtionldy in foc fo som tim.Th months lpsd btwnth dt of ppovl nd th dyof publiction w pobbly

ndd fo tnslting th txtinto th vious lngugs.3. Involvmnt of 8 Dicstis.

Th fct tht ight dicstisw involvd in dfting thInstuction is in itslf vysignicant. On the one hand, itcn b sid tht this pocduconfomd with th lgisltiv

povisions of th romn Cui,ccoding to which, wht fllswithin th comptnc ofdifferent ofces should be treatedby ll, und th coodintion ofthe ofce primarily concernedwith th qustion. Nvthlss,it would have sufced if thedocumnt hd only bnsignd by th Conggtionfo th Clgy, whil notingth pcding int-dicstilconsulttion. Th fct tht llth dicstis involvd signdwith thi spctiv hds ndsctis clly xpssdthi co sponsibility s wll sth impotnc tht th Cuittchs to this subjct.

4. Vy limitd scop of thInstuction. Th Instuction hs

vy limitd pupos nd itstitl should b cfully dwith tht in mind. Th subjctis not collbotion btwnpists nd ly popl, but thpistly ministy in so f s lypopl cn collbot in it. Thdocumnt is thus concndwith only limitd of thlaity’s eld of activity in theChuch. It is impotnt not tofogt this fct, sinc th vst,odiny fild of ctivity foly popl in th Chuch ndth wold is intntionlly notconsidd by th Instuction.It is only concnd with givingppopit diction to thxcis of pticul functionsby pticul ly popl.

5. Binding foc of th

documnt. Th impotnc of thdocumnt is lso undscod byth fct tht th Pop ppovdthe Instruction in forma specica.This mod of ppobtion chosnby th Pop must b considdin th light of th fct tht ssttd in th Conclusion—by thisdministtiv ct “ll pticullws, customs nd fcultis which conty to th fogoingnoms, nd w concdd dxpimnt by th Holy S ooth cclsisticl uthoitis, hby vokd.” Thus w spd th possibl objctiontht n dministtiv ct cnnotdogt fom th noms (lwso customs) cuntly in foc;th intntion to nsu cohntlgisltion in this nti mttis lso ppnt. Consquntlyny fom of ppl ginst it isimpossibl.

On th oth hnd, w mustnot fogt tht ppondntmjoity of th Bishops whosopinions w consultd fo thdft hd skd pcisly thtth most uthoittiv lgl fompossibl b usd.

Objectives of the InstructionTo conclud Pt I of this

ticl, lt us summiz th bsicobjctivs of th Instuction.

1. encoug th odindminists nd fost th odindministy. It sks to ncougodind minists by focfullyintoducing th subjct of

voctions to th pisthood,stssing tht th Chuch’s lifdpnds on th scmnt of

Holy Ods s f, bsolutlyiplcbl gift, bcus thodind ministy (Bishops,pists, dcons) is pt ofth Chuch’s vy stuctu.Thus, th Instuction concluds

by stting tht “th solutionsddssing th shotg ofodind minists cnnot both thn tnsitoy nd mustb linkd to sis of pstolpogms which giv pioity toth pomotion of voctions to thScmnt of Holy Ods.”

2. rmind th lity of thispecic role. The Instruction alsominds us how th fundmntlqulity of Chistins—bsd onBptism—is comptibl with nssntil diffnc—bsd onScd Ods—nd tht lyChistins, pcisly bcusof Bptism, clld to thconsctio mundi, which diffsfom th tsk of nyon whoblongs, though th scmnt,to th ministil nks. Thus,

by voiding vy fom ofcliclism, ly Chistins ncougd to b mo wof thi idntity nd to giv thiwitnss in th wold nd in thChuch without considingth xcis of ministildutis which thy my pfomfom tim to tim s fom ofdvncmnt but only s on ofsubstitution.

3. authntic pomotion of thly postolt. Th Instuctiondos not limit ly pticiptionin th vnglicl nd cclsilpostolt. On th conty,this is ncougd in th ightdiction consistnt with Ctholiccclsiology. “Howv—sCd. rtzing mphsizd tth tim—it intnds to but nd

pvnt th tndncy towds clicliztion of th ly fithful,nd th isk of cting, in lity,n cclsil stuctu of plllsvic to tht foundd on thscmnt of Ods.”1

This ffimtion of thfutu Pop Bndict XVI is ofpmount impotnc in oupoposd study of BeCs.

4. encoug tminologiclpcision. In aticl 1 of thpcticl povisions—-ntitld:“Nd fo n appopitTminology”—th Instuctioninsists on th nd fo suitbltminology, clifying thconfusd us of th wod ministy,which describes both the ofciand th mun xcisd byPstos in vitu of th scmntof Ods, nd thos xcisd byth non odind fithful.

5. elimint buss. as Cd.Ratzinger also afrmed at the time:“Th timlinss nd ugnt ndof this Instuction is xplind inth light of th sitution occuingin spcific nd widspdcclsil cicls, which dmnds,spcil insistnc on th fithfulppliction of th pincipls ndnoms contind in th tchingsof th Mgistium nd thChuch’s univsl lgisltion inth conct lif of th pticulChuchs.”2 (To be continued)

1 Joseph Ratzinger, “Unity of the church’smission involves diversity of ministries”,in L’Osservatore Romano, N. 17 (29.IV.1998), 18. Cf. Post-Synodal Exhora-

tion, Christifdeles laici, n.23, §6.2 Joseph Ratzinger, loc. cit. Emphasisadded.

Collab or a t ion of Non -Or d ain ed Faith fu l

in th e Sacr ed Min is t r y of Pr ies ts (Part I)

© N o l i Y a m s u a n / R C A M

Speaking in

tongues at mass(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina

Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)

Q: Wht is llowd fo gding th (so-clld) “spkingin tongus” duing Chismtic Mss? and wht xctlyis n ccptbl typ of such Mss? rcntly, I ttndd Mss wh th pist ddd his own pys duing thlvtion of th euchist (hving sid th foml pys ofconsction) nd, with thos psnt (who w, xcludingmyslf, mmbs of th pish chismtic py goup),pyd in tongus duing th euchistic Py nd t othmomnts of th Mss. Th w vious oth obviousillicit momnts duing th Mss nd phps ftwd swll (.g., lypson nointing with som typ of oil), butI’m pticully cuious bout th “tongus.” as f s I cndeduce, this is not allowed, but it’s exceedingly difcult to

nd anything to the contrary aside from mere opinions.—P.H.,Limick, Ilnd

a: Th pcticlly no univsl guidlins on thissubjct, xcpt of cous th gnl noms tht pohibit ddinganything whatsoever to ofcially prescribed texts.

although som individul bishops hv publishd nomsfo thi diocss, s f s I know th most complt ttmntof this subjct is tht publishd by th Bzilin bishops’confnc. Th documnt, “Pstol Ointtion rgdingth Ctholic Chismtic rnwl,” ws issud in Novmb1994. It cn b ccssd in th Potugus oiginl t thbishops’ Wb sit:www.cnbb.com.b.

It must b notd tht th Bzilin bishops hv gnllypositive view of the Charismatic Renewal, and a signicantnumb pticipt in chismtic Msss. Th nwl isconsidd s bing spcilly ttund nd ppling to widswth of Bzilin socity nd is cditd s hlping to stmth hmohging of Ctholics towd Pntcostl scts.

Thfo, th noms issud by th bishops should b sns gnuin ointtions to hlp th Ctholic Chismtic

rnwl chiv its full potntil s n intgl potion ofth wid Ctholic community. Thy should not b sn scondmntion of btions nd buss.

In dling with litugy (Nos. 38-44), th bishops’ documntcommnds tht th mmbs of th nwl civ ndqut litugicl fomtion. It minds thm tht th litugyis govnd by pcis uls nd nothing xtnl should bintoducd (No. 40). No. 41 hs pcis indictions:

“In th clbtion of Holy Mss th wods of th institutionmust not b stssd in n indqut fshion. No mustth euchistic Py b intuptd by momnts of pisfo Chist’s euchistic psnc by mns of pplus,chs, pocssions, hymns of euchistic pis o ny othmnifsttions tht xlt in this wy th rl Psnc nd ndup mptying out th vious dimnsions of th euchisticclbtion.”

In No. 42 th bishops indict tht music nd gstusshould b ppopit to th momnt of th clbtion ndfollow th litugicl noms. a cl distinction should b mdbtwn litugicl hymns nd oth ligious songs tht svd to py mtings. Hymns should pfbly b

chosen from an ofcial repertoire of liturgical songs.Finlly, th bishops sy tht Chismtic rnwl mtings

should not b schduld to coincid with gul Msss ndoth gthings of th whol cclsil community.

Whn fing to spking in tongus (No. 62), thdocument offers the following clarications:

“Spking o pying in tongus: Th objct o dstintionof pying in tongus is God himslf, bing th ttitud of pson bsobd in pticul convstion with God. Thobjct o dstintion of spking in tongus is th community.Th apostl Pul tchs, ‘Whn I m in th psnc of thcommunity I would rather say ve words that mean somethingthn tn thousnd wods in tongu’ (1 Cointhins 14:19).Since in practice it is difcult to distinguish between theinspitions of th Holy Spiit nd th instigtions of th goupld, th should nv b cll ncouging pying intongus, nd spking in tongus should not tk plc unlssth is lso n intpt.”

I think tht ths wis counsls nd noms fom th Bzilinbishops show tht it is not in confomity with th uthnticchism of th Ctholic Chismtic nwl to spk intongus duing Mss.




CBCP Monitor

pint. In shot, if fct o judgmnt

cn b found in book, mgzin, opmphlt, it must b tu! Wikipdidcls, “Oiginl sch nd idswhich hvn’t ppd in oth soucs thfo xcludd.”

Wos, lmost ny ticl in Wikipdicn b ltd in ny wy by nyont ny tim. Th hv bn ov 31million edits, and the only qualicationis intnt ccss. Do I mn to sy, foxmpl, tht scholly ticl on thFnch rvolution cn b ltd by nnonymous 10-y-old? Ys.

Wikipdi hs ditos who “my”pciv nd lt “obvious os,”obscnitis nd th lik. But this smllbody of volunts (w told thtth 1,724 “dministtos”) cn’tpossibly xmin th hug mount ofincoming infomtion lt lon policth xtnt ticls tht my hv ldy

By Thomas C. Reeves

aS pofssionl histoin, I’m intstdin th ntu of uthoity. Whv Ihppn to b in my ding o schI sk: On wht is tuth, buty, ndmolity bsd t this point? Oftn thnsw is simply tht th supm ldor the ruling class denes the terms. Atoth tims th nsw contins stongligious mphsis.

In cnt dcds, public opinionpolls, sls figus, nd lctionsdomint. Gllop, Pw, Bloombg,nd rsmussn quotd bthlsslynd fquntly s th voic of tuth. Ifmo popl lik ock thn op, thnguss wht will b found on lmostvy dio nd tlvision sttionmid lgions of dvtismnts? If onpty gins contol of Congss nd

th Whit Hous, its lds cn do

lmost nything thy lik (s long sthe Supreme Court contains a sufcientnumb of pty llis.) as fo molpincipls, why not just “hook up” withnybody fo s long s you fl lik itnd hv s mny bbis s you wnt?Wht’s wong with tht?

It is hdly nws tht Wstncultu is pidly mbcing sculmtilism, cultu in which g-old tuths bnishd s bigotynd chos nd ncissism bound.Th mdi nd th schools lglysponsibl. Th mssg tht stmsinto ou homs fom cbls, stllits,ntnns, nd cll phons dcls th joy of doing wht fls good, nvgowing up, owning s much s possibl,nd dcling th pst ilvnt. Inschools t ll lvls politicl coctnss,incsingly nfocd by th fdlgovnmnt, pchs “inclusivnss”

nd “divsity.” Ths cod wods

fo lftist dogms tht sk to fost socity bsd on colo nd sx, nd thtwould bnish supntulism, dstoyth tditionl fmily, dismiss vnblmol stndds, nd st up whollyindulgnt wlf stt.

In n incsing intllctul nd molvcuum, how dos on know nythingfo ctin? How cn on ln, sy,histoy whn th histoins thmslvs ovwhlmingly committd to singlidology? (Thus th n unnimouscondmntion of Gog W. Bush by“psidntil schols” nd thi pssiontpis of Obm.) Cn on vn tusttditionl fcts nd dts nymo?

Which bings m to Wikipdi,pobbly th most widly d soucof infomtion in th wold. eli thisy, th wb sit climd to b ttctingnly 68 million visitos ch month,nd it bostd of hving 12,460,561

gistd uss. Wikipdi contins

mo thn 15 million ticls in mo

thn 270 lngugs, som 3 million inenglish. Typ in nm, n vnt, poduct, o n id nd you bowswill tk you th in split scond,oftn t th hd of list of sits.

But cn you bliv wht you’ding? Is Wikipdi libl? Cnw mk sns of lif nd solv oupoblms by consulting it?

Th wb-bsd Wikipdi ws ctdin 2001. Fom its incption, th nticoncpt sms, to this schol, ftllyawed. Wikipedia articles are writtenby unpid nd, mo oftn thn not,nonymous uthos. Wikipdi xplins,“The expertise of qualications of theus usully not considd.” and itbosts, “Wikipdi is wittn lgly bymtus. Thos with xpt cdntils givn no dditionl wight.”

Som footnots ncougd,

spcilly if thy f to nything in

Features

W ik iped ia / B 4

w w w . e r i k a e a r l . f l e s . w o r d p r e s s . c o m

W ild an d w a ck y W ik ip ed iaIf you put a dozen monkeys in a room with a dozen typewriters, which would they eventually tap out—Hamlet or Wikipedia?

Dear finds,I am pying fo God’s blssing

on ll who tking pt in thFouth Wold Confnc onWomn in Bijing. I hop tht thisConfnc will hlp vyonto know, lov, nd spct thspcil plc of womn in God’splan so that they may fulll thispln in thi livs.

I do not undstnd why sompopl sying tht womnnd mn xctly th sm,nd dnying th butiful

diffncs btwn mn ndwomn. all God’s gifts good,but thy not ll th sm.as I oftn sy to popl whotll m tht thy would lik tosv th poo s I do, “Wht Icn do, you cnnot. Wht youcn do, I cnnot. But togthw cn do somthing butifulfo God.” It is just this wy withth diffncs btwn womnnd mn.

God hs ctd ch on of us,vy humn bing, fo gtthings—to lov nd to b lovd.But why did God mk somof us mn nd oths womn?Bcus womn’s lov is onimg of th lov of God, nd mn’s lov is noth img ofGod’s lov. Both ctd tolov, but ch in diffnt wy.Womn nd mn complt choth, nd togth show fothGod’s lov mo fully thn ithcn do it lon.

Tht spcil pow of lovingtht blongs to womn is snmost clly whn sh bcoms moth. Mothhood is thgift of God to womn. How

gtful w must b to God fothis wondful gift tht bingssuch joy to th whol wold,womn nd mn lik! Yt w cndstoy this gift of mothhood,spcilly by th vil of botion,but lso b thinking tht oththings lik jobs o positions mo impotnt thn loving,thn giving onslf to oths.No job, no plns, no possssions,no id of “fdom” cn tkth plc of lov. So nythingtht dstoys God’s gift of

mothhood dstoys His mostpcious gift to womn—thbility to lov s womn.

God told us, “Lov youneighbor as yourself.” So rstI m to lov myslf ightly,nd thn to lov my nighbolik tht. But how cn I lovmyslf unlss I ccpt myslf sGod hs md m? Thos whodny th butiful diffncsbtwn mn nd womn not ccpting thmslvs s Godhs md thm, nd so cnnotlov th nighbo. Thy will onlybing division, unhppinss, nddstuction of pc to th wold.Fo xmpl, s I hv oftn sid,botion is th gtst dstoyof pc in th wold tody, ndthos who wnt to mk womnnd mn th sm ll in fvoof botion.

Instd of dth nd soow,lt us bing pc nd joy to thwold. To do this, w must bgGod fo His gift of pc nd lnto lov nd ccpt ch oth sboths nd sists, childn ofGod. W know tht th bst plcfo childn to ln how to lov

nd to py is in th fmily, bysing th lov nd py ofthi moth nd fth. Whnfmilis bokn o disunitd,mny childn gow up notknowing how to lov nd py.a county wh mny fmilishv bn dstoyd lik thiswill hv mny poblms. I hvoftn sn, spcilly in th ichcountis, how childn tun todugs o oth things to scpfling unlovd nd jctd.

But whn fmilis stong

nd unitd, childn cn sGod’s spcil lov in th lov ofthi fth nd moth nd cngow to mk thi county loving nd pyful plc. Thchild is God’s bst gift to thfmily nd nds both mothnd fth bcus ch onshows God’s lov in spcilwy. Th fmily tht pystogth stys togth, nd ifthy sty togth thy will lovon noth s God hs lovdch on of thm. and woks oflov lwys woks of pc.

So lt us kp th joy of lovingin ou hts nd sh this joywith ll w mt. My pyfo ll of th dlgts, nd fovy womn whom th BijingConfnc is tying to hlp, istht ch on my b humbl ndpu lik My so s to liv in lovnd pc with on noth ndmk ou fmilis nd ou woldsomthing butiful fo God.

Lt us py.all fo th gloy of God nd

good of souls.God blss you.

MOTHer TereSa, MC

Mother Teresa’s message to the Fourth World Conference on Women held in

Beijing in September 1995(On the occasion of the rst centenary of the birth of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, celebrated on August 26, 2010, we are reprintingher message to the United Nation’s sponsored conference—Eds)




CBCP Monitor

of Pists. rgisttion fo th3-dy Fist Ntionl MinCongss is opn to ll MinDvots nd finds of OuLdy, t which thy mostwlcom.

F om Spt m b 9 -11 ,2010, nownd wit ndMiologist, reV. Fr. (DOCTOr)MaNFreD HaUKe will b thftud spk fo th 3-DaYFIrST NaTIONaL MarIaN

PraYer CONGreSS, t thCmlit Monsty Chpl. D

Features

Celebrating the centennial of LipaBy Archbishop Ramon Arguelles

THIS y 2010, th achdiocsof Lip, coving th whol

povinc of Btngs, clbtsits Cntnnil s locl chuch,hving bn ctd on apil10, 1910 by Pop St. Pius X. Inclbtion of this Holy Y,Pop Bndict XVI ssignd 21Chuchs of th achdiocss pivilgd Jubil Chuchs,wh th fithful my gin Plny Indulgnc, pplicblto th holy souls, ch tim onnts ny of th 21 Chuchs,prays, and fullls the prescribedconditions.

Th Jubil Y of thachdiocs sttd withth Mss of His eminnc,Gudncio Cdinl rosls onapil 10, 2010. In its opningmonth, Lip ws th vnu of th

succssful Philippin apostolicCongss of Mcy (PaCOM). Inits concluding month, apil 2011,th chdiocs will host th Lipachdiocsn apostolic Congsson Mcy (LaaCOM).

Th month of august, 2010clbtd THe FeSTIVaL OFBATANGUEŇO PRIESTS ANDreLIGIOUS nd ws ddictdto Intns Voction animtion.Th fstivl ws lunchd by thPpl Nuncio in conclbtdMss on august 2.

evy Sptmb is xcptionlgc fo ll visitos of thchdiocs. On Sptmb 12,1948, it is blivd tht Ou LdyMditix of all Gc ppdfor the rst time to a Carmelitepostulnt. This ws followd

by fiftn mo ppitions.as in Louds, Ftim nd in

ll uthntic ppitions of thVigin My, h min qustis fo py, most of ll, thHoly rosy. In 1950, Bishopalfdo Vsoz clld fo dy of Py fo Pc ndSnctifiction of th Clgy.Blivs fom ovss ndmny pts of th Philippins,dspit th 1951 bn, hddMm My’s cll nd mdLip pilgimg dstintion.

Fom 2004, vy Sptmb 12hs bcom th Ntionl Dy

of Py fo Pc nd fo thSanctication of Priests.

also this Sptmb, 2010,Lip will b th vnu fo th3-DaY FIrST NaTIONaLMarIaN PraYer CONGreSS.It will stt on th bithdy ofth Blssd Moth, Sptmb8, with th 5 p.m. Mss t thSn Sbstin Cthdl. ThCongss will nd on Sptmb12, 2010 with th Svnth

Ntionl Dy of Py foPeace and for the Sanctication

w w w . w a f u s a . o r g

Huk, Psidnt of th GmnMiologicl Socity, wot thbook “MeDIaTreSS OF aLLGraCe”.

as in th pst six ys,th Svnth Ntionl Dy ofPy fo Pc nd fo thSnctifiction of Pists, willstt nd will ffctivly mgwith th closing momnts of th3-dy Fist Ntionl MarIaNPy Congss. Both will com

togth, in intns py.a whol night vigil on

Sptmb 11, 2010 will bhld t th Lip Cthdl tob fcilittd by F. edgdoallno of eWTN nd thOblts of th Two Hts. at4:00 o’clock in th ly moning

of Sptmb 12, 2010, th willb th pocssion of th MostHoly Scmnt nd th Imgof Ou Ldy Mditix of allGc fom th Cthdl toth poposd nw Pish of thMditix, wh th euchistwill b psidd by achbishoprmon agulls.

Sptmb bing th Jubilmonth fo th Lity, wholdy pogm of ly poplsharing their Marian reectionsis cuntly bing ognizdfo Sptmb 12. a pocssionof th Most Blssd Scmntnd th Mditix fom thpoposd Pish bck to Cmlwill pp fo n ftnooneuchist to b psidd byricdo Cdinl Vidl tCml. Th pch will bF. Mnfd HaUKe.

all lovs of Mm My,pis ts , nuns , Miologys t u d n t s , m d i , l yogniztions, invitd nd wlcom to pticipt inths ctivitis nd to shin th cntnnil gcs of thachdiocs of Lip.

Fo inquiis, pls contctth following: SeCreTarIaT—S b s y P l n c , M m i amnt, Col Bions 4034534,09175966031, 09162631354;

eMaIL: [email protected] o m ; r e G I S T r a T I O N — Joclyn Misns 09266499454 joc ly npm is ns @y hoo.com; TraNSPOrTaTION—

Pnut Pmintun 5330266,09175423391.

By Teresa Tunay

IN tody’s vy copol wold domintdwith tchnology-ldn visuls coms “Th

13th Day,” a lm by Ian and Dominic Higginsbsd on th mmois of Luci Sntos, onof th th childn in Potugl chosn byth Blssd My to off mssg of hopto th wold.

“Th 13th Dy” dmtizs th tustoy of th young shphds, Luci, Jcint nd Fncisco who xpincd sixintctiv ppitions with “Ldy fomHvn” btwn My nd Octob 1917,which culminated into the nal prophesizedmicl. Th stylisticlly butiful ndtchniclly innovtiv -ction of thscns in th movi futh nhncdwith tody’s digitl scns tht cptu thstunning images of the visions and the nalmicl tht hv nv bfo bn fullylizd on scn.

In commmotion of th Blssd ViginMy’s bithdy nd to continuouslypopgt th Min mssg, th assisi

Dvlopmnt Foundtion bings “Th 13thDy” in cinms on Sptmb 8. Bingingfoth mssg of hop, th movi’s ls

in thts is undtkn togth with thMin Solidity fo Pop Bndict XVIfor the benet of HAPAG-ASA, a feedingpogm of Pondo ng Pinoy CommunityFoundtion co-mngd by assisi Foundtion

in ptnship with diocss, pishs ndlocl ogniztions. HaPaG-aSa ws thusconcivd s chuch nd scto spons toth county’s high-pvlnc of mlnutitionmong childn who blong to th poostof th poo.

anchoing on cl nd lity-bsdtionl tht mlnutition ffcts bout8 million Filipino childn, Pondo ngPinoy’s HaPaG-aSa Fding Pogm hsoviddn th chllngs ginst commonpcption tht fdings shot-tmsolutions. HaPaG-aSa’S pogm hsldy fd mo thn 500,000 poo ndhungry children in the last ve years. Thepogm ims to continuously llvit thincidnc of hung considd by PopBndict XVI to b “th most cul ndconct sign of povty.”

In kping with its ltuistic mission tofd t lst 120,000 mlnouishd childn

ch y, HaPaG-aSa invits th movigoing public – young nd old, sctin ndnon-sctin lik to wtch “Th 13th Dy”

fo it only tks P10 dy o P1,200 fo 6months to fd hungy child nd hlp himimpov his futu.

Chnnling nttinmnt to sustinPondo ng Pinoy nd assisi Foundtion’smission, pocds of th movi will godictly to HaPaG-aSa. Futh chingout to bod udincs’ pticiption inHaPaG-aSa’S mission to fd th (hungynd mlnouishd) Filipino childn—“Th13th Dy” tickt pics in ayl cinms pggd t P75.00 fo block scnings nd tP100.00 fo wlk-in ptons.

Fo dvncd onlin tickt puchs, chckout ayl’s www.susts.com. Intsts fogoup nd block scnings my cll 632-1003o snd mil to [email protected]

Witnss th gtst micl of th 20thCntuy, nd xpinc th incdibl,motionlly-chgd nd oftn howingwold of th young childn whos choicto min loyl to thi blifs, vn in thfc of dth, would inspi thousnds.

“Th 13th Dy” will opn Sptmb8 t Gnblt 3, Gloitt 4, TiNom,

Mkt!Mkt!, albng Town Cnt nd(conscutivly) in ayl Cnt Cbu nd inMqumll t angls Pmpng.

‘The 13th Day’ Movie’s Messageof hope: proceeds to feed hungry

Filipino Children

W ik iped ia / B 3

San Sebastian Cathedral, Lipa City / Contibuted Photo

bn chngd in mningful wys.Moov, how do w know tht thWikipdi ditos, whov thy , themselves qualied and objective?

Moov, Wikipdi publicly wnsds tht mny of its ticls untustwothy! “In pticul, oldticls tnd to b mo comphnsivnd blncd, whil nw ticlsmo fquntly contin significntmisinfomtion, unncyclopdic [sic]contnt, o vndlism. Uss nd to bw of this to obtin vlid infomtionnd void misinfomtion tht hs bncntly ddd nd not yt movd.”

Ofcials believe that since Wikipedia

contnt is ongoing, in tim th willb sufficint pogss to mk llticls ccut nd objctiv. Thisis mdnss, vling n stonishinginnocnc bout humn ntu ndscholly vidnc. (Jimmy Wls hsa background in nance.) It’s close toth vnbl thoy tht if noughmonkys hit typwit kys longnough, thy will poduc Mcbth. afw ticls, Wikipdi infoms us, cnno long b ltd. “Ftud aticls”disply smll st in th upp ightcon. a scond ti dsigntd“Good aticls.” editos ct ths

distinctions, which contdict th bsic

pmis of Wikipdi. Moov, thpocss of slction “cn tk monthso ys to b chivd.” an ticl onHilly Clinton, contining n obout h duction, ws ditd mothn 4,800 tims ov 20 months bfo tlvision nws chnnl xposd tho nd it ws movd.

Fusttd uthos hv th ightto ppl lttions, but imginhow long tht pocss tks. “evydy,” Wikipdi tlls us, “hunddsof thousnds of visitos fom oundth wold collctivly mk tns ofthousnds of dits nd ct thousnds

of nw ticls...”

I hv hd psonl xpinc withthis potl of knowldg nd wisdom.I’v md coctions on svl topicsI know well, only to nd that they havelt disppd. I onc tid to dd book title of mine to a rather signicantfootnot, nd it too vnishd. as fvo tofriends, I’m about to submit ve articles onpopl nd ctivitis I hv schd tlngth. Will thy b ditd o vndlizdby unqualied people? Why not?

This minds m of simil policydisplyd on amzon.com. To viwa lm or a book, you need only over13 ys old. Tht’s it. I onc hd

n nonymous “studnt” ttck my

biogphy of Snto Jo McCthy. Ihd ssignd th th lg volum to clss not long bfo nd suspct thtth ding quimnt ws bhind thngtiv commnty. It ws suly nota product of a scholar in the eld. Butwho knows? and who cs?

(Thomas C. Reeves writes from Wisconsin. Among his dozen books are TwentiethCentury America: A Brief History, andbiographies of John F. Kennedy, Joseph R. McCarthy, Fulton Sheen, Walter J. Kohler, Jr. and Chester A. Arthur. This article is published under special arrangement with

MercatorNet)




CBCP Monitor

Statements

ecumnical Bishops Forum Unity Statmnt

THe wods of th popht amos vbtsin th minds of th chuch popl s wreect upon the current unpeace situationin th county. Onc gin, w itttht gnuin nd lsting pc cn only bchivd though justic.

Th nw govnmnt und PNoy pointsto couption s th Philippin mldy.But w bliv tht th ntionl poblmis mo thn just th issu of couption,which is just symptom of th l poblm.W bliv tht wht w lly lck isgnuin dmoccy—both in conomy ndpolitics. Th lck of dmoccy in conomyis mnifstd by th subsvinc of thntion’s conomic policis to dmnds ofglobliztion, spcificlly of th wold-dominting US conomy. Thus, wht hsbn considd s conomic gowth didnot ctully tnslt to jobs nd wlf foth popl. rth, it ws chctizd by widning dispity btwn th glinglyfw ich nd th numblss poo – th ichbcm ich nd th poo w buidfuth in dbt nd povty. S ttistics showtht th nnul nt woth of th top 20 ichstFilipinos is quivlnt to th combindnnul nt woth of th mo thn 52 millionFilipinos.

Th psnt lction systm hs bnqutd with dmoccy itslf. But thlction pocss is just going thoughth motions of voting—wh vn thchoic of lds is ldy limitd to thosholding conomic pow. Ou histoiclxpinc shows tht howv ptdly

w undwnt lctions, th bsic situtionof ou popl nv chngd bcus thoselected to ofce carry their vested interests

instd of thi constitunts. a clssicxmpl is th 30-y gin fompogm tht justifid -concnttionof lnds to th lndlods instd of justlydistibuting ths to th tills. Th pogmsw svl fcs in th psidntil st. anduntil now, s w tun to noth ‘aquino’dministtion, th issu of th HcindLuisita is still ooded with blood.

In Mindanao, we specically see the furthermginliztion of th Indignous Poplsnd Bngsmoo communitis. Th poplcying fo thi ncstl domins nd thivy ight to slf-dtmintion unhdd.‘Dvlopmnt’ pojcts—mining options,plnttions, logging concssions—wintoducd into Mindno’s ich lnds.and mo thn th stuggl of th ightfulowns ginst ths ggssos, thy hvto ght among themselves for what meagersoucs lft.

In plll tnd, s th stt of thntion wosnd, md goups sking fonw foms of govnmnt gw in numb.Despite the pacication of the Moro NationalLibtion Font nd Codill Popl’sLibtion amy, gunfights continubtwn th govnmnt mility focsnd th Moo Islmic Libtion Font ndth Nw Popls’ amy. Th govnmnttlitd with th US-inspid OplnBnty Ly I & II which only sultd tothousnds of xt-judicil killings ndhundds of nfocd disppncs, thvictims, ctivists, chuch nd mdi popllglly potsting.

and now, this sitution is futhxcbtd s th nw govnmntsmingly continus militistic ppoch to

solving ths md hostilitis by nnouncingon Mondy, august 16, 2010, to continu thOpln Bnty Ly s ntionl intnlscuity policy. Instd of ddssing thoot cuss of ths bllions, gun powd isaddressed with more re. PNoy’s statementin his Stt of th Ntion addss sking foconct dmnds instd of citiqus fomth CPP-NPa-NDFP is ctully illogicl.Bcus should h go bck to th ngotitiontbls which hd bn stlld duing thhight of xtjudicil killings und thaoyo govnmnt, h would ln tht thpc pocss btwn th GrP nd th NDFPis ldy on its wy to th scond substntivgnd: th Comphnsiv agmnt onSocio-economic rfoms.

and thn h coupld this sttmnt witha hope for a ceasere before negotiationscould sum—gin, vn s Opln BntyLaya continues operating in the eld. Webliv this is inconsistnt with th HguDcltion tht imposs no pconditions totlks. Und ll ths cicumstncs, pcsms mo lusiv—vn illusoy.

W thfo cll th GrP nd th NDFP togo bck to th ngotition tbl nd sumlong stlld pc tlks immditly nddiscuss nd g on msus to ddssthe root cause of the armed conict.

W chllng both ptis: 1. To mnifst tht th pc pocss is on

top of thi pioity.2. Fo missis fom th ptis to

tlk vn outsid th foml confncs if

ngotiting pnls not yt dy.3. To constitut immditly thi

©

N o l i Y a m s u a n / R C A M

North Western Mindanao, Study-Workshop on Peace August 18-20, 2010 Gardenia Guest House, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro

“...let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:24 (NIV)

A communiqué published July 13, 2010 by the Vatican press ofce on thetheme of the 44th World Day of Peace, which is observed every Jan. 1.

R u r a l M is s io n a r ie so f t h e P h ilipp in es

26th National Assembly

August 12 to 16, 2010Rivier Retreat House, Davao City

Uni t y S t a t e m e n t

We, 80 womn nd mn, pists, ligious nd ly mmbs ofth rul Missionis of th Philippins, togth with gusts,coming fom Luzon, Visys nd Mindno pticiptd inth 26th Ntionl assmbly of th rul Missionis of thPhilippins (rMP) nd to clbt th 41st nnivsy ofrMP’s founding. Th vnt took plc fom august 12–15,2010 t rivi rtt Hous, Ctlunn Gnd, Dvo, withth thm “Pigtingin ng gwing rMP tungo s pgtugons mg hining ng mg dukh s knyunn”.

Mindno ws chosn s th sit fo th assmbly s it is htht xploittion of psnts nd humn ights violtions in thfom of killings, bombings nd disppncs pticullympnt. W s rMP whos distinctiv chct s ntionlchuch ogniztion is to wok with th ul poo fo lnd, justic, fdom nd intgity of ction, consid it ppopitto hold ou assmbly in Mindno s sign of solidity withthos who sh ou sm vision nd to continu to liv prophetic life in the midst of immense difculties.

It is cl ft th shing fom ch of th rMP gions,fom listning to th nlysis of th globl nd ntionlsitutions, cunts of th chuch, nd s wll s psonltstimonis of humn ights victims, tht th commonpoblms ntionwid which continu to kp th ul poo(small farmers, agricultural workers, sher folk and indigenouspopl) in bondg.

Th most bsic of ths is lndlssnss. Lnd is still notdistibutd to th till, s th is no gnuin gin fomnd no bsic svics to th fms. Lnd is still monopolizd bylndlods nd copotions, s sn with th ction of Spcileconomic Zons, opn-pit mining, logging, plnttions fobiofuls nd xpot cops. as such, lnd is bing convtd, ndth ffct is th dstuction of ou cology, th displcmnt offarmers, sher folk and indigenous peoples, and the worsening

of food scuity.W s clly how th amd Focs of th Philippins,long with th pmility nd pivt mis bing usd topotct th intst of th lndlods nd copotions sultingto n v incsing numb of humn ights violtions.Und Opln Bnty Ly, thos who dfnd th lgitimtintsts of th ul poo bndd s nmis of th sttnd bcom mility tgts, whn thy only hv thi voicss thi wpons. Und Opln Bnty Ly, civilins bcom‘colltl dmg’ s thy bcom victims to militiztion.This systmtic disgd of humn ights institutionlizdthough Opln Bnty Ly und th guis of “wiping outinsugncy” only xcbts th povty of th popl, cting cultu of f.

Futhmo, th continuing psnc of US toops in thPhilippins und th VFa lds to incsd violtions ofhumn ights s w hv xpincd with Bliktn xcissand now through the details of the horric death of GreganCdño who ws killd in th cmp of th 103d InfntyBigd in Cmp rno in Mwi whil svicing th UStoops bsd th. Tht ths US toops not subjct to

Philippin Lw nd tht thi bcks not ccssibl vnto Philippine government ofcials undermines our desire forntionl sovignty.

President Benigno Aquino III took ofce with a motto of“ddlhin tyo ptungo s dng mtuwid” (mking th wystight). This Biblicl llusion to Isih 40:3 must b sn inth contxt of Isih’s mssg of justic nd libtion. W s body unitd in sking Psidnt aquino to tk siouslyhis motto. Pticully w cll on him to:

) Show his suppot fo th socil justic componntundlying lnd fom nd nsu tht lnd distibutionis pmount nd not llow ltntivs such s th stockdistibution option. W pticully cll on him to xpssthis pincipl in ltion to Hcind Luisit; w lso cllon him to nct lw cying gnuin gin fom foth tills;

b) abolish Opln Bnty Ly nd nsu tht no similpogm of th md focs plcs this. as Commnd inChif w cll on him to ld th my to potct th poplnd not th intsts of big businss;

c) Push fo th sumption of pc tlks in pusuit of

just nd lsting pc to ddss th oots of th mdconflict.

d) Poscut Gloi Mcpgl-aoyo fo h ccountbilityto th xtjudicil killings nd oth cims committd byth stt gnts ginst th fms nd ginst th Filipinopopl in gnl;

) Scp th Visiting Focs agmnt nd nsu thwithdwl of ll foign toops fom Philippin titoy touphold ntionl sovignty;

f) Scp th Mining act of 1995 (ra 7942), nd oth lwsnd cts tht sult to th plund of th nvionmnt;

g) ensu justic fo humn ights victims nd thi fmilis,in pticul fo th fmily of Ggn Cdño whos cssuggsts lying nd dcit on th pt of th PNP, aFP nd UScommnds in conspicy to cov up th tuth;

h) F ll politicl pisons, including th Moong 43, who implmnting th community bsd hlth pogm, pogm to which rMP gv “bith” to in th 1970’s

W sh th nguish of th stuggling poo psnts. Intims of ou doubts nd hlplssnss in holding to ou pophticrole, we nd the courage of the poor peasants to go beyondwht is fsibl nd thi continuous invittion to us to jointhm in thi dily lif nd stuggl inspis us to dpn oucommitmnt.

as w mov towds 2011, w ppoching th 20thnnivsy of PCP II. W s chuch popl clld to immsouslvs with th ul poo, to know th l cuss of povtyby nlyzing thm though th ys of thos poo who hvbn wknd to thi dignity nd ights s childn of God,nd thn ct in solidity with thm, including mking chuchsoucs vilbl to futh thi upliftmnt fom bondgnd povty. W w ncougd by th pticiption of somny chuch popl in th scond Ntionl rul Congss,vn though w disppointd tht in mny css thisltionship btwn chuch popl nd th ul poo hsnot bn sustind no solutions implmntd. It is ouxpinc s rul Missionis tht this is th only wy tobcom “chuch of th poo”. Th tim is ip. W chllngll Chuch popl to join us in th jouny.

Signed by the 80 delegates of the 26th Rural Missionaries of the

Philippines’ National Assembly, this 15th day of August, 2010 atthe Rivier Retreat House, Davao City.

“reLIGIOUS fdom, th pth

to pc.” This is th thmchosn by Pop Bndict XVI foth clbtion of th 2011 WoldDy of Pc. Th Wold Dy ofPc—clbtd sinc 1968 onthe rst day of every year—willb thfo ddictd to ththm of ligious fdom. as iswll known, in mny pts of thwold th xist vious foms ofstictions o dnils of ligiousfdom, fom discimintionnd mginliztion bsd onligion, to cts of violncginst ligious minoitis.

rligious fdom is ootd inth qul nd inhnt dignityof mn, it is ointd towd thsch fo “unchngbl tuth,”nd thus cn ightly b psntds th “fdom of fdoms.”as such, ligious fdom isuthnticlly lizd whn itis xpincd s th cohntsch fo th Tuth nd th tuthof mn.

This notion of ligious fdomoffs us fundmntl citionfo discning th phnomnonof ligion nd its mnifsttions.It ncssily jcts th“ligiosity” of fundmntlism,nd th mnipultion nd thinstumntliztion of th tuthnd of th tuth of mn. Sincsuch distotions opposdto th dignity of mn ndto th sch fo tuth, thycnnot b considd s ligiousfdom. rth, n uthntic

notion of ligious fdom

offs pofound vision ofthis fundmntl humnight, on which bodns thhoizons of “humnity” nd“fdom” of mn, llowingfo th stblishmnt of dpltionship with onslf, withth oth nd with th wold.rligious fdom is fdomin this spct fo humn dignitynd lif.

as th Fths of th ScondVticn Council mphsizd:“Mn hs bn md by Godto pticipt in this lw, withth sult tht, und th gntldisposition of divin povidnc,h cn com to pciv vmo fully th tuth tht isunchnging. Whfo vymn hs th duty, nd thfoth ight, to sk th tuth inmtts ligious in od thth my with pudnc fom fohimslf ight nd tu judgmntsof conscinc, und us of llsuitbl mns” (Dcltion“Dignittis Humn,” 3). Thvoction to bliv in God,cognizd s fundmntlhumn ight, is p-quisitintgl humn dvlopmnt(Cits in Vitt, 29), nd condition fo th liztion of thcommon good nd th pomotionof pc in th wold.

As Pope Benedict XVI afrmedduing his visit to th Gnlassmbly of th Unitd Ntions:

‘Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace’

Ecumen ica l B ishops / B7

Re li g i ous Fr eedom / B 7




CBCP Monitor

Ref lections

“SO Kl, how you covingfom you intns wknd withth spcil options ov t thBlck S?” Th qustion nly jolted the rst year student outof his st.

“Ho…, how… how did youknow, Fth?” h totd.“Tht ws supposd to b ….”

“… sct?” I smild. “Thsdys, with FcBook ound,th isn’t lly ny oom fosecrets. And denitely not anoption you nd you findshv gly bn pping fovn bfo summ bk.”

“But who…?” He was denitelynot hppy to ln how wodgot ound. “W gd not totll nyon tht w would bout th nti wknd fo thisspcil ops!”

“Com on, Kl, it’s only vido gm!”

“I know, Fth. But sctis sct!”

* * *

It my sound stng how thyoung ths dys cn siouslytk vido gms. In lity,

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

‘It’s only a game!’

howv, th mks of tody’svido gms th ons tkingsiously ths “vitul toys”.Thy wnt to mk su thtgms will gt “hookd” ndcom bck sking fo mo.

People in the eld of “interactivets nd scincs” –s it is mosophistictdly known, hvbn quit succssful in thiffots. In 2007 lon, sttisticsvld tht tng boys inth U.S. “sco” n vg of18 hous wk (gils only ch8 p wk). How did gmcompnis ccomplish this?

It would hv bn obvioustht wll dsignd gms (i..mo listic gphics, pcishistoicl sttings, nd wllcontxtulizd music) wouldttct plys mo. Howv,in cnt Gm DvlopsConfnc in Sn FnciscoSid Mi, wll known gmdvlop nd th scond psonto b includd into th acdmy

of Intctiv ats nd Scincs’Hll of Fm, vld thsupising ky to mk plys

cv fo his gms: to boosthis go.

Mtt Bowmn, flncpot on tchnology nws,ttndd this confnc ndconcludd tht dvlops

incs ply’s dsi to plyby “tting thm s gomnics”.How is this don thoughoutth gm? Bowmn mks thfollowing obsvtions which Ihv summizd:

) Winn pdox o mkthm fl good – mk thchncs of winning “bnomllyhigh.”

b) It’s cool to wd thnto punish – dsigns ty tovoid punishing bd bhvio,this mns lwys giving nincntiv o wd t vy tunof th gm; nd tht thy lwyshv chnc t “plying”wh thy hv lost;

c) Lvl Up On – Guys justlov chllng: gm lvls incsd , sinc dsiing to

go to high lvl ncougs“plybility” o th sns ofbing bl to ply btt t ch

Bishop Pat Alo

Lost sheep, lost coin, lost son...found people

IF only w lizd how impotnt it is to b on th sidof tuth w would not b so hsty in ou sttmnts onsws. W ought to b conscious of wht th tuth llyis o mns. Fist it is idnticl with complt lity bingspokn of o dscibd. So in couts of justic wh thyqui fom you th tuth, thy will sk: Do you pomis totll th whol tuth, nd nothing but th tuth without nymntl svtions o pupos of vsion? So it is sid liis hlf-tuth, tht is, pt only of th tuth. So lt’s bwof voicing out inccut sttmnts, just bcus of huyo w wnt to pp lik hypociticl know-it-ll pson.Wht will you gt fom such ppncs whn thy onlyoth foms of dcption?

It’s ssntil to follow th wy of tuth bcus th vy

opposit is bing pt of th dvil’s tctics, how h hsttmptd to dciv humnity fom th vy bginning, ndbing s mny s possibl to th undwold of tnl hll. St.Ts of avil, Cmlit nd gt tch in th Chuchshowd how much sh fvod tuthfulnss in ou tlks osttmnts. H quotd mxim is quit povbil. Sh sid:“Never afrm anything unless you are sure it is true.” Thatwill b impotnt dvic fo mdi popl who hd byth mny who tun in to thi dio o TV sts.

Why did Jsus undgo such tomnts of th Coss fo lovof us? Because if one were to be condemned to the res ofhll, thy n tnity of pin. I liz why St. Fustinwho ws pivilgd with vision of hll (s pgph 741 ofh diy), ndd with py: “Consquntly, I py vnmo fvntly fo sinns. I incssntly pld God’s mcyupon thm. O my Jsus, I would th b in gony until thnd of th wold, midst th gtst suffings, thn offndYou by th lst sin.” This shows why th Chuch plcsgt vlu on humbl suffing, s Jsus svd us by Hissuffings on th Coss. Th Coss hs bcom th sign ofou dmption (cf. Col. 1:24 nd th ncyclicl of Pop John

Paul II – Salvici Doloris).In Jn. 8:44, Jsus dscibs th dvil s mud nd th

fth of lis.Th lst book of th Bibl tlks bout th kind of popl

who will b wlcomd into th gts of hvn. “Th pgnntions will liv by its light nd th kings of th th willbing it thi tsus. Th gts of it will nv b shut bydy – nd th will b no night th nd th ntions willcom binging thi tsus nd thi wlth. Nothinguncln my com into it: no on who dos wht is lothsomo fls, but only thos who listd in th Lmb’s book oflif” (rv. 21:24-27).

Doing wht is lothsom o fls points to lif tht is notin ccod with God’s ulings of puity, ightousnss ndtuth bcus God is tuth nd justic p xcllnc. Yt inhis innite mercy He invites and calls us back to His fold in lif of chng nd convsion towds ou tnl dstinyin hvn. Th livs of sints tstify how thi mny tilscontibutd towds thi scnt to th hights of snctity.“W know tht by tuning vything to thi good Godcoopts with ll thos who lov him, with ll thos h hsclld ccoding to his pupos” (rom. 8:28).

By Fr. Joseph Pellegrino

TODaY’S dings psnt shphd

rejoicing over nding a lost sheep, ahousewife rejoicing over nding a lostcoin, nd fth joicing ov thtun of his lost son. Th th pbls in nsw to th Phiss nd scibscomplints bout Jsus. Thy sid thtH cn’t b th Mssih bcus Hwlcoms sinns nd ts with thm.eting with somon, fo th ncintss wll s fo us, is wy of xpssingfindship nd lov. Jsus dos notgu tht H is ting with sinns.His gumnt is tht H hs clldthm to God, nd thy hv com. His finds with thm. H lovs thm. His full of joy tht thy hv com homto th Fth.

Jsus is tlling us tht w should bhppy tht oths hv bn fogivn.H is lso tlling us tht w should joinin th joy of th Lod bcus w hvbn fogivn.

Unlik th Phiss nd scibswho sw thmslvs s holy nd whoconsidd vydy popl s thhod of sinns, th vst mjoityof us wll w of ou filus.Somtims w think bout somthingtht w hv don nd fl dvsttd.Ths thoughts bsig us: Howcould God fogiv m? Myb I don’tvn blong h, with popl whoscommitmnt to th Lod hs bnf mo solid thn min. Phps ttims w hv n xpinc of God’slov in ou livs nd thn suff fomou pst vn mo. This is ll lly noml ction to ou commitmnt toth Lod. Th clos w com to Him,th mo w w of th impctof th tims tht w did not choos

Him. Myb th poblm is tht w focusing on ouslvs th thn onGod. accoding to th th pbls,th Lod is dlightd tht w onc mo in His Compny. Lik th

Fogiving Fth, His focus is not onth pst. H dosn’t cy gudg.His focus is on ou psnt nd oupsnc with Him. Ou tun to Himis cus of his joy.

It tks tmndous mount ofhumility to cogniz tht God hsfogivn us. W hv bn stod toHis Lov. This is His doing. His Gc.W cnnot cus God’s gc to hppnin ou livs. W cnnot cus God’sfogivnss to tk plc. But H dosfogiv us. W nd to mmb thtGod is bigger than us, innitely bigger.And God is greater than us, innitelygt. So wht is it tht w hvdon tht w think is so bd tht Godwould not invit us to t with Him?Cn nything w hv don b byondGod’s compssion nd mcy? Th isnothing. Th is nothing H dos notfogiv whn w tk tht stp nd sy,“Fth fogiv m.” His only ctionis pu joy. But if w sty mid in th

pst, w will hv no psnt nd nofutu. Th Lod is clling us into ou joynd clling us to mov byond whtvis holding us bck. H fogivs us. Wnd to fogiv ouslvs.

Th Scibs nd Phiss did not smt ll plsd tht Jsus hd fogivnknown sinns. W lly hv to bcful tht w don’t bhv th smwy. Phps w com to Mss t timsnd s somon tht w know hsdon som lly bd stuff. Wht is ouction? accoding to th Gospl fotody, you ction nd my ctionshould b: I m hppy h o sh is h,choosing Chist. anoth’s pst is notmy concn. I nd to b hppy fohim o h. I m h to t with himo h. Sdly, I hv hd popl sy tom, “Fth, tht pson you w jokingwith hs lly don som hoibl

things.” Oh, so I should void him oh nd only spnd tim with th vybst of popl? Tht dos not sound likth instuction th Gospl fo tody ispsnting. Phps non of us my go

Hasty answers,hasty blunders

WHATEVER

ENCOUNTERS

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time; (Lk 15:1-32 or 15:1-10); September 12, 2010

to tht xtm, but phps th times that the thought comes ashingcoss ou minds: “Wht is tht lowlifdoing h?” Tht is tibl. Tht pson

is h fo th sm sons tht w h: compssion, fogivnss, ndlov. Th Lod hs compssion on usbcus H knows wht w hv donto ouslvs. and H hs compssion on

w w w . 1 . b p . b

l o g s p o t . c o m

I NOW hv six childn.On dy, I hd zo. Th nxt dy, I hv

six.No, I don’t hv six wivs tht gv bith

on th sm dy.Lst Jun 1996, I took in six ophns in

my littl bmboo hut in anwim. Vyingin gs, thy’ siblings whos pnts did fw ys bck.

Tking thm ws big mistk.I t with ths kids, pyd with thm,

plyd with thm, d thm bdtim stois,nd whnv I ivd hom, thy’d hngon to m lik I ws Chistms t.

When we’d nish dinner, I’d hear one ofthm sy, “Kuy Bo, mgbs k n tungkolky Jsus...”

I cll sitting on th bmboo floo, ndth two smllst kids scmbl fo my lp,nd th old ons stnding bsid ndbhind m. I’d d slowly, pointing to th

Give you r hea r t aw ay andfnd it whole

Bo Sanchez

SOULFOOD

pgs of kid’s pictu Bibl. a thousndqustions skd. Thy’d lugh, shthi simpl xpincs, nd somtims just listn quitly. In th mntim, thyoungst gil would ywn, st h hdon on of my ms, nd slp butifully.I’d look t h cuddld up on my lp, ndI’d tll myslf gin, “this is lly on bigmistk.”

On night, I cid. But thy w llyts of joy. I ws lizing tht my lif wsidiculously chnging, ight bfo my ys.Bcus whnv I lft thm to go bckto my ptmnt in Mnil, o pch indiffnt pts of th wold, I cnnot silncth psistnt ch within m. It thobs lik hiddn wound.

It just tks sight of pnt cying hischild. Or a toy left on the oor. Or a storeslling childn’s cloths. Immditly, myht tvls thousnd mils wy to my

givn chnc;d) Mol suspnsion – void

mking thm gt into moldilmm bout thi ctions.Mk thm fl thy’ lwysmking th ight dcisions.

) Suspnd disblif – thply nds to liv th chcth’s plying. This is somhow nunwittn gmnt btwnth dsigns nd th ply:“I mk mk-bliv wold,nd you g to bliv byplying it.”

“It’s only gm!” This iswht som pnts might binclind to sy bout thichildn’s gm mod sttings.Undoubtdly, th might b lot of oth ctivitis (i.. bdps, smoking, dugs, nd sx,etc.) that could inuence ourchildn ngtivly mo thnvido gms.

With vido gms, I’m not hfing to th highly citicizdons fo contining snslss

plot of simply killing whtvyou s on th od, s in th

bmboo hut in anwim. Wht my kidsdoing now?

I miss thm tibly.I miss thi nois, thi lught, thi

smlls.I miss holding tht tiny, slping gil in

my ms.I must dmit. My ht is no long

min. It hs bn bokn, nd its shttdpics now sid in tiny hts. Thydo not know th pow thy hv ovm. In thi utt hlplssnss, thy nowown m. I lov thm dply. I’v bcomthi pison. and I hop I’ll nv gtlsd.

But ioniclly, in this shttd conditionof my ht, I’v nv flt so whol. Soliv. So f.

Ys, it ws big mistk dopting thm.Pobbly on of th most butiful mistks

I’v v md in my lif.

tht pson whos psnc in Chuchshocks us. Th Lod fogivs us. ThLod fogivs him o h. Th Lodwnts us to liv in His Lov. Th Lod

wnts tht pson to liv in His lov.In th scond ding, fom Pul’s

Fist Ltt to Timothy, Pul mntionsn ly Chistin sying, “Chist cminto th wold to sv sinns. Of ths I

m th fomost. But fo tht vy sonI ws mcifully ttd, so tht in mChist might disply ll His Ptinc sn xmpl fo thos who would com

to bliv in Him.” Jsus cm into th wold to fogiv

sinns. and I m on of thm. and,with th xcption of th ngls mongus, so you.

W h a t e ve r / B 7




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CBCPMoni tor

Social Concerns

Ecumen ica l B ishops / B5

Re li g i ous Fr eedom / B 5

M is sion / B 1

W h a t ev e r / B 6

w w w . p r e d a . o r g

w w w . a

d b . o r g

cs of th Gnd Thft autosis; o with otic contnt inth cut-scns found in Msseffct, nd pu undulttdgo in Dnt’s Infno.

I’m mo concnd withth ttitud tht vido gmswill dvlop in th young.With Bowmn’s obsvtions,childn my b incpbl offcing l-lif chllngs. Foxmpl, thy cnnot ccpt“losing” in l situtions obing bl to djust to diffncsin th viws nd opinions ofthi ps. Thy cn tnd tob “contolling” of ny givnsitution, nd b sntful ifvnts “n’t plyd” th wythy wnt thm to b.

T h c s o f “ m o lsuspnsion” is somthing mosious. If gms don’t wnt to

“complict” plys in mkingmol dcisions, thn on couldvntully lso hv simil

ttitud in lif. This could plntdisupting sds tht unsthumn vitus (i.. fidlity,dilignc, honsty, puity, ndsincity, tc.) ncssy to nggdcisions indispnsbl fo moldcisions in th light of humnnd ligious commitmnts(.g. findship, mig, ndpofssionl thics).

If th gms ou childnply tody will not contibutto thi bing psonlly ndspiitully mtu in th futu,I don’t think w cn simplyput this typ of indulgnc sbing “only gm.” Thus,pnts nd ductos ought tob mo knowldgbl boutthi vitul ctivitis, nd hlpthi childn to positivly lnmodtion in th us of tim,soucs nd lso discov oth

ich humn nggmnts thtlif nd ltionships hv tooff.

Respect, affirmation, dignity, restore broken lives

ngotiting pnls nd schdul s soons possibl th sumption of tlks.

4. To dh to pviously signdgmnts such s th HguDcltion, JaSIG, th CarHrIHL,tc.

5. To mov fowd to th discussionof th scond substntiv gnd whichis th Comphnsiv agmnt onSocio-economic rfoms (CaSer).

6. To cknowldg tht th popl ssntil stkholds in th issu ofpc. and tht thy should cogniznd povid vnus fo thi ctivpticiption in th pc pocss.

Th popl hv high hops in th nwdministtion who dcld, “kyong boss ko”. W py tht PNoy willnot wst such hops. Lt us thfowok togth to pusu “justic ndonly justic…” (Dut 16:20, NaSB). Justic should lwys b t th ht ofou ffots in chiving sustinblpc – pc which is not th silncof gvs but pc which is th ightfulign of dmoccy.

Signd:

Bp. Dogcis Iñiquz, Co-chipson,

ecumnicl Bishops Foum, romnCtholic ChuchBp. elm M. Bolocon, eBF NtionlConvno, Unitd Chuch of Chist inth PhilippinsMsg. ry Monsnto, Vic Gnl,achCDO, romn Ctholic ChuchBp. Bt Clng, Iglsi FilipinIndpndintBp. rudy Julid, Iglsi FilipiniIndpndintBp. Dnny Dpitn, Iglsi FilipinIndpndintBp. Mlz Lbuntog, Unitd Chuch of

Chist in th PhilippinsS. Tssi a. Dlugdugn, FMDa, Sistsassn. in Mindno (Smin)S. Ccili L. Tuno, CM, Sists assn.in Mindno (Smin)F. Nthn Lio, Socil action Cnt(SaC) Dicto, achCDO, romnCtholic ChuchDist. Supintndnt Smul Domingo,Unitd Mthodist Chuch

rv. Jms Pocillo, Unitd MthodistChuchrv. Diosddo Mquz, Unitd Chuchof Chist in th Philippinsrv. ry aljndo Lzo, UnitdChuch of Chist in th Philippinsrv. Chistoph ablon, Iglsi FilipinIndpndintRev. Runiano Cabada, United Churchof Chist in th Philippinsrv. Bltn Pctng, CONCOrDrv. emm Ctubig, Iglsi FilipinIndpndintrv. Gson Sntuis, Unitd Chuchof Chist in th Philippinsrv. atuo Vldiz, Unitd Chuchof Chist in th Philippinsrv. Diosddo Mquz, Unitd Chuchof Chist in th PhilippinsF. rolndo abjo, Iglsi FilipinIndpndint

rv. Dnilo Tobis, Unitd Chuch ofChist in th Philippinsrv. Npolon Lumpgud, UnitdChuch of Chist in th Philippinsrv. antonio ablon, Iglsi FilipinIndpndintrv. Limbg Sniboy, Unitd Chuch ofChist in th PhilippinsOfl Cnto, ecumnicl BishopsFoum, Ntionl Sctitaldm Yñz, Iglsi FilipinIndpndint, Locl Sctitelpidio Pulmno, Inititivs fo Pcin Mindno (INPeaCe)

“Humn ights, of cous, must includth ight to ligious fdom, undstoods th xpssion of dimnsion tht is tonc individul nd communitin—vision tht bings out th unity of thpson whil clly distinguishingbtwn th dimnsion of th citiznnd tht of th bliv” (addss to thGnl assmbly of th Unitd Ntions,

18 apil 2008).Th thm chosn fo th 2011Wold Dy of Pc psnts nccomplishmnt of “pth to pc”which Bndict XVI hs invitd thhumn fmily to consid in dpthon svl occsions. Sinc 2006, hisMssg fo th Wold Dy of Pc hsfocusd on impotnt dimnsions of thtuth (In Tuth, Pc, 2006), th dignityof th humn pson (Th HumnPson, th Ht of Pc, 2007), thunity of th humn fmily (Th HumnFmily, Community of Pc, 2008), th

ght against poverty (Fighting Povertyto Build Peace, 2009), and nally care forction (If you Wnt to Cultivt Pc,Potct Ction, 2010). This jouny hsits oots in th voction of mn to tuth(cpx Di) nd, hving s “polst”humn dignity, lds to th fdom tosk th tuth.

Tody th mny s of th

wold in which foms of stictions ndlimittions to ligious fdom psist,both wh communitis of blivs minoity, nd wh communitisof blivs not minoity, ndwh mo sophistictd foms ofdiscimintion nd mginliztionxist, on th cultul lvl nd in thsphs of public civil nd politiclpticiption. “It is inconcivbl”—mkd Bndict XVI—”tht blivsshould hv to suppss pt ofthmslvs—thi fith—in od tob ctiv citizns. It should nv b

ncssy to dny God in od to njoyon’s ights. Th ights ssocitd withligion ll th mo in nd ofpotction if thy considd to clshwith pviling scul idology owith mjoity ligious positions of nxclusiv ntu” (addss to th UnitdNtions, cit.).

Mn cnnot b “fgmntd,” nd

sptd fom wht h blivs,bcus tht in which h blivs hsn impct on his lif nd on his pson.“rfusl to cogniz th contibutionto socity tht is ootd in th ligiousdimnsion nd in th qust fo thabsolut—by its ntu, xpssingcommunion btwn psons—wouldffctivly pivilg n individulisticppoch, nd would fgmnt thunity of th pson” (addss to thUnitd Ntions, cit.). It is fo this sontht: “rligious Fdom is th Pth toPc.”

By Fr. Shay Cullen

IT’S no sct tht guds, policnd bngy officils bt,bus, kick nd humilit Filipinoyouth whn pphndd ndlt whn witing til in jilsnd dtntion cnts. Thitstimonis nd thi mdiclxmintions whn lsdpov it. It hppns in th UKlso s th Obsv nwsppcntly xposd govnmntmnul tht tught guds howto bt, punch nd goug youthin pivtly un UK dtntioncnts.

In th Philippins nd mnydvloping countis th youthnd childn, bndondstt childn bitilystd nd hld in mdivldungon lik conditions withoutbds, toilts, shows, dining

fcilitis, xcis, sunshin,nttinmnt, ction oduction fo months on nd.Thy ndu hung, und-nutition, lck of mdicl c,suff disss, scbis nd som butlizd nd sxullybusd by old inmts ndguds.

Thy my b guilty but hvnot bn convictd nd too poo to py bil. Thy hld fo wks, months ndvn ys bfo thi cs isheard and nished. Then it isfquntly dismissd fo lckof vidnc.

Th Philippins is 80 pcntCtholic nd ths inhumnconditions continu dspitlws fobidding it. Tht nds

ntionl xmintion ofconscinc nd pntnc. Jsus Chist sid: “Whn I wsin jil you cm to visit m”...“So long s you did it to onof ths th ndist of ll you

did it to m”. But who llycs? Thy God’s childnwhom Jsus clld to himslfbut socity jcts thm.

Likwis th gnl silncnd filu of ligious ldsnd chuch gos to ct ndpotst ginst th widspdp, bus nd xploittionof childn tffickd intoth sx industy, th wid-scl botion nd incst itpomots, will suly bingGod’s condmntion nd gtshm on ll.

Fith without ction is dd,St. Jms sys. W liv withshm tht stuns th woldnd tht will continu untilth swod of justic is isdnd ldy justic pulls off thtblindfold to s th injusticnd ct to nd th suffing ofbus victims.

Non-implmnttion of th

lw to sv th victims of sxtouism nd th dismissl bysome prosecutors of trafckingnd child bus css is shockingbyond blif. Th ndlsscoutoom dlys, th sickningsympthy fo th suspctsof child p nd th lglmnipultion tht llows thpists to go f is th mostdpssing nd th wostcouption imginbl.

Th gtst chllng of thaquino administtion ndScty of Justic Lil DLim is to nd this cultu ofcouption nd bltnt bibytht is obbing th poo Filipinosof th spct nd dignity thtthy tuly dsv.

Whil th thousnds

of cougous Filipinos out inth stts, visiting jils ndcoutooms fighting fo thvictims, th is littl suppotfo thi hoic ffots. Thigtst nmy is pthy nd

indiffnc to th plight of thchildn in this ntion.

Th cis of th victims fo justic go mostly unhd ndll th whil childn pdby locl nd intntionl sxtouists, nd ltivs. Mny md pgnnt, childn hving childn, tht’s whnth botionists don’t gt thmrst.

In th Pd homs fo busdchildn, th tng mothsgt ll th hlp nd suppot thynd to giv bith in dignitynd dcncy nd bing up thchild in sf nd in hlthynvionmnt.

Dspit ll th physicl ndpsychologicl dmg, thycn cov onc givn suppot,nc oug m nt , s pc t ,afrmation and dignity. These th spiitul vlus thtsto bokn nd woundd

livs.In th Pd hom fo thtng boys who hv bnscud fom jils nd pisonswh thy w onc ttd sjcts, ciminls, vmin, pstsnd punch bgs do spondpositively to afrming respect,findship, c nd dignity.Thy tnsfoming thi livsnd cn liv without violncnd cim wh thi nds, solong denied them, are fullled.

Hundds hv bn lsdto this pogm ov th pst sixys by compssiont judgsnd poscutos ll ov CntlLuzon. Thy com to th opncnt tht hs no wlls, fncsguds, o punishmnt nd isf of bus, physicl, vbl

nd psychologicl.Thy cn wlk wy nytim

but 93% choos to sty ndchng thi livs fo thbtt. It could b plictdfo thousnds still in jils.

commitmnt to poclim th Gospl. Thmissiony impuls hs lwys bn sign of vitlity fo ou Chuchs (cf.encyclicl Ltt, rdmptois missio,n. 2), with thi cooption nd thiuniqu witnss of unity, bothhoodnd solidity tht givs cdibility tohlds of th Lov tht svs!

I thfo nw to vyon thinvitation to pray and, despite nancial

difculties, to offer fraternal and concretehlp to suppot th young Chuchs.This ct of lov nd shing, whichthe precious service of the PonticalMissiony Socitis to which I xpssmy gtitud will s to llocting,will suppot th fomtion of pists,sminins nd ctchists in th most

distnt mission lnds nd will ncougth young cclsil communitis.

at th nd of this nnul Mssgfo Wold Mission Sundy, I wouldlik with spcil ffction to xpssmy gtitud to missionis who bwitnss to th coming of th Kingdom ofGod in th most mot nd chllngingplcs, oftn with thi livs. To thm,who in th vngud of th Gospl’s

poclmtion, vy bliv offsfindship, closnss nd suppot. MyGod who lovs chful giv (cf. 2Cor 9: 7) ll them with spiritual fervornd dp joy.

as with th “Ys” of My, vygnous spons of th cclsilcommunity to th Divin invittion

to lov ou boths nd sists, willis up nw apostolic nd cclsilmothhood (cf. Gl 4: 4, 19, 26), lvingus stuck by th mysty of th God oflov who “whn th tim hd fully com...snt foth his Son, bon of womn” (Gl4: 4) to giv fith nd boldnss to th nwapostls. Such spons will mkvyon cpbl “joicing in hop”(rom 12: 12) by lizing th pojct of

God, who wills “tht th whol humnc fom on popl of God, b unitdin th on body of Chist, nd b built upinto on tmpl of th Holy Spiit” (adgnts, n. 7).

Fom th Vticn, 6 Fbuy 2010BENEDICTUS PP. XVI




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Entertainment

HaIrLeSS ct Kitty Glo(voicd with gusto by BttMidl) is n x-MeOWSgnt who is pushd by dog into a vat lled withpmnnt hi mov.

Sh is lso kickd out ofth hous by h fom msts nd lft out in th snow onChistms dy. Sh thn vows to tk vng on dogs ndthi bst finds—humns—wing vious body wigs,disguising hslf s hlplss bndond niml nd hmlss hous pt to sctly unlsh h pln, wpon ofmss dstuction. Kitty Glo’s pln, clld “Th Cll of thWild” is mnt to b ctivtd vi n obiting stllit to mkll th dogs on th plnt go md, mking h gin dominionov ll cts who will thn nslv humnity. But DOG, thcnin countpt of MeOWS, cuits Diggs (voicd by Jms Msdn), Gmn shphd who loths cts. Hnd ptn nd mnto Butch (voicd by Nick Nolt) joinforces to nd feisty pigeon called Seamus (voiced by KattWillims), who lon holds vitl clus to Kitty’s pln. But thcts lso concnd fo humnity, thus MeOWS top ctTb Lznby (voicd by rog Moo) poposs pc pctwith DOG to thwt Kitty Glo’s vil schm. Soon cningnts Diggs nd Butch nd MeOWS spcil gnt Cthin(voicd by Chistin applgt) g to st sid thi ntuldiffncs in od to hunt down Kitty.

although th tgt udinc of this spy dvntu Cts& Dogs: Th rvng of Kitty Glo is childn blow 12,it’s thoughtful nough to off somthing njoybl fo thyoungsts’ chpons s wll. Th plot nd th visuls—clvnd smlss CGI—mk fo n nttining fbl, combindwith tks on oth movis tht gown ups sily cogniz.Th stoy nd its tlling is ngging nough fo th youngviws who couldn’t c lss who’s voicing which chct,o whth o not it’s in 3D, but th oldis ccompnying thmctinly could mk livly gm of spotting which chct,line or scene is reecting bits of James Bond, Batman, Silenceof th Lmbs, nd oths. (Th titl chct’s nm itslf is bby-tlk divtiv of Jms’ Bond’s Pussy Glo).

Judging fom th chs nd th gnl spons of thchildn in th udinc, his Bd Pyton-dictd movi willctinly nthll th blow-12 cowd who my just “s” thiown houshold pts in th cut chcts. evn though its plotis cpitlizs on th old good-vsus-vil fomul tht dultsmay nd clicheic, Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore canstill b mind fo th vlubl lif lssons it nvlops—lssonson ng, vng, hung fo pow nd contol, nd…

uh… nimls’ inhumnity to nimls (so to spk) my bdownsizd to fo childn’s consumption.

Entertainment

Title: Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty GaloreCast: Bette Midler, James Marsden, Nick Nolte, Christina

Applegate, Michael Clarke Duncan, Neil Patrick Har-ris, Sean Hayes, Joe Pantoliano, Katt Williams, ChrisO’Donnell

Director: Brad PeytonWriter: Ron J. Friedman,

Steve BencichGenre: Action/Adven-

ture, Comedy,Family

Running Time: 82 min.Technical Assessment:

½Moral Assessment:

Technical Assessment

Poor

Below average

Average

Above average

Excellent

Moral Assessment

Abhorrent

Disturbing

Acceptable

Wholesome

Exemplary

Look for the image of St.Agnes, a communioncake

and wedding owers.(Illustration by Bladimer

Usi)

By Te re s a R . Tunay,OCDS

SaLT is cuious mlgm of Jms Bond, Boun Idntity,McGyv nd Spidmn—ndbcus th ld chct is womn, nything th guys cndo sh cn do btt.

Slt opns with with nnkd evlyn Slt (anglin Joli) bing totud in NothKon dungon to tlk, but llsh sys, in ts, is “I m not spy…” actully sh’s lly spy, on of CIa’s toughstnd bightst a collgu, TdWint (Liv Schib) ftchsh out of cptivity, sying Sltows h fdom to h dmi

Mik (august Dihl), Gmnscintist whos fot is chnidsch nd who soon ftbcoms h husbnd.

Th chs bgins whn russin dfcto, Olov (DnilOlbychski), who t intogtionpins down Slt s KGB gntin dp cov whos mission isto ssssint russin psidntMtyvyv (Olk Kup),cuntly in th Unitd Sttsto ttnd th funl of thamicn vic-psidnt. Thli dtcto tst gists tuth invything Olov clims, ldingSlt’s oth collgu, agntPbody (Chiwtl ejiofo) tobliv Slt is lly russinspy. Td dosn’t bliv it,howv, but joins Pbody

in th hunt fo th lusiv Sltwhos min concn now is toch h husbnd whil vdingpusus.

Slt is on thill you cns th tims nd not ti of. Joli s th ction st is t hlusiv bst, potdly doing95 pcnt of h stunts ndxuding mystiqu tht combinstoughnss nd fgility. If you’vv sn on of thos gold-pltdl ochids fom Singpo,you’ll know wht Slt’s psonis in this lm.

Oiginlly mnt fo TomCuis (s edwin Slt), this

ction mstpic would hvbn gnic, but bcus thol wnt to womn, nd thintiguing anglin Joli ttht, th movi Slt took on spicier avor. We agree with oneAmerican lm critic who says Jolie is a ne-looking womanwhose lips, eyes, prole, nose,boobs, butt nd indd th wholof h nigmtic buty hs bnclbtd on clluloid, but thistim, Slt clbts h nkls.

Sh jumps fom on movingtuck to noth, tvss highis window ldg with bhands and feet, rolls off a yovernd lnds on moving vn, nddscnds n lvto shft by just jumping fom lvl to lowlvl—doing ll thos nd mo,

th chct could hv didfom fctud skull, intnlhmohg o snppd spin,but h Slt suvivs withouts much s spining n nkl.Indd, much lik gin of slton f fll fom th shk butdees the laws of physics andmngs to scp th fyingpn. (Boy, tht cn only hppnin th ctoons!)

Slt is cuious mlgm of Jms Bond, Boun Idntity,McGyv nd Spidmn—ndbcus th ld is womn,nything th guys cn do sh cndo btt. Mks you wond ifl lif spis cn b tht goodo indstuctibl but you don’tc fo nsws nd instd golong with th chs bcus

it’s dvncing th stoy, nd good stoy to boot. Th stoyis lly bout slp spis inth US, ophns tind fomchildhood by th russins, to ondy ptioticlly wk hvocon amicn socity nd thnth whol wold. evlyn Sltis supposd to b on of thosophns.

Viws of Slt njoind tolook byond ll th mdi sizzlgntd by Joli’s xcptionlstunts nd div dp intoEvelyn Salt’s conicted character.Without scond thoughts ndscond glncs sh kills vyon

Title: SaltCast: Angelina Jolie, Liev

Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejio-for, Alex Pettyfer, GaiusCharles, Victor Slezak,Marion McCorry, JonahKeyes

Genre: Suspense/ThrillerRunning Time: 99 min.Director: Phillip NoyceWriter: Kurt Wimmer, Brian

Helgeland

Technical Assessment: ½

Moral Assessment:

MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

who gts in h wy but iskslif nd limb to sv th lif ofh pt puppy. aw tht s spy sh cn’t off futu to thmn who offs h mig,sh blivs in lov nd mis

him nywy. Binwshd fomg 12 to bliv in th nobilityof h mudous mission, shgows up s th complt spy,nd yt look wht hppnswhn vything is tkn wyfom h.

If th is on vy impotntthing Slt is lding us to xmin,it is how w dults hv com togd ou childn. Slt mynot b consciously doing it butit’s mking us s wht hppnswhn childn usd s pwnsin vicious dult gms, whnthi ntiv intllignc is hwnto sv inhumn puposs, ndwhen their innocence is sacricedt th lt of idology.

It’s dults with wpd vluswho ld childn into th dk to

suit thi dstuctiv schms, inth pocss dstoying thi souls.In Slt, th stting is spiong;in l lif, th stks high.Moths push thi childn intopostitution nd mndicncy.Fths lu thi dughts intoincst. Govnmnts nd schoolsinculct in childn th cultuof dth ttctivly vnd s“poductiv hlth”. In Slt,ophns pogmmd likdogs to kill fo thi msts’ ownshining gol, nd yt, cn ll thvil in th wold lly kill thhuman spirit? You might ndth nsw in Slt.

Bu h a y P a r o k ya

Salt: Look beyond theaction to get the message



C1 Vol. 14 No. 18August 30 - September 12, 2010

CBCP Monitor

A Supplement Publ icat ion of KCFAPI

and the Order of the Knights of Columbus

The Cross

KCFAPI Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr. together with some of the KCFAPI ofcers and KC Foundation Ofcer who attended the FINEX meeting: Executive VicePresident Ma. Theresa G. Curia (FINEX Member), Former President Antonio B. Borromeo, Incumbent President Alonso L. Tan, Vice Presidents Magdalene G.Flores & Angelito A. Bala, Legal and Administrative Services Manager Atty. Rizal V. Katalbas, Jr., Accounting Manager Rowena M. Diapolit, Executive Secretary

Annie M. Nicolas, and KC Foundation’s Executive Directo r Roberto T. Cruz.

New and re-elected members of the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors stand before delegates to the 128th Supreme Convention. (www.kofc.org)

KCF A PI Chai rm an, Hon.Hilario G. Davide, Jr., was theGuest Speaker during the 8thGeneral Membership Meetingof the Financial ExecutiveInstitute of the Philippines(FINEX) last August 18, 2010at the New World Hotel with atheme: MOVING FORWARD:D o i n g t h e R i g h t T h i n g sRight.

Chairman Davide spoke onthe daunting tasks our countryfaces, of reforming the govern-ment through moral suasion,having a strong moral convic-tion leaning towards the goodand the right and not in the

pursuit of personal interest.

KC Chairman Davide speaks before FINEX

Co n v e n t i o n / C2

CBCP / C2

Ta n / C2

CBCP Presidentto preside over Fr.Willman n’s deathanniversary

In his speech, he said that thetheme chosen was timely andrelevant. He stated “It is onlyby doing the right things orby doing right the right thingsthat nations and peoples canmove forward. There can beno change for the better, notransformation, no reformationunless nations and peoples dothe right things right.”

He concluded his speech byurging everyone to observe theRule of Law, a duty of everyFilipino, and to join him in hisquest for social transformationthat will complete the totalregeneration of our country.

(Annie Nicolas)

THE president of the CatholicBishops’ Conference of thePhilippines (CBCP) and TandagBishop Nereo Odchimar willpreside over the Eucharisticcelebration that will be offered

to mark the 33rd death anniver-

KC Philippines commemorates 33rd death anniversary of Fr. WillmannON September 14, 2010, the Knights ofColumbus in the Philippines will com-memorate the 33rd Death Anniversaryof Rev. Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J. Itwill be highlighted by a Family TV Massto be held at the San Agustin Churchat 9:00 in the morning with Most Rev.Nereo P. Odchimar, D.D., Bishop ofTandag and CBCP President as theMain Celebrant to be assisted by Msgr. Joselito Asis, Fr. Renato Sapungan, Fr. Jerome Cruz, Fr. Benjamin DeograciasFajota, Fr. William Araña, OSA, Fr. AsisBajao, OSA and Fr. Bel San Luis.

The Mass will be aired on September

26, 2010 on IBC Chan. 13 from 9:00 to10:00 a.m. Immediately after the Mass,a wreath-laying ceremony will be heldat the statue of Fr. Willmann located atthe KCFAPI head ofce in Intramuros,Manila. Father Willmann is referred toas the “Fr. McGivney of the Philippines”because, like the venerable founder ofthe Knights of Columbus, he vigorouslypursued the growth of the Order anddynamically worked for the radicaltransformation of faith into action.

Fr. Willmann spent 44 fruitful and pro-ductive years in the Philippines serving

the young people, the poor, the sick, the

orphans, the oppressed, the lonely andthe desolate. Fr. Willmann was born on June 29, 1897 to very devout Catholicparents in Brooklyn, New York. ThroughPresidential Degree No. 740, PresidentFerdinand E. Marcos granted him Philip-pine citizenship. During his more thanfour decades in the Philippines, FatherWillmann established numerous orga-nizations in the country most notableof which is the Knights of ColumbusFraternal Association of the Philippines,Inc. (KCFAPI) which he founded in 1958together with a number of dedicated KC

members. (Denise Solina)

FRATERNAL Counselors from the Lu-zon Region gathered last August 17-18,2010 at the main ofce of the KCFAPIin Intramuros, Manila for another fra-ternal service training.

The said training tackled the varioussales tips and techniques that FraternalCounselors need to know in order toequip them in their sales performance.

The participants were the new frater-nal counselors from Metro Manila andnearby provinces.

Joseph P. Teodoro, Vice President of

the Fraternal Benets Group, and GariM. San Sebastian, Fraternal BenefitsServices Manager, were the resource

speakers during the seminar.The topics discussed were about the

KCFAPI products, contribution compu-tation and the familiarization with thestandard operating procedure (SOP) ofthe Association.

This training was conducted in or-der to motivate fraternal counselors toachieve improved sales performanceas compared to their last year’s salesrecord.

Moreover, organizers said the month-ly training is being held in view of

strategizing the presentation of prod-ucts and services of KCFAPI. (KCFAPI News)

Another Service Training for Fraternal Counselors held

KCFAPI ofcials attend128th Supreme ConventionTHE ofcials of the Knights of Colum-bus Fraternal Association of the Philip-pines, Inc. (KCFAPI), a mutual benetsassociation that provides life insurancebenets to the members of the Knightsof Columbus and their immediate fami-lies, have attended the 128th SupremeConvention last August 3-5, 2010 inWashington D.C.

Those present were former ChairmanPatrocinio Bacay; former PresidentAntonio B. Borromeo; Executive Vice-President Ma. Theresa G. Curia and

Vice-President for Information andBenet Certicate Holders’ Services,Ronnie Infante.

The three state deputies from thethree KC jurisdictions were also present:Luzon Deputy Alonso L. Tan, VisayasDeputy Dionisio R. Esteban, Jr. andMindanao Deputy Sofronio Cruz.

Three members of the Philippine hier-archy were also in attendance, namely,Manila Archbishop Gaudencio CardinalRosales who is a member of KCFAPI’sFounder Members Committee; CBCPPresident Nereo Odchimar, also a mem-ber of KCFAPI’s Founder MembersCommittee; and Cubao Bishop Honesto

Ongtioco who is the chaplain of Luzon jurisdiction.

Bishop Nereo Odchimar

The nwly lctd SuprmDirctor, Alonso L. Tan,will assum is post ffc-tiv Sptmbr 1, 2010.

Tan was elected during the recent128th Supreme Convention at theMarriott Wardman Park Hotel inWashington, D.C.

In the Philippines, Tan is also theKCFAPI President, a Director of theKeys Realty and the President ofthe two KC foundations, the KC Fr.George J. Willman Charities, Inc andthe KC Philippines Foundation.

He is a member of the ManilaCouncil 1000 in Intramuros and atwo-time Grand Knight of the saidcouncil.

As a Supreme Director, he will be

LD Tan to assume post asSupreme Director

w w w . k

o f c . o

r g

LD Tan together with other Knights and members of the clergy during the 128th Supreme Convention held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.



The CrossC2 Vol. 14 No. 18August 30 - September 12, 2010

CBCP Monitor

F BS M a n a ge r k e yn o t e sa d m is s io n co u r s eGARI M. San Sebastian, Manager of theFraternal Benets Service Department wasthe keynote speaker during the AdmissionCourse and District/Council ofcers’ orien-tation for the First Degree knights.

Held on August 15, 2010 at the Imus Ca-thedral Pandayan Hall in Cavite, San Sebas-tian talked about insurance promotion andstressed the need for insuring the membersof the Order.

Manuel H. Carpio Jr., District Deputy I-36

Ta n / C1 Co n v e n t i o n / C1

CBCP / C1

roster and the number of benet certicateholders.

Meanwhile, the First Degree Exemplica-tion of Council 13538 and the Council 5896Election of Ofcers were also conducted.

Cesar B. Brines of Council 14467 and Ed-gardo A. Luna culminated the program withtheir messages and prayer.

Rommel Y. Ondong of Council 13538facilitated the orientation as well as the ex-emplication. (KCFAPI News)

IN behalf of the Fraternal Benets Group, weare pleased to announce the improvementin the enrollment of new benet certicateholders, which started this August 2010.

Various factors have contributed in theimprovement of KCFAPI’s sales production.Among these are the series of executive salesvisitations which were conducted in themonths of June and July. Apparently, we arenow getting its desired results.

The purpose of the exercise is manifold:to update the eld sales groups with thecurrent development in KCFAPI; to armthem with the latest selling techniques; to

Deniedd u e t o

concea lment

FBG announces improvement on KCFAPI sales

Atty. Rizal V. Katalbas, Jr.

Joseph P. Teodoro

From the Legal StandpointFor Brother Knights by Brother Knights

re-orient them with the rules of the incen-tives and nancial assistance programs andto hear their suggestions and ideas on how toimprove our services to our brother knightsand families.

Other factors that have contributed to thisimprovement are FBG’s 52nd AnniversarySales Drive; the intensive campaign on theMost Outstanding District Deputy Award(MODD); 2009 Annual Awardees; minimum12 new paid lives set for average sales per-formers and the recruitment of new FraternalCounselors.

The MODD program for one encourages

said the topic intended “to inform candidatesabout the fraternal benefits that may begained by new recruits and refresh ofcersof the same.”

The event started with an opening remarkfrom Ramoncito L. Alindog, Grand Knight ofCouncil 13538 followed by the Christ in theKC Indoctrination facilitated by Manuelito R.Putong, Past Grand Knight of Council 13538.

Carpio also noted that the orientationwas intended to increase the membership

active involvement from district deputiesand grand knights in the insurance programof the Order while the minimum paid livesset is a good help in increasing the averagenew paid lives per fraternal counselor.

We promise to keep the momentum ingoing through constant monitoring of theincentive programs and to re up with morefuel the enthusiasm of the aspirants of theAnnual Awards.

FBG also intends to go on a second roundof visitations in conjunction with the areaand team managers’ conferences in Visayasand Mindanao.

KCFAPI Spiritual DirectorMsgr. Pedro C. Quitorio III, As-sistant Chaplain of the Luzon Jurisdiction, was also present.

The 128th Supreme Conven-tion opened with a concelebratedMass at the Basilica of the Na-tional Shrine of the ImmaculateConception.

Washington Archbishop Don-ald Wuerl led the Mass togetherwith some 88 bishops and car-dinals and about a hundred

members of the clergy.According to the website

(www.kofc.org) of the SupremeCouncil, among the cardinalswho concelebrated in the open-ing mass were: Cardinals SeanO’Malley of Boston; Justin Ri-gali of Philadelphia; GaudencioRosales of Manila, Philippines; Jaime Ortega y Alamino ofHavana, Cuba; Theodore Mc-Carrick, Archbishop Emeritusof Washington, D.C., and two re-

tired U.S. cardinals who servedat the Vatican, namely, WilliamBaum and Edmund Szoka.

The Supreme Convention is anannual gathering of thousands ofKnights from various jurisdic-tions and countries organizedby the Supreme Council.

During the convention, theSupreme Knight announced thatevery year will be the “Year forPriests” for the Knights of Co-lumbus. (KCFAPI News)

sary of Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ.With the KC priests and chaplains

concelebrating, the Eucharistic cel-ebration will be held at the San Agus-tin Church in Intramuros, Manila, at9 a.m. on September 14, 2010.

Officers and employees of KCFAPIand its subsidiaries and the officersand members of the Knights of

Columbus, especially of the Luzon Jurisdiction, are expected to attendthe mass.

Fr. George J. Willmann is regardedas the Fr. Michael McGivney of thePhilippines being the person respon-

sible for spreading the Order of theKnights of Columbus throughoutthe country that now counts about

265,000 in active membership.He is also the founder of KCFAPI,

which is a mutual benefits associationthat provides life insurance benefitsto the members of the Knights ofColumbus and their immediate

families. Its foundation, named afterits founder, which is known as theKC Fr. George J. Willmann Charities

Inc. has already graduated over ahundred seminarians who becamepriests, and priests who have takenup further studies in various ecclesi-astical disciplines.

The celebration will also be an

occasion to raise funds for the saidfoundation. “Whatever funds gener-ated will be used to pursue our goal

to help realize the beatification of Fr.Willmann and provide support tothe charitable activities of the KC Fr.George J. Willmann Charities, Inc,”an officer of the Foundation said.

Recorded on video as live, the mass

will be aired over IBC Channel 13 onSeptember 26, 2010, Sunday at 9:00a.m. (Kate Laceda)

Q. Wat ar crtificat divi-dnds? Wr do ty comfrom? how ar ty dtr-mind?A. Certicate dividends comefrom the non-appropriated,distributable surplus of the As-

sociation. Surplus can eitherbe classied as appropriated ornon-appropriated. Appropri-ated surplus are surplus fundsthat have been earmarked bythe Board of Trustees to nancesome projects or major businessundertakings. These funds areheld in reserve to purchase anew computer equipment, pur-chase or construct a new build-ing, put up a new company orsubsidiary, and the like. Non-appropriated surplus fundsare funds that are yet to beassigned to any project. These

unassigned surplus funds areusually distributed to qualiedBC holders in the form of cashdividends or certificate divi-dends. This dividend is usuallypaid to a BC holder providedthat the BC was in-force at the

time of dividend declarationand had met all other qualifyingrequirements. Dividends are notpro-rated, they are either givenin full or none at all.

The common method of dis-tributing unassigned surplusafter complying with all regula-tory requirements is the ‘sourceof earnings’ or the ‘three fac-tor’ approach. This methodconsiders only three factors orsources of income: interest in-come from investments (higherincome than expected), savingson mortality (lesser death claims

certicate years and have beenterminated either by death orby reaching the BC’s maturitydate.

The nancial market is a verydynamic market, and it continu-ously evolves. Earnings cannot

be predicted and do not followa straight line. Predictability canonly be assured on hindsight.As there is no assurance on thefuture performance of the opera-tions of the Association, KCFAPIalways attaches a disclaimer onall FC sales materials or market-ing proposals that states amongothers that projected dividendsand the dividend accumulationrate are not guaranteed andactual dividends and dividendaccumulation rate will be basedon the actual performance of theAssociation. (Angelito Bala)

FreQuenTLy ASKeD QueSTionSthan expected), and savingson expenses (lower operatingexpenses than expected). TheAssociation’s dividend formulais annually submitted for reviewby the Board of Trustees. Thedividend formula requires thata fraction of the previous year’sexcess of revenue over expensesbe apportioned as certificatedividends for distribution. Theformula also mandates thatthe current year’s dividend behigher than last year’s dividenddeclaration.

In addition to the abovedividend, the Association alsodistributes dividends calledterminal dividends commonlyreferred to as terminal benets.This type of dividend is givenone-time to BCs that have beenin-force for at least ten benet

the representative of the Phil-ippine Knights in the SupremeBoard where his position ex-pires on August 31, 2013.

LD Tan was born in CuyoPalawan and is the fourthchild of Concepcion and thelate Enrique Tan. He is mar-ried to Sister Thesse and isblessed with three children.He studied and graduated atthe University of the East witha degree in BS Commerce-

Major in Management.He also studied Bureau of

Small Business (General Man-agement Course) at the Ate-neo De Manila University.

Tan is the State Deputy ofthe Luzon Jurisdiction of theKnights of Columbus Philip-pines which has the highestmembership Orderwide.

Last year, the jurisdictiononce again surpassed its tar-get in membership growth

of 8,700 and attained a totalintake of 9,025 equivalent to103.74%.

It is for this reason that LDTan was once again givent h e p r i v i l e g e t o j o i n t h eSupreme Knight’s Circle ofHonor for the third consecu-tive year.

Meanwhile, Tan said he willattend his first Supreme Boardmeeting on October 5-10, 2010in Poland. (Kate Laceda)

IN reviewing claims cases there are times when a denial is war-ranted on the ground of material concealment by the insured.What then is the meaning of material concealment and whendoes it become a ground to deny a claim.

The Insurance Code of the Philippines denes “concealment”in Sec. 26 which state:

“A neglect to communicate that which party knows and oughtto communicate, is called concealment.”

Concealment, to be present, must be accompanied with thefollowing circumstances, namely:

* The party knows the fact which he neglects to disclose or

communicate with the other.* The party concealing the information is duty bound to

disclose such fact to the other.* The facts concealed must be material to the risk.* The other party has no means to ascertain the fact concealed.* The party misleads the insurer into accepting the risk, or ac-

cepting it at the rate of premium (contribution) agreed upon.Concealment per se is not a ground to rescind the contract,

it must be material such that the information withheld wouldinuence the insurer in deciding whether or not to insure theapplicant or cause adjustments in his premium (contribution).The test in determining materiality of the concealment is foundin Sec. 31 of the Insurance Code which state:

Materiality is to be determined not by the event, but solelyby the probable and reasonable inuence of the facts uponthe party to whom the communication is due, in forming hisestimate of the disadvantages of the proposed contract, or inmaking his inquiries.

A ne example of material information is the health history ofthe applicant, most especially when there is a waiver of medicalexamination in a non-medical life insurance. In such case theapplicant’s health history is of vital interest to the insurer sinceit has no other source of information on the applicants healthexcept solely on the applicant’s disclosures about previousconditions of his health.

The insured’s death need not be related to the information con-cealed what matters is that the fact withheld is of some nature thatif the insurer had known it he would not accept the risk or wouldhave adjusted the premium (contribution) at a higher rate.

In one case decided by the Supreme Court, the insured ap-plied for insurance (with waiver of medical examination). Inhis application form he failed to disclose to the insurer that heunderwent medical treatment for renal failure. A year after,the insured died in a plane crash. After a review of the case theinsurer denied the claim on the ground of material concealmentwhen he failed to disclose his bout with renal failure. The claim-ants led a case with the trial court. The trial court concludedthat the facts concealed by the insured were made in good faithand under the belief that they need not be disclosed. Moreover,it held that the health history of the insured was immaterialsince the insurance policy was “non-medical.” The trial court

ruled in favor of the claimants.The insurer appealed its case to the Supreme Court whereit reversed the decision. In its decision it said, matters relatingto the health condition of the applicant becomes more mate-rial to the insurer if there is a waiver of medical examination.And even if the facts concealed had no bearing to the cause ofdeath of the insured, it is well settled that the insured need notdie of the disease he had failed to disclose to the insurer. It issufcient that his non-disclosure misled the insurer in forminghis estimates of the risks of the proposed insurance policy or inmaking inquiries. (Sunlife vs. CA, G.R. No. 105135)

What happens if there is concealment by one of the parties tothe contract. Section 27 of the Insurance Code explicitly statesthat concealment whether intentional or not entitles the otherparty to cancel the contract.

This right to rescind (cancel), however, is not absolute. The limi-tation is found in section 48 of the Code which provides that:

“Sec.48. Whenever a right to rescind a contract of insuranceis given to the insurer by any provision of this chapter, suchright must be exercised previous to the commencement of anaction on the contract.

After a policy of life insurance made payable on the death ofthe insured shall have been in force during the life time of theinsured for a period of two years from the date of its issue or of itsreinstatement, the insurer cannot prove that the policy is void abinitio or is rescindable by reason of the fraudulent concealmentor misrepresentation of the insured or his agent.”

This provision makes a life insurance policy incontestableafter it has been in force during the lifetime of the insured fora period of two years from the date of its issue of last reinstate-ment this also serves as security to the insured after such periodthe insurer cannot deny liability.

It is disheartening to see the future of the insured’s loved onessuffer as a consequence of concealment. It is therefore to the bestinterest of an applicant to ensure that personal knowledge ofmaterial facts are divulged to his/her insurer and avoid the sinof omission called concealment of a material fact.

In photo, (seated 3rd from left) are VP-Fraternal Benets Group, Joseph P. Teodoro, Executive Vice President, Ma. Theresa G. Curia, KCFAPI President, AlonsoL. Tan, Fraternal Benets Services Manager, Gari M. San Sebastian (seated extreme right) together with the participants of the Fraternal Service Training heldon August 17-18, 2010 at the KCFAPI Head Ofce in Intramuros, Manila.



C3 The CrossCBCP Monitor

Vol. 14 No. 18Augus t 30 - September 12, 2010

By Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

THE Knights of Columbus and modernCatholic social teaching were born lessthan a decade apart: the Knights in 1882and the Church’s social teaching thattook into account the rapidly changingworld of commerce with Pope Leo XIII’sencyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891.Catholic social teaching and the Knightsof Columbus also share a common moti-vation: Christ’s commandment that welove our neighbors as ourselves.

Father McGivney’s motivation forfounding the Knights of Columbushad both religious and nancial com-ponents. He was not interested inmaking money for shareholders or inpursuing profit at any cost. Instead,he wanted to safeguard the faith—andthe nances—of Catholic families. Asa Catholic organization, the Knights ofColumbus has taken that message toheart ever since.

Prior to his election as Pope Benedict

XVI, in the 1980s Cardinal Joseph Ratz-inger warned that without an ethicalfoundation, market economies wouldcollapse. Unfortunately, too manycompanies—and too many individualswho worked for those companies—compromised core values for the falsepromise of quick profit. The UnitedStates, along with the whole world, isstill suffering as a result.

Since the economic downturn in 2008,the ethics involved in business decisionshave been a topic of much discussion.Whatever else caused the downturn,there can be no doubt that greed was akey catalyst.

The key question is this: Can a busi-ness be both ethical and successful? Theanswer, of course, is yes. And peopleknow it.

Carity and fratrnityA Knights of Columbus/Marist Col-

lege of Public Opinion poll last year

Ethics and Proftability

Luzon conducts seminar forGrand Knights, FinancialSecretaries, TreasurersTHE Knights of Columbus-Luzon Jurisdiction has recentlyconducted a simultaneous seminar for the Grand Knights,

Financial Secretaries and Treasurers of the Luzon councils.The seminar was held last August 14-15, 2010 in various prov-

inces in Regions I, II, III and IV covered by the jurisdiction.Organizers said the seminar was intended to discuss the

duties and responsibilities of the Grand Knights and FinancialSecretaries, among other ofcials.

The seminar also emphasized discussion on the member-ship of the diverse councils of the areas.

Also present in the event were the District Deputies, andTreasurers of the various councils in the Luzon jurisdiction.

Luzon Deputy Alonso L. Tan led the seminar on Region Itogether with the State Seminar Director Efren V. Mendozaand assisted by the Regional Membership Chairmen JosenoValencia and Salvador Segovia.

The activity was held at the Alad Resort for the Dioceses ofBangued, Laoag and Nueva Segovia on August 14 while on Au-gust 15, it was conducted in Baguio City for the Luzon ofcersfrom the Dioceses of Baguio, Alaminos, Lingayen-Dagupan,Bontoc-Lagawe, San Fernando, La Union and Urdaneta.

The Region II conference was headed by State Secretary ArsenioIsidro G. Yap with State Ceremonial Director Deogenes V. Franciaand Regional Membership Chairman Armando Gonzales.

The venue of the event was at the Greenview Lodge in San-tiago City for the Diocese of Bayombong and Ilagan followedby the Dioceses of Tabuk and Tuguegarao at the St. Peter’sMetropolitan Cathedral on the two earlier mentioned dates.

State Treasurer Joven B. Joaquin, State Auditor Raoul A.Villanueva and State Fourth Degree Affairs Chairman VictorE. Pulangco administered the Region III seminar.

Attendees of which were the Dioceses of Balanga and Iba.For Region III, the seminar was held at the St. ColumbanClubhouse in Olongapo City last August 14.

On August 15, Ofcers from the Archdiocese of San Fer-nando, Pampanga participated in the seminar.

The Knights of the Dioceses of Boac, Gumaca and Lucena werethen present at the August 14 discussion in Tayabas, Quezon.

This conference was facilitated by State Program DirectorBonifacio B. Martinez and State Youth Director Conrado S.Dator, Jr. (Kate Laceda)

found that three quarters of Americans,and more than 9 out of 10 executives,agree that a business can be both ethicaland successful.

This is not just a matter of opinion. Ina book by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porrastitled Built to Last: Successful Habits ofVisionary Companies (Harper Business,2004), the authors begin by rejectingthe notion that “the most successfulcompanies exist rst and foremost tomaximize prots.”

The authors add that prot is not the“dominant driving force or primaryobjective” of visionary companies andconclude that “visionary companiesmake more money than the more purelyprot-driven comparison companies.”

There are many such visionary enter-prises, and one of these is the Knightsof Columbus.

The Order has led by example both inour charitable giving and in our abilityto run a successful business enterprisebased on Catholic social teaching. Weconsciously strive to safeguard the -nances of our brother Knights and their

families who invest with us and to treatour employees fairly.Our goal has never been simply to

make money. Rather, the Order exists toprotect the nancial future of its mem-bers’ families. And our brother Knightsare our family. That is our strength—and a consideration that underlies allof our decisions. That is the rationaleunderlying our program of insurance bybrother Knights, for brother Knights.

Ethical dealings in any area, includ-ing business, must be based on theunderstanding of the dignity of eachperson, and on our responsibility toour neighbor. Rather than embracingthe greed and jealousy that motivatedCain to kill his brother and then pretendignorance of the crime by asking, “AmI my brother’s keeper?”, a proper ap-proach to business takes as its model

the Good Samaritan and concern forour brother.

At the Knights of Columbus, that

means that our investment standardsrule out investing in companies thatviolate Catholic teaching in a num-ber of areas, including pornographyand abortion. Yet, in one of the worstfinancial crises in memory, we stillmade money, and even improved ourstrength relative to the industry—notby compromising our principles, butby holding to them.

T goldn rulBecause of our commitment to run-

ning our business in a way consistentwith Catholic social teaching, weare one of only three U.S. life insur-ance companies—and the only one inCanada—to have achieved the highestrating for nancial strength from A.M.Best and Standard & Poor’s, as well asethical certication from the InsuranceMarketplace Standards Association.

This last certication is very impor-tant because it is our ethical commit-ment that makes protability possibleand sustainable into the future. It is -nancial strength through moral strength

that allows economic development to betruly sustainable. Pope Benedict madethis clear in latest encyclical, Caritas inVeritate (Charity in Truth).

Catholic social teaching tells usand our own experience proves thatthe golden rule—which states thatwe should treat others as we wishto be treated—makes good businesssense.

Over time, it is the ethically runbusiness that will avoid risky bets withothers’ money. It is the ethical companythat will treat its customers and businessassociates in a manner that will earntheir trust, their future business andtheir loyalty.

We have seen this in recent monthswith an increased demand for quality,especially in regard to nancial prod-ucts as a key to economic recovery. But

for Christians, and indeed for all peopleof good will, “quality” must alwaysinclude the quality of a corporation’s

moral compass. All of us—whether weare executives, employees, investorsor consumers—must insist that this bethe case.

This is not a job solely or even pri-marily for government, although gov-ernment policies can be used to helpcreate a more moral business climate.Each of us has a responsibility to loveour neighbor and to create an ethicalenvironment at home, at work and

throughout society.As a general model of business, then,

we can say with political economist and

author Peter Drucker (1909-2005) thatwe do not have a need for “businessethics”; our personal ethics—presentin every aspect of our lives—shouldeliminate the need for any specializedethics.

Basing profitability on time-testedmoral values means basing decisions onbedrock and not on the shifting sandsof the latest risky fad. This is a truththat Father McGivney understood, a

truth Pope Benedict understands, andit remains a guiding principle of theKnights of Columbus.

THE KCFAPI has recently conducted ameeting for the Area Managers in the Luzonregion.

The event was held at the main ofce of theKCFAPI in Intramuros, Manila last August12, 2010.

Among those present were Central Lu-zon Believers (CLB1); Central Luzon Con-querors (CLC); Central Luzon Diamonds(CLD); Metro Manila Achievers (MMA);Metro Manila Chancellors (MMC); MetroManila Dragons (MMD); Metro Manila

Excellence (MME); Northern Luzon GoldMiners (NL); Southern Luzon Lakers(SL) and the Southwestern Luzon Stars(SWL).

The meeting tackled the reports about thearea review and evaluation of performanceof each Area Manager. It specically tookup monitoring performance; analysis andimprovement measures.

Organizers said there has also been adiscussion on the membership of each ofthe area.

Following the talk was the oath taking ofthe newly elected Area Managers.

Meanwhile, KCFAPI President AlonsoL. Tan and Executive Vice President Ma.Theresa G. Curia have given inspirationalmessages to the attendees and participantsof the activity.

Also present were Joseph P. Teodoro, Vice-President of the Fraternal Benets Group;and Gari M. San Sebastian, Manager of theFraternal Benefits Services Department.(KCFAPI News)

Fourth Degree Knights assist in Black Nazarene Procession

KCFAPI conducts meeting for Area Managers in Luzon

THE Fourth Degree Knightsof Columbus members of theArchbishop Antonio FrondosaAssembly, AC-l796, helped dur-ing the procession of the imageof Nuestro Padre Jesus Naza-reno, better known as the BlackNazarene of Quiapo.

The procession was held on Au-gust l6-24, 2010 in Sapian, RoxasCity, where the Knights headed by

Faithful Navigator Laurie A. Luzaserved as Honor Guards.

It was through the initiative ofthe municipal government of Sa-pian, Capiz led by Mayor ArturoA. Orosco, Ph.D. and the parishof St. Ann headed by Fr. EugeneD. Caldeo, Jr., parish priest, thatmade the visit of the miraculousimage possible.

According to Orosco, this is

the second visit of the image ofNuestro Padre Jesus Nazarenoto the municipality; the rst wasin 2009.

“The pilgrim image was en-throned at the St. Ann Parishwhere a simple program washeld prior to the celebration ofa concelebrated mass presidedby Fr. Eugene D. Caldeo, Jr.,”said Bienvenido Cortes, District

Deputy of V-l39 in Roxas City.“Fr. Caldeo, during his hom-

ily said that, he hopes that thevisit of the pilgrim image willenable the faithful from all overthe province and the archdioceseto have the privilege of seeing,praying to and touching themiraculous image during itsnine-day stay in Sapian, Capiz,”Cortes added. (KCFAPI News)

The K nigh t s o f C o lum bus F ra -

t e rn a l Assoc ia t ion o f t he Ph i l-

i p p i n e s I n c . , is an established

and progressive mutual benefits

association operating for 51 years,

has been h ighly committed t o pro-

vide mutual aid and assistance to

its members and their immediate

families.

KCFAPI rmly believes that thecontinued progress and success of

the association depend s to a great

extent on its human capital.

KCFAPI also believes that through

training and a host of other benetsif coupled with h ard wor k, will help

employees and the association, at-

tain their goals and objectives.

In our continuous drive to provide

excellent service to our members,

we are curren tly on the look-out for

individuals with promising poten-

tials. He must b e dedicated, service

oriented, and willing to undergo

training.

Our compensation and employee

benefits are comparable, if not

better than m ost com panies of our

sam e size and nature of business.

Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines Inc.,

an established mutual benets association is currently looking for:

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL

ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.

Gen. Luna cor. Sta. Potenciana Sts.,

Intramuros, Manila

KC Family... Our Concern

AuditorAccounting Staff

BC Holders’ Relations Ofce Staff

Customer Relations AssistantH.R. & Corporate Communications Assistant

If you are dedicated, service-oriented, and have the prom-ising potential to join us in our continuous drive to providemutual aid, assistance and excellent service to our mem-bers. Kindly send your comprehensive resume’ thru fax

number 527-2244 or hand-carry resume’ with a 2x2 photoand transcript of records to:

You may also call 527 – 2223 local 202 for queries and look for Ms. Kristianne or Ms. April of the HumanResources & Corporate Communications Department.



The CrossC4 Vol. 14 No. 18Augus t 30 - September 12, 2010

CBCP Monitor

KC sem in ar ian -sch olar or da in ed to the sacred Or der of Deacon sREV. Jose Eliseo B. Buenviaje,one of the seminarian-scholarsof KC Fr. George J. WillmannCharities, Inc., was recently or-dained as Deacon by Most Rev.Antonio R. Tobias, D.D., Bishop

of Novaliches at the Good Shep-herd Cathedral in Fairview,Quezon City.

Rev. Buenviaje is the 3rd childof the late Eliseo and FlorindaBuenviaje. At an early age of six,he started to be attracted to thevocation of priesthood when hebecame the youngest altar serverin their Parish in Novaliches as-sisting their Parish Priest in allof the latter’s liturgical servicesand speaking engagements. In1987, he entered the Our Lady ofGuadalupe Minor Seminary.

He then continued his stud-ies at the San Carlos Seminaryuntil 1993 when he had to leavefor his regency. Thereafter, heenrolled at Sta. Isabel Collegefor a Bachelor’s Degree in Mu-

sic. At the same time, he servedas Parish Administrator at theSan Roque Parish in Pateros.

Rev. Jose Eliseo Buenviaje (in white cassock), anked by Grand Knight Brice Abella of Council 7178 (left) and District Deputy Raymund Gubat of District N-31 (right).

Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos

THE Luzon Squires Committeewill be attending the Recollec-

tion and Planning on September25-26, 2010 at the Alagad ni MariaRetreat House in Antipolo City.

Together with the Squiresstate officers, the recollectionwill be conducted by Squire StatePrior Msgr. Pedro Quitorio whois also the assistant state chaplainof KC Luzon.

A plan of action for the cur-rent Columbian year will bediscussed together with the Di-ocesan Area Chairmen and otherofficers during the scheduledrecollection, planning.

The Columbian Squires which

Scholar Alumnus of the MonthBishop Manl A. de l sant wa a clar f te Kngt f Clumbu Fr. McGvney Fund fr Advanced stude n Rme frm 1988 t1990. Te clar rgram wa funded bythe Knights of Columbus Supreme Ofce andadmntered lcally by te KC Fr. Gerge J.Wllmann Carte, inc.

Bishop de los Santos was born on August5, 1947 in Basud, Camarines Norte. He isthe second child of ten children of a devoutCatholic couple, Arcadio de los Santos andCorazon Alarkon.

Bishop Manolo nished his elementaryschooling at Caramoan Central School andhigh school education at the United HighSchool in Caramoan, Camarines Sur. Imme-diately, after graduating from high school,he started responding to the priestly call-ing. Seminary life started when he enteredthe Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in NagaCity. He obtained his Philosophy Degree atthe Holy Rosary Major Seminary and thencompleted his Theological Studies at theUniversity of Santo Tomas where he furtherearned a Licentiate in Canon Law.

After his ordination to the Sacred Order ofPriesthood on May 7, 1974 for the Archdio-cese of Caceres, he was assigned as Parochial

Vicar of Libmanan Parish. He was later des-ignated as Chancellor of the Archdiocese ofCaceres and Professor of the Holy RosaryMajor Seminary in Naga City.

On May 7, 1985, he was conferred theHonors of Papal Chamberlain at the Ba-

silica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafranciain Naga City where he served as Rectorfrom 1991-1993. Bishop Manolo became thesixth scholar of the Foundation during theschoolyear 1988-1989. He was granted atwo-year Doctoral course in Canon Law atthe Ponticia Universita Santo Tommaso inRome, Italy.

Upon his return to the Philippines, BishopManolo was assigned to various positionsrelated to the Canon Law Department andbecame Archdiocesan Director on Fam-

ily Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese ofCaceres. He was the Parish Priest of St.Anthony of Padua Parish in Iriga City priorto his being elevated as second Bishop ofVirac on September 12, 1994, twenty yearsafter his sacerdotal ordination. His instal-lation was held on October 10, 1994 at theImmaculate Conception Cathedral in Virac,Catanduanes.

Bishop Manolo de los Santos considershis call to the episcopacy as a mission. Hetakes on his responsibilities and assumesthe governance of the Diocese of Virac notin his name but as his Coat of Arms declaresIN NOMINI DOMINI—in the name of theLord. (Denise Solina)

is the youth organization of theKnights of Columbus is one of

the most dynamic leadershipdevelopment organizations foryoung Catholic men not only inthe Philippines but throughoutthe world.

Presently it has more than25,000 Catholic young men, ages10 to 18, in over 1,400 circlesworldwide.

Circles are active in countrieslike United States, Canada,Mexico, Philippines, PuertoRico, Guatemala, Panama, Cuba,the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands,Guam, and on U.S. military basesabroad. (Kate Laceda)

Luzon SquiresCommittee toattend recollection,planning

Upon completion of his Degreein Music, Rev. Buenviaje nextworked as Parish Administratorof the Ina ng Buhay Parish whilepursuing a Degree in Philosophyat Letran College.

By June 2000, he transferred tothe Holy Family Parish in Makatiduring which he worked in abank for almost a year. However,after all those years of reectionsand searching, Rev. Buenviajeconvinced himself to go after hisreal “calling”. With the guidanceof his Bishop, he completed hisPhilosophy Degree at the Christthe King Seminary and was ad-mitted for formation at the St. Joseph Formation House. Hewas then selected as one of thescholars of the Foundation dur-ing the schoolyear 2006-2007 fora ve-year course in Theology atMaryhill School of Theology.

At present, Rev. Buenviaje isenrolled as a fourth year Theol-ogy student. He hopes that by

next year after graduation, he willbe ordained to the Sacred Orderof Priesthood. (Denise Solina)

cbcpmonitor vol14 n18

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