CBCP Monitor Vol. 19 No. 13

8/21/2019 CBCP Monitor Vol. 19 No. 13

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MonitorVOLUME 19NUMBER 13PHP20.00

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

June 2 - July 5, 2015

CBCPMONITOR.COM [email protected]

CBCP

SUPPLEMENT ISSUE UGNAYAN: THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST

Missionary togov’t: Leave IP

schools in peace

A CAHO LIC mis siona rybrother and indigenous peoples(IP)’s rights advocate has calledon the Philippine govern-ment to respect the status ofeducational institutions forIP children for what they aresupposed to be: second home,peace zone, and preserver ofculture.

“As the second homes of ourchildren, schools must alwaysbe zones of peace. Children,including those of our indig-enous people, have all the right

to security without the threatof militarization or of beingcaught up in an encounter

with rebels,” Br. Martin Fran-cisco told CBCP News in aninterview.

WHAT’S INSIDE

Missionary, A6

CBCP: No torture – even for terror suspectsHE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of thePhilippines on uesday said that torture wasunacceptable to interrogate terror suspects.

While the bishops laud efforts to sparethe public from the threat of terrorism, theyinsisted that the use of torture is unjustifiableeven to extract information that might thwarta terror attack.

“We cannot countenance the torture ofsuspects even when motivated by the nobleend of ferreting out the truth, and sparinginnocent victims,” said Archbishop SocratesVillegas, CBCP president.

“Te savagery of all acts of torture contra-dicts all noble deeds,” he pointed out.

Te bishops were reacting to documentedreports from human rights watchdog AmnestyInternational about the prevalence of torturein the Philippines.

Tey also lamented the “culture of im-punity” by which authorities “take it uponthemselves to torture their victims”.

But the bishops said that acts of torture arenot only committed by law enforcers, citing

reports of torture inflicted by rebels, insur-gents, separatists, and bandit groups.

“Te fact that they have taken up armsagainst the government constitutes no justi-fication for the torture inflicted on others,”Villegas said.

“Nothing justifies torture, more so whenit is part of a scheme of lawlessness and sheerbrigandage,” he added.

Te CBCP also called on priests, religious,and lay people not only to assist victims oftorture and help “stomp put this scourge” byvigilance and discernment.

Villegas stressed laypeople must have the“Christian courage” to speak out againsttorture and even to testify in court against itsperpetrators.

“When we act with resoluteness againstthe perpetrators of torture, it is and shouldbe the incomparable dignity of the h umanperson that should be our end, and thecriterion of the rightness of our advocacyand endeavors,” he said. (Roy Lagarde/ CBCPNews)

Pro-choice group slammed

for ‘twisting’ Pope’s,prelates’ statements

A CONCERNED lay Catholi chas expressed alarm over what shedescribes as the “deceptive, cheap,and desperate” way with which thePhilippine Center for Populationand Development (PCPD) appearsto be misrepresenting pronounce-ments on reproductive health,responsible parenthood, and sexu-ality education by high-rankingCatholic officials, including noless than Pope Francis, in orderto advance their agenda, throughcomputer-generated graphics.

Misleading the public

“Philippine Center for Popula-tion and Development, a popu-lation control group and major

pusher of contraceptives in thePhilippines attempts to misleadthe public that Catholic leaders areone with them in advancing theiragenda by taking the clergymen’s

words out of context, putting themon a poster with their photos, andappending the SexEdPH hashtag,”says Anna Cosio, a registered nurseand a member of pro-life, pro-chastity, pro-family Catholic group

Youth for Life (Y4L), in a recentstatement she posted on the Face-book wall of Lingayen-Dagupan

Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, who also serves as president of the

Catholic Bishops’ Conference ofthe Philippines (CBCP).

FSP to continue campaign for media ‘with a soul’ JUS days after celebratingtheir centenary, the Daugh-ters of Saint Paul reaffirmedtheir commitment to creat-ing media with upliftingvalues for the next 100 yearsand beyond.

Blaming media for be-ing partly responsible forsociety’s crumbling sense ofmorality, former Philippineprovince superior Sr. Evan-gelina Canag (FSP) likenedher congregation to a tinyseed that, by God’s grace,germinates when planted,grows into plant, generatesbranches and, eventually,

bears fruits in its campaignfor media “with a soul.”

“Te Lord grew the seed,”she said. “Our congregationis like the seed, grown andnow spread in all the con-tinents.” From small thingsmay arise big things, byGod’s grace, Canag added.

Drawn away from faith According to Canag, the

battle field now includesonline platforms where“liberty is unbridled.”

Te culture and mental-ity that the mainstreammedia advocate draw people

from the faith, the religioussister said.

Am id th e im mo ra l-ity peddled by some main-stream media, media usersespecially the young, can besafeguarded through love,Felix said.

“Te best thing that theyoung people of today cando is to love,” she said. “Ifyou love truly, you do not

wish to destroy. You allowpeople to grow.”

Te congregation, whichuses the media to carry outits apostolate, will con-

CFC ‘seedbed’ for vocations— priests

ONE of the biggest Catholic laygroups is becoming the “seedbed”of priestly and religious vocationsin the country, Catholic priestssaid.

Fr. Ruper Solis, SVD, said Cou-ples for Christ (CFC) continues tostand out as a source of hope for theChurch, raising the morale amongthe faithful as whole, especiallythe youth.

“Te CFC is the seedbed of voca-tions,” Solis said in his homily dur-ing a Mass before the “Liveloud”

concert held at the World radeCenter in Pasay City on Friday.

“Because of CFC, many youngpeople were inspired to enter theseminary,” he said.

After the Mass, around a dozenSVD major seminarians—all for-mer members of the CFC–Youthfor Christ, were presented tothousands of people gathered atthe venue.

“Te CFC has become an instru-ment for promoting vocations,”said Solis, drawing loud cheers andapplause from the crowd.

Another SVD priest Fr. Jonathan

Letada, also called on CFC to con-

‘Pari Koy’ exorcism episode misleading – priestPRODUCERS and writ-ers of GMA 7’s televisionseries “Pari Koy” shouldbe careful not to misleadviewers about CatholicChurch’s teachings, espe-cially on exorcism.

his is what Fr. DanielEstacio, one of the six ex-orcists in the Archdioceseof Manila, stressed, not-ing a recent “Pari Koy”

episode wherein lead ac-tor Dingdong Dantes

(Fr. Kokoy) performedan exorcism, while tell-ing with the evil spirit:“Maawa ka na sa kanya…Ibalik mo na siya sa kan-yang ina. (Have pity onhim…Return him to hismother.)”

In a lecture before 435lay ministers of the Dio-cese of Pasig last Friday,Estacio said it is “mislead-

ing” to portray evil spiritsas “merciful.”

No mercy“he episode sends a

wrong message that we canplead with the demon, as ifit has mercy and compas-sion. Tis is very mislead-ing,” he said.

“When a priest-exorcistperforms an exorcism andexpelling demons, he isnot and should not make aplea or request the demon

to leave but rather com-

Young people raise hands in worship during the Liveloud Praise Concert held at theWorld Trade Center in Pasay City on June 12. R. LAGARDE/CBCPNEWS

Batches of FSP sisters, from 1948 to the most recent, look forwardto hundreds of years more as they mark a milestone in theircongregation’s history with a mini parade in celebration of their100th foundation anniversary on June 15, 2015 at their provincialhouse in Pasay City. RAYMOND SEBASTIAN

Pro-choice / A6 Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president FILE PHOTO

FSP / A7

Exorcism / A6Vocations / A1

Pope affirms CBCP ecologyefforts in new encyclicalBy Roy Lagarde

IT IS not something newbut Pope Francis’ citationof Filipino bishops in hisgroundbreaking letter on the

environment shows that localefforts on caring for creationare on the “right track”, achurch ofcial said.

In his nearly 200-page encyclical en-titled Laudato Si’ (Be Praised) , the pontiffcited a document of the Catholic Bishops’Conference of the Philippines on theenvironment.

“Who turned the wonder world of theseas into underwater cemeteries bereft ofcolor and life?” the Pope quoted a CBCPpastoral letter on ecology when he talkedabout the destruction of marine resources.

‘Right direction’Published in January 1988, the statement

entitled “What is happening to our beauti-ful land?” is the world’s first pastoral letterof Catholic bishops on the environment.

Te landmark document was even ad-

opted and published by the United StatesConference of Catholic Bishops. After almost three decades, Laudato Si’ is

said to be the Vatican’s first major teachingon the environment and climate change.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCPpresident, said the citation was recognitionof the pastoral efforts of the local Church inthe area of ecological stewardship.

“It is an affirmation that we in the Philip-pines are in the right direction in teachingthat creation is a gift that must be caredfor,” Villegas said.

He, however, clarified that this was notthe first time the Pope cited the CBCP inan encyclical.

Efforts, A7

Pope Francis receives participants in the 9th plenary assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation led by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, at the Vaticanon June 19, 2015. The assembly of the worldwide association of Episcopal Conferences and more than 200 Catholic Biblical institutions is the first over which Tagleis presiding as the new CBF President. L’ OSSERVATORE ROMANO

Te first encyclical wholly

from Francis overturns

expectations, A1

Laudato Si’ Message of His

Holiness Pope Francis for

Lent 2015, B1

I L L U S T R A T I O N B Y B R O T H E R M A T I A S


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A2 CBCP Monitor June 22 - July 5, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 13WORLD NEWS

Pope’s encyclical urges Korea to ‘rethinkits development’DAEJON, South Korea, June 20,2015—Pope Francis encyclicalon ecology and care for creation“will push South Korea to rethinkits development model, helpingthe country and the populationto reach an ecological conversion

which we desperately need. I cansay with joy that my country hastaken it very seriously: now it is upto the local church to study it andlearn as much as possible from it”says Mgr. Lazzaro You Heung-sik,president of the Episcopal Com-mission for Justice and Peace, andBishop of Daejeon.

Te prelate met this morning with journali sts of major news-papers in the headquarters of theKorean Bishops’ Conference (see.Photo) to explain the contents ofthe encyclical: “Tere were manydifferent opinions, but I can say

with great satisfaction that all thereporters present were said veryhappy with Pope Francis’ text.For my part I wanted to thank thePope and Cardinal. urkson, who

helped us to prepare ahead of itspublication. “

Te “Laudato sì: on care of ourcommon home” is dense and fullof practical recipes for ecologicalprotection, “these are issues herethat we take very seriously. We

have so many problems relatedto the environment - I think theproject of the four rivers, theenergy issue, the development ofnuclear power - and as a Church

we become increasingly aware thatthe challenges we face, we cannotlimit ourselves to just denouncingthe situation. In the country thereis still a lack of awareness of recy -cling, we are the 12th country in

the world for density of pollutantemissions, we waste a lot of energy... In short, we really contaminatethe air and water. “

Some say that this is the priceto pay for economic develop-ment: “his is wrong. Economic

growth and environmental pro-tection can coexist, but thisrequires an internal conversionby all of us. It is true that theState and the multinationalsmust inevitably make the mostsignificant steps, but oftenthey have economic or politicalinterests that are at odds withthe harmony of creation. heyfirst have to take the Pope’s

invitation seriously. I believe weneed to provoke real debate, realdialogue on these realities thatis not just ideological. We mustchange the way we live our lives. “

o do so “would be enough tostart with the little things, those

US bishops on ‘Laudato Si’ – it’s about conversion WASHINGON D.C., June 18, 2015—Sev-eral leading U.S. bishops praised the new papalencyclical as an invitation to turn away from sinand grow closer to God through a relationshipto the created world.

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, presi-dent of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bish-ops, described the document as fundamentallyan invitation to deeper conversion.

“It’s about our Holy Father saying everyoneshould take responsibility, and sin is not takingresponsibility for the truth,” he told CNA June18. “Sin is both individual and social,” he added,“one does not negate the other. And so personaldecisions that we make are important.”

“We understand that it is as he said in com-munion with everyone, that we seek the com-mon good. And that is a very forceful call. It isa call for conversion.”

Te archbishop spoke at the National PressClub in Washington, D.C. on Tursday morn-ing. He was joined by Cardinal Donald Wuerlof Washington.

Tey discussed Pope Francis’ new encyclical, which was officially published June 18. Te184-page document is entitled “Laudato Si,”taken from the Canticle of St. Francis praisingGod for his creation.

“We not only receive this message with joy,but we seek to be responsible in caring for our

common home, a home that God has entrustedto us,” Archbishop Kurtz told reporters.Te encyclical applies faith to today’s issues in

“reading the signs of the times,” said Cardinal Wuerl.

He added that the encyclical’s use of empiricaldata “shows his [Pope Francis’] and the Church’sdeep respect for the world of science and theunderstanding that it is a domain of i ts own.”

While focused on the environment, “Laudato

Si” also addresses the broader relationship ofhumans to nature, to each other, and to God.It discusses the connection between sin and thedegradation of the environment, condemningthe overconsumption of natural resources as wellas a similar disregard for God’s creation throughabortion and population control.

While the document is addres sed to the whole world, Archbishop Kurtz told CNA that

the United States has a specific role to play inpromoting its teachings.“We in the United States, I think we do have

a special responsibility to look for the ways in which we can care for others and not be con-cerned only about self-interest,” he said.

Te archbishop also warned people not to tai-lor the encyclical to their own narrow interests.

“When it becomes simply an economic or apolitical policy paper,” he said of selective read-ers, “they miss the message. It’s that important.Because the message is much more profound.”

Pope Francis makes this point in the encycli-cal, he noted, dismissing a narrow “biocentrism”that shows concern only for the earth and notfor human persons. Francis also criticizes a“technocratic approach” that values technologi-cal progress while ignoring its effect on peopleand the environment, Archbishop Kurtz added.

While citing scientific studies on climatechange and its causes, Pope Francis still leaves

room for “dialogue” on the matter, and this isclear at the end of the document, the archbishopaffirmed.

“He also says at the end that in calling fordialogue, he does not in any way give the im-pression that the Church is s ettling questions ofscience,” he said. “[Pope Francis] knows that indialogue with others, there’s a great respect forthat human person, for our creativity.”

Other bishops throughout the U.S. also

issued statements reflecting on “Laudato Si.” Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles said

in his weekly column for Te idings that whatstruck him most about the encyclical was “thesense of urgency and the personal tone.”

“Laudato Si is not so much a work of politicsor economics—it is a moral and spiritual reflec-tion on our times,” he said.

Inviting all the members of his archdiocese

to read the encyclical and reflect on ways to putit into practice, Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta reflected that “Te Holy Father wantsus all to take seriously the issues that face ourplanet – not only from an economic perspective,but out of genuine ethical concern for all of thepeople with whom we share it.”

Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha echoedthis notion, also saying that the Pope is calling“individuals, families, communities, corpora-tions and nations to a fresh way of thinkingand acting.”

“As previous popes have done, he urges us toreject a utilitarian consumerism that does notpreserve the environment for future generationsand that shows a harsh disregard for the poortoday, the archbishop said.

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, whose city will host Pope Francis during hisvisit to the United States this September, also

welcomed the encyclical, which he described

as “a deep and complex appeal to conscience, achallenge to all of us to reexamine our steward-ship of the environment and our love for theglobal poor.”

“As Philadelphians prepare for the WorldMeeting of Families this fall, Pope Francis re-minds us that the family is a school of love andresponsibility, the seed of a ‘culture of life’ thatincludes the dignity of the earth and the needsof all its peoples,” the archbishop added. (CNA)

Catholics in Holy Land aggrieved by arson attack

on monastery in Israel JERUS ALEM, Isra el, June 19,2015—Catholic leaders have been

joined by Israeli leaders in theirconcerned reaction to Tursday’s

attack on a church located on theSea of Galilee, which has hospi-talized two persons and causedextensive damage.

In the early hours of June 18,the attackers started a fire at theChurch of the Multiplication inabgha, located 120 miles northof Jerusalem. Te church is builton the site where Christ fed the5,000 through the multiplicationof loaves and fish, and is joinedto a Benedictine monastery. As aresult of the arson, a monk and astaff member were hospitalized andtreated for smoke inhalation.

“here is a real escalation inanti-Christian violence: from asmall fire which leaves little dam-age, to a bigger fire, and finally toan arson attack which is intended

to produce major damage and evenkilling,” lamented Bishop WilliamShomali, Auxiliary Bishop of thePatriarchate of Jerusalem, in an in-terview with the Catholic pastoralcharity Aid to the Church in Need.

“We are allowed to ask: what willcome next?”

Te attackers left Hebrew graffition the walls, reading “all idols willbe smashed”, which suggests they

were Jewish extremists. Accordingto Te imes of Israel, the graffitiis a quote from the “Aleinu” prayer,

which is prayed three times eachday in Jewish services.

Bishop Shomali commented, “Iam still inclined to think that theact is perpetrated by a very smalland aggressive group. I cannot putall Israelis in the same basket, since

there are the liberal and tolerant Jews, those who are less, and fi-

nally those who hate thenon-Jews. My fear is thatthese radicals are increas-ing in number and in the

degree of intolerance.”Te Israeli prime min-

ister, Benjamin Netan-yahu, called the arson“an attack on us all,”adding that “in Israelfreedom of worship isone of our core valuesand is guaranteed underthe law. Tose respon-sible for this despicablecrime will face the fullforce of the law. Hateand intolerance have noplace in our society.”

Israeli president Re-uven Rivlin commentedthat “such terrible des-ecration of an ancientand holy place of prayer,

Vatican Briefing

Pope Francis speaks up for Italy’s unemployed youth Youth unemployment is “a true social plague” that leaves youngpeople feeling useless, Pope Francis told an Italian labor groupon June 20. “Te human being is the center of development, andas long as men and women remain passive or marginalized, thecommon good cannot be considered fully met,” the Pope toldmembers of the Italian National Federation of the Knights of

Labor at the Apostolic Palace in a June 20 audience. Te pontiffsaid the world of work should be ready and waiting for youngpeople and the fresh strengths they bring. However, in recent yearsyoung people have received the message that “there is no need ofthem.” “Tis is a symptom of a grave dysfunction, which cannotbe attributed only to global and international causes,” he said.Italy’s official overall unemployment rate is above 12 percent. Itsyouth unemployment is about 40 percent, according to EuropeanUnion figure. (CNA)

Will Pope Francis change the date of Easter?Speaking to a global gathering of priests, Pope Francis signaledopenness to changing the date of Easter in the West so that allChristians around the world could celebrate the feast on the sameday. Te Pope on June 12 said “we have to come to an agreement”for a common date on Easter. His comments came in remarks tothe World Retreat of Priests at the Basilica of Saint John Lateranin Rome. Te event drew priests from five continents. Te Pope

joked that Christians could say to one another: “When did Christrise from the dead? My Christ rose today, and yours next week,”adding that this disunity is a scandal. (CNA)

In Vatican trial, former archbishop faces sex abuse chargesFormer papal nuncio Josef Wesolowski will be tried by the Vati-can’s criminal court for sexual abuse of minors and for possessionof child pornography. Te Vatican has said that Pope Francis“wishes to address (the case) justly and rigorously.” Fr. FedericoLombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, said last yearthat “from the very first moments that this case was made knownto them, moved without delay and correctly in light of the factthat former nuncio Wesolowski held the position of a diplomaticrepresentative of the Holy See,” particularly in recalling the formernuncio to Rome for canonical trial. Wesolowski, a Polish-bornlaicized archbishop, was papal nuncio to the Dominican Republicfrom 2008 until he resigned in August 2013 due to allegationsthat he had paid for sexual relations with minors. (CNA)

Pope confirms plans to visit Central African Republic, Ugandain NovemberPope Francis said on June 12 that he is planning to travel to

Africa in November, specifically to the Central African Republic,Uganda, and possibly Kenya. During a meeting with hundreds ofpriests from around the world participating in the Tird WorldPriests Retreat in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Poperesponded to the question from an African priest asking whenhe planned to come to Africa. “God willing, I will be in Africain November. In the Central African Republic first and thenUganda,” he responded. Te pontiff added that it “is possible”that he may also go to Kenya, but said this is not certain, becauseof organizational challenges. (CNA)

Airport evangelization: Pope talks mercy, migrants, ministry in the airPope Francis told a group of airport chaplains that their call is to bea sign of unity and mercy for the many different faces and culturesthat come through airports, including undocumented migrantsand asylum seekers. “Te airport is a place of encounter for manypeople who travel, for work, for tourism, for other reasons; theyare also points of transit for migrants and refugees, children andelderly, who need special care and attention,” the Pope said June12. He made his comments to participants in the International

Seminar of Catholic Civil Aviation Chaplains, organized by thePontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and ItinerantPeoples. Te theme of the encounter was “Evangelii gaudium:

A Support for the Pastoral Care of Airport Chaplaincy.” (CNA)

Pope to Special Olympics athletes: Help society, church beat exclusionHelp society and the church overcome all forms of discrimina-tion and exclusion, Pope Francis told a delegation of SpecialOlympics athletes. He encouraged the athletes to keep helpingeach other “discover your potential and to love life and appre-ciate it with all of its limits and, above all, beautiful aspects.”Te pope’s comments came during an audience June 19 in theapostolic palace with Special Olympics directors, coaches, fam-ily members and athletes, who will be representing Italy at thegames in Los Angeles July 25-Aug. 2. Te world of sports canlook to the church to help guide it in fulfilling its true meaningas an educational, physical and recreational activity that fosterspeople’s dignity, he said. (CNS)

Parents transmit church teaching on marriage by example, pope saysChildren need to see their parents kiss each other, complementeach other and resolve arguments peacefully, Pope Francis said.“Dear parents, your children need to discover by watching youthat it is beautiful to love another,” the pope told parents par-ticipating in the annual pastoral conference of the Diocese ofRome. Parents with their children preparing for first Communionand confirmation, catechists and priests joined the pope for anevening meeting in St. Peter’s Square June 14. Te event markedthe beginning of the diocesan conference, which focused this yearon transmitting the faith. (CNS)

Vatican suspends donation agreement until soccer investigation ends A charity for youth established by Pope Francis has suspended adonations agreement with a South American soccer federation,following the corruption scandal that erupted last month withthe worldwide soccer federation, FIFA. Te South Americanfederation CONMEBOL had pledged to donate $10,000 to theVatican charity Scholas Occurrentes for every goal scored duringthe America Cup, which began in Chile June 11. Te federa-

tion had signed the agreement in the presence of Pope Francisat the Vatican April 21. Te charity issued a Spanish-languagepress release June 11, signed by Archbishop Sanchez, saying it“will refrain from receiving any funds until the ongoing judicialinvestigation is clarified.” (CNS)

Pope asks Waldensians to forgive wrongs, urges youth tolove chastelyIn a world of “soap-bubble values,” hypocrisy and delusion, PopeFrancis told young people to fight back with real love and told

workers to build a new economy based on creativity and cour-age. He also asked the Waldensians, whom the Catholic Churchexcommunicated and persecuted hundreds of years ago, forforgiveness. “I ask you for forgiveness for the un-Christian, eveninhuman, attitude and behavior that we had against you overhistory,” he told representatives and members of the Waldensiancommunity June 22 in urin. Te historic gesture was part ofPope Francis’ two-day pastoral trip to the northern Italian city.Te pope visited June 21-22 to venerate the Shroud of urin as

well as commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of St. John Bosco. (CNS)

is an attack on the very fabric of

life in our country—Israel, as astate and a society, is obligated toprotect and preserve the holy sites,for all faiths.”

Te arson did extensive damageto the monastery, the church en-trance, an office for pilgrims, anda book storage room.

“Hundreds of thousands ofpilgrims have visited here, haveprayed here, have had Mass atthis Holy Site. In many waysit was a haven of peace andtranquility which has now beendisfigured by misguided zealots

wh o ha ve no re sp ec t fo r th ereligious beliefs of others,” Fr.Peter Vasko, OFM, presid ent ofthe Franciscan Foundation forthe Holy Land, stated.

“It is indeed a sad day here in

the Holy Land, in Israel for all thepeople living here, Jews, Christians

and Muslims. Tere is a great need

on the part of all religious leadersin this country to stress the value oftolerance and respect among theiradherents.”

He added that “At this momentall we can do is to forgive those

who committed this crime and tosomehow rebuild again as we try topractice the gospel values that ourLord taught us.”

Fr. Vasko reported that the Bene-dictine community who operatethe monastery have said, “We willnot permit a small group of fanaticsto divide the people of this land.Te injury will always be there asit was a terrible thing for us—but

we will overcome it.”Te Assembly of Catholic Or-

dinaries of the Holy Land said,“Given the severity of the crime, we

demand a rapid investigation, andthat the perpetrators of this act of

vandalism are brought to justice.”

Te Church of the Multiplica-tion had been vandalized pre-viously, in April, when Jewishextremists destroyed crosses in themonastery’s outdoor prayer area,and threw stones at worshippers.

Fr. Jamal Khader, rector of thePatriarchate of Jerusalem’s semi-nary in Beit Jala, lamented that thearsonists could have been enabledby officials’ lax reactions to similarattacks in the past.

“We had incidents includingat abgha and Dormition Abbey

where Isra eli authorit ies didn’tdo enough to stop them, so weexpected such a crime and thismay continue if the authoritiesdon’t take concrete steps to stopit, to show they are serious inprotecting the holy places in the

Holy Land,” he told he Inde-pendent. (CNA)

Devastation from an arson attack on the Catholic Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha, Israel,suspected to have been carried out by Jewish extremists. LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM

that each of us does every day.Saving water when brushingyour teeth, turning off electronicdevices when not in use ... heyseem minutiae but are importantthings, which if everyone prac-tices then can really contributeto saving the world. “

In short, said Msgr. You, “wemust consume less and create anew energy policy. Tis dependsnot only on government, but ona shared political vision that unitesus all. I think that the Pope’s posi-tion on ecology is the key to Korea.Te relationship between man andGod, the relationship betweenmen, the relationship betweenman and nature are three inherentrealities of which, here in Asia, weare not yet fully aware. “

Tis morning, the bishop con-cludes, “a journalist asked me

what the Church wants the Koreansociety to do with respect this en-cyclical. I replied that the Catholiccommunity want this text to betaken seriously, as a gift and a warn-

ing that comes from our universalpastor. We want to keep the spiritand the soul of this text, and tryto put them into practice. We areready to do our part, and we will doeverything to turn Francis’ invita-tion into a reality. “ (AsiaNews)

Kkottongnaeon, South Korea - August 16, 2014: Pope Francis speaks to religious sistersand brother from communities across Korea at the Training Center “School of Love” inKkottongnaeon, South Korea on August 16, 2014. CNA


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A3CBCP Monitor June 22 - July 5, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 13 NEWS FEATURES

The first encyclical wholly from Francisoverturns expectationsVAICAN City, June 19 ,2015—’Laudato si’ is not only anexample of the Magisterium’s social

teaching: it also represents the birthof a new literary genre among papaldocuments.

Normally in the modern epoch,Popes have included in encyclicalsdoctrinal themes. But ‘Laudato si’is not a doctrinal text—it is rathera pastoral letter based on the clas-sical Latin American method: see,

judge, act.Pope Francis begins his encycli-

cal by inviting readers to marvel,like St. Francis of Assisi, beforecreation, which he says is the onlypath toward an integrated ecology.He then explains what his encycli-cal will do.

“I will begin,” the Pope writes,“by briefly reviewing several as-pects of the present ecologicalcrisis, with the aim of drawing on

the results of the best scientificresearch available today, lettingthem touch us deeply and pro-vide a concrete foundation forthe ethical and spiritual itinerary

that follows. I will then considersome principles drawn from the

Judaeo-Christian tradition which

can render our commitment tothe environment more coherent.I will then attempt to get to theroots of the present situation, so asto consider not only its symptomsbut also its deepest causes.”

“In light of this reflection, I will advance some broader pro-posals for dialogue and action

which would involve each of usas individuals, and also affectinternational policy. Finally … I

will offer some inspired guidelinesfor human development to befound in the treasure of Christianspiritual experience.”

here is no better synthesis.Te Pope’s aim is to give peopleinformation that they might be-come conscious of the necessityof an “ecological conversion,” an

expression borrowed from St. JohnPaul II.Tus the Pope chose to cite not

only Church Fathers and Scripture,but bishops conferences and some

modern thinkers. He made roomalso for the thought of the EasternOrthodox Ecumenical Patriarch,Bartholomew, and even cited,though merely in a footnote, a Sufi

thinker, Ali al-Khawas.It is the same method as in‘Evangelii gaudium’, thoughan apostolic exhortation cer-tainly has a different magisterial

value than does an encyclical.In ‘Evangelii gaudium’ the Popehad suggested that b ishops

conferences could be given adoctrinal power they do nothave at the moment. he lastpapal document on the subject

was St. John Paul II’s 1998 motuproprio ‘Apostolos Suos’, and hispost-synodal apostolic exhorta-tion ‘Pastores gregis’.

But Pope Francis seems to wantto go farther. In this sense, the“green” encyclical of the Popeseems to be a manual, a text to usein catechesis, and in internationalpolicy forums to combat lobbiesand powers.

Te practical directives whichdot the text of the encyclical are aradical change in style.

Public transportation, air con-ditioning, and recycled paperseem, a first glance, of little

importance in a magisterial text.But for Francis, they are the verypurpose of the text – a purposeprincipally pastoral, as pastoral asthe directives to pray at meals, or

to “adopt” city monuments andto care for them, for the benefitof all.

And pastoral care is the centralidea of integral ecology, which isthe care of both the earth and ofmankind.

It is not only directives, however.Te Pope inserts in the text all theclassic themes of “human ecology,”

while adding in such directions.Moreover, the encyclical, as are

all encyclicals of recent decades,is aimed at all men of good will.Tus the choice of the two prayersat the encyclical’s closing: oneshared “with all who believe ina God who is the all-powerfulCreator,” and the othe r a uniquelyChristian prayer.

Bergoglio’s method, with manydramatic descriptions of reality

which leave one to think in theend that the Christian faith is an

invitation to joy: “Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and ourconcern for this planet never takeaway the joy of our hope.” (Angela Ambrogetti/CNA/EWTN News)

The title of Pope Francis’ latest encyclical is taken from Saint Francis of Assisi’s “Canticleof the Sun,” where the saint reflects on the Earth as a sister and mother. RUSSELL PALMA

Pope: Concern for poor is sign of Gospel,

not red flag of communismVAICAN, June 16, 2015—Focusingon poverty and sacrificing for the poorare the heart of the Gospel, not signs ofcommunism, Pope Francis said at hismorning Mass.

Furthermore, if Christians don’t digdeep and generously open up their wallets,they do not have “genuine faith,” the pope

said June 16 during the Mass in the chapelof the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

He said people often hear, “Oh, thispriest speaks about poverty too much, thisbishop talks about poverty, this Christian,this sister talk about poverty. Well, they’rea bit communist, aren’t they?”

But “poverty is precisely at the heart ofthe Gospel. If we were to remove povertyfrom the Gospel, people would understandnothing about Jesus’ message,” he said,according to Vatican Radio.

Being fully Christian means being richin spirit, faith, the Word, wisdom and

zeal—things that Jesus has taught and of-fered all people, he said.

Make sure, however, that this hugeamount of “wealth in the heart” also im-pacts the wallet, he said, because “when thefaith doesn’t reach your pockets, it is nota genuine faith.”

Pope Francis said the “theology of pov-

erty” is based on the fact that Jesus—inhis divine richness—became poor; helowered himself and sacrificed himself tosave humanity.

Te Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor inspirit,” means “letting oneself be enrichedby the poverty of Christ and not wantingto be rich with those riches that are notfrom Christ,” he said.

Christian giving goes beyond plain char-ity, which is good, but isn’t the “Christianpoverty” believers are called to embrace,he said. “Christian poverty is: I give to thepoor what is mine, not the excess, but also

what is necessary” for one’s own well-being.Christians do this because they know

that sacrificing in such a way enrichesthem, he said. “And why does the poorperson enrich me? Because Jesus said thathe himself is in the poor.”

When people strip themselves of thematerial, “Jesus works within” them and

they are enriched; when people give to thepoor, Jesus is also working in the poor, “inorder to enrich me when I do this,” thepope said.

Te clearest sign Jesus left of how givingenriches others, the pope said, is the giftof himself in the Eucharist. “He becomes‘bread’ for us.”

Tat is why the “theology of poverty” isthe heart of the Gospel and not “an ideol-ogy. It is precisely this mystery, the mysteryof Christ who lowered himself, was humili-ated, made himself poor in order to enrichus.” (Carol Glatz/Catholic News Service)

Will Pope Francis change

the date of Easter?

An image of the Resurrected Christ is brought out in procession in Baclaran Church on Easter Wednesday.RAYMOND SEBASTIAN

Pray, do your part – ‘Running priest’ to ‘Yolanda’ survivorsACLOBAN City, June 14,

2015—“It is not enoughthat whenever problemscome, we will pray to God toeliminate the problem,” Fr.Robert Reyes, also known asthe “Running Priest” urged

Yolanda surv ivors , addingthat action on their part isalso needed.

“Let us not [test] God.God helps those who helpthemselves,” the priest saidin an interview after Mayor

Alfred Romualdez talked tohundreds of urban poor whoheld a rally at the city hallgrounds.

“St Paul said: ‘Prayers arenot enough; good works andprayers should go together,”Reyes further said in answer

to the coastal barangay dwell-ers’ insistence to remain atthe danger zone where theirlivelihood is located.

Action needed“Tat is why our mantra

is pray, study, and move,”he stressed, expounding that

with “study goes communi-cation.”

“But it is not enough totalk. Te mayor will contrib-ute his part and his people

will have to continue his partand both have to do things

for the good of acloban,”

he urged.Reyes, a champion of the

poor and a strong supporterof the non-profit organiza-tion Urban Poor Associates,

was in the city on Tursday June 11 to confirm reportsabout the city government’splan to evict about 40 fam-ilies in the storm surge-ravaged seaside Old RoadSagkahan area.

On his initiative, a dialogue was held between Romualdezand representatives of theurban poor who are stronglyopposed to the transfer ofthe families to a transitionalshelter in the uphill northernbarangay.

Seaside homesFollowing three hours ofpeaceful talk between theurban poor folks and themayor, in the presence ofReyes and local news men,the pro-poor priest advisedthe Old Road Sagkahanurban poor representativespresent to study, meet anddiscuss well their positionon the issue and translate

whatever they have discussedinto clear terms.

As of now, there is yet agreater need for houses for

those whose seaside homes

were seve rely damaged bysuper typhoon Yolanda’sstorm surge on Nov. 8, 2013.

Wit h no ava ila ble lot sthat the government couldpurchase near the seasidevillages, transitional housesbuilt at an uphill northernbarangay.

In a rehabilitation forumorganized last year by thecity government, the UnitedNations – Habitat, whichhelped the city governmentmap out a plan for a ty -phoon-resilient communityin line with the thrust to“build back better and safer”,proposed expanding the city’seconomic center closer to thesaid northern barangay.

his, however, will takemore years as more infra-structures have yet to be putin place and public utilitiessuch as stable water supply,electricity, and communica-tion lines have to be installed.

Possible tsunamiTe city government’s fi-

nancial situation, accordingto city officials, is a major fac-tor that left the city govern-ment with no other optionsthan to move the survivorsfrom the coastal barangays

to the northern barangay

where fishing is not a feasiblelivelihood.

Te Pope Francis Center, where Caritas Philippines isbuilding homes for Yolandasurvivors, was once touted aspart of the northern baran-gay, including Abucay.

Tis was until economicactivities started to bloomin the said area over theyears, especially after the citygovernment put up a busterminal in Abucay and ahuge lot was marked out for adepartment store’s expansionsupposedly in 2015.

Reyes, in an interview,reiterated Romualdez’ con-cern over the safety of thedwellers’ children which is

the main reason the dwell-ers are being encouragedto transfer to safer groundsaway from threat of anotherstorm surge.

“As the mayor stated, theyare not precluded from do-ing their livelihood if theyare fishermen, they can con-tinue, but please keep yourchildren safe from futurecalamities such as tsunami

which is bigger than a stormsurge,” Reyes pointed out. (Eileen Nazareno-Balleste-ros/CBCP News)

VAICAN CIY, June 19, 2015—Speak-ing to a global gathering of priests, PopeFrancis signaled an openness to changingthe date of Easter in the West so that allChristians around the world could cel-ebrate the feast on the same day.

Te Pope on June 12 said “we have tocome to an agreement” for a common dateon Easter.

His comments came in remarks to the World Retreat of Priests at the Basilica of

Saint John Lateran in Rome. Te eventdrew priests from five continents.Te Pope joked that Christians could

say to one another: “When did Christ risefrom the dead? My Christ rose today, andyours next week,” adding that this disunityis a scandal.

Te Orthodox churches normally cel-ebrate Easter a week after the Catholics.Some Orthodox leaders have also reflectedon the dating of the Christian holy day. InMay, Coptic Orthodox Pope awadros II

wrote to the papal nuncio in Egypt sug-gesting a common date for Easter.

Historian Lucetta Scaraffia, writing inthe Vatican daily newspaper L’OsservatoreRomano, said the Pope is offering this initia-tive to change the date of Easter “as a gift ofunity with the other Christian churches.”

A common date for Easter, she said,

would encourage “reconciliation betweenthe Christian churches and …a sort ofmaking sense out of the calendar.”

She noted that the proposal could helpreinforce the identity of persecuted Chris-tians, particularly those in the Easternchurches that are at risk of disappearing.

Scaraffia wrote that the simultaneouscelebration of the Resurrection by allChristians “would increase the importanceof the central feast of the fai th in a moment

when changes seem to be suddenly comingthroughout the world.”“Te Pope’s remarks implicitly under-

score an important fact: in the countries where Christian identity is being overshad-owed, the marking of time continues to betied to the life of Jesus,” she added. “Wealso know also that the calendar is not onlya convention but also something profoundand symbolically relevant.”

Scaraffia said Easter and related feasts“constitute a distinct aspect of the liturgi-cal year because they are connected witha cycle of time that repeats every year andmarks the returns of the seasons.”\

She also pointed out that the date ofEaster is established based on the cycle ofthe moon, just as the Muslims and Jewsestablish their important feasts with thelunar calendar. (CNA)

Altar servers told: Be witnesses of faithMALIA, Davao Occidental, June 12,2015—Being one of the visible person-alities in the celebration of the HolyEucharist, altar servers are told to become

witnesses of the Catholic faith.Te parish priest of Sto. Rosario Parish

said members of the Knights of the AltarServers (KOAS) should serve as examplesto young people through their kind of

witnessing as Catholics.“Be witnesses in the renewal of faith,”

said Fr. Kim Cossid, parish priest to thehundreds of KOAS members who gath-ered for the 1st MaLiMaDo Conventionlast May 21 to 22.

Cossid, who officiated the Mass duringthe course of the two-day activity, said altarservers should also make the Eucharist an

important part of their lives. Altar ser vers from the paris hes and

mission stations in Malita, Little Baguio,Matamis, and Don Marcelino (MaLiMaDo)in Davao Occidental Province participated inthe activities like the Marian procession, cul-tural presentations, and sportsfest. Te wholeactivity reflected on a Year of the Poor-relatedtheme, “Do Justice and Love Kindness.”

In the past, the KOAS of the Dioceseof Digos usually hold an annual diocesanconvention but this year, they opted tohave the gathering at the vicariate level todevelop camaraderie among its members.Te diocesan convention will now be heldevery two years.

Te organizers are hoping that KOASmembers will understand even more theirsignificant role in the celebration of theHoly Eucharist, being the servers of the

altar. (John Frances C. Fuentes/CBCPNews)

Prelate explains why Pinoys are ‘truly rich’

PASAY City, June 13, 2015 – Te “PoorMan of Asia”. Tis is just one of the lessthan flattering things the Philippineshas been called, but a prelate recently af-firmed how Filipinos are wealthy in thetruest sense.

“Te richness that we (Filipinos) have, isthe richness that comes from the blessingof the Lord, not the richness of the world,”said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma during aMass at the 7th National Catholic Char-ismatic Congress on June 6 at the SMXConvention Center.

elling the estimated 5,500 attendeesstory after story about Filipinos’ naturalsense of faith and hope, the prelate saidhis prayer is for Pinoys to recognize thisspiritual richness as a grace from God.

‘Rich Filipinos’“My point is we are rich in faith and may

we recognize that because that is the good-ness, the blesing that we share,” he added.

Acc ord ing to the for mer Catho licBishops’ Conference of the Philippines(CBCP) president, a recent meeting forthe upcoming International EucharisticCongress in January 2016 had ArchbishopPiero Marini, president of the PontificalCommittee for International EucharisticCongresses (IEC) commenting on thisrichness of Filipinos.

During an IEC meeting from April 24to 28, Palma quoted Marini as saying:“Many Filipinos will say ‘We’re a poorcountry” and yet…I’d like you to noticehow rich you are. You are rich in hope,

joy, faith. And I see lot of lay people veryactive, and of course, volunteering, reach-ing out to others for the love of God andfor the Church.”

Palma was also quick to remind Filipinoseverywhere to ignore the world’s measuresof success as the number of “cars that you

park or the money in the bank” and to lookinstead at what really matters.

Goodness of the Lordhe prelate also recounted another

story of how a parish priest in Swit-zerland thanked him profusely, saying,“Tank you very much. Tank you forthe Filipinos!”

According to Palma, the parish priest, who heads three big churches, has onlyseven regular Mass-goers. Te situationgot even more challenging, he said, whentwo of them died. Tings changed whenthe Filipino group, the Association of SanPedro Calungsod, decided to come everySunday.

“Our church is full…And they sing sobeautifully!”, Palma quoted the priest assaying.

“Tis is the reality in many places…oday, I’d like us to thank the Lord forthis richness..[Our richness is] our firmconviction in the goodness of the Lord,”

he said in conclusion. (Nirva’ana EllaDelacruz/CBCPNews)


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EDIORIAL

IN the life of the Church, the Eucharist stands as both the source andgoal of this dialogue. By our participation in the Eucharistic Celebra-tion, we enter into a communion of life wi th the riune God because we are inserted into the dialogue of life and salvation that began inhistory and now perpetuated in liturgical mystery in the power of theHoly Spirit. Te various elements of the celebration engage our body,our senses, our consciousness and our affectivity in that dialogue whichunfolds enabling us to share in the rhythm of Christ’s life offered forour salvation.

By gathering and forming an assembly of worship, we respond to theFather’s summons to be his covenanted people. By listening to and as-similating the Word proclaimed, we engage in a dialogue whereby theFather heals, forms, and enriches us with his life and love, especially withthe help of a homily which, on account of its Eucharistic context, surpassesall forms of catechesis because it leads up to sacramental communion.

In a singular way, we enter into a dialogue of life with the riuneGod by eating Christ’s Body and drinking his Blood, for respondingto our prayer of epiclesis, the Father sends the Holy Spirit throughHis Son upon the bread and wine so that they may become the Bodyand Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Emerging from the Eucharisticgathering, we are sent to continue and extend this rinitarian dialogueof life and salvation in the form of loving service especially toward theleast, the last, and the lost.

Te dynamic movement of the celebrative action, then, (gathering wordmeal-mission) makes us realize that the Eucharist is the living memorial ofthe dialogue that took place in the entire life and ministry of Jesus Christbut which finds its climax in the Paschal Mystery of his suffering, deathand resurrection and final glory. It was a dialogue that constitutes bothan act of obedience to the Father (ascending movement) and compassiontowards weak sinners (descending movement), a sacrifice of both adoration(ascending movement) and service (descending movement).

In Asia, where the characteristic mode of the Church’s existence isthat of dialogue, the Eucharist shines forth as a “unique experience ofGod’s dialogue with us and our response to God: a dialogue of life, adialogue of love.” Tat in the Eucharist Christ invites everyone to atable fellowship where he shares his life through his words of love andhealing and through a meal that deepens loving relationship among

those who call the same God their “Father” means much for a people whose culture gives pride of place to close family ties that are kept intactand strengthened by parental counsel and family meals.

Tat Christ offers himself as bread that satisfies all hunger and drinkthat quenches all thirsts and gives joy will warm the heart of many inthis continent whose daily existence is marked by insufficiency of thebasic necessities. Te Eucharist should be a constant reference pointfor the local Churches of Asia in their continuing missionary dialogue with local cultures, religions, with the poor, and the youth since thedivine-human dialogue that transpires within it is the seed and visionof the whole of her mission.

- From the Teological and Pastoral Reflections in preparation for the51st International Eucharistic Congress

WHEN Cardinal Mario Bergoglio assumed the Petrine ministry andtook the namesake of St. Francis, a Filipino archbishop already surmisedthat the new pontiff will pursue an agenda inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, namely: the poor, the environment, and peace. He was right.

During his inaugural address in March 2013, Pope Francis alreadyoutlined this when he said, “I would like to ask all those who havepositions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all

men and women of goodwill: Let us be ‘protectors’ of creation, protec-tors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another andof the environment.”

It was no surprise then that his much-awaited encyclical on theenvironment, Laudato Si, would take prominence in the agenda ofhis pontificate. He spoke on behalf of the poor, while bewailing poorgovernance and bad business for placing “speculation and the pursuit offinancial gain” ahead of the common good. He pointed the “tragic risein migrants,” to escape poverty caused by environmental degradation.He chastised global inequality and called for a “true ecological approach”that will “hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”.

Te encyclical points out how the poor have been seriously hurt bydemographic segregation in modern society, which is partly due to “thefact that many professionals, opinion makers, communications mediaand centers of power, being located in affluent urban areas, are far re-moved from the poor, with little direct contact with their problems.” Inthe end “this lack of physical contact and encounter, encouraged at timesby the disintegration of our cities, can led to a numbing of conscienceand to tendentious analyses which neglect parts of reality,” (No. 49).

Both the environment and people, especially those in the peripheries,

fatally suffer injury from the worsening structural evils proliferated byeconomic and political ends. Says the encyclical, “Human environmentand the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequatelycombat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes relatedto human and social degradation,” (No. 48).

Te root causes are, of course, not in the stars but in the humanheart. In 1988, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippinesissued its first landmark pastoral letter on ecology, “What is happeningto our beautiful land”. It said: “At the root of the problem we see andexploitative mentality, which is at variance with the Gospel of Jesus.Tis expresses itself in acts of violence against fellow Filipinos. But itis not confined to the human sphere. It also infects and poisons ourrelationship with our land and seas.”

At the end of the day, the call to good stewardship of creation mayactually be a call to conversion of the heart.

The Eucharist: source and

goal of dialogue

The call to conversion

OPINION

Learning the art ofinterior struggle Fr. Roy Cimagala

Candidly Speaking

MonitorPROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE CBCP

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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

The ‘Poor’ Jesus andHis Teaching

Teresa R. Tunay, OCDSAnd That’s The Truth

Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

Living Mission

“Year of the Poor” Reections

JESUS of Nazareth, as portrayedin the Gospels, is a poor man.Tough he belonged to a familythat was not poor (Joseph, his legalfather, was a skilled laborer), Jesusand his parents encountered severalsituations wherein they faced the

same life circumstances as the poor.Te Holy Family was forced bythe decree of Caesar Augustus tomake the arduous journey to Beth-lehem. “While they were therethe time came for her to have herchild, and she gave birth to a son,her first-born. She wrapped him inswaddling clothes and laid him in amanger, because there was no roomfor them in the inn” (Lk 2:6-7).

he family had to flee intoEgypt, because King Herod wassearching for the child to destroyhim. “So Joseph got up and, tak-ing the child and his mother withhim, left that night for Egypt” (Mt2:14). Tey lived as exiles in a for-

eign land until Herod died. Onlythen did the family finally return toIsrael and settle in Nazareth.

Facing difficult life situationsbeyond one’s control is a commonexperience of the poor; the HolyFamily was not spared such hardships.

Indeed, their faith—and ours—isoften tested through life’s daily trials. Jesus’ Public Ministry. Jesus

voluntarily left the modest com-forts of his family in Nazareth;his goal was to preach the comingof God’s reign. Tus, when Johnthe Baptist sent his disciples toinquire about Jesus’ identity as themessiah, Jesus told them to returnto John and report the signs theysaw. One clear sign was that “theGood News is proclaimed to thepoor” (Mt 11:5).

As Jesus began his public min-istry, he entered the synagoguein Nazareth and read from theprophet Isaiah: “Te spirit of the

Lord has been given to me, for hehas anointed me. He has sent meto bring good news to the poor”(Lk 4:18). Jesus goes on to claimthat “this text is being fulfilledtoday even as you listen” (Lk 4:21).

Tese Gospel texts indicate the

great importance of the poor inthe development of Jesus’ ministry.In a special way he announces theKingdom of God to the poor. Oneauthor has called this the privilegeof the poor ; God will never forgetthe poor and needy.

For Jesus, the Poor are Blessed. Te Gospels contain two versionsof what is known as the Beatitudes.Both begin with a declaration ofthe blessedness of the poor. InLuke (6:20) one reads: “Howhappy are you who are poor; yoursis the Kingdom of God.” Matthew(5:3) states: “How happy are thepoor in spirit; theirs is the King-dom of Heaven.”

We should not think that thesebeatitudes call actual material povertya good thing. Jesus would never havecalled blessed a situation where peoplelive in the slums and do not haveenough to eat. Such poverty is anoffense against human dignity, and

Christians must work to alleviate it.Te only poverty that is blessedis the poverty of spirit , an attitude

which reali zes that one canno trely on his own material, physi-cal resources to live a full humanlife. rue poverty of spir it acceptsthat the only genuine source ofstrength and happiness is foundin God alone.

Poverty of spirit opens one to thevalues of God’s Kingdom: sharing,forgiveness, neighborliness, joy,and peace. Indeed, one is blessedonly when one realizes his own“poverty,” one’s utter helplessness

without God. rue joy is foundin God alone.

YES, as long as we struggle interi-orly, there is spiritual life, the very

wellspring that produces the living water for our river of life. As longas we struggle interiorly, we can beassured of our fidelity to whatevercommitment we have entered into.Interior struggle is essential andindispensable to our life.

Our life is very dynamic, with

all sorts of challenges to face,problems to solve, issues to be clari-fied. We need to see to it that ourinterior life, our spiritual life, ourthoughts, desires, and intentionsare firmly rooted on God, theirproper foundation.

We need not only to purify ourthoughts and intentions from anystain of pride, vanity, lust, envy,sloth, gluttony, anger, etc. We needto also fill them and rev them up

with true love and wisdom. Teseare the reasons why we have toengage in a lifelong interior orspiritual struggle.

Te ideal situation should bethat we are always in awe at thepresence of God in our life, mak-ing him the principle and objectiveof all our thoughts, words and

deeds. We have to be spirituallyfit before we can be fit anywhere

else—family-wise, professionally,socially, politically, etc.

Let’s never be deceived thatour life is mainly physical, andits development is just a matterof struggling externally—that wemanage to eat, to work, to earn,to stay away from physi cal danger,etc. Te real battle is in our inter-nal selves—in our thoughts and

desires, our will and plans.Te struggle in life cannot just be

a matter of economics or politics.Te battle always starts and ends inour mind and heart, in the spiritualaspect of our life. Tis is wherethings start to happen, and wherethings also get resolved.

Even if there are still things to befixed externally, we can still manageto fix them internally, because that’s

where we get in touch directly with God, and with him, noth-ing is impossible. Let’s disabuseourselves from the thought that

we get our ultimate peace and joysomewhere else.

Tat’s why we have to see to itthat our thoughts and desires areproperly engaged with God who istheir true foundation and end, for

outside of Him, we will just exposeourselves to all sorts of random and

usually dangerous possibilities. And God is not a figment of

our imagination, a product ofour desire to believe, a mere psy-chological crutch. He is the mostreal being—in fact, the fullness ofsubsistent being whose essence wecan somehow know but can neverfathom. He is the very author ofreality itself.

his task of conforming ourthoughts and desires to Him isgetting to be very exciting, becausethese days many are the earthlythings—attitudes, philosophies,ideologies, cultures, together withtheir lifestyles—that dare to bealternatives to God.

oday’s world is so immersed in worldly values that any referenceto God is at best a mere formalism,a decorative item, a lip service totradition that is already emptied ofits true substance.

And this is because in the firstplace many people are not prayinganymore, are not exercising and liv-ing by faith. Tey prefer to follow bythe rule of “following what comesnaturally.” And that’s usually justobeying one’s feelings and passions,

or the many flipping fads around.Tus you have ad slogans like,

“Obey your thirst,” “I don’t wannagrow up….. I’m a oys R Us kid,”“It’s fun to tickle your tongue

with…” If you’re constantly bom-barded with messages like this,chances are you will believe them,and start abdicating the use of yourspiritual faculties.

We have to wage an abidinginterior struggle if only to keep

our sanity, our humanity. We needto do it to avoid becoming mainlyconditioned by earthly values thatare blind to the spiritual and super-natural realities of our life.

We need to see to it that ourminds and hearts are truly engaged

with God, with the living God, andnot just an idea or theory of God.Tis is not only possible, but alsohighly practicable, because in thefirst place, God himself wants itthat way.

Te reason many people find ithard to get in contact with Godis because they have lost the artof prayer and contemplation,and have assumed a dominantly

worldly outlook that makes themself-centered, complacent, agnos-tic, if not atheistic.

Tis is where interior struggle ismost needed.

Torre de Babel

WHA is the measure of one’s patriotism? Why revere a national hero? Why do we erectmonuments to heroes?

Te issue currently raging—on the condo-minium building nearing completion behindthe Rizal monument at the Luneta—should leadus to question the way things are in our country.Te age-old system that has kept us shackled toundesirable conditions in our midst, for one,and for another, the way we regard what trulymatters for us. Judging from the reactions ofmany vocal citizens heard or read in mainstreamand social media, the orre de Manila issue isfast becoming a orre de Babel reality. Tat is,IMHO—in my humble opinion.

Arguments have been aired over it, allegationsof corruption thrown here and there, but what

is the contentious issue really trying to tell us,ordinary people who claim to revere Dr. JoseRizal as a national hero? It all started whensome people objected to the building’s being a“photo bomber”, sticking out like a sore thumbbehind the towering Rizal monument. It marsthe landscape, so they screamed, it disrespectsa beloved hero. From that sentiment arose somany comments, and blaming fingers beganto wag against the condominium developer,DMCI, until the name “orre de Manila”emerged as the villain in what is turning out tobe the city’s “zarzuela” of the decade.

Te fight should not be between DMCI andthe NCCA, NHC, or whatever government

agency on culture is involved; the kinks in thissituation have to be primarily ironed out by

these abovementioned agencies and the city ofManila (which approved the DMCI construc-tion). But emotions run high, especially onprimetime V where among others a formerbeauty titlist and a multi-awarded radio com-mentator were already condemning poor DMCIeven before it can air its side. Te protesters’main argument is based on a physical aspect,the building’s being an “eyesore” and thereforean affront to Jose Rizal. For me that is a non-issue; it’s just a question of perspective. I wassurprised to discover one day, driving alongRoxas Blvd., that the building is so far awayand behind the monument that if you focus onthe monument you won’t even notice the orre

is there. Creative photographers can even hideAnd That’s the Truth / A5


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A5CBCP Monitor June 22 - July 5, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 13 OPINION

Falling… and

Falling in Love

Fr. Wilfredo Samson, SJ

Pitik-Bulag

Atty. Aurora A. Santiago

Duc In Altum Fr Robert A. Gahl, Jr

Commentary

Commentary / A7

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

Whatever

Managing the resourcesof the Church

Surprised by Francis

Please be fair and gentle

HE Catholic Bishops’ Conference ofthe Philippines-Pension Plan Committeeheld the 17th ADFAP (Arch/Diocesan Fi-nancial Administrators of the Philippines)Convention at Hotel Essencia, Real Street,Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental from

June 15 to 19, 2015 . It was attended by

174 Oeconomus/clergy and staff from allover the country.

he 5-days convention theme was veryappropriate: “owards a Productive AssetManagement in the Church”. he Churchneeds experts’ advice in the managementof the assets of the Church to be productiveand efficient.

he session started with the Recollectionled by Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of SanCarlos, Negros Occidental. He said: “I ama Christian steward when I receive God’sgifts gratefully, I cultivate them responsi bly,I share them lovingly in justice with others,I return them with increase to the Lord…Live as Christ lives.”

Ms. Ann Mayeen Magno, Senior Direc-tor of Erns t & Young ransaction Advi soryServices, Inc. lectured on Management Ac-counting wherein she discussed the mistakescommitted in Church accounting such as

misuse of accounting information, limitedacceptance of financial statements and prob-lems with control; lack of understanding offinancial information; donor fatigue whengiving is not tied to relevant financial in-formation. Some of her advice: use account-ing information to support issues, presentinformation that can be understood, givefrequent updates on fund collections anddisbursement.

Dr. Henry Sojor, a professor at St. JosephSeminary College, discussed the Corpora-tion Sole where Archbishops are authorizedby the Pope to organize corporations andappoints a Bishop as head of the corpora-tion for the purpose of holding church

property. He was authorized to act on hisown authority without a board of direc-tors and recognized as the overseer of thediocese.

Most Rev. John Du, Archbishop of Palo,Leyte and CBCP reasurer and Chairmanof Pension Plan commented that: “We are

called treasurers upon the call of the Lordbecause of his mercy and compassion. Hecalled upon us because of the goodness ofour Lord, than our goodness. As financeadministrators, we must be generous… Wemust do, as we preach; we must pray, wemust fast, we must do some sacrifices as fi-nance administrator s.” Fr. Edgar Macalalag,Executive Secretary of CBCP Pension Plan,reported a total of 5,085 members for theFirst Quarter of 2015: 4,876 active, 118abroad, 91 inactive. he problems of theCommittee are those members who are inarrears and never paid their contributions,though there are those who remits contribu-tions regularly.

Ms. Elvira Go talked about the “Piso Parasa Misa sa Mundo” (Peso for th e Year of theEucharist) which will culminate in January2016 in Cebu. Engr. Enrico Cruz, Presidentof United Realty Brokers and Appraisers

Network (URBANet), lectured on LeasingChurch Properties. His advice how to getgood tenants: verify rent-paying ability; getaudited financial statements; history of rent-ing; check personal background.

Mr. Luis Morales, Chairman of thePhilippine Council for NGO Certification(PCNC), discussed the requirements of a do-nee institution. All revenues shall be used inthe pursuit of the purpose of the foundation;no part of the revenues and assets is usedfor the benefit of its Board, management,staff and other persons. Donors are neithercharged 30% donor’s tax nor 12% VA,hence, the full amount donated is 100%tax deductible.

Atty. Ma. Liz a Rosario, Leg al Coun se lof the Archdiocese of Manila, updated thedelegates on the status of the arch/dioceses

whose SEC regi stra tion were revoked dueto defects in papers filed at the SEC, by notapplying as corporation sole but either asstock or non-stock corporation.

Atty. Jose Anto nio Sed igo , the pre sen tRegister of Negros Oriental, discussed thedifferent types of land, modes of acquiringand titling them.

***

It is like a pilgrimage of the churches ofDumaguete. he Holy Eucharist was heldin different churches with the following asmain celebrants: Bishop Gerardo Alminazaof San Carlos, Negros Occidental; Bishop

Julit o Cort es of Dumaguet e at Cathedralof St. Catherine of Alexandria; Archbishop

John Du of Palo, Leyte at the Mary Im-maculate Parish; Bishop Patricio Buzon ofKabankalan, Negros Oriental at the 132years old San Agustin of Hippo in Bacongtown; and Bishop Jesse Mercado of Para-ñaque. he delegates were treated to a citytour, among those visited was the Lady of the

Abandoned Churc h in Valencia town, withlunch at ierra Alta. hanks to Archbishop

John Du, Fr. Wilson Chu of Palo, Leyt e - the2015 ADFAP President—and CBCP staffNoreen and Beverly and their counterpartsin Dumaguete City.

***

Happy 12th Anniversary to the Dioceseof Kalookan! hrough the intercession of itspatron saint, San Roque, and Nuestra SenoraVirgen dela Nieva, and the able guidance ofits Apostolic Administrator Bishop FranciscoDe Leon, the Diocese is able to continue onits journey towards the fullness of life.

“HE topic of my talk is livingholy purity or chastity in ourday and age,” the speaker began.

His introduction clearly drewthe attention of the participants.Perhaps, I thought, this is be-cause purity—both at the per-sonal and social levels—is one ofthe more challenging virtues tolive today. his virtue is greatlythreatened by the tidal wave ofsensuality proliferating a clickaway on the Internet, movies,music, and print media.

Having attended other talkson the same subject, I expectedthe speaker to begin by defin-

ing the virtue of purity, thenenumerating the acts against thevirtue and finally, tackling thehuman and supernatural meansin order to effectively dominateour disordered tendencies. But I

was m istak en.“Seeing quite a number of

familiar faces in the audience, who may have at one time oranother attended my previoustalks on the same topic, I wouldlike to focus instead on how wecan each learn h ow to ‘fall in lovemore with God’ every day ratherthan just talking about falling,”the speaker said.

his last phrase really caughtmy attention. As he unfolded themain points of his presentation,he held fast to his promise: at

no given point did he refer to

impurity and grave occasions ofsins. All throughout his talk, hefocused on the positive meansto grow in love for God andothers, through prayer, sacrifice,and work.

All this made me realize some-thing beyond purity itself. Ithen comprehended why somecan mistakenly call the Catho-lic faith a religion of offensesinstead of a Church of love.his is obviously untrue. But itis also true that the centuries ofcasuistic moral theology, posi-tively aimed at giving persons aclear moral compass, may have

gradually paved and carved a“restricted mental mode” thatappeared to focus only on cor-recting and conquering man’sdisordered tendencies and for-getting to balancing it with astruggle out of love.

It would only be much later on with St. John Paul II’s Encyc licalVeritatis Splendor, that we wereagain reminded that God didnot create man only to avoidfalling, but for love and withgrace is called to even exceedthe letter of the Law. he holyPontiff elaborated on this ideareflecting on the encounter ofthe rich young man with Jesus.Our Lord had asked that youngfellow to abandon his comfort-able l ife of compliance [the

Commandments] and dare to

traverse the horizon of love andtotal self-giving.

his novel rediscovery ofsomething already containedin our Lord’s teachings andexamples ought to make usremember not to focus only onour falls but more on fallingin love. If at all, let us allowour falls to lead us towards thehumble recognition that we

will alwa ys n eed God’s grac e tocovert and transform us.

Christianity would indeed bea sad and unattractive way of lifeif it were simply reduced to notfalling into sin. he Catholic

faith is not a cold embodimentof written rules or a hollow life-style built on some androgynous,ascetical exercises. Our faith isa lively and cheerful encounter

wit h the Pers on of Jesus whoconstantly invites us to followHim, to love Him and carry amission for Him.

Christianity undoubtedly doesnot deny the need for a sincereand constant struggle to over-come personal disorders, but itstrue aim is to orient our entirelife and goals towards lovingGod and identifying oneself with

Jesus Chris t. In other words , i tis all about how to constantlyfall in love with God and others.

hus understood, one seeksthe more positive and fruitful

aspects of the spiritual life. Un-

doubtedly, our sinful conditionand tendencies will always ac-company ourselves until we die.But these are only the weak anddying remnants of the woundscaused in our nature by originalsin.

With God’s grace one begin sto train himself towards greaterrectitude in execution, detach-ment from results, and a zeal tooutdo oneself each time. heseattitudes are no longer limited toone’s struggle against temptationand sin, but more on the mannerone prays, attends Mass, carriesout his professional and family

duties, and so on.

***

“Is the burden heavy? No, athousand times no! hose obliga-tions which you freely acceptedare wings that raise you highabove the vile mud of your pas-sions. Do the birds feel the weightof their wings? If you were to cutthem off and put them on thescales you would see how heavythey are. But can a bird fly if theyare taken away from it? It needsthose wings and it does not noticetheir weight, for they lift it upabove other creatures. Your wingsare heavy too. But if you did nothave them you would fall intothe filthiest mire. (St. Josemaría,

in Furrow no. 414)”

HAVE you ever wrongly judged someone? And silently been put to shame? Have youever experienced being wrongly judged byothers? What did you feel? And you cry, “It’sunfair!”

One clear observation: We are slow to judgesomeone whom we know well and someone

whom we love. But we are quick to judgesomeone we don’t know or a person we dis-like. Tis is the reason why need to be more

careful and discreet when we say somethingto someone. Most of the time, the level of ourrelationship and emotion dictate the quicknessand fairness of judgement regarding someone.Tink about it.

How come we suspend judgement on some-one dear to us? And we say, “I need to talkto him first, before I make any conclusion. Ineed to hear his side. Tere must be reason

why he did it.”How come we immediately judge someone

we dislike? And we say, “I know this guy. I don’t want to hear his side. He will never change.He is always like that.” If this is the case, weare not yet ready to judge others. Te Gospelaccording to the evangelist Matthew a few daysago did not prohibit us from judging others.

Judging others is necessary if our intention isto correct and not to simply destroy someone.

Unfortunately, our negative emotions, biases,and prejudices block our ability to give clearand fair judgment to all.

he Gospel is encouraging us to clear thelog from our eyes, before we can even removethe specks from the eyes of others. We arebeing encourage to be more aware of ouremotion, prejudices and biases, and how theycontrol our decisions. For without awareness

of our inner movements, we are prone to giveharsh, unfair, and undiscerned decisions or

judgments.Should I immediately label someone as a

“bad boy” for stealing a piece of bread fromthe canteen, in his desire to bring food hometo his hungry younger sister?

Let’s clear the log in our eyes first, then we can judge others. But not only to exposetheir mistakes, put them to shame, and insult

them. We missed the point of judging others. When we judge someone, it i s for the benefitof helping a brother in the spirit of fraternalcorrection. We should condemn the evil workdone, but we do so by being more charitable inknowing their intention. It will give us a dif-ferent set of eyes, It will make a big diffe rence.

Let’s help someone by judging them withfairness and charity.

WIH his new encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis continues to breakthe mold of preconceived, rigid expectations. Our polarized cultureinstinctively sorts people and positions into neat boxes according to thepoliticized categories of right and left or, more simplistically, for andagainst. Many analysts quickly respond by oversimplifying his profound

teaching. Many critics hone in on their favorite topic and promptly ap-plaud or chastise the Pope if he seems to take their favorite view on theirfavorite topic, or not.

But no one should feel comfortable with Laudato Si’. Francis does notseek applause for his teaching but that it be taken to heart. Te Popepresses his careful reader to deep conversion and to concerted action ineconomic and political policy.

None of this should be a surprise. Since the late 19th century, withLeo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, Popes have pronounced on matters of socialdoctrine. Pope Francis is perfectly in continuity with his predecessors andhe makes the point in the introduction to this new encyclical by layingout its foundation in the teachings of John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II,and Benedict XVI. All of these Popes have expressed acute concern forthe environment. Benedict even made the effort to install a vast array ofsolar panels on the roof of his audience hall to achieve carbon neutrality

within Vatican City State, the first state to achieve such a goal.Nonetheless, the run-up to the publication of the encyclical was marked

by controversy, even to the point that, on account of their scepticism withrespect to the solidity of global warming science, some observers wereexpelled from meetings on climate change recently held in the Vaticanby the Pontifical Academy of the Sciences. Global warming concerns

dominated the pre-publication controversy. Media attention increasedinterest in the Pope and excitement for his encyclical on ecology.Laudato Si’ is probably the most anticipated encyclical in history be-

cause concerted attempts were made by opposing political proponents within the Church and in the secular world to modify, delay, impede,and to spin the text before it was finalized. Ten, in the final days be-fore publication, a leak of a draft, hardly distinguishable from the finaldocument, fanned the flames of controversy, also regarding the ethics ofpublishing, or even just discussing, a leaked draft. Exposing irreconcilableviews of the journalistic profession, journalists quoted other journalistsregarding the tensions between institutional loyalty, accreditations, andthe obligation to bring to light matters of international public opinion.

Given that Pope Francis enjoys universal recognition as the mostinfluential moral authority today and that many hold that we are livingin an historic moment of impending global tragedy on account of thedevastating effects of irreversible climate change, activists hold that hemust speak out and lead the world towards concerted effort to reduce theemission of carbon dioxide and to save the world from impending doom.

Is the Pope taking sides?Indeed, Pope Francis faces an unprecedented situation. In early cen-

turies, Papal teaching focused on the content of revelation, for instance,the unity between the human and divine natures of Jesus; the relationshipbetween the three Persons of the rinity; the nature of grace, justification;and the sacraments -- all subjects foreign to contemporary concerns ofsecular, political debate.

But in recent times, Popes have concentrated on teaching regarding theimplications of divine revelation in human affairs. Consequently, theyhave pronounced encyclicals dedicated to marriage, family, human life,economics, democracy, and all features of social justice.

So, if the world is truly facing impending doom, due to anthropo-genic, or man-made global warming, then, perhaps, the Pope doeshave an unprecedented obligation to use his authoritative voice to warnthe world and to bring everyone together to act in concert to prevent

world-wide devastation. Many scientists and proponents of calling ourage “the anthropocene” claim that acting alone, or even as an entire na-tion or continent, would be ineffective to stave off the global effects ofgreenhouse gases. If the warnings of climate scientists are well-founded,then surely the Pope must forcefully proclaim the obligation for globalcoordinated effort to reduce the warming. Moreover, it seems that hemust do so without delay in preparation for his upcoming trip to theUSA in September, when he will address the joint session of Congressin Washington DC and the UN General Assembly in New York, andprior to the UN’s climate change conference in Paris next December.

Only Pope Francis has the moral force to bring all together to makecourageous commitments to preclude the devastation. Nevertheless, ifthe Pope were to take sides in a politicized debate between ideologies, he

would lose his moral authority and his teaching would no longer enjoythe secure foundation in God’s revelation. Some Catholics, and even somenonbelievers, fear that if he proclaims global warming a matter of religiousbelief, then he will have damaged the oldest teaching office in history.

Te unusual title of the encyclical encapsulates the debate and framesFrancis’ entire response to the vexing issue. He begins the encyclicalquoting St. Francis’ famous Canticle of the Creatures with the words “bepraised” in the original, Umbrian version of medieval Italian “Laudatosi`. Te very title lends itself to misinterpretation for those who do notread the encyclical. Te history of environmentalism can help explainthe contradictory interpretations.

Te history of environmentalismTe environmental movement began with anti-Christian roots in

utopian, neopaganism. In the early 1970s, environmentalists joinedforces with proponents of the sexual revolution and neo-Malthusians

with their aims to eliminate population growth through contraception

and abortion. For these neo-Malthusians, our world is a zero-sum game. We are all locked into a Petri dish in competition with other animals fornatural resources, especially limited food and water. Only so many hu-mans can survive on this planet and with accelerating population growth,they claimed, the human race would kill itself out by using up all theresources. Doom and gloom was prophesied, but all of their predictionsproved entirely false.

With more people on hand, more creativity was unleashed and moreresources were discovered, extracted, and even created with the power ofhuman entrepreneurship. Te economist and Nobel Prize laureate JulianSimon eloquently analyzed the power of human creativity with his bookTe Ultimate Resource, by statistically demonstrating that the humanbeing is the greatest treasure for economic development.

Despite the evidence, Malthusians of all stripes remain stuck in theirmaterialistic misconceptions. Tey fail to appreciate the power of thehuman mind to transcend the limitations of stuff. So, they continue toally with the more extreme utopian neo pagans who worship the earth,the plants, and the animals, while holding that humans are a blight thatpose a danger for the extinction of other species. Tey claim a religiousobligation to reduce the human population, even by exterminating thevery young and the old and through demographic campaigns of forced

sterilization in developing countries.For radical environmentalists, Pope Francis’ quotation of St. Francis

might seem like a song to mother earth and to her creatures. But thePope promptly explains the point of his title. Who should “be praised”?Te entire encyclical responds that God is to be praised through hiscreatures by the human person who is at the pinnacle of God’s materialcreation. Our role in nature is so crucial that God became man so thathe could touch this world of ours with his hands, so that he could spend30 years working as an artisan so as to teach us to raise material creationin praise to God, Our Father. Indeed, Francis writes: “Jesus worked withhis hands, in daily contact with the matter created by God, to which hegave form by his craftsmanship. It is striking that most of his life wasdedicated to this task in a simple life.... In this way he sanctified humanlabour and endowed it with a special s

Documents

CBCP Monitor Vol. 19 No. 13