CBCP Monitor Vol. 20 No. 16

8/16/2019 CBCP Monitor Vol. 20 No. 16

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MAY 16 - 29, 2016 VOL. 20 NO. 16

MonitorCBCP

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE [email protected]

Communication / A6

B1

A3

SUPPLEMENT ISSUE

The Cross: THE SUPPLEMENT PUBLICATION

OF KCFAPI AND THE ORDER OF

THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Don’t spoilyour bishops,faithful toldTHE country’s bishops arecalled to be servants and notto seek power and enjoy VIPtreatment, said ArchbishopSocrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan.

I n h i s h o m i l y a t t h einstallation of new AlaminosBishop Ricardo Baccay, thearchbishop said bishops, asshepherds, are called “to die

with Jesus.”“Jesus is calling him to die

with Him. Therefore, do notspoil him. Give him the venueto suffer with you,” Villegassaid.

“Give him a chance to be anapostle of joy. He is not hereas the president of an NGO.He is here as a reminder of thekingdom of God,” he said.

Papal nuncio ArchbishopGiuseppe Pinto installed Baccayat the St. Joseph Cathedral on

Wednesday, May 4 as the third bishop of Alaminos, a dioceseof more than half-a-millionCatholics.

The occasion was graced by by mor e tha n a hun dre d bishops, priests, religious, andthousands of churchgoers and

well-wishers. Aside from being shepherds,

Villegas added that bishops arealso “companions,” telling thechurchgoers that Baccay “will

walk, cry , lau gh, and suf fer with us.”

“The good shepherd does

not enjoy lamb and sheepo n t h e t a b l e . T h e g o o dshepherd is wil l ing to bekilled protecting his flock,”said Villegas. (R. Lagarde/ CBCPNews)

Next admin told: Investigate unused ‘Yolanda’ funds A CHURCH aid agency has called for the nextadministration’s urgent action in investigatingthe Aquino government’s unused Yolandafunds amounting to billions of pesos.

According to Caritas Philippines, the public,especially the typhoon victims, deserve toknow how the hefty donations given by foreigndonors were spent.

“This is an important agenda that the

incoming administration needs to address,”said Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Caritas Philippinesexecutive secretary, in Filipino.

Presumptive President-elect RodrigoDuterte has repeatedly vowed to be a “dictator”

against corruption and criminality in thecountry.

Gariguez said an investigation on the Yolanda funds will be “a good start” for thenext administration which promised to stampout irregularities in the government.

“This is a good angle that needs scrutinyand we need to hasten the giving of aid

because this is one of the issue,” th e priest

said.More than two years after the typhoon,Gariguez stressed many survivors are still

waiting help from the government.He added that the Church will continue

to collaborate with the government andits eorts to rehabilitate areas ravaged by

Yolanda in 2013 and other programs to helpthe poor.

“We are always open to collaboration and just recently, we had a lo of projects together with the government, specially since it’s clearthat these are in response to the needs of thecountry,” he said.

R e c o r d s f r o m t h e F o r e i g n A i dTrans parency H ub s how ed that thePhilippines received about US$386.2million in foreign aid for the Yolanda

vic tims. (R. Lagarde/CBCPNews)

Wanted: More missionary familiesFOR most kids, summermeans one thing and onething only: vacation fun!

The Nakpils of Makati, who belong to that illustriousclan of Old Quiapo thatcounts among its membersa Katipunero hero anda N a t i o n a l A r t i s t f o r

Architec tur e, are hea ven- bent on enjoying a dierentkind of summer fun. For four

years now, the family of sixhave a completely dierent,spiritually rewarding reasonto look forward to this timeof the year: mission.

This prog ram of the w o r l d w i d e C a t h o l i cmovement Regnum Christi(RC) allows the Nakpils,especially the kids, toexperience rsthand at leastfor a brief period the lifelesser privileged Filipinos,that is, those with hardlyanything. And they’ve becomeso much the better for it, both

individually and as a family.

The Nakpils during their catechesis in Laguna. CATHY STA. MARIA

Keeping grounded“Hopefully, I think that

it keeps them grounded because they see that thesesituations exist, that thereare families who live in this

kind of condition, and not

everybody is as lucky as theyare,” said Doris of her kidscum co-missionaries Anina,Betty, Rocio, and Julio, in aninterview with Family Timeat their home in the city’s

posh Salcedo Village.

According to her, going onmission makes them realizehow blessed they are andthat they should be moreappreciative of what theyhave or the little that comes

‘Effective communication’,key to happy marriage

W H I L E c o u p l e s f r o mthe Marriage EncounterF o u n d a t i o n o f t h ePhilippines, Inc. (MEFP)

bel iev e no rel ati ons hip isall sunshine, two peoplecan share an umbrella and

survive the storm together,

especially when God is atthe center of their unionand the couple know how tocommunicate eectively.

“We’ve all been called toadopt conscious and God-centered communication in

Missionaries / A6

Catholic Church vows ‘vigilantcollaboration’ with next adminBy Chrixy Paguirigan

THE Catholic Bishops’C o n f e r e n c e o f t h ePhilippines has vowed to

work more closely withthe next administrationas Davao City MayorRodrigo Duterte is setto become the country’snext president.

Arch bish op Socrates Vill egas,CBCP president, tempered thispronouncement by saying thatthe Church will be maintaining

“vigilant collaboration” with thegovernment.

“The greatest promise the Churchcan oer any government is vigilant

collaboration, and that offer, wemake now,” Villegas said in astatement issued few hours afterthe local and national elections onMay 9.

“We will urge our people to work with the government for the goodof all, and we shall continue to be

vigilant so that ever so often we mayspeak out to teach and to prophesy,to admonish and to correct — forthis is our vocation,” added theprelate.

The CBCP head also creditedGod’s will in the election results,saying soon-to-be winners shouldrecognize their victory as the Lord’sdoing.

“God’s hand is to be recognizedin the events of history. Creditthen, your victory, neither to famenor popularity but to God who calls

you to service and to care for the weakest and the most distressed inour midst,” he said.

Prayers, wisdomI n a s p i r i t o f u n i t y , t h e

CBCP’s post election statemente m p h a s i z e d t h e C h u r c h ’ scontinual guidance and prayersfor the elected leaders.

“To those who have been votedto office, we assure them of ourprayers, principally for wisdom,that they may discern God’s will forhis people and courageously do ashe bid,” said Villegas.

As for the other candidates, thearchbishop said they are more

than the positions they ran for andchallenged them to do good even ifthey do not get to hold their desiredpublic oce.

“To those who did not succeed, yo u, as pe rs on s, as so ns an ddaughters of God, are infinitelyso much more than the positionsafter which you aspired. Ratherthan becoming des pondentand discouraged, you shouldchallenge yourselves – It is for

you to disco ver you r paths , infaith and in docility to God’sspirit,” he said.

The document concluded with apositive message that the Churchand government should worktogether and aim for the greatergood of all.

Before this, Villegas led the bishopsin criticizing the presumptive

president for supposedly cursingPope Francis and for making arape joke.

Vigilant / A7

B R O T H E R S M A T I A S

God doesn’t barter,rewarding the good,punishing the bad,pope says

Get up, let us go!

(Matthew 26:46):CBCP Post ElectionStatement

Volunteers of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) consolidate transmitted election results from different provinces in its command center at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila,May 9, 2016. MARIA TAN


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A2 CBCP MonitorMay 16 - 29, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 16NEWS

Nearing 50 years of legal abortion,U.K. pro-lifers take a stand

Vatican Briefing

BIRMINGHAM, England,May 14, 2016--Thousands

of men, w omen, andchildren took to the streetsof Birmingham on Saturdayto take a stand for theunborn and be witnesses totheir community.

“At the very heart of thisis the life of the unborn,and the protection of thatlife,” Archbishop BernardLongley of Birmingham toldCNA ahead of this year’sMarch for Life U.K.

“Alongside that is theChurch’s concern for themother, for those who areadvising, those who arefamily, and the concernto support and to reflect

God’s mercy in thosecircumstances.”

T h i s i s t h e t h i r dconsecutive year the Marchfor Life has been held inheart of Birmingham. Thearchbishop said the eventaims to witness in a peaceful

way to the Christian faithas well as to the “intrinsic,God-given value of life.”

“It’s overcoming thestereotypical response ofpeople who don’t actuallyknow the full teaching ofthe Catholic Church on the

value of life,” ArchbishopLongley said. He said hethought people “would be

much more open to hearingabout that message if theydid know the fullness of theChurch’s teaching.”

The day began with Massheld in St. Chad’s Cathedral,

before moving to the citycenter for the first part

of the event. Participantsheard the testimonies ofspeakers such as AmericanRyan Bomberger, who wasconceived in rape and hassince become founder ofthe Radiance Foundation.Canadian pro-life activistStephanie Gray also spoke.

Stalls were set up tofeatured various pro-lifegroups in the U.K. There

was also a “Mercy Bus” -- adouble-decker bus wherepriests were available tohear confessions or to speak

with anyo ne who wishedto talk.

“It’s more like a pro-life

family festival which is takingplace in the city-center ofB i r m i n g h a m , ” I s a b e l

Vaughan-Spruce, co-directorof March for Life U.K. toldCNA.

She explained that inprevious years the marchhad s tarted f rom thecathedral. This year it beganand ended in the city centeritself. As a result, it was“more high prole” than inthe past.

Although the march takesplace in the busy center ofthe city, Vaughan-Sprucesaid that the tone of themarch contributes to its

positive reception.“It’s not like a big protest.

We are a joyful celebrationof life, as well as being aserious reminder of the hurtand damage that abortion

causes. So, it’s both-and. And there’s a time for joy, as

well as being a time for quietreection,” she said.

This joy had an impact,she explained. During the2015 March for Life, forinstance, a young pregnant

w o m a n c o n s i d e r i n gabortion changed hermind after seeing the

juxtaposit ion between thesmall “aggressive” group ofpro-abortion activists andthe joyfulness of the pro-lifemarchers.

“She immediately knewfrom looking at the twogroups which side she

wanted to be on,” Vaughan-Spruce said, adding that

she has since met the baby which the mother chose tokeep on that day.

“That shows how thegeneral public do actuallyrecognize that joy whenthey see us,” she said.

Abortion was voted intolaw in the U.K. on Oct 27,1967 with the Abortion Act,

which took eect April 27the following year. Sincethen, millions of legalabortions have taken placein the UK. According toofficial statistics, 184,571abortions took place inEngland and Wales in 2014alone.

“The fruits of this eventare very real,” said PaschalUche, a seminarian at St.Mary’s College, Oscott. He

was one of the emcees forthe March for Life.

“It’s really at the heartof what it means to be a

Catholic,” Uche told CNA.“Jesus came that we mighthave life, and life to the full.

At it’s very basic level thatmeans the right to life forevery person.”

Pro-life work such as theMarch for Life renews hissense of vocation, he said.

“We stand for life,” hesaid.

“Personally knowingtwo girls who have gonefor abortions, I knowsomething of the pain of

what the oppo site (sid e)says, and we will neverreally know the pain of whatthe unborn baby feels.”

Toby Duckw orth, anewly accepted seminarianfor the Archdiocese ofBirmingham, also servedas an emcee.

“The March for Life isa way of witnessing tomy belief in life, and inthe sacredness of that,”Duckworth said. He voicedhope that people will cometo share that belief and

join in. Ar ch bi sh op Lo ngl ey

was unable to attend this year’s March for Life due toanother commitment.

He said he hoped that themarchers’ witness would

“touch people so that peoplethink” and come to feel“the rightness of speakingin defense of life” withinBirmingham and beyond.(CNA)

End the violence, seek God’s peace – a Mexican bishop calls for hopeIRAPUATO, Mexico, May 11,2016--A Mexican bishop isseeking answers after recentattacks on Catholic churchesand priests, and years of highmurder rates.

“The solution l ies inchanging people’s hearts,and in making peace to really

be peace with God and with

your brothers and sist ers,otherwise we shouldn’t expecta good future,” Bishop Joséde Jesús Martínez Zepedaof Irapuato said in a recentinterview with the Mexican

weekly Desde la Fe. Ac co rd in g to Me xi co ’s

National Institute for Statisticsand Geography, between2007 and 2014 there were164,345 reported homicidesin the country. The periodincludes some of the bloodiest

years of ghting between thedrug cartels and the Mexicangovernment, following the

beginning of a “war on drugs”

begun in 2006.Such violence came home

to Irapuato last month. On Apri l 26, four arme d menassaulted Fr. Efren Silva

while he was in the sacristyof Lord of Mercy parish inIrapuato’s Lazaro Cardenas

neighborhood, stealingnearly $400.

Bishop Martínez lamentedthe crime.

“The robbers came in, tiedhim up and roughed him upso he would tell them wherethe money was. In reality, it’sa very poor parish, when themoney comes in and goes out

on a daily basis.”The prelate said this is

not an isolated incident.He recently learned of apriest from Salamanca whohad been attacked by somerobbers. They “struck himon the forehead, inflicting

such a wound that he had togo to a medical center to getstitches.”

“We hope these incidents will soon stop,” he said.

In 2015, three priests were murdered in Mexico,according to the InvestigationU n i t o f t h e C a t h o l i cMultimedia Center.

Bishop Martínez told thefaithful that there is no reasonto lose hope, for “Christ hasrisen, the tomb is empty;

we ne ed to work so th atthe Resurrection of Christencompasses our society.”(CNA)

Archbishop of Singapore: Be proud of Jesus,

we fight for his values SINGAPORE, May 13, 2016--If beingSingaporean means fighting forSingapore, “the same way if we areproud of being Catholics we have to

fight for Jesus. We have to make himknown and loved. The Good Newscan not be hidden, but to be seen

by others so that their gif ts ligh t “.It is the task we gave to the faithfulof Singapore, the archbishop of thecity Msgr. William Goh’s message forPentecost. In the letter, the prelatemade a balance of the activity of theChurch in the difficult society of thecity-state, often deaf to the calls ofthe faith, describing the limits andresponsibilities of the individualfaithful.

The first appeal of Msgr. Goh is theunity of the society: “What the worldneeds most right now is unity,” but“there can be no unity without love,and there can be no love that is not

based on truth. So wher e can we findthe truth? “. The Church’s responseto the desire for true unity, thearchbishop wrote, “is the Holy Spirit

who leads us to Jesus, the fullness oftruth.” For this reason, “be proud of

Christ is to be even more patriotic ascitizens”, and “Christians are called toplay an active role in society, to builda unit that is not superficial as that

which binds the world now.” According to Msgr. Goh, “Catholics

should be prepared, as individuals,to speak and to fight for their faithand Catholic values. Nowadays thereare many possible tools: internet,Facebook, blogs, Twitter and massmedia. We can not afford to remainspectators on the sidelines, while ourfaith is challenged, denigrated andridiculed “.

“But before you can do all these things- we warn the Archbishop - we must beeducated in the faith.” And that’s whereMsgr. Goh describes all the limits of theCatholic community Singaporean: “Ourknowledge of the faith and teachingsof the Church is weak and supercial:less than 10% of the congregations are

involved in the service of the Church.”In addition, “they are often too worried

by ‘doing’, and have no time for spiritualand doctrinal formation”.

The Archbishop goes on to describethe “little sense of community” that

people who go to Mass on Sundays,and the sadness that comes from laypeople and religious who do not speakin favor of faith or betray for money. Atthe same time, Msgr. Goh warns against

being “too judgmental. In this Jubilee

of mercy we are reminded of the gospelof compassion and forgiveness. “ “Weght for Jesus - said the prelate - notto condemn others, but to bear witnessto the fullness of life, truth and love.”(AsiaNews)

Generate new models of economic progress, Popeurges business leadersEconomic worldviews based only on material well-

being cannot contribute to d ignified labor and newmodels of economic progress are needed, Pope

Francis told a gathering of business experts on MAY13. “An economic vision geared to profit and material well-being alone is – as experience is daily showingus – incapable of contributing in a positive way to aglobalization that favours the integral developmentof the world’s peoples, a just distribution of theearth’s resources, the guarantee of dignified labourand the encouragement of private initiative andlocal enterprise,” Pope Francis said to the membersof the Centesimus Annus pro Pontifice Foundation.The foundation is in the midst of its internationalconference on “Business initiative in the fight againstpoverty: the refugee emergency, our challenge.” Thefoundation was founded in 1993 by St. John PaulII to study and promote Catholic social teaching.(CNA)

For Pope Francis, missionary work is ‘lovewithout limits’

On Pentecost, Pope Francis praised missionary work as a massive work of mercy based on the desirefor everyone to be saved and loved. The missionto the nations is “a great, immense work of mercy,

both spiritual and material,” he said. The Church’smissionary mandate means that the Church “cares forthose who do not know the Gospel, because she wantseveryone to be saved and to experience the Lord’slove.” Pope Francis said the Church must “announcethe mercy of God, the beating heart of the Gospel” andproclaim mercy in every part of the world to reachevery person, young and old. Pope Francis spoke aboutmission work in his message for World Missionary Day,celebrated Oct. 23. The message’s text was released onPentecost Sunday, May 15. (CNA)

Pope Francis: You can’t love your pet more thanyour neighbor People in need deserve more love from us than theanimals do, Pope Francis has said. In off-the-cuffremarks May 14, he said: “How often do we seepeople greatly attached to cats, to dogs,” but failto “help their neighbor, their neighbor who is inneed... This will not do.” The Pope’s catechesis forthe Jubilee of Mercy audience discussed the themeof piety and how it shows God’s mercy throughcompassion for the suffering and afflicted. “Thepiety of which we speak is a manifestation of God’smercy,” the Pope told the rain-soaked crowdsgathered in St. Peter’s Square. The pontiff explainedthat piety, or “pietà” – which in Italian can also betranslated as compassion, pity, or mercy – shouldnot “be confused with compassion which we feel forthe animals who live with us.” (CNA)

No one can take our dignity – not even the devil,Pope says

On May 11, Pope Francis said the father’s embrace inthe Parable of the Prodigal Son is a reminder that wenever ought to despair, because nothing and no onecan take away our dignity as children of God. Pointingto how the father in the parable had watched and

waited for his younger son’s return, Francis notedhow “tenderly he saw him from afar, meaning that he

waited for him constantly, from above.” “The mercy ofthe father is overowing, unconditional and manifestsitself even before the son speaks,” he said. Even thoughthe son recognizes his sin and voices remorse, “these

words dissolve in front of the forgiveness of the father.”Our state as sons of God “is a fruit of love from the heartof the father,” the Pope said, adding that “it doesn’tdepend on our merits or our actions, and thereforeno one can take it away. No one can take this dignityaway from us, not even the devil! No one can take thisdignity!” (CNA)

Pope did not say he’d ordain women deacons,spokesman saysPope Francis “did not say he intends to introduce adiaconal ordination for women,” and he certainly didnot speak about the ordination of women priests, the

Vatican spokesman said. Pope Francis met membersof the International Union of Superiors General, theleadership group for superiors of women’s orders,May 12 and accepted a proposal that he establisha commission to study the role of New Testamentdeaconesses and the possibility of women serving asdeacons today. After some news outlets reported thepope was considering ordaining women deacons andcomments were made about women deacons leadingto women priests, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardiissued a clarification May 13. The spokesmaninsisted “it is wrong to reduce all the importantthings the pope said to the religious women to just

this question.” (CNS)

Vatican bank publishes 2015 annual reportContinuing its reform and eorts to promote nancialtransparency, the Vatican bank published its annualreport for the 2015 scal year. The Institute for the

Works of Religion, as the bank is formally known,released the report May 12 and presented the documentduring a round-table event with Vatican Radio andL’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper. The

bank’s net prot for 2015 was 16.1 million euros ($18.3million) compared to 2014 net prots of 69.3 millioneuros ($75.5 million at last year’s exchange rate). GianFranco Mammi, director general of the bank, said thatalthough the document reports a lower prot than theprevious year, 2015 “has been compatibly protable,considering the objective diculties of the market, its

volatility and the crises that have occurred, such asGreece.” (CNS)

Korean bishops send message for Buddhist peace day SEOUL, May 13, 2016—On the occasionof the Buddhist feast day of Vesak, whichfalls on May 14, South Korean churchleaders released messages calling forBuddhists and Christians to cooperatefor building peace through the spirit oflove and mercy.

Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong

of Kwangju said “The peace, love and

mercy that Buddhism and Catholicismseek are much alike. For authenticpeace, we should respect and care foreach other through love and mercy.”

“In modern society which is fullof materialism and secularism, themutually benefited interreligiousdialogue based on the spirit of love and

mercy can be an alternative measure

to solve various social problems,”said Archbishop Kim, president of theCatholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea.

Archbishop Kim visited SonggwangsaTemple in South Jeolla province on May6 to convey his message to Buddhists. Hepresented Venerable Jinhwa, head monkof the temple, a large-sized Bible and

painting of “The Last Supper.”(UCAN)


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A3CBCP Monitor May 16 - 29, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 16 NEWS

God doesn’t barter, rewarding thegood, punishing the bad, pope says

V A T I C A N , M a y 1 1 ,2016--Salvation has nothingto do with the tidy businessof bartering — earningGod’s love in return for good

behavior, Pope Francis said.“If you do well you get a

reward; if you do poorly youget punished. This is notthe logic of Jesus,” whoseability to love and forgive isunconditional and infinite,the pope said May 11 duringhis weekly general audience.

The pope reected on theGospel parable of the prodigalson, which teaches everyoneis a child of God not becauseof one’s merits or actions, but

because of God’s “unchanginglove and ready forgiveness.”

The father patiently waits

for his sinning son and rejoices with a celebration when hereturns home, the pope said.

Even though the sontells his father, “I no longerdeserve to be called your son”

because of the extent of hissins, the father immediatelyseeks to restore “the signs ofhis dignity,” because in hiseyes, he never stopped beinghis child, the pope said.

No one can take away thisdignity of being a child ofGod, “not even the devil,” thepope said.

The father responds tohis repentant son withtenderness and love; he

doesn’t say, “‘You’ll pay forthis.’ No. The father embraceshim, he waits with love.”

The parable also talksabout the older son, whonever strayed from the fatherand worked hard, obedientlyserving him.

This older son, however,lacks the tenderness andunderstanding of the father,

Vatican City - April 3, 2016. Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday in St. Peter’s Square on April 3, 2016. CNA

and he speaks with disdainand resentment, the popesaid.

“He only thinks abouthimself. He boasts abouthaving always stayed by thefather’s side and served him;and yet, he never lived thiscloseness with joy.”

“Poor father. One son leftand the other had never beentruly close” to him with hisheart and love, the pope said.

The older son needs thefather’s mercy, too, he said.

The older son represents theself-righteous, he “representsus when we ask ourselves

whether it’s worthwhile to work so hard and then we getnothing in return.”

“Jesus reminds us that youstay in the house of the fathernot to get compensation,

but becaus e you hav e thedignity of being a jointly

responsible child. It’s notabout ‘bartering’ with God,

but following Jesus who gavehimself on the cross.”

God only follows the logicof love and mercy — not themindset of the younger son,

who “thought he deservedpunishment because of hissins,” or of the older son, who“expected a reward for hisservice,” the pope said.

The parable, he said, doesnot explain what happened

betw een the two brothers ,

who can “decide to join in thefather’s joy or refuse.” Thefact that it is open-ended caninspire people to reect on

what they would do, he said.The parable teaches that

everyone needs to “enterin the house of the fatherand share in his joy, in hiscelebration of mercy and

brotherhood.” He said, “The

greatest joy for a father is tosee his children recognizeeach other as brothers andsisters.”

It teaches people to opentheir hearts to be mercifullike the father, and it oersencouragement to parents

whose child has strayed ontodangerous paths, to pastorsand catechists who wonder iftheir eorts are in vain, andto prisoners and all people

who have made mistakes and believe they do not deserve

forgiveness and mercy.No matter what happens,“I must not forget that I willnever stop being a child ofGod, of a father who loves meand waits for my return. Evenin the ugliest of situations inlife, God waits for me, God

wants to embrace me, Godexpects me.” (Carol Glatz/ Catholic News Service)

Beijing, Taipei, and the future of Vatican-Chinese relations VATICAN, May 11, 2016– A new phasein relations between the Holy See andmainland China could begin with a new

vacancy in the apostolic nunciature now

based in Taiwan.The presence of an apostolicnunciature in Taiwan dates back to theChinese Civil War; it has been a hurdlefor diplomatic relations for decades.

The People’s Republic of China( m a i n l a n d C h i n a ) h a s n e v e racknowledged the existence of Taiwanas the Republic of China. It considersTaiwan a rebel province that should bere-absorbed by its homeland.

Relations between the People’sRepublic of China and the Republic ofChina enjoyed a mild thaw in November2015, when mainland China presidentXi Jinping and Taiwan president Ma

Ying-jeou met in Singapore.In recent decades, the nunciature

has no longer been headed by a nuncio.

Rather, its head is a lower-rankeddiplomat, a chargé d’aairs. The mostrecent chargé d’aairs in Taiwan wasMonsignor Paul Fitzpatrick Russell,a U.S. citizen who is 57 and who hailsfrom Greeneld, Mass.

On March 19 the Holy See announcedthat Msgr. Russell had been appointedapostolic nuncio to Turkey andTurkmenistan.

The appointment leaves a vacancyin Taiwan. The fact that he has beenmoved to a new post may signal somedevelopments in Holy See – mainlandChinese relations. This could meanthat the Holy See wants to leave thepost vacant, while in the process ofnormalizing relations with People’sRepublic of China.

Under Xi, the Holy See’s relations with mainland China improved at adiplomatic level. It is noteworthy thatPope Francis has been the rst Popeallowed to y through the country’sairspace, during his ights to SouthKorea and the Philippines.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the VaticanSecretary of State, recently said thatrelations with mainland China “have

been and are part of a long path withdifferent phases. This path is notconcluded yet, and we will nalize itaccording to God’s will.”

Cardinal Parolin told the Italianmagazine San Francesco Rivista thatmainland China-Holy See relations “areliving a positive phase, as there had

been signals from both side that there

is the wish to keep on talking in order to

nd together solutions to the problemsof the presence of the Catholic Churchin that huge country.”

T h e c a r d i n a l g r a n t e d t h a t

“perspectives are promising.” Hehoped that “the blossom will ourishand bear good fruits, for the good ofthe same China and of all the world.”The interview was published May 4 onthe occasion of the translation of theSan Francesco Rivista into MandarinChinese.

In order to harvest the fruits ofthis diplomatic thaw, it is possiblethat the nunciature in Taiwan will

be left without a high-ranking papalrepresentative for a time.

This does not mean that thenunciature will be closed. A sourcefamiliar with the Chinese environmentnotes the possibility that the Vaticanmay decrease the rank of the nunciatureto China to that of an inter-nunciature,

which is not considered a diplomaticdelegation. The news outlet China Postpredicted this outcome some monthsago.

Surprisingly, the inter-nunciaturemodel can be compared to U.S.-Holy See relations before both statesstablished full diplomatic relations in1984.

In 1893, Pope Leo XIII had establisheda nunciature at a “non-diplomaticlevel” as a reference point between thePope and the Catholic hierarchy in theUnited States.

This approach contrasts with theso-called “Vietnam solution.” Vietnamlacks diplomatic ties to the Vatican,

but it is engaged in a series of bilateralmeetings with the Holy See.

In 2011 it accepted a Holy See “non-resident representative.” However,this position implies a diplomatic role.

At pres ent the People’s Republic ofChina and the Holy See are not goingto establish any kind of diplomatic ties.

The Holy See could move theheadquarters of the nunciature fromTaipei to Beijing. Xi might accept thisif the Holy See also asks Taiwan to closeits embassy to the Holy See.

The steps toward some kind of ocialrelations between the two States shouldcome together with an unspokenagreement on the appointment of

bishops; the Chinese government hasnot always acknowledged the Holy See’sepiscopal appointments.

Some experts have said the Church-

State controversies in China should be

seen in a dierent light. Archbishop Cla udio Mar ia Cel li ,

president of the Pontical Council forSocial Communication and involved

in the Holy See-China dialogue fromthe 1980s, spoke on this topic during a book presentation in December 2015.He said the narrative insisting on adichotomy between an “undergroundChurch” and an “official Church” inChina should be replaced, and thatit is more correct to speak about theChurch in China as being partiallyacknowledged by the government andpartially not.

One idea to help the so-calledunderground Church out of thecatacombs is to have the Pope appoint

bis hop s fro m a ros ter pro pos ed by(or at least acceptable to) the Beijingadministration.

This procedure would smooth theprocess to get the twofold approval of

the Holy See and the mainland Chinesegovernment for bishops’ appointments.It would make easier the regularizationof bishops who are still considered“clandestine” by the mainland Chinesegovernment.

The Holy See established relations with China in 1922, though at a minorlevel. In 1946 the Holy See establishedan inter-nunciature to China. TheHoly See’s diplomats left Beijing in1951, ousted by the new governmentof the People’s Republic of Chinaafter the retreat of Chiang Kai-shekto Taipei.

The inter-nunciature was elevatedto the rank of nunciature in 1966. Itmaintained its name of the ApostolicNunciature to China, amid the disputed

claims of the two governments. Adva nces in ma in la nd Ch in es e- Vatican relations in no way mean thatthe Holy See wants to forget Catholicsin Taiwan.

While relati ons with the People ’sRepublic of China tend to improve, anda papal trip to China seems to be lessof a dream and more of a possibility,Taiwan wanted to claim its long termlink with China.

Time will tell if there will be a newchargé d’aairs in Taiwan or if Msgr.Russell’s tenure marks the end of anera. At the moment, he has been simplymoved to Turkey, with the mission toimprove and strengthen relations withthe country that has become a gatewayto Europe. (Andrea Gagliarducci/

CNA/EWTN News)

Missionaries are the heroesof evangelization, pope says

VATICAN, May 10, 2016– Yo un g wo me n an d me n who are tired of today’s self-centered, materialistic society

should consider becomingmissionaries — the heroes ofevangelization, Pope Francissaid at his morning Mass.

“Life is worth living” to thefull, “but in order to live it

well, ‘consume’ it in service,in proclamation and keepgoing forward. This is the joyof proclaiming the Gospel,”the pope said May 10 duringthe Mass in the chapel of theDomus Sanctae Marthae.

So many men and womenhave left their families,homeland and culture to bringthe Gospel to other continents,he said. So many of themnever returned home, dying

in mission lands from diseaseor martyrdom — “offeringtheir life for the Gospel. Thesemissionaries are our joy, the

joy of our church.”Many missionaries are

“anonymous,” having served

and died in foreign lands, hesaid. “They ‘consumed’ life,”far from home and their lovedones, but lived knowing they

could say, “what I have done was worth it.”Open to the work of the

Holy Spirit, they felt anirresistible urge — they were“compelled” — to “consumetheir lives” for God in thefarthest corners of the earth,the pope said.

“I want to tell today’s youngmen and women, who do notfeel at ease” or happy with“this culture of consumerismand narcissism, ‘Look at thehorizon. Look over there.Look at these missionaries ofours,’” he said.

Pope Francis asked thosedissatisfied with worldly

pursuits to pray to the HolySpirit “to compel them togo far, to ‘consume’ theirlife” by being fully dedicatedto serving others and theGospel. (Carol Glatz/ Catholic News Service)

Vatican City - February 9, 2016. Procession of the Missionaries of Mercy to St. Peter’sBasilica on February 9, 2016. CNA

Fatima message ‘more

relevant’ today JARO, Iloilo City, May 14,2016 – At the thresholdof the centenary of HolyMary’s 1917 appearance

b e f o r e t h r e e y o u n g

shepherds, a bishoparmed that the messageof Our Lady of Fatimaabout the family continuesto be relevant today asit was almost a hundred

years ago.In his homily on the

feast of Our Lady of Fatimacelebrated in the DiocesanShrine built in her honorin Alta Tierra, Iloilo City,Bishop Jose Romeo Lazoof San Jose de Antiqueunderl ined that themessage of Fatima is morerelevant today because ofthe attacks on the family.

“Pope Francis himself

saw that the family never was so atta cked as it isnowadays throughout the

world that he moved toconvoke two synods onthe family in Rome andthe World Meeting forFamilies in Philadelphiain the past two years.”

Following the messageof Fatima as a great callto the sanctication of thefamily, the bishop seesin Our Lady’s messageconcrete ways to help thefamily live in holiness and,at the same time, to be a

witness of faith.

Prayer, sacrifce,and sharing

“At Fatima, Our Ladytaught us the ways ofprayer, sacrifice, andsharing in the family,”Lazo explained.

“Praying the Rosary asa family is a wonderfulpractice that does not onlyteach the children to pray butalso fosters family bonding.”

“I am a strong believer ofthe now famous saying, ‘Thefamily that prays togetherstays together’,” he said.

“The message of Fatimaalso promotes sacrice. If

you are part of a family,

you realize that you haveto share and sacrifice

yourself for the others. AtFatima, Our Lady askedus to oer sacrice for the

conversion of sinners.”

Building familiesOn the part of the Shrine

community, Msgr. SergioJamoyot, rector of theDiocesan Shrine of OurLady of Fatima, said thefaithful of the parish striveto live Our Lady’s messageas shown in the care notonly for the material andspiritual well-being oftheir own families butfor the welfare of theirneighbor as well.

A co nc re te ex am pl eof the parish is the effortto build strong families

founded on the sacramentof marriage.

“Common-law marriage,or live-in partnership, is onthe increase nowadays,”Jamoyot observed.

“As a pastoral response,inspired by the Jubileeof Mercy and the CBCP’s

Year of the Eucharist andthe Family, the parishi s h o l d i n g C a t h o l i cmass weddings to helpu n m a r r i e d c o u p l e ssolemnize their union inchurch,” the priest said.

According to him, asidefrom the occasional mass

wedding, the parishioners,

t h r o u g h t h e p a r i s horganizations, such as theLegion of Mary and theHoly Spirit Catholic ParishCommunity, are gettingmore pro-active by goinghouse to house, oeringunmarried couples theopportunity to receivesacramental marriage withthe needed preparations.

The celebration of OurLady of Fatima centeredon the theme: “The Family

journeying with Mary inthe Year of the Eucharistand Mercy”. (Fr. MickeyCardenas / CBCP News)


4/20

A4 CBCP MonitorMay 16 - 29, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 16

THE interesting elections are over. The winners are celebrating.The losers are mourning. The general public is waiting. Whathappens next? So much money changed hands. So manylives were put in danger if not actually lost. So many enticingpromises were made. What happens next? The merely talkingand simply posturing national leadership is going--after having

so much errant deeds done and many needed socio-economicagenda left undone. Someone of apparently few hard words

but a professed action-man is taking over. The criminals are waiting. The crooks are looking. The dregs of society are watching. What happens next?

The people were told that they will surely know within three tosix months from take-over. Will the infamous KKK denitively

be driven away and gone forever and ever? Will the big thievesin government deservingly go to jail? Will the criminals in thestreets disappear? Will the crooks here and there go away? Willthe drug syndicates vanish forever? Will casinos decrease innumber as well as having less in gangster players and moneylaunderers? Will illegal gambling eventually be a thing of thepast? Will customs discontinue in their customary lying andcheating? Will women and children prostitution become buta vicious phenomena of the past?

And within six years, will families living under bridges and by the canals eventually have humane and decent homes tolive in? Will the time come when children no longer gather

rubbish to sell, no longer seek food from garbage cans? Willthey eventually go to school instead of trying to earn a living forthemselves and their families? And will homeless children withtheir parents nally leave the sidewalks? No. This is denitelynot asking for heaven on earth. It is simply asking and hopingthat the in-coming administration will gradually but surely

be the opposite of the out-going one – as it promises to be so. Will farmers eventually own the farms they have been working

on for decades--with the hacienda owners simply looking onand living well by the sweat and tears of others? Will farmerseventually have the needed water to make their plants grow,their harvest increase, and provide the people enough food to eatand live? Will Filipinos nally have reasonably priced power touse by having their own local cheap power producing sources?

Will socio-economic development then become a reality andnot merely an impossible dream in this country?

There is something great waiting for the new President whenhe takes over the reigns of the government. This: The out-goingone has done so little so badly that the in-coming one cannot butdo better, do more. The former wasted his time and opportunitiesin rendering public service for public welfare. The latter will thennd it easy to attend to public interests, to promote the commongood. The vanishing presidential gure has institutionalizedsocial injustice. The appearing one will nd it likewise easy torestore and uphold social justice. The appearing one will nd itlikewise easy to restore and uphold social justice more concretelyin the use of public funds--even minus the oppressive VAT.

The time has come for the people to watch and see not only what will happen in three to six months but specially so inthe next six years--with the question: Was six years too longfor the people to suer from the past administration? Willsix years be too short for the people to enjoy the advent ofthe new administration?

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Candidly SpeakingMonitorPROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE CBCP

Pedro QuitorioEditor-in-Chief

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Views and Points

OPINION

Candidly Speaking / A7

Beware of the technological craze

What happens next?

THE phenomena like young men and even women already taking beer as early as 6 in the morning in convenience stores, seminarianshooked on social media are getting rampant these days. They

indicate a big, worrying shift not only in behavior but also ofattitudes and values that is now asking to be regulated properly.

Those young seminarians remiss in their academic requirements while immersed in cyber distractions are just a thumbnail imageof a widening problem besetting our youth today. Obviously, thecomputers and the internet can stimulate their thinking, but theycan also stimulate other unwelcome practices in them.

The predicament actually has deeper causes and needs to beframed within a wider perspective. Pope Emeritus Benedict hitsit bull’s eye when he said in his encyclical “Caritas in veritate”(Charity in the truth): “Technological development can giverise to the idea that technology is self-sucient when too muchattention is given to the ‘how’ questions, and not enough to themany ‘why’ questions underlying human activity.” (70)

We are slowly being lulled and intoxicated by the many wonders of the technological potentials. We are being detachedfrom our true human foundation as we are slowly being madeinto slaves, victims and preys of the predatory side of ourincreasingly technological culture.

With this frame of mind, our grip of reality hardly goes beyond what is instantly practical, pleasurable, popular. We get hookedto a knee-jerk, Pavlovian way of reacting, without giving anythought to long-range eects. We have been deceived by amodern Trojan horse.

For sure, technology oers us a lot of advantages. But wehave to make sure that technology is used properly, that is,directed by a solid sense of moral responsibility on our part.Technology should serve us in our objective needs, and notthe other way around. It should make us better persons, betterparents and children, better workers and students.

Most of all, it should make us better children of God, whoknow how to live the fullness of charity in the very midst of ourmundane and temporal aairs that now rely a lot on technology.

EDITORIAL

Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM Living Mission

‘Year of Eucharist and Family’ Reflection

May the month of Mary

Miserable Philippines

THERE is a multi-faceted and non-debatable reality in this country –supposedly the Pearl of the OrientSeas but in fact a Paradise Lost. This:If the innumerable, impressive, andmagnificent promises formally andofficially, repeatedly and insistentlymade by public officials--especially

when initially running for elections andparticularly so when thereafter alreadyoccupy and enjoy well rewarded andmuch favored national offices upon

winning the elections--became groundrealities, then the Philippines would

be nothing less than heaven to live inand a paradise to enjoy. So it is thatamong other things, they loudly promise

when running for election and proudlyproclaim after winning the electionthe following--among other gloriouscommitments:

Public service by public officials.Public interests over and above privateconcerns. Common good over individual

benefits and family welfare. Honestyand integrity in government. Respectfor human rights, deference for humandignity.

More: Pervasive and full economic

growth. Intensive and extensivedevelopment all over the country.Reign of justice and peace, of unity andsolidarity in all regions. No more povertyand want. No destitution and misery inthe land. More: Education for everybody.

Work for everyone. Big salaries withsmall deductions. Low taxation for bigincomes. Land for the landless. Housingfor everyone. Abundant and cheap foodsupply. Medicine grants and hospital carefor the sick.

Yet after no less than six years in thehighest and wherefore most powerfuloffice in the land, its soon outgoingoccupant--immersed in high self-esteemand wallowing in self-appreciation inthe light of its tired and tiring hurrahof “Daang Matuid” that in fact wentnowhere--is leaving behind a people whoknow and still remember well the Lunetakillings, the Atimonan murders, the SAF44 massacre, the Kidapawan bulletsthat killed farmers merely pleading forrice to eat. This is not to mention thecustomary graft and corrupt practices;the spectacle of a well-funded andmuch-hurried impeachment of a ChiefJustice (R.I.P.); the unique and shameful

phenomenon Tanim Bala included. Thereare more but few examples are enoughto prove incompetence in governance,corruption in administration, indolencein management on the part of thesupposedly illustrious, exemplary andsaintly supreme chief-in-command.

So is it that no less than the samesupposedly saintly gure himself was thereal and fundamental cause of the honest-to-goodness huge loss of his replacement

bet--not really on account of the negative

features of the endorsed but rather dueto the many and big liabilities of theendorser. So it is that the said endorseris the real cause of the opposition leader

being clea rly the winn er in the lastpolitical exercise. Again: The big lossof the endorsed--notwithstanding allavailable resources spent and inuenceexerted to promote his candidacy--

was precisely due to the big and manyocial as well as personal liabilities ofhis endorser. The voters did not choosehim on account of their dismay andfrustration for his patron. Philippinesmy Philippines: There seems to be butone way for you to go--seeing how down

you are. Up!

CARDINAL Charles Maung Bo, PapalLegate to the Eucharistic Congress inCebu, presented an enriching reectionon the Eucharist in his homily at theopening Mass on January 24, 2016, anevent that attracted 350,000 participants.One of the many images the Cardinalused to describe the Eucharist was thatof a multi-faceted jewel.

Noting that the previous InternationalEucharistic Congress (IEC) held in thePhilippines was in 1937 (79 years ago),Cardinal Bo described the Philippines as a

“great land of faith.” He recalled the manyrecent calamities the country faced; headdressed Filipinos directly, telling them“you have proved your resilience, yourfaith, rising from all challenges.” Draw

your strength from the Eucharist!Only through such an “intense faith

encounter with Jesus” in the Eucharistcan Christians “feel the presence ofGod in our brothers and sisters.” TheEucharist remains “a major challengeto the whole of humanity.” Cardinal Boinvited all to a deepened appreciation ofthe Eucharist, God’s gift, a “treasure offaith,” a precious “spiritual jewel”!

Social Involvement. Cardinal Bo spokeforcefully about the relationship between

the Eucharist and social commitment.He noted that we are to be more thandevotees of the Eucharist; “Christ iscalling us to be disciples…. The Massof the devotee ends in an hour, but theMass of the disciple is unending. TheEucharist of the devotee is conned tothe clean, decorated altars of the church.The Eucharist of the disciple continues

with the streets as altar.”The Cardinal recalled that Mother

Teresa advised her sisters: “The lovefor the Eucharist helps us to love the

poor. Be the love, the compassion, thepresence to the poor.”

Dedicated Commitment.Cardinal Bo challenged participants

to put their faith into concrete actions.Christianity offers “a new vision ofhumanity through Eucharist. Beforethe Passover meal, Christ offered anexample of service, washing the feet ofhis disciples…. The Eucharist remains asign of hope for humanity.”

“Let this congress set in motion amovement for reconciliation. TheEucharist is always preceded byreconciliation…. This unity andreconciliation needs to start with ourfamilies and communities, among

religions…. Peace is the bread that theCatholic community waits to share withall communities.”

Message to IEC from Pope Francis.“Dear friends, may this EucharisticCongress strengthen you in your love ofChrist present in the Eucharist…. Thereare two gestures of Jesus at the LastSupper which I would ask you to reecton. Both have to do with the missionarydimension of the Eucharist. They are tablefellowship and the washing of the feet.”

“We know how important it was for

Jesus to share meals with his disciples, but also, and especially, with sinnersand the outcast. Sitting at table, Jesus

was able to listen to others, to hear theirstories, to appreciate their hopes andaspirations, and to speak to them of theFather’s love. At each Eucharist, thetable of the Lord’s Supper, we should beinspired to follow his example.”

“The other image which the Lord oersus at the Last Supper is the washing offeet. On the eve of his passion, Jesus

washed the feet of his disciples as a signof humble service…. The Eucharist is aschool of humble service. It teaches usreadiness to be there for others. This toois at the heart of missionary discipleship.”

WE may still be reeling fromthe heat of summer, but themonth of May somehowregales us with its distinctivelyMarian character. Like aflower in full bloom, thisMarian month exhibits a

very special color and air ofexuberance as it lives out theMarian devotion in manyplaces.

Just the other day, forexample, I already saw little

boys and girls, accompanied

by their mother s or someelders, troop to their parishchurch with owers in hand.Obviously, they are doing the“Flores de Mayo” devotion.

In many parts of the country,there will be the extravaganzaof the Santacruzan thatcommemorates the findingof the Holy Cross by Sta.Elena. Of course, she hasto be escorted by her littleson, who became emperor,

Constantine.

Fiestas galore will also takeplace all over the country.In Bohol, for example, it’slegendary that the islandprovince is said to sink a littleduring this month, as manyof her children from dierentplaces here and abroad, andsome say, even from heaven,come home to celebrate thefeast of their town’s patron.

There’s indeed a greatreason to be happy and

thankful. What we have in

May is not just a naturalphenomenon but rathera div ine g i f t that hasmanaged to sit well with ourtemperament and the way

we are. We ju st hope and pr ay

that as these festive annualcelebrations occur, thedevotion to our Lady alsodeepens. Let’s hope that thisaffection to Mary becomespurified, becomes more

Eucharist: A PreciousSpiritual Jewel


5/20

A5CBCP Monitor May 16 - 29, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 16

IN the first part aboutt h e W O E s ( W o r d s O fEncouragement), we cameup with helpful ideas forthose who are recoveringfrom some trials or struggles

in their life.Now we are going to seesome WOWs (Words Of

Wi sd om ). Th es e ar e fo rpersons who are doing ne

but sense they can still do bet ter . Again, as with the WOEs, there is no particularorder in the list.

Here are some helpful WOWs:

• High ves and also lows.Being high is grace is alsoa grace. One will even gainhigher ground if he oftenrecalls his own low momentsfrom where God has raisedhim up with His mercy.

• Impossible is something.

S o m e t i m e s w e m a yexperience we’re good andthat things are definitely

better than before. But allthis wouldn’t have beenpossible if it were not forGod’s grace. Never forgetthat the impossible, thatis, the supernatural life is

attained always and only with His help.• Your Prole pic. Never

be satised with a genericor anonymous spiritual life.Every person’s love for Godis unique. Know yourself anddiscover what is yours, andonly yours to give to God andneighbor.

• Just do it... Now! A wonderful cliché is to simplythink about doing somethinggood but never putting itinto action. Pray, Plan, andProceed with action.

• Get used to sayingENOUGH! St. Josemaríaoften said: ‘Get used to

saying NO.’ It can be furtherdeveloped with ‘sayingENOUGH’ to superfluous

material things and plansthat do nothing more thandistract us and make usinecient in our apostolicmission.

• SMILE. Don’t forget you

have no reason at all to neverSMILE. I always say that the word S.M.I.L. E. express esto others what’s in yourheart: Simply Means I LoveEveryone!

• Occasions of grace. Nowthat one has learned, withGod’s grace, to be wiser inavoiding sinful occasions,he must eagerly turn hisattention to discoveringoccasions of grace andleading others to them.

• U pg rade, upg rade,upgrade! There is a frenzyfor upg rading g adg etsnowadays. Together withmaterial things, and more

importantly, let us upgradeour spiritual and morallife. Let us remember St.

Augustine’s wise advice: ‘He who does not daily advancespiritually is already takinga step backwards.’

• Good > bad. You don’thave to know math in order

to understand that good isgreater than bad. Good ismore natural to man thanevil. Even though experienceshows it is difficult to dogood (arduous and lasting)than to avoid evil (instantgratification but fleeting),

we should just keep on doinggood (habit) and drown evilin the process. There aremore good things to do ina given day, than bad ones!

• You’re Bad if you’reONLY Good. The youngoften say, ‘I’m good!’ tomean they’re okay. In thespiritual life, however, virtueisn’t about being good but

about being HOLY. Onecannot remain comfortably

Atty. Aurora A. Santiago

Duc In Altum

OPINION

The WOEs and WOWsof Life (Part 2 of 2)

Dale O’Leary

Commentary

The transgender agenda:

forcing us to lie

We Must Do Our ShareFor Change

A Prayer to Let Go and Move On

Whatever / A6

THE people have already spoken.In the early hours when partial andunocial results are being fed by the

COMELEC Transparency Server, it was very apparent that Mayor RodrigoRoa Duterte was leading by landslide,not by hundred thousands but bymillions of votes. It was really veryunprecedented.

81% of 54.4 million voters casttheir ballots. It is higher than 75% in2010 presidential election and 77%in 2013 midterm election. The nation

benetted f rom the high voters turn-out. One newspaper editorial stated“The more people who vote, the morecredible the election is and the strongermandate of the winning candidate”.

As of press time, the latest partial andunocial results from the COMELECTransparency Server represent 96.06%of election returns. Mayor Duterte

garnered 15,957,615 votes while the2nd placer Mar Roxas got 9,696,382

votes or a di ffe rence of 6,261 ,233 votes. It is neck to neck in the vicepresidential race, Leni Robredo got14,015,098 votes while the 2nd placerBongbong Marcos obtained 13,799,034

votes or a dierence of 216,064 votes.***

It is very clear that the vote garnered by Mayo r Dutert e is a pro tes t vote by the Fil ipi no people . It is a rea l,desperate vote. It is a referendumof “Daang Matuwid” of PresidentNoynoy Aquino. It is a vote for change.The citizens are sick and tired of thecorruption in the government oces.The “tanim bala” or “laglag bala”at the airports victimize the OFWs,

our modern day heroes. The taxing,opening and stealing of contents of“balikbayan boxes” in the Bureau ofCustoms also victimized the OFWs

and their families. The perpetratorsof theft and robbery of pieces of

bagga ge of inter national passengers

in the airports are never apprehended because the CCTVs are not working andnever replaced. The commuting publiccomposed of students, employees, and

workers suer long lines before theycould ride the MRT and worst, thetrains always bog down. The motoristsand riding public (bus, jeeps and taxis)suer the worst trac situation in thehistory of the Philippines. There is lossof manhours and of manpower whichamount to millions of pesos. Workingparents and children lost qualitytime to be with their family. Yet, thegovernment is insensitive to thesesimple things the citizens complainedof, not to mention the rising rate ofcriminality. Hence, the voters did not

want the status quo. They want change.

*** Wh il e Ma yor Dute rt e is no t ye t

proclaimed winner by Congress (theHouse of Representatives and theSenate meeting jointly act as theNational Board of Canvassers forpresident and vice president), he will

be ca ll ed “P re sump ti ve Pr es id en tDuterte”. Once proclaimed by Congressas the winning presidential candidate,he will be called “President-electDuterte”. Then, after he had taken hisoath as President of the Philippines,he will be called President Duterte,however, he prefers to be calledPresident Rody.

***Sen. Grace Poe immediately

conceded to Mayor Duterte, even

though at the time she made thedecision, she was number 2 in thepartial and unofficial returns. Shestated then “As a staunch supporter of

electoral reform, I have a rm belief inthe voice and sentiment of our people.I honor the result of our elections. I

congratulate Mayor Rodrigo Duterteand pledge my support in working toheal our land and to unite our peopletoward the continued developmentof our country.” I admire this lady;she sincerely thought that the votesshe gathered were not enough to

beat Mayo r Duterte. Less than twohours before midnight of electionday, she had made up her mind tohold a press conference and did it atexactly 12 midnight, after she calledup and conceded to Mayor Duterte.Sen. Grace fought a good fight andnever stooped down to using blackpropaganda against her opponents.Other presidential candidates one byone conceded. We hope this is the startthat good “change is coming” to our

beloved Philippines.***

H ow does the 201 6 nat ionalelections differ from past nationalelections. Only in this election where

vote rs engaged in seri ous exch angeof opinions using the social media.Such discussions resulted to familymembers, officemates and friendseither “unfriend” or “unfollow”their peers. It resulted to break upin relationships within the family,

wo rk pl ac e an d ev en fr ie nd sh ip s.Obscene and haughty words werefreely used to humiliate and embarrassnot only the candidates but also theirsupporters. Name calling and curses

were uttered degrading the personality,dignity and integrity of each other, not

even thinking that their candidates donot even know if they existed. Somecandidates failed to discuss their

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

Whatever

Fr. Wilfredo Samson, SJ

Pitik-Bulag

A Prayer After the National Elections

DEAR God, the election is nally over. We have discerne d and voted our

candidates. We have made our choice and prayed

for them.But after casting our votes, we place

our trust in You.

We are not in control of the results; we need to let go of them.

Our country, as a nation, has alreadymade a decision.

Let us trust the decision of themajority, whatever is the result,

For we do believe that the voice of themajority is the voice of God.

Today, we pray, that all candidates willseek the good of the nation,

and not for the good of themselves –for them to let go if they lost,

and to give their full trust and supportto the winners of this election.

We pray for all of us too, the voters,to set aside our dierences and biases,as well as our resentment and disgustover each others’ choice and the way

we voted. Let mutual re spect and

resignation to the WILL OF GOD be our

guiding values now. It is all over. Timeto MOVE ON and REBUILD our countrytowards unity and progress.

W e p r a y f o r t h e L O S I N GCANDIDATES and supporters. To

be humble enough to let go of theirfrustrations and be humble enough to

accept the will of God. They gave a goodght. We thank and respect theml. But

we pray that they humbly abide to the will of God as manifested by the resultof the elections.

O God, there are spots of violence,cheating, and attempts to disrupt thisgenerally peaceful and honest election.Intervene now. Protect us with yourangels. Never allow such evil attempts todestabilize our beautiful country.

And for ALL OF US, we earnestly prayfor support for all our newly-electedleaders. For respect the decision ofthe majority. To honestly pray for all

winners. That God may ble ss them with humility, wisdom, and dedicationto serve our country. We are tired ofpromises. We want action and change

for our country.

O Lord, You are the source of Goodand Wise Leaders.

Let them have FEAR OF THE LORDin their hearts.

Let them have the WISDOM OFSOLOMON in their minds.

Let them have the STRENGTH OF

KING DAVID in their hands.Let them have the LOVE OF JESUS in

their whole being. We want better leaders now. We are tire d of poverty, war, and

chaos. We want peace, progressm and unity

in our nation.Bless our new Leaders with your Holy

Spirit.Election Day is over. It’s time to move

onand heal our wounded hearts and ego.

We may not understand God’s ways,But He works in mysterious ways.Time to let go and give our full supportto all the winners of this election.May God bless them all.May God bless our NATION!

Amen.

THE USA is in the midst of what has been called the“bathroom wars”; however, access to bathrooms andlocker rooms of the opposite sex for the so-calledtransgendered is only a means to an end. The realobjective can be discerned from ACLU’s press releasesupporting U.S. Department of Education’s demandthat the Palatine High School in Illinois (and byextension all schools receiving federal funds) allow a

boy, who wants to be accepted as a girl, unrestrictedaccess to the girls’ locker room.

The transgendered and their supporters claim thatpeople are merely assigned a sex at birth, their genderidentity (how they feel) may or may not match theirassigned sex. The goal is to force everyone to accept thatgender identity should take precedence over the biologicalreality of sexual identity and men who claim to be womenshould be treated as though they were women.

The ACLU complained that the school districtchallenged their “client’s identity as a girl,” whichis true because their client is not a girl, but a boy.

According to the ACLU, all “she wants to be acceptedfor who she is.” The problem is that he wants to beaccepted for who he is not. Their client claims thatnot allowing him to change with the girls stigmatizeshim, “making me feel like I was not a normal person.”The simple answer is that it is not normal for a maleto want to be accepted as female.

The Bruce Jenner celebrity blitz and the battle over bathrooms, have brought the issue of gender to thefore and people are wondering how we got to the point

where boys who think they are girls can use the girls’locker room. What happened to common sense?

Unfortunately, many people thought that gender was just a synonym for sex, and could be substitutedfor it without causing any harm. However, for activistson the far left, sex and gender are not the same. Sex is

biologically determined. Gender is socially constructedand does not have to correspond to sex. There are two

sexes –male and female, but an unlimited number ofgenders. Once identity is divorced from reality, chaosensues, fantasy rules.

The Obama administration is determined to forceeveryone to accept the demands of transgenderactivists. Girls would have to pretend that they arecomfortable with a boy who wants to be a girl using thegirls’ locker room, because if girls complain or showany sign of disapproval, they will be judged guilty of“transphobic discrimination”. Everyone would have toaccept that wanting to be the other sex or believing thatone can become the other sex is just normal diversity,

when in fact it is a symptom of disordered thinking.Even if a person doesn’t believe that people can changetheir sex, he would have to pretend they do and call

what is obviously a male a woman. The media hasaccepted this demand. using feminine pronouns forBruce Jenner, who in spite of all the make-up, surgery,clothes and fancy photographers is still male.

Transgendered persons point to the psychologicalsuffering they endure because people don’t acceptthem. Their suffering is real. They are engaged in acomprehensive denial of reality. Such a denial is hard tosustain as they must continually shut out the truth. Thetransgendered delight in “passing” – being accepted as theopposite sex in public. It hurts to be told that even if theycan pass they are not and can never truly be the other sex.

The government does not have the right to force acitizen to say something he knows is a lie or to be silentin the face of evil. The people have a right to freedomof speech, which includes the right to speak the truth,even if the truth hurts another person’s feelings. So-called “hate speech” rules are unacceptable becausethey allow one group to veto the speech of another.

Some may argue that this is just about words, but asG. K. Chesterton said, words “are the only thing worthghting about.” Careless use of language caused thismess and needs to be remedied, rst by never saying

gender when you mean sex.The school under attack tried to accommodate the boy who wanted to be a girl. This was a mistake. Theyshould have told the parents that their son is a boyand must use the boys’ facilities. If this is not possible,he needs counseling. Halfway accommodation won’t

work; the Department of Education demands totalcapitulation. The defenders of the reality of sexdierence should learn from this mistake. They cannotcompromise the truth. They should not force the otherstudents to accept the lie that gender trumps sex, justto avoid hurting a troubled boy’s feelings.

The LGBTQ activists and their ACLU lawyers arenot tolerant liberals who respect other people’s rights.They are pushing a type of political correctness whichis a manifestation of a totalitarian, Marxist-inuencedideology. Theodore Dalrymple, an expert on totalitariansocieties explains how activists triumph:

In my study of communist societies, I came to the

conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but tohumiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded toreality the better. When people are forced to remain silent

when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves,they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assentto obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in somesmall way to become evil oneself. One’s standing to resistanything is thus eroded, and even destroyed.

The girls forced to accept a boy in their private spaceare being targeted for just this kind of humiliation. Thisis about much more than bathrooms.

(Dale O’Leary is a US writer with a special interest in psychosexual issues and is the author of two books: One Man, One Woman and The Gender Agenda: Redefning Equality. She blogs at What Does the Research Really Say? This piece is sourced from MercatorNet)

Duc In Altum / A6


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A6 CBCP MonitorMay 16 - 29, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 16FEATURES

their way simply because othershave less or next to nothing.

It’s a far cry from their pre-mission life, really. Before joiningRC, Dennis the head of the family,confessed they would also spendsummers in some cool rural getaway

just to escape the hustle and bustleof the metro.

Nowadays, the restaurant owner,

who serv es as lay mi nister onSundays, said they don’t go so faras the impoverished barangaysof Cabuyao and Santa Rosa inLaguna, and of Lipa in Batangasfor their annual mission, which isactually immersion, exploration,and recreation, evangelizationrolled into one.

Doris explained a normal missionday would have them going houseto house, meeting and greetingthe villagers, inviting them to takepart in the various activities they’veprepared.

“… knowing the families, talkingto them, sometimes it’s not evenhaving to evangelize, but beingthere with them, feeling them,

[doing] small talk. Basically like

that,” she noted.“What’s really nice is we get to

know the family. We kind of like feeleach other, I guess. I just know thatit’s something right,” she added.

‘Basketball evangelization’Even an ordinary basketball game

presents an excellent opportunityto talk about the faith, what her

husband Dennis wittily refers to as“B & B”: Bible and Ball.

“It’s fun. The binatilyo (the youngmen) they don’t know this thing.Meron pang kodigo (They evenhave cheat sheets). At the sametime it’s informing these people,”she shared.

The Nakpils would also treatlocals to lm screenings as a way toinstill in them the basics of the faith,

which they nd many desperatelyneed.

“You’d be surprised a lot ofthem, majority of them, are notmarried, because of the [lack of]funds. You need to prod them. Therequirements… You need to let themknow … the state you are in, it’s not

proper. The proper way is, if you

really are, you feel you are a family, you love each other, then you haveto get married. You just don’t waitto have the money. Because that’sthe problem. They want to have acelebration,” lamented Dennis.

Sadly, it’s an all too commonproblem. Filipino couples todaytend to cite limited nances as anexcuse to delay marriage indenitely

until they start losing what littleinterest they have left in formalizingtheir union.

The usual alibi runs along the lineof: “We wed only once. Why notmake it as grand as possible?”

To overcome this obstacle theNakpils sponsor mass weddings inthe community.

“Dennis and I became ninongand ninang (godparents) to someof the couples. That’s something

we know like yes because RC, themain core part is to bring people tothe Kingdom of God. So we knowthey’re already a step ahead, right?

A step closer to the Kingdom,” saidDoris.

The surprising thing is that the

couples they have sponsored have

since taken upon themselves theduty of convincing others still“living in” to follow suit and getmarried in the Church.

Outside comfort zones And like any lifesty le change,

it’s not easy adjusting to this newcommitment they’ve made.

Doris admitted, “Honestly

speaking, it’s hard for me because Ilike being at home on my own, [in]my own bed, in my own bathroom.So it’s really going outside of mycomfort zone. Being there in placesI’m not so familiar with… It’s hard.It’s a lot of sacrice.”

In trying to “do what the Romansdo,” there were times they had tofeed on adobong kangkong, sardinesmixed with veggies, or whatever could

be had, endure steamy, mosquito-infested evenings, and make do withprimitive plumbing, if at all.

Doris exclaimed,“Sa akin OKlang. Paano ‘yung mga bata? (Forme, that’s fine. How about thekids?)”

As if these are are not challenging

enough, there are the tons of pre-

immersion concerns to attend to before the mission proper.

“The whole process, gettingthe families together, organizing,scheduling, who’s going when andthat,” commented Dennis.

“We meet every week for eight weeks. We start planning like twomonths prior or probably evenmore. It’s like scheduling things,

donations, logistics. It’s not easy. Ittakes a lot of our time,” added Doris.

But fortunately, the blessingsoutweigh the challenges. Over the

years, these “troubles,” if you will,have become more manageable forthem all.

“I think it [family mission]has brought us closer to God. Inthe sense that we are now moreprayerful as a family. All of us areinvolved in activities that has todo something with the Church,”observed Dennis.

The full story on the Nakpilfamily’s travails and joys is foundin CFC Ablaze – Communications’Family Time magazine, May –June 2016 issue. (Raymond A.

Sebastián / CBCPNews)

Missionaries / A1

our marriages. Let’s step forwardin humility and faith as we prepareourselves to witness how Hetransforms us and our union,”shared Boyet and Nellie Pascual,couple shepherd (M.E. Batch 14) toCBCP News in an interview.

Aection“Spouses should learn how to

express themselves in different ways: telling each other that theycare, giving gifts and surprises,

and even engaging in physicalexpressions of aection like hugs,kisses, and touch,” they added.

The MEFP leaders stressed howaffection is an important aspectof every relationship, expressedthrough verbal or physical intimacythat demonstrates the couples’positive feelings towards oneanother.

Couple Jim and Mel Mirallesof M.E. Batch 3 also sharedhow “keeping the l ines ofcommunication open” has helpedthem during 26 years of marriage.

“ C o m m u n i c a t i o n i s v e r yessential in our marriage asit has made us more than justhusband and wife,” they said inan interview. “We see to it that wecommunicate not only in words

but most importa ntly, in actions– showing love and appreciationas often as we could.”

“The M.E. community has

amazingly changed our marriageand family life in many ways.

We are indeed blessed as we’vealso become a blessing and aninspiration to other couples,” theyadded.

Community of life, love“ M a r r i a g e i s a l i f e t i m e

commitment and an exclusivepartnership. It is an intimatecommunity of l ife and love,established and endowed by

God,” explained Nuestra Señorade Lourdes parish priest andDiocese of Malolos, IndigenousPeople Apostolate director, Fr.Nap Baltazar during his talk atthe Marriage Encounter Weekendseminar.

“All husbands and wives mustunderstand the power of prayer intheir union, especially when they

begin to raise a family of their own.Praying together is the best way topreserve relationships and unitefamilies,” the prelate added.

In its efforts to strengthenmarriages and support families,the Marriage Encounter PrayerCommunity of the Parish of theNational Shrine of the DivineMercy will hold its annual MarriageEncounter Weekend Seminar(Class No. 15) on May 27 to 29,2016 at Betania Retreat House inBaguio City. (Myraine Carluen Policarpio / CBCP News)

Communication / A1

CBCP exec to Duterte: Hasten El Niño fund release AN ocial of the Catholic Bishops’Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)social arm appealed to presumptivePresident-elect Rodrigo Duterte toprioritize the immediate release ofgovernment funds to farmers, who

continue to suer from the El Niñophenomenon.“We are appealing to the newly-

elected president to listen tothe cries of the hungry farmers,especially here in Mindanao. Theyhave already suered enough fromthis climate crisis. Why let them

wait for too long when money isreadily available?” pointed outNational Secretariat for Social

Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippinesexecutive secretary Fr. Edwin

Gariguez during a recent ve-dayFarmers’ National Sustainable

Agriculture Training in Tagum Cityin Davao Oriental.

In his homily, the priest emphasizedthat the government not only has

the capacity, but the obligation torespond to the needs of hungryfarmers and the poor, particularlythose long aected by El Niño.

Billions availableMainstream media quoted

Senator Ralph Recto as claimingthat a Php19-billion national budgetallocation for disaster funds isavailable for calamities like El Niño,and appealed to Malacañang for itsimmediate release to provinces with

widespread drought, adding thatCongress has already appropriatedthe funds thus a further delay isunwarranted.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agricultu re (DA) reportedly has

Php500-million in Quick ResponseFunds (QRF) at its disposal. SenateFinance Committee ChairpersonLoren Legarda also claimed that “wehave funds, but they are not beingaccessed”. DA still has a Php11.9million balance in its 2015 QRFand Php496.6 million for 2016,

while the DSWD has a balance ofPhp703.6 million in its QRF for2015 and Php1.6 billion for 2016.

Gariguez also said Duterte, whoran with a platform of “change”

and hails from Mindanao, would very well understand the plight ofthe farmers.

“He gives much hope to thepeople of Mindanao. We are hopingthat the new government would

heed the call of the farmers, not just for the immediate release offunds, but also for genuine agrarianreform and sustainable agriculture,”explained Gariguez.

Farm-frstNASSA/Caritas Philippines,

which Gariguez heads, has programsfor farmers’ rights, agrarian reformand land rights, good governance,and sustainable agriculture.

As ide f rom implementing

the Catholic Church’s largestrehabilitation program for supertyphoon Yolanda survivors, theoffice also implements a climatechange adaptation program in eightprovinces called FARM-FIRST

which helps farmers and shermenadapt to changing environmentalconditions, sustainable agriculture,and disaster management.

It can be recalled that Dutertecited the pursuance of a genuineagriculture development strategy byproviding support services to smallfarmers and rural development aspart of his eight-point economicagenda when he assumes oce nextmonth. (CBCPNews/NASSA/ Caritas Philippines)

US speaker: Church needs ‘new language’ for faith WH IL E th e Ch ur ch ’smessage never changes,

her methods and languagecan and should, said aUS-based internationalkeynote speaker andauthor during a Theologyo f t h e B o d y ( T O B )training on May 7 – 8 atthe San Carlos Seminary

Auditorium. According to Katrin a

Zeno, a Theology of theBody resource personfrom Diocese of Phoenix,

Ariz ona, ther e is a realneed to propose the“heritage of faith with anew language … creatinga bridge between thelanguage of the church

and of modern society.”“Our doctrine doesn’t

change, but the languaged o e s . B e c a u s e t h elanguage of the Church is

what I would like to call‘churchy language’ andmost people can’t relateto that,” explained thecoordinator of the JohnPaul II Resource Centerfor Theology of the Body

and Culture, Diocese ofPhoenix, Arizona.

New doctrine,new language

She said the bishops cameto the same conclusionof this new “challenge”presented to the Churchat the Synod of Bishopson the Family in October2015 as well as during the2014 Third ExtraordinaryGeneral Assembly of theSynod of Bishops.

Zeno, whose personalinterest in TOB begana f t e r a n s i n g u l a rencounter with thenpope St. John Paul II inJune of 1992, said this is

precisely what the pontidid when he came up withthe Theology of the Body,the saint’s teachings onmarriage, human destiny,and God’s promise.

“He’s not inventingnew doctrine but a newlanguage… hopefully, toreach people’s hearts, tointroduce us to Christ,”s a i d t h e a u t h o r o f

Discovering the FeminineGenius: Every Woman’s

Journey. Amo ng oth er thi ngs ,

TOB proposes that thehuman body reveals God;man’s destiny is to sharein the Trinitarian God’seternal exchange of love inheaven; and that man canonly nd himself when hegives a total and eternalgift of self to another.

St . John Paul II ’ sorig inal text is notexactly light reading,admitted Zeno, which is

why lay peopl e need toreintroduce TOB usingeveryday language toreach more of the faithful.

Language leads to love“ S o m e t i m e s , t h e

language of the Theologyof the Body is ‘churchy‘ lang uag e… becaus eit ’ s theolog ical andphilosophical.. [Whichis why] you and me haveto be translators fromEnglish to English, from‘churchy’ language to more

ordinary language thatmore people can relate

to,” she explained to morethan 140 participants ofthe said training, whichgathered top Couplesfor Christ (CFC) leaders,ocers from Filipinos forLife, and people serving inthe dioceses.

This much- needed“translation” can haveimplications on the widerChurch and on ordinarymembers of the faithful.

“If you have langugae, you can think. If you canthink, you can choose.If you can choose, youcan love… Language isall about love,” explained

Zeno, who will be in thePhilippines until May19 for a series of TOB

workshops and trainings.The Theology of the Body

is a series of talks given byPope John Paul II duringhis weekly Wednesdayaudiences from September1979 to November 1984.( N i r v a ’ a n a E l l a Delacruz / CBCPNews)

in some middle ground between vi rtue and vice and th ink he ’sgood. This only clears a path formediocrity and lukewarmness.

• Look at the bigger picture.Improving in the spiritual life isone thing, the other is discoveringthat improvement is meant forsomething bigger. Have a senseof mission. You’re not strugglingalone! God has a bigger plan for

you, ask Him about it!• Concretize, don’t dramatize.

Every now and then you getdiscouraged with some small

weakness or fall . Don’t fall intos ent imental is m or a v ic t imcomplex. This only reveals yourhidden pride. Objectively identify

your fault , its causes , concretizeand apply the remedies.

• Feel, don’t chil l . There’sno problem to chil l ing. Butsometimes it comes close toindifference when we are nolonger sensitive to the feelingsand conditions of those aroundus (i.e. our parents, the poor, the

begga rs, a nd the sick).

• Aim high but at something. Thesky isn’t the limit in the spiritualadventure. In fact, there is no limit

because the object of our love is

God who is innite. In any case, we reach the innite when we uniteourselves to God’s infinite lovein carrying out our nite earthlyduties with silence, cheerfulness,and constancy.

• What goes up doesn’t alwayscome down. According to the lawof spiritual gravity, we shouldnever expect anything in returnfor what we offer God and ourneighbors. And if we are everpraised for whatever good wedo, then let us lift it up to Himas well.

• Invisible is visible. Never getdiscouraged when you don’t seeresults in your spiritual life andapostolate. The very effort youinvest is a visible proof of yourtrust and love for God. If He sees

your pers ever ance, He will takecare of what you and I on our partcan never do.

• Make big small, and small

big . Lik e the sai nts , we can domore when we put more lovein the smallest things we do.Thus, we learn to discover God’s

presence and serve Him constantlyin our most ordinary daily duties.Moreover, like God’s “favorites”,the saints and the blessed struggledto “make little” of what the worldcons

Documents

CBCP Monitor Vol. 20 No. 16