•A3 •A7
Couples for Rabbi praises Pope
Christ opts
to split
www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
Cardinal tells pro-Erap,
‘accept verdict’
A RANKING Church official has urged sup-
porters of deposed President Joseph Estrada to
respect whatever would be the ruling on his
plunder case.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal
Rosales made the reaction amid reports of street
actions to protest a guilty decision.
Rosales asked Estrada supporters to shun vio-
lence and learn instead how to accept and fol-
low the rule of law.
Cardinal / A6
Bishops, legislators
launch caucus
BISHOPS-LEGISLATORS CAUCUS. CBCP President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo (center) shares light moments with House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Senate President Manuel Villar, San Fernando, Pampanga
Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. during the caucus held at EL Shaddai headquarters in Makati City last September 4.
Bishop blames
‘greedy’ politicians
on Basilan war
A CATHOLIC bishop said
Mindanao is at war today
because of “greedy” politi-
cal leaders who are misled
by their own selfish inter-
ests.
In a statement, Isabela
Bishop Martin Jumoad
blamed public officials
who have the courage to
sacrifice many lives for
Isabela de Basilan power and wealth.
Bishop Martin Jumoad
“They lost their sense of
God because they worship power and wealth as
their new gods. They are ready to kill people in
order to stay and perpetuate in power…” he said.
Jumoad appealed to the government to end
the military offensive against Abu Sayyaf, which
he said, caused “ugly and painful” effects to the
people there.
He expressed apprehension that many com-
munities have already been displaced by the
war, with children suffering the most.
“As Bishop of Basilan, I appeal to all of you to
stop the war! Do not destroy life because life is
sacred. Respect every individual because all of
us are children of the Almighty God,” he said.
Saying that “nobody likes war”, the prelate
said the extremists and the government forces
prefer peace “so that they can live with their fami-
lies and attend to the needs of their children.”
Jumoad also asked the government and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to set
aside “pride” and come back to negotiating table.
He said the delay of peace agreement would
mean more pain and suffering to many civil-
ians.
“You must effect peace agreement now and
not tomorrow,” he said. “Allow us once again
to breathe the air of peace and freedom here in
Basilan.”
The 50-year old bishop stressed that peace can
only be attained when both sides, the govern-
ment and the Islamic rebels, observe justice.
He also urged the media to be “responsible”
because “our people deserved accurate and cor-
rect data.”
“We condemn any misinterpretation, exag-
geration and sensationalism of the issues here
in Basilan,” he said.
Jumoad likewise called on the people to
avoid manipulation of situation in Basilan for
their interests adding, “You do not have the
right to gain anything at the expense of the
Basileños.”
“I appeal to all religious leaders of every
faith to unite and collaborate in building
peace and set aside biases,” he added. (CBCP
News)
•B1
Message of the Holy
Benedict for his
clear teaching
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace
September 3 - 16, 2007
Pope appoints new Apostolic Nuncio to RP
POPE Benedict XVI has named the Vatican am-
bassador to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Edward Jo-
seph Adams, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to the
Philippines.
He succeeds Archbishop Fernando Filoni, who
was appointed as Substitute for General Affairs
of the Secretariat State, the third most important
position at the Vatican.
Born in Philadelphia, USA on August 24, 1944,
Archbishop Adams was ordained priest in May
1970. He has a Doctorate in Canon Law.
In 1976, Archbishop Adams, 63, entered into
the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See and
served successively in the following countries:
Bishops lead civil society in upholding rights of families
BISHOPS, lawmakers, government offi-
cials and members of civil society reit-
erated their common stand in uphold-
ing the rights of families to found their
families according to their religious con-
victions in a recent Human Life Interna-
tional congress held in Cebu City last
August 24-25.
In a statement participants to the con-
gress collectively committed themselves
to resist population control in any form
and oppose the passage of any bills that
promote the “culture of death.”
Bishops participants included Jaro
Archbishop and CBCP President Angel
Lagdameo, Cardinal Ricardo Vidal and
Auxiliary Bishop Julito Cortez of Cebu,
Bishop-emeritus Jesus Varela of
Sorsogon and Bishop Leonardo Medroso
of Tagbilaran.
Follow Pope’s example, RP Church told
AN environment advocacy group asked the Catho-
lic Church Monday to take a cue from Pope Benedict
XVI’s environmental leadership.
The Eco Waste Coalition lauded the Holy Father
for urging the youth to care for our environment at
the first ever “eco-friendly” youth rally in Loreto,
Italy recently.
Event organizers gave the thousands of young
participants with recycled knapsacks containing
biodegradable plates, hand-cranked phone charg-
ers, and bags for sorting and recycling discards as
well as prayer books printed on recycled paper.
“We are delighted to read from news dispatches
that the mammoth youth festival in Loreto was
very eco-friendly. Nearly everything was biode-
gradable or recyclable,” said Manny Calonzo,
•B8
CINEMA
Father on the occasion Reviews
of WYD 2008
El Shaddai leader nixes
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
‘Hello Garci’ probe
ANOTHER Church leader, this time a layper-
son, gave the Senate reinvestigation of the
“Hello Garci” scandal a big no.
El Shaddai head Bro. Mike Velarde said he is
not supporting the move to revive the investi-
gation regarding the Hello Garci tape, a con-
versation between President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo and former election commissioner
Virgilio Garcillano during the 2004 elections.
Vol. 11 No. 18 Php 20.00 El Shaddai / A6
By Roy Lagarde
RANKING Catholic Church officials
met with top government leaders in
an unprecedented move to form a cau-
cus that will discuss family life and
other issues.
The “Bishops’-Legislators’ Caucus of
the Philippines” was launched Septem-
ber 4 at Queensway building in Makati
City.
The dialogue involved some key
personalities from the Senate, Con-
gress and Church leaders including
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) president Arch-
bishop Angel Lagdameo.
The CBCP during its 95th plenary as-
sembly agreed to initiate a caucus
among bishops and legislators in an
effort to build understanding between
the two parties primarily on impor-
tant issues that affect the dignity of life
and the family.
Foremost among the topics imme-
diately tackled is “redefining” the doc-
trine of the separation of the Church
and State.
“It is precisely that we accept and re-
spect such separation that we see the
need to affirm and confirm that there
is also a need to come together in
friendship and brotherhood,” said
Lagdameo.
The population issue
The more than three hours prelimi-
nary discussion focused more on one of
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
the most favorite topics often being de-
bated by the Church and the legislators:
the population issue.
The contentious population issue has
brought government health agencies al-
ways at loggerheads with church people
ever since the Marcos times.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Chair-
man of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus said
that “life and family values are en-
Bishops / A6
Rwanda, Secretariate of State—Vatican City,
Kenya, Honduras, Ireland, Denmark and Czech
Father who is the successor of Peter and the Vicar
of Christ,” CBCP President Archbishop Angel
Republic. Lagdameo said in a statement.
The Holy Father in 1996 appointed him as the Lagdameo said the new apostolic nuncio will
Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh and elevated to be the 15th in the line of Apostolic Delegates and
the dignity of Archbishop with the titular see of Apostolic Nuncios to the Philippines.
Scala. He has been the Papal nuncio in Zimba- An apostolic nuncio or papal legate is consid-
bwe since August 22, 2002. ered the representative or ambassador of the Holy
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil- See to the bishops of the Episcopal Conference
ippines (CBCP), meanwhile, has immediately and particular churches.
welcomed Archbishop Adam’s appointment. His principal task, according to church law, is
“As we would welcome the Holy Father any- to make firm and effective the bonds of unity
time so we welcome his ambassador or repre- between the Pope and the heads of States and the
sentative in our midst to unite us with the Holy bishops. (CBCP News)
Taytay bishop
alarmed by
Criticizing the over-population pro- The participants also resolved to fight increasing
paganda being advocated by the gov- all efforts of propaganda that promotes
ernment, the participants urged govern- freedom of sexual orientation which un- mining
ment officials to support programs and dermines the stability of families and to applications
legislation that strengthen the family. support the absolute duty of parents over
“[We] earnestly urge government of- the education of their children in human
THERE are no less than 127
ficials, local and national, as well as law- sexuality.
applications from mining
makers, to support programs and legis- “[We] uphold the exclusive responsi-
companies to do explora-
lation that genuinely strengthen the bility and the right of parents over the
tion work in the country’s
family and to invest in its total develop- education of their children in human
last frontier, the famed
ment, instead of espousing programs/ sexuality and …help their children
Province of Palawan.
bills that tend to destroy it,” they said. achieve sexual integrity and to espouse
Taytay Apostolic Vicar
The participants also committed to saving sex for marriage,” they said.
Bishop Edgardo Juanich
relentlessly pursue the promotion of Lawmakers included Senator Aquilino
said most of these compa-
Fertility Awareness at all levels of soci- Pimentel, Jr. and some representatives
nies have focused their at-
ety, especially on the grassroots. from Congress who are supportive of pro-
tention to the island-
Human sexuality should also be re- family bills. Other participants are active
province’s southern part.
garded in the context of God’s plan for members of pro-life and family organi-
“There are those who have
humanity and the value of marriage, the zations from the different dioceses in the
already begun opera-
statement said. country. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
tions,” Juanich said over
Veritas 846 Thursday
morning.
Asked whether local
residents would benefit
from the exploration and
EcoWaste Coalition Secretary. full-operations, Juanich
He said the Catholic Church in the country should said “there would only be
also take extra steps to make traditional religious temporary benefits be-
practices and celebrations “greener”. cause after they have ex-
“The local Church should check the ecological tracted the area’s re-
soundness of the way religious festivals, prayer sources, the immediate en-
assemblies and other time-honored activities are vironment would have
observed by the faithful,” he said. been destroyed as in our
The environmental group also described as very experience with Quicksil-
timely the Pope’s plea for the youth to shun “dis- ver Mines near Puerto
posable love” and “consumerism”, saying more Princesa City.”
and more Filipinos fall for single use, throwaway “I personally believe it
plastic items that are risky to the environment. (mining) wouldn’t do any
The eco-group recalled that similar efforts were long-term development
initiated in the recent past to minimize the environ- to Palawan,” he further
Taytay / A6
Follow / A6
 CBCP Monitor
A2 World News Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007

Holy Father worried New cardinals expected to

about planet’s future
LORETO, Italy, September 2, 2007—The
world is in urgent need of Catholics work-
ing to protect the environment, says Benedict
XVI.
The Pope said this today at the end of his
homily for the closing Mass of his encounter
with young people in Loreto.
Following Christ, the Holy Father af-
firmed, brings with it “the continual effort to
make one’s own contribution to building a
more just and solid society, where all can
enjoy the goods of the earth.”
“I know that many of you dedicate your-
selves with generosity to bear witness to your
own faith in various social ambits, volun-
teering, working to promote the common
good, peace and justice in every community,”
he said. “One of the areas in which work ap-
pears to be urgent is without a doubt that of
protecting creation.
“To the new generations the future of the
planet is entrusted, in which there are evi-
dent signs of a development that has not al-
ways known how to safeguard the delicate
equilibriums of nature.
“Before it is too
late, it is necessary to
make courageous de-
cisions that reflect;
knowing how to re-
create a strong alli-
ance between man
and the earth.
“A decisive ‘yes’ to
the protection of cre-
ation is necessary
and a firm commit-
ment to reverse those
tendencies that run
the risk of bringing
about situations of
unstoppable degra-
dation.”
Benedict XVI ap- Pope
for the youth in Montorso, Loreto, central Italy. (Photo by Giorgio Benvenuti)
plauded an initiative
from the Church in Italy to promote sensi- tention is focused above all on water, a most
tivity to the issue of protecting creation. Sept. precious good that, if it is not shared in a fair
1 has been established as a national day for and peaceful way, will unfortunately become
promoting awareness of these matters.
“This year,” the Holy Father observed, “at- flicts.” (Zenit)
be named soon
VATICAN CITY, August 28,
2007—The Italian press pub-
lished reports that Benedict XVI
plans to name new cardinals in
November, reports the Vatican
has not confirmed.
The Pope would need to el-
evate 15 new cardinals to bring
the number of electors from its
current number of 105, to its limit
of 120.
Seventy-six of the 181 mem-
bers of the College of Cardinals
are over 80 and thus ineligible to
vote in a papal conclave.
On Sunday night, Cardinal
Édouard Gagnon passed away,
bringing the college to its current
number.
Since January, six cardinals
have turned 80.
Benedict XVI on papamobile waves to the faithfuls before celebrating mass
Two more will reach their 80th
birthday before the end of the
year: Cardinal Angelo Sodano,
dean of the college and former
secretary of state, and Cardinal
a cause for significant tensions and bitter con-
Edmund Casimir Szoka, former
archbishop of Detroit and retired
president of the Pontifical Com-
mission for Vatican City State.
The last new members of the
College of Cardinals were cre-
Benedict XVI elevated 15 new car-
dinals, 12 of whom were under
the age of 80.
The ceiling of 120 for the num-
ber of cardinal-electors was es-
tablished by Pope Paul VI in 1975.
The Pope has the authority to
exceed that number at his own
discretion. (Zenit)
the statement published by the
Salesian Information Agency.
“The entire track of the wall,
including the section involving
the property of Cremisan, has
been set in complete autonomy
by Israeli authorities,” according
to the statement.
It adds: “The heads of the
Salesian community—who have
always been open to dialogue
with the local Palestinians, to
whom they have often provided
several services of social utility—
wish to renew their deepest soli-
darity to the [Palestinian] village
of Al-Walajeh and to the whole
Palestinian population still en-
during the hardships of occupa-
tion.
“At the same time they express
their heartfelt hope that every
wall among peoples may fall, for

Cardinal Dziwisz wants control on Polish ated in October 2003, when a future of peace.” (Zenit)

Catholic radio Salesians oppose Israeli

KRAKOW,
Poland, Sep-
tember 4,
of Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, the Redemptorist
priest who founded Radio Maryja, with a new
director whose guidance of the station would
2007—Cardi- be more in line with the wishes of the Polish
nal Stanislaw hierarchy. Father Rydzyk has been under
Dziwisz of heavy criticism for allegedly making anti-
Krakow has Semitic remarks.
called for The newspaper Zycie Warszawy reports that
close episco- at the August 25 meeting of the Polish hier-
pal supervi- archy, held at Czestochowa, Cardinal
sion over Ra- Dziwisz’s suggestions drew support from the
dio Maryja, Polish primate, Cardinal Jozef Glemp, as well
saying that as Archbishops Kazimierz Nycz of Warsaw,
the contro- Tadeusz Goclowski of Danzig, Jozef Zycinski
versial broad- of Lublin, Damian Zimon of Katowice, Ed-
caster threat- ward Ozorowski of Bialystok, and Henryk
Stanislaw Cardinal Dziwisz ens the unity Muszynski of Gniezno. However, the hierar-
of Polish Catholicism. chy was not unanimous, the newspaper said:
Cardinal Dziwisz, the longtime secretary Archbishop Leszek Slawoj Glodz of Warsaw-
to Pope John Paul II, made his suggestion in Prague spoke out in favor of the current man-
an address delivered on August 25 at a meet- agement of Radio Maryja, as did Bishops
ing of the Polish hierarchy, and published Antoni Dydycz of Drohiczyn, Stanislaw
this week by the Catholic weekly Tygodnik Napierala of Kalisz, and Wieslaw Mering of
Powszechny . The cardinal said that Radio Wlocawek.
Maryja is part of a worrisome trend in which At the conclusion of their discussion, the
the work of the Catholic Church is “gradu- Polish bishops decided against taking any
ally slipping out of the bishops’ control.” public action on the issue. Father Joszef
Cardinal Dziwisz urged the replacement Kloch, the bishops’ spokesman, observed that
any disciplinary action against Father
Rydzyk should be taken by his superiors in
the Redemptorist order rather than by the
bishops. The Rzeczpospolita newspaper re-
ported, however, that the bishops would ask
Redemptorist leaders to take some action.
(The Polish bishops’ conference did not con-
firm that report.)
The appearance of Cardinal Dziwisz’s re-
marks at the bishops’ meeting drew a protest
from Father Robert Necek, the spokesman
for the Krakow archdiocese, who noted that
the cardinal had not given permission for
their publication. But Father Adam Boniecki,
the editor of Tygodnik Powszechny, defended
his decision to print the speech, saying that it
was important to demonstrate that—con-
trary to some Polish media reports—the bish-
ops are concerned about the editorial direc-
tion of Radio Maryja.
In related news, Archbishop Henryk
Muszynki of Gniezno told Poland’s Catholic
Information Agency that he does not desire
the liquidation of Radio Maryja, but does
hope to transform the broadcast outlet into a
medium that will reliably promote the vi-
sion of Catholicism advanced by the country’s
bishops. (CWNews)
barrier
BETHLEHEM, West Bank, Sep-
tember 3, 2007—The Salesian
community in the Holy Land is
contesting a section of the Israeli
West Bank barrier that will cut
the Cremisan monastery off from
its Palestinian neighbors.
Father Giovanni Laconi, vice
provincial of the Salesian Prov-
ince of the Middle East, released
a statement Friday that protests
the continuation of the barrier
currently under construction in
Beit Jala, some of which will be
built on Salesian land.
The West Bank barrier is a wall
being constructed by Israel with
the stated aim of keeping terror-
ists from the area. It is located
mainly within the West Bank.
Beit Jala, located 6 miles to the
south of Jerusalem, is part of
greater Bethlehem.
Father Laconi said in his note
that the “Salesian Community,
victim of a one-sided decision by
Israeli authorities, firmly takes a
stand against the policy of uni-
lateral separation, reaffirms its
complete extraneousness to the
planning of the track of the wall
and, at the same time, appeals to
all competent authorities to en-
gage for the re-establishment of
international law.”
The International Court of Jus-
tice said in an advisory opinion
in July 2004 that the wall is “con-
trary to international law.”
The section of the barrier in
question will be built partially
on Salesian property where it
borders a Palestinian village, Al-
Walajeh, which will be cut off
from Jerusalem and the neigh-
boring monastery, said

184,800 registered for

Australia gives $15 million to Youth Day
SYDNEY, Australia, August 22, 2007—Aus-
tralian Prime Minister John Howard an-
nounced that the government will provide
another 15 million Australian dollars
(US$12.06 million) in support of World Youth
Day 2008.
The new pledge is on top of the 20 million
Australian dollars (US$16 million) previously
made available.
Cardinal George Pell, the archbishop of
Sydney, said: “The prime minister has been a
very strong supporter of World Youth Day
2008, and we remain grateful for his personal
commitment to the event and for the support
of the government at all levels.”
He added that the additional funds “will
help us deliver key services to the more than
200,000 pilgrims who will take part in this
event.”
“This generous support follows the federal
government’s decision to provide all regis-
tered pilgrims with a three-month visa, free
of government charges and country quotas,”
the prelate said.
Cardinal Pell said of World Youth Day
2008: “It will deepen and renew the faith of
World Youth Day
SYDNEY, Australia, September 2,
2007—Surpassing expectations,
young people and 184,800 pilgrims have already
make a powerful con- registered for World Youth Day.
tribution to ensuring World Youth Day chief oper-
that the values of a ating officer Danny Casey said he
fair go and respect for was thrilled with the response
others are promoted from prospective pilgrims in
and passed on to the Australia and from around the
next generation. world for the event that is still 11
“On behalf of the local organizing com- months away.
mittee and the Catholic community, I express Casey said, “We appear to have
my warmest thanks to the prime minister exceeded our target for interna-
and his government for their strong sup- tional visitors and are confident
port.” (Zenit) that the numbers of Australian pil-
grims will grow even further.”
“These numbers show the level
of anticipation that is building in
Australia and around the world
for this historic event,” that will
be “the largest event held in Aus-
tralia in terms of participants and
will deliver a significant boost to
[New South Wales] and Austra-
lian economies,” he said.
“With the support of the fed-
eral and state governments, we
are progressing well in our plans
for accommodation, catering and
event planning,” Casey added.
Australian pilgrims top the list
of those registered with 50,710,
while U.S. pilgrims are second
with 36,171.
More than 500,000 people are
expected to take part in at least
one World Youth Day event.
(Zenit)

Spain must increase aid Church attributed with

for families with children, development of Sri
says institute Lankan film industry
MADRID, Spain, September 3,
2007—After comparing the
amount of aid the different Euro-
pean nations provide to families
with children, the Institute for
Family Policy (IFP) said Spain
lags far behind and should ur-
gently increase its aid in order to
ensure the country’s demo-
graphic future.
“The amount of $33 per month
in aid for families with incomes
under $12,000 per year is an insult
to Spanish families, since, in ad-
dition to being a small and insuf-
ficient amount, the vast majority
of families with children, more
than 90 percent, do not qualify to
receive it,” said Eduardo
Hertfelder, president of the IFP.
The limits on income are so re-
strictive that out of a population
of 8.3 million children under the
age of 18 in Spain, only 10 percent
can actually receive the assistance.
Hertfelder pointed out those two-
income families that take in the
equivalent of the government-es-
tablished minimum professional
salary cannot qualify for the aid.
“This situation is inconsistent
with the rest of Europe,”
Hertfelder said, that while “the
majority of countries in Europe
stand out for their universal as-
sistance per child. Spain, together
with Italy and Portugal, is the only
European Union country that does
not offer universal aid.”
The Institute also noted that the
amount of family aid per child is
“clearly insufficient and much less
than the European average. This
is provoking unjust discrimina-
tion against families of the rest of
the EU countries.” The amount of
aid provided to families in Spain
has not gone up since 2000,
Hertfelder noted.
“There is no reason why there
cannot be universal aid per child
by the year 2008,” he stated. “Only
the lack of political will to help
the family can block this demand
by Spanish families,” Hertfelder
said. (CNA)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Septem-
ber 4, 2007—An award-winning
Sri Lankan filmmaker credits the
Catholic Church’s media initia-
tives with having developed and
improved the country’s film in-
dustry.
Prasanna Vithanage, who won
this year’s SIGNIS Sri Lanka Gold
Award for directing, said SIGNIS
and its predecessor, the Interna-
tional Catholic Organization for
Cinema and Audiovisuals
(OCIC), served as the breeding
ground for many current Sri
Lankan filmmakers.
Vithanage told UCA News
that, as a boy, he and his friends
enjoyed watching and review-
ing films at a mini-theater OCIC
organized in Colombo. Those
experiences provided the inspi-
ration for many filmmakers in
the industry today, he said.
We do not have a film school
in Sri Lanka even now,” he
pointed out. “We learned every-
thing through watching films.”
Four of Vithanage’s five films
have won SIGNIS golden awards.
The SIGNIS Sri Lanka Awards
for film and television are simi-
lar to the Academy Awards in
the United States. They recog-
nize achievements in various cat-
egories. The Aug. 18 gala event
drew 400 people this year with
Archbishop Oswald Gomis of
Colombo and veteran film di-
rector Sumithra Peiris as the
guests of honor.
Deepthi Fonseka, consulting
editor of the newspaper
Sarasaviya, agreed about the
contribution of the Catholic
Church to the Sri Lankan film
industry.
“SIGNIS (Sri Lanka) is one of
the award ceremonies appreci-
ated by the industry,” she told
UCA News. “The Catholic
Church has made a significant
contribution to audiovisual
communication over the years.
It has helped raise standards in
the industry.” (CNA)
US bishops renew call for
immigration reform
WASHINGTON, USA, Septem-
ber 3, 2007—In a statement re-
leased for the US celebration of
Labor Day, the chairman of the
American bishops’ domestic-
policy committee has called for
“far-reaching and comprehensive
reform” to the country’s immi-
gration laws.
“The immigration status quo
is unacceptable and unsustain-
able,” writes Bishop Nicholas
DiMarzio of Brooklyn. He chides
political leaders for their failure
to make progress toward genu-
ine reform, saying that this year’s
debate in Washington has “po-
larized our people, paralyzed the
Congress, and failed our nation.”
While celebrating the gains
made over the decades in the
treatment of working people,
Bishop DiMarzio laments that
many workers “still lack decent
work or fair wages, toil in ter-
rible conditions, and have no real
voice in their economic life.” As
a specific instance of the problem
he cites the fact that “more than
40 million people in our own
nation lack genuine health care
coverage.”
Citing an earlier statement by
the US Conference of Catholic
Bishops, A Catholic Framework for
Economic Life, Bishop DiMarzio
suggests 4 fundamental prin-
ciples for economic justice:
The economy exists for the per-
son, not the person for the
economy.
A fundamental moral measure
of any economy is how the poor
and vulnerable are faring.
All people have a right to life
and to secure the basic necessities
of life (e.g. food, clothing, shelter,
education, health care, safe envi-
ronment, economic security).
All people have the right to
economic initiative, to produc-
tive work, to just wages and ben-
efit, to decent working condi-
tions, as well as to organize and
join union or other associations.
(CWNews)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007 News Features A3

Don’t be seduced, Fr. Bossi meets

Benedict XVI tells youth
LORETO, Italy, September 2, 2007—Benedict
XVI invited half a million young people to
go against the current in a world seduced by
violence, despotism and “success at all costs.”
The Pope’s appeal resounded at the clos-
ing Mass today in Loreto, where the Holy
Father arrived Saturday for an encounter with
youth from Italy and around the world.
“There are so many messages, above all
through the media; that are being directed
toward you! Be vigilant! Be critical!” the Pon-
tiff exclaimed.
Most of the young pilgrims had spent the
night under the stars or in large tents. There
were 150 bishops and 2,000 priests who
concelebrated the Eucharist with the Pope.
Benedict XVI spoke to the youth a few ki-
lometers from the Italian national shrine,
where, according to tradition, Mary’s house
was carried stone by stone from Nazareth.
He explained to the young people that the
humility that they heard about in the Gospel
Pope in Loreto
Montorso Plain:
“with their
prayers and their
love they gave me
passage read at Mass (“Whoever exalts him- “Do not be afraid, dear friends, to prefer the courage to re-
self will be humbled and whoever humbles the ‘alternative’ ways indicated by true love: main faithful to
himself will be exalted,” Luke 14:11) is not a sober way of life attentive to others; affec- Christ, to his
“the way of renunciation but of courage.” tionate relationships that are sincere and Church, to my
Under a scorching sun, the Bishop of Rome pure; an honest commitment in study and missionary voca-
told the young people: “The message is this: work; deep interest in the common good.” tion and to the
Do not follow the way of pride but the way The Pope encouraged them not to be afraid people to whom I
of humility. “to appear different and be criticized for that belong.
“Go against the current: Do not listen to which might seem foolish or unfashionable.” And you have
the interesting and seductive voices that to- “Your fellow young people, but also also given cour-
day from many parts propose as models, lives adults and especially those who seem the age to the mis-
of arrogance and violence, of despotism and farthest from the mentality and values of sionaries who
success at all costs, of appearances and hav- the Gospel, have a profound need to see work throughout
ing, of harm to being.” someone who dares to live according to the the world”. In his
fullness of humanity manifested in Jesus testimony during
Media influence Christ,” he said. the September 1st
“The way of humility, dear friends, is vigil, the priest
Speaking of the enormous influence that therefore not the way of renunciation but of won over the si-
media desire to have on young people, he courage,” Benedict XVI emphasized. “It is lent attention of
told them: “Do not follow the current pro- not the result of a defeat but the outcome of the entire audi-
duced by this powerful attempt at persua- a victory of love over egoism and of grace LORETO, Italy, September 3, ence, who—those present de-
sion. over sin.” (Zenit) 2007—”Both deeply moved” scribe—listened to his words
they embraced at length, with- and then en masse led a stand-
out undue ceremony, like a ing ovation in applause. The
father and son, regained after Italian bishops were also

Couples for Christ opts to split a long separation. This is how

MANILA, August 28, 2007—After a whole day
of deliberations with the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines Episcopal
Commission on the Laity chaired by Antipolo
Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, the two conflicting
groups from Couples for Christ decided to
go separate ways temporarily with the hope
of uniting into one later.
The parties involved are the Couples for
Christ led by Bro. Jose Tale and the Couples
for Christ for Family and Life chaired by Bro.
Frank Padilla.
In an exclusive interview with CBCPNews
early Tuesday evening, Episcopal Commis-
sion on the Laity Chairman and Antipolo
Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes said the split will be
temporary but both parties “will remain
open to unification” in the future.
CBCP President and Jaro (Iloilo) Arch-
bishop Angel N. Lagdameo, Bishops Ramon
Villena of Bayombong (Nueva Vizcaya),
Guillermo Afable of Digos (Davao del Sur)
and Honesto Pacana, S.J. of Malaybalay
(Bukidnon), attended the meeting at the Coun-
cil of the Laity of the Philippines Building at
Cabildo Street, Intramuros, Manila.
“The Couples for Christ for Family and
Life led by Bro. Frank Padilla is now recog-
nized as a diocesan private association of the
faithful in the Diocese of Antipolo,” Bishop
Reyes said. He added the group may go into
other dioceses with the permission of the
bishop of the place.
“It is for the bishop to decide whether to
accept one or both in his area,” Bishop Reyes
explained.
He said Bro. Jose Tale will look into re-
ports that Gawad Kalinga “is veering away from
the vision-mis-
sion statements of
the Couples for
Christ and several
teachings of the Catholic
Church.”
Asked of Gawad Kalinga’s tie-up with gov-
ernment and other religions, Bishop Reyes
said “there is nothing wrong with tie-ups with
government agencies and other religions.”
He added “tie-ups with other religions should
be guided by the Catholic Church’s rules on
Ecumenism.”
Bishop Reyes confirmed money matters
had nothing to do with the conflict. He ap-
pealed to Couples for Christ members to con-
tinuously pray for their organization and
continue to work in their respective commu-
nities. (Melo M. Acuna)
Fr. Giancarlo Bossi greeted the
Pope in Loreto, where he was
taking part in the Youth
Agorà, organized by the Ital-
ian Bishop’s Conference in
preparation of the 2008 World
Youth Day in Sydney.
The PIME missionary, re-
leased last July 19 after 39 days
in captivity in Southern Phil-
ippines; spent over 3 minutes
in conversation with Benedict
XVI. “In those minutes,” he
tells, “we thanked each other
and were both deeply moved”.
Fr. Bossi thanked the Pope
for “having carried him in his
father’s heart during the cap-
tivity and having urged
prayers” for him. And speak-
ing to over 300 thousand
young people present on the
touched, inviting Fr. Bossi to
bring his witness to the vari-
ous dioceses in the peninsula.
The priest has a particular
love for the young, because
“the future and hope lies in
them”. The children and teen-
agers of his parish in Payao
Mindanao, were his first
thought on his release: “As
soon as possible I want to em-
brace them again.”
In this interview with
AsiaNews, Fr. Bossi reflects on
the most intimate aspects of
his experience as a captive in
the Philippines, on the mean-
ing of his kidnapping for the
PIME mission, as well as the
local Church, and confides his
future projects for the Asian
nation. (Marta Allevato /
AsiaNews)

Forum highlights media’s activist role in elections Pope Benedict’s prayer

IN a forum held at Pius XII
Catholic Center September 4, at-
tended by delegates and guests
from the media, academe,
Church, government and NGO’s,
PPCRV chair Henrietta de Villa
highlighted the volunteerism of
media in taking an activist role,
and its vigilance in exposing
election fraud for public scrutiny
in the last elections.
“Volunteerism and vigilance,
two key words for bringing to
light two election sons of dark-
ness: anomalies and fraud,” de
Villa said in her opening remarks.
“In the experience of PPCRV,
media walking with us was a
powerful detonator for
volunteerism and vigilance; an
unquantifiable source of cour-
age and hope,” she added.
The Parish Pastoral Council
for Responsible Voting
(PPCRV) organized the forum
in partnership with Communi-
cations Foundation for Asia
(CFA) in a bid to capitalize on
the significant role media
played in the recent midterm
elections.
Most Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle
of the Diocese of Imus delivered
a talk on the transformative
power of mass media in Philip-
pine elections.
Tagle stressed that media’s
transformative power can be
utilized for good only if it is
founded in ethical principles.
“Bringing ethics to Philip-
pine social life, including elec-
tions is the task of all citizens.
We expect the media to serve us
with integrity too, as they chal-
lenge politicians, candidates,
and citizens to be upright,”
Tagle said.
Prof. Luis Teodoro, Deputy
Director of Center for Media
Freedom and Responsibility
(CMFR) gave a presentation on
the monitoring of media’s cov-
erage of the past elections. The
result of the study showed me-
dia have been pro-active in its
election coverage in terms of
providing voters with informa-
tion vital to knowing political
candidates.
“Despite their sense of rela-
tive disinterest; the major play-
ers in the media community—
the broadsheets and the net-
works monitored—neverthe-
less exerted extra effort to pro-
vide the public both the infor-
mation on as well as the context
of the elections,” Teodoro said.
However, despite media’s
positive role and responsible
coverage of the recent elections,
media participants in the forum
also acknowledged the need for
media people to clean its ranks
of scalawags and unethical prac-
tices.
The forum concluded with the
intentions for September
delegates forging a statement to
VATICAN, September 3, 2007—The Vatican
continue working hand-in-hand has announced the prayer intentions of Pope
with other election stakeholders
Benedict XVI for the month of September
for Clean, Honest, Accurate, Mean- 2007.
ingful, Peaceful elections.
The Holy Father’s general intention is:
The statement called for a “That the ecumenical assembly of Sibiu in
continuing political education
Romania may contribute to the growth of
for voters; media education unity among all Christians, for whom the
programs for media practitio-
Lord prayed at the Last Supper.”
ners; encouraging media de- The Pope’s missionary intention is: “That,
bates among political candi-
following Christ joyfully, all missionaries
dates; and electoral reforms may know how to overcome the difficulties
among other things. (Pinky
they meet in everyday life.” (CWNews)
Barrientos, FSP)

Pampanga honors Spain, launches two books

IN reverence and recognition
of the Spanish missionaries’
role in Pampanga history and
culture, the Holy Angel Uni-
versity (HAU) of Angeles City
and the Archdiocese of San
Fernando, Pampanga pre-
sented the recently approved
Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Resolution No. 945 to the Span-
ish Embassy to the Philippines
last August 31.
HAU president Dr. Arlyn
Villanueva, Pampanga Tour-
ism Officer Ian Paolo Mejia,
and San Fernando Archbishop
Paciano Aniceto presented to
Hon. Alvaro Trejo, Spanish
Embassy head of Missions and
Chargés d’ Affaires, Fr. William
Araña, OSA, Vicar of the Ori-
ent, and Fr. Perdo Galende,
OSA, San Agustin Museum Di-
rector, a framed copy of the
resolution in a recognition cer-
emony at the San Agustin
Church in Intramuros.
Drafted by the HAU’s Center
for Kapampangan Studies and
sponsored by provincial board
members Hon. Catalina
Bagasina and Hon. Karl
Domingo, the resolution made
the first province of the coun-
try to officially thank the Span-
ish missionaries for their role
in history and culture.
“This is an historic event be-
cause for the very first time in
Philippine history, the country,
or at least one region in the
country, thanked the Spanish
missionaries for all the good
things they did here. Notwith-
standing prevailing anti-friar
sentiment, the friars, especially
the ones assigned to Pampanga,
deserve our gratitude as a
people,” said Robby Tantingco,
director of the Center for
Kapampangan Studies.
The resolution made further
recognition to the Augustinian
missionaries for their “pio-
neering efforts in the preserva-
tion of Kapampangan culture.”
It cited the Augustinians’ works
in Pampanga in organizing
towns and parishes, construct-
ing churches, publishing of
books, and extending assistance
in times of epidemics, calami-
ties and wars.
The resolution likewise,
made special mention of
churches built that have be-
come “monuments of great his-
torical and heritage value and
testaments to the
Kapampangans’ ingenuity and
fidelity to the Church.”
Also mentioned are the
Kapampangan dictionaries and
grammar books written and
published by the missionaries
“which have become sources of
Kapampangan linguistic and
anthropological information.”
Two of which were launched
the same day.
The 18th century books of
Augustinian missionary Fray
Diego Bergaño, Vocabolario de
Pampango en Romance (1732) and
Arte de la Lengua Pampanga
(1729), both translated by Fr.
Venancio Samson and Fr.
Edilberto Santos and pub-
lished by the HAU Juan D.
Nepomuceno Center for
Kapampangan Studies, were
launched after a concelebrated
Mass, led by Archbishop
Paciano Aniceto, with
Pampanga bishops, clergy and
Spanish Augustinians. Among
those who witnessed the event
were Kapampangan luminar-
ies, Chairman Ambeth Ocampo
of the National Historical In-
stitute (NHI) and the National
Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA), former gov-
ernor and solicitor general
Estelito Mendoza, former NHI
chair Serafin Quiason, Prof.
Randy David, Atty. Dante
David, Dom Martin de Jesus,
OSB, PhilAmLife CEO Verne
Quazon, Angeles Electric Presi-
dent Peter Nepomuceno, Prof.
Albina Peczon Fernandez, Dr.
Salve Olalia, Andy Alviz,
Tonette Orejas, Tom Joven,
Epifanio Paras and members of
media and academe.
The two Auxiliary Bishops of
San Fernando, Bishop Roberto
Mallari and Bishop Pablo
David, also came. (Kris Bayos)
 CBCP Monitor
A4 Opinion Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007

EDITORIAL

Voice of the voiceless

“YOU must be the voice of the voiceless, of the displaced
indigenous communities because of big-scale mining, the unborn
children and the dying environment,” thus reverberated the homily
of Archbishop Romulo Valles at the San Pedro Cathedral in
Davao City during the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Julius Tonel
last August 20.
This statement may be the best rendition of the role of Shepherds
who endures to leave the 99 in search of the one lost who is often
the weak and the voiceless.
A shepherd can always take shelter in the comfort of liturgical
celebrations and the theological basis that goes with it. But the
staff he carries is best defined only when he goes out in defense
of his sheep; and when he makes a stand for and in behalf of them
even in the face of the onslaught of the social and political.

One too many

ON one hand, there is the national leadership who long since has
been proudly and loudly pronouncing its resolve to clean the
government it leads from the infamous graft and corruption.
Sometime last year or so, Malacanang has committed no less than
2 billion pesos precisely to fund its avowed crusade against graft
and corruption in government. And there is even the public entity
specifically identified as the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission
(PAGC) and categorically established to uproot grafters from the
present administration.
Abp. Angel N. Lagdameo, DD
CBCP Welcomes New
On the other hand, PAGC said the following rather revealing facts:
First, it has in fact submitted no less than some 90 graft cases to

In and Out of Season Apostolic Nuncio

the Office of the President for pursuant action. Second, it said that
the same highest office in the land had done nothing on the said
cases except in conjunction with 2 or 3 of them. Third, it pointed
out that some PAGC lawyers are in fact contemplating on leaving
the Commission precisely on account of their perceived waste of “BLESSED is he who comes in the name of the Holy See and has served successively new Apostolic Nuncio was born (1944).
time and effort in working on the cases which after all are but the Lord. Benedictus est qui venit in nomine in Rwanda, Secretariat of State (Vatican An apostolic nuncio or papal legate is
Domini.” The Catholic Bishops’ Conference City), Kenya-Africa, Honduras, Ireland, considered the representative or ambassa-
nonchalantly treated by the Presidential Office. of the Philippines gladly and gratefully wel- Denmark and Czech Republic. The late dor of the Pope or Holy See to the authori-
comes the new Apostolic Nuncio in the per- Pope John Paul II appointed Archbishop ties of the State as well as to the bishops of
One thing is certain: even but a single graft case in government the Episcopal Conference and particular
son of Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Adams as Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh
is already one too many, one could just wonder what some 90 graft appointed by Pope Benedict XVI effective (1996) and in Zimbabwe, Africa (2002). churches. His principal task, according to
cases really mean and actually imply. August 3 at 6:00 P.M. local time. He succeeds The new Apostolic Nuncio will be the 15th canon 364, is to make more firm and effec-
Archbishop Fernando Filoni who has been in the line of Apostolic Delegates and Apos- tive the bonds of unity between the Pope
It is not hard to think and forward the following fundamental appointed “substitute” to Cardinal Bertone tolic Nuncios to the Philippines. Inciden- or Holy See and the rulers of the State and
reason to explain in general the above predicament or impasse in the Secretariat of State (Vatican) tally, a former bishop of Nueva Segovia and the bishops.
existing between the office of the President and nothing less than The new Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop bishop of Jaro, the late Dennis Cardinal As we would welcome the Holy Father
Adams, 63 years old, hails from Philadel- Dougherty, was born in Philadelphia and anytime so we welcome his Ambassador
a Presidential Commission: The present administration has been phia (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) and was or- later after serving in the Philippines, was or Representative in our midst to unite us
a habitual recipient of allegations of the odious practice of dained priest in May 16, 1970 for the Arch- appointed by Pope Benedict XV as Arch- with the Holy Father who is the successor
“Transactional Politics” whereby it reportedly appoints political diocese of Philadelphia. A doctor of Canon bishop (Cardinal) of Philadelphia. But that of Peter and the Vicar of Christ. Benedictus
beneficiaries to high ranking offices in the bureaucracy. Law, he entered the Diplomatic Service of was a quarter of a century (1918) before our est qui venit in nomine Domini.

That being the case, at least if allegations are founded, corruption Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
becomes as a matter of course, because anybody “rewarded”
with a high government office has to recover the investment one
has put up. Disappointing Love Life
Transactional politics then perpetuate corruption. And so is
Philippine politics and those who are at the thick of it. AMNESTY International (AI) was one of the human rights victims all over the world. baby girl whom she placed for adoption. Two
organizations I used to admire. The members However, it was downright disappointing feminist lawyers approached her while she
from different countries are quick to send let- when I received information that AI is pro- was still pregnant and asked that they use her
ters of solidarity to victims of human rights. moting the decriminalization of abortion in name for the cause of women—the right to
They have been very vocal in protesting countries that have not legalized it yet. In an- privacy and women’s choice. Thirty years af-

The Basilan appeal against capital punishment or the death pen-

alty, no matter what country was implement-
ing it.
THE appeal of Basilan Prelate Martin Jumoad, which was read I was the recipient of such a letter of sup-
port in 1982 when I was falsely accused of
the other Sunday in all his local churches and transmitted to the murder, subversion and inciting rebellion—
national media—in fact, also on youtube—to put an end to the supposedly one of the officers of the NPA. I
armed conflict prevailing in his area sounds very distressing. had joined a fact-finding mission organized
by Task Force Detainees of AMRSP during
Not only because the good bishop is waging a lonely crusade, but the Marcos regime. Five of us in the team—
because he seems to have discovered a heap of agenda bundled another Good Shepherd nun, two men and
with the war. He says: “There is violence in Basilan because there one woman had gone to the mountain area of
Lobo, Batangas to investigate the arbitrary
are some political leaders who are greedy for power and wealth. arrest and killing of farmers who were ac-
They lost their sense of God because they worship power and cused of being members or supporters of the
wealth as their new gods. They are ready to kill people in order New People’s Army. We did obtain the names
to stay and perpetuate in power…” of the soldiers who had been abusive and vio-
lent but we never got to submit those facts to
The “greed for power and wealth” as the seeming motivating the central office. On our way back to Manila,
we were arrested and detained, our lay com-
factor of the war plan should be looked into; as everybody now panions severely tortured, and were released
should start thinking of how to send relief commodities to the poor only after the People Power event in 1986.
victims of this government-controlled calamity. That seems so long ago. Amnesty Interna-
tional continues to be a beacon of light to
swer to our letter of protest in the name of
Pro-life Philippines, AI insisted on the need
to legalize abortion in order to provide ser-
vices to victims of rape and incest.
We know from counseling many pregnant
girls and women, including survivors of rape
and incest, that abortion is not the answer.
Exerting more effort to stop the abomination
of incest and rape is the more appropriate and
urgent way. Rape and incest have multiplied
in countries that have legalized abortion. Men
have become bolder in raping women while
women have chosen abortion as their first
course of solution instead of seeking the
harder way of continuing a pregnancy and
giving life to an innocent life. The US Supreme
Court in 1973 decriminalized abortion in the
Roe vs. Wade decision. The case was based on
a lie. Jane Roe (real name is Norma
McCorvey) who filed the case claimed she
was raped and had an abortion. She was never
raped, in fact she was living a promiscuous
life and this was her third pregnancy. She
never had an abortion. She gave birth to a
ter Roe vs. Wade, Norma McCorvey has con-
verted to the Catholic Church and she and her
daughter are now very active pro-lifers. Their
main concern now is to work for the reversal
of the legalization of abortion in the US. They
have collected over 6,000 testimonies of
women to be submitted to the US Congress to
show how abortion has hurt women instead
of helping them.
Doubly disappointing is the fact that the
deputy secretary general of AI is a woman—
Kate Gilmore. In answer to the objection of
the U.S. Bishops and the withdrawal of mem-
bership of the Irish head of AI, Gilmore stated
that her organization will not reverse the abor-
tion policy decision.
Amnesty International continues to pressure
countries, especially third world countries, to
legalize abortion in the guise of human rights
for women. Please send your letter of protest
and support the stand of the Catholic Church
and pro-life groups. For details on how and
where to send your letter, contact Pro-life of-
fice at 911-2911, telefax 421-7147.

Bp. Guillermo V. Afable, DD

From Daditama to
ISSN 1908-2940

CBCP Monitor
P r o ta g o n i s t of Tr u t h , Promoter of Peace
DADITAMA Zambasuli
Pedro C. Quitorio DADITAMA is happy and proud that another under the pastoral care of Archbishop City at the San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Pas-
Editor-in-Chief one of its own has been nominated to the Romulo Valles, also from Daditama. To show toral Center, last August 23-25, 2007. Bishop
Episcopacy last June and just ordained Bishop their joy and welcome to their new Bishop, a Zacarias Jimenez, D.D., auxiliary Bishop of
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Kris P. Bayos last August 20, 2007 by Archbishop Fernando large contingent from Ipil came for his Epis- Butuan, welcomed the delegates in the open-
Associate Editor Feature Editor R. Capalla, Archbishop of Davao, at the San copal ordination. Now, the Prelature of Ipil ing liturgy. Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, D.D.
Pedro Cathedral. Bishop Julius “Joy” Tonel awaits the arrival of its new Bishop on Sep- presided over the closing Eucharistic celebra-
Melo M. Acuña Rowena T. Dalanon of Davao is the fifth priest nominated by the tember 11, 2007 for his official reception and tion. Their presence was indeed a gift and
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor Holy Father to the Episcopacy coming from canonical installation. inspiration to the participating catechists.
the ecclesiastical province. The first was God speed and God bless Bishop Joy! Our One hundred fifty official participants gath-
Dennis B. Dayao Ernani M. Ramos Bishop Generoso Camina, PME from Tagum prayers are always with you. ered together for this convention, made up
On-Line Editor Circulation Manager
(1978). Followed by Archbishop Romulo of Diocesan Directors and Coordinators, as
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez Valles from Tagum (1998), next, came Bishop *** well as, ordinary catechists from twenty out
News Editor Comptroller Guillermo Afable from Davao (2001). The of twenty-one ecclesiastical jurisdictions in
fourth was Bishop George Rimando from Telling the story of Jesus in Mindanao Mindanao. Being the Bishop-chairman of
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Tagum (2006). catechetical ministry in Mindanao, I was
Communications Development Foundation, Inc., with Like its other sons before him who were With the support of the Mindanao Bishops privileged to have taken part throughout the
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editorial and business of fices at 470 Gen. Luna St., sent elsewhere, Bishop Julius Tonel has been and the Episcopal Commission on entire duration of the convention.
Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. appointed to another local church, to the Catechetics and Catholic Education (ECCCE) Daditama was ably represented by their re-
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.
Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Prelature of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay Prov- headed by Bishop Soc Villegas, and the host, spective diocesan catechetical directors and
Website: www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor ince, Western Mindanao. The prelature is a Diocese of Butuan, the Regional Catechists Con- coordinators: Fr. Autida and Mr. Erwin Joey
suffragan of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, vention of Mindanao was finally held in Butuan DADITAMA / A6
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Views and Points
IT is an open secret that practically all mar-
riages “annulled” by the government forward
the ground of “Psychological incapacity” on
the part of either or both spouses. It is also
quite known that especially so in these “an-
nulment” cases, the best lawyers are not those
who know the law but those acquainted with
the fiscal and judge concerned. All these how-
ever notwithstanding, it might serve not only
the truth but also the awareness of the general
public what “Psychological Incapacity” really
means and what actually implies when such
ground is formally attributed and judicially
proven as appended to a husband and/or wife.
For a start, it will be good to expressly and
clearly say that “Psychological Incapacity” is a
very serious accusation against someone with
grave and lasting deleterious consequences in
the latter’s dimension as a person, as an indi-
The Pope’s Environmental Campaign,
Preparing for World Youth Day
ATTENDING a festival in Loreto, Italy this
Sunday coinciding with the Catholic Church’s
“Save Creation Day”, Pope Benedict through
the Italian Bishops Conference declared that
it was the responsibility of the Church to
teach its young about caring for the planet.
So, in preparation for the World Youth Day
to be held in Sydney, Australia, next year,
the environmental campaign, supported by
lay groups, focused on tree planting and re-
cycling.
Each of the 300,000 young Catholics was
given a knapsack made of recycled nylon—
containing a hand-cranked battery recharger,
three sets of biodegradable plates, and three
bags for recycling trash. The prayer books
for the Pope’s Sunday Mass will be made of
recycled paper. Hydrogen cars will be dis-
played and tree planting will be done in the
areas in Southern Italy which was devastated
by forest fires.
How does the Pope’s environmental cam-
paign to the youth relate to us? It should re-
ally be regarded as the Pope’s call to all the
laity of all the parishes in the Philippines to
Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD
By the Roadside
Blessed Mother Teresa: “The fruit of silence
is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith
is love, and the fruit of love is silence.”
FIRST, the clatter. It all started when Time
magazine, with the usual media eye for what
sells, published an article in its August 23,
2007 issue on Blessed (Mother) Teresa of
Calcutta’s “Crisis of Faith” where some of
her letters are cast as revealing her tormented
soul suffering from the pain of deep and lin-
gering doubt. Naturally the media have since
seized this hitherto-unknown aspect of her
life for its sensational value. Imagine the
world-famous nun that used to be known as
a “living saint” actually owning up to years
of feeling alone in the face of a seemingly
unresponsive God, even at times doubting
his very existence.
Avowed atheists were exultant, under-
standably behaving like they had suddenly
hit gold and taking this phenomenon as yet
another proof of God’s non-existence. Catho-
lic authors, both conservative and progres-
sive, surprisingly have come out with a uni-
fied voice upholding Blessed Teresa of
Calcutta’s experience as mirroring the clas-
sic state of desolation, the “dark night of the
soul” or the “cloud of unknowing” that
countless saints go through as a necessary
purification stage on the way to their mysti-
cal union with God. What is more, it also
reflects the common human experience of
doubt, the anguish of uncertainty and per-
plexity that prelude or accompany a
believer’s growth in faith.
But the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in
a September 1, 2007 address at a youth rally
in Loreto, Italy, has named the experience
“the silence of God”. He is quoted in the Phil-
ippine Daily Inquirer September 3, 2007 is-
sue as saying: “All believers know about the
silence of God. Even Mother Teresa, with all
her charity and force of faith, suffered from
the silence of God [italics mine].” Apparently
Sayang (Part II)
SOME years ago, smuggled luxury vehicles
were put to auction. Of course, there were
instances the smugglers themselves won
possession of these controversial cars
through bidding.
Automobile Association of the Philippines Di-
rector Johnny Angeles said there were three
entities represented in the committee that
looked after these cars for auction. The Bu-
reau of Customs which based its recommen-
dations on their blue-book, CAMPI which
more often than not suggested the current
industry price and the Philippine Motor As-
sociation which suggested the prevailing
market price.
Opinion
Psychological
Incapacity
vidual, and as a man or a woman. Woe to any
husband/father or wife/mother who owns
such an attitudinal and behavioral liability, or
who accepts such a mental and affective dis-
ability—although such is not the honest and
real truth. It is not only mean but also demean-
ing to the good name and reputation of anyone
to be branded and known as someone afflicted
by “Psychological Incapacity”.
Question: What really is “Psychological In-
capacity”? The nomenclature itself already says
something pitiful and irremediable, viz. an
incapacitated human psyche. It is in fact a seri-
ous adversity of a personality constitution, the
more immediate expressions of which range
from ingrained immaturity and gross irre-
sponsibility to deep emotional instability and
marked lack of remorse—all of which cut deep
into the meaning of being an adult.
Jose B. Lugay
rally to the Pope’s initiative to care for Planet
Earth. It is not enough that we declare our
belief in the “Integrity of Creation”. It is time
to “walk the talk”.
Floods inundated Metro Manila during
the heavy rains last August. The MMDA
Chairman attributed the flooding to the clog-
ging of the waterways and rivers by garbage
from plastics, rags, factory wastes, etc. The
squatter families along the riverbanks used
the rivers to dump their daily waste.
While transferring the squatter families to
another site may be a step towards the right
direction, it does not address the basic prob-
lem—first is the “throw-away” mentality,
and second, the use of non-biodegradable
plastic wrappers. The first one is a culture-
based problem and the second a technologi-
cally-induced consumer problem. The obvi-
ous solutions to these problems, for the first
case, is an advocacy program—information,
education and communication regarding
waste management and recycling and value
formation together with the catechesis on the
integrity of creation. For the second case, an
The Silence of God and
the Clatter of Man
it is a suffering a believer experiences as a
period of agonizing doubt and even of a form
of unbelief, no doubt exacerbated by the ab-
surdity of evil and suffering one witnesses
in oneself, in others or in the world, such as
incurable diseases, natural calamities, disas-
ters, genocidal wars or mass murders. In fact,
while visiting a Nazi concentration camp in
Auschwitz in 2006, Pope Benedict publicly
gave voice to his own question of why God
was silent in the face of the death of millions
of Jews in the so-called Holocaust.
I’m struck by the Holy Father’s phraseol-
ogy. It reminds me of the prophet Elijah’s
encounter with God being unmediated by
sensational means, such as the strong and
heavy wind, the earthquake and fire. (I sug-
gest that people from the media, politics,
showbiz as well as Church better take no-
tice.) Instead the Lord makes himself known
by a “tiny whispering sound” (1 Kgs. 19:11-
13), what we used to call in the seminary
“the sound of silence”. Which brings us to
our first consideration: The silence of God
simply means he is the God of silence.
It is also a testament to God’s utter respect
for us human beings and for all his creatures.
He is doubtless the Lord of creation, in com-
plete control of nature’s being and move-
ments, both inner and outer. But he does not
impose himself or his power on us so as to
push us toward himself, no matter how right
that is. Rather he wants us to choose him
freely even if, at times, we may have to go
through the agony of hearing his deafening
silence.
The silence of God, especially in contrast
to the strident chaos of our human endeavor,
likewise points to his unfathomable ‘other-
ness’. As Isaiah 55:8-9 makes clear to us: “My
thoughts are not your thoughts; my ways
are not your ways. For as high as the heav-
ens are from the earth, so high are my ways
above your ways, my thoughts above your
Melo M. Acuña
Mang Johnny said he often saw luxury ve-
hicles with locally-made rims and tires, miss-
ing leather bucket seats and high end stereos
as all these were cannibalized. He said hav-
ing these luxury vehicles on auction would
raise, in a way, government revenues. He
said “provided everything is transparent.”
Well, vehicles are allowed into the coun-
try on the premise they are roadworthy. It
is roadworthy if it does not harm or pose
danger to other motorists and pedestrians
alike and neither should these vehicles harm
the environment nor do harm by way of too
much noise. Of course, all these are impor-
tant for government to generate revenues
Question: What are the actual consequences
of “Psychological Incapacity”? A subject party
who is psychologically incapable, is precisely
that, viz., he or she is disabled in his or her
psychological constructs from being some-
one sober, better, sounder. The party con-
cerned neither listens to corrections nor learns
from experience. Such a liability is usually
the product of a downright personality dis-
order.
Question: What is the cure of “Psychologi-
cal Incapacity”? None. This is why is the sum-
mit of contradiction that someone proven
psychologically incapable and given an “an-
nulment” of his or her previous marriage,
would still be allowed to enter into another
marriage. This too is open to “annulment”—
and so too with all his or her other subse-
quent marriages.
Laiko Lampstand
advocacy to use hand woven baskets or re-
usable containers when shopping or going
to markets or shopping malls and a ban on
non-biodegradable plastics. There is a tech-
nology to make plastics out of starch or cel-
lulose that disintegrates when thrown as
garbage, in a short time. In the provinces
the best option is to use banana leaves for
wrapping food products.
Pope Benedict XVI gave us the hint—all
Catholics should get involved in the advo-
cacy for protecting the environment. If the
Pope himself is involved in the environmen-
tal campaign, it is a clear message that all
parishes should get involved too. It should
start within our own homes. There are many
environmental groups ready to support in
the information and education part of the
campaign foremost of which are the mem-
bers of the Eco-waste Coalition—
Greenpeace, Concerned Citizens Against
Pollution, Miriam College and others. The
Parish of Las Piñas is known to be a leader in
this type of advocacy for a clean environ-
ment.
thoughts…” So high is my silence above your
din, one might add.
The silence of God further speaks of our
need to listen. He may be silent, but he has
already spoken in his Word, both in the Writ-
ten Scriptures and in the Person of the Lord
Jesus Christ, the fullness of God’s self-rev-
elation to us. Precisely because the Word is
made flesh we also need to listen to it in the
everyday events of life, in the silent scream
of Mother Nature at human abuse and of the
voiceless victims of violence and death, in
the words and deeds of God’s People, of you
and me.
Finally the silence of God eloquently calls
to mind the truth that the Paschal Mystery is
an on-going reality. Legend has it that a suf-
fering mother asked a saint: “Where was God
when they tortured and killed my son?”
Came the answer: “Right where he is when
they scourged, crucified and put his own Son
to death!” Even God’s only Son suffered from
“the silence of God”. Quoting Psalm 22:2 the
dying Jesus exclaims: “My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46). No irony
will parallel that scene of God’s only-begot-
ten Son suffering unthinkable physical and
spiritual torments and death while from the
all-mighty God we hear all silence.
St. Paul teaches that our own sufferings, as
did his own, complete the sufferings of Jesus
himself on the cross (1 Col 1:24). Thus, by
our own sufferings, we also have a share in
the redemptive work of the Suffering Sav-
ior. In a word, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta’s
suffering from ‘the silence of God’, rather
than denigrates her holiness, could still prove
her intimacy with the Suffering Redeemer.
Her sense of being abandoned by God that
even made her abandon herself to God all
the more echoes Jesus’ own response to God’s
silence: “Father, into your hands I commend
my spirit” (Lk. 23:46). That more than made
up for all the noise in the world.
Issues and Concerns
for infrastructures. Matters about the Road
Users Tax would require more time and
space.
Car manufacturers invest in manpower
and equipment to develop and test their lat-
est vehicles. Expertise is indeed a require-
ment. These manufacturers and legitimate
importers are made to comply with Euro 1
emission regulations. All these would come
to fruition as manufacturers establish base-
line of all test information and place the ve-
hicle in a temperature-controlled room for
a day so tests can begin on the same tem-
perature and humidity.
I was also told these new vehicles’ emis-
A5
Nicolo F. Bernardo
Lifeguard
T.V. – Terror Vision
FROM the footage of wars in Afghanistan , Iraq , and the South
we get a view, a “feel,” of how war must be. From these we
also flesh out our viewpoints of post 9/11 events. For all we
know, the shoots we get are themselves part of the combat,
that terrorists now shoot those who shoot.
Compare: In the six years of the World War II, only 39 jour-
nalists were killed reporting at war. The Vietnam War made 63
casualty journalists. But the Iraqi assaults since 1992 left 300
war correspondents dead, 200 were deliberately targeted spe-
cially on the 43-day Dubya invasion. Discovery Channel’s docu-
mentary Reporters at War cites this as the “the highest casualty
journalist rate per week of war ever.”
Why are journalists now direct targets? The documentary
says “combatants at all sides are increasingly disregarding the
idea of independent media if ever it existed.” Parties from op-
posing war camps must be realizing what sociologist-philoso-
pher Jean Baudrillard is saying all along: war correspondence
cannot and does not stand on neutral ground and this is the
problem. While journalism ethics demands news reporters to
be objective and detached from their beats, human as they are,
caught as they are in the middle of combat, they cannot stand
indifferent amid the disturbing event from their own perspec-
tives and the interests of their home country or their paper/
channel.
For one, television exhibits the “oughts”: how to hunt the
terrorists, how to see the countries at war self-destruct, how to
accept the conflict. It is the media that names the “bad guys”—
the terrorists, and the G.I.’s—the goodies. The nature of TV
reporting, for it to sell, rehashes everything: from the back-
ground sounds to the overbearing reporter, to the film cuts,
the documentary highlights, the technical add-ins and pop-
ups, to the value judgments of the correspondent. (Remember
the 50’s war movies with orchestra aside). What you receive is
“hyperreal” information, but since we see the action rolling,
we think that we are directly in the know. Just recall how the
CNN coverage of the Gulf War back in ‘92 centered on the
glamour of high tech weaponry and modern missiles, shield-
ing the suffering of war behind the “techno” of it. No wonder,
journalists have drawn the ire of the so-called “terrorists.” Chris
Chramer, managing director of CNN International, admits: “The
magic of journalism has evaporated. There are factions and
there are some governments who wish us dead.”
There is a phrase in the Quran and the Talmud that says, “He
who kills a single life kills the world entire.” One who kills a
man, kills somebody else’s brother, father, husband, son, friend.
But TV further multiplies this effect more at a graphic level. At
first, one is shocked of a violent image, much as a first-timer is
scandalized of a rowdy scene, but this is just the initiation part.
Reporters at War aptly puts it that “the West has gotten used to
sights of death,” setting as example the 1994 Hutu-Tutsi geno-
cide that resulted in a massacre of 800,000. It would not have
happened if viewers were sensitive if not desensitized.
The theory is simple. Couch potatoes disturbed or bored by
the images may just choose to zap to another channel or turn
off the TV, while the journalists carry the images forever.
Baudrillard would diagnose the situation as a case of media
being a victim while facilitating the progress of war and ter-
rorism. Without the multimedia, he claims, there would be no
terrorism. The media searches for wars to cover, to the delight
of the terrorists, mainstreaming the violent images to the threat-
ened population. Terrorism, hostages the media, as the media
hostage it.
Studies confirm Baudrillard’s claims credible. If not leading
the viewer to commit violence, violent scenes numb a person
until he becomes used to the images and seeks more gory
flashes. George Gerbner of the University of Pennsylvania
works on a Cultivation Theory saying that heavy television
users develop an exaggerated belief in “a mean, scary world.”
The effects of TV’s violent contents can only be seen after years
of slow buildup. Heavy viewers who have experienced actual
physical violence get a double dose.
We must have become a society hooked on all sorts of “real-
ity TV” that we draw reality from the boob tube. See its power—
you can watch, hear, and see things beyond your contingent
reach. But what one sees is not what things get. The TV presents
not reality as is but simulated reality. News and documentaries
are edited, entertainment and “reality shows” are pre-pack-
aged. But since the TV has the capacity to “enrich” and impro-
vise reality, its programs have become more appealing than
the real thing. Its powerful colors and technical modulations
capture and glue its audience on its screen, substituting the
truth with its referent, the real with the reel, the actual with the
surreal. Since the TV has been expected to mirror reality, it has
become a model of reality—for reality to follow TV. No won-
der why reality frustrates us, because the TV spoils us with
comfortable “reality.” No wonder why virtual and cyber sex
increasingly allures, for actual sex entails consequences and
responsibility.
The solution to the increasing casualties of journalists does
not lie in further decrying journalists’ “freedom” of expres-
sion, when a journalist’s indifference or subjectivity that catches
parties’ fury is the problem. Rather, journalism should learn to
respect its boundaries and to uphold and refine its code of
ethics. Not everything is beneficial to be seen or told. The
boundaries are set by their very subjects, the people they are
reporting, whose lives, privacy, sensitivity, rights, and au-
tonomy they should foremost respect before running a video.
Perhaps, it’s time for us to switch on “peace journalism” if
there is any hyperreality we need. The underreported side of
war—peace efforts or even heroisms and acts of kindness in
between opposed troops—has always been there, waiting for
coverage and a prime time slot.
sion tests are made on a roller dynamometer as an evaluator or
driver will test the vehicle on a driving pattern which includes accel-
eration, stopping, average speed and high speed among others. Gas-
ses emitted through the car’s tailpipe are collected in a large bag and
are separated and weighed. A test report containing the volume of
carbon monoxide on a per kilometer distance is submitted to con-
cerned government agencies for evaluation.
Tests are made in other countries as Philippine embassy authori-
ties authenticate the documents. According to law, Department of
Environment and Natural Resources officials take months to act on
these reports. All these cost nearly $14,000 while used cars auction-
eers and importers at Subic pay P300.00 for the procedure.
Industry sources say they still have to see an emission certificate
from the country of origin duly authenticated by Philippine em-
bassy officials. The LTO’s Motor Vehicle Inspection Service ought to
observe procedures. There are even reports there are favored vehicle
owners who could have their cars registered without actual inspec-
tion. This is the reason we have vehicles that should have been
mothballed long time ago.
If the government is sincere in promoting common good, authori-
ties should be able to subject used vehicles to the same stringent
standards. We have nothing to lose. Sayang talaga!
 CBCP Monitor
A6 Local News Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007

Interfaith group to SC: End Pinili, Ilocos Norte parish

abductions, rights violations
AN interfaith group urged the Supreme
Court (SC) to take drastic measures to restore
the rule of law notably to end cases of abduc-
tions and other human rights violations.
Catholic priest Fr. Joe Dizon, one of the
convenors of the Ecumenical Voice on Peace
and Human Rights in the Philippines, cited
the case of activist Jonas Burgos who has
been missing for three months now.
Dizon appealed to SC Chief Justice
Reynato Puno to be firmer and take concrete
steps to solve the kidnapping of the son of
the late press freedom fighter, Jose “Joe”
Burgos, Jr.
“We encourage the Chief Justice, the Su-
preme Court and the rest of the judiciary to
stand up, assert itself and save the whole
nation from these very dangerous things,”
he said. It should make known to everybody
that they should follow the law especially
the military.”
The priest said abductions by armed
groups has been one of the most shocking
human rights violations in the country.
The Ecumenical Voice on Peace and Hu-
man Rights in the Philippines is composed
of church leaders, human rights defenders
and civil libertarians.
Despite strong denial by the military,
Dizon believes that some government forces
are responsible for the series of abductions.
“The Supreme Court should uphold the
rights of the people and the law should be
respected. It should castigate the military
through the rule of law,” Dizon added. (Roy
Lagarde)
priest shot dead
ILOCOS Norte police operatives
are looking into the possible mo-
tive behind the killing of St. Isidore
parish priest, 46-year old Fr.
Florante Broceros Rigonan, shot to
death by still an unidentified man
said to be armed with an armalite
rifle at about 10:40 P.M. on August
29 at Barangay Puritac, Pinili,
Ilocos Norte.
Laoag Bishop Sergio Utleg, in an
interview over Catholic-run
Veritas 846, said the late parish
priest visited one of his benefac-
tors when shot to death. “We hope
the police will do everything and
bring the perpetrator or perpetra-
signed parish priest five years ago.
“His altar boys and his parish-
ioners said nobody has threatened
our priest until this fateful inci-
dent,” Utleg said.
CBCP President and Jaro Arch-
bishop Angel Lagdameo calls on
everyone to pray for the eternal
repose of the soul of Rigonan. He
expressed hope police authorities
would be able to solve the crime
at the soonest possible time.
PNP Ilocos Regional Director
Leopoldo Bataoil said he has al-
ready instructed Senior Supt. Ro-
man Felix, Ilocos Norte Provincial
Police Director to form a task force

Good governance, key to Mindanao conflict
MORE than military offensives against
known strongholds of separatists in
Mindanao, good governance appears to be a
viable alternative to bring peace to the hin-
terlands of Jolo and Basilan provinces.
The Apostolic Vicar of Jolo, Bishop
Angelito Rendon Lampon, OMI said Sulu
Governor Sakur Tan called on his municipal
mayors to remain in their respective areas to
attend to the needs of their constituents.
In an interview with CBCPNews, Lampon
said he supports calls for peace talks from
here and abroad.
This was his reaction to a statement from
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid
Albar who earlier called for the “swift re-
sumption of peace talks which were sus-
pended last week.”
“Absentee local officials were common dur-
ing the past years,” Lampon said. He said good
governance will only become a reality on the
assumption the officials who got elected are
sincere and dedicated public servants.
“If people are poor and politicians’ bought
votes, then we will have a problem,” Lampon
said. He explained if people are out of pov-
erty, then they can refuse politicians who of-
fer money in exchange of votes.
He said peace negotiations appear to be a
viable alternative to all-out offensives but
such efforts should be anchored on sincerity.
Lampon said each side should manifest sin-
cerity to attain a peaceful solution to armed
conflict.
Lampon said the peace and order problems
in Mindanao are brought about by a number
of issues, from poverty to lack of employ-
ment opportunities.
He said Jolo remained peaceful the past
few days. A check with Philippine Islamic
Council chair Professor Taha Basman said
Moslems are celebrating “nisfu shaaban” or
15 days before Ramadan.
Prelature of Isabela (Basilan) Bishop Mar-
tin Jumoad said he has always supported calls
for peace talks.
“Both the government and the Moro Is-
lamic Liberation Front should set aside pride
and sit down at the negotiating table,”
Jumoad said.
Interviewed by CBCPNews, he said classes
in school have remained normal in Isabela
City.
“A seminar on the Human Security Act of
2007 was held today for Political Science and
Criminology students of Basilan State Col-
lege sponsored by the Commission on Hu-
man Rights under Director Manuel
Mamawag,” Bishop Jumoad said. (Melo
Acuna)
tors to justice,” Bishop Utleg said.
He said Fr. Rigonan was from
Batac town.
“We don’t know the motive (be-
hind the killing),” the Laoag prel-
ate said.
He said the remains of the par-
ish priest will be subjected to au-
topsy. “Most of his siblings are
abroad so it will take sometime
for them to come for the funeral,”
Utleg added.
The bishop said the late Rigonan
was a medical student before he
entered the seminary and was or-
dained about ten years ago. He said
Rigonan was well-loved in his
community where he was as-
Church leader rejects nuke plan
A SENIOR member of the Catho-
lic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-
ippines (CBCP) says he does not
agree an “ominous” nuclear power
composed of elements from the
Criminal Investigation and Detec-
tion Group (CIDG), Pinili PNP sta-
tion personnel, Crime Laboratory
and Regional Intelligence Office to
investigate the incident.
“We will leave no stone
unturned to get to the bottom of
the incident,” Chief Supt. Bataoil
said in a follow-up interview on
the killing. He said he will person-
ally visit the Pinili town to check
on the progress of the investiga-
tion.
Bishop Utleg said “aside from
seeking justice, we and his parish-
ioners feel very sad for the loss of
Fr. Rigonan.” (Melo Acuna)
plants that would be built pose no
harm to the environment and the
people,” said Energy Secretary
Angelo Reyes.

Catholic, Muslim youth to hold forum should be located anywhere in the

country.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop
But Cruz belittled Reyes’ claim,
saying the country “does not even
know what to do with garbage,”
THE Philippine Dominican priests are work- forts and resources and planning, the priest in the region. There have been lots of forums Oscar Cruz was reacting to plans how much more with the poten-
ing closely with Muslim leaders of the coun- said. Fundraising from various sectors for the where governments from ASEAN region pe- of the Department of Energy (DoE) tial danger the project possess.
try to bring Muslim and Catholic youth from said programs is in progress. riodically meet and even ASEAN games and to develop nuclear energy to ease “It (the government) does not
Southeast Asian countries into a forum. ASEAN was established on 8 Aug 1967 in sports are held among the member countries. power shortage. even know what to do with gar-
The purpose of bringing together Muslim Bangkok by five countries, namely, Indone- Church and Islamic religious and commu- The DoE said the Philippines bage. It cannot even keep the
and Christian young people is to foster a sia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and nity leaders from the Philippines who meet have potential ideal sites for floods away from no less than
strong sense of solidarity among the youth Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos on inter-religious dialogue on different fo- nuclear facility which could also Metro Manila. And now, it wants
in the region, Fr. Ramonclaro Mendez, OP, PDR and Cambodia joined in the subsequent rums, thought why there can’t be some way bolster the national economy. to go nuclear!” Cruz lamented.
president of Dominican-run Aquinas Univer- years. to bring Muslim and Christian young people The agency’s review into nuclear He also mentioned the problem
sity told CBCP News. The ASEAN region has a population of together and hold programs similar to Catho- energy has suggested that this coun- of illegal drugs, “jueteng” and
Fr. Mendez said there are several programs about 500 million. It aims to accelerate eco- lic Asia youth congress. try should be like the other smuggling which the government
in the Church that bring Catholic youths to- nomic growth, social progress and cultural Fr. Mendez also said after the gathering nuclear-powered nations that re- “cannot even stop”.
gether like World Youth Day, Asian Youth development in the region and promote re- for Muslim and Catholic youth takes place, duced their dependence on costly “What will the government do
Day, National Youth day in each country or gional peace and stability through abiding they would also invite young people from imported fuel. in the event of terrorist attacks di-
even regional/diocesan youth gatherings, but respect for justice and the rule of law in the other faiths from ASEAN countries to expand “We are organizing a team to rected at the plant? Where will the
no organized forum to bring young people relationship among countries in the region their boundaries. study nuclear technology includ- government throw the nuclear
from different faiths in Southeast Asian coun- and adherence to the principles of the United “I am sure our young people from ASEAN ing safety nets to ensure that the waste?” Cruz asked. (Roy Lagarde)
tries. Nations Charter. will collaborate well and benefit by it by of-
The planned forum for Muslim and Chris- The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the fering hospitality, hosting interfaith activi- DADITAMA / A4
tian youth would enable them to share their ASEAN Leaders agreed on a shared vision of ties, or volunteering. This would also help Cabillan for Davao; Fr. Ronald presented their experience of fam-
life experiences, hopes and aspirations. The ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian na- them as an opportunity for the renewal of Lunas for Digos; Ms. Socorro ily catechesis. A participant from
program would also concentrate on how tions, outward looking, living in peace, sta- every aspect of faith life,” he said. Abad came for Tagum; for Mati, the ecclesiastical province of
youth can be agents of peace and solidarity. bility and prosperity, bonded together in Fr. Mendez also said Catholic-Muslim ini- Fr. Nestor Morata and Sr. Eva Cagayan de Oro shared experi-
The details and logistics of proposed youth partnership of dynamic development and in tiative would have a positive impact on all Marie, CSJ. There were other cat- ences on youth catechesis.
gathering are underway. Mechanisms to a community of caring societies. faiths in the ASEAN region. It would also echists who came from Daditama, Children’s catechesis was shared
bring delegates from the Association of South When asked how the concept evolved, he facilitate to “break down barriers” between involved in family catechesis, by participants from Dipolog,
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) need lots of ef- said, the ASEAN has existed for four decades the two faiths. (Santosh Digal) catechesis with the indigenous Ozamis, Pagadian, and Iligan.
peoples, children’s catechesis and Challenges and opportunities for
Bishops / A1 school based catechesis. the catechetical ministry were
shrined and clearly acknowl- through mutual understanding “A caucus like this in friend- Deogracias Iñiguez, Jessie I was tasked to give the key- highlighted.
edged in the Philippine Consti- and cooperation flowing from ship and brotherhood is a good Mercado, Leonardo Medroso, note address on the theme “Tell- During the business meeting, we
tution which is pro-life and pro- friendly and sincere dialogue,” opportunity to build bridges of Emilio Marquez, Jose Oliveros, ing the story of Jesus in Mindanao” shared national updates on the
people and which specifically Zialcita said. unity and solidarity,” said and CBCP Secretary General during the first day. The second ministry, such as, The New National
respects the right of spouses to Lagdameo. Msgr. Juanito Figura. conference on the Catechist as Pray- Catechetical Directory for the Philip-
found their families according Social issues “Instead of building walls Senators Loren Legarda, Mar er, was ably given by Fr. Ronald pines, and also to present ACCRE.
to their religious convictions.” that insulate ourselves from one Roxas, Noynoy Aquino, Lunas, diocesan catechetical direc- The Convention participants ap-
Pro-Life Caucus of the lower Lagdameo is hoping the first another, we instead in our sepa- Aquilino Pimentel, Richard tor of the Diocese of Digos and proved the proposal that the five
House chairman Congressman meeting of some bishops and rateness would like to construct Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri Theology professor of the Re- sub-regional coordinators to-
Eduardo Zialcita also assured some legislators will not be the cross-boundary relationships also joined the event. gional Major Seminary of gether with the ECCCE Mindanao
that through the forum “our last of its kind. and dialogue.” Also in attendance were Rep- Mindanao (REMASE). coordinator, Fr. Johnny Autida of
people will get only the best He said it’s a positive thing resentatives Hermilando In. order to put in context the the Archdiocese of Davao would
laws that enhance the dignity that bishops and legislators Regular caucus Mandanas, Roilo Golez, theme of the convention among constitute the Mindanao Regional
and well-being of the individual should come together to ex- Bienvenido Abante, Carmencita the tri-people of Mindanao, five Catechetical Ministry (MRCM) co-
and the family and the change views on many issues The caucus agreed to meet Reyes, Joseph Emilio Abaya, sub-regional coordinators pre- ordinating council. The convention
community’s common sense of “that affects us and the people once every two months to as- Raul del Mar, Liwayway Chatto, sented their respective participants also agreed to meet
right and justice”. we serve”. sess first pending bills in Con- Rufus Rodriguez and Buhay catechetical situationer. And then, every two years. Thus, the next
He said both the moral law The CBCP head stressed the gress on life and family. Partylist Representatives Rene the participants from convention will be in 2009. (For
and the Constitution recognize necessity to include in the cau- Among those CBCP officials Velarde, Carissa Coscolluela Zamboanga, Basilan, Jolo, and Ipil comments: daditama_now@yahoo.com)
the role that Church and State, cus the discussion of “most se- present were Archbishops and William Irwin Tieng.
Taytay / A1
“can play, and must play, to rious” problems in the country, Ramon Arguelles and Paciano Pimentel and Zialcita acted
bring this about”. “and hence to collaborate for the Aniceto and bishops Gabriel as facilitators during the discus- said. He explained even local old apostolic vicar added.
“We are here to see to this common good”. Reyes, Gilbert Garcera, sion part of the meeting. residents are in a way “blinded” Asked of better alternatives to
by dole-outs from cellular mining, Juanich said, “It would
El Shaddai / A1 phones to motorcycles from be best for us to improve our Ag-
these companies. riculture and make a niche in
The tape allegedly contained Garci’ scandal? Is it getting to solved in the last election,” he tive of the Senate.
“People who got temporary eco-tourism for which we have
the plan to rig the election re- know the bottom of the truth? said. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
employment learned to gamble already been known.”
sults. But what now after that?” he The El Shaddai leader is refer- Cardinal Rosales earlier ap-
in mining camps and the envi- He called on the government
“I think with the remaining asked. ring to the result of the May polls pealed not to rekindle issues on
ronment will be subjected to out- not to forget the devastation min-
three years of the Arroyo admin- But Velarde clarified he is not especially in the Senate race that the legitimacy of Arroyo, say-
right degradation as all its wastes ing did to the island province of
istration and the recent elections, fully against the reinvestigation had been dominated mostly by ing it would only create a nega-
would go to the sea,” the 55-year Marinduque. (Melo Acuna)
people are now looking forward of the alleged wiretapped conver- opposition candidates. tive impact on the economy and
through a productive three sation of President Arroyo with Velarde believe the sentiments the country as a whole.
Follow / A1
years,” he said in an interview an election officer to manipulate of the people that were expressed He said the ideal solution to
with CBCP News. the result of the 2004 polls. in the last mid-term elections will issues left hanging against Ar- mental impacts of church-initiated fulness that has characterized our
He said that with the presiden- What he is up to, Velarde still be carried over to the 2010 royo is for “all of us to unite”. gatherings. colorful, faith-inspired festivities.
tial elections a little over a year pointed out, is for the Senate to presidential race. “Stop all these things. We It cited the successful collabora- “We hope that the Pope’s eco-
away, it’s better for Senate to fo- just follow the call of the people He said whatever is the rea- don’t need another hero. We tive waste prevention project by gospel message will resonate
cus on its real job for the public’s to “just move forward”. son for the revival of the ‘Hello have too many heroes. You church and civil society groups in throughout the Church and find
welfare instead. “They (Senate) have good in- Garci” controversy, whether it should be the heroes this time. January 2003 that significantly re- concrete expressions in zero waste
“What are we going to get tention to get the truth out but is in aid of legislation or some- Move on,” Rosales appealed. duced the waste generated at the celebrations of the Holy Sacra-
with the reopening of the ‘Hello that issue has already been re- thing else, is still the preroga- (Roy Lagarde) 4th World Meeting of Families, es- ments and other faith-inspired
pecially during the massive clos- communions and festivities,”
Cardinal / A1 ing celebration in Rizal Park. Calonzo said.
The EcoWaste Coalition has At the Loreto youth gathering,
“Of course (a guilty verdict) and not by going to the streets sations of salting away tens of perjury and graft in the six-year been releasing eco-advisories on the Pope said the youth “must
would be painful for others. But when we don’t want something. millions of dollars of govern- trial that lasted more than twice how to prevent and reduce the en- make courageous choices that can
we have to accept whatever We have laws to be followed,” ment money during his short- as long as his two-and-a-half vironmental and health impacts of recreate a strong alliance between
would be the decision,” he said. said Rosales. lived presidency. year presidency. many widely observed customs mankind and the earth”.
He said the country has laws “This is a case of justice. It’s The anti-graft court, which He is accused of ‘’unjustly en- and traditions of Filipino families, He added, “What is needed is a
that punish irregularities com- beyond politics. It’s a case of has heard testimony from more riching’’ himself and his close including campaigning for a decisive ‘yes’ to the protection of
mitted by civilians and even morality. It’s a question of right than 150 witnesses, is reportedly allies with more than 4 billion waste-free Undas and Christmas. creation and a strong commitment
public officials that the people or wrong,” the prelate added. set to hand down its verdict pesos ($87 million) in tax money It also came up recently with a to reverse the trend that risks lead-
must respect. Estrada earlier expressed con- within this month. and illegal gambling receipts. detailed guide on how to green com- ing to situations of irreversible
“It’s about time we obey laws fidence of acquittal over accu- Erap is charged with plunder, (Roy Lagarde) munity fiestas to address the waste- degradation.” (CBCPNews))
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007 Features A7

One in four homes in Spain

will be single-parent by 2011
MADRID, Spain, August 24, 2007—The Institute for Family
Policy in Spain reported this week that currently one in five
homes in the country are single-parent homes and that if the
trend continues, by 2011, one in four homes will no longer
have a solid family structure.
“The tendencies that show the evolution of homes in Spain
reveal serious deficiencies in our future, as they are provok-
ing a society that is more and more individualistic, where
social fragmentation is isolating the person and makes the
social fabric very fragile,” said Mariano Martinez-Aedo, vice
president of the IFP.
“This evolution is a result not only of cultural, economic
and social changes but also of a profound abandonment in
family and social policy, which is not fulfilling its objec-
tives. A vigorous social and political reaction is necessary
that adopts important and lasting measures that truly sup-
port Spanish families to fulfill their role,” Martinez-Aedo
said.
The IFP noted this tendency is also the result of an in-
crease in the number of childless couples and single-parent
families. “A decisive commitment to the family is also nec-
essary in the realms of culture and education,” the organiza-
tion said. It proposed several steps for reversing this trend
and adequately supporting families in Spain, such as the
implementation of authentic pro-family policies and in-
creased funds for family assistance. (CNA)
Rabbi praises Pope Benedict
for his clear teaching
NEW YORK, USA, September 4, 2007—A
rabbi from Monsey, New York, has lauded
Pope Benedict XVI for reinstating the Latin
Mass and affirming that only Catholic Church
qualifies as the one, true Church.
In an article titled The Pope’s Got A Point
and published in the July 18 issue of The Jew-
ish Press, Rabbi Yerachmiel Seplowitz says
he is “not at all put off by the fact that the
leader of another religion sees that religion
as primary.”
“I’ve always found it curious that people of
different religions get together in a spirit of har-
mony to share their common faiths,” he writes.
“By definition, these people should have strong
opposition to the beliefs of their ‘colleagues’ at
the table. The mode of prayer of one group
should be an affront to the other group.
“What the pope is saying—and I agree 100
percent—is that there are irreconcilable dif-
ferences, and we can’t pretend those differ-
ences don’t exist,” he states. “I can respect the
pope for making an unambiguous statement
of what he believes.”
While all people, created in God’s image,
and their beliefs are worthy of respect, “we
don’t need to play games of ‘I’m okay, your
okay’ with beliefs we find unacceptable,” he
writes.
Rabbi Seplowitz notes that the original
form of the Latin Mass included a prayer for
the conversion of the Jews. When the Latin
Mass was reinstated, the International Jew-
ish Committee on Interreligious Consulta-
tions wrote to the Vatican, requesting that
the conversion prayer not be reintroduced.
The rabbi says he is not suggesting Jewish
leaders should not talk with Catholic lead-
ers. “The pope needs to know, for example,
that it is good to encourage his millions of
followers to support Israel and that it is bad
to hate Jews,” he writes.
But the dialogue need not be theological,
he suggests. “There needs to be careful dia-
logue, but it needs to be a secular, common,
needs-based dialogue. We should not be
studying Talmud together and we should not
Rabbi Yerachmiel Seplowitz
be discussing prayer.” (CNA)

******
Malaysian newspaper asked to shut down
Texas reaches 400 executions after publishing controversial picture
HUNTSVILLE, TX, August 24, 2007—Yesterday, Texas ex- KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Au- treatment over this latest inci- peased, including the Catholics. litical party in the governing coa-
ecuted its 400th person since the Supreme Court lifted the gust 24, 2007—The Malaysian dent, reported the BBC. Kuala Lumpur Archbishop lition with mostly Hindu mem-
ban of the death penalty in 1982. However, according to newspaper Makkal Osai is facing Prime Minister Abdullah Murphy Pakiam, who earlier bers. A BBC report notes that
Mario Marazziti, the spokesman for the Sant’Egidio Move- calls to shut down after it pub- Ahmad Badawi criticized the ac- criticized the image as a “desecra- Makkal Osai has been very criti-
ment, the tide seems to be turning. lished an image of Jesus holding tion as hurtful and an insult to tion,” accepted the newspaper’s cal of the Malaysian Indian Con-
Marazziti told Vatican Radio that “many states are dis- a cigarette and what appears to Christians. He called on people not apology. In an e-mail to S.M. gress, which owns a rival Tamil-
cussing bills about the moratorium.” This is due to the fact be a can of beer on its front page. to play with religion, the national Periasamy, the newspaper’s gen- language newspaper.
that the public has recognized alternatives for punishments Malaysia’s Muslim-led govern- news agency Bernama reported. eral manager, the archbishop’s “It’s a very serious issue. For
in the United States and believe that removing the death ment closed two publications last The paper has issued an apol- office said the archbishop now certain things you can apologize,
penalty will eliminate possible mistakes or errors in sen- year for carrying controversial ogy, explaining that a graphics “considers the matter closed.” but for this kind of sensitive is-
tencing. cartoons of the Prophet editor had mistakenly taken the However, the Malaysian In- sue, the editor should be sacked
In a previous statement on capital punishment, the Catho- Muhammad. Now some mem- image from the Internet. dian Congress called on the gov- and the paper closed,” senior
lic Bishops of Texas urged the state to find alternative pun- bers of Malaysia’s minority reli- Most of Malaysia’s religious ernment to close the paper. The party official T. Mohan told The
ishments for criminals. gions say they want the same groups appear to have been ap- congress is an ethnic Tamil po- Associated Press. (CNA)
“While human logic alone seems to support the abolition
of the death penalty, as moral leaders we call for alterna-
tives because of its moral incongruity in today’s world. The

Mother Teresa endured God’s silence, says pope

Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “If ... non-lethal
means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety
from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means,
as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of
the common good and more in conformity with the dignity My Light,” Second, he explained, it is pos-
written by Fa- sible to perceive the divine pres-
of the human person.”
“In our modern society, we have means of keeping an ther Brian ence “listening to the word of God
Kolodiejchuk, in the great liturgical celebra-
offender from harming others. Although in previous times
people of faith have employed capital punishment, today postulator for tions, in the great music of faith.”
the cause of Benedict XVI then told the story
we have the ability to realize better the principles of mercy,
forgiveness, and unconditional love for all people”. (CNA) canonization of a woman who converted to
of the founder Christianity after having listened
of the Mission- to the music of Bach, Handel and
aries of Char- Mozart.
******
ity. The book, Third, the Pope told the assem-
published 10 bly of youth, one can discover

Sex-selective abortions
years after the God through “personal dialogue
nun’s death, is with Christ.”
a compilation “He doesn’t always respond,

skyrocket in India of her letters

and writings.
Benedict
but there are moments in which
he really responds,” the Pontiff
said.
XVI contin- A last way of discovering God,
NEW DELHI, India, August 23, 2007—The increasingly more ued: “On one according to the Holy Father, is
widespread use of technology in India to enable mothers to hand, we have “friendship, companionship in
© Tomasz Gzell

know the sex of their unborn babies has led to a significant to endure this the faith.”
increase in the number of aborted girls, according to pro- silence of God, Benedict XVI continued:
life activists and government officials. partly in order “Now, here, gathered in Loreto,
In India, scans and amniocentesis that reveal the sex of the to understand we see how faith unites, how
baby are illegal. However, many women obtain the proce- our brethren friendship creates a companion-
dures and in many cases, upon learning that the child is VATICAN CITY, September 4, tiff that she believed “in the God who don’t know God.” ship of journeying persons.
female, elect to abort. According to government figures, 2007—God speaks even when he that had touched my heart, but I On the other, he said, “we can “And we experience that all of
some 10 million unborn baby girls have been killed by abor- doesn’t say anything, Benedict feel a lot of insecurity, questions, always yell out again to God: this does not come from nothing,
tion in the last 20 years. XVI told 500,000 young people fear.” ‘Talk, show yourself!’ And with- but has a source, that the silent
“Sex-selection has been the main reason when the ratio of in reference to the “dark night” “I feel human solitude, and I out a doubt, if the heart is open, God is also a God who speaks,
female births in the country has decreased,” said Pravir of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. would like to feel God close. we can discover the great mo- who reveals himself, and above
Krishna, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health. “Technol- Mother Teresa’s spiritual suf- Holiness, in this silence; ‘Where ments of our life in which the all, that we can be witnesses of
ogy has many benefits, but this is an aspect of technology fering was one of the topics cov- is God?’” she asked. presence of God is truly percep- his presence, that our faith truly
that has given us a serious problem,” he added. ered by the Pope on Saturday Benedict XVI responded that tible, even to us.” brings about light, even for oth-
A large portion of the Indian population believes that male night, during his question-and- “we all, even though we believe, ers.”
children enable families to survive and ensure that their answer session with 500,000 experience this silence of God.” Seeing God The Pope added: “On one
parents will be taken care of. Female children are consid- youth in Loreto, Italy. “A book was just published on hand, we have to accept that in
ered a burden for whom parents will have to shell out ex- The Vatican released the tran- the spiritual experiences of The Pope explained how it is this world, God is silent, but we
pensive dowries, which leads many to elect to abort them. script of the questions and an- Mother Teresa, and what we have possible to see God. shouldn’t make ourselves deaf
On the other hand, a 2001 census revealed that there were swers today. known is now more openly pre- Before all, the Pontiff said, “the when he speaks, when he mani-
927 girls for every 1000 boys among children younger than The session, held in the espla- sented: With all her charity, her beauty of creation is one of the fests his presence on so many oc-
age 7, as opposed to 945 in 1991. Last month, police discov- nade of Montorso, was part of a strength of faith, Mother Teresa sources in which we can touch the casions, above all in Creation, in
ered thirty bags full of aborted and newborn babies in a two-day encounter of Italian suffered the silence of God,” he beauty of God, we can see that the liturgy, in friendship within
well near a clinic in eastern India. (CNA) youth with the Holy Father. said. the Creator exists and is good, the Church. And, full of his pres-
A young Italian woman, Sara The Pope was referring to the that it is true what sacred Scrip- ence, we can also give light to
Simonetta, explained to the Pon- book “Mother Teresa: Come Be ture says in the creation account.” others.” (Zenit)

Reject corruption, Nigerian

CBCPMonitor Name _____________________________________________________
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cardinal asks leaders
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___________________________________________________________ ONITSHA, Nigeria, September 3, community.” He added that effective
The CBCP Monitor is published 2007—A leading Vatican official has political leadership requires vision
Phone No.: _________ Fax No.: ________ E-mail: ________________ called upon government leaders in and courage as well as integrity.
fortnightly by the CBCP Media Of- Mode of Payment his native Nigeria to renounce cor- Ordained to the priesthood in
fice, with editorial and business of- ruption and favoritism. Onitsha in 1958, Cardinal Arinze was
fices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Check/PMO enclosed Cash Payment
Speaking in Onitsha, a city where named coadjutor archbishop there in
Intramuros, Manila. PO Box 3601, (Payable to: CBCP Communications Development Foundation Inc.) he once served as archbishop, Cardi- 1965, becoming the archbishop in
1076 MCPO nal Francis Arinze, the prefect of the 1967. He held that post until 1985,
• Domestic Congregation for Divine Worship, when he resigned to take up his new
________________________ said that political authority should responsibilities in Rome as president
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2 Years Php 900.00 ward friends and punish enemies.” ligious Dialogue. In 2002 he was pro-
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 CBCP Monitor
A8 People, Facts & Places Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007

Thousands of pilgrims expected

to join Lipa pilgrimage
THOUSANDS of pilgrims from other
ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the Philip-
pines are expected to join the local pil-
grims in Lipa archdiocese on September
12, 2007 for the 3rd National Marian Pil-
grimage in Carmel, Lipa City.
Fr. Joseph Rodem Ramos, priest-in-
charge of the preparations, said the Na-
tional Day of Prayer will be preceded
by a triduum to be held at San Sebastian
Cathedral, Lipa City from September 9
to 11.
The faithful from the seven vicariates
of the Archdiocese are given their share
in holding this spiritual preparation for
the September 12 main event. Capping
the triduum is the healing Mass to be pre-
sided over by Fr. Gerry Orbos, SVD,
evening of September 11 up to midnight.
Lipa Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles
will lead the faithful in the exposition
and vigil before the Blessed Sacrament
on the first hour of September 12 at the
Cathedral before the dawn procession
to Carmel Church, where he will say
Mass at 6:00 am.
A series of talks are in stored for the
day. Fr. Melvin Castro will talk on “Lipa
Apparitions and Messages Revisited”.
Former Ambassador to the Holy See,
Hon. Howard Dee will talk on “What
Consecration to Mary Means”, while Fr.
Yulito Ignacio will expound on the topic
“Mary Leads us to Christ: The Inseparable
Union of Jesus and Mary”. After lunch,
the explanation and launching of Pueblo
Amante de Maria Mariological Society of
the Philippines will be held. Renowned
Jesuit theologian Fr. Catalino Arevalo,
S.J., will explain the society while Arch-
bishop Ramon C. Arguelles will pre-
side over the launching.
The day will be capped by a
concelebrated Mass, to be led by His
Eminence, Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal.
CBCP President, Archbishop Angel
Lagdameo of Jaro will be the homilist.
Cardinal Vidal will lead the floral offer-
ing to the Image of Our Lady of
Mediatrix of All Grace after the Mass.
Batangas Governor, Hon. Vilma
Santos-Recto will lead the faithful and
pilgrims in reciting the Prayer of Con-
secration to Jesus through Mary. Lipa
City Mayor, Atty. Oscar Gozos, will place
the rosary at the hand of the Virgin,
while his wife, Mrs. Nilda Gozos, will
lead the faithful in placing flowers at her
feet.
The Lipa pilgrimage is tagged as “A
Day of Prayer, Reparation and Consecration
to Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace for World
Peace and Sanctification of the Clergy.”
For more details regarding the triduum
and the pilgrimage day itself, just log on
to www.marymediatrixofallgrace.com.
Readers may also call up tel. nos. (043)-
981-1160, or telefax nos. (043)-756-5590.
(Fr. Nonie C. Dolor)

SVD opens centennial celebration

THE Society of Divine Word (SVD)
opened the three-year celebration of the
community’s 100 years of presence in the
Philippines with a colorful motorcade
around Bangued, capital of Abra last
August 22.
This was fallowed by solemn and
inculturated high mass, at 9:00 am, pre-
sided by Fr. Jerome Adriatico, SVD, pro-
vincial Superior of SVD-Northern Phil-
ippines. He was assisted by more than
40 SVD’s and diocesan priests led by
Most Rev. Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD,
bishop of the diocese.
In the afternoon, the Museum of the
Divine Word College of Bangued was
opened to the public for viewing.
At 7 PM, a cultural presentation of
songs and dances with a cast of more
than 300 performers depicted the mis-
sionary endeavors of the SVD and rich
culture of Abra. Fireworks punctuated
the two-hour show, and it fittingly
ended with the singing of the “Salve
Regina.”
The SVD community is commemorat-
ing the momentous event of their 100
years of presence in the Philippines start-
ing this year. “Witness to the Word” has
been adopted as the general theme of
the celebration while “to remember”, “to
rejoice” and “to renew” will serve as the
yearly objectives.
The first two SVD missionaries, Fr.
Ludwig Beckert and Fr. John
Sheiermann, arrived in Manila from
Hongkong on August 15, 1909. From
Manila they journeyed on steamboat to
Vigan, Ilocos Sur. On August 22, the two
SVD missionaries rode for two hours,
on bamboo rafts upstream the Abra
River. Walking or riding on horseback
the rest of the way, they reached
Markings
Bangued, and proceeded on horseback
to Cagutongan (now San Isidro).
Cagutongan became the first base of the
SVDs in Abra and in the Philippines.
Because of its historical importance,
SVD Northern Province elected August
22, 2007, as the date for the launching of
its centennial celebration. In the words
of Fr. Cirilo Ortega, SVD, the District
Superior, August 22 is “a stupendous
day” because “ it is a day to remember
the Queen ship of Mary; it is a day to
remember the arrival of the first SVD
missionaries in Abra, and it is the be-
ginning of celebrating the 100 years of
SVD presence in the country.” (Fr. Os-
car Alunday, SVD)
LAUNCHED. NOTREDAME OF KIDAPAWAN
COLLEGE (NDKC), 50th anniversary of founda-
tion; July 29, 2007. NDKC kicked off its year-long
celebration with a joyous parade and colorful
floats depicting its 50 years of existence: “Dekada
60”, “Dekada 70”, Dekada 80", “Dekada 90”, and
“Dekada 2000”. Most Rev. Romulo dela Cruz, DD,
a former student of NDKC Boys’ Department; pre-
sided the thanksgiving mass. As a Catholic insti-
tution, anchored in the faith of God, and honored
to bear the name of the Blessed Mother, NDKC
looks forward to a wider horizon. One of the greatest challenges it faces in the next 50
years is the fulfillment of its mission of evangelization in the midst of the fast growing
modernization.
CELEBRATED. CARMEL OF ST. JOSEPH, Lucena City,
50th anniversary of foundation; August 10, 2007. In
1957, Rev. Mother Theresa of Jesus, founder and pri-
oress of Gilmore Carmel, together with 6 Carmelite nuns
refugees from Shanghai opened the monastery in
Lucena upon the invitation of Most Rev. Alfredo Ma.
Obviar, DD. Sustained by God’s ever-abiding presence,
the Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph, now stands as
an impregnable powerhouse of prayer, an enduring
tribute to the generosity of the people of Lucena who

CACERES launches TV program “Simbanwaan”

welcomed with open arms the pioneering nuns.

LAUNCHED. SOCIETY OF DIVINE WORD (SVD) CENTENNIAL

THE Caceres Commission on Communications (CCCOM)
launched its maiden presentation of a 30-minute TV program
“Simbanwaan” on August 18, 2007 at 4:30 – 5:00 pm over PBN
TV5 – Naga.
The TV program, divided into four segments informs the
faithful about the activities of the local Church. The four seg-
ment divisions are Wow Simbahan, which features one par-
ish with its programs and special services; Tabang Banwaan,
which features various religious institutions of the Archdio-
cese that promote social services to the underprivileged mem-
bers of the community; and Isyu which, discusses the press-
ing concerns of society and clarifies important issues regard-
ing Church teachings. There is also discussion on the doctri-
nal teachings of the Catholic Faith based on the queries and
opinions of the men and women of the street.
The parish of St. Bartholomew in Baao, Camarines Sur, was
featured during the maiden presentation of Simbanwaan. Baao
is the hometown of the first Filipino Bishop, Bishop Jorge
Barlin. Twenty-four other priests both diocesan and religious
also hailed from this town. The parish priest, Fr. Joseph Wilfred
Almoneda, and parochial Vicar, Fr. Howard Tud gave testi-
monies about the faith life of the people of Baao, which ex-
plains why so many have chosen to become priests and reli-
gious.
The second segment, Tabang Banwaan, featured Altershiem ,
home for the retired Diocesan priests, located at the back of
the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine. The Daughters of Mary
(DM) sisters attend to the needs of the elderly priests.
In the Isyu portion, 6 priests were interviewed to clarify the
notion that priests are alone but not lonely. Fr. Manny Zagada,
Fr. Philip Bersabe, Fr. Peter Beriña and Msgr. Alberto Nero of
the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, and Parish priests Fr. Jeudiel
Galvo and Fr. Alex Quimpol, shared their insights, unani-
mously attesting that though they are alone, they are never
lonely. The priests also declared they find meaning in their
life as celibates, and have a healthy way of coping with lone-
liness whenever it arises.
CCCOM director Fr. Louie Occiano hopes the TV program
will teach people on the important mission of the Church,
using mass media for evangelization.
“If everybody is informed about the programs and activi-
ties of the Church as well as the basic doctrine of our faith,
they will be moved to participate actively in realizing our
mission,” he added.
Replays of Simbanwaan are also shown in various cable
companies through their community channels in Rinconada
and Partido districts.
The TV production was made possible through the supervi-
sion of Fr. Louie Occiano, with Archbishop Leonardo Z.
Legaspi, O.P., D.D. as Executive producer, Ms. Tess Bañares
Delfin as program hosts, Ms. Myrna Bermudo and Ms. Liezl
Macatangay as Chief Scriptwriters. (Lina Salazar, FSP)
CELEBRATION; August 22, 2007, in Bangued, Abra. The Abra
District of the SVD Philippine Northern Province launched the
centennial celebration to commemorate the arrival of the first
two SVD missionaries Fr. Louis Beckert and Fr. Scheirmann, in
Bangued in 1909. The three-year celebration of SVD’s 100 years
of presence in the Philippines opened with a colorful motorcade
around Bangued. Fr. Jerome Adriatico, SVD, provincial Superior
of SVD-Northern Philippines presided the solemn and inculturated
high mass. He was assisted by more than 40 SVD’s and diocesan priests led by Most
Rev. Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD, bishop of the diocese. The general theme of the celebra-
tion is “Witness to the Word”, while “to remember”, “to rejoice” and “to renew” will serve
as the yearly objectives. In the words of Fr. Cirilo Ortega, SVD, the District Superior,
August 22 is “a stupendous day” because “ it is a day to remember the Queenship of
Mary; it is a day to remember the arrival of the first SVD missionaries in Abra, and it is
the beginning of celebrating the 100 years of SVD presence in the country.”
CELEBRATED. SR. MARY FELICITAS NISPEROS, RGS, and SR.
MARY JAMES WILSON, RGS, 50th Anniversary of Religious Profes-
sion in the Congregation of the Religious of the Good Shepherd, Sep-
tember 8, 2007; at the Good Shepherd Convent, Quezon City. Sr. Mary
Felicitas and Sr. Mary James professed their first vows at the Good
Shepherd Novitiate in Los Angeles on September 8, 1957. Sr Felicitas
is presently a missionary in Hongkong while Sr. James is the adviser
of the Good Shepherd Lay Affiliates in Quezon City.
LAUNCHING. KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS FRA-
TERNALASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
(KCFAPI), golden anniversary of foundation;
September 14, 2007. The Knights of Columbus
Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc.
(KCFAPI), a non-stock, non-profit mutual ben-
efit association, founded by Rev. Fr. George J.
Willmann, SJ. KCFAPI was licensed by the In-
surance Commission on September 9, 1958 to
operate as an insurance system for the exclu-
sive protection of the members of the Knights of Columbus and their immediate family
members. To commence the year-long celebration, an official launching is scheduled on
September 14, 2007 to coincide with the Family TV Mass to commemorate the 30th death
anniversary of Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ. The grand jubilee shall be held at the Manila
Hotel on September 13, 2008. The activities for the 50th anniversary aim to enhance the
image of the Association and strengthen its relationship to its more than 50,000 benefit
certificate holders nationwide.

New assignments for Manila

Archdiocese
THE Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ma-
nila, His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardi-
nal Rosales announced the appointments
of 13 pastors to their new assignments
and a new vicar forane for the Vicariate of
Santo Niño.
The new appointments will take effect
on Saturday, September 8. Among those
appointed were Msgr. Josefino S.
Ramirez, Rector and Pastor of the
Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy,
Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City; Msgr.
Jose Clemente F. Ignacio, Rector of the
Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene,
Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila; Fr. Leo
Nilo C. Mangunsad, Acting Rector of
Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (EDSA
Shrine); Fr. Victor Y. Apacible, Rector and
Pastor of the National Shrine of the Sa-
cred Heart, San Antonio Village, Makati
City; Fr. Elias Manlangit, Jr., OFM, Pas-
tor, Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish,
Sta. Ana, Manila; Fr. Carlo Bittante, FdCC,
ORDINATION AT MANILA CATHEDRAL. His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales handed a staff to newly ordained Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francisco De Leon Pastor, San Pablo Apostol Parish,
on September 1. Magsaysay, Tondo, Manila; Fr. Renato Y.
Ruelos, CM, Pastor, San Vicente de Paul,
San Marcelino, Manila; Fr. Jerome
Angulo, OFM, Pastor, Santuario de San
Antonio, Forbes Park, Makati City; Fr.
Noel B. Magtaas, OSJ, Pastor, Santuario
de San Jose, Mandaluyong City; Fr.
Benhamin Deogracias M. Fajota, attached
priest, St. Anthony of Padua, Singalong
and San Andres Sts., Malate, Manila; Fr.
Joseph Matitu, SSS, Pastor, Santa Cruz
Parish, Sta. Cruz, Manila; Fr. Nelson M.
Cabanero, SMM, Pastor, Sta. Teresita Par-
ish, West Rembo, Makati City, Fr.
Norwynn V. Baydo, SMM, Parochial
Vicar, Sta. Teresita Parish, West Rembo,
Makati City.
Archbishop Rosales also appointed Fr.
Enrique Y. Santos, Vicar Forane, Vicariate
of Sto. Niño which includes the Minor
Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz and the Par-
ishes of Our Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage, Our Lady of the Most Holy Ro-
sary (Personal Parish-Chinese), Saint John
Bosco, San Pablo Apostol and Santo Niño
Church. (CBCPNews)
 CBCP
Vol. 11 No. 18
Monitor B1
September 3 - 16, 2007

Pastoral Concerns
B2 Updates B5 Statements
The canonical form Pilgrimage to the Shrine of
of marriage Our Lady of Mediatrix of All
Grace, Lipa City
B3 Diocese
Diocese of Bangued B6 Reflections
Loving with a prodigal love
B4 Commissions “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
ECBA, PBS hold and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8) B7 Social Concerns
symposium on the Sagip Ka 2000 Foundation,
BEC Bible Inc: Saving lives, upholding
dignity

Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the
young people of the world on the occasion of the
XXIII World Youth Day, 2008
MY dear young friends!
1. The XXIII World Youth Day
I always remember with great joy
the various occasions we spent to-
gether in Cologne in August 2005.
At the end of that unforgettable
manifestation of faith and enthusi-
asm that remains engraved on my
spirit and on my heart, I made an
appointment with you for the next
gathering that will be held in
Sydney in 2008. This will be the
XXIII World Youth Day and the
theme will be: “You will receive
power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you will be
my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). The un-
derlying theme of the spiritual
preparation for our meeting in
Sydney is the Holy Spirit and mis-
sion. In 2006 we focused our atten-
tion on the Holy Spirit as the Spirit
of Truth. Now in 2007 we are seek-
ing a deeper understanding of the
Spirit of Love. We will continue our
journey towards World Youth Day
2008 by reflecting on the Spirit of
Fortitude and Witness that gives us
the courage to live according to the
Gospel and to proclaim it boldly.
Therefore it is very important that
each one of you young people - in
your communities, and together
with those responsible for your edu-
cation - should be able to reflect on
this Principal Agent of salvation
history, namely the Holy Spirit or
the Spirit of Jesus. In this way you
will be able to achieve the follow-
ing lofty goals: to recognize the
Spirit’s true identity, principally by
listening to the Word of God in the
Revelation of the Bible; to become
clearly aware of his continuous, ac-
tive presence in the life of the
Church, especially as you redis-
cover that the Holy Spirit is the
“soul”, the vital breath of Christian
life itself, through the sacraments
of Christian initiation - Baptism,
Confirmation and the Eucharist; to
grow thereby in an understanding
of Jesus that becomes ever deeper
and more joyful and, at the same
time, to put the Gospel into prac-
tice at the dawn of the third millen-
nium. In this message I gladly offer
you an outline for meditation that
you can explore during this year of
preparation. In this way you can test
the quality of your faith in the Holy
Spirit, rediscover it if it is lost,
strengthen it if it has become weak,
savour it as fellowship with the Fa-
ther and with his Son Jesus Christ,
brought about by the indispensable
working of the Holy Spirit. Never
forget that the Church, in fact hu-
manity itself, all the people around
you now and those who await you
in the future, expect much from you
young people, because you have
within you the supreme gift of the
Father, the Spirit of Jesus.
2. The promise of the Holy Spirit
in the Bible
Attentive listening to the Word
of God concerning the mystery and
action of the Holy Spirit opens us
up to great and inspiring insights
that I shall summarize in the fol-
lowing points.
Shortly before his Ascension, Jesus
said to his disciples: “And behold, I
send the promise of my Father upon
you” (Lk. 24:49). This took place on
the day of Pentecost when they were
together in prayer in the Upper Room
with the Virgin Mary. The outpour-
ing of the Holy Spirit on the nascent
Church was the fulfilment of a prom-
ise made much earlier by God, an-
nounced and prepared throughout
the Old Testament.
Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis
In fact, right from its opening
pages, the Bible, presents the spirit
of God as the wind that “was mov-
ing over the face of the waters” (cf.
Gen 1:2). It says that God breathed
into man’s nostrils the breath of life
(cf. Gen 2:7), thereby infusing him
with life itself. After original sin,
the life-giving spirit of God is seen
several times in the history of hu-
mankind, calling forth prophets to
exhort the chosen people to return
to God and to observe his com-
mandments faithfully. In the well-
known vision of the prophet
Ezekiel, God, with his spirit, re-
stores to life the people of Israel,
represented by the “dry bones” (cf.
37:1-14). Joel prophesied an “out- www.theage.com
pouring of the spirit” over all the
people, excluding no one. The sa-
cred author wrote: “And it shall
come to pass afterward that I will
pour out my spirit on all flesh ...
Even upon the menservants and to the blind, to let the oppressed go Spirit’” (Jn. 20:22). With even greater and ordinary men” (cf. Acts 4:13)
maidservants, in those days, I will free, to proclaim the year of the power the Holy Spirit descended could show such courage and en-
pour out my spirit” (3:1-2). Lord’s favour” (Lk. 4:18-19; cf. Is. on the Apostles on the day of Pen- dure difficulties, suffering and per-
In “the fullness of time” (cf. Gal 61:1-2). Addressing those present, tecost. We read in the Acts of the secution with joy. Nothing could
4:4), the angel of the Lord an- he referred those prophetic words Apostles: “And suddenly from stop them. To those who tried to
nounced to the Virgin of Nazareth to himself by saying: “Today this heaven there came a sound like the silence them they replied: “We can-
that the Holy Spirit, “the power of Scripture has been fulfilled in your rush of a violent wind, and it filled not keep from speaking about what
the Most High”, would come upon hearing” (Lk. 4:21). Again, before the entire house where they were we have seen and heard” (Acts
her and overshadow her. The child his death on the Cross, he would sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, 4:20). This is how the Church was
to be born would be holy and tell his disciples several times about appeared among them, and a born, and from the day of Pente-
would be called Son of God (cf. Lk. the coming of the Holy Spirit, the tongue rested on each of them” (2:2- cost she has not ceased to spread
1:35). In the words of the prophet “Counselor” whose mission would 3). the Good News “to the ends of the
Isaiah, the Messiah would be the be to bear witness to him and to The Holy Spirit renewed the earth” (Acts 1:8).
one on whom the Spirit of the Lord assist believers by teaching them Apostles from within, filling them
would rest (cf. 11:1-2; 42:1). This is and guiding them to the fullness of with a power that would give them 4. The Holy Spirit, soul of the
the prophecy that Jesus took up Truth (cf. Jn. 14:16-17, 25-26; 15:26; courage to go out and boldly pro- Church and principle of commun-
again at the start of his public min- 16:13). claim that “Christ has died and is ion
istry in the synagogue in Nazareth. risen!” Freed from all fear, they be- If we are to understand the mis-
To the amazement of those present, 3. Pentecost, the point of departure gan to speak openly with self-con- sion of the Church, we must go back
he said: “The Spirit of the Lord is for the Church’s mission fidence (cf. Acts 2:29; 4:13; 4:29, 31). to the Upper Room where the dis-
upon me, because he has anointed On the evening of the day of res- These frightened fishermen had be- ciples remained together (cf. Lk.
me to bring good news to the poor. urrection, Jesus appeared to his dis- come courageous heralds of the 24:49), praying with Mary, the
He has sent me to proclaim release ciples, “he breathed on them and Gospel. Even their enemies could “Mother”, awaiting the Spirit that
to the captives and recovery of sight said to them, ‘Receive the Holy not understand how “uneducated WYD / B4

National pilgrimage in honor of

7
APPOINTED prelate by Pope Benedict
XVI on March 18, 2006, Bishop Beltran
was installed Apostolic Vicar of Bontoc-
Lagawe on May 29, 2006. In this issue of
CBCP Monitor, Bishop Beltran talks on
the social issues the Vicariate is pursu-
Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace
ing, the BEC’s and their involvement in By Fr. Melvin Castro
the life of the Church, the role and partici-
QUESTIONS pation of the laity in the local Church, the
family and life program in the Vicariate, FOR the fourth consecutive year, the her Immaculate Heart following the devo-

Most Rev. Rodolfo F. the vocations entering the diocesan semi-

nary, and his perception of secular media’s
Church in the Philippines will gather to-
gether to honor Our Lady under her title,
Mediatrix of All-Grace.
tional way enunciated by St. Louis di
Montfort who was canonized in 1947, a year
before the reported apparitions of Our Lady.

Beltran, D.D.
How is the social concern agenda of
the Church being concretized in your
Vicariate?
I am thankful to my predecessor bish-
ops from what they had started and
done in terms of our local Church’s con-
cern on the social issues. I intend to con-
tinue them. My priests have oriented
me with the agenda as I started to work
with them after my installation as their
Apostolic Vicar. This is what we under-
stood together: Any proposed response
to the challenges the social issues of the
day pose must presuppose genuine con-
cern on our part. The presbyterium of
the Vicariate together with the faithful
are now aware of their social commitment
to problems that beset the economic life
and development of the people. They be-
come involved in responding to the social
issues especially to human needs.
Is the BEC active in the Vicariate?
This is now the thrust of our local
Church. It is not perfect, but it is moving
towards there. The spirit is felt in every
mission station (parish), especially in the
mountainous barangays. Our people are
getting involved in the life and mission of
the Church. There is an increasing collabo-
ration between the ministerial and the
common priesthood.
treatment of Church issues in the news.
CBCP President, Most Rev. Angel During her apparitions in Lipa Carmel in
Lagdameo, DD, and the Archbishop of Lipa, 1948, Our Lady revealed herself under the
Most Rev. Ramon Arguelles, DD, have title Mary, Mediatrix of All-Grace, explain-
called on the Catholic faithful once again ing even further that it is All-Grace, in the
Does the role of the laity as defined
to join the National Pilgrimage to singular form, because it refers to Christ who
by PCP II being realized in your Vi-
Carmelite Monastery in Lipa City, is the source of each and every grace.
cariate?
Batangas on 12 September 2007, Feast of It is hoped that through this annual pil-
This is the initiative and now the
the Holy Name of Mary. grimage the cause of the official recogni-
spirit in my local Church. We are
The annual pilgrimage has always car- tion of the 1948 apparitions of Our Lady
moving towards Church participa-
ried the twin intentions of Prayer for World will advance and that the Catholic faithful
tion and involvement. Thanks to my
Peace and the Sanctification of the Clergy. may rediscover the tremendous value of
predecessors’ efforts. Since 1993 when
This year’s pilgrimage has for its theme an authentic Marian devotion.
Bontoc-Lagawe was made a separate
the prayer of consecration of St. Louis For this year, the Pueblo Amante de Maria
local Church from the Vicariate of
Grignon di Montfort: I AM ALL YOURS Mariological Society of the Philippines
the Mountain Provinces, every year
AND ALL THAT I HAVE IS YOURS, O (PAMMSPhil) will also be launched.
we hold the TONGTONGAN, a gen-
JESUS, THROUGH MARY, OUR IMMACU- The Archdiocese of Lipa spearheads the
eral assembly composed of the rep-
LATEMOTHERANDMEDIATRIXOFALL- annual pilgrimage, assisted by many
resentatives of the different mission
GRACE. Marian movements and organizations,
stations to evaluate the role of Church
It will be recalled that when Our Lady among them, the Friends of Mary Mediatrix
7 Questions / B7
appeared in Lipa Carmel in 1948, she spe- and the Confraternity of Mary, Mediatrix
cifically requested the total consecration to of All-Grace.

B2
The canonical form of marriage
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
A friend of mine recently got married at St. Peter’s in Rome. The wedding Mass was superb—presided by a Filipino priest in a side chapel
of the Basilica, complete with organ and small choir facilitated by the Basilica itself. The only hitch came at the moment of signing the papers,
right inside the side chapel and immediately after the Mass. A Vatican official amiably asked for the signatures of the couple, then the priest
presider. But when it came to the sponsors, he approached the persons at the kneelers positioned on either side of the couple, who happened
to be the parents of the bride and the groom. The official got visibly agitated, saying that those positions should have been occupied by the
sponsors, since they should be the ones hearing the exchange of “I do”. He even said that they had opened the marriage to a possible suit of
invalidity due to lack of canonical form. He was only appeased when the sponsors affirmed that they heard everything, even from their place
in the front row of pews, since the chapel was relatively small. What was the fuss all about?
THE issue was the integrity of the so-called
canonical form of Catholic marriage—i.e., the
external formal requisites in the exchange of
marriage consent for it to have juridic validity.
The canonical form of the celebration of
marriage
Three reasons made the establishment of
a juridic substantial form—i.e., a set of ex-
ternal and verifiable circumstances as re-
quirements for the substantial and juridic
validity of matrimonial consent—necessary:
1) to make the coming about of a given
marriage public within the ecclesial com-
munity—i.e., since the couple would hence-
forth live as husband and wife in the midst
of that community;
2) to make the expression of matrimo-
nial consent verifiable with certainty—i.e.,
by providing for witnesses who could at-
test to the manifestation of such consent by
the contracting parties;
3) to safeguard the specific content of ca-
nonical marriage—i.e., by making the pres-
ence of the qualified witness depend on his
moral certainty that all other canonical re-
quirements for marriage have been fulfilled.
Thus, the configuration of canonical mar-
riage as a formal juridic act (aside from being
a consensual act) has been a constant prin-
ciple in Church law since the Council of Trent
established it in 1563. The present Code of
Canon Law summarizes this canonical form
of Marriage in the following terms:
Can. 1108 — §1. Only those marriages
are valid which are contracted in the pres-
ence of the local ordinary, or the pastor, or
a priest or deacon delegated by either of
them, and in the presence of two witnesses,
according to the rules expressed in the fol-
lowing canons, with due regard for the ex-
ceptions mentioned in cc.144, 1112,§1, and
1127,§§2 and 3.
§2. The one assisting at a marriage is
understood to be only that person who,
present at the ceremony, asks for the
contractants’ manifestation of consent and
receives it in the name of the Church.
In simple terms, what the canonical form
of marriage means is that for marriage to
validly come about, the following formal
requirements must be present in the actual
marriage ceremony.
1st: The Bride and Groom — in Person or
by legitimate Proxy.
Can. 1104 — §1. In order for marriage to
be contracted validly, it is necessary that
the contracting parties be present together,
either in person or by proxy.
§2. Those to be married are to express
Novenas and devotions during Mass
(The following questions were answered by Le-
gionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara,
professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum
university; lifted with permission from Zenit)
Q: I have seen novenas prayed together by the
congregation, led by the priest directly after the
Gospel of a weekday Mass. Is this correct?—
C.H.,BatonRouge,Louisiana.
Q: I was wondering if it is appropriate to insert
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy into the liturgy?
Our parish recited this after the homily on Di-
vine Mercy Sunday, led by our pastor. It seemed
as if a beautiful, but optional, devotion was forced
on a captive congregation. — L.S., Hutchinson,
Kansas
A: This topic referred to in these two ques-
tions is dealt with in the December 2001
document “Directory on Popular Piety and
the Liturgy,” published by the Congrega-
tion for Divine Worship.
No. 13 of this document states: “The ob-
jective difference between pious exercises
and devotional practices should always be
Updates
their matrimonial consent in words; how-
ever, if they cannot speak, they are to ex-
press it by equivalent signs.
Although this is not usually discussed
under the heading of the canonical form—
usually forming part of the issue of con-
sent—I find it pedagogically better to deal
with it here. In fact the configuration of the
canonical form as the substantial juridic
form of Catholic marriage is a function of
the need to provide witness to the expres-
sion of mutual consent by the contracting
parties. Thus, their physical presence at the
wedding is normally presumed.
What could be a novelty for most Catho-
lics is the provision in Canon Law for ei-
ther or both of the contracting parties to be
represented by legitimate proxy. Canon
Law regulates this matter in great detail:
Can. 1105 — §1. In order for marriage to be
entered validly by proxy, it is required that:
1° there is a special mandate to contract
marriage with a certain person;
2° the proxy is appointed by the person who
gave the mandate and that the proxy fulfill this
function in person (i.e., the proxy cannot ap-
point another proxy).
§2. To be valid a mandate must be signed by the
person who gave it, as well as by the Pastor (i.e.,
parish priest) or the Local Ordinary where the
mandate was issued, or by a priest delegated by
either of these, or at least by two witnesses; or it must
be arranged by means of a document which is au-
thentic according to civil law(i.e., duly notarized).
§3. If the person giving the mandate can-
not write, this is to be noted in the mandate
itself and another witness is to be added who
must also sign the document; otherwise, the
mandate is invalid.
§4. If the person who gave the mandate
revokes it or becomes insane before the proxy
has contracted marriage in that person’s
name, the marriage is invalid, even though
either the proxy or the other contracting party
was unaware of these developments.
2nd: A Qualified Witness — to ask for the
Consent in the name of the Church.
The Code enumerates who can act as the
qualified witness:
Can. 1109 — …within the confines of their ter-
ritory, the Local Ordinary and the Pastor (parish
priest) in virtue of their office, validly assist at the
marriages of their subjects as well as of non-sub-
jects provided one of the contractants is of the Latin
rite. Thus, the Bishop of the Diocese (in his
whole diocese) and the Parish Priest (in his
parish) is a qualified witness for marriage.
Can. 1110 — In virtue of their office and within
the limits of their jurisdiction, an Ordinary and a
Personal Pastor validly assist only at marriages
clear in expressions of worship. Hence, the
formulae proper to pious exercises should
not be commingled with the liturgical ac-
tions. Acts of devotion and piety are exter-
nal to the celebration of the Holy Eucha-
rist, and of the other sacraments.
“On the one hand, a superimposing of
pious and devotional practices on the Lit-
urgy so as to differentiate their language,
rhythm, course, and theological emphasis
from those of the corresponding liturgical
action, must be avoided, while any form of
competition with or opposition to the li-
turgical actions, where such exists, must
also be resolved. Thus, precedence must
always be given to Sunday, Solemnities,
and to the liturgical seasons and days.
“Since, on the other hand, pious prac-
tices must conserve their proper style, sim-
plicity and language, attempts to impose
forms of ‘liturgical celebration’ on them
are always to be avoided.”
Therefore it is incorrect to mingle any
devotional exercise such as a novena or
non-liturgical litanies within the context
of the Mass; this mixing respects neither
Denz Dayao/CBCP Media
involving at least one of their subjects. Thus,
a Bishop (not the Bishop of the Diocese)
can validly assist if one of the parties
comes from his own diocese; likewise a
Military Chaplain can validly assist if one
of the parties belongs to the Military
Ordinariate.
Can. 1111 — §1. …the Local Ordinary and
the Pastor can delegate to priests and deacons
the faculty, even a general one (i.e., not just
for a specific marriage), to assist at mar-
riages within the limits of their territory. This
is the usual case in a big place like Metro
Manila, where people get married at the
church of their choice (not their own par-
ishes). Every time a couple get married
outside of their parish, the Parish Priest
of the church where the marriage is cel-
ebrated either assists at the marriage or
delegates another priest to do so (usually
the priest of choice of the couple).
§2. To be valid the delegation of the faculty
to assist at marriages must be given expressly
to specified persons (e.g., if the couple brings
their own priest, he must be identified
beforehand and his credentials verified.);
if it is a question of a special delegation, it is to
be granted for a specific marriage; however, if
it is a question of a general delegation, it is to
be granted in writing.
3rd: Two Other Witnesses — also called
Common Witnesses.
The Code does not stipulate any re-
quirement. Hence, we can presume the
common doctrinal and jurisprudential
criteria of: (1) use of reason, and (2) the
capacity to perceive the marriage they
are witnessing. In sum, the common wit-
nesses should be able to testify regard-
ing the celebration of marriage, espe-
cially regarding the exchange of matri-
monial consent.
Thus, more than godparents (a common
term in the Philippines) we are dealing
with simple witnesses, whose only ju-
ridic obligation is to be ready to testify
that the marriage took place. They don’t
even have a moral obligation to assist
the new couple to live up to their com-
mitments—which is what the word spon-
sors (another common term in the Phil-
ippines) implies.
Conclusion
As to the romantic (and Roman) wed-
ding in question, the zealous Vatican of-
ficial was right in being concerned, but
was also right in being appeased once
the official witnesses testified that they
heard and saw everything.
the nature of the Eucharistic celebration nor
the essence of the pious exercise. Novenas
or non-liturgical litanies may, however, be
recited immediately before or after Mass.
Some readers ask if devotions may be
carried out during Eucharistic adoration.
The above-mentioned directory suggests
in No. 165: “Gradually, the faithful should
be encouraged not to do other devotional
exercises during exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament.” It adds, however: “Given the
close relationship between Christ and Our
Lady, the rosary can always be of assistance
in giving prayer a Christological orienta-
tion, since it contains meditation of the In-
carnation and the Redemption.”
Although the rosary is the only devo-
tion specifically mentioned, it is possible
that other devotions that can likewise be
given a Christological orientation. These
include novenas in preparation for Christ-
mas and other feasts, which could be used
as vocal prayers and acclamations imme-
diately before Benediction.
This would not be the case for a novena
or devotion to a particular saint.
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007
Length of a sermon
By Santosh K. Digal
THE length of a sermon is a perennial matter of debate among Catholics,
both the clergy and the laity. In a certain parish, some parishioners had a
series of discussions on the subject. Some said that what is more important
is the content rather than length while others stressed the need for sermons
that are short but sweet.
Meanwhile, other people consider brevity and clarity of thought as good
gauge of good homilies. To keep homilies brief, it is recommended that
priests develop one single idea or “pearl” rather than pursue several strands.
There is no sense in saying more if the congregation wants to hear less. The
call is for a single, elaborated point of substantial depth.
Depth is one area Catholics are particularly keen on. There will be no
depth in homilies without depth in the preacher, “spiritual,” “intellectual”,
and “cultural.” People want well-read, reflective, and prayerful preachers.
At the same time, people want preaching that connects with their lives.
The homily is one of the most important parts of the Eucharistic celebra-
tion. It must therefore be well prepared by being brief and having a relevant
message. An outstanding preacher could hazard fifteen minutes. An average
speaker should not go beyond ten minutes and those who are known to be
boring should never forget the advice to be brief, be bright, and be gone.
There is a lot of dissatisfaction among the laity about the kind of homilies
they want to hear. But certainly, Catholics want to hear relevant homilies.
Relevance could be strengthened by the celebrant preparing the homily
together with the liturgical team who could provide the grist of their daily
experiences to the mill of the sermon.
The homily should be preached only after the Gospel, some priests preach
several homilies at one Mass—one at the introduction, one after the Gospel
and others at various parts of the Mass. This could be extremely annoying
and frustrating to the congregation.
A priest once told me that one of his companion priests used to preach
five to six sermons during his Mass every day: one at the beginning of the
Mass, two before the two readings, one after the Gospel, one before the
Lord’s Prayer and one immediately after Communion. Another priest one
day said to the priest, “Father, we preach a sermon when we celebrate Mass,
but you celebrate Mass when you preach sermons!”
It would be advisable that every parish conduct a survey on the perfor-
mance of priests at least once a year. It is good to ask for feedback on such an
important aspect of Church life, the homily being one of the main methods of
catechesis. Priests have hundreds of people in this captive audience and this
opportunity should be used to instruct, enlighten and entertain our people in
the best sense of the word. Priests have no right to bore them unnecessarily.
As far as Church directives are concerned, there are no hard and fast rules
on the length of the sermon during Holy Masses. I haven’t found one even
in the Church’s Canon law.
Despite the debate on the length of the sermon it is still true that what is
most important is not the length of the sermon but the matter of it. But one
must not forget the physical and psychological reality of our human bodies
and minds. Most specialists agree that the attention span for a normal Sun-
day sermon in the Church would be around seven to ten minutes. I am not
speaking about special occasions, when the congregation is prepared for
sermons of longer duration. I am not speaking about Sunday sermons
preached in distant villages where people travel for hours to reach the
church and the Sunday sermons are the only means available to them for
catechesis and where such wonderful people want the sermons to be long,
instructive and useful to strengthen their faith.
According to the results of a study on homilies in India by Prof. Albert
Mehrabian, when a priest preaches a sermon on an ordinary Sunday, 55
percent of the communication is done by a “priest’s life;” 38 percent is done
by “his gestures, voice and diction” and only seven percent is done by the
words the priest utters.
Mehrabian explains: “When John, Judith and their daughter Jamima come
for Sunday Mass and their parish priest, whom they consider as a true reflec-
tion of Christ, is celebrating Mass, even before he opens his mouth to begin
his homily, John, Judith and Jamima have got the ‘message.’ They know that
their beloved Parish Priest is himself a living example of the message he is
trying to convey to his people.”
“On the other hand, they come for Sunday Mass, and their Parish Priest,
who is known to be rude, unconcerned, selfish and far from being a reflec-
tion of the Jesus of the Gospels, is celebrating the Mass, even before he
opens his mouth to begin his homily, the three are 55 per cent convinced
that what their Parish Priest is talking is just theory that he has learnt and
not what he has actually experienced. To add to this, if such a second type of
Parish Priest is poor in his diction and cannot be distinctly heard, he has lost
a further 38 percent of his ability to communicate. The remaining seven per
cent is not going to make any difference to the Christian lives of John, Judith
and Jemima!”
Pope Benedict XVI states that a priest participates in the same action of the
Spirit that formed the Scriptural text itself when he breaks the Word to the
faithful at the Eucharist in a homily. In doing so a priest communicates
God’s message in the language of his people and interprets the issues of our
times in the light of the God’s Word.
It was an ardent practice of this precept that made St. John Marie Vianney
known internationally. It is reported that people from distant places began
traveling to hear his sermons. The number of pilgrims had reached 20,000 a
year towards the end of his priestly ministry.
Poor homilies have had a serious effect on the church-going habits of
Catholics. In one parish, there were people who complained that they did
not attend Mass in their parishes because of the poor quality of the homilies.
If parishioners now tend to “shop around” different parishes to attend Mass,
the main reason is the preaching and not so much because of other factors.
The good news is that people seem hungry for astute commentary on the
Word. It is true for the Philippines. My experience shows that a priest is
expected to preach homily during every Mass irrespective of time and occa-
sion. This shows Filipino Catholics love to hear homilies.
Of course, one has to note that people are conditioned by a culture that
places great value on efficiency, which means the people dislike preaching
that is laborious and long. St Vianney, for example, spared the listener
wordy introductions, especially ones that are not directly relevant to the
message. Scripture itself should be the launching pad. This makes theologi-
cal sense, because the homily needs to flow from the Scriptures. People
experience a jarring interruption if the homily is prefaced with an unrelated
story, an irrelevant joke, or an announcement.
Another approach that annoys Catholics is the rehashing of Scripture out
of context. This implies that the congregations have not been listening or
that they are below the average intelligence to understand the readings. An
opening in which the preacher explains how he decided what to say is also
anathema. They are not interested in such difficulties. People too are profes-
sionals who have to struggle with the disciplines of their trade.
Clearly stating the main proposition of the homily is an invaluable tip
offered by a renowned homiletic professor for crafting effective sermons.
“The opening line of a literary piece is intended to suggest the work’s theme
strongly and clearly. The same should be true of a homily. And we know
how much trouble writers take to find that perfect opening. Priests must be
wary of the oblique beginning—it frequently confuses the congregation.
Work on the middle of the homily first, and then both the beginning and the
end would come naturally.”
Endings are also a problem. Many people mention statements sounding
like endings as especially distracting, causing them to focus on how the preacher
had “landed the plane” rather than the message. Preachers should always
know the precise concluding lines of the homily and should never ‘grope’ for
the ending struggling with drawn out sentences for the finale. Endings need
not be complex; simple is often the best with a good “punch line.”
Giving a homily is a labor of love, study, prayer, discussion, thought, and
passionate conviction. It would not be far from the truth to state that these
suggestions reflect the profound precept and practice of preaching that St.
Vianney bequeathed to Catholics by his homilies.
(Fr. Santosh Digal is one of the news writers of CBCPNews. He works as chaplain
at the UST Hospital in Manila).
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007
The Diocese of Bangued
THE Diocese of Bangued encompasses the civil province of Abra, which was a sub-province of Ilocos Sur
until its establishment as a separate province in 1917. With a total land area of 3,975.5 square meter
kilometers, Abra has 27 municipalities and is now part of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Evangelization of Abra Divine Word Missionaries for their
The evangelization of Abra can be Abra Mission. The Diocese now com-
traced back to 1598 with the work of prises 20 parishes and one quasi-par-
the Spanish missionaries, particularly ish, grouped into 4 vicariates forane.
the Augustinian friars, based in Ilocos As of December 31, 2006, there are
Sur. In 1909, the Society of the Divine 203,598 Catholics, constituting 84% of
Word (SVD) arrived to take responsi- the local population of 242,629. The
bility of the mission work. As of June Abrenians belong to two major ethnic
2007, the Diocese is served by 26 dioc- groups: the Ilocanos, who comprise the
esan clergy and 21 Divine Word Mis- majority and the Tingguians, who be-
sionaries, among whom are 2 religious long to different ethnolinguistic tribal
Brothers. Also presently involved in communities.
pastoral work are 8 Missionary Sisters The first prelate ordinary of
Servants of the Holy Spirit (S.Sp.S.) Bangued was Bishop Odilo Etspueler,
who started work in Abra in 1912 and SVD, who was installed on October 17,
4 Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of 1956. He retired on November 24, 1987
Mary (S.I.H.M.). The Diocese also and died on September 12, 1995. His
counts on the help of the Auxiliaries of Auxiliary Bishop, the Most Rev. Cesar
the Apostolate. These are lay women Raval, SVD, was subsequently ap-
called by the Local Ordinary to help in pointed second bishop of Bangued on
the apostolate. They are given up to November 25, 1988 but resigned on
God without reserve for the commu- January 18, 1992 because of ill health.
nication of His Love. Very Rev. James Risse, SVD, served as
the Diocesan Administrator from Janu-
Prelature Nullius ary 22, 1992 until the third bishop of
The Prelature Nullius of Bangued Bangued, the Most Rev. Artemio L.
was erected on June 12, 1955 by Pope Rillera, SVD, was elected on June 28,
Pius XII. It was formerly part of the 1993 and installed as third bishop of
Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia of Bangued on August 28, 1993. However,
which it remains a suffragan. Pope Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop
John Paul II elevated the Prelature to a of San Fernando de La Union on April
Diocese on November 15, 1982. Its titu- 1, 2005. Very Rev. Nilo S. Peig then
lar patron is St. James the Elder, with served as the Diocesan Administrator
St. Joseph as the patron chosen by the from June 15, 2006 until the Most Rev.
Leopoldo C. Jaucian, SVD,
was appointed on January
5, 2007 by Pope Benedict
XVI, and installed as the
IMPORTANT FACTS fourth bishop of Bangued
on March 31, 2007.
Bishops ……………………………......... 2 The Diocese of Bangued
Priests: has one Minor Seminary,
Diocesan …………………………...... 23 the St. Joseph Seminary, es-
Religious …………………………..... 18 tablished in 1960. As of June
Filipino ……………………………...... 13
Foreign …………………………........... 5 2007, the Diocese has 108
seminarians; 71 in high
Brothers:
school, 25 in college and 12
Foreign ……………………………........ 2
Sisters ……………………………......... 12 in the theologate. There are
Diocesan Seminary: 18 Catholic Schools, 15 of
Minor ………………………………......... 1 which belong to the Diocese
Seminarians: while 3 are owned and man-
Theology ………………………….. ....... 7 aged by the SVD or SSpS
Philosophy ………………………...... 40 congregations. The Diocese
On Regency ………………………....... 2
runs two radio stations, an
High School ……………………….... 66
Diocesan Division: AM and an FM station. It
publishes a weekly news-
Vicariates …………………………....... 4
Parishes ……………………………... 21 paper, the Abra Today and op-
With Resident Pastors …………… 21 erates a demonstration
Entrusted to Diocesan Clergy …... 13 farm for organic farming
Entrusted to Religious Clergy …….. 8 and sustainable agricul-
Educational Centers: ture.
College ……………………………....... 1
High Schools:
Diocesan Commissions and
Diocesan ………………………......16
Ministries
Congregational …………………...... 3
Elementary Schools: The Diocese has estab-
lished in its Diocesan Curia
Diocesan ………………………........ 1
Congregational ………………......... 2 various commissions, of-
Population …………………. 236,910 fices, ministries and
Catholics ……………………. 199,697 apostolates, to address the
Area ………………….. 3,975.5 sq. kms. different pastoral needs and
concerns of the people, such
Diocese B3
as the Commission on Worship and
Liturgy, the Catechetical Apostolate,
the Department for Pastoral Leaders
and Lay Ministers, the Office for Basic
Ecclesial Communities, the Biblical
Apostolate, the Family and Life
Apostolate, the Office for the Missions,
Vocations and Migrants, the Social De-
velopment Center, the Justice and
Peace Department, the Indigenous
Peoples Apostolate, the Ecology De-
partment, the Health Care Apostolate,
and the Diocesan Youth Commission.
In the course of its service, the Diocese
has established a hospital (which is
now closed), a pastoral center and a
commercial complex. It has constructed
irrigation projects, established coop-
eratives, initiated reforestation pro-
grams, administered water systems
and published prayer and hymn book-
lets. It has also supported citizens’ ini-
tiatives like the NAMFREL and the
Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good
Government and cooperated with gov-
ernment and non-government agen-
cies in building micro-hydropower
plants in the hinterlands. All these in
pursuit of the Diocesan Vision formu-
lated by the First Diocesan Pastoral
Assembly of Bangued, held on May 23-
27, 1994:
“In the name of the Lord, WE, the
Christians of the Church in Abra, by
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and T OPMOST: The Cathedral of S t. James the Elder, Bangued Abra. ABOVE: Bishop Leopoldo C.
through the intercession of the Virgin Jaucian, SVD, DD
Mary, desire to become a COMMU-
NITY OF DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, who Church continues to cultivate through Spanish missionaries who bravely em-
are united with His life, formed by His
word, and strengthened through His
the centuries. (cf. John Paul II, Gen- barked on the evangelization of our an-
eral Audience) cestors. He was with the secular clergy
sacraments, and who share the Good who stayed put in Abra after the revo-
News to everyone, especially the poor, A year of special grace lution to defend the faith from the on-
so that the Word of God will permeate The Diocese of Bangued celebrated a slaught of hostile forces and to nurture
the people’s lives, cultures, relation- year of special grace on June 12, 1955— the faith. He arranged for the coming
ships and communities, including their
its 50 th year as a particular church since of the SVD Priests and Brothers and the
attitudes towards the environment. it was separated from the Metropolitan SSpS Sisters who developed the local
In this way, the life-giving reign of Church of the Archdiocese of Nueva Church in Abra as it is now. He is the
Christ, which is a Kingdom of justice, Segovia through the Apostolic Letter Lord who blessed Abra with the many
peace unity and love will come among “Cum Misericors” of Pope Pius XII. zealous and self-sacrificing bishops,
men. Amen.” Since its erection, the local church of clergy and religious as well as lay lead-
Five years later, on July 28-31, 1999, Bangued has shown how the kingdom ers over the years. He is Yahweh who
the Second Diocesan Pastoral Assem- of God grows here on earth. saves and accompanies us even after we
bly was convoked. The statutes of these This year of special grace was truly a have celebrated our 50 years as a par-
two assemblies guide the practices and precious occasion for the entire People ticular Church and as we continue with
policies of the Diocese and parishes
of God of the Diocese of Bangued to a new phase of Church life in Abra.
today. strengthen the Christian Faith im- As we embark on a new chapter of
The Gospel according to Mark has planted by the pioneering missionar- the local Church in Abra, we proceed
this to say “The kingdom of God is like the ies. In the words of the Apostolic Letter with a new hope and trust that the Lord
case of a man who scatters seed on the land Novo Millenio Inuente: it was a time will be with us until the end. He is our
and then sleeps and rises night and day. to “remember the past with gratitude, live Light and our Strength. As He accom-
The seed sprouts and grows, but he doesn’t the present with enthusiasm and look for- panied our forefathers for the last 400
know how. Of its own accord the land yields ward to the future with confidence”. years since the first seed of Faith was
fruits, first, the blade, then, the ear, then, planted in Abra, so He will accompany
the full grain in the ear. When the grain is Looking into the future with the eyes us. Through the help of the Holy Spirit,
ripe, he wields the sickle, for the harvest
of faith we continue to keep the flame of Faith
has come” (Mk. 4:26-29). As God’s people of Abra, we see our alive, to follow the tradition of the first
The kingdom of God grows here on history, our present and our future with missionaries in their zeal, sacrifice,
earth in human history by virtue of the eyes of faith. God has been with us simplicity and generosity. We renew
an initial seed, that is, a foundation in the beginning. He was with our fore- our commitment to build His kingdom
which comes from God, and a myste- fathers even before the first missionar- and to love our people as the Lord has
rious work of God himself, which the ies brought their Faith. He was with the loved us.
 CBCP Monitor
B4 Commissions Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007

THE Episcopal Commission on Bibli-

cal Apostolate (ECBA) and Philippine

Butuan holds catechetical convention Bible Society (PBS), jointly held a sym-
posium on BEC Bible at the Home of
the Clergy, Sorsogon last July 27.
By Erwin Joey E. Cabilan The symposium aimed to develop a
module to promote the BEC Bible and
the BEC Youth Bible in a more system-
CATECHETICAL Directors, Coordinators and catechists representing their re-
atic way.
spective pastoral fields (Children, Youth, Adult, School, Family and Life, etc.)
Participants to the symposium in-
from the different local Churches of Mindanao gathered for a three-day conven-
clude diocesan bible animators, lay
tion last August 23-25 at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Pastoral Center, Butuan City.
leaders, catechists, youth leaders, priests
The convention had the theme Telling the Story of Jesus in Mindanao (Ang Pag-
and religious representing different
asoy sa Sugilanon ni Jesus sa Mindanao).
dioceses.
A total of 153 participants took part in the said activity organized by the
The one-day symposium opened
Mindanao Region Catechetical Ministry (MRCM), the catechetical arm of the
with the Bible enthronement using a
Bishops of Mindanao chaired by Most Rev. Guillermo V. Afable, D.D., Bishop of
pilgrim dance, an element of
Digos.
Bibliodrama. Connected to each other,
At the concelebrated opening liturgy held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph,
the participants moved with their right
Butuan’s Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Zacharias Jimenez, D.D., shared some
hands on the left shoulder of the person
salient points about the significance of storytelling as a way of sharing our
in front of them, while their left hands
Christian faith to all strata of humanity in our world today.
on their heart level, they moved for-
The first day ended with a city tour to see Butuan’s significant places such as
ward in counts of three and swung back Most Rev. Arturo Bastes, SVD, DD, (3rd from right) together with some of participants to the Symposium on
the Sto. Niño Shrine, the Immaculate Conception Parish and its newly con-
on the fourth count. The movement of BEC Bible, jointly sponsored by ECBA and PBS, held at the Home of the Clergy, Sorsogon last July 27.
structed bridge.
The second day was filled with many insightful activities. To allow partici-
pants to discover and rediscover the catechetical context of Mindanao, Miss
Genediosa Sanoy (ZAMBASULI), Sr. Teresa May Salazar, OND (KIDMACO), Sr.
Helen Bongolto, RSM (DOPIM), Erwin Joey E. Cabilan (DADITAMA) and Sr.
ECBA, PBS hold symposium on the BEC Bible
By Elmer Tadeo
Maria Josie Alabado, TMM (CABUSTAM), shared about the picture of catechetical
ministry in their respective sub-regions.
one hundred twenty people forming one body added. Robinson Landicho, on the other hand,
After learning the present milieu where the ministry of catechesis is put into
of pilgrims, journeying together with the PBS general secretary Nora Lucero ex- briefly discussed the business side on how
praxis, Most Rev. Guillermo V. Afable, D.D., gave a talk reflecting the convention’s
Bible, going inside the Chapel reflects plained the long time partnership of PBS to promote the Bible trough the theme
theme. Inspired by the Asian Mission Congress held in Chiang Mai, Thailand
powerfully the prayer of the Bishop: and ECBA-CBCP. She said PBS is commit- “In my Father’s Business”. It is everybody’s
held last 2006, Bishop Afable shared the eight fundamental principles about
“that the whole Diocese of Sorsogon will move ted to make the Bible known and acces- business to work for the Word of God.
storytelling and its relevance in doing catechesis according to the Mindanao
forward as one community of faith - living in sible to all at an affordable price. Thus the Mrs. Amy Herrera, PBS Board of
context.
love according to the Gospel message …,” BEC Bibles are made available in eight Trustee, shared her testimony of faith on
In the afternoon, the delegates listened to the stories of three invited speakers
thus giving meaning to the spirit of major languages. how the Word of God sustained her
from the dioceses of Pagadian and Butuan, and the Prelature of Ipil who spoke
ecumenism and life lived in unity and PBS executive consultant Dr. Medarlo through life particularly during the time
about their unique ways of doing Children catechesis, Youth catechesis and
harmony among Christians. Rivera discussed the Open Word – 108 long of health crisis. The Word of God gave
Family catechesis respectively. The participants had a workshop after the talk.
ECBA Chairman and Sorsogon Bishop years of service of the Bible Society in the her life and kept her alive.
The second day concluded with a solidarity night in which all participants by
Arturo M. Bastes, SVD, D.D. welcomed Philippines (1899-2007). Rivera was instru- Mr. Aries Aguilar of PBS and Fr. Oscar
sub- region presented their talents.
the participants reminding them of the mental in the close working relationship Alunday of ECBA presented some strate-
Fr. Ronald Lunas, STL, catechetical director of the Diocese of Digos, gave a
Vision–Mission Statement of the Dio- of PBS and ECBA through the years. gies on how the BEC Bibles can be dis-
talk on the third day entitled “The Catechist as Pray-er”. Bits of reflection were
cese of Sorsogon, “a community of FAITH, “Working in the ministry of the Word tributed at P150.00 each. PBS will give a
shared by some participants after Fr. Lunas’ input. Sr. Vilma Esmael, OND,
living in LOVE, according to the GOSPEL involves good relationship,” he said. total discount of 22% divided as follows:
Directress of the Notre Dame Center for Catechesis (Cotabato), facilitated a
message, responding in SERVICE to the Meanwhile, Dr. Anie Del Corro, a trans- ECBA gets 2% or P3.00 per BEC Bible;
workshop to get the general output of the three-day convention. The result of
signs of the times, striving in HOPE for the lation consultant of the United Bible Soci- Regional Biblical Center gets 2% or P3.00
the workshop would serve as the basis for the revision of the vision and mission
coming of the Kingdom.” eties in Asia and Pacific clearly explained per BEC Bible; Diocesan Biblical Center
of the Mindanao region catechetical ministry. Bp. Afable and Fr. Johnny Autida,
The highlight of the symposium was the intricacies and the challenges in the gets 2% or P3.00 per BEC Bible; the parish
Director of John XXIII Catechetical Center (Davao) and Mindanao Coordinator
the presentation of the BEC Bible and ministry of translation. This ministry in- gets 2% or P3.00 per BEC Bible; BEC gets
for the Episcopal Commission for Catechesis and Catholic Education (ECCCE)
the BEC Youth Bible. Bishop Bastes ob- volves knowledge and even mastery of 14% or P21.00 per BEC Bible.
took their turns in facilitating a business meeting.
served that there are many local the biblical languages of Hebrew and All BEC members were asked to coor-
In a plenary, the participants unanimously decided that the Advisory Coun-
churches in the Philippines that have Greek. She also discussed that translation dinate with their BECs in the parishes
cil of MRCM shall be composed by the sub-regional catechetical directors/
been renewed because of the BECs. revision takes place every ten to twelve through the Diocesan Bible Apostolate
coordinators and that the Mindanao Catechists Convention shall be convened
“There are many factors behind this years. True to her topic, she presented the to achieve a smooth and meaningful dis-
after every two years. The convention concluded with a concelebrated Eucharis-
transformation, but the main spiritual challenge of translation in such a way that tribution of the BEC Bibles. The P21.00
tic celebration with Most Rev. Juan de Dios Pueblos, D.D., bishop of Butuan, as
power in the transformation is none God’s Word becomes palatable and tasty, will be accumulated into the BEC Bible
presider and homilist.
other than the Word of God,” Bishop “malinamnam at masarap ang salita ng Diyos”. Fund to purchase more Bibles for all BEC
The next convention will take place in the Archdiocese of Davao in 2009. The
Bastes said. “Without the Bible, no BEC It is especially tasty when God’s Word is incar- members to buy. The goal is to enable
details of this convention are yet to be planned by the Mindanao Region
can be formed. Without the Bible, no nated and spoken in people’s heart language. every BEC member to have his/her own
Catechetical Ministry.
BEC can grow and be sustained,” he PBS Corporate Secretary Atty. ECBA / B7

WYD / B1

had been promised. This icon of the
nascent Church should be a con-
stant source of inspiration for ev-
ery Christian community. Apos-
tolic and missionary fruitfulness is
not principally due to programmes
and pastoral methods that are clev-
erly drawn up and “efficient”, but
is the result of the community’s
constant prayer (cf. Evangelii
Nuntiandi, 75). Moreover, for the
mission to be effective, communi-
ties must be united, that is, they
must be “of one heart and soul” (cf.
Acts 4:32), and they must be ready
to witness to the love and joy that
the Holy Spirit instills in the hearts
of the faithful (cf. Acts 2:42). The
Servant of God John Paul II wrote
that, even prior to action, the
Church’s mission is to witness and
to live in a way that shines out to
others (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 26).
Tertullian tells us that this is what
happened in the early days of
Christianity when pagans were
converted on seeing the love that
reigned among Christians: “See
how they love one another” (cf.
Apology, 39 § 7).
To conclude this brief survey of
the Word of God in the Bible, I in-
vite you to observe how the Holy
Spirit is the highest gift of God to
humankind, and therefore the su-
preme testimony of his love for us,
a love that is specifically expressed
as the “yes to life” that God wills for
each of his creatures. This “yes to
life” finds its fullness in Jesus of
Nazareth and in his victory over evil
by means of the redemption. In this
regard, let us never forget that the
Gospel of Jesus, precisely because
of the Spirit, cannot be reduced to a
mere statement of fact, for it is in-
tended to be “good news for the
poor, release for captives, sight for
the blind ...”. With what great vital-
ity this was seen on the day of Pen-
tecost, as it became the grace and
the task of the Church towards the
world, her primary mission!
We are the fruits of this mission
of the Church through the working
of the Holy Spirit. We carry within
us the seal of the Father’s love in
Jesus Christ which is the Holy Spirit.
Let us never forget this, because the
Spirit of the Lord always remem-
bers every individual, and wishes,
particularly through you young
people, to stir up the wind and fire
of a new Pentecost in the world.
5. The Holy Spirit as “Teacher of
the interior life”
My dear young friends, the Holy
Spirit continues today to act with
power in the Church, and the fruits
of the Spirit are abundant in the
measure in which we are ready to
open up to this power that makes
all things new. For this reason it is
important that each one of us know
the Spirit, establish a relationship
with Him and allow ourselves to
be guided by Him. However, at this
point a question naturally arises:
who is the Holy Spirit for me? It is a
fact that for many Christians He is
still the “great unknown”. This is
why, as we prepare for the next
World Youth Day, I wanted to in-
vite you to come to know the Holy
Spirit more deeply at a personal
level. In our profession of faith we
proclaim: “I believe in the Holy
Spirit, the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and
the Son” (Nicene-
Constantinopolitan Creed). Yes, the
Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the love of
the Father and of the Son, is the
Source of life that makes us holy,
“because God’s love has been
poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit which has been given
to us” (Rom 5:5). Nevertheless, it is
not enough to know the Spirit; we
must welcome Him as the guide of
our souls, as the “Teacher of the in-
terior life” who introduces us to the
Mystery of the Trinity, because He
alone can open us up to faith and
allow us to live it each day to the
full. The Spirit impels us forward
towards others, enkindles in us the
fire of love, makes us missionaries
of God’s charity.
I know very well that you young
people hold in your hearts great ap-
preciation and love for Jesus, and
that you desire to meet Him and
speak with Him. Indeed, remem-
ber that it is precisely the presence
of the Spirit within us that confirms,
constitutes and builds our person
on the very Person of Jesus cruci-
fied and risen. So let us become fa-
miliar with the Holy Spirit in order
to be familiar with Jesus.
6. The Sacraments of Confirmation
and the Eucharist
You might ask, how can we al-
low ourselves to be renewed by the
Holy Spirit and to grow in our spiri-
tual lives? The answer, as you know,
is this: we can do so by means of the
Sacraments, because faith is born
and is strengthened within us
through the Sacraments, particu-
larly those of Christian initiation:
Baptism, Confirmation and the Eu-
charist, which are complementary
and inseparable (cf. The Catechism of
the Catholic Church, 1285). This truth
concerning the three Sacraments
that initiate our lives as Christians
is perhaps neglected in the faith life
of many Christians. They view
them as events that took place in
the past and have no real signifi-
cance for today, like roots that lack
life-giving nourishment. It happens
that many young people distance
themselves from their life of faith
after they have received Confirma-
tion. There are also young people
who have not even received this
sacrament. Yet it is through the sac-
raments of Baptism, Confirmation
and then, in an ongoing way, the
Eucharist, that the Holy Spirit makes
us children of the Father, brothers
and sisters of Jesus, members of his
Church, capable of a true witness to
the Gospel, and able to savour the
joy of faith.
I therefore invite you to reflect
on what I am writing to you. Nowa-
days it is particularly necessary to
rediscover the sacrament of Con-
firmation and its important place
in our spiritual growth. Those who
have received the sacraments of Bap-
tism and Confirmation should re-
member that they have become
“temples of the Spirit”: God lives
within them. Always be aware of
this and strive to allow the treasure
within you to bring forth fruits of
holiness. Those who are baptized
but have not yet received the sacra-
ment of Confirmation, prepare to
receive it knowing that in this way
you will become “complete” Chris-
tians, since Confirmation perfects
baptismal grace (cf. The Catechism of
the Catholic Church, 1302-1304).
Confirmation gives us special
strength to witness to and glorify
God with our whole lives (cf. Rom.
12:1). It makes us intimately aware
of our belonging to the Church, the
“Body of Christ”, of which we are
all living members, in solidarity
with one another (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-
25). By allowing themselves to be
guided by the Spirit, each baptized
person can bring his or her own
contribution to the building up of
the Church because of the charisms
given by the Spirit, for “to each is
given the manifestation of the Spirit
for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7).
When the Spirit acts, he brings his
fruits to the soul, namely “love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, generos-
ity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-
control” (Gal. 5:22). To those of you
who have not yet received the sac-
rament of Confirmation, I extend a
cordial invitation to prepare to re-
ceive it, and to seek help from your
priests. It is a special occasion of
grace that the Lord is offering you.
Do not miss this opportunity!
I would like to add a word about
the Eucharist. In order to grow in
our Christian life, we need to be
nourished by the Body and Blood
of Christ. In fact, we are baptized
and confirmed with a view to the
Eucharist (cf. The Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 1322; Sacramentum
Caritatis, 17). “Source and summit”
of the Church’s life, the Eucharist is
a “perpetual Pentecost” since every
time we celebrate Mass we receive
the Holy Spirit who unites us more
deeply with Christ and transforms
us into Him. My dear young
friends, if you take part frequently
in the eucharistic celebration, if you
dedicate some of your time to ado-
ration of the Blessed Sacrament, the
Source of love which is the Eucha-
rist, you will acquire that joyful de-
termination to dedicate your lives
to following the Gospel. At the
same time it will be your experi-
ence that whenever our strength is
not enough, it is the Holy Spirit
who transforms us, filling us with
his strength and making us wit-
nesses suffused by the missionary
fervour of the risen Christ.
7. The need and urgency of mission
Many young people view their
lives with apprehension and raise
many questions about their future.
They anxiously ask: How can we
fit into a world marked by so many
grave injustices and so much suf-
fering? How should we react to the
selfishness and violence that some-
times seem to prevail? How can
we give full meaning to life? How
can we help to bring it about that
the fruits of the Spirit mentioned
above, “love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control” (no. 6),
can fill this scarred and fragile
world, the world of young people
most of all? On what conditions can
the life-giving Spirit of the first cre-
ation and particularly of the sec-
ond creation or redemption be-
come the new soul of humanity?
Let us not forget that the greater
the gift of God—and the gift of the
Spirit of Jesus is the greatest of all—
so much the greater is the world’s
need to receive it and therefore the
greater and the more exciting is the
Church’s mission to bear credible
witness to it. You young people,
through World Youth Day, are in a
way manifesting your desire to
participate in this mission. In this
regard, my dear young friends, I
want to remind you here of some
key truths on which to meditate.
Once again I repeat that only Christ
can fulfil the most intimate aspira-
tions that are in the heart of each
person. Only Christ can humanize
humanity and lead it to its
“divinization”. Through the power
of his Spirit he instills divine char-
ity within us, and this makes us ca-
pable of loving our neighbour and
ready to be of service.
The Holy Spirit enlightens us, re-
vealing Christ crucified and risen,
and shows us how to become more
like Him so that we can be “the im-
age and instrument of the love
which flows from Christ” (Deus
Caritas Est, 33). Those who allow
themselves to be led by the Spirit
understand that placing oneself at
the service of the Gospel is not an
optional extra, because they are
aware of the urgency of transmitting
this Good News to others. Never-
theless, we need to be reminded
again that we can be witnesses of
Christ only if we allow ourselves to
be led by the Holy Spirit who is “the
principal agent of evangelization”
(cf. Evangelii Nuntiandi, 75) and “the
principal agent of mission” (cf.
Redemptoris Missio, 21). My dear
young friends, as my venerable pre-
decessors Paul VI and John Paul II
said on several occasions, to proclaim
the Gospel and bear witness to the
faith is more necessary than ever to-
day (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 1). There
are those who think that to present
the precious treasure of faith to
people who do not share it means
being intolerant towards them, but
this is not the case, because to present
Christ is not to impose Him (cf.
Evangelii Nuntiandi, 80). Moreover,
two thousand years ago twelve
Apostles gave their lives to make
Christ known and loved. Through-
out the centuries since then, the Gos-
pel has continued to spread by means
of men and women inspired by that
same missionary fervor.
Today too there is a need for dis-
ciples of Christ who give
unstintingly of their time and energy
to serve the Gospel. There is a need
for young people who will allow
God’s love to burn within them and
who will respond generously to his
urgent call, just as many young
blesseds and saints did in the past
and also in more recent times. In par-
ticular, I assure you that the Spirit of
Jesus today is inviting you young
people to be bearers of the good
news of Jesus to your contemporar-
ies. The difficulty that adults undoubt-
edly find in approaching the sphere
of youth in a comprehensible and
convincing way could be a sign with
which the Spirit is urging you young
people to take this task upon your-
selves. You know the ideals, the lan-
guage, and also the wounds, the ex-
pectations, and at the same time the
desire for goodness felt by your con-
temporaries. This opens up the vast
world of young people’s emotions,
work, education, expectations, and
suffering ... Each one of you must
have the courage to promise the
Holy Spirit that you will bring one
young person to Jesus Christ in the
way you consider best, knowing
how to “give an explanation to any-
one who asks you for a reason for
your hope, but [to] do it with gentle-
ness and reverence” (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).
In order to achieve this goal, my
dear friends, you must be holy and
you must be missionaries since we
can never separate holiness from
mission (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 90).
Do not be afraid to become holy
missionaries like Saint Francis
Xavier who travelled through the
Far East proclaiming the Good
News until every ounce of his
strength was used up, or like Saint
Thérèse of the Child Jesus who was
a missionary even though she never
left the Carmelite convent. Both of
these are “Patrons of the Missions”.
Be prepared to put your life on the
line in order to enlighten the world
with the truth of Christ; to respond
with love to hatred and disregard
for life; to proclaim the hope of the
risen Christ in every corner of the
earth.
8. Invoking a “new Pentecost” upon
the world
My dear young friends, I hope to
see very many of you in Sydney in
July 2008. It will be a providential
opportunity to experience the full-
ness of the Holy Spirit’s power.
Come in great numbers in order to
be a sign of hope and to give appre-
ciative support to the Church com-
munity in Australia that is prepar-
ing to welcome you. For the young
people of the country that will host
you, it will be an exceptional op-
portunity to proclaim the beauty
and joy of the Gospel to a society
that is secularized in so many ways.
Australia, like all of Oceania, needs
to rediscover its Christian roots. In
the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhor-
tation Ecclesia in Oceania, Pope John
Paul II wrote: “Through the power
of the Holy Spirit, the Church in
Oceania is preparing for a new evan-
gelization of peoples who today are
hungering for Christ... A new evan-
gelization is the first priority for the
Church in Oceania” (no. 18).
I invite you to give time to prayer
and to your spiritual formation dur-
ing this last stage of the journey
leading to the XXIII World Youth
Day, so that in Sydney you will be
able to renew the promises made
at your Baptism and Confirmation.
Together we shall invoke the Holy
Spirit, confidently asking God for
the gift of a new Pentecost for the
Church and for humanity in the
third millennium.
May Mary, united in prayer with
the Apostles in the Upper Room,
accompany you throughout these
months and obtain for all young
Christians a new outpouring of the
Holy Spirit to set their hearts on
fire. Remember: the Church has
confidence in you! We Pastors, es-
pecially, pray that you may love
and lead others to love Jesus more
and more and that you may follow
Him faithfully. With these senti-
ments I bless you all with deep af-
fection.
From Lorenzago, 20 July 2007
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007 Statements
Pilgrimage to the Shrine Capiz, Kalibo, and Romblon
of Our Lady of Mediatrix Clergy Metropolitan Congress
of All Grace Lipa City
“When the disciples flee, Mary will remain beneath the Cross (cf. Jn. 19/25-27); IMPELLED by the desire to keep alive
later, at the hour of Pentecost, it will be they who gather around her as they wait for the fraternal spirit, WE, the clergy of the
the Holy Spirit.” ecclesiastical provinces of Capiz, Kalibo
(cf. AA1/14) Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, No. 41) and Romblon have gathered ourselves
in a Metropolitan Congress at Roxas City
BETHLEHEM, Cana, Calvary and the Cenacle: these are the disciples’ places on August 21-24, 2007. Jesus’ words, “I
of gathering around Mary, who continues to gather us even today. In soli- have called you friends…” (John 15:15),
darity with the Archdiocese of Lipa, we will have again an opportunity to led us to reflect on the theme, Communio
gather as a nation around and with Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace on Sep- Sacerdotalis (Priestly Communion), keep-
tember 12, 2007 at Lipa Shrine of the Mediatrix. ing focus on our spirituality and holi-
Let us again gather around our Blessed Mother to hear her message ut- ness as diocesan clergy, our priestly
tered at Fatima ninety years ago “In the end my Immaculate Heart will tri- lifestyle, our fraternal communion as
umph.” The “alleged” shower of Roses in Lipa more than half a century ago, bishop and priests and our pastoral life
has made the Shrine a popular place for the renewal of Christian life through through responsible stewardship and
Mary and with Mary. In Lipa as at Cana, let us hear once more Mary’s proper management of resources.
instruction: “Do whatever He tells you to do.” (John 2:5) Through our reflections and sharing, we
We will have again the chance to confess with one another “Yes, we have come to grips with our ideals, our
will.” concrete experiences (both our strengths
and weaknesses) and our hopes in the
+ ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO priestly ministry.
Archbishop of Jaro and CBCP President
August 1, 2007 Our Spirituality and Holiness
We remind ourselves of our spiritual-
The Roman Catholic Prelate
ity and holiness as diocesan clergy ac-
cording to the Second Plenary Council
of the Philippines. Our spirituality
of Isabela, Basilan should be Christ-centered, ministerial,
collegial, lived in the spirit of chastity,
obedience and poverty, diocesan, mis-
My dear People of God in Basilan: sionary, Eucharistic, contemplative and
As I reflected the recent events that took place in Basilan last July 10 and Marian. We should pay special attention
August 18, 2007, the Prophet Habakkuk has capsulized my idea: to owning our weaknesses, to listening
“How long, Oh Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, from the grassroots and to hoping in
‘violence’ but You do not intervene.” (Habakkuk 1:1-2) God’s fidelity.
Many victims of violence have cried out to God: “Violence” but received As we pursue this difficult journey, we
no response from Him. In the process, many nameless, faceless civilians have come to realize the saving grace in
like women, children, elderly and non-combatants died not to exclude the our priestly ministry despite our unwor-
soldiers and rebels. Lives are wasted in total violation of God’s command: thiness. We have the assurance in God’s
“Thou shall not kill.” Providence and Love; we become aware
Experience tells us the ugly and painful effects of armed conflict: people of our identity as ordained ministers; we
are displaced, children get sick, schools are closed, food become scarce, are committed to our duties, faithful to
people’s mobility is limited, so on and so forth. The above mentioned ugly our prayer life, mutually affirming,
and painful realities led me to question God further quoting Psalm 13:1, working with the poor, sincere in cel-
“How long Oh Lord… will you hide your face from us?” ebrating the sacraments and available
In silence, God speaks to me: “There is violence in Basilan because there are to help others.
some political leaders who are greedy for power and wealth. They lost their sense of While being confident in God’s sav-
God because they worship power and wealth as their new gods. They are ready to kill ing grace, we also see areas that need to
people in order to stay and perpetuate in power…” be addressed. We are challenged to
Nobody likes WAR. I believe, the Rebels and the Philippine Soldiers deepen our understanding of the priest-
would prefer to have PEACE so that they can live with their families and hood as the ministry of Christ Himself.
attend to the needs of their children. We need to develop a consistent prayer
As bishop of Basilan, I appeal to all of you to stop the War! Do not destroy life, sustain our love for the ministry,
Basilan / B7 care for the self and witness the Gospel
values we preach amidst the challenges
Roxas City, August 21-24, 2007
brought about by new technologies and
cultures. We hope to take up such chal-
lenges after the very example of Christ,
the model of spirituality and holiness of
the diocesan priests.
Priestly Lifestyle
We remind ourselves how similar yet
different we are in our lifestyles as
priests. But as ‘friends’ of Christ, we
ought to share a common priestly
lifestyle that is configured to Christ our
model. Like Christ, we must live a life
in communion with our Father through
prayer life; we must be compassionate
to the poor beginning at our households;
and we must love one another by show-
ing our solidarity and support with one
another both in joy and in sorrow.
We have tried to live up to such an
ideal through the many good traditions
we live by; traditions integral to our
priestly lifestyle, such as meaningful
gatherings and show of mutual support
and solidarity.
With courage and hope, we take up
the challenge in the face of concrete ob-
stacles brought about by differences in
perspective, circumstance, territory, cul-
ture and age. We try to live sacramental
brotherhood from constructive criticism
to fraternal correction, from being in-
different to recognizing the giftedness
of others.
Our Fraternal Communion as Bishops
and Priests
We espouse fraternal communion to
mean our inseparable love of God and
of our brethren. In particular, fraternal
communion leads us priests with the
Bishop to be open to one another to live
and work in communion for Christ’s
work of Redemption. Christ’s work is
our work, in communion with Him and
with one another, thus, building a com-
munity of salvation. This ideal of frater-
nal communion may be achieved by our
spirituality of communion, by our su-
pernatural charity, by dialogue, by self-
denial and by Eucharistic communion.
We have come to realize that the
Bishop is a Father, a Brother and Friend
to his priests; thus, lovingly helping his
B5
priests in difficult situations like loneli-
ness and weariness in the ministry. We
see all the more that priests need to re-
spect the authority of Christ, the Chief
Shepherd, in our Bishop and therefore
we should stand by him in sincere char-
ity and obedience. Such fraternal com-
munion is to be motivated by the love
we h ave for one another – a love that is
mutual and reciprocal, condescending
and forgiving, after the example of
Christ.
Fraternal communion necessitates
mutual love and forgiveness, unity,
friendship with God, fidelity to our
brother priests, shepherding the lost
and mutually shepherding one another.
It is reassuring to know from one
another’s experiences how fraternal
communion has been shown in many
ways: the understanding and support
we extend to an erring priest, mutual
sharing of resources, gestures of reach-
ing out to one another in times of need
and difficulties and openness to dia-
logue despite our individual differ-
ences.
Our Pastoral Life through Responsible
Stewardship and Proper Management of
Resources
Finally, we cannot remain deaf and
blind to the realities that beset our life
as priests. We realize anew that the most
important human resource in the work
of evangelization is the priest himself
who has his own basic needs. We need
to address the pressing issue confront-
ing the health security and welfare of
the priests.
It is our hope and prayer that concrete
solutions and programs may have been
achieved prior to our Second Metropoli-
tan Congress of Priests in the Diocese of
Kalibo two to three years from now.
As we invoke the special intercession
of our Blessed Mother, the Immaculate
Conception, St. John the Baptist and St.
Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church,
we entrust these our ideals, our limita-
tions and our hopes to our loving and
merciful Father, through our Lord Jesus
Christ with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit.
 CBCP Monitor
B6 Reflections Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007

The gift of forgiveness 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Loving with a prodigal love
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ex. 32:7-14; Tm. 1:12-17; Lk. 15:1-32 Lk. 15:1-32
Sept. 16, 2007 Sept. 16, 2007

Bishop Renato P. Mayugba, DD
“I CAN never forgive you for what you have done!
After all the good I have given you this is what you
do to me? What you have done is too painful! I can
never forgive you!”
Have we heard these words before? Have we
uttered these words before?
One of the most difficult things to do is to for-
give! When we are hurt because our rights have
been violated, our trust has been betrayed, our dig-
nity and honor have been trampled on, we refuse
to forgive. Our righteous anger leads us to utter
harsh words. Sometimes we might even go so far
as to retaliate. When we have been deeply hurt by
the very persons we have loved, we may utter these
words.
Our readings this Sunday instruct us about for-
giveness. We are all in need of forgiveness and we
are all called to forgive.
In our first reading, we find Moses interceding
for the chosen people who, after having been lib-
erated from bondage in Egypt by the mighty power
of God, so quickly forgot their covenant. No sooner
is the Decalogue given them than they quickly
break it! Yahweh is repudiated! Through the inter-
cession of Moses, Yahweh forbears from venting
out His rightful wrath. Yahweh shows mercy.
Yahweh forgives.
We are all no different from stiff-necked Israel.
We all too easily forget our fervent resolutions.
We keep on returning to our sins. We all too easily
break our covenant with God and with our prom-
ises to our fellowmen. How many promises have
we made and broken? How often have we broken
the hearts of those we love?
We are a people in need of forgiveness. We can
never stand before God and claim innocence. We
have transgressed and broken covenant. We have
hurt God and our fellowmen. Like the prodigal
son, we have squandered God’s bountiful bless-
ings to us. We have abused ourselves and others.
Our list of transgressions is litany! Thus it is right
and proper that with the Psalmist we must cry out:
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my
offense,
thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
We may not dare look down on our “lost broth-
ers” and claim to have never left our Father’s house
because our sins have not been so publicized. We
must not be like the Pharisees who were prone to
see the sins of others but failed to see their own
sins. We all have need to repent. We cannot be self-
righteous! We are all guilty of sin and are there-
fore in need of forgiveness.
Our loving Father is only too eager to forgive
us! In the Parable we are made to realize that we
have a loving Father who is more eager to take us
back than to punish us for our sins. There is no
vindictiveness but magnanimity in the Father. In
the parable, when the father recognizes his son—
who must by then have looked liked any vaga-
bond—he rushes to meet his son with such joy and
then orders a celebration! The elder son, who is
also met by the father outside, spoke the truth when
he said that the prodigal son had lost and squan-
The gift / B7
The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt van Rijn
Bishop Pedro D. Arigo, D.D.
I REMEMBER my priest professor in the semi-
nary telling us in our philosophy class that man
is a bundle of relationships. He has at the core
of his being the principal relationship with God
as his Creator. He has also a relationship with
his own self which determines his self-image.
He has interpersonal relationships with other
persons. And lately due to the issues of envi-
ronmental degradation and global warming,
there is much talk of man’s relationship with
Mother Nature. To be able to live in harmony
and peace, all these different levels of relation-
ships must be properly formed and in right or-
der. To develop, however, the right relation-
ships, man must have a good knowledge of him-
self (self identity) and of the other parties he is
relating with (it takes two to tango). Isn’t it one
of the principal causes why many married
couples don’t live happily ever after? They en-
ter into a supposedly lifetime partnership with-
out really knowing each other and only discover
who they really are and their incompatibility
only much later and too late.
Our Gospel story, the parable of the prodigal
son, a family drama; can be said to be a problem
of relationships, the problem of the father with
his two sons and vice versa and the problem of
the two sons with one another. Let us reflect on
the identity of these three figures of the parable
and their relationship with one another. Let us
try to discover our own selves in them.
The Father is the principal character and ob-
viously refers to God. From the manner he re-
lated with both of the sons, the lost and found
and the grumbling elder one, we can clearly see
that his compassion and love are simply amaz-
ing. His goodness is truly out of this world. Well,
He is God Who is all good and love Himself. He
easily gave in to the very unusual request of the
younger son to get his share of inheritance when
in effect this bastard was telling his father: “I
can’t wait for you to die. I want my inheritance
NOW!” And again, without any ado, he lovingly
and joyfully embraced this lost son and restored
him completely to all the rights and privileges
of being a son when this son, simply out of hun-
ger, decided to go back home. The story men-
tions the father running to meet his son.
What this father did is completely unbecom-
ing thing to do for a father especially towards a
bad son. This kind of father must surely be God
Himself. Let us consider how he dealt with his
elder grumbling son, who could not take how
his father treated his wayward brother. He pa-
tiently explained why they should celebrate the
safe return of his younger brother. And when
this son sort of rebuked his own father saying
that he was not given even a young goat to feast
on with his friends when he was a faithful and
diligent worker, this father answered with all
tenderness: “My son, all I have is also yours.”
He always considered him a son no matter how
this son related with him. The story ends with
this father lovingly inviting this grumbling son
to join the celebration and accept as brother the
younger son. This father is super prodigal with
love for all his sons no matter how they relate
with him.
Loving / B7

Atty. Jo Imbong By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Did someone steal the show? The prodigal son’s brother

AND there is rancor in the
Lord’s vineyard?
There need not be. Not when
the workers in the field under-
stand that each one is meant for a
special mission. That is why each
one has a special gift which the
other has not. That is why not
everyone can do what the other
is good at, and what you are good
at may not exactly be my kind of
passion. And vice versa.
It is not the worker’s fault that
he cannot deliver on something
which is not within his ken. But
he can top the line at his own
thing. That is simply the way
the world is planned to be, oth-
erwise, how dull and prosaic
things would be. God intended
diversity.
Life is a lively diaspora, a tab-
leau painted in exciting colors.
The colors clash at times, but the
overall impact is smashing. Each
person is a surprise, even unto
himself. Our personalities are
the minute elements of a mag-
num opus, a mega-plot which
our limited intellects cannot
even imagine.
Sometimes, it does a person
a lot of good to lie on his back,
look up, and survey the sky on
a cloudless night. If every mem-
ber of the human race did that
all together, they would all be
equal—equal in the one feeling
that each one has an assigned
place in the universe, just as each
tiny speck of light in the sky has
its assigned place in the heav-
ens—and Physics will tell us that
they dare not budge from their
assigned positions if there is to
be order in the Universe. That is
why every starry night is a spec-
tacular show.
A Spanish lawyer, Enrique
Monasterio Hernandez, tells of
a legend about the famous star
of Bethlehem. In the beginning of
time, it was just a speck of cosmic
dust drifting around after the Big
Bang. It was told by God to sit and
wait for an important signal at the
proper moment. Grudgingly, it
waited, sulking out in space for
millions of years. And then, “in the
fullness of time” trumpets blared
and off it rushed to a nondescript
country. And as it traveled at the
speed of... well, light... it noticed it-
self to be growing bigger and
brighter until, it quietly settled atop
a cave and set a December night
ablaze. It guided three wise men. It
signaled poor shepherds. That was
its own epiphany. That was what it
was destined to do best.
Rational beings could do better.
And they should know better. Ev-
ery person should know that he
does not possess anything, either
in the realm of nature or of grace
that is not a pure bequest of God.
Of himself he can do nothing, but
in God, who strengthens him, he
can do all things (Phil. 4: 13).
And every person ought to know
that humility is the unembellished
truth about himself. It is a recogni-
tion of everything that exists in him-
self, not just his littleness, but also
his greatness. And this knowledge
of himself acknowledges the sub-
limity of the God who designed him.
This acknowledgment is an expres-
sion of the gratitude and joy at the
gift of his existence and the mean-
ing that flows from it.
Thus, in light of this reality, a
person can perceive that he has a
place to fill and a unique duty to
do. Whether this assignment is
great or small, it must be looked
upon as being of divine origin and
therefore not to be taken lightly or
left undone, under pain of appear-
ing before the Big Boss and having
to explain why.
From this knowledge arises the
right attitude and proper way of
looking at one’s co-workers in the
vineyard. The humble worker is
grateful for the position in which
the Landlord has placed him and
rejoices in the work that is his. He
does not envy the other worker who
has more gifts and more important
tasks. One thing alone consumes him:
using his own gifts with sincerity,
responsibility and fidelity. “He who
is faithful in little things is faithful
also in much; he who is unjust in little
things is unjust also in much.” (Luke
16;10) And knowing whereof he
stands in God’s “organization”, he
can rejoice sincerely in the good done
by others who have greater endow-
ments, so long as the name and honor
of God is magnified.
Fritz Tillman once wrote that the
humble man “lives by the spirit of
his Master, he will even rejoice when
others are preferred to him. He does
not seek honor and recognition in
the eyes of men, but only before the
Father, who sees into the heart of
man and scrutinizes man’s inner-
most thoughts. He is grateful that
he can serve others and rejoices in
every opportunity [to serve]. Yet, de-
spite this, he remains ever conscious
of his own weakness and limitations,
of his own defects and faults, and
leaves the judgment of others to God.
He does not boast of his deeds and
accomplishments, of his knowledge
and ability, and speaks of himself
rarely and with great reserve. For
he has the strong persuasion that the
best a man does loses its value and
its beauty when the blight of pride
and vanity infects it.”
The Bethlehem star did not wal-
low in despair when it waited for
millions of years before it could be
noticed. Neither did it swell conde-
scendingly on the other stars when
it was summoned to illuminate
Christmas night. For only one Star
must shine: God.
THIS came to mind when I
recently attended a priestly
gathering. A training of-
ficer of the Philippine Na-
tional Police (PNP) gave us
a presentation of what they
were doing to form and re-
form their men. Always an
intriguing topic.
The affair was meant to
highlight the possibility of
a kind of partnership
among the clergy, police
and a certain group to ef-
fect a greater participation
of the people in the gover-
nance of our provinces, cit-
ies, towns, etc. So far, so
good.
While the programs pre-
sented were based on ac-
countability to God, family,
colleagues and people in
general, the discussion
turned a bit too sentimen-
tal and lachrymose, send-
ing many of us to feel some
discomfort.
The training officer, a
general who told us of his
dramatic, edifying past,
mentioned that their pro-
gram for their scalawags
and other morally unprin-
cipled elements is produc-
ing good results. Conver-
sions, changes for the bet-
ter were noted.
He rattled off some data.
These bad elements con-
fessed publicly that 85% of
them left their wives and
family for at least 3 years
before going back to them.
Some admitted mulcting,
getting involved in drug
deals, even rapes, and a long
etcetera.
But everyone changed.
That’s the good news,
enough to forget what hap-
pened in the past. With the re-
quirements of justice met,
mercy was given and reinte-
gration attempted.
It was good that they
stressed on the power of
prayer. Conversion, more than
anything else, is a matter of
grace which is usually re-
ceived in prayer. Not much
psychologizing was made,
much less physical coercion.
Mainly prayer!
Of course, prayer has to be
sustained, because conversion
is only a matter of a moment,
and what we should achieve is
sanctity, which is a matter of a
lifetime.
Then the personal testimo-
nies of two policemen were
made. This was the teary part
as we heard how the painful
passage from darkness to light,
from evil to goodness, from the
pits to the surface, took place.
It was at that point that I re-
membered the story of the
prodigal son. These erring
cops are like the prodigal son
who, abusing their power and
authority, got their just des-
serts. But they repented.
But what about those in high
positions, much smarter and
more clever than these cops?
They remind me of the prodi-
gal son’s brother, who ap-
peared good and faithful to his
father, but actually was not at-
tuned to his father’s heart.
These, more than the cops,
need to repent and change. I
wonder if some reformatory
programs can also be designed
for them. These are a much
harder nut to crack. They are
good in rationalizing, and in
being a step or two ahead of
the law.
In fact, between the prodigal
son and his brother, the
former is easier to handle,
because he is simpler and
his sins are obvious. The
latter is a more complicated
fellow, and can camouflage
his faults well.
This is the bigger chal-
lenge. The erring cops, for
all their malice and
vileness, cannot compare
with what the more intelli-
gent, cleverer and better en-
dowed, can commit. In fact,
we have better prospects to
reform drug addicts than
these highly-placed scala-
wags.
And yet we need to care
for them also. Like the fa-
ther of the prodigal son who
talked to his other off-
spring, we need to appeal
to those in higher positions
to change their ways, or
simply to be better. They
cannot be contented with
what they may be now.
They have to improve.
We can do this mainly
through prayer and sacri-
fices. And to encourage all,
hero or heel, to go to con-
fession and spiritual direc-
tion. A more personal ap-
proach is needed. Different
people need different ways
of handling.
The brother of the prodi-
gal son can also be an im-
age of all of us when we just
look good outside but are
not truly so inside. Hypoc-
risy, which marked the be-
havior of the prodigal son’s
brother, can also mark ours.
We need to shed this spiri-
tual and moral pathology
off. And this can be done if
we go through a continuing
conversion all our life.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007
IF YOU think merely being a
proud and responsible Filipino
cannot earn for you a smorgas-
bord of health assistance pro-
grams, think again. Think of the
Sagip Ka 2000 Foundation.
Apart from a Savelink medical
card and membership, a Sagip Ka
volunteer is entitled to a number
of medical benefits through the
Dugtong-Buhay Health Assistance
of the foundation. Through this
program, medical privileges of-
fered to the volunteers include a
medical reimbursement due to
accident with a maximum assis-
tance worth P10,000, a daily hos-
pitalization maximum allowance
of P1,300 for a 30-day confine-
Social Concern
holder and member-volunteer of
the foundation. At the same time,
they will be able to avail of our
programs which can significantly
help them in times of need. All
they have to be is a proud Fili-
pino who follows the 15 Basic
Tenets of the foundation,” said
Bro. Manuel de Leon, FMS, the
founding president of Sagip Ka
2000.
According to de Leon, head of
the Marist Brothers of the Philip-
pines and a former president of
the Marist School of Marikina
City, the foundation expects its
volunteers to no less than uphold
and respect human dignity, ob-
serve cleanliness and sense of
B7
the Sagip Ka 2000 Foundation has
also spearheaded a number of
programs that are in sync with
its mission of “inviting men and
women of goodwill to commit
themselves to the preservation of
the integrity of creation and the
dignity of human person.”
Aside from the Dugtong-Buhay
Health Assistance, the foundation
has likewise been extending as-
sistance to the street children of
the Marcellin Foundation in Gen-
eral Santos City and Kuya Center
in Quezon City since year 2000.
Following the foundation’s bid
to promote the preservation of
the environment, it has also
joined the Department of Envi-

Sagip Ka 2000 Foundation, Inc.

ment per year, a supplementary
medical maximum assistance for
critical illness and dreaded dis-
eases worth P100,000 inclusive of
daily hospitalization allowance,
a burial maximum assistance
worth P25,000, a death benefit
maximum assistance due to acci-
dental cases worth P50,000, plus
a 10 percent cumulative discount
on from the foundation-accred-
ited hospitals.
But despite the number of ben-
efits offered, a Sagip Ka volunteer
is only expected to contribute a
minimal membership fee of P200
annually—apart from being a
proud and responsible Filipino.
“Being familiar with the say-
ing that ‘Ang taong nagigipit, maski
sa patalim kumakapit,’ it is our de-
sire then to prevent our people
from experiencing such predica-
ment by offering them some-
thing that they can easily afford.
For less than a peso daily sav-
ings, they can be a Savelink card
Saving lives,
upholding dignity
order, plant and grow a tree, pay
taxes and be vigilant in guarding
its use, deplore violence, exploi-
tation and corruption, promote
honest labor, simplicity of life
and cooperation, share one’s
blessings, side with the truth and
what is fair, protect our hard
earned freedom, extend a help-
ing hand, respect the peso and de-
velop the habit of saving, build a
home, promote anything beauti-
ful, preserve the sanctity of the
ballot, and, above all, make God
one’s best friend. Thus completes
the foundation’s 15 Basic Tenets.
“Membership is purely on vol-
untary basis. Anyone aged five
to 75 can be an affiliate member
regardless of religious beliefs,
political affiliation or gender for
as long as she believes and pro-
motes the vision of Sagip Ka 2000
Foundation,” de Leon said.
But there’s more
In its seven years of existence,
ronment and Natural Resources,
together with other local govern-
ment units and non-government
organizations, to partake in
moves to conserve the country’s
waterways and initiatives to con-
duct tree-planting activities.
“Sagip Ka volunteers are en-
couraged to plant trees in order
to save the forests and water-
sheds. Mangroves are planted
along the shores to serve as fish
sanctuaries,” de Leon said.
Moreover, de Leon said the
foundation actively promotes the
cliché Tapat Ko, Linis Ko environ-
mentalist principle and Alkansya
Saving.
“We encourage our members
to save for the future. They can
either save through the coopera-
tives, banks, mutual funds or
simply keeping an alkansya—the
one we promote most,” said de
Leon.
But from all its commended
projects, what the foundation
boasts most is the kind of volun-
teers it had.
The foundation’s volunteers
proved to be genuine to their
credo. To name a few of them
who had been renowned for their
praise worthy deeds are KBP
Golden Dove Awardee Angelo
Palmones of DZMM and Gawad
Genny Lopez Foundation
Bayaning Filipino Awardee
Herminia Cariño.
While Palmones initiated
projects such as Takbo para sa
Kalikasan, Emergency Expo, In-
vent School, Science Summer
Camp for Teachers and Students,
and numerous job fairs in his ra-
dio program Bago Yan Ah!, Cariño
was commended for teaching the
Dumagat children atop the Sierra
Madre mountains.
“Palmones and Cariño only
showed how Sagip Ka volunteers
Daryl John I. Bacalando, 10 years old, grade 4 pupil of Notre Dame of Dadiangas
imbibe the foundation’s tenets University – Integrated Basic Education Department shows his savings for a pe-
and put them into practice,” de riod of Sixteen (16) months. Daryl is a child-volunteer of SAGIP KA 2000 Founda-
Leon said. tion promoting BACK to BASIC values such as the habit of Saving through the
“ALKANSYA”.

ECBA / B4 7 Questions / B1

Bible. Diocesan pastoral workers, a DVD docu- tians. This is why the PBS becomes an participation, defining those that need im- How is the quantity and quality of voca-
Bishop Rene Mayugba, DD, Lingayen- mentation of the two past events of the important partner of ECBA- CBCP; 3) to provement. TONGTONGAN is composed tions entering the diocesan seminary?
Dagupan Auxiliary Bishop and Chairper- Catholic Family Bible Quiz was shown spread the good news that the 12 th Ordi- of the Bishop, priests, religious men and We do not run short of young men en-
son of John Paul I Biblical Center (JPIBC) to the participants. They saw themselves nary Synod of Bishops to be celebrated in women, and the laity. tering the seminary from our Vicariate.
for Northern Luzon and the Cordillera and their families participating in a fam- Rome next year is precisely on the Word We have the difficulty of shouldering their
shared the vibrant services of the Bibli- ily contest of knowing what the Bible is of God, a logical consequence of the pre- What is the participation of the laity in financial obligations in the seminary.
cal Apostolate in his region. He was al- all about from the Book of Genesis to the ceding 11th Ordinary Synod on the Holy terms of decision making in the local Most of them depend on the Vicariate’s
ready involved in the Biblical Apostolate Book of Revelation. Eucharist; 4) to make the people of Church? help. The “Propaganda Fide” in Rome
even as seminarian. As seminary Rector, Family members gathered around the Sorsogon aware that there are bible avail- The laity’s participation in Church’s ac- gives us only so much. At the end, only
he helped found the Word Alive Biblical Word of God will hasten the building up able at affordable price, especially edited tivities is essential. This includes the lo- one or two make it to the priesthood.
Institute (WABI), an annual stay-in three of Basic Ecclesial Communities. BECs liv- for the BEC and for the Youth Bible in cal Church’s decision making. We are However, those ordained demonstrate
week biblical-pastoral formation for lay ing the Word of God will bring about a our schools; 5) to plan a systematic way aware of what the Church is in the present zealousness to their calling so far.
ministers of the Word. Inspired by the transformed nation—a new Philippines. of distributing the bibles in all the par- age… that we are all Church for the
zeal of the laity to serve the Church and The sevenfold objectives have been ishes and kapilyas especially in the bar- Church. This is felt in the Vicariate of What is your take on the secular media’s
to respond to the hunger of the laity for achieved at the end of the symposium: 1) rios that have already established or Bontoc- Lagawe. treatment of Church’s issues in the news?
the Word of God, he himself founded to become more aware that the biblical about to establish the BEC; 6) the Dioc- Some of our secular media in the Phil-
John Paul II Biblical Center in the Arch- apostolate or the Ministry of the Word of esan Biblical Center should learn from How is the family and life program in ippines appear to be unruly on their free-
diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. The Word God is a central ministry of the Church the experience of other existing Diocesan your Vicariate? dom. Church issues are easily sensation-
of God is living and active in Northern that affects all pastoral activities of the Biblical Centers, whose task is to make We have a separate office for the Fam- alized in front pages or in prime time
Luzon and in the Cordillera through the Christian community, especially the BEC; people understand the significance and ily and Life Program. A priest heads it, news. Should one brings out an informa-
dedicated contribution and services of the 2) to be updated of what the Universal meaning of the Bible, whose copies they assisted by a religious Sister and a staff. tion in the open that is based on hearsay
first regional biblical center in the coun- church has been doing since DEI VER- already possess; 7) hoping this sympo- They have a program of activities to fol- or uncorroborated suppositions? This is
try, John Paul I Biblical Center of Vigan BUM, especially the cooperation of all sium will bear good results, ECBA and low. The Sister and her staff move from the case of those in public office or mem-
City. Christians to make the sacred Scriptures PBS will duplicate this in several dioceses one mission station to the other conduct- bers of the Church hierarchy. The higher
As a tribute to all the lay leaders and easily accessible to all even to non-Chris- or regions. ing seminars. Since my assumption of of- positioned the person against the issue is
fice, we had one Vicariate Seminar held directed, the more prominent the report-
at the Socio-Pastoral Center in Bontoc ing becomes, notwithstanding the lack of
Loving / B6
with speakers from the National Com- support for the claim. I am glad to note
The prodigal son. This guy is obviously the bad son and the was also truly problematic in his relationship with his father mission and 163 participants from Ifugao here that the CBCP Monitor is a good
villain of the story. Let us try to get a close look at this son. and Mountain Provinces. model for responsible journalism
and brother, and surely, with his owns self. Outwardly, he was
Apparently he was bored and unhappy at home and was prob- a good son, but he was simply a worker of the father, just doing
lematic with his relationship with his father and elder brother. his job to get the compensation due to him. His work was only Basilan / B5
He wanted to escape somewhere and have fun, enjoyment a “loveless duty.” He never left his father but he was actually
and gimmick. Actually, he didn’t know himself and what ex- far, distant from him. He, too, was a “lost son.” Being self righ- life because life is Sacred. Respect every building peace and set aside biases.
actly he wanted in his life. He felt empty and thought a new teous, he condemned and disowned his younger brother. individual because all of us are children And to you my dear people of God in
environment, entertainments and “good times” would fill in After looking at these three characters of this family drama of the Almighty God! Thus, our faith:
what was lacking in his life and make him happy. Illusory where I focus on relationships, let’s discern our own, with 1. I appeal to the Government and MILF a. I urge you to be vigilant and sober,
and short lived as they are, he soon found himself more empty God as our Father, with our own selves and with our brothers to set aside your Pride and come back to to be objective and critical on the news
and miserable than before. Broke and hungry, he came to his and sisters. The great news of this parable is¯whatever kind the negotiating table. You must effect you are receiving from media.
senses and decided to go back home to his father even only as of sons we are, God remains a loving Father in spite of, and peace agreement now and not tomorrow. b. I urge every basic Christian com-
a worker and no longer a son. Lucky for him, his relationship despite our sinfulness. He continues to tell us, “My son, all I The delay of peace agreement means munity to come together in prayer for
with a loving father was given back to him completely. have is yours.” more pain and suffering to the many peace in order to end violence here in
The older son. This guy is seemingly the good son who May we always relate with Him in filial love and image nameless, faceless civilians, like women, Basilan. Be united and learn to cultivate
never left his father and was a good diligent worker. This son His compassion and love to one another. Amen. children, elderly and non-combatants. culture of Peace and Dialogue.
Allow us once again to breathe the air of c. I urge every family to come together
The gift / B6 peace and freedom here in Basilan. Peace to pray for peace here in Basilan. Pray
agreement can be attained only when the Rosary for this intention.
dered all his inheritance and did not, seeking his forgiveness in holy confes- second reading, from the letter of St. Paul both sides, Government and MILF, ob- Lastly, all of us must regain our faith.
therefore deserve such lavish celebration. sion we receive absolution for he is a God to Timothy, we hear St. Paul testify that serve justice. Both would uphold and rec- The Compendium of the Social Doctrine
The father does not argue about the wor- “dives in misericordia” (rich in mercy)! We he, the worst sinner of all, received the ognize the basic rights of every citizenry of the Church number 516 says “…It is
thiness of the prodigal son. For the fa- receive THE GRACE OF FORGIVENESS. mercy of God. St. Paul never forgot he to own property and decent homes, able faith that transforms and renews life…”
ther it was enough that the lost son had Having been forgiven, we must in turn had been a persecutor of Christ. He al- to worship God they adore freely, with- This faith leads us to repentance allow-
returned. And because of the father’s un- forgive! This is what we pray for every ways remembered the mercy of God and out fear and intimidation. ing us to start a new life. With faith, peace
bounded love, the prodigal son is not only time we pray the Lord’s prayer—”forgive understood that he was made an ambas- 2. I appeal to the media to be respon- is never far behind. Peace appears when
fully forgiven but even restored to full us our sins as we forgive those who sin sador of God’s mercy! sible to the information you are fore- God is near. When men and women are
sonship again. It is as though the prodi- against us!” As we have been forgiven, The gift of forgiveness we have re- casting and printing, our people de- filled with faith, they work for peace.
gal son had never done anything! Such is so we in turn must forgive. In another ceived from God impels us to also give served accurate and correct data. We con- “Happy are the peacemaker. They be-
the Father’s love for us! His infinite love parable, Jesus explained to his disciples forgiveness as a gift. Indeed, there is no demn any misinterpretation, exaggera- come children of God” (Mt 5:9)
is greater than the magnitude of our sins! the need to forgive even seventy times greater gift that we can give than the tion and sensationalism of the issues here Enough is enough with bloody war!
FORGIVENESS IS THE GIFT OF THE seven times! No easy thing to do! But only gift of forgiveness! Friends, couples, in Basilan. Give PEACE a chance!
FATHER TO HIS SON! possible if we keep reminding ourselves families and communities that know the 3. I appeal to the people who are ma- Let us entrust ourselves to the Blessed
FORGIVENESS IS A GIFT! It is given that God’s own mercy and forgiveness gift of forgiveness know the joy of the nipulating the situation here in Basilan Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Queen
not because it is deserved, but because for us knows no bounds! loving Father! for their advantage. You do not have the of Peace that she may guide us to her
the aggrieved is gracious! The Father is Forgiving others who have wronged Next time, then, say not, “I cannot for- right to gain anything at the expense of Son, Jesus Christ, the prince of Peace!
full of grace and mercy! It is from the us would truly be much easier if we never give you!” Rather, say “Because I have the Basileños.
plenitude of His mercy that we are for- forget that we have been forgiven and been forgiven much myself, I cannot but 4. I appeal to all religious leaders of MOST REV. MARTIN S. JUMOAD, D.D.
given. Thus, whenever we turn to God are always in need of forgiveness. In our also forgive you!” every faith to unite and collaborate in Bishop Prelate

B8
SADDIE Blake (Lucy Liu) a Los
Angeles reporter is investigat-
ing a secret organization that
is luring those in search of
something exciting to do some-
thing sophisticated and differ-
ent. She ventures too far and
too deep into the forbidden ter-
ritory and is killed. She “wakes
up” with the help of a con-
cerned person and finds out
that she had been raped and
slain, but is now returned “to a
life as an undead”. When she
learns that she is a victim of the
secret league she has been af-
ter, which turns out to be a sin-
ister band of vampires, she is
dead set on hunting them now.
She is encouraged by the kind
person, to also get rid of these
vampires, to which she acqui-
esces. He equips her with a set
of cross bow and silver arrow-
darts. As she moves around
hunting down her quarries, she
becomes aware of someone tail-
ing her. It is Detective Clyde
Rawlins (Michael Chiklis).
It is a gloomy and eerie story
of a person going after a cultic
group of blood suckers. For the
appropriate atmosphere per-
haps, most of the action takes
place in half light and old dark-
ish places, given that vampires
dread the light. The story is not
a smooth narrative; a viewer
could catch unconnected scenes
and unconnected ideas. The act-
ing however is lively action in
ANSWER TO THE LAST ISSUE:
IGNORANCE ITSELF IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SIN FOR THOSE WHO DO
NOT WISH TO UNDERSTAND; FOR THOSE WHO, HOWEVER, CANNOT
UNDERSTAND, IT IS THE PUNISHMENT OF SIN. ST. AUGUSTINE
Entertainment
the one and a half hour feature.
Lucy Liu as Saddie is on cam-
era throughout, as in her action
films (Charlie’s Angels). The
others fill their roles well
enough, like Michael Chiklis as
Detective Rawlins tailing
Saddie.
On screen almost throughout
are scenes of blood, gore and
mangled bodies after the vam-
pires have finished their “feed-
ing parties”. The devastation
and the violence committed are
splashed on screen for the view-
ers. Saddie Blake as an undead
is portrayed as a character who
tries to fight against what she
has become- she needs blood as
food for her new being- but
fails as she is shown biting into
a human and sucking him/her
aside from killing for revenge.
Detective Rawlins lost a daugh-
ter to the vampires. He and
Saddie agreed that she would
kill the cult leader Bishop as his
vengeance if he promised to
kill her after that. Though re-
luctant, the detective does it. It
is questionable if she could re-
ally die; following the stories
of vampires. About ten killings
take place in the whole film.
There are also some nudity and
flashes of similar matter. Rise:
Blood Hunter is rated for ma-
ture viewers 18 and above be-
cause of the above contents, and
the emotional stress that could
result from viewing it.
Moral Assessment
 Abhorrent
 Disturbing
 Acceptable
 Wholesome
 Exemplary
Title: Hairspray
Running Time: 117 mins.
Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta,
Amanda Bynes, Christopher
Walken, Queen Latifa, Michelle
Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Zac
Efron, Elijah Kelley
Director: Adam Shankman
Producers: Neil Meron, Craig Zadan
Screenwriters: Leslie Dixon, John
Waters
Music: Marc Shaiman
Editor: Michael Tronic
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Musical
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Location: Canada
Technical Assessment: zzz½
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and
above
OVERWEIGHT teenager Tracy
Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) and her best
friend Penny (Amanda Bynes) top their
school day swooning over the song-
and-dance TV show of Corny Collins
(James Marsden). Tracy dreams of one
day appearing on TV with her idol
Corny, but her grotesquely fat mother
Edna (John Travolta) would rather see
her happily running the family’s laun-
dry shop. However, her father Wilbur
(Christopher Walken) welcomes her
fantasy, telling her to follow her heart.
An opportunity comes for Tracy when
the show announces auditions. In com-
plete school uniform, Tracy signs up
but show producer Velma Von Tussle
(Michelle Pfeiffer) scoffs at the pudgy
girl who sticks out like the proverbial
sore thumb in a line of svelte chorus
girl types. Corny likes Tracy’s bubbly
and natural ways and gives her a break,
irritating the control-freak Velma.
Serving as a surprise and somewhat
spoofy addition to the show, Tracy
becomes an instant hit.
Hairspray owes much of its enter-
taining quality to the songs and dances
which spin almost nonstop, matching
the light but well-woven plot. The
tunes are catchy and the dances jaunty.
Title: RISE: Blood Hunter
Running Time: 94 min.
Cast: Lucy Liu, Michael Chiklis,
James D’Arcy, Carla
Gugino
Director: Sebastian Gutierrez
Producers: Greg Shapiro
Screenwriter: Sebastian
Gutierrez
Music: Nathan Barr
Editors: Lisa Bromwell, Robb
Sullivan
Genre: Horror/ Supernatural
Suspense Thriller
Cinematography: John Toll
Distributor: Viva Films
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Technical Assessment: zz½
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For mature
viewers 18 and above
QUOTES IN QUIZ Booklets
available at BOOKSALE stores in
SM, Robinsons and selected malls
in Manila. For mail order text
09192803036.
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 18
September 3 - 16, 2007
Technical Assessment
z Poor
zz Below average
zzz Average
zzzz Above average
zzzzz Excellent
Set in Baltimore USA 1962, the movie
features many songs that lampoon ra-
cial discrimination. Its attractiveness
lies in its lack of pretension—it does
not come on like it’s reaching for the
Oscars, but as a natural-born musical
spiced up by a dash of comedy it cer-
tainly makes you feel it’s worth the
price of admission. The main strength
of the movie, however, is the cast—
each actor seems born for the role as
they each perform to advance the
movie’s message. The screen crackles
when newcomer Blonsky as Tracy
comes on—at home with her flab and
tantalizing with her smile. Pfeiffer
with her blonde curls, frosted blue eye-
shadow and top-rate acting is every
inch a lovely witch. Travolta as the
obese mother, however, seems gim-
micky. This is what happens when the
star is bigger than the role. In a fat suit
that jiggles as he moves, Travolta
comes across as Travolta in drag pre-
tending to be Edna; this sort of distracts
from the guile-free appeal of the
movie. However, when at last it is
time for Travolta to dance, and you
half-expect him to segue into pelvis-
grinding “Saturday Night Fever”,
Travolta succeeds in funnily spoofing
himself.
The likable characters played by the
relatively less known actors enhance
the real-life credibility of the story. In
its own gentle way Hairspray aspires
to rid viewers of prejudice. First it
seems to say that racism is evil, as dra-
matized in a pro-integration march and
as finally reflected towards the end
when the whites and the blacks cel-
ebrate racial harmony in song and
dance. Next it sets the self-conceit of
the “beautiful” against the healthy
self-confidence of the “ugly”—between
the lines you hear that “beautiful out-
side does not necessarily mean beauti-
ful inside or even beautiful at all” and
that “with faith in your dreams you
can also overcome your overweight
without shedding a pound.”