Monitor
CBCP
JULY 9 - 22, 2018, VOL 22, NO. 14
THE CROSS
A SUPPLEMENT PUBLICATION
OF KCFAPI AND THE ORDER OF
THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Suffering of the poor more serious
than attacks to Church – Bishops
Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, is flanked by CBCP Vice President Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan and Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara
of Pasig, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications, at a press conference held after their plenary assembly in Manila, July 9, 2018. RICHARD DE LEON
Duterte urged to CBCP, Immigration bureau renew ties
lead nationwide
‘prayer for peace’
VARIOUS faith leaders
on June 21 gathered and
appealed to President
Rodrigo Duterte to lead
a “nationwide moment of
prayer for peace” in early
December at the Club
Filipino in San Juan City.
The lead convenor of the
PasaLord Prayer Movement,
Bing Pimentel, said the
petition aims to unify the
country in peace.
“Our call is simple—for all
Filipinos to unite in saying
the Prayer for Peace in the
Philippines at 12 noon on
a date to be set in early
December,” Pimentel said
in a statement.
‘Prayer for peace’
“We are asking the
president, as father of the
nation, to lead us in praying
the interfaith Prayer for
Peace in the Philippines.
It takes only one minute to
say the prayer, so we are
hopeful that he will agree,”
he added.
The PasaLord Prayer
Movement is an “interfaith
movement” that calls on
all Filipino Christians from
different dominations and
Muslims to pray for “peace,
unity, and prosperity.”
Bishop Noel Pantoja,
Philippine Council of
Evangelical Churches
national director; Imam Ebra
Moxsir, president of the Imam
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE
A3: NEWS
Once hidden, the history of Japanese
Christianity gains UN recognition
Council of the Philippines;
and Arcadio Tamayo, head
of the Federation of the
Transparochial Charismatic
Communities were present
at the gathering.
Pantoja emphasized that
prayer will result in healing
and it would be a “great
blessing” if President Duterte
agrees to the proposal.
“Praying for the nation is
one the best thing that we can
do for our country and there
will be healing, there will be
blessing in our land when we
pray together as a nation. It
would be a major blessing if
the father of the nation would
lead this prayer on behalf of
all the Filipino people,” said
the bishop.
Daily prayer needed
Moxsir, one of the
convenors, said Filipinos
should pray everyday for it
is the call to Filipinos toay.
“The cry right now is for
peace in the country and
every Filipino should pray
for it, not just during that
synchronized moment of
prayer but everyday,” Moxsir
said. Pantoja blessed the
petition after three rounds
of signatures.
The movement was
launched on July 7, 2017
by 16 ordinary people of
various faiths. (Joselle
Dela Cruz with reports
from Gillian Borja)
AFTER 21 years, the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines and the Bureau of
Immigration have renewed
cooperation in assisting
foreign missionaries in the
country.
A memorandum of
agreement was signed
by Archbishop Antonio
Ledesma of the CBCP’s
Episcopal Commission on
Mutual Relations (ECMR)
and Deputy Immigration
Commissioner Tobias Javier
in a ceremony held in Manila
July 2.
Both parties recognize
that foreign Catholic
missionaries have
contributed “immensely to
Immigration / A7
Bishop dares Malacañang: Name Duterte can’t handle criticism,
‘destabilizers’ from Church
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
A CATHOLIC bishop has
challenged Malacañang to
identify church leaders,
whom they are accusing of
working with communist
rebels to oust President
Rodrigo Duterte.
A7: DIOCESAN NEWS
Mindanao church leaders celebrate
coal mine rejection
ECMR Chair Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and Deputy Immigration Commissioner Tobias Javier sign a Memorandum of Agreement
for collaboration in the presence of CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles and Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP Vice President.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
bishop says
Manila Auxiliary Bishop
Broderick Pabillo dared
Presidential spokesman
Harry Roque to prove his
claim that certain Catholic
leaders are conniving with
Destabilizers / A6
CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM
B1: PASTORAL CONCERNS
CBCP Pastoral Exhortation:
Rejoice and be glad!
By Roy Lagarde
AMID President Rodrigo
Duterte’s relentless tirades
against the Catholic Church,
bishops said that church
people are called to stand
their ground, saying that
their sufferings “are nothing”
compared to the ordeals of
the poor.
After a three-day plenary assembly,
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP) issued a letter
expressing concern over a host of
problems faced tbyFilipinos.
“We have a saying ‘the pain of one part
of the body is felt by the whole body’. Alas,
this is not always true! There is no way
we can feel each other’s pains when some
parts of the body are numbed by sheer
indifference,” the CBCP said.
Signed by its president, Archbishop
Romulo Valles of Davao, the strongly-
worded pastoral exhortation lists a litany
of abuses “in these times of darkness”
such as the drug-war killings and slum
dwellers being jailed for “loitering”.
In particular, the bishops lashed out
at people who agree that drug users are
not part of humanity and seeming apathy
and indifference of the public in the face
drug-related killings.
“Do we not feel the sufferings of drug
addicts who are labeled as ‘non-humans’,
and are stigmatized as criminals when
their names end up in the dreaded ‘drug
watch lists’?” the CBCP said.
Noting the suffering of those
Suffering / A6
President Rodrigo Duterte. MALACAÑANG PHOTO
A CATHOLIC bishop rebuked criticisms constructively.
President Rodrigo Duterte Manila Auxiliary Bishop
for his repeated attacks Broderick Pabillo said the
on the Church, saying that Church has been the target of
the top official can’t take Criticism / A6
A2 WORLD NEWS July 9 - 22, 2018, Vol 22, No. 14 CBCP Monitor

Nigeria’s bishops call on Vatican Briefing

president to save country
from ‘avoidable chaos’
ABUJA, Nigeria— In response
to a recent wave of violence and
mass killings among Nigerians,
the Catholic Bishops Conference of
Nigeria issued a statement last week
reiterating the need for a proactive
response from the government and
law enforcement.
The June 29 statement addressed
“The Plateau Massacre” which
occurred June 21-24. An eruption
between largely Christian farmers
and Fulani herders, most of whom
are Muslim, over limited natural
resources, it left more than 80 dead,
including children and pregnant
women.
The series of clashes in Plateau
State was the latest in a slew of
incidents that have occurred over the
course of several years.
A January attack by Fulani
herdsmen saw upwards of 100
deaths. In April, several herdsmen
murdered several priests and
laypeople at a Catholic church in
Benue State.
The bishops had issued a statement
lamenting the violence and calling
for action after the April attack, and
the new incident in Plateau State
“shows that our last statement,
like all the others before, has been
completely ignored by those, whose
primary responsibility it is to protect
the lives and property of Nigerians,”
they said.
The prelates have previously called
on President Muhammadu Buhari,
who is himself Fulani and Muslim, to
resign over the lack of governmental
response to the Fulani violence.
The Fulani “seem to be above the
law in our country,” according to the
Nigerian prelates.
The bishops mourned the
“disrespect for the dignity of human
Australia could boost funding for Catholic schools
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the UN General Assembly, Sept. 28, 2015. UN PHOTO/
AMANDA VOISARD.
life” in the wake of the Plateau
Massacre, saying that the criminals
“have insisted that human lives are
worth less than the lives of cattle.
This shameful inversion of values
portrays our country as barbaric and
our society as brutish.”
Admonishing the Nigerian
government for not “proactively” dealing
with conflict, the bishops also suggested
that a “double standard” exists against
those who are not Muslim.
“It can no longer be regarded as
mere coincidence that the suspected
perpetrators of these heinous crimes
are of the same religion as all those
who control the security apparatus of
our country, including the President
himself,” the statement said. “Words
are no longer enough for the
President and his service chiefs to
convince the rest of the citizens that
these killings are not part of a larger
religious project.”
“While we vehemently condemn
any shedding of human blood and
ask the Police to speedily arrest
and prosecute the perpetrators of
these crimes, we must point out the
double standards applied by the
same Police any time the herdsmen
are attacked and killed. In this latter
case they react very swiftly and the
law promptly takes its course. Would
that the same swiftness be applied
to all cases.
“Once again,” the bishops said, “we
ask President Muhammadu Buhari
to please save this country from
further pain and avoidable chaos,
anarchy and doom.” Should he not
take action to promote peace, he
should step down from his role, the
statement said, as he would lose “the
trust of the citizens.”
The bishops also asked for prayers
“for peace and harmony in our
country.” (CNA/EWTN News)
Vatican calls for prayers, support for seafarers,
who face many risks
The Vatican invited Catholics to pray for the 1.2 million
seafarers around the world who work under difficult conditions
and make huge sacrifices in their profession. Seafarers “play
a significant role in our global economy by transporting from
one corner of the world to another 90 percent of all the goods
we use in our daily life. For this reason, today while we pray
for all of them wherever they are, we would like also to express
our gratitude for their tough work full of sacrifices,” said a
message for Sea Sunday, celebrated July 8. In the message,
Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting
Integral Human Development, invited Catholics around the
world to remember seafarers and the sacrifices they make.
(Carol Glatz/CNS)
Learn from the past to bring peaceful future to Middle East,
pope says
As war continues to threaten the land of Jesus’ birth and to
undermine the existence of Christian communities there, the
international community must learn from the errors of the past
and do more to bring lasting peace to the Middle East, Pope
Francis said. “Do not forget the previous century; do not forget
the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; do not let the land of
the East, where the Word of peace arose, be transformed into a
dark expanse of silence,” the pope said after a private meeting
with the heads of Christian churches and communities in the
Middle East. Pope Francis traveled July 7 to the southern
Italian Adriatic port city of Bari to host a day of reflection
and ecumenical prayer for peace in the Middle East. (Junno
Arocho Esteves/CNS)
God’s grace comes in unexpected, surprising ways, pope says
God does not conform to people’s expectations, and he often
presents himself and his graces in surprising ways, Pope Francis
said. “God does not conform himself to preconceptions. We have
to make an effort to open our hearts and minds to accept the
divine reality that presents itself to us,” the pope said before
praying the Angelus to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square
July 8. For example, the pope said, the people of Nazareth
could not understand how Jesus, a simple carpenter with no
formal education, could perform miracles and outdo even the
scribes with his teachings. Being so familiar with Jesus’ family
and modest roots, the residents go from being in awe to being
incredulous at what the Lord had to say, Pope Francis said.
(Carol Glatz/CNS)
French cardinal leading Vatican’s interreligious efforts
dies in U.S.
French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, an experienced diplomat
and head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue,
died at the age of 75 in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was
receiving medical treatment. The cardinal, who had been living
with Parkinson’s disease, led a Vatican delegation to Saudi
Arabia in April. But it was his role as “proto-deacon” or top-

with new income ranking ranking cardinal deacon in 2013, that put him more squarely in
the spotlight, appearing at the basilica balcony to announce to
the world, “Habemus papam,” “We have a pope.” In a telegram
SYDNEY, Australia— said in a July 6 statement. distribution in an $18.2 Independent Schools to the cardinal’s sister, Pope Francis extended his condolences
Catholic schools in Collins said the billion funding package Council of Australia, and praised the cardinal’s “sense of service and his love for the
Australia could see an report agreed with the passed by the center-right was critical. She said church.” Cardinal Tauran left a deep and lasting mark on the
increase of up to $74 million commission’s long- Liberal-National Coalition the review’s proposal church, the pope said, noting the great trust and esteem in which
a year from independent standing view that the in Parliament. represented a “significant he was held, particularly by Muslims. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
schools following a new ranking methodology was Australian education change” in methodology
review proposing better “fundamentally flawed minister Simon and said significant work Pope names lay Italian journalist to head Vatican
use of data to rank families’ and negatively impacts Birmingham said the was needed to determine communications
socioeconomic status. a significant number of vast majority of projected “whether it would Pope Francis has named a lay Italian journalist with decades
The proposal drew praise Catholic schools, as well as school funding is not produce accurate and of experience in print, radio and television broadcasting to head
from Catholic schools and some independent schools.” affected by the review, valid information at the the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communication. Paolo Ruffini,
raised some concerns from The socioeconomic though he said the report individual school level.” 61, who headed the Italian conference of Catholic bishops’ TV
independent schools. status review board has made a strong case for a “The independent and radio network, was named prefect of the dicastery July 5,
Ray Collins, acting said measures of parents’ more precise formula. sector must be assured making him the first layperson to head such a high-level Vatican
executive director of capacity to pay for schools “An effective measure that any direct measure dicastery. He succeeds Italian Msgr. Dario Vigano, who resigned
the National Catholic must become more precise of a school community’s will be significantly more as prefect in March after a controversy involving the use and
Education Commission, and should use a “direct capacity to contribute is accurate and will be photographing of a letter from retired Pope Benedict XVI. Born
said the commission measure” of their income essential to ensure the consistently applied to all in Palermo in 1959, Ruffini received a degree in law at Rome’s
was “very pleased” that from tax and census data. greatest taxpayer support non-government schools,” La Sapienza University. He worked for a number of major
the National School This would affect the amount is allocated towards those Colman said. Italian newspapers beginning in 1979, then began working for
Resourcing Board “has of government funding from school communities with Both the National radio news programs in 1996. He started working in television
recognized the inherent 2020 onwards, the U.K. the least capacity to pay Catholic Education news in 2002. He served as the head of the Italian Conference
inequities with the newspaper The Guardian school fees,” Birmingham Commission and the of Catholic Bishops’ television and radio stations—TV2000 and
current methodology.” reports. said. “This approach puts Independent Schools Radio InBlu, from 2014 to 2018. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
The commission looks The move could shift $74 school choice within reach Council of Australia said
forward to “a new million to Catholic schools, of as many parents and more work was needed Pope accepts two more bishops’ resignations in Chile
approach to ensure fair and at a time when Catholic families as possible.” to create and test the new In the wake of a papal investigation into abuse of power,
equitable funding for non- school systems have made Colette Colman, formula. (CNA/EWTN negligence and the cover-up of sexual abuse in the church in
government schools,” he strong objections to the executive director of the News) Chile, Pope Francis has accepted the resignations of two more
of the country’s bishops: Bishops Alejandro Goic Karmelic of
In eastern India, radicals expel ten Christian families Rancagua, 78, and Horacio del Carmen Valenzuela Abarca, 64,
of Talca. Pope Francis named two apostolic administrators—two
KOLKATA, India— Several Christian refused, they were beaten and agencies have been targeting auxiliary bishops from the Archdiocese of Santiago—to govern
families have been assaulted and driven from their village. Christian missionaries” in the the now “vacant” dioceses: Bishop Luis Fernando Ramos Perez,
expelled from their village by local The radicals then locked down region, which is predominantly poor, 59, for Rancagua, and Bishop Galo Fernandez Villaseca, 57, for
extremists for refusing to renounce their homes. The Christians have predominantly rural, predominantly Talca. The Vatican made the announcement June 28. Almost
their faith, drawing protest from an been unable to return to their poor, and the epicenter of a long- every bishop in Chile had offered his resignation to Pope Francis
American group who says the attack homes and local authorities are running guerilla conflict between in mid-May after a three-day meeting at the Vatican to discuss
violates the families’ rights under either unable or unwilling to assist Maoist radicals and government the clerical sexual abuse scandal detailed in a 2,300-page report
Indian law. them. Local police in Balumat have forces. compiled by Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta and his aide,
“We here at International Christian unlocked some of their houses, but The families in Pahli regularly Father Jordi Bertomeu. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
Concern are deeply concerned to see have taken no action against the worshipped in a fellow Christian’s
that 10 Christian families have been radicals, 25-year-old Shyamlal Kujju, home before the June 5 threat. State of Earth tomorrow depends on action today,
beaten and displaced for merely one of the Christians affected, told Christian Pastor Rajdev Toppo, pope tells activists
exercising their religious freedom ICC. who is familiar with the area, said it While everyone has a role and responsibility to help safeguard
rights,” William Stark, regional “We are living in fear, away from has become “increasingly difficult” to the planet, all governments must uphold commitments agreed
manager at International Christian our homes,” Kujju said. “It is almost serve in the Latehar district. upon in the Paris Accord on reducing climate change, Pope
Concern, said July 3. a month since my house is locked “On a daily basis, I am threatened Francis said. Without concerted and immediate efforts toward
International Christian Concern, by Hindu radicals and there is and ridiculed for teaching Christians sustainable development, “There is a real danger that we will
a non-denominational Christian no attempt by the police or the the Word of God,” he told ICC. “The leave future generations only rubble, deserts and refuse,” he said
NGO based in the U.S., reports that government to resolve the issue. local government has not been July 6. The pope made his remarks in an address to 300 people
10 Christian families in the eastern Our lives are devastated as we hide helpful including when cases of the taking part in a July 5-6 international conference organized by
India state of Jharkhand have been ourselves from the Hindu radicals. Christians were taken to the police the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The
driven from their homes for refusing We do not know how long this will and administration.” conference, “Saving our Common Home and the Future of Life
to renounce their faith. continue.” Jharkhand State adopted on Earth,” brought together indigenous and young activists,
On June 5 the ten Christian Father Theodore Mascarenhas, legislation billed as a Freedom of scientific experts, religious leaders and Vatican officials to assess
families from Pahli village in the secretary general of the Indian Religion law in September 2017, but the impact of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care
Latehar district were summoned Catholic bishops’ conference its critics see it as an anti-conversion for Our Common Home,” and to discuss the best ways to act in
to a meeting with local radicals. The speculated following violence in law. The law regulates religious promoting “integral ecology.” (Carol Glatz/CNS)
radicals told them to renounce their another village of Jharkand last conversions and criminalizes forced
faith or leave. After the families month that “maybe government conversions. (CNA)
CBCP Monitor July 9 - 22, 2018, Vol 22, No. 14 A3

Once hidden, the history of Japanese

Christianity gains UN recognition
NAGASAKI, Japan— Places of
major importance for Japanese
Christianity, including the Nagasaki
basilica commemorating 26 Catholic
martyrs, have been selected as
UNESCO World Heritage sites.
“These sites bear unique
testimony to a cultural tradition
nurtured by hidden Christians in
the Nagasaki region who secretly
transmitted their faith during the
period of prohibition from the 17th
to the 19th century,” said the June
30 announcement from the U.N.
Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization.
“Together they reflect the earliest
activities of Christian missionaries
and settlers in Japan – the phase
of encounter, followed by times of
prohibition and persecution of the
Christian faith and the final phase
of the revitalization of Christian
communities after the lifting of
prohibition in 1873.”
All the sites are in the northwest
part of the Japanese island of
Kyushu.
Nagasaki’s Basilica of the
Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs
of Japan, also known as Oura
Church, commemorates the 20
Japanese and six foreign-born
Christians martyred for their faith
in 1597 after Japanese leaders
became increasingly suspicious of
missionaries.
In a March 2015 ad limina visit
with Japan’s Catholic bishops,
Pope Francis reflected on these
missionaries and the martyrs of
early Japan.
“The embers of faith which the
Holy Spirit ignited through the
preaching of these evangelizers
and sustained by the witness of
the martyrs were kept safe,” Pope
Francis said, “through the care of
the lay faithful who maintained the
Catholic community’s life of prayer
and catechesis in the midst of great
danger and persecution.”
Among the martyrs of 1597 were
seminarian Saint Paul Miki and his
companions.
Sentenced to die by crucifixion
and lancing, they were first marched
600 miles to the city of Nagasaki.
During the journey, they underwent
public torture meant to terrorize
other Japanese believers in Christ.
All 26 held out courageously,
even singing the hymn of praise “Te
Deum” when they arrived at the hill
where they would be crucified.
St. Francis Xavier had brought
Oura Church in Nagasaki, Japan. PHOTO FROM BY SEAN PAVONE/SHUTTERSTOCK
Christianity to Japan in 1549, and
he and other missionaries found
significant receptivity to the Gospel.
However, the massive persecution
just decades later prompted many
Japanese Christians to go into
hiding for centuries.
Oura Church was built by French
priests in 1864 in the Gothic style.
It is the oldest Christian-related
building in Japan, Agence France
Presse says.
The cathedral is the site where, in
1865, nervous Japanese peasants
approached a French priest. One
woman told him “our hearts are
the same as yours.” Soon the rest
of the world learned that thousands
of Japanese had secretly lived as
Christians for centuries.
Oura Church was designated a
national treasure by the Japanese
government in 1933. It was damaged
in the Aug. 9, 1945 atomic bombing
of Nagasaki by U.S. forces.
Hara Castle is also selected for
the UNESCO list. It is the location
of the final stand of the Shimabara
rebellion. The rebels were
predominantly Japanese Catholics,
while the besieging forces were
Japanese forces of the Tokugawa
shogunate, which had the support of
Dutch Protestant allies. The castle
fell in 1638, with the building razed
and burned. Thousands of rebels
were punished with crucifixion.
After the rebellion was suppressed,
the ban on Christianity became even
more strictly enforced.
The UNESCO World Heritage
list will include 10 Christian
villages including Sakitsu village
in Amakusa, in the southwestern
part of the city of Kumamoto. Many
Christians practiced their faith in
secret there.
In January 2017 the Japanese
government said it would
submit sites related to Christian
persecution for consideration for
the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Sites’ inclusion on the list requires
being “of outstanding universal
value” and must meet other criteria
set by UNESCO. (CNA/EWTN
News)

Missionaries of Charity Questions from agnostic friend lead Spanish man to the priesthood
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain— vocation,” Aroztegi said. Christian, a disciple of Jesus
sister arrested in baby- Fr. Juan Pablo Aroztegi
became the youngest priest in
While the majority of his
friends are non-believers,
who is on his way just like
anybody else. The priest who

selling investigation
Missionary of Charity sister prays the Rosary. DANIEL IBANEZ/CNA
KOLKATA, India— Two
women affiliated with the
Missionaries of Charity, one
a religious sister and the
other an employee, have
been arrested in India, under
suspicion of selling a baby
from a shelter for unwed
mothers.
The arrests happened on
Tuesday and Wednesday
in the Indian state of
Jharkhand. The women
are also under suspicion of
selling three other infants,
and are believed to have
an additional accomplice, a
shelter employee who is now
being investigated.
No charges have yet been
filed.
Police say that a couple
reportedly paid 120,000
rupees ($1,760 USD) to
Anima Indwar, who worked
at a shelter run by the
Missionaries of Charity.
The couple complained that
Indwar took their money in
exchange for a child, and that
she later took the child back
from them without returning
money.
At the time of the arrest,
there were a dozen pregnant
women living at the
shelter, who have now been
transferred to a government-
run home.
A spokesperson for the
Missionaries of Charity
said that the order stopped
dealing with child adoption
in India back in 2015. The
order is conducting their
own investigation as to what
happened in this particular
case.
“There was no question
of selling any child as the
Missionaries of Charity had
stopped giving children
for adoption three years
ago,” said Samita Kumar,
spokeswoman for the
order. She explained that
they did not accept money
for adoptions when they
previously administered
them.
The baby in question was
born on May 1 to a shelter
resident, and was apparently
given to the couple two weeks
later. On July 1, Indwar
reportedly asked the couple to
return to the shelter with the
baby for some “formalities.”
She then took the child from
his adoptive parents and did
not give him back.
The child is now in the
custody of the state.
The Missionaries of
Charity were founded in
1950 in Kolkata, India, by
Albanian Anjezë Gonxhe
Bojaxhiu, who became
known as Mother Teresa.
She was canonized in 2017
as St. Teresa of Calcutta.
There are about 3,000
Missionaries of Charity
sisters worldwide.
In addition to the vows
of chastity, poverty, and
obedience, members of the
Missionaries of Charity
take a fourth vow pledging
“wholehearted free service
to the poorest of the poor.”
Mother Teresa was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize in
1979 for her service to the
poor of Kolkata. (Christine
Rousselle/CNA)
the diocese of San Sebastian,
Spain, when he was ordained
last weekend by Bishop José
Ignacio Munilla at Good
Shepherd Cathedral.
According to reports in
various local media, Aroztegi,
age 35, began to discern his
vocation after an agnostic
friend asked him why he was
a Christian.
Until then, he had not
questioned why he was
following Jesus Christ, nor
what he wanted to do with
his life. He was working
as an industrial engineer
at a software company in
Pamplona at that time, but
after a profound reflection, he
decided to join the seminary.
He described the decision
to enter the seminary as one
of the “greatest moments of
freedom” in his life. When he
told the agnostic friend who
had questioned him that he
was becoming a seminarian,
the friend replied that he has
been expecting it.
“Your friends know you
and can intuit your decisions.
It’s ironic that an agnostic
friend made me question
my Christian life and my
Does faith get a yellow card at the FIFA World Cup?
WASHINGTON D.C.— As a passionate
soccer fan, Jennifer Bryson has been
faithfully watching every game she can
during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. But
as a religious freedom expert, she’s
found herself wondering how, and why,
soccer authorities regulate the many
religious expressions on display in the
international soccer tournament.
“Sport is so relevant to religious
freedom because it offers a shared
civic space where people from diverse
traditions come together and compete
towards a common goal,” said Bryson,
who is the director of the Religious
Freedom Institute’s Islam and Religious
Freedom Action Team.
Bryson watches for the moments when
an athlete visibly prays in gratitude after a
goal or makes the sign of the cross while
coming onto the field, noting how the
referees react to these religious expressions.
Between social media and worldwide
television broadcasts, faith has been
widely on display in this year’s World
Cup in Russia. The Tunisian soccer
team recited the Quran together in
the team room, and Mexico’s soccer
team celebrated Mass before their
unexpected victory against Germany.
A Nigerian athlete celebrated a win by
waving his rosary. Egypt’s Mohamed
Salah prostrated himself in prayer after
scoring against Russia. A Catholic and
an evangelical from opposing teams
knelt down next to each other to pray
after the Belgium-Panama match. Even
the 2018 World Cup logo was inspired
by the Russian tradition of icon painting,
the new priest said that they is a man of God, prays for
have respect for his faith and his people and seeks nothing
his decision. Some of them more than the things of God.
attended his ordination Mass And above all I am drawn to
last Sunday. the priest who creates unity,
“The conversations I had who knows how to be with
with some of them to tell them others,” he said.
of my decision was one of the He also explained that one of
most beautiful moments of my the challenges of a priest is “to
life. I felt free and I was open form Christian communities
about who I am. We spoke where one can live the
about important issues we greatness of life in Christ,” and
had never dealt with before,” so he encourages “going to the
he recalled. Fr. Juan Pablo Aroztegi is ordained July essential, to what’s important
2 by Bishop José Ignacio Munilla. DIOCESE in life, to love and be loved,”
His family was also OF SAN SEBASTIAN
surprised when he announced and said that if Christianity
his decision to pursue the that awaits me in priestly is lived with authenticity, it is
priesthood, although he had life. I sincerely hope for an “truly attractive.”
always lived his faith “in a intense and exciting life, with Aroztegi told Diaro Vasco
very natural way.” good moments, and others news that in the days leading
Fr. Aroztegi said that he with the cross and suffering up to his July 2 ordination,
always went to Mass with as in any other path in life.” he was “calm and excited”
his family on Sundays, but Looking to the future, because “what at the beginning
had never imagined that he Aroztegi said he would like was like a flame of fire within
would become a priest, instead to follow the example of me, small but which I could
assuming that he would marry some priests who have been not doubt, during those years
and have a family. important in his life. was getting stronger.”
“[Priesthood] didn’t even “I admire the priests who “I arrived at [the ordination]
cross my mind,” he told Diaro aren’t looking for success or peaceful because I felt very
Vasco. “Certainly the best applause, but help whoever free. And at the same time, the
things that have happened needs it without anyone emotion is great. I am excited
to me in life have been knowing about it. I am drawn about everything it means, and
unexpected.” to the priest who is humble because I will be able to give
“In that sense I am in in every sense, the one who myself totally to that which I
expectation of everything sees himself as just another feel called.” (ACI Prensa)
according to the FIFA website. their religion.
But in soccer’s recent history there The Iranian women’s soccer team
have been several controversies over withdrew from a 2011 Olympic qualifying
“demonstrative prayers” on the field. match because the referee would not
Israeli soccer player Itay Shechter allow players wearing an Islamic hijab
received a yellow card after he knelt on head covering to participate.
the field and prayed with a Jewish kippah The NGO Coptic Solidarity submitted
after scoring a goal at UEFA Champions an official complaint to FIFA in
League game in Austria in 2010. June documenting the “widespread
“For a Jewish player to get penalized discrimination” against Coptic Christian
for visible prayer in Austria was extra- soccer players that included 25 specific
controversial,” explained Bryson. cases. There were no Copts included on
To defend Shechter’s right to pray, Egypt’s 2018 World Cup team.
his coach, Eli Guttman said, “When a In June 2017, soccer star Jaelene Hinkle
Christian player crosses himself after a withdrew from the United States’ national
goal, that’s also fine with me.” squad because she was uncomfortable
In Scotland, lawmakers in 2003 wearing a “pride” jersey during the
proposed banning players from making team’s LGBT Pride Month rainbow jersey
the sign of the cross in a “provocative” initiative. She was since booed and jeered
way on a soccer field due to the religious during a game in Portland, Ore., by fans
divide of local teams among Protestant waving rainbow flags.
and Catholic soccer fans. The Football Association of Ireland
The Catholic Church opposed that (FAI) required players to wear a special
proposal, saying legislation banning the Pride Month jersey with rainbow
sign of the cross would be as ridiculous numbers during international play in
as banning a Muslim from using a prayer June 2018. The FAI tweeted, “Not just
mat, Bryson pointed out. a number, this is a statement. Ireland,
Bryson said that she has been supporting LGBT rights.”
encouraged by efforts to defend religious “Religious freedom also includes the
liberty in athletic contexts. freedom to say no,” Bryson remarked.
“Your own religious freedom is most In June, FIFA announced that the
protected when your neighbor of another 2026 World Cup will be hosted in North
faith also has religious freedom,” she America, with games held in the United
said at “Exorcisms and Exercise, Crosses States, Mexico and Canada.
and Cross Passes,” a June 20 event Bryson says that she is hopeful that
sponsored by the Religious Freedom the 2026 games will be a truly global,
Institute event. welcoming games for both the fans and
In some instances, soccer players have the teams are allowed to “come as they
been excluded from play on the basis of are.” (Courtney Grogan/CNA)
A4 OPINION July 9 - 22, 2018, Vol 22, No. 14 CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

The misery of the poor

THE bishops’ pastoral exhortation issued after their 117
plenary assembly held this July is replete with biblical
references. This maybe the pastoral statement of the CBCP
that has the most biblical quotations. The backdrop of
the pastoral statement is the current socio-political crisis the
country in undergoing. Interestingly, the bishops’ statement
subtly presents the country’s ills in a series of queries:
“Do we not hear the cry of poor slum-dwellers being jailed
for “loitering”? Have they forgotten that for the homeless
urban poor—the little alleys between their flimsy homes
also serve as kitchens, bathrooms, recreation spaces, and
playgrounds for their children? Have they forgotten that
they live in tiny dwellings that are razed quickly to the ground
when fire strikes, because they do not have proper roads? Do
we not feel the sufferings of drug addicts who are labelled as
“non-humans”, and are stigmatized as criminals when their
names end up in the dreaded “drug watch lists”? Yes, we are
aware of the sufferings of those who have been victimized by
substance abusers, but can we not see them also as sick people
who are struggling with a disease? Should we not rather look
at them also as victims who are crying out for help? Are we to
remain as bystanders when we hear of people being killed in

ILLUSTRATION BY BLADIMER USI

cold blood by ruthless murderers who dispose of human lives
like trash? Do we not realize that for every drug suspect killed,
there is a widowed wife and there are orphaned children left
behind—who could hardly even afford a decent burial for
their loved ones? Do we not care when poor people’s homes
are searched without warrants, or when drug suspects are
arrested without warrants, or detained without charges?
“Do we not care about the misery of people charged of
drug-related offenses and packed like sardines in extremely
Catholic priests: Living Mission
congested jails? Can we even bear the thought of seeing most
of them languishing in jail, knowing that rehabilitation is
Current data Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM
what many of them need? Do we not hear of the sufferings
of indigenous peoples who are displaced from their ancestral
lands in order to give way to mining companies and dams?
And how do we feel about communities that are forced to IN a 2018 article published in The Priest Rossetti noted: “some priests do leave Additional statistics. In most parts
leave their homes for fear of being caught in the crossfire of magazine by Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, ministry, and it is important to know of the world, satisfaction among priests is
conflicts between government troops and insurgents? How a psychologist and leading authority why.” Sociologist Dean Hoge has very high. Rossetti asserts: “Priests like
are we affected when our own troops die because of unceasing on the Catholic priesthood, some very focused on “important lessons” to be being priests, and they like doing what
hostilities that have not been adequately addressed through informative data is presented. This learned from priests who resign. priests do. The large majority is able to
peaceful dialogue?” material is most useful in having an Contrary to some ideas, Hoge said adjust to the demanding life of a priest
The bishops consider the persecution levelled against accurate understanding regarding the that it was NOT celibacy per se that and to thrive.” The Rossetti study includes
Church leaders by the President of the Republic as nothing current “state of affairs” in the Catholic led to their departure. Rather, “it was among its findings the following statistics
compared to the worsening misery of the poor. This should Church. The article answers many the individual’s personal difficulties on the happiness of priests.
be the real issue. It’s a “blasphemy” against the helpless questions, for example: Is it true that in adapting and connecting.” “The “92.4% are happy overall being
children of God. priests are leaving in large numbers? majority that stayed made friends and a priest. 94.9% feel a joy that they
One of the clear facts is that young built a satisfying personal life.” Survey consider a grace from God. 88.9%
Travesty of the truth priests are NOT actually leaving in large data revealed that “the percentage of have good morale. 76.6% have a good
numbers; the best statistics assert that priests thinking of leaving is low and relationship with their bishop. 87.6%
THE expression appears in the Acts of the Apostles. St. Paul only between 10-12 percent actually leave. getting lower.” have close friendships with fellow
warned the elders of the church of Ephesus to be very watchful This is significant, considering that the Hoge also discovered that “happy priests. 93% have close relationships
because “when I have gone, fierce wolves will invade you rate of marriage failures is much higher. and fulfilled priests rarely resign, with laypersons. 75.1% say celibacy has
and will have no mercy on the flock.” (cfr 20,28-38) And he It should be noted that young priests, even if they find themselves in love.” been a personal grace. 82.1% would
continued by saying that “even from your own ranks there will as well as priests in general, are happy Rossetti provided data about priests choose to remain celibate if priests were
be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their with their lives and ministries. To who were thinking of leaving: “some of allowed to marry.”
lips to induce the disciples to follow them.” the survey question, “Overall, I am the highest correlations were a negative Rossetti asserts that: “because the
These words acquire immediate relevance as we see them turn happy as a priest,” 92 percent agreed view of celibacy, depression, feeling majority of priests thrive in priestly life
to reality especially nowadays when the perversion and distortion or strongly agreed. Sociologist Dean lonely and unappreciated, and having a and ministry, we must conclude that
of the truth that comes from God is done not by those who are Hoge and Msgr. Rosetti have found that dysfunctional childhood.” the current system [of formation] is
openly against God, the Church, or religion itself, but by those priestly happiness actually has been One additional factor to be recognized essentially sound…. What is unseen and
who appear to be for God, for the Church and religion in general. increasing in the past few decades. is known as “burnout,” a state of of greatest importance is the mysterious
That is why Pope Francis in his latest Apostolic Exhortation, While the Church is not blind to existing “chronic stress that leads to physical movement of God’s grace. Ultimately,
Gaudete et Exsultate is also warning us today of some fake forms problems and challenges, these recent and emotional exhaustion, detachment, it is he who makes us whole, and it is
of holiness that manage to beguile many faithful. He cited two psychological and sociological studies and feelings of ineffectiveness or lack God’s grace that makes our ministries
main ones: Gnosticism and Pelagianism. suggest that priesthood is, for the most of accomplishment.” In short, such life-giving for others and for ourselves.”
Of Gnosticism, he said that it is “a purely subjective faith part, a happy and rewarding life. priests are at elevated risk for leaving Thus, we all remain grateful for Christ’s
whose only interest is a certain experience or a set of ideas Why some priests leave. Msgr. the priesthood. gift of the priesthood to the Church!
and bits of information which are meant to console and
enlighten, but which ultimately keep one imprisoned in his or
her own thoughts and feelings.” (36) He said that Gnosticism
And That’s The Truth
After ‘stupid god’, what?
is a distortion of the truth about what holiness is because “a
person’s perfection is measured not by the information or Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
knowledge he possesses, but by the depth of his charity.” (37)
“Gnostics do not understand this,” he said, “because
they judge others based on their ability to understand the
complexity of certain doctrines. They think of the intellect I’VE been asked repeatedly him as long as lives. But when I am not about to stop over that! Nothing empowers
as separate from the flesh, and thus become incapable of about my take on the “stupid someone tried to drag me Christians who fight tooth the devil more than a divided
touching Christ’s suffering flesh God” issue, and all I’d say into voting for the “better and nail to “defend our God.” Church, and no one is more
in others, locked up as they are in an encyclopedia of was, “Maybe I’ll say it in one shepherd”, I said, Oops, time I honestly believe all of them qualified as a collaborator
abstractions. In the end, by disembodying the mystery, they of my columns.” to speak. Instead of just sincerely feel that it is what of the devil than the self-
prefer ‘a God without Christ, a Christ without the Church, a Initially I dismissed the jumping into the fray, I think God wants them to do. If righteous believer himself.
Church without her people.’” remark as I would his typical we should step back and militant types want to attack We let the devil score when
Pelagianism, on the other hand, is the belief that holiness can outbursts—something examine where our zeal is the president with swords we idolize our shepherds
be achieved mainly if not exclusively through man’s effort alone, issuing from a form of verbal taking us. and clubs, whether in social and pit them against one
with hardly any help of divine grace. It clearly goes against what diarrhea that the president Mr. Duterte’s “stupid media or the pulpit, I’m okay another: Francis vs.
St. Paul said that everything, especially holiness itself, “depends apparently has been suffering God” remark disturbed the with that. But when these Benedict; Benedict vs. John
not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.” from. His foul language believers’ beehive, and the zealous fighters sneer, hoot, Paul; Archbishop This vs.
(Rom 9,16) Not that human will and exertion are irrelevant in the is legend by now and so bees, taking offense, went and call “cowards” other Cardinal That. It saddens
pursuit of holiness and everything that is good and proper to us. what’s new? Bothering abuzz with fervor—some Christians for not joining me to see that in the midst
They are, in fact, indispensable, but only as means, as evidence would be stooping to level more noisily than others, them in the combat zone, of this “stupid god” hoopla,
and consequence of the working of God’s grace and his mercy. of a stupid remark—“Hindi many inclined to rabble then they’re playing into the some people— members of
A Pelagian spirituality often insists on the performance of napinapatulanyan!” I’d say, rouse, and a few poised to devil’s trap. That’s exactly a praying community, at
practices of piety without checking if indeed these practices and add that we can expect sting with justifiable anger what the devil wants, isn’t it? that—would compare Church
lead one to God. We have to be wary of these travesties, worse pronouncements from and heart-rending prose. See Satan licking his chops And That’s the Truth / A6
perversions and distortions of the truth about sanctity. They
can be marketed by those inside the church who actually are
wolves in sheep’s clothing or devils dressed as angels of light. Developing a Candidly Speaking
sense of vocation
Monitor
CBCP Fr. Roy Cimagala

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE I BELIEVE that we should arouse But, yes, it has to be done steadily, would enable us to enter and share in
in everyone the need to develop a hopefully without let-up, and in a way the very life of our Creator, God.
Pedro Quitorio sense of vocation. I believe that this that can make use of the usual things We should never forget that we come
Editor-in-Chief
is something that has to be pushed people get involved in nowadays to lead from God, and not just from our parents,
Nirva’ana Delacruz Ron Ramos consistently nowadays since there is a them to develop a sense of vocation. and we also belong to him, and not just
Associate Editor Design Artist lot of ignorance and indifference to this It is indeed a big challenge to face, to our parents, to anybody else or simply
need which is actually basic for all of us. but one that is all worthwhile. And we to our own selves.
Roy Lagarde Mercedita Juanite Of course, we have to do it slowly but just have to convince ourselves also that Thus, the mere fact that we exist as a
Circulation Manager
News Editor steadily. Slowly, because the matter we actually have all the means we need human person already presumes that
Marcelita Dominguez is quite complex and requires a lot of to be able to do the job. Let’s try not to we are called by God, that is to say, that
Christine Paguirigan
Managing Editor Comptroller explaining to do. Besides, we have to vacillate from carrying out this duty. God calls us to be with him, or that we
know how to present things in such We need to define, first of all, what have a vocation.
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the Areopagus a way that they get understood and a vocation is. It is a call that God, our Vocation then has to be understood as
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Ground Flr., Holy Face of Jesus Center & Convent, 1111 appreciated especially among the young Creator, makes on each one of us who having a universal scope. It is not simply
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previous generations. faculties that together with his grace Candidly Speaking / A7
CBCP Monitor July 9 - 22, 2018, Vol 22, No. 14 OPINION A5

‘Be wise as serpents, innocent The View from the Mountain

By the Roadside
Fr. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ Belizar, Jr. SThD
THE Church in the Philippines is in a
delicate balancing act nowadays. On the
one hand, she desires a collaborative
relationship with the government, in
particular, with the chief executive. This
is why she is interested in a dialogue
with him through the CBCP president,
Most Rev. Romulo Valles, Archbishop
of Davao, reputedly on friendly terms
with him. On the other hand, she sees
very few signs or indicators that the
other party shares the same interest. If
at all, as Bishop Pabillo articulated it in
an interview, the government may only
be after some form of “damage control”
following the famous “your God is
stupid, my God is perfect” declaration
that sparked widespread controversy,
and even the in-your-face and ongoing
anti-Catholic Church, anti-Christianity,
anti-faith diatribes from the nation’s
leader. Some more radical sectors
of the Church and society call for a
stronger “prophetic” approach but do
not expect it from the current CBCP
head. Understandably, they see few
reasons to be optimistic and continue
to rue things as they are.
All the more reason for the Church to
do it wisely. But how should that mean?
To my mind, it should mean, first
off, to not expect too much from the
dialogue. A real dialogue presupposes
mutual respect and a common desire to
reach points of agreement. Quite frankly
there is precious little, even none, of
these two is apparent nor expected any
time soon from the chief executive.
Considering the history of his dealings
with the Church, more likely than not,
any positive outcome(s) would also
be subject to presidential lapses that
are, as by now becoming clearer, easily
provoked by any criticism from the
Church or the hierarchy. The Church
will not compromise on human life and
Leaving future generations
as doves’ (Mt. 10:16):
Unsolicited perspective
human rights, which, in turn, are sure to
make the other party turn ballistic. The
sad fact is that this sort of criticism is
viewed as an invitation to exposing “the
scandals and sins of the clergy” from a
very angry perspective. Using the bully
pulpit of his authority the chief executive
spews out repeated accusations of
child molestations he himself allegedly
experienced from a Jesuit priest, and
cites other scandals involving priests’
sexual affairs, multiple partners, misuse
of people’s donations etc. as though
these are true to the rest of them with no
exception. That alone seems to indicate
a closed mind, a warped sense of justice
and discourages even an attempt at a
simple conversation.
Why dialogue, then, it may be asked.
My answer is that, aside from talking
being better than not talking, dialogue
creates and maintains communication
lines. Church and government
communicating is better for both and
for the people they both serve.
Moreover, it should mean the Church
must learn the art of seeing through
the chief executive’s tirades. What
is he really trying to say and do? For
instance, when in his own words he
saw the economy “in the doldrums”,
he wanted to “shake things up”. Not
longer after that he issued the “stupid
G-d” statement, and everyone stopped
talking about the economy in the
doldrums. Or the continuing killings
and assassinations. Apparently, some
bishops are even extra alert to see
through the shocking verbiage. It is
also clear that any criticism of the
anti-illegal-drug war and human rights
record is viewed as a “you-are-trying-to-
destroy-me-I-will-try-to-destroy-you-
too” challenge. Should the Church use
another approach that will be read as
less incendiary? Perhaps, but the thing
Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD
is, prophets are not diplomats.
The Church should bear in mind
that by virtue of the Gospel she bears,
The challenges
she is hopelessly predictable to the
government and to friend and foe alike.
the Church in the
She is not expected to answer fire with
fire; on the contrary, her own enemies
Philippines faces
are subjects and objects of her love, (Part II)
prayer and blessing. That puts her at a
huge disadvantage in a confrontation
WHAT are the strengths and weaknesses of the Church vis-
with the powerful. This may not explain
à-vis this situation? Since the time of Martial Law under
the particularly vicious character of the
Marcos and over the succeeding years, the Catholic Church,
attacks, but that somehow clarifies why
under the leadership of the CBCP, has exercised a prophetic
similar tirades are not, for instance,
role. The Church has been instrumental in the ouster of the
directed to other religions, such as Islam.
brutal dictator Marcos and the corrupt president Estrada.
Christianity in general is an easier target
Will the Church continue to exercise her prophetic role under
of abuse because of its Gospel restraints
this regime?
and tenets. Still, admittedly, there is a
To their credit, the AMRSP (Association of Major Religious
plus for Christian faith: her position is
Superiors in the Philippines) and individual religious order
more conducive to inner peace and those
came out with statements condemning the extrajudicial killings.
who wholly observe their faith are, from
The LAIKO—the national network of lay associations and
centuries of experience, less susceptible
movements—also issued statements against the culture of death.
to stress-induced cardiac arrests. Or
The CBCP has already issued three pastoral letters—affirming
fentanyl-controlled headaches.
the right to life (even of addicts) and condemning EJK. But do
Still, again, a dialogue should not be
these statements represent the position of many Catholics?
turned down. There could be potential
Meanwhile, the majority of the clergy remain silent vis-à-
blessings (if only the king be in a good
vis the abuses of this regime—especially the extra-judicial
mood, please, Lord). For instance, if it
killings, the Martial Law in Mindanao and the authoritarian
could obtain a firm commitment from the
rule. On the other hand, many dioceses and parishes have
leader of the land to halt hurling incendiary
initiated community-based drug rehabilitation programs
words and cease trying to explain the
to address the problem of drug addiction and to prevent
killings of victims by allegations of their
extra-judicial killings. Some priests and religious have also
wrongdoings, trampling basic fairness
started documenting the violation of human rights and set
under foot considering that they can no
up a network of sanctuary for the witnesses who will be
longer defend themselves. If a dialogue
presented in the International Criminal Court. A few priests
could help prevent assassinations or,
are preaching against the abuses of the regime and together
conversely, encourage, incite and compel
with some religious they are participating in protests/ prayer
hired criminals and the public to respect
rallies. In reaction to all these, Duterte has criticized and
the rule of law, the exercise would not have
cursed the Church—branding her as a hypocritical institution
been in vain.
and calling the God we Catholics believe as stupid. He falsely
If all else fails, we have a sure-fire
accused some of the bishops and priests. Three priests have
backup: prayer and fasting for our own
been murdered so far. Other priests have been placed on a
total personal and national conversion.
hit list.
That will certainly take us back to the
The questions that will continue to haunt the Church in the
wisdom of serpents and innocence of
years to come are: What possessed this so-called Christian
doves.
nation to elect this man in spite the fact that our churches are
full every Sunday, hundreds of thousands or even millions
attend our processions (especially Sto. Nino and Nazareno)

into a pile of rubble?
DATELINE: Los Angeles,
California: Pope Francis
called on all religions,
particularly the Christian
Churches, to have a key role
in helping people to have a
change of hearts and minds
regarding the responsible
protection of the earth. The
Holy Father gave his talk
during the International
Conference “Saving Our
Common Home and the
Future of Life on Earth,”
during the 3rd anniversary
of the publication of his
Encyclical Laudato Si.
The Pope said that
the young people and the
indigenous people must be at
the forefront of the Catholic’s
commitment to the common
home. “Young people will
face the consequences of
the current environmental
and climate crisis… since
the world we have received
belongs to those who will
follow us… Catholics can
learn a lot from indigenous
people and their love for the
land. They treat the land like
a gift from God and their
ancestors, rather than like
a commodity.” He calls on
governments around the
world, civil society, economic
and religious institutions
to take action for “there is
a real danger that we will
leave future generations only
rubble, deserts and refuse.”
He urged all world leaders to
honor the commitments made
in the Paris Agreement to avoid
creating worse consequences,
especially those countries
which are more powerful
and pollute the most. Paris
Agreement was reached by
195 countries that sought to
curb global greenhouse gas
emissions through individual
nonbinding national plans.”
It is unfortunate that U.S.
President Trump announced
in 2017 the U.S. exit from the
Paris Agreement unless it
receives a better deal.
***
In the Diocese of Kalookan,
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio
David, Bishop of Kalookan
and Vice President of CBCP,
is promoting the care for the
environment. He already
opened three nurseries of
different plants, vegetables
and trees in Malabon, La Loma
Catholic Cemetery and at San
Roque Cathedral Compound.
Duc in Altum
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago
He encourages the faithful
of the Diocese to observe
“urban gardening for food
production through ecological
solid waste management, SRC
(he wittingly said not San
Roque Cathedral) but S - for
Segregate, R – for Recycle,
and C – for compost.
According to Bishop David:
“Segregate wastes from source
is mandated by the law (Solid
Waste Management Act).
Sources are private homes,
business establishments, etc.
We should not put our wastes
together in the same container.
Recycle—newspapers, plastic
bags, plastic bottles, glass
bottles, cans, cartons, etc.
These items can be sold to
junk shops or if you’re feeling
generous, you can just give
them away to scavengers for
‘kalakal’. You can re-use old
cans and broken pails into
plant pots. Compost—Convert
all segregated biodegradable
trash into compost in
recyclable containers, by
layering dead leaves, food
wastes, rice hull and soil in
a series. Covering it with a
layer of soil on top prevents
it from attracting flies and
other pests. Just leave it to
and the record numbers attending the papal Mass (seven
million). What happened to our formation/evangelization
programs? How come the Church seems to be unsuccessful in
forming the conscience of our people—including the clergy?
Ultimately, the question that needs to be answered: how far
has the vision of a renewed Church as promoted by Vatican
decompose by itself, but make
II and PCP II been owned and internalized?
sure to keep it moist for quick
Thus, the challenge for the Church in the Philippines is how
decomposition. Composting
to live the vision of the Church not just as communion and
can radically reduce the
as a priestly people, but especially as a prophetic and servant
volume of residual wastes to
Church, ready to accept suffering and martyrdom. The other
be disposed for pick up by local
challenges related to this: how can the Church truly become
government garbage trucks
the Church of the Poor in face of the continuing problem of
for proper management in
poverty. What more can the Church do in alleviating poverty?
sanitary landfills.”
What can the Church do to help tackle the problem of
Take note, open and
environmental destruction, climate change and the resulting
controlled dumpsites are
calamities and disasters? How can the Church promote peace
already illegal, as per Sec.
amidst the spiral of violence and continuing armed conflict?
37 of Republic Act 9003 or
How can the Church defend human rights – especially the
the Ecological Solid Waste
right to life. How can the Church effectively help in stopping
Management Act of 2000,
the killings and start the healing? How can the Church sustain
signed into law by Pres. Gloria
and expand the efforts at ecumenical and interreligious
Macapagal-Arroyo on January
dialogue—a dialogue of faith and life especially with Muslims
26, 2001. Yet, most local
- that can contribute to peace and development?
government units or LGUs
In fulfilling her mission, the Church faces the challenge of
still allow them to operate
how to get more and more lay people to get actively involved
and are not doing anything
not just in the liturgical celebration but also in the prophetic
about it. They simply ignored
and servant mission. This is very urgent as number of
closure orders by the DENR-
ordained ministers remain very low—around 10,000 priests
EMB. Any private citizen,
for over 90 million Catholics. With smaller families and more
institution or organization
young people who are either secularized or pressured to follow
can sue any LGU for non-
another lucrative career due to family obligation, we cannot
compliance with RA 9003. Or
expect a dramatic increase of vocations to the priesthood or
a complaint in this regard can
religious life. Thus, the Church will depend heavily on the
simply be filed with the Office
active participation of the laity—not just as individuals but
of the Ombudsman.
as part of BECs and lay organizations and associations and
Section 37 of the Act set
renewal movements. Their involvement in the parish and the
February 16, 2004 as the
diocese as well as in society in general is vital. The dynamism
deadline for the closure
of the Church should not be dependent on the clergy but on
and conversion of open
the lay faithful who are committed and competent.
dumpsites. With the political
Speaking of lay participation there is a need to address the
Duc in Altum / A7
problem of the active involvement of men. While the Church at
the diocesan and parish levels are led by male ordained ministers,

Spaces of Hope
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola
“DAGHAN kanato nangalumping
na intawon ang panagway tungod
sa waypuas nga pagbalikbalik sa
bangag. Nasadsad na gayod tungod sa
pagsuyop...” Very roughly: “Many of us
have undergone changed appearances
due to use of illegal drugs...”
As I shared these words to a group
of drug addicts who were exploring
the possibility of enrolling in LaBang
(Lahat Bangon), the Community-Based
Recovery Program of the Archdiocee
of Cebu, I knew, by the look of their
faces, that I was connecting. These
two sentences contained code words
of addicts. “Nangalumping” ordinarily
means the crumpled remains of a metal
object. Here it means their hollow,
v-shaped faces, and artificially high
cheek bones. “Bangag” is a hole, now a
‘New expressions’
place for sharing drugs. “Nasadsad” is to are full, they are full of the things to
grate against something, meaning rock- which we are addicted. And not only our
bottom experience. Finally, “suyop” hands, but also our hearts, minds, and
means inhale and has retained the attention are clogged with addiction.
original meaning. Our addictions fill up the spaces within
Drug addicts belong to our human us, spaces where grace might flow.”
peripheries. They speak their own (Gerald May, Addiction and Grace:
language and share common experiences Love and Spirituality in the Healing of
and concerns. They have their own Addictions). Addiction is the broken
sub-culture. Connecting to their world human condition.
view and language is part of the pre- The new expressions of the pre-
evangelization stage. But this is just evangelization stage moves on to the
the beginning. Real empathy ought proclamation of the Kerygma. Here the
to accompany the adoption of certain Church finds an ally in the so-called
expressions. 12-Step Program used by Alcoholics
Empathy begins when we realize that Anonymous, “an international mutual-aid
we are all addicts: “St. Augustine once fellowship” founded in 1935 that seeks to
said that God is always trying to give enable its members “stay sober and help
good things to us, but our hands are other alcoholics achieve sobriety.” The
too full to receive them. If our hands Spaces of Hope / A6
majority of those who are involved in church activities are
women – except the extra-ordinary lay ministers of communion
who are men. The same thing is happening at the grassroots
communities—in the BECs. While the priest-less liturgies in
the chapel are presided by men, the rest of the leaders of the
community and the majority of the active members are women.
On the bright side, this is a welcome development for women
who are demanding for a greater role in the Church. This is
already happening at the grassroots. But we should not forget
the men. There is a need to come up with evangelization and
formation programs designed for men and to focus on promoting
masculine spirituality suited for them. This is to be done without
neglecting the women and their needs. Perhaps, programs that
are more social action-oriented (prophetic-servant mission)
might be attractive to men, rather than just focusing exclusively
on liturgy and bible-sharing. Men needs more action and less
talk. They need to become more aware that whatever they are
doing will contribute to the welfare of the community and society.
Male-bonding often takes place in the midst of praxis rather than
just sharing their feelings. If ever they are going to share their
problems, it will often be with other men they regard as friends.
Thus, besides encouraging them to take active part in their
community, it is important that they come together regularly
as men to deepen their fellowship—prayer, sharing, planning,
celebrating. Those who are married should be made aware of
their responsibility as fathers, husband as well as co-leader of the
Christian family—the domestic Church. (To be continued)
A6 LOCAL NEWS
Don’t be mediocre, bishop
tells youth
A CATHOLIC bishop urged the
youth not to be “mediocre” in their
faith that should be shared to others
by giving witness through their
example.
Speaking at this year’s “Relentless
2: Singles & Youth Faith on Fire”
(SYFOF) at the Araneta Coliseum on
June 30, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco
of Cubao encouraged the youth not
to conform themselves to a mediocre
life but instead grow in Christ.
“We have no reason to be mediocre
in our faith. We should instead show
to the world how we live our faith,”
Ongtioco said.
The bishop said he is glad that
many young people are active in their
faith, which according to him, is a sign
that the Church has a bright future.
“Because of your presence, I know
you care for the faith,” he said.
Organized by The Lord’s Flock
(TLF) Catholic Charismatic
Ministry for seven years now, the
Spaces of Hope / A5
program has since been adopted for
other types of addictions, like the
Narcotics Anonymous or NA.
The first three steps of the program
activate the innate spirituality of
participants: their powerlessness
over their addiction; a higher power;
and turning over their lives to God
“as we understand Him.” One can
say that these expressions straddle
pre-evangelization and Kerygma
and carry with them the seeds of
Bible-inspired conversion.
The 12-Step Program is a gift that
cannot be over eamphasized. It
provides a bridge towards religious
conversion and reintegration into
society and the Church. Religious
language, introduced too early, too
soon, can be counterproductive. In
the words of one recovering addict,
if Labang had introduced them
to religious themes very early on,
they would have gone up in smoke.
Gradualism is key.
But the 12 Steps only introduces
a higher power. And this higher
power, as one NA participant told
me, can be a chair or an inanimate
Suffering / A1
victimized by substance abuse, the
bishops called on the people to also
see them as “sick people who are
struggling with a disease”.
“Should we not rather look at
them also as victims who are crying
out for help? Are we to remain
as bystanders when we hear of
people being killed in cold blood by
ruthless murderers who dispose of
human lives like trash?”
The church leaders stressed that
for every drug suspect killed, there
is widowed wife and there are
orphaned children left behind “who
could hardly even afford a decent
burial for their loved ones”.
“Do we not care about the misery
of people charged of drug-related
offenses and packed like sardines
in extremely congested jails? Can
we even bear the thought of seeing
most of them languishing in jail,
knowing that rehabilitation is what
many of them need?” they said.
The bishops also noted the
hardships and difficulties faced by
the country’s indigenous peoples,
especially those displaced by mining
operations and conflicts.
“Do we not hear of the sufferings of
indigenous peoples who are displaced
from their ancestral lands in order to
give way to mining companies and
dams? And how do we feel about
communities that are forced to leave
their homes for fear of being caught
in the crossfire of conflicts between
government troops and insurgents?”
the CBCP said.
“How are we affected when
our own troops die because of
unceasing hostilities that have not
been adequately addressed through
peaceful dialogue?” it said.
Saying they are “no strangers to
ridicule and persecution,” the bishop
admonished the faithful to “be not
afraid” and to remain steadfast “in
our common vocation and mission
to actively work for peace”.
Not out to topple gov’t
The bishops also alluded
to another statement made by
Duterte, when he criticized the
Church “creeping influence” over
the country which “sometimes run
counter to what the government
believes to be good for the people”.
The Catholic hierarchy assured
worship conference was aimed
at reintroducing the youth to the
“relentless love of God” through
talks and music.
Techie Rodriguez, founder of
TLF, reminded the young people
that as part of today’s church, they
have a duty to bring their joy and
optimism to the world.
“We see in all of you a vibrant and
dynamic Church that will face the
challenges of the Philippine Church
in the present and in the coming
generation,” said Rodriguez.
“A dynamic and vibrant
Church will also assure all of us a
continuously re-peopling of our
Church. We have already seen the
Churches in Europe and in other
developed countries that have
died as the senior citizens like me
disappear year after year without
youth, replenishing them,” she
added. (Joselle Dela Cruz /
CBCPNews)
object. No wonder there are 12-Step
groups composed of atheists. The
NA, then, needs to be completed
by an activity that gives this higher
power a personal name and that
reconnects him or her to the Church.
In our experience, this is the Lectio
Divina (LD), which is the prayerful
reading of a passage from the Bible,
particularly from the Gospel.
LD has two complementary
pillars: what it meant then and
what it means now. The first pillar
requires a brief and informed
excursus into the original setting and
meaning of the passage. The second
pillar reflects the unfading quality of
God’s word to be actualized in the
lives of contemporary people. This
complementarity was brought home
to me during one LD session. The
original meaning had to do Jesus as
light. One client shared before the
group: “Before I thought that shabu
was light for it gave me comfort. But
now I realize Jesus is my true light.”
Judging by the changes in his
outlook and his lifestyle, I am certain
he knew what he was talking about.
that they are not out to destabilize
the government, much less to
takeover.
“There are those who accuse us of
getting involved in political moves
to destabilize the government.
Nothing can be farthest from the
truth,” said the bishops.
The prelates, though, stressed
that this does not mean that they
will just stay quiet whenever they
see issues concerning morality and
social justice.
“The Church respects the
political authority, especially of
democratically-elected government
officials, as long as they do not
contradict the basic spiritual and
moral principles we hold dear,
such as respect for the sacredness
of life, the integrity of creation, and
the inherent dignity of the human
person,” said the CBCP.
“When we speak out on certain
issues, it is always from the
perspective of faith and morals,
especially the principles of social
justice, never with any political or
ideological agenda in mind.”
Prayer, fasting
The bishops also called for days of
prayer and penance to call for justice
on those who have blasphemed God.
Without naming Duterte, who
attacked several teachings of the
Catholic faith and even called God as
“stupid”, they admonished those “who
arrogantly regard themselves as wise”.
“…St. Paul’s words are to the
point: ‘For the stupidity of God is
wiser than human wisdom, and the
weakness of God is stronger than
human strength’,” the letter read.
Archbishop Valles said that even
in Davao, where Duterte come
from, many people were hurt by the
president’s words and actions.
“I would say that from my take
in the area of Davao that a good
number of people are pained by
this,” Valles told reporters.
The days of prayer and fasting are
scheduled to take place July 17-19
that will precede a day of prayer
on the feast of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel, to atone for the sins of
blasphemy, slander, and murder.
“We invite you to join us, your
bishops, in 3 days of fasting, prayer,
and almsgiving,” the bishops added.
Armed man killed in shootout
at Cebu archbishop’s residence
CEBU police shot and killed a
41-year-old man who authorities
said pulled a gun while being asked
to leave the residence compound of
Archbishop Jose Palma on Tuesday
morning, July 10.
Msgr. Joseph Tan, Cebu
archdiocesan spokesperson, said
the man in motorcycle, identified
as Jeffrey Canedo, forced his way
past the security guards, asking
to talk to Palma who was out of
town.
He said another staff of Palma
spoke to Canedo and told him that
the archbishop was not around
but the man “exhibited unusual
behavior”, prompting the security
personnel to call the police.
Upon arrival, the authorities tried
to approach him but the man was
uncooperative and instead fired at
them, forcing the police to return
fire.
“He was asked if he needed
anything or if he needed to see
a priest but he seemed to be, his
disposition was a bit suspicious. He
was not coherent with his answers,
he was talking about different
things,” Tan said.
A meeting of priests handling the
archdiocese’s youth ministry was
ongoing inside the residence when
the incident happened.
Criticism / A1
Duterte’s tongue-lashing
since its leadership
criticized his swearings
and bloody crackdown on
illegal drugs.
“Duterte was very much
against the Church after
the election because the
church leaders cautioned
the people about his
track record of killings in
Davao, about his use of
foul language, about his
lack of respect for human
rights and for women,”
Pabillo said.
“Now in hindsight, have
these cautions been proven
to be true?” he said.
The bishop said that
Filipinos must not to
tolerate anyone being
Destabilizers / A1
the insurgents to destabilize the
government.
“He should name names.
(Otherwise) He is just spreading
rumors. That is not responsible
reporting. This one way of spreading
false news,” Pabillo said.
Asked why Malacañang has
repeatedly made such claims,
the bishop said it only shows
the “insecurity” of the Duterte
administration.
“That only shows how insecure
they are. They are so blinded by their
fears and their bias that they cannot
And That’s the Truth / A4
leaders and cheer those
whose fighting stance is
to their liking, and sneer
at those who appeal for
sobriety.“I admire Fr. So-
and-So for his guts. Fr.
Etc. is too soft,” is a typical
remark. (Hey guys, are we
watching a boxing match
here?)
We Catholics profess
the same Credo, we share
fundamental beliefs, and
the beauty of it is we are
free to express and defend
our beliefs in an endless
variety of ways and styles,
all of which are valid, given
that we are proceeding
from a place of Love—Love
as our Lord Jesus taught.
Look at the apostles:
Peter in anger cut off the
ear of a Roman soldier,
remember? John was
not heard from then,
in Gethsemane. But in
Golgotha, at the foot of the
cross as Jesus hung dying,
John was there, Peter was
not. This doesn’t mean
one apostle is better than
the other, or that one is
brave and the other is a
coward; it just shows we
have been given different
gifts as individual as
our fingerprints, and so
we must trust that our
July 9 - 22, 2018, Vol 22, No. 14 CBCP Monitor
Cebu Archbishop’s residence on Dionisio Jakosalem Street in Cebu City. PHOTO FROM THE OASIS OF LOVE— CEBU
Palma is currently in Koronadal the archbishop of Cebu. We call for
City to attend the episcopal prayer that peace may be restored,”
ordination and installation of he said.
Bishop-elect Cerilo Casicas of The priest said the dead body was
Marbel scheduled on July 11. blessed by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop
He was in Manila over the Dennis Villarojo before it was
weekend for the plenary assembly brought to the morgue.
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference “We enjoin everyone to pray
of the Philippines (CBCP). for the soul of the deceased even
Msgr. Tan said the archbishop has as we ask the public to refrain
not received any threats before the from forming any speculations
shooting incident. “It’s a surprise to relating to this incident pending
many,” he said. investigation by the police,” Tan
“There is no known prior threat to said. (CBCPNews)
treated disrespectful by sounded the alarm when Fr. Ranhilo Aquino
any person in power, the swearings have been warned that such claim
urging them to stand up happening. We gave him by Malacañang is not
to power abuse, rather the liberty to swear, now conducive to dialogue.
than silently endure for it he even swears against He said that the
to continue. God,” Pabillo said. government must stop
“We should learn the Duterte is known involving the church into
lesson now that if we do for fighting back when a supposed plot against
not control the power criticized. His attacks Duterte if it wants a sincere
of those on top they will against the church dialogue with the bishops.
abuse their power. If we continues even after he “If the government
do not make a stand, we created a committee to wants sincere dialogue
allow abuse to take place,” supposedly dialogue with with the Church, then
Pabillo said. the bishops. [it] should stop that.
The president recently Presidential spokesman Characterizing the
drew flak after questioning Harry Roque even church as a participant,
the creation story in the asserted that some church if not the leader, in the
Bible and even calling God leaders are working with destabilization plot will
“stupid”. communists to oust not prosper dialogue at
“We could not have Duterte. all,” said Aquino over
arrived at this stage if San Beda Graduate Radio Veritas. (Richard
already before we had School of Law Dean de Leon / CBCPNews)
see their mistakes. They deflect on of the Malacañang panel, was
others their inefficiencies,” he said. quoted saying that some church
Roque, who is also part of the people are trying to destabilize the
four-member committee tasked government.
to hold dialogues with religious The Catholic Bishops’ Conference
leaders following Duterte’s “stupid” of the Philippines has strongly
God rant, said that the church’s denied an alleged plot to undermine
criticisms began “when their Duterte.
candidate lost in the elections”. “It is just a fabrication that came
“Maybe many of them do not out of somewhere. It cannot come
accept the President so it’s not from the church. I can assure you of
farfetched to say they could unite that,” said Bishop Rey Evangelista
with the CPP-NPA to oust President of Imus, head of the conference’s
Duterte,” he claimed. public affairs body. (Roy Lagarde
Pastor Boy Saycon, also a member / CBCPNews)
Creator knows how to use Allow me to share an So it’s the same with
them all for His purpose. insight that came through this “stupid god” issue.
Those who feel offended years of persevering in If Mr. Duterte is bashing
by Duterte’s “insulting our prayer even when I thought the Church, calling us
God” and tend to react God was not listening. hypocrites, mocking our
by hitting back may need You may have known how theology, and maligning
to ask themselves if they competitive the media our priests, instead of
really believe anyone can profession is, how fierce bashing him back and
insult God. Really! It professional jealousy calling him the nastiest
is possible that they feel can be, and how vicious sinner of all, shouldn’t we
“offended” because their some practitioners could as Church keep on praying
belief in God is so fragile get to cling to the perks and waiting in silence for
that it can be threatened and power of position. God to show us what it
by a “stupid god” remark. After years of often being is about ourselves that is
Is it really God who’s been maligned, thought of as making him sin?
insulted or just the God ambitious, suspected of A silly remark should
they think is God? And sowing intrigues, I would concern us, but not cause
why say “our God” when wring my mind dry asking us to panic and fall into
there is only one God? the Lord, Why? “Why, a trap. As the great St.
People who bash God in when all I want is to serve Teresa of Avila wrote in
anyway do it because they You?” No answer. I would her Autobiography, “Do
do not know God, and if cry, but still, no answer we not know that Satan
we Christians are truly came. For years. Just the cannot stir without the
doing as Christ asks us to, pain inflicted by a silent permission of God?” Over
shouldn’t we care enough God. But I hung on. Then the centuries, the Church
to bring God to them? one day, the words crossed has been demonized over
Let us not bite the my mind, but I swear and over again, Dutertes
devil’s bait and be carried they didn’t come from have come and gone, and
away by the presidential me: “Lord, please help surely they have done so
fireworks. Even at prayer me see what it is about with an omniscient God’s
the devil comes to distract myself that is making these permission? Perhaps
us, but we must hold on people sin by maligning in all humility we who
to God’s hand. In dealing me. I don’t want anyone claim to belong to God’s
with this matter, let us to sin because of me.” Church should in a spirit
balance emotion and Those words changed my of penance fast and pray,
devotion with calm and suffering to inner peace. not only for three days,
an effective trust in God; Because God finally but for as long as Love
turning our anger into an answered by opening my demands. And that’s the
inward look at ourselves. eyes. truth.
CBCP Monitor
Mindanao church leaders
celebrate coal mine rejection
Tribal people and environmental activists stage a protest outside the provincial capital of the southern Philippine province of South Cotabato to press for a
stop to coal mining and other destructive projects in the region. BONG SARMIENTO/UCAN
SOUTH Cotabato—
Church leaders in the
southern region of
Mindanao have welcomed
a decision by the South
Cotabato provincial
government to reject a
proposed coal mine in
the area.
It ruled on June 25 to
reject the development of
a 2,000-hectare coal mine
in the village of Ned in the
town of Lake Sebu.
Local officials said the
mine went against the
province’s Environment
Code that bars open-pit
mining.
Catholic missionary
nun Susan Bolanio,
executive director of the
Davao fishermen raise concerns about coastal road project
DAVAO City— During a Franciscan
Dialogue Program (FDP) visit
on June 29, fisherfolk raised
some concerns about the ongoing
coastal road construction that are
threatening their livelihood and
way of life.
According to fishermen, the
bypass road project in the Taloma
district is depriving them access to
safer shorelines and higher grounds
that protect their fishing boats from
strong monsoon waves, especially
during typhoons. They said ten of
the fishing boats donated by the
government have already been
damaged after hitting boulders
piled along the pavement. Speaking
to the religious who joined the 4th
Franciscan Dialogue Program of
the Franciscan congregations in the
Philippines, the fishermen appealed
for the urgent provision of a safe
port to dock and shelter for their
fishing boats.
‘Grateful’ Zambaleños reunite with Columban priests
OLONGAPO City—
Catholics from across
the Diocese of Iba
waxed nostalgic as they
joined visiting priests
of the Missionary of
St. Columban (SSC) on
Tuesday in celebrating
100 years of spreading
Christ’s good news to the
ends of the world.
“In behalf of all those
of who were served,
loved, and touched by
the Columban fathers
during their stay here in
the diocese, I extend my
endless gratitude,” said
Iba vicar general Msgr.
Crisostomo A. Cacho
Immigration / A1
the moral and human development
of the citizenry, particularly the
poor, the youth, the handicapped
and the less privileged of society.”
They also acknowledged
missionaries’ dedication
by devoting their lives and
resources in the performance of
their vocation for the moral and
spiritual uplift of Filipinos in
various communities.
The agreement came about after
missionaries expressed concern
July 9 - 22, 2018, Vol 22, No. 14 DIOCESAN NEWS A7
Historian offers reward for
info on first Philippine Mass
Nuns read a marker that claims that the first Mass in the Philippines was held at a site in Butuan, a city
in the southern Philippines. BEN SERRANO/UCAN
SURIGAO City— A Filipino location of the event that ushered
historian has offered a two- Christianity into the country.
million peso (about US$37,000) “There is a need to review history,”
reward to anyone who can provide said local historian Potenciano
information about where the first Malvar who said that new evidence
Mass in the Philippines took place and discoveries show other possible
497 years ago. areas where Magellan and his men
Historian Vicente de Jesus said attended Mass.
he would give the reward to anyone Malvar led early this year
who can debunk his own theory and an expedition, which included
prove the island of Limasawa in researchers, archaeologists, and
Leyte province held the first Mass. even a priest, on a weeklong
De Jesus maintains that the city retracing of “Magellan’s Routes”
of Butuan in the southern region before the first Mass.
of Mindanao was the site of the “It is important to know where the
first Eucharistic celebration, which first Mass was really held because
happened to be an Easter Mass it paved the way for the spread of
Hesed Foundation Inc. brought about “serious tribesmen opposed to
when Spanish missionaries arrived Christianity in Asia,” Malvar told
of the Oblates of Mary man-induced dangers the mining project were
in the country in 1521. ucanews.com.
Immaculate congregation, such as deforestation and killed during what was
Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler of Sister Marie Rosanne Mallillin,
lauded the decision siltation.” supposed to be a military
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand president of the St. Paul University
as “a victory for the “It would have been anti-insurgency operation
Magellan, supposedly mentioned in Surigao, has welcomed the
environment.” environmental plunder if in the area.
the island of Limasawa in his interest in the topic.
“The spirit of God works mining had been allowed,” The military claimed
writings. She said it is a “responsibility”
through time,” said the said the prelate. that the tribesmen were
“If anyone of you can pinpoint for Catholic institutions “to correct
nun, adding that the Strong opposition from members or supporters
directly from Pigafetta’s account ... history based on facts backed up by
decision “will unburden Catholic Church leaders of communist rebels.
that Limasawa Island was the site of archaeological evidence ... if there is
our already overburdened and pro-environment Human right groups
the first [Easter] Mass, I will give a a dire need for it to be corrected.”
Mother Earth.” groups also prompted a blasted the military
two million cash reward,” De Jesus “What is important is it has been
She said the decision foreign partner of a local report, describing the
told a gathering in Butuan. thoroughly studied, research, and
would inspire local mining company to back incident as a massacre.
The historian claimed that discussed,” added the nun.
people to work toward out from the project. The coalfield that
nowhere in the logbooks of the The government earlier issued
“sustainable development The proposed mine site straddles the provinces
explorers and historians is the word a declaration that the first Mass
and environmental was supposed to be inside of South Cotabato and
“Limasawa” mention pertaining to was held on Limasawa Island, but
protection.” a watershed forest reserve Sultan Kudarat is believed
the first Mass held on March 31, some historians like de Jesus still
Bishop Emeritus near the ancestral lands to contain 211 million
1521. dispute this.
Dinualdo Gutierrez of of the T’boli and Manobo metric tons of deposits.
Father Pedro de Valderrama, who Other possible sites include
Marbel said the coal tribes. (Bong Sarmiento/
traveled with Magellan, celebrated the village of Masao, or Mazaua,
project would have In December, eight UCAN)
the Mass days after they reached in Butuan and a village named
shore. Magallanes in the province of
Magellan, who headed a Spanish Agusan del Norte, both in Mindanao.
expedition to the East Indies from Malvar expressed hope that the
Meanwhile, residents whose objective of the said visit is “to lead 1519 to 1522, reached the Philippines controversy will be resolved before
houses were identified for the participants to dialogue with on March 16, 1521. March 31, 2021 when the Philippines
demolition to make way for the the marginalized and with existing Almost 500 years after Mass was celebrates the 500th anniversary of
project also asked the government ecological realities and/or beauty first celebrated in the Philippines, the arrival of Christianity. (Ben
to be allowed to rebuild their houses of creation.” historians continue to dispute the Serrano/UCAN)
near the sea to enable them to “This activity actually
continue fishing, their sole means encompasses the beginning of the Duc in Altum / A5
of livelihood. ‘affective phase’ of this program
Meanwhile, the “Samahang where the participants are lead to will of government authorities to in making their decision. At this
Manggagawa sa Coca-cola” feel and experiences this encounter implement the waste segregation time, the Catholic faithful awaits
(SAMACOKE), which staged a that may hopefully lead one towards program, wastes from private the bishops’ response to the tirades
strike on April 2 after a labor introspection and discernment, homes which are collected by of President Rodrigo Duterte
agency terminated 72 of their especially towards concrete actions dump trucks will be reduced by against the Catholic Church and
members, joined the dialogue with in the context one’s present vocation 30% to 50%; local dumpsites will its clergy, the Christian Bible and
the participants. journey and ministries,” said the be closed and converted to other its teachings. Just recently, the
In the afternoon, the Franciscans priest. schemes; recyclable garbage can Chief Executive himself threaten to
visited the Farmers of Samahan ng Part of the said program is to be exchanged with cash; sanitation step down from office if it could be
Magsasaka ng Alambre (SAMAL) encounter and dialogue with the of the areas around the dumpsites proven that the God of Christianity
in Brgy. Alambre, Toril District, people living in the peripheries will improve; the health of the exists.
Davao City and lastly, they had the focusing on the theme for the year residents will get better; lesser As of time of this writing, the Chief
opportunity to visit and dialogue “Radiating Dialogue within the government expense in its health Executive is scheduled to meet with
with the prisoners in Davao City Jail Religious Community & Christian care program. CBCP President Archbishop Valles
and give them toiletries. Faith, Towards other Faith & those *** at Malacañang Palace. The Chief
According to FDP chairperson in the Periphery.” (Mark Joy G. The Catholic Bishops Conference Executive will also meet with the
Fr. Daniel Boromeo, OFM, the Basallajes/CBCPNews) of the Philippines (CBCP), headed officials of the Philippine Council
by its President, Most Rev. Romulo of Evangelical Churches (PCEC),
Valles, Archbishop of Davao, holds
its mid-year Plenary Assembly this
an organization of more than 70
Evangelical and Mainline Protestant
in a Mass held in their on to recognize parishes, the Columban July. During the Plenary Session, Churches, the 3rd largest faith group
honor at the Parish of St. the congregation’s fathers had left behind an the Bishops issue Pastoral Letter in the Philippines after the Catholic
Columban in Olongapo contributions to the local imprint of God’s love that and Statement, as a result of their Church and Islam.
on July 3. church of Iba, particularly forms part of the story and analytical discussions of important ***
A diocesan priest, the communities they history of Zambales which Catholic issues and teachings and Happy 12th Episcopal Anniversary
Cacho considers himself helped build and the Zambaleños will always current events in the country. to our dear Bishop of Kalookan, Most
a “Columban priest at schools they established. remember and retell with The plenary is preceded by a one Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, D.D.
heart,” having worked “Many of you here now gratitude. week retreat by the bishops to give Happy Birthday to my niece Mary
with Columban fathers present were baptized by Also present at the them the necessary preparation Gretchen Rosales-Castro.
for most of his priestly the Columban fathers, celebration were Iba
life, and having taken and were sad when they Bishop Bartolome G. Candidly Speaking / A4
part in their gatherings finally bade the diocese Santos Jr, San Fernando,
where he witnessed and goodbye after staying La Union Bishop-elect It is for all. love and serve him. Otherwise, a
experienced firsthand with us for more than 50 Daniel O. Presto, Fr. But that general universal person will not feel the need for
the Irish, British, years,” added Cacho, who Jaime A. Escurzon, Fr. vocation may still have to be made developing a sense of vocation, or if
Australian, and New also serves as president of Regalado Tiongson, and more specific. And this is where he feels something in this regard, it
Zealander missionaries’ Columban College. other members of the one has to be more discerning to will most likely deceive him.
spirit of camaraderie and According to him, local clergy. (Raymond see what God is trying to show him. I believe it is important that this
simplicity. though they are no longer A. Sebastián/ He could remain as a layperson, matter of developing a sense of
The priest went around manning the local CBCPNews) married or single, or God may want vocation should be worked on even
him to be a cleric or a religious in their childhood stage. Of course,
person. it has to be done in ways suitable
And there are many charisms and to the condition of the child, but
on various issues affecting the Archbishop Romulo Valles and spiritualities in the Church that one it should begin at that stage. That
issuance of missionary visas and Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP can choose. But as to which one a way, things become easier and
extension “which create some Vice President. person is meant to be or to have, we can save time and effort when
difficulties in the pursuit of their The first agreement was signed I imagine that this can be done if the children grow up and start to
mission.” by then BI Commissioner Edgar one develops a life of prayer, and wonder what and how they should
The ECMR handles the CBCP Mendonza and Bishop Carlito makes use of means, like spiritual be in life.
Visa Desk which has been set up to Cenzon on November 10, 1997. direction. In this regard, it should be made
assist and endorse Catholic foreign Established in 1968, the ECMR is But the problem now is that clear that we are dealing with
missionaries, religious and lay for also tasked to coordinate and unite hardly anyone feels the need for real spiritual and supernatural realities
their visa application and official the purposes and programs of the prayer, that intimate conversation with a lot of mysteries involved,
dealings with the BI. bishops and the religious superiors with God which should be a result such that we should pursue this task
Among those present in the in the Philippines. (Melo Acuña of a loving desire to deal with God, of developing a sense of vocation
MOA signing were CBCP President / CBCPNews) to look for him, and to really know, with the proper attitude and skills.
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES July 9 - 22, 2018, Vol 22, No. 14 CBCP Monitor

Bishop Casicas formally

takes over Marbel diocese
Newly ordained Bishop Cerilo Casicas is installed as the fourth bishop of the Diocese
of Marbel at the Christ the King Cathedral in Koronadal City on July 11. JAYE MEMPIN
PHOTOGRAPHY/SCREEN GRAB
VOWING to serve Catholic
Church as a “good shephered”,
Bishop Cerilo Casicas
ascended to the episcopacy
on July 11, a special moment
in the life of the Bohol native
who has quietly served the
priestly ministry for the past
23 years.
In a crowded ordination
and installation rites at the
Christ the King Cathedral in
Koronadal City, Casicas, 51,
became the fourth bishop of
the Diocese Marbel and the
first local priest ordained in
the diocese to be named to
the post.
He replaces retired Bishop
Dinualdo Gutierrez who
served the diocese for 37
years.
Dozens of bishops and
clerics attended the
ceremony, including Papal
nuncio Archbishop Gabrielle
Caccia, Cardinal Orlando
Quevedo of Cotabato and
Archbishop Romulo Valles,
CBCP President.
During the ceremony,
Casicas received the symbols
of his office: a ring, a miter,
and a crosier from Quevedo
who served as the principal
consecrator.
He assumed the
responsibility of the pastoral
care of the diocese’s more
than 1.5 million Catholics.
In his homily, Quevedo
reiterated the values of
humility and simplicity at
the heart of every bishop’s
mission.
“Not that he (the bishop)
stays in his palasyo or in the
poblacion,” said Quevedo.
“He has to seek out the poor
in all the diocese, he has to
travel to the villages and
mountains, visit the B’laans
and whoever they are.”
Recalling the image of
Christ’s humility in washing
the feet of his apostles, the
cardinal said that Casicas’s
“silent example of his life
is the most eloquent way of
proclaiming the Gospel of the
Kingdom.”
Casicas, a summa cum
laude graduate at the Loyola
School of Theology in Manila
and the Pontifical Gregorian
University in Rome, was
reminded that a bishop’s
calling involves not only
“theological expertise” but
also pastoral love.
“The gift of episcopacy is
not earned by one’s brilliance
of mind, or by one’s skills and
merits,” said Quevedo. “It is
totally the Spirit’s gift to be
in union with God’s Son in
the mission of preaching the
Kingdom.”
He then urged the faithful
of Marbel to pray for their new
bishop as he undertakes the
tasks of teaching, sanctifying,
and ruling.
“[Your bishop] has many
responsibilities and many
of which will lie beyond his
own skills and intelligence,”
he added.
Pope Francis appointed
Cacicas, who was then serving
as the Director of Pastoral
Formation and professor
at the Saint John Vianney
Theological Seminary in
Cagayan de Oro City, as
bishop of Marbel on April
28. (Richard de Leon/
CBCPNews)
Pope Francis names auxiliary
bishop for Antipolo
POPE Francis has appointed in Guiguinto, Bulacan. He
Fr. Nolly Buco as auxiliary was ordained priest on
bishop for the Diocese of October 18, 1993.
Antipolo. In 2004, he completed his
Upon his appointment on Doctorate in Canon Law at the
July 10, the bishop-elect was University of Santo Tomas in
serving as parish priest of Manila. Between 2002 and
Our Lady of Light Parish in 2003, he attended the PhD
Cainta, Rizal. program in Anthropology
Buco, 54, is the first priest at the University of the
elevated to the episcopate Philippines in Diliman,
and the second auxiliary Quezon City.
bishop in the 35-year history A priest 24 years, other
of the diocese. posts held by Buco include
The bishop-designate Judicial Vicar of Antipolo,
completed his Philosophy at Rector of the Our of Peace
the Sacred Heart Seminary and Good Voyage Seminary
in Palo, Leyte and his and member of the Board
Theology at the Immaculate of Presbyteral Consultors.
Conception Major Seminary (CBCPNews) Auxiliary Bishop-elect Nolly Buco. PHOTO FROM THE DIOCESE OF ANTIPOLO
Borongan diocese reopens radio station after 13 years
THIRTEEN years after it went off the air,
the Diocese of Borongan’s radio station
will be heard again over the air waves.
Bishop Crispin Varquez led the
relaunching of the DYVW-AM station
located on Baybay Boulevard in
Borongan City on June 26.
With the use of social media and
live streaming platforms, the station’s
programs will also be broadcasted
globally.
“With the use of our radio station
and live streaming online, we can bring
objective news and information to our
people,” Varquez said.
The diocese has re-branded its media
facilities as the Voice of the Word Media
Network (VWMN) that includes a cable
TV channel, an online news service,
a local newspaper, a terrestrial AM
Radio and an online FM radio which
are intended to help, among others,
arrest the spread of disinformation and Bishop Crispin Varquez leads the relaunching of the DYVW-AM radio station in Borongan City on June 26, 2018.
ALREN BERONIO/ESTE NEWS
fake news.
“This is a big challenge for us in the from God” and should be utilized for “A diocese that recognizes social
Church, how we counter the fake news the common good. communications as a tool for
done by irresponsible people who just “The use of these media by the Church evangelization in the digital age is truly
want to advance their selfish goals and ought to be exemplary and reflect the commendable,” he said.
interests,” said Varquez. highest models of truthfulness, while The diocesan radio station building
Fr. Neil Tenefrancia, the assistant being at the same time instruments of and the 180-foot antenna tower
director of the Diocesan Commission on hope,” Caccia said. that were built in 1991 were totally
Mass Media and Social Communications, “I wish you many more years of destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda
said “all programs will be on teleradio service to the Gospel and to the truth it in 2013.
that can be viewed in the local cable TV, proclaims,” he added. The reopening of the radio station
and will be streamed live on Facebook Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of coincided with the relocation of the
and Youtube.” Pasig, head of the church’s Episcopal dioceses’ various other media initiatives
In his message, Papal nuncio Commission on Social Communications, within the old DYVW compound
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia lauded the also hailed the diocese “for responding including the editorial office of its

What really causes child project, saying that instruments for

social communication are “great gifts
to the call to proclaim the Good News”
through the media.
Este News Service and newspaper.
(CBCPNews)

abuse? Doctor explains PH deports detained Methodist missionary

WHILE child abuse is
universally condemned, not
many are familiar with the
real roots of child abuse,
said a doctor at tHE 5th
Joint National Annual Family
Media Advocacy – Doctors
for Life Conference held in
this city.
“We should be looking into
the root causes…Preventive
measures are always better
than treatment options, to
stop the vicious cycle,” said
Dr. Angelita Aguirre who
gave a talk on “Child Abuse:
Just a tip of the iceberg”
on July 1 to close to 200
delegates from all over the
Philippines.
According to her, the
causes of child abuse are:
• dysfunctional families
• distorted value systems
• defective concepts of
human sexuality
‘Tip of the iceberg’
“The child abuse that
we see is just the tip of the
iceberg,” she said in Filipino
and English.
Ultimately, she said, the
real causes lie in the over-all
health of the family. “If the
family is damaged, our lives
are also damaged.”
She described how
dysfunctional families
experience a general
breakdown in day-to-day
communication.
“We always have a meal.
We have this table, sharing
stories and experience… That
is getting lost,” said Aguirre.
Dangers of value-free
sex ed
The medical doctor also
noted how many parents
A PROTESTANT missionary spokeswoman, Dana Krizia at the airport, said the his visa provisions by
do not think much of verbal
was deported from the Mengote Sandoval, said missionary was “in good engaging in leftist activities,”
abuse or how much it impacts
Philippines on July 5 following the bureau had ordered shape and spirits.” Sandoval told ucanews.com.
children’s self-esteem and
a month in detention for the immediate expulsion “He wants to extend his The immigration official
behavior.
reportedly participating in of Chandiwana back to his gratitude to all the people said Chandiwana’s case and
“These are the words, ‘gago’
“leftist activities.” home country. and church workers who the cases of other foreign
(fool), ‘you’re no good,’” she
Immigration officials Chandiwana was arrested helped him while he was in missionaries, like Australian
explained.
escorted Tawanda and detained on May 9 in the country,” said the prelate. Catholic missionary nun
The Family Media
Chandiwana, a Zimbabwe Davao City for overstaying his Chandiwana is a member Patricia Fox, are “not
Advocacy Foundation
national who had been missionary visa that expired of the Hilltop United isolated and do not mean
(FAMAF) founder also
working as a missionary on April 6. Methodist Church in Mutare, any crackdown.”
stressed that the public has
for the United Methodist He was also blacklisted by Zimbabwe, and a holder of a “This is a normal
to be aware of the effects of
Church, onto a plane. immigration authorities for bachelor’s degree in sociology immigration procedure. We
value-free sex education,
Chandiwana’s deportation allegedly engaging in illegal and a master’s degree in look at their records and if
the original proponent of
came a day after another political activities. public policy and governance. we find violations, we act on
which was Alfred Kinsey,
Methodist missionary, Bishop Ciriaco Francisco of He had been working in them,” she said, adding that
a sexologist who is widely
American national Adam the United Methodist Church the Philippines since October the case made news because
recognized as the “Father of
Thomas Shaw, was sent in Manila expressed relief 2016 but only applied for a they are church workers.
the Sexual Revolution.”
home. over Chandiwana’s release. missionary visa in 2017. “There is no campaign
According to Aguirre,
Shaw was earlier barred “This is good news. Finally, Immigration officials against religious missionaries
Kinsey, whom she called
from leaving the country our missionary is free to go said Chandiwana would or the church for that matter.
“a pervert” had sex with
after authorities confiscated home and reunite with his not be allowed to enter the We deport foreign nationals
many of his subjects under
his passport for joining a family back in Zimbabwe,” Philippines again. who violate regulations
the guise of “interviews”
“fact-finding mission” in said the Protestant prelate. “Aside from the deportation regardless of his or her
and promoted sex without
Mindanao. Bishop Francisco, who was case for overstaying his visa, occupation,” the official said.
commitment.
I m m i g r a t i o n able to talk to Chandiwana he was charged with violating (Mark Saludes/UCAN)
This kind of sex ed, she
explained, teaches children
that “whatever makes you
feel good is right,” giving
them a distorted view of sex.
‘Acting out’
Pornography, which is
inspired by this philosophy
as well, is also at the root of
sexual abuse cases, since, she
noted, the final stage of porn
use is “acting out.”
According to Aguirre,
various police reports have
confirmed that all sexual
predators were porn users.
The conference
featured sessions on
fertility, divorce and
annulment, and effective
communication, among
others. (Nirva’ana Ella
Delacruz / CBCPNews)