•A3 voice

Church needs a
in the media,
•B1 ‘A Voice
Unified and Positive
Needs to Be
•C1 Ugnayan
The News Supplement for
says Pope Presented to the Public’ Couples for Christ

3 Kuwait churches hold Church, urban poor

‘simbang gabi’ masses
for OFWs
FILIPINOS in Kuwait will have the chance to
attend the traditional Simbang Gabi begin-
ning December 16 at the Holy Family Cathe-
dral, Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi and the
St. Therese Parish in Salmiya. This will be the
first time Simbang Gabi will be held simulta-
neously in three different churches.
Fr. Ben Barrameda, the only Filipino priest
Kuwait / A6
discuss prospects
under Aquino gov’t
THE Catholic Church’s religious men and
women under the aegis of the Association
of Major Religious Superiors in the Philip-
pines and Metro Manila’s urban poor met
on December 6 to look into the prospects
for improvement under the current Aquino
administration.
Dubbed as “Prospects of the Urban Poor
December 6 - 31, 2010 Vol. 14 No. 25 Php 20.00 Prospects / A6

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Filipinos join an unprecedented pro-life vigil for the unborn called by Pope Benedict XVI and was met with a massive positive response from around the world and from pro-life leaders on November 27, the eve of Advent. In Manila, where artificial
contraception remains a sensitive issue, thousands join the vigil against the passage of the controversial reproductive health bill which seeks to control the country’s growing population.

Pass moral judgment on

public order, Pope says
Prelates welcome 18-day
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP

The Church has the prophetic duty to pass moral

Christmas truce
judgment in those matters which regards public
order whenever the fundamental human rights of
a person or the salvation of souls requires it, Pope
Benedict said on November 29 as he received the
first group of Philippine bishops during their five-
yearly “Ad limina” visit.
The Holy Father stressed that [to promote] an ever more just
in proclaiming the Gospel, the social order.”
Church may touch upon “is- Pope Benedict also lauded the
sues relevant to the political efforts of Philippine bishops in
sphere.” safeguarding the sanctity of life
“This is not surprising,” the and preserving the integrity of
pope said, “since the political marriage and the family.
community and the Church, The pontiff said it is the task
Ledesma
while rightly distinct, are never- of the Church to speak out on Pueblos Navarra Arguelles Tumulak
theless both at the service of the matters of moral and spiritual
integral development of every matters that affect the lives of CATHOLIC bishops welcomed the reported that “both sides in the renewed (peace) talks of Peace where our guest speaker, a Muslim,
human being and of society as believers. Christmas holiday ceasefire with the Com- can forge a lasting peace.” talked about the Blessed Mother who has al-
a whole.” He commended the Catholic munist Party of the Philippines which the Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos said ways been an icon of peace,” the 67-year old
Quoting a Vatican II document, hierarchy “for seeking to play government declared on December 3. he is supportive of the ceasefire “being a man prelate said. He added both the government
he said “the Church contributes its part in support of human life Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio of peace.” The prelate said the people can and the Communist Party of the Philippines
most toward the building of a from conception until natural Ledesma, SJ said the ceasefire is a welcome take advantage of the situation to work for should work together for peace.
just and charitable social order death, and in defence of the development. In a statement sent to CBCP- peace beyond the Christmas season. The Diocese of Butuan comprises of the
when, ‘by preaching the truths of integrity of marriage and the News, the 67-year old prelate said he hopes “We have just finished the Mindanao Week Truce / A6
the Gospel, and bringing to bear family.”

2011 is ‘CBCP Year of the Youth’

on all fields of human endeavour
the light of her doctrine and of
a Christian witness, she respects
and fosters the political freedom
and responsibility of citizens’.”
(Gaudium et Spes, 76)
The Holy Father noted that
the truth of the Gospel have led
“generations of zealous Filipino
clergymen, religious and laity
The Church must act as a leav-
en in society, the pontiff said. But
to be such, it must speak out the
truth, he added.
This is best conveyed, accord-
ing to the pope, “in the public
witness offered by the Bishops,
as the Church’s primary teach-
ers, and by all who have a role in
Pope / A6
THE first Mass of the traditional
Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi
every December 16 marks the
start of the special nine-day no-
vena of Filipinos in preparation
for Christmas Day.
But this year’s first Simbang
Gabi will be extra special espe-
cially for the Filipino youth since
it will also usher in a year-long
celebration of their significant
contribution to the life and activ-
ity of the Church.
This, as the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) will formally launch on
that day the start of the “CBCP
Year of the Youth,” which is
meant to dedicate the incoming
year in generating efforts to raise
awareness about the youth and
promote the youth ministry.
Aside from overlapping with
Youth / A6

Bishop laments Catholic schools to PNoy:

over Christmas
commercialization
AS people are in a frenzy
buying Christmas decora-
tions, a Catholic bishop
frowned on the commer-
cialization of the celebra-
tion.
Novaliches Bishop
emeritus Teodoro Bacani
told a church radio station
that noisy festivities are
the opposite of prayerful
meditation expected from
Christians in remembering
Dismantle private armies
A YEAR after the Maguindanao
massacre that killed 58 people,
Christ’s birth. including 32 journalists, Catholic
“Ang idea nitong ating educators urged the government
society lumalayo talaga to dismantle private armies which
kay Kristo under the influ- continue to perpetuate the culture
ence of secularistic ide- of impunity in the country.
ology,” Bacani said In a statement released today, the
over Radio Catholic Educational Association of
Veritas. the Philippines (CEAP) said solving
On the the problem would prevent a repeat
other of the Nov.23 “gruesome” incident
hand, which is rooted in political rivalries
the re- and private armies.
Commercialization / A6 Illustration by Bladimer Usi
“We reiterate our earlier demand
for our government to apply the
full force of the law against those
responsible for the brutality,” said
CEAP which is headed Msgr. Ge-
rardo Santos.
“All responsible government
agencies must exhaust all legal
means to meet the corresponding
punishment for the perpetrators of
the heinous crime and to dismantle
private armies and put an end to the
anarchy of clans in the region.”
Armies / A6

www.cbcponlineradio.com www.cbcphealthcare.org www.cbcpmedia.com

 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

Islamic states push for global

anti-blasphemy resolution
MADRID, Spain, Dec. 3, 2010—The
Organization of the Islamic Conference
has sponsored a draft resolution at the
United Nations that would condemn
the “defamation of religion” and create
a global “anti-blasphemy law.”
The draft resolution was presented
by Pakistan in the name of the Islamic
conference, which holds a majority of
the seats on the U.N. Human Rights
Council, according to the Spanish daily
ABC.
The Muslim organization hopes to
secure passage of the resolution by
the U.N. General Assembly. How-
ever, the resolution has been met with
widespread rejection, especially for its
condemnation of the criticism of radical
Islam by the media.
The United States and European
countries have warned that a resolu-
tion of this kind constitutes an attack
on freedom of expression and could
lead to greater persecution of religious
minorities. Experts say “defamation”
can only be liable to legal sanction when
it involves persons and not concepts or
feelings.
According to the Spanish daily,
many Muslim states have a legal
system based on Sharia (Islamic law)
and have established anti-blasphemy
laws that in practice only condemn
insults against the prophet Muham-
mad but not against other religions.
(CNA)
U.S. bishops launch new website
for book about Pope Benedict
WASHINGTON D.C., Dec. 3,
2010—An extensive new web-
site dedicated to a book on
Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy was
launched on Dec. 1 under the
sponsorship of the U.S. Confer-
ence of Catholic Bishops.
The bishops’ conference pub-
lished the book “Benedict XVI:
Essays and Reflections on His
Papacy” in the fall in conjunction
with Rowan & Littlefield Pub-
lishers’ imprint Sheed & Ward.
The new website provides a
tour of the new book with a photo
gallery and excerpts from its es-
says and personal reflections.
It provides video clips from
contributors Cardinal Sean
O’Malley of Boston, Cardinal
Francis George of Chicago and
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of
New York.
The book itself is edited by Sr.
Mary Ann Walsh, RSM, who directs
USCCB media relations. She char-
acterized it as a “Cliff Notes” for
understanding Pope Benedict.
Forewords to the book were writ-
ten by King Abdullah II of Jordan
and President Shimon Peres of Is-
rael. It includes introductory mate-
rial from Cardinal George, Vatican
Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone, and John Thavis, who is
Rome bureau chief for Catholic
News Service.
The book includes more than
100 full-color photographs show-
ing Pope Benedict in formal public
appearances, in meetings with
leaders and lay Catholics, and in
quiet moments of personal study
or contemplation.
Visitors to the new site can also
purchase the book through various
retailers. The site is located at http://
www.popebenedictbook.com. (CNA)

Vatican Briefing
Pope to Youth: Be Intrepid Like the Martyrs
Calling to mind the example of Vietnamese martyrs St. Andrew Dung-Lac
and his companions, Benedict XVI on Nov. 24 invited young people to be
intrepid in their witness to Christian values. The Pope made this invitation
at the end of the general audience when he gave his customary greetings to
youth, the sick and newlyweds. “Today, remembering St. Andrew Dung-Lac
and his companions, Vietnamese martyrs, I invite you, dear young people,
to be intrepid in witnessing Christian values, always being faithful to the
Lord,” the Holy Father said. (Zenit)

Pope urges greater unity with Orthodox

Benedict XVI sent a delegation to Istanbul Nov. 30 to mark celebrations of
the Feast of St. Andrew, the traditional patron of the Orthodox Church. In a
message delivered to Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the Pope

Honduran cardinal says

urged greater efforts towards unity and praised the patriarch’s “promo-
tion of Christian values” on the world stage. “In a world characterized by
increasing interdependence and solidarity, we are called to proclaim the
truth of the Gospel with renewed conviction, and to present the risen Lord

papal remarks on condoms

as the response to the most profound spiritual questions and aspirations of
the men and women of today,” the Pope said. (CNA)

offer teachable moment

Holy Father to travel to Benin in 2011
Benedict XVI will travel to Benin from Nov. 18-20, 2011, reports the Vati-
can. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office,
confirmed that the Pope will travel to the West African country to mark the
150th anniversary of the nation, led by the missionaries of the Society of PERTH, Australia, Nov. 29, 2010—The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the effect (applies). The pope was only
African Missions. During the trip, the Pope will also deliver the post synodal public debate on church teaching on Times,” was based on interviews Pope quoting the extreme cases, so I believe
apostolic exhortation for the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod condoms triggered by Pope Benedict Benedict granted to German journalist it is coherent (with existing Catholic
of Bishops, which was held in October 2009 on the theme “The Church in XVI’s comments in a new book is an Peter Seewald. The book was released teaching),” Cardinal Rodriguez told The
Africa in Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace.” (Zenit) ideal opportunity for parish priests Nov. 23. Record Nov. 26 during a four-day trip
to clarify it for the faithful from the In the book, Pope Benedict said: to Australia.
Catholic newspapers have ‘irreplaceable’ role—pope pulpit, said the president of Caritas “There may be a basis in the case of The church teaches that the principle
Pope Benedict XVI said the Catholic press has an irreplaceable role in forming Internationalis. some individuals, as perhaps when a of double effect may be employed when
Christian consciences and reflecting the church’s viewpoint on contemporary Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga male prostitute uses a condom, where one is considering an action that is mor-
issues. Despite the crisis in print media today, the Catholic newspaper still has of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, told The Re- this can be a first step in the direction ally good, yet the action involves one
a vital role to play in diocesan communications, the pope said. He made the cord, Catholic newspaper of the Arch- of a moralization, a first assumption or more unintended bad consequences.
remarks Nov. 26 to members of the Italian Federation of Catholic Weeklies, diocese of Perth, that many Catholics of responsibility, on the way toward Because these consequences are side ef-
which represents 188 Catholic newspapers. The pope said that while secular do not know what the church teaches discovering an awareness that not ev- fects and not directly willed, the choice
media often reflect a skeptical and relativistic attitude toward truth, the church in this regard. erything is allowed and that one cannot that brings them about is morally ac-
knows that people need the full truth brought by Christ. (CNS) “This could be a good opportunity do whatever one wants.” ceptable.
for us in the parishes to clarify and to Cardinal Rodriguez laughed off “We, as disciples of Christ, have a
Massive WikiLeaks disclosure involves Vatican cables teach,” said the cardinal, who has com- claims made in secular media globally lot to learn; we cannot pretend that in
As the uproar increases over WikiLeaks publishing hundreds of thousands pleted separate doctorates in philoso- that the pope had changed the church’s special matters all the baptized know
of confidential U.S. State Department cables online, the latest reports show phy, theology and moral theology and teaching on the use of condoms. everything, as we are always learn-
that 852 of the communications involve the Vatican. U.S. leaders are de- holds a diploma in clinical psychology “It has been the doctrine of the church ing and trying to implement what the
crying WikiLeaks founder, Australian Julian Assange, for incrementally and psychotherapy. all the time that when there are emer- mother church is teaching us,” the
publishing over 250,000 cables on his non-profit website. The cables are The book, “Light of the World: The gency cases the principle of double cardinal said. (CNS)
suspected of being leaked to Assange by 23 year-old U.S. army intelligence

Brazilian bishops seek

analyst Bradley Manning, among others. Manning is currently being held
at a military base in Virginia. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton blasted the
move Nov. 29 as “not just an attack on America’s foreign policy interests”
but an “attack on the international community.” (CNA)

Pope intensifies prayer for China, as state church prepares to

choose leaders
On the first day of December, Pope Benedict XVI asked Catholics around the
world to pray for the Church in China, as the country’s state-run Catholic
Patriotic Association prepares to choose new leaders. “I commend to your
prayers and to those of Catholics throughout the world the Church in China,”
he said, mentioning that the country’s Catholics were “going through a
particularly difficult time.” The Catholic Patriotic Association will meet Dec.
7-9 to select its new top official, as will the so-called “Bishops’ Conference
of the Catholic Church in China.” (CNA)
Cardinal says Christians face discrimination in many forms
The international community must begin fighting discrimination against
Christians with the same determination it shows in opposing intolerance and
discrimination against members of other religious groups, said the Vatican
secretary of state. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone told the Organization for Se-
curity and Cooperation in Europe Dec. 1, “It has been widely documented
that Christians are the most persecuted and discriminated against religious
group. More than 200 million of them, belonging to different confessions, find
themselves in difficulty because of legal and cultural structures.” (CNS)
constitutional protection for unborn
SAO PAULO, Brazil, Dec. 1, 2010—Four dioceses in the
Brazilian state of Sao Paolo have announced a joint effort to
prevent the legalization of abortion.
The dioceses of Taubate, Lorena, Caraguatatuba and Guar-
ulhos are pushing for changes to the state constitution that
would protect life from conception to natural death.
The move would prevent the legalization of abortion in the
state. Hermes Nery, the coordinator of the pro-life commission
for the Diocese of Taubate, explained that the initiative was
launched Nov. 27 at Taubate’s diocesan cathedral. Supporters
aim to collect 300,000 signatures to put forth a proposal for
changes to the Sao Paolo state constitution.
“The federal constitution already states that life cannot be
violated, but it does not spell out at what point. We want the
state constitution to explicitly declare that human life begins
at conception and ends with natural death,” Nery said.
Bishop Carmo Joao Rhoden of Taubate spoke to Vatican
Radio, saying, “I think this initiative is important, consid-
ering that all the polls show that the Brazilian people are
pro-life and therefore against abortion. They are for the
protection of human life from the moment of conception,”
he added.
Bishop Luiz Gonzaga Bergonzini of Guarulhos told the
publication “Status on the Defense of Life” that the effort “is
the first step” toward preventing the legalization of abortion
in the federal Constitution.
“Life is the greatest value we have and it should be de-
fended from the moment of conception,” he said.
Bishop Gonzaga has been one of the most outspoken critics
of the Workers’ Party in Brazil, to which outgoing President
Lula da Silva and President-elect Dilma Rousseff belong.
Dilma Rousseff has voiced her support of legalized abor-
tion on various occasions. Her position cost her some seven
million votes in the first round of Brazil’s 2010 presidential
elections. As part of her strategy for the run-offs, she said
she was “personally opposed to abortion” and promised that
if she is elected president she would not sent proposals to
legalize the procedure to Congress. (CNA)
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010
A3

Church needs a voice in the media--Pope VATICAN City, Nov. 29, 2010—
Benedict XVI is underlining the
need to give a voice to the Church
in the realm of social communi-
cations and the media.
The Pope stated this today
upon receiving in audience the
Filipino bishops who are in
Rome for their five-yearly “ad
limina” visit.
“A specific area in which the
Church must always find its
proper voice comes in the field of
social communications and the
media,” the Pontiff stated.
He continued, “The task set
before the whole Catholic com-
munity is to convey a hope-filled
vision of faith and virtue so that
Filipinos may find encourage-
ment and guidance on their path
to a full life in Christ.”
“A unified and positive voice
of the nation.”
“It is important that the Catho-
lic laity proficient in social com-
munications take their proper
place in proposing the Christian
message in a convincing and at-
tractive way,” he said.
“If the Gospel of Christ is to be
a leaven in Filipino society, then
the entire Catholic community
must be attentive to the force of
the truth proclaimed with love,”
Benedict XVI stated.
Witness
“The Church must always
seek to find its proper voice,” he
affirmed, “because it is by proc-
lamation that the Gospel brings
about its life-changing fruits.”
The Pope continued: “This
voice expresses itself in the
moral and spiritual witness of
He added, “Thanks to the
Gospel’s clear presentation of
the truth about God and man,
generations of zealous Filipino
clergymen, religious and laity
have promoted an ever more just
social order.”
The Pontiff commended “the
Church in the Philippines for
seeking to play its part in sup-
port of human life from concep-
tion until natural death, and in
defense of the integrity of mar-
riage and the family.”
“In these areas you are promot-
ing truths about the human per-
son and about society which arise
not only from divine revelation
but also from the natural law, an
order which is accessible to hu-
man reason and thus provides a
basis for dialogue and deeper dis-
cernment on the part of all people

www2.pictures.zimbio.com
needs to be presented to the
public in forms of media both
old and new,” the Holy Father
urged, “so that the Gospel mes-
sage may have an ever more
powerful impact on the people
the lives of believers.
“It also expresses itself in the
public witness offered by the
bishops, as the Church’s primary
teachers, and by all who have a role
in teaching the faith to others.”
of good will,” he affirmed.
The Holy Father particularly
noted “with appreciation the
Church’s work to abolish the
death penalty in your country.”
(Zenit)

Pope heralds beginning of Advent with pro-life vigil

Respect for life leads to
development of peoples,
states Vatican archbishop
VATICAN City, Dec. 2, 2010—The off to other countries as “cultural
president of the Pontifical Council progress.” “This mentality has in-
for Health Care noted this week that creased because of laws contrary

respect for human life is what fosters
the comprehensive development of
nations.
Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski
made his comments during a con-
ference on Pope Benedict XVI’s
encyclical “Caritas in veritate.” The
event was organized by the Political
Charity International Association
and held at Rome’s Sacro Cuore
University.
Archbishop Zygmunt said the
Church’s social doctrine pays special
attention to the protection of human
life. Since the 1970s, he explained,
the threats to human life have
increased as laws that protected
the right to life against abortion,
euthanasia, artificial insemination
and in vitro fertilization began to be
undermined. Such actions led to the
human embryo being “reduced to a
mere thing,” he added.
These problems constitute “major
challenges for Christian social teach-
ing and demand an adequate re-
sponse,” he added, pointing to John
Paul II’s encyclical “Evangelium
vitae” and Benedict XVI’s “Caritas
in veritate” as cornerstones for ad-
dressing them.
Archbishop Zimowski warned
against “an anti-life mentality”
whose advocates attempt to pass it
www.1.bp.blogspot.com
to life that have been enacted in
the most economically developed
countries,” he continued. These
laws end up defending attacks on
human life, such as abortion, as if
they constituted “rights of indi-
vidual freedom.”
VATICAN City, Nov. 28, 2010—Pope Virgin Mary,” he said, adding that the mother, the coordination of biological
The task for believers who deal
Benedict XVI heralded the beginning of “Incarnation reveals to us, with intense processes, the continuity of develop-
with a society on these terms is “to
Advent this year with an unprecedented light and in an amazing way, that every ment, the growing complexity of the
develop an ethos capable of pre-
worldwide pro-life vigil. On Saturday human life has an incomparable, a most organism,” he said. “This is not an
senting arguments in psychological
night at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, elevated dignity.” accumulation of biological material,
and socio-cultural terms about the
he urged respect for human life and Because “God loves us so deeply, but a new living being, dynamic and
meaning and value of the norms that
warned against “selfishness” by adults totally, without distinction,” the Pope wonderfully ordered, a new unique
respect human life,” the archbishop
and the “darkening of consciences” in noted that belief in “Jesus Christ also human being.”
continued. “We must overcome very
modern society. means having a new outlook on man, a “So was Jesus in Mary’s womb, so it
abstract or formal arguments that do
On Nov. 27, St. Peter’s was the center look of trust and hope.” was for all of us in our mother’s womb.”
not lend themselves to an adequate
of global focus, as dioceses around the Humankind, therefore, “has the right Pope Benedict went on to say that
approach to the present experience,”
world joined the Pope’s invitation to not to be treated as an object of posses- even after birth, children around the
he said.
prepare for the season of Christmas by sion or something to manipulate at will, world face abandonment, hunger,
The archbishop also urged a
joining in a special Vespers service for not to be reduced to a mere instrument poverty, disease, abuse, violence or
change in today’s idea of the “qual-
the unborn. for the benefit of others and their inter- exploitation.
ity of life,” understood only in terms
Although it is common for the Pope ests,” he said. “I urge the protagonists of politics,
of financial success, physical beauty
to encourage prayer for particular “In this vein we find the Church’s economic and social communications to
and unrestrained consumerism,
intentions, the request for a coordi- concern for the unborn, the most fragile, do everything in their power to promote
with no room for the relational,
nated worldwide vigil—to be held on the most threatened by the selfishness a culture which respects human life, to
spiritual and religious dimensions
the same date and approximately the of adults and the darkening of con- provide favorable conditions and sup-
of existence.
same time, in all dioceses—is highly sciences,” the Pontiff added. port networks for the reception and
He also referred to the urgency of
exceptional. He then reiterated the Church’s development of life,” he said.
changing today’s paradigms. Life is
Pope Benedict began his homily say- stance against abortion, warning against The Pope concluded by entrusting
not a product but rather a “gift that
ing that God became a child to experi- “cultural tendencies that seek to anes- prayers for the unborn to the Virgin
must be appropriately appreciated,”
ence the life of man in order to “to save thetize consciences with misleading Mary, “who welcomed the Son of God
especially in families, “who have
it completely, fully.” motivations.” made man with faith, with her maternal
the task of supporting a culture of
“The beginning of the liturgical year “With regard to the embryo in the womb, with loving care, with nurturing
life.” (CNA)
helps us to relive the expectation of womb, science itself highlights its au- support and vibrant with love.” (CNA/
God made flesh in the womb of the tonomy capable of interaction with the EWTN News)

Bishop urges business groups Prelate deplores slow justice in Marcopper tragedy
to help solve Veco feud
CEBU City, Nov. 25, 2010—The
rank-and-file workers’ union of
the Visayan Electric Company
(Veco) is prepared to hold a
strike if their grievances will not
be addressed, a Catholic prelate
warned.
In a letter to Cebu’s prominent
business groups, Bishop Ge-
rardo Alminaza cautioned that
they will be the first to suffer
if the grievances of the VECO
Employees Union will not be
addressed.
He said that if Veco manage-
ment continues to be “immov-
able”, the workers can and
might avail of the “last resort”,
to strike—which no government
order can prevent.
“Then, we would be in deeper
trouble, and, the first to suffer
would be the business com-
munity; and of course the or-
dinary public consumers,” said
Alminaza, the Auxiliary Bishop
of Jaro.
The prelate is the head conve-
nor of the Visayas Clergy Dis-
cernment Group that earlier of-
fered to mediate between union
members and the management
of Cebu’s largest power utilities
members.
It would be advantageous
to the business community, he
said, if they can convince their
business colleague to submit to
“amicable settlement” through
mediation.
The bishop’s letter was ad-
dressed to Cebu Chamber of
Commerce and Industries Presi-
dent Consul Samuel Chioson,
Mandaue Chamber of Com-
merce and Industry, Inc. Presi-
dent Eric Ng Mendoza, Cebu
Business Club President Gordon
Alan Joseph and Cebu Filipino
Chinese Chamber of Commerce
President Filomeno Lim.
Veco management repeatedly
refused the church organiza-
tion’s offer for mediation as the
case is already certified with the
National Labor Relations Com-
mission (NLRC), and it deems
that the on-going dispute cannot
be resolved through mediation
proceedings.
Alminaza added that, “com-
pulsory arbitration could drag
on and on, with endless motions
for reconsideration,” and this
would leave all concerned “un-
sure” and the labor’s patience
MANILA, Dec. 2, 2010— A Catho- never been repaired. it seems that the government has direction is the right path towards
lic bishop is disappointed over “The most important thing here not learned from the past. the ‘straight path’ that Aquino has
the slow grind of justice for the is environmental justice that the “This is what we feel, what the promised to embarked into.”
victims of the 1993 Marcopper Diocese of Boac and the whole people feel. Until now, the govern- “Mining historically has only
mining as no one had been held Marinduque province are hoping ment continuously pushes mining brought devastation, misery,
liable yet on the disaster. for,’ Evangelista said. in the country,” the 47-year old death, human rights violations,
Boac Bishop Reynaldo Evan- “(But) until now, talks are at prelate said. as what was clearly shown by
gelista said it has been 17 years slow pace. The case has already Recent Aquino administra- the horrific experiences in Marin-
since the country’s worst min- been filed but we are not sure tion’s pronouncements that it duque,” he said.
ing disaster struck and caused how many years or decades it will continue to pursue mining Aquino had vowed to revisit
havoc to the environment and the will take.” as an economic policy has also failed mining projects in the past
Marinduque folks, and yet, noth- The bishop called on the Aqui- alarmed mining affected com- and large-scale disasters like
ing had been resolved. he prelate no administration to give due at- munities, anti-mining activists Marinduque, Rapu-Rapu and
lamented cases filed in courts had tention to their problem so as the and advocates. Diwalwal so that there be proper
been there for as long as people of long-awaited justice be satisfied Attorney Mario Maderazo of rehabilitation and compensation
Marinduque can remember but for the victims. With the aggres- the Philippine Misereor Partner- for individuals and communities
the Boac River had never been sive campaign for mining even in ship – Anti Mining Campaign victimized by these mining disas-
restored and the people’s lives had their province, Evangelista said said, “We don’t think that this ters’. (CBCPNews)
Eco groups call for passage of new mining law
MANILA, Dec. 3, 2010—A coalition of envi- roots communities of indigenous peoples and
ronmental groups has called on legislators rural folks, multisectoral organizations and
to pass a new mineral management law that civil society groups as well as church forma-
would ensure a more ecologically balanced tions who are actual victims and witnesses,
use of natural resources. of the havoc created by the present mining
Around 200 environmental advocates policy of the government,” she said.
dressed in santa suits and singing Christmas House Bill 3763, filed on December 1, 2010
carols gathered outside Congress on Decem- “seeks to regulate the rational exploration,
ber 1 and pressed the lawmakers to act on development and utilization of mineral re-
the bill. The activists were representatives sources, and to ensure the equitable sharing of
of mining affected communities, indigenous benefits for the state, indigenous peoples and
peoples, church, urban poor organizations local communities, and for other purposes.”
and civil society environment groups. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Kaka Bag-
Judy Pasimio of the The Legal Rights and ao and Rep. Walden Bello of Akbayan Partyl-
Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan ist, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the 2nd Distric
Contributed photo

distributor.
Alminaza urged the business
groups to help them persuade
the Veco management to accede
to the proposal for a mediation
or dialogue with the union
“stretched.” - Friends of the Earth, Philippines (LRC-KsK/ of Cagayan de Oro, Rep. Maximo Rodriguez
Veco workers have already FoE, Phils) lauded the proposed measure saying of Abante Mindanao Partylist, Rep. Teddy
written to NLRC last Nov. 18 of the bill was the outcome of many years of hard Brawner Baguilat of the Lone District of Ifu-
the union’s willingness to par- work from the people concerned. gao, Rep. Carlos Padilla of the Lone District of
ticipate in the proposed media- “This bill is the product of years of painstak- Nueva Vizcaya and Rep. Roilo Golez of 2nd
tion. (CBCPNews) ing consultations and writeshops with grass- District of Paranaque. (CBCPNews)
 A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

EDITORIAL

The social concern challenge

THE message of Pope Benedict XVI delivered in audience on

November 29 to the first batch of Philippine bishops who went
to Rome on the occasion of their visit ad limina Apostolorum
maybe viewed as a congratulatory to the Philippine church.
The Pontiff commended the Church in the Philippines “for seeking
to play its part in support of human life from conception until natural
death, and in defense of the integrity of marriage and the family.”
This, of course, clearly alludes to the efforts of local church leaders
in the unrelenting fight against the passage of the Reproductive
Health Bill which has been persistent for over a decade now.
He also thanked a generation of zealous Filipino clergymen,
religious and laity for promoting “an ever more just social order.”
Quoting Gaudium et Spes No. 76, he seem to be referring to the
Philippine hierarchy that has been consistently passing “moral
judgments even in matters relating to politics, whenever the
fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires
it.” Public perception, though, has been quite vocal in tagging
some of the hierarchy’s members who were perceived to have
traded “critical collaboration” with the past political leadership
for personal favor or accommodation.
In the same message the Holy Father delivers a punch-line
challenge beneath his commendations when he started talking
about “economic and social concerns” especially with respect
to the poorest and weakest of society.
“Many of your fellow citizens, however, remain without
employment, adequate education or basic services, and so your
prophetic statements and your charitable action on behalf of the
poor continue to be greatly appreciated. In addition to this effort,
you are rightly concerned that there be an on-going commitment
to the struggle against corruption, since the growth of a just and
sustainable economy will only come about when there is a clear and
consistent application of the rule of law throughout the land.”
While the Successor of Peter appreciates the “prophetic
statements” and “charitable actions” ongoing in the Philippine as Oscar V. Cruz, DD
well as the pockets of efforts to fight corruption, it can hardly be
denied that the socio-political order in this part of Christendom Tyranny of numbers vs
is not getting any better.
He takes note that “at the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines
Views and Points force of truth
(PCP-II), the Church in your nation took a special interest in devoting
herself more fully to care for the poor.” It should be interesting to
find out after almost two decades now since PCP-II how much of POPULARITY vs reality, opin- is the expressed mention of continents of the world. She is man, woman and child. Sad but
this “special interest” for the poor has gained realization. ion vs fact, perception vs au- the use of condoms by no less in fact some 2000 years old— true, everyone—and this means
thenticity—these are some ex- than the Vatican, deliberately and counting. In the course of everybody—who dared contest
pressions that can encapsulate cited out of context. Third is world history, whole peoples her doctrine drawn from faith
the now reigning debate on the acclaim that majority of the raised clenched fists against and reason, eventually die, dis-
the so-called “Reproductive Filipinos favor the passage if her to vanish her from the appear and ultimately fall into
Health Bill”. Those leading the said Bill. face of the earth. Mighty and oblivion. And the Church they
Corruption—the rejection of moral and the drive for the public offi- Let it be said that Church influential individuals across hated for teaching the truth
religious truths cial distribution of man-made Doctrine premised on faith the centuries sought her de- contrary to their liking, con-
contraceptives—together with and reason is not in any way struction and annihilation. viction, especially but for per-
their avid followers—are joy- rendered true or false merely Millions even left her fold by sonal motives, still stands and
“KUNG walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” “Without corruption,
there will be no poverty.” This was the political rallying cry of our fully and publicly rejoicing for by the opinion of the majority subscribing to anti-Catholic remains up and about—simply
new President. It resonated deeply, and still does, with the longing their foreseen victory in the or minority of the people con- teachings and practices. This is attending to her mission. And
of our people for truth and integrity, for a moral society. eventual passage of the Bill. cerned. The empirical reality not to mention those who har- thus she is destined to be till
By and large, the primary ar- and ground certainly of Church bor hatred and disdain against the end of time—according
Allow us to remind you of two timeless and simple but profound guments so far invoked by the Doctrine is that it is firmly the Church as a whole—even nothing less than the expressed
truths: patrons of the Bill to proclaim anchored on objective truth— to this date. will of her Founder.
and promote their anti-popula- never, never on its acceptabil- The glaring truth of the mat- In short, the Reproductive
1. At the foundation of the moral society is a central religious truth— tion stand, may be synthesized ity or popularity among those ter, however, is that the Church Health Bill may be much ac-
our divine origin and our divinely-given identity as persons. God
into three arguments: First is concerned. is still there—still alive and claimed and very popular. And
created our inmost self, our inmost being, and knit us in our mother’s
womb. We come from God. We are created by God. Our capacity the poverty of the Filipinos The Church is the oldest and active, still teaching and pro- the Bill however remains de-
to understand truth and to love, our capacity to have compassion for for being too many in number well known institution in the claiming her doctrine, still ceitful, fallacious, and false—in
the weak and for the feeble—these are divinely-endowed wonders and consequent needs. Second world, existing in all known defending the dignity of every truth, in fact.
of ourselves, of the persons that we are, wonderfully created unto
God’s image and likeness. To respect God’s creative act and to be
true to God’s image are at the heart of being moral persons. Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
2. Real corruption is moral and spiritual corruption. The rejection How many more lives
will we lose? Love Life
or disregard of morality and religious belief is at the core of
corruption. Moral and spiritual corruption breeds its kind in
other spheres of life—political, social, and economic.
Therefore, to get rid of corruption at all levels of life we as a
people must acknowledge our origin from the creative power YES, how many more lives will we lose is weak, pale and feeble. She was releasing pregnancy, a partial molar gestation. The
of God and must be true to our identity as created unto God’s often the question that bothers me when- foul discharges. The throbbing pain in mother suffered from subchorionic hemor-
image and likeness. This moral truth is at the very foundation ever I hear of another woman dying due her abdomen was excruciating. She was rhage which caused her quick death, leav-
of a civilization of truth and love, a humane society, a moral to poverty and poor maternal services. The confined to the hospital the day she was ing him and three young children. Right
society. To disregard moral and religious truths such as this is RH Bill proponents can continue present- agonizing in pain. The very next day, the now, he has asked his aging parents to care
to be defenseless to the onslaught of corruption. In brief, we ing their arguments that contraception, mother died. for his children, but he does not know how
have to restore and secure the moral heritage that governs us as including those with abortifacient effects, Unbeknown to her husband, four
persons, our social relationships, and our institutions. long they will be able to stay there. He was
is the answer to lessen maternal deaths months earlier, his wife had asked help confused and feeling very guilty. He said,
All the faithful, clergy religious and laity, and all our religious but as long as people live in poverty, lack from a manghihilot to terminate the preg- if he had only known that the pregnancy
institutions are called to proclaim these moral and religious truths. It education, and are deprived of adequate nancy. Poverty was taking its toll on them, would end in her death, then he would
is our divine mission. Our action or lack of action might sometimes, health and social services, the high mortal- and for her, there was absolutely no room have done everything he could not to make
sadly, contradict our call and weaken our credibility. But realizing ity rate will put our country to shame. for another mouth to feed. The hilot was her pregnant.”
this with the deepest sorrow we nonetheless cannot abdicate our duty Here is the story submitted to me by one quick to say that she would bleed anytime, Many of our brothers and sisters are
and mission. We have to vigorously proclaim truth and integrity, of our counselors in the Diocese of Digos thus signifying that the abortion was suc- ignorant of when life begins, although for
combat corruption, and help build up a moral society. CBCP Office on Women Pastoral Counsel- cessfully done. most of us who are active in the Catho-
ing Center for Women and Children. Weeks passed but still no blood came lic Church, we know that “life begins at
But the fight against moral and spiritual corruption in our society
is not only the duty of the Church. It is also the duty of the “Yesterday, a man came to our center out. The mother decided to undergo ul- fertilization” and therefore nothing may
government. This is clear from the Constitution: “The government feeling extremely depressed over the trasound for fetal examination. But all be done to terminate the development
is to support parents in rearing the youth in the development of death of his wife. He related how, on the that was detected was what seemed like of that new human life. But to many of
moral character...,” (Art 2, sec. 12) “…in the youth’s physical, sixth month of her pregnancy, his wife, a a lifeless mass of coagulated blood. The them, the fact that they hardly see any fetal
moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being,” (sec. 13) “… mother of three children started getting condition was diagnosed as an embryonic Love life / A5
in the school’s role in ethical and spiritual values, development of
moral character and personal discipline.” (Art. 14, sec. 3)
Melo M. Acuña
2010, what a year it
Securing our Moral Heritage: Towards a Moral Society, 2010

Issues and Concerns was

Pedro C. Quitorio
Editor-in-Chief
Pinky Barrientos, FSP
PUBLICATION LAYOUT BY KRIS BAYOS
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
THE year is about to close and
as far as this corner is concerned
there were several events this
year that would continue to have
lasting effects on the country and
its people.
The first was the conduct of
the previous national and local
elections where the platform
Kris P. Bayos
Features Editor changed from fiery speeches at
Plaza Miranda decades ago to
Gloria Fernando the television screen and AM
and FM regular broadcast which
dio networks tried to keep their
bias but yet the slip showed. The
moment an international maga-
zine had a presidential candidate
on its cover, observant Filipinos
thought it was a subtle endorse-
ment of their “anointed.”
The automated elections also
had unsettled issues as how the
Commission on Elections and
Smartmatic addressed computer
glitches and how many couriers
were deployed to replace defec-
dent, which left eight Chinese
nationals and the hostage-taker
dead, left a mark on the coun-
try’s crisis response. It sent
ripples to people involved in
Tourism. Where was the local
crisis committee? Where was the
National Telecommunications
Commission?
The controversial Reproduc-
tive Health bill remained good
headline material as the Catholic
church register its opposition
the American dollar, the gov-
ernment cannot simply say it
will bring good tidings to the
country and its people. One
must remember the millions of
overseas Filipino workers who
keep the country’s economy
afloat. Their nearest of kin may
ask for more remittances for
them to afford the privileges
they now have.
Let’s see how the country’s
most popular chief executive

Associate Editor Marketing Supervisor

was synonymous to constant ex-
Melo M. Acuña Ernani M. Ramos posure through advertisements
Managing Editor Circulation Manager paid for by their closest friends.
In fact, the campaign was won
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez through media packaging, how
News Editor Comptroller intelligent a candidate appeared.
Nobody listened to how the
candidates planned to take the
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communica- country out of the doldrums or
tions Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business offices economic backwaters.
at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Movie and television person-
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940 alities do played roles in en-
dorsements as television and ra-
tive memory cards. A check with
the Philippine Air Force revealed
they only had very limited air as-
sets utilized during the last few
days before May 10.
Of course, the American Am-
bassador to the Philippines
Harry K. Thomas made head-
lines when he paid a courtesy
call on Senator Benigno Simeon
C. Aquino III ahead of the proc-
lamation.
The August 23 hostage inci-
based on scientific and doctrinal
reasons.
As the government announced
an 18-day Christmas ceasefire
with the Communist Party of the
Philippines, President Aquino
was reported to have said he’d
rather have the government
and the insurgents engaged in
debates. Won’t you consider dia-
logue a more viable option?
With the increase in the Phil-
ippine peso’s value against
perform against illegal gamblers,
private armies, extrajudicial
killings, farmers in need of land
reform and last but not the least,
wage a winning battle against
graft and corruption.
All is not lost because we’re all
optimistic something good will
come out sooner that expected.
Merry Christmas! Happy New
Year, too!
For reactions, please send
them to acunamelo@gmail.com.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010
Opinion A5
James H. Kroeger, M.M.
Commentary
Living Mission Herald of the Savior Dainius Kreivys

Economies rise and

DECEMBER is dominated by
the beautiful feast of Christmas,
the birth of Jesus our savior. De-
cember is also a splendid oppor-
tunity to reflect on the Church’s
mission to make God’s salvation
in Christ known to all peoples.
Without dedicated heralds of
Jesus the savior, the spread of the
faith would be jeopardized. Jesus
came to our world as the mis-
sionary of the Father, bringing
love, peace, joy and salvation.
Christians—missionaries by
baptism—are asked to continue
preaching God’s love made vis-
ible in the person of Jesus—and
not only at Christmas!
One important “Christmas-
time Missionary” is none other
than Saint Francis Xavier, whose
feast is celebrated on December
3. Allow me first to narrate some
key events of his life; then I will
also share a personal reflection,
framed in the form of a medi-
tation about a “conversation”
I hope to have with Xavier
himself.
Xavier’s Life. Saint Francis
Xavier was perhaps the great-
est missionary since the time of
Saint Paul and the first apostles.
He was born in Spain in 1506,
studied at the University of
Paris, where he met Ignatius of
Loyola and joined his group.
Francis sailed for India in 1541,
where he first preached to the
pearl fishers on India’s Fishery
Coast. He traveled from India
to Malaya, then to the Moluc-
cas. In 1549 he landed in Japan,
the first missionary to enter that
country. He remained in Japan
for 27 months, long enough to
establish several small groups
of converts.
When he heard about China,
Xavier also wanted to go there.
At that time China remained
closed to foreigners. Yet, Francis
believed that China would be the
grand prize of all his missionary
endeavors. However, this spe-
cial prize would elude him. In
1552 he arranged transportation
to China, but he fell seriously
sick. He died on Sancian Island
on December 3 of that year.
Xavier was canonized in 1622. In
1927 he was named, along with
Saint Therese of Lisieux, patron
of mission.
My Questions for Xavier. I
look forward to asking Francis
Xavier if he was disappointed
on his death-bed. He had a great
life ambition; he sought to reach
China and spread the Gospel in
that vast land. For Jesus he had
left everything—family, friends,
Ignatius and his original Jesuit
companions.
In the end he found himself
nearly friendless on the shore
of a small island within sight
of China. He almost died in
solitude. Boats had set out for
China but later returned for lack
of wind. Xavier remained alone.
Only a native boatman stayed
with him as he grew worse with
fever; he whispered his prayers
and the names of Jesus and
Ignatius.
Xavier, was it all a failure? You
died on a lonely island at the age
of 46. You only spent eleven
years in mission, including the
fifteen-month journey from Eu-
rope to Goa, India. You moved
from India through the heat of
Malaysia and the cold of Japan.
Your heart was restless, searching
for opportunities to make Christ
the savior known. You were a fi-
ery preacher who struggled with
difficult Asian languages. How
Fr. Roy Cimagala
deep was your trust in God’s lov-
ing providence!
Dismal Failure? Was your life
an utter failure? Yes, in many
ways. You, Xavier, a man of
sporting success in your younger
years, never were able to make
the final missionary run. As a
man of God, you were denied
your goal of bringing Jesus to
China. You faced an insignificant
death on Sancian, a misty island
near a mysterious continent.
A futile effort or a wasted
life? Maybe not. I recall how
many schools, churches, social
centers, religious houses, streets
and squares are named after
you. How many children have
been named Xavier? How many
young hearts (mine included)
have been fired with enthusiasm
when hearing of your mission?
Not a failure at all! You de-
sired to bring many to God. You
thought it would be in the years
of your earthly life; God planned
that it would be forever. You
thought that it would be in Asia
and China; God planned that it
would be worldwide. Xavier, her-
ald of Jesus the savior, inflame us
with your missionary zeal!
fall with the family
IF traditional family values were stronger in our society,
we would have a much stronger economy, not to mention
a more mature society. That is why today, in an era when
each of Lady Gaga’s new dresses gets major headlines, it is
important to speak about the family from a rational point
of view, as a crucial part of economic policy.
In many countries, family businesses are the most impor-
tant engine of the economy, and Lithuania is no exception.
That is not just because they constitute a major part of the
economy. Nobody can deny that successful families more
often produce responsible citizens who later also become
outstanding professionals. Economically, that means bet-
ter qualified specialists, people who create added value in
the economy, people who support themselves, create jobs,
maintain a family and pay taxes; people who do not live
off welfare benefits.
Family upbringing also has real significance for crime
rates. The values that are transmitted in families contrib-
ute to reducing crime, meaning the state does not have to
spend as much on public order.
So a policy that supports the success of a country’s
families has a significant impact on GDP, and that is why
I suggest that the family should be the central axis of every
country’s economic development strategies and business
promotion programmes.
Consider the family from the perspective of government
revenues and expenditures.
A family represents revenue for the state treasury. Be-
hind almost every tailor, cafe, guest house, rural tourism
getaway or farm, you will find a family business with

They don’t listen to
God anymore!
WE have to say it as it is, calling a spade a
spade. It may not be that politically correct.
But then again, if the drift to secularism and
Godlessness is just getting too obvious and
strong, who cares?
A recent news item says that a majority
of our town mayors are for the RH bill. The
reason given is that they want the people
to have an “informed choice” about family
planning and population control methods.
Obviously, the news item sprang from a
survey. Surveys are now the modern oracles
of what is supposed to be right and wrong
in society and in man in general. But God
knows how these surveys are designed to
arrive at a desired result!
Just look at the financiers, just look at the
questions, etc. You have to be especially
dumb not to know where the questionnaires
are meant to head. In short, many of our
surveys are nothing less than tools of black
propaganda, of disinformation.
But the more serious issue here is also the
quite clear reality that many of our public
officials are not anymore listening to God.
They are simply listening to themselves,
perhaps making some kind of consensus
and compromise among themselves, and
with the people also. But God hardly has
any place.
I’m sure the assertion will raise a howl of
protest and questions. What is listening to
God anyway? What does it involve? Who
can say one is listening to God or not? Why
does God have to be dragged into our gov-
The symbols of Advent
Candidly Speaking
ernment affairs? And yet they dare to say that it is for giving
In the discussion of many social issues, the people an “informed choice” that they
like the RH bill, faith is often set aside, since support the bill. How can it be an “informed
it is considered as anti-reason, anti-human, choice” if they systematically avoid the
not politically or socially correct, a nuisance moral angle as defined by the Church?
to the deliberations, etc. But how can we say Obviously, what they can do is to arrogate
we are tackling the issues adequately when to themselves the right to make a moral as-
faith is a priori discredited? sessment of the RH bill by ignoring the voice
Truth in religion has become a meaning- of the Church. This has been done in many
less affair to many people, especially those other countries, those that are precisely suf-
occupying positions of power and influence fering from secularist tendencies. They just
in our society. It has been reduced to a for- ignore God and go on with their agenda.
malistic activity, a social custom still prac- They will spare no effort to destroy the
ticed more to meet social expectations rather organic connection between God, Christ
than a matter of belief and conviction. and the Church. And with some help of
Many are still stung by the supposedly theologian-dissenters, they will propose the
Enlightenment bias which pits reason with idea of conscience as the lone way where
faith and gives no place to faith in human one can hear the voice of God, detaching
affairs. conscience from its inherent need for Church
If there’s still some regard to God, it is just magisterium.
to make God a mere idol, a pious ornamental There is now little doubt that some of
statue that does not hear nor talk. That he is a our public officials are embarking on a path
living God who intervenes in our life all the that sooner or later will end up attacking
time, who directs and governs us with his the Church, our Christian faith and culture.
providence is lost on many people. We have to be ready for this eventuality.
The proof of this is that any of our public Our public officials can pose as a potential
officials refuse to tackle the moral dimension threat to the Church and our Christian way
of the RH bill. Its morality is considered of life.
above their pay grade. They’re contented We need to voice it out, loud and clear,
simply with the practical and convenient that listening to God, heeding the indications
aspects of some of its parts. They obviously of our faith, the requirements of morality as
are happy that such bill will entitle them to taught now by the Church, is an indispens-
some funds. The worst case is when they able element in any discussion of public is-
consider morality simply as a function of sues. Ignoring it will just make our reasoning
practicality and convenience. get into a dangerous adventure.
Brian Caulfield
family members working shoulder to shoulder. The size
of these undertakings may not amaze anyone, but they are
not called the engine of the economy for nothing. These
families provide stable jobs for themselves, create work
for others and pay taxes, thus contributing to economic
growth.
Families usually form in order to have children. In the
eyes of an economist, every person is an “economic unit”
which increases the country’s GDP and brings a variety of
tax payments to the state budget.
The family also plays a key role in raising responsible
citizens, shaping their values. Without slighting the ef-
forts that single-parent families make, one has to say
that this is much easier to do in an intact family. Their
investment in the welfare of each child involves the en-
ergy, time and financial resources of two people, not just
one. Again, for confirmation just look at the statistics:
children who grow up in one-parent families are more
likely to end up in high-risk groups and more often
commit crimes. For the national budget, that means not
only higher costs to fight crime, but also greater social
security spending.
The state cannot by any means forget or neglect single-
parent families, but the top priority has to be encouraging
people to marry, to live family life and to defend their
families.
Regarding informal partnerships, the statistics show no
mercy: children of unmarried couples achieve less than
those of married couples. Moreover, the probability that
such a child will eventually be left with just one parent
is several times larger than for children born to married
couples. Therefore, two people just living together, in my
view, do not constitute a real family and cannot fulfil the
role of a family.
For all these reasons, I am really pleased by some recent
private initiatives in Lithuania that are helping large num-
bers of families raise virtuous, responsible and educated
citizens for our country.
Ma ny Eu r op ea n cou nt r ies, inclu ding Lit hu a nia ,
are now struggling with the painful consequences
of devaluation of the notion of family: an increasing
retirement age, tragically declining birth rates and
aging populations with ever larger numbers of eco-
nomically inactive persons enjoying (well-deserved)
retirement. This will get even more painful, as we
reach the point where each employed person will
have to maintain not just one but two or more non-

Half a World Away employed persons.

SUDDENLY the church is alive
with Advent colors and seasonal
rituals that have my two boys
open-eyed and attentive at Mass.
They know Christmas is on the
horizon.
The familiar green vestments
have been replaced by violet,
and a purple cloth now rests on
the altar. A wreath hangs on a
candelabra which holds four
thick, fresh candles, and in the
corner of the church, the Giving
Tree is festooned with tags bear-
ing requests for gifts.
Seeing the tree, my 6-year-old
said, with a mischievous grin
that told me he knew better, “Is
it Christmas yet?”
“No,” I replied, “that tree is
for us to give gifts not to receive
them.” I was going to explain
how Advent is a time of wait-
ing, but his eye had already
moved on.
“What is that pink candle for?”
he continued, pointing to the dif-
ferent Advent candle amid the
three purple ones. I could have
gone on about Gaudete Sunday
and the past penitential tone of
Advent, but decided to keep it
simple.
“The pink is for the Third
Sunday of Advent—it tells us
Christmas is near.” He liked the
sound of that.
I added, “We’re going to light
one of the candles as a family
next week at the 10:30 Mass.”
“The pink one?” he asked,
hopefully, no doubt thinking
that would mean Christmas was
coming quickly.
“No,” I said, sorry to dis-
appoint. “The second purple
one.”
My 10-year-old Cub Scout
listened to our conversation
with a sense of satisfaction. He
patted his little brother on the
head to indicate that he already
knew the meaning of all the
symbols of the season. He had
gotten up earlier with me this
First Sunday of Advent for the
7:30 a.m. Mass—a miracle for
the boy I have to drag out of
bed for school—so he could join
his Pack selling wreaths outside
the church. He was the high-
earner for the morning, so he
was feeling good, dressed in his
Scout shirt and badges galore.
He didn’t even complain about
going back to church to attend
the 10:30 Mass with my wife and
younger son.
As the organ blasted the open-
ing notes and the choir began the
hymn, I thanked God—Jesus in
the tabernacle—for the beauty of
the Catholic faith, which is deep
enough to employ the world’s
great theologians and simple
enough to capture the heart of
a child.
(More of Brian’s articles are
found in www.fathersforgood.
org)
It seems to me that many of us are mistaken in thinking
that the decision to start a family, to stay in a family and
to defend one’s family is something purely emotional. We
live in a rational world, and one in which the family plays
a very rational role.
A country that does not adequately value the family’s
impact on its economy, in the long run is doomed to bat-
tling extended economic recession, not to mention the
costs of social welfare programs and crime reduction. To
go beyond mere declarations and truly recognize the value
of the family for the national economy, governments need
to promote a more effective social security system and pro-
grams to support family businesses. In the nearest future,
as the economic recovery consolidates, we should take a
close look at both of these things, viewing them as parts
of the national investment program.
(Dainius Kreivys is the Minister of Economy of the Repub-
lic of Lithuania. His article was translated by Bryan Bradley,
MercatorNet’s contributing editor for Eastern Europe. This
piece is printed here under special publishing arrangements
with MercatorNet)

Lovelife / A4

parts when they or relatives or ried women.

neighbors have a miscarriage
is an indication that what is
forming in the woman up to
three or four months is only
blood and tissues, not yet a
human being. How important
then that they are educated on
the scientific and moral basis of
our teachings on the “Miracle of
Human Life”.
If so many are ignorant of
the meaning of fertilization,
embryology and fetology, there
is much more ignorance regard-
ing the true meaning of sexual-
ity, fertility and marriage.
That is why there are so many
unwanted pregnancies among
the single as well as the mar-
Parish Family Life Ministries
have many wonderful activi-
ties on promoting couple rela-
tionships, spirituality within
marriage, parenting skills and
stewardship. However, there is
need to put more programs on
Responsible Parenthood and
Natural Family Planning.
Whether the Reproductive
Health Bill passes into law or
not, we have the obligation to
provide our faithful, especially
our grassroots brothers and
sisters, with practical, compas-
sionate, and effective ways of
living their married life accord-
ing to God’s wonderful gift of
sexuality and fertility.
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

CBCP official hits ‘mind-conditioning’ survey on RH bill

AN OFFICIAL of the Catholic Bish-
ops’ Conference of the Philippines
has called for a stop on surveys on
the Reproductive Health bill while
the issue is still being debated by
the lawmakers.
Fr. Melvin Castro, executive sec-
retary of the CBCP’s Commission on
Family and Life, fears the surveys
are being conducted to influence the
decisions of the lawmakers.
Castro also expressed concern that
surveys are being conducted as a
mind-conditioning strategy of those
behind the controversial measure.
“We are appealing to them (sur-
veying firms) not to be used to
mindset legislators that majority of
the people is for the bill… so that it
FILE PHOTO
are trying to influence our legisla-
tors,” he furthered.
Castro made the statement after
the result of Pulse Asia’s latest sur-
vey revealed that seven out of 10
Filipinos favoring the RH bill which
seeks to promote contraception.
The poll shows that 69 percent of
Filipinos support the measure, seven
percent oppose it, while 24 percent
are undecided.
The CBCP official, meantime,
questioned the manner by which
the survey was done by the polling
firm.
“The question is: Did the questions
tackle the bill’s provisions? Or was it
a general question on whether they
support it or not? It would be good
Restorative justice
will work in PH
THE latest paradigm introduced in the
country’s judicial system known as
“restorative justice” will work in Philip-
pine setting.
This was the view of Public At-
torney’s Office Chief Atty. Persida V.
Rueda–Acosta given in an interview at
the sidelines of the Orientation Seminar
and Year-end Management and Plan-
ning Conference held at the Manila
Hotel recently.
yers to attend to the country’s courts.
“We look forward to more lawyers
under the leadership of President Be-
nigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III,”
Atty. Acosta told CBCPNews.
The Office still needs a thousand law-
yers nationwide to attend to the clogged
cases at the different courts across the
archipelago.
She added the Public Attorney’s Of-
fice was responsible for the release of

will not cause undue influence to our
legislators,” said Castro.
Fr. Melvin Castro
“It is our impression now that they
to ask if the people they surveyed
have already read the bill or not,”
he said. (CBCPNews)
Atty. Acosta said this will work pro-
vided pillars of the country’s criminal
justice system will work closely to-
gether. The so-called pillars include law
enforcement, prosecution, judiciary,
some 10,000 inmates who have been
either acquitted by the courts, served
their sentences or have already reached
the maximum age in detention.
“Restorative justice will come to real-

CBCP website restored after hackers’ attack

corrections and the community. ity when everybody, the criminals and
Though the past administration ap- the victims’ nearest of kin would learn
proved the hiring of 300 new lawyers, the the true meaning of justice and love,”
Public Attorney’s Office still lacks law- she further said. (Melo M. Acuña)
A WEBSITE of the Catholic internet service provider. they have no idea who may be
Bishops’ Conference of the Hernani Ramos, website admin- behind the hacking but doubted Kuwait / A1
Philippines has been restored istrator, said the security code it was connected to the RH bill
after it was hacked by a group may have been cracked late night debate. incardinated to the Apostolic Vicariate in addition to the big halls which will be
calling itself “LordDemon of November 26 or morning of the “I don’t see that the incident of Kuwait said the traditional early opened to accommodate more Filipino
EgypT!0n.” following day. is related to the pro-life (stand morning Mass began in Kuwait some faithful,” he added.
The Internet vandals defaced The CBCPWorld upon learning of the Catholic Church) because ten years ago. In a related development, the two
the homepage of the CBCP Epis- that the site was hacked immedi- if that were the case then they “Fr. Fred Micua, OFM will celebrate additional Filipino priests now attend
copal Commission on Health ately worked on restoring the web- should have attacked the site the dawn Masses at the Our Lady of to distressed OFWs at the Philippine
Care site (http://www.cb- site to its original form. The website of t h e C B C P- E p i s cop a l C om - Arabia parish in Ahmadi with two other Overseas Labor Office (POLO). They
cphealthcare.org), dedicated to was fixed in just five minutes and mission on Family and Life,” Filipino priests who will celebrate the also hear confessions and do some
promote the agency’s ministry went online again before noon. Quitorio said. Simbang Gabi at St. Therese in Salmiya, counseling before saying Mass every
for caring multiple-handicapped The hacking incident occurred “I don’t think that they have a a thickly populated residential district Thursday evening.
people and the mentally ill. hours before a major pro-life Catho- political or ideological agenda… at 9:30 p.m. starting December 15,” Fr. Barrameda said he is grateful to the
“HackEd BY LordDem0n lic group was to hold a prayer vigil If their intention was to hack Barrameda said. He said the evening Philippine Embassy officials in Kuwait
EgYpT!0n – H4Ck3r … Your Se- against the reproductive health the CBCP, they would have Masses were upon the request of Fili- for allowing them to do outreach pro-
curity Can Not Face Us !!!” the (RH) bill which seeks to promote hacked the major websites of pino workers who report to work very grams.
cyber vandals said. contraception. the CBCP.” early in the morning. He also cited the support of Bishop
The hacker, who placed an El Shaddai with its thousands of “So I have strong belief that Barrameda said this year’s theme Camillo Ballin, MCCI for coming to the
image into the website of a man members and several anti-RH bill is not connected to pro-life. It‘s is “Matatagpuan tayo ng Diyos… Sa aid of migrants, especially Filipinos.
with his back turned to the visi- groups gathered evening of No- just a way for the hackers to pamamagitan ni Kristo Hesus.” There are about 200,000 Filipinos
tors, also left an email address, vember 27 at the Amvil compound show who is better… The kids Masses at the Holy Family Cathedral today in the progressive State of Ku-
a_0x@live.com. in Parañaque City to express their nowadays are good, I suspect parish and Our Lady of Arabia will wait.
The website is hosted by opposition against the controver- this was done by computer begin at exactly 5:00 a.m. instead of the Bishop Ballin is a native of Fontaniva,
Mabuhay Web Hosting Philip- sial measure. geeks who are just trying to traditional 5:30 a.m. Italy and is a member of the MCCI or
pines and managed by the CB- CBCP Media Office director discover new things,” he added. “With the steady influx of Filipino Missionarii Comboniani Cordis Iesu, a
CPWorld Corp., a church-based Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III said (CBCPNews) migrant workers in Kuwait, they expect religious congregation founded in Italy
the churches to be standing-room only in the 1840s. (Melo M. Acuña)

Pope / A1

teaching the faith to others.”
The pope made the statement
as he welcomed the group of 35
bishops led by Manila Archbish-
op Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
RH Bill
The Holy Father praised the
Philippine bishops for their ef-
forts to uphold the sacredness
of human life from all stages and
preserve the sanctity of marriage
and family.
Church leaders in the country
are currently at loggerheads with
government officials against the
passage of the controversial re-
productive health bill.
The proposed law has conten-
tious provisions which the bish-
ops said are morally unacceptable
as they go against the teachings
of the Catholic Church.
Among others, it promotes
the use of contraceptives, which
bioethics experts say are abor-
tifacients as they prevent the
implantation of fertilized egg
into the uterus.
The measure also provides for
a mandatory sex education for
students from Grade V up, which
bishops fear could lead to promis-
cuity and teen pregnancies.
“In these areas you are pro-
moting truths about the human
person and about society which
arise not only from divine rev-
elation but also from the natural
law, an order which is acces-
sible to human reason and thus
provides a basis for dialogue
and deeper discernment on the
part of all people of good will. I
also note with appreciation the
Church’s work to abolish the
death penalty in your country,”
the pope said.
The Church, in proclaiming
the gospel values, will necessar-
ily have to touch on issues that
can be considered political, the
pope said.
‘Prophetic stance’
The Holy Father also wel-
comed the bishops’ efforts to
care for the weak and deprived
as he noted the rise of Catholic
charitable institutions in the
country that care for the poor.
“A third aspect of the Church’s
mission of proclaiming the life-
giving word of God is in her
commitment to economic and
social concerns, in particular
with respect to the poorest and
the weakest in society,” he said.
The pope lauded the bishops
for their “prophetic stance” on
social issues as he mentioned the
problems of unemployment, lack
of adequate education and basic
services in the country.
“In addition to this effort, you
are rightly concerned that there
be an on-going commitment to
the struggle against corruption,
since the growth of a just and
sustainable economy will only
come about when there is a clear
and consistent application of the
rule of law throughout the land,”
said the pontiff.
‘Unified voice’
The pope also mentioned
communications media as a field
where the Church can have a
voice to reach out to the faithful
more effectively.
But he stressed that to create
an impact it is important for the
Church to have a “unified and
positive voice” in presenting the
gospel values to the faithful.
The Holy Father said lay peo-
ple expert in social communica-
tions can contribute much in
making the Gospel message
attractive to people.
“If the Gospel of Christ is to be
a leaven in Filipino society, then
the entire Catholic community
must be attentive to the force of
the truth proclaimed with love,”
he said.
The bishops who are in Rome
for their five-yearly “ad limina”
visit come from the 30 ecclesi-
astical jurisdictions in Metro
Manila, and Central and North-
ern Luzon. The group is the
first of three batches of bishops
scheduled to visit Rome for the
quinquennial visit “ad limina
apostolorum.”
CBCP ‘encouraged’
After gaining praise from
Pope Benedict XVI, the Phil-
ippine Catholic hierarchy
found more reason to op-
pose a proposed birth control
measure.
The head of the Catholic Bish-
ops’ Conference of the Philip-
pines said the pope’s statement
has encouraged them to fight the
reproductive health bill despite
a growing number of lawmakers
backing it.
Bishop Nereo Odchimar,
CBCP President, said the pontiff
commended the church in the
Philippines for its commitment
to protect the sanctity of life.
“We are greatly encouraged
by the words of the Holy Father,
Pope Benedict XVI, on the un-
dertakings of the Church in the
Philippines,” said Odchimar.
“Pope Benedict’s message to
the first group of Philippine bish-
ops affirms the CBCP’s staunch
resolve to preach and stand up
for the Gospel of life in season
and out of season,” he said.
Odchimar also said the pope
also thanked not only the Fili-
pino bishops, priests and reli-
gious, but also the lay persons
for working to promote a just
social order.
On November 29, the Pontiff
hailed the members of the CBCP
for its strong pro-life stance by
continuously opposing bills that
are against human life.
“I commend the Church in
the Philippines for seeking to
play its part in support of hu-
man life from conception until
natural death,” said the Pope
in his message to the first batch
of Philippine Bishops in their
visitatio ad limina apostolotum
to the Holy See. (With reports
from Roy Lagarde)

Truce / A1 Youth / A1

provinces of Agusan del Norte and
Agusan del Sur where insurgents have
made their presence felt.
For his part, Bacolod Bishop Vicente
Navarra said he would welcome more
“a long lasting ceasefire.”
“This can only be brought about by
both parties talking together and agree-
ing on terms without having any hidden
agenda from any side,” he added.
Negros Occidental has been a hotbed
of communist insurgency during the
past decades.
Meanwhile, Lipa Archbishop Ramon
Arguelles said he joins the Filipino peo-
ple in praying “for lasting peace based
on the love of God and of country” as
he called on God “to bless these armed
Armies / A1
CEAP, which has 1,290-member
schools, colleges and universities, also
called for a speedy trial of the case to
bring justice to the victims of the inci-
dent, the worst political massacre in the
country’s history.
“We call for a speedy and fair trial −
delay of justice is a denial of justice; for
people for them to turn their armaments
into instruments for food production.”
The government said the ceasefire,
which will begin on Thursday, Decem-
ber 16 until midnight of Monday, Janu-
ary 3, 2011 will serve as a prelude to the
resumption of peace talks between the
two parties in February.
Military Ordinary Leopoldo S. Tumu-
lak welcomed the ceasefire between the
government and communist insurgents
scheduled to begin on Thursday, De-
cember 16 until January 3, 2011.
In a statement sent to CBCPNews,
the prelate said he is thankful to God
because “both sides will have time to be
with their families and enjoy the Christ-
mas holiday.” (Melo M. Acuña)
vigilance so that people, organizations and
institutions can monitor the progress of the
case; and for transparency of the case so
that the public may know,” they said.
“We demand that justice be
served without fear of favor at the
earliest possible time,” CEAP added.
(CBCPNews)
the start of the traditional Simbang
Gabi, the dawn of the “CBCP Year of the
Youth” also coincides with the arrival of
the relics of St. John Bosco, considered
as the father and teacher of the youth,
in the country.
According to CBCP Episcopal Com-
mission on Youth (ECY), this visit of
St. John Bosco’s relics is a most fitting
way to launch the “CBCP Year of the
Youth” as it “highlights the spirit of
the saint who has offered his life for
the young.”
ECY Chairman and Legazpi Bishop
Joel Baylon said ushering in the New
Year as “CBCP Year of the Youth” will
be a double celebration for the Filipino
Church since it will also concur with
the 25th founding anniversary of ECY
on July.
Incidentally, it will also cover the
26thWorld Youth Day (WYD) slated in
Madrid, Spain come August.
“During this ‘CBCP Year of the
Youth,’ let us together work to inten-
sify awareness about the youth and
their importance to the life and activity
of the Church. By our witness, let us
help the young in our midst—in our
homes, schools, communities, etc.—to
find God in their lives and generously
answer His call to service and love,”
Baylon said.
“Let us pray that there may be wider
participation and greater dedication in
youth ministry, leading to a meaningful
and fruitful service that is undertaken
with the fullest attention and high-
est priority in every way by all in the
Church,” he added.
Baylon also urged other bishops to
spearhead the diocesan level of observ-
ing the National Youth Day (NYD) on
December 16 and the “CBCP Year of the
Youth” thereafter.
In a letter dated November 18, 2010,
Baylon urged those involved in youth
ministry to echo out the ECY’s NYD
2010 Formation Program, the Liturgy
for the Eucharistic Celebration on De-
cember 16, and the ECY-composed
Prayer for the Youth to the parochial
and transparochial levels to reach the
Filipino youth and their ministers.
After the observance of the National
Youth Day in the diocesan levels this
month, the year-long nationwide pil-
grimage of the National Youth Cross
will follow.
While members of the CBCP will
convene for a workshop on Youth Min-
istry during their plenary assembly in
January, youth ministers will have their
retreats with ECY bishops as retreat
masters from February to June.
There will also be a National Youth
Coordinating Council 2011 meeting
slated on April and the recognition of
outstanding persons in the youth min-
istry will be simultaneously held until
November.
After the ECY sends its delegation
to the WYD in Spain by August, it
will spearhead the celebration of the
National Youth Day 2011 by October.
A book on the youth ministry suc-
cess stories will be launched come
November, just before the “CBCP
Year of the Youth” closes in Decem-
ber 2011.
But the youth ministry awareness
campaign for the “CBCP Year of the
Youth” will stretch until 2012 with the
Congress of Youth Directors in Janu-
ary 2012 and the National Conference
for Youth Ministers in October 2012.
(Kris Bayos)

Prospects / A1 Commercialization / A1

under the Aquino Administra-
tion,” the four-hour dialogue
was held at the Titus Brandsma
Center at Acacia St., New Ma-
nila, Quezon City.
Sponsored by the a mis-
sion partner of the AMRSP,
the Task Force on Urban
Conscientization under its
chairman Fr. Charly Ricafort,
MI, the organizers said the
phenomenon of poor people
in cities and towns building
their make-shift homes in
empty private lots or in un-
used government proprieties
and the unabated growth of
slum settlements which has
become “a long standing so-
cial problem.”
The organizers said the grim
reality of the urban poor can-
not be simply “swept under
the rug” by throwing them “far
away in uninhabitable places to
die the slow death of poverty
and neglect.”
They added the approach not
only fails to solve the problem
because “it aggravates and
fuels even more social unrest
and more resistance.” (Melo M.
Acuña)
tired prelate noted how stat-
ues and images of Santa Claus
are displayed in almost every
part of communities while
traditional Christian symbol
of the crèche with Jesus, Mary
and Mary is already disap-
pearing.
“Si Santa Claus nakakatu-
long yan sa consumerism.
Si Santa kasi ay symbol
ng pagbili at pagregalo. Si
Christ ay simbolo ng pag-
aalay ng buhay para sa
kapwa tao. E mas mabili si
Santa para sa commercial,”
Bacani said.
According to the prelate, the
faithful should bear in mind
that Christmas is meant to
celebrate the birth of Jesus and
should be kept that way.
“Let us keep Christ at Christ-
mas. Let us project Christ at
Christmas. Let us project the
love that God had shown us
and Christ. And project it
not only by Christmas carols
and by our words but by our
loving deeds and compassion
for our fellow human beings
during this Christmas time,”
he said. (CBCPNews)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010
A7

Church to fight RH bill

to the end—prelate
LIPA City—The Catholic Church will
continue to fight against the passage of
the reproductive health bill to the end,
a prelate said.
Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles
told lawmakers supporting the measure
that promotes contraception that victory
will not come on a silver plate.
“Yes (we will oppose it no matter
what happen) because that is our moral
duty. It is our duty to promote the teach-
ings of God. And the RH bill is definitely
Life of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines.
The prelate made the statement on
November 25 as he saw how the law-
makers pushing for the RH bill seem
hell bent on forcing its passage into a
law under the Aquino administration.
He stressed that the RH bill contain
several provisions that go against
Church teachings.
“Masama talaga ito dahil it takes
away the life of the unborn and it is
Last November 24, the House Com-
mittee on Population and Family held
its first committee hearing on the con-
troversial measure, wherein the oppos-
ing sides went face-to-face.
In the said hearing, anti-RH bill and
Cebu Representative Pablo Garcia com-
plained why the measure was referred to
the House Committee on Population and
not to the House Committee on Health.
The first congressional hearing is seen
by observers as only the preview on

File photo
against the teachings of God,” he said. also (considered) corruption dahil may what would be a prolonged and more
Arguelles is the vice chairman of the perang involved diyan e,” said the Lipa intense debate on the fate of the RH bill. Archbishop Ramon Arguelles
Episcopal Commission on Family and prelate. (CBCPNews)

War won’t achieve peace— Stop Apeco budget,

Mindanao army chief
CAGAYAN DE ORO City—
Peace cannot be attained
through war.
This was stressed by Major
General Victor Felix, com-
manding general of the 4th
Infantry “Diamond” Division
during the closing ceremonies
of the Mindanao Week of Peace
Dec. 2.
Instead of war, Felix advo-
cated for peaceful means to
attain the long dreamed-of
peace in Mindanao.
He said that Filipinos, espe-
cially Mindanawons, should
exert effort in understanding
each other, especially those
of other religious and cultural
affiliations.
“The Philippine Army, spe-
cifically the 4th ID, empha-
sized that peace is not won
through more bloodshed but
through peaceful means and
efforts in understanding and
unifying each Filipino citizen,
especially the people here in
Mindanao,” he said.
Felix said that government
soldiers are also trained to be
peace advocates and peace
builders and that right now,
soldiers are doing develop-
ment works in the countryside
to let the people know that
they also want peace and not
war.
Through development work,
soldiers can help build peace-
ful communities all over the
country, he stressed.
But Felix admitted that there
is still a lot of work to do to
attain lasting peace. But this
can be done if the church and
socio-civic organizations unite
and join hands in “fighting”
for peace in Mindanao and in
the whole country.
“The struggle for peace
has never been an easy one.
There has never been a prov-
en short cut formula record-
ed all throughout history
that will be able to guide
us. For each situation, espe-
cially in our case, will rely
purely in our understanding
what is needed to be done.
Because peace starts when
people would learn to listen,
respect and understand each
and everyone’s opinion,”
he said.
Officers and soldiers of the
4th ID, especially all units of
the Eastern Mindanao com-
mand (EastMinCom) have
undergone peace education
through the Operation Peace
Course (OP Kors!) conducted
by the Balay Mindanaw Foun-
dation, Inc. (BMFI) in coopera-
tion with EastMinCom. (Bong
D. Fabe)
priest renews appeal
INFANTA, Quezon—A Catholic port zone would result in en-
priest in the prelature of Infanta vironmental degradation at the
remains very concerned over the marine life-rich Casiguran bay.
fate of the residents who are affect- “Again, we are appealing to
ed in the Aurora Pacific Economic the government to suspend the
Zone and Freeport (Apeco). budget (of the project),” said
Fr. Jose Francisco Talaban, a Talaban.
parish priest in Bianoan, a more Aside from the non-consulta-
serious problem is likely to occur tion on the eco-zone, the priest
if the operation of the project will also reported alleged wide-
not be stopped the soonest. spread human rights violations
Most of the residents, majority and displacement of residents in
of them indigenous people, fear the project’s impact zone.
of losing their ancestral lands as Last June, Talaban escaped
they claimed that they were not unhurt when unidentified men
even consulted that an economic strafed the rectory of his con-
zone would be put in their area. vent. The attack, he claimed, was
Talaban said many fishermen tied to his lobbying against the
are also anxious that the free ecozone. (CBCPNews)

Lumads call for scrapping of IPRA Law, NCIP

CAGAYAN DE ORO City—A Hi- Plana said that the land is very sacred
gaonon datu (leader/chief) along with to the lumad because it is the source of
tribe leaders of the Bagobo and Manobo life of the lumad and their culture and
nations called for the scrapping of the tradition is identified with the land.
Indigenous People’s Rights Acts (IPRA) But when the IPRA Law was enacted
and the dissolution of the National in October 29, 1997, the struggle of the
Commission on Indigenous Peoples lumad communities all over the Philip-
(NCIP) for it only allegedly legalized pines, especially in Mindanao, came to
development aggressions against the the fore, highlighted by bloodshed and
lumad territories. strife within the lumad communities.
Datu Inbanwag of the Higaonon tribe The IPRA Law, which was modelled
of Bukidnon, also known as Jomorito on the provisions of the UN Draft Dec-
Goaynon, said that state-backed com- laration on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights,
panies are using the IPRA Law and the is in theory one of the most enlightened
NCIP to further divide the indigenous laws dealing with indigenous peoples as
© Bong Fabe / CBCP Media

peoples for their own ends.
“Ang NCIP mao ang ugat-hinungdan
sa padayong pagka-bahin-bahin sa mga
lumad (The NCIP is the root cause of the
continued division of the indigenous
peoples),” he said.
Goaynon, chairperson of the Kalum-
bay Regional Lumad Organization,
which counts as members hundreds
of lumad peoples irregardless of tribe
from the provinces of Misamis Oriental,
Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur and Agusan
del Norte and even from the Davao
provinces, said that the NCIP is siding
with the government, which he said
only pay token recognition to the lumad
communities.
He said that the IPRA Law seems
Datu Inbawag of Higaonon Tribe
very good for the indigenous peoples
at first glance but glaringly failed to
uphold the rights of the lumad when
scrutinized against the culture, tradi-
tion and practices of the indigenous
peoples.
“Pipila lamang ka mga provisions
sa IPRA ang maayo sa lumad. Ang
kinabag-an niana makadaot sa lumad
(Only very few provisions of the IPRA
are good for the indigenous peoples.
The bulk of its provisions are bad for
the indigenous peoples),” he said.
Roger Plana, a Manobo and secretary-
general of the Kalumbay Regional Lu-
mad Organization, explained that the
IPRA Law introduced the concept of
land titles to the lumad which created
friction among the tribes because the
concept of land title is alien to the indig-
enous peoples in the Philippines.
“Mao bitaw’ng ng gitawag ang
among teritoryo nga yutang kabilin kay
ang kinatibuk-ang tribo ang nagapanag-
iya niana ug dili lamang ang pipila ka
tawo. Kung mamatay ang leader sa
tribo, ibilin niya ang yuta sa mosunod
pa nga mga henerasyon (We call our
territory ancestral land because it be-
longs to the whole tribe and not just a
few individuals. If a tribe leader dies, he
bequeaths the land to the next genera-
tions),” he said.
it recognizes the lumads’ free prior and
informed consent (FPIC), the absence of
which effectively prevent a project from
proceeding within lumad territory.
In practice, however, the IPRA Law,
particularly this FPIC provision is regu-
larly undermined by legislation such as
the 1995 Mining Act, which gives min-
ing claims to the same Indigenous land
supposedly covered by IPRA.
Local and international organizations
hailed the passage of the IPRA Law in
1997 as it finally recognized the rights
of the lumads over their territories.
But 13 years since its enactment, the
indigenous peoples of the Philippines
continue to fight for recognition and
respect due them. (Bong D. Fabe)

May They Be One Bible Campaign

Help Put a Bible in Every Filipino Home Briefing
Pacquiao eyed as climate change spokesperson

Praise God for the warm

Meeting Jesus through His Word SURIGAO City— Eight different weight division boxing champion Rep.
Manuel “Manny” Pacquiao is being eyed to be the country’s mouthpiece for
response to MTBO by climate change, Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III said. Pacquiao, Tañada

both Filipinos and na-
tionals in Australia and
New Zealand, as well as
the support of Most Rev.
Philip Wilson of Adelaide
- Pres. Of the Austra-
lian Bishops Confer-
ence, Most Rev. Denis
Hart of Melbourne, Most
Rev. Joseph Grech of
Sandhurst, Most Rev.
Patrick Dunn of Auck-
land, during the MTBO
presentations there in
November by Most Rev.
Arturo Bastes and Fr.
Oscar Alunday. The trip
was organized by the
Bible Societies of Victo-
ria, Adelaide, Melbourne
and the Bible Society of
New Zealand.
P l e a s e p r a y fo r m o r e
churches and organi-
zations throughout the
country to register as
Writing Centers for the
Handwritten Unity Bible
which will be launched in
January 2011.
I
n Gamu. Isabela… Fr. Antonio Ancheta dreams of having each believed, can be the perfect spokesperson for climate change adaptation
parishioner from the 16 barangays of the St. Rose of Lima Parish
and disaster risk reduction because he is very popular among the masses
to get their own Bibles. The need for Bibles became more apparent
after he started a Gospel Sharing program last September 2009, where who adore and look up to him. Pacquiao also knows and understand the
many attendees could not afford to buy their own copy of the Word. masses because of his humble beginnings in the streets of General Santos
However, a happy turnaround occurred when Fr. Ancheta joined the City. (Bong D. Fabe)
May They Be One Bible (MTBO) campaign, which made the Bible avail-
able to the poor parishioners at an affordable price. At present, 320 27 undocumented OFWs nabbed in Saudi crackdown
families in his parish now have their own MTBO Bibles. Fr. Ancheta ANTIPOLO City— Twenty-seven Filipino workers were arrested in Saudi
joyfully recounts that through the MTBO Bibles, the people not only Arabia as the Kingdom has intensified its campaign against illegal aliens
hear about Jesus—they also encounter Him for themselves through working and living there. Migrante Middle East coordinator John Leonard
their own personal study. Fr. Ancheta said that the people are now Monterona told CBCPNews the 27 undocumented overseas Filipino work-
more responsive to the Gospel message, progressively applying in ers (OFWs) were nabbed by the Saudi police the night of November 23, as
their lives the principles they learn. The St. Rose of Lima cleric also reported by their local chapter in Al-Khobar. (CBCPNews)
notes that his parishioners have become more prayerful and that
church attendance has considerably improved. CBCP official to town mayors: Protect your constituents
MANILA—A Catholic Church official called on the local government
No. of Dioceses participating in the cps.)
officials to protect the interest of their constituents after the League of
Bible Campaign – 76 out of 86 Dio-
ceses Parishes/Communities served: Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) expressed support to a birth
596 control measure, saying they wanted their constituents to have an
Bibles Distributed (Jan 2010 – Dec informed choice. “While we respect their position as duly elected by
Total Bible Distribution: (Jan 2009-
1, 2010): 177, 563 cps.
Dec. 1, 2010): 283,123 cps the people, our point is that if they are elected by the people then they
Bibles Distributed by Languages - Ta- should protect their constituents to get their sentiments on the proposed
galog (53,965 cps.), Cebuano (50,412 Target No. of Bibles for Distribution measure,” said Fr. Melvin Castro of the CBCP’s Commission on Family
cps.) English (31,155 cps.), Ilocano for 2010: 200,000 cps. and Life. (CBCPNews)
(19,349 cps.), Hiligaynon (12,290 Total Funds Needed for Printing
cps.), Bicol (6,511cps.), Pangasin- and Transport of Bibles in 2010: HK rights’ group assails Aquino’s stance on Morong 43
ense (3,858 cps.), Pampango (1,323 P30M ANTIPOLO City— A human rights’ group in Hong Kong has assailed Pres.
Benigno C. Aquino III for his seeming indifference on the Morong 43 case,
To learn more about how you can be part of the Campaign and make signifi- as the incarcerated health workers and their families have re ceived nothing
cant change, call us at PBS 526-7777, ECBA 527-9386 or visit www.bible.org. from the Chief Executive but excuses. Aglipayan priest Dwight de la Torre,
ph and www.ecba-cbcp.com. Donations can be made by making a deposit
to the following bank accounts: PBS-MTBO Account #393-0649-34 (BPI Sta. co-convener of the HK Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights
Mesa Branch) Fax deposit slip to 521-5803 or ECBA-CBCP Account #0251- and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP) said that after nine months of
021376 (BPI-Tayuman Branch) Fax deposit slip to 527-9386. For credit card the Morong 43’s illegal arrest and detention, still their call for justice has
payments – go to PBS website (www.bible.org.ph) apparently fallen upon the deaf ears of “PNoy”. (CBCPNews)
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

Pope Benedict receives RP bishops

on ‘ad limina’ visit POPE Benedict XVI met sepa-
rately with eight bishops from
the Philippines on their ad limina
visit to the Holy See on Decem-
ber 2, according to the Vatican
Information Service.
The prelates included San
Fernando de La Union Bishop
Artemio L. Rillera, San Jose de
Nueva Ecija Bishop Mylo Hubert
C. Vergara, Urdaneta Bishop Ja-
cinto A. Jose, Balanga Bishop Ru-
perto C. Santos, Iba (Zambales)
Bishop Florentino G. Lavarias,
Tarlac Bishop Florentino F. Cin-
ense, Cubao Bishop Honesto F.
Ongtioco and Antipolo Bishop
Gabriel V. Reyes.
The Holy Father, earlier re-
ceived Manila Archbishop Gaud-
Pastoral Visit, tell us, Holy Fa-
ther, the things the Lord Jesus
wants us to hear. Your Bishops
in the Philippines are listening.
Thank you and God bless you,
Holy Father.”
The Holy Father, for his part
warmly welcomed the Filipino
prelates. He praised the bishops
for their work in promoting the
culture of faith, life and family
in the Philippines.
“… I commend the Church in
the Philippines for seeking to
play its part in support of hu-
man life from conception until
natural death, and in defense
of the integrity of marriage and
the family. In these areas you
are promoting truths about the

www.youtube.com/romereports
encio B. Cardinal Rosales and his
auxiliary Bishops Bernardino C.
Cortes and Broderick Pabillo.
During their general audience
with Pope Benedict on Novem-
ber 29 at the Consistory Hall,
Cardinal Rosales, on behalf of his
brother bishops greeted the pope
with the following message:
human person and about soci-
ety which arise not only from
divine revelation but also from
the natural law, an order which
is accessible to human reason
and thus provides a basis for
dialogue and deeper discern-
ment on the part of all people of
good will. I also note with ap-

UST attempts world’s

“Your Holiness, here we are preciation the Church’s work to
the thirty-five Archbishops and abolish the death penalty in your
Bishops from Northern Philip- country,” the pope said.
pines. From the Far East we have The pontiff also noted the Phil-

grandest living rosary

AS a grand thanksgiving to the Our Lady
of the Rosary for its 400 years of existence,
the University of Santo Tomas (UST) will
be organizing its students, alumni, faculty
members, and administrative staff to form
a big living rosary on the forthcoming
Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Through the December 8 Marian event,
Asia’ oldest Catholic University will
also attempt to set a world record of the
largest human rosary with some 20,000
participants.
According to a Facebook page devoted to
the event dubbed “Q Rosary,” the grand liv-
ing rosary is a statement of UST’s unchanging
love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
“Having been named ‘Colegio de
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario’ at
the time of its inception, UST has had a
long history of devotion to Our Lady of
the Rosary, patroness of the Dominican
Order. It is in thanksgiving for 400 years
of her maternal protection that the Uni-
versity shall hold the Quadricentennial
Living Rosary,” the information on the
Facebook page says.
Participants of the grand living rosary
will congregate along Arellano Drive,
Ceferino Gonzales Drive, Osmeña Drive,
Albert Drive, Quezon Drive, Leon Ma.
Guerrero Drive, and Araullo Drive, and
within Plaza Mayor and Plaza Intra-
come to Rome to make the tradi-
tional Ad Limina Apostolorum
Visit, to submit our Quinquen-
nial Reports and to hear again
the voice and the message of
muros inside the UST Campus in Espana the Successor of Peter. As once
Manila. the disciples approached the
Participants assigned to the Hail Mary Lord, tired and severely tried,
beads will wear yellow shirts, while those but still able to tell Jesus what
assigned to the Our Father beads, the Cross, they had done, we, who also
and the Center Medal will wear blue shirts. come from afar, would like to
Those assigned to the connecting chains will hear the words, “you must come
wear white shirts. The grand rosary will be away to some lonely place by
prayed from 4 to 5 p.m. and a Mass for the yourselves and rest for awhile”
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Mt. 6: 30-31). But as we return
will follow. home to the “fields we till,” we
The Q Rosary was initially set on October long to hear the words, “launch
7 but due to unpredictable weather, it was deeper into the sea,” “teach what
rescheduled to December. A mass was held you have learned,” “go farther.
in honor of the Our Lady of Manaoag in . .” “to the East.” And even if
place of the Q Rosary. (Kris Bayos) the great distance that separates
us may not be bridged by Your
ippine Church’s “commitment to
economic and social concerns,”
and in alleviating the plight of
the poor.
“At the Second Plenary Coun-
cil of the Philippines, the Church
in your nation took a special
interest in devoting herself more
fully to care for the poor. It is
heartening to see that this un-
dertaking has borne fruit, with
Catholic charitable institutions
actively engaged throughout
the country. Many of your fel-
low citizens, however, remain
without employment, adequate
education or basic services, and
so your prophetic statements
and your charitable action on
behalf of the poor continue to
be greatly appreciated.” (Melo
M. Acuna/CBCPNews)

Youth commission gears up

for 25th anniversary
THE Episcopal Commission on Youth
(ECY) of the Catholic Bishops Confer-
ence of the Philippines is gearing up for
the celebration of its 25th anniversary
on July 2011.
Centered on the theme “Stand firm in
faith …Do all your work in love”, the
celebration aims “to review and assess
the Church’s role in her journey with the
youth as sower, nurturer and harvester
of the faith, to appreciate the youth as a
gift to the Church, and to empower and
accompany the young to become more
responsibly involved in the transforma-
tion of Church and society.”
ECY said the event is “a nationwide
dream or effort to raise awareness on
the importance of youth as gift to the
Church and to the society.”
Organizations involving the youth,
whether church, government or non-
government, are being tapped to join in
celebration of the great milestone.
ECY is also reaching out to various
CBCP commissions, dioceses around
the country and their parishes, mem-
ber-organizations of the Federation
of the National Youth Organizations
(FNYO), religious institutions and
communities, civic and civil youth
organizations as well as its implement-
ing arm, the National Secretariat for
Youth Apostolate (NSYA), Youth-
Pinoy and the Regional Youth Coor-
dinating Councils to realize the goals
of this event.
Pre-anniversary activities comprise
the designing of anniversary logo and
composition of official song; informa-
tion and promotion of 2011 CBCP
Year of the Youth among CBCP com-
missions; dioceses, FNYO and other
networks such as the Association of
Association of Major Religious Superi-
ors of the Philippines (AMRSP) and the
Catholic Educational Association of the
Philippines (CEAP); and publication of
prayer for the Youth at Sambuhay and
Euchalette.
On the national level, ECYwill be
organizing other activities such as
Youth Ministry Awareness Week; youth
participation with the Salesians of Don
Bosco on the visit of the relic of St. John
Bosco in the different houses of Don
Bosco across the country from Dec. 5,
2010 to Jan. 15, 2011; launching of the
2011 CBCP Year of the Youth that will
be officially declared on Dec. 16, 2010
during the celebration of the National
Youth Day; nationwide pilgrimage of
the National Youth Cross from Dec. 16,
2010 to Dec. 16, 2011; Bishops’ Work-
shop on Youth Ministry on Jan. 2011;
regional retreat for youth ministers
with ECY bishops as retreat masters
from Feb. to June 2011; recognition of
outstanding persons in youth ministry
from April to Nov. 2011; National cel-
ebration of National Youth Day 2011
on October and November; Congress
of Youth Directors on Jan. 2012 and Na-
tional Conference for Youth Ministers
on Oct. 2012.
In addition to the national activi-
ties, there will also be activities in the
regional, diocesan, and youth organiza-
tions and other levels. (Vanessa Puno/
CBCPNews)
Markings CELEBRATED. Philippine Bible Society (PBS), 111th
founding anniversary, November 25, 2010. Supporters
from different Christian organizations came together to
give thanks for the work of Bible Society in transforming
lives through God’s Word over the past years. Part of the
activity was a talk given by Dr. Agustin Vencer, Jr., the
President of Global Transformation Ministries, Inc. and
Regional Director for Asia of Discipling a Whole Nation
(DAWN). Vencer reflected on the topic “God’s Word:
Alive and effective in marketplace.” PBS was established
in 1899. Since then, it has existed to achieve effective
and meaningful distribution of the Holy Scriptures in
languages that people understand, in media and formats
that meet people’s needs, providing everyone the oppor-
tunity to pray, give, volunteer and engage with the Good
News. “It is a challenging task for the Bible Society, yet we are moved to press on until
we see a transformed Philippines through God’s Word, with every Filipino honoring and
using the Bible as their manual to life,” the PBS said in a statement. During the celebration,
PBS members and guests got to know the ministry more through a Bible Fair staged by
the different departments. The celebration was also highlighted by the formal launch and
dedication of the first Bible Museum in the country.
CELEBRATED. St. Pedro Poveda College, 50th anniversary of foundation, December 3,
2010. Named after the founder of an international association of lay men and women, Pov-
eda College was first established in 1960 as Institucion
Teresiana School. On December 3, 1974, in celebration
of the centennial of St. Pedro Poveda’s birth, the school
changed its name to Poveda Learning Center. From
initially offering kindergarten and primary classes, the
school expanded its reach by opening programs for
all levels of learning. With the school’s expansion to
tertiary education, Poveda Learning Center became St.
Pedro Poveda College. The school is being run by the
Teresian Association, an organization of lay men and
women founded in 1911 by St. Pedro Poveda. The as-
sociation commits itself to transform society through the
promotion of Gospel values. Present in 31 countries, the
association’s thousands of members and collaborators
are engaged in different educational, socio-cultural and humanitarian endeavours.

The CBCP Communications Development Foundation takes this occasion to thank

its benefactors, partners and subscribers for their support to the media work of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

Our sincerest wishes and prayers for a most

meaningful Christmas and a peaceful New Year!
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010 Pastoral Concerns B1

‘A Unified and Positive

Voice Needs to Be
Presented to the Public’
(Address Benedict XVI delivered November 29, 2010 upon receiving in audience the first
group of bishops from the Philippines during their five-yearly “ad limina” visit.)

www.youtube.com/romereports
www.youtube.com/romereports

Dear Brother Bishops, family. In these areas you are promoting truths
I am pleased to extend to all of you a warm about the human person and about society
welcome on the occasion of your visit ad limina which arise not only from divine revelation but
Apostolorum. I thank Cardinal Gaudencio also from the natural law, an order which is
Rosales for the kind words that he has addressed accessible to human reason and thus provides
to me on your behalf, and I assure you of my a basis for dialogue and deeper discernment on
prayers and good wishes for yourselves and the part of all people of good will. I also note
for all the faithful entrusted to your pastoral with appreciation the Church’s work to abolish
care. Your presence here in Rome strengthens the death penalty in your country.
www.youtube.com/romereports

the bonds of communion between the Catholic
community in the Philippines and the See
of Peter, a communion which stretches back
over four centuries to the first offering of the
Eucharistic Sacrifice upon your shores. As
this communion of faith and sacrament has
nourished your people for many generations,
I pray that it may continue to serve as a leaven
in the broader culture, so that current and
future generations of Filipinos will continue to
encounter the joyful message of the Gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
To be such a leaven, the Church must always
seek to find her proper voice, because it is by
proclamation that the Gospel brings about its
life-changing fruits (cf. Mk 16:15-16). This voice
expresses itself in the moral and spiritual witness
of the lives of believers. It also expresses itself in
the public witness offered by the Bishops, as the
Church’s primary teachers, and by all who have
a role in teaching the faith to others. Thanks to
the Gospel’s clear presentation of the truth about
God and man, generations of zealous Filipino
clergymen, religious and laity have promoted an
ever more just social order. At times, this task
of proclamation touches upon issues relevant
to the political sphere. This is not surprising,
since the political community and the Church,
while rightly distinct, are nevertheless both at
the service of the integral development of every
human being and of society as a whole. For her
part, the Church contributes most toward the
building of a just and charitable social order
when, “by preaching the truths of the Gospel,
and bringing to bear on all fields of human
endeavour the light of her doctrine and of a
Christian witness, she respects and fosters the
political freedom and responsibility of citizens”
(Gaudium et Spes, 76).
At the same time, the Church’s prophetic
office demands that she be free “to preach the
faith, to teach her social doctrine ... and also to
pass moral judgments in those matters which
A specific area in which the Church must
always find her proper voice comes in the field
of social communications and the media. The
task set before the whole Catholic community is
to convey a hope-filled vision of faith and virtue
so that Filipinos may find encouragement and
guidance on their path to a full life in Christ. A
unified and positive voice needs to be presented
to the public in forms of media both old and
At the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, the Church in new, so that the Gospel message may have
an ever more powerful impact on the people
your nation took a special interest in devoting herself more fully of the nation. It is important that the Catholic
to care for the poor. It is heartening to see that this undertaking laity proficient in social communications take
their proper place in proposing the Christian
has borne fruit, with Catholic charitable institutions actively message in a convincing and attractive way. If
engaged throughout the country. Many of your fellow citizens, the Gospel of Christ is to be a leaven in Filipino
society, then the entire Catholic community must
however, remain without employment, adequate education be attentive to the force of the truth proclaimed
or basic services, and so your prophetic statements and your with love.
charitable action on behalf of the poor continue to be greatly A third aspect of the Church’s mission of
proclaiming the life-giving word of God is in her
appreciated. In addition to this effort, you are rightly concerned commitment to economic and social concerns,
that there be an on-going commitment to the struggle against in particular with respect to the poorest and
the weakest in society. At the Second Plenary
corruption, since the growth of a just and sustainable economy Council of the Philippines, the Church in your
will only come about when there is a clear and consistent nation took a special interest in devoting herself
more fully to care for the poor. It is heartening
application of the rule of law throughout the land. to see that this undertaking has borne fruit, with
Catholic charitable institutions actively engaged
-- Pope Benedict XVI throughout the country. Many of your fellow
citizens, however, remain without employment,
adequate education or basic services, and so
your prophetic statements and your charitable
action on behalf of the poor continue to be greatly
appreciated. In addition to this effort, you are
rightly concerned that there be an on-going
commitment to the struggle against corruption,
since the growth of a just and sustainable
economy will only come about when there is a
clear and consistent application of the rule of
law throughout the land.
Dear Brother Bishops, as my predecessor Pope
John Paul II rightly noted, “You are Pastors of a
www.youtube.com/romereports

regard public order whenever the fundamental people in love with Mary” (14 January 1995). May
human rights of a person or the salvation of souls her willingness to bear the Word who is Jesus
requires it” (ibid.). In the light of this prophetic Christ into the world be for you a continuing
task, I commend the Church in the Philippines inspiration in your apostolic ministry. To all of
for seeking to play its part in support of human you, and to the priests, religious and lay faithful
life from conception until natural death, and of your dioceses, I cordially impart my Apostolic
in defence of the integrity of marriage and the Blessing as a pledge of peace and joy.

Church in the Philippines: Continue to be a leaven in society

VATICAN CITY, 29 November
2010 (VIS)—This morning in the
Vatican, the Holy Father received
prelates from the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines, who
have just completed their “ad limina”
visit. Addressing them in English,
the Pope referred to the close ties
that for four centuries have united
the Philippines and the See of Peter,
highlighting the benefits the leaven
of faith has brought to the Filipino
people and their culture.
“To be such a leaven, the Church
must always seek to find her proper
voice, because it is by proclamation
that the Gospel brings about its life-
changing fruits”, he said. “Thanks to
the Gospel’s clear presentation of the
truth about God and man, generations
of zealous Filipino clergymen, religious
and laity have promoted an ever more
just social order. At times, this task
of proclamation touches upon issues
relevant to the political sphere. This
is not surprising, since the political
community and the Church, while
rightly distinct, are nevertheless both at
the service of the integral development
of every human being and of society
as a whole”.
“At the same time, the Church’s
prophetic office demands that she
be free ‘to preach the faith, to teach
her social doctrine ... and also to pass
moral judgments in those matters
which regard public order whenever
the fundamental human rights of a
person or the salvation of souls requires
it’. In the light of this prophetic task, I
commend the Church in the Philippines
for seeking to play its part in support
of human life from conception until
natural death, and in defence of the
integrity of marriage and the family.
In these areas you are promoting truths
about the human person and about
society which arise not only from divine
revelation but also from natural law,
an order which is accessible to human
reason and thus provides a basis for
dialogue and deeper discernment on
the part of all people of good will. I also
note with appreciation the Church’s
work to abolish the death penalty in
your country.
“A specific area in which the Church
must always find her proper voice comes
in the field of social communications
and the media”, Pope Benedict added.
“It is important that the Catholic laity undertaking has borne fruit, with
proficient in social communications Catholic charitable institutions
take their proper place in proposing the actively engaged throughout the
Christian message in a convincing and country. Many of your fellow
attractive way. If the Gospel of Christ is citizens, however, remain without
to be a leaven in Filipino society, then employment, adequate education
the entire Catholic community must or basic services, and so your
be attentive to the force of the truth prophetic statements and your
proclaimed with love”. charitable action on behalf of
Finally the Holy Father turned his the poor continue to be greatly
attention to “a third aspect of the appreciated. In addition to this
Church’s mission of proclaiming effort”, he concluded, “you are
the life-giving word of God: ... her rightly concerned that there be an
commitment to economic and social ongoing commitment to the struggle
concerns, in particular with respect to against corruption, since the growth
the poorest and the weakest in society”. of a just and sustainable economy
The Church in the Philippines, he said, will only come about when there is
takes “a special interest in devoting a clear and consistent application of
herself more fully to care for the the rule of law throughout the land”.
poor. It is heartening to see that this (Vatican Information Service)
 B2 Updates CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

A Christmas Play after the Homily

(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the following queries:)
Q: Our parish has a Christmas play participation by means of gestures and
during Mass after the homily but before posture should be strongly encouraged
the prayer of the faithful. Is this allowed? in Masses with children, with due regard
My priest tried to find the answer this for age and local customs. Much depends
year but had difficulty. But I think I not only on the actions of the priest,
found the answer in the Lectionary of [29] but also on the manner in which
the Mass for Children No. 52 which says the children conduct themselves as a
that plays should not happen during community...
Mass. I know that this happens at a lot of “34. Among the actions that are
parishes in America so an answer would considered under this heading,
be great!—G.G., Pasadena, California processions and other activities that
involve physical participation deserve
A: First of all, not finding an express special mention.
prohibition in liturgical documents does “The children’s entering in procession
not mean that something can be done. with the priest can serve to help them to
Many, if not most, liturgical abuses are experience a sense of the communion that
not named because nobody can possibly is thus being created. The participation of
foresee all that the human imagination at least some children in the procession
can conjure. Specific reprobation with the Book of the Gospels makes clear
on certain abuses arrives only after the presence of Christ announcing the
they have come to the attention of word to his people. The procession of
ecclesiastical authority. children with the chalice and the gifts
Usually it is sufficient to recur to expresses more clearly the value and
general principles in order to know if meaning of the preparation of the gifts.
something is allowed. For example, The communion procession, if properly
there is the elemental principle that no arranged, helps greatly to develop the
priest may add or remove anything children’s devotion.
from the liturgy on his own initiative. “Chapter III, Part 6. Visual Elements
Another principle applicable to our case “35. The liturgy of the Mass contains
is found in the instruction Redemptionis many visual elements and these
Sacramentum, No. 75: should be given great prominence with
“On account of the theological children. This is especially true of the
significance inherent in a particular rite particular visual elements in the course
and the Eucharistic Celebration, the of the liturgical year, for example, the
liturgical books sometimes prescribe or veneration of the cross, the Easter candle,

permit the celebration of Holy Mass to be
joined with another rite, especially one of
those pertaining to the Sacraments. The
Church does not permit such a conjoining
in other cases, however, especially when
it is a question of trivial matters.”
If there are severe restrictions on
joining the Mass to other rites, including
officially approved rites, the exclusion of
non-liturgical elements such as Nativity
plays would certainly be included.
Our correspondent’s use of the
Introduction to the Children’s Lectionary
has a certain validity in view of the
fact that since the norms for children’s
liturgies allow for extensive adaptations,
the fact that something is forbidden
for this kind of celebration means “a
fortiori” that it is not allowed in regular
Masses.
It must be recognized though that
the Introduction to the Children’s
Lectionary is not a universal document.
It was produced by the U.S. bishops’
conference and, I believe, has yet to
reach its definitive form. It is interesting
that the Italian bishops’ conference also
included a ban on dramas, slide shows
and the like during Masses with children
in its own directory.
Perhaps a more useful universal
source would be the Directory for
Children’s Masses issued by the Holy
See in November 1973. The adaptations
refer to Masses where the vast majority
of participants are children ages 6 to 9.
These norms do not apply to assemblies
of older children.
I will offer selections of what I believe
are relevant texts. The full document
may be found at a Web site called www.
catholicliturgy.com.
“Chapter III, Part 1. Offices and
Ministries in the Celebration” 22. The
principles of active and conscious
participation are in a sense even more
significant for Masses celebrated with
children. Every effort should therefore be
made to increase this participation and
to make it more intense. For this reason
as many children as possible should
have special parts in the celebration: for
example, preparing the place and the
altar (see no. 29), acting as cantor (see no.
24), singing in a choir, playing musical
instruments (see no. 32), proclaiming
the readings (see nos. 24 and 47),
responding during the homily (see no.
48), reciting the intentions of the general
intercessions, bringing the gifts to the
altar, and performing similar activities in
accord with the usage of various peoples
(see no. 34).
“To encourage participation, it will
sometimes be helpful to have several
additions, for example, the insertion
of motives for giving thanks before
the priest begins the dialogue of the
preface.
“In all this, it should be kept in mind
that external activities will be fruitless
and even harmful if they do not serve
the internal participation of the children.
Thus religious silence has its importance
even in Masses with children (see no. 37).
The children should not be allowed to
forget that all the forms of participation
reach their high point in eucharistic
communion, when the body and blood
of Christ are received as spiritual
nourishment.
“23. It is the responsibility of the priest
who celebrates with children to make
www.blogs.dosp.org
the celebration festive, familial, and
meditative. Even more than in Masses
with adults, the priest is the one to create
this kind of attitude, which depends on
his personal preparation and his manner
of acting and speaking with others.
“24. Since the Eucharist is always the
action of the entire ecclesial community,
the participation of at least some adults
is desirable. These should be present not
as monitors but as participants, praying
with the children and helping them to
the extent necessary …
“Even in Masses with children
attention is to be paid to the diversity of
ministries so that the Mass may stand
out clearly as the celebration of the
community. For example, readers and
cantors, whether children or adults,
should be employed. In this way a variety
of voices will keep the children from
becoming bored.
“Chapter III, Part 5. Gestures
“33. In view of the nature of the liturgy
as an activity of the entire person and
in view of the psychology of children,
the lights on the feast of the Presentation
of the Lord, and the variety of colors and
liturgical appointments.
“In addition to the visual elements
that belong to the celebration and to the
place of celebration, it is appropriate
to introduce other elements that will
permit children to perceive visually the
wonderful works of God in creation
and redemption and thus support
their prayer. The liturgy should never
appear as something dry and merely
intellectual.
“36. For the same reason, the use
of art work prepared by the children
themselves may be useful, for example,
as illustrations of a homily, as visual
expressions of the intentions of the
general intercessions, or as inspirations
to reflection.
“45. In the biblical texts “God is
speaking to his people ... and Christ is
present to the faithful through his own
word.” Paraphrases of Scripture should
therefore be avoided. On the other hand,
the use of translations that may already
exist for the catechesis of children and
that are accepted by the competent
authority is recommended.
“46. Verses of psalms, carefully
Play / B7

When to Set Up Christmas Overdoing the Christmas

Decorations Decorations
Q1: Are there any liturgical
regulations requiring that all
poinsettias be removed from
the church immediately after
the Christmas season ends,
after the feast of the Baptism of
the Lord?—H.D., Edmonton,
Alberta
Q2: [In our parish] there are
six Christmas trees on the altar:
one about 20 feet tall in the rear
left (from the congregation’s
perspective), covered with white
lamps and white blossoms; two
about 8 feet tall behind the crèche
(which was set up in front of St.
Joseph’s altar, behind and to
the right of the main altar), two
smaller trees (about 4 feet tall)
staggered on the altar steps to
make an “approach” to the main
altar from the congregation’s
left; and another 4-foot tree,
www.lh3.ggpht.com
the time of Pope John Paul II. … of lights to symbolize the
Within the church proper, apart Gospel only at Christmas. If
from the crib, Christmas may be such an arrangement were
evoked by using, for example, really necessary we would
traditional poinsettias, holly also need analogous flower
and other traditional elements arrangements for all liturgical
according to the culture.” seasons.
And again: “I have no difficulty Very often, well-arranged
with Christmas trees, but … I poinsettias and other
think that placing them in the customary plants can set off
sanctuary is not a common the places in the sanctuary
practice in the Church. It is very well and set the tone for
not advisable because, as a the season.
ubiquitous symbol, it no longer At Christmas and Easter
has an exclusively religious there is no great difficulty
meaning and can easily evoke the in having a more liberal and
more material and commercial prodigious display of flowers
aspect of the holy season.” than is usual, but never so
To this I would add No. 306 much as to distract attention
of the General Instruction of the away from the liturgical
Roman Missal, which is one of the celebration’s central foci of
few norms respecting decoration attention: the altar and ambo
of the sanctuary: and the presidential chair.

Q: What would you consider
an appropriate time during
Advent to put up Christmas
trees, ornaments, lights and
other decorations in churches
and Christian homes?−B.O.,
Lewistown, Pennsylvania
A: This question is simple
only in appearance because
customs surrounding the
celebration of Christmas
vary widely among different
cultures.
From a strictly liturgical
standpoint the preparations
for receiving the Christ Child
intensify from Dec. 17 onward
and this is probably a good
time to set up the parish crib,
except for the image of the
child, which is often added
just before Midnight Mass in more
or less solemn fashion.
Other parishes prefer to set up
the crib on Christmas Eve. There
are no official rites regarding this
widespread custom.
In those places that use the
Advent wreath, it is placed on the
first Sunday of Advent. The Book
of Blessings issued by the U.S.
bishops’ conference contains a
simple rite for blessing the Advent
wreath which may profitably be
used.
Dec. 17 or the nearest Sunday
might also be a good date to set
up Christmas trees and other
decorationsinChristianhomes,but
it really depends on local custom
and tradition. It is unnecessary,
however, to fall under the spell
of commercial enterprises which
tend to anticipate the Christmas
season, sometimes even before
Advent begins.
Because some Christmas
decorations have often lost their
original religious meaning,
churches should be rather
circumspect about employing
them and should do so with great
discretion. If used at all, these
decorations are best set up on
Christmas Eve so as to respect the
integrity of the Advent season.
Christmas trees are preferably
located outside the sanctuary and
church proper, and are best left
in vestibules or church grounds.
This has been the practice in St.
Peter’s Square from the time of
Pope John Paul II.
As far as possible, decorations
Decorations / B7
lit with red (to symbolize the
Gospel, we are told) and white
lamps, positioned on a stand
next to the ambo, so that it is
equal in height to the ambo itself.
The walls of the sanctuary are
outlined in streams of greens,
with a huge wreath in the center,
about 25 feet from the floor, and
all are woven with strings of
white lamps. Poinsettias and
red draperies abound. It is all
very impressive and thoroughly
overwhelms the altar, despite the
gold brocade drapery with which
it is covered. I would appreciate
your thoughts on the propriety
of these arrangements.—P.B.,
Marquette, Michigan
A: First of all, I would reiterate
myearliercommentsonChristmas
trees in the sanctuary.
I stated: “Christmas trees are
preferably located outside the
sanctuary and church proper,
and are best left in vestibules or
church grounds. This has been the
practice in St. Peter’s Square from
“Moderation should be Finally, in response to
observed in the decoration of our Canadian reader, there
the altar. is no norm that requires
“During Advent the floral poinsettias to be removed
decoration of the altar should be after the feast of the Baptism
marked by a moderation suited of the Lord. As they are fairly
to the character of this season, long-lasting plants they may
without expressing prematurely remain for as long as they are
the full joy of the Nativity of the worthy of the sanctuary.
Lord. During Lent it is forbidden Although customs vary
for the altar to be decorated with from place to place it is
flowers. Laetare Sunday (Fourth not unusual to retain some
Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Christmas decorations until
Feasts are exceptions. the feast of the Presentation
“Floral decorations should of the Lord on Feb. 2. The
always be done with moderation nativity scene in St. Peter’s
and placed around the altar Square, for example, is
rather than on its mensa.” usually not removed until
The sanctuary decoration Feb. 3.
described by our U.S. reader would
notbeanexampleof“moderation.” (Note: The second part of Fr.
The overall principle in play for Jaime Achacoso’s “The Juridic
any decorations is that they ProtectionoftheChurchTeaching
enhance the sacred places and against Contraception” will
actions and never overwhelm or appear in the next issue of the
obscure them. CBCP Monitor, Vol 15, No. 1, to
Onecouldask,forexample,why give way to the current articles
we need a special arrangement on Christmas—Eds)
 Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010
B3

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Philippines’ population bill
speaks with forked tongue
By Anna Halpine
LAST week in Manila, Malcolm
Potts, grand-daddy of the
international family planning
movement, announced that
unless the much debated
“Reproductive Health” bill
is passed in this session of
Congress, the Philippines would
become the next Somalia. No
surprises in that. Within the same
week, however, Bill Clinton,
also visiting Manila, amazed
everyone (including his wife,
no doubt) by stating that the
growing Philippines population
is an asset to the country, and
that its babies, expanding the
population at a rate of 2.04
per cent a year, are a “massive
natural resource”.
The Philippines, you may
have noticed, is currently the
global focus of population
and development debates.
A hotly debated population
management bill has been
tabled in one form or another
for years. Now, with the almost
univocal support of national and
international media, the born-
to provide the goods necessary
for economic development:
education, opportunity, housing,
protection and stewardship
of natural resources. But if the
government priority is managing
the population according to a
schedule of targets and goals,
what of the dignity and rights of
the persons being “managed”?
It is obvious to anyone who
bothers to actually read the
Philippines bill that population
management tops the hierarchy
of principles. The idea that it is
primarily concerned with the
promotion of human rights, or
women’s rights is an illusion.
This is clear from the very
first page of the bill, which
(Benedict XVI prayed for the
protection of life and the family at
the conclusion of the Prayer Vigil for
the Unborn on November 27, 2010.
The following prayer composed by
the pope himself asks God to bless
of a bloated population and high
and unwanted fertility”.
Perhaps nothing illustrates the
bill’s “management” priorities
so clearly as the provision for
mandatory counseling of couples
seeking a marriage license on the
government determined “ideal
family size” of two children.
In terms of human rights, this
would take the Philippines
closer to China and India than
the liberal democracies that are
applauding this bill. In line with
trends in the West, however, the
bill does not provide conscience
protection and rights for health
care workers.
The potential for human rights
and democratic freedoms to be
right of men and women to
marry and found a family,
freely determining their own
fertility. Such human rights
and freedoms—guaranteed in
the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and reiterated
in numerous international
documents since that time—
cannot be sustained within
the context of a government
managed population system.
There is added reason for
concern, therefore, when the RH
bill takes note of China’s one-child
policy, without acknowledging
that the significant decline
in births in China happened
before the tyrannical policy
was implemented. The Chinese
planning method encouraged by
church authorities in the mainly
Catholic country.
In fact, the United States
based Population Reference
Bureau, a leading promoter of
population control, notes in a
current report that the birth rate
fell from six births per woman
in 1970 to 3.3 in 2006. The fact
that infant and child mortality
is also falling moderates the
effect of lower fertility but is
likely to further bring down
the birth rate by a process of
natural adjustment similar to
what happened in the West itself
before the contraceptive era.
The report further notes:
“Almost all women in the
www.4.bp.blogspot.com
two-child national policy,
with mandatory counseling
plus government funding and
promotion of contraceptive
methods which are culturally
objectionable to a large number
of people and which, in every
country where they are widely
used, bring with them the demand
for legalized abortion.
Finally, it is worth noting that
many states that have pursued
population strategies as recently
as the 1980’s, have reversed
those policies and are anxiously
attempting to find ways to
increase birth rates. This is true
both for Asian countries such as
Singapore and South Korea, that
are seeking to reverse specific
policies, as well as for other
countries—Asian and western—
that are unable to reverse general
population declines that are now
threatening formerly robust
economies and social systems.
Japan, Taiwan, Germany and
other parts of Europe come to
mind.
The debate surrounding the
Philippines legislation has relied
on high profile interventions,

much rhetoric, and almost no

again “Reproductive Health and
Population Development Act
of 2010”, or HB Bill 96, is being
touted as the solution to women’s
reproductive health, women’s
rights in the Philippines, and
economic development for the
poor. What is being quietly
avoided is any talk of population
control, or, as the bill terms it,
“population management”.
Clinton’s comment—that
population, or, in real life,
babies—are an asset, not a
liability, puts a wedge in the
argument of the elites. So who is
right? Is the growing population
of the Philippines a danger,
threatening the very future of
the Philippines state? Or is it a
primary source of wealth, and
an opportunity to rev up (and
sustain) its economic engines?
The answer is, of course,
more nuanced. Population alone
cannot provide economic might.
But population can be understood
as a pre-requisite for economic
development and a means for
growth and achievement if other
elements are primed and ready.
These other factors are, notably,
educational opportunities
(particularly for women), and
economic opportunities. The
great limitation to achieving this
in the Philippines, as elsewhere
in the developing world, is
corruption.
Population control or
population management
relies on the assumption that
government can and should
curb population growth in order
analysis of the bill itself. Statements
families and to inspire society to such as those by Malcolm Potts
reveal an individual bias that
embrace each and every life.) takes no account of the data of
population and fertility trends,
nor of the content of the current
LORD JESUS, You who faithfully visit Bless all families, sanctify the union of Console the married couples who bill under debate.
and fulfill with your Presence the Church spouses, render fruitful their love. suffer because they are unable to have The need for separate
and the history of men; You who in the Accompany the choices of legislative children and in Your goodness provide legislation developed for the
miraculous Sacrament of your Body and assemblies with the light of your Spirit, so for them. care of women’s reproductive
Blood render us participants in divine that peoples and nations may recognize and Teach us all to care for orphaned health while respecting the
Life and allow us a foretaste of the joy of respect the sacred nature of life, of every or abandoned children, so they may human rights of men and women
eternal Life; We adore and bless you. human life. experience the warmth of your Charity, is essential. More essential still,
Prostrated before You, source and lover Guide the work of scientists and doctors, the consolation of your divine Heart. is the need to ensure that such
of Life, truly present and alive among so that all progress contributes to the integral Together with Mary, Your Mother, legislation addresses the key
us, we beg you. well-being of the person, and no one endures the great believer, in whose womb you challenges in front of us and does
Reawaken in us respect for every suppression or injustice. took on our human nature, we wait to not masquerade as a policy to
unborn life, make us capable of seeing Give creative charity to administrators receive from You, our Only True Good remove or deny those freedoms,
in the fruit of the maternal womb the and economists, so they may realize and and Savior, the strength to love and serve while surreptitiously enabling
miraculous work of the Creator, open our promote sufficient conditions so that young life, in anticipation of living forever in other ends.
hearts to generously welcoming every families can serenely embrace the birth of You, in communion with the Blessed If the Philippine legislators wish
child that comes into life. new children. Trinity. to table a population management
bill they are free to do so. But they
must be clear about the terms of
states: “This policy is anchored trampled on would be increased government had been talking Philippines know at least one the bill and engage in open debate
on the rationale that sustainable by the growth of the public health down the birth rate for a decade method of family planning and based on its merits. In such a
human development is better bureaucracy. New government and had no need, let alone right, currently married women know debate, leading economists might
assured with a manageable agencies and functions would to impose strict family limitation an average of eight methods. be engaged, and the data available
population of healthy, educated be established to facilitate the on its people—a policy that is The users of modern methods from countless national population
and productive citizens.” The government managed purchase now backfiring with a critical (such as the pill, injectables, policies should be examined.
guiding principles of the bill then and provision of contraception sex ratio imbalance and a rapidly IUDs, and female sterilization) In any event, a population
tell us: “The limited resources of to the people. Large scale hastily ageing population. account for two-thirds of all management bill should not be
the country cannot be suffered to defined bureaucratic structures More remarkably, the authors family planning users. Women sold to the country under the
be spread so thinly to service a are prime opportunities for of the Philippines bill fail to at all economic levels are using guise of necessary maternal health
burgeoning multitude that makes increased corruption—an acknowledge the significance family planning, even at the reforms, or increased women’s
the allocations grossly inadequate increase the Philippines can of the decline in fertility that lowest wealth quintile, where health and rights.
and effectively meaningless”. In ill afford—and point to the has already taken place in their almost 41 percent of married
case these were not clear enough, betterment of petty bureaucrats own country. There has been woman are using any method (Anna Halpine is the founder of
the author of the bill, in his and politicians on the payroll official encouragement of family of family planning.” the World Youth Alliance, a global
explanatory notes, provides of wealthy western lobbies planning in the Philippines as If there is still an “unmet coalition of young people committed
the following elaboration: “We rather than the people of the long as anywhere else in the need for family planning” of to promoting the dignity of the
cannot address adequately the Philippines. world and contraception has been 22 per cent, as PRB claims, this person. This is published here under
problem of poverty… if we do Let’s be clear: these provisions available for those who want it, is not a problem that warrants special publication arrangements
not squarely address the problem are in direct conflict with the alongside the natural family the sledgehammer of a virtual with MercatorNet)
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

Pastoral Dialogue with Students

By Bishop Ruperto Cruz visits. We hope to see you again
Santos and continue to ask you more
questions.
Bishop: Why not visit me in

“The little children were being
brought to Jesus in order that he
might lay his hands on them and
pray. The disciples spoke sternly to
those who brought them; but Jesus
said, ‘let the children come to me,
and do not stop them; for it is to such
as these that the kingdom of heaven
belongs.’ And he laid his hands on
them…” (Mt 19:13-15).
TWICE a month we make
pastoral visits to the different
public and private High Schools
in our Diocese with the Marian
Missionaries of the Holy Cross,
who are our Diocesan Campus
and Youth ministers. Prior to
these pastoral visits, the priests
of the vicariates, together with
the Marian Missionaries where
the national High Schools are
located make the Sacrament
of Confession available to the
students.
The pastoral visit of the Bishop
includes the following activities:
Praying of the Holy Rosary,
celebration of the Holy Eucharist,
and a Question and Answer with
the Bishop. On a pastoral visit the
question and answer were on the
“Reproductive Health” issue. I
share them with you.
Students: We read and
hear many things, sometimes
conflicting, about the so-called
Reproductive Health. Can you
please tell us what this is all
about?
Bishop: Reproductive
Health provides that the use of
contraceptive and sterilization
means and agents be made
available to all. This contraception
involves abortifacients, which
prevent the initial development
of pregnancy even after
fertilization. The Reproductive
Health bill authorizes artificial
on ‘Reproductive Health’
birth control, the use of birth
control pills and means taken
by women. So the objective is
population control; to reduce the
number of children in a family to
only two children.
Student: What does the State
say?
Bishop: The State through the
Constitution states in Article II,
section 12 that the “State shall
equally protect the life of the
mother and the life of the unborn
from contraception.”
Student: What does the Church
teach?
Bishop: The Church teaches
that Life is sacred. Life is
precious. Life is person. And
person is good. From the Book of
Genesis we read, “God looked at
everything he had made, and he
found it very good” (1, 31). Life is
good. And life is to be protected
and defended.
The Vatican II apostolic
constitution Gaudium et Spes
clearly affirms that “from the
moment of its conception, life
must be safeguarded with
greatest care…abortion and
other infanticide are unspeakable
crimes” (51). A life in a womb
should be taken as a blessing. It is
God’s mystery of love. It is God’s
gift of love. That life has a right
to our protection and guidance.
We are morally responsible for
them. We are accountable to
God for whatever will happen
to them.
Pope Pius XII, speaking to
midwives in 1951, confirmed
“each man receives his life
directly from God, not from his
parents, or from the society or
from government. Hence, there
is no man or human authority
that can show or exercise a valid
juridical authority to decide by
his will, directly and deliberately
on the life of an innocent man.”
Pope Paul VI, addressing the
Obstetrical and Gynecological
Society of England on October
3, 1964, reiterated this when he
said, “innocent human life, in
whatever condition it is found,
is to be secure from the very first
moment of its existence from
any deliberate attack. This is a
fundamental right of the human
person, which is of general value
in the Christian concept of life;
and hence as valid for the still
hidden life within the womb of
the mother as for the life of the
already born and developing
outside her…” Our Church
considers human life precious.
Human life must be protected.
Her basic natural moral rights
must be promoted. Remember,
for God no one is useless.
Everyone is important. All are
special to Him.
Student: What should we
believe?
Bishop: Life is a gift; much
more, life is a grace. God values
our life. He wants us to live, to be
alive; and not only to live, but God
desires us to live humanly and
with full dignity. Saint Irenaeus
of Lyons described it best when
he preached, “God’s greatest
glory is man fully alive.” Can you
now understand that God wants
us to give life, preserve life and
protect life, and not to extinguish
life or to kill life?
Student: I know from my
catechism class about the fifth
commandment. It says, “you
shall not kill” (Exodus 20, 13;
Deuteronomy 5, 17). We also
know that abortion is killing. To
kill is a sin. And abortion is a sin.
How about those who practice
or promote abortifacient ways
and means?
Bishop: Abortion is not being
condemned only now. It has been
condemned since the apostolic
times. Didache, the first book
of the early Christian Church,
says it very clearly, “you shall
not procure abortion. You shall
not destroy a newborn child”
(II, 2). God values our life. Our
Church protects and promotes
life. The two early councils of
the Church held in Elvira and
Ancyra in 314 issued canons
on protecting and safeguarding
human life. These canons state
that anyone who procures
abortion automatically incurs the
penalty of excommunication.
Abortion is a moral evil. And
with it is a canonical penalty of
Excommunication to those who
do abortion and who encourage
and assist abortion (ref. canon
1398 CIC).
Student: What would be your
advice for married couples,
especially the mothers?
Bishop: To be a mother is a
gracious and responsible option
for life. The prophet Isaiah asks,
“Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the
child of her womb?” (49, 37).
Rarely do we see a mother who
does not feel unconditional
affection and selfless devotion
toward her child. Jesus describes
His love for Israel in terms of a
mother’s feeling for her young:
“How many times I yearned to
gather your children together, as a
hen gathers her young under her
wings” (Matthew 23, 37).
Yes, being a mother entails
sacrifices. It is, in fact, hardly
possible to talk about motherhood
without mentioning suffering.
Motherhood is also synonymous
with self-giving. It is in self-
sacrifice that a mother finds
meaning in her motherhood.
Like a mother, let us be ready for
self-sacrifice; be more disciplined
and have self-control. This is my
advice: we should not base our
decisions on choice but on what
our conscience dictates. Yes, we
are free but let us remember
that we are also morally bound
to act according to our formed
conscience. We should always
be guided by God’s “way, and
the truth and the life” (John 14,
6). God should always be a part
of any decision we make!
Student: We are grateful to
you Bishop for your pastoral
my residence? I will be more
than happy to welcome you and
we can continue our dialogues.
Before we part, let us pray first:
O almighty God, our merciful
Father.
You are our Creator.
You are the author of our life and
source of all goodness.
We come to You.
We truly promise to decide and do
things:
not on the basis of what we want,
nor of what others desire,
not solely for our personal
benefits
not for our own advantage,
not for any profit or prestige
but for your greater glory,
for the common good of all,
and especially for our personal
sanctification.
Thank you so much, O almighty
God, merciful Father
for creating us,
and for giving us a gracious
chance to live.
We sincerely resolve
to respect life and to protect life.
We have received Your priceless
gift of life,
Your precious gift of life.
We humbly pray we may never cease
to cherish all these.
Amen.
(This reflection is a compilation
of the questions and answers from
different schools in the Diocese
of Balanga in Bataan, such as
Bataan Peninsula State University
in Balanga, PUP in Mariveles,
National high schools in Luacan
(Dinalupihan), in Samal, in
Cabcaben and private schools such
as Tomas del Rosario College in
Balanga.)

The God of the Tent vs. the God of the Empire

Contributed photos

By Sr. Maureen Catabian, RGS
IT was my longest journey so far.
Manila. Doha. Madrid. Mexico. And
vice-versa. Twenty-eight hours of
travel by plane and crossing borders
of three continents — Asia, Europe, the
Americas. In transit in Qatar and Spain,
I experienced being an undocumented
migrant for at least 8 hours in Madrid.
In my desire to be in solidarity with the
struggles and hopes of migrants and
refugees, I opted to become a migrant
myself crossing borders, in transit and
undocumented.
Philippines and Mexico share a
common heart and history. Our
countries were colonized by Spain et. al.
We have celebrated and are celebrating
the Centennial of Revolution against
our colonizers — 1998 in Philippines
(1898) and 2010 in Mexico (1910). We are
two of the biggest sending countries of
migrant workers in the world (3rd and
4th to China and India). We are populated
by majority of devout Catholics and
venerate with great love and devotion
the Our Lady of Guadalupe, our Patroness.
Both have recently become hosts to
the Global Forum on Migration and
Development (GFMD) 2008 and 2010
respectively.
In Mexico, while in solidarity with
the migrants and refugees from various
parts of the globe, I met the God of
the Tent. A tent is a collapsible shelter
of material stretched and supported by
poles. It connotes movement. A journey
in transition. Temporary and open
to unforeseen events and changes.
Resilient and flexible. It is a refuge
of welcome and rest in a perilous and
uncertain journey.
I listened with the God of the Tent as I
opened my heart, my eyes and ears and
heard the stories and cries of migrants
and refugees being discriminated upon,
exploited, made invisible and abused in
host countries, often “disappeared” and
massacred in borders.
I mourned and rejoiced with the God of
the Tent as I encountered and embraced
Honduran mothers seeking and finding
lost sons and daughters of 20 years ago—
who have disappeared in the borders of
Mexico—migrating in search of a more
livable life and a better future.
I protested with the God of the
Tent as I marched the streets of
Mexico City converging at the Benito
Juarez Monument in front of the
Department of International Relations
to denounce the illegitimate GFMD
as it claims to represent the voices of
migrants—without the migrants but
instead represented by big corporations
and financial institutions benefitting
from remittances.
I questioned the God of the Tent as we
united our demands with protesting
teachers and academics clamoring for
an increase in budget for education from
the Mexican government.
I was awed with the God of the Tent
as I witnessed the enduring spirit of
the “ex-Braceros” who in their old age
marched in solidarity with us to bring
to the consciousness of the Mexican
government their demand for justice
from the slavery and torture they went
through when they were exported to
work for US masters during World
War II and onwards, claiming just
compensation for the toil and to demand
benefits for themselves and their kin.
I was nourished by the God of the Tent
as I shared meals with migrants and
refugees, slept in their home, listened
to their prophetic voices and dreams
and celebrated their songs of hope and
struggle.
I gained wisdom with the God of the
Tent as we engaged in conversation, in
dialogue with each others’ cultures and
socio-political histories, learning from
the struggles and experiences of other
migrant peoples from other continents
of the world.
I witnessed compassion with the
God of the Tent as I became one with
the migrants’ experience of loneliness
and being uprooted, in isolation and
suffering from cultural alienation in a
foreign land where they had hoped and
dreamt of building a better life.
I loved the God of the Tent.
I also met the god of the Empire.
Propped by mammon and corporate
greed. It connotes a Fortress. Symbolizing
grandeur and entrenchment.
With tightly guarded borders
controlled and secured by armed
military because of the need to protect
“property”. It double-speaks about
welfare and rights and alleging concern
for the well-being of exploited migrant
labor in the global community. But
in real would only want to maximize
(manage) workers’ remittances which
amount to billions of dollars for
profit and personal gain. It actually
exploits “migration” as a tool for
development.
I have seen the god of the Empire from
a distance. It glitters in elegance but
refuses to allow people to come near
lest its security be jeopardized.
The god of the Empire is deaf and mute
to the protests and clamors for justice
by migrants, immigrants and refugees
and not keen authentic in reducing or
even addressing the social costs of
migration.
I denounce the gods of the Empire. I
reject the gods of neoliberal globalization.
United and never defeated—migrants
and refugees from around the world
speak out—“For many years, they have
talked about us, but now we shall speak for
ourselves!” “While they discuss how to
exploit us, they silence us and they shut us
out. We say to them: as long as the GFMD
exists we will come back year after year to
continue our fight for migrant rights.”
I proclaim the God of the Tent as it
announces “liberation of the oppressed
and criticizing cultic observance without
social justice”. It demands “to break
unjust fetters and undo the thongs of yoke,
to let the oppressed go free and break every
yoke, to share your bread with the hungry,
and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the
person you see naked and not turn from
your kin” (Isaiah 58).
Jesus said: “Break down this temple of
stone and I will raise it up in three days”.
The Pharisees were angered because
their ancestors have built this temple for
thousands of years. And for this—they
crucified him.
In Mexico, in solidarity with migrants
and refugees, we denounced the gods
of the Empire and reject the gods of
imperialist globalization. We witness
and proclaim the God of the Tent, the
God of modern day prophets, the God
of the migrants and refugees!
(A reflection on my experiences as part
of the Ecumenical Church Delegation
attending the Conference on “Churches
Witnessing with Migrants” and the Third
International Assembly of Migrants
and Refugees (IAMR3) in Mexico from
November 6 -12, 2010. The Ecumenical
Church Delegation was organized by
the National Council of Churches in the
Philippines (NCCP) in partnership with
Migrante International.)
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010
B5

National Youth Day 2010

“Good Teacher, what must I do to
inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10:17)
AS we begin the Traditional Aguinaldo
Masses in preparation for the coming of
the Lord Jesus on Christmas Day, we once
again celebrate National Youth Day.
But there is a particular uniqueness to
this year’s National Youth Day because on
this day, 16 December 2010, we officially
launch the declaration of 2011 as “CBCP
Year of the Youth” by the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines in their
101st Plenary Assembly last July 2010, in
celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the
CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth. As
you may well know, the ECY was created
in July 1986.
The youth constitute a large and dynamic
portion of the laity, says the Second
Plenary Council of the Philippines (cf.
PCP II, art. 50). They compose a big part
of our Philippine population—more than
50%—making us a Church of the young.
It has always been acknowledged that
they are the future of the country and
of the Church as well. But they are also
already very much a part of the present
of the Church and society. Hence, much
is expected of them in terms of what they
can do to contribute to the betterment and
progress of the Church and the world at
large.
Through the years, young people have
shown how important they are, and how
gifted they can be as they place these gifts
at the service of God and neighbor. Good
Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal
life? (Mk 10:17)
MSPC XlV
Statement
WE, the two hundred and thirteen (213) delegates composed of
Without doubt, the youth can and
Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Religious Men and Women and
do make a very significant impact on
Lay Faithful from twenty one (21) Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions in
the life and activity of the church and
Mindanao, gathered together at Crisbel Crown Center, Digos
the society as powerful catalysts of
City for the Fourteenth Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference
change. But it is also a sad truth that
(MSPC XlV) from October 18-22, 2010, have reflected on and
many of our young are exploited
rediscovered the importance of the Word of God in addressing
and treated unjustly. A good
issues and concerns affecting the Environment and Peace.
number of them live under abject
Moved by the Goodness and Creative Power of the Word of
poverty; others fall victim to
God we have seen our successes and failures, our efforts and
drug addiction, child labor
shortcomings. We have seen the immensity of our Mission
and prostitution. Many of
as Local Churches in Mindanao. We are challenged to follow
them feel abandoned by the
the paths toward the New Evangelization which would
institutions that are supposed
transform our context.
to take care of and protect
Mindanao is a beautiful land which we love so rich in
them — the Church included,
natural resources; the home of good and beautiful people
we must humbly admit.
endowed with rich and diversified cultures. But it is also the
During this CBCP Year of the
land damaged by violence, aggression and selfishness.
Youth, let us together work to
We are all aware of the threats to Life and Peace particularly
intensify awareness about the
in Mindanao. We know that the situations of unpeace are
youth and their importance to
often land-based, and so geographically localized. They are all
the life and activity of the Church.
related to mal-distribution, usurpation, monopoly, misuse and
By our witness let us help the young
abuse of resources. The corruption of economic and political
in our midst—in our homes, schools,
powers, the distortion of moral and spiritual values, the
communities, etc—to find God in their
materialistic culture of amassing wealth for vested interests
lives and generously answer His call to
have very high environmental and social costs.
service and love.
In the Name of God, the Giver of Life, we condemn in
Let us ask the Lord through the
unequivocal terms:
intercession of Mary, to teach us have a
* All activities which threaten and devastate Creation:
special love for the youth and to protect Happy Year of the Youth, dear young The non-sustainable and irresponsible mining activities
their rights and legitimate interests. Let us people! Isang mapagpalang Pasko sa particularly open-pit mining, logging activities which denude
pray that there may be wider participation inyong lahat! our forests, toxic agricultural practices, destructive fishing,
and greater dedication in youth ministry,
and all activities contributory to climate change and global
leading to a meaningful and fruitful + JOEL Z. BAYLON, D.D. warming;
service that is undertaken with the “fullest Bishop of Legazpi * Any and all forms of aggression against the lives, cultures
attention and highest priority in every way Chairman of the CBCP-Episcopal and livelihood of the Indigenous Communities as well as
by all in the Church” (PCP IL art. 50). Commission on Youth anomalous encroachments into their ancestral domains;

Churches Witnessing
* All activities of violence, hatred , vengeance and bloodshed
perpetrated by individuals, groups and institutions even as
a means of correcting what maybe is wrong;
* Everything and every act which harms, endangers, destroys

With Migrants
and kills life: extra-judicial liquidations, terrorism, drug
pushing; artificial contraception, sterilization and abortion;
thus everything and every act which prevents the conception
and birth of human life.
* We therefore condemn in the strongest terms every sin
which creates disorder, disrupts peace and harmony in
individuals and the society at large.

On the other hand we also see many signs of hope. A good

number of conscientious individuals, groups, and institutions
are working untiringly for the Protection of Creation as well
as for the Promotion of Peace. Their number is increasing
everyday. Many have dedicated their lives for the Call
toward the culture of Peace and Christian Environmental
Stewardship. Continuing to hope for a better future, we are
firmly resolved:
* To protect the integrity of the Mother Earth, the Visible
Sign of Divine Order and Wisdom as well as the Life in the
Contributed Photo

Mother’s Womb which is the Sign Center and Foundation of

WE are representatives of churches,
church-related institutions and
migrantorganizationsfromdifferent
continents. We gathered in the space
provided for by the (CIRM) in
Mexico City, to collectively discuss
and reflect on the issue of migrants
and how churches can respond to
their plight.
As Christians, we believe that
human dignity is a gift from God.
It is an affirmation that we are
created in His image. It can never
be taken away. into action; transform our longing
But today, we have listened to
the stories of migrant workers, of
how rich and powerful countries
and governments in poor and
underdeveloped countries, have
distorted this gift of dignity by
stripping migrant workers of
their basic human rights through
forced migration. With forced
migration, human beings are
now commodities, merely cogs
in a machinery to gain profits
for rich and powerful countries,
squeezing their humanity dry
by intensifying exploitation
and promoting xenophobia
and racism. We have seen
concrete proof how this system
of oppression and exploitation
is being enhanced through the
Global Forum on Migration
and Development (GFMD). The
GFMD, a state-led initiative, aims
to intensify labor export to extract
more profit from migrant workers
while paying lip service to the
protection of their rights.
We reject this reality. We believe
that migration is a right but forced
migration is an abomination. All of
us long for a better future. But we
do not speak of a passive longing
that merely waits, but of a hope
that should be of the present. We
believe in a hope that must spur us
to a struggle to reclaim back our
rights as human beings.
At different levels, through
many different means, many of
our churches have always been
ready to live up to this task.
Churches of various faiths have
provided sanctuary, basic needs,
such as food and clothing, and
ministry to migrant workers. In
fact, some churches already have
programs in place that provide
direct services to migrants.
However, in the face of such
humongous challenges as
capitalist countries continue
to extract super profit from
migrant workers and Third World
countries continue to abandon its
people, we also know that these
are not enough. And while our acts
of mercy are still much needed, we
must also commit acts of justice
even more. We must be more
of a church witnessing with the
people, bringing the institution
closer to the struggles of migrant
workers. We need to journey with
them and, together, address the
roots of forced migration.
We need to reflect deeper in
order to discern those who are
accountable for the miseries
suffered by the migrant workers.
The churches need to be prophets
that do not serve the god of the
empire. The churches need to
realize that the migrant workers
are prophets, too, and thus must
listen more closely to what they
are truly fighting for.
Thus,inourjourneytogetherwith
marginalized migrant workers,
there is a need to unite all our
efforts, continue our acts of mercy
as we transform ourselves into
committing more acts of justice.
Asco-sojourners,weresolvetotake
the following steps to help in creating
communities of joy and justice for a
new heaven and a new earth:
1. Raise awareness on migrants’
rights by providing spaces for
discussion and reflection inside our
churches as some of us still need to
start at doing acts of mercy.
2. Share experiences to enhance
each others’ capacities in moving
towards acts of justice.
3. Assist in the organizing of
migrants workers.
Become active voices and co-
sojourners, walking side by side
with our migrant sisters and
brothers in their campaigns in
defense and advancement of their
rights and welfare.
4. Engage in various venues,
whether it be within or outside
the framework of government
instrumentalities to further
promote and protect the rights
of migrants.
5. Widen our solidarity and echo
these kinds of dialogues in the
national and regional levels, and
still in the international level to
deepen and strengthen our unities
in understanding and action.
6. Form a continuing
committee from the participating
organizations as an organizing
body for a broader and larger
international ecumenical church-
migrants conference.
(Above is a unity statement of the
Ecumenical Churches Delegation to
the 3rd International Assembly of
Migrants and Refugees (IAMR3)
held in Mexico November 6-10, 2010.
Sister Maureen Catabian, RGS, of
the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
participated in the event.)
God’s Creation and to safeguard the Sacredness of marriage
and Family Life;
* To strengthen our dedication and commitment to deepen
education and formation of our families, communities,
parishes and Local Churches based on the Word of God and
the Christian Faith centered on the Holy Eucharist;
* To pursue the formation of Christian Environmental
Conscience, Intergenerational Justice and the Promotion of
the Culture of Peace as well as to pursue the paths of the New
Evangelization using solid catechesis for the care of the Earth
and for the creation of Peaceful Environment;
* To undertake concrete measures like Environmental
Education and Peace Campaigns in all Churches, BECs, Parish
Groups, Catholic Schools and Colleges, as well as conduct
activities such as tree planting, adopt-a forest program, setting
up of nurseries in all Catholic Facilities and on Church Lands
wherever possible;
* To conduct information and education campaigns to the
faithful regarding the Alternative Mining Act (AMB), now
filed in Congress and is known as National Management of
Resources and Stewardship Bill, as alternative to the present
Philippine Mining Act of 1995;
* To strengthen the interfaith and inter-religious dialogue
for the cause of Integrity of Creation and Peace;
* To continue dialogue and cooperation with civil society,
government and the basic sectors for authentic human
Development and Peace as well as to uphold the rule of law
at all levels.
Prayerfully, we invoke the Blessing of the Almighty Father,
the Enlightenment of the Creator Spirit and the name of the
Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Cosmos through
whom everything was made (Jn.1:1ff) and to whom all will be
reunited (Col.1:9-23; Eph.1:15-23). We implore the powerful
intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Word-
made Flesh and Spiritual Mother of Creation.
+GUILLERMO D. AFABLE, D.D.
Bishop of Digos
Chairman, MSPC XlV

A Laiko Position Paper Against the RH Bill

THE Council of the Laity of the Philippines
(Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas), a body
of Catholic lay organizations composed
of 48 National Lay Organizations
(NLO) and 49 Diocesan Councils of the
Laity (DCL) do hereby manifest our
vehement objection to House Bill 96
otherwise known as the Reproductive
Health (RH) Bill because of the following
chosen reasons, among several others
(for brevity):
1. Reproductive health and services,
as defined by the United Nations and
to which definition the Republic of the
Philippines has agreed to bind itself,
includes the services of abortion which,
we believe, the RH Bill tacitly approves
and which we find unacceptable as
inhumane.
2. The Bill makes legal the official
funding for population control
measures and devices which has been
scientifically evaluated by the World
Health Organization as carcinogenic
and hazardous to women’s health. By
classifying contraceptives as essential
medicines, the Bill allows it to be
purchased and distributed by all national
and local hospitals and other government
health units, making pregnancy appear
like a disease that must be treated.
3. The mandatory education of Grade 5
students on sexuality and family planning,
as recommended among the RH bill
provisions unnecessarily exposes children
to it at a very tender age. It violates the
constitutional rights of parents to educate
their children in accordance with their
moral and religious beliefs.
4. Population control by promoting
the use of contraceptives, which has
been clearly exposed as the underlying
reason for the RH Bill, ignores the strong
argument against the claims to that our
country is overpopulated and that it is
the primary cause for the existence of
poverty. We believe that the main cause
of poverty in our country is corruption,
abetted by sub-standard dispensation of
justice due to inefficient governance.
5. The Bill violates the right of health
workers to decide according to one’s
conscience by requiring them to be part
of certain procedures, such as those
leading to abortion, thus forcing them to
be unwilling accomplices to an act they
believe is immoral and unacceptable.
We, the members of the Council of
the Laity of the Philippines, have in the
foregoing, cited only a few of several other
reasons why we are against HB No. 96 or the
so called “RH” Bill. On the other hand, we
strongly recommend that whatever funds
proposed for this bill be allocated instead
for the promotion of health care by:
1. Increasing the budget for more
efficient operation of existing Government
Hospitals and Health Centers, providing
the necessary medicines and medical
equipment for the use of indigent
patients, free of charge.
2. Constructing more Government
Hospitals and Health Centers especially
in the rural areas and training a work force
in the Barangay level for health care and
sanitation services.
3. Increasing the salaries and benefits
of government health care workers
particularly doctors and nurses including
care givers and providing the necessary
security of tenure thereof.
We reiterate our objection to the
legislation of the RH Bill because we
believe it is unnecessary, counter-
productive to social development and
most of all hazardous to health. Thus
we implore our legislators to open their
minds and listen to the voice of reason
putting only the benefit of our people
above other interests. Lastly we say: Let
life continue in its God-given course.
Maraming salamat po at Mabuhay!
For the Council of the Laity of the
Philippines,
EDGARDO J. T. TIRONA
National President
December 01, 2010
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

God is with us—that’s

enough guarantee of
our salvation!
4th Sunday of Advent - Year A
(Matt 1:18-24); December19, 2010
By Msgr. Lope C. Robre- too. When one is new in a certain a visit (2 Kings 16:5-9), and told
dillo, SThD place, he is advised to keep an him that an alliance with Assyria
amulet to ward off the influence of would end with the destruction of
bad spirits. Doors, windows, and Judah as an independent nation.
A few years ago, I went to Cebu walls are sometimes decorated Instead, he asked him to trust in
City to celebrate the birthday of with figurines or objects meant to the Lord’s sovereignty. Judah
a friend. I almost did not make stave off evil. Others use mascots would be preserved if it remained
it, however, because our trip to bring them good luck. Though faithful to God. As a guarantee of
from Ormoc to Cebu was nearly amulets, mascots and talismans his word, the prophet said that a
cancelled, as the tropical storm have different uses, they are young woman would bear a son
“Ondoy,” which was spotted similar in that they are intended and call him Immanuel. The child
430 kilometers east of Guiuan, to assure a person continued would guarantee the continuation
Eastern Samar, with maximum happiness and protection from of the Davidic dynasty. Before he
winds of 70 kph at the center, the evil one. But, on the other becomes mature, Israel and Syria

Has Jesus as Messiah

gained strength. The Coast hand, they of course show how would have been devastated.
Guards at first refused to give the weak his faith in God is, for these This is the original meaning of
go signal for the voyage. Later objects relatively control one’s the famous Isaianic prophecy
on, however, they did, with the movement, and even outlook in about the virgin conceiving a

proved to be a
warning to the passengers about
the big waves. Indeed, as the
Supercat negotiated the distance
life! The presence of God in his son or the birth of the Immanuel
life takes a secondary role. For (Isa 7:1-16).
a person of faith, these are of no In Matthew’s view, however,
use; nothing more could assure the assurance that God would

disappointment?
between Bohol and Leyte, we
could feel how the winds and the
waves buffeted it. The trip was
a bit frightening. “Are you not
scared of the big waves?” I asked.
The passenger who sat beside
one’s happiness and protection
from evil than the presence of
God in one’s life.
In today’s Gospel, Matthew
presents Jesus as God’s presence
not abandon his people finds
fulfillment in Jesus, because
Jesus himself is God-with-us! Of
course, the knowledge that God
is with his people is ingrained in

3rd Sunday of Advent – Year A

answered, “Initially, I was. But among us (Matt 1:23). He sees the Jewish faith. Isaiah himself
www.turnbacktogod.com

having known that a priest is on Jesus as fulfilling the promise best articulates it: “But now, thus
the ship, I am no longer afraid. I of the prophets that God will says the Lord, who created you,

(Matt 11:2-11); December 12, 2010

By Msgr. Lope C. Robre-
dillo, SThD
WHAT can transform our
present world that is rife with
suffering and evil into a paradise
of love, justice and peace?
Time was when many people,
given the evils attendant upon
Industrial Revolution, thought
that Socialism and Communism
would usher in a new paradise,
the classless society, with the
Proletariat as the Messiah; but
in the end, the paradise turned
out to be the Gulag archipelago.
Karl Marx’s Communism was
obviously a disappointment.
That was why others were
hoping for the destruction
of the USSR, believing that
the fall of the “evil” empire
would usher in world peace.
Today, however, the Russian
empire has disintegrated, and
Communism and Socialism
have been defanged, but the
world has not substantially
changed for the better. We are
still faced with the prospect
of nuclear exchange, and we
have problems of hunger and
poverty, the exploitation of the
poor by the rich, the foolish wars
and the rape of the environment.
Many people and probably some
countries looked to terrorists
and their network for salvation,
but if the fallout of their attacks
is any evidence, it would seem
that the world has gotten no
know that God is with us in this
trip.”
The belief that when one
holds or can lean on a more-
better off than before. than-human power he will be
Which brings us to the protected from any harm or
misfortune is almost universal.
question: given the persistence
of evil experiences, who is to Those who do not believe in the
free us from them and offer us presence of God in their lives
a new life and a new world? seek assurance of safety and
Of course, to those who belong continued happiness elsewhere.
to the Christian Churches and Understandably enough, even
civilization, faith teaches that among the supposedly educated
Jesus Christ is the Messiah, mortals, the practice, for example,
i.e., God’s anointed One who of wearing talisman to bring
brought salvation to the world good luck or to ensure success
through his entire life, but and good fortune is fairly
especially through his passion, common. Gamblers, like cockfight
death and resurrection. We, aficionados, are notorious for their
Christians, identify him with belief in the ability of talismans to
“the one who is to come” (Matt make them win in games. Their
11:3)—he is the one we long favorite objects are items that
for to save this world from all are connected with the sacred,
forms of evil. This belief in Jesus’ or have touched the sacred. The
Messiah / B7 use of amulets is quite common,
be once again with his people.
For this reason, he appended
to his account on the virginal
conception of Jesus a formula-
citation from Isaiah’s prophecy
about the Immanuel (Isa 7:1-14, 1st
Reading). In order to appreciate
Matthew’s presentation of Jesus
as the Immanuel, it might be
helpful to understand the Isaianic
prophecy in its original setting.
While Tiglah-Pelesser was trying
to expand his empire, King Rezin
of Syria and King Pekah of Israel
formed an alliance of resistance,
and tried to pressure Ahaz, king
of Judah, into joining the alliance.
When the latter refused to join and
oppose Tiglah-Peleser, Rezin and
Pekah besieged Jerusalem in the
hope of replacing Ahaz with a
puppet leader. To survive, Ahaz
wished to have an alliance with
Assyria against both kings. It is at
this point that Isaiah paid Ahaz
O Jacob, and formed you, Israel.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are
mine. When you pass through the
water, I will be with you; in the
rivers you shall not drown; when
you walk through the fire, you
shall not be burned; the flames
shall not consume you. For I am
the Lord, your God, the Holy One
of Israel, your savior” (Isa 43:1-3a).
God then was with his people—in
Abraham and the patriarchs, in
Israel’s worship and wars, in her
journeys, in the Temple, etc. But
what Matthew had in mind is a
new way of God’s presence—God
is to manifest himself not in a
voice, wind, water, fire or animal,
but in a human person who lives
among his people. In the words
of John, “The Word was God…
And the Word was made flesh,
and made his dwelling among us”
Guarantee / B7

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

WHATEVER Bishop Pat Alo

Life isn’t an equation to solve. We simply live
life happily without bothering to count the
seconds we live or every breath we take, the
heartbeats we make, the mouthfuls we swallow
or drink, etc. We can get accustomed to it and
fail to value what it’s really meant for.
The rare consideration of ‘what it’s really
meant for,’ becomes important when the very
existential value of life is threatened. From
a biological perspective, for example, one
values life more when he gets seriously ill or
enters the fragile condition of old age.
Life, however, can also be attacked
violently in other ways. First, when someone
or something attempts or manages to end
another person’s life; second, when life’s
true meaning is distorted or rejected. The
former is simply the consequence of the more
menacing latter form.
The latter threat rejects the truth that life is
a gift of God. Thus, inasmuch as man cannot
give life to himself, he cannot whimsically
degrade any of its other vital elements; and
much less put an end to it which an act that
exclusively belongs to the Creator.
There are people who do not wish to accept
the fact that man possesses a singular dignity
–created in God’s image and likeness– above
the rest of creation. When this is denied,
man’s life is stripped of its indispensable
spiritual content and becomes materially
dispensable.
Bishop Fulton Sheen aptly described this
sad vision of man:
“This change in our times does not mean
that the modern soul has given up the search
for God, but only that it has abandoned
the more rational –and even more normal
way– of finding Him. Not in the order of
the cosmos, but the disorder in himself;
not the visible things of the world, but
the invisible frustrations, complexes and
anxieties of his own personality –these are the
modern man’s starting point when he turns
questioningly towards religion. In happier
days, philosophers discussed the problem
of man: now they discuss man as a problem.
(Peace of Soul)”
Man is erroneously considered a problem
when his life is reduced to a statistical excess
that poses as an obstacle to another person’s
The problem with life
egocentric indulgence of life. Said in another
way, “I cannot live my life as I want to because
I am confronted by the problem of considering
the others around me.”
This is the epitome of human egoism:
the choice of an existential self-isolation
–naturally leading to self-destruction– of
drowning one’s passions in about all the
possible pleasures that life can give. It is the
irony of selfishly living life to the extreme
of losing it.
John Paul II analyses this unfortunate
situation:
“How did such a situation come about?
Many different factors have to be taken
into account. In the background there is the
profound crisis of culture, which generates
skepticism in relation to the very foundations
of knowledge and ethics, and which makes
it increasingly difficult to grasp clearly the
meaning of what man is, the meaning of his
rights and his duties.” (Encyclical, Evangelium
vitæ, no. 11)
Cut from his transcendental roots, man
begins to doubt he is capable of anything
beyond this life. And since there is ‘nothing
to look for after life,’ then one might as well
live it selfishly to the max: having the ‘absolute
right’ to capriciously indulge in or dispose
of life. This idea brings along an avalanche
of other threats to man’s life.
Thus, John Paul II observes:
“All this explains, at least in part, how the
value of life can today undergo a kind of
‘eclipse,’ even though conscience does not
cease to point to it as a sacred and inviolable
value, as is evident in the tendency to disguise
certain crimes against life in its early or final
stages by using innocuous medical terms
which distract attention from the fact that
what is involved is the right to life of an
actual human person.” (Op. cit.)
Naturally, from this philosophical level,
the value of life isn’t physically attacked. It
is when such ideas are applied that we begin
to see their sinister effects on man and the
family. Now there are various threats against
man’s life and dignity that come in the form
of abortion, systematic population control,
contraception, euthanasia, etc.
ENCOUNTERS
As much as pro-choice or “anti-life
proponents” argue that they are actually
promoting their programs for the good of
men and society, the question is: “What
kind of good, for which men and what kind
of society?”
One can discern that they mean a
individualistic good as “my right over my
body’s well-being” obtained at whatever
costs, even through something contrary to
my dignity or at the expense of another’s
life. Sadly, all these are hidden and masked
by euphemisms, politically correct phrases
and financial interests of pharmaceutical
companies.
But the problem of life, I believe, also stems
from the fact that pro-life advocates only come
to the defense of life when it is threatened.
Hard as this already is, we must take a more
pro-active stance in defending life.
First, it must be clear that such a defense
of man and his dignity is not only an outcrop
of some Church or Christian belief. This is
something that human life and the family
require if man truly wishes to attain the fullness
of life and its perfections here on earth.
Second, we cannot leave the defense of life
only to a specialized group of individuals or
entities. We must expose life’s transcendent
value through all the noble initiatives
–Christian and non-Christian– already
established in society (e.g. community-
house building groups, basic ecclesial
communities, parish activities, catholic and
Christian schools, media centers in favor of
the underprivileged, etc.)
Third, there is a need to campaign
for greater solidarity to overcome the
prevailing short-sightedness of those who
are only motivated by monetary or statistical
considerations about man. This will require
networking charity in all sectors of noble
human initiatives.
Fourth, each person must strive to
constantly strive to express the beauty of
life and the family. Striving to project how
to live, defend, and give more of life daily.
This effort of networking all these initiatives
will not only make them flourish more. It will
also help us to make the ‘problem of life’ truly
something worth living for in all the seasons
of human existence.
RH Bill contradictions
IT’S about time we check how really the RH Bill would help
the Philippines. First of all, it would be rather negative to focus
on the overpopulation aspect when really people and persons
aptly formed and educated are an asset to the republic. Such
popular personalities as Manny Pacquiao or the late Cardinal
Jaime Sin did not belong to the suggested two-child family
(Sec. 17 of the RH). Pacquiao is third of several children;
Cardinal Sin was 14th of 16 children, and so with many famous
personalities.
The title itself of the bill seems to project itself as being
concerned for the health and welfare of women. Yet the
promotion of artificial contraceptives and abortifacients are
terminating numberless lives of future men and women, and
even misconstruing the position of woman as if she were only
an instrument of pleasure. The name mentions reproductive
health but even for that aspect such is not reasonable logic when
we say we care for the mother’s health but not for the life of
the child. And as regards contraceptives, it is not even firmly
established that there are no side effects for the mother.
The RH Bill pretends to be on the side of the health of the
mother and the child but it advocates ways that can terminate
life (sec. 7), such as abortion and abortifacients. Is that true love
and care of our people’s lives or a hypocrisy of corruption? And
by prescribing sex education in the primary grades (Sec. 13), the
RH Bill would be scandalizing the young and innocent, who
may be reared better regarding sexual morality in the natural
atmosphere of the family.
The Bible threatens with divine punishment those who
occasion scandal for the young and innocent. “Scandals will
inevitably arise, but woe to him through whom they come.
He would be better off thrown into the sea with a millstone
around his neck than giving scandal to one of these little
ones” (Lk. 17:1-2). The title Reproductive Health implies an
improvement of the quality and preservation of human life,
but the use or promotion of abortifacient contraceptives (Sec
7) actually destroys life. Isn’t that a contradiction?
We must search and seek truly what is for the good of our
people, both in body and spirit, and not be corrupted by the
anti-life agencies offering sums of money. The Bible tells us two
gospel truths we must keep in mind. “The love of money is the
root of all evils. Some men in their passion for it have strayed
from the faith and have come to grief amid great pain” (1 Tim.
6:10). This is a serious matter so people who do not care about
God’s laws and the dictates of conscience must beware since
God knows our inmost thoughts and desires. “It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010
B7

Looking beyond renewable energy

By Pati Navalta Poblete
LAUNCHING the Renewable
Energy Conference and Expo at
Dusit Thani Hotel in Manila on
December 2, President Benigno
Aquino III gave a speech that
referred several times to the
Philippines’ natural potential
and its importance to sustainable
development. Providing energy
to households, he said, is vital
to providing clean water, health
and shelter to the people of
the Philippines. Although he
was referring specifically to
energy, the same must be said
of all of renewable natural
resources − without which
no economy could survive.
For generations, humanity has
treated nature’s services – from
croplands that produce our food,
to forests that absorb our carbon
emissions – as free and limitless
resources. As a result, since the
1970s, humanity’s demand has
consistently surpassed what the
Earth can renewably provide.
Simply put, we are in ecological
debt – and the Philippines is no
exception.
Let me first start by saying
that I am here in Manila on
behalf of Global Footprint
Network, an international
research organization working
to advance sustainable
economies through the use of
the Ecological Footprint. With
all the emerging “feet” out there,
many confuse this with carbon
footprint. This is only one part
of the Ecological Footprint,
which takes a more holistic
approach to address today’s
growing ecological challenges.
In addition to carbon, Ecological
Footprint looks at the impact of
from fossil fuel dependence, environmental problem – it is is at a major inflection point.
an addiction that has led us to an economic and social one. It is the leading country as far
the damaging effects of climate The Philippines’ economy as geothermal innovation. Its
change that we see today. Now and the livelihood of much of location has afforded it enough
we must also look at the bigger its population depend on the sun and wind to fuel generations
picture. The carbon problem country’s natural resources – to come. President Aquino
is part of an overall resource from the fish caught in the seas and Department of Energy
crunch – a symptom of human to the bananas and coconuts Secretary Jose Rene Almendras
pressure on resources reaching that are grown from the ground. appeared committed to keeping
a critical tipping point. The These are goods that are not this momentum going. Yet
concentration of carbon in only consumed domestically, the country faces numerous
our atmosphere is the most but are major sources of income ecological hurdles, which put its
prominent resource issue we through exports. Managing economic and social well-being
face. But there are others as well. these resources is critical to at risk. Now is the time to build
Access to freshwater resources, a sustainable economy. Of on this momentum and address
food security, forest resources, course, this is not just a domestic the country’s challenges using a
biodiversity, oil – all of these are issue. Because of today’s global comprehensive approach.
under threat. We are entering an economy, it is in the self interest When my parents first brought
era of “peak everything.” of the Philippines to know if me back to the Philippines to
According to Global other countries – particularly see my mother’s hometown in
Footprint Network’s latest its neighboring countries − are Sarangani Province, I was in
data, the largest contributor at ecological risk as well. As awe of its lush, green coconut
to the Philippines’ Ecological we all recall from the rice crisis groves, sprawling farmlands
Footprint is cropland (37%), in 2008, what happens in one and abundance of fish caught
followed by fishing grounds country will eventually affect every day by my uncles and
(25%) and carbon (24%). Forest all. The Philippines is the No. 1 grandfather. I didn’t know that
land is also a growing issue in importer of rice. When the rice banana leaves could be used as
the Philippines due to rapid shortage hit, and countries such plates, and that coconut shells
deforestation. These land types as India and Vietnam decided could be used to clean floors –
face the greatest pressures by to curb its exports, rice prices all of which could go right back
human activities and are at soared to a 34-year high in the to the Earth once they were no
ecological risk. This goes hand Philippines. The lesson was longer of human use. I gained
in hand with findings from clear: Be better prepared. It is an appreciation of the Earth’s
World Bank, which cites soil those governments that prepare resources after that trip in
erosion, deforestation, over- for such resource constraints 1985. I understood that nature
exploited marine resources that will maintain a competitive could provide everything we
and biocapacity loss due to edge in the future. needed, so long as we valued
rapid land conversion among Ecological limits must be it as a true commodity. This
the country’s major ecological central to policy-making if we is the Philippines I want to
challenges. At the same time, are to reverse current trends. remember – one I hope to return
the Philippines’ Ecological Do current policies support to again and again. With the
Footprint remains well below sustainable economies, or right policies and innovation,
that of world average, meaning exacerbate current ecological Philippine leaders have an
parts of the population are problems? As we have seen with opportunity – and an obligation
not getting adequate access GDP, that which gets measured – to make this a reality for
to natural resources. Going gets managed. We must shift generations to come.
back to the president’s speech, conventional thinking and
this translates to food, shelter, attach true value to nature’s (Pati Navalta Poblete is the
health and sanitation. Human resources – only then can we World Outreach and Media
development, then, is directly balance our ecological budget Director for Global Footprint
www.lantaw.blogspot.com

human demand on forest lands,
croplands, fisheries and built-
up land (i.e., urban).
Renewable natural resources
– from wind to solar to biomass
– are an ideal way to free us
affected by how our resources and live well within the means
are managed – or not managed of nature.
– and can mean the difference From the various
between poverty and a healthy, presentations during this first
productive life. day of this conference, it is
Clearly, this is not just an evident that the Philippines
Network, based in California,
USA. She is a former columnist
and editorial writer for the San
Francisco Chronicle. For more on
Global Footprint Network, go to
www.footprintnetwork.org)

Messiah / B6 Decorations / B2

Messiahs hip is already expressed in the
early post-Easter reflection, where he is
recognized as the Davidic Messiah who
is enthroned at the resurrection: “God
made both Lord and Messiah this Jesus
whom you crucified” (Acts 2:34).
But whether all of us act on that
belief, that is to say, whether our belief
in his Messiahship is seen in the way
we live our day-to-day lives, is another
question. For, one simply wonders
whether the name of Jesus the Messiah
is invoked in our efforts to establish
peace and justice, whether his teachings
matter whenever we try to resolve
problems of hunger, war, poverty, and
the destruction of the environment,
and whether the way we do politics
and economy is informed by what the
Messiah has to say. Indeed, if the war
against terrorism is any indication, it
would seem that many Christians—or
at least those who hold power in
governments—look to other Messiahs.
Like High-Tech Military Power.
We raise this point because it
seems that many of us do not exactly
understand the role of Jesus in the
realization of salvation. We seem to
think like John the Baptist who had his
own notion of the Messiah and asked
in this Sunday’s Gospel (Matt 11:2-11)
whether Jesus fit his conception. In the
Gospel of Matthew, John described
the coming of the Messiah in terms of
clearing the threshing floor, gathering
the grain into the barns and burning
the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt
3:10), that is to say, in terms of God’s
anger and His judgment (Jer 7:20).
The Messiah, as John the Baptist saw
him, would be a stringent judge. But
when Jesus arrived on the scene, he
proved to be a disappointment to John
the Baptist. Instead of eliminating
transgressors from the face of the
earth, for example, Jesus welcomed tax
collectors and sinners (Matt 9:10-13; cf
Luke 15:1-2). He engaged in a healing
ministry (Matt 11:5; Isa 35:5-6). While
John looked for judgment pronounced
on evildoers, Jesus pronounced the
endless love and mercy of God the
Father (Luke ch 15).
Jesus, in other words, did not match
John’s preconception. Not surprisingly
enough, in today’s Gospel, John sent
deputation to inquire as to Jesus’
Messiahship: “Are you ‘He who is
to come’ or do we look for another?”
(Matt 11:3). Indeed, there seems to be
a John the Baptist in each of us. In the
face of the enormous problems we are
confronted with, we look not to Jesus
but to politicians, Rambos, foreigner
mercenaries, terrorists, and even magic
and sorcery to solve them! To deliver
us from political and economic evil,
we run to politicians, economists and
technocrats, even if experience has
shown that the country has never
substantially improved with the
solutions they have offered us in many
years—the poor keep on multiplying,
the powerful still control the economy,
real service is still undelivered in the
way it should, the rich become all the
more rich.
Why is this so? Why do we not look
to Christ, if we indeed believe that he
is the Messiah? The reason is that, like
John the Baptist, we seem not to believe
that Jesus’ way is the correct way. We
lack faith that in Jesus we have the
ultimate answer to the problem of
salvation. We think that Jesus’ words
lack wisdom, and his teaching will
not work. Probably at the back of our
minds, we believe that he is “an obstacle
and a stumbling block,” even if we
profess with our lips the opposite. We
are practically disbelievers in God’s
word (1 Pet 2:8). A Christian will
always condemn terrorism, but it will
be difficult for him to find any Christian
basis for an almost relentless bombing
on a poor country, where millions who
are poor live, even if it is an enemy.
That might be a reasonable, sensible
action, politically correct, but one
doubts whether it could be considered
Christian. The main problem, in other
words, is that we lack faith. To conquer
the enemy, one has to forgive, if one
goes by the Gospel, but who would
believe that? If one slaps your right
cheek, give him the left as well—is that
reasonable?
H ence, in today’s Gospel, Jesus
says: “Blest is the man who finds no
stumbling block in me’ (Matt 11:6).
To believe that Jesus’ way is the right
way calls for a leap of faith. It is a
faith that allows God to do what he
wants; we do not dictate how God
should act in us, even though this is
what we would like to happen. On
the contrary, all we do is just listen to
him, as the experience of Israel proves,
when the Lord saved his people from
the Egyptians at the crossing of the
Red Sea (Exod 14:14). This means that
before anything else, we must believe,
and then we can be sure that our hope
will not be disappointed: “Behold, I am
placing in Zion a stone to make men
stumble and a rock to make them fall;
but he who believes in him will not be
disappointed” (Rom 9:33).
should be religiously themed, leaving
plastic reindeer, sugar canes and Santa
Clauses in the local shopping mall or at
least within the confines of the parish hall
for children’s events.
Within the church proper, apart from
the crib, Christmas may be evoked
by using, for example, traditional
poinsettias, holly and other traditional
elements according to the culture.
As I mentioned, different cultures
celebrate Christmas in various ways. In
some countries, such as Venezuela, many
Guarantee / B6
(John 1:1b. 14a). In the person of Jesus,
God has descended to men in order to
abide with them till the end of the world.
Thus, after his resurrection, Jesus assured
his disciples: “Know that I am with you
until the end of the world” (Matt 28:20).
Of course, he was speaking of a different
form of presence in the Holy Spirit,
which finds a good description in John:
“Anyone who loves me will be true to
my word, and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him, and make our
dwelling with him”(John 14:21).
In effect, Matthew is saying to his
community and to us: God’s presence
is the guarantee that the person who
believes in Jesus will be saved. For the
person who has faith that God is with
him, God will ultimately comes to save
on his behalf. He may suffer, or even
be killed, but the forces of evil cannot
defeat it: “Form a plan and it shall be
thwarted, make a resolve, and it shall not
be carried out, for ‘With us is God’” (Isa
8:10). God will not abandon him in his
struggle, but will see to it that he survives
any setbacks, and strengthen him when
people live the novena before Christmas
by attending a special “Cockcrow” Mass
celebrated at 5 a.m. each day.
In Mexico, during this same period,
family and neighbors often take turns
in hosting a “posada,” a procession
in which the group goes from house
to house singing a traditional song in
which St. Joseph and Mary request,
and are refused, hospitality until finally
they are festively welcomed at the last
home, which has prepared snacks and
traditional games for all.
discouraged and disappointed. For this
reason, it is abhorrent to trust in objects
and figurines that serve as talismans,
amulets or mascots. Even if it were true
that these have inherent powers, they are
nothing compared with the assurance
God gives a person because of the divine
presence. Paul says something similar
to this when he speaks of God’s love:
“Who will separate us from the love of
Christ? Trial, or distress, or persecution,
or hunger, or nakedness or danger, or the
sword?… Yet in all this we are more than
conquerors because of him who has loved
us. For I am certain that neither death
nor life, neither angels nor principalities,
neither the present nor the future, neither
height nor depth nor any other creature,
will be able to separate us from the love
of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus,
our Lord” (Rom 8:35-39). Of course,
that one will not be destroyed because
God is with him requires faith—a leap
of faith that king Ahaz did not have, but
one that every Christian must possess if,
like St. Paul, he is to emerge triumphant
with God.

Play / B2

selected in accord with the account of the saint’s life, not only
understanding of children, or in the homily but even before

CBCPMonitor Name _________________________________________________

(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
singing in the form of psalmody
or the Alleluia with a simple
verse should be sung between
the readings in the form of an
introduction.
“When the text of the readings
the readings. The children should lends itself to this, it may be
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Mailing Address _______________________________________________ always have a part in this singing, helpful to have the children
but sometimes a reflective silence read it with parts distributed
_________________________________________________ may be substituted for the singing among them, as is provided for
Phone No.: ________ Fax No.: ________ E-mail: ___________ …. the reading of the Lord’s passion
The CBCP Monitor is published “47. All the elements that will during Holy Week.”
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• Domestic _____________________________ value of God’s word. It follows therefore that there
“Among such elements are the is even less support for such
1 Year Php 500.00 Signature introductory comments that may an initiative during regular
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B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

Moral Assessment Technical Assessment

 Abhorrent  Poor
 Disturbing  Below average

 Acceptable  Average

 Wholesome  Above average

 Exemplary  E
xcellent

“ H arry P o t t e r a n d t h e
Deathly Hallows” is a much-
anticipated motion picture
event to be told in two full-
length parts. The long-feared
war has begun and Voldemort’s
Death Eaters seize control of
the Ministry of Magic and even
Hogwarts, terrorizing and
arresting anyone who might
oppose them.
But the one prize they still
seek is the one most valuable
to Voldemort: Harry Potter.
Harry’s only hope is to find the
Horcruxes before Voldemort
finds him. As he searches for
clues, he uncovers the legend
of the Deathly Hallows.
And if the legend turns
out to be true, it could give
Voldemort the ultimate power
he seeks. No longer just a boy,
Harry Potter is drawing ever
closer to the ultimate battle
with Voldemort.
In this seventh and final
installment of the Harry
Potter series, Harry faces
new troubles; he must collect
all of the Horcruxes that the
evil Lord Voldemort has
left behind. He has no idea
where these are and he has
to destroy them all, even
without the faintest idea how
to do so.
As Harry races against
time and evil to destroy
the Horcruxes, he uncovers
the existence of three most
powerful objects in the
wizarding world: the Deathly
Hallows.
TITLE: Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows Part 1
CAST: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma
Watson, Rupert Grint,
Helena Bonhan Carter,
Ralph Fiennes, Michael
Gambon
DIRECTOR: David Yates
SCREENWRITER: Steve
Kloves NOVEL: J.K.
Rowling
GENRE: Drama, Action &
Adventure, Mystery
& Suspense, Science
Fiction & Fantasy
RUNNING TIME: 150 minutes
DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros.
Pictures
LOCATION: England
Technical Assessment:
 ½
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: Age 14 and
above

MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya
Look for the images of the
TITLE: My Amnesia Girl Three Kings, Christmas
CAST: John Lloyd Cruz, Toni Gonzaga lantern and Christmas
DIRECTOR: Cathy Garcia-Molina
PRODUCER/ DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema Star. (Illustration by
RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes Bladimer Usi)
GENRE: Romantic-Comedy
LOCATION: Manila
Technical Assessment:  ½
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

Nagkakilala sa isang dating/ match-making event ang

ahenteng si Apollo (John Lloyd Cruz) at ang photographer
na si Irene (Toni Gonzaga). Mabilis ang mga pangyayari at
agad nahulog ang loob nila sa isa’t-isa at nagkamabutihan.
Yayayain ni Apollo si Irene na magpakasal ngunit sa araw
ng kasal, habang palakad si Irene sa altar ay biglang uurong
si Apollo at iiwan si Irene nang walang anumang pasabi.
Makalipas ang ilang taon ay wala pa ring asawa si Apollo
at tila hindi pa rin makalimutan si Irene at malabis ang
pagsisisi sa ginawang pag-iwan dito. Sa muling pagku-krus
ng landas nila ni Irene ay malalaman niyang may amnesia
ito na bunga marahil ng natamong trauma sa pag-iwan
niya dito sa araw ng kanilang kasal. Magiging daan para
kay Apollo ang amnesia ni Irene upang makabawi sa mga
nagawa nitong kasalanan at magpapanggap na bagong
manliligaw ni Irene sa pangalang Paul. Lingid sa kanyang
kaalaman, si Irene ay nagkukuwanri lamang na may
amnesia upang siya ay sadyang gantihan at pahirapan.
Saan kaya hahantong ang pagbabalat-kayo ng dalawang
ito? Paano kung malaman ni Apollo na nagkukunwari
lamang si Irene?
Nagawang bigyan ng bagong bihis ng pelikula ang tila
gasgas nang tema ng amnesia sa mga kuwentong Pilipino
lalo na sa pelikula. Ginamit ng My Amnesia Girl ang
maraming makabagong pamamaraan ng pagkukuwento
upang gawing kapana-panabik ang bawat susunod na
eksena. Bagama’t pawang napabilis ang mga rebelasyon sa
manonood, naging epektibo pa rin ang kwento sa kabuuan
at nabigyang kadahilanan naman kung bakit maraming
sekreto sa kuwento ang hindi itinago sa manonood. Naging
mas nakakakilig nga naman at nakaka-enganyong panoorin
ang dalawang tauhan na tila naglolokohan at hindi
nagkaka-alaman. Ang tunay na hiyas pa rin ng pelikula
bukod sa husay ng direktor at manunulat ay ang walang
kupas na kahusayan nila Cruz at Gonzaga. Napanatili nila
ang kilig, katatawanan at maging ang tamang timpla ng
drama kung kinakailangan. Tuloy ang mga manonood ay
natatawa, kinikilig at lumuluha ng magkakasunod kundi
man minsan ay magkasabay. Ang mga pangalawang tauhan
ay pawang mahuhusay din. Salamat din at panandilaan
tayong nakawala sa mga titulo ng popular na kanta bilang
pamagat ng pelikula at may isang kuwentong bago sa
panlasa ng Pilipinong manonood.
Ang kuwento ng My Amnesia Girl ay uminog sa
kasinungalingan at pagbabalat-kayo. Bagama’t nagawa ng
pelikulang gawing katatawanan at nakaka-kilig ang makita
ang dalawang pusong nagmamahalan habang naglolokohan
ay marami pa rin itong aral na inihain. Una na dito ang hindi
magandang naidudulot ng pagsisinungaling. Sa hinaba-
haba ng takbo ng kuwento na uminog sa kasinungalingan,
ipinakita pa rin na sa bandang huli’y katotohanan pa rin
ang mananaig. Tunay ngang “ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay
pagsasama ng maluwat”. Matindi rin ang naging balik kay
Irene ng kanyang matatawag na “maliit na kasinungalingan”
at mapapatunayan na wala ngang kasinungalingang maliit at
ito ay kasinungalingan pa rin bali-baligtarin man. Mas higit
na nakababahala naman ang hindi gaanong naipaliwanag na
dahilan kung bakit si Apollo ay bigla na lamang tumalikod
at kumaripas sa araw mismo ng kasal. Sa napaka-habang
pinagdaraanang proseso sa sakramentong ito ay hindi
dapat nababalewa at tinatalikuran nang ganoon lang ang
kasal nang walang matinding dahilan. Nagkulang marahil
sa pagsasaliksik o sa paghahagod ng pelikula sa aspetong
ito. Hindi rin husto ang naging paliwanagan ng dalawa
sa kung ano nga ba ang naging mali sa kanilang relasyon.
Kahanga-hanga naman sa isang banda ang ginawang
pagpapatawad ng dalawang tauhan sa isa’t-isa. Patunay na
ang pusong nagmamahal ay laging handang magpatawad.
At ang paglimot sa ginawang pagkakamali ng kapwa,
bagama’t mahirap, ay posible pa rin sa wagas na pag-ibig.
(Rizalino R. Pinlac, Jr.)
 CBCPMonitor
CBCP Monitor
Vol.14
Vol. 14No.
No.25
3
C1
C1
February 1
December 6 - February
31, 2010 14, 2010

The News Supplement of

Couples for Christ

ANCOP’s Mission: Answering

the Cry of the Poor
By Raymond Bucu
ANCOP went into overdrive as more
than forty-five leaders and volunteers
of Couples for Christ’s main arm in its
work with the poor program gathered
in Tagaytay City from all over the coun-
try last November 29, 30 and December
1, 2010, to conduct its first-ever Planning
Session and Team Building exercises
in order to map out ANCOP’s strate-
gic directions for the future. It was an
exciting and momentous occasion for
each participant as each one reflected
on how ANCOP can truly respond to
its mandate of helping the poor in our
land and how this can be done in light
of the call of the times.
The sessions began with a Mass on the
first day, celebrated by Monsignor Allen
Aganon, Spiritual Director of Couples
for Christ. He also later conducted a rec-
ollection which focused on reflections on
the parable of the Good Samaritan as told
by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (10:25-37).
In the parable, a traveler, presumably
Jewish, is beaten, robbed, and left for
dead along the road. First a priest and
then a Levite come by, but both avoid
the man. Finally, a Samaritan comes by.
Samaritans and Jews generally despised
each other, but the Samaritan helps the
injured Jew. Jesus is described as telling
the parable in response to a question
regarding the identity of the “neighbor”
which Leviticus 19:18 says should be
loved. The tone of the planning session
was thus set on the note that ANCOP
needs to expand its own world view in
its work with the poor programs.
After the mass and recollection, the
participants gathered for a full char-
ismatic worship followed by team-
building exercises conducted by Roland
Arrogante of South A. The lectures and
the exercises focused on welcoming
new ideas and approaches to solving
problems and to changes or shifts in
paradigms or models. This was espe-
cially helpful when the time came on the
second day for the participants to finally
craft the strategic vision and mission
statement that would guide ANCOP
for the coming years.
Day 2 was opened with a Mass and
subsequent worship, after which Ricky
Cuenca, Chief Executive Officer of
CFC-ANCOP Tekton, Inc., presented
plans and programs that would make
ANCOP busy for years to come. He
also presented a draft vision and mis-
sion statement to the participants. AN-
COP’s core values were also presented,
focusing on the fact that ANCOP is a
Christ-centered organization, and that it
desires to answer the cry of the poor by
sharing the love and life of Christ.
Ricky also emphasized that ANCOP
is unambiguous and unapologetic about
being one with the Catholic Church and
that its work with the poor is constantly
being moved by the Holy Spirit. On the
other hand, Eric Delos Reyes, ANCOP
Chief Operating Officer, also made
a presentation that featured a SWOT
(strengths, weakness, opportunities and
threats) analysis of ANCOP, focusing
however on its main strength, which is its
subsidiarity to and its declared oneness
with the ideals of Couples for Christ.
Suggestions and proposals abounded
and it was clear to everyone that the
Holy Spirit was guiding the sessions as
slowly but surely, ANCOP’s directions
began to crystallize, especially in the
areas of education, health and nutrition
and community development, which
Ricky identified as the three main pillars
of the work of ANCOP.
In the area of education, ANCOP
will intensify and strengthen its Child
Support Program (CSP), to be supple-
mented by various education schol-
arship programs, and establish CSP
Education Centers and ANCOP Pre-
Schools in ANCOP Communities. For
the Health and Nutrition pillar, ANCOP
will embark on community health care
programs focusing on medical missions,
hygiene and sanitation, proper nutrition
and immunization programs. In the area
of community development, ANCOP
will engage in building entire communi-
ties for the children and their families,
conduct Christian Life programs and
values formation programs where it can
while conducting livelihood programs
and micro-enterprise and finance.
The Child-Family-Community (CFC)
were also identified as the entry points
in answering the cry of the poor. The as-
sembly acknowledged that the Christian
Life Program and value formation are
crucial to build supportive nets around
the child and family. Both the CLP and
values formation programs of ANCOP
are, without a doubt, the key to ANCOP
success and sustainability while the
CHILD-FAMILY-COMMUNITY focus
is linked to CFC vision and mission to
build the Church of the Home and the
Church of the Poor.
Future expansion of the work of AN-
COP will focus on jobs and employment
creation, parental care, prevention of
violence in the family, child and women
trafficking, and the reduction of infant
mortality.
Given the scope of the work ahead,
the participants were later enjoined to
help craft ANCOP’s strategic vision and
mission, which resulted in passionate dis-
cussions. However, the participants, who
were ably facilitated by Jimmy Santiago of
South A, were led to wonder at the sim-
plicity and majesty of God’s mandate for
the work of ANCOP because ANCOP’s
new vision and mission turned out to be
simple but beautiful at the same time.
CFC-ANCOP VISION: Bringing
Christ’s transforming love to the poor
CFC-ANCOP MISSION: Answer the
Cry of the Poor
The Planning Session began its final
proceedings on the third day after
a powerful worship led by Mannix
Ocampo, as the participants presented
the new ANCOP Vision and Mission
Statement before the CFC Interna-
tional Council led by CFC Chairman,
Jose Tale and CFC Executive Director
Joe Yamamoto. Also present were IC
members Lito Tayag, Joey Arguelles,
and Melo Villaroman.

ANCOP opens up One With The Catholic Church

Tanay ANCOP Village In The Cabustam Sub-Region
(CFC and the Archdiocese of CDO jointly convene the First Clergy-Lay Congress in NE Mindanao)

By Raymond Bucu their homes and who remain on evangelization and that it By John Banaynal of Malaybalay. Bishop Juan and Eric Andilab, a full-time
homeless at this time. must never be abandoned. He de Dios Pueblos, D.D., of the YFC pastoral worker shared
The ceremony began with a noted that as we continue the Diocese of Butuan would have about their experience with
ANCOP leaders led by Ricky Holy Mass, celebrated by Fr. work for the poor, our call is not N o v ember 1 9 , 2 0 1 0 w a s made it to the Congress, too, CFC. As is traditional in all
Cuenca, Chief Executive Offic- Pepe Pedraja and attended by to be successful, but to remain a grace-filled afternoon-to- had not a wayward vehicle CFC activities, the session was
er and Eric Delos Reyes, Chief residents of the area as well faithful to God as He is always evening fellowship of three stalled and closed the national capped by the celebration of
Operating Officer, immediately as the would-be beneficiaries faithful to us. Father Pedraja Catholic Bishops and 56 priests highway along the town of Tal- the Holy Mass.
got down to work after the of the Tanay ANCOP Village. finally exhorted those present to from the CABUSTAM sub- isayan in Misamis Oriental to The dinner-fellowship that
Tagaytay planning session by In his homily, Father Pedraja always remember that our work region comprised of the Dio- motorized traffic, forcing him followed was the perfect op-
proceeding to Tanay, Rizal to reiterated that our lives are a is meaningless if we are not able ceses of Cagayan de Oro, to turn back to Butuan City. portunity to cement relation-
join in the to evange- Butuan, Surigao, Tandag, and The CFC leaders were head- ships and to talk about greater
ground- lize. Malaybalay, together with 210 ed by International Council areas of collaboration, particu-
breaking The cer- leaders of Couples for Christ, Chairman Joe and Babylou larly in parish life. A moving
ceremony emony was in the first-ever Northeast- Tale and IC member Joey and ceremony was the main fea-
of its pi- graced by ern Mindanao Conference on Tess Arguelles, Dodong Ba- ture of the evening, where the
lot project the pres- Clergy-Lay Relations. The naynal, Regional Head of CFC clergy and CFC leaders stood
a p t l y ence of Ta- conference was held at the Northeastern Mindanao and in line, heads bowed, before
called nay Mayor Grand Caprice Restaurant, wife Inday, the provincial di- the Holy Cross held aloft by
ANCOP Lito Tan- Lim Ket Kai Center, Cagayan rectors and provincial council Archbishop Ledesma, their
V i l - juatco, de Oro City. members of CFC Misamis Ori- hands resting on the shoulders
lage. The whose out- Held as an integral part of ental, Camiguin, Agusan del of the person in front as a sign
project standing CFC Misamis Oriental’s 23rd Norte, Agusan del Sur, Suri- of their solidarity with each
will in- support Anniversary celebrations on gao del Norte and Bukidnon. other. Jay Juntilla of Singles
volve the for CFC- November 20, 2010, the seven- The Mission Core members of for Christ sang a stirring song,
creation ANCOP hour meeting was a collabora- Misamis Oriental were also in adding to the solemnity of the
of a new and his tion of the Archdiocese of Ca- attendance. occasion.
commu- genuine gayan de Oro and Couples for Adopting “Fullness of Life in The evening was rich with
nity in concern Christ. His Excellency, Arch- Christ” as its theme, the Con- entertaining dance-presenta-
a piece for his bishop Antonio J. Ledesma, gress intended to recognize the tions and games, and more
of land constitu- SJ, of Cagayan de Oro, jointly role that bishops and priests particularly with songs from
donated ents al- signed the letter of invitation play in the community, honor members of the clergy who
by Don lowed the to the CABUSTAM clergy with them for their selfless service literally let their hair down by
Ambro- project to Joey Arguelles, a member of to God and the Church, and al- belting their favorite pieces.
sio “Don proceed as the CFC International Council low the time spent in learning The activity was over in
B u r o ” planned. and the Area Head of Misamis and fellowship to form closer about 7 hours but, judging
Sacramento, a local Tanay phi- continuing answer to the cry of Also present were Art Valdel- Oriental. ties between CFC leaders and from the reactions of both cler-
lanthropist and whose grand- the poor, whom Jesus said will lion, CFC Provincial Area Head The 56 participants from the their pastors. gy and lay present, its effects
daughter, Maita Benadez, is a always be with us. He further of Rizal, Rommel Serrano, CFC clergy were headed by Arch- Archbishop Ledesma de- will be felt for many months
member of the CFC Handmaids said that the call to help the poor Rizal Provincial Area Director, bishop Ledesma and other livered the keynote message ahead. Father Magtraryo of
of the Lord. The proposed ben- is in itself a blessing from God, and Dennis Arcilla, CFC Rizal bishops from the area, namely, - on the “Integrity of Crea- Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City
eficiaries were identified to be yet we are blessed even more as ANCOP Head, all of whom Bishop Jose A. Cabantan, D.D. t ion a nd Pea c e-Bu ilding .” was so touched by Fr. Jepoy’s
victims of Typhoon Ondoy, the we respond to His call. Father tirelessly worked for the reali- of the Diocese of Malaybalay Joe Tale spoke on the global observations and exhortation
mega typhoon that devastated Pedraja also emphasized that the zation of the event. and Bishop Honesto Ch. Pa- activities of CFC, while Fr. about priests being open to
the country last year, who lost work with the poor must focus cana, SJ, D.D., retired Bishop Jepoy Balanay of Iligan City Catholic / 3
 C2 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

Joe Tale, CFC Chairman

The Gift of Life

THE following statement was
circulated to the leaders of CFC last
November 12, 2010, in response to
the growing controversy over the
proposed Reproductive Health (RH)
bills. I and my fellow members in the
International Council firmly believe
that because we are a community
of Christ-followers, we are called to
take an unwavering stand against
such bills, since they threaten the
very fabric of our faith and our very
humanity.
I am reprinting it below so that it
will reach a wider audience, so that
we CFC members can be galvanized
into action. Because we are one with
the Catholic Church, let us all join
our parish efforts against these bills.
Parishes have an ongoing signature
campaign. Sign up. There are calls
for assemblies of support for life and
for legislation that seeks to protect the
unborn. Join and be counted.
We may be members of CFC or any
other organization, but we are Catho-
lics first. We owe it to our Church
to be one with it in supporting life
and in opposing anything that will
destroy life.
Most importantly, let us pray for
our leaders in government, that the
Lord may enlighten them and allow
them to see the sanctity of life. We
pray that they may recognize their
responsibility to us who put them in
power, to defend life and to promote
the improvement of society. Let us
pray for ourselves, that we may find
God’s grace within to be strong, to
be firm and to fight for our faith and
for life. Our theme for 2011 expresses
it very clearly: God is calling us to
“Put on the Full Armor of God” and
to be the army that He has raised us
to be.
Here is the full text of the state-
ment:
Today, and everyday, let us thank
the Lord for the precious gift of life
that we now enjoy. We acknowledge
this as His gift to us and that of our
parents who cooperated with His
plan. This is the foundation of our
faith and we fully support the stand
of our Catholic Church in allowing,
protecting, and nurturing life.
Life is not only a gift to the indi-
vidual and to the family but also
to the nation. It is people – morally
upright, productive and empowered
people - that can truly build the na-
tion. Population is not the cause of
poverty. Sin, greed, corruption, and
bad governance are. Thus, we should
focus on these real causes of poverty
and not be distracted by population
issues, which divert our time and
energy away from the real work that
needs to be done.
We believe that being pro life is
to address the totality of issues on
life and the dignity of every human
being.
a. Life must be protected and hon-
ored from natural conception. We
thus say NO to abortion at any
stage.
b. The gift of life should be allowed
to happen, and for the natural gift
of fertility to surface. Thus, we say
NO to contraceptives, and YES to
natural family planning.
c. Parents have the primary right and
responsibility in rearing up their
children. We thus say NO to com-
pulsory sex education in schools.
To be pro life is to be pro family.
d. All should help so that everyone and be satisfied with the answers sues with civility and respect for one
will have dignity of life, especially before we should even discuss the another. But in the end, let our voices
the least of our brethren, in food provisions of the proposed bills. be heard and actively ask our legisla-
and nutrition, adequate health care, If there is legislation that is needed, tors and other government officials
appropriate education and liveli- we believe it is that one that will give to decide on this issue with reverence
hood, decent housing. To be pro life life to the letter and spirit of our Con- and obedience to God, the author of
is to answer the cry of the poor. stitution and honor our culture as a life.
people. This is HB 13 authored by “… If my people, upon whom my
e. We help nurture life by caring for Cong. Roilo Golez and its counterpart name has been pronounced, humble
the sick and the elderly. We thus SB 2497 authored by Sen. Juan Ponce themselves and pray, and seek my
say NO to euthanasia. To be pro Enrile, which seeks to protect the presence and turn from their evil
life is to be pro health. rights of the unborn child. ways, I will hear them from heaven,
In this, another critical period of and pardon their sins and revive
f. We should take care of life to its our nation’s history, let us join with their land… But if you turn away
very end. Thus, all must have our dioceses and parishes and lay or- and forsake my statutes and com-
access to affordable rites for a ganizations in calling on the Filipino mands which I placed before you, if
dignified death and burial. citizenry to move against the passage you proceed to venerate and worship
of the RH bill. Instead, let us support other gods, then I will uproot the
g. In other words, being pro life is to HB 13 and SB 2497. Let us advocate people from the land I gave them.” (2
respect, protect and nurture life for an objective discussion of the is- Chronicles 7:14 and 19-20)
from its beginning, throughout
its existence, and up to its end.
On the ongoing debate on Re-
productive Health (RH) bills - we
believe we must first ask objectively:
do we really need an RH bill? Will
the passage of a law address our real
concerns on poverty? Specifically, in
this period of worsening deficits for
our government, will the budget to be
allocated for this proposed law (e.g.
the reported P400 million for condoms
and contraceptives alone) not be better
spent for better education, improved
health services and livelihood op-
portunities?
Who will really benefit from the
passage of an RH law? Will it be the
poor? Will it be our country? Or will
it be foreign interests imposing a cul-
ture alien to us? Or, perhaps. the few CFC New Zealand gathered together 28 couples for an MER 3 last November 20-21 in Auckland.
businesses that will profit from the Speakers from Manila included IC member Lito Tayag (also regional head of Oceania and country
production and sale of condoms and head of Australia) and his wife Linda, Garie and Ces Pimentel and Bong Arjonillo. Australia
National Director Bong Bernardo and wife Jenny also planed in for the seminar. Photo shows
contraceptives? the mission team with some of the couple-participants.
We need to ask these hard questions

Joe Yamamoto, CFC Director

Our Armor of Faith and Courage

IN just a few months, we shall
be celebrating our thirty years
as a community. We have “sur-
vived” our first thirty years, so to
speak, and we can already claim
our next thirty years. Despite the
challenges that we faced near the
end of our first thirty years, there
is a general air of optimism that
as far as Couples for Christ is
concerned, the worst is over.
We can look at the challenges
as God-given opportunities that
have prepared us vastly for what
is still to come. The most severe
of those challenges came our
way in 2007 and, in hindsight,
we believe that that was really
life threatening for us as a com-
munity because the threat started
from within. And so, our 2011
theme of “Put on the Full Armor
of God” is very appropriate be-
cause there are still challenges,
both from within and without,
that we need to confront. When
we released our new theme, one
brother asked me, “Brother Joe,
is God telling us that there is go-
ing to be a future conflict, which
is why He is asking us to put on
the full armor of God?”
I replied that I do not see it that
way. My sense is that God is tell-
ing us that every single day, we
need to put on the full armor of
God. In fact, we should have put
it on from the very first day of
CFC’s existence. I believe that God
is telling us, again and again, that
the reason the evil one was able
to sow division, dissension and
disunity in Couples for Christ, is
because, somehow, we relented.
Somehow, we let down our guard,
somehow we lost our focus. In
our own humanity, in our own
humanness, we began to focus on
the fruits of the work and forgot to
worship the God of the work. God
is now telling us for next year and
onwards, that in order to flourish,
to thrive and to grow as a com-
munity we need to put on God’s
armor 24/7, 365 days and so on
for the rest of our lives.
In short, we became vulner-
able! We focused on things that
are important but not critical
to the mission of Couples for
Christ. We became enamored of
the fruits of our labor, the social
dimension, the physical expres-
sion of our work. This siphoned
off a lot of our time, talents
and energy to something that
is visible and external and we
forgot that what is important is
intangible.
Imperfect as we are, belonging
to a very imperfect community
that is called Couples for Christ,
and living and existing in an
imperfect world, still we strive
to faithfully serve a perfect God.
And because our God is perfect,
we realize that our imperfections
are not a hindrance to growth
and that is why there’s so much
growth that is happening, has
happened and will continue to
happen in Couples for Christ. I
believe and I hope you believe
this with me -- the best years
of Couples for Christ are still to
come!
And you know why the best
years of Couples for Christ is
yet to come? Because you and
I and our children will really
make that happen. This is the
promise of our vision of Building
the Church of the Home.
When our sister Nina Ponte
uttered her prophecy in 1995 that
“Couples for Christ will win the
world for Christ,” many of us
thought it was a bit presumptive.
I remember being a new member
of CFC in 1985, and being one
in rejoicing with the rest of the
2000 members then every time
we filled up a community hall.
We would applaud and cheer
because our appreciation of CFC
then was just a small group of
2000 people.
But the prophecy did happen
as Nina foretold. A few years af-
ter the prophecy, CFC went into
its first country and never looked
back. We made our presence
felt in more than 160 countries
by the time we entered the third
millennium. God had a global
platform for us back then, but
we didn’t know it.
Today, with His instructions
to put on full armor, we are
looking not at a mere slogan but
actually declaring war against
the world or the principalities of
the world. Why? Because we are
Couples for Christ and we are a
community set out to evangelize,
to proclaim God in words and
action, and to focus on Christ,
family and poor. Simply by
adhering to these principles and
goals, we have declared war
against the principalities of the
world. If we are indeed going to
win the world for Christ, then we
have to aim for total victory.
In 2007, as we were being
shaken to the very core of our
existence and foundation, we
saw that the global damage be-
ing inflicted upon CFC could
only be resolved by our total
dependence on the love and
mercy of God. If God had not
come to our aid, through vari-
ous coincidences and events that
are amazing to say the least, we
would have lost everything. My
own reflection is that, if this is
indeed God’s community, then
we should simply let God do
what He pleases with it. If God
wants this community to thrive,
then any attacks from within
and without will not triumph
because God is the one who
owns the community.
Consciously and subcon-
sciously, during the crisis of
2007, we all went into a prayerful
mode and followed the Lord’s
injunction to “Be still!” In so
doing, we all realized that we
are a Spirit-led community and
that indeed our very existence is
premised on our being “Families
in the Holy Spirit renewing the
face of the earth.”
It gradually sank into our
communal consciousness that
“Yes, we are moved by the Holy
Spirit. Yes, we are one with the
Catholic Church.” And thus we
were able to move forward. But
we would not have come to that
realization without reflective
prayers and discernment.
The journey that we took
from 2007 can be considered
miraculous. We were actually
fighting on three fronts. With-
out being judgmental about it,
there was the FFL issue on the
one side, Gawad Kalinga on the
other, and then there was the
struggle to move God’s agenda
forward. I think when we made
a bold decision to set aside the
negatives and simply to focus
on moving forward, that in ef-
fect was a decision to put on the
full armor of God. And God
blessed our community. Sud-
denly, things were resolved in a
way that showed God’s wisdom.
The road to resolution was not
easy but it showed all of us very
clearly how God works in each
of us and in our community.
If we are to reflect upon it, we
would not be able to explain in
human terms how everything
came together, in God’s perfect
timing. What was clear was that
our moving forward is part of
God’s agenda. And what about
our next 30 years? What is God’s
agenda for us?
Before we can see where God
is taking us in the next 30 years,
we need to make a journey of
self-discovery. We need to take
stock of where we are at today,
to inventory our resources and to
reflect on the events that are hap-
pening in Couples for Christ.
First, we need to be very clear
about WHO we are. We are
Families in the Spirit Renewing
the Face of the Earth.
Second, we need to be very
clear on WHAT we want to do.
What we want to do is to Build
the Church of the Home and to
Build the Church of the Poor.
Allow me now to share with
you some of my own perspec-
tives about Building the Church
of the Home.
During a recent visit to At-
lanta, Georgia, I remembered
my studies in American his-
tory. Atlanta was pivotal in the
American Revolution, when
North and South engaged in a
bitter war. This was the war that
spawned the great generals Wil-
liam Sherman, Ulysses Grant,
Stonewall Jackson, Robert E.
Lee. The Northern Armies won
the war but not before cutting a
swath of destruction all across
Atlanta, thus breaking the back
of the Confederate Army.
As I looked and admired the
tree-lined boulevards of Atlanta,
I realized that once upon a time,
this city experienced carnage
and destruction but now there is
just construction, life, future.
I realized that God is tell-
ing us, “If you want to have
peace, prepare to wage war. If
you want to prepare for peace,
prepare for war.” If we want to
claim God’s victory on the earth
and through Couples for Christ,
we need really to put on the full
armor of God.
The first embattled area is
really the home. Never neglect,
never ignore, and never for a
moment forget the fact that we
will never be able to build the
Church of the Poor unless our
homes, our first battleground,
are well and secure.
If we want to really move
God’s agenda, we need to pro-
tect and strengthen the home. It
is important for us to remember
that the fundamental existence
of Couples for Christ is to protect
and to strengthen the Church
of the Home. God called us to
personal holiness first because
we needed to be transformed
into messengers of peace and
love that would reflect the light
of Christ to those within our
own family circle. Having been
transformed, we could then be
instruments of transformation
for our children, our parents,
our brothers and sisters. We
realized that we could not be
fully transformed if the whole
family is not transformed. That
was the beginning of the family
ministries.
It is very important that we
appreciate that we are one global
CFC, and that we have one Mis-
sion represented in a two-fold
approach. We are one global
army prepared by God to win
territories for Him. That is why
our battle cry is: One CFC, One
mission, One Global Army.
The first thing we really need to
strengthen and emphasize is our
identity. And I am not talking
about our distinctive IDs, which
as you all know, are now being
crossed over into the radio fre-
quency ID system. What I mean is
that we have to identify ourselves
with the oneness of our commu-
nity, such that even if we are with
the family ministries or with the
work with the poor or in any other
service, we do not lose sight of the
fact that we are all one.
CFC started as a family min-
istry and grew exponentially.
As we grew, and as a result of
our size, we encountered some
operational problems. Thus, we
began creating councils – coun-
cils for the different ministries,
councils for each province, sec-
tor and country. This was done
to resolve the burgeoning op-
erational problems but nowhere
was there any intention for such
councils to be independent of
the mother community or to
create parallel organizations.
Our Vatican Statutes are clear on
that issue – that the Manila office,
the International Council, is the
governing body.
No matter how big a ministry
or work with the poor may be,
it should always be subjected
to the principle of subsidiary. It
must always be subordinated to
the mother community. It is very
important that we all understand
the context of our relationship
with one another and with the
larger body.
When the councils were cre-
ated, the idea was to empower
such groups of people to act for
and in behalf of the International
Council and to have authority
over the area/sector/country
under their care. With author-
ity comes much accountability.
The people who are tasked to
govern have to ensure that the
community continues to grow
and to thrive and to be a legacy
for future generations.
That is the beauty of our fam-
ily ministries. Although we
began as a couple-oriented or-
ganization, we early on saw the
necessity of equipping future
generations with the capability
to handle the community when
we, who were there in the be-
ginning, are no longer around.
And so today, we are seeing a
fresh crop of young faces who,
having been honed in pastoral
leadership and administrative
skills, are ready to take over the
reins of this community.
Another wonderful side effect
of our family ministries, and one
we did not foresee when we
decided to establish them, par-
ticularly the young ministries, is
that they have become the source
of religious vocations. I can cite
a few who went from being KFC
to YFC to SFC and then found
the grace to continue serving the
Lord in the religious life. There
is Fr. Francis Mendoza of Los
Angeles. There are now five
seminarians in SVD from SFC
and YFC and one of them is Jay
de Leon, from SFC Japan. At our
last anniversary, among the 16
Jesuit seminarians who served
at our anniversary Mass were 6
who came from SFC. Another
six of them have CFC parents or
relatives. Just recently, an SFC
member who became a fulltime
worker at the CFC Home Office
entered the convent of the Medi-
cal Mission Sisters in Pangasinan
(see story on page 3).
These young men and women
who have offered their lives to
God are in effect also a potent
offering of CFC to the Catholic
Church.
Couples for Christ, our home,
our life, and our love, has sus-
tained us for the past 30 years.
It is our hope that our indi-
vidual lives, homes and passion
for God’s work will sustain it in
turn – for the next thirty years
and beyond.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010
Ugnayan C3

By Arnel Santos
Education for Chastity
“WE should have a say in the sex educa-
tion of our children, and Education for
Chastity is the correct sex education.”
This was the emphatic message of Dr.
Lucille Montes to the members of CFC
Mission Core Group when she spoke on
the Key Aspects of Christian Parenting
last November 17, 2010 at the Meralco
Theater, Pasig City, Metro Manila.
A medical doctor and a psycholo-
gist for 20 years, with expertise in
family and related issues, Dr. Montes
reminded parents of their “irreplace-
able right and duty to educate their
children” on human sexuality. In the
face of proposed legislation that seeks
to impose a sex education curriculum
in elementary schools, Dr. Montes
believes that teachers should instead
seek the permission of the parents
before they speak to the children
about sex.
“Parents must therefore be equipped
to carry out this right and duty,” Dr.
Montes added, referring the parents
present to “The Truth and Meaning
of Human Sexuality: Guidelines for
Education Within the Family,” a booklet
published by the Pontifical Council for
the Family.
There are three (3) objectives to
Chastity Education, according to Dr.
Montes.
The first is to “maintain in the fam-
ily the positive atmosphere of love,
virtue and respect for the gifts of God,
especially the gift of life.” This can be
achieved by practicing charity and
other virtues.
She explained that “serene spousal
relationship” has a calming effect on the
children, evokes good feelings in them,
and reassures them of their parents’ af-
fection. Concretely, Dr. Montes pointed
out that children must be educated
“from the start” with respect to one’s
legitimate privacy, the value of decency,
and the practice of modesty. These will
instill in them the vision that “a home
is a sanctuary of life and faith.”
Another objective is for children to
understand their own vocation, and
that marriage and celibacy are real
vocations. This concept is best intro-
duced during adolescence. In either
vocation, there is self-giving. Hence,
children must learn how to make their
own life a gift for others. This may be
taught through the parents’ example
because “the best teacher in true love is
the parents’ example of faithfulness and
thanksgiving.”
The third objective is the actual
teaching of sexuality, to help children
understand the value of sexuality and
chastity in stages, sustaining their
growth through enlightening word,
example and prayer.
Dr. Montes emphasized that teaching
sexuality is the “original, primary, and
irreplaceable duty of parents.” Quoting
the Guidelines for Education Within the
Family, she said: “If, in fact, parents do
not give adequate formation in chastity,
they are failing in their precise duty.
Likewise they would also be guilty were
they to tolerate immoral or inadequate
formation being given to their children
outside the home.”
Parents must, however, realize that
there are many forces that make it dif-
ficult to fulfill this duty. The media, for
example, is the “sex educator now of
the people.” There are many things to
guard against, like the RH Bill.
Dr. Montes explained that in teaching
sexuality, children must receive indi-
vidualized instructions and personal-
ized dialogues. “Kaya hindi pwede sa
classroom.” The general sex education
points may be given in high school, but
in cases “where the instructions involve
intimate aspects of sex, there must be
one-on-one dialogues.”
Moreover, she stressed that “develop-
ing love for God is part of sex educa-
tion.” In the end, what should keep our
children well-behaved is their love for
God and their living according to the
will of God.
Dr. Montes cautioned the parents to
provide information with great delica-
cy. They must seek divine help. Parents
have been empowered to do this as they
received a special grace through the sac-
rament of marriage. For little children,
the first information would be the dif-
ference between genders. “Teach them
that God made only two (2), the boys
and the girls.” Dr. Montes commented
that “some college students even think
that there’s actually a third sex.”
She highlighted though that parents
should “know the timing for giving
information.” Age five (5) till puberty
is the stage of tranquility and serenity.
This must not be disturbed with pre-
mature sex education with too many
details, such as that included in Dep
Ed’s Sex Ed manuals for pre-teens.
The best method is to teach these
children to “self-reflect,” and “develop
their intellect.” According to Dr. Mon-
tes, “the undisciplined and spoiled
child is inclined to moral weakness in
the future.”
For those in puberty, Dr. Montes
concedes that a more detailed educa-
tion on the genital aspects is needed.
However, she stressed that the psycho-
logical issues must also be addressed,
and the focus must be on the develop-
ment of a conscience. These children
must be given help to resist negative
influences.
Dr. Montes pointed out the methods
and ideologies that must be avoided in
sex education, namely: secularized and
anti-natalist education; the teaching of
all the intimate details of genital rela-
tionships; the methods which use only
values clarification without making one
realize the existence of the absolutes;
and the methods where sex education
is included in all the classroom subjects,
which is one of the provisions in the
proposed RH Bill.

Responding to God’s Love COYA Planning

By Tina Umlas
(Ed’s Note: Tina was a member
of Singles for Christ and a fulltime
worker at the CFC Home Office. On
November 21, 2010, she left to do
what many young women of today
no longer even consider – to be a
nun. She is now at the convent of the
Medical Mission Sisters in Villasis,
Pangasinan, preparing for a life of
total dedication to God. Here, Tina
shares her journey of self-discovery
and of her willingness to finally
answer THE call.)
“And without faith it is impos-
sible to please God, because
anyone who comes to Him must
believe that He exists and that He
rewards those who earnestly seek
him. -Hebrews 11:6
God calls us and sustains us.
God provides for everything that
we need. When I heeded the call
to work as a volunteer in Couples
for Christ, it was something that I
did not expect. I had other plans
for my life. But I guess answering
that particular call simply paved
the way for me to respond to His
invitation to love in every mo-
ment of my life.
God’s words in Psalm 139 are
words of love for me. He knows
who am I even before I knew who
I am. God loved me even before
I learned to love and appreciate
my very own self. Knowing and
feeling God’s love made me seek
ways on how I can respond to the
God who loved me first.
I found many ways to respond
to that love – through my full-
time work in Couples for Christ,
through my service in the parish,
through my involvement in sev-
eral Catholic communities and
through my love and service to
my family. But in the midst of all
of these, my heart still longed for
something. I did not know how
to address that longing.
Serious illnesses in my family
and the destruction and death
wrought by recent typhoons,
jolted me, and made me realize
how short our life is. Suddenly I
was confronted with the question:
Is where I am, where I chose to be,
really a response to God’s love?
Tina, standing at right, with CFC Home Office co-workers Arlene de la Cruz
and Denden Labot (seated).
Am I doing what I am doing
because it feels good and at the
same time, because it is where I
am comfortable?
Unable to answer the question,
I decided to go on retreat. The
decision to listen intently to God
was actually something I had
planned long ago, but somehow,
something always intervened,
and the plan took second priority.
I knew in my heart that nothing
would happen until and unless
I decided to make it happen.
And so by God’s grace, in the
year 2010, I am finally making
it happen.
God, in His goodness and
seemingly in affirmation of my
decision, provided for every-
thing. I guess He was just waiting
for my response. Responding
to God’s call is not easy. But the
story of the Annunciation and
of Mary’s full trust and faith in
God’s plan for her life reminded
me that all I need to do, like Mary,
is to trust God.
The decision to join a religious
congregation means going out
of my comfort zone and taking
a very bold step forward in my
life’s journey. I have realized
that life is so short and if I would
spend my life doing what I want-
ed, and not what God wants for
me, I would be missing out on the
loving and joyful life that God has
in store for me.
I know full well that the jour-
ney to love and to loving and
pleasing God will not be easy but
I also know that it can be a joyful
and fulfilling journey. What I am
certain of right now, as I face my
future, nay, the future God chose
for me, is that I am God’s beloved
daughter who, by His grace and
through the inspiration of our
blessed Virgin Mary, chose to
respond to the call of God to love
through the healing charism of
the Medical Mission Sisters.
I do not own my life, my life
belongs to God and I would like
to offer it all to God. May my life
be a source of healing to everyone
I meet.
“I am the Lord’s servant,”
Mary answered. “May it be done
to me as you have said.” – Luke
1:38
By Sheh de Leon
CATHOLIC Organization
of Youth in Asia (COYA)
is a network consisting of
Catholic lay organizations
and ecclesial movements
working for/with and by the
youth in Asia, It collaborates
closely with the Federation of
Asian Bishop’s Conferences-
Office of the Laity and
Family-Youth Desk (FABC
OLF-YD).
On the weekend of No-
vember 5 to 7, in Mariapolis,
Tagaytay City, CFC Youth for
Christ and seven (7) other or-
ganizations gathered to plan,
with COYA, how best to help
the youth of Asia in the year
ahead. Bishop Rolando Tria
Tirona, of the Prelature of
Infanta, kicked off the week-
end activities by expounding
on the history of Christianity
in the Asian Continent and
providing the youth present
with a better understanding
of the different Asian cultures
and traditions. The session
ended with a challenge from
the bishop for the youth to
reflect on their sense of the
Church and on how to further
strengthen the influence of
the Holy Spirit in their lives.
The rest of the first evening
was spent on updates of each
organization’s activities over
the past six months.
The second day featured
an activity called “WORLD
CAFÉ” where the youth dis-
cussed the different issues
that the youth and youth
ministers are facing in Asia
through reflection on the top-
ics “Spirituality of Commun-
ion and “Roles of the Move-
ment and Youth Ministry.”

An Amazing Year of God’s Grace

By Edna Nidea
THE year 2010 has been truly amazing.
It has indeed been a year of fullness in
life with our God, no matter that the evil
one tried hard to hinder it. It has been a
year of persecution, trials, harassments
and sufferings but it has also been a
year of victories in the Lord.
Our entire family has been in England
since 2005. We are here on the strength
of a highly-skilled working visa issued
to Bong who left a very lucrative job in
Manila because of the promise this visa
entailed. But since the time we arrived,
Bong has experienced being jobless
three times. The third time, he pulled
in no income for a total of 13 months.
It is fortunate that I was able to put up
a small store that sells Philippine goods
and this has sustained us.
What is ironic is that these past 13
months of financial hardship also
brought many major CFC activities and
mission work to our door. This was the
time we needed to file for permanent
residency and the time to say Yes to
various mission work. It was a time of
great uncertainty. Do we really want to
be permanent residents? Should I stay
away from mission work and instead fo-
cus on the business so that it will grow?
Should we put off going to the mission
areas and all the weekly CFC events and
activities since they were taking up too
much of our time?
So many questions. The final ques-
tion we had to grapple with was:
Should we all just pack up and go
home to the Philippines? Bong has a
CMA and CFA license. He could most
likely find work back home that would
approximate the high salary and won-
derful benefits he used to enjoy. What
our prayers and reflections brought us
was the conviction that yes, we needed
to stay. In the first place, we left home
because we felt that coming here was
more a response to God’s call to bring
His message to this place. We left home
to embrace the mission to love, to serve,
to glorify God through our time, talent,
and treasure.
Yes, there have been so much hard-
ships but I can personally say that God
has also allowed us to experience tri-
umphs, particularly in our spiritual life.
I know that God loves us and He has
made us whole and strong as individu-
als and as a family by the very hardships
and difficulties He has brought our way.
I hope that this has allowed me, and
Bong to be more effective evangelizers
in this part of the world. Our broken-
ness as a family and God’s gift of whole-
ness has transformed all of us.
Let me tell you the story of how we
were all able to go to Vienna for the
European Fullness in Christ conference,
in spite of all the financial strain.
When we booked our tickets last May,
we didn’t even have valid passports be-
cause our permanent resident applica-
tions hadn’t been approved yet. When
Bong filed it (since he is the principal
applicant, he had only been with his
new job at P & G for three weeks. But
we paid the conference registration
just the same and very courageously
and with expectant faith booked the
tickets. We knew that since we filed
for permanent residency only on April
23, and since our visas were expiring on
April 26, we only had a slim chance of
making it to Vienna. After all, we were
told that the normal processing of our
papers would take a minimum of 16
weeks or 4 months! The timing would
be extremely tight since the conference
was in mid-August.
But lo and behold! The approval came
in on July 8, giving our eldest daughter
sufficient time to make a quick trip to the
Philippines to do research for her school
work and to come back home in time
to join us for the trip to Vienna. What
was an even greater blessing is that we
were told we could file for citizenship
by July 17!
The blessings were a perfect ending
to the giants of financial hardship, emo-
tional strain and other difficulties that
we had to face over the past five years.
It was as if, since we came here prima-
rily to do God’s work, that the evil one
was trying to discourage and defocus us
from our mission. But our mindset has
always been “If we are with God, who
can be against us?” We simply prac-
ticed obedience to God’s will, prayed a
lot and simply trusted that He will put
us safely through all our trials.
The whole family is in service today.
Our three teenagers are actively serving
in YFC, with mission areas assigned to
each one of them. Our two little ones
are in KFC, volunteering to take care of
the babies and toddlers of our fellow
CFC here during our meetings and as-
semblies.
Bong and I just finished serving in
four simultaneous CLPs – in Edin-
burgh and Glasgow in Scotland and
in Hartlepool and Stockton here in
England. Since 2006, when we started
our mission, we have managed to in-
crease membership in our area, here in
northeast England and in Scotland, to
250. Total YFC UK membership is now
160 although my children began service
only in July 2008.
It has truly been a year of fullness for
all of us. We have been challenged in our
faith and love for God. We had minor
setbacks, yes, but when we aggressively
moved forward for the Lord, we did ex-
perience victory for Him. And so we will
remain here in England but we are now
more certain than ever that we made the
right decision and more fully convicted
in the work that He has asked us to do.
We continue to pray that in all things,
indeed it is Him that we shall glorify.

Catholic / C1
CFC and about CFC caring
for their priests and involving
actively in parish work that he
vowed to take concrete steps
to welcome and enlist the sup-
port and cooperation of CFC in
his parish.
One priest from Ozamiz City
attended as a simple observer,
but was so inspired by what he
saw and heard, eagerly taking
notes of all that was happen-
ing. He enthused about the
“uniqueness” and “novelty”
of the event, and expressed
the hope that perhaps soon, a
similar Congress could be held
in his sub-region.
CFC MisOr’s brochure on
the Congress stated that the
“1st Northeastern Mindanao
Congress on Clergy-Lay Rela-
tions provides the second wind
for CFC members in the area
to vigorously work harder in
order to accomplish the mis-
sion of building the Church of
the Home and the Church of
the Poor ‘in oneness with the
Catholic Church.’” Indeed,
the positive response to its call
for oneness with the Catholic
clergy within CABUSTAM,
will keep CFC-MisOr on track
towards its “expanded mis-
sion,” especially with the re-
establishment of the ANCOP
(Answering the Cry of the
Poor) Ministry.
Energized by the time with
the clergy, CFC members came
in full force to the 23rd anni-
versary of CFC in Misamis Ori-
ental, joyful and determined to
truly, as CFC’s theme for 2010
states, Build on Christ, taken
from Colossians 2:6-7: “Since
you have accepted Christ Jesus
as Lord, live in union with
him. Keep your roots deep in
him, build your lives on him,
and become stronger in your
faith, as you were taught. And
be filled with thanksgiving.”
 Ugnayan
CBCP Monitor
C4 Vol. 14 No. 25
December 6 - 31, 2010

CFC MisOr Celebrates 23

By CFC-YFC MisOr
years of Faith
SOME 5,000 members of Couples
for Christ and its family min-
istries in Cagayan de Oro and
Misamis Oriental gathered at
the “green” MacArthur Park at
the Misamis Oriental Provincial
Capitol grounds in the afternoon
of November 20 to celebrate the
community’s 23rd anniversary.
To the sound of drums, cym-
bals, and martial music, CFC
members from all over the prov-
ince joined a motorcade that
traveled from east to west of
Cagayan de Oro before converg-
ing at the venue.
Community worship pre-
ceded the welcome ceremonies,
followed by the presentation of
joyful praise-dances by the dif-
ferent sectors of the province.
Jun Waga, Misamis Orien-
tal Provincial Area Director,
welcomed the members and
the guests from Manila -- Joe
Tale, Chairman of the CFC In-
ternational Council, with wife
Babylou, and Joey Arguelles,
the Provincial Area Head for
Misamis Oriental and a member
of the International Council, and
wife Tess. Joe Tale delivered
the anniversary message while
Joey gave an inspirational talk.
The provincial council of MisOr,
Boie Sescon, Jun Fabela, Jinggoy
Acebu, and Bing Porsuelo, were
also on hand to join the celebra-
tions.
Msgr. Tex Legitimas, Vicar of
the Archdiocese of Cagayan de
Oro, celebrated the Holy Mass
that was the climax of the cel-
ebrations. In his homily, Msgr.
Tex shared his insights into the
previous night’s first-ever Cler-
gy-Lay Congress in Northeastern
Mindanao, particularly CFC’s
global work and its “Post-Cana”
seminars implemented in all of
Manila’s parishes in collabora-
tion with the Archdiocese of Ma-
nila, and which will be “down-
loaded” to CFCs nationwide. He
particularly exhorted that CFC is
part of the Church and the larger
community, that it is duty-bound
to be fully and actively involved
as a Christ-centered covenant
community.
The anniversary celebrations
ended with a praisefest to the
joyous songs of praise and wor-
ship sung by the Provincial Mu- Joey and Tess Arguelles and Joe and Babylou Tale enjoy the festivities from their front row seats and (in left photo) pose with
sic Ministry. Msgr. Tex and MisOr leaders.

CFC Zambo Sur Celebrates at 18

By Charles B. Zambo
COUPLES for Christ Pagadian City -
Zamboanga del Sur celebrated its 18
years of existence on the weekend of
October 16-17, 2010 with the theme:
“Fullness of Life in Christ,” taken
from Colossians 2:6-7.
Everything was done on a grand
scale. In the morning of October
16, 2010, a Grand Opening was
hosted by the West Sector which
featured a torch rally, praise dances
participated in by all CFC members
and its Family Ministries, offering
of different fruits and farm prod-
ucts acknowledging the bountiful
and countless blessings from the
Sovereign Lord and finally a lunch
fellowship made more enjoyable by
background music performed by the
Provincial Music Ministries from
KFC, YFC, SFC and CFC.
In the afternoon, team building
activities were facilitated by the
East Sector. All the activities were
designed to bring out the message
embodied in “ONE CFC, ONE MIS-
SION, ONE GLOBAL ARMY, which
was simply that we all need to work
as one cohesive team for Christ.
In the evening, there was a Grand
Ball hosted by the Family Ministries.
Because it was in essence a debut,
there were the usual 18 candles, 18
roses and 18 treasures presentations.
And of course, lots of dancing, sing-
ing and fellowship.
The following day, CFC Zam-
boanga del Sur’s spiritual adviser
Rev. Fr. Dodo Suarin celebrated
the Holy Mass. In his homily, he
thanked CFC for its untiring efforts
in spreading the good news to the
different barangays and towns in the
province of Zamboanga del Sur, and
in many other parts of the country
and the world.
After the mass, a Grand Motorcade
participated in by hundreds of mo-
tor vehicles filled the thoroughfares
of Pagadian City and ended at the
Pagadian City Gymnasium for the
culmination program, which was
hosted by the Central Sector.
A huge screen showed
congratulatory videotaped
messages from three IC
members: Melo Villaro-
man, Joe Yamamoto and
Joe Tale. They acknowl-
edged the work done by
CFC Zamboanga del Sur.
Provincial Area Director
Jun delos Santos, Provincial
Area Head Pempe Deguilmo
and Regional Head Caloy
Subang also delivered their
messages. The anniversary
was participated by an es-
timated 3,000 members of
CFC, KFC, YFC, SFC, HOLD
and SOLD.
The climax of the celebra-
tion was the slicing and dis-
tribution of 18 small cakes
and a giant cake which
symbolize the community’s
devout year of unity.
The giant cake and 18 small cakes
provide a colorful backdrop for
Zambo Sur leaders.

29 AD Takes Singapore by Storm Freedom to Love: Applying Theology

By Beng de Leon
IT started with a chance encounter in
the Oceania Leader’s Conference in
Melbourne, Australia last May 2010.
That chance encounter led to a tentative
invitation to the 29 AD Band to come
to Singapore and do a fundraising
concert.
The wheels, seemingly oiled, rolled
quickly from there. First, the National
Council of Singapore readily approved
the project. Then we managed to imme-
diately secure the venue, and to finalize
all the little
details from
ticket de-
sign to con-
cept to the
script. Com-
mittees – on
food, logis-
tics, accom-
modation,
production,
marketing,
etc, were
also quickly
formed.
2 9 A D
didn’t only
agree to do back to back shows but,
since Singapore wanted to maximize
their visit, agreed to conduct workshops
for instrumentalists, singers and prayer
leaders, as well as trainors.
Bob Serrano of the band also volun-
teered to give a healing talk and pray-
over session on the Friday before the
concert. It was all-systems go. And
when the band finally arrived and began
their scheduled activities, it was a great
experience for all.
The teaching workshops were well-
attended. The healing talk was very
solemn, especially since the band sang
beautiful songs as a backdrop to the
pray-over session. One CFC sister later
testified, during Singapore’s monthly
prayer assembly that she was healed
of her thyroid problems during the
pray-over. Many more testified on their
experiences particularly on the healing
session and how they had been moved
and touched by the Holy Spirit.
As preparation for the concert, a
Dance Workshop was conducted for
SFC’s and YFC’s by Believe Dance
Company, who came to Singapore with
the band.
Close to a thousand tickets were sold
for the 2 shows. The main show was
filled to the brim.
The first half of the concert was praise
music which truly made God’s pres-
ence felt
in the
concert
venue.
The sec-
ond half
was sec-
ular mu-
sic and
here,
the au-
dience
actively
partici-
pated as
they rec-
ognized
the songs from their respective eras.
Believe Dance Company energized
the audience with their slick hip hop
and break dance moves. By the third
song, for both the matinee and the main
show, the audience was up on their feet,
dancing along.
It was simply an experience to
remember. Every soul was lifted up.
Everyone forgot their day-to-day
worries. Every sick person was lifted
in prayer. Everyone went home with a
smile and with a story to tell.
29AD concluded its mission to
Singapore with a simple fellowship
with their respective hosts and service
teams the following day. It was also
time to thank each other for touching
each other’s lives in a very special
way.
of the Body to Life and Relationships
and relationships have been broken and
By Mariel Velasco
the human heart continually cries out
“THAT conference was amazing!!!” for answers. There is a burning “desire”
“Christopher West was awesome!!!” to find satisfaction, to find the purpose
“He reached out to people who are of life and to find healing. Christopher
married, single, young and old!!!” West walked the audience through five
enlightening talks that focused on the
“I can’t wait to tell my friends
freedom to love and the application
at school about what I learned
of the Theology of the Body to life and
this weekend!!!” These were the relationships.
expressions and comments from The conference was a resounding
people who attended the Couples success. Participants now have a better
for Christ’s Pro-Life Conference understanding of John Paul II’s Theol-
on Freedom to Love: Applying ogy of the Body and are encouraged to
Theology of the Body to Life and study it more deeply and share what
Relationships held on November they have learned with others.
13, 2010 at Canada Christian Christopher West (born 1969) is a
College in Toronto, Ontario. Catholic author and speaker, and has He and his wife Wendy reside in
The Theology of the Body is been delivering lectures since 1997, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,
the working title which John Paul mostly on topics such as Christian an- and have five children. He is certi-
II gave to the first major teaching thropology, the Creed, morality, sacra- fied as an Instructor of Marriage
project of his pontificate. This ments, marriage, sexuality, and family Preparation from the Archdiocese
includes a collection of 129 papal life. He has also spoken on national of Washington, D.C. In 1997, he
audiences given from September radio and on television. He is one of the obtained a Master of Theological
1979 to November 1984. John Paul main educators in the Theology of the Studies at the Pontifical John Paul II
II’s teaching has been hailed as a Body Institute, which offers graduate Institute for Studies on Marriage and
“new sexual revolution,” because level courses and other training pro- Family at The Catholic University
it calls everyone to an authentic grams on the Theology of the Body. of America.
understanding and living out of
what it means to be created male
and female in the image and like-
ness of God.
More than 700 people from Cou-
ples for Christ, Singles for Christ,
Handmaids of the Lord, CFC Youth
and several other community
groups, including many non-Fili-
pinos, listened to Christopher West,
a dynamic, engaging, and deeply
moving speaker. West translated
and conveyed John Paul II’s study
of human sexuality to a level that
people could easily understand.
The teachings of Pope John Paul
acknowledge that we live in a sexu-
ally wounded culture. Our hearts