•A3 •B1 •C1

Duplex houses turned over to Holy Father’s Address to the General Ugnayan
100 families in Legazpi Assembly of the United Nations Couple for Christ Supplement

Earth Day a call to support www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

farmers, says CBCP head

FOR Filipinos, Earth Day is a call to support
our farmers whom we have neglected for so
long now to cause the present rice crisis, said
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP), in a statement issued April 22.
“For so long a time these farmers have been
neglected. And today we are reaping the fruit
of that neglect: the present rice crisis,” said Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace
Lagdameo who is also the Archbishop of Jaro
in Iloilo. Social / A6
EARTH DAY / A7 April 28 - May 11, 2008 Vol. 12 No. 9 Php 20.00

Bishop hails DOH ban SVD Superior General

renews stand on
priests-politicians

on kidney transplant
By Kris Bayos
No less than the head of the Bish-
ops’ Conference Office on Bioet-
hics lauded the Department of
Health (DOH) for mandating a
total ban on kidney transplant for
foreign patients.
CBCP Office on Bioethics chair
and Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros
said the recent mandate will con-
sequently put an end to the ille-
gal sale and traffic of human or-
gans in the country.
“Although the ban is not a per-
manent one, I think it is a good
move towards curbing rampant
sale of kidneys and other human
organs illegally transacted in the
suburbs and countryside,”
Oliveros said.
The bishop however said his
approval of the ban of the kidney
transplant for foreigners does not
mean he has negative biases to-
wards them.
“I have nothing against the
foreign patients coming to our
country to avail of kidney trans-
plant but I would personally pre-
fer if the kidney transplant indus-
try would give primordial prior-
ity to our local beneficiaries,”
Oliveros said.
The Philippines has been iden-
tified by the World Health Orga-
nization (WHO) as among coun-
tries promoting “transplant tour-
ism” to attract foreigners looking
for organ transfers.
Reports disclosed that non-Fili-
pinos are being prioritized for
medical procedure on organ
transplant over local patients.
Leaders of various peasants’ groups with some Catholic bishops led by NRC-II chairman and Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma,
SJ, seek for CARP extension during a dialogue with some lawmakers at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City, April 23.
Foreigners are reportedly will-
ing to pay P100,000 to P200,000
for each donated organ, a pos-
sible explanation for the influx
of foreign patients to the country
for medical tourism.
Health secretary Francisco
Duque III issued an administra-
tive order last March dispelling
the hoax that “kidney transplan-
tation is part of medical tourism.”
Organ transplantation for for-
eigners has been suspended since
January as the DOH worked on
drafting the recently promul-
gated order.
CBCP Statement
The CBCP after its 96th plenary
assembly last January issued a
statement condemning the abuse
that has spawned a lucrative ille-
gal trade of kidneys.
“Organ transplant is a modern
development in the field of medi-
cine and organ donation is natu-
rally good. But when the organ
is offered for immediate finan-
cial gain, the donation is no
longer moral. As such, the
Church condemns it,” Oliveros
was quoted saying after the ple-
nary assembly.
The bishop was quick to dispel
claims that the Church likewise
condemns the poor who are in-
volved in such immoral trade.
“We do not necessarily con-
demn the poor who, in their sheer
financial needs, trades their or-
gans for immediate financial
gain,” Oliveros said, adding that
his office has acquired informa-
tion on specific localities where
trade and traffic of human organs
are prevalent.
What the Church condemns,
according to the prelate, are the
“middle men” who brokers for
such trade, without properly in-
forming the organ giver of the
implications of organ donation.
“Information reached us that
the brokers are the ones who gain
more than the organ giver. The
brokers are the ones who gain in
the trading, pocketing more than
half of the price of the sold or-
gan,” he said.
“They are human beings iden-
tified and cannot be treated as
commodities. We encourage vol-
untary organ donation from ca-
davers and also from living do-
nors.”
The bishops also called on the
government to impose stricter
regulations on organ donation.
Stern laws, the prelates said,
should be enforced to stop the
commercialization or selling of
organs and prioritizing local pa-
tients over foreigners.
Organ Committee
The Catholic bishops said they
are ready to accept that they be
part of a special team that will
screen all human organ trans-
plants in the country.
Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros,
head of the CBCP’s Office on Bio-
ethics, said they are more than
willing to be part of a solution
against the problem surrounding
human organ sale.
Oliveros said he and Sr.
KIDNEY / A6
WHILE expressing the congre-
gation’s solidarity and joy with
the Paraguayan people at the elec-
tion of Fernando Lugo as their
new president, the Society of the
Divine Word assured them of
prayers that their former confrere
“may lead the nation with wis-
dom and courage, justice and
compassion.”
SVD Superior-General Anto-
nio M. Pernia, a Filipino, issued
a statement April 22, reiterating
“that in principle we are not in
favor of priests or religious en-
tering politics.” He, however,
admitted their vocation and
mission “do have a political di-
mension.” He hastened to add
that “this dimension is ex-
pressed by carrying out our
prophetic and pastoral role in
society, and not in involvement
in partisan politics, the attain-
ment of political power, or the
assumption of a government
position.”
Pernia said that “as a con-
cerned citizen of Paraguay,
Fernando Lugo felt he had to
respond to the call of the
people.” He said then Fr.
Lugo’s “option for the poor was
seen as a source of genuine
hope to the majority of the
people of Paraguay.”
He added that the congregation
respects “his personal discern-
ment and the clear choice of the
people in the election.”
The Filipino superior-general
added they hope their former
confrere’s “experience as a reli-
gious missionary priest and
bishop will help him bring about
the change desired by the
people.”
The congregation expressed
optimism that “meaningful
change will be achieved if he suc-
ceeds in changing the hearts and
minds of the people—those he
serves and those who serve with
him.”
SUPERIOR / A6

Bastes elected Bible NASSA asks gov’t to amend existing

Society chair
SORSOGON Bishop Arturo M.
Bastes, SVD, was elected Chair-
man and President of the Phil-
ippine Bible Society (PBS),
April 20.
Bastes is currently the chair-
man of the Episcopal Commis-
sion on Biblical Apostolate
(ECBA) of the Catholic Bish-
ops’ Conference of the Philip-
pines (CBCP).
He was also chair of the Bastes
Commission, a fact-finding
body that investigated in 2006
the controversial polymetallic
mines in Rapu-Rapu, Albay,
that recommended for the can-
cellation of the operation permit
of Lafayette Philippines, Inc.
The Philippine Bible Society
is a non-profit, non-stock inter-
confessional Christian organi-
zation aimed at promoting the
Bible by providing people
“with Scriptures in the lan-
guage they understand, in for-
mats they prefer, and at prices
they can afford.”
PBS is an affiliate of the
United Bible Societies, a soci-
ety of more than 137 Bible Soci-
eties operating in 200 countries
and territories worldwide.
The mission of the Philippine
Bible Society (PBS) is to achieve
“the widest possible effective
and meaningful distribution of
the Holy Scriptures in lan-
guages and media to meet the
needs of our people, in transla-
tions that are faithful to the
Scripture texts in the original
language and which effectively
communicate the biblical mes-
sage, at prices people can afford,
giving opportunity to everyone
to pray, to give, to volunteer, and
helping them to interact with
the Word of God.”
Its vision is to see “a Bible for
every home in the major lan-
guage of their locality; a New
Testament for every literate
Christian; a Scripture portion for
everyone.”
Bastes is the first Catholic
bishop to get elected to this
post. (CBCPNews)
laws detrimental to environment
THE National Secretariat for So- ment them because such negli- spells caused infertile and unpro- she added.
cial Action, Justice and Peace gence results in various environ- ductive agricultural lands as In the same statement, NASSA
(NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops’ mental tragedies,” said the state- “even more frequent and stron- called on everyone to limit the
Conference of the Philippines ment entitled “Reclaiming the ger typhoons destroy crops” consumption of fossilized fuels
(CBCP) called on the government Integrity of Creation”. which significantly affect farm to decrease greenhouse gases and
to amend existing laws that are According to Mallillin, “super outputs. Natural disasters “are use renewable sources of energy
detrimental to the environment. typhoon Reming” in 2006 left even more aggravated by man- including solar and wind energy.
In a statement released on the Sorsogon with nearly 750 fatali- made and man-induced disasters It also called for an aggressive
occasion of the celebration of ties, and the destruction of some such as mine tailing spills in Boac, reforestation program along
Earth Day, NASSA Executive Sec- US $508 million worth of prop- Marinduque, cyanide spills in with proper waste disposal and
retary Sr. Rosanne Mallilllin, SPC, erties, infrastructure and agricul- Rapu-rapu, Albay and the col- for the government to amend
called on the government to ture. lapse of mine tunnels in Mt. existing laws and policies that
“amend existing laws and poli- In September 2006, another Diwalwal. have been proven detrimental to
cies particularly national mineral strong typhoon, Milenyo left NASSA is the Catholic the environment and disadvan-
policies that are proven to be det- Metro Manila with over 100 fa- Church’s social action arm which tageous to the Filipino people as
rimental to the environment and talities. Heavy rainfall caused attends to relief and rehabilita- it encouraged the government to
are disadvantageous to the Fili- landslides and mudslides in tion requirements of various dio- prosecute everyone who violate
pino people.” Guinsaugon which left 200 ceses across the country. environmental laws or fail to
“The Government should en- people dead and displaced 1,500 “The frequency and intensity properly implement them as
courage the prosecution of all individuals. of these occurrences give us a negligence results in various en-
who violate environmental laws She added extreme weather sense of urgency to evaluate and vironmental tragedies.
and /or fail to properly imple- conditions seen in longer dry resolve what has gone wrong,” NASSA / A6
Jail’s chapel promotes spiritual growth of inmates
THE new Davao City Jail Catholic Chapel has helped in the
spiritual growth and maturity of the inmates.
Senior Inspector Thomas Augustine Catarata, regional chaplain
of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said the
existence of the chapel inside the jail becomes a vital factor in chang-
ing the overall character, perspective and attitude of the inmates.
Catarata said the inmates become participative in the on-going
faith-based or spiritual programs conducted by different religious
organizations inside the city jail.
Catarata added that the inmates, despite their wrongdoings
have dignity to be respected and values to be nurtured.
“A person, who is entrusted to us for safekeeping carries a
value, a value that is embedded at the very core of his/her hu-
manity. Such value is inviolable and God-ordained,” he said.
“Whether the person is guilty or not of the crime he/she is
accused of, still the value remains,” Catarata said.
Fr. Hermes Larry Sabud, local superior of the Society of Mary
Fathers and in-charge of the Archdiocesan Commission on
Prison Welfare also said that because of the on-going spiritual also believes that the chapel will deepen the spiritual awareness of
programs among inmates there is an increasing desire among the inmates.
them to change and know Christ more. “I know that by God’s grace this chapel will bring light, healing
Sabud added that the construction of the chapel, although fi- and reconciliation among the inmates,” said Pontillo.
nanced by some friends and benefactors was a “labor of love and Pontillo also encourages different religious groups and volun-
gratitude” by the inmates. teers serving in the jail apostolate to continue with their faith-
Chief Inspector Ferdinand D. Pontillo, CSEE, the jail warden, based activities or spiritual programs. (Mark S. Ventura)
 CBCP Monitor
A2 World News Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008

Cardinal: Giuliani shouldn’t 1,793 Christians

reconverted to Hinduism
have received communion NEW DELHI, India, April 28,
2008—Yesterday, 1,793 tribal
Christians reconverted to Hin-
duism in a ceremony in Borivli
(Mumbai), presided over by
Hindu leader Swami Narendra
NEW YORK, April 29, 2008—The archbishop of New York Maharaj. Maharaj, who led the
said the city’s former pro-abortion mayor should not have ritual of shuddikaran (purifi-
received the Eucharist during Benedict XVI’s trip to the
cation), said that 42,200 people
United States.
In a statement released Monday, Cardinal Edward Egan have been reconverted, above
recalled the Church’s position on abortion, noting that it all in the tribal areas of
“is a grave offense against the will of God.” Maharashtra and Gujarat.
“Throughout my years as archbishop of New York, I He accused Christians of
have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses using “luring and mislead-
and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any ing” methods to convert Hin-
kind,” he continued. “Thus it was that I had an understand-
dus, and said that “an anti-
ing with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became archbishop
of New York and he was serving as mayor of New York, conversion law is needed,”
that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well- because “nobody should be
known support of abortion. converted, whatsoever be his
“I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist religion”. He criticized the
during the papal visit here in New York, and I will be political parties that “have re-
seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our fused to take a firm stand on
understanding.”
the government’s conversion
Giuliani, who is also on his third marriage, received the
Eucharist during Mass at Yankee Stadium on the last day of bill”, and expressed his hopes
the Pope’s visit. (Zenit) for the creation of a “pressure
group” that would protect
Hindu “interests”. He also
blamed the Hindu fundamen-
talist parties Bharathiya
Janata and Shiv Sena for not
being decisive enough.
There are laws in various In-
dian states punishing the activ-
ity of proselytism. In general,
these are interpreted in the
sense that it is not prohibited to
1) no adult can receive or be
given the sacrament of bap-
tism without his or her free
consent. Baptism given by co-
ercive methods is totally in-
valid, hence the person so
baptized cannot be numbered
among Catholics. 2) We have
been asking persons who are
shouting from the house-tops
that we are converting people
to Christianity by force or other
coercive methods, that they
should produce before us per-
sons who have been thus bap-
tized and received into the
Catholic Church: so far not a
single person has been pro-
duced. If they feel shy to do so
before us Catholics, let them
produce such persons before
the courts of law in our coun-
try”.
On the state anti-conversion
laws, Bishop Percival, who is
also the chairman of the St.
John’s National Academy of
Health Sciences, maintains
that it is more important that
“legislators spend their pre-
cious time in the legislatures to
plan and execute projects that
get drinking water, decent
housing, daily affordable bread
and primary education to the
millions who are deprived of

Pope to visit
Russian visa system
convince someone to renounce these basic requirements for
other religions in order to return which they have a right. Instead

France Sept to Hinduism, which is consid-

ered the “natural” religion for
of wasting precious time in
working out anti-conversion

12-15 leaves priests scrambling Indians.

MOSCOW, April 29, 2008—
Changes implemented to
Russia’s visa system in October
have caused problems for the
nation’s religious workers.
A decree mandating that for-
eign citizens with either busi-
ness or humanitarian visas can
only spend half their time
abroad in Russia has forced
priests and other pastoral
workers to spend more time
away from their faithful, ac-
cording to a report from Fo-
rum 18 News.
lem. The real issue is getting tem-
porary residency or work per-
mits.
Ninety percent of Russia’s
Catholic clergy are foreign-born.
And the process to get them a
residency or work permit takes
six months, he said.
The new regulations corre-
spond with those in the European
Union, Andrei Sebentsov, vice
chairman of the government’s
Commission for Issues Concern-
ing Religious Associations,
stressed to Forum 18.
tive, for which work permits are
required.
“Our priests are really, really
suffering from this,” one Russian
Catholic told Forum 18. He men-
tioned one priest, limited to 180
days a year with his parish in the
region of Moscow, making a gru-
eling 24-hour commute from his
native Poland to lead weekend
Masses.
Others are spending extended
periods outside Russia as their
180 days are already up, he la-
mented. And with fewer priests
On April 14, in the city of
Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), over
one thousand Christian Dalits
reverted to Hinduism, and the
organizers of the ceremony an-
nounced their intentions to re-
convert another 20,000 Chris-
tians in Villupuram in upcom-
ing months.
The auxiliary bishop of
Mumbai, Percival Fernandez,
told AsiaNews yesterday that
“two points must be clarified:
laws, it would be much more
profitable if they appointed a
high level commission consist-
ing of excellent judges that we
have in plenty in the country,
identify the persons converted
by the Catholics by force and
allurements and identify the
person who did such a con-
demnable deed, and punish
both concerned with laws that
are already available in the
constitution of our beloved
country.” (AsiaNews)

PARIS, April 28, 2008—The

French episcopal conference
confirmed today the dates for
Benedict XVI’s trip to France
marking the 150th anniversary
of the Lourdes apparitions.
The Pope will arrive in Paris
on Sept. 12. He is scheduled to
meet with civil leaders, includ-
ing President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Later on, he will give a dis-
course directed to the world of
culture.
That evening in the Cathe-
dral of Notre Dame, the Holy
Father will celebrate vespers
with priests, deacons, religious
and seminarians. Afterward, he
will give an address to youth.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Pon-
tiff will celebrate a public Mass.
Also during his time in the capi-
tal city, Benedict XVI will meet
with representatives of other
Christian confessions, as well as
Jewish and Muslim leaders, the
French bishops reported.
Saturday afternoon, the Holy
Father will travel to Lourdes,
where he will give an address
to the pilgrims.
Sunday, Sept. 14, the Pope
will preside over a solemn Mass
with the pilgrims. That after-
noon, he will meet with French
bishops and participate in a Eu-
charistic procession.
The next day, the Holy Father
will administer the anointing
of the sick during a Mass. He
will return to Rome that Mon-
day afternoon. (Zenit)
Christians and Buddhists can cooperate on the environment, pontifical council says
VATICAN CITY, April 29,
2008—The Pontifical Council
for Inter-religious Dialogue
sent its annual Message to
Buddhists for the Feast of
Vesakh. The letter stated the
importance of environmental
concerns and spoke of Chris-
tians and Buddhists uniting
to care for the earth.
Vesakh, the main Buddhist
festivity, marks three funda-
mental moments in the life of
Gautama Buddha. It is held
during the full moon of the
month of May because, accord-
ing to tradition, Buddha was
born, achieved enlightenment
Father Igor Kovalevsky, secre-
tary of the Russian bishops’ con-
ference, said the change to the visa
system is not the root of the prob-
Prime Minister deplores selective
abortion of girls in India
ROME, April 29, 2008—High-
ranking officials in India have
acknowledged the macabre
scope of the selective abortion
of girls, a practice that is in-
creasingly more common in the
country.
India’s Prime Minister,
Manmohan Singh, harshly
criticized this situation, call-
ing it “one of the most inhu-
mane, uncivilized and repre-
hensible practices.
The IANS news agency re-
ported that the phenomenon
above all affects the wealthi-
est regions of India and has led
to a drop in the number of
women versus the number of
men. In the northeastern region
of Punjab, there are only 798
girls for every 1000 boys; in
Haryana, 819; New Delhi, 868
and in Gujarat, 883.
“This indicates that the
growing economic prosperity
and the education levels have
not led to a corresponding al-
leviation of the problem,”
Singh said.
He stressed that girls in In-
and passed away in that period.
The message entitled,
“Christians and Buddhists:
Caring for the Planet Earth,” in-
dicates that the “preservation
of the environment, promotion
of sustainable development
and particular attention to cli-
mate change are matters of
grave concern for everyone.”
The letter points out that con-
tribution of religious leaders is
not “just a reaction to the more
recent pressing threats associ-
ated with global warming.
Christianity and Buddhism
have always upheld a great re-
spect for nature and taught that
As humanitarian visas are now
no longer suitable for prolonged
religious work, he explained,
work visas are the main alterna-
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
dia are more vulnerable be-
cause their parents fear early
marriage, the payment of dow-
ries, deficient nutrition or the
lower status of women relative
to men in society.
“The patriarchal mentality
we should be grateful stewards
of the earth. Indeed it is only
through a profound reflection
on the relationship between the
divine Creator, creation and
creatures that attempts to ad-
dress environmental concerns
will not be marred by individual
greed or hampered by the inter-
ests of particular groups.”
“On a practical level can we
Christians and Buddhists not
do more to collaborate in
projects which confirm the re-
sponsibility that falls to each
and every one of us? Recy-
cling, energy conservation, the
prevention of indiscriminate
to go around, there are no week-
day services in some towns.
(Zenit)
and preference for male chil-
dren is complicated even more
by the unethical conduct of
members of the health care in-
dustry who offer sex determi-
nation services,” Singh said.
(CNA)
destruction of plant and ani-
mal life, and the protection of
waterways all speak of careful
stewardship and indeed foster
goodwill and promote cordial
relations among peoples. In
this way Christians and Bud-
dhists together can be harbin-
gers of hope for a clean, safe
and harmonious world.”
It is the hope that such ideas
may be promoted “within our
respective communities
through public education and
our good example in respect-
ing nature and acting respon-
sibly towards our one common
planet Earth.” (CNA)
Catholic weekly takes
government to court over
use of the word “Allah”
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia,
April 28, 2008—The lawsuit by
the archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
against the government of Ma-
laysia has been adjourned until
tomorrow, April 29. The arch-
diocese is claiming the right to
use the word “Allah” in its
Catholic weekly, the Herald. Be-
tween last December and Janu-
ary, the case had raised serious
controversy and accusations
from minorities and activists
against the Malaysian authori-
ties, who are charged with vio-
lating freedom of expression and
religion.
The standoff over the use of the
word “Allah” is just one more
chapter in the difficulties facing
the majority Muslim country,
where a secular constitution is
accompanied by Islamic courts
charged with applying sharia.
On December 10, the domestic
security ministry—which over-
sees media permissions—had
prohibited the Malay-language
section of the Herald from using
the word “Allah” to designate
the Christian God, claiming it
could be used in this way only
by Muslims. Fr Andrew
Lawrence, the director of the
newspaper, was forced to accept
the restriction, but the archdio-
cese decided to sue the govern-
ment.
The archbishop of the capital,
Murphy Pakiam, maintains that
the domestic security minister
and the federal government are
making a mistake: “I am advised
by my solicitors that I have a le-
gal right to use the word ‘Allah’
in the Herald, and this legal right
stems from the right to freedom
of speech and expression as en-
shrined in Article 10 of the Fed-
eral Constitution”, the arch-
bishop explains in an article for
the next issue of the Herald. Arch-
bishop Pakiam further reports
that he has been under constant
pressure from the government to
conform to the “directives”.
At the same time, numerous
threats have been issued, creat-
ing a climate of “apprehension”.
The bishop concludes by describ-
ing as “unreasonable and irratio-
nal” the justification of the min-
istry, according to which the use
of the word “Allah” is a “secu-
rity issue which is purportedly
causing much confusion and
which threatens and endangers
peace, public order and security”.
Over thirteen years of publica-
tion, he adds, no article in the
Herald has ever caused any inci-
dents. (AsiaNews)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008
IPPF to come up with vision
for M’danao dialogue
DAVAO CITY, April 28, 2008–
The Imams-Pastors-Priests’ Fo-
rum (IPPF) is planning to come
up with a vision and mission
statement, which will serve as
their guidelines in the further-
ance of interreligious dialogue
in Mindanao.
The IPPF group earlier created
a new set of convenors and
members which will also head
in its operations.
During the meeting partici-
pated in by 10 imams, five pas-
tors and three priests held in
Camp Alano, Toril this city early
this month, the group discussed
and outlined their plans for the
approval of the proposed vision
and mission statement.
The group agreed to approve
the statement during their
planned general assembly this
coming April 28 to 30 still at
Camp Alano.
Aside from that, IPPF-Davao
Manila Cathedral to
celebrate golden jubilee
MANILA, April 28, 2008—The
Manila Metropolitan Cathedral,
the Minor Basilica of the Im-
maculate Conception will cel-
ebrate the 50th anniversary of its
present structure on December
8.
To mark the occasion, various
programs are being planned,
Jade Villanueva, an official of the
Cathedral, told CBCP News.
One of these is the second
Manila Cathedral Pipe Organ
Festival scheduled for Dec 2, 5,
6, 7, 8 and 10.
Now the eighth cathedral, the
present Neo-Romanesque-Byz-
antine building rose from the
ruins of its predecessor, which
was bombed along with the rest
of Intramuros during the Battle
of Liberation in 1945. The recon-
structed church, designed by
Architect Fernando Ocampo,
was solemnly consecrated on
Dec. 7, 1958 in honor of Our Lady
of the Immaculate Conception.
Manila Cathedral was raised
to the status of a basilica on April
27, 1981 by virtue of a papal bull
(decree) issued motu proprio by
Pope John Paul II, three months
after his first papal visit to the
Philippines.
The building has undergone
major repairs and renovations
but has remained every angle a
picture of its old form, outshin-
ing in grandeur and magnifi-
cence, said Msgr. Nestor C.
Cerbo, rector.
Cerbo is focusing on the stra-
tegic and operational concerns,
worship, education, services,
temporalities and youth.
In each of these areas, concrete
projects and programs are in the
lineup, enjoining the support
and participation not only of its
CBCP Commission to hold Nat’l
Conference for Youth Ministers
MANILA, April 25, 2008The Epis-
copal Commission on Youth of
the Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines (CBCP)
will organize the biennial Na-
tional Conference for Youth
Ministers (NCYM) at Colegio de
San Jose in Jaro, Iloilo City, May
5-9.
As year 2008 is acknowledged
as the Year of Word of God,
youth ministers in the Philip-
pine Catholic Church are called
to reflect on their identity as wit-
nesses to the Word of God as
they draw life from it and share
it with others, especially the
young, said Masbate bishop Joel
Z. Baylon, chair of the CBCP-
Episcopal Commission on
Youth.
The theme is “The Word of
God lives in you (1 Jn 2:14),
youth ministers: drawing and
sharing life in God’s Word, wit-
nessing to the world.”
God’s Word takes central place
in the lives of youth ministers.
The Word of God does not only
serve as inspiration, but it actu-
ally is the source of truth guid-
ing youth ministry. From it,
youth ministers draw their per-
sonal project of life. Drawing life
from God’s Word, they then are
compelled to share this: in their
interaction with young people,
in their plans and programs, in
their participation in the mission
of the Church. In a most pro-
found sense, the minister draws
and shares life in his/her en-
counter with the Incarnate
Word, Jesus Christ, said Baylon.
News Features
co-convenors Fr. Pedro Lamata,
Pastor Mariano Apilado and
Aleem Mahmod Adilao, also dis-
closed their action plan for 2008.
Various activities scheduled
like brochure designing and pro-
duction, IPPF fora and Mindanao
Week of Peace 2008.
Programs and services provided
by IPPF Mindanao are also included
in their plans which will be tackled
again during their general assem-
bly to be participated in by existing
IPPF in the areas of Digos, Cagayan
de Oro, Cotabato and Davao.
The co-convenors also agreed
to have a regular prayer and meet-
ing once every two months “in
order to ensure that we have a
constant follow-up on our plans,”
said Ustadz Mahmod Adilao, co-
convenor of IPPF.
The group agreed to hold the
first meeting on June 12 to be
hosted by the Catholic priests.
(Mark S Ventura)
Mass goers or immediate commu-
nity but also of others who rightly
valued the Cathedral as the pre-
mier temple of the Archdiocese of
Manila and an important cultural
and historical wealth in the Phil-
ippines, said Cerbo
. The Cathedral traces its
origin to a nipa church built in
1571 by Fray Juan de Vivero. In
Sept. 1581, the said church was re-
modeled into a better structure
made of wood, bamboo, and nipa
and on Dec. 21, 1521, it became a
cathedral.
The first cathedral was ravaged
by fire in 1583 and a new structure,
made of stone and mortar, was
erected in 1591. The earthquake of
1599 and 1600 completely de-
stroyed the second cathedral and
from its rubbles followed further
cycles or restorations and ravages.
The third cathedral, built in
1614 and destroyed by earthquake
of 1621 and 1736, and demolished
in 1751; the fourth cathedral, in-
augurated in 1760, repaired; the
sixth cathedral, constructed from
1854 to 1858, repaired and reno-
vated in 1850, and destroyed by
earthquake in 1852; the sixth one,
constructed from 1854 to 1858 and
destroyed by earthquake in 1863;
and the seventh one, inaugurated
in 1879, damaged by earthquake
in 1880, was converted into a hos-
pital for wounded soldiers during
the Filipino-American War in
1898-1902, and fully destroyed in
1945 during World War II, giving
way a decade later to the construc-
tion of the present edifice (eighth
structure)through the effort of
Archbishop Rufino J. Santos.
Yesterday, April 27, the Cathe-
dral inaugurated its official website,
www.manilacathedral.org.
(Santosh Digal)
Youth apostolate coordinators in a meeting with CBCP-ECY execu-
tive director Fr. Conegundo Garganta prior to the event.
As the Synod of Bishops on
the Word of God is convened
this year, the Episcopal Commis-
sion on Youth has thought it
very relevant for this gathering
of youth ministers to reflect on
the Word of God and its place
in living the faith and ministry,
he added.
The conference aims to help the
youth minister to identify the
place of the Word of God in his/
her personal life and in the min-
istry, evaluate his/her choices,
opinions and options in the light
of God’s Word, respond, person-
ally and as part of a youth minis-
try team, to the inspirations, and
challenged of the Word of God
in the youth ministry, celebrate
the gift of God’s Word and of his/
her fellow ministers.
Holy Father sends new
priests to spread joy
VATICAN CITY, April 27, 2008—
Benedict XVI sent forth 29 newly
ordained priests to spread the
“joy of Christ” in a world that is
“often sad and negative.”
The Pope presided at an ordi-
nation Mass today in St. Peter’s
Basilica in which, as Bishop of
Rome, he bestowed the sacra-
ment of holy orders on candidates
from his own diocese.
All of the men studied for the
priesthood in Rome, although
seven of the new priests are from
outside Italy. The non-Italian
priests are from Iraq, Colombia,
Chile, Paraguay, France, Haiti
and India.
In his homily Benedict XVI ex-
plained that today a new mission
was beginning for them. Being
missionaries of the Gospel, he
said, they must “proclaim and
witness to joy.”
The Pontiff asked, “What can
be more beautiful to us than this?
What can be greater, more excit-
ing, than working together to
spread the Word of life in the
world, than communicating the
living water of the Spirit?”
Priests are called to bring the
Gospel to all “so that all experi-
ence the joy of Christ and there
be joy in every city,” the Holy
Father observed. They are called
Duplex houses turned over to 100 families in Legazpi
LEGAZPI CITY, April 28,
2008—Despite pouring rain,
100 recipients of 50 duplex
houses built with the funding
acquired by the Social Action
Center (SAC), expressed satis-
faction they will now have a
safe and permanent place they
could call their home.
The Archdiocese of Jaro,
through the generosity of Arch-
bishop Angel Lagdameo, presi-
dent of CBCP, and his youth
ministers, clergy, religious and
lay extends its arms to partici-
pating youth ministers, direc-
tors, coordinators and leaders.
Participating youth ministers
will stay with foster families
within the Jaro District. The or-
ganizers will provide accommo-
dations for NCYM participants.
Some of the topics that will
be dealt with include commu-
nity structured learning experi-
ences, Bible service, Bible quiz,
Filipino Catholic youth minis-
try
The last NCYM was held in
Davao City in 2006.
(CBCPNews)
to be “messengers of this joy,” to
multiply and transmit it, espe-
cially to those who are sad and
disheartened.
“If you are to be co-workers of
the joy of others, of people who
are often sad and negative, the
fire of the Gospel must burn in
you, the joy of the Lord must live
in you,” he told the ordinands.
The simple turnover was
held at barangay Sipi, another
relocation site for disaster-dis-
placed families.
“Okey lang ang ulan na ‘yan,
blessing ‘yan sa amin, ” (“It’s
alright, the rain is a blessing
for us”) said a disaster victim
from Barangay Binitayan
CBCP to hold seminar for news correspondents
THE Media Office of the
Catholic Bishops Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP) is
organizing a seminar for news
correspondents on May 7-8 at
the CBCP headquarters in
Intramuros, Manila.
The upcoming seminar
aims to orient the news corre-
spondents on the prophetic
role of Church journalists in
reporting news according to
Church’s standpoint. Like-
wise it endeavors to highlight
the importance of having a
news organization as
CBCPNews that is dedicated
in “providing accurate news
written from a distinctively
Catholic perspective.”
Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP
Media Director, said the train-
ing of CBCPNews writers, re-
porters and correspondents is
a continuing program.
“This is the third that the
Media Office will be giving. In
2006 there were two trainings
conducted: one was on media
work and the other on news
writing,” he explained.
After the Mass, in his address
before reciting the Regina Caeli
with the faithful gathered in St.
Peter’s Square, Benedict XVI re-
turned to the theme of his homily.
The Pope said, “Where Christ
is preached with the power of the
Holy Spirit and he is accepted with
an open soul, society, though it
be full of problems, becomes a
whose house was covered with
sand and volcanic boulders
when super howler Reming
came more than a year ago.
The rains never dampened
the spirit of the beneficiaries.
Bishop Lucilo B. Quiambao,
Administrator of the Diocese;
Sis. Rosanne Mallillin, SPC of
Quoting Pope John Paul II’s
Apostolic Letter Rapid Develop-
ment, Quitorio said the continu-
ing formation is essential for
media to be used appropriately.
“…a vast work of formation is
needed to assure that the mass
media be known and used intel-
ligently and appropriately. The
new vocabulary they introduce
into society modifies both learn-
ing processes and the quality of
human relations, so that, with-
out proper formation, these me-
dia run the risk of manipulating
and heavily conditioning, rather
than serving people.” (11)
“This is in response to the
call of the Vatican to continu-
ously train media workers in
the Church,” he said of the
seminar.
Topics to be discussed dur-
ing the seminar include
“What is the Church Beat?
CBCPNews as an alternative
news organization, Enhanc-
ing Basic Skills in News Writ-
ing, and Managing the News.”
CBCPNews online
(www.cbcpnews.com) is the
A3
“city of joy”—which is also the
title of a book about the work of
Mother Teresa in Calcutta.
“This then is the wish I have
for the newly ordained priests,
for whom I invite all to pray: that
where they are sent they may
spread the joy and hope that flow
from the Gospel.” (Zenit)
NASSA-CBCP and this town’s
Social Welfare Officer Emma N.
Lindio, had to squeeze them-
selves into a small makeshift
tent during the ceremonies.
Bishop Quiambao exhorted
the family-recipients “This is
your new house, make it your
home.” He underscored the
family and life protection pro-
grams of the Catholic church
as basis for the social action
programs.
Sister Rosanne said the
funding used for the construc-
tion of duplex houses came
from Caritas Internationalis
and Caritas Filpinas and from
donations of concerned
Catholics who believed in
chipped-in unity despite di-
versity.
The CBCP-NASSA executive
secretary proposed to name the
newly constructed community
“Damayan Village” as it was
realized with the concerted ef-
forts of everybody.
“Sana, magdamayan kayo sa
pagbuo ng bagong
pamayanan,” she further said.
(Elmer James Bandol)
only local Catholic news agency
in the country at present. Offi-
cially launched by the CBCP
Media Office in June 2007,
CBCPNews averages 3,000 hits
a day. To date, it has reached
more than 1.1 million hits.
With news correspondents
strategically posted in different
dioceses, CBCPNews gets its
daily dispatch straight from the
“battle ground”. The news are
uploaded everyday as they
come in and distributed to
email subscribers free of charge.
Church news get into the
mainstream media through
CBCPNews.
“Since we launched
CBCPNews, we noticed that
our news are carried not only
by the international church
news services but even by the
local mainstream media,”
Quitorio observed.
“If only because of this, I
think CBCPNews is some-
thing, because what happens
is the mainstream media get
the lead of our story,” he
added. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
 Opinion
EDITORIAL

It’s corruption, pure and simple

SOMETHING must be very wrong in a government that has long
since acquired the signal distinction for its outrageous graft and
unmitigated corrupt practices in practically all levels of gover-
nance. It must be so bad that even the CBCP recently made the
frank and candid pronouncement that the corruption was pester-
ing the ruling administration “from top to bottom”.
That the present government is reeling in and reeking from
corruption is definitely not only an imaginary conclusion, nor a
merely partisan political agenda. There are one too many indica-
tors of such a realization and judgment; to claim the opposite,
i.e., that all key public officials in command of power and wealth
are eminent for their integrity and outstanding for their honesty
is either fantasy or political spin or both.
But even elementary rhyme and reason have to take into
account the following admittedly unflattering factors pub-
licly pointed out and commonly known: First, there is the
long litany of big government deals and contracts loaded
with “bukol” and “tongpats”, not to mention the scams rang-
ing from simple street lamp posts to amazing fertilizers.
Second, there is the consistently big failing grade on the
matter of the approval rating of the President. Third, there is
the title of the “Most Corrupt” appended by independent
international surveys to the national leadership. http://
www.unisilvertime,com.ph/
There is a stark difference and even manifest contradiction
between the official glowing economic statistics and glorious
financial indicators, and the sober realities on the ground and
on family tables. As far as government reports are concerned,
there is so much financial abundance and economic develop-
ment in the country. As far as million of people in the Philip-
pines are concerned, they are cuing for rice, counting the few
pesos in the pockets and waiting for food coupons. Why? More
than the simple and innocent population, the real big culprit is
corruption!

The Filipino laborer

Abp. Angel N. Lagdameo, DD
RIZAL’S “La Indolencia de los Filipinos” has poked deep into the
reasons for the trademark indolence of the Filipino and justified Population: consumer
it with external causes such as the predispositions of living in the
tropics. That, however, may just be an icing that gives way to his In and Out of Season and food producer
social thoughts in his previous works such as the “Noli”.
Really, the Pinoy is not essentially indolent. If ever he has
been tagged as such, it maybe because of unjust socio-political DO we have rice crisis or price crisis or both? erty cannot be the result of a growing popula-
structures that has pushed him to the futility of laboring without to solve the problem of decreasing food sup-
What is the real situation? There seems to tion, but rather the outcome of corruption in ply: “The real solution is to be found in a
dignity and just recompense. It is not a walk in the park to be be at the same time some problem of ac- both government and business sector … We
under colonialists for over four hundreds years or martial law renewed scientific and technical effort on
countability, transparency and credibility! are poor not because we are many, but be- man’s part to deepen and extend his domin-
for 15 years and a corrupt government ad infinitum. Because labor NFA rice is at 18 pesos while commercial cause a few wittingly or unwittingly deprive
is not meant to be stifled—or muffled as in the case of dictatorial ion over the earth.” … so as to produce suffi-
rice is at almost 40 pesos. A big problem for our kababayans of opportunities to prosper …” cient food. Babies therefore are presently con-
regimes. the poor! And the Philippines, once upon a Graft and corruption, not population
The 15 million or so Filipinos working around the world is sumers, but they are also future food produc-
time a rice granary in Asia, is now the top growth is the major cause of our crisis. Al- ers. Babies are not liabilities only but are fu-
proof enough to the contrary. And this is not even to mention the importer of rice. ready as of December 2004, the National Sta-
side comments that the Filipinos are the best workers in the ture assets to replace the present generation
Who is to blame for this crisis? What is tistics Office had projected a population and to support our senior citizens.
world. All hail to the Filipino laborer! the solution to this problem? One answer growth rate of 1.99% and not 2.36% as being Is the Catholic Church against popula-
we are hearing these days is: blame the cri- insisted upon. In fact, the country is already tion control? No. Rather the Church con-
sis on our growing population; and there- experiencing a decline in the number of tinues to advocate natural family planning
fore there is need for a program of popula- births. Population is expanding, but the ex- as the morally acceptable way of practic-
The call for adequate housing tion control. pansion is not caused by “uncontrolled births” ing responsible parenthood. But the
It is both an economic and moral prob- but rather by the elderly population being Church objects to the use of artificial con-
CLOSELY connected with the problem of demolitions is the need lem. I would like to quote the answer of a healthier and living longer than before. Im- traception, such as the use of abortifacients,
for adequate housing. We recognize that providing adequate young city councilor from Olongapo under proved health situation results also in higher contraceptive devises, abortion and steril-
housing for every person and family is not the responsibility the Kapatiran Party, John Carlos de los survival rates of new born. ization. Artificial contraception is wrong
only of government but of the whole community. The Church Reyes. What he courageously and To the question how we can solve the dis- not because the Catholic Church forbids
itself has sought to do its share and provide low-cost housing for insightfully said can be applied to the prob- proportion between increasing population them; rather the Church forbids them be-
the poor according to its capability. lem of rice and food sufficiency. John Carlos and decreasing food supply, the fallacious cause they are morally wrong: they vio-
We wish to make a call to those who are in a position to de los Reyes in a convention on the Family answer is cut down the population. However, late the creative power of God and destroy
supply low-cost housing to do so, or to continue doing so held in Cebu said: “The root social problem Pope John XXIII in his Encyclical Letter, Mater the natural fruitfulness of human repro-
without, however, putting the price of houses beyond the reach of our nation is not over-population but et Magistra (no. 189) had proposed the empow- ductive capacity.
of the people they are intended to help. For this reason we massive, enslaving poverty. Philippine pov- erment and education of the same population IN AND OUT / A6
also appeal to the consciences of those in government and
business to refrain from the giving and taking of bribes and
Fr. Melvin P. Castro
from other corrupt deeds that increase the price of housing for
the low-income groups and effectively deprive many of needed
housing. Such acts of corruption certainly merit the condem-
Sancta Maria, Regina
nation of the Lord because they rob the public coffers and
oppress the poor.
Familiae Speaking of Mary
The task of providing adequate housing for all families is a
long process. The poor themselves must take their part responsi-
bly and not alienate, for example, the land or housing given to ROME, 24 April 2008. On 05 May 1917, Pope Hence, John Paul II’s invocation of Our Lady For our migrant workers—some with no
them. The conflicts spawned by the clashes of interests cannot be Benedict XV, at the height of World War I as Queen of the Family speaks very well of legal papers evenit will always be a choice
remedied by legal solutions alone. Other non-legal solutions begged God for peace and invoked Mary as the gravity of the situation both of the Family between their personal happiness to be with
which involve consultation and dialogue are also necessary and Regina Pacis, Queen of Peace. Eight days and of Life itself. their families in the Philippines or be away
should be explored. We ask the government to find out and later, Our Lady appeared at Fatima bring- True there are many families who find with them so that they could provide them
address the causes of homelessness, such as the centralization of ing with her the Peace Plan from Heaven. themselves in difficult situations, but it is not with the necessary resources.
business and livelihood opportunities in the cities, and the con- In 1997, with the onslaught of attacks— the family that is the problem. The strength- Yet, tragically enough, some end up sad,
version of agricultural lands for recreational and business pur- subtle and overtagainst the dignity of the ening of the family is in fact part of the very away from home and their hard earned re-
poses. family, the Servant of God, the Great John solution of our many social, economic, moral, sources irresponsibly used, and worse, the very
We propose that the government, the Church, poor people, Paul II called on Mary as Queen of the Fam- and even spiritual ills. family they love breaks down and falls apart.
NGO’s helping the homeless, agree to form a study body that ily, Regina Familiae. Statistics tell us that ten percent of our popu- I remember one migrant worker approach-
will make a thorough analysis of the problems of homelessness, The Sovereign Pontiffs—guided by the lation is working overseas. They have and still ing me to tell me, Father, ipagdasal ninyo kami,
land and land use, eviction and resettlement, and recommend Holy Spirithave always been Prophets in are sacrificing a lot for their families. Many malungkot dito. The sacrifices our fellow Fili-
concrete solutions. The chairperson of this body should be ac- the Church; Prophets in the true and full are the so-called domestic helpers serving for- pinos will do in the name of their families.
ceptable to the government, the Church, the poor people af- sense of the word, sensus plenior, as they eign families in order to feed, shelter, and give The forces against Family and Life not con-
fected, and the NGO’s. would put it in Latin. education to their own families back home. tent, it seems, that we have to contend with
—”I was Homeless and You Took Me In” The world, including our own country, I remember when during my studies for the poverty are now using the very issue of pov-
A CBCP Pastoral Statement, 1997 has never witnessed such attacks against the priesthood how these valiant domestic helpers— erty to further erode the dignity of the Fam-
Family and against Life itself. We may well women most of themwould pitch in their hard ily and the sanctity of human life.
wonder and ask, Bakit ba pinag-iinitan ang earned money so that I’d have resources for my It is shocking, to say the least, that the re-
pamilya at ang buhay? books, toiletries, and even my plane fare. SPEAKING / A7

ISSN 1908-2940
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
‘Drugs, sex and abortion:
CBCP Monitor
Protagonist of Tr u t h , Promoter of Peace
Love Life the connection’
Pedro C. Quitorio “I AM sorry. I/we were not there when In the course of the counseling they eventu-
Editor-in-Chief The place is actually a ranch in San Jose,
you needed us and so you thought that abor- ally admit to having abortions due to promis- Batangas. Along with some parents of the resi-
tion was the solution to your problem.” cuity. They get into sex because of loss of self- dents, they had fixed a garden beautifully with
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Kris P. Bayos These are the words I say to women who esteem, need for cash to buy more drugs, or
Associate Editor Feature Editor statues of angels and names of aborted ba-
come to me admitting in all humility to due to group pressure. There are around 40 of bies etched in little marble markers. In the
Melo M. Acuña Rosalynn Garcia having had abortion. them now in the Center, ages ranging from 14 middle was the statue of the Resurrected
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor Abortion is an act of desperation. Abor- to 62 years old. Most of them begin on alco- Christ and below it was a bigger marker to
tion has many victims—a dead baby, a hurt- hol abuse, and in two years time they are on the “unknown babies”—for the millions
Dennis B. Dayao Ernani M. Ramos ing mother, a confused or angry father, re- drug addiction. killed day and night remembering them.
On-Line Editor Circulation Manager sentful and distrusting siblings, and many I have networked with Bob Garon over the Flowering plants surrounded the rocks where
hardened, insensitive abortion-providers. years. He has been referring single mothers the angels and markers were mounted.
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez The Blessing of the Garden of Angels to our maternity homes and I have been refer-
News Editor Comptroller The residents themselves prepared the
then was a very significant response to the ring to him the persons needing the services prayer service. Special guest was Bishop Soc
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP need for healing of the men and women in of his rehabilitation center. He had also helped Villegas who came all the way from his dio-
Communications Development Foundation, Inc., with Nazareth Formation Center (NFC) last me get my own airtime in the same radio sta- cese in Bataan to do the Blessing. Three of the
Layout by Denz Dayao

editorial and business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., April 4. NFC was founded by Bob Garon tions he had been using. I was happy to be young women bravely read the poems they
Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. about ten years ago for rehabilitation of invited to the Blessing of the Garden of An- had written to their innocent babies—who
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612. persons in various addictions—drugs, al- gels. He and his wife, Emmy and children, they believe are now enjoying the peace of
Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net cohol, sex. Many of the residents reveal Vanessa and Alexandra, are all involved in
Website: www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor history of sexual abuse in their childhood. the rehabilitation program. LOVE LIFE / A7

Jose B. Lugay
Laiko Lampstand
OUR school children instantly know through
internet recent happenings on the other side
of the world. Without any formal baptism
we now become members of one global vil-
lage. We are all equally affected by the same
forces of change. We may have learned about
this in a dramatic way, like the environmen-
tal effects of climate change as presented by
Nobel Peace Awardee Al Gore; or we may
have gradually become aware in the course
of ordinary life like going to market—the
effect of a world change—the sudden increase
in the price of rice from P 18 to P 32 per kg.
The rapid change in science and technol-
ogy and its effects on our daily lives does
not reach our “alarm” level of conscious-
ness specially when there are more fascinat-
ing happenings to witness, like the latest re-
sults of the American Idol contest or the end-
ing of the Marimar love story. We sit com-
fortably in our offices with our computers
while the World Bank announces food short-
ages causing riots in Guinea, Mauritania,
Mexico, Morroco, Senegal. Uzbekistan,
Yemen and neighboring Indonesia.
The world food and rice crisis triggered
the governments of Vietnam and Egypt to
immediately ban their rice exports. While
the Philippines had a signed agreement with
Vietnam for the supply of rice, in prepara-
tion for the lean harvests, the price had to be
adjusted to current market prices. The Phil-
ippines has been aided by the United States
who promised to provide 100,000 metric tons
for immediate relief. This is now sold at P 25
/ kg in the market.
What were the causes that contributed to
this rice crisis? The Opposition of course gave
the expected answer—the failure of the Ar-
royo Administration. Mayor Duterte of
Davao says its “nobody’s fault, not even Presi-
dent Arroyo. Nevertheless these are some of
the factors that he observed in Davao: 1) The
conversion of lands from food production
Things to discard (or
modify, at least)
to be proudly Pinoy and
Catholic
WHENEVER you read the words “Proudly
Pinoy” and “Filipino Catholic” how do you
actually feel (assuming you are both)? Do the
words echo your real sentiments? Have you
ever wondered how it would really feel to be
“Proudly Pinoy” and Catholic? If you do, try
doing away with the following things in your
life and persuading other Pinoy Catholics to
do the same in theirs (if you think this is a
trick, it is not; if you think it’s mostly meant
to challenge people into becoming who they
are meant to be, now you get the picture).
1. Lack of discipline (such as coming late
for Mass, weddings and other Church and
civic acts).
Nothing is as normal as Pinoys, individu-
ally or as a group, walking into the middle
of the Mass or a wedding and all else. But
nothing is as insensitive, unfair and indica-
tive of a lack of deep spiritual mooring.
(There are other harsher remarks we may
leave unsaid here). Chances are, this extends
to other areas of life as well: late reports, late
disposal of garbage, late realization that that
plastic wrapper you threw away now clogs
canals and debases the environment, late
decision to call the priest on behalf of some-
one seriously ill, late move to repent of seri-
ous sins, personal or social. Heaven’s (and
prosperity’s) gate closes at the words, “Sorry,
too late!”
2. Mixing superstition with religion.
Many times while presiding over funerals
in my parish I’ve spotted broken bottles over
a coffin. I once asked why. I was told, “Oh,
Father. It’s to break the cycle of death in the
family...” I’d say, “Well, we don’t need that.
Jesus Christ is the surest way to break the
cycle of death. He is the Resurrection and the
Life.” And I get unsympathetic stares (like
I’m from another planet). Unfortunately su-
Nicolo F. Bernardo
Lifeguard
SO the latest census reveals that our annual
population growth rate is down to 2.04 per-
cent, from 2.34. While some think this is good
news, the former Health Secretary Alberto
Romualdez even contends it’s no good
enough. It means two million more Filipi-
nos every year, notwithstanding the food
shortage we already suffer.
Romualdez’s concern is valid if those two
million Filipinos to be born—and the rest of us
including Romualdez—only eat and consume.
Very alarming indeed! In other words, you have
two million more parasites (because parasites
only consume) to compete for food. This is ba-
sically Malthusian economics that tells us that
resources are like a pie, the more people there
are to share, the less each would have. Is it not?
It is if Romualdez, who by the way works
for the contraceptive clinic Friendly Care, knows
better than Simon Kuznets, Gary Becker,
Amartya Sen, George Akerlof, and the rest of
the Nobel Prize for Economics laureates who
time and time again debunk Malthus’ theory.
Let them introduce you to the “dynamic pie”
analogy. Natural resources are like a pie, and the
people who share from it don’t only eat, they pro-
duce, they complement it with human resource. Such
is human nature. Thus the pie actually gets big-
ger, not smaller; the more there are productive
people who share from it.
It is not surprising that we have better
economies in the cities where there are many
Opinion
The interconnection—
rice crisis and
governance
areas into farms for cash crops such as ba-
nanas, 2) The abrupt change in our weather.
3) The main culprit however, he says, is the
continuous increase in oil prices which
prompted the increase in prices of all com-
modities, 4) Rice-hoarding by retailers and
wholesalers, even by government is another
issue. The same situation—rice hoarding—
was reported in Capiz. The Capiz governor
instituted a campaign against profiteers prey-
ing on unsuspecting consumers. Even the
President had to order the NFA to investi-
gate the irregularities involving distribution
of NFA rice, including the diversion of sub-
sidized cereal intended for the Tindahan
Natin outlets to commercial markets.
The other causes of low rice production
which are now surfacing are neglect of good
governance practices. These are some of the
factors that if attended to by government
would have prevented the rice crisis: a) Build-
ing and maintenance of irrigation systems, b)
Completion of farm-to-market roads, c) Es-
tablishing of drying and milling facilities and
equipment, d) Packaging and storage systems,
and e) Shortening the supply chain to the rice
consumers. In the area of support for Science
and Technology, there is a need for funds for
research and development which both the
Philrice of Nueva Ecija and IRRI in Los Baños
have pioneered—in raising seed varieties that
increase harvest yield, methods of cultivation
and fertilization when planting in different
types of land—upland, paddies, discovery of
new ways increasing harvest yields by proper
management, soil fertilization and pest eradi-
cation and disease prevention.
In short, all activities to grow our people’s
primary food must be given all the inputs so
that everyone can buy rice at an affordable,
non-fluctuating price. Maintaining a low price
which is artificial by government subsidy are
two “governance” mortal sins—importing
the rice which benefit the people of the ex-
Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD
perstition still co-exists in much of our faith
practice with its genuine expressions. The
problem is it blocks us from taking the real
leap of faith which is essentially relying
on every word of the Lord, and places us in
the middle of a search for other sources of sal-
vation. Invariably we fall into the wrong ones.
3. Seeing the Church’s promotion of jus-
tice, peace, human life, dignity and rights as
playing politics.
I was once watching the news on television
and images of priests and bishops denouncing
extrajudicial killings, government abuses, hu-
man rights violations come to the fore. Some-
one remarked, “Hirap sa mga obispo’t pari
ngayon, namumulitika! (The trouble with bish-
ops and priests these days is they’re politick-
ing!)” This mindset, however ridiculous among
educated Catholics, dies hard despite remind-
ers that the promotion of justice and human
dignity is an integral part of the preaching of
the Gospel (Justice in the World, n. 6). It ignores
the constant teaching of the Church that the
Gospel is meant to penetrate all the dimen-
sions of human life, including politics, econom-
ics, arts and culture. Small wonder, much of the
world we know now is dominated by corrup-
tion, violence, terror, hatred, excessive materi-
alism and secularism. Many Catholics and,
alas, many more Christian believers have sim-
ply washed their hands of any involvement in
actualizing Christian values where they are
needed most.
4. Living as if faith has nothing to do with life.
Remember the high society matron who
goes to the Quiapo Basilica every week and
never fails to fulfill her devotion to the
Nazareno but just as unfailingly keeps mal-
treating her maids and employees every day,
including denying them just compensation?
Well, didn’t we see her recently sitting side by
Shortage and the
dynamic pie
people, and worse in rural areas where there
are less people despite the resources there
available. In fact, people go to where there
are big populations (mega cities and urban-
ized countries) in order to eat!
True, the father who has many children will
have to divide his meager resources to sus-
tain his offspring, but this is hard investment.
Soon enough, he would have many children
to sustain each other and himself. The key here
is to train those who share from whatever re-
source productive, if in fact they are not.
Romualdez is correct if you have 88 million
Filipinos who are Juan Tamads who do noth-
ing but eat. I don’t suppose Filipinos, who work
hard abroad, only eat. We would long be starv-
ing if not for the dollar remittances of these
many people.
Think of it, millions of rice seedlings are use-
less if there is no human to process these to
become food. Some environmentalists blame
overpopulation for the imbalance in ecosys-
tem. Again that is true if humans, like the rest
of the species in the ecosystem, only consume
and don’t produce what they eat. When in fact hu-
mans breed and reproduce the very animals and plants
they eat! Humans also do conserve and even recycle
what they use. After all, science tells us that en-
ergy is neither created nor destroyed but only
transformed. If not for humans, there would be
no one to process consumable energy.
Indeed, who destroy the forest? The many
porting country, and not increasing the price
of palay, which income is the sole support of
our rice farmers. Who is getting rich in the
NFA deal? It does not need the reply from the
favorite Bishop of the media to answer that.
They say it is better late than never. The
factors of governance to solve the rice and
food crisis are numerous. They all have to be
coordinated in order to set priorities for ac-
tion according to the funds available. Instead
of the government money going to corrupt
practices, these should be spent wisely after
arriving at a consensus on the priorities for
immediate action. The National Food Sum-
mit held last April 4, although too late, is a
good first step to consolidate all activities
relating to the solution of the rice and food
crises. These include funds for 1) repair or
rehabilitation of irrigation systems in at least
300,000 hectares of unusable lands, 2) plant-
ing of certified and hybrid rice seeds. 3) addi-
tional 1.1 million hectares for planting—lo-
cated in the Top Ten poorest provinces, 4)
inputs and disease prevention measures to
farmers planting during the wet or main
planting season; 5) invest in post harvest fa-
cilities to reduce palay losses amounting to
8%. 6) a total of 1.8 million hectares will be
planted with hybrid and certified rice seeds.
These plans will need the support of Con-
gress; i.e., for passing the national land use
policy to categorize the use of lands for agri-
cultural production, human settlements, in-
frastructure development, etc. We appreciate
the trust given by the government for the
Archdiocese of Manila through Caritas to
participate in the distribution of NFA rice to
the poor. As in any charity work, the Church
should be in the front line. To our politi-
cians—your goal should be to prevent all the
catastrophic events to happen by using your
mandate to govern—the making of laws and
executing them following the Social Doc-
trines of the Church.
By the Roadside
side with that politico who is a regular sponsor
of most everybody’s children at baptisms and
weddings in church as well as of anti-life, anti-
Filipino bills in Congress? Last time I looked,
I saw Mang Andoy with them, looking fresh
after all these years of selling his votes to the
highest bidder and still piously listening to
the priest’s high-pitched denunciation of the
separation of worship from life. Maybe Fa-
ther or Monsignor should also include himself
for taking donations from questionable
sources or for failing to do the prophetic min-
istry to avoid antagonizing powerful and
wealthy friends and/or relatives... If there’s
anything worse than heresy, if there’s any gap
that parallels the gap between rich and poor
in our land, it’s the yawning gap between what
we believe and how we live.
5. Tolerating corruption in private and
public life.
A government employee I know very well
once confronted her youngest child for taking his
sister’s toy. “You wouldn’t want her to use any of
your toys without your permission, would you?”
He nodded. “Then I don’t want you taking what-
ever belongs to her without asking her first. Do
you understand?” In one simple stroke, I mused,
she just taught her child to do justice. I’m not sur-
prised because she also does that in her office,
avoiding wasting her time in idle chitchat as gov-
ernment employees regularly do or cheating tax-
payers their due by delaying action on work in
progress. Recently she refused to take money that
she says doesn’t belong to her, afraid that it’s part
of a percentage of a loan being shared among
‘people in power’ and will be eventually
shouldered by Juan de la Cruz. The only prob-
lem is she is a rare breed in government service.
Most just look away when graft is committed;
many times it could indicate how things are at
home too. True Pinoy Catholics must say
goodbye to all this. Or we will see no end to the
way things are (which we all loudly bewail).
(to be continued next issue)
humans. But who conserve the forests? The
many humans also. Who are to blame for
emissions causing global warming? The many
humans. Who are to praise for efforts to save
Mother Nature? The many humans also. Who
endanger animals? The many humans. Who
care for animals? The many humans also.
It appears that the overpopulation alarm rests
on the presumption that most humans are on
the bad side—people are vicious consumers. And the
more there are people, the more there are vi-
cious creatures to eat up the planet, is it not?
Too bad. Because when this presumption is
perpetrated and internalized by people, such as
many in our government and some in the me-
dia, the more people feel helpless finding solu-
tions but to contracept and abort their future gen-
erations. Because again, their policies rest on the
presumption that people are but creatures who
consume. With some of our greedy government
officials and commercializing media practitio-
ners, perhaps that’s true. Their humans-are-but-
insatiable-consumers theory speaks for themselves.
As for enlightened economists, humans
are presumed to be by nature productive,
and they have unlimited ingenuity and tech-
nology to make the earth, like them, ever
dynamic and full of possibilities.
Whichever side we hold true could be self-
fulfilling. As for me, I dissent from Romualdez.
Too many Filipinos—and people—if made
conscientious, could only be good enough.
Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD
Tidbits
The locus of
punishments in the
life of the Church
AN institution that spouses communion as its nature, forgiveness
and love as necessary expressions of its essence, would seem short
changed to find within itself a system that pursues crime and
punishment. This is precisely the quandary of some members of
the Church who feel that penal system runs counter to the essence
of the Church as a Communio. As one Prelate told me: “Laws are
strait-jacketed norms of behavior, restrictive in posture, coercive
for the children of God who are supposed to be free. What I do is
to tell my priests to always pursue the good and avoid by all
means into falling into grave lapses that could get them in trouble
with law and penalty?”
I am a Canon Lawyer of the 1917 Code—an oldie by any stan-
dard. The Church was then conceptualized as a perfect society of
law and order; an independent and proud institution where rights
and obligations of each member are meticulously defined and
respected, defended when impugned, vindicated when violated.
Clearly, the aim of the law is to establish and sustain a Church
that is just, a visible society that seriously looks after the harmo-
nious and orderly development of the life both of the ecclesial
society and of the individual members; a society that is proud to
preserve right order.
In sum, it looks into the promotion and protection of the com-
mon good of the Church. For this kind of society to survive it calls
for a legal system that must be objective, that is, the competence
and the exercise of its ecclesiastical power must give due empha-
sis to the external forum. Hence, in the Church a system was
established to delineate the internal and external forum, out of
which the principle like this comes out: “De internis Ecclesia non
judicat.”
For the law to be objective, the rule of law must be observed,
out of which maxims come out like this: “The reason of the law, is
not the law”; or, “dura lex sed lex.” Within the nature of this
concept, the system moves toward the protection, and in any case,
toward the restoration of the social order that may be harmed by
the offense. From this point of view, it can be understood why the
system has to be strict and objective. Also, it can be observed that
the preoccupation of the law and its application by the adminis-
tration was on judging the pastoral activities from the point of
view of right or wrong, validity or invalidity of an act; the offense
and restoration of just order. It is along this concept also that
penal system is required and needed to be instituted. In fact, this is
inherent to any legal system that has for its purpose the proper
protection of a perfect society.
However, this kind of legal system suffers a flaw: it gave em-
phasis on peace and order to the Church, on the rights and obliga-
tion of the constituents, on the defense and vindication of justice,
that it had somehow veered its focus away from the concept of the
Church as communion whose main attention is the salus
animarum, the sanctification of souls, the development of the
members of the Church as a community based on faith, grace,
charisms and charity.
The revision of the Code was inspired by the theology of Vatican
II. Here, the Church is immediately presented as a great Mystery,
a reality that has temporal, measurable qualities, yet transcends
the dimension of the temporal order, straddling that it is on the
temporal and the spiritual. As such it is a Sacrament of unity for
the world, a sign that effects the communion of all men.
In this concept the Church is still a society, an association of
men and women with rights and obligations. But the focus is no
longer on the external discipline that would guide the proper
ordering and the harmonious interplay of individuals or group of
individuals as they exercise their subjective rights, but shifts more
to the internal life of the People of God who are called to holiness
and are living as a community. Of course, Vatican II still talks
about this Church as hierarchical, that is, it is set up as an institu-
tion with a variety of offices which aim at the good of the whole
body. With a sacred power invested on them, the holders of these
offices are dedicated to promote the interest of their brethren, and
with free and well-ordered efforts bringing them to a common
goal which is salvation. They have to look intently into the inter-
nal life of the Church, building up the body of Christ through the
law of love.
No wonder that in the revision of the 1917 Code, there were
quarters, many of them, would like to remove the penal system of
the Code, for it seems to run counter to the image of a spiritual
Church, that is built on the strength of faith and love. Granted the
weaknesses of human nature, they are ready to concede the intro-
duction of a disciplinary system, but one that adheres less to the
rigid concepts of crime and punishment, and more along the lines
of a sanctioning administrative system. They appeal to the spirit
of Vatican Council II that gives emphasis to the concept of com-
munion which seems not to jibe with a penal system that is by
nature coercive, that defines with strict interpretation the alleged
offense vis-à-vis the “allata et probata”, and that inflicts just and
proportionate punishments. Perhaps disciplinary regulation of
some sort with a touch of some undefined sanctions would do.
But, communion is not an ambiguous feeling nor an imprecise
sentiment. Communion is an organic reality that requires juridi-
cal form. The community of free individuals, to exist as a real
communion, is essentially organic and requires a juridical form.
The law does not create a community; the community itself, re-
quiring a juridical form consistent to its nature, enacts the law.
Through the years the Church has shaped a juridical form that
incorporates the penal system for it serves to protect the dignity
of its constituents and defend the dignity of the community and
the subjective rights of each individual member.
The Church as a communion has to be protected. Penal sanc-
tions do that service. With this concept, penal law can be consid-
ered as a necessary instrument in the service of the salus animarum.
Salvation may not be its direct and proper objective, but it offers
a ready environment for it to flourish and take effect.
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Constitu-
tion “Sacrae Disciplinae Leges” underlined the importance of the
Code in the life of the Church as a social and visible unit in these
words: “… It is sufficiently clear that the purpose of the Code is
not in any way to replace faith, grace, charisms and above all
charity in the life of the Church or of Christ’s faithful. On the
contrary, the Code rather looks towards the achievement of order
in the ecclesial society, such that while attributing a primacy to
love, grace and the charisms, it facilitates at the same time orderly
development in the life both of the ecclesial society and of the
individual persons who belong to it.”

A6
Cycling priest to Arroyo:
Redeem yourself
A CATHOLIC priest known for
biking around the country bring-
ing a message of peace asked
President Arroyo to use her re-
maining time in power for re-
demption.
Fr Amado Picardal, CSsR, said
time is not yet over for Arroyo
to do something good for the
country and restore credibility in
her government.
In his two-page letter for Mrs.
Arroyo, which he delivered to
Malacañang last April 27, the
priest urged the President to pro-
mote the culture of life, peace and
good governance.
“Madam President you can use
the remaining years of your
presidency to redeem yourself,”
OFWs in death row alarms bishop
A ROMAN Catholic bishop ex-
pressed alarm over reports that
at least two Overseas Filipino
Workers were sentenced to death
recently.
CBCP Episcopal Commission
on Migrants and Itinerant People
head Bishop Prescioso Cantillas
said the situation is “unfortunate”
for Filipinos languishing in
death rows.
Cantillas blamed poverty in the
country as the main reason for
people to seek overseas employ-
ment just to help their families.
“Syempre alam natin na ang
sitwasyon doon ay hindi
maganda. Minsan dahil sa
kahirapan yung iba hindi na
naliliwanagan ang isip,” (Of
Archbishop Dosado: ‘Rice crisis a political issue’
ARCHBISHOP Jesus Dosado,
CM said the so-called rice cri-
sis diverts the public’s atten-
tion from the real issues involv-
ing corruption.
Interviewed at his residence
prior to a meeting with the
Ozamis clergy last April 29,
Dosado said the high demand
for rice was due to manipula-
tion “to cover up the greater is-
sue of corruption.” The prelate
also said the province of
Misamis Occidental as in other
provinces have no rice short-
age.
“I believe the rice crisis is a
political issue and I don’t want
to give any political comment
because it would be really dan-
gerous for the Filipino to switch
them from the real issue of cor-
KIDNEY / A1
Rosanne Malillin of National
Secretariat for Social Action
(NASSA) were to sit as the
clergy’s representatives to the
Philippine Network for Organ
Donation and Transplantation
(PhilNetDat).
“As of now, we have yet to
receive a formal invitation to
take part as member,” the bishop
said in an interview over Church-
run Radio Veritas last April 30.
Oliveros assured that moral
issues would be considered once
they’re officially in the panel.
“We’ll see to it that this will
be fruitful,” he said.
A day after banning kidney
the priest wrote.
Picardal said Arroyo could still
live up to the promises she made
after she was installed by
“People Power.”
Futile
The “cycling priest” lamented
the alleged rampant corruption
in the government, but stopped
short of calling for President Ar-
royo to resign.
The strongly worded letter was
laden with criticism against Ar-
royo—from the alleged cheating
in the 2004 election to the ZTE
scandal, saying her performance
towards solving corruption had
undercut the public’s trust.
“You have become so unpopu-
course, we know the situation
there is not always alright. Some-
times, they lose their reason be-
cause of difficulties) he said.
Cantillas’ comment was aired
in an interview over Church-run
Radyo Veritas April 24.
“Minsan sila ay nagkakamali
o kaya nagkakasala kaya iyon
talaga ang hirap ng kalagayan ng
mga kababayan nating OFW,”
(Sometimes they commit mis-
takes. That’s how difficult life can
be for our OFWs) he added.
A Filipina OFW in China was
sentenced to death on April 2 for
smuggling heroin into that coun-
try.
The Guangzhou Municipal
People’s Intermediate Court con-
ruption,” the prelate said.
He added “even as the rice
crisis provides some tempo-
rary relief for President Arroyo
transplants for foreign patients,
the Department of Health said
they wanted the Church to part
of the PhilNetDat.
“We have sent our formal in-
vitations to them to be part of
the committee that will help
solve the problem on trans-
plants,” DOH Undersecretary
Alexander Padilla said in a sepa-
rate interview.
PhilNetDat is the implement-
ing arm of the Philippine Board
for Organ Donation and Trans-
plantation (PBODT), which was
created to form policies concern-
ing body part transplants. (With
reports from Roy Lagarde)
Local News
lar, your approval rating is very
low and many are calling for
your resignation. There is anger
and discontent among the
people,” the letter said.
“Even if I wish you would re-
sign I will not ask you to step
down because I know it will be
futile. You intend to hold on to
power and finish your term,” it
added.
‘Shame and disgrace’
But Picardal warned that if Ar-
royo wouldn’t act now, she has
nowhere to go but in a place full
of humiliation.
“The worst thing that can hap-
pen to you is to spend the rest of
your life in shame and disgrace
victed Marissa Collado, a 40-
year-old from Bulacan province.
She was handed a death sentence
that was suspended for two years.
In Kuwait, a Filipina house-
maid is also facing death penalty
after convicting her of stabbing
to death her employer’s 20-year-
old daughter.
Kuwait’s criminal court said
that Jakatia Mandon Pawa stabbed
the victim many times with a
kitchen knife while she was
asleep at dawn on May 14 last
year in the al-Qurain district,
south of Kuwait City.
In Manila, the government said
it is monitoring the case and ap-
pealing the verdict of the two
OFWs. (CBCPNews)
from the scandals, rice traders
may also be hoarding rice, to
sabotage our economy.”
The Archdiocesan Social Ac-
tion Center has began helping
the beleaguered National Food
Authority through the NFA/
church-accredited outlets. The
church-based outlets are open
every Friday to assure the poor-
est of the poor of their rice re-
quirements.
Social Action Center’s Blythe
Urbano said NFA has already
set aside 100 sacks a week for
regular distribution to ten
NFA-Church accredited out-
lets. She said local residents
trust the Social Action Center
and such arrangements would
end speculations and possible
hoarding. (Wendell Talibong)
NASSA / A1
Everybody should realize “that
everything we have is God’s gift
and must be cared for lovingly and
carefully” as everyone should be
encouraged to dispose garbage
properly and use resources spar-
ingly, Mallillin added.
SUPERIOR / A1
It was during Lugo’s ap-
pointment as bishop last March
5, 1994 that he ceased to be part
of the of congregation because
he directly became under the
Holy Father as provided for in
Canon 705 of the Code of
Canon Law.
Pernia further said “as a con-
knowing that you have been
judged by your people as greedy,
corrupt, deceitful, power-hungry
president no better than Marcos
or Estrada,” the letter said.
“Madam President, do not al-
low yourself to be dominated
by the dark side but live in the
light. Picardal is holding his
“Bike for Life and Peace” which
he started mid-March from
Davao City in Mindanao and has
traveled to areas in Luzon.
He seeks to spread his message
for life and peace by traveling
around the country on his bicycle.
His message also includes the
fight against abortion, extraju-
dicial killings and environmen-
tal destruction. (Roy Lagarde)
Church rejects US rice
FOR three years the Catholic
Church has been quietly helping
the government in distributing
rice from the National Food Au-
thority to where it’s most needed.
In the wake of the looming rice
crisis, the government sought the
help of the Church again to let
more parishes, especially in Ma-
nila, help sell NFA rice to poor
families.
The move is part of the
government’s initiative to shun
rice hoarding or to prevent the
NFA rice from being repacked by
some retailers and sold in the mar-
ket as commercial rice.
Caritas Manila coordinator Fr.
Mar Castillo said the Church is
more than willing to help the gov-
ernment in making sure the prob-
lem is addressed the soonest pos-
sible time.
“Our only goal here is to help
the less fortunate people,” he said.
But when asked if they would
still sell NFA rice containing ge-
netically modified organisms
(GMO), the priest made a sudden
turn around.
Castillo said they would stop
the distribution of the govern-
ment-subsidized rice, especially
those imported from the United
States, as it would only imperil the
health of many people.
“If the safety of the rice is not
guaranteed, we are not going to
distribute it,” said Castillo in an
interview over Church-run Radyo
Veritas.
International environment
watchdog Greenpeace urged the
NFA Thursday to halt the distribu-
tion of US rice after a shipment last
February has been found to be
Mallillin said she remains opti-
mistic with the Basic Ecclesial Com-
munities “will heed the call and
respond to the real threats of envi-
ronmental degradation, pollution
and climate change now looming
before us.” (Melo M. Acuña)
sequence of his decision to enter
into politics in Paraguay, his
ministerial faculties as a priest
and as a bishop have been sus-
pended by the Vatican.” He
added that they expect “Vatican
authorities will in due time
clarify his status in the Church.”
(Fr. Joseph Suson, SVD)
Church nixes cash
aid to poor families
TO dole out monetary aid to
poor families in this way is to
administer a narcotic, a subtle
destroyer of the human spirit,
the Roman Catholic Church
warned.
Abra Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian
said the government’s program
that gives a family, living be-
low the poverty line, up to P1,
400 a month are only meager
sums that will ultimately make
people lazy.
He said the Arroyo adminis-
tration must and shall quit the
business of dole out, saying that
it “will only promote depen-
dency on the government.”
“We hope the government
would focus on long-term
plans,” Jaucian said in an inter-
view over the Church-run Radyo
Veritas.
Jaucian said giving poor
people with livelihood pro-
grams for their main source of
income is better than just giv-
ing them mere financial aid.
He said the government must
preserve not only the bodies of
the poor from destitution but
Muslim head says
population control not
a solution to poverty
ULAMA League of the Philip-
pines (ULP) Southern
Mindanao Chair Ustadz
Mahmod Adilao stressed that
population control is never a
solution to the looming prob-
lem of poverty in Mindanao
Instead of pushing for repro-
ductive agenda, Adilao said the
government should focus on
providing the basic and social
services of the people in
Mindanao
The Philippine government
wants to focus its population
control efforts in the Autono-
mous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM), whose
population growth rate of 5.46
percent is way above the na-
tional average of 2.04 percent.
GMO contaminated.
The group believes that the
P25 per kilo US rice being
peddled by the NFA may be
among those affected by the
GMO.
Greenpeace urged the gov-
ernment to impose a mandatory
IN AND OUT / A4
Pope Benedict XVI, when as
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger and
President of the Congregation
of the Doctrine of Faith had said:
“God alone is the Lord of life
from its beginning until its end:
no one can, in any circumstance,
claim for himself the right to
destroy directly an innocent hu-
man being. Human procreation
requires on the part of spouses
responsible collaboration with
the fruitful love of God” His
predecessor, Pope John Paul II
in Evangelium Vitae had con-
demned abortion, euthanasia
and genocide as supreme dis-
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008
also their self-respect, their self-
reliance and courage and deter-
mination.
The bishop added that the gov-
ernment is wrong in thinking that
social programs like “Ahon
Pamilyang Pilipino” poverty re-
duction program is helping. He
said such program would only
breed indolence and contentment
with mediocrity generation after
generation of families.
Caritas Manila executive di-
rector Fr. Anton Pascual echoed
Jaucian’s sentiment, adding
that the program is “anti-poor.”
If that would be the case, he
said, the government do not want
poor people to succeed.
Pascual said the government only
needs the target recipients to stay
poor, and be dependent on them.
“With due respect to the gov-
ernment, I think the idea to give
pure dole-out money will give
the poor no dignity, breed the
culture of dependency and anti-
development to our poor coun-
trymen. Thus, it will not effec-
tively eradicate poverty,” he
said. (CBCPNews)
Health Secretary Francisco Duque
III said the growth in the ARMM
largely contributed to the latest in-
crease in Philippine population.
The ARMM covers provinces
considered the poorest in the
country, according to Duque.
The country’s population
jumped by 15.8 percent to 88.57
million, as of August 2008, and
from 76.50 million in May 2000.
The Muslim leader expressed
apprehension that in line with the
population control program of
the government is also the imple-
mentation of sex education.
“We don’t want that our children
will be taught about sex. It is taboo
in our culture to talk about sex es-
pecially if you address it to the
women,” he said. (Mark S Ventura)
counter-test to US rice imports
over concerns that it could be con-
taminated with genetically modi-
fied materials.
Experts said GMO strain
could pose a threat to public
health and the environment.
(CBCPNews)
honor to the Creator of life.
To conclude: in the present rice
crisis or price crisis of food sup-
ply, we must look at population
not as the root cause of the prob-
lem. The social doctrine of the
Church challenges society and
government to regard population
not as mere consumer but also to
help and facilitate their becom-
ing producers and formal busi-
nessmen. By completely eradicat-
ing corruption and restoring jus-
tice our government can em-
power population to keep the
continuous flow of production
and supply.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008 Features A7

Bishops use YouTube to Diocesan News

New homes for “Reming” victims
LEGAZPI City—At least 31 families here whose homes were de-

promote Internet safety

stroyed by typhoon “Reming” last year received new homes from
the CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) recently
through its Permanent Shelter Assistance Program in coordina-
tion with different local government units of Albay province. (Melo
Acuña)

Church warns vs feeding

CANBERRA, Australia, April 28,
2008—Australian bishops are
educating the faithful about the
possibilities and dangers of the
Internet, and doing so with their
own Internet ventures.
A pastoral letter called
“Internet Safety” marks World
Communications Sunday, cel-
ebrated in Australia this Sunday.
And the letter has a unique ele-
ment a video introduction featur-
ing Bishop Peter Ingham on
YouTube.
Bishop Ingham, the Australian
bishops conference’s delegate for
media issues, said the video is a
way to get the message out.
“That’s where we have to be, if
we’re going to be talking to
people, especially to young people
about navigating the Net safely,”
he said. “If only a few people see
this video message and think over
the points raised, it will be most
worthwhile.”
The letter is directed primarily
to parents, grandparents and
teachers, and includes an initial
explanation of what the Internet
is. The YouTube video talks di-
rectly to young people about
safety on the Net.
The letter warns parents about
the dangers of the internet, in-
cluding “stranger danger,” a term
Socialists want to eliminate God
that refers to the threat of chil-
dren thinking that they are talk-
ing to a friend or peer and giv-
ing personal information to
would-be aggressors.
The letter also mentions the
problems of “cyber-bullying,”
the same sort of problem kids
of all generations have faced,
though now with a virtual,
rather than physical dimen-
sion.
The Australian bishops also
stressed the dangers of Internet
pornography.
“Figures provided by Nielsen/
NetRatings NetView show 2.7
million Australians visited an
‘adult’ Web site in March of
2007—this figure counts repeat
visitors to adult Web sites only
once; 4.3 million visited in the
first quarter of that year,” the let-
ter notes. “More than 35% of all
Internet users in the quarter end-
ing March visited an adult Web
site at least once.”
The danger of pornography af-
fects both youth and adults, the
letter lamented.
“A recent online survey of
teenage girls run by an Austra-
lian teen magazine, found that
seven out of 10 of those surveyed
had accessed pornography sites
by accident and 21% on purpose,”
the bishops reported.
Discernment
Thus, the prelates affirmed, de-
spite the many positive uses of
the Internet, the avalanche of in-
formation means that users must
be discerning.
“Parents, educators, Church
leaders, psychologists and others
are increasingly raising concerns
about the dangers of the Internet,
particularly for young people, but
for older people as well,” the bish-
ops wrote.
“A generational and techno-
logical divide can often mean that
parents feel out of their depth
when trying to monitor their
children’s Internet use,” the let-
ter acknowledged. “This pasto-
ral letter seeks to address these
issues through the context of
faith.
“In identifying some of the
dangers of the Internet, and
bringing some of the wisdom
of our faith tradition to bear
upon them, it is our hope that
we can all be alert to those as-
pects of the Internet which can
be a danger to our safety, to our
human dignity, and to our re-
lationships with each other and
with God.” (Zenit)
hosts to fighting cocks
DARAGA, Albay—For allegedly desecrating consecrated hosts by
feeding these to their prized pets, some cockfighting aficionados
in Albay province in Bicol face the prospect of excommunication,
Our Lady of the Gate parish priest Paulo Barandon warned, adding
that the host is already consecrated. “When the host has already
been consecrated, it commands utmost respect.” (Elmer James
Bandol)
Cebu sends 26 delegates to WYD ‘08
CEBU CITY—The Archdiocese of Cebu will be represented by 26
youth leaders to the World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia on July
15-20, 2008 and will be assisted by Fr. Kit Sestoso of St. Joseph
Parish in Mandaue City and eight other priests who will supervise
the delegates. (Joseph Suson, SVD)
Prelate laments rising rice prices
PALO, Leyte—The soaring prices of rice in Samar and Leyte prov-
inces, two of the country’s rice granaries get too ironic for Palo
Archbishop Jose Palma, saying they are supposed to be abundant
in rice supply, but people are suffering the same problem felt
throughout the country.” It is rather unfortunate that Leyte and
Samar are rice producing provinces but this is happening,” Palma
said. (CBCPNews)
Gospel translation
from Greek to Cebuano underway
CEBU CITY—Under the auspices of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Car-
dinal Vidal, translation of the four Gospels of the New Testament—
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John†from Greek to Cebuano is under-
way. It is expected to be out for circulation by May 2009. (Santosh
Digal)
Oasis of Love founder visits Davao
DAVAO CITY—Oasis of Love Founder and dramatic actor Chris-
topher de Leon visited Davao on April 25-27 for the “Life in the
Spirit Seminar” at the Regional Major Seminary (REMASE) in
Catalunan Grande, this city. In his talk, De Leon invited the par-
ticipants to a meaningful discernment on the impact of the Holy

from hospitals, says Spanish bishop Spirit in their lives. (Mark Ventura)

Seminar vs. human trafficking

MADRID, Spain, April 29,
2008—Bishop Demetrio
Fernandez of Tarazona in Spain
has defended the right of
Catholic chaplains to work in
hospitals, saying that spiritual
care is a right of the infirm and
not a privilege of the Church,
as the Socialist Party has sought
to portray it.
In a message, Bishop
Fernandez said the attempt to
expel chaplains from local
hospitals was due to a desire
to “eliminate God from pub-
lic life,” as the presence of
priests “is the living presence
of God in the world of health
care, in order to respond to a
right and need of the infirm.
Suppress chaplains and we
will have expelled God from
hospitals.”
Such a move would also take
important ethical guidance away
from patients and family mem-
bers, he said. “The sick and their
families go to him (the chaplain)
during the long hours of illness
and find in him consolation and
many times guidance in how to
act.”
“Chaplains are a hindrance to
the plans against life that are
being and will be imple-
mented,” the bishop continued.
“Respect for life from concep-
tion to natural death is a matter
of common sense, which chap-
lains continually reiterate.”
Likewise, he said, the work of
chaplains is not to proselytize,
as “they do not minister to those
who are of other religions.” “If
the sick person is Jewish or
Muslim, they have the right to
be visited and cared for by a
minister of their own faith,” he
said.
For this reason, Bishop
Fernandez concluded, the cam-
paign against chaplains has been
“intentionally unleashed,” and
therefore intervention by the jus-
tice department has been re-
quested.
Bishop Fernandez thanked
chaplains for their pastoral work
and said he hoped that “on my
own death bed I will have at my
side a Catholic priest who will
help me pass from this world to
the next in the peace of God.”
(CNA)
held for OFWs
ZAMBOANGA CITY—Saying that prevention is the first line of
defense, Church-based Silsilah Dialogue Movement held a semi-
nar about human trafficking to assist OFWs, especially women
last April 8-9 in partnership with the Coalition Against the Traf-
ficking in Women- Asia Pacific. (CBCPNews)
Parish marks Earth Day,
kicks off annual fiesta
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay—The parish of St. Joseph the Worker
Parish here took a new turn as it begins a weeklong celebration of
its fiesta by planting trees to mark Earth Day on April 23 wherein
20 parish council members took part in planting some 1, 000 seed-
lings along the national highway leading to the town proper. (An-
tonio Manaytay)

British Catholic schools on guard Papal intention focuses on values-based culture

against opportunistic baptisms
LONDON, April 30, 2008—
Catholic schools in Britain are
now rebuffing parents who, des-
perate to enroll their children in
high-quality Catholic schools,
baptize their children for prag-
matic reasons, according to the
Telegraph.
Parents are said to go through
a “five-year epiphany,” baptiz-
ing their children when they
reach school age.
Many schools are refusing to
consider children who have had
late baptisms. Some have set the
upper limit at 12 months, while
others consider only those who
have been baptized within a few
weeks of birth.
Peter Stanford, a governor at
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic pri-
mary school in London, said, “if
you have had your child bap-
tized at two or three or four they
won’t get in.”
At London Oratory, a school
where former Prime Minister
Tony Blair sent his two eldest chil-
dren, only children baptized no
later than four months after birth
will be admitted.
Staff said the policy helped de-
ter parents who baptized their
children only to gain admission.
Last year, the school had 700 ap-
plicants for 160 places.
David McFadden, head teacher
at London Oratory, said the cri-
teria for admission are based on
canon law.
“The first criterion is based on
Mass attendance. The next is to
what extent the Catholic parents
have met their obligations re-
garding the Church’s sacramen-
tal practice, including baptism,”
McFadden said, according to the
Telegraph.
One 37-year-old hairdresser
from Essex told the Telegraph she
and her husband had converted
to Catholicism two years ago to
secure their daughter’s admission
to the local Catholic school.
“I did this purely for my chil-
dren,” said the woman, a mother
of three who spoke under condi-
tion of anonymity. “I wasn’t reli-
gious beforehand and I wasn’t
brought up in a religious family.
I could count on one hand the
number of times we’d been to
church. But I felt very strongly
that I wanted to give my children
the best chance. That was my
main priority.” (CNA)
VATICAN CITY, April 29,
2008—Benedict XVI’s general
prayer intention for May is for
a culture that defends and pro-
motes the values of the human
person.
The Apostleship of Prayer
announced the general inten-
tion chosen by the Pope, “That
Christians may use literature,
art and the mass media to
greater advantage in order to
favor a culture which defends
and promotes the values of
EARTH DAY / A1
In the same statement, he said
that being stewards of the earth
it is everyone’s responsibility to
support the farmers who have
been producing the staple food
that sustains every Filipino.
“Stewardship of the earth
would mean for us Filipinos ac-
cepting our responsibility to en-
courage, support and develop the
“primary sector” who sustain us
the human person.”
The Holy Father also
chooses a missionary inten-
tion for each month. In May he
will pray, “That the Virgin
Mary, star of evangelization
and queen of the apostles,
may still guide today with ma-
ternal affection the missionar-
ies, both men and women,
throughout the world, just as
she accompanied the apostles
in the early stages of the
Church.” (Zenit)
with our “daily bread,” the farm- another and partners of God in
ers who cultivate the fruitfulness caring for the earth. Communal
of our earth,” Lagdameo said. action must be promoted to ad-
Saying that Earth Day is every- dress the problem of global
day, Lagdameo stressed that cel- warming, climate change,
ebrating it is an opportunity “to wastefulness and destruction of
express our appreciation, grati- natural resources. We are to-
tude and protection for our earth gether in this earth for better or
which has been assigned to us by worse. Let it be for the better,”
the Creator of the universe.” the statement concluded.
“We are co-partners with one (CBCPNews)

SPEAKING / A4
ported rice crisis is now being at-
tributed as a fault of the Church
teaching. I cannot but help recall
how the Roman Emperor Nero
had Rome burned and put the
blame on Christians and became
his pretext for the systematic per-
secution of the Church.
Let us, then, imitate John Paul
II and call on Our Lady, Regina
Familiae, for the protection of
Family and Life. This coming
month of May, let us offer not
just flowers but spiritual offer-
ings to Our Lady as well begging
her for the safeguard of our fami-
lies.
Prayer, let us not forget,
should be the very source of our
strength in the advocacy in the
defense of the Family and Life.
Prayer and work. We pray and
we work for the defense of the
Family and Life.
And no matter how bleak the
situation may be, let us never lose
our peace and joy, our gaudium
cum pace, because we know in the
end God is victorious.
We turn to Our Lady that this
definitive triumph be hastened
just as she did hasten the very first
miracle performed by Christ at
Cana. And it is in fact a great con-
solation that this first miracle
occurred during a wedding feast
when the couple found them-
selves in difficulty. Our Lady
noticed their predicament before
they themselves even noticed it,
and she gladly took the initiative
to intercede to her Son on their
behalf. That is Our Lady as
Mediatrix of All-Grace, she who
acts as intermediary to Christ
who is the source of all graces.
Ave Maria! Ad Jesum per
Mariam.
LOVE LIFE / A4
our Lord in heaven. They sang a
couple of lullaby songs that they
had composed, and all of these
poems and songs were written
in an album that was perma-
nently placed in their adoration
chapel. There were a lot of tears
and holy silence as Bishop Soc
went from one marker to another
to bless them—44 markers in all.
Then it was the turn of the men
to express their participation in
the abortions of the women they
got pregnant. One by one they
said, “I dedicate this song to my
child Angelo or Michael or
Therese …” One of them men-
tioned four names.
A program of lively singing
followed the sumptuous meal,
most of the dishes were brought
by the parents of the residents but
some were prepared by the resi-
dents themselves. All of them
take turns in the kitchen, in the
garden, in cleaning the toilets,
rooms and the animals in the
farm.
Then they asked me to speak
on post-abortion trauma and
healing. Hearing the girls loudly
sobbing as they watched the film
on abortion was most upsetting
but I assured the parents that it
was good for them to cry and
grieve. This is part of the healing
process, a stage that the post-
aborted had to go through after
they have surmounted the first
stages of denial, anger, bargain-
ing and forgiving.
After my talk, a 20-year old
young woman approached me
and revealed how the abortion-
ist would demand sex in ex-
change for the free procedure.
And this is done immediately af-
ter the D and C. His son would
then take his turn in sexually us-
ing her before she was allowed
to go home. She has had five
abortions. Her first sexual abuse
was when she was 12 years old
and first abortion when she was
15. She got into drugs to deaden
the nightmares, and later into
prostitution.
A 19-year old claimed she was
sexually abused by her own fa-
ther, an actor by profession. He
started abusing her when she was
9 years old. Her mother had her
confined because of anorexia
nervosa, addicted to diet pills.
Little did she know that her
daughter was into so many other
addictions by then.
The session was just the first of
many more that they have to un-
dergo in order to be able to move
on and “graduate” from the re-
habilitation center. Hopefully,
healing the abortion trauma will
hasten their recovery from their
addictions and other trauma from
child abuse.
Those interested in getting in-
volved in post-abortion healing,
a training on group therapy us-
ing the Hope Alive will be held
on November 9 to 15 in Tagaytay.
Contact the Pro-life Center for
details – 911-2911 or Sr. Pilar at
0920-945-5494.

A8 People, Facts & Places
Catholic media practitioners to
celebrate World Communications Day
CATHOLIC media practitio-
ners are set to mark the obser-
vance of 42nd World Commu-
nications Day on May 4, As-
cension Sunday with various
activities aimed at highlighting
the theme for this year’s cel-
ebration.
In a statement, Manila’s
Archdiocesan Office of Com-
munications said it will ob-
serve the day on May 9 with a
half-day conference at Villa
San Miguel starting at 9:30 am.
A speaker will discuss the
theme while a group of panel-
ists representing various media
entities will serve as reactors.
A short presentation on the
Catholic Mass Media Awards
will be shown during the con-
ference.
His Eminence, Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales will deliver
the welcome address, while
Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino
Cortez, Chair of CBCP Com-
mission on Social Communica-
tions will say the closing re-
Ipil holds
annual youth
festival
RETURNNG from a four-day
youth festival, Diocesan priest
Laure Helar was tired but ap-
parently in high mood.
“It was a success,” he in-
toned, referring to the 24th
Baliakag Youth Festival held
April 21-24 in Bayog town of
Zamboanga del Sur, some 80
kilometers northwest from
here.
Baliakag stands for Batan-on
Lihuk Alang sa Kaangayan ug
Hustisya (Youth Action for
Equality and Justice), which is
a parish-based youth move-
ment founded by Helar in 1984.
The first Baliakag Youth Festi-
val was held in 1985.
There were 912 registered
youth participants coming
from the 19 parishes under the
Prelature of Ipil, according to
Helar, who is the parish priest
of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
in Kabasalan town.
“But there were unregistered
youths who were at the festival,”
he added.
An array of activities like
sportsfest, Bible quiz, paintings
and poster making contests,
dance sport competitions, and
talks filled the four-day festi-
val.
“The festival is designed to
suit the interest of our young
people as we draw them near
to Jesus,” Helar explained.
Bishop Julius Tonel of Ipil
prelature was one of the speak-
ers. He talked about “Youth
and Spirituality” where he en-
couraged the youth-partici-
pants to walk closely with
Jesus Christ as they grow and
reminded them of their
“power to do something good
for the society” as agents of
change.
Other speakers were Daniel
Castillo of the Social Action
Ministry (SAM) who talked
on “Climate Change”, and
Zamboanga Sibugay Board
Member Jonathan Yambao
who talked on “Rights and
Privileges of the Youth”.
Towards the end of the festi-
val, the 7-foot Baliakag Jubilee
Cross was launched as a signal
of the start of the year-long silver
anniversary celebrations which
will culminate in next year’s fes-
tival to be held in Kabasalan par-
ish, some 20 kilometers north
from here.
“The Jubilee Cross will be
moved from one parish to an-
other to end up at the
Kabasalan parish as the host
of next year’s celebrations,”
Helar said.
The Jubilee Cross, according
to him, will serve as a call to
the youth to connect always to
Jesus and to “answer to the
challenge of the Gospel to con-
tinue to care and serve for oth-
ers.”
“Everyone is challenged to
continue to love and care for
other people,” Helar ended.
(Antonio M. Manaytay)
marks.
Paulines WCD celebration
Meanwhile, the Daughters of
St. Paul is celebrating the event
with a forum on May 3, start-
ing from 1 pm, to be capped
with a mass for World Commu-
nications Day at 5 pm.
A panel of speakers who are
experts in various fields of me-
Lingayen youth movement to hold summer camp
AIMING to deepen their social
and spiritual lives through
prayer, fellowship and service, 45
teen-agers from The Youth For
Christ-Lingayen Chapter will
gather for a summer camp at
Malatava Chapel from May 3 to
May 4.
Ray F. Sison, Lingayen YFC
team leader, said the summer
camp will provide the participants
the chance to develop their social
skills and deepen their spiritual
Seminar-workshop on news writing held in Cagayan de Oro
Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ with resource speakers and participants to the news writing seminar
held at SEARSOLIN, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City last April 26-27.
THE Archdiocesan Social Com-
munications Ministry of
Cagayan de Oro held a two-day
seminar workshop on news writ-
ing at the South East Asia Social
Leadership Institute
(SEARSOLIN), Xavier University,
Cagayan de Oro City last April
26-27.
Participants included 13 del-
egates representing some par-
ishes in Cagayan de Oro, lay or-
ganizations, women religious
and neighboring dioceses of
Iligan, Butuan and Malaybalay,
and eight staff of the
archdiocesan social communica-
tions apostolate.
In his welcome address, Arch-
bishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ said
journalism today poses a chal-
lenge because there is the ten-
dency among people to want just
mere entertainment than to seek
the truth.
“Oftentimes, what is truthful or
ordinary does not get carried into
at 2650 F.B. Harrison is free,
and open to anyone interested
to attend. Among the speakers
are Msgr. Pedro Quitorio,
CBCP Media Director and
CBCPWorld vice-president;
PDI journalist Beverly
Natividad, and actors Edu
Manzano and Matteo
Guidicelli.
This year’s WCD message
has the theme “The Media: At
the Crossroads between Self-
Promotion and Service. Search-
ing for the Truth in order to
Share it with Others.” It high-
lights the vital role of media in
the life of people and develop-
dia, Internet, Broadcast and ment of society.
print will give a talk-reflection “Truly, there is no area of hu-
on the message of the Holy Fa- man experience, especially
ther. Feedbacks on the speak- given the vast phenomenon of
ers’ reflection will be given by globalization, in which the me-
a group of reactors coming from dia have not become an integral
the academe, religious and la- part of interpersonal relations
ity. and of social, economic, politi-
The forum to be held at the cal and religious development,”
said the Holy Father in his mes-
Pauline Communications Cen-
ter of the Daughters of St. Paul sage. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
lives. He added the fellowship expected to actively partici-
will include games and the tradi- pate in the summer camp, a
tional bonfire while talks on spiri-
prerogative for full-time
tuality and prayer will form part
Youth For Christ (YFC) mem-
of the prayer module.
bership.
“Service allows you to look on
Parents have been invited to
others rather than concentrate on
attend the first-day orientation
one’ s self for as you help people
by the YFC facilitators and are
who are ‘broken’ you are also
likewise encouraged to listen
slowly healed from your broken- to a series of talks on God’s
ness,” Sison said. plan, repentance, faith, healing
The participants whose age and forgiveness. (Lucille B.
ranges from 13-17 years old are Beumer)
the news, and that is I think, [a] “Where are we, the Church in
challenge for all of us; how to all this?” she asked. “Do we al-
bring about and communicate the low ourselves to be in step with
truth but also to make it some- all these developments and in-
thing that is newsworthy,” he novations, or do we let ourselves
said. become overwhelmed and con-
Speakers were Sr. Pinky sequently overtaken?”
Barrientos, FSP, assistant direc- Bayos, meanwhile, discussed the
tor of CBCP Media Office and Kris essentials of news writing giving
Bayos, CBCPNews staff writer. participants useful tips on how to
Barrientos laid the foundation make their stories work. She also
of the two-day seminar by pro- facilitated the writing workshop
viding an overview of the which gave the participants the
Church teachings on Social Com- chance to apply the guidelines they
munication stressing the impor- heard during the talks.
tance of the modern media in Organized in tandem with the
evangelization. CBCP media office the seminar
She likewise emphasized that aimed to train novice writers in
“both clergy and the laity who news gathering and news writ-
work in the church have equal ing; to establish and strengthen
duty to make use of media for networking within the Church
catechesis and evangelization.” both at the local and national lev-
Reflecting on the rapid devel- els; and to bring local issues and
opments of media technology, events to the knowledge of
Barrientos said everyone is called greater Church community
to make a difference in a rapidly through news reporting.
evolving world of media. (CBCPNews)
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CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008
Markings
LAUNCHED. Opening of the
Centennial Celebration of
Calbayog as a Diocese at Sts.
Peter and Paul Cathedral, by
Most Rev. Isabelo C.
Abarquez, DD, April 2, 2008.
Calbayog will celebrate its
100th year of foundation as a
diocese on April 10, 2010.
During the proclamation
Bishop Abarquez declared
the Cathedral of Sts. Peter
and Paul, Calbayog City,
Churches of St.
Bartholomew, Catbalogan
City, Our Lady of the Annun-
ciation, Calbiga, Samar, St.
Michael the Archangel,
Basey, Samar and St. An-
thony of Padua, Zumarraga, Samar, as Pilgrimage Churches
from April 10, 2008 to April 15, 2010. Bishop Abarquez granted
plenary indulgence to all pilgrims who visit the said churches
under the usual conditions, that they go to confession, receive
Holy Communion, make a firm amendment in life, persevere
in work of mercy and charity, take part in the liturgical celebra-
tion in the designated Church or at least pray for the intentions
of the Holy Father, one Credo, one Our Father, one Hail Mary,
one Glory Be. The diocese is currently working for the realiza-
tion of two important projects in time for the centennial cel-
ebration: the completion of Centennial Pastoral Center and the
continuation of the Second Diocesan Synod for the renewal of
the local Church of Calbayog.
CELEBRATED. Fr. Renato Cuadras, Archdiocese of Jaro, 25th
anniversary of sacerdotal ordination, April 22, 2008. A graduate
of University of Sto. Tomas Central Seminary, Fr. Cuadras, was
ordained priest at Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo
City on April 22, 1983. Among his pastoral assignments include
being director of St. Catherine Parochial School, June 1984-1985;
assistant parish priest of Leon, Iloilo, 1984; assistant parish priest
at Jaro Cathedral, Vice-Chancellor and Secretary to the bishop,
1985; Parochial Administrator, San Miguel, Iloilo, 1997 and its
parish priest from 2000-2002. He was Vicar Forane of St. Titus
and Timoth, 2001; and parish priest of Batad, Iloilo, 2002. He is
currently the Parochial Vicar of the Espousal of Our Lady Par-
ish, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, at the same time the Head Archi-
vist of the Archdiocese.
AWARDED. Most Rev. Jose Manguiran, Bishop of Dipolog;
for being a true “earthsaver and a farmer,” advocating respon-
sible mining; Bishop Ramon Villena of Nueva Vizcaya for ad-
vancing the rights of indigenous peoples; Fr. John Couvreur,
CICM, Parish of St. John Evangelist in Quirino, Isabela, for run-
ning after illegal loggers and timber poachers in Quirino, Isabela;
with Fr. Neri Satur Award. The citations were given at a mass
celebrated April 22 in observance of Earth Day. Earth Day is a
week-long celebration that is observed world wide to bring to
people’s attention the degradation of the environment.
CELEBRATED. S. Ma. Yakoba Ledu Ona,
S. Ma. Catherin A. Legion, S. Ma. Riza G.
Lorion, S. Ma. Petronela Mone, S. Ma.
Ermilinda Owa, S. Ma. Elsa N. Rioveros,
S. Ma. Merlita B. Sabate, S. Ma. Lidwina
Satban, S. Mary Grace B. Sebigan, S. Ma.
Hermina Weling, S. Ma. Tessamy B.
Quisquerin, perpetual profession of vows
among the Religious of the Virgin Mary,
March 31, 2008 during the thanksgiving
mass celebrated at Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel, RVM
compound, N. Domingo St., Quezon City.
DIED. S. Ma. Florencia F. Toling, RVM, March 17, 2008.
Seminar on Masses for
children to be held in May
THE Ministry for Liturgical Af- try for Liturgical Affairs has ob-
fairs of the Manila Archdiocese served the growing number of
plans to hold a seminar on the parishes, and even schools, who
directory for Masses with chil- celebrate the “Children’s Mass.”
dren in May. In order to have a unified un-
Fr. Reginald R. Malicdem, di- derstanding of the liturgical prin-
rector of the Commission on Chil- ciples and norms and the proper
dren and Youth Liturgy said the celebration of the Mass with Chil-
Constitution on the Sacred Lit- dren, the said seminar will be
urgy of the Second Vatican Coun- held on May 3 from 8 am to 12
cil had spoken of the need of li- noon, at the Arzobispado Chapel,
turgical adaptation for various Intramuros, Manila.
groups celebrating the liturgy. “We request that a recommenda-
One such group that needs spe- tion letter from the Parish Priest/
cial attention is the children. Both Chaplain/campus Minister/Spiri-
the Synod of Bishops in 1967 and tual Director be sent to the
Concilium for the Implementa- Archdiocesan Liturgical Commis-
tion of the Constitution on the sion Office before the seminar,”
Liturgy considered how the par- Malicdem said referring to an im-
ticipation of children in the lit- portant requirement per participant.
urgy, especially in the celebration For more information, please
of the Eucharist, could be made contact the Archdiocesan Liturgi-
easier. This is the rationale why a cal Commission Office at tele-
special Directory for Masses with phone number 527-7631 local 214
Children was prepared in 1973. and telefax 404-3891.
Malicdem said that the Minis- (CBCPNews)
—— Order Form —— Order Form —— Order Form ——
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 Pastoral Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008
‘The human person is the
high-point of God’s
creative design for the
world and for history’
Excerpts of the Holy Father’s Address to the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization, New York, April 18, 2008
MR. PRESIDENT, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Through the United Nations, States have
established universal objectives which, even
if they do not coincide with the total com-
mon good of the human family, undoubt-
edly represent a fundamental part of that
good. The founding principles of the Organi-
zation—the desire for peace, the quest for
justice, respect for the dignity of the person,
humanitarian cooperation and assistance—
express the just aspirations of the human
spirit, and constitute the ideals which should
underpin international relations. As my pre-
decessors Paul VI and John Paul II have ob-
served from this very podium, all this is
something that the Catholic Church and the
Holy See follow attentively and with inter-
est, seeing in your activity an example of how
issues and conflicts concerning the world
community can be subject to common regu-
lation.
Indeed, questions of security, development
goals, reduction of local and global inequali-
© Stefan Zaklin/epa/Corbis
ties, protection of the environment, of re-
sources and of the climate, require all inter-
national leaders to act jointly and to show a
readiness to work in good faith, respecting
the law, and promoting solidarity with the
weakest regions of the planet. I am thinking
especially of those countries in Africa and
other parts of the world which remain on the
margins of authentic integral development,
and are therefore at risk of experiencing only
the negative effects of globalization. In the
context of international relations, it is neces-
sary to recognize the higher role played by
rules and structures that are intrinsically or-
dered to promote the common good, and
therefore to safeguard human freedom. These
regulations do not limit freedom. On the con-
trary, they promote it when they prohibit
behavior and actions which work against the
common good, curb its effective exercise and
hence compromise the dignity of every hu-
man person. In the name of freedom, there
has to be a correlation between rights and
duties, by which every person is called to
assume responsibility for his or her choices,
made as a consequence of entering into rela-
tions with others.
Recognition of the unity of the human fam-
ily, and attention to the innate dignity of ev-
ery man and woman, today find renewed
emphasis in the principle of the responsibil-
ity to protect. This has only recently been
defined, but it was already present implic-
itly at the origins of the United Nations, and
is now increasingly characteristic of its activ-
ity. Every State has the primary duty to pro-
tect its own population from grave and sus-
tained violations of human rights, as well as
from the consequences of humanitarian cri-
ses, whether natural or man-made. If States
are unable to guarantee such protection, the
international community must intervene
with the juridical means provided in the
United Nations Charter and in other interna-
tional instruments.
The principle of “responsibility to protect”
was considered by the ancient ius gentium as
the foundation of every action taken by those
in government with regard to the governed:
at the time when the concept of national sov-
ereign States was first developing, the Do-
minican Friar Francisco de Vitoria, rightly
considered as a precursor of the idea of the
United Nations, described this responsibil-
ity as an aspect of natural reason shared by
all nations, and the result of an international
order whose task it was to regulate relations
between peoples. Now, as then, this principle
has to invoke the idea of the person as image
of the Creator, the desire for the absolute and
the essence of freedom. The founding of the
United Nations, as we know, coincided with
the profound upheavals that humanity expe-
rienced when reference to the meaning of
transcendence and natural reason was aban-
doned, and in consequence, freedom and hu-
man dignity were grossly violated. When this
happens, it threatens the objective founda-
tions of the values inspiring and governing
the international order and it undermines the
cogent and inviolable principles formulated
and consolidated by the United Nations.
When faced with new and insistent chal-
lenges, it is a mistake to fall back on a prag-
matic approach, limited to determining
“common ground”, minimal in content and
weak in its effect.
This reference to human dignity, which is
the foundation and goal of the responsibility
to protect, leads us to the theme we are spe-
cifically focusing upon this year, which
marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Uni-
versal Declaration of Human Rights. This
document was the outcome of a convergence
of different religious and cultural traditions,
all of them motivated by the common desire
to place the human person at the heart of in-
stitutions, laws and the workings of society,
and to consider the human person essential
for the world of culture, religion and science.
Human rights are increasingly being pre-
sented as the common language and the ethi-
cal substratum of international relations. At
the same time, the universality, indivisibil-
ity and interdependence of human rights all
serve as guarantees safeguarding human dig-
nity. It is evident, though, that the rights rec-
ognized and expounded in the Declaration
apply to everyone by virtue of the common
origin of the person, who remains the high-
point of God’s creative design for the world
and for history. They are based on the natu-
ral law inscribed on human
hearts and present in different
cultures and civilizations. Re-
moving human rights from this
context would mean restricting
their range and yielding to a rela-
tivistic conception, according to
which the meaning and interpre-
tation of rights could vary and
their universality would be de-
nied in the name of different cul-
tural, political, social and even
religious outlooks. This great
variety of viewpoints must not
be allowed to obscure the fact that
not only rights are universal, but
so too is the human person, the
subject of those rights.
Experience shows that legal-
ity often prevails over justice
when the insistence upon rights
makes them appear as the exclu-
sive result of legislative enact-
ments or normative decisions
taken by the various agencies of
those in power. When presented
purely in terms of legality, rights
risk becoming weak propositions
divorced from the ethical and ra-
tional dimension which is their
foundation and their goal. The Universal Dec-
laration, rather, has reinforced the conviction
that respect for human rights is principally
rooted in unchanging justice, on which the
binding force of international proclamations
is also based. This intuition was expressed
as early as the fifth century by Augustine of
Hippo, one of the masters of our intellectual
heritage. He taught that “the saying ‘Do not
do to others what you would not want done
to you’ cannot in any way vary according to
the different understandings that have arisen
in the world” (De Doctrina Christiana, III,
14). Human rights, then, must be respected
as an expression of justice, and not merely
because they are enforceable through the will
of the legislators.
As history proceeds, new situations arise,
and the attempt is made to link them to new
rights. Discernment, that is, the capacity to
distinguish good from evil, becomes even
more essential in the context of demands that
concern the very lives and conduct of per-
sons, communities and peoples. In tackling
the theme of rights, since important situa-
tions and profound realities are involved,
discernment is both an indispensable and a
Pope / B2
B1
© Chang Lee/Corbis
The bishops ask, the
pope responds
(The following is a transcript of the answers of the Holy Father to the
questions by the US bishops after his address to more than 400 cardi-
nals and bishops from 194 US dioceses gathered at the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception, during the second day of his US visit)
Q: Holy Father, how do you assess the challenge of increasing
secularism in public life and relativism in intellectual life?
How do you suggest confronting these challenges, for a more
effective evangelization?
A: I touched upon this theme briefly in my address. It strikes
me as significant that here in America, unlike many places in
Europe, the secular mentality has not been intrinsically op-
posed to religion. Within the context of the separation of Church
and State, American society has always been marked by a fun-
damental respect for religion and its public role, and, if polls
are to be believed, the American people are deeply religious.
But it is not enough to count on this traditional religiosity and
go about business as usual, even as its foundations are being
slowly undermined. A serious commitment to evangelization
cannot prescind from a profound diagnosis of the real chal-
lenges the Gospel encounters in contemporary American cul-
ture.
Of course, what is essential is a correct understanding of the
just autonomy of the secular order, an autonomy which can-
not be divorced from God the Creator and his saving plan (cf.
Gaudium et Spes, 36). Perhaps America’s brand of secularism
poses a particular problem: it allows for professing belief in
God, and respects the public role of religion and the Churches,
but at the same time it can subtly reduce religious belief to a
lowest common denominator. Faith becomes a passive accep-
tance that certain things “out there” are true, but without prac-
tical relevance for everyday life. The result is a growing sepa-
ration of faith from life: living “as if God did not exist”. This is
aggravated by an individualistic and eclectic approach to faith
and religion: far from a Catholic approach to “thinking with
the Church”, each person believes he or she has a right to pick
and choose, maintaining external social bonds but without an
integral, interior conversion to the law of Christ. Conse-
quently, rather than being transformed and renewed in mind,
Christians are easily tempted to conform themselves to the
spirit of this age (cf. Rom 12:3). We have seen this emerge in an
acute way in the scandal given by Catholics who promote an
alleged right to abortion.
On a deeper level, secularism challenges the Church to reaf-
firm and to pursue more actively her mission in and to the
world. As the Council made clear, the lay faithful have a par-
ticular responsibility in this regard. What is needed, I am con-
vinced, is a greater sense of the intrinsic relationship between
the Gospel and the natural law on the one hand, and, on the
other, the pursuit of authentic human good, as embodied in
civil law and in personal moral decisions. In a society that
rightly values personal liberty, the Church needs to promote
at every level of her teaching—in catechesis, preaching, semi-
nary and university instruction—an apologetics aimed at af-
firming the truth of Christian revelation, the harmony of faith
and reason, and a sound understanding of freedom, seen in
positive terms as a liberation both from the limitations of sin
and for an authentic and fulfilling life. In a word, the Gospel
has to be preached and taught as an integral way of life, offer-
ing an attractive and true answer, intellectually and practi-
cally, to real human problems. The “dictatorship of relativ-
ism”, in the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine hu-
man freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity
to the truth.
Much more, of course, could be said on this subject: let me
conclude, though, by saying that I believe that the Church in
Bishops / B4
 CBCP Monitor
B2 Updates Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008

Saints’
prayers for
souls in
purgatory
FATHER Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina
Apostolorum University, answers the following queries:

Q: The Church is often called the communion of saints, the

militant Church, the purgative Church and the Church trium-
phant. We living here on earth are urged to pray for the souls
in purgatory to help them purify themselves from their sins
in order to enjoy the beatific vision. My question is: Do also
the saints in heaven pray for the souls in purgatory as we
ourselves do?—S.B., San Gwann, Malta

Pre-nuptial agreements
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
A: The question is more theological than liturgical and very
speculative theology at that, but is also very intriguing. The crux
of the question revolves around the way that the saints in heaven
can know the realities that occur on earth and in purgatory.
In general most theologians hold that once a person enters
into the realm of the beatific vision, they do not have univer-
sal access to our thoughts or to earthly reality.
Any knowledge they gain is received directly from God,
and God most certainly makes them aware of requests for
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D. their intercession in a way that we can only imagine but never
fully grasp while remaining here below.
Therefore I believe we can confidently affirm that the saints
I AM a Catholic priest. In a recent sphere—then there was abso- the actual moment of the celebra- death of one of the spouses, or intercede for the souls in purgatory in those cases when someone
marriage that I solemnized outside lutely no problem as far as the tion of marriage. the separation of the spouses, or on earth requests that saint’s intercession for a particular soul.
Manila, the bride’s father demanded canonical marriage was con- As far as conditions concern- the declaration of nullity of the
that the Marriage Contract contain cerned. ing the past is concerned, the va- marriage—and is an issue exclu-
an annotation that a Pre-Nuptial Nevertheless, it would be good lidity of the marriage contracted sively in the sphere of civil law.
to comment on the incidence of would of course depend on However, care should be taken If we were sure that the saints of heaven
Agreement had been made (regard-
ing real estate properties that the such pre-nuptial agreements on whether or not the condition is by the parish priest (or the sol- were independently praying for the souls in
bride was inheriting from her par- the validity and/or licitude of the met or not—something which emnizing priest) that such a pre- purgatory, perhaps many would defer the act
ents), and that such annotation be canonical marriage, if such agree- can be verified at the moment of nuptial agreement does not in of spiritual charity of praying for the deceased
ment were really taken formally marriage since the condition is fact formally enter in the forma-
made prior to the filing of such Mar-
by the spouses as part of their of the past; nevertheless, the Law tion of the consent given in the
to the saint’s powerful intercession.
riage Contract in the City Hall.
Though taken aback, since it was the marital consent. prohibits (under pain of celebration of a canonical mar-
first time I encountered such a re- illicitness but not of invalidity) riage:
quest, I agreed, since it was too late Conditioned Matrimonial Con- the placing of such conditions 1st: because if such a condition The Church itself invokes the saints in this way, albeit in a
to do anything else. Did I do right? sent in Canon Law without the written permission involves property settlements in universal manner, during the rite of final commendation at
Can. 1102—§1. Marriage based of the Local Ordinary. the future, such a condition in- the graveside at the prayer of the faithful:
WHAT saved the day, as far as on a condition concerning the On the other hand, a condition validates the consent (and the “V. Saints of God come to his/her aid! Come to meet him/
the canonical marriage was con- future cannot be contracted val- concerning the future invalidates marriage), since it involves a con- her angels of the Lord!”
cerned, is the fact that there are idly. the marriage, since the condi- dition that does not yet exist “R. Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the
normally two marriages being §2. Marriage based on a condi- tion—on which the consent de- (c.1102, §1). Most High.”
contracted when a so-called tion concerning the past or the pends—still does not exist at the 2nd: because even if such a con- If the Church proposes a prayer to implore that the saints
Church wedding takes place: first present is valid or invalid, inso- moment of celebrating the mar- dition involves something of the come to the aid of the dead, then it clearly believes this aid is
and foremost, the canonical mar- far as the subject matter of the riage. past, it should not be allowed possible.
riage (which is what we can com- condition exists or not. without written permission of From a theological standpoint it is very difficult to be able
ment about) and the civil mar- §3. The condition mentioned in Pre-Nuptial Agreements and the Local Ordinary (c.1102, §3), to affirm that saints intercede, on their own initiative, so to
riage (which is what the Marriage §2 cannot be placed licitly with- Canon Law under pain of illicitness. speak, for the souls in purgatory without some form of earthly
Contract from City Hall attests out the written permission of the The so-called pre-nuptial intercession.
to, and about which we shall not Local Ordinary. agreement, which of late is be- Conclusion It does not mean it does not happen; it is just that we have
comment about for lack of com- As we had explained in the coming popular in some West- From the tenor of the consul- no way of knowing.
petence). Since the annotation past, the matrimonial consent ern countries, is still relatively tation, it can safely be stated that It is also possible that in a general way the saint’s participa-
was made in the Marriage Con- should in principle not be sub- uncommon in the Philippines. the canonical marriage was con- tion in the heavenly liturgy continually glorifying God is
tract for the civil marriage—as- jected to any condition, since by When it occurs—as in the present tracted validly by the spouses, also of benefit to the souls in purgatory, but once more we are
suming that such pre-nuptial its very nature, marriage implies case—it normally involves prop- since the pre-nuptial agreement ignorant of the precise manner in which this might come about.
agreements are licit in the civil a total acceptance of the other in erty settlements—in the case of was a purely civil instrument. As the poet Thomas Grey said: “Where ignorance is bliss,
’Tis folly to be wise.”
Pope / B1 If we were sure that the saints of heaven were indepen-
dently praying for the souls in purgatory, perhaps many would
fruitful virtue. their part in building the social order. are to sustain humanity’s hope for a better defer the act of spiritual charity of praying for the deceased to
Discernment, then, shows that entrusting My presence at this Assembly is a sign of world and if we are to create the conditions the saint’s powerful intercession.
exclusively to individual States, with their esteem for the United Nations, and it is in- for peace, development, cooperation, and The blessing of ignorance obliges us to continue exercising
laws and institutions, the final responsibil- tended to express the hope that the Organiza- guarantee of rights for future generations. this intercession on our own, in the hope that others will do
ity to meet the aspirations of persons, com- tion will increasingly serve as a sign of unity In my recent Encyclical “Spe Salvi” I indi- likewise for us when we are gone.
munities and entire peoples, can sometimes between States and an instrument of service cated that “every generation has the task of
have consequences that exclude the possibil- to the entire human family. It also demon- engaging anew in the arduous search for the Q: “If a person on earth needs prayers, does he himself need
ity of a social order respectful of the dignity strates the willingness of the Catholic Church right way to order human affairs” (no. 25). to request these prayers from a soul in purgatory, or can a
and rights of the person. On the other hand, a to offer her proper contribution to building For Christians, this task is motivated by the soul in purgatory pray for that person without the request?”
vision of life firmly anchored in the religious international relations in a way that allows hope drawn from the saving work of Jesus
dimension can help to achieve this, since rec- every person and every people to feel they Christ. That is why the Church is happy to be A: Usually we refer to purgatory as a passive state, and we pray
ognition of the transcendent value of every can make a difference. In a manner that is con- associated with the activity of this distin- for the souls in purgatory and usually never think of the souls in
man and woman favors conversion of heart, sistent with her contribution in the ethical and guished Organization, charged with the re- purgatory praying for us (see Catechism, Nos. 1030-1032).
which then leads to a commitment to resist moral sphere and the free activity of her faith- sponsibility of promoting peace and good However, while there is little or nothing in Church tradi-
violence, terrorism and war, and to promote ful, the Church also works for the realization will throughout the earth. Dear Friends, I tion regarding this point, I believe that it cannot be totally
justice and peace. This also provides the of these goals through the international activ- thank you for this opportunity to address you excluded. If someone requests the prayers of a deceased per-
proper context for the inter-religious dia- ity of the Holy See. Indeed, the Holy See has today, and I promise you of the support of son who happens to be in purgatory, God might well make
logue that the United Nations is called to sup- always had a place at the assemblies of the my prayers as you pursue your noble task. that person aware of this request.
port, just as it supports dialogue in other ar- Nations, thereby manifesting its specific char- Peace and Prosperity with God’s help! Thus, in a way that is analogous to the spiritual good we
eas of human activity. Dialogue should be acter as a subject in the inevitably do to ourselves whenever we pray for others here
recognized as the means by which the vari- international do- Pope Benedict XVI blesses an american soldier at the end of a mass at the
on earth, performing the act of love of praying for others
ous components of society can articulate their main. Nationals Park Stadium in Washington, DC. could quite well form part of the process of purgation for our
point of view and build consensus around The United Na- lack of perfect love during our lives.
--L’Osservatore Romano/Pool/epa/Corbis
the truth concerning particular values or tions remains a
goals. It pertains to the nature of religions, privileged setting in
freely practiced, that they can autonomously which the Church is
conduct a dialogue of thought and life. If at committed to con- It is harder to affirm with any certainty that
this level, too, the religious sphere is kept tributing her experi- these souls can do so out of their own initiative.
separate from political action, then great ben- ence “of humanity”, However, if someone, while still alive, promises
efits ensue for individuals and communities. developed over the
Human rights, of course, must include the centuries among
to pray for another after death it is likely that
right to religious freedom, understood as the peoples of every race God, who inspired the original promise, will
expression of a dimension that is at once in- and culture, and plac- find a way to allow its fulfillment even if the
dividual and communitarian—a vision that ing it at the disposal person spends some time in purgatory.
brings out the unity of the person while of all members of the
clearly distinguishing between the dimen- international com-
sion of the citizen and that of the believer. munity. This experi-
The activity of the United Nations in recent ence and activity, di- It is harder to affirm with any certainty that these souls can
years has ensured that public debate gives rected towards at- do so out of their own initiative. However, if someone, while
space to viewpoints inspired by a religious taining freedom for still alive, promises to pray for another after death it is likely
vision in all its dimensions, including ritual, every believer, seeks that God, who inspired the original promise, will find a way
worship, education, dissemination of infor- also to increase the to allow its fulfillment even if the person spends some time in
mation and the freedom to profess and choose protection given to purgatory.
religion. It is inconceivable, then, that believ- the rights of the per- A Toronto reader inquired: “Perhaps the pious tradition of
ers should have to suppress a part of them- son. Those rights are patron saints indicates that the saints can take some initiative
selves—their faith—in order to be active citi- grounded and in intercession, at least in their ‘patronages.’”
zens. It should never be necessary to deny shaped by the tran- I would say that this could be true only in part because
God in order to enjoy one’s rights. The rights scendent nature of patronages do not stem from the initiative of the saints but
associated with religion are all the more in the person, which from the initiative of those, whether individuals, groups or
need of protection if they are considered to permits men and the universal Church, who invoke their patronage.
clash with a prevailing secular ideology or women to pursue In this way a patronage is a kind of stable or permanent
with majority religious positions of an ex- their journey of faith request for the saints’ mediation in a particular field or for a
clusive nature. The full guarantee of religious and their search for specific category. Just as God makes saints aware of individual
liberty cannot be limited to the free exercise God in this world. requests for their intercession, he will make them aware of
of worship, but has to give due consideration Recognition of this these more general and stable invocations for their mediation.
to the public dimension of religion, and dimension must be
hence to the possibility of believers playing strengthened if we
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008 Diocese B3
THE St. John the Baptist Cathedral of Kalibo, Aklan.
INSET: Bishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo, DD

Fr. Geroge M. Prado

Compiled by Fr. Mark Randy
Beluso, SThL
HIS Holiness Pope Paul VI created the
Diocese of Kalibo on January 17, 1976 and
formally erected it on July 15, 1976. The
Diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese
of Capiz. The principal patron is Saint
John the Baptist, who is also the patron of
the Cathedral Parish in Kalibo. Señor
Santo Niño and Our Lady of the Most
Holy Rosary are the devotional patrons.
Bishops
The first Bishop was Juan Nicolasora
Nilmar, born on August 24, 1916, in Miag-
ao, Iloilo. He was appointed as first Bishop
of Kalibo by Paul VI on June 3, 1976. He
was installed by the Most Reverend
Bruno Torpigliani, D.D., Apostolic Nun-
cio in the Philippines and took posses-
sion of his seat in Kalibo on July 15, 1976.
Bishop Nilmar, after 17 years of fruitful
shepherding the young Diocese, retired
from office on November 21, 1992. The
establishment of the Santo Niño Semi-
nary, as a diocesan institution for those
who aspire for the priesthood and as pre-
scribed in the Papal Bull of Erection of
Kalibo as a Diocese, is one of his fondest
achievements.
The second Bishop is Gabriel Villaruz
Reyes, whose father hails from Kalibo
and mother from Capiz. He was born on
August 3, 1941 in Kalibo, Aklan. For-
merly an Auxiliary Bishop of the Arch-
diocese of Manila, Monsignor Reyes was
appointed Bishop of Kalibo on Novem-
ber 21, 1992 by John Paul II and was in-
stalled on January 12, 1993 by the Most
Reverend Gian Vincenzo Moreni, D.D.,
Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines. On
December 7, 2002, John Paul II appointed
him to the Diocese of Antipolo and took
possession of that seat on January 29, 2003.
The reconstruction of the Cathedral of
Saint John the Baptist (1993 – 1997) and
now, also known as the Diocesan Shrine
of Santo Niño, is one of his lasting lega-
cies to the Diocese. Bishop Reyes’ 10 years
of value-laden ministry in Kalibo were
also well remembered for his convoca-
tion and the promulgation of the first
Synod of Kalibo (1996). This significant
event set the pastoral redirection of this
Christian Community.
For eleven months starting on Febru-
ary 4, 2003, the Diocesan Board of Con-
sultors of Kalibo elected the Right Rev-
erend Monsignor Adolfo Perlas Depra,
the then Vicar General, as the Diocesan
Administrator who took over the pasto-
ral governance during the period of a
sede vacante.
On November 15, 2003, Pope John Paul
II of happy memory appointed the Rev-
erend Father Jose Romeo Orquejo Lazo
as the third Bishop of Kalibo. Born on
January 23, 1949 in San Jose, Antique, he
is the first local cleric of that province to
be promoted to the episcopate. He was
ordained as Bishop on December 29, 2003
in San Jose, Antique by Archbishop An-
tonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio in the
Philippines, who also installed him as
the third Bishop of the Diocese on Janu-
ary 8, 2004 in Kalibo.
The Diocese
The Diocese covers the entire civil
province of Aklan, which gained politi-
cal independence from the province of
Capiz on April 25, 1956. Aklan comprises
the northwestern portion of Panay Is-
land, with its northern coastline facing
the Sibuyan Sea. Its southern boundary
touches that of Capiz. Its western bound-
aries are the highlands bordering the
province of Antique.
third Sunday of January, the
Santo Niño Ati-Atihan de
Kalibo is a weeklong festivity
during which people paint
their faces, soot their bodies
with charcoal, don colorful cos-
tumes and dance on the streets
by the drumbeats to praise and
honor the Santo Niño. Favor-
able spiritual blessings be-
stowed on many local and for-
eign devotees are greatly at-
tributed to the Christ-Child.
Most of all, Aklan is well-
known for the world famous
Island of Boracay, whose white
sand beaches attract tourists
from home and abroad all
year-round. The island is situ-
ated at the northwestern tip of
the province.
The Diocese of Kalibo has 24
parishes that are presently
served by 66 active diocesan
priests, 1 religious priest, 2 dea-
cons, and assisted by a total of
3 religious brothers and 52 re-
ligious sisters of 8 religious
congregations (6 of Pontifical
Right and 2 of Local/Diocesan
IMPORTANT FACTS
Bishop . ……………………...………… 1
Priests:
Diocesan …………………………… 69
Active ………………. …………....….. 63
Retired …………………………..…... 2
Abroad …………………………...…… 4
Religious ……………………….…… 1
Deacons ……………………………… 1
Brothers ……………………………… 3
Sisters ………………………………... 47
Diocesan Division:
Vicariates …………………………… 5
Parishes …………………………..… 24
With Resident Pastor …………….… 24
With Parochial Vicars …………….... 2
Entrusted to the
Diocesan Clergy ………..……….. 24
Institutions:
Seminary …………………………….. 1
Religious Houses …………….…… 8
Diocesan Shrines ……………….…. 2
Educational Centers:
College ………………………….…..... 1
Vocational/Technical ………………… 1
High School …………………………. 2
Elementary ………………………….. 3
Pre-School ………………...……….. 10
Population ……………….…… 526,330
Catholics ……………..….…….. 484,697
Area ………………….. 1,817.89 sq. kms.

The Diocese of Kalibo The faith was first brought to Aklan as

early as 1569, particularly to Kalibo, which
is the present capital of the province.
Kalibo became a parish in April of 1581.
The parish then comprised the entire prov-
ince of Aklan and the two towns of Capiz:
Sapian and Ivisan.
Aklan first became administratively in-
dependent of the entire Panay group in
1656 but it was still part of the province of
Capiz. In 1956 the Capiz territory was di-
vided into two and Aklan, which was for-
merly the third congressional district of
that territory, became a separate province.
Aklan as a province is what one might
consider average. One good feature is that
the land is well distributed among its in-
habitants. Much of its forests and other
natural resources are still preserved. It
has the biggest area of forests among the
four provinces in Panay Island. Today,
its economy is dependent mostly on ag-
riculture. Its leading food crops are rice
and corn while commercial crops include
coconut, sugar, fruit and food products
as well as small and large-scale in-
dustries concentrating on piña and
abaca weaving. Deep-sea fishing and
fishpond production are also major
sources of income with the coves and
bays nearby providing a sizable
supply of fish.
Aklan is also a tourist
destination. The prov-
ince, especially in the
towns of Kalibo,
Ibajay, Batan, Makato
and Altavas, is fa-
mous for the celebra-
tion of the feast of the
Santo Niño, known as
the Ati-Atihan or the Ati-
Ati. Culminating on the
Right). Among its institutions are 2 di-
ocesan Catholic schools, 1 diocesan mi-
nor and college seminary. Initial stages
of Basic Ecclesial Communities are now
operative in a good number of the par-
ishes in the Diocese.
The people are religious and are en-
dowed with profound faith. Many priestly
and religious vocations come from Aklan.
Some were even elevated to the ecclesias-
tical hierarchy. The late Gabriel M. Reyes,
the first Filipino Archbishop, who became
the Archbishop of Cebu and then of Ma-
nila; the late Ciceron Tumbokon, former
Bishop of Cabanatuan; the late Jaime L.
Cardinal Sin, Archbishop-Emeritus of
Manila; Raul Q. Martirez, Bishop-Emeri-
tus of San Jose, Antique; Gabriel V. Reyes,
the former Bishop of Kalibo and now of
Antipolo; and Jose Corazon T. Tala-oc,
Bishop of Romblon—are all beloved sons
of this province. Although born and raised
in Davao, Bishop Julius Tonel of the
Prelature of Ipil claims that his roots hails
from Aklan.
Pastoral Thrust
The pastoral thrust of the Diocese is
catechesis, social action and liturgy—
these being the three components of in-
tegral evangelization which, according
to the Second Plenary Council of the
Philippines (PCP II), is the mission of
the entire Philippine Church.
To better implement the goals of PCP
II in the Diocese, the first Synod of the
Diocese of Kalibo was convoked in Santo
Niño Seminary, Numancia, Aklan on
November 11 – 16, 1996. The Bishop,
Priests, and leaders of the laity gathered
together to study the context and chal-
lenges of the times so that the Church in
the Diocese can better address them in
the light of PCP II. The Synod also aimed
at restructuring the Diocese and strength-
ening the small Christian communities
in the midst of the changing situations.
The Diocese celebrated its 25th year
(Silver Jubilee) on October 8 – 9, 2001.
The diocesan-wide celebrations were
graced by no less than His Eminence,
Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, the then Arch-
bishop of Manila, Archbishop Antonio
Franco, the then Nuncio, and other Arch-
bishops and Bishops of the Philippines.
Their dignifying presence was a sure
inspiration for the entire Christian Com-
munity that continues to journey as one
particular Church—striving to attain its
vision articulated in the decrees of the
Synod of Kalibo.
Vision
We deeply aspire:
To be a Church, whose members are
true disciples of Christ, that is, persons
who, possessing an intimate knowledge
and love of Christ, commit their lives
fully to Him and, through Him, to the
Father and to the Holy Spirit;
To be a Church, which is a real sign
and instrument of Christ’s special love
for the poor; a Church where priority in
attention and care is given to the least
brothers and sisters of Christ; a Church
where the rich and the poor work to-
gether so that, with justice and love
reigning, everyone will have a sufficient
amount of the earth’s goods;
To be a Church which is a real commun-
ion, whose members, rich and poor, politi-
cal allies or not, aware of their being one
Body in Christ, love one another as broth-
ers and sisters. Practicing the spirit of soli-
darity, they transcend personal or group
Diocese / B7
 CBCP Monitor
B4 Commissions Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008

NASSA holds Western Visayas

seminar to boost holds 1st FLA
summit
social action work By Mike and Aida Gomez

A REGIONAL family and life summit for Western Visayas tack-

ling various concerns on the area of family life apostolate was
held at the Magnificat Pastoral Center, diocese of Kalibo last
April 3 and 4.
It was a hot summer day, but rain fell over Kalibo, Aklan, as
3 Family Life Directors, 2 Sisters, 29 couples and lay counter-
parts arrived at the Magnificat Pastoral Center, Bishop’s Resi-
dence to attend the summit.
An exhibit on the issues of abortion was on display outside
the venue and the cathedral, through the efforts of the Archdio-
cese of Jaro.
Participating delegates came from the Dioceses of Bacolod,
San Carlos, Antique, Kalibo, Romblon and the archdiocese of
Jaro.

Workshops
During the workshops, the participants assessed various fam-
ily life realities in their respective dioceses: the culture of life
and death; the state of family life as an apostolate; its weak-
nesses and strengths; discussed opportunities and feared the
threats from well-organized and well-funded foes. They also
talked about other areas of concern—education, advocacy, alli-
ance building and the continuing activities of family and life.
After summarizing the workshops, a common stand was ar-
rived at for every concern.

Objectives/Key Result Areas

A total of 63 delegates from the different Social Action Centers all over the country participated in the Basic Orientation Seminar for Social Action Works conducted
by NASSA at the CBCP-NASSA BEC Development Center in Tagaytay City last April 14-17.
By Zar Gomez
THE National Secretariat for Social Action–
Justice and Peace (NASSA-JP) conducted a
Basic Orientation Seminar on Social Action
Works (BOSSAW), April 14-17, in an effort
to further ignite the involvement and com-
mitment of social action workers in the pro-
motion of justice and social transformation
for total human development.
The 3-day seminar was held at the CBCP-
NASSA BEC Development Center in
Tagaytay City. A total of 63 participants,
consisting of 1 bishop, 3 nuns, 38 priests,
and 21 lay social action workers, took part
in the event.
Among the participants were 22 newly
installed social action directors; 9 were old
time directors; 6 were newly installed as-
sistant directors; 12 were diocesan social
action workers; and 14 were from the na-
tional secretariat.
The participants represented 38 Diocesan
Social Action Centers (DSACs), or 44 per
cent of the 86 DSACs in the Philippines.
Bishop Crispin Varquez, DD of the Dio-
cese of Borongan was among the partici-
pants. Three other bishops graced the event
as resource speakers.
The BOSSAW is a regular event con-
ducted by NASSA every two years to offi-
cially orient and welcome newly installed
social action directors in the country. It is
generally intended for the new directors,
but this year’s BOSSAW also catered to old
time directors and other social action work-
ers who wished to take part in the event.
This year’s BOSSAW was anchored on the
following objectives: 1) to reinforce aware-
ness on the Social Teachings of the Church
in relation to social action works, so as to
encourage the new directors to beef up their
involvement and commitment to the pro-
motion of justice and social transformation
for total human development; 2) to ac-
quaint the new directors with the structures
and functions of NASSA-JP and the Social
Action Network, in order to strengthen part-
nership and cooperation within the net-
work; 3) to exemplify and share the experi-
ences of two partner agencies, in order to
provide the participants with appropriate
knowledge on how NASSA forges collabo-
rations with other institutions; 4) to foster
solidarity among the new directors and
formally welcome them to the social ac-
tion network.
In his talk on the first day of the seminar,
Bp. Francisco Claver, SJ, DD, vicar-apos-
tolic emeritus of Bontoc-Lagawe, high-
lighted significant events in the history of
the Philippine Church and narrated how
the events helped shape the evolution of
NASSA and the DSACs. His talk also cen-
tered on the topic, “Social Action Ministry
in the Building of the Church of the Poor”.
Bp. Broderick Pabillo, DD, the new chair of
the Episcopal Commission on Social Action
Justice and Peace (ECSA-JP), followed the talk
of Bp. Claver with a discourse on how the Word
of God serves as the guiding light of social
action. Bp. Pabillo inspired the participants
with verses in the bible that directly relate to
the actual works of the DSACs.
Karl Gaspar, CSsR, a Redemptorist
brother, spoke on the topic, “The Church
in Asia Today with Special Reference to the
Church in the Philippines.” Bro. Karl shared
his knowledge on the current events and
situations of the Churches in Asia that pose
a challenge to social action works. He gave
some recommendations at the end of his
talk, on how to direct social action works
in the light of the current trends and devel-
opment in Asia.
Bp. Dinualdo Gutierrez, DD, the former
chairman of ECSA-JP for ten years and now
the vice-chairman of the commission, tack-
led the topic, “PCP II: Envisioning the Phil-
ippine Church vis-à-vis the Pursuit of Jus-
tice, Development and Peace.” He ex-
pounded on the topic citing, as concrete ex-
amples, the various activities and works of
the Diocese of Marbel, in terms of pursu-
ing holistic development for the Basic
Ecclesial Communities (BEC).
Sr. Rosanne Mallillin, SPC, executive sec-
retary of NASSA; followed the talk of Bp.
Gutierrez by emphasizing on the BEC as
the locus and focus of social action works.
She discussed the various developmental
and spiritual aspects of the BECs that play
a significant role in social action works. She
also underpinned the important roles of the
bishops and the clergy in ensuring the suc-
cess of a BEC program in a diocese.
The seminar culminated with a holy
mass, which was concelebrated by Fr.
Clarence Patag of DSAC-Lipa and Fr. Edwin
Perito of DSAC-Palo.
Although one day was not enough for the workshops, the six
arch/dioceses nonetheless, arrived at the following shared ob-
jectives: 1) to organize Family Life Ministry in every parish/
chaplaincy; 2) to strengthen linkage/coordination with family
oriented Lay Organizations, Movements, Associations (LOMAs)
and other diocesan commissions; 3) to strengthen/widen the
acceptance of Natural Family Planning as envision by the Catho-
lic Church; 4) to institutionalize FL programs, services in par-
ishes, BECs; 5) to provide comprehensive formation, informa-
tion program and services for families and schools; 6) to form/
build capabilities of Family Life Ministers, workers, Anima-
tors; 7) to enhance the Pre-Cana and Post-Cana services; 8) to
strengthen diocesan Family Life Ministry/Center; 9) to expand
involvement of professionals from the medical and legal field
in the Family Life Ministry.
The participants also identified Key Result Areas such as Edu-
cation/Formation: a) Facilitators trainors’ training for pre-cana,
post cana, NFP; b) Trainings for Family Life Workers, Minis-
ters, Animators; c) Training on Responsible Parenthood for
Family Counselors; d) Development of Family Life Modules;
e) Seminar/catechesis on family values, Christian sex educa-
tion; f) Preaching, Evangelization, Focused Group Discussions
on family and life; g) Use of tri-media for information dissemi-
nation.
Difficulties
The common difficulties encountered by the six arch/dio-
ceses are the lack of volunteer couples especially from the pro-
fessional field—the medical and legal, indifference of some
priests regarding pro-life issues, budget insufficiency both in
parishes and the commissions, lack of family life modules which
addresses the needs of parishes and families.
Lay coordinators expressed the concurrent multiple assign-
ments of the Commission Directors as one predicament to
hurdle in achieving its plans and implementation of family life
programs.
The Archdiocese of Jaro is undergoing profiling of data in
parishes which family life can utilize in its planning, that could
also be useful for other dioceses to gather. Likewise, is bent to
organize the ministry in its 93 parishes/chaplaincy, so does the
Diocese of San Carlos.
Bacolod Diocese is an institute of learning for family life
Western / B7

Bishops / B1

America, at this point in her history, is
faced with the challenge of recapturing
the Catholic vision of reality and pre-
senting it, in an engaging and imagina-
tive way, to a society which markets any
number of recipes for human fulfillment.
I think in particular of our need to speak
to the hearts of young people, who, de-
spite their constant exposure to mes-
sages contrary to the Gospel, continue
to thirst for authenticity, goodness and
truth. Much remains to be done, particu-
larly on the level of preaching and
catechesis in parishes and schools, if the
new evangelization is to bear fruit for
the renewal of ecclesial life in America.
Q: Holy Father, how do you view the
quiet attrition by which Catholics are
abandoning the practice of the faith, at-
tendance at Mass, and identification with
the Church?
A: Certainly, much of this has to do with
the passing away of a religious culture,
sometimes disparagingly referred to as
a “ghetto”, which reinforced participa-
tion and identification with the Church.
As I just mentioned, one of the great chal-
lenges facing the Church in this country
is that of cultivating a Catholic identity
which is based not so much on externals
as on a way of thinking and acting
grounded in the Gospel and enriched by
the Church’s living tradition.
The issue clearly involves factors such
as religious individualism and scandal.
Let us go to the heart of the matter: faith
cannot survive unless it is nourished,
unless it is “formed by charity” (cf. Gal
5:6). Do people today find it difficult to
encounter God in our Churches? Has our
preaching lost its salt? Might it be that
many people have forgotten, or never
really learned, how to pray in and with
the Church?
Here I am not speaking of people who
leave the Church in search of subjective
religious “experiences”; this is a pasto-
ral issue which must be addressed on its
own terms. I think we are speaking about
people who have fallen by the wayside
without consciously having rejected
their faith in Christ, but, for whatever
reason, have not drawn life from the lit-
urgy, the sacraments, preaching. Yet
Christian faith, as we know, is essen-
tially ecclesial, and without a living
bond to the community, the individual’s
faith will never grow to maturity. In-
deed, to return to the question I just dis-
cussed, the result can be a quiet apos-
tasy.
So let me make two brief observations
on the problem of “attrition”, which I
hope will stimulate further reflection.
First, as you know, it is becoming
more and more difficult, in our Western
societies, to speak in a meaningful way
of “salvation”. Yet salvation – deliver-
ance from the reality of evil, and the gift
of new life and freedom in Christ – is at
the heart of the Gospel. We need to dis-
cover, as I have suggested, new and en-
gaging ways of proclaiming this mes-
sage and awakening a thirst for the ful-
fillment which only Christ can bring. It
is in the Church’s liturgy, and above all
in the sacrament of the Eucharist, that
these realities are most powerfully ex-
pressed and lived in the life of believ-
ers; perhaps we still have much to do in
realizing the Council’s vision of the lit-
urgy as the exercise of the common
priesthood and the impetus for a fruit-
ful apostolate in the world.
Second, we need to acknowledge with
concern the almost complete eclipse of
an eschatological sense in many of our
traditionally Christian societies. As you
know, I have pointed to this problem in
the Encyclical Spe Salvi. Suffice it to say
that faith and hope are not limited to
this world: as theological virtues, they
unite us with the Lord and draw us to-
ward the fulfillment not only of our per-
sonal destiny but also that of all creation.
Faith and hope are the inspiration and
basis of our efforts to prepare for the
coming of the Kingdom of God. In Chris-
tianity, there can be no room for purely
private religion: Christ is the Savior of
the world, and, as members of his Body
and sharers in his prophetic, priestly and
royal munera, we cannot separate our
love for him from our commitment to
the building up of the Church and the
extension of his Kingdom. To the extent
that religion becomes a purely private
affair, it loses its very soul.
Let me conclude by stating the obvi-
ous. The fields are still ripe for harvest-
ing (cf. Jn 4:35); God continues to give
the growth (cf. 1 Cor 3:6). We can and
must believe, with the late Pope John
Paul II, that God is preparing a new
springtime for Christianity (cf.
Redemptoris Missio, 86). What is needed
above all, at this time in the history of
the Church in America, is a renewal of
that apostolic zeal which inspires her
shepherds actively to seek out the lost,
to bind up those who have been
wounded, and to bring strength to those
who are languishing (cf. Ez 34:16). And
this, as I have said, calls for new ways of
thinking based on a sound diagnosis of
today’s challenges and a commitment to
unity in the service of the Church’s mis-
sion to the present generation.
Q: Holy Father, how do you assess the
decline in vocations despite the grow-
ing numbers of the Catholic population,
and the reasons for hope offered by the
personal qualities and the thirst for ho-
liness which characterize the candidates
who do come forward?
A: Let us be quite frank: the ability to
cultivate vocations to the priesthood and
the religious life is a sure sign of the
health of a local Church. There is no
room for complacency in this regard.
God continues to call young people; it is
up to all of us to encourage a generous
and free response to that call. On the
other hand, none of us can take this grace
for granted.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to pray
that the Lord of the harvest will send
workers. He even admits that the work-
ers are few in comparison with the abun-
dance of the harvest (cf. Mt 9:37-38).
Strange to say, I often think that prayer—
the unum necessarium—is the one as-
pect of vocations work which we tend to
forget or to undervalue!
Nor am I speaking only of prayer for
vocations. Prayer itself, born in Catho-
lic families, nurtured by programs of
Christian formation, strengthened by
the grace of the sacraments, is the first
means by which we come to know the
Lord’s will for our lives. To the extent
that we teach young people to pray, and
to pray well, we will be cooperating
with God’s call. Programs, plans and
projects have their place; but the discern-
ment of a vocation is above all the fruit
of an intimate dialogue between the
Lord and his disciples. Young people, if
they know how to pray, can be trusted
to know what to do with God’s call.
It has been noted that there is a grow-
ing thirst for holiness in many young
people today, and that, although fewer
in number, those who come forward
show great idealism and much promise.
It is important to listen to them, to un-
derstand their experiences, and to en-
courage them to help their peers to see
the need for committed priests and reli-
gious, as well as the beauty of a life of
sacrificial service to the Lord and his
Church. To my mind, much is demanded
of vocation directors and formators: can-
didates today, as much as ever, need to
be given a sound intellectual and human
formation which will enable them not
only to respond to the real questions and
needs of their contemporaries, but also
to mature in their own conversion and
to persevere in life-long commitment to
their vocation. As Bishops, you are con-
scious of the sacrifice demanded when
you are asked to release one of your fin-
est priests for seminary work. I urge you
to respond with generosity, for the good
of the whole Church.
Finally, I think you know from expe-
rience that most of your brother priests
are happy in their vocation. What I said
in my address about the importance of
unity and cooperation within the
presbyterate applies here too. There is a
need for all of us to move beyond sterile
divisions, disagreements and preconcep-
tions, and to listen together to the voice
of the Spirit who is guiding the Church
into a future of hope. Each of us knows
how important priestly fraternity has
been in our lives. That fraternity is not
only a precious possession, but also an
immense resource for the renewal of the
priesthood and the raising up of new
vocations. I would close by encourag-
ing you to foster opportunities for ever
greater dialogue and fraternal encoun-
ter among your priests, and especially
the younger priests. I am convinced that
this will bear great fruit for their own
enrichment, for the increase of their love
for the priesthood and the Church, and
for the effectiveness of their apostolate.
Dear Brother Bishops, with these few
observations, I once more encourage all
of you in your ministry to the faithful
entrusted to your pastoral care, and I com-
mend you to the loving intercession of
Mary Immaculate, Mother of the Church.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008
Media at the crossroads between
self-promotion and service
Searching for the truth in order to share it with others
Message of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, 42 nd World Communications Day, Sunday, 4 May 2008
DEAR Brothers and Sisters!
1. The theme of this year’s
World Communications Day—
”The Media: At the Crossroads
between Self-Promotion and Ser-
vice. Searching for the Truth in
order to Share it with Others”—
sheds light on the important role
of the media in the life of indi-
viduals and society. Truly, there
is no area of human experience,
especially given the vast phe-
nomenon of globalization, in
which the media have not be-
come an integral part of interper-
sonal relations and of social, eco-
nomic, political and religious de-
velopment. As I said in my Mes-
sage for this year’s World Day of
Peace (1 January 2008): “The so-
cial communications media, in
particular, because of their edu-
cational potential, have a special
responsibility for promoting re-
spect for the family, making clear
its expectations and rights, and
presenting all its beauty” (No. 5).
2. In view of
their meteoric
technological evo-
lution, the media
have acquired ex-
traordinary poten-
tial, while raising
new and hitherto
unimaginable
questions and
problems. There is
no denying the
contribution they
can make to the
diffusion of news,
to knowledge of
facts and to the
dissemination of
information: they
have played a de-
cisive part, for ex-
ample, in the
spread of literacy
and in socializa-
tion, as well as the
development of
democracy and
dialogue among
peoples. Without
their contribution
it would truly be
difficult to foster and strengthen
understanding between nations,
to breathe life into peace dia-
logues around the globe, to guar-
antee the primary good of access
to information, while at the same
time ensuring the free circulation
of ideas, especially those promot-
ing the ideals of solidarity and
social justice. Indeed, the media,
taken overall, are not only ve-
hicles for spreading ideas: they can
and should also be instruments at
the service of a world of greater
justice and solidarity. Unfortu-
nately, though, they risk being
transformed into systems aimed
at subjecting humanity to agen-
das dictated by the dominant in-
terests of the day. This is what hap-
pens when communication is used
for ideological purposes or for the
aggressive advertising of con-
sumer products. While claiming
to represent reality, it can tend to
legitimize or impose distorted
models of personal, family or so-
cial life. Moreover, in order to at-
tract listeners and increase the size
of audiences, it does not hesitate
at times to have recourse to vul-
garity and violence, and to over-
step the mark. The media can also
present and support models of
development which serve to in-
crease rather than reduce the tech-
nological divide between rich and
poor countries.
3. Humanity today is at a cross-
roads. One could properly apply
to the media what I wrote in the
Encyclical Spe Salvi concerning
the ambiguity of progress, which
offers new possibilities for good,
but at the same time opens up
appalling possibilities for evil
that formerly did not exist (cf. No.
22). We must ask, therefore,
whether it is wise to allow the
instruments of social communi-
cation to be exploited for indis-
criminate “self-promotion” or to
end up in the hands of those who
use them to manipulate con-
sciences. Should it not be a prior-
ity to ensure that they remain at
the service of the person and of
the common good, and that they
foster “man’s ethical formation
… man’s inner growth” (ibid.)?
Their extraordinary impact on
the lives of individuals and on
society is widely acknowledged,
yet today it is necessary to stress
the radical shift, one might even
say the complete change of role,
that they are currently undergo-
ing. Today, communication
seems increasingly to claim not
simply to represent reality, but
to determine it, owing to the
power and the force of sugges-
tion that it possesses. It is clear,
for example, that in certain situa-
tions the media are used not for
the proper purpose of dissemi-
nating information, but to “cre-
ate” events. This dangerous
change in function has been
noted with concern by many
Church leaders. Precisely because
we are dealing with realities that
have a profound effect on all
those dimensions of human life
(moral, intellectual, religious,
relational, affective, cultural) in
which the good of the person is
at stake, we must stress that not
everything that is technically
possible is also ethically permis-
sible. Hence, the impact of the
communications media on mod-
ern life raises unavoidable ques-
Statements
tions, which require choices and
solutions that can no longer be
deferred.
4. The role that the means of
social communication have ac-
quired in society must now be
considered an integral part of the
“anthropological” question that
is emerging as the key challenge
of the third millennium. Just as
we see happening in areas such
as human life, marriage and the
family, and in the great contem-
porary issues of peace, justice and
protection of creation, so too in
the sector of social communica-
tions there are essential dimen-
sions of the human person and
the truth concerning the human
person coming into play. When
communication loses its ethical
underpinning and eludes
society’s control, it ends up no
longer taking into account the
centrality and inviolable dignity
of the human person. As a result
it risks exercising a negative in-
fluence on people’s consciences
and choices and definitively con-
ditioning their freedom and their
very lives. For this reason it is
essential that social communica-
tions should assiduously defend
the person and fully respect hu-
man dignity. Many people now
think there is a need, in this
sphere, for “info-ethics”, just as
we have bioethics in the field of
medicine and in scientific re-
search linked to life.
5. The media must avoid be-
coming spokesmen for economic
materialism and ethical relativ-
ism, true scourges of our time.
Instead, they can and must con-
tribute to making known the
truth about humanity, and de-
fending it against those who tend
to deny or destroy it. One might
even say that seeking and pre-
senting the truth about human-
ity constitutes the highest voca-
tion of social communication.
Utilizing for this purpose the
many refined and engaging tech-
niques that the media have at
their disposal is an exciting task,
entrusted in the first place to
managers and operators in the
sector. Yet it is a task which to
some degree concerns us all, be-
cause we are all consumers and
operators of social communica-
tions in this era of globalization.
The new media – telecommuni-
cations and internet in particular
– are changing the very face of
communication; perhaps this is a
valuable opportunity to reshape
it, to make more visible, as my
venerable predecessor Pope John
Paul II said, the essential and in-
dispensable elements of the truth
about the human person (cf. Ap-
ostolic Letter The Rapid Develop-
ment, 10).
6. Man thirsts for truth, he seeks
truth; this fact is illustrated by the
attention and the success
achieved by so many publica-
tions, programmes or quality fic-
tion in which the truth, beauty
and greatness of the person, in-
cluding the religious dimension
of the person, are acknowledged
and favorably presented. Jesus
said: “You will know the truth
and the truth will
make you free”
(Jn 8:32). The
truth which
makes us free is
Christ, because
only he can re-
spond fully to the
thirst for life and
love that is
present in the hu-
man heart. Those
who have en-
countered him
and have enthu-
siastically wel-
comed his mes-
sage experience
the irrepressible
desire to share
and communi-
cate this truth. As
Saint John writes,
“That which was
from the begin-
ning, which we
have heard,
which we have
seen with our
eyes, which we
have looked
upon and touched with our
hands, concerning the word of
life … we proclaim also to you,
so that you may have fellowship
with us. And our fellowship is
with the Father and with his Son
Jesus Christ. And we are writing
this that our joy may be com-
plete” (1 Jn 1:1-3).
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to
raise up courageous communica-
tors and authentic witnesses to
the truth, faithful to Christ’s man-
date and enthusiastic for the mes-
sage of the faith, communicators
who will “interpret modern cul-
tural needs, committing them-
selves to approaching the com-
munications age not as a time of
alienation and confusion, but as
a valuable time for the quest for
the truth and for developing
communion between persons
and peoples” (John Paul II, Ad-
dress to the Conference for those
working in Communications and
Culture, 9 November 2002).
With these wishes, I cordially
impart my Blessing to all.
From the Vatican, 24 January 2008,
Feast of Saint Francis de Sales.
BENEDICTUS XVI
B5
Everyday is Earth Day
EARTH DAY is an opportunity for us to express our appreciation,
gratitude and protection for our earth which has been assigned to
us by the Creator of the universe. Everyday is Earth Day.
We recall on EARTH DAY what Pope Benedict XVI said at his
visit to the United Nations Organization: “International Action to
preserve the environment and to protect various forms of life on
earth must not only guarantee a rational use of technology and
science, but must also rediscover the authentic image of creation.”—
Protecting the environment is a common concern that must be
done in every locality. Observation and creativity are needed to
protect our local environment from misuse and abuse.
Stewardship of earth would mean for us Filipinos accepting
our responsibility to encourage, support and develop the “pri-
mary sector” who sustain us with our “daily bread,” the farm-
ers who cultivate the fruitfulness of our Earth. For so long a
time these farmers have been neglected. And today we are reap-
ing the fruit of that neglect: the present rice crisis.
Earth Day challenges us to preserve this earth for future gen-
eration. We are co-partners with one another and partners of
God in caring for the Earth. Communal action must be promoted
to address the problem of global warming, climate change, waste-
fulness and destruction of natural resources. We are together in
this Earth for better or worse. Let it be for the better.
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO
Archbishop of Jaro
CBCP President
April 22, 2008
Reclaiming the Integrity
of Creation
A CBCP-NASSA Statement on the Occasion
of the Earth Day Celebration
“Our degraded environment is but a reflection of the pollution of the
inward environment. The problems begin in the human heart, the
inner core of the human being.” (Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope
Benedict XVI)
AS nations around the world mark the global celebration of
Earth Day, the Church and the Filipino people are called upon
to think about the heartrending state of our environment amidst
the looming crises on global warming and climate change.
The world wakes up each day with the news of disasters and
calamities in different parts of the earth, in different forms to
different people with different magnitudes. Climate change
has recently given us fright and has raised worldwide concerns.
Stronger typhoons, longer droughts and pestilences severely
affected human lives.
Super typhoon Reming devastated a vast part of the province
of Sorsogon leaving 734 dead and causing US$508 million dam-
age to properties, infrastructure and agriculture. Similarly, an-
other super typhoon Milenyo left an equally extensive devasta-
tion in Metro Manila leaving 100 dead and causing millions of
pesos damage to properties. Heavy rainfall caused landslides
and mudslides in Guinsaugon, killing 200 people and displac-
ing some 1,500 more; and Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon had been
spitting out ashes, sulphur, and smoke since 2006, placing the
immediate vicinity in heightened alert. Extreme weather con-
ditions in the form of longer droughts cause infertile and un-
productive lands. More frequent and stronger typhoons de-
stroy crops which affects agricultural yields. These natural di-
sasters are even more aggravated by man made and man-in-
duced disasters such as mine tailing spills in Boac, Marinduque,
cyanide spills in Rapu-rapu, Albay and the collapse of mine
tunnels in Mt Diwalwal.
The frequency and intensity of these occurrences give us a
sense of urgency to evaluate and resolve what has gone wrong.
Over the years, man continuously and progressively places
stress on nature and creates destruction and imbalance in the
planet. Mining for gold along with other precious metals and
non-metallic minerals such as coal, cement and oil had placed a
great strain on our environment. Specifically, the large-scale clear-
ing of forests and open-pit mining operations increase the con-
centration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, which cause
global warming. Destructive fishing such as the use of dynamite
and cyanide poison the coral reefs and deplete the fish stock.
As stewards of God on Earth, we are duty-bound to regard
Creation with utmost respect, to protect and conserve Nature’s
life-giving biodiversity, and to judiciously use her natural re-
sources to fulfill the essential needs of people now and for
succeeding generations.
There is need to pause and assess the situation we are in such
as to respond in a Godly way. It is our urgent responsibility to
ensure the health and sustainability of our ecosystems and the
survival of our communities, especially the poor.
The National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace
(NASSA-JP) of CBCP, recognizing the present environmental
challenge to the prophetic mission and witnessing of the
Church, issues the following calls:
1. Collectively, nations should limit consumptions of fossil-
ized fuels to decrease greenhouse gasses specifically carbon
dioxide along with the use of renewable sources of energy such
as solar and wind energy.
2. Reforestation is a must to restore natural forest cover.
Proper waste disposal should be encouraged and implemented.
3. The government should amend existing laws and policies
particularly national mineral policies that are proven to be
detrimental to the environment and are disadvantageous to the
Filipino people. The government should encourage the pros-
ecution of all who violate environmental laws and/or fail to
properly implement them because such negligence results in
various environmental tragedies. Political will is a renewable
source and resides not only on government institutions but
also on the Church, non government organizations (NGO) and
civil society organizations (CSO).
4. Individually, we can take part in caring for our environment
by making each member of the family realize that everything
we have is God’s gift and must be cared for lovingly and care-
fully. With these thoughts, it is easier to encourage everyone to
dispose garbage properly and to use resources sparingly.
5. We call on the Church hierarchy to be more vigilant, en-
lightened and inspired in serving as guardians of peoples’ faith
and providing pastoral guidance to their flock in making moral
judgments particularly on issues of ecological concerns.
Everyone needs to work hand in hand and face up to the
challenge ahead of us. Our immediate and total response is not
only a matter of fostering a collective legacy but that of secur-
ing the survival of generations to come.
It is my fervent prayer that our people, starting from the
members of the Basic Ecclesial Communities, will heed this call
and respond to the real threats of environmental degradation,
pollution and climate change now looming before us.
SR. ROSANNE MALLILLIN, SPC
NASSA-JP Executive Secretary
 CBCP Monitor
B6 Reflections Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008

Living the love of Jesus

By Rev. Fr. Maximo ered over which side could recover the
Villanueva, Jr. bodies.”
Today we celebrate the 6th Sunday of
Easter. Jesus says, “If you love me you will
SOMETIME ago, I read this story. keep my commandments.” Let us focus on
“He was a Serb, she a Muslim. They had the “my” not the “the”. MY command-
been sweethearts since high school. Both ments, not THE commandments. Jesus
were 25 years old and, although both died is not talking about the Ten Command-
through the same mindless hatred that ments. He does not belittle them,
has doomed 138,000 Bosnians in the though. He made this clear in the Ser-
past year, their final embrace goes fur- mon on the Mount. He says categorically
ther than perhaps any other image in that he has not come to do away with
capturing the intimate, unutter- the Jewish law or the teaching of the
able sadness of this war. prophets but rather to fulfill their inner
After striking a deal with potential. Jesus is telling us that His com-
local commanders for pas- mandments occupy a different level. So
sage across the battle lines, what are His commandments? There is
the couple set out on foot, only one and that is the commandment
carrying two bags and to love: to love God with all our heart
their hope of living to- and soul, and to love others as we love
gether in peace. ourselves, to love others as Jesus loves
Somebody mowed us, as he loves the sinner, as he love his
them down with a enemies. They include commands to rec-
machine gun. Bosko ognize Jesus in the most needy, in the
died instantly, mor- poor, in the sick, in the marginalized,
tally wounded. even in the criminal (“I was in prison...”).
Admira crawled over They include commandments to be
and during her final agents of healing and reconciliation in a
seconds, succeeded broken and divided world.
in tenderly wrap- There is nothing explicit about any of
ping her arm around this in the Ten Commandments. A good
his body. Then she, too, Christian is not just a law-abiding per-
passed away. They son taking care of oneself. He/she is a
lay there for loving, caring person reaching out to
the next others in love and service. There is never
five days a room for mediocrity as a human being
while but as a full human being—with the abil-
Serbs ity to Love, no more, no less.
and Mus- With this, Jesus gives us an assurance
lims, each that He will not leave us alone but He
blaming will send an Advocate to help us fulfill
t h e His commandment to Love. “I shall ask
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
other, the Father and he will give you another Ad-
bick- vocate to be with you for ever, the Spirit of
truth.” The word ‘Advocate’ here is the
Greek parakletos, from which comes
‘Paraclete’. It refers to a person who
comes to stand by us and protect and
gives us support. It can refer to a defense
lawyer in a court of law, or an expert
who comes in to solve a problem. It is a
person who gives us courage to face great
difficulties or a person who comforts us
in difficult situations. All these are ap-
plicable to the Spirit of truth that Jesus
promises to send on his disciples to be
with them in all the trials, they and the
Church will face.
These might be hard for the disciples
to understand, and harder still for us to
grasp. But we let God be God in our lives.
We let society see God in us. So we see a
lot of Boskos and Admiras in our midst,
even in our Christian, Catholic society—
in different levels, not just during war
but even in offices, in the church, in our
homes. All are victims of a society that
promises to love and be loved. Despite
the assurance of Jesus, the world is still
waiting to see an overflowing of love
instead of hatred, violence and discon-
tent. The world is still an arena of hope
not of despair. The world is still the world
where Jesus will send His Advocate. If
you search the word “love” in the
internet, you will find in the results page
at least 1,890,000,000 pages or definitions
of love. This is more than 1/5 of the
world’s population. But it is never a guar-
antee that there is the same number in
this planet who are loving and caring.
As His followers we continue to pray
that we recognize His Spirit, despite the
seemingly blatant negative forces that
blind us to see Him. Today can be a spe-
cial day to us and to the Lord. We can
start keeping His commandment to Love
in the here and now of our lives.

Bo Sanchez

God is a happy God The Christ in

LET me describe to you a hard-headed, stub-
born-viewed, narrow-minded, obstinate-
thinking, stiff-necked man.
Two guys bump onto each other on the
street.
And one says, “Tom? Wow, Tom! My, you’ve
changed! You were so stout before, and now, you’re
soooooo thin! And you used to be short, but now
you’re incredibly tall. And my goodness, you were
so fair-skinned before, but you’re dark now! And
your clothes! You’ve changed your style! You’ve
changed soooooo much!”
The other guy says, “Uh, I’m sorry sir, but
I’m not Tom. My name is James.”
“Gosh!” exclaimed the first man, “You funny
boy! You’ve even changed your name!”
There are creatures like that in the world
today.
About 99.99% of the earth’s population, I
think.
They’ll insist on what they think, per-
ceive, and feel—no matter what reality is
Fr. Roy Cimagala
screaming at them.
Another example: Like I always believed I
was ugly. But all the girls around me keep
telling me I’m kinda good-lookin’. So what
do you think should I do? Be stubborn or
open to the truth?
Some may not like that example very much,
so I’m giving you another one.
Every time I see a gorgeous sunrise, or play
with a baby, or hear glorious music, or stand
on top of a mountain, or run on the beach, or
catch a child smile at me—I automatically
think that perhaps God must be having fun
at that particular moment.
I think: God must be a happy God! Laugh-
ing and having a grand time when He’s cre-
ating and recreating stuff.
Or why would He make those lovely
things?
That’s reality. It screams the truth to me!
“Uh, I’m sorry, but I’m not Tom. My name is
James.”
But you think I’d still believe the truth the
next day?
“Gosh, you funny boy! You’ve even
changed your name!”
For when I start my routine of the day, I
immediately forget all about my great dis-
covery. In the monotony of my existence, I
revert back to my programmed idea of who
God is, the image I carried in my brain since
I was a scared child spanked by my religion
teacher, scolded by a parish priest, and se-
verely warned to be silent in church by my
parents: Gray throne, long beard, long face,
angry eyes.
Suddenly, I’m uneasy with Him. Be-
cause He’s too serious. If I really want to
have fun, I’d do it when He’s not watch-
ing.
Too bad. ‘Cuz He wants to have fun with
me.
I wonder. When will I ever get real?
Please heal my stiff neck, Lord.
my life
By Ma. Luisa M. Lacson
JESUS CHRIST is the mainstream of my 43 years in the educa-
tion ministry as a Religion teacher. I developed deep FAITH
rendered true SERVICE and COMMITTED myself to follow
His teachings.
CHRIST is the source of my PEACE because His Father has
given me the power to experience it and to extend it to others.
The PEACE that is always with me wherever I go. Something
I can forget but cannot lose.
CHRIST is my salvation, my refuge and my protection. My
redeemer. My destiny. I always trust Him and I know I will
never be harmed.
CHRIST is in each beat of my heart, a new creation. He
always renews and refreshes my faith.
CHRIST must have been pleased on how I’ve been pro-
moting His name all these years allowing me to teach
minds, to touch hearts, to transform lives, to experience
Him among the little children, the youth, the educators,
the Couples for Christ, the Marriage Encountered
Couples, the catechists, the public school children and our
future teachers.
I practically experience Christ among all kinds of people;

The Pope in the US

POPE Benedict arrived for his
first visit to the US as Pope, re-
ceiving a warm, rousing wel-
come that spanned “from sea to
shining sea.”
But he also had to traverse
through tricky terrain and turbu-
lent oceans. Even if he had to say
big and challenging words, he
managed to show his simplicity
and gentleness. From a certain
angle, he looked like a lamb
amid wolves.
This papal visit is very signifi-
cant because the US is without
doubt the leading country in the
world. What happens there has
tremendous impact on the rest of
the world, not only politically,
but also spiritually, morally, cul-
turally.
I am sure that the Pope had this
in mind, and thus had to prepare
a suitable armory of messages to
infuse, if not resuscitate and heal
the wounded Christian spirit not
only in that land but also in the
whole globe.
First was the issue of clerical
sexual abuse which has caused
great pain on everyone. It was
very moving of him, amply
showing his humanity and spiri-
tuality, to apologize for this ugly
stain in the American Church.
He met with some of the vic-
tims and drew attention to his
paternal hurt and affection for
what happened to them. But he
did not get stuck there. He said
that the problem has to be seen
and resolved in the wider con-
text of everyone’s proper un-
derstanding of human sexual-
ity.
He encouraged and dared the
bishops to do their best to put a
stop to this highly scandalous
problem. He was happy to note
that “you have been able to adopt
more focused remedial and dis-
ciplinary measures and to pro-
mote a safe environment that
gives greater protection to young
people.”
He encouraged them to take
care also of priests. He made it
clear that it is far better to have
holy priests than to have many
priests.
His address to the bishops
summarized the main challenges
of the American Church today.
While praising the generosity,
vitality and creativity of the
Americans, he indicated the prob-
lems to be tackled.
Posing the question of how in
the 21st century can a bishop best
fulfill the call to “make all things
new in Christ,” and lead his
people to “an encounter with the
living God,” he enumerated the
difficulties.
First are the subtle forms of
secularism that make one incon-
sistent in his Christian life, pro-
fessing his beliefs in Church on
Sunday and then during the week
to promote business practices or
medical procedures contrary to
those beliefs.
Or to ignore or exploit the
poor, to promote sexual behav-
ior contrary to Catholic moral
teaching, or to adopt positions
that contradict the right to life of
every man from conception to
natural death.
He wanted the faith to perme-
ate every aspect of the people’s
lives, never treating it as solely a
private matter. He wanted it
lived in the public fora also.
Another problem are subtle
forms of materialism which, he
said, can easily focus on the
present perks at the expense of
the eternal life which Christ
promises in the age to come.
“It is easy to be entranced,” he
said, “by the almost unlimited
possibilities that science and tech-
nology place before us…This is
an illusion. Without God, our
lives are ultimately empty.”
“The goal of all our pastoral
and catechetical work, the object
of our preaching, the focus of our
sacramental ministry should be
to help people establish and nur-
ture that living relationship with
Christ,” he said.
He also mentioned the danger
of individualism, a corruption of
true freedom and autonomy. This
makes people forget their abid-
ing responsibilities towards oth-
ers.
He told the bishops to give
the laity a deep formation in
the faith so as to make it im-
pact on people’s lives and cul-
ture. He egged them to partici-
pate actively in public discus-
sions and in shaping cultural
attitudes, making use of the
media.
His speech to the UN also tack-
led many important topics, rang-
ing from human rights, defense
of life, international cooperation
and solidarity, etc.
It’s quite clear that the Pope has
defined for us the challenges we
have to face. Now we need to di-
gest his words, and start convert-
ing them into strategies, then to
action, and hopefully to life and
abiding culture.
the rich, the poor, the gifted, the underprivileged.
CHRIST revolves within and around me as I experience life
with others.
I teach Christ to the children in the manner of goodness
through cheerful dispositions at plays and storytelling. Ex-
amples of good behavior, kindness, loving and prayerful ar-
ticles.
I interact with the youth aside from my very own 5 children
(with the help of my husband).
Proclaim CHRIST’s name in our activities. We laugh to-
gether. Weep spontaneously. Smile inspiringly with them.
Learn happily together. Believing that Christ is part of all our
undertakings.
I facilitate at Bible readings and preside over religious
symposia. Conduct prayer groups meeting among
couples. Bring Christ’s teachings on how to keep their
married life together with CHRIST as the center of ev-
erything.
JESUS CHRIST is in my life with the catechists whose
focus are Christ’s love, sufferings, miracles and power.
Maintaining that we live Christ in us, so our flock in the
public schools will see Christ in us and receive Christ
from us.
My talks on Christ’s related subjects to different groups
carry the sincerity, the truthfulness, the zeal and impact of
Christ in me so I can make a difference in their lives as I bring
Christ to them.
I grow in delight with Christ. I observe His laws and
keep them with all my heart. I seek the path of Christ’s
commands. I turn to Him to teach me wisdom and enrich
my knowledge. My soul pines for His salvation. I hope
in His WORD. I reflect CHRIST in my daily thoughts,
words and actions. CHRIST provides me the lamp to my
path. I resolve to keep His decrees, my inheritance for-
ever. JESUS is my JOY, my LOVE, my INSPIRA-
TION.
This is JESUS CHRIST in my life. A long tale of experience
which I firmly believe that God the Father, all along let Christ’s
existence in me as I continue ... to LIVE JESUS IN MY HEART
FOREVER as I wish and pray that you too have Christ in your
life.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008 Social Concerns B7
By Fr. Shay Cullen

THERE was no comfort in the Philippine re-

port to the UN Human Rights Council in
Geneva last week for 14 year old Felix Avila,
Kalookan: Church of the Poor
emaciated, half-staved, brutalized, shocked By Fr. Rufino P. Yabut
and dazed as he was helped walk from be-
hind the bars of a police detention center in
Metro Manila. Like a skeletal survivor of THE Diocese of Kalookan was among the new Dioceses estab-
Auschwitz, he was helped walk on weak un- lished and disjoined from the Archdiocese of Manila at the in-
steady legs to a rescue van and away to free- stance of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, then the Metropolitan
dom. Archbishop of Manila, under the Papal Bull, issued June 28, 2003
Rescue, because it was as if he was released by Pope John Paul II. The new Diocese was canonically erected,
from the pains of hell to the joys of heaven. and His Excellency, Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., DD
Heaven was when they stopped at the first was formally installed as its First Bishop, on August 22, 2003.
restaurant and he devoured his first proper
meal in months. The Challenge
At that very time in Geneva, Philippine During the installation rites for Bishop Iñiguez, Cardinal Sin
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita was en- said that the “majority of the people living in this part of the
thusiastically reporting to the world and spe- metropolis are poor and needy. You have in your midst the
cifically to the UN Human Rights Council urban poor of Dagat-Dagatan, the fisherfolk of Navotas, and
(UNHRC) that the Philippine government the vendors and workers of Malabon.” His Eminence then posed
had an exemplary human rights record with this challenge to the new Diocese: “to become Church of the
a few failings that were being corrected. This, Poor”, which was likewise PCP II’s mandate.
despite the hundreds of unexplained sum-
mary executions, disappearances, arbitrary The “Poor” Indicators
detentions, torture and violations of The first task of the new Diocese was to attend to the poorest of
children’s rights and non-implementation of the poor in its midst. The Church set itself to be one with the
the laws protecting human rights. poor, helping the poor, training the poor to help themselves,
In the mind of some officials, compliance and to help one another. At the outset, we categorized the poor
with the international obligations to protect into three classes: those whose earnings are just enough for
human rights is satisfied and fulfilled by hav- them to get by in their daily needs, with nothing set aside for a
ing constitutional safeguards, implementing “rainy” day or any contingency such as, calamities, illness, etc.;
laws, declarations, executive orders and Su- those whose meager earnings are not enough for their daily
preme Court decisions. According to them, needs, constraining them to borrow or seek financial help; and
it seems, actual implementation is not neces- those with no earnings at all, depending on help from others,
sarily required because that is for the secu- especially from the Church. Ninety percent of the population of
rity forces to do. The officials say they don’t the Diocese falls under this category.
know who the violators are, they are not in-
vestigators, just reporters. When cross exam- Social Services and Development Ministry, Caritas Kalookan
ined they were amazed that anyone would (SSDM)
question the veracity of the report. To the SSDM falls the task of addressing the mandate of the
The cases of child abuse like that of Felix in diocese for the alleviation of the sufferings of its poor. As part
police stations or detention centers are fre- of its social services, SSDM responds to crisis situations, by way
quently explained by officials by saying ev- of emergency intervention in times of fire, typhoon, sudden
erything is changing for the better, the de- illness or death in the family. It attends to the immediate need
for food for the hungry, and medicine for the sick. To lessen the

A one-sided report
tention centers are transformed into happy
rehabilitation centers (change of signboards).
Such sparse economy with the truth, it being
in excessively short supply here, makes eye-
brows touch the ceilings.
Besides, the Philippine delegates were ea-
ger to announce that they recommended to
President Macapagal-Arroyo that the govern-
ment join the United Nations Operational
Protocol to the Convention against Torture
(OPCAT). This will be too late and since the
United Nations can do nothing anyway to
enforce compliance, except listen to fanciful
tales and self-glorifying reports, the proto-
col are useless.
The government panel did eagerly report
there was an 83% drop in summary execu-
tions of pastors, priests and political persons
in the past year. A very good news if true.
But the cutback in the number of being ex-
ecuted came about under intense interna-
tional pressure. So if government officials
take credit for reducing the numbers assassi-
nated by death squads by 83 percent they must
know who is behind the death squads and
ordered them to stop. Responsibility for the
killings and violations of human rights now
rests on government.
Felix is just 14. His hair is starting to fall
out. His skin is the white sickly pallor of a TB
patient. His human and civil rights were vio-
lated so frequently, so casually, so normally,
in such a manner as to tell the world that this
is just a normal routine treatment for sus-
pects and its nothing out of the ordinary. They
are always amazed when we express our
strong protests at the conditions and hard-
ships of the minors behind bars. They deny
and lie about the obvious, they ignore the
photographic evidence and testimony of wit-
nesses.
Now we are barred from visiting these
detention jails like the Manila Youth Recep-
tion Center where conditions of the minors
are awful. The photographic evidence can be
viewed on www.preda.org. I requested an
official of another detention center for mi-
nors to give me the names and photos of the
guards so that their victims, now rescued,
could identify their abusers, torturers and file
charges. However I got no answer and no
names.
Some think we who are working for hu-
man rights are anti-government when in fact
we are pro-people and against abuse. There
are many good dedicated people in govern-
ment who detest the violations of rights and
want a better Philippines, we work with
them. The one-sided human rights report
could be well balanced by the testimony of
Felix and thousands like him.
effects of poverty, it provides livelihood programs and micro
financing schemes.
In the realm of social development, SSDM offers the following:
1. Savings and Loan Value Education (SALVE). Gives assis-
tance to those in need by way of micro financing in the form of
loans to small entrepreneurs, at easy terms.
2. HAPAGASA. Each parish has one such feeding program for
the poor, which gives one meal for five times a week for six
months per batch of 30-50 malnourished children. Their parents
are educated in the process.
3. Scholarship program. Gives financial assistance to deserv-
ing poorest of the poor in line with set criteria. Tutoring is
offered. Also helps the poor to avail themselves of TESDA, schol-
arship program of the government.
4. Pamilihang Agape. Commits itself to make available to par-
ishes and parishioners, especially the poor of the diocese, their
commodities needs: for foodstuff, office and school supplies at
much lower prices than what they ordinarily pay in other mar-
ket sources.
5. Organizing communities. SSDM helps parishes organize
their respective SSDM Chapters to plan, act and find ways to
take care of/help the poor of the parish.
6. Special projects. There are the other Ministries under SSDM,
which also help the poor within their respective jurisdictions:
Prison Ministry, Ministry on Migrants and Urban Poor Minis-
try.
In sum, helping the poor involves addressing immediate needs,
and providing programs to take care of long term needs and to
alleviate or lessen the effects of poverty. But what we really aim at
is not just to meet immediate needs, not just to lessen, but also,
ultimately, to totally eliminate poverty. It might take a long
time under present circumstances where the prevalence of cor-
ruption in society deprives the poor of funds, which may other-
wise be channeled for their benefit. The poor are always the
first to be affected.
There is much to be done but much needed resources are
inadequate. The poor are special to the Heart of Jesus. The poor we
shall always have with us. We trust that generous hearts will share
their bounty for the sake of God’s “little ones”: the poor, the
sick, and the afflicted.

Diocese / B3 Western / B4

interest for the sake of the common good;
To be a Church, which, grateful for the
natural resources and the beauty of Nature
with which God has gifted Aklan, works to
preserve, restore, and develop these gifts
for the glory of their Creator and the suste-
nance and enjoyment of His people.
Mission
To achieve this vision, we, accompa-
nied by prayer, will embark on a re-
newed integral evangelization whose
aims are salvation and liberation and
whose chief means are catechesis, wor-
ship, and social apostolate.
As a Church of communion and par-
ticipation, we stress the important role
of the laity and the youth in the fulfill-
ment of this mission. They are not only
objects of pastoral care but are also sub-
jects of evangelization. By virtue of Bap-
tism and Confirmation, the laity are em-
powered with basically the same mis-
sion as the Church’s pastors.
Commitment
We—Bishop, priests, religious, laity,
and youth—commit ourselves to imple-
ment the spirit and decrees of the First
Diocesan Synod of Kalibo in the light of
the Second Plenary Council of the Phil-
ippines. Accompanied by Señor Santo
Niño, Mary, the Queen of the Most Holy
Rosary, and Saint John the Baptist, we
will journey and work together towards
the transformation of Aklan into God’s
Kingdom of justice, love, joy, and peace.
As the Diocese marked the 10th anni-
versary of the promulgation of its first
Synod within the occasion of its 30th foun-
dation celebration as a Diocese on No-
vember 14 – 16, 2006, a Diocesan Pasto-
ral Assembly was held in Santo Niño
Seminary. Such a pastoral gathering
aimed at assessing the extent of the
implementation of the synodal decrees
in all aspects of the faith-life experience
of the people and formulating a five-year
diocesan pastoral plan with the shared
hope that by so doing, this whole par-
ticular Church—journeying, growing
and maturing altogether—would be
more able to respond to the signs of the
challenging times ahead.
workers, and strong in its implementa-
tion of the Billings Ovulation Method
having numerous BOM teachers in the
parishes. It has a strong group of volun-
teer counselors for women and children
victims of violence, in the home or else-
where.
Diocese of Antique is an example of
what a Family Life Apostolate network-
ing with the BECs is and how the cat-
echists can work hand-in-hand with
family life.
Fr. Jevic Pendon of the Diocese of
Romblon, being assigned to family life
just recently has expressed his predica-
ment in encountering the many concerns
of the family and life. The diocese has
no lay/couple coordinator. His positive
approach, one of hopefulness is still his
best weapon.
The Diocese of Kalibo, relatively
new as a commission, has taken steps
laws and programs.
No concrete steps have been arrived
at to address the various advocacies, i.e.
meeting with local lawmakers.
The one big question the delegates
would have wanted to address was – are
our programs and projects “reaching”
our intended target – grassroots fami-
lies? The delegates were hopeful that
they will be better equipped to respond
to more concerns by next meeting. In
the meantime, each diocese can start/
continue their missions to defend life
and for more evangelized and evange-
lizing families.
Dr. Bullecer updated the assembly on
the D.E.A.T.H.S. bills in Congress and
the Senate, and the disturbing news that
these are being lobbied in the Local Gov-
ernment Units, some having already
passed anti-life bills on reproductive
health.

CBCPMonitor Name _________________________________________________ to strengthen its inadequate diocesan The delegates pledged to unite, share
core group through Family Life Con- resources and information to be more
(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
gresses, Pre-Cana and NFP training effective in their ministry.
seminars. Highlight of the summit was the 1st
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Mailing Address ________________________________________ Friday Eucharistic Celebration as thanks-
Commonalities giving for the gift of Life and Family.
________________________________________________________ Common to all the Dioceses is that all A directory of FL directors and their
The CBCP Monitor is published have ongoing Pre-Cana seminars and its couple/coordinators were made avail-
Phone No.: _________ Fax No.: ________ E-mail: ___________ goal of organizing the Family Life min- able to enable easier communication.
fortnightly by the CBCP Media Of-
fice, with editorial and business of-
Mode of Payment istry in their parishes. The diocesan level, The summit, held for the first time in
though perceived to be still inadequate, the region became a reality through the
fices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Check/PMO enclosed Cash Payment is strongly motivated, enough to con- initiative of Jaro CFL director Fr. Abing
Intramuros, Manila. PO Box 3601, (Payable to: CBCP Communications Development Foundation Inc.) tinue its mission as a commission. Tutana, who also facilitated the event,
1076 MCPO Potentials of a more organized and partnered by Kalibo CFL director, Fr.
• Domestic responsive family life ministry espe- Josue Escalona as host, and inspired by
________________________ cially in the parishes are enormous in the enthusiasm of Dr. Rene Josef
1 Year Php 500.00
Signature building the local church communities Bullecer, HLI Pilipinas.
2 Years Php 900.00
or BECs, in evangelization process and The group agreed to meet annually,
• Foreign: Asia PLEASE SEND TO: in combating threats to the family, es- preferably after Holy Week. On 2009,
1 Year US$ 55.00 CBCP Monitor, P.O. Box 3601, Manila, Philippines pecially those from the national and lo- Cebu City will host the next summit,
• All Other US$ 80.00 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines | Tel (632) 404-2182 • Telefax (632) 404-1612 cal government’s population control courtesy of Dr. Bullecer of HLI-Pilipinas.
Or e-mail this at cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.com
 CBCP Monitor
B8 Entertainment Vol. 12 No. 9
April 28 - May 11, 2008

M or al A s s es s m en t Technical
Assessment
Abhorrent
Disturbing Poor
Acceptable Below average
Wholesome Average
Exemplary Above average
Excellent

Title: 88 Minutes hunches, his gay assistant mystery-thriller currently

Cast: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt,
Leelee Sobieski, Amy
Brenneman, William
Forsythe, Deborah Kara
Unger, Neal McDonough,
Leah Cairns
Director: Jon Avnet
Screenplay: Gary Scott Thomp-
son
Cinematography: Denis Lenoir
Music: Ed Shearmur
Editor: Tim Nordquist
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Running Time: 108 min.
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 18
and above
AN ASIAN girl is found dead
in a Seattle, Washington flat
she shares with her twin sis-
ter Janie Cates (Tammy Hui):
methodically killed, she is
hung upside down by a rope,
cut by a scalpel and left to
bleed to death. Serial killer
Jon Forster (Neal
McDonough) is convicted on
the strength of the testimony
of world-renowned forensic
psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm
(Al Pacino). Insisting on his
innocence, Forster swears to
take revenge on Gramm, all
the while hoping to get par-
don. On the eve of Forster’s
execution by lethal injection,
similar killings occur using
Forster’s modus operandi,
pointing to the possibility
that they have indeed impris-
oned the wrong guy. Worse,
victims include women
whom the womanizing
Gramm has bedded. Then
Gramm gets a mysterious call
warning him he has 88 min-
utes to live. This sets the
gutsy psychiatrist—who is a
university professor and car-
ries an FBI ID card, being a
consultant for the agency—on
a lone hunt aided only by his
Shelly Barnes (Amy
Brenneman) and, later on, his
female student Kim
Cummings (Alicia Witt) who
has a huge girlish crush on
him. But soon, even his FBI
buddy Special Agent Frank
Parks (William Forsythe) is
ready to arrest him, when
Gramm’s “DNA is all over the
place,” pointing to him as the
killer. They have good reason
to believe so, since Gramm
could be acting on revenge
himself—he lost his 12-year
old sister to a serial killer
employing the same method
as the convicted Forster.
If 88 Minutes was never
meant to be a technically im-
peccable movie, but rather in-
tended to keep the viewers
on the edge of their seats, it
hits its mark. It captures your
attention with enough ele-
ments piled one on top of the
other, and piques your imagi-
nation and curiosity so much
that your are left with no
time to question the loose
ends, the jumpy sequence of
events, the implausibility of
certain developments, etc.
Thanks to the arresting pres-
ence of Al Pacino, 88 Minutes
turns out to be 108 minutes
of gripping suspense. Those
who invested in the movie
were on target in casting
Pacino and banking on his
reputation to carry the movie
through. Particularly in the
Philippines, where the aver-
age viewer is more emo-
tional than intellectual and
therefore couldn’t care less
about the filmography of di-
rector Jon Avnet or screen-
writer Gary Scott Thompson
or its less-than-famous ac-
tors, something as engaging
as 88 Minutes (with Pacino
onscreen almost the whole
time) is bound to have longer
DVD shelf life than any other
showing. No matter what the
more erudite First World crit-
ics say about Pacino’s “lack-
luster performance” or
stooping to accept B-grade
movies at this point in his ca-
reer, the fact remains that as
a 66-year old forensics expert
harboring guilt over his
sister’s fate, Pacino delivers
perfectly well. His is not lack-
luster performance—rather,
it is a soulful portrayal of a
lackluster persona. Some-
times, film critics who know
too much must learn to sepa-
rate the actor from the role.
We cannot imagine Richard
Gere or Tom Hanks giving
life to Dr. Jack Gramm as ef-
fectively as Pacino with his
hangdog looks does. As for
the “middle-age mediocrity”
that critics claim Pacino is
caught in, see for yourself—
Pacino is Pacino, he can take
on any role he damn well
pleases and get away with it;
he neither needs nor depends
on critics’ judgment to prove
his acting caliber.
88 Minutes is not a movie
for the queasy. Gore flows
freely, and close-ups of the
serial killer’s modus oper-
andi would make you want to
close your eyes for obvious
reasons. However, the subject
matter and content—rape and
murder, conviction of the in-
nocent, respect for the human
body, womanizing, ethics in
the teaching profession,
etc.—provide rich and
thought-provoking topics for
discussion particularly with
young adults. Despite its
technical flaws, overshad-
owed and trivialized by the
lead actor’s convincing depic-
tion of the main character, 88
Minutes in the end gives the
guilty what he or she de-
serves, and ensconces justice
in its right place.

Title: Pathology
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia,
Michael Weston,
Alyssa Milano,
Lauren Lee Smith,
Johnny Whitworth
Director: Marc
Schoelermann
Buhay Parokya
By Bladimer Usi
Producers: Gary Gilbert, There are three missing articles in this cartoon. Find a teady bear, Philippine flag and coconut shell.
Gary Lucchesi, Mark
Neveldine, Tom
Rosenberg, Brian
Taylor, Skip
Williamson
Screenwriters: Mark
Neveldine, Brian
Taylor
Music: Johannes Kobilke
Editor: Todd E. Miller
Genre: Drama/ Crime/
Suspense
Cinematography:
Ekkehart Pollack
Distributor: Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer
Location: Los Angeles,
California, USA
Technical Assess-
ment: .5
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For
mature viewers 18
and above

TOPNOTCH medical student Ted Gray
(Milo Ventimiglia) has just graduated
from medical school and joins one of the
most prestigious hospital-schools of Pa-
thology as resident-intern. Equipped
with natural wit and intelligence, Ted
gets the attention of an elite group of
interns. Afraid to be alienated, he makes
friends with them and he is welcomed
though reluctantly at first. Unknown to
him, he has become a pawn in their dan-
gerous, morbid, after-hours extracur-
ricular activities at the morgue. He is
then challenged and seduced to join their
game of committing the perfect unde-
tectable murder. Once trapped, Ted’s life
and love will be jeopardized. Can he
still quit the game before he or his loved
ones become the next victim?
Pathology may be just another B
movie at the onset but the tightness of
the story and impeccable acting of the
characters make the film pass off as a
good crime-suspense-drama. The movie
is able to take its audience to the world
of pathology, a world least explored by
many, without much blood and gore.
Such approach allows the audience to
imagine and look at the said field of
medicine with objectivity. However, the
storyline tends to be shallow and thin
with the characters’ motivations left un-
justified which are perhaps attributed to
the plot’s lack of a back story. But then
the film, technical wise, is quite able to
meet its objective of putting a certain
amount of suspense and mystery amidst
the soap-operatic plot so it is still a good
watch.
It is said in the movie that Pathology
is a window to God for doctors see the
perversion and corruption of the human
flesh, although unnatural and violent,
to determine the cause of death. How-
ever, when such window is abused by
malicious minds, danger follows. The
movie works around this premise but
the visuals and plotlines leave the audi-
ence with disturbing views about the
preservation of life. The morality play
in the movie has posed more questions
than answers. In a dog-eat-dog world,
should one always conform to what is
popular over what is good? The charac-
ters who have committed sin are all pun-
ished in the movie but apparently, there
is no remorse from seen in them as they
commit crimes of both ambition and
passion. Thus, the film in its entirety is
morally disturbing. There is violence,
nudity, gore, desecration of human
body, pre-marital sex, lesbianism, incest,
drugs and alcohol. Although done in
context and good taste, these can still
offend sensibilities and may influence
the minds of the very young. Such mes-
sages are appropriate only for a mature
audience.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 3
February 4 - 17, 2008
C1

Ugnayan The News Supplement of

Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc.

A woman after God’s

By ELLEN K. MALANYAON
own heart
The Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD), a family ministry of the
Couples for Christ, held their 15th International Conference last April
18-20 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, SBMA,
Zambales. The theme for this year’s Conference was “A WOMAN
AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART”.
Over 3,500 delegates attended the HOLD ICON. Previously
named as HOLD International Leaders Conference (ILC), the Con-
ference has assumed a new name as HOLD International Confer-
ence so that all members, not only leaders, were encouraged to
attend.
Emerging from the CFC crisis of 2007, members converged for
the event more united in spirit and in service. A large number of
delegates traveled from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Some 78 In- love even in the most difficult of circumstances. The third session
ternational HOLD delegates came from different countries (Europe, “Love Hurts” was a zarzuela showing hurts and pains through
North America, Middle East, Oceania and Asia). The CFC Interna- music and songs led by Tootsie Lopez.
tional Council members (with their wives), other CFC leaders, and Malou Reyes of Canada gave the talk “Love Conquers”. She
the ICON Committee Teams, formed part of the crowd that filled up spoke about how love conquers our sinfulness, hurts and pains,
the Convention center. It was definitely an SRO event! fear, biases and prejudices. Didi Galsim then challenged the del-
It took some three long months to prepare for the event. Differ- egates in the final session of “A Woman After God’s Own Heart”
ent committees were tasked to take care of the program and the inviting them to carry out God’s wish – for them to abide in Christ,
talks, the venue and the production. Different groups were in charge walk by the Holy Spirit and love others as God loves us. Each was
of the accommodation, making sure that everything was provided to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
for from medical needs, food and other logistics. The excitement Msgr. Crisostomo Cacho celebrated mass on Sunday morning
grew as the date of the event fast approached. As adrenalin kicked and spoke about belonging to a spiritual house and how people
in, it was full speed ahead for the organizing committee. are the living stones of God’s creations — each uniquely different
On D-day itself, buses and vans brought in the delegates in huge from the other. He exhorted everyone to be tolerant of each other.
numbers. The affair on Friday afternoon opened with a mass cel- The conference ended with a Praisefest. Special Awards were
ebrated by Rev. Fr. Roque Villanueva from the Diocese of Iba, given to Singapore (Most Organized Delegation), Misamis Occi-
Zambales. His homily on the gospel for the day encouraged the dental (Most Inspiring Delegation), Laguna (Biggest Provincial Del-
need to emulate women of the world as potential dwelling places egation), West C (Biggest Metro Manila Delegation), and West A
of life especially when they carry their unborn children in their (First to reach target allocation). The special award called “Faithful
wombs. One” was given to Eileen Lim of Singapore, Linda Hernandez of
The program that evening was aptly called “Crazy About Love”. Brunei and Baby Cariquitan of USA for having attended the HOLD
Regions from all over the Philippines and abroad showcased the International Conference for 5 consecutive years.
different emotions about love which they presented through mu- Eileen Lim, from Singapore had this to say,”…we were touched
sic. Love songs in different dialects and some nostalgic songs sent by God in different ways at the HOLD Icon, thank you for the beau-
the Handmaids crooning with ‘mucho gusto’. tiful memories. God is loving and merciful. He has blessed us with
Saturday and Sunday were focused on the different inspirational the HOLD community.” Girlie Schramm from Germany said, “It
talks on love. The first session, “Love Makes Us One” by Bernie was my first international conference and I wish this to be a habit,
Cuevas, talked about the CFC global vision, the HOLD Vision and if the good Lord permits.” Everyone left the conference with high
the HOLD Mission Statements likening a Christian community to spirits fired up to love one another and definitely inspired to be
a human body which had different parts with different functions women after God’s own heart.
designed by God to complement one another but
still one body.
Bel Liboro spoke about the various lives of saints
in the second session entitled “Love is …”. Each CFC INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL STATEMENT
participant was reminded on how they should be
our models – ordinary people who show us how to April 18, 2008

Dear Brethren:

The origins of We thank all of you for your continued faithfulness to our CFC life and mission.
We thank you most especially for the many messages of support and concern that
you have sent during this new challenge in our community life.
We refer to the news story that appeared in ABS-CBN News Online based

Couples for Christ

by Zeny Gimenez and Marivie Dalman
This will be the last in the series about
the early origins of Couples for Christ.
When we began this story, the inten-
tion was not to pit one side against the
other or generate even more conten-
tious issues than our community al-
ready faces. We simply wanted to tell
the truth. In the interest of fairness, we
wanted to hear from those who, for 15
long years, had stood silently by while
only one perspective of our early his-
tory was told. This series has allowed
the other side to be heard now, at a cru-
cial time in our community life.
Is it by God’s design? We will never
know. What we do know is this: In the
pursuit of truth, we discovered a great
story. This is it! We tell it now, to the
best of our abilities.
If this series had raised more ques-
tions than it tries to answer, we sin-
cerely apologize. History, after all, is
only a series of perspectives that only
(part 3)
attains clarity when seen from the van-
tage point of distance and time. Per-
haps those questions will be answered
in time, perhaps not. Perhaps we are
all simply being asked to look at the
facts and to relate those facts to our own
lives. They are not meant to confuse or
disorient us, but to lead us to a more
committed life with the one who we say
we are FOR… Christ.
In the pursuit of historical research,
there is a tendency to get swamped in
the minute details. We found ourselves
wading through reams of materials,
most of them unsolicited. But the ones
that mattered, the facts that we even-
tually published, were those that we
actively solicited because Ang Ligaya
ng Panginoon Community (LNP), the
only true source of the facts, was not
initially inclined to provide them. They
only relented when we urged that
Couples for Christ needed to hear their
side.
Even after 15 years, the people we
spoke to, clearly still felt the pain
caused by the events of 1993. But the
telling of the truth and the catharsis
of finally being able to speak out, ap-
pear to be pointing the way to true
healing and reconciliation.
In the last meeting that the authors
had with Vic Gutierrez, together with
Joe and Babylou Tale, what shone
through was the spirit of genuine rec-
onciliation. Joe was led to declare that
this is the start of healing for both
communities. He predicted a closer
relationship between CFC and LNP
based on the shared mission of re-
newal and of reaching out to others.
The unraveling of the story…
January 1991, after almost 10 years
of serving as the head of CFC, Vic
yielded the overall leadership to Fr
Herb Schneider. He was very busy
serving in several areas as a leader in
Ligaya. Frank Padilla was then the ex-
ecutive director of CFC and also
served as the Coordinator of the
North District. The rest of the CFC
council were; Tony Meloto, Bobby
Pilar, Rouquel Ponte, and Arben
Visenio. CFC membership was about
7,000 couples; larger than LNP and all
its ministries combined.
There were many requests from
various parishes for CFC to conduct
a Christian Life Program. CFC could
only accede to a few due to a lack of
trained leaders. It had to ‘borrow’
leaders from Ligaya to accommodate
these requests. Problems started to
crop up, as Ligaya members had dif-
ficulty in balancing their schedule
between service in CFC and Ligaya
activities. CFC members were still in
the so-called ‘underway’ phase un-
dergoing leadership training.
among others, on a letter that Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifi-
cal Council for the Laity of the Vatican, sent to Joe Tale last March 11, 2008. We
wish to immediately assure you that this news story is NOT a Vatican release.
This was written by a local reporter, with an unfortunate slant inimical to CFC.
We have accordingly written to ABS-CBN News Online, a copy of which was
previously circulated.
This letter was part of a continuing dialogue between Joe Tale (and the CFC
International Council) and the Cardinal on the matter of how CFC can more fully
live out its life and mission, and supposed to be a private communication to the
CFC International Council. The dialogue began way back in August 2007, after
the International Council wrote the Cardinal to inform him of the results of the
elections. This was an act of courtesy in view of the fact that CFC is an interna-
tional private association of the faithful, approved by the Vatican as such in 2005.
The item of Cardinal Rylko’s letter cited by the news story (i.e. partnership
with companies distributing contraceptives), has been the subject of consulta-
tions which the CFC International Council held with various pastors of the Phil-
ippine church, including Cardinal Rosales, even before we went to the Vatican.
We asked the difficult questions, but the answers we got have been essentially
the same.
Joe Tale and Rouquel Ponte then visited the Cardinal in March 2008, seeking
his guidance on the conflict that visited our community in 2007. The Cardinal
was well-informed of the circumstances of the conflict, and knew that there were
two groups now using the name Couples for Christ. The Cardinal was most
concerned about accusations that CFC was veering away from its life and mis-
sion, particularly because of Gawad Kalinga’s partnerships with pharmaceutical
companies.
The IC assured the Cardinal that:
1. CFC has not and will not veer away from its vision and mission. Even while
we are active in the social dimension of the gospel, our work in evangelization
and family renewal have always been continuing.
2. The partnerships were entered into in good faith and in good heart. They
involved capacity-building, particularly in the area of health care, and were defi-
nitely not about distribution of contraceptives in the GK sites.
3. The pharma companies concerned do not manufacture contraceptives in the
Philippines and had in fact withdrawn whatever limited stocks from the Philip-
pine market.
On the other hand, the Cardinal maintained that:
1. CFC is under the guidance of the Church in issues of faith and morals.
2. Being pro-life includes not partnering with companies distributing contra-
ceptives, even if such partners do not in fact distribute them in the Philippines.
3. Quoting from the letter of Cardinal Rylko’s letter to Joe Tale (March 11,
2008) he said, “We urge that you prepare and spread in the newspapers in the
Philippines and on your website a well thought and clear public declaration rec-
ognizing the erroneous steps taken. It is recommendable that you prepare it
with the help of some Bishops and ecclesiastical Advisor, so as to benefit the
healing and growth of your organization. This open apology will help to clear
the confusion among the faithful. Of course, your decision to stop receiving this
type of funding will help recover the good standing of your association Couples
for Christ.”
The IC submitted to the Church’s stand. Although we argued that our inten-
tions and actions were noble and that we saw things differently (no scandal in
the partnership), we also understood the clergy’s perception that out partner-
ship caused scandal among the faithful. Moreover, we expressed initially that
we were not in favor of a public apology, but in obedience and in faith, although
with sadness in our hearts, we obeyed. The IC has always advocated a posture

Origins / C3 CFC / C2
Vic and Agnes Gutierrez with Joe and Babylou Tale
 C2 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 3
February 4 - 17, 2008

by Joe Tale, CFC Executive Director

God’s healing love

I take this opportunity to praise God and share a very personal expe-
rience of God’s healing love and His hand in the concrete circum-
stances in our lives. Praised be to Him, the author of life!
My wife Babylou and I had planned to go to Baguio City the last
weekend of March. I was scheduled to give a talk for the CFC
Disciples Weekend. I decided to cancel our trip when I got an
invitation from Melo Villaroman Jr to also give the same talks in
the Disciples Weekend scheduled in Singapore. I accepted his in-
vitation when I found out he was tasked to give all five talks. We
were able to excuse ourselves since the Baguio weekend already
had the support of three IC brothers. Our flight was booked on the
28th of March. It was a chance for Babylou to have a break. She was
thrilled with the idea of celebrating her birthday in Singapore on
the 30th of March.
The morning of our departure, I went to the center to finish up
some work. I hadn’t planned on staying long, but ended up leaving
around 11:30 am. I had to fetch Babylou at home in Mandaluyong. I
knew my schedule was tight but I was fairly confident we could
make it.
Traffic was bad. At some point it just didn’t make sense to con-
tinue. We considered turning back, but decided to give it a try even
as Babylou’s disappointment started to set in. We got to the airport at
2:15 pm and needless to say the counter was closed. The plane was
leaving in 15 minutes. We pleaded with the supervisor and we were
surprised he agreed. We rushed to the gates and made it to our flight
on time.
I was not quite feeling well while we were on board. It felt like flu
was setting in. When we got to Singapore, the fever set in with a fury.
I took some medicine, had a sponge bath and went to bed. I woke up
feeling rather weak the next morning.
Patrick and Yvonne, our CFC leaders in Singapore, came over
and brought me to a clinic nearby. The doctor prescribed some
medicines which I took. I nursed my fever over a light lunch, and
proceeded to the venue. I laid down on a bench in the cafeteria
outside the auditorium and started sweating profusely. Feeling
somehow better, I just changed my shirt and felt strong enough to
deliver Talk 3, “As Jesus Loved” and Babylou also did some shar-
ing. I begged off from the rest of the talks because at that point I
really felt very weak.
During the break, some brothers, who knew I had just been to
another tropical country, suggested that aside from getting a medi-
cal check up, I should request to be tested for malaria. After the
conference we headed straight to Mt. Alvernia, a Catholic hospi-
tal. After two long hours of waiting, the blood test confirmed the
worst: I was positive for malaria and I had to be confined right
away.
When we got to my hospital room, it was a few minutes past
midnight of March 30 and I felt terrible. What a “birthday gift” I was
giving my wife an evening in a hospital room many miles away
from home!
My first three days in the hospital was really bad. I had intermit-
tent high fever. I had no appetite at all and I was constantly vomiting.
My platelet count was steadily decreasing, finally reaching a low of
51. My potassium and blood sugar were also precariously low and I
could not take any of the awful tasting oral medicine. I could hardly
sleep because of the numerous tests being administered round the
clock. I had IV connections in both arms which made it difficult to
move about.
All this time, Melo and Nini Villaroman and the CFC members in
Singapore were generous with their support. They would take turns
visiting, praying over me and keeping Babylou company. Eddie and
Angie Low graciously accompanied Babylou to hear Mass during
her birthday. A nun in the hospital gave me daily communion. Fr.
Steven, CFC Singapore Spiritual Director, gave me the anointing of
the sick.
Dr. Lam, a specialist in infectious dis-
eases who was attending to me, gave us
regular updates on how the malaria para-
site count steadily decreased, and how
my platelet count was improving. I was
given Ensure to sustain me since it was
the only food I could take. I knew my
appetite had partially returned when I
requested Melo to get me a charbroiled
burger. I could finish only a fourth of it,
but it was a good sign.
It was only later, after I had gotten bet-
ter, that Babylou and I discovered the ex-
tent of the danger I was in. I had the deadly
strain of malaria, Falciparum. This strain
was fatal! I later learned that it attacks the
brain, liver, kidney and other vital organs.
Dr. Lam has a long list of patients with
widespread malaria who eventually went
into coma and died. Quite a few were hos-
pitalized for months undergoing dialysis
because their kidneys were affected. I was
evidently an exception. Babylou and I
didn’t know any of these.
Former Defense Secretary Rene de Villa,
a CFC brother who happened to be in
Singapore, came to visit me in the hospi-
tal. He narrated to me his bout with ma-
laria when he was still active in the mili-
tary. He told us about other soldiers in his group who died on the our CFC community. This is definitely another lease in life for me,
third day of their illness. and I will use it to serve and glorify our God even more!
I truly praise and thank God that He brought us to Singapore, that
He used fellow CFC brothers to advise me to have the malaria test.
God brought me there to get the best care and the best medicine. I CFC / C1
learned from Joe Yamamoto, a CFC brother who is a physician, that
we only have the oral form of medicine in the Philippines. The of humility and obedience to the Church. While we express our
intravenous type of medicine is not available locally. Had I stayed in views and justify them, in the end, we obey authority, consistent
Manila or gone to Baguio, I would have in all likelihood just consid- with our own culture in CFC and our vision statement which in-
ered it the ordinary flu. I had the diagnosis and the treatment just in cludes the phase “one with the Catholic Church.”
the nick of time. God’s timing is perfect! And so we obeyed. Last April 7, 2008, we published a full-page
God provided for all my needs. After my discharge from the hos- ad in the Philippine Star. The IC is of the belief that this was part of
pital, I also had the best place to recuperate. Babylou and I were our governance responsibility of safeguarding the oneness of our
invited by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, Amb. Belen Anota community’s mission with the church. It is unfortunate that our
and her husband Jun to stay with them. Both are CFC members. God detractors are now using this gesture of obedience and commit-
bless their hearts! ment to our Catholic faith to try to discredit us. We urge all of you
I would like to thank my angels – Melo and Nini Villaroman to be steadfast. God is testing our humility and obedience. He is
and all the CFC brethren in Singapore for all their love and sup- asking us to make the sacrifice of loving even those who seek to
port. I am so grateful for the care that was given to me by Dr. Lam destroy us. There are many things we do not understand as we
and the medical and nursing staff of Mt. Alvernia Hospital. I also journey through this life but when Church authority, we obey, con-
thank my family, my two daughters Vida and Rica, our son in law fident that our quiet acceptance of His will shall open the flood-
Jon Hizon and his parents Bing and Ellen and all of you brothers gates of His graces.
and sisters in the CFC global family from around the world who We assure everyone that we will not waiver from our commit-
prayed and offered novenas and masses for my healing and recov- ment to love and care for the poor. We continue to be guided by
ery. I also thank the brethren from FFL and my relatives and friends our Mission statement – “Building the Church of the Home and
who likewise offered their prayers. Heaven was definitely stormed Building the Church of the Poor.”
with your prayers. I am sure the Lord heard you and healed me of We exhort you to pray for our community as we weather this
my disease. storm. Once again, it is time to remind ourselves that our God has
I especially honor my wife Babylou who showered me with her given us a wonderful message, one that will refine us into better
sacrificial love. She was indeed the “Chief Nurse” who kept me com- servants and pastors – “Love one another as I have loved you.”
pany 24/7. This is our beacon and guide as we forge ahead in our vision and
All thanksgiving, all glory and honor I give to our loving God, our mission.
greatest Healer, who arranges all the circumstances of our lives so
we can fully experience Him! God bless us all.
Babylou claims she got the best birthday gift from God, after all.
The early detection and treatment of my malaria, in a very real way, CFC INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
allowed me to feel God’s love, love from my family and love from

Philippine Scenes and Wonders by Joe Yamamoto

Philippine Missions Director
International Council Member

Being one with the Catholic

Church
CFC’S establishment in 1981 sig-
nalled the birth of a community
that eventually became one of the
more dynamic Catholic charis-
matic organizations in the world.
Fr. Herb Schneider, S.J. initially
oversaw the birth process of a
community that has committed
itself to the vision of Families in
the Holy Spirit Renewing the
Face of the Earth.
While there have been many
organizations and movements
in the long history of the
Church, CFC is one of those that
continue to review its evolution-
ary process while responding to
the challenges and opportuni-
ties of the rapidly changing
times. A very important mile-
stone for the community was the
permanent recognition given it
by the Vatican in 2005 as a pri-
vate lay association. This came
after a preliminary five-year pe-
riod of waiting during which
CFC’s status was one of tempo-
rary recognition. Nevertheless, it
embraced the triple task of evan-
gelization, family life renewal
and the work of total Christian
liberation even when its status
was ad experimentum.
By 2007, it became clearer that
despite problems that con-
fronted the community, our ori-
gin and direction needed to be
embodied in the expanded vi-
sion where CFC’s being “One
with the Catholic church” is
emphasized. The statement
does not pay mere lip service to
unity with the Church; the com-
munity has indeed embraced it
as a continual reminder of how
and with whom we are to serve.
To us in CFC, what does be-
ing one with the Catholic
Church denote? The following
come to mind:
1. Acclamation of its origin
and life- From its humble be-
ginnings in 1981 as an outreach
of another Catholic charismatic
community, Ligaya ng
Panginoon, the greatest major-
ity of CFC members were and
are Catholics. In this regard, it
reflected outright its funda-
mental orientation if not the
totality of its mission. Remem-
ber that the basic intent origi-
nally was to help impress upon
the husbands their roles and
enable them to act as priests of
the domestic church; they were
to bring the presence of God in
their family by presenting
Christ to the family, and the
family to Christ.
CFC leaders and members
were strengthened by their bet-
ter understanding of the roles of
prayer, the sacraments, and the
centrality of the Holy Mass in
the life of Catholics. General
assemblies, even from the early
stages of our community, began
with the Sacrifice of the Mass.
The prayer meetings, held in the
homes of members, were a fur-
ther affirmation of this union
with the Church. The emphasis
on prayer, on the insistence that
we are marked with the sign of
the Cross and therefore, all ac-
tivities must begin with the sign,
on the conscious effort to estab-
lish loving relationship with one
another – these are all hallmarks
of our faith.
2. Identity as a community
raised by God. - CFC’s human
founders are Catholics. As one
goes over and studies the his-
tory of Couples for Christ, the
pivotal roles played by Fr. Herb
Schneider, S.J., Vic Gutierrez
and others are very evident. (See
and read the Origins of CFC, CBCP
Monitor Ugnayan supplement for
March and April 2008).
The Vatican Statutes affirmed
and redefined our identity. The
global nature of CFC in no way
diluted its Catholic identity but
further enhanced it.
3. Defines its fidelity to the call
of the Church by responding to
the Great Commission. - As CFC
reach out to the Filipino migrant
communities around the world
initially, it became a natural pro-
gression to extend the invitation
to the CLPs to the nationals par-
ticularly as they have become
related to the originally Filipino
migrant communities, by reason
of intermarriages, birth or affin-
ity, because of work or associa-
tion. But the most important
consideration as well as realiza-
tion is that peoples of all races
and status have the same spiri-
tual needs and respond to pro-
grams, activities or communities
that address their yearnings.
CFC’s great commission has
extended to every corner of the
world, and now institutional-
ized by the creation of the Inter-
national Mission Office. The
IMO is in charge of more than
70 missionaries, single and mar-
ried, who have responded to the
call to mission and are now de-
ployed in many countries.
Because, CFC faithfully exer-
cises its role as evangelizers
borne by the distinctive identity
of members as disciples of
Christ, the connectedness to the
primary mission of the Church
is very clear. For much of its for-
mative years, CFC worked for
evangelization and family life
renewal but before the end of
the last century, it responded to
the call of the Church for total
Christian liberation, represented
by CFC’s thrust in social justice,
respect for life and work with
the poor.
4. Acts in line with the changes
brought about by Vatican II and
PCP II. — Not only does CFC
become active in the Church as
members but by and large, sup-
ports the work in the parish and
the dioceses. The presence of
CFC members in the parish en-
livens the worship and service
life in the local churches because
they become more involved in
the life of the parish by becom-
ing leaders of members of par-
ish pastoral councils, Eucharis-
tic ministers, lectors, choir
members and the like. The also
support pre-Cana activities and
reinforce charismatic life in mu-
sic and in worship.
Many parish priests have
been delighted to see the resur-
gence of interest in seminars
sponsored by the parish and in
many activities such as liturgi-
cal processions and feasts.
Members of Couples For
Christ, who before their re-
newed life, were nominal
Catholics attending only Sun-
day mass and with only a cur-
sory interest in the liturgy,
have become active partici-
pants. Many CFC members
have developed a very per-
sonal relationship with Jesus,
and have made daily Mass and
communion a part of their
lives.
Our oneness with our Mother
Church is indeed part and par-
cel of our being CFC, and has
been our guide from the start. It
isn’t a dictum that is now forced
upon us by virtue of the recent
circumstances. Our history, our
life and mission, our very exist-
ence is one of unity with our
pastors and with our Church.
To say the least, Couples for
Christ as a community has made
its contribution to effectively
change the landscape of the
Catholic Church in the Philip-
pines. With the intercession of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, we
continue to look forward as chil-
dren of God, and as families in
the Holy Spirit renewing the face
of the earth to build a church of
the home and a church of the
poor.
 CBCP
CBCPMonitor
Monitor
Vol. 12 No. 3
February 4 - 17, 2008
CFC – Youth for Christ – Timor Leste
“Foti sae gerasaun foun fiar na’in
sira nian!” – “Raising up a new
generation of believers!” This
pretty much sums up the amaz-
Because of its young popula-
tion, CFC has made great inroads
through Youth for Christ. YFC
now has an active membership
Ugnayan C3
Papal Nuncio F. Padilla
welcomes Joe Tale in
stoned passing cars, beat up
people, and burned houses.
Today they are active YFC
members and one of them is the

Papua New Guinea

ing things the Lord is just begin-
ning to accomplish in Timor
Leste. This country has a popu-
lation of more or less a million
people, 60% of which are youth.
It has had a tumultuous history
marked by violence, poverty
and political instability. It is ac-
tually an insignificant dot on the
map but for the Philippines,
Timor Leste is important because
it is the only other Catholic
country in Asia.
of about 500 youth, starting from
the first youth camp in Fuiloro,
Lospalos, a district in the eastern-
most tip of the island in 2002. The
youth are taking the lead to show
that God’s love demands our en-
tire heart, will, mind and that if
we let Him, He will totally
change our lives.
Stories from the youth in-
clude those of the rotunda
trouble-makers of Comoro dur-
ing the 2006. Back then they
youth head of the largest Dili
chapter, Comoro. There are
other, and simpler, stories of
quiet commitment like the
nameless, countless members
who brave the noonday heat,
walking to YFC activities be-
cause they don’t even have the
money for public transporta-
tion.
Youth for Christ, concentrated
in Dili, is present in 5 parishes
and 1 campus-based university.
It is also present in 5 districts
(provinces), mostly in the east-
ern half of the island. The year
2008 kicked off with the YFC
Couple Coordinators’ Training,
SHOUT (Summer House Train-
ing) of the Dili leaders and the
YFC Summit (Leaders’ Confer-
ence) all in the month of Janu-
ary. With growing passion in
their hearts, the youth of Timor
are starting to see hope despite
the confusion and instability of
their country’s situation. They
themselves have ceased to strike
with their fists and are now rais-
ing their hands up in praise.
Without a doubt, God will still
do “greater things than these”
in Timor.
Last March 1, 2008, Joe Tale
visited CFC of Papua New
Guinea to address the 200
delegates of the 2 nd Na-
tional Missions Conference.
He and two members of the
CFC Port Moresby Area
Council made a courtesy
call to His Excellency Arch-
bishop Francisco
Montecillo Padilla, the Pa-
pal Nuncio of Papua New
Guinea.
Joe Tale expressed his
gratitude to the papal nun-
cio for his support for CFC
in Papua New Guinea. He
also assured the Arch-
bishop that CFC will al-
ways work side by side
with the clergy, especially
in the area of family re-
newal and evangelization.
The Archbishop com-
mended CFC, saying: “I am (L-R) Bro. John Orea, Bro. Joe Tale, Archbishop Frank Padilla
happy with your work, CFC is and Bro. Abe Dela Cruz.
always welcome here. Please
continue what you are doing.”
– CFC PNG

Origins / C1

Towards the end of 1991, Frank met with Vic to
discuss CFC concerns and a proposal to establish
CFC as an independent community. It would en-
tail the spinning off the East district so that the
entire group could concentrate fully on CFC. Vic,
as his pastoral leader, advised him to put his pro-
posal in writing and submit it to Fr Herb. How-
ever Fr Herb and the ExCom took a while before
acting on the proposal.
By 1992, the atmosphere in the community was
rife with rumors and news about CFC’s plan to
separate. This was the backdrop of a major up-
heaval that led to the separation of CFC from LNP
in 1993.
Ominous days…
February 1993, Fr Herb met in a series of meet-
ings with Frank and some members of the CFC
council. After the meetings, on March 11, he wrote
a memo to Frank Padilla and the CFC Council
explaining the response of the Overall Leadership
Team (OLT). The following are excerpts from this
memo:
“Couples for Christ is an outreach of Ang Ligaya
ng Panginoon Community and a partner in mission
with LNP and the other outreach organizations that
were formed by the community. As such CFC leader-
ship needs to acknowledge openly its accountability to
the authority of the community over its outreaches as
this is exercised by the Partners in Mission Council
(in which CFC participates) and by the Overall Lead-
ership Team.
The Executive Director of CFC, like all other execu-
tive directors of Ligaya outreaches, needs to be a
covenanted member of LNP. This has been a long-stand-
ing policy. As a coordinator of the community, Frank
was involved in establishing this policy. …This means
that Frank needs to live out his Ligaya commitments
under the direction of his district coordinator, if he
wishes to continue to serve as Executive Director of
Couples for Christ.”
Fr. Herb had this to say about ‘who owns CFC’:
“I believe with all my heart that the Lord inspired
leaders of the Ligaya to start Couples for Christ. I be-
lieve that He guided these same leaders and others whom
they raised up to develop CFC into the effective out-
reach for family renewal that it has become over the
years. …I believe Couples for Christ is what it is today
because of the selfless cooperation in mission of many,
many couples in CFC and in Ligaya. The leadership of
community members on many levels made invaluable
contributions especially in the earlier years of CFC.
All of the above being true, in no way denies the au-
thority of the community over Couples for Christ.”
Making a stand, Fr. Herb declared: “If he (Frank)
feels called to leave Ligaya, he resigns as executive di-
rector of CFC. One can be fully involved in the mis-
sion of CFC and give all one’s time and energy to it
without being an executive director.”
He also appealed to the CFC Council to “… post-
pone the decision on appointing new members to the
CFC Council until we can finish our organizational
and structural decisions at the Partners in Mission
Council. Furthermore, may I have the opportunity to
communicate and explain the above to the Elders of
CFC at their next assembly.”
The Game Plan…
While consultations and meetings were ongo-
ing among Ligaya leaders and some members of
the CFC Council, the articles of incorporation of a
‘new’ CFC were already being worked out by a
select few CFC leaders. It is now evident that just
a small number of CFC leaders were privy to the
round table discussions with Fr. Herb. Certain
compromises were apparently made because of
their love for CFC, their loyalty to Frank their
leader, and belief in his ideals.
The greater majority of CFC members did not
know the complete picture. They believed what
they were told and knew only one thing - that the
growth of CFC was hampered by LNP, whose
training of leaders was limited and whose vision
for evangelization was ‘inward looking’ not ‘out-
ward looking.’ A lot of the leaders thought that
the idea to separate was a blessing from heaven,
that it was God’s answer to their prayers.
Meantime, Frank requested for a week of prayer
and discernment, but the die was cast and the
separation was in the pipeline. The split would
occur in days.
The Final Stages…
On March 19 during the Elder’s Assembly, be-
fore the agreed date to dialogue with Fr. Herb,
Frank dissolved the council, held elections and
declared the establishment of the ‘new’ Couples
For Christ Global Mission Foundation Inc. The
next day he wrote a letter to Fr Herb, informing
him that the assembly of the previous night had
elected a new Council and that CFC was no longer
willing to be under the authority and direction of
LNP.
On the issue regarding ownership he wrote,
“There is no question that God owns CFC, and it is
distasteful for any human person or organization to
claim ownership of what belongs only to God. You will
agree with this and thus there is no need to address
this, it is the practical consequences of so- called “own-
ership” that need to be addressed, and these are man-
date and accountability.”
On mandate he wrote, ”You claim that you placed
us in our positions and that you have authority over
us, our position is that its simply not right for a few
men, who are not directly involved in the life of CFC
and whose priorities lie elsewhere, to have this control
and authority, over the lives of 45,000 people. Those
who are in CFC should be the ones to determine their
own leadership and how their lives are going to be lived.
Thus we have elected a new Council, by an over-
whelming majority vote of CFC elders during our El-
ders Assembly yesterday. This new CFC Council now
has its mandate and authority directly from its own
members, through the elders themselves and as repre-
sentatives of all other CFC members in this country.”
On accountability he wrote, “You maintain that;
CFC must be accountable to LNP and/or to the OLT
and/or to the Partners-in-Mission Council. We stead-
fastly believe in accountability and pastoral cover. But
it can no longer be to LNP/OLT, because we are no
longer confident in your ability to care for CFC and to
look to its best interests. Furthermore, LNP itself has
no pastoral cover or accountability to speak of, aside
from within itself or within the SOS.
Thus we have decided to voluntarily submit ourselves
to the pastoral care of the Catholic Church and to be
accountable to her shepherds, our bishops. Thus we have
asked the following bishops to be our Spiritual Direc-
tors over regional CFC groups, to wit:
Bishop Teodoro Bacani - CFC Metro Manila
Bishop Ruben Profugo - CFC Luzon
Bishop Jesus Varela - CFC Bicol
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo - CFC Visayas
Bishop Carmelo Morelos - CFC Mindanao
All the above is to say that CFC, in accordance with
what we believe is God’s will, will determine its own
life and mission, independent of and from LNP. We
ask that you accept the will of the great majority of
CFC leaders and members, and no longer try to impose
anything on us. We ask you this, knowing fully well
your disagreements, for the sake of CFC and the good
of the overwhelming number of its members.”
Aftermath…
Frank and his wife Gerry, together with about
30 LNP leaders resigned from LNP. Bobby Pilar
and Arben Visenio opted to stay with Ligaya.
Some LNP members chose only to take a leave of
absence from LNP, unwilling to leave behind the
evangelization work that they had already started
in CFC. Frank did not run for any position and it
was Rouquel Ponte who became executive direc-
tor of CFC for the next six years.
It was a period of pain and anguish, of losing
friends, of broken relationships. It was time for
prayer and discernment for leaders who were torn
between love and loyalty to LNP and dedication
to work and service in CFC. The crisis eventually
became global as the rest of the leaders and mem-
bers of CFC communities abroad had to make
difficult decisions: Whether to stay or to go.
The Proposal…
But, there was no need for all the pain and re-
sentment, unknown to Frank and the CFC coun-
cil, Fr. Herb drafted a proposal as a response to
the issues that beset CFC.
One significant paragraph in this proposal
stands out:
“LNP is genuinely concerned for the sound devel-
opment of CFC. We want it to be long-range effective
for Church and family renewal. Let me propose the fol-
lowing approach, let us give Couples For Christ its
independence from us and also let us not insist that gone their separate but parallel ways, sharing a
the executive director be a LNP member.” common vision – to be instruments by which
people can draw closer to God.
Conclusion… It is perhaps a fitting end to this story that on
It is useless now to speculate whether or not the eve of his departure for a new life abroad with
Fr. Herb’s proposal would have made a difference. his wife, Vic wrote the following letter to the CFC
The split pushed through because the major play- International Council. Eschewing any pretensions
ers in CFC were convinced that it was by God’s to be “founder,” Vic says he wrote the letter as an
design. It has now been 15 years since that pain- exercise of the “grace of paternity,” as a father to
ful period in CFC’s life. Both communities have children he once nurtured.
Letter to the CFC International Council
Dear Brothers,
I graciously agreed to speak with your Ugnayan staff though with much hesitation when you asked
me to comment on the CFC origins and the 1993 CFC-LNP split.
I understood your quest. It is normal for any organization to try to authenticate its early beginnings
and directions. The results of the interviews have now been published in the CBCP Monitor and
many are happy about them. I am pleased to have been of help.
But I must have been naïve to think that my recollections of the past would be appreciated by all
who are and were part of the CFC. Even with documents backing up my points of view, there arose
dissenting views. My credibility was assailed, my version doubted and I am made to appear a ped-
dler of untruths.
I do not mind that. For 15 years, some of you in the CFC have looked at me with very low regard because of
accusations thrown against me by some of your leaders. I do not wish to make any attempt to vindicate myself
now. It is not important to me.
I have concerns though. My version of the CFC origins seems to have fanned the flames of hostility
further between your group and the FFL. I do not wish it upon you all.
The grace of paternity that St. John of the Cross spoke about impels me to desire nothing but peace
and unity between the Global and the FFL servants of the Lord. Like a father, I pray that you may
have peace, love and justice among all of you in the CFC. Let there be no more ‘Global’ or ‘FFL’ among
you; only humble servants of God.
When the CFC split from the LNP in 1993, my ten-year old son said that the Lord had three words
for me. He and I had just come out of a one-hour visit to the Blessed Sacrament. He said the words
were: Love. Hope. Peace.
He explained to me what the words meant. Love the brothers and sisters in CFC. Hope for a better
relationship. Pray for peace to rule the hearts of the leaders of both LNP and CFC so that they can do
God’s work effectively. Quite mature for a ten-year old, I took him seriously and I shared those words
of wisdom with the brothers and sisters in LNP who were affected by the CFC-LNP split. Compliance
with those words protected and nourished us in the LNP in the past 15 years.
Now I share the same words with you. Love. Hope. Peace. They can help you in your current
situation.”
The FFL group is asking the Ugnayan to be fair. Get the side of Frank Padilla, they say. But some of
you say that Frank had 15 years to promote his side of the story. You know the situation better than I
do. However, maybe the FFL is right to demand that their side be heard.
Why not put the taped speech of Frank of March 19, 1993 on your website? Make it also available for audio
listening at your office for anybody who wants to listen to his arguments and decisions on why CFC broke away
from LNP. That was an event that Frank is very proud of, I was told. Then, publish the letter of Fr. Herb
Schneider of March 11, 1993 which Frank denounces as a clear admission that Ligaya wanted nothing but to
control CFC. And publish the reply of Frank dated March 20, 1993.
Everyone’s side will then have a chance to be heard for one final time. After that, close the matter
and never speak about it again for the sake of peace. What can be fairer than that?
“Some say I still hold a grudge against CFC? Evidence? That I was not a signatory to the statement
of reconciliation between CFC and LNP in 2005. Please understand that I had already retired from
leadership at that time. Let me reprint here a part of my letter to the LNP Senior Head Coordinator in
2005 which should explain everything.
“First, I think it is alright that you meet with the top leaders of the CFC as proposed. You are the
incumbent SHC of the Ligaya and thus you are empowered to represent the Ligaya in matters like
these. It is also right for Fr. Herb to come with you because he is Ligaya’s spiritual director. Together,
the two of you can have a meaningful dialogue with Frank Padilla and his leaders. But I do not have
to join you for I hold no leadership position in the community and I am comfortable with where I am
right now.”
I have nothing to settle with Frank and his friends personally. They did what they have done and they
know what they did. If they think it is not wrong, I do not have a mission to tell them that what they did
was wrong. They are big boys now.
On the other hand, if they think they did wrong to Ligaya, then they should ask forgiveness for that
wrongdoing and you should accept the apology on behalf of Ligaya. No big deal. On a personal level, if
Frank and his friends want to meet with me for anything, we do not need a third party, a go-between, to
facilitate the meeting. Frank knows where to reach me. And we are on speaking terms.”
Have I been telling you the truth? Yes. But if anyone doubts me, I can only borrow the wit of Abraham
Lincoln, “…ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.” It makes no difference now
whether some of you in the CFC or in FFL believe my account or not. There is nothing we can do about
the past except to look back at it maturely and profit from it.
What do I gain from all these? Nothing. I also ask for nothing. How about you? Coming to me is an
exercise in humility on your part. You came asking me, whose word had been meaningless to you in the
past, to ask for my account of what happened from your founding in 1981 and the CFC-LNP split in 1993.
You published my account even if it hurt some of you. I commend you.
Where do you go from here?
The task of evangelizing the world can continue without any of us. In a moment, God used us for the
task. In another instant, we are put aside. When we say that only God owns CFC, we should examine
what claims we make about the task and the organization, the positions and the corporate functions. I
know I sound like I am preaching to the choir, but even leaders like ourselves need to be reminded of the
most basic truths about the service we do in the Kingdom of God.
As for me, I will continue to exercise the grace of paternity. I will pray for your eventual healing and
unity. I will pray that you will be restored to the fuller understanding of the mind of Christ about the
work we do and the relationships we must maintain with our fellow servants
God bless us all.
In Jesus,
Vic B. Gutierrez
April 15, 2008
 CBCP Monitor
C4 Ugnayan Vol. 12 No. 3
February 4 - 17, 2008

Charism: grace from GOD

“A Church without charism could only be a Church without grace.”
– Cardinal Avery Dulles
An eager crowd greeted Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual at the CFC teach-
ing night held in Xavier School on April 22. In his talk entitled:
Charism, Its Meaning and Challenges, the jovial priest urged the
leaders of the community to discern CFC’s particular charism at
this age and time, which, he says, is “the embodiment of your vi-
sion, mission, and core values” and that which makes CFC “unique
and distinct.”
Fr. Anton explained that while charism (from the Greek word
charis, meaning “grace”) is a spiritual gift freely and uncondition-
ally given by God, it does not always end up being used for good.
He cited the example of Adolf Hitler, who used his charisma as a
leader to orchestrate World War II and destroy millions of lives.
The Church, says Fr. Anton, is charismatically gifted by the Spirit
to perform distinct and mutually complementing functions in build-
ing up the body of Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, we
read that there are different gifts but the same Spirit, different ways
of serving but the same Lord, and different workings but the same
God. The charismatic movement, in particular, is gifted with “a
grace-given ability and willingness for any kind of service that con-
tributes to the renewal and up building of the Church”. Hence, we
have our different family and social ministries, including Gawad
Kalinga.
A Creative Balance
According to Fr. Anton, there has always been tension between
charism and institution since the time of the apostles, with charism
coming from the Pauline tradition and institution from the Petrine
tradition. The Church, however, holds that it needs both charism
and institution. The Church cannot defend itself without institu-
tionalized structures in the areas of doctrines and doctrinal formu-
lation, forms of public worship, structures of pastoral governance,
and laws and customs regulating the behavior of members. Nei-
ther can charism stand on its own.
Fr. Anton noted that charism is sometimes divided into non-in-
stitutional (those without established guidelines, such as healing)
and official (those with established guidelines, such as the laying
of hands during ordination). He stressed what is called the charism
of office, which renders the Pope infallible in matters of faith and
morals. This charism of unfailing truth and faith is rooted in God’s
promise “to assist the Church so that the faith of the Christian com-
munity will never be corrupted by erroneous teaching.” The Bish-
ops are similarly gifted with charism of office, which is why the
faithful are called to submit to their wisdom and guid-
ance.
As spiritual director of Serviam, a Catholic com-
munity, Fr. Anton is no stranger to the division and
separation that sometimes happen to charismatic
groups. The origin of the charismatic movement is
Pentecostal or Protestant, he explains, and division
or separation is typically Protestant. Unity, on the
other hand, is the nature of Catholicism. To be truly
Catholic is to be united into the one, holy, Catholic,
and apostolic Church. Division is okay, he clarifies,
if authentic personal and communal discernment is
followed and the process is guided and approved
by the pastoral office of the bishop.
The role of the pastoral office explains Fr. Anton,
is to encourage people to unleash their charism
through words, sacraments, and ministry, and to au-
thenticate genuine charism and distinguish them
from false charism. It is also the pastors’ duty to dis-
cipline the exercise of the charism to prevent abuse,
and coordinate all the particular charisms so that
they are directed towards achieving greater unity of
ecclesial love instead of a distorted self-sufficiency.
Within the Church, says Fr. Anton, there should be a healthy When asked to comment about the concept of a ‘keeper of the
interplay of institutions. For instance, CFC institutions (regular ac- charism’, he said… “We designate people or an individual to pre-
tivities, laws, etc.) must complement, not conflict, with the higher serve protect and nurture our charism. They are holders of our
institutions of the Catholic Church (liturgical seasons, sacraments, charism. I would rather choose to call it an institutionalized charism.
etc.) The community designates people to preserve, protect and promote
Individual charisms also interact to build up the Church as the the charism of the community. Institutional charism is different from
body of Christ. The Holy Spirit, who is a source of creativity, en- personal charism. Personal charism is that which a person has (i.e.
ergy, enthusiasm, and freedom, bestows charism in accordance to teaching, prophecy etc), which he brings wherever he is. But of
a person’s office, state of life, and social responsibilities. All graces course if the person departs from the community, in good faith or
bestowed on individuals always have a charismatic aspect, because otherwise, since the charism is institutionalized you can designate
it equips each person to fulfill particular tasks within the commu- another person or organization to safeguard, preserve and promote
nity. Therefore, “no one’s gift must be despised” because “each the charism.”
one has a proper and distinctive charism and is bound to respect Fr. Anton cautioned against falling into the temptation to use
the charism of others.” our gifts for vested interest. He further warned against being fix-
ated on a particular charism, noting that spiritual innovation of
Be discerning charism has taken place in church history through the likes of St.
Francis of Assisi and St. Ignatius of Loyola. In particular, he cites
While both charism and institution are important for the renewal Mother Teresa, who was initially called to become a contemplative
and reform of the Church, both also present a danger to the com- nun but later received another call to serve the poorest of the poor.
munity. In institutions, the rigid and mechanical structures may “Use the gift that God has given you,” he advises, “but always
end up stifling the spiritual growth of its members. In charism, the be discerning. Always be aware of the movement of the Spirit be-
danger comes in the form of manipulative leaders who may use cause the Spirit blows where it wills. Discern the signs of the times.
their influence to gain political power or enrich themselves. Interpret the will of God in history.”

Seychelles: love paradise

The mark of Christ On March 15, 2008, the feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, Seychelles, an archipelago consisting of 155
islands and with the smallest population among the sovereign states in Africa, became the love paradise
of the continent as CFC members gathered for the Disciples Weekend.
As early as 6 AM, brothers and sisters from the different towns of Seychelles streamed into Deepam
Last April 4-6, 2008, 10,500 delegates from Youth
Cinema. Soon, their voices were raised in praise and thanksgiving, attracting even bystanders to the
for Christ chapters all over the country converged
event.
at Tagaytay City Centrum, Tagaytay City and de-
CFC Missionaries in Seychelles, Lito and Ofie Samaniego, and CFC East and Central Africa Coordi-
clared themselves marked by the Mark of Christ.
nator, Clarke and Cynthia Nebrao, gave stirring testimonies of love. The Governance Team of CFC
Seychelles also took turns in sharing the challenges of loving in the context of the Seychellois society.
The venue was scorching hot by day, and shiv-
The Disciples Weekend in Seychelles was graced by the presence of His Lordship Bishop Denis
ering cold by night time, but the youth experi-
Weihe, Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria, Seychelles. In his message to the community he said, “I love
enced three days of nothing but the love of Christ
three things about Couples for Christ. One, CFC empowers the local leadership of the country to take
filling the venue. The stage made YFC history by
on the work of evangelization. With the local leadership in place, we can evangelize more people in
its sheer size, being the biggest built, 48 ft by 24
this country. Two, CFC is very missionary. You don’t wait for things to settle down, but with ur-
ft, with 36 panels designed with the 7 YFC identi-
gency, you move on to reach more people to know God’s love. It is in this missionary spirit that the
ties. The size of the assembly also made history,
disciples of Jesus carried the love of Christ to all the nations. It is my wish that CFC Seychelles will
being the biggest turnout in the many years that
bring back families, especially the men, back to Christ. Third, CFC is very much within the structure
the International Leaders Conference has been
of the Catholic Church. You are bringing back the fire of the Holy Spirit in our Church. It is because of
held.
this fire that CFC, in
less than two years
The conference started at 9 AM of Friday with
of its establishment
a parade of colors, presenting all regions, as segue
here in Seychelles,
for the competitions. The vibrant worship led by
have exceeded my
Ro Nierre on Friday night, by Dexter Suban on
expectations. Now,
Saturday morning, and by Philip Aquino on Sat-
let us love one an-
urday night maintained the mood for the entire
other as Jesus loved
conference.
us so we can evange-
lize and bring indi-
The talks were inspiring, as usual. “Marked”
viduals, families and
was given by Angelo Saludo, Fulltime Pastoral
this country back to
Worker for YFC Manila. Rouquel Ponte, Inter-
God’s loving arms.”
national Missions Director of CFC, and Rommel
- Clarke Simoy Nebrao
Ancheta, International Coordinator of YFC, to-
gether pinned down the message of great encour-
agement and exhortation to continue the mission
of evangelization and work with the poor. Fr.
Roland of Dumaguete and Fr. Nelson of
love of Christ, the youth participated in the Tatag
Paranaque shared their amazement at the won-
Kristo Youth Build in GK Alapan, Cavite from
derful spirit of the youth. Dana Flores, YFC
March 31 to April 3. Just before the conference
Fulltime worker for YFC Metro Manila gave a talk
started, the youth from different provinces and ar-
on “Let God” while Dunn Estacio, YFC Fulltime
Worker from the USA, gave the talk entitled “De-
clare,” leading the youth to shout out their love
eas formed teams of 10-15 members and actually
built houses. Love: antidote to war and fear
for the Lord and to lay everything down for God.
It was simple and yet Christ’s love was very The start of the year was a very difficult time for our mission center in Kenya. This country experienced
much real during the build. The youth built not post election violence with around 3,000 people killed and 250,000 Kenyans being displaced in their own
Workshops on discipleship, marketing Jesus, ca-
only houses but also the reality of God’s love in country. At the peak of the violence and uncertainty, the members of Couples for Christ Kenya re-
reer building, worship, website and graphics,
the lives of our brothers and sisters in Gawad sponded with loving concern for their countrymen.
were given to enhance the talent, knowledge and
Kalinga. CFC members from different parishes pooled their resources together and donated clothing, maize
skill of every YFC member.
meals, blankets and whatever else they could share.
Kookie Santos from Team Laguna declared: The various leaders of Couples for Christ Kenya presented a monetary donation to the Cardinal of
On the third day, the fourth session was on
“Before, this GK site was pretty much a dumpsite. Kenya for the resettlement of the remaining displaced peoples in the country.
“Tatak Kristo,” designed to instill in the heart of
But now it is a beautiful village with colorful His Eminence
every youth present that their mission is to spread
homes and wonderful people. Luckily, many John Cardinal
the mark of Christ to everyone they know. The
people have good hearts and want to help other Njue, Cardinal
session made concrete examples of how we can
people.” Archbishop of
extend God’s love through the 7 YFC identities:
a) missionary; b) source of unity in the family; c) Nairobi, Kenya, in
April Liz Parreño, Team YFC Iloilo, had this to response, said,
single-minded for God; d) 100% pure; e) patriot;
say:”The GK Build experience was indescribable. “Couples for
f) champion of the poor; and g) model of excel-
It just proved that with God, all things are indeed Christ, take cour-
lence.
possible. It made me realize that though our age! Problems
country’s situation today is miserable, we can and difficulties
It wasn’t just speeches and testimonies for the
change it. We must not lose hope for we have a will be there, but
youth. Proving that they are indeed marked by the
great God, and with His grace, we, the CFC Youth remember that
for Christ, are capable of uplifting the hopes of the resurrection of
others.” Christ was the
greatest declara-
The whole week of the YFC Build and the week- tion of love to all
end of the YFC ILC was indeed a great experi- His people. It is in
ence everyone will remember. Christ is our iden- this resurrection
tity. Christ is our mark. This is the message of this that we have our
great week of our journey to the mountaintop of faith. I commit myself and my vocation to the family especially the couple where the family starts.
glory. This is one journey for all the 10,500 youth You have come a long way, but still we are far away from our destination. Let us journey together for
to experience Christ. As the youth left the venue healing and love to prevail in this country, our beloved Kenya. In this time of unrest, fear and uncer-
to go back to their respective areas, the challenge tainty in our country, the only way to fight back is to sow seeds of peace through love. Love translated
that they brought home was to live out the mark into helping our fellow Kenyans to move on and find peace in the Lord. Couples for Christ, keep up
and spread Christ to everyone, especially to the your good works. You have my love and support.” — Clarke Simoy Nebrao