Monitor
CBCP
MARCH 4 - 17, 2019, VOL 23, NO. 05
Bishops vow accountability,
end to abuse cover-up
By Roy Lagarde
THE country’s’ Catholic
leaders have vowed to
end cover-up of clergy
sex abuses, pledging
accountability and
concrete actions to calls
for reforms.
The crimes won’t be covered
up, promised Archbishop Romulo
Valles, president of the Philippine
bishops’ conference, who just
arrived back from the Vatican
summit on the protection of minors.
“We will do whatever we can to
protect minors in the Church. You
heard me, no hesitation and cover-
ups!” he said during a Mass at the
San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City
on Friday, March 1.
Valles was among the nearly 200
global church leaders who attended
the landmark Vatican meeting
amid new claims if clergy abuses
and cover-up by ranking officials.
Convened by Pope Francis,
delegates heard the story of the
victims and how church negligence
had made the situation worse.
The pope has repeatedly
apologized to the faithful over
the global scourge, but vowed
to confront abusers and restore
justice.
The Davao archbishop admitted
their “shame” over the abuses, and
asked forgiveness for the pain it
caused to the victims, their families,
and society.
“And with forgiveness the grace
to stand up, repair and see to it that
such things will not happen again
in the Church,” Valles said.
‘Moto proprio’
Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi,
who served as moderator of the
four-day summit, said that the pope
will soon publish a new set of laws
and guidelines concerning child
protection.
He said that the measures will
be issued “moto proprio,” on the
pope’s own accord, and will be
Abuse / A6
Bishop David defies death threats Nuncio: See Christ in those who
are suffering
Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David listen to a woman lamenting the spate of extrajudicial killings in
Navotas City, July 2, 2017. CBCP NEWS
A CATHOLIC bishop insisted he will
never let his death threats impede
his campaign against killings.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David
knows he could pay the ultimate
price in his unwavering fight to end
human rights abuses.
“But no threat or intimidation
can stop me from carrying on with
my spiritual and pastoral duties as
a bishop,” he said.
On Feb. 25, David, a vocal critic of
the government’s bloody drug war,
confirmed receiving death threats
from unknown people.
“But I don’t know who they
are coming from,” said the Vice
President of the Catholic Bishops’
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE
Pope Francis celebrates Mass on the final day of the meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican Feb. 24, 2019. Convened by the pope,
the summit brought together 190 church leaders -- presidents of bishops’ conferences, the heads of the Eastern Catholic churches, superiors of men’s and
women’s religious orders and Roman Curia officials. CNS/VATICAN MEDIA
Conference of the Philippines.
In a turnaround from previous
remarks, President Rodrigo Duterte
on Feb. 24 warned people against
harming bishops and clergymen.
At a campaign rally in Cebu City,
he quoted part of Cardinal Luis
Antonio Tagle’s message to him that
David and some priests received
death threats from “someone
claiming to be working for the
president’s family”.
“Do not touch priests, they had
nothing to do with politics,” Duterte
said.
“Either Muslims or Christians,
they had nothing to do with us.
Threats / A6
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia delivers the homily as he celebrates Mass at the Shrine of the Holy Face
of Jesus in Quiapo Manila, March 5.
THE papal nuncio to the Philippines
said on the eve of Lent that the face
of Jesus pushes people towards
those who suffer.
Speaking during Mass for the
local feast of the Holy Face of Jesus,
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia said
that Lent is the commemoration
of Christ’s passion and death as an
expression of His love for mankind.
“So anytime we look at the face of
Jesus we should be able to recognize
him in all people who are suffering,”
Caccia told the mass-goers at the
CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM
Bishop
prays for
Pinay in
Saudi
death row
A CATHOLIC bishop who
heads the Church’s migrants
ministry has asked for prayers
for the Filipina on death row in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This after the Saudi Court of
Appeals affirmed the Filipina’s
2017 death sentence for killing
her female employer three
years ago. She had claimed
self-defense in the murder
case.
“We turn to God in prayers
that He may move the KSA
government to be merciful
and grant clemency to our
Filipina,” said Bishop Ruperto
Santos of Balanga.
The Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) said it will
exhaust all diplomatic and
legal remedies to save the
Filipina.
“She has to be helped and
assisted. Let us try everything
to save her,” said Santos.
The prelate also urged the
government to investigate
those behind the woman’s
employment abroad as she was
recruited when she was still a
minor.
“Placement agencies should
be made accountable for
whatever will happen to those
OFWs they have sent to other
countries,” he said.
In January, Saudi Arabia
executed a 39-year-old Filipina
household service worker
found guilty of murder.
More than 2.3 million Filipino
work abroad to provide a better
life for their families. Of this
number, around half a million
work in Saudi Arabia, making it
the leading country of destination
among OFWs. (CBCPNews)
Reach out to the
needy, Cardinal
Tagle says in
Lent message
CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle
of Manila called for charitable
giving in a Lenten message
where he urged people to help
the poor.
In his message for Lent, he
said that charity is central to
the Church’s mission.
“The Lenten season, which
begins today, Ash Wednesday,
is a time of mercy,” Tagle said
in a pastoral letter.
“To practice charity is
concrete proof that we are
striving to follow Jesus, and
that we are making the gift of
Shrine of the Holy Face of Jesus in ourselves to active participation
Manila’s Quiapo district. of Christian life,” he said.
Pointing to shroud image of Jesus In Manila, he said that one
at the altar, he asked the devotees way to engage in charitable
why they are seeing somebody activities is by supporting
who has suffered and disfigured the Pondo ng Pinoy’s Hapag-
by violence, mockery and injustice. Asa Integrated Nutrition, or
“How can it be the face of God? FAST2FEED campaign.
God is beauty, God is justice. Why For several years now,
the face of God shows something especially during Lent, the
different?” he said. church has been promoting
According to him, the Way of the the program to help reduce
Cross shows Christ’s embrace of malnutrition prevalent among
Suffering / A6 Lent / A6
A2 WORLD NEWS March 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 05 CBCP Monitor

French nuncio accused of sexual Vatican Briefing

misconduct during time in Canada Vatican announces theme for World Day of Migrants
and Refugees
OTTAWA, Canada— Archbishop After moving the Vatican celebration of the World Day of
Luigi Ventura, apostolic nuncio to Migrants and Refugees from January to September, Pope
France, has been accused of sexual Francis wants Catholics to understand how concern for
misconduct against an adult male migrants and refugees is part of a much broader Christian
while he was nuncio in Canada. The concern for people in need. The Vatican celebration of the
Vatican diplomat is already under World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2019 will be celebrated
investigation for alleged sexual assault Sept. 29, the Vatican said, and the pope’s choice for a theme
in Paris. is: “It is not just about migrants.” “With this theme, Pope
Christian Vachon emailed the Francis wants to highlight that his frequent appeals for
nunciature to France Feb. 22 to file migrants, refugees, displaced and trafficked people should
a complaint against Ventura. Vachon be understood as integral to his deep concern for all the
says that during a banquet held July inhabitants of today’s ‘existential peripheries,’” said a note
26, 2008 at the Basilica of Sainte- from the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for
Anne-de-Beaupré, about 20 miles Promoting Integral Human Development. (CNS)
northest of Quebec, Ventura touched
his buttocks at least twice. At the time, Caring for the ill should include spiritual assistance,
Vachon was 32. pope says
“I believe that the ‘modus operandi’ Taking care of those who are sick or struggling with illness
of Archbishop Ventura has left a doubt requires taking care of the whole person -- including their
in the conscience of the victim as to Archbishop Luigi Ventura, the Vatican nuncio to France, meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican in this file
spiritual needs, Pope Francis said. Offering care and healing
whether he was truly a victim of touch,” photo from Oct. 18, 2018. VATICAN MEDIA
is focused not just on “the disease of an organ or of cells but
Vachon’s email to the nunciature read, of the person in his or her entirety,” he said. “The fact that
according to Présence, a French clergy sex abuse scandal, he shared his French daily Le Monde reported the spirit transcends the body means that this is included in
Canadian religious news service. experience, again without identifying Feb. 15 that Ventura is being a greater vitality and dignity, which is not that of biology, but
Ventura, 74, was apostolic nuncio to Ventura, on an online forum in investigated by Parisian authorities that of the person and the spirit,” the pope said told members
Canada from 2001 to 2009. December 2018. after he was accused late last month of Italy’s national Association Against Leukemia, Lymphoma
In 2008, Vachon part of the “Has a crime been commited? I am of having inappropriately touched a and Myeloma, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary
pastoral team at the basilica, and not able to say yes. It is immoral, out young male staffer of Paris City Hall. on March 2. Those in the audience included health care
was discerning religious life. He told of place, undignified for his function,” The alleged assault is said to have professionals, volunteers, researchers, patients and relatives.
Présence he was asked to be a server at Vachon told Présence. taken place in Paris’ City Hall Jan. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
the head table: “The people could not Vachon informed both the Canadian 17, during a reception for the annual
see, because it was in the back of the nunciature and Bishop Serge Poitras of New Year address of Paris mayor Death penalty a ‘grave’ violation of human right to
room. We were thus facing the guests. Timmins, a former secretary to Ventura, Anne Hidalgo. life, pope says
No one could witness it.” of his claims about the nuncio. Archbishop Ventura was ordained a priest of the The death penalty is a cruel violation of the basic right to
He said Ventura touched his buttocks Luigi Bonazzi, the present apostolic Diocese of Brescia in 1969. He entered life and robs people of the chance to repent and make amends
while he was serving him, and he thought nuncio to Canada, phoned Vachon the the diplomatic service of the Holy See for the crimes they have committed, Pope Francis said. The
at first it might have been inadvertent, same day to discuss his claims. in 1978 and was stationed in Brazil, right to life is “the source of all gifts and of all other rights”
but a second time he felt the nuncio’s Vachon said he did not inform the Bolivia, and the UK. From 1984 to that must be protected, the pope said in a video message to
hands “grazing my buttocks.” nunciature earlier because “it was the 1995 he was appointed to serve at the participants at the World Congress Against the Death Penalty
Vachon said Ventura tried to speak equivalent of complaining directly to Secretariat of State in the Section for Feb. 27. “The death penalty is therefore a serious violation
with him during the meal, but he was [his] aggressor,” and he didn’t inform Relations with States. of the right to life of every person,” he said. (Junno Arocho
too shocked and scandalized to engage the police because it is a “he said-he After his episcopal consecration in Esteves/CNS)
with him. He says he told a colleague said” situation. 1995, Ventura served as nuncio to Ivory
what had happened, without identifying Bonazzi told Présence that Vachon’s Coast, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chile, and Lent is time to let go of ‘destructive’ selfishness, pope
the nuncio. He has also, in recent years, allegations are the only ones the Canada. He was appointed apostolic says
told his wife. Canadian nunciature has received nuncio to France in September 2009. The Lenten season is a reminder for Catholics that
In the wake of the new wave of against Ventura. (CNA) overindulgence ruptures communion with God, with others
and with creation, Pope Francis said. A failure to live as
South Korean bishop weighs in on Trump-Kim summit children of God can give way to sin, which “takes the shape
of greed and unbridled pursuit of comfort, lack of concern
expressed hope for the Feb. Vietnam, however, went on Korea’s persecuted for the good of others and even of oneself,” the pope said in
27-28 meeting between to normalize relations with Christians. his message for Lent, which begins March 6 for Latin-rite
Kim and Trump, which United States in 1995 after North Korea has Catholics. “Unless we tend constantly toward Easter, toward
kicked off Wednesday night suffering under economic consistently been ranked the horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality expressed in
with a dinner in Hanoi and sanctions and a U.S. trade t he w orst cou nt ry f or the slogans ‘I want it all and I want it now!’ and ‘Too much is
will continue Thursday to embargo, and in turn persecution of Christians never enough,’ gains the upper hand,” he said. (Junno Arocho
negotatiate the potential experienced tremendous by Open Doors. Christians Esteves/CNS)
denuclearization of the economic growth. within the atheist state have
Korean peninsula. “Kim Jong-un will faced arrest, re-education Pope: Humanity can be dangerously spellbound by
“The Vietnam-style be able to refer to the in labor camps, or, in some hi-tech progress
reform and open model of Vietnamese model not cases, execution for their Technology holds the potential to benefit all of humankind,
‘doi moi’ in North Korea, only as a model of reform faith. but it also poses risky and unforeseen results, Pope Francis
which itself has declared and opening up, but also “I do not know how many said. The rapid evolution of increased technological capacities,
economic development to be in terms of diplomatic of them are, but there are a lot for example with artificial intelligence and robotics, creates
a top priority, is the optimal relations with the papacy,” of believers in North Korea,” a “dangerous enchantment; instead of handing human life
way to pursue economic Archbishop Kim said. Archbishop Kim said. the tools that will improve care, there is the risk of handing
growth,” Archbishop Kim The Holy See appointed “I think the pope could life over to the logic of instruments,” he said Feb. 25. “This
Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-jung of
Gwangju. PHOTO FROM UCAN has said. a diplomatic envoy to go to North Korea in order inversion is destined to create ill-fated results -- the machine
“Doi moi” refers to Vietnam in 2011 in the to encourage even a few is not limited to running by itself, but ends up running
GWANGJU, South Korea— Vietnam’s process of form of a “non-resident believers and save the fires mankind,” the pope said. The pope made his remarks during
As U.S. President Donald economic liberalization representative” after a series of faith, just as Jesus has an audience with members of the Pontifical Academy for Life
Trump and North Korean that began in 1986. of bilateral talks during left 99 lambs to find a lost and those taking part in its Feb. 25-27 plenary assembly,
leader Kim Jong-un meet When Trump first greeted Benedict XVI’s papacy. sheep,” he added. which included a two-day workshop on “Robo-ethics:
in Vietnam this week, a Kim Feb. 27, he said: “I Archbishop Kim has Pope Francis has said that Humans, Machines and Health.” (Carol Glatz/CNS)
South Korean archbishop think your country has been an advocate for he will travel to Japan in
sees the host country as a tremendous economic increasing the Holy See’s November. Point out church’s errors with love, pope tells
model for the development potential.” diplomatic involvement “This year is likely to pilgrims
of economic and religious Vietnam and North Korea in the Korean peninsula, be an important year Catholics should speak up when things go wrong in the
freedoms in the isolated share a common history in remarking that he thinks in Catholicism in East church, but theirs must be constructive criticism delivered
country. that both fought bloody wars a papal trip to Pyongyang Asia,” Archbishop Kim with love, Pope Francis said, otherwise the devil is at work.
Archbishop Hyginus with the United States to would be a tremendous said. (CNA / Courtney “One must point out the defects in order to correct them, but
Kim Hee-jung of Gwangju defend their communist rule. encouragement to North Grogan) when one reports the defects, denounces them, one must love
the church. Without love, it’s the devil at work,” the pope said

India sees rise in public lynching of Christians
BHOPAL, India— Violent attacks
including public lynchings against
Christians in India are reportedly
becoming increasingly common,
with international NGOs and the
country’s Catholic bishops raising
their voices in protest against mob
violence.
“The common man of the country
is feeling insecurity in his own
country due to the increasing cases
of mob lynching,” Archbishop Leo
Cornelio of Bhopal wrote Feb. 27.
“In the past, the Supreme Court
has taken cognizance of this
problem. It is felt that...all the
political parties and religious
leaders should [be] united by
making their opinions and
spreading awareness about the ill
practice surfacing in our society, in
order to create a decent society and
to [attain] a peace-loving society.”
Cornelio said numerous mob
lynchings have occured in which the
victims are accused of eating beef
or otherwise harming cattle, which
are considered sacred in the Hindu
religion.
An article on the Indian website
Scroll has documented incidents in
which “cow protection vigilantes”
have assaulted men they accused of
either killings cows or transporting
cattle to be slaughtered. A large
number of Indian states have made
slaughtering cattle illegal, the article
says.
“Moreover, these would then not
be treated as ordinary crimes. The
vigilantes would often be supported,
sometimes explicitly, by political
parties and governments,” according
to Scroll.
Cornelio condemned what he
called “mob psychology” as contrary
to Indian law and to the rule of law
in general.
“Any civilized person will never
hesitate to say that killing or violence
by the mob is unfair and [a criminal
act], because the crowd never
gives an opportunity to examine,
understand or tell the accused their
side,” he said.
He also mentioned the spread
of rumors and fake news as a
serious driver of mob violence. The
messaging service WhatsApp, which
is a main communication channel in
India, has reportedly placed limits
on the number of chats to which a
user can forward messages in an
effort to combat rumors and fake
news, Scroll reports.
“Crowds allure each other and...
do violence in illogical ways. Such
acts are a violation of natural justice,
without proper process of law. Fake
news surfacing in social media adds
fuels to such incidents,” Cornelio
said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
condemned the lynchings this year
and asked state governments to
take action, according to the Times
of India.
Violence against Christians in
India does not end with lynchings,
however. The United Christian
Forum and the Alliance Defending
Freedom (ADF) India documented
29 “violent mob attacks” across
India in Jan. 2019 alone, the group
announced this week.
According to ADF, the attacks
will often involve a mob arriving
at a prayer meeting or Christian
gathering and beating up those in
attendance, including women and
children, while shouting abusive
and harassing things. The group
says pastors or priests are usually
arrested by the police under false
allegations of forced conversions.
(CNA)
Feb. 20 during a meeting in St. Peter’s Basilica with pilgrims
from the Archdiocese of Benevento, Italy. Pope Francis visited
the archdiocese last year to highlight St. Padre Pio, who was
born and ministered in the southern Italy region. The pope
told the pilgrims the saintly Capuchin friar was an exemplary
model of faith in God, hope in eternal life, dedication to people
and fidelity to the church. (Cindy Wooden/CNS)
Pope Francis: Evil’s days are numbered
Pope Francis said that evil is limited compared to the
expanding force of God’s holiness in the world. “Evil’s days
are numbered. Evil is not eternal,” Pope Francis said in a
departure from his prepared remarks in St. Peter’s Square
Feb. 27. “God’s holiness is an expanding force, and we beg
that it quickly shatters barriers of our world,” he said, adding
that this holiness “spreads in concentric circles, like when
throwing a stone into a pond.” (Courtney Grogan/CNA)
Rosica apologizes for plagiarism
A long-time Vatican spokesman has admitted to passing
off the writing of others as his own, and apologized for
plagiarizing. “What I’ve done is wrong, and I am sorry about
that. I don’t know how else to say it,” Fr. Thomas Rosica,
CSB, told the National Post Feb. 22. Rosica, a long-serving
English language press aide at the Vatican Press Office, and
the CEO of Canada’s Salt+Light Television network, was
reported by Life Site News Feb. 15 to have plagiarized sections
of text in several lectures and op-eds from a variety of writers,
among them priests, theologians, journalists, and at least two
cardinals. Subsequent reports found widespread plagiarism
in essays, speeches, and op-eds by Rosica, dating back more
than a decade. Plagiarized sections in some texts ran beyond
even one paragraph. (JD Flynn/CNA)
CBCP Monitor March 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 05 NEWS FEATURES A3

Vatican to open WWII secret archives of Pope Pius XII

VATICAN— Pope Francis
announced Monday that the
Vatican will open its archives
on the pontificate of Pope
Pius XII. Confidential files of
the pope who led the Church
during World War II will be
made available next year.
“Serious and objective
historical research” will
be able to evaluate Pius
XII’s “hidden but active
diplomacy” “in its proper
light,” Pope Francis said
March 4. The pope said that
the full confidential files,
called a “secret archive,” will
be released March 2, 2020.
The pontificate of
Pius XII has been often
misunderstood. Critics have
accused him of indifference
to the plight of the Jewish
people during the Second
World War, despite several
already public documents
which show the pope’s
systematic efforts to assist
Jews in Italy.
In the late 1990s, debate
over whether Pius XII did
enough to counter the Nazis
reached a high point with
the publication of the deeply
controversial book, “Hitler’s
Pope,” by British journalist
John Cornwell. The book was
highly critical of Pius XII,
charging that he was culpably
silent—if not an accomplice—
in the rise of Nazism.
A book published in 2015
documented how Pope Pius
XII chose to resist Adolf Hitler
with covert action in lieu of
overt protest. Historian Mark
Riebling, author of Church
of Spies: The Pope’s Secret
War Against Hitler, drew
on wartime documents and
interviews with American
intelligence agents to tell
how Pope Pius XII secretly
provided support for three
attempts to overthrow Hitler.
“The Church is not afraid
of history, rather, loves it and
would like to love it more and
better, as God loves it!” Pope
Francis said in a meeting
with Vatican secret archives
personnel in which he made
the announcement.
The Vatican archives for the
entirety of Pius XII’s pontificate
March 1939 - Oct. 1958 will
open on March 2, 2020. The
complete catalog is expected
to include approximately 16
million documents.
Pius XII “found himself
leading the Barque of Peter
at one of the saddest and
darkest moments of the
twentieth century,” Pope
Francis said.
He faced “moments
of serious difficulties,
of tormented decisions,
of human and Christian
prudence, which some might
have seemed reticent,” he
explained. For this, some have
criticized Pius with “some
prejudice or exaggeration,”
Francis added.
Pope Francis has
previously considered Pope
Pius XII’ cause for sainthood,
according to a source in the
Vatican’s Congregation for
Causes of Saints.
Benedict XVI declared Pius
XII Venerable on Dec. 19, 2009,
based on the recommendation
of the committee investigating
his cause.
When Pope Paul VI
started the beatification
and canonization process in
1967, nine years after Pius
XII’s death, he formed a
committee of historians to
conduct an in-depth study
of his predecessor’s life and
behavior, giving particular
attention to the events of
World War II.
Their work led to the
publication of “Actes
et Documents du Saint
Siège relatifs à la Seconde
Guerre Mondiale” (Acts
and Documents of the Holy
See related to the Second
World War), an 11-volume
collection of documents from
the Vatican’s Secret Archive
about Pius XII’s papacy
during that tumultuous
time. The remainder of
the documents from Pius
XII’s papacy have remained
unpublished.
“Knowing what I do
about Pius XII, and having
researched him for many
years, I believe he wanted to
be a saint. He wanted people
in Germany to be saints,”
Riebling previously told CNA.
“When he heard that
a priest was arrested for
praying for the Jews and sent
off to a concentration camp,
he said: ‘I wish everyone
would do that’ … But he didn’t
Pope Pius XII, who led the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958, is pictured in this
say it publicly,” the writer undated photo at the Vatican. Pope Francis announced March 4 that all the documents
acknowledged. (Courtney on Pope Pius in the Vatican Secret Archives will be made available to researchers
Grogan/CNA) starting March 2, 2020. VATICAN MEDIA

Pope to issue post-synod document on Vatican-China deal must be

young people in March implemented, Parolin says
VATICAN— Pope Francis will issue
a document on “young people, faith
and vocational discernment” five
months after the world Synod of
Bishops gathered to discuss the
topic.
The Vatican announced Feb. 24
that the pope will present his post-
synodal apostolic exhortation March
25, the feast of the Annunciation,
during a visit to the Shrine of Our
Lady of Loreto near Italy’s central
Adriatic coast.
The synod, which was held in
October, brought together more
than 300 bishops, religious men
and women, lay leaders and young
people from around the world.
At the end of the meeting, the
voting members—mostly bishops—
issued a long document summarizing
their discussions and urging all
Catholics, at all levels of the church’s
life, to improve the way they listen to
young people, taking their questions
seriously, recognizing them as full
members of the church, patiently
walking with them and offering
guidance as they discern the best way
to live their faith.
The synod itself and the final
document looked at how, in many
parts of the world, young people
are abandoning the church or
question its teachings, especially
on sexuality.
VATICAN—Speaking at a conference
on Vatican diplomacy, the Holy
See’s Secretary of State stressed
that it is now important “to make
the China deal for the appointment
of bishops work in practice.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s remarks
were given during the opening
lecture of a 2-day conference on the
Holy See’s diplomatic agreements,
held Feb. 28 – March 1 at the
Pontifical Gregorian University and
the “Ecole Français in Rome.”
In his lecture, Parolin provided a
general overview of the Holy See’s
agreements with states, before
discussing a 2018 provisional
agreement reached between the
Vatican and the People’s Republic
of China, concerning especially the
appointment of bishops in China.
Pope Francis prepares to address young people who participated in a pilgrimage hike from the Monte Signed Sept. 22, 2018, the terms of
Mario nature reserve in Rome to St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 25. Participants in the Synod of
Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment, and young people from Rome parishes
the agreement are confidential. But
took part in the hike. PAUL HARING/CNS as an effect of the agreement, the
Holy See recognized seven illicitly
The church’s response, the synod life: young or old, single or married consecrated Chinese bishops and
said, must be a commitment of time or in the priesthood or religious life. entrusted them with the leadership
and patience as it helps young people God calls each person into a of Chinese dioceses.
“grasp the relationship between their relationship with him, respects the At the moment all of China’s
adherence to faith in Jesus Christ and person’s freedom and yet has a plan bishops have the twofold recognition
the way they live their affectivity and for each person’s life, the document of the government and the Holy See.
interpersonal relationships.” said; discovering that plan requires Since the deal, no new bishops have
Synod speakers and the document prayer and self-examination— yet been appointed to China.
itself emphasized the one “vocation” discernment, in other words—which Parolin described the China deal
of all Christians is the call to holiness usually involves the assistance of as “a sui generis case, since it was
and how that vocation can and a wise and trusted guide. (Cindy stipulated between two parties that
should be lived out in every state of Wooden/CNS) still do not reciprocally recognize
each other.”
sentiments.”
He added that the Holy See does
not have a fixed model for diplomatic
agreements, and briefly explained
the procedure for reaching them:
once the Holy See knows that a state
is willing to negotiate an agreement,
it authorizes a delegation chaired
by the local nuncio and composed
of some local bishops and canon
law experts.
Then, the delegation identifies
the main topics of interest for the
agreement, and drafts a text, which
is overseen and approved by the
Secretariat of State. Legal issues
are the first to be discussed, as they
include the Church’s freedom and
the practice of the worship.
Once everything is settled, the
agreement is signed and ratified.
Parolin also noted that bishops’
conferences, with the Holy See’s
authorization, can also make
agreements with states, though
these are mostly private agreements
and not official internationally
recognized legal agreements.
The Vatican Secretary of State
added that agreements can also
be questioned, and recalled that
Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, a long-
term diplomat who was Vatican
Secretary of State from 1979 to
1990, used to say that agreements
are not “a modus vivendi” but rather
a “modus non moriendi” (not a way
of living, but a way of not dying).

Give up gossiping for Lent, pope suggests
ROME— Lent is a good
time to concentrate on
fighting the urge to gossip
about others and instead
trying to correct one’s
own faults and defects,
Pope Francis said.
Reciting the Angelus
prayer at noon March
3 with pilgrims in St.
Peter’s Square and
visiting the parish of
St. Crispin in Labaro, a
suburb on the northern
edge of Rome, later that
afternoon, Pope Francis
focused on the line from
the day’s Gospel: “Why
do you notice the splinter
in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the
wooden beam in your
own?”
“We all know it
usually is easier or more
comfortable to notice
and condemn the defects
and sins of others rather
than seeing our own with
that kind of clarity,” the
pope said at the Angelus.
The pope returned
to the passage during
his parish visit, telling
parishioners that Jesus
“wants to teach us to
not go around criticizing
others, not go looking for
others’ defects, but look
first at your own.”
If someone were to
say, “but, Father, I don’t
have any,” the pope said
he would explain that “I
assure you if you don’t
notice you have any
here, you’ll find them in
purgatory! It’s better to
notice them here.”
Unfortunately, he said,
people seldom stop at
just noticing others’
defects, something “we
are experts at.”
What almost always
happens next, he said,
is that “we talk about
them,” not telling the
person to his or her face
in a way that could help
the person improve but
indulging freely and
happily in gossip.
“It’s something that
because of original sin
we all have, and it leads
us to condemn others,”
the pope said. “We are
experts in finding the bad
things in others and not
seeing our own.”
Speaking the Sunday
before Lent was to begin,
Pope Francis said it would
be great if everyone tried
during Lent to reflect
on Jesus’ words to see
the faults only of others
and on the temptation
of gossip.
Catholics should ask
themselves, “Am I a
hypocrite who smiles
and then turns around
to criticize and destroy
with my tongue?” He
said. “If, by the end of
Lent, we are able to
correct this a bit and
not go around always
criticizing others behind
their backs, I assure
you (the celebration of)
Jesus’ resurrection will
be more beautiful.”
The pope began
his parish visit by
meeting children who
had recently received
their first Communion
or were preparing for
first Communion and
those who recently
received confirmation
or were preparing to be
confirmed.
The young people asked
him questions, including
about how to be good and
resist temptation.
Beginning his
response, Pope Francis
asked the youngsters if
they knew who the “boss
of wickedness” is. “The
devil,” they replied.
“But the devil’s a
fantasy; he doesn’t exist,
does he?” the pope asked.
“Yes, he exists. It’s
true,” the pope told
them. “And he is our
worst enemy. He’s the
one who tries to make us
slide. He’s the one who
puts evil desires and evil
thoughts in our hearts
and leads us to do so
many bad things.”
The way to resist the
devil, he said, is to pray to
Jesus and to his mother
and to talk to one’s
parents, catechists or
priests when temptation
is lurking.
Prayer and talking to
someone good and wise
also is important when
trying to make a decision,
he told them in response
to another question.
“We can all make
mistakes,” Pope Francis
said. “Even I can make a
mistake?”
“Yes,” the children
replied.
“The pope can make
a mistake?” he asked
just to make sure he
understood them.
When they responded
in the affirmative, he told
them they were right, and
that when someone has a
decision to make, prayer
and seeking advice can
help. (Cindy Wooden/
CNS)
He said that it is now important
to “put into effect the agreement.”
The cardinal also said that the
China deal came “at the end of a
long path. In the end, we succeeded,
and we hope that the deal will bear
fruits for the good of the Church and
of the country.”
Parolin said that Catholic Church
“does not ask states to act as
defenders of faith, but rather to
ensure the freedom to be able to
accomplish the mission.”
Vatican diplomatic agreements
have two goals: that of safeguarding
religious freedom, and that of
preserving the Church’s freedom
and at the same time helping
the Catholic Church to “give her
contribution to the spiritual and
material development of the
country, and foster peace peace.”
Religious freedom, Parolin said,
is a key principle in agreements
with States where Catholic are a
minority, or in countries that have
not a Christian tradition. The Vatican
Secretary of State made the examples
of the agreements with Tunisia
(1964), Morocco (1983-1984), Israel
(1993), Kazakhstan (1998), Palestine
Liberation Organization (2000),
Azerbaijan (2011), Chad (2013) and
Palestine (2015).
Parolin also noted that
“negotiation for agreements with
countries of Orthodox tradition
did not go through until now,”
and that there are no agreements
with Anglo-Saxon countries (like
UK and US), mostly “because of a
different cultural understanding,
rather than because of anti-Church
Parolin said that diplomatic
agreements are part of the Holy
See’s efforts to establish better
relations with countries and to
regulate the life of the Church,
trying to avoid that civil society
jumped into Church’s issues.
The Vatican Secretary of State
also made mention of so-called
“gentlemen’s agreements,” that
is ‘“informal agreements between
two parties grounded in honour,
good faith and respect for one’s
word.”
He mentioned the “gentlemen’s
agreement” between the Holy See
and Vietnam, where “appointment
of bishops take place according to
a procedure orally agreed with the
government.”
The details of that oral agreement
have never been disclosed.
CNA sources say that the Holy
See – Vietnam agreement for the
appointment of bishops works this
way: there is a round of consultation
with bishops and clergy, the nuncio
then presents a set of three possible
candidates to the pope; the pope
makes his decision, and after that
the decision is communicated to
the Vietnamese government, which
must give its approval.
Sometimes, Vietnam has been
described as a possible model for
the appointment of bishops with
China. However, it seems that this
will not be the model, because the
Chinese government wants to keep
more control over the appointment
of bishops than that model allows
for. (Andrea Gagliarducci/
CNA)
A4 OPINION March 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 05 CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

Season of grace
LENT is known as a Season of Penance but it is also a Season
of Grace. Special grace is poured out by Jesus Christ to people
to be converted and be closer to the Him. It is 40 days of
Penance, Prayer and Almsgiving. This is why we aptly call it
Kuwaresma.
In the Bible, 40 days or 40 years is a period of preparation.
Hence the people journeyed for 40 years in the desert before
they entered the Promised Land. Jesus too spent 40 days
in the desert before he started his public ministry. 40 days
and nights of rain cleansed the world of violence in the time
of Noah to bring about a new creation. The prophet Elijah
journeyed for 40 days to meet God on Mt Horeb as Moses
fasted for 40 days before the Law was given to him on Sinai.
Thus every year the Christian people pass through the 40 days
of of lent to be renewed in preparation for the celebration of
the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter. In olden times the period
of lent was a time of intense preparation for baptism which
was administered on Easter. The catechumens participate in
the suffering and death of Jesus in order to participate in his
New Life in baptism. We die with Christ so that we may rise

ILLUSTRATION BY BLADIMER USI

with him. This is the Christian life. Now for us who are already
baptized, lent has become a season of intense purification so
that we may fully share in the new life of the Resurrection.
The discipline of lent is spelled out by Penance, Prayer and
Almsgiving. Penance means self-denial. We deny ourselves
to gain more self-control and to free ourselves from the pull
of sin. We heed the call of Jesus: “If you want to follow me,
deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” (Mk 8:34)
This is done through fasting and abstinence. First, we abstain Faith requires being a Living Mission
from sinful words, works and habits. Then we can fast from
what we naturally crave, hence from food. Those who are 14
years old and above abstain from all meat on Ash Wednesday
true neighbor Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

and all the Fridays of lent. Those who are 21 years old till
59 years old are asked to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday, which means, to take only one full meal during those IN his homily concluding the 2018 communicating the heart of the faith.” and sisters.”
days. We can also include other forms of penance such as no Synod on the Youth, Pope Francis Such intimate encounters are necessary “Let us ask ourselves whether, as
chocolate or no coffee during the 40 days, or no television noted that a key step on the journey of to attract youth to the Church today. Christians, we are capable of becoming
or no facebook, or even doing physical exercises during this faith is “to be a neighbor.” We observe Go out! Bring Jesus! Pope Francis neighbors, stepping out of our circles
period. The purpose is to say “no” to self so that we can say that when Jesus engages people in the also emphasized that genuine faith is and embracing those who are not ‘one
“yes” to God and to others. We say “yes” to God by praying Gospel, he goes to meet them personally. always a “missionary faith,” a faith that of us,’ those who God ardently seeks.”
more and intently during these days. It can mean reading He directly asks them to express their actively goes out to others. “It is not When we are tempted to remain inward
the Bible, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, making the Way needs: “What do you want me to do for Christian to expect that our brothers looking, to wash our hands, to avoid
of the Cross, or praying the Rosary. We say “yes” to others you?” (Mk 10:51). and sisters [the youth in particular] who involvement, we should follow Jesus’
by various works of charity, like the corporal and spiritual For Pope Francis, in particular are seekers should have to knock on example; “we want to imitate Jesus and,
works of mercy. Hence in lent we have Alay Kapwa, Fast to situations, “this is how God operates. our doors; we ought to go out to them, like him, to dirty our hands.”
Feed, and more intense participation in Pondo ng Pinoy. Let He gets personally involved with bringing, not ourselves, but Jesus.” “Let us realize that the Lord has
us listen to what the Bible says: “The kind of fasting I want preferential love for every person. By As Christians, we realize that Jesus dirtied his hands for each of one of
is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of his actions, he already communicates “sends us, like his disciples, to encourage us…. He became my neighbor…. And
injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with his message. Faith flowers in life. Faith others and to raise them up in his name. He when, out of love of him, we too become
the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give passes through life…. Faith is life: it sends us forth to say to each person: ‘God is neighbors, we become bringers of new
clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse is living in the love of God who has asking you to let yourself be loved by him’.” life…, witnesses of the love that saves.”
to help your own relatives.” (Isaiah 58:6-7) changed our lives.” We need to go out and bring Jesus! We Conclusion. The Church needs
The reception of the ash on Ash Wednesday means that we Francis believes that engaging the must act as “the community of the saved good theology, clear and helpful
are ready to enter this special season of repentance. Hence youth of today demands this same who dwell in the joy of the Lord”! teaching on the truths of our faith.
one formula that is said as the ashes are being imposed is: pastoral approach. “We are called to Faith demands “good Concomitantly, our Church also needs
“Repent and believe in the Good News.” Since Biblical times carry out God’s work in God’s own neighborology”! Continuing his final good neighborology, serving the
the ash on the head is a symbol of humility and penance. We way: in closeness, by cleaving to him, in homily closing the Synod on the Youth, needy, lonely, poor, sick, and elderly
are reminded of this by the other formula that is said over us: communion with one another, alongside Pope Francis asserted that “Being a in our midst. Good neighborology in
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” our brothers and sisters [today’s neighbor means bringing the newness practice will attract the youth of today
Let us then enter into this season of grace with humility youth]. Closeness: that is the secret to of God into the lives of our brothers to Jesus and the Church.
and a repentant heart.
The one choice
Media and information literacy And That’s The Truth we must make
WE need to have due concern for this matter. We are now in a Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
fast-moving-and-evolving digital world and we cannot afford
to be ignorant and illiterate in its ways. We have to level up.
As described by Wikipedia, the purpose of being information
and media literate is to engage in a digital society. Thus, “one EVEN for the “most religious” productive from nine to in choosing what to wear, the will of God or only mine?
needs to be able to understand, inquire, create, among us, it is not that easy five, to shower with brand-Y say, and do; where to eat; Choosing to follow
communicate and think critically. It is important to to latch on to God’s every soap so that we’re germ- what projects to do; whom God’s will over ours means
effectively access, organize, analyze, evaluate and create word as we go through the free all day, to use brand-Z to hang around with; which recognizing our Creator,
messages in a variety of forms.” Wikipedia continues: hurly-burly of our daily life. deodorant in order not to stocks to invest in; etc. In the gratefully giving Him
“Information and media literacy enables people to interpret Almost everything in our offend the noses of fellow way of the world, achieving Number One position in our
and make informed judgments as users of environment—especially train passengers, to wear this “a happy and successful life” life, and embracing the truth
information and media, as well as to become skillful creators in the metropolis—tells us or that style to project power, does not necessarily mean that He has sent His Only Son
and producers of information and media messages in their that earning a living ought to drive this or that car, etc. choosing to be ethical, moral, to us in order to show us the
own right.” to be our most important etc. Media reinforce the or even legal sometimes—we way to life eternal. Earning
From the UNESCO, we have the following description: concern, and that all our dream that advertisers sell, just have to be smart. But is a living may be important,
“Empowerment of people through Media and Information waking moments must lionizing “successful” people this the way we should go as but it is only so if that living
Literacy (MIL) is an important prerequisite for fostering revolve around it. And to be and their lifestyles, making citizens of the “only Christian points to another life. This
equitable access to information and knowledge and promoting effective at earning a living, the illusion so widespread nation in Asia”? world is beautiful, marvelous,
free, independent and pluralistic media and information we must be and acceptable that people thoughtlessly In reality—come to think and enjoyable, but it is only
systems.” to the world, because our believe it is true. of it—there is only one choice a stepping stone to the next.
It continues: “A particular focus will be on training teachers face, our appearance, is our The world offers us so we as baptized Christians Debunk the advertisers’
to sensitize them to the importance of MIL in the education calling card. many choices, but sets only have to make in order for us promises, puncture the
process, enable them to integrate MIL into their teaching Advertisements reinforce one worldly goal—success— to live a happy, productive, illusions media propagate
and provide them with appropriate pedagogical methods, this idea in telling us how and so it teaches us that and fulfilling life of dignity. about having a “happy and
curricula and resources.” to start our day: they nudge to be successful we must There is only one forked road successful life” as a human
Even Moscow has issued a declaration defining MIL as “a us to drink brand-X coffee be smart. We have to be we have to face, and there we being’s worthiest goal. If we call
combination of knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices if we want to be alert and “cool” in everything we do, ask ourselves: shall I follow And That’s the Truth / A6
required to access, analyze, use, produce, and communicate
information and knowledge in creative, legal and ethical
ways that respect human rights.” This is, of course, an
Holiness in our Candidly Speaking
Editorial / A6
helplessness Fr. Roy Cimagala

Monitor
CBCP
WE know that holiness is for everyone. qualities favorable to these aspects. would not know everything that affects
That’s what God wants us to be, since It can only become the domain of him, much less, how to cope with the
we are his image and likeness, children the well-endowed, the strong-willed, many mysteries in life.
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE of his. He wants us to be like him. and even the superheroes, if not the Let us always remember that cry of
“Be perfect as your heavenly Father is superhumans. St. Paul when he noticed two conflicting
Pedro Quitorio perfect,” Christ told us very clearly. (Mt Holiness has another side. It can and laws raging within himself, the law of the
Editor-in-Chief 5,48) should be achieved in the middle of our mind and the law of the flesh. (cfr. Rom
But we many times think that to weaknesses, our stupidities and follies, 7,22-24) Many times, we find ourselves
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Associate Editor Design Artists spotlessly clean of any sin, defect and as long as we know how to relate them exactly what to do.
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Roy Lagarde Mercedita Juanite of these qualities. We have to try our best We cannot deny that in spite of our we just have to suffer our weaknesses,
News Editor Circulation Manager
that we be good all the time, productive best efforts, which actually can be a and everything else that are allied to
Marcelita Dominguez and fruitful in our endeavors, active very relative thing since what is best to them—our stupidities and follies, our
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Managing Editor Comptroller in the service of God, the Church and one is only good to another, we many helplessness, etc.—in the way Christ
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CBCP Monitor March 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 05 OPINION A5

Sackcloth and ashes, Whisper from the Desert

By the Roadside
Fr. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ Belizar, Jr. SThD
not curses Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD

“The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on

the ground; they are silent. They have
thrown dust on their heads. They have
followed the casket” (2 Sam 3:31). Now,
don’t we need to do the same in our
islands drenched with the blood of EJK
thou art and to dust and ashes shalt
thou return” (Gen 3:19) are God’s words
to Adam that the Church, as prophet,
EDSA: An unfinished
girded themselves with sackcloth. The
virgins of Jerusalem have bowed their
victims and of assassinations of political
and all other kinds?
repeats to us during Ash Wednesday.
Are we listening? Or are those words
revolution
heads to the ground” (Lamentations Two, we need the prophets to call us lost somewhere in our daily cultivated
THIRTY-THREE years ago, a corrupt dictator—Ferdinand
2:10). to repentance. We need to hear them pretensions that we are not led each
Marcos—was deposed in a matter of four days without
do a Jonah, that is, declare that our minute closer to our last breath?
bloodshed. It was an event that was totally unexpected.
LENT is upon us. But, pray tell, when sins as individuals and as a nation only Four, we need the prophets to tell us
It happened three years after the assassination of Ninoy
has it ever ended in the land of Jose have one destination: self-destruction. by sackcloth and ashes that only prayer
Aquino, which consequently heightened the resistance
Rizal? “Forty days more and Nineveh will from hearts filled with humble, if often
against the dictatorial regime. It happened two weeks
Herod is still slaying perceived be destroyed” (Jon 3:4). We need our desperate, faith can we move mountains.
after a snap election which was denounced by the CBCP as
enemies. Pilate is still washing his prophets to witness like Jonah the The book of Esther, particularly chapters
fraudulent. It was triggered by a bungled coup attempt and
hands. People with power are still power of God’s (not their) Word on 4 and 5, tells of how Esther, her adoptive
the call of Cardinal Sin for the people to come to EDSA to
conspiring against Jesus. The crowds people. “And the people of Nineveh father Mordecai and all Jews, by praying,
prevent loyalist troops from going after the coup plotters
are still shouting, “Crucify him!” Judas believed in God. They proclaimed a fasting and interceding “with sackcloth
holed up in Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo. It came to
is still in hot pursuit of his thirty pieces fast, and they put on sackcloth, from and ashes” (4:1; 16) engineered the
be known as the People Power revolution which installed
of silver. Herod still keeps regaling his the greatest to least. And word reached liberation of their people from a well-
Cory Aquino, the widow of Ninoy Aquino, as president.
audiences with tales of harlotry and the king of Nineveh. And he rose from planned genocide. Will we not in our
For many, it was indeed a miraculous event. It was our
murders tinted as chivalry; and these his throne, and he threw off his robe own time not learn from them?
Exodus. It was a manifestation of God’s intervention in our
are met with laughter and applause. and was clothed in sackcloth, and he Finally, we need our prophets to
country’s history. God was revealed as liberator, on side
Peter continues to deny Jesus; and, sat in ashes” (Jon 3:5-6). But will the tell us to not reject being ordinary
of the poor, who “cast the mighty from their thrones and
oh, nobody should have missed how present king and population of our and commonplace like “sackcloth
lifted up the lowly.” It was time when we were proud to be
the so-called “apostles” literally run for Nineveh also put on the sackcloth and and ashes”. Why? Because, precisely
Filipinos. EDSA was touted as our gift to the world, proof
their lives at the mere sight of Herod’s ashes of repentance? That is what we in embracing our littleness, we
that it was possible to peacefully end despotic regimes.
men. Meanwhile, Herod utters without must pray for, as we strive for our own. likewise constantly open ourselves to
Thus, it became an inspiration for non-violent resistance
let-up well-calculated words despising Jesus himself warns us not go the way the “mysterium tremendum” that is
all over the world. Several years later, we witnessed the
God Almighty and his people as revealed of unrepentant Chorazin and Bethsaida, God’s presence in ordinary people and
collapse of the Iron Curtain, the emergence of democratic
by the Scriptures and even presents an “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, ordinary things we deal with daily. As
regimes in Eastern Europe, in Latin America, and in South
alternative to what Zion offers for an Bethsaida! If the miracles that had been we encounter the hungry, the thirsty,
Africa.
encounter and worship of the deity of performed in you happened in Tyre and the ragged, the prisoners, the sick,
Yet, over three decades later, we look at our country
their dreams or nightmares—himself. Sidon, they would have repented long the marginalized only by our intimate
and ask, was it really a revolution? Did EDSA change and
And the prophets? They have been ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Mt 11:21). spiritual familiarity with our sackcloth
transform our country?
mostly silent or, worse, silenced. But The ruins of Chorazin and Bethsaida and ashes will we realize the truth of
The Marcoses are still around. Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
why do we need them? are there to warn us so we could avoid the Master’s words: “Whatever you did
has received a hero’s burial. Imelda Marcos is still scot-
One, we need them to, as David did, adding upon ours. For are we not ruined to the least of my brethren you did to
free in spite of being convicted by the Sandigan Bayan.
bring God’s people to mourn the death enough by the ongoing carnage of our me” (Mt 25:40).
It is believed that the Marcos billions financed the vice-
of countless Abners in our midst. Piqued own people by our people in the anti- Lent is upon us. And it challenges
presidential candidacy of Bongbong Marcos and the
by sorrow at the killing, David tells the drug war, rebellion and assassinations us to take up our sackcloth and ashes
senatorial candidacy of Imee Marcos who is being endorsed
killers, the brothers Joab and Abishai, largely done under the skirt of impunity? of prayer, fasting, penance and true
by Rodrigo Duterte out of gratitude for the family’s support
as well as the people with them, “‘Tear Three, we need the prophets to remind conversion. By the same sackcloth and
of his presidential candidacy.
your garments and gird yourselves with us of our mortality and thus of the ashes we will surely, like Thomas, touch
We have a president who idolizes the former dictator
sackcloth, and lament before the funeral urgency of humble self-assessment the wounds the crucified Lord who will
and has followed his example by exercising hegemony
procession of Abner.’ David himself leading to conversion. “Dust and ashes always lead us to Easter.
and total control, not just over the executive branch but
also the legislative and judiciary branches of government.
Let us pray for life Duc in Altum
He has imposed perpetual martial law in Mindanao.
He acts as if he is above the law and can say anything
and safety Atty. Aurora A. Santiago
he likes. The extrajudicial killings already claimed the
lives of more than 30,000 people in less than three
years – casualties on the so-called “war on drugs” and
the counter-insurgency war. This has surpassed the EJKs
that took place in the 14 years of the Marcos dictatorial
WHEN many priests had We must do something to be misunderstood. He is very youth is “not the future but rule. Peace remains an elusive dream in spite of the
been gunned down, how protect his life; we must keep vocal when he asserts that the now of God…”. I do not peace agreement with the MILF and the BOL. Peace
would you feel when you him safe; we must secure the Church is not against have the contact number negotiations with the NDF/CPP/NPA which started
suddenly learn that your everything for him. the government’s war on of Kriz Payumo, Chairman 32 years ago have not prospered and have once again
Bishop also received death We never asked “why illegal drugs. The Church of the Youth Ministry of collapsed, leading to the escalation of armed hostilities.
threats, one after another? Bishop Ambo, of all people.” fully supports the campaign Kalookan; I googled his FB We continue to be led by corrupt and incompetent
Did you ever think what We know physical injuries against illegal drugs because account, sent message and politicians whose only concern is to enrich themselves
would happen to your might be inflicted on him they are menace to society: he replied. He said the youth and their families and perpetuate themselves in power.
Diocese without him? Did so as to intimidate him, but they destroy the person, they are as concerned as the adults The opposition has been intimidated and emasculated.
you ask yourself what would to take his life is something destroy the family, in the end, about the life and safety of Those who dared stand up to the president—like Leila De
happen to your bishop’s many beyond our imagination. they destroy the country. Bishop Ambo. I told Kriz Lima and Antonio Trillanes III have been harassed and
projects for the poor and the Bishop Ambo has been The Church objection is that the CLK and the Youth arrested by false charges. The media is constantly under
children? for those living in fearless and relentless in his the manner how the war is Ministry should join forces, attack while false news proliferate in the cyberspace. The
the peripheries of society? advocacy for the rights of the conducted. Every person work together and plan clergy—including bishops—continue to receive death
for the lost, the least and the poor and the children. He has the right to due process; what should be done. We threats and three priests have already been assassinated.
last? for those who depend always points out that every when apprehended, he both agreed to mobilize the Meanwhile, majority of the people remain poor. The
on him morally, spiritually human life is sacred and should be given his day in Diocese. I suggested Prayer prices of goods continue to rise. The poor are victims of
and financially? What would with dignity; that it should court, not to be summarily Power; he suggested Prayer violence, injustice, violation of human rights. They are
you do to prevent and stop never be abused; that it must executed “kapag nanlaban” Vigil. the most vulnerable to calamities due to the destruction
the worst that could happen be protected while in the (if he fought back). Together with Mark Joseph of the environment and climate change.
to your Bishop? womb; that detained persons As President of the Council Rollon and Marion Sanchez Looking back over the years after EDSA, we realize that
It recently happened to our and prisoners should not be of the Laity of Kalookan II of the Diocese Social there was no genuine revolution. There was a restoration
very own dear Bishop Pablo given inhumane treatment, (CLK), how should I call Communications (SOCCOM), of democracy—but only in form but not in substance. What
Virgilio “Ambo” David of the even if they were involved on the parishioners of our Kriz and I planned the was restored was elitist democracy—with a self-serving
Diocese of Kalookan. Our in illegal drugs because Dioceses to protect Bishop Prayer Vigil at San Roque political class motivated by wealth, power, and privilege—
initial reaction was anger. they are sick and need care Ambo? We need to keep him Cathedral in less than 48 perpetuated by an electorate most of whom lack conscience
How can a person want to and compassion. He always safe and secured. In deep hours, on First Friday, and and intelligence, easily fooled by empty promises, that
kill a servant of the Lord who states that every person must prayers, I asked the Lord on the eve of the birthday can easily be bought and captivated by candidates who
has nothing in his heart and fight every forces of death to teach me the way. Then, of Bishop Ambo. Mark and are popular (boxers, entertainers, actors) even if they are
mind but to give good life for and violence. He is against Pope Francis’s message Marion will document the incompetent. Fifteen years after EDSA, there was EDSA
all and bring them closer to violence, he is against the during the World Youth event; the Prayer Vigil will II which ousted a corrupt and incompetent president. But
God. Our anger turned into culture of death. Day in Panama immediately not be focused on Bishop things remain the same. Why is this?
fear for our Bishop’s life. Bishop Ambo should never flashed in my mind. The Duc in Altum / A7 We lack genuine selfless leaders who have integrity,
principles, and competence. We lack compassionate and

Faith and Culture Human love and divine courageous servant-leaders, with vision and wisdom,
capable of inspiring everyone to work for the common

Cristina Montes
FOR this year’s season of Lent, I would
like to suggest a way to add variety to
the observance of this yearly liturgical
season devoted to prayer, penance, and
almsgiving. Many people substitute their
recreational reading with something
spiritual during Lent. (Of course, there
are also people who are in the practice
of doing regular spiritual reading all
year round.) Around Lent, I usually read
blogs or Facebook posts about people
deciding on or announcing their “Lenten
reading”.
One way to facilitate Lenten
recollection is to read poetry suited
for the season. Good poetry can have
a powerful impact on the soul. It can
engage the whole person – intellect,
imagination, memory, senses. The
works of talented poets who have sought
inspiration in spiritual things, especially
the Passion and Death of Christ, can
inspire their readers to move just a bit
closer to Him.
A clarification, though: recreational
love in fantasy
reading of spiritual books is not the same
as what is strictly speaking spiritual
reading or lectio divina, and spiritual
reading must be done under the guidance
of one’s spiritual director. Certain works
may be good in themselves but may not
be the best work for the reader at his or
her stage of the spiritual life.
That having been said, there are many
poems that can edify spiritually.
T.S. Elliot’s long poem, Ash Wednesday is
a challenging one. Nevertheless, one does
not need to fully understand Ash Wednesday
to appreciate the mood it powerfully evokes
and captures: that of recollection, and the
tension arising from the interior struggle
that conversion involves. It also has
references to the Blessed Virgin. Here is an
excerpt from the poem:
“And pray to God to have mercy upon
us
And pray that I may forget
These matters that with myself I too
much discuss
Too much explain
Because I do not hope to turn again
Let these words answer
For what is done, not to be done again
May the judgment not be too heavy
upon us
Because these wings are no longer
wings to fly
But merely vans to beat the air
The air which is now thoroughly small
and dry
Smaller and dryer than the will
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still.
Pray for us sinners now and at the
hour of our death
Pray for us now and at the hour of
our death.”
For the next column, I will introduce
the reader to poems that have been
inspired by the events of Holy Week.
There are many of them; I will present
only my favorites.
(To be continued)
good and with a program of transforming our political
and economic system and structures to bring about
genuine justice, peace, and progress. But we cannot
blame everything on the kind of leaders we have. We
deserve the leaders we have elected. They reflect who
we are – the worst version of ourselves. Change and
revolution begins in each one of us. What is required
is a moral revolution. To be able to recognize good
and evil within and outside ourselves, to overcome
our selfishness and greed, to undergo a process of
conversion, to reject all forms and manifestation of evil,
to become more honest and compassionate. We need to
undergo a process of purification.
I believe that EDSA was our Exodus—it was a moment
in our history that we as a people experienced God’s
liberating intervention. But as the biblical story reminds
us, the people of God had to journey across the desert for
forty years before reaching the promised land. Why did it
have to take that long? Because liberation from Pharaoh’s
oppressive rule was the easy part. The inner liberation—the
spiritual-moral liberation takes time. Structural revolution
or transformation has to be accompanied by moral, inner
revolution and transformation. The present authoritarian
regime that came to power with the promise of change—
pagbabago—will not last, it will surely come to an end. But
unless we undergo inner change as a people, we will have
more of the same.
There was a time when we were proud to be Filipinos.
Now many of us are ashamed to be Filipinos. I hope that
someday, we will be proud once again of who we are.
A6 LOCAL NEWS
PPCRV seeks 300k
volunteers for May 13 polls
THE Parish Pastoral Council
for Responsible Voting
(PPCRV) needs at least
300,000 volunteers to be
deployed nationwide on
Election Day.
PPCRV board member
Dr. Arwin Serrano said it’s
just their ideal minimum
number of volunteers who
will be assigned in their
command center and polling
precincts.
He said they are actually
targeting up to half a million
volunteers, but which is
still lower compared to the
800,000 volunteers they had
in the 2016 elections.
Serrano said they required
a lower number of volunteers
because there are less
Suffering / A1
everyone who suffers or are
unjustly persecuted.
“It was a gesture of love
and it transforms everything.
Even injustice, even evil could
be transformed by love,” said
Caccia.
Catholics across the
country are expected to
attend Masses and receive
ashes on their foreheads on
Ash Wednesday, March 6,
which marks the beginning
of Lent, the 40-day period of
penance for Catholics before
the Holy Week and Easter.
Cardinal Luis Antonio
Threats / A1
Do not do it. Do not try to
do it. The religious [leaders]
has nothing to do with the
vagaries of life. Lay off! Stop
threatening them or you will
have to face me,” he added.
Duterte has repeatedly
slammed the Church in
response to its criticism
against his drug war and
David has become the main
target of the president’s
tirade.
Recently, the president
Editorial / A4
overwhelming challenge. The
technical aspects involved in
this matter alone can already
pose a formidable challenge.
In this area, things are
developing at warp-speed.
But it is more in the moral
and ethical aspects where the
real challenge lies. And sadly,
this latter concern is lagging
behind miserably.
That in this matter
everything has to start and
end with God is hardly felt
by people in general. It
would even seem that God is
regarded as a persona-non-
grata here. But what is worse
is when we start talking about
the concrete guidelines and
limits so that we can indulge
in this task with prudence
and temperance that would
not compromise boldness
and creativity!
Unfortunately, many
people nowadays hardly
make any reference to God
in their growing ventures
into the world of knowledge,
sciences, technology. They
seem competent to tackle
the challenge simply by using
their increasingly growing
technical knowledge and
skills. This is a big challenge
to face.
They have forgotten what
St. Paul said in this regard:
“Knowledge puffs up while
love builds up. Those who
precinct centers to provide
with poll watchers.
“We should have at
least 300,000 volunteers
nationwide. That’s the
ideal minimum but we are
targeting 500,000,” he said.
To be a PPCRV volunteer,
one must be at least 18-years
old; a registered voter;
not related to any serving
Board of Election Inspectors
up to the fourth degree of
consanguinity; and not
related to any candidate in a
particular district.
In the past few months,
the poll watchdog has been
conducting voters’ education
trainers’ training in different
dioceses across the country.
(CBCPNews)
Tagle of Manila urged
the faithful to “prepare
to journey with Jesus to
Jerusalem where He will
show His love for God the
Father and for us until the
end”.
Like Christ, he said that it
is important to “travel light”
and without heavy bags and
baggages.
“Almsgiving, fasting and
prayer will help us leave
behind unnecessary bags
and baggages on our Lenten
journey with Jesus,” Tagle
said. (CBCPNews)
intensified his attacks on the
Church, even urging people
to kill bishops.
Asked if the death threats
are tied to his campaign
against drug killings, David
said, “your guess is as good
as mine”.
Human rights advocates
alleged that the death toll
in Duterte’s drug war has
surpassed 20,000 since
he assumed office in 2016.
(CBCP News)
think they know something
do not yet know as they ought
to know. But whoever loves
God is known by God.” (1
Cor 8,1-3)
Maybe what should be
done is to come out with a
network of agencies and other
relevant institutions that
will continually monitor the
developments in this world of
the media and information.
This network should cover
and be represented by all
levels, classes, sectors of
society. It definitely would
involve technical people,
but more than them, it
should involve our spiritual
leaders, parents, teachers,
government, etc. There
should be representatives
from the legal field as well as
from that sphere that studies
social developments. There
should be interdisciplinary
approach to all this.
From there, we need to
have an army of mentors
who can personally attend
to every individual person,
especially the young ones.
Of course, everyone should
strive to be a mentor too,
even if he himself needs
also to be continually
mentored. We have to
remember that all of us
are meant to be both sheep
and shepherd, mentee and
mentor.
March 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 05 CBCP Monitor
Bishop: Influx of illegal Chinese
workers ‘unfair’ to Filipinos
A CATHOLIC bishop raised concern
over the the seeming special treatment
given to illegal Chinese workers in the
country.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said
the immigration laws must apply to all,
regardless of nationalities or status.
“Their entry, stay and work must be
legal, and if not, so apply the law. No
exception, no special treatment,” Santos
said.
The bishop was reacting to
President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement
discouraging the deportation of
undocumented Chinese workers in the
Philippines.
Duterte’s remarks come amid an
ongoing Senate investigation on the
influx of Chinese into the country.
Nearly 2,000 Chinese nationals have
been arrested for working without proper
visas or permits in the past two years.
Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCP Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People. NICO BALBEDINA
The biggest arrest was in 2016 when
authorities rounded up more than 1,200 Malacañang’s claim that the surge of added.
Chinese working in illegal online casinos Chinese workers was due to the lack The prelate urged the government to
in Pampanga. of skilled Filipinos particularly in ensure that Filipinos are not robbed of
On Feb. 7, immigration operatives construction works. job opportunities in their own country.
arrested 30 Chinese nationals working “It could be that we are not giving “Prioritize them, Filipinos first and
illegally in several establishments in them work and chose to give work to give them work here so that there will be
Parañaque City. other nationalities. And thus it is unfair no need of going abroad,” Santos said.
Bishop Santos also rejected treatment to our fellow Filipinos,” he (Roy Lagarde / CBCPNews)
Church opposes Manila Bay reclamation projects
The Archdiocese of Manila reiterates its stance to protect Manila Bay from reclamation projects. ROY LAGARDE
THE Archdiocese of Manila Manila Bay reclamation due “It is against the poor since percent of the bay’s 1,994
has maintained its opposition to ecological grounds. It is it will concentrate projects in square-kilometer area.
to the government plan to against ecology,” Pabillo said. Manila rather than spreading In 2013, Cardinal Luis
develop artificial islands in Aside from hurting the it out in the provinces,” he Antonio Tagle and 20 other
Manila Bay, saying it could ecology, the prelate said the added. bishops of the Ecclesiastical
harm the environment. projects would affect the A total of 22 reclamation Province of Manila appealed
Manila Auxiliary Bishop poor that depends on the bay projects are planned along to the government to stop the
Broderick Pabillo said the waters for their livelihood. Manila Bay, three of which reclamation projects.
reclamation projects are “It is a project for the rich have already been approved They asserted that the
wasteful and potentially and foreigners while the poor by the government. projects will only benefit the
harmful to the environment. will suffer due to congestions The Philippine Reclamation wealthy and big businesses
“We, in the Archdiocese and floodings in Manila,” Authority (PRA) said that to the detriment of the poor.
of Manila, are against the Pabillo said. all projects cover about 11 (CBCPNews)
Abuse / A1
“presented and published in the near organism or rules. In the summit’s opening keynote
future”. “They are all important but the root speech on Feb. 21, Tagle said the
Another initiative that will be available is we are being called to the church of world needs “authentic and credible
in “a few weeks or a month or two” is a Jesus Christ,” Tagle told Vatican News witnesses” to Christ, stressing the
handbook or vademecum for bishops, at the end of the summit on Feb. 24. needs for the church to face the crisis
prepared by the Congregation for the “I think there is also the call for the without fear.
Doctrine of the Faith. church to be faithful to Jesus’ calling for The cardinal choked up as he told
us to be disciples,” he said. the assembly that the wounds they had
Discipleship Tagle said the clerical abuse has inflicted on the victims through their
But More than enforcing stricter rules caused “pain and shame” to the church, indifference mirrored the wounds of
against clergy sex abuses, Cardinal Luis and assuring that the institution will Christ on the cross.
Antonio Tagle said the crisis urgently confront the crisis in line with its call to He demanded that the church
asks clergymen ‘to be true to our calling’. be authentic witnesses to Jesus. hierarchy will address the roots that
The Manila archbishop said the “The pain, the cries of the victims and fueled the abuses and cover up for so
church will “definitely” respond to the of the poor, they are the voice telling us long. (With reports from Catholic
problem but not just to provide some ‘be true to your calling,’” he added. News Service)
Lent / A1
Filipino children.
Mainly because of poverty, the
cardinal said that more than three
out of ten children are now stunting
in physical and mental development
due to hunger.
“The development of their full
potential will not be achieved unless
they are cared for and fed with
nutritious food,” Tagle said.
Since it started in 2005, Hapag-
Asa has helped in feeding more than
two million malnourished children
throughout the country.
To sustain its gains, it has also
capacitated the children’s parents
through values education, and skills
and livelihood training.
For the coming months, the
program hopes to provide one meal
per day to at least 30,000 children
for 120 days.
“It takes only P1,200 for six
months or P10 per day to nourish a
hungry and undernourished child,”
said Tagle. (CBCPNews) A man receives ashes on Ash Wednesday at the Baclaran Church, March 6, 2019. ELMARC LIM
CBCP Monitor
‘Church-State collaboration’
discussed at church
lawyers’ confab
The 27th Canon Law Society of the Philippines (CLSP) Conference gathered 120 canon
lawyers from all over the Philippines to share ideas on the theme: “Collaboration
Between the Philippine Church and the State.”
CEBU City— Around 120
canon lawyers gathered on
Feb. 19 for the 27th Canon
Law Society of the Philippines
(CLSP) Conference to
share ideas on the theme:
“Collaboration Between the
Philippine Church and the
State.”
With the current
studies on the final draft
of the Proposed Federal
Constitution, the CLSP
finds that the times call
for collective prayer and
reflection on what can be
done to streamline not only
canonical procedures on
annulment cases but also
with regard to civil laws
concerning these same cases,
and what the separation of
the Church and State means
for the Church, for the State
and for the faithful.
Bishops, priests, religious,
and lay lawyers of the
Catholic Church prayed and
studied together for 4 days at
the Quest Hotel & Conference
Vatican grants indulgence for
indigenous church in Ilocos Sur
St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
LAOAG City— The Vatican
has granted an indigenous
church in the Archdiocese
of Nueva Segovia with one-
year plenary indulgence as
it celebrates its 25th year as
a parish.
The year-long indulgence
at the St. Anthony of Padua
Church in Sugpon, Ilocos
Sur started last Feb. 11 and
will end on the same date
next year.
Citing the decree from
Apostolic Penitentiary,
Nueva Segovia chancellor
Fr. Ian Paul Filart said that
the normal conditions must
be met to attain indulgence.
This means, he said,
that Catholics are to make
pilgrimages to the church
in Sugpon, sacramentally
confess their sins, receive
communion, and pray for the
Pope’s intentions.
The decree also exhorts the
faithful to pray for poor souls
in purgatory, for vocations to
the priesthood and religious
life, and for the defense of
the institutions of human life,
concluding it with the Lord’s
Prayer.
The Profession of Faith
and the invocations of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and
Saint Anthony of Padua
are also to be prayed, Filart
added.
Hundreds of pilgrims from
the entire archdiocese are
expected to flock to Sugpon
for the Jubilee Year.
The fifth class municipality
is among the interior towns
of Ilocos Sur, situated along
March 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 05
Center in this city.
Fr. Ranhilio Callangan
Aquino, JD, Dean of San
Beda University’s College
of Law and priest of the
Archdiocese of Tuguegarao,
gave his insights in the
talks “Declaration of
Marriage nullity vs. Divorce:
Streamlining Procedures
for Declaration of Marriage
Nullity in Civil Courts”
and the “Church-State
Cooperation in the Philippine
Constitution.”
Former Chief Justice
Hilario Davide, Jr., a member
of the 1986 Constitutional
Commission, also shared his
thoughts through the talk “A
Critical Analysis on the Final
Draft of the Proposed Federal
Constitution”.
The Archdiocese of Cebu,
led by Cebu Archbishop Jose
Palma and Cebu Judicial
Vicar Fr. Raul Go and his
team, organized the said
event. (Fr. Philippe A. B.
Gallanosa/CBCP News)
its boundary with La Union.
With a population of
around 4,500, it is among
the towns inhabited by
indigenous communities
who speak Kankanaey and
Ilocano.
The town was originally
under the care of missionaries
from the “Congregatio
Immaculatis Cordis Mariae”
(CICM) and was handed
over to the pastoral care of
the diocesan clergy in 1995
following its erection as a
parish.
Sugpon parish was
also among the parishes
established during the
incumbency of the then
Archbishop Orlando
Quevedo, now a retired
cardinal, who regarded the
indigenous peoples as among
his pastoral priorities.
St. Anthony of Padua parish
priest Fr. Rosmel Cairel said
the decree manifests the
love and special place of the
people from the peripheries
in the heart of Pope Francis.
Cairel added that he is
disposed to celebrate the
Sacrament of Penance, to
prepare the people in the
reception of the indulgence.
On the jubilee day on June
13, the Feast of St. Anthony
of Padua, another plenary
indulgence is to be granted
through the blessing of the
Mass which will be imparted
by Archbishop Marlo Peralta
of Nueva Segovia, by mandate
of the faculty extended by the
Apostolic Penitentiary to
him. (CBCP News)
Negros priest accused of sexual
abuse, placed on leave
SAN CARLOS City— A Catholic priest
has been placed on leave after being
accused of sexually abusing a minor in
Negros Occidental province.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San
Carlos said they were “saddened and
shocked” by the allegation but vowed
cooperation in any investigation.
He said the accused, whom the
diocese did not identify, was temporarily
replaced as parish priest to give way for
an impartial probe.
“We are committed to search for
truth and to make sure that the process
will be fair and just to both parties and
whoever is responsible will have to face
the consequences,” Alminaza said in a
statement issued on Feb. 28.
Church in Palawan addresses depression
A representative from Ospital ng Palawan discusses basic facts about depression and how to help someone experiencing it, during the launching of the advocacy apostolate
of the Catholic Church for PLHIV and people experiencing depression, Feb. 13, 2019. KATYA SANTOS
THE Church is “offering its
hands and ears to people
experiencing depression.”
This was one of the
declarations of Bishop
Socrates Mesiona following the
launching of the local church’s
advocacy apostolate program
for persons living with the
human immunodeficiency
virus (PLHIV) and depression
on Feb. 13 at the Immaculate
Conception Cathedral in this
city.
“I am aware that there are
that there are some cases of
Candidly Speaking / A4
We know that Christ made himself
helpless to obey the will of his Father
for our own salvation. He bore all our
sins. This should be the mentality to
have when we are reduced to our own
state of helplessness.
We should not just suffer our own
weaknesses, etc., alone. We should
suffer them with Christ, and in that
way we convert them into a real path
to sanctity. In fact, we can say that the
more we suffer, the more chances we
And That’s the Truth / A4
ourselves followers of Christ
we should let Him cleanse
our system of false ideals and
worthless models. Jesus came
to live with us to show us lonely
goal worth pursuing. Believing
in the cause that Jesus died
for, we are given the grace
to live “on every word that
comes forth from the mouth
Duc in Altum / A5
Ambo alone, but for peace and security
of all bishops, priests, lay faithful
and the nation. I met separately with
Mico Pacheco of San Roque Cathedral
Liturgical Commission; he committed
to take care of the Liturgy together with
the Cathedral youth, who will handle
the audio visuals during the Prayer
Vigil. I requested Fr. James Anthony
Del Rosario to prepare for us a Special
Tagalog Prayer to be recited at the end of
the Holy Hour (and now being prayed in
all Masses in the Diocese). Kriz said the
youth would prepare “lugaw” (congee)
and could CLK supply cups and spoons?
Meanwhile, Ryan Rezo of SOCCOM
flashed in social media a call for prayer
for the life and safety of Bishop Ambo;
within 24 hours, it reached 300k people
and 4.1k shares. He also released in less
than 24 hours the invitation to attend
the Prayer Vigil: which begun with the
6:00pm Holy Mass presided by Fr. Jay
Arvin De Leon; the Holy Hour presided
by Fr. Phillippe Angelo Garcia; praying
of the four (4) mysteries of the Holy
Rosary, each decade ended with a prayer
for the family and the country and a
Marian Song; the religious congregation
On the other hand, the bishop said
the diocese will take its own canonical
process which involves providing
pastoral care to the alleged victim and
her family.
“While we acknowledge the right
of the accused to be presumed
innocent until proven otherwise, we
are steadfast to assist the victim and
cooperate in the process so the truth
will come out and justice is served,”
Alminaza said.
“We are proceeding with our own
canonical process as dictated by Church
laws by providing pastoral care to the
accused while allowing the legal process
to take its course,” he added.
The charges against the priest
suicide in Palawan, and on the Depression is a serious
part of the Church we want to illness, but most people get
help on awareness, education better with help, said Vicente
and counseling,” he said. during an overview about
depression.
Facts about depression She discussed some facts
Bishop Socrates Mesiona, about depression to help
City Vice Mayor Nancy persons experiencing this
Socrates, Councilor Roy kind of psychological struggle.
Gregorio Ventura, City Health How to help
Officer Ricardo Panganiban, “If you know people who
Regine Villapa (HIV Program are experiencing depression,
Coordinator), Hayalee Vicente don’t try to cheer them up.
(Ospital Ng Palawan) led the They are looking at things
signing of commitment to from other perspective; just
support the program. ask them if they need help, let
have of identifying ourselves more
intimately with Christ, who achieved
our redemption through his own
suffering and death.
Let us always remember that when
we suffer and die with Christ, we will
also resurrect with him. (cfr. Rom 6,8)
Suffering and death do not have the last
word in our life. It is redemption, eternal
life of bliss with God and with everybody
else, that has the last word.
We need to give a full and more
of God”—we are renewed, “re- vibes and tempt us to forget
programmed” to receive and about God’s eternal love for
be moved by the Divine. us. These next 40 days, we
This season of Lent, we take pray even for a whiff of that
a break as we turn our back strength that sustained our
to the monsters that we have Lord in the desert against the
created by our inordinate devil’s temptations. It is not
belief in their worth—events, true that we are “only human”
persons, things, news that and therefore too weak to
give us nothing but bad rise above the allurements
of nuns, youth and lay faithful took
turn. Fr. Jeronimo “Jerome” Cruz, Vicar
General of the Diocese and Rector of San
Roque Cathedral, presided the closing of
the Holy Hour and the incensing of the
image of Virgen de Nieva to the hymn
Salve Regina, the second patroness of
the Cathedral.
The invitation in social media caught
the attention not only of the parishioners
of the Diocese but also the lay faithful,
religious congregations, seminarians
from the other Dioceses. They came over
to show their solidarity and support for
Bishop Ambo. The print, broadcast and
social media also cover the Prayer Vigil.
The turn-out of people and media was
beyond our expectation. From all of us
in the Diocese of Kalookan, we thank all
of you who planned, prepared, joined
and cover our Prayer Vigil. Let us all
wish Bishop Ambo our God’s blessing
and protection on his 60th Birthday
and onwards! Let us continue praying
for him, and for peace and security of
our bishops, priests, lay faithful and
the nation. We know Bishop Ambo
appreciated your solidarity and show
of support.
DIOCESAN NEWS A7
stemmed from a complaint filed by the
alleged victim’s mother who works as a
secretary of the parish.
The alleged victim, a four-year-old
girl, was negative of laceration or
abnormal discharges, based on her
medical results.
The case erupted amid increased
scrutiny of the Church’s handling of
abuse allegations.
On Feb. 21 to 24, nearly 200 Catholic
leaders from across the world gathered
in Vatican for a landmark summit on
combatting sexual abuse within the
church.
Pope Francis told the church leaders
that they must find “concrete” solutions
to end the crisis. (CBCP News)
them feel your presence…Just
your presence is enough,” she
explained.
The program—in
partnership with the local
government through the City
Health Office (CHO), Ospital
ng Palawan (ONP), and
with the support of different
volunteer-workers from
civil society organization—
concluded with a candle-
lighting ceremony from the
Cathedral to the Jubilee
Cross. (Katya A. Santos /
CBCPNews)
fair picture of how holiness can be
achieved both in good and bad times.
We should not focus on one without the
other, because in that way we would be
distorting the true nature of holiness
and debasing the power of God. We need
to be more open-minded about this issue
and avoid stereotyping holiness in some
concrete form.
Holiness can be achieved in many
and even infinite ways. The only thing
necessary is to relate everything to God.
of this world. We do have
a choice. There is such a
thing as transcendence, and
because we are God’s children
the desire for it is in our DNA,
so to speak. This holy season
of Christ’s passion, we pray
to be able to make that one
choice to transcendence. And
that’s the truth.
***
On Bishop Ambo’s 60th Birthday, an
early morning Thanksgiving Mass at
San Roque Cathedral was presided by
Fr. Jerome and concelebrated by the
Cathedral Clergy. The Diocese’s MASID
Center (Mga Anak Sila ng Diyos) and
the Association of Religious Men and
Women in the Diocese sponsored the
feeding program for children under the
care of MASID and mission stations of
the Diocese. The Curia Office served
lugaw and tokwa to those who attended
the Thanksgiving Mass.
Days before the birthday of Bishop
Ambo, the Vicariate of San Jose de
Navotas, headed by its Vicar Forane
and parish priest of San Ildefonso,
Fr. Bong Gino, sponsored the feeding
program for abandoned, special and
with disability children and children
in conflict with the law, who stay in
Sandigan Center and Bahay Pag-asa of
Malabon City, respectively. Likewise,
the Vicariate of San Roque headed
by its Vicar Forane and parish priest
of Sacred Heart Tugatog, Fr. Jun
Bartolome, also had feeding program
for children.
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES
Pope appoints new military bishop
This August 14, 2018 file photo shows the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcoming Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon
City. PHOTO FROM PAO/AFP
Pope names second Pinoy bishop in the U.S. Church takes focus on
POPE Francis on Tuesday, March 5 has
appointed Filipino immigrant priest
as auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles in
United States.
Monsignor Alejandro Aclan, a priest
of the same archdiocese, becomes the
second Filipino-American priest to be
named bishop in the U.S.
A native of Pasay City, the bishop-
elect was born on February 9, 1951.
Aclan graduated medical technology
from the University of Santo Tomas
before he left for Southern California to
seek a better future in 1982.
In 1988, he left his career to pursue the
vocation to the priesthood at St. John’s
Seminary in Camarillo. Five years later,
he was ordained a priest for Los Angeles.
After ordination, he served as deputy
priest of the Saint Finbar parish in
Burbank and of the Saint John of God
Parish in Norwalk from 1993 to 2001.
He also became parish priest of the
Saint Madeleine Parish in Pomona from
2001 to 2012 and headed the promotion
of vocations of the “San Gabriel Valley”
Pastoral Region from 2010 to 2012.
US-based Catholic News Service said
that Aclan served most recently as vicar
for the clergy before taking a sabbatical
PPCRV is Comelec’s citizens’ arm in May polls
THE Commission
on Elections granted
accreditation to the Parish
Pastoral Council for
Responsible Voting as its
citizens’ arm for the May 13
midterm polls.
In accrediting the PPCRV,
the Comelec en banc cited
the group’s reliability in poll
watching activities in the past
elections.
“We have taken into account
the petitioner’s track record
particularly its participation
in the past electoral exercises
and in subsequent similar
election-related activities
both local and national,” the
Comelec said.
As an accredited poll
watchdog, the Catholic
March 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 05
POPE Francis has named a Cebu
prelate as the new military ordinary
of the Philippines.
Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Oscar
Jaime Florencio will be the seventh
bishop of the military ordinariate
which has been “sede vacante” for
nearly two years now.
Florencio, 53, will succeed Bishop
Leopoldo Tumulak who passed
away in June 2017.
The appointment was made
public in Rome at 12 noon (7pm
local time) on Saturday, March 2.
The bishop admitted having
mixed emotions, following his
appointment by the pope.
“I am thankful to God for this
challenging task. But honestly, it’s
also with mixed emotions because I
will leave the Archdiocese of Cebu,”
Florencio said.
“But I am also enthusiastically
challenged because the military
stateless persons on
Nat’l Migrants Sunday
Msgr. Alejandro Aclan (center) addresses local media after his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles at
the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, March 5. PHOTO FROM THE LOS ANGELES ARCHDIOCESE
last summer. Solis served as auxiliary bishop in Los
In 2017, he was named monsignor as Angeles until 2017 when he was named
“Chaplain of His Holiness”. bishop of Salt Lake City.
Aside from English and Tagalog, The Los Angeles area is home to
Aclan also speaks Spanish. the largest Filipino immigrants in the
The first Filipino priest appointed to United States and the biggest Asian
the episcopacy in the U.S. was Bishop American community in California.
Oscar Solis in 2003. (CBCP News)
group is tasked to conduct
voters’ education program
nationwide.
Its duties also include
providing assistance to voters
and reporting campaign
violations, among others.
“The Commission would
accordingly need all the
help of all advocates
of orderly and honest THE Catholic Church’s
elections to assist it in the body for migrants urged
upcoming elections,” the help for stateless persons,
poll body added. a “disturbing” global
The poll watchdog group phenomenon affecting
is currently headed by Myla thousands of Filipino
Villanueva, a PPCRV trustee children.
since 2010. Fr. Restituto Ogsimer,
Villanueva is considered executive secretary of the
a pioneer for women in the bishops’ Commission on
local and global technology Migrants and Itinerant
industry. (CBCP News) People, said that church
people must advocate for
the rights of stateless people.
Just like the way it responds
to the asylum seekers and
refugees in the Philippines,
he said the church is looking
and must continue find ways
to assist these children.
“We are the church, let us
act now, seek them out and
extend our hands the farthest
it can reach to care for them,
to embrace them and to make
them feel loved and recognize
their existence in our midst,”
Ogsimer wrote in his message
for the National Migrants’
Sunday to be observed on
March 10.
According to him,
statelessness challenges both
the church of origin and the
receiving churches, stressing
the need for vigorous
campaign to mainstream the
discourse on the issue.
He also emphasized the
need for policies and laws to
recognize and promote “just
treatment” and to provide
basic material needs for them
especially the young.
Current statistics cover 3.7
million stateless people in
78 countries, while the office
of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees
CBCP Monitor
ordinariate is another peculiar
apostolate,” he said.
Born in Capoocan town in Leyte
province, Florencio was ordained
priest for the Archdiocese of Palo
on April 3, 1990.
The bishop holds a doctorate in
sacred theology from the Pontifical
University of the Holy Cross in
Rome.
In 2015, he was named Cebu
auxiliary bishop, making him the
first priest from the Palo archdiocese
to be elevated to the episcopacy in
28 years.
In June 2017, the Cebu prelate
was appointed as the concurrent
apostolic administrator of the
military diocese.
As military ordinary, Florencio is
responsible for the pastoral care of
Catholics serving in the country’s
military, police, coast guard units
and prison service. (CBCP News)
estimates that at least 10
million people globally could
be stateless.
In Malaysia’s Sabah state,
it is believed that more than
10,000 children are born
to Filipino migrant parents
who entered and worked in
the country without proper
documents.
Malaysian immigration law
does not grant legal status to
children of immigrants.
“In effect, the children
are not registered and
became victims of conflict in
nationality laws and are in
statelessness status; putting
them in a more vulnerable
situation,” Ogsimer said.
“They cannot even be
enrolled in formal school for
proper education; and have
no access to basic health
care,” he added.
As of 2015, reported
statistics showed that some
40 percent of the world’s
stateless people—more than
1.4 million—were living in
Southeast Asia, including
about 7,138 in the Philippines.
It was in 1987 when
the bishops initiated the
celebration of the National
Migrants’ Sunday to promote
awareness in the church and
society on the issues and
concerns linked to overseas
Filipino migration.
The annual event not only
paid tribute to millions of
overseas Filipino workers
and their families left behind
but also highlighted the
church’s effort to help them
cope with the effects of labor
migration on their lives.
(CBCP News)
CBCP Monitor March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5
Pope Francis arrives in procession to celebrate Mass at the Parish of St. Crispin in a suburb on the outskirts of Rome March 3, 2019. PAUL HARING/CNS
DEAR Brothers and Sisters
Each year, through Mother Church, God
“gives us this joyful season when we prepare
to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind
and heart renewed… as we recall the great
events that gave us new life in Christ”
(Preface of Lent I). We can thus journey
from Easter to Easter towards the fulfillment
of the salvation we have already received as
a result of Christ’s paschal mystery— “for
in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24). This
mystery of salvation, already at work in
us during our earthly lives, is a dynamic
process that also embraces history and all
of creation. As Saint Paul says, “the creation
waits with eager longing for the revealing
of the children of God” (Rom 8:19). In
this perspective, I would like to offer a few
reflections to accompany our journey of
conversion this coming Lent.
1. The redemption of creation
The celebration of the Paschal Triduum of
Christ’s passion, death and resurrection,
the culmination of the liturgical year,
calls us yearly to undertake a journey of
preparation, in the knowledge that our
being conformed to Christ (cf. Rom 8:29)
is a priceless gift of God’s mercy.
When we live as children of God, redeemed,
led by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:14) and
capable of acknowledging and obeying
God’s law, beginning with the law written
on our hearts and in nature, we also benefit
creation by cooperating in its redemption.
That is why Saint Paul says that creation
eagerly longs for the revelation of the
children of God; in other words, that all
those who enjoy the grace of Jesus’ paschal
mystery may experience its fulfillment in
the redemption of the human body itself.
When the love of Christ transfigures the
lives of the saints in spirit, body and soul,
“For the creation waits
with eager longing for
the revealing of the
children of God”(Rm 8: 19)
they give praise to God. Through prayer,
contemplation and art, they also include
other creatures in that praise, as we see
admirably expressed in the “Canticle of
the Creatures” by Saint Francis of Assisi
(cf.  Laudato Si’, 87). Yet in this world,
the harmony generated by redemption is
constantly threatened by the negative power
of sin and death.
2. The destructive power of sin
Indeed, when we fail to live as children of
God, we often behave in a destructive way
towards our neighbours and other creatures
– and ourselves as well – since we begin to
think more or less consciously that we can
use them as we will. Intemperance then
takes the upper hand: we start to live a life
that exceeds those limits imposed by our
human condition and nature itself. We yield
to those untrammelled desires that the Book
of Wisdom sees as typical of the ungodly,
those who act without thought for God or
hope for the future (cf. 2:1-11). Unless we
tend constantly towards Easter, towards the
horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality
expressed in the slogans “I want it all and
I want it now!” and “Too much is never
enough”, gains the upper hand.
The root of all evil, as we know, is sin, which
from its first appearance has disrupted our
communion with God, with others and with
creation itself, to which we are linked in a
particular way by our body. This rupture of
communion with God likewise undermines
our harmonious relationship with the
environment in which we are called to live,
so that the garden has become a wilderness
(cf. Gen 3:17-18). Sin leads man to consider
himself the god of creation, to see himself
as its absolute master and to use it, not for
the purpose willed by the Creator but for
his own interests, to the detriment of other
creatures.
Message of
His Holiness
Pope Francis
for Lent 2019
Once God’s law, the law of love, is
forsaken, then the law of the strong over
the weak takes over. The sin that lurks in
the human heart (cf. Mk 7:20-23) takes
the shape of greed and unbridled pursuit
of comfort, lack of concern for the good of
others and even of oneself. It leads to the
exploitation of creation, both persons and
the environment, due to that insatiable
covetousness which sees every desire as a
right and sooner or later destroys all those
in its grip.
3. The healing power of repentance
and forgiveness
Creation urgently needs the revelation
of the children of God, who have been
made “a new creation”. For “if anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has
passed away; behold, the new has come” (2
Cor 5:17). Indeed, by virtue of their being
revealed, creation itself can celebrate a
Pasch, opening itself to a new heaven and a
new earth (cf. Rev 21:1). The path to Easter
demands that we renew our faces and
hearts as Christians through repentance,
conversion and forgiveness, so as to live
fully the abundant grace of the paschal
mystery.
This “eager longing”, this expectation of
all creation, will be fulfilled in the revelation
of the children of God, that is, when
Christians and all people enter decisively
into the “travail” that conversion entails.
All creation is called, with us, to go forth
“from its bondage to decay and obtain the
glorious liberty of the children of God”
(Rom 8:21). Lent is a sacramental sign of
this conversion. It invites Christians to
embody the paschal mystery more deeply
and concretely in their personal, family and
social lives, above all by fasting, prayer and
almsgiving.
Fasting, that is, learning to change our
PASTORAL CONCERNS B1
attitude towards others and all of creation,
turning away from the temptation to
“devour” everything to satisfy our voracity
and being ready to suffer for love, which
can fill the emptiness of our hearts. Prayer,
which teaches us to abandon idolatry
and the self-sufficiency of our ego, and to
acknowledge our need of the Lord and his
mercy. Almsgiving, whereby we escape
from the insanity of hoarding everything
for ourselves in the illusory belief that we
can secure a future that does not belong to
us. And thus to rediscover the joy of God’s
plan for creation and for each of us, which
is to love him, our brothers and sisters, and
the entire world, and to find in this love our
true happiness.
Dear brothers and sisters, the “lenten”
period of forty days spent by the Son of
God in the desert of creation had the goal
of making it once more that garden of
communion with God that it was before
original sin (cf. Mk 1:12-13; Is 51:3). May
our Lent this year be a journey along that
same path, bringing the hope of Christ also
to creation, so that it may be “set free from
its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious
liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21).
Let us not allow this season of grace to pass
in vain! Let us ask God to help us set out
on a path of true conversion. Let us leave
behind our selfishness and self-absorption,
and turn to Jesus’ Pasch. Let us stand beside
our brothers and sisters in need, sharing our
spiritual and material goods with them. In
this way, by concretely welcoming Christ’s
victory over sin and death into our lives, we
will also radiate its transforming power to
all of creation.
From the Vatican, 4 October 2018
Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
FRANCIS
B2 FEATURE
Confronting the specter of a Philippine Divorce Law (III)
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
As most people know, a house bill for
divorce had already been passed.
What may have escaped most
Catholics is that a similar bill has
been filed in the Senate. If that bill
is passed, we will be just a step short
of divorce finally being instituted
in our country, the last remaining
state (aside from the Vatican) that
has no divorce law. Rather than
fight that bill—which has a valid
pretension (to find a solution for
the situation of people trapped in
an irreparably broken marriage)—
we might instead convince the
Senate to introduce reforms in the
present Family Code in order to
facilitate the declaration of nullity
of most of those irreparably broken
marriages. In other words, since
the urgent problem motivating our
legislators—and all the pro-divorce
forces—to craft a divorce law seems
to be the extreme case of irreparably
broken marriages, if a way can be
found to declare the invalidity from
the start of most of those marriages,
perhaps there would be no need
to legislate divorce. As a Spanish
saying goes: “Muerto el perro, se
acabó la rabia” (With the dog dead,
that’s the end of its rabies).
In this penultimate part of this
long article, we shall tackle a cause
of marriage nullity in Canon Law
that is totally absent in Civil Law,
but which in fact is at the core
of many failed marriages. It is
the grave lack of discretion of
judgment concerning the essential
matrimonial rights and duties,
which are to be mutually given and
accepted (according to c.1095,2°).
Notion of lack of due discretion
Canon 1095 of the Code of Canon
Law states: They are incapable of
contracting marriage:
1° who lack the sufficient use of
reason;
2° who suffer from grave lack of
discretion of judgment concerning
essential matrimonial rights and
duties which are to be mutually
given and accepted;
3° who are not capable of
assuming the essential obligations
of matrimony due to causes of a
psychic nature.
The three numbers of the canon
correspond actually to the three
capacities comprising consensual
capacity: (a) to make a responsible
human act; (b) to sufficiently
evaluate the nature of marriage and,
consequently, choose it freely; and,
finally, (c) to assume its essential
obligations. The lack of any of these
three capacities results in incapacity
for a valid marital consent.
When a corporal should be used
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the following query: )
Q: Sacred vessels and gifts are to
be placed on the corporal[s] prior
to consecration and after, as well as
for the time and place of purifica-
tion – the Eucharistic Trinity and
Lamb is never simply placed on the
altar or anywhere, but always upon
the sacred corporal – correct? Also,
during “private” public exposition/
adoration when the Lord is in the sa-
cred monstrance and upon the sacred
corporal, are there to be lighted either
four or six candles – or none at all?
— J.A., Jamestown, North Dakota
A: Our reader is correct with respect
to the use of the corporal whenever
the Sacred Species under any form
is to be placed on an altar or table.
 The corporal is a sacred cloth of
white linen. It is usually around 20
inches square. When not in use it is
usually folded three times in such a
way as to form nine equal squares. It
may be placed on top of the chalice
pall or in a special cloth case or en-
velope called a burse. The corporal is
frequently stiffened so as to be firm.
 In recent times, due to the advent
of concelebrations and the increase in
the distribution of Communion un-
der both kinds, larger corporals have
been developed so that more sacred
vessels may be placed upon them.
 In the extraordinary form of the
Roman rite, the consecrated host
(corpus) is placed directly upon
the corporal, which is the probable
origin of its name from this practice.
In the ordinary form, the host is
rarely placed upon the corporal, but it
Grave Lack of Discretion of Judgment as a Ground for Marriage Invalidity
ZITA BALLINGER FLETCHER/CNS
The ability to form an adequate
act of the will at the time of marriage
must be preceded by sufficient
deliberation or critical judgment
about the implications of the act
of consent for the person at that
particular time. The person does
not only consent to a wedding but
makes a decision about his or her life
and the life of the marriage partner.
If there was a serious inability to
critically evaluate the decision to
marry, in light of the consequent
obligations and responsibilities,
then consent may well be invalid. A
person must be able to evaluate his
or her motivation for the wedding,
personal strengths and weaknesses,
as well as those of the other party,
and his or her ability to live up to
the demands of the marriage. This
is the object of c.1095, 2°.
This critical faculty depends
first on the mature ability to grasp
what the marital relationship entails.
The person must then be able to
relate marriage as an abstract reality,
i.e., what it theoretically involves,
to his or her concrete situation.
This requires insight and the
application of one’s actual situation
and abilities to the theoretical
demands of marriage. Finally, this
critical faculty involves existential
judgments. It depends on a person’s
emotional and psychological state
and an appreciation of the lessons
learned from life experiences. It also
presupposes freedom from mental
confusion, undue pressure, or fear
in contemplating marriage.
Jurisprudence refers to due
discretion, which is discretion
proportionate to the consequences
of the decision to be made. In
should always be used so as to gather
any fragment that might happen to
fall and as a sign of veneration and
respect toward the Lord.
 The principal texts from the Gen-
eral Instruction of the Roman Missal
are the following:
 “73. At the beginning of the Liturgy
of the Eucharist, the gifts which will
become Christ’s Body and Blood are
brought to the altar.
  “First of all, the altar or
Lord’s table, which is the center of
the whole Liturgy of the Eucharist,
is made ready when on it are placed
the corporal, purificator, Missal, and
chalice (unless this last is prepared at
the credence table).
 “139. When the Universal Prayer is
over, all sit, and the Offertory Chant
begins (cf. no. 74). An acolyte or other
lay minister places the corporal, the
purificator, the chalice, the pall, and
the Missal on the altar.
 “141. The Priest accepts the paten
with the bread at the altar, holds
it slightly raised above the altar
with both hands and says quietly,
Benedictus es, Domine (Blessed are
you, Lord God). Then he places the
paten with the bread on the corporal.
 “142. After this, as the minister
presents the cruets, the Priest stands
at the side of the altar and pours wine
and a little water into the chalice,
saying quietly, Per huius aquae (By
the mystery of this water). He returns
to the middle of the altar and with
both hands raises the chalice a little,
and says quietly, Benedictus es, Do-
mine (Blessed are you, Lord God).
the case of marriage, it must be
proportionate to the requirements
of the interpersonal relationship
needed to create and sustain the
community of the whole of life.
The responsibilities of being a
marriage partner and a parent
must be evaluated in the context of
one’s emotional and psychological
state as well as that of the other
party. A person may be capable of
right judgment in areas of life such
as business, personal health, etc.,
but generally incapable of good
judgment in regard to interpersonal
relationships and specifically in
regard to the special relationship
demanded for Christian marriage.
Measure of the grave lack of
discretion of judgment
Can.1095, 2° explicitly mentions
“the essential matrimonial rights
and obligations to be mutually
given and accepted” as the object of
the act of consenting to marriage.
This constitutes the measure of the
gravity of the lack of discretion of
judgment: the term “grave” does
not refer to the seriousness of a
psychic dysfunction or disorder of
personality and behavior, but is
rather the juridical qualification
of the inability to discern with the
intellect and to implement with
the will the act of setting up or
establishing the conjugal bond from
which originate, in a second logical
moment, the conjugal rights and
duties.
It is fundamental, then, to
define those essential rights and
obligations of marriage that,
according to c.1095, 2°, must be
given and accepted. The CIC does
Then he places the chalice on the
corporal and, if appropriate, covers
it with a pall.
“151. After the Consecration when
the Priest has said, The mystery of
faith, the people pronounce the accla-
mation, using one of the prescribed
formulas.
 “At the end of the Eucharistic
Prayer, the Priest takes the paten with
the host and the chalice and elevates
them both while pronouncing alone
the doxology, Through him. At the
end, the people acclaim, Amen. After
this, the Priest places the paten and
the chalice on the corporal.
 “163. When the distribution of
Communion is over, the Priest
himself immediately and completely
consumes at the altar any consecrated
wine that happens to remain; as for
any consecrated hosts that are left, he
either consumes them at the altar or
carries them to the place designated
for the reservation of the Eucharist.
 Upon returning to the altar, the
Priest collects the fragments, should
any remain, and he stands at the
altar or at the credence table and
purifies the paten or ciborium over
the chalice, and after this purifies the
chalice, saying quietly the formula
Quod ore sumpsimus, Domine (What
has passed our lips), and dries the
chalice with a purificator. If the ves-
sels are purified at the altar, they
are carried to the credence table by
a minister. Nevertheless, it is also
permitted to leave vessels needing to
be purified, especially if there are sev-
eral, on a corporal, suitably covered,
March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5
not contain a legal formulation
of those rights and obligations,
leaving it to canonical doctrine
and jurisprudence to progressively
declare and explain their content
and limits. In this regard, a well-
known canonist provides a useful
enumeration as follows: the right/
duty to sexual acts; the right/duty to
not impede procreation; the right/
duty of establishing, preserving
and ordering the intimate conjugal
partnership toward its objective
ends; the right/duty of fidelity;
the right/duty of mutual help in
ordering towards the pursuit of the
essential ends of marriage those
acts and types of behavior that are
apt and needed for that purpose;
the right/duty to welcome and care
for the common children within
the married community; and the
right/duty of educating the common
children.
Incidence of lack of internal
freedom on discretion of
judgment
Poor judgment at the time of
consent often results from an
impairment or lack of internal
freedom. This may be rooted in
psychological or emotional problems
which do not impede the intellect
but have a significant influence
on the will, or it may result from
existential factors such as grave
fear prompted by external pressure
which a person cannot withstand.
Thus, marriage is chosen in a true
state of mental confusion. It is one
thing to understand sufficiently
what marital consent means in the
practical order and quite another
to make this consent with sufficient
freedom. coercion, that is, with full ability to
This is the sense of a Rotal sentence
which stated: “One must however
take into consideration even of a
disturbance of the mind that is of
a temporary nature, sometimes
deriving from overpowering external
circumstances, for example, from
an unexpected pregnancy in a girl
unprepared for marriage, who is
vehemently forced by relatives to
remedy the stigma brought on the
family’s honor. In such cases, if
there are in the one marrying serious
indications of some sickly nature,
that is, lack of proper evolution of
personality, one may sometimes
legitimately conclude from the
combination of such elements for
the defect of due discretion, more
correctly for the defect of sufficient
internal freedom.”
This is also the sense noted in
a sentence coram Lopez-Illana:
“the circumstances of young age
and pregnancy can be said to be a
possible sign of defect of discretion
of judgement; however taken
either on the altar or on the credence
table, and to purify them immediately
after Mass, after the Dismissal of the
people.
 “248. The Communion of the
concelebrants may also be arranged
in such a way that each communicates
from the Body of the Lord at the altar
and, immediately afterward, from the
Blood of the Lord.
 “In this case, the principal
celebrant receives Communion under
both kinds in the usual way (cf. no.
158), observing, however, the rite
chosen in each particular instance
for Communion from the chalice;
and the other concelebrants should
do the same.
CBCP Monitor
separately they absolutely are not
signs indicative of the absence of
valid consent”; certainly “there can
be circumstances such as compulsion
on the spouses to contract marriage
and the psychological effect of
pregnancy, which make it possible to
override the presumption of validity
of the marriage.”
Incidence of psycho-affective
immaturity on discretion of
judgment
The development of the notion of
the formal object of marital consent,
as the community of the whole of
life, has affected the development
of the jurisprudence on lack of due
discretion. The conjugal relationship
is not lived in the abstract, the
various sociocultural factors which
either weaken or support the
Christian concept of marriage must
also be considered.
In order for a person contracting
to be able to understand the nature
and import of the conjugal contract,
he or she must have the maturity of
knowledge and freedom to establish
the contract, and the degree of this
is indirectly determined by taking
into consideration the formal object
of matrimonial consent, which—as
stated above—consists essentially
in the setting up of a community of
love and life. “One who contracts
must be capable of understanding,
estimating, weighing and freely
determining self to establish a
perpetual and exclusive conjugal
partnership ordered toward the
procreation and education of
offspring, by a will immune or free
not only from external pressure but
also from internal psychological
choose.”
An area for civil legislation
Here we have an area for
improvement of the Philippine
Family Code, in order to provide
this ground for the declaration of
nullity of many failed marriages—
i.e., the serious lack of discretion of
judgment regarding the essential
rights and duties of marriage on the
part of either or both of the spouses.
In fact, with the present sorry
state of value formation in Filipino
families due to the prevalence of the
OFW phenomenon on the one hand
and the faulty models of conjugal
love presented by the mass media,
many Filipinos—especially among
the young—are entering marriage
with lack of due discretion, giving
rise later on to failed marriages.
Having this ground included in
the Family Code could effectively
provide the right alternative to the
serious error of legislating divorce.
[To be concluded.]
PIXABAY
 After the principal celebrant’s
Communion, the chalice is placed
at the side of the altar on another
corporal. The concelebrants approach
the middle of the altar one by one,
genuflect, and communicate from the
Body of the Lord; then they move to
the side of the altar and partake of
the Blood of the Lord, following the
rite chosen for Communion from
the chalice, as has been remarked
above ….
 “249. If the concelebrants’
Communion is by intinction, the
principal celebrant partakes of the
Body and Blood of the Lord in the
usual way, but making sure that
Corporal / B7
CBCP Monitor March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5 FEATURE B3

To shelter, keep them save and successful in life

By Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos

OUR God is a faithful God. When He
makes promises, He never forgets. He
fulfills. Saint John at the beginning
of his Gospel affirms that “the Word
became flesh and made his dwelling
among us” (1,14). Our God is good,
so gracious. He gives that “when the
set time had fully come, God sent his
Son, born of a woman, learn under
the law...” (Galatians 4,4).
And we know that God sent
Archangel Gabriel to that woman
and told her “do not be afraid, Mary,
you have found favor with God. You
will conceive and give birth to a Son,
and you are to call him Jesus” (Luke
1,30-31).
Thus in fulfillment of God’s
promise as foretold by Prophet
Isaiah “for unto us a child is born to
us, to us a son is given” (9,6).
Jesus came to us, become a
child like us. He experienced what
and how we have lived. Belonging
to a migrant family, his father
was always commanded “Joseph,
descendant of David, do not be
afraid to take Mary as your wife...”
(Matthew 1,20ff). When the life of
the newborn Jesus was threatened,
Joseph was prompted “rise, take
the child and his mother, flee to
Egypt” (Matthew 2,13). And the
death of king Herod, Joseph again
commanded “rise, take the child
and his mother and go to the land
of lsrael” (Matthew 2,20).
Jesus grew like us. We sometimes
go on our way, do something on our
own. His parents, Joseph and Mary,
were anxious and suffered when
they found out that Jesus was not
“among their relatives and friends.
And they did not find him, they
went back to Jerusalem searching
for him” (Luke 2,44-45). It is
the very nature, very inherent to
parents to look after children, to be
extra caring and so solicitous to the
needs of their children, especially
their whereabouts.
Jesus exemplified how we must
deal with parents “went down with
them, returning to Jerusalem, and
continued to be subject to them”
(Luke2,51). And growing up Jesus
is to “increase in wisdom and age,
and in divine and human favors”
(Luke 2,52).
Have been a child Jesus cares and
so concern with children, urging
us too to “let the children come to
me and don’t stop them, for the
kingdom of God belongs to such as
these” (Mark 10,14).
Yes, let us bring children to Jesus.
But it is not to only to lead them to
Jesus. We must still do something
more for them, to make them more
pleasing and more presentable to
Jesus. What we must do? For me it
is easy to remember, they begin with
letter S. These are: Securely
SHELTER them, keep them SAFE,
and make them SUCCESSFUL
First. Jesus experienced that
“there was no room for them in the
inn” (Luke 2,7). He admitted to us
“I was a stranger and you welcomed
me” (Matthew 25,36). Jesus accepts
and accommodates all. No one is
outside. And no one is set aside
or side step. He wants all of us,
especially children, to feel wanted,
most welcome, and important.
So give them shelter. To shelter is
to stay, to be protected. To shelter
is to attend to their needs. It is to
be home and at home. Shelter is
home. This is what children need,
look and longed for. When a child
cried, a mother would pacify her
child with her reassuming words
“tahan na anak, nan dito si Mommy,
uuwi na tayo so bahay.” Hearing
uuwi na sa bahay, the child stops
crying. Tahan na because they will
be in tahanan. At home. Even a sick
person confined in a hospital longed
for his house and will surely beg his
family “let us go home. Bring
me home.”
Second. Jesus reminds us
“if any of you should cause one of
these little ones who believe in me to
stumble and fall, it would be better
for you to be thrown into the depths
of the sea with a great millstone
around your neck” (Matthew 18,6).
Not only Jesus desires the safety and
security of children, but much no
one should lead them to scandal, to
sin. We should never bring them to
disillusionment, to disgrace.
Not only to stand by them and to
support them but it behooves us to
give them praiseworthy examples
which they can imitate from us. Do
you still remember that in front of
children we are always reminded “o
dahan dahan sa inyong pananalita,
at kilos may nakikinig na mga bata”
and so we are very much careful and
courteous with our words lest we
offend and scandalize them. With
our words and works let us keep
children always safe, secured and
stable in life.
Our CBCP ECMI is the primary
and lead among the Philippine
Interfaith Movement against
Human Trafficking and On Line
Child Sexual Abuse. Thus we fulfill
and follow the words of our beloved
Pope Francis “we need to see each
child as a gift to be welcomed,
cherished and protected.”
Lastly, Jesus assures us that
“whoever becomes lowly like this
child is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven, and whoever receives
such a child in my name receives
me” (Matthew 18,4). Here, Jesus
acknowledges the importance, the
value and specialty of children.
Though small and fragile there are
still much we can learn from them.
Even little and very vulnerable there
are in them which we can imitate
and emulate. And in spite of their
needs and being dependent on us
that is the more reason we have in life. malalim, “ganyan ba ang itinuro
to support and work harder for An OFW in Salmiya, Kuwait affirms ng iyong mga magulang sa inyong
them. “ang lahat ng aking paghihirap at bahay?”
His Holiness, Pope Francis, pangungulila, ang buo kong pagtitiis Children are God’s gifts. They
urges us that “may we always care at pagpapakasakit ay para lamang sa are entrusted to us. We are
for our children, not counting magandang kinabukasan ng aking accountable to God for them.
the cost, so that they may never mga anak. Handa pa ako sa lahat We are responsible to them and
believe themselves to be mistakes, ng mga pasanin at kaya ko pang we must response to the crying
but always know their infinite magpapawis matiyak ko lamang ang needs with love and compassion.
worth.” tagumpay ng aking mga anak.” Children look up to us. We must
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Let us end our pastoral reflection not fail them.
so it is our calling not only to shelter with this known experience. Jesus invites us to bring children
them and not only to keep them safe Naalala po ba ninyo na kapag ang to Him. We heed His call. We
but much more it is to prepare them isang bata ay nakagawa ng hindi present to present our children to
for the future. And this is for us to tama, ng hindi maganda mayroon Jesus and our children are sound
make them successful in life, to pong tatlong tanong sa kanya , di po and safe, smiling and successful.
make them succeed. So we do our ba? Ano po ang mga tanong na ito? Jesus “then took the children in
best as to give them the best. We do Una, “ano ang pangalan mo?” his arms and laying his hands
what is right, what is right and legal lkalawa, “sino ang mga magulang on them, bless them” (Mark
for their benefits, for their success mo?” At itong ikatlo ay higit na 10,16).

Stateless Children, a concern for the Church

By Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People

FOR many Filipinos, migrating abroad
is tantamount to better employment
opportunities, professional advancement,
and economic development for the family.
However, to others, migration is a nightmare
that can put them in a variety of complex
situations especially those who are pushed due
to civil restlessness and war; natural calamities,
illegal recruitment or restrictive migration
policies.
Moreover, migration is not only about
overseas employment. It is also about human
trafficking of women, men, young girls and
boys, asylum seekers and refugees fleeing
persecution and war from their own country
e.g. the Rohingyas and the Syrians. In
addition, one disturbing concern nowadays
is the growing number of Stateless persons in
different parts of the globe.
The 1954 UN Convention relating to the
Status of Stateless Persons defines a stateless
person as someone “who is not considered as a
national by any State under operation of its law.
The Convention identifies minimum standards
of treatment to be observed by contracting
states.
Many other races are in statelessness status
including thousands of Filipino children in
some parts of Asia, Middle East, and Europe.
In Sabah Malaysia for example, it is believed
that more than 10,000 children (no exact
number available) are born to Filipino migrant
parents who entered and worked in Malaysia
without the proper documents; not allowed to
marry; and not to have children. Malaysian
immigration law does not grant legal status to
children of immigrants. In effect, the children
are not registered and became victims of conflict
in nationality laws and are in statelessness
status; putting them in a more vulnerable
situation. Not recognized by the host country
and without proper documents, these children
are deprived of their fundamental rights. They
cannot even be enrolled in formal school for
proper education; and have no access to basic
health care. There are some cases where young
children are into forced labor to augment daily
survival of the family. How miserable life is
experienced by these people especially the
migrant children living in a place as if they are
nonexistent?
The Catholic Church has an eye and
heart to their sufferings and always
responsive to their needs. Just like the
way it responds and provides pastoral
care to the asylum seekers and refugees in
the Philippines, the Church is looking for
different possibilities and ways to assist
these children. The issue on statelessness
challenges both the Church of origin and
the receiving Churches. The need for a
vigorous campaign to mainstream the
discourses on the issue; strong advocacies
and campaigns for policies and laws to
recognize and promote just treatment; and
to provide basic material needs for them
especially the young.
Our faith poses a challenge for each of us to
respond to the Scripture verse in Mt. 25:35 “for
I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” We
are the church, let us act now, seek them out
and extend our hands the farthest it can reach
to care for them, to embrace them and to make
them feel loved and recognize their existence
in our midst.
How the Church can be of service to the
migrant Filipino and their Families?
ECMI is the service arm of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
to provide pastoral care for migrants and
their families left behind. With the known
complexities arising from the vicious cycle of
Filipinos’ exodus for overseas employment,
ECMI-CBCP provides programs and services
that respond to their needs on spiritual
nourishment, and welfare towards successful
family reunification and reintegration. One
of its mandate is to assist dioceses establish
programs for the migrants and their families.
With the respective Bishop’s approval at the
diocese, it is encourage that he appoints either
a Priest, a religious nun, or a Lay Person to
take charge of the ministry as it develops. One
effective strategy is organizing, and forming
a small community of migrant families at the
parish level of whose Coordinator will form
part of the core group at the diocesan level
for the eventual well- coordinated action and
programming. Once a migrant structure is
organized; conducted thorough orientation to
the leaders; concrete programs and activities is
facilitated through a diocesan planning where
inputs on needs for assistance are elicited form
the organized migrant families themselves.
The promotion and celebration of the
National Migrant Sunday (NMS) every first
Sunday of Lent as declared by the Philippine
Catholic Church is utilized as venue for
raising awareness on migrants issues; and
highlighting the importance of migrants’
role and sacrifices for the betterment of
their families in particular, and for the
development of the society in general. It is
also a venue to invite every faithful to become
part in organizing and developing programs
for migrant ministry through their generous
donation to the second collection during
Masses at the NMS. Moreover, the involvement
and participation of migrant families of both
those who are in better situations, and those
who are experiencing complex situations is
highly expected for effective programming and
response at the parish level.
Updates on Church Response to Human
Trafficking
To further intensify the Philippine Catholic
Church continued involvement in the advocacy
and campaign against human trafficking,
the CBCP issued a Memorandum (Circular
No. 16-08) on “Our Pastoral Commitment to
Combat Human Trafficking” in November
2016. The ECMI under the leadership of
Bishop Ruperto Santos is tasked to be the
lead convener to coordinate with the CBCP’s
Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice
and Peace, the Episcopal Commission on
Youth, and the Office on Women on the issue
of human trafficking. Representatives of each
commission met regularly since the beginning
of 2017, and later named the collaboration as
the “CBCP Cluster against Human Trafficking”
(CCAHT). The Memorandum Circular also
recommended forming a special committee
to combat human trafficking in the diocese
involving different ministries and commissions
with similar programs and pastoral services.
From 2017 up to 2018, with the respective
Bishop’s approval, there have been six sub
regional consultations conducted namely, NCR,
North Luzon, Central Luzon, South Luzon, and
Bicol dioceses; and a combined consultation
between Central and Eastern Visayas. The
subregional consultation aims to scan the
situations of human trafficking in each diocese;
to train the participants in identifying victims/
cases of human trafficking; familiarize them
with the salient provisions of the RA 9208
the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as
amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti
–Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012; and to
come up with strategic plans or targets towards
a collaborative and sustained programs and
activities to fight human trafficking within their
respective Diocese.
There were also several diocesan consultations
organized namely , diocese of Antipolo, Imus,
San Fernando, Pampanga, and Gumaca Quezon
with the aim at forming their own Diocesan
Committee Against Human Trafficking for
a more direct and concrete response at the
community level. For 2019, the CCAHT will
continue to organize consultations in Visayan
and Mindanao region, and will actively support
some dioceses to establish programs and
responses where cases of human trafficking
are rampant.
Some pastoral ways to help celebrate
NMS?
Either in parish or school, there are
several possible activities that you and
your community could celebrate National
Migrants’ Sunday. The following are just some
of the general suggestions:
Phase 1: Raise the consciousness of your
parish, community or school on the significance
of the NMS.
• Announce at Masses the celebration of
the NMS and encourage the OFWs their
families to participate in the celebration.
• Prepare and disseminate information
materials such as flyers, posters and
photo exhibits depicting issues and
Stateless / B7
B4 STATEMENTS
The smell of the sheep: Knowing their pain and healing their
wounds is at the core of the shepherd’s task.
By Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle
The abuse of minors by ordained
ministers has inflicted wounds not
only on the victims but also on their
families, the clergy, the Church,
the wider society, the perpetrators
themselves and the Bishops. But,
it is also true, we humbly and
sorrowfully admit, that wounds have
been inflicted by us bishops on the
victims and in fact the entire body
of Christ. Our lack of response to the
suffering of victims, even to the point
of rejecting them and covering up
the scandal to protect perpetrators
and the institution has injured our
people, leaving a deep wound in our
relationship with those we are sent
to serve. People are rightly asking:
“Have you, who are called to have
the smell of the sheep upon you, not
instead run away when you found
the stench of the filth inflicted on
children and vulnerable people
you were supposed to protect, too
strong to endure?” Wounds call
for healing. But what does healing
consist in? How do we as Bishops,
who have been part of the wounding,
now promote healing in this specific
context? The theme of healing of
wounds has been the subject of
many inter-disciplinary studies.
And I cannot pretend to know all
the findings of the human and social
sciences on the subject, but I believe
we need to recover and maintain
a faith and ecclesial perspective to
guide us. I repeat: a faith and ecclesial
perspective to guide us, as stressed
many times by Pope Francis. For
my presentation, especially the first
part, I invite everyone to look to the
Risen Lord and learn from Him,
His disciples, and their encounter.
I want to acknowledge at this point
the studies published by Roberto
Goizueta, Richard Horsley, Barbara
Reid, Tomas Halik, Robert Enright,
and Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, to
name a few authors, who have helped
me in my reflection.
So, the first part: The Apparition
of the Risen Lord to the Disciples
and to Thomas (John 20:19-28)
St. John´s Gospel narrates an
apparition of the Risen Lord to the
disciples on the evening of the first
day of the week. The doors were
locked as the disciples cowered in
fear, wondering if they would be the
next to be arrested and crucified. It is
in this moment of utter helplessness
that the risen and yet still wounded
Jesus stands in their midst. After
greeting them with the message of
the resurrection, “Peace be with you,”
He showed them His hands and His
side, marked by gaping wounds.
Only by drawing close to His wounds
could they be sent on a mission of
reconciliation and forgiveness by
the power of the Holy Spirit. Thomas
was not with them at that time.
Let us now hear the account of the
encounter between the Risen Lord
and Thomas.
“Thomas, called Didymus, one of
the Twelve, was not with them when
Jesus came. So, the other disciples
said to him, ´We have seen the Lord´.
Statement of the Diocese of San Carlos
WE are greatly saddened and
shocked that a young child is alleged
to have been molested by one of our
clergy. This painful incident creates
a deep wound and hurt not only to
the victim and the victim’s family but
also to the communities and to the
Meeting of the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences on Safeguarding of Minors
February 21, 2019
But he said to them, ´Unless I see the
mark of the nails in his hands and
put my finger into the nail marks
and put my hand into his side, I
will not believe´. Now a week later
his disciples were again inside the
room and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were
locked, and stood in their midst and
said, ´Peace be with you.´ Then he
said to Thomas, ´Put your finger here
and see my hands, and bring your
hand and put it into my side, and
do not be unbelieving, but believe.´
Thomas answered and said to him,
´My Lord and my God!´”
Those Sent Must Be In Touch
With Wounded Humanity
Notice how Jesus invites them
again to look at his wounds. He even
insists that Thomas put his finger
into the wounds of his hands and to
bring his hand into the wound of his
side. Try to imagine how Thomas
must have felt. But from seeing the
wounds of the Risen Lord, he makes
the supreme profession of faith in
Jesus as Lord and God. Seeing and
touching the wounds of Jesus are
fundamental to the act and confession
of faith. What can we learn from this
intimate encounter? By repeating
this action twice, the evangelist
makes clear that those who are sent
to proclaim the core of our Christian
faith, the dying and rising of Christ,
can only do so with authenticity if
they are constantly in touch with the
wounds of humanity. That is one
of the marks of our ministry. This
is true of Thomas, and it is true of
the Church of all time, especially in
our time. Msgr. Tomas Halik writes,
“Christ comes to him, to Thomas,
and shows him His wounds. This
means that the resurrection is not
the ´effacement´ or devaluation of
the cross. Wounds remain wounds.”
The wounds of Christ remain in the
wounds of our world. And Msgr.
Halik adds, “Our world is full of
wounds. It is my conviction that
those who close their eyes to the
wounds in our world have no right
to say, ´My Lord and my God´.” For
him, seeing and touching the wounds
of Christ in the wounds of humanity
is a condition for authentic faith. He
further says, “I cannot believe until I
touch the wounds, the suffering of the
world – for all the painful wounds,
all the misery of the world and of
humankind are Christ´s wounds! I
do not have the right to confess God
unless I take seriously my neighbor´s
pain. Faith that would like to close its
eyes to people´s suffering is just an
illusion.” Faith is born and reborn
only from the wounds of the Crucified
and Risen Christ seen and touched
in the wounds of humankind. Only
a wounded faith is credible (Halik).
How can we profess faith in Christ
when we close our eyes to all the
wounds inflicted by abuse?
What Is At Stake
Brothers and sisters, this is what
is at stake at this moment of crisis
brought about by the abuse of
entire clergy of the Diocese of San
Carlos. While we acknowledge the
right of the accused to be presumed
innocent until proven otherwise, we
are steadfast to assist the victim and
cooperate in the process so the truth
will come out and justice is served.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila and Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago attend the opening session of the meeting on the protection of minors in the
church, at the Vatican Feb. 21, 2019. CNS/VATICAN MEDIA
children and our poor handling of
these crimes. Our people need us
to draw close to their wounds and
acknowledge our faults if we are to
give authentic and credible witness
to our faith in the Resurrection.
This means that each of us and
our brothers and sisters at home
must take personal responsibility
for bringing healing to this wound
in the Body of Christ and make the
commitment to do everything in
our power and capacity to see that
children are safe, are cared for in our
communities.
The presence of the wounds of the
crucifixion on the Risen Lord, for
me, defies human logic. If the world
were in-charge of choreographing
the resurrection, Jesus would have
shown up at Herod’s house or Pilate’s
porch and made it the biggest “I
told you so,” in history. Jesus would
have manifested his final triumph
by eliminating all signs of pain,
injustice, and defeat. Let all of them
be buried in the dark past and never
be resurrected. But that is not the way
of Jesus Christ. The resurrection is
not an illusionary victory. By showing
his wounds to the disciples, Jesus
restores their memory. Roberto
Goizueta justly comments that “the
wounds on Christ´s glorified body
are the incarnated memory of the
relationships that defined his life
and death.” The wounds of Jesus are
the consequence of his loving and
compassionate relationship with the
poor, the sick, tax collectors, women
of ill repute, persons afflicted with
leprosy, noisy children, outsiders,
and foreigners. The wounds of
Jesus are the consequence of his
allowing himself to be wounded as
he touched the wounds of others.
He was crucified because he loved
these concrete persons who were
themselves wounded by society
and religion. By sharing in their
weakness and wounds, he became a
compassionate brother rather than
a harsh judge. So the letter to the
Hebrews 5:8-9 affirms, “Son though
he was, he learned obedience from
what he suffered, and when he was
made perfect, he became the source
of eternal salvation for all who obey
Following the recent guidelines
of our Holy Father to focus on
protecting children rather than
“protecting the institution”, and
to provide the accompaniment of
those who have been abused with
an emphasis on listening—we have
March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5
him.” So the wounds of the Risen
Lord remind the disciples of the
love that is ready to be wounded
out of compassion for humankind.
His wounds are the wounds of
others that he freely bore. He did
not inflict wounds on others, but he
was ready to be wounded by his love
for and communion with them. As
Frederick Gaiser said, “The healing
shepherd is never far from dangers,
never impervious to the evils and
infirmities from which he seeks to
protect the flock.” Only the wounds of
love and compassion can heal.
Do Not Be Afraid
My dear brothers and sisters, we
need to put aside any hesitation
to draw close to the wounds of
our people out of fear of being
wounded ourselves. Yes, much of
the wounds we will suffer are part of
the restoration of memory we must
undergo, as did those disciples of
Jesus. The wounds of the Risen Lord
reminded the disciples of betrayal,
their own betrayal and abandonment
of Jesus when they saved their own
lives out of fear. They fled at the first
moment of danger, afraid of the cost
of discipleship, and in Peter’s case,
even denying that he even knew the
Lord. Jesus’ wounds also remind
them and us that wounds are often
inflicted by blindness of ambition
and legalism and misuse of power
that condemned an innocent person
to die as a criminal. The wounds of
the Risen Christ carry the memory
of innocent suffering, but they also
carry the memory of our weakness
and sinfulness.
If we want to be agents of healing
let us reject any tendency that is part
of worldly thinking that refuses to
see and touch the wounds of others,
which are Christ´s wounds in the
wounded people. Those wounded by
abuse and the scandal need us to be
strong in faith in this moment. The
world needs authentic witnesses to
the resurrection of Jesus, who draw
close to His wounds as the first act
of faith. I will be stressing: this is an
act of faith.
Roberto Goizueta claims that the
denial of wounds and death leads to
the death of others and to our own
reached out to the family of the
minor. We assure the family that
we are concerned that their child is
given proper care and intervention
and we have asked our parish
leaders to reach out to them on our
behalf. We have offered help and
support as well both to the accused
and his family of origin and his
pastoral council and eventually to
our presbyterium and the affected
parish community.
We are making it clear that we are
not hiding the accused to protect him
from the charges. We are proceeding
with our own canonical process as
dictated by church law by providing
pastoral care to the accused while
allowing the legal process to
take its course. I have assigned a
priest to take over temporarily the
shepherding of the parish concerned
in order to give the accused time to
spiritually prepare himself to face
the allegations and to give way for
an impartial investigation.
We are committed to search for
truth and to make sure the process
will be fair and just to both parties
CBCP Monitor
death. There is great fear today in the
hearts of people and indeed in our
own hearts, that cause humanity in
our time to shun touching the wounds
in our world simply because we are
afraid of facing our own wounds, our
own mortality, weakness, sinfulness,
and vulnerability. Ernest Becker
observes that we avoid pain and
suffering as unwanted reminders
that we are vulnerable. We are fooled
into believing that having much
money, the right insurance policy, the
strictest security, Cctv cameras, the
latest model of cars and gadgets and
membership in rejuvenating health
clubs could make us immortal. Sadly
we do also eliminate the wounded in
our midst by getting them out of the
streets when dignitaries visit or by
covering their shanties with painted
walls. Goizueta poignantly says, “If
we deny death, we inflict it. If we deny
death, we will inflict death. But we
also inflict it on ourselves. The fear
of pain and vulnerability that causes
us to shun real human relationships,
to shun that true love that always
involves surrender and vulnerability
in the face of another, ultimately kills
our – our! – Interior life, our ability
to feel anything – neither pain nor
joy nor love.” Our capacity to love
might die. The fear of wounds isolates
us and makes us indifferent to the
needs of others. Fear drives people
to violent and irrational behavior.
Fear motivates people to defend
themselves even when no threats
exist. Those who sow fear in others
and society are actually afraid of
themselves. In the Risen Jesus, we
know that by seeing and touching the
wounds of those who suffer, we touch
our own wounds and we touch Jesus.
We become brothers and sisters to
one another. We acknowledge our
common guilt in inflicting wounds
on humankind and creation. We hear
the call to reconciliation. We see the
patient presence of the Risen Lord in
our broken world.
Continual Accompaniment In
Solidarity
About the second and last part of
my sharing: a psychologist proposal
Sheep / B7
and whoever is responsible will have
to face the consequences. While our
Holy Father is calling for an “all-out
battle” against the sexual abuse of
minors, and to turn this evil into
an “opportunity for purification”,
we in the Diocese of San Carlos is
challenged to “walk the talk”.
I ask our faithful to pray for
everyone involved in this case,
journeying together as people
of God, sharing the pain of the
alleged victim and her family, the
accused and his family and the
faith community that’s directly
affected by it, including our priestly
fraternity, guided by this Word of
Life: “Do to others as you would have
them do to you.”
We draw consolation from Pope
Francis that “if our hearts are open
to mercy … we proclaim before the
world that it is possible to overcome
evil with good.”
+MOST REV. GERARDO A.
ALMINAZA, D.D.
Bishop of San Carlos
February 28, 2019
CBCP Monitor March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5
Concluding address of His Holiness Pope Francis at the
meeting on “The Protection of Minors in the Church”
DEAR Brothers and Sisters, Alliance for Safer Communities held
As I thank the Lord who has accom-
panied us during these days, I would
like to thank all of you for the ecclesial
spirit and concrete commitment that
you have so generously demonstrated.
Our work has made us realize once
again that the gravity of the scourge
of the sexual abuse of minors is, and
historically has been, a widespread
phenomenon in all cultures and soci-
eties. Only in relatively recent times
has it become the subject of systematic
research, thanks to changes in public
opinion regarding a problem that was
previously considered taboo; everyone
knew of its presence yet no one spoke
of it. I am reminded too of the cruel
religious practice, once widespread
in certain cultures, of sacrificing hu-
man beings—frequently children—in
pagan rites. Yet even today, the sta-
tistics available on the sexual abuse of
minors drawn up by various national
and international organizations and
agencies (the WHO, UNICEF, IN-
TERPOL, EUROPOL and others)
do not represent the real extent of
the phenomenon, which is often un-
derestimated, mainly because many
cases of the sexual abuse of minors
go unreported, particularly the great
number committed within families.
Rarely, in fact, do victims speak out
and seek help. Behind this reluctance
there can be shame, confusion, fear
of reprisal, various forms of guilt,
distrust of institutions, forms of cul-
tural and social conditioning, but also
lack of information about services
and facilities that can help. Anguish
tragically leads to bitterness, even
suicide, or at times to seek revenge by
doing the same thing. The one thing
certain is that millions of children in
the world are victims of exploitation
and of sexual abuse.
It would be important here to cite
the overall data—in my opinion still
partial—on the global level,3 then
from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Af-
rica and Oceania, in order to give an
idea of the gravity and the extent of
this plague in our societies. To avoid
needless quibbling, I would point out
from the start that the mention of spe-
cific countries is purely for the sake of
citing the statistical data provided by
the aforementioned reports.
The first truth that emerges from
the data at hand is that those who
perpetrate abuse, that is acts of physi-
cal, sexual or emotional violence, are
primarily parents, relatives, husbands
of child brides, coaches and teach-
ers. Furthermore, according to the
UNICEF data of 2017 regarding 28
countries throughout the world, 9 out
of every 10 girls who have had forced
sexual relations reveal that they were
victims of someone they knew or who
was close to their family.
According to official data of the
American government, in the United
States over 700,000 children each
year are victims of acts of violence
and mistreatment. According to the
International Centre for Missing and
Exploited Children (ICMEC), 1 out of
every 10 children experiences sexual
abuse. In Europe, 18 million children
are victims of sexual abuse.
If we take Italy as an example, the
2016 Telefono Azzurro Report states
that 68.9% of abuses take place within
the home of the minor.
Acts of violence take place not only
in the home, but also in neighbour-
hoods, schools, athletic facilities and,
sadly, also in church settings.
Research conducted in recent years
on the phenomenon of the sexual
abuse of minors also shows that the
development of the web and of the
communications media have con-
tributed to a significant increase in
cases of abuse and acts of violence
perpetrated online. Pornography is
rapidly spreading worldwide through
the net. The scourge of pornography
has expanded to an alarming degree,
causing psychological harm and
damaging relations between men and
women, and between adults and chil-
dren. It is a phenomenon in constant
growth. Tragically, a considerable part
of pornographic production has to do
with minors, who are thus gravely
violated in their dignity. The studies
in this field—it is sad—document that
it is happening in ever more horrible
and violent ways, even to the point
of acts of abuse against minors being
commissioned and viewed live over
the net.
Here I would mention the World
Congress held in Rome on the theme
of child dignity in the digital era, as
well as the first Forum of the Interfaith
Vatican City, 21-24 February, 2019
on the same theme in Abu Dhabi last
November.
Another scourge is sexual tourism.
According to 2017 data provided by
the World Tourism Organization, each
year 3 million people throughout the
world travel in order to have sexual re-
lations with a minor. Significantly, the
perpetrators of these crimes in most
cases do not even realize that they are
committing a criminal offence.
We are thus facing a universal
problem, tragically present almost ev-
erywhere and affecting everyone. Yet
we need to be clear, that while gravely
affecting our societies as a whole,10
this evil is in no way less monstrous
when it takes place within the Church.
The brutality of this worldwide phe-
nomenon becomes all the more grave
and scandalous in the Church, for it is
utterly incompatible with her moral
authority and ethical credibility. Con-
secrated persons, chosen by God to
guide souls to salvation, let themselves
be dominated by their human frailty
or sickness and thus become tools of
Satan. In abuse, we see the hand of
the evil that does not spare even the
innocence of children. No explana-
tions suffice for these abuses involving
children. We need to recognize with
humility and courage that we stand
face to face with the mystery of evil,
which strikes most violently against
the most vulnerable, for they are an
image of Jesus. For this reason, the
Church has now become increasingly
aware of the need not only to curb the
gravest cases of abuse by disciplinary
measures and civil and canonical pro-
cesses, but also to decisively confront
the phenomenon both inside and
outside the Church. She feels called
to combat this evil that strikes at the
very heart of her mission, which is to
preach the Gospel to the little ones and
to protect them from ravenous wolves.
Here again I would state clearly: if in
the Church there should emerge even
a single case of abuse – which already
in itself represents an atrocity – that
case will be faced with the utmost
seriousness. Brothers and Sisters: in
people’s justified anger, the Church
sees the reflection of the wrath of
God, betrayed and insulted by these
deceitful consecrated persons. The
echo of the silent cry of the little ones
who, instead of finding in them fathers
and spiritual guides encountered
tormentors, will shake hearts dulled
by hypocrisy and by power. It is our
duty to pay close heed to this silent,
choked cry.
It is difficult to grasp the phenom-
enon of the sexual abuse of minors
without considering power, since it is
always the result of an abuse of power,
an exploitation of the inferiority and
vulnerability of the abused, which
makes possible the manipulation of
their conscience and of their psycho-
logical and physical weakness. The
abuse of power is likewise present
in the other forms of abuse affecting
almost 85,000,000 children, forgot-
ten by everyone: child soldiers, child
prostitutes, starving children, children
kidnapped and often victimized by the
horrid commerce of human organs or
enslaved, child victims of war, refugee
children, aborted children and so
many others.
Before all this cruelty, all this idola-
trous sacrifice of children to the god of
power, money, pride and arrogance,
empirical explanations alone are not
sufficient. They fail to make us grasp
the breadth and depth of this tragedy.
Here once again we see the limitations
of a purely positivistic approach. It
can provide us with a true explanation
helpful for taking necessary measures,
but it is incapable of giving us a mean-
ing. Today we need both explanation
and meaning. Explanation will help
us greatly in the operative sphere, but
will take us only halfway.
So what would be the existential
“meaning” of this criminal phenome-
non? In the light of its human breadth
and depth, it is none other than the
present-day manifestation of the spirit
of evil. If we fail to take account of this
dimension, we will remain far from
the truth and lack real solutions.
Brothers and sisters, today we find
ourselves before a manifestation of
brazen, aggressive and destructive
evil. Behind and within, there is the
spirit of evil, which in its pride and
in its arrogance considers itself the
Lord of the world and thinks that it
has triumphed. I would like to say this
to you with the authority of a brother
and a father, certainly a small one
and a sinner, but who is the pastor of
Pope Francis speaks at the conclusion of a Mass on the final day of a meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican Feb. 24, 2019. CNS/
VATICAN MEDIA
the Church that presides in charity:
in these painful cases, I see the hand
of evil that does not spare even the
innocence of the little ones. And this
leads me to think of the example of
Herod who, driven by fear of losing
his power, ordered the slaughter of
all the children of Bethlehem. Behind
this there is satan.
Just as we must take every practi-
cal measure that common sense, the
sciences and society offer us, neither
must we lose sight of this reality; we
need to take up the spiritual means
that the Lord himself teaches us:
humiliation, self-accusation, prayer
and penance. This is the only way to
overcome the spirit of evil. It is how
Jesus himself overcame it.
The Church’s aim will thus be to
hear, watch over, protect and care for
abused, exploited and forgotten chil-
dren, wherever they are. To achieve
that goal, the Church must rise above
the ideological disputes and journal-
istic practices that often exploit, for
various interests, the very tragedy
experienced by the little ones.
The time has come, then, to work
together to eradicate this evil from
the body of our humanity by adopt-
ing every necessary measure already
in force on the international level and
ecclesial levels. The time has come
to find a correct equilibrium of all
values in play and to provide uniform
directives for the Church, avoiding
the two extremes of a “justicialism”
provoked by guilt for past errors and
media pressure, and a defensiveness
that fails to confront the causes and
effects of these grave crimes.
In this context, I would mention the
“best practices” formulated under the
guidance of the World Health Organi-
zation by a group of ten international
bodies that developed and approved
a packet of measures called INSPIRE:
Seven Strategies for Ending Violence
against Children.
With the help of these guidelines,
the work carried out in recent years
by the Pontifical Commission for
the Protection of Minors and the
contributions made by this Meeting,
the Church, in developing her legisla-
tion, will concentrate on the following
aspects:
1. The protection of children. The
primary goal of every measure must
be to protect the little ones and prevent
them from falling victim to any form
of psychological and physical abuse.
Consequently, a change of mentality
is needed to combat a defensive and
reactive approach to protecting the
institution and to pursue, wholeheart-
edly and decisively, the good of the
community by giving priority to the
victims of abuse in every sense. We
must keep ever before us the innocent
faces of the little ones, remembering
the words of the Master: “Whoever
causes one of these little ones who
believe in me to sin, it would be bet-
ter for him to have a great millstone
fastened around his neck and to be
drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe
to the world because of scandals! For
it is necessary that scandals come, but
woe to the man by whom the scandal
comes! (Mt 18:6-7).
2. Impeccable seriousness. Here I
would reaffirm that “the Church will
spare no effort to do all that is neces-
sary to bring to justice whosoever has
committed such crimes. The Church
will never seek to hush up or not take
seriously any case” (Address to the
Roman Curia, 21 December 2018).
She is convinced that “the sins and
crimes of consecrated persons are fur-
ther tainted by infidelity and shame;
they disfigure the countenance of the
Church and undermine her cred-
ibility. The Church herself, with her
faithful children, is also a victim of
these acts of infidelity and these real
sins of “peculation” (ibid.).
3. Genuine purification. Notwith-
standing the measures already taken
and the progress made in the area of
preventing abuse, there is need for a
constantly renewed commitment to
the holiness of pastors, whose confor-
mity to Christ the Good Shepherd is a
right of the People of God. The Church
thus restates “her firm resolve to
pursue unstintingly a path of purifica-
tion, questioning how best to protect
children, to avoid these tragedies, to
bring healing and restoration to the
victims, and to improve the training
imparted in seminaries… An effort
will be made to make past mistakes
opportunities for eliminating this
scourge, not only from the body of the
Church but also from that of society”
(ibid.). The holy fear of God leads us
to accuse ourselves – as individuals
and as an institution – and to make
up for our failures. Self-accusation is
the beginning of wisdom and bound
to the holy fear of God: learning how
to accuse ourselves, as individuals, as
institutions, as a society. For we must
not fall into the trap of blaming others,
which is a step towards the “alibi” that
separates us from reality.
4. Formation. In other words, re-
quiring criteria for the selection and
training of candidates to the priest-
hood that are not simply negative,
concerned above all with excluding
problematic personalities, but also
positive, providing a balanced process
of formation for suitable candidates,
fostering holiness and the virtue of
chastity. Saint Paul VI, in his encyc-
lical Sacerdotalis Caelibatus, wrote
that “the life of the celibate priest,
which engages the whole man so
totally and so sensitively, excludes
those of insufficient physical, psychic
and moral qualifications. Nor should
anyone pretend that grace supplies for
the defects of nature in such a man”
(No. 64).
5. Strengthening and reviewing
guidelines by Episcopal Conferences.
In other words, reaffirming the need
for bishops to be united in the applica-
tion of parameters that serve as rules
and not simply indications. Rules, not
simply indications. No abuse should
ever be covered up (as was often the
case in the past) or not taken suffi-
ciently seriously, since the covering up
of abuses favors the spread of evil and
adds a further level of scandal. Also
and in particular, developing new and
effective approaches for prevention in
all institutions and in every sphere of
ecclesial activity.
6. Accompaniment of those who
have been abused. The evil that they
have experienced leaves them with
indelible wounds that also manifest
themselves in resentment and a ten-
dency to self-destruction. The Church
thus has the duty to provide them with
all the support they need, by availing
herself of experts in this field. Listen-
ing, let me even put it this way: “wast-
ing time” in listening. Listening heals
the hurting person, and likewise heals
us of our egoism, aloofness and lack of
concern, of the attitude shown by the
priest and the Levite in the parable of
the Good Samaritan.
7. The digital world. The protection
of minors must take into account the
STATEMENTS B5
new forms of sexual abuse and abuse
of all kinds that threaten minors in
the settings in which they live and
through the new devices that they
use. Seminarians, priests, men and
women religious, pastoral agents,
indeed everyone, must be aware that
the digital world and the use of its
devices often has a deeper effect than
we may think. Here there is a need to
encourage countries and authorities
to apply every measure needed to
contain those websites that threaten
human dignity, the dignity of women
and particularly that of children.
Brothers and Sisters: crime does not
enjoy the right to freedom. There is an
absolute need to combat these abomi-
nations with utter determination, to
be vigilant and to make every effort to
keep the development of young people
from being troubled or disrupted by
an uncontrolled access to pornog-
raphy, which will leave deep scars
on their minds and hearts. We must
ensure that young men and women,
particularly seminarians and clergy,
are not enslaved to addictions based
on the exploitation and criminal abuse
of the innocent and their pictures, and
contempt for the dignity of women
and of the human person. Here
mention should be made of the new
norms on graviora delicta approved
by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, which
included as a new species of crime “the
acquisition, possession or distribution
by a cleric of pornographic images of
minors… by whatever means or using
whatever technology”. The text speaks
of minors “under the age of fourteen”.
We now consider that this age limit
should be raised in order to expand
the protection of minors and to bring
out the gravity of these deeds.
8. Sexual tourism. The conduct,
the way of looking at others, the very
heart of Jesus’ disciples and servants
must always acknowledge the im-
age of God in each human creature,
beginning with the most innocent.
It is only by drawing from this radi-
cal respect for the dignity of others
that we will be able to defend them
from the pervasive power of violence,
exploitation, abuse and corruption,
and serve them in a credible way in
their integral human and spiritual
growth, in the encounter with others
and with God. Combating sexual tour-
ism demands that it be outlawed, but
also that the victims of this criminal
phenomenon be given support and
helped to be reinserted in society.
The ecclesial communities are called
to strengthen their pastoral care of
persons exploited by sexual tourism.
Among these, those who are most
vulnerable and in need of particular
help are certainly women, minors
and children; these last however need
special forms of protection and atten-
tion. Government authorities should
make this a priority and act with ur-
gency to combat the trafficking and
economic exploitation of children. To
this end it is important to coordinate
the efforts being made at every level of
society and to cooperate closely with
international organizations so as to
achieve a juridical framework capable
of protecting children from sexual ex-
ploitation in tourism and of ensuring
the legal prosecution of offenders.16
Allow me now to offer a heartfelt
word of thanks to all those priests
and consecrated persons who serve
the Lord faithfully and totally, and
who feel themselves dishonoured and
discredited by the shameful conduct
Address / B6
B6 REFLECTIONS
Fighting the greatest ‘Liberation War’
1st Sunday of Lent, Year C, (Luke 4:1-13)
Migrants’ Sunday, March 10, 2019
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
ONE of the first objectives of the
devil is to convince us that he does
not exist. If he does not succeed in
that, he tries to make us believe that,
after all, he is not so dangerous or
ugly . . . He may even reach the point
of disguising himself as “an angel of
light” . . . . And those who fall into
that trap, very soon find themselves
suffering the consequences of the
worst form of slavery. It is the old
story of the Trojan horse, coming
true in our existence. It’s the sad
tale of so many who underestimate
the devil’s ruses and overestimate
their ability to “neutralize” him at
any moment.
The truth of the matter is that the
devil does exist and is terrible. He
knows how to plan his attack and
when to strike. His “point of entry”
is usually a deceivingly “harmless
suggestion,” such as the one we read
about in the first temptation endured
by Jesus. (See Lk 4:3.) Eventually,
looking back, his victims realize that
their yielding to such an “innocent”
proposal was just the first step in
Faithful for lack of opportunity
to be unfaithful?
1st Sunday of Lent, Year C, (Luke 4:1-13)
March 10, 2019
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
IN Christian teaching, we become
children of God through faith and
baptism (John 1:12; 3:5). Because
we are God’s children, we have to
behave as such. In biblical studies,
we call this indicative-imperative
contrast. Thus, because Christians
have been made holy, they must
therefore act like holy people: “Since
we have these promises, beloved,
let us purify ourselves from every
defilement of flesh and spirit, and in
the fear of God, strive to fulfill our
consecration perfectly” (2 Cor 7:1).
But what should be the basic attitude
of a Christian, how should he act, in
a social context in which there is so
much wealth, power, privileges and
honor, and opportunity to abuse
them? As God’s children, our guide
is none other than Jesus himself.
And in the first chapters of his
Gospel, Luke shows us that Jesus
is God’s Son (Luke 1:35; 2:11). As
such, he is the representative of all
the sons/daughters or children of
God—the people of God in the New
Covenant. In today’s Gospel, Luke
gives as a summary of his whole life.
That life relives the life of the people
of God in the Old Covenant.
In the Old Testament, Israel is
called God’s son (Exod 4:22; Hosea
11:1). But to know the heart of the
people of Israel , his first-born son,
God tested them (Deut 8:2). So,
they wandered in the desert for forty
years, afflicting them with hunger
(Deut 8:3). Despite the seeming
failure of natural means, he showed
his care for them because he loved
them. “It was he who led them forth,
all the while performing wonders
and signs in the land of Egypt, in
the Red Sea, and for forty years in
the desert” (Acts 7:36). Despite his
paternal care for them, however, the
people became ungrateful. Instead
of worshipping the true God, they
even made for themselves a molten
calf and offered sacrifices to it
(Exod 32:1-9). They complained
in the hearing of the Lord (Num
11:1-3); grumbling against Moses
the slippery slope of ever-greater
concessions and humiliating de-
feats. By that time, they also realize
that the devil has already gained a
steady foothold in their lives, and
their aspirations. The final result is
an ever-greater “un-freedom” and
weakness. As a consequence, they
habitually get carried away by their
worst passions. The devil easily
turns self-esteem into pride; ap-
preciation for material things into
greed; admiration for a person
of the other sex into lust; hurt for
an injury suffered into hatred and
vengefulness . . . . He makes people
believe that they should follow such
inclinations to assert their freedom.
Soon they realize, however, that they
have become the devil’s slaves and
that their freedom has been reduced
to ashes . . . .
But no situation is without a rem-
edy, for as long as there is life, there
can be hope, there can be victory. The
Lenten season is an opportunity and
challenge to take up arms and fight
the most urgent and fundamental
and Aaron, they wanted to return
to their slavery in Egypt (Num 14:1-
3). Some of them even staged a
rebellion (Num 16). Because of their
rebellion and disobedience, God
did not allow them to enter into the
Promised Land. Israel was a people
of erring heart; they did not know
the ways of God (Ps 95:10-11).
In today’s narrative on the
testing of the Son of God, Luke
presents Jesus—being God’s Son
and representative of God’s renewed
people—as reliving the life of Israel
in the New Covenant. Just as the
people of Israel , in their exodus
from Egypt , sojourned in the desert
for forty years and were tested
(Deut 8:2), so Jesus, in the new
exodus, was in the desert for forty
days and underwent temptations
(Luke 4:1-2). The order of the three
temptations in Luke is different
from that in Matthew. In Luke, the
temptations conclude on the parapet
of the temple in Jerusalem, where
Jesus will ultimately face his destiny
(Luke 13:33). Nonetheless, the
content is the same: the temptation
to turn the stones into loaves of
bread (Luke 4:3), the temptation
to worship Satan in exchange of
domination over the kingdoms of
the world (v 7), and the temptation
to throw himself from the parapet of
the temple (9).
In the first temptation, Satan
wanted Jesus to use his powers for
his own purposes, rather than fulfill
his messianic role as planned by the
Father. In the second, he attempted
to persuaded Jesus to give him
allegiance, rather than God. And in
the third, he asked the Lord to test
the word of the Father, rather than
fulfill his mission on the basis of faith
in that word. In all these, Satan tried
to make Jesus, the Son of God, break
his filial obedience to the Father. He
even misused the Scriptures (v 6),
but Jesus used the same Scriptures
to show his fidelity (vv 4,7,10).
Thus, unlike people of Israel of Old
who manifested their disobedience,
form of WAR OF LIBERATION: the
liberation from the rule of Satan.
In our “uprising” we should re-
member that: a) the devil is not
invincible, and that;
b) in this struggle we are not
alone. The extraordinary power of
God’s word and grace is available
to us to enlighten, strengthen and
comfort us. Christ, the most power-
ful of all allies and the conqueror of
Satan, is with us. Though tempted
in many ways like us, Jesus never
gave in for a single second. Now, he
is just all too eager to make us share
in his victory.
For those of us who really wish to
free themselves from any subjec-
tion to the devil, Christ—the man
supremely free—is our great hope.
All that we have to do is ask his help
and follow his example. Rooted in
the power of God’s word and trust-
ing in His grace, we will fight bravely
side by side with Jesus, ready to
pay any price, in order to gain the
wonderful prize of a real, life-giving
freedom.
Jesus, far from succumbing to the
three temptations, remained faithful
to God (Deut 6:8) and emerged
victorious over them. That way, he,
the true Israel and the true Son of
God, showed himself faithful to God
the Father.
The temptation story, then, poses
this question to us: have we been
faithful to the vows we made at
baptism, when through the faith of
the Church, we became adopted sons
of God? Of course, many of us are
faithful sons for lack of opportunity
to be otherwise. Some officials
have been honest, because there
had been no occasion to be corrupt,
but when a chance is given, we find
them doing what their predecessors
have done, which they were not to
vilify. Would we be surprised if an
oppositionist who used to denounce
political dynasties winds up making
his own, or if a politician who before
the elections frequently lambasted
others for receiving the 10% SOP
ends up asking contractors 40%
or even more of the budget for a
project? They fight temptation by
easily giving in to it.
Yet, even those who do not have
the opportunity to be otherwise may
forget their promises at baptism
if only because being faithful does
not offer much rewards in this life.
That a teenager could auction off her
virginity in order to go to college says
much of our values today. How many
could resist the temptation to receive
the filthy lucre in exchange for voting
a candidate who by any standard does
not even qualify for the position he is
running for? Ultimately, of course,
being faithful to sonship in God is a
question of values, and commitment
to them. For a person who regards
God’s concerns as the ultimate
values, and who is committed to
them, temporary enjoyment and
gratifications are not difficult to set
aside. Despite poverty, suffering and
deprivation, he remains faithful in
the face opportunities to privileges,
power and wealth. Just as Christ did.
March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5
The Passage Jesus had to fulfill
2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C, (Lk 9:28-36)
March 17, 2019
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
TODAY’S Gospel focuses on Luke’s
narrative on the transfiguration of
Jesus. Readers of the synoptic gos-
pels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) will
easily recall that the transfiguration
story tells of an event that took place
near the end of Jesus’ public minis-
try in which his external appearance
changed. In the presence of Peter,
James and John atop a mountain,
Jesus’ clothing became dazzlingly
white, and with him appeared Moses
and Elijah who spoke with him. Peter
was so overwhelmed by what took
place that he suggested that three
tents be made: one for Jesus, one for
Moses and another for Elijah. Then
after a cloud overshadowed them,
a voice was heard identifying Jesus
as his Son, who must be listened to.
Then Jesus and his three disciples
went down the mountain to be with
the people. Noting that the event
offered the disciples an experience
of the true identity of Jesus, many
preachers follow a line of interpreta-
tion that stresses the need to follow up
our “experience of the divine” with the
practical aspect of spirituality, which
is service to the people we meet every
day. They say that we cannot just con-
template on the divine; for that would
be empty if divorced from action on
behalf of the poor.
While such line of preaching has
something to commend it, yet it fails
to take into account that each evan-
gelist has a different way of under-
standing the event. If we look at the
version of Luke, we find that he has
some theological insights that are not
shared by other evangelists, and one
of them relates to the content of the
conversation between Jesus, Moses
and Elijah: “They appeared in glory,
and spoke of his passage which he was
about to fulfill in Jerusalem” (Luke
9:21). To understand what Luke
means by this, it may be recalled that
earlier on, Jesus asked his disciples
who did crowds say he was. It appears
that they had come to uncover the re-
ality of what he was through the public
confession of Peter who addressed
him as the “Messiah of God.” But
when Peter used this title to describe
him, there is scarcely any doubt that
he understood this title in the Jewish
sense of an expected Messiah, the
anointed one, sent by God in the Da-
vidic, kingly or political tradition. He
would be a political figure identified
with the “Messiah of Israel” (1QS 9:11)
in the Qumran community. In effect,
having seen how Jesus healed and
performed miracles, Peter thought
that Jesus was really God’s anointed
to restore the kingdom of Israel to its
former glory.
It is for this reason that Jesus tried
to explain to them the meaning of his
messiahship by means of the predic-
tion of his passion: “The Son of Man,”
he said, “must first endure many suf-
ferings, be rejected by the elders, the
high priests and the scribes, and be
put to death, and then be raised up
on the third day” (Luke 9:22). And
to make sure that his disciples, who
frequently misunderstood him and his
teaching, fully realized the implication
of his words for those who wished to
follow him, he continued his instruc-
tion on discipleship: “Whoever wishes
to be my follower must deny his very
self, take up his cross each day and
Address / B5
of some of their confreres. All of us –
the Church, consecrated persons, the
People of God, and even God himself
– bear the effects of their infidelity. In
the name of the whole Church, I thank
the vast majority of priests who are
not only faithful to their celibacy, but
spend themselves in a ministry today
made even more difficult by the scan-
dals of few (but always too many) of
their confreres. I also thank the faith-
ful who are well aware of the goodness
of their pastors and who continue to
pray for them and to support them.
Finally, I would like to stress the
important need to turn this evil
into an opportunity for purification.
Let us look to the example of Edith
Stein—Saint Teresa Benedicta of the
Cross—with the certainty that “in the
darkest night, the greatest prophets
and saints rise up. Still, the life-giving
stream of the mystical life remains
invisible. Surely, the decisive events
of history of the world have been es-
sentially influenced by souls about
whom the history books remain silent.
And those souls that we must thank
for the decisive events in our personal
lives is something that we will know
only on that day when all that which
is hidden will be brought to light”.
The holy, faithful People of God, in
CBCP Monitor
follow in my steps” (Luke 9:24). We
do not know how, according to Luke,
the disciples reacted to Jesus’ teach-
ing, for Luke records none of it, unlike
in Mark where we find Peter remon-
strating with the Lord (Mark 8:33).
But one could make the educated
guess that his declaration would have
proved a disappointment to them, as-
suming they understood it. After all,
even after Jesus’ death, the disciples,
according to Luke, thought that Jesus
would free Israel from the Romans
and restore its political and economic
glory (Luke 24:21).
The story of transfiguration, there-
fore, functions as a corrective of
Peter’s faith in Jesus’ messiahship
and confirms what Jesus said in the
prediction of his passion. The pres-
ence of Moses and Elijah, who would
have fulfilled the requirement for wit-
nessing in Luke’s theology (cf Simeon
and Anna in the Infancy Narrative of
Luke), serves to indicate that the Law
(Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah)
testify to the identity of Jesus as the
suffering Messiah. Understandably
enough, Luke—and no other synoptic
evangelist—says that the two heavenly
figures “spoke of his passage, which
he was to accomplish in Jerusalem
” (Luke 9:31 ). In the Greek Bible,
the term translated in English as
“passage” is exodos, which could also
mean departure, the Exodus. Since
the use of the word no doubt echoes
the Exodus of Israel from Egypt to the
land of milk and honey, what Jesus
would accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke
9:31) was a new redeeming action for
his people. That is to say, just as the
Exodus of old freed the people from
slavery to Egypt , the new Exodus
in Jerusalem would free the people
from slavery to sin. The Exodus then
refers not only to Jesus’ passion and
death, as some writers tend to think,
but also to his resurrection and ascen-
sion, as all these events took place in
Jerusalem . Since the passage that
Moses and Elijah spoke of includes
the resurrection and ascension of
Jesus, the transfiguration serves also
to correct the impression that Jesus
was only a suffering Messiah. For
Luke, he is also the Messiah of glory.
Which is why unlike other synoptic
writers, Luke says that the disciples
had a glimpse of the glory of Jesus
(Luke 9:32 ). Of course, the term
“glory” in Luke is to be connected to
the risen status of Jesus, his being the
Son of God. His identity as Son of God
that the disciples had a glimpse of was
made explicit by the voice from the
clouds, declaring him as God’s Son,
his Chosen One (Luke 9:35).
Luke’s understanding of the trans-
figuration should be obvious. If the
disciples saw Jesus in his glory as
God’s Son, it is to affirm that Jesus, far
from being a Messiah in the political
tradition of his day, is one who enters
into glory through suffering, death
and resurrection in the holy city (see
Luke 24:26). (In that sense, Luke
shares John’s view that death and
glorification is a single event, though,
as Schweizer notes, Luke stresses the
death aspect of the event, while John
emphasizes the glorification.) The
disciples of Jesus, who must listen to
him and him alone, are to share and
follow the same passage—death and
glorification.
its daily silence, in many forms and
ways continues to demonstrate and
attest with “stubborn” hope that the
Lord never abandons but sustains
the constant and, in so many cases,
painful devotion of his children. The
holy and patient, faithful People of
God, borne up and enlivened by the
Holy Spirit, is the best face of the
prophetic Church which puts her Lord
at the centre in daily giving of herself.
It will be precisely this holy People of
God to liberate us from the plague of
clericalism, which is the fertile ground
for all these disgraces.
The best results and the most effec-
tive resolution that we can offer to the
victims, to the People of Holy Mother
Church and to the entire world, are the
commitment to personal and collec-
tive conversion, the humility of learn-
ing, listening, assisting and protecting
the most vulnerable.
I make a heartfelt appeal for an
all-out battle against the abuse of
minors both sexually and in other
areas, on the part of all authorities
and individuals, for we are dealing
with abominable crimes that must be
erased from the face of the earth: this
is demanded by all the many victims
hidden in families and in the various
settings of our societies.”
CBCP Monitor March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5
Therapy and justice for victims of clerical abuse
By Fr. Shay Cullen
THIS week, Pope Francis has taken a
stand on the sexual abuse of minors
by priests and bishops. He has called
a historical first global meeting in
Rome where more than 190 bishops
and clerics will discuss a clear plan
of action on how to protect and
help the victims of clerical sexual
abuse and bring priests to justice
and hold bishops accountable.
They will hopefully learn what
direct action must be taken to end
denial, cover-up and bring justice
for victims by holding priests and
bishops accountable for criminal
acts against minors.
Pope Francis is facing this
extremely important and
sensitive issue. The meeting is
acknowledgement that the problem
is a culture of criminality within the
church where thousands of priests
around the world have abused
and are abusing children. They are
getting away with it to the anger
and fury of the public at large and
especially among Catholics.
The normally arrogant higher
prelates who consider themselves
important enough to be above
the law have to be challenged and
confronted with these real crimes,
which they have ignored and covered
up for decades. They must answer
for them before the civil law, which
is there to protect children and bring
culprits to justice. No one is above
the law.
The evil practice of clerical child
abuse has been exposed in many
Western countries by government
tribunals and commissions in the
United States, Australia, Ireland,
Chile, France and Germany. For
Corporal / B2
enough of the precious Blood re-
mains in the chalice for the Commu-
nion of the concelebrants. Then the
Deacon, or one of the concelebrants,
arranges the chalice together with
the paten containing particles of the
host, if appropriate, either in the
center of the altar or at the side on
another corporal.
“297. The celebration of the
Eucharist in a sacred place is to take
place on an altar; however, outside
a sacred place, it may take place on
a suitable table, always with the use
of a cloth, a corporal, a cross, and
candles.
 “306. For only what is required
for the celebration of the Mass may
be placed on the altar table: namely,
from the beginning of the celebration
until the proclamation of the Gospel,
the Book of the Gospels; then from
the Presentation of the Gifts until
the purification of the vessels, the
chalice with the paten, a ciborium, if
Stateless / B3
concerns of the migrants
• Hold discussion forums and
dialogues or similar meeting.
Issues on migration can
be best integrated during
the meeting of BEC, parish
mandated organizations or
parish pastoral council.
• In bigger meetings,
representatives from various
government agencies with
programs and services to
OFWs may also be invited as
Sheep / B4
in the light of faith; in the light of
faith, and a psychologist proposal.
For this portion, I will rely heavily
on dr. Robert Enright, professor
at the University of Wisconsin-
Madison in the United States, and the
pioneer in the social scientific study
of forgiveness. We are collaborating
with him on the programme of
forgiveness in the Philippines. In
fact, in this very moment, there is
a session among Catholic School
Educators in Manila on “Pain,
wound, and forgiveness”. According
to him, one concern that we must
address is: Once justice is served,
how do we help the victims to heal
from the effects of the abuse? Justice
is necessary but by itself does not
heal the broken human heart. If
we are to serve the victims and all
those wounded by the crisis, we
need to take seriously their wound
of resentment and pain and the need
for healing. Resentment can be like
a disease, that slowly and steadily
infects people, until their enthusiasm
and energy are gone. With increasing
stress, they are prone to heightened
anxiety and depression, lowered-self-
sure, the same is going on in other
countries but has not yet come
to the surface. While much has
changed to prevent child abuse by
clergy, much remains to be done.
All must realize that clerical abuse of
minors is not just a church scandal
or priests committing “sins” and
when discovered are transferred to
another parish or diocese to stop the
complaints from continuing. That is
how it was dealt with for decades.
Families are persuaded to agree to
out-of-court settlements and forced
to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Some have been threatened with
church sanctions if they pursued a
criminal case.
In the Philippines, Archbishop
Cardinal Tagle admitted in a
television interview that the
Philippine hierarchy dealt with
the issues of child sex abuse by
priests internally. As if that is the
solution. He said at the opening
of the Vatican meeting that it is
an abuse of power echoing the
position of Pope Francis, who has
said it is a culture of “clericalism”
in the church. However stating the
problem is not solving it.
The abuse of power has been the
practice of the bishop and senior
clergy to deny ignore and cover
up such crimes and to protect the
institutional church. They tried to
prevent the priest being arrested
and put on trial for crimes that can
carry a life sentence. The fear of
public disgrace, failure in office, loss
of prestige and authority, criticism
of the institutional church by the
Catholic communities and the media
and the huge loss of donations are
necessary, and, finally, the corporal,
the purificator, the pall, and the
Missal.”
 Thus, several corporals may be
used at Mass. At least one is placed
at the center of the altar at the
presentation of gifts. Others may
be placed at other areas of the
altar if numerous sacred vessels are
required. There should also be at
least one corporal on the credence
table for the purification.
 The Rite of Holy Communion
and Eucharistic Worship Outside of
Mass also has important indications
regarding the corporal:
“19. When communion is given in a
church or oratory, a corporal is to be
placed on the altar, which is already
covered with a cloth. A communion
plate is to be used. When communion
is given in other places, a suitable
table is to be prepared and covered
with a cloth; candles are also to be
provided.”
resource speakers
• Conduct creative activities
such as contest, concerts or
cultural events
• Popularize and advocate issues
and concerns of migrants
involving tri-media (Radio,
television and newspapers)
and other venues like schools,
religious congregations,
private institutions and
within the barangay and local
government units.
images, and interpersonal conflicts
that arise from the inner brokenness.
Yet, before we even raise the issue
of asking the victims to forgive
as part of their healing, we must
clarify that we are not suggesting
that they should just let it all go,
excuse the abuse, just move on. No.
Far from it. Without question, we
know that when victims come to
a moment of forgiving others who
have harmed them, a deeper healing
takes place and the understandable
resentments that build up in their
hearts are reconciled. We know that
forgiveness is one powerful and even
scientifically supported pathway
for eliminating pain, resentment
and the human heart. We as the
Church should continue to walk
with those profoundly wounded
by abuse building trust, providing
unconditional love, and repeatedly
asking for forgiveness in the full
recognition that we do not deserve
that forgiveness in the order of
justice but can only receive it when
it is bestowed as gift and grace in the
process of healing.
Finally, we are concerned that in
likely to be behind the practice of
cover up.
Concern, compassion, and just
anger that little children are abused
by their fellow priests seems to be
far from their hearts and minds.
It’s a spiritual and theological crisis
also. The gospel words of Jesus of
Nazareth are forgotten. He said that
the most important in the Kingdom
of God is the child, not the learned
and people in authority. They who
accept and protects a child accepts
Him. Abusers have to be dealt with
strictly and “better a millstone be
tied around their neck and they be
thrown into the deepest ocean.”
(Matthew18:1-8)
The deep suffering, hurt and
anguish that abused children feel
is ignored and unacknowledged.
Some even say they like it. A video
of children releasing their pent
up anger, hurt and pain can be
viewed on www.preda.org. Seeing
and hearing this release of pent
up pain that is in many victims in
Emotional Release Therapy gives
us a determination to see that the
children are healed and justice is
done by and for the little kids.
Many clerics have been found
guilty and are serving jail sentences.
This cover up by church leaders is
a systematic obstruction of justice
and is a crime in itself. Cardinal
Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France
is on trial with other clerics for
such an alleged crime. A court
decision may be released in March.
Cardinal George Pell, who held a
senior Vatican position, is on trial
for “historic child sexual offenses.”
The Cardinal allegedly protected
The “other places” mentioned
would generally refer to communion
of the sick. In this case, the person
or his family prepare the candles
and a table covered with a cloth.
It would be the priest, deacon or
extraordinary minister of Holy
Communion who would bring the
corporal. In some cases, such as in a
hospital when several sufferers are
given Communion, the rite foresees
the possibility of initiating the rite
in the first room and concluding
at the last. In such a situation the
corporal would be required only at
the beginning.
 For exposition the ritual says:
“No. 93. If the Holy Eucharist
is not reserved at the altar where
the exposition is to take place, the
minister puts on a humeral veil and
brings the sacrament from the place
of reservation; he is accompanied by
servers or by the faithful with lighted
candles.
Phase 2: Actual NMS celebration
• Set specific time for a special
mass for overseas Filipinos
and their families in your
diocese or parish.
• Prepare special liturgy and
involve the participation of
overseas Filipinos and their
families
• Invite the OFWs and their
families for a fellowship
activity after the Eucharistic
celebration
some cases bishops and religious
superiors are tempted—perhaps
even at times pressured—-to choose
between victim and perpetrator. Who
should we be helping? Who should be
helped? Now, a focus on justice and
forgiveness show us the answer: We
focus on both. Regarding victims, we
need to help them to express their
deep hurts and to heal from them.
Regarding the perpetrators, we need
to serve justice, help them to face the
truth without rationalization, and at
the same time not neglect their inner
world, their own wounds.
At times, we are tempted to think in
“either/or” terms: We strive either for
justice or we try to offer forgiveness.
We need a shift to a “both/and”
stance as we deliberately ask these
questions: How can we serve justice
and foster forgiveness in the face of
this wound of sexual abuse? How
can we prevent distorting forgiveness
so that we do not equate it with just
letting the injustice slide away or
move on and dismiss the wrong?
How can we keep an accurate view
of forgiveness as offering startling
mercy of unconditional love to those
A girl receives ashes on Ash Wednesday at the Baclaran Church, March 6, 2019. ELMARC LIM
a notorious pedophile priest who
abused children.
Catholics who for centuries were
imbued with guilt by clergy and were
threatened with the “fires of hell” are
still told to repent and confess their
“sins,” and do penance, no matter
how little and petty as their so-called
“sins” may have been. They are
awakening to the truth that they have
been duped and misled by an archaic
and false theology that has little
or no compassion, understanding,
forgiveness and Gospel love. Many
of these pedophile priests, criminals
themselves, judge and condemn the
innocent.
The genuine care, healing and
support for every victim of child
sexual abuse especially by clergy
“The ciborium or monstrance
should be placed upon the table of the
altar which is covered with a cloth. If
exposition with the monstrance is to
extend over a long period, a throne in
an elevated position may be used, but
this should not be too lofty or distant.
After exposition, if the monstrance
is used, the minister incenses the
sacrament. If the adoration is to be
lengthy, he may then withdraw.
“In the case of more solemn and
lengthy exposition, the host should
be consecrated in the Mass which
immediately precedes the exposition
and after communion should be
placed in the monstrance upon
the altar. The Mass ends with the
prayer after communion, and the
concluding rites are omitted. Before
the priest leaves, he may place the
Blessed Sacrament on the throne and
incense it.”
While this expression “cloth” is
somewhat vague, No. 1104 of the Cer-
• During the fellowship, cultural
presentations may be provided
and sharing of food or salu-salo.
Phase 3: Evaluation
ECMI’s programs address the
preservation of families
• After NMS, the migrant
diocesan ministers and leaders
may set and agree on the
date to hold an assessment
or evaluation of the NMS
celebration. This will serve as
who have done wrong, while at the
same time, we strive for justice?
How can we renew the Church by a
firm correction of a definite wrong
and walk with the abused, patiently
and repeatedly begging forgiveness,
knowing that giving such a gift can
heal them even more?
Conclusion.
Before reading my concluding
paragraph, I would like to read
a portion from the “Lettera al
popolo di Dio pellegrino in Cile”,
31 maggio 2018, di Papa Francesco,
n. 2: “Senza questa visione di fede,
qualsiasi cosa potremmo dire o
fare andrebbe a vuoto. Questa
certezza è imprescindibile per
guardare al presente senza evasività
ma con audacia, con coraggio
ma saggiamente, con tenacia ma
senza violenza, con passione ma
senza fanatismo, con costanza
ma senza ansietà, e così cambiare
tutto quello che oggi può mettere a
rischio l’integrità e la dignità di ogni
persona. Infatti, le soluzioni di cui c’è
bisogno richiedono che si affrontino
i problemi senza farsene irretire o,
SOCIAL CONCERNS B7
is the first and most important
action that needs to be taken by
the Pope’s meeting. Every diocese
must have an independent trained
professional child support therapy
team, a therapeutic home with a
para-legal to pursue justice and
to help, support and protect every
child victim.
The team should provide
therapy to empower the victims
to give testimony against their
abusers. The abusers, including
clergy, must be brought to trial
before a civil court of law and held
accountable for child abuse. The
accused, if guilty, ought to confess,
repent and accept penance in
jail behind bars. Nothing less is
acceptable.
emonial of Bishops says that there
should be a corporal upon the altar
“as circumstances require.”
This conditional expression takes
into account particular situations
such as exposition at the end of
Mass and, perhaps, expositions that
are not upon an altar. For example,
some forms of exposition may retain
historical practices such as a taber-
nacle with a turntable. In that case,
the corporal is already below the
monstrance in the rotary tabernacle.
The principle of the use of a corporal
below the monstrance or pyx remains
in place.
 Finally, with respect to candles for
exposition the ritual says:
 “54. For exposition of the blessed
sacrament in the monstrance, four
to six candles are lighted, as at Mass,
and incense is used. For exposition
of the blessed sacrament in the cibo-
rium, at least two candles should be
lighted, and incense may be used.”
a barometer on the efficiency
of your preparation and
celebration of NMS. Moreover,
this will be the basis on how
far your diocese-parish or
school will undertake pastoral
programs for migrants.
ECMI programs address the
preservation of families as this is
in fact the main reason why most
Filipinos decide to leave the country
and work overseas.
peggio ancora, ripetere quegli stessi
meccanismi che vogliono eliminare”.
Learning from the Risen Lord and his
disciples, we look at and touch the
wounds of victims, families, guilty
and innocent clergy, the Church and
society. Beholding Jesus wounded by
betrayal and abuse of power, we see
the wounds of those hurt by those
who should have protected them.
In Jesus, we experience the mercy
that preserves justice and celebrates
the gift of forgiveness. The Church
hopefully would be a community of
justice coming from communion and
compassion, a Church eager to go
forth on a mission of reconciliation
to the wounded world in the Holy
Spirit. Once again, the Crucified and
Risen Lord stands in our midst at
this moment, shows us his wounds
and proclaims: “Peace be with you!”
May we ever grow in our faith in this
great mystery. Thank you.
______________
1Studies published by Roberto Goizueta, Richard
Horsley, Barbara Reid, Tomas Halik, Robert Enright,
and Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, to name a few authors,
have helped me in my own reflection.
B8 ENTERTAINMENT March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5 CBCP Monitor

Buhay San Miguel Brothers Matias

Cold Pursuit
TERIBOL OG Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya
FIND 3 MISSING THINGS:
1. HOLY ROSARY
2. ST. LORENZO RUIZ
3. SAINT TERESA

DIRECTOR: Hans Petter Moland entertaining breather to the

LEAD CAST: Liam Neeson, Tom
Bateman, Tom Jackson, Emmy
Rossum, Julia Jones
PRODUCER: Finn Gjerdrum, Stein
B. Kvae, Michael Shamberg
SCREENWRITER: Frank Baldwin
BASED ON: “In Order of
Disappearance” by Kim Fupz
Aakeson
MUSIC: George Fenton
GENRE: Dark Comedy-Action
DISTRIBUTOR: Summit
Entertainment
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English
RUNNING TIME: 118 minutes
Technical assessment: 3.0
Moral assessment: 2.0
CINEMA rating: V16
MTRCB rating: R16
Nels Coxman (Neeson) is
a gentle family man who
receives the Citizen of the
Year award. But when he
learns that Viking Calcote’s
(Bateman) drug cartel
murdered his son, he becomes
an ice-cold vigilante wanting
to exact revenge on them. He
kills three of Viking’s men
and dumps their bodies in
the river. Viking, believing
the deaths are caused by
White Bull (Jackson), a
Native American drug lord,
abducts and kills the latter’s
son. This begins the endless
violence and killings from the
opposing gangs while Nels
plots to dismantle the cartel.
Cold Pursuit is the
remake of Moland’s own
Norwegian film In Order of
Disappearance. While you
can praise its ambition deliver
high powered action and
dark humor. The exchanges
are amusing –although
not always clever — and
body count and blood coated
snow. There is a subtle wit
in the cinematography and
design which emphasize the
stark yet imposing landscape.
Cold Pursuit offers humor,
a quality never seen in
Neeson’s Taken franchise.
This immediately endears
the audience and makes them
overlook shortcomings. The
plot is still the same father-
seeking-justice, Neeson
does the same angry tough
calculating dad routine, some
characters are underwritten
and serve no purpose to the
film. But the biggest issue we
have with the movie is that it
is several minutes longer than
it needs to be.
Justice taken into one’s
own hands creates an
endless cycle of violence.
While we understand that
criminals need to face
the consequences of their
actions, we emphasize that
these should be done within
the boundaries of the law.
When revenge, brutal death,
and violence are funny and
audiences laugh at these
scenes, danger signs should
be flashing. The movie has
all the ingredients for it
not to be suitable for young
viewers — drugs, revenge,
language, gore, and violence.
But these are not what makes
the film strictly for mature
audiences. It is the comedic
tone used in presenting
them. Cold Pursuit plays
with the audiences’ reaction
to death and violence. This
treatment is appropriate for
older and mature viewers.

Second Act
DIRECTOR: Peter Segal
LEAD CAST: Jennifer Lopez,
Leah Remini, Vanessa
Hudgens, Treat Williams, Milo
Ventimiglia
PRODUCER: Jennifer Lopez,
Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas,
Justin Zackham, Benny Medina
SCREENWRITER: Justin
Zackham, Elaine Goldsmith-
Thomas
MUSIC: Michael Andrews
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ueli
Steiger
EDITOR: Jason Gourson
PRODUCTION COMPANY:
STX Films, H. Brothers
DISTRIBUTOR: STX Films
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English
RUNNING TIME: 104 minutes
Technical assessment: 3.0
Moral assessment: 3.0
CINEMA rating: V13
MTRCB rating: PG13
Maya (Jennifer Lopez)
just turns 40-year-old and
struggles with frustrations
for not having achieved more
in life. As an experienced,
quick-witted, perceptive
employee of a megastore, she
is passed over for a promotion
for not having a college
degree. Maya is devastated.
Overhearing this, her godson
secretly creates and revamps
her online identity landing
her a job as consultant at a
high-end consumer products
company. Being street-smart,
she quickly earned respect and
confidence of the CEO and he
pits her against his daughter
Zoe (Vanessa Hudgens) to
see who can better design an
organic skin care line. But Zoe
turns out to be more than just
a corporate rival. How long
can Maya keep up with her
made-up identity?
Second Act is neither a
romcom nor a drama — it
is a comedy with a heart.
Lopez brings out her
romcom background best
in this movie with a lot of
maturity. Her commanding
screen presence perfectly fits
the Cinderella plot device.
Lopez and Hudgens look
good together and the twist
in their connection in the
film is both surprising and
sweet — making the film veer
away from usual predictable
endings. The supporting
actors give enough comedic
flavor as well. The female
bonding is smoothly executed
in the film and the female
second leads deliver the film’s
sentiments. The film in its
entirety is a delight to watch
and the audience are sure to
have good laughs in between
plenty of sobs and inspiration.
Second Act serves as
inspiration to the aging sector
in general and to women in
particular. Most especially
the film talks to those who
have unfulfilled dreams or
those who are thinking that
they were not given equal
opportunities in life for some
reason  —   l ack of education,
poverty, unexpected
pregnancy, etc. Second Act
simply says it is never too
late to chase after what one
really wants, or to work for
a dream. Living in society
that puts so much prime on
the young — the film is a mild
eye-opener. Maya’s character
may be flawed with wrong
choices or wrong decisions
but she is not imprisoned by
regret. Instead, she stands up
and dusts-off her mistakes
and corrects them in the
process. The truth has set
her free. More often than
not, people would choose
comfort over truth but Maya
chooses otherwise. She is an
example of woman’s strength
of character that looks beyond
selfish desires  —   w illing to
risk everything for the sake of
truth. However, there is clear
indication of co-habitation in
the film and sexual relations
outside marriage  —   s o the
young audience must be
guided on this. The deception
is taken lightly as well although
taken into context, it is said
in the film that there is no
substitute for truth-telling.
CINEMA deems the film as
appropriate only for audiences
ages 13 years old and above
with parental guidance.
 Ugnayan
THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST
CBCP Monitor Vol. 23 No. 5 March 4 - 17, 2019 C1

PASTORAL CARE FOR FAMILIES

By Bernie Cuevas
CENTRAL to the life of Couples
for Christ is its vision of being
Families in the Holy Spirit Renew-
ing the Face of the Earth. But how
does CFC do that in a world beset
by many threats and challenges to
families?
The “Pastoral Care for Families Confer-
ence,” a special gathering of the Mission
Core of Metro Manila held at the SMX
MOA last March 3, aimed to answer this
question through a deeper understand-
ing of the call of Amoris Laetitia (The
Joy of Love), the post synodal apostolic
exhortation written by Pope Francis in
2016 to address the need of families for
pastoral care.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David,
the main speaker of the conference, spoke
on the "Pastoral Approach of Amoris Lae-
titia" (AL) . He explained that AL provides
a guide for a pastoral approach rather
than a doctrinal approach to problems
besetting marriage and family, especially
that of irregular unions. He shared the
story of the wedding of Kris, his niece, as
an introduction to the importance of un-
derstanding what a couple gets into when
they get married in the Catholic Church.
He stressed that what makes marriage
an indissoluble sacrament is its being
much more than just a contract (a legal
memorandum of agreement) between
a husband and wide. Rather, when the
couple exchanges rings in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, they
create a kind of a “love triangle.”
Marriage then, is not just about a couple
loving one another with human love,
but loving one another with the love of
Christ in them. This is why the Bible
states that what God has joined together
can never be separated by any human
being. He explained that this is the basis
for our belief in the indissolubility of a
sacramental marriage.
To further explain, he said every
marriage founded on human laws is dis-
soluble by those laws. He proposed that
the indissolubility of marriage is only for
marriages that reflect the sacrament of
the love of Christ, meaning, only for those
who have been joined together by God.
The prayer for every marriage should be
that the couple be truly joined together by
God because marriage becomes a sacra-
ment only when it is between the couple
and God – meaning that they make an
act of faith that it is God who brings them
together. He proceeded to say that based
on this, it is also equally true to say that
what God has not joined together, we
must not force to be together.
He referred to Chapter 8 of AL, the
focus of his talk: “Accompanying, Dis-
cerning and Integrating Weakness”.
This chapter is a response to the question
“What is the proper pastoral care for
marriages and families that are humanly
weak and fragile?”
He posed the question: If CFC is only
for married couples, specifically for those
married in church, isn’t that discrimina-
tory? Does the CFC have a ministry for
couples in irregular unions? He men-
tioned Jacob’s Well, the ministry for ir-
regular unions that CFC established in the
late 1990’s that somehow got sidetracked.
He encouraged CFC to discern whether
it should move in that direction again.
The bishop explained the difference
between Salvation and Redemption. Both
imply that someone is saved but with
redemption, there is the notion that a
price was paid so that that someone may
be saved. He said the cross of Jesus is not
about suffering and death. Rather, it is
about unconditional love, a love that is
unwilling to give up, even at the price of
one’s own blood. It means never to agree
that anyone at all is beyond redemption.
Bishop David referred to the writings of
St. John Paul II who proposed the so-called
“law of gradualness” in the knowledge
that the human being “knows, loves and
accomplishes moral good by different
stages of growth”. (AL 295). AL 310 cites
that “...mercy is not only the working
of the Father; it becomes a criterion for
knowing who his true children are.” He
also cited John 14: “ “In my Father’s house
there are many
PASTORAL CARE, C2

Bishop Pabillo Holds Lecture on Catholic Social

Teachings for STMA
ST. THOMAS More and Associates (STMA) invited Bishop
Broderick Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila and CFC spiri-
tual adviser, to give the members of the group a lecture on the
Social Teachings of the Catholic Church.
The four-part lecture series was held on January 16 and 30;
and February 20 and 27 at the LAIKO Conference Room in
Intramuros, Manila.
The basis for these particular teachings, which the prelate
describes as the Church’s best-kept secrets that should be
brought out into the open, was what Jesus proclaimed in the
Gospel: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me
to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to
the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of
the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) This is the same verse CFC
speakers quote at the beginning of the Christian Life Program.
In biblical times, Jesus taught that there are two great-
est commandments—“Love God and love your neighbor
as yourself.” He illustrated this with the story of the
good Samaritan.
“Today, society and environment influence the person,”
Bishop Pabillo said. He added, “Persons have social respon-
sibilities. All actions have social consequences. There is an
interdependent web of life. The Church provides a vision
toward an integral human and societal development of
the world which is the prophetic Catholic Social Teach-
ings (CST).”
What is CST?
CST is a clearly discernible body of official Catholic social
teachings on the world order, in its economic, cultural and
political dimensions. The sources of these teachings are
Scripture; the Magisterium of the Church, papal encyclicals
and pronouncements, teachings of authorized Church bod-
ies, Vatican Council II, experiences of the Church; the lives
and teachings of the saints, engagements of the Church
in present issues, and dialogue with other branches of
knowledge.
According to Bishop Pabillo, the CST is not a “by the way”
or an add on, but a constitutive part of Jesus’ message of
love—to love God and to love one’s neighbor. “One cannot
stand without the other,” the prelate emphasized.
Bishop Pabillo described “neighbor” in three contexts.
The first was during the Old Testament times when one’s
neighbor meant his fellow Jews. The second was during
most of the Christian era when PABILLO, C3

WALK FOR LIFE 2019:

CREATING “WOMBS” THAT GIVE LIFE
TO SHOW the solidarity
of the Catholic Church in
upholding human life and
human dignity, the Sang-
guniang Laiko ng Pilipinas,
the Catholic Bishop’s Con-
ference of the Philippines
Episcopal Commission on
the Laity and different Cath-
olic organizations including
Couples for Christ, held the
3rd Walk for Life last Febru-
ary 16, 2019 at the Quezon
City Memorial Circle.
This year, the walk high-
lighted the different “threats
to life” in the present times,
such as extrajudicial killings
and the lowering of the age of
criminal liability. To counter
these, the walk emphasized
the importance of differ-
ent ways of upholding life,
such as purity and chastity,
family, environment and
responsible citizenship. A
number of people from dif-
ferent Catholic organizations
shared their testimonies, and
showed video presentations
of these aspects.
Holy Mass was celebrated
by His Eminence Cardinal
Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbish-
op of Manila. He was assisted
by Archbishop Pablo Virgilio
“Ambo” David of the Diocese
of Kalookan and Most Rev.
Broderick Pabillo, Auxiliary
Bishop of Manila. In his hom-
ily, Cardinal Tagle enjoined
everyone to be a “womb of life”
that creates a space for Christ’s
tenderness and compassion.
He said, “Sa sinapupu-
nan ng ina nagsisimula ang
pagmamahal at kalinga sa
buhay,” (It is in the mother’s
womb that the love and care
of life starts). He emphasized
that the “womb” does not just
refer to the mother’s womb,
but also refers to our fami-
lies, neighbors, school, par-
ishes and communities be-
cause all these can be wombs
that bring life to people.
With the threats to life that
degrade human dignity, the
Cardinal encouraged every-
one to also make our society
a “womb that gives life.” He
expressed his hope of having
a society with a heart that
beats with empathy.
“Start walking that our so-
ciety will start to be a womb
of tenderness, love and care,”
Cardinal Tagle encouraged
the thousands of people who
showed up for the Walk.
Bishop Pabillo also
thanked the attendees of
the walk, particularly for
showing that everyone can
be united for the cause of
upholding human life. He
reminded them to partici-
pate in the upcoming elec-
tion, as it is an essential part
of evangelization.
Simultaneous Walks for
Life were held in different
parts of the country such
as Dagupan, Tarlac, Ormoc,
Cagayan de Oro and Leyte.
(PMB, CFC ANCOP Com-
munications)
C2 March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5 CBCP Monitor

FROM A PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE

Rouquel Ponte

TOWARDS REAL PASTORAL CONVERSION

POPE FRANCIS warns against the
“culture of indifference” that is so
pervasive in today’s modern world.
For most people of today, this heavily
secular culture blocks the pathway
towards a real conversion of the
heart. This also turns our hearts cold
to the needs of others, especially the
poor. Thus we are not able to practice
charity at its very core.
This culture has also desensitized
people to the point that they are just
focused on themselves. Their ego
becomes dominant and their focus
is directed more to self than being
concerned with the needs of others.
This sense of indifference allows the
spirit of arrogance and vanity to ruin
the fundamental virtue of humility.
The pastoral conversion we desire
needs to flow from God’s example of
love. It is a love that does not turn
away from the tending to people’s
needs, especially those of the poor.
The exhortation to love is best de-
scribed in 1 John 4:7-11. This epistle
by Jesus’ beloved Apostle says in part,
“let us love one another; for love is
of God”. The mystery of this love
was fully initiated by God and gives
us the example that we may love as
God loves us.
But even as God has shown us the
way to love, our heart continues to
be dominated by an attitude of indif-
ference. Pope Francis, in his homily
at Santa Marta on January 17, 2019,
warned against slipping toward an
“evil heart”, and advised us to seek
“to grow” through God’s Word and
openness to the action of the Holy
Spirit. He cited the passage from
Hebrews 3:12: “Take care, brethren,
lest there be in any of you an evil and
unbelieving heart, leading you to fall
away from the living God”. It is good
for us to take note of what the Holy
Father is saying since we all run the
risk of “slowly slipping toward an
evil heart.”
Three things will help us better
understand the deeper meaning of
“hardness of heart” so we can exam-
ine if indeed we are slipping toward
an evil heart:
1. Jesus, when he encountered
some people who were closed
to his message, said that he was
“saddened by their hardened
or closed hearts”. This can hap-
pen to us when we are faced
with great suffering and are
not able to let the flow of God’s
grace into our life.
2. Spiritual stubbornness can
also occur when we are closed
within our own ideology to the
point to being very defensive.
We become so obstinate that
we are not open to the Holy
Spirit.
3. Our daily battle against the
temptations of the devil. It is
the evil heart that allows us to be
seduced by the enemy leading to
stubbornness and closure.
With this in mind, Pope Francis
counsels us to be faithful to grow
through God’s Word and an openness
to the “action of the Holy Spirit.” It is
good to be reminded that praying and
reading the Scriptures regularly and
receiving both the Sacrament of the
Eucharist and Confession regularly
will enable us to remain in God’s
grace. This will certainly guard our
hearts from slipping toward an evil
heart.
With this knowledge and with
the grace from God, we are on the
way to winning our battle against
the culture of indifference. From
here, we will be able to orient our
thoughts, words and actions toward
real pastoral conversion by sowing
love and compassion in our day-to-
day life as Christians.
Finally, the Holy Father issues a
call – “No to the culture of indiffer-
ence.” Using the parable of the multi-
plication of the fish and the loaves as
an example, we see that Jesus did not
accept the indifference of the apostles
toward the hungry multitude and
rejected their suggestion to send the
hungry crowd away to find their own
food. The apostles were not mean but
rather, they were indifferent. They
had not learned what real love is, or
knew as yet what compassion was.
Pope Francis ended his homily
with an invitation to meditate on
this compassionate God “who takes
the first step” despite our attitude
of indifference.
For our reflection: At the end of
the day, we all need to set aside two,
three or five minutes of quiet time
and ponder the question: “What hap-
pened in my heart today?”

DAWNINGS AQUILA AND PRISCILLA

Arnel Santos

OUR COUPLE JOURNEY Awake, O sleeper

RECENTLY, while prayer-walking on the sea-
shores of Roxas, Mindoro Oriental, I turned
or sexually,” the term “couples” as used in the
name “Couples for Christ” actually refers to
my gaze to the sky. Minute by minute, there “married” couples. To be more precise (and as
were gradual shifts and changes in the light- per the CFC Statutes), “couples” in Couples for
ing, colors, and hues in the sky. Christ refer to “any validly married Catholic
First was an almost pitch black horizon. couple”. Mag-asawa para kay Kristo there-
Moments later, gray. A few minutes later, the fore is a fairly good translation of Couples
east started to show colors -- yellow, gold, or- for Christ.
ange and white. Then the sun peeped through The other translation I had considered was
and showed itself, gleaming and beaming its “Mga Magkabiyak para Kay Kristo”.
light, resulting in what photography enthusi- Magkabiyak captures the notion of “couple”
asts refer to as the “golden hour”. Thereafter, as marital partners. From the root word, “bi-
luster and brightness and brilliance! yak” (literally, “half” or “split”), “magkabiyak”
We refer to this moment of the day as means a “couple”, where one is the “better
“daybreak” or “sunrise”. It is a very brief half” of the other. The halves are joined to-
moment. But though it happens quickly, one gether to create one whole where one will be
can actually notice that there are various incomplete without the other.
stages of “morning”. Not only can one mark With these, it seems that “asawa” is the
the differences between dawn, daybreak and proper and more formal way to refer to spouse
sunrise, one can even distinguish the various but “kabiyak” is more endearing; it is used to
phases of “dawn”. refer to one’s spouse with much fondness and
The best way to explain this is by using tenderness.
Filipino words. I had already settled on “Magkabiyak para
Dawn is “liwayway” which is preceded by kay Kristo”, until February 10, 2019, when I
that “break of dawn,” termed as “bukang- gave a talk in Lipa, Batangas.
liwayway”. After liwayway comes sunrise, or I was discussing “marriage” and its Filipino
“pagsikat ng araw”. All these occur in that translation. I was moved to say that while the
particular part of the “morning” (umaga)-- the usual and popular translation for marriage
hours between 12:01 AM till sunrise --- which is “kasal”, there is actually a better Filipino
is more aptly called as “madaling-araw.” The word for it --- “pag-iisang dibdib”. This latter
climax is marked by that fleeting instant when term is more suitable because “kasal” refers to
the eyes can still comfortably look directly at an event – like the wedding celebration--- or
the round orange sun, before it breaks and even a status (“kasal na”). “Pag-iisang-dibdib”
shines and brightens everything with its is very different.
brilliance. This Filipino word indicates not just a one-
In that instant, it dawned on me: “enlighten- time event, but puts emphasis on the beautiful
ment” is a process. Historical and progressive. process of “pag-iisa” -- of being one: the unit-
It may appear to come in an instant, but in ing, the combining of the “dibdib” -- the very
reality, it is a result of a series of building up core of each other as symbolized by the hearts.
and only after undergoing one step, one phase While discussing all these, it dawned on
after another. Like renewal, rekindling and me right there and then. There is still an-
rejuvenation. It is experienced, but it should other translation for Couples for Christ : “Mga
continue and should progress. Pinag-isang dibdib para kay Kristo.”
Like “grace” – “Grace acts in history; ordi- -000-
narily it takes hold of us and transforms us Marriage is a journey. To be a couple is a
progressively. If we reject this historical and journey. So too, to be “Couples for Christ” is
progressive reality, we can actually refuse and a journey.
block grace, even as we extol it by our words.” One time, I was inviting a non-CFC member to
(Gaudete et Exultate, 50) deliver a talk at the Family is a Gift conference in
--000-- 2017. Upon seeing me she said: “Oh Bro. Arnel,
Take for example this little journey of mine you know my husband and I are not yet couples
in translating into Filipino the name “Couples for Christ. Our marriage is okay. All is in order.
for Christ.” But we are not yet couples for Christ.”
What is the Filipino translation for “Cou- At that instant it dawned on me: she was
ples for Christ”? not referring to Couples for Christ as an as-
I asked myself this more than a decade ago. sociation. She was referring to their journey
And at that time, what immediately came to to Christ. A historical and progressive journey
mind was-- “Mga Mag-asawa para kay Kristo”. or pilgrimage to Christ.
“Mag-asawa” means spouses. It thus sets Indeed, one does not become “Couples for
itself apart from any other form of romantic Christ” by sheer membership in this lay as-
or sexual association or partnership. While sociation that is called “Couples for Christ”.
the dictionary says that a “couple” refers to The couple must truly be “for Christ” and such
any “two people who are married, engaged, must be expressed and witnessed, by grace, in
or otherwise closely associated romantically their everyday life.
PASTORAL CARE, C1
rooms.” He said there is room for social development programs are cially mothers
all, even those who are sinners, so addressing them. 6. Those who are in irregular cases
they can experience redemption 1. Couples in Regular Union – (CFC)
and salvation. Couples in general who need
The CFC leaders present appre- guidance and strengthening in The third session “Companions
ciated the bishop’s talk, pointing growing in faith, hope and love in the Journey”, was moderated
to the simplicity of his explana- in marriage and family life (to by Rouquel Ponte, head of the
tion that allowed them to under- be addressed by CFC) Formation Directorate, respon-
stand the pastoral approach of 2. Young people – in their search sible for the development of the
Amoris Laetitia more clearly and for identity and sexuality (YFC) CFC Accompaniment Center. He
provided the direction for CFC to 3. Engaged couples – in preparing presented the how to’s of the ac-
move forward with certainty for them for marriage (SFC, Young companiment process.
the pastoral care of families. CFC) The CFC Accompaniment Cen-
Michael Ariola, CFC President, 4. Those who are in frailty or in ter, whose objective is to provide
gave the second session entitled need of Christ’s presence in accompaniment/to journey with
“To live the truth in love”. He gave suffering - immigrants (SocDev those who are experiencing per-
engaging concrete stories on how Migrants) those in mixed mar- sonal, marital and family dif-
CFC members have responded to riage (CFC), disparity of cult ficulties, was launched. The need
the call of Amoris Laetitia for ac- (CFC) and those who are griev- for volunteer “Companions in
companiment, discernment and ing the Journey”, those who will be
integration. 5. Those in special cases: broken trained and equipped with pas-
Ariola enumerated the fol- marriages (CFC), single-parent toral and spiritual accompani-
lowing groups of people needing families (HOLD, SOLD), sepa- ment skills was stressed. To make
accompaniment and how CFC, rated persons (HOLD, SOLD), the process of accompaniment
its Family Ministries and various victims of abortion, most espe- PASTORAL CARE, C4
Eph 5:14
DURING his entire ministry, Paul was constantly
exhorting the churches to “wake up!” In his let-
ter to the Romans, he said: It is the hour now
for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is
nearer now than when you first believed (Rom
15:11). Then he urged the Thessalonians: Let us
not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and
sober (1 Thes 5:6). He sent the Church in Ephesus
a similar message.
In the final verse of our community’s theme
this year, we find Paul reminding the Ephe-
sians: Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead, and Christ will give
you light” (Eph 5:14). Here Paul seems to be
quoting a passage from Scripture. But from
what passage in the Hebrew Bible is Paul quot-
ing? What is the “it” in the phrase “therefore,
it says”? A search of the Old Testament shows
no verse written exactly as quoted by Paul.
Perhaps Paul may have paraphrased and
compressed into a single verse Isaiah 60:1-2:
Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the
glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, dark-
ness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover
the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and
over you appears his glory (Is 60:1-2).
The passage in Isaiah refers to believers who
still live in righteousness but living a lifestyle
that is no different than unbelievers. Their faith
in God and their righteousness are not visibly
evident. They are not spiritually “dead” but only
spiritually “asleep.”
In a similar manner, in his letter to the Ephe-
sians, Paul refers to “sleeping” Christians who
are still actually alive to God and adhering to
Christian rituals but whose lives do not reflect
the light of Christ. They appear lethargic and
do not radiate the fire of the Spirit in their daily
lives. They are content at merely belonging to
a Christian community that has grown and is
growing rapidly but do not vigorously partici-
pate in proclaiming the Good News to others or
actively put into practice the Beatitudes.
Jonah is an example of a believer who refused
to proclaim God because of personal preference
and intolerant mentality. He refused to call upon
God until he experienced fear, difficulty and
suffering. Called by God to preach in Nineveh,
he instead chose to flee and boarded a ship for
Tarshish. When the ship encountered a violent
storm, everyone prayed, except Jonah. Jonah had
gone down into the hold of the ship and lay there
fast asleep. The captain came to him and said,
“What are you doing asleep? Rise up, call upon
your God! Perhaps God will be mindful of us so
that we may not perish” (Jon 1:5-6).
Still Jonah refused to pray. He was thrown
out of the ship and was swallowed by a big fish.
Only when he started to fear for his life and
suffer inside the fish’s belly did Jonah say his
prayer: Out of my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me; from the midst of the
nether world I cried out for help, and you heard
my voice (Jon 2:3).
We should ask ourselves if we are like Jonah.
Do we choose our service and go on mission only
to places that we like? Do we prefer to serve or
go on mission, even repeatedly, to developed
countries where host communities are generous
and accommodations are comfortable? Do we
conveniently avoid missions to poor countries
where we may have to partially or fully use our
own resources and make do with spartan accom-
modations? Do we ignore prayer until we start
experiencing fear or encountering difficulties
or problems too big for us to handle? If so, then
we may be guilty of “sleeping” like Jonah, self-
assured in our preferences and confident in our
own righteousness.
Samson is another Biblical example of a
man of God who “sleeps”, overly confident in
his God-given strength. Samson was chosen
and anointed by God to deliver the Israelites
from the Philistines by giving him great
physical strength. But he fell for Delilah who
was paid by the Philistines to find out the
source of his strength. After several failed at-
tempts, Delilah finally succeeded and so: She
had him sleep on her lap, and called for a man
who shaved off his seven locks of hair. Then
she began to mistreat him, for his strength
has left him (Jdg 16:19).
There are not a few members of the community
who, during their younger days, were on fire to
serve and evangelize. No assignment was too
difficult, no teaching too boring, no mission too
far or dangerous, and no day or week or month
too crowded not to make time for service. They
thus progressed rapidly from being a member
to becoming a household head, then unit head,
chapter head, cluster head, then sector head or
provincial area head or country coordinator. But
soon they were replaced by younger leaders and
found themselves without any assigned service.
And slowly they drifted away, the fire gradually
diminishing into a small flickering flame, the
light slowly dimming. Their hearts are still in
the right place, they are not “dead” but are in
spiritual slumber. They were once great leaders
but now are lying asleep.
Then there are those who are still young in
years but have started to drift away or fall into
slumber because of unresolved problems of rela-
tionships with other members of the community.
And there are those who fall asleep because they
feel they have been unfairly denied certain posi-
tions of leadership in the community.
Like Samson, we too could be lulled into sleep,
overly confident that we, as a community, have
grown with enough strength in numbers that we
can now relax, feel comfortable and lie asleep
on Delilah’s lap. But here is peril of the deadli-
est kind. Delilah is cunning, always looking for
the means to sap the community’s strength by
leading us to the comfort of her lap and then
gradually extinguishing the fire of the Spirit and
our zeal to evangelize.
But this does not mean that our community
has two types of members, a sleeping member
and an awakened member, but rather there are
times when we can fall asleep and that sleep lasts
far too long. What are these times?
We are likely to sleep when the outward cir-
cumstance of the community is most pleasant.
Like Jonah, we do not call on the Lord until we
encounter difficulties. We are likely to sleep
when all goes well in spiritual matters. There is
no defeat so great as imagining that we are living
lives of constant victory. Like Samson, we become
overconfident of our own strength.
And finally, we are likely to sleep when we
think we are getting near the end of our earthly
journey. To us are addressed the words of Paul,
“Awake, O sleeper, Christ will give you light.”
The members of the International
Council and the Board of Elders,
together with their spouses, had
their quarterly recollection on
March 2, 2019 at the chapel of
the Global Mission Center.
The recollection was given by
Msgr. Allen Aganon who, until
recently, was the spiritual adviser
of CFC and the IC.
As a gesture of thanksgiving
for the almost ten years that
Msgr. Aganon journeyed with
CFC, the IC and the BOE took
turns honoring him, following
the traditional CFC way of paying
tribute.
The group prayed over the
monsignor, wishing him well in
his new assignments.
CBCP Monitor March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5 C3

THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR Philippine Army personnel undergo CEM 2

AS PART of CFC OSM’s (Order of their testimonies during the are Catholics and seven non-
Michael “Shok” Ariola St. Michael) working partnership plenary sharing. Catholics.

Macabuhay with the Office of Army Chief

I ONCE had a teacher whose last
name was Macabuhay. He was
much loved by us boisterous
boys. Our term of endearment
for this soft-spoken teacher
was McLife. Sometimes, to call
his attention, we should stand
in the hallway and shout "Ma-
cabuhay for Life!"
Because of his nurturing
ways, every time the student
council election came around,
every party wanted Mr. Ma-
cabuhay for their adviser. One
party even named their group
"Alyansang Macabuhay". By his
actions and counsel, we were
always led to vote for the right
student council leaders.
I remember him now, as we
approach the May elections, be-
cause we are called to vote into
office those who will be tasked
to lead us. I remember his wise
counsel – “Do not just vote
wisely. Vote right!” Tama nga.
Voting wisely means relying
on our human wisdom. Voting
right means voting according to
what is right in the eyes of God.
God has formed us in CFC
with the following values- Pro
God, Pro Life, Pro Family and
Pro Poor. This is what's writ-
ten in our DNA. This is what
defines us as CFC - that as
formed individuals, we have
consciences that lean always to-
wards the greater good, towards
what is pleasing to God.
VP Leni Hosts ‘Thank You’ Lunch for ANCOP USA
ON February 12, 2019, the Office of the Vice
President hosted an informal luncheon for the
leaders and volunteers of ANCOP USA, as thanks-
Tuloy ang Hanapbuhay with ANCOP USA and Angat Buhay
THE women of Saguiaran,
Marawi City could not con-
tain their joy when they re-
ceived four high-speed sewing
machines from ANCOP USA.
Why? The machines repre-
sented the assurance of a steady
livelihood for them.
ANCOP USA, through a
partnership with Angat Buhay
Foundation, donated the sew-
ing machines for the women of
Marawi. Displaced because of
the siege, the women were orga-
nized by Angat Buhay who gave
them sewing machines so they
14th CCFed Annual General Assembly 2019
THE CFC Cooperatives Federation (CCFed)
gathered for their 14th CCFed Annual General
Assembly last March 3, 2019. The assembly was
held at the second Floor of the CFC Provincial
Mission Center, Misamis Oriental.
Prior to the actual General Assembly, on March
2, the delegations went on the Lakbay Aral 2019.
The delegations visited the three outstanding
cooperatives in Cagayan de Oro -- MASS SPECC
Cooperative Development Center, Northern
Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives and
Del Monte Phil. Inc. Employees and Community
Credit Cooperative. A fellowship dinner capped
the Lakbay Aral 2019.
The General Assembly (GA) proper started
with Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Rico Lap-
inig, from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After the
GA proper, three service providers presented
their products and services: Cooperative Health
Management Federation (HMO provider), For-
tune General Insurance (provider of the online
registration of Compulsory Third Party Liability
Insurance - CTPL) and Infoserve, Inc. (provider
Chaplains Service (OACCS), Fr./
LTC Rex Armenia requested
The Manaoag activity had
44 Army Engineer participants
broken down into 34 men and 10
All the participants agreed
that the CEM was a big help
for them because of the many
OSM to conduct CEM2 for the women. Of the 44 , two are officers insights they learned from the
Proverbs 29: 2 tells us that, We stand for our core 51st Engineering Brigade at and two civilian wives; 41 are talks, the testimonies and their
"when the godly are in au- values and principles Camp Atienza, Libis Quezon City Catholics and 3 are non-Catholics. own sharings.
thority, the people rejoice, but and use those values and on Jan 24, 2019 and at Camp Tito The testimonies during the According to SSG George
when the wicked are in power, principles as a yardstick B Abbat in Manaoag, Pangasinan plenary were touching and Podadera, “I realized that this
they groan". It is certainly our by which each candidate on Feb 6, 2019. inspiring. seminar is so precious because
responsibility as members of is measured. Because OSM had trained SM Maramba said that it teaches us the importance of
CFC to seek the guidance of the We refuse to be im- quite a number of speakers/ “maganda ang programa na ito family, love of God and service.
Lord, and to choose only those pressed by a candidate’s sharers in 2018, there was no sa gaya ko na sundalo, mas lalo I am so thankful to be one of the
who are godly. This is what the rhetoric, speech, pedi- problem saying Yes to the kami magkaroon ng kaalaman participants because family is
Lord wishes us to do. gree, ability to enter- request. on how to love our family, my very important to us soldiers.”
By now, you may have heard tain, good looks. But like any other activity, work as a soldier, how to man- PFC Mark Edison Polintan
much from all those who desire We study each can- there were still some challenges. age our finances and to become shared that “this seminar gives
to serve the Filipino people. Typi- didate’s track record, a successful person”. us a chance to become closer to
cal of politicians, they all point to advocacies, stand on CEM in Manaoag Mrs Shirley Saranillo, a civil- God, to become better soldiers,
the nation’s problems and claim moral issues. What made the Feb 6, 2019 ian wife, enthused that “marami to be a good person and chal-
they have the solution. We listen to God’s CEM2 in Manaoag challeng- ako natutunan sa program na lenges us to know God more.”
When Moses needed lead- voice and not to the noise ing was the fact that OSM had ito gaya naming naguumpisa PFC Rylvette Prado also
ers for Israel, his father-in-law of the throngs. Whatever already scheduled their annual pa lamang sa buhay mag asawa. thanked OSM because “I
Jethro gave him a foolproof color or banner or party planning session for 2019 on Malaking tulong at gabay ito sa learned from this seminar how
solution that still applies to all you are rooting for and the weekend of Feb 2-3, 2019. aming buhay. to be God-fearing, to put God
of us today - "Select out of all supporting, the banner This meant that the team had SSG Michael Suratos said first, and that we can do noth-
the people able men who fear and color of God must to prepare for the talks of the “thank you for reminding us ing if God is not with us. I also
God, men of truth, those who fly above all these. CEM as well as prepare their about God since most of us have learned about the importance
hate dishonest gain.." presentations on their plans no time to go to church because of family.”
Foolproof? Of course! Be- Our CFC core values form our for 2019. of our work.” LTC Eduardo Domingo CE
cause by selecting only those moral compass. This compass Another challenge was the According to CPT Cecilio (GSC) PA, acting Chief of Staff
who fear God, who are truthful, will always lead us to the straight request of the Philippine Air Lucas Jr, Phil Army Action congratulated the participants
who disdain dishonest ways, we and narrow road and will always Force to move their scheduled Transformation Officer, “my for joining this important activity
fulfill our sacred obligation to ensure that we do, not always the CEM 1 in Lipa, Batangas to tasks have become easier be- which reinforces “our commit-
use the ballot for the good of wise thing, but definitely always February 6 instead of on Feb- cause of what you have started ment of building up the inner
all, and not for the interests of the right thing. ruary 21. So there were two in this CEM and the challenge strength of the individual soldier."
the few. This is a tall order. You may scheduled CEMS on the same na isabuhay ang aming natutu- He continued, "With the val-
Using this foolproof solution well ask, If I do all these, baka weekend! But God is good, for nan in spending quality time ue of temperance as the central
means going into a serious hindi naman manalo ang we managed all the three major with our family especially our theme of this CEM, the soldier
period of reflection, of fol- napili ko? Baka wala naman activities. children.” is able to have self control and
lowing our values rather than akong mapili? The Manaoag team started LTC Michael Lemi, Engi- discipline needed to win the
our personal affiliations and The important thing is, after the CEM at 8:00 AM with Holy neering Support Batallion battle from within, his charac-
experiences, of looking at each consulting your conscience, Mass presided by Fr. Rex. The Commander, delivered the ter will be strong, true success
candidate with a more discern- values and principles- SINONG day was full with talks by pow- closing message, stating that and freedom will be achieved
ing eye. It also means: IBOBOTO MO? erful and energized speakers “we learned a lot from the talks both for the individual and for
and sharers as well as the lively and sharing relative to our fam- the organization. He will have
and active participation of the
army personnel during the
ily, work and love of God.” the strength to succeed in all his
endeavors in his life and in the
giving for the various initiatives of ANCOP USA afternoon workshop. CEM in Quezon City military service.”
to support Angat Buhay. The participants expressed The CEM 2 for the 51st He expressed his gratitude
Vice President Leni Robredo came to the lun- their appreciation to the team Engineering Brigade of Camp to the organizers and resource
cheon to personally thank ANCOP USA for the for helping them understand Atienza, Libis, Quezon City speakers of this seminar headed
donation of hospital equipment, nebulizers for the central message of the talks was conducted for 40 army by the Post Acting Chaplain
children with cerebral palsy, and medicines for and sharing. They were all chal- engineer participants, 37 of LTC/Fr Rex and the CFC-OSM
the Angat Buhay communities in Bicol, Cebu lenged to come up with ideas for them men, two women and headed by Col Arturo C Ala-
and Metro Manila. their presentation and to share one civilian wife. Of these 33 banza of PMA Cl’72.
“I am really quite amazed at what you are do-
ing. The only request that I make to our partners PABILLO, C1
is for them to visit our communities,” the Vice “neighbor” meant anyone who was in need. The true. That is not a good path. A good Catholic
President said. She added, “Please know that your third is in our modern times, when it is society meddles in politics, offering the best of himself,
help is going a long, long way as you are helping and the environment that influence the person. so that those who govern can govern.”
make the lives of other people better. What we The CST paradigm consists of three main 2. A commitment to justice - The Synod of Bish-
can offer is our prayers that the Lord would con- activities: see, judge, act. In this model, man ops of 1971 said, “Action in behalf of justice and
tinue to bless you so you can help more people.” uses his senses, assesses according to what is the the social transformation of society is a “consti-
Before VP Robredo left for another engage- Gospel value and the signs of the times, and then tutive” dimension of the preaching of the Good
ment, Tony Ventura, past President for ANCOP takes the appropriate action. A more specific ap- News of Salvation in Jesus Christ.”
USA, led the prayers of blessing for Mrs. Robredo. plication is the Pastoral Spiral of Discernment 3. Imaging the Church as the 'People of God'
(A. Alvarez) - Action developed in the 1980s by two FABC - From a passive role, the faithful must take
Offices—Human Development and Laity. an active role in defining and shaping their
“In any given situation, there must be a corre-
sponding theological reflection, followed by deci-
history in the contemporary world, according
to Vatican II.
sion planning, action, and evaluation,” the bishop 4. Reading the 'signs of the times.' - God speaks in
can continue making traditional difficult to use the ordinary explained. and through human history. Signs both reveal
Muslim garbs for a living. sewing machines for the pro- Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the God’s presence in the world and manifest God’s
Akaba, a social enterprise, duction of the pouches. The Church designs for the world.
hearing of the group’s efforts, fabric was too thick, especially The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of 5. A greater reliance on the Word of God - The
sub-contracted the sewing of around the zipper area.)” the Church intends to present in a complete living word of God, personal experience and
travel pouches. However, the ANCOP USA President Roger and systematic manner, even if by means of an general societal history must be the new basis
demands of production could Santos, together with his wife overview, the Church’s social teachings which is of revelation.
not be met because of the inad- Josie, Rollie Balanza, and Jill the fruit of careful Magisterial reflection and an 6. The primacy of love - Love is at the heart of
equacy of the women’s ordinary Ocampo-Javiniar, Head of An- expression of the Church’s constant commitment the virtue of justice and brings the actions of
sewing machines. gat Buhay, assured the group of in fidelity to the grace of salvation wrought in justice to their fullest potential, meaning, and
One of the women said, “Ma- their continued support. The Christ and in loving concern for humanity’s life. Love is the motivation to act on behalf
hirap pong gamitin yung ordi- women were truly grateful for destiny. (#8) of justice.
nary na makina, kasi makapal the donations, as they are now There are seven paradigm shifts that CST wishes 7. An orientation to pastoral planning and ac-
ang tela ng pouch. Kailangan assured that the products they to happen: tion - Praxis, or the action that comes out of
namin tahiin ng kamay, lalo na will make will be of better qual- 1. An assault on political apathy - Politics is reflection, leads back to reflection. Correct ac-
yung sa may zipper. (It became ity. (A. Alvarez) a vocation aimed at the transformation of tion (“orthopraxis”) completes correct doctrine
society. Bishop Pabillo said, “We cannot be (“orthodoxy”).
good citizens without being good Christians.
A good citizen now is one who is involved, who Major themes of CST
of payment gateway facility using Nationlink participates because our form of government is The Catholic Social Teachings, as a challenge
Network Facilities). The three service providers participative—democratic.” He added, “When for living responsibly and building a just society,
have already signed memorandums of agreement injustice and untruth are involved, not to be holds 10 major themes. They are:
(MOA) with CCFed. involved is to participate in the injustice and 1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person - All
CCFed has 44 member-primaries that are lies. This is the sin of omission. It should not people are sacred, made in the image and
strategically located nationwide. be a question of whether ‘to be involved or not,’ likeness of God. People do not lose dignity
The assembly was also the occasion for the but ‘how to be involved’.” According to Pope because of disability, poverty, age, lack of suc-
election of new members of the CCFed Board Francis, on the statement that ‘A good Catho- cess, or race.
of Directors, mandated committees and lic doesn’t meddle in politics.’ – “That’s not 2. Common Good - The PABILLO, C4
CCFed management. They are as follows:
Chairperson Bing Hizon (Coops Manila),
Vice Chairperson Edwin Chavez (Tekton
Entire Multipurpose Cooperative), and the
following directors: Pito de Castro (Coops
Cebu), Art San Luis (EntreWorkers Coopera-
tive Builders), Zos Tayaban (Coops Laguna),
Joseph Manlapaz (Coops Masbate), Flor Victo-
riano (Coops Misamis), Bong Bautista (Coops
Agusan del Sur), Jorge Asensi (Coops Leyte),
Lydia Bilangbilin (Coops Antique - Election
Committee), Rene Asuga (Coops Iloilo - Audit
Committee) CEO/BOD Secretary Jaycee de la
Cruz (Coops Manila).

Ugnayan
THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST

Michael C. Ariola
IC Oversight
Zenaida A. Gimenez Alma M. Alvarez
Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor
Deomar P. Oliveria Evangeline C. Mecedilla
Layout Artist Circulation Staff
The Ugnayan News Supplement is published by the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc., with editorial offices at 156 20th
Avenue, 1109 Cubao, Quezon City. Editorial trunk line: (+63 2) 709-4868 local 31 Direct line : (+63 2) 709-4856
www.couplesforchristglobal.org cfcglobalcommunications@gmail.com
C4 March 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 5 CBCP Monitor

“Witness the light”

THE 2ND CFC Seniors Program Coor-
dinators Summit held last Feb. 20-21
in Cebu gathered 342 registered par-
ticipants from Metro Manila, Luzon,
Visayas, Mindanao and Oceania.
The Seniors Program, while rela-
tively new, has filled a gap in the
community. The community is now
almost 38 years old and many of the
leaders have grown in maturity and
age over these years. The Seniors
Program seeks to harness the wealth
of wisdom of these leaders and to
ensure that their insights, gained
through experience and struggles can
be shared with the new generation of
CFC members and leaders and with
all the other community programs. As
seasoned missionaries, seniors are very
much needed to make the CFC Vision
Families in the Holy Spirit renewing
the face of the earth a reality.
The participants were treated to
talks from senior leaders Rene Punsa-
lan who spoke about being “Forged by
Fire” and IC member Lito Tayag who
spoke of “Passing the Torch.”
Punsalan, in explaining what forged
by fire means, spoke of the difficul-
ties, misfortunes and struggles that
many experienced but which, rather
than defeating them, have made them
strong, enduring and fortified because
all of them accepted the challenges as
necessary to achieve God’s purpose in
their lives.
Tony and Mila Loria of CFC Albay
shared how tragedy struck their family
and how, through prayers and faith in
God, they learned to forgive, grow deeper
in faith and closer as a family. With this
faith-life experience, they have commit-
ted to inspire other CFC brethren with
their experience - that anyone who has
faith can rise above the storm, and that
for every cloud, there is always a silver
lining that will serve as our hope.
Ed and Inday Yorong from CFC
Zamboanga del Sur shared how they
overcame illness and physical chal-
lenges through the prayers and sup-
port of community. Ed suffered a
stroke which affected his speech and
mobility. However, this and other
health concerns did not hinder the
couple from attending household
meetings, assemblies and other CFC
activities. Despite being senior citizens
with Ed as a PWD, they continue to
serve as Sector Head in the province.
Lito Tayag, in his talk, explained that
“passing the torch” is about passing on
the culture of CFC, identify and mission
to the “Timothys” or the younger mem-
bers of the community. He presented to
the participants the opportunities for
growth and service for senior members,
even after they have passed on the torch
of service to other leaders.
In a “Passing the Torch’ ceremony,
the senior leaders passed on the torch of
service to the new generation of leaders
who will carry this passion to light up
the world with the light of Christ. The
seniors did this willingly, confident
that the community’s mission of evan-
gelization is in good hands.
Arnel Sacris, Visayas Mission Head,
representing the “Timothys,“ accepted
the symbolic torch from Lito Tayag.
He responded with these words “We,
the next generation of CFC, are deeply
honored to be called by the Lord to
continue the tasks that have been en-
trusted to you, the tasks of evangeliza-
tion, renewing and transformation of
lives. And so with all humility in our
hearts and with much passion and zeal
with our feet firmly grounded, we say
a resounding Yes to the Lord to take
up the challenge. We will continue to
be sensitive to your needs, Titos and
Titas, your spiritual needs. We will
continue to honor you all the days
of our lives because you have been
our mentors. You have nurtured and
guided us on how to serve with love.
This beautiful and vibrant commu-
nity, Couples for Christ, is your legacy
to us and to our future leaders. And so
we humbly ask you to continue to jour-
ney with us, to continue to share your
wisdom, knowledge and experiences.”
Bishop Dennis Villarojo, Auxiliary
Bishop of Cebu, was the main Mass
presider on Feb. 20. He told the at-
tendees: “As Seniors you are just not
receivers. You continue to be givers. “
The venue was filled with hearts and
balloons as the Seniors celebrated a “Post
Valentine’s Fellowship” in the evening
of Feb. 20. Five couples from different
areas were adjudged as “Sweetest Couple”
Msgr. Rommel Kintanar, CFC Cebu
Spiritual Director, celebrated the Mass on
Feb. 21. He asked the attendees “To take
to heart, not just take to mind, whatever
you hear and see. It is time to give back.”
The summit ended with the an-
nouncement that Misamis Oriental
will be the venue for the 2020 Seniors
Couples Coordinators Summit. The
CFC leaders from Cagayan de Oro,
Misamis Oriental gladly accepted the
role as host for the 2020 Summit.

PABILLO, C3
human person is both sacred and social. We
realize our dignity and rights in relationship
with others, in community. “We are one body;
when one suffers, we all suffer.” We are called
to respect all of God’s gifts of creation, to be
good stewards of the earth and each other.
3. Rights and Responsibilities - People have a
fundamental right to life, food, shelter, health
care, education and employment. All people
have a right to participate in decisions that af-
fect their lives. Corresponding to these rights
are duties and responsibilities to respect the
rights of others in the wider society.
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable - The
moral test of a society is how it treats its most
vulnerable members. The poor have the most
urgent moral claim on the conscience of the
nation. We are called to look at public policy
decisions, processes and social systems in terms
of how they affect the least, the last and the lost.
5. Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers -
People have a right to decent and productive
work, fair wages, private property and eco-
nomic initiative. The economy exists to serve
people, not the other way around. There must
be a primacy of labor over capital.
6. Solidarity - This means we are one human
family. Our responsibilities to each other cross
national, racial, economic and ideological dif-
ferences. We are called to work globally for
justice and peace.
7. Care for God’s creation - The goods of the earth
are gifts from God. We have a responsibility to
care for these goods as stewards and trustees,
not as mere consumers and users. (Principle
of Stewardship)
8. Principle of Subsidiarity - “The principle of
subsidiarity protects the people from abuses
by higher level social authorities and calls on
these same authorities to help individuals and
intermediate groups to fulfill their duties. This
principle is imperative because every person,
family and intermediate group has something
original to offer to the community…the prin-
ciple of subsidiarity is opposed to certain forms
of centralization and welfare assistance and to
the unjustified and excessive presence of the
State in public mechanism.”(#187)
9. Call to Family, Community and Participation
- The family is the central social institution
that must be supported and strengthened, not
undermined. While our society often exalts
individualism, the Catholic tradition teaches
that human beings grow and achieve fulfill-
ment in community.
10. Universal Destination of the Earth’s Goods
- The misuse of the world’s resources or appro-
priation of them by a minority of the world’s
population betrays the gift of creation since
‘what belongs to God belongs to all.’
Truth, freedom, justice and love
Bishop Pabillo said, “There are four fundamen-
tal virtues in human societies—truth, freedom,
CFC 2019 Schedule of Events
CFC Servants of the Lord (SOLD)
MAR 29-31 CFC International Catholic Men`s
Conference 2019
justice and love. All of these are to be done in
love. Love gives fullness to each value.”
Spe Salvi (Saved in Hope), an encyclical
written by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI says,
“Love of God leads to participation in the
justice and generosity of God towards oth-
ers. Loving God requires an interior freedom
from all possessions and all material goods:
the love of God is revealed in responsibility
for others.” (#28)
In Caritas in veritate, his last encyclical, Pope
Benedict says, “Evangelization would not be com-
plete if it did not take account of the unceasing
interplay of the Gospel and of man’s concrete life,
both personal and social… Testimony to Christ’s
charity, through works of justice, peace and de-
velopment, is part and parcel of evangelization,
because Jesus Christ, who loves us, is concerned
with the whole person.” (#15)
These emphasize how the faithful must re-
spond to the call for all baptized. They are not
just lofty ideals, but are practical guides. Bishop
Pabillo laid down six ways towards man’s greater
social involvement.
Way 1: Regularly join in social action activities.
Way 2: Exposure to advocates, victims, situation
is crucial.
Way 3: Join in social concerns that are within
one’s capabilities.
Way 4: Integrate one’s faith with his or her ex-
perience and with one’s analysis of social
situations.
Way 5: Social action involvement means “doing
with” rather than “doing for”.
Way 6: Social action involves works of mercy,
works of development and works of justice.
Bishop Pabillo emphasized, “It is to all Chris-
tians that we address a fresh and insistent call
to action. Every person must be self-reflective
and honestly examine oneself, to see what he
or she has done up to now, and what he or she
ought to do.”
Quoting scripture, Bishop Pabillo reminded,
““Whatever you do to the least of your brothers,
you do unto me.” (Matthew 25:45)
He also underlined the relation between the
Eucharist and the faithful’s concern for others.
Quoting St. Pope John Paul II’s Letter on the Year
of the Eucharist in 2003, he said, “Let us not
delude ourselves. We will be recognized as true
followers of Christ by our mutual love and our
concern for those in need. This will be the crite-
rion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic
celebrations is judged.”
During the last day of the lecture, STMA
head Nolet Ladrido suggested another run of
the series for those who were not able to at-
tend, as well as for CFC serving in the Social
Development Programs. He also expressed a
desire to propose to the International Council
for the lecture series be given to all CFC lead-
ers. (Alma M. Alvarez)
MAY 17-19 CFC Kids for Christ Family
Conference (Southern Luzon)
Plenty of Love to Go Around on V-Day
HOW do doctors and nurses nurses and doctors were ready Sagonsongan.
spend Valentine’s Day? Normally to receive patients. Most of ANCOP USA also visited a
they don’t have the time. As a them complained of respira- women’s group in Saguiaran,
general rule, medical personnel tory illnesses (cough and colds, Marawi City and donated four
spend the day of love on duty, especially in children), and high high-speed sewing machines
with patients who need medical blood sugar among the adults. which they will use to sew
attention. The team also administered women’s traditional Muslim
It was no different for 42 doc- treatment for skin diseases. garments. The machines were
tors, nurses and volunteers, who Dental services were also avail- warmly welcomed because the
spent Valentine’s Day giving able. The Department of Health group had been sub-contracted
love to around 1,500 patients also took the opportunity to to sew travel pouches for Akaba,
in Marawi City. The medical administer vaccines to infants, a social enterprise which sup-
and dental mission was a joint children and senior citizens. ports local craftsmanship.
effort of ANCOP USA, the local At the end of the day, the vol- In the afternoon, the missionar-
government unit, Angat Buhay unteers were given the opportu- ies also went to two evacuation
Program of the Office of the Vice nity to enter the war-damaged camps—Sarimanok 1 & 2, and
President (OVP), and the Depart- area of Marawi. It was a moving Bahay Pag-asa—to turn over sacks
ment of Health - ARMM. experience for the volunteers as of rice, clothes for children, and
The volunteers from ANCOP it gave them a glimpse of the vitamins and medicines to the
USA spent February 14 and 15 sufferings of those who had families.
treating patients at the covered to flee their homes during the For five months, from May
court in Sagonsongan, a baran- conflict. to October of 2017, Marawi
gay just outside the arch going Day 2 began with an early City was under siege, displac-
into the Islamic City of Marawi. morning blessing from the Prel- ing 77,000 families, as terror-
Sagonsongan is also the site ate of Marawi, Bishop Edwin de la ists blockaded the city, burned
where around 200 families live Peña. The bishop thanked ANCOP and destroyed places of wor-
in transitory shelters. USA for the initiative of doing this ship, and wrecked business and
The mission, which took about act of love to fellow Filipinos. residential districts. Almost
a year to prepare, was organized It was another day of giving. two years later, most of the dis-
by ANCOP USA. During the year ANCOP USA gave relief goods placed families still live in tent
of preparation, the group was to families in evacuation sites. cities and transitory shelters.
able to gather medical volunteers Roger Santos, ANCOP USA The future may look bleak for
and procure $250,000 worth of President, and Jill Ocampo- these families but groups like AN-
medicines, medical equipment, Javiniar, Head of Angat Buhay, COP USA somehow send the mes-
and relief goods. turned over sacks of rice and sage that there is plenty of love to go
As early as 8:00 AM on Febru- hygiene kits to Angat Buhay around. (Alma M. Alvarez)
ary 14, the ANCOP and DOH partner Xavier University in
PASTORAL CARE, C2
real, two demonstra- well judging by their To address this need, that He is a revealing
tions were presented to reactions to the situa- the CFC Institute will God and that His word
the body. tions presented in the be offering the courses is not just informative
The first demonstra- demonstration. to companions in the but transformative.
tion was on Pastoral
Accompaniment using
The second demon-
stration was a spiritual
journey as well as to CFC
area leaders who may
God’s Word is powerful
and things came to be
counseling principles. direction handled by Fr. be interested to join the because God spoke. We
The session was han- Firmo “JunG” Bergayo, trainings. are tasked to read the
dled by Lydia Villa-
crusis, counselor of the
SJ, a former YFC full
time pastoral worker.
The day ended with
Holy Mass presided by
bible, meditate on the
word of God, talk to the
CFC Accompaniment He directed Rene Pun- Bp Broderick Pabillo, Lord and take His word
Center, and Ed Calig- salan, who shared the Auxiliary Bishop of seriously.
ner, another counselor difficulty he faced after Manila and spiritual His parting words

APR 5-7 Youth for Christ 26th YFC

International Conference (ICON)
17-19 CFC Kids for Christ Family
Conference (Northern Luzon) who will also be join-
ing the center. The first
losing his wife, yet re-
tained his faith despite
director of CFC. His
homily centered on
connected very well to
the challenge of Amo-
part was the individual the many difficulties the importance of the ris Laetitia. He said
accompaniment, while and disappointments. WORD. He reminded that by means of our
the second part of the Fr JunG explained the everyone to beware ears and lips, our mind
26-28 CFC Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) demonstration was difference between of how words are be- and our mouths, words
International Conference
JUN 22 CFC 38th Anniversary Celebration the accompaniment
of a married couple.
They showed the right
spiritual direction and
counseling after the ses-
sion. He stressed that
ing used now and how
people are losing trust
in the word because
take on flesh. We give
concreteness to the
Word of God.
26-28 CFC Kids for Christ
Family Conference (Visayas)
way to facilitate the
session with the indi-
spiritual direction mir-
rors the directee’s state
of fake news, political
campaigns that have
The day ended with
the call to take action,
vidual and the couple. of relationship with God no meaning, and use of to respond,not just in
The demonstration and is very important in words that are intended word but in deed, to the
26-28 CFC Kids for Christ
Family Conference (Mindanao)
was very well received
by the audience who
spiritual discernment.
The need for training
to hurt.
He reminded CFC
call to love, the call to
Accompany, Discern
seemed to relate very was very clearly stated. that God is not silent, and Integrate.