A3 Monitor
CBCP
Vol. 11 No. 10Secrets Fully
Fatima
Disclosed, Cardinal
May 14 - 27, 2007
Bertone Insists
Elections Marked by
Incompetence?
DESPITE claims of remarkable preparation of
voters lists and its timely distribution to the
Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Vot-
ing prior to the May 14 midterm polls, why
has voters complained of the same problems
such as disenfranchisement among others?
This is in addition to reports of vote-buy-
ing, violence, intimidation and outright fraud
in various parts of the archipelago.
Both Comelec and PPCRV officials could not
explain why the lists in voting centers and
Elections / A6
Paulines to Hold
Forum on World
Communications Day
THE Daughters of St. Paul (Paulines) is
organizing a symposium to celebrate the
41st World Day of Communications on
May 20, 2007, with the theme, Children
and the Media: A Challenge for Education.
The forum will be held at Paulines Com-
munications Center, 2655 Harrison St.,
Pasay City, at 1:00-5:00 pm
In this year’s theme of World Day of
Communications the Holy Father em-
phasized the importance of forming both
children as consumers and media as pro-
ducers.
Benedict VXI stressed the primary role
of parents in educating their children in
using media prudently, in the same
manner that schools and parishes are en-
couraged to assist parents in forming
their children in the critical use of me-
dia.
Indeed, the media have great respon-
sibilities “as an industry in the forma-
tion of the cultural, moral and spiritual
development of children and at the same
time educating children to be discrimi-
nating in the use of media with the guid-
ance of parents, Church and school.”
The forum will feature as guest speak-
ers, media practitioners from radio and
television, as well educators from the
academe, who will share their expertise
on how they could help in the formation
of the children’s values through their
creative work.
Paulines / A6
Priest from Lipa Dies
at Collegio Filippino
REV. Amando G. Carandang, (Andy) 38,
of the Archdiocese of Lipa died of a mas-
sive chest pain while playing basketball
with friend priests at the Pontificio
Collegio Filippino, Rome, on Saturday, 12
May 2007, at about 6:00 p.m.
While playing, Fr. Andy suddenly
clutched his chest, fell and became uncon-
scious. An ambulance was immediately
summoned. However, the paramedics
could not revive him. He was brought by
the paramedics to the nearest emergency
facility, San Carlo General Hospital,
Rome. He was pronounced dead on ar-
rival by the attending physicians.
Fr. Andy was accompanied to the hos-
pital by Msgr. Ruben Dimaculangan and
Fr. Nemer Chua of Lipa, Fr. Edwin
Fontanilla of San Fernando, La Unión;
Vice-Rector of Collegio Filippino Fr.
Enrico Emmanuel Ayo and Spiritual Di-
rector of Collegio Filippino Fr. Reynaldo
Adalid, OP who administered the last sac-
rament.
Fr. Andy was a resident at the Mater
Christi, Collegio Sacerdotale Tiberino,
Viale Vaticano 51A, 00165 Rome. The
residence’s Rector, Msgr. Miguel Delgado,
and the Vice-rector, Fr. Antonio
Rodriguez de Rivera, immediately went
to the hospital upon being promptly in-
formed of the situation.
Collegio Filippino Vice-Rector Fr.
Enrico Ayo contacted the Archbishop of
Fr. Andy, His Excellency Most Reverend
Ramon C. Arguelles, and sought his im-
mediate instructions. The Archbishop
took the responsibility of informing Fr.
Andy’s family.
Priest / A6
• A7
European Bishops
Acknowledge Uphill Road to
Re-Christianize Europe
www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace
May 14 - 27, 2007
Midterm Polls: A
Question of Integrity
WATCHFUL EYES. American Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney toured several voting centers in Metro Manila during last Monday's
midterm polls. CBCP Monitor caught her observing proceedings at Manila High School as PPCRV volunteers pored over the voter's list.
PPCRV Volunteers Lauded
PPCRV Chairperson and former Philippine Am-
bassador to the Vatican Henrietta T. De Villa
praised thousands of volunteers from various
parishes who manned the polls last Monday un-
til the delivery of election paraphernalia to their
respective municipal, city and provincial can-
vassing centers.
“We were not really worried about our pro-
jected volunteers as nearly 500,000 concerned and
committed Filipinos from all walks of life showed
up and manned more than 300,000 precincts na-
tionwide,” De Villa said in a press briefing at
Church Group Attacks Big Brother
A CHURCH advocacy group has
staged fresh attack to Channel 2’s Big
Brother program for its “offensive con-
tent”.
Pro-Life Philippines, a non-profit
group who are concerned about issues
pertaining to the inherent value and
dignity of human life, expressed con-
cern about the effect the program is
having especially those watching
them.
In a letter to ABS-CBN President
Eugenio Lopez III, the group reiterated
its objection to the airing of “Pinoy Big
Brother” (PBB).
“It is in fact, the very nature and for-
mat of the show that is indecent, with
the offensive content being a logical
offshoot of it,” the Pro-Life said.
PBB, a franchise of an international
B5 B6
Vatican Address to United
Nations on Population
A New Springtime in the
Church?
A1
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
CBCP Urges Vigilance on
Canvassing
WITH conflicting reports about fraud and
other criminal acts, the Catholic Bishops Con-
ference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the
people to remain vigilant in guarding their
votes.
“It is not enough for people to vote for they
ought to exert efforts to make sure their votes
are counted correctly,” CBCP Media Director
Msgr. Pedro Quitorio said in a radio program.
He added elections are far from over as pro-
Vol. 11 No. 10 Php 20.00 vincial canvassing in various parts of the coun-
CBCP / A6
By Melo M. Acuna
WITH the country’s midterm
polls over, almost everyone ea-
gerly awaits the proclamation of
winning candidates from town,
city mayors and provincial gov-
ernors and council members and
their respective congressmen and
senators.
There were over 87,000 candi-
dates for more than 17,000 posi-
tions. However, reports of vot-
ers’ disenfranchisement, vote-
buying, intimidation and outright
coercion continue to reach media
outlets, including Catholic-run
radio stations Veritas 846, the
Catholic Media Network and the
CBCP Monitor.
In an election where voters
write down their choices for ev-
ery position, name recognition
has always been crucial. Even in-
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
ternational agencies noted the
continued existence of political
dynasties in almost every region
in the country.
Described as relatively peace-
ful by police and military authori-
ties, the May 14 midterm elections
claimed 111 lives and injured 126
others. There were 130 harass-
Midterm / A6
Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila Wednes- was “to find out how one can help” the country
day afternoon. and its citizens.
She added “we will not achieve credible and “What they got was hands-on training and les-
effective elections by merely sitting (down) and sons on how to assist voters,” she further said.
doing nothing.” She added the warm response to calls for vol-
Asked if she was satisfied with the response unteers is “a manifestation that the spirit of
they got from the citizenry, De Villa said they volunteerism is still very strong.”
were “overwhelmed” and described volunteers Asked to describe the PPCRV experience, De
aged 18 to 82. Villa said “volunteer efforts make a huge differ-
Quoting PPCRV volunteers, De Villa said most ence.” The sincerity and dedication manifested
of them wanted to know how the (electoral) pro- by PPCRV volunteers is worth emulation as
cess works. She said the usual answer they got “there’s real energy in people who volunteer.”
Foreign Observers
“Shocked, Dismayed”
television reality Big Brother (Pinoy
being a colloquial term for Filipino)
was put on the air in August 2005 by
ABS-CBN. TODAY, most of the 26 for- The group is composed of
The first series started its primetime eign observers will face the parliamentarians, lawyers,
episode on August 22, 2005, with the media to report what they church leaders and members
finale being held on December 10, gathered during the recent of the academe and media,
2005. The second series began its run midterm elections. The have artists, civil libertarians,
on February 25, 2007, and is scheduled witnessed and documented processionals, students and
to run for 126 days. events in Guimba, Nueva human rights advocates.
It is shown in ABS-CBN Channel 2 Ecija, San Fernando, The monitors have come
and its international affiliate, The Fili- Pampanga, in Catanauan from Canada, the United
pino Channel. Snippets are shown on town and Lucena City in States, Japan, Myanmar, Ko-
local affiliate Studio 23. The uncut 24/ Quezon, in Castilla, rea, Malaysia, Australia, Nor-
7 version of the series can be seen on Sorsogon, in Tuburan, way, Belgium, Scotland and
the internet and a special cable chan- Aloginsan and Asturias Germany. They have touched
nel provided by ABS-CBN-owned towns in Cebu, Compostela base with groups like Kontra
cable TV provider, SkyCable. Valley, in Marawi City and Daya, PPCRV, Teachers’
PBB follows the same format as its Makati and Tondo in Manila.
Foreign / A7
Church / A6

A2
Vatican Spokesman Summarizes Brazil Says
Pope Combined Spirituality and Modern Times
VATICAN CITY, May 14,
2007—Benedict XVI’s message
to the general conference of the
episcopate of Latin America
and the Caribbean combined a
spiritual message with the re-
alities of modern times, says the
Vatican spokesman.
Jesuit Father Federico
Lombardi, director of the
Vatican press office, com-
mented on the message the
Pope delivered Sunday to open
the 5th General Conference of
the Episcopate of Latin America
and the Caribbean.
“The Pope’s speech began
with the proclamation of God,
who is love, and went on to talk
about the life of the Church in
which this proclamation is car-
ried out, cultivated and
Bishops Condemn Karachi Violence, Express Nearness with Victims
KARACHI, Pakistan, May 14,
2007—The bishops of Pakistan
have “strongly condemned the
breakdown of peace and vio-
lations of law and order” that
have come about thanks to “at-
tacks on press freedom.”
This was the reaction, given
to AsiaNews, of the chairman of
the Pakistan Catholic Bishops
Conference, Msgr. Lawrence J.
Saldanha, to ongoing clashes in
the capital that have claimed
the lives of at least 40 people.
The violence was sparked by
the violent repression by police
of supporters of the Chief Jus-
tice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, who
was suspended from his post
on government orders due to
false corruption charges.
The Archbishop, who is also
chairman of the national Jus-
tice and Peace Commission,
Benedict XVI Rebukes Drug Dealers Praises Work of Rehabilitation Center
GUARATINGUETA, Brazil,
May 13, 2007—Benedict XVI
put the drug traffickers of the
world on notice and asked
young people to open their
hearts to Christ’s message.
The Pope said this on Satur-
day morning when he visited a
“Fazenda da Esperança” (Farm
of Hope) in Guaratingueta, a re-
habilitation center for young
people with drug addictions.
The center is located 30 kilome-
ters (18 miles) from the shrine
of Aparecida.
The Pontiff said that “Brazil’s
statistics concerning drug
abuse and other forms of
chemical dependency are very
high,” and noted that this is also
“true of Latin America in gen-
eral.”
“I therefore urge the drug
dealers to reflect on the grave
harm they are inflicting on
countless young people and on
adults from every level of soci-
ety: God will call you to ac-
Christians Threatened: Convert to
Islam or Die
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May
11, 2007 Islamabad—Convert to
Islam within 10 days and shut
down all the country’s
churches: the ultimatum was
delivered in a threatening let-
ter that Muslim fundamental-
ists sent to Christian communi-
ties in Charsadda and Mardan,
in northern Pakistan. If their
orders are not obeyed, “all
Christians will be executed”.
The letter was sent on 7 May
to local churches, who immedi-
ately took it to the police. Feroz
Shah, district inspector of
Charsadda, said he had inves-
tigated the matter. For him, it’s
a “joke”, and so “there is no
need to make any arrests”
Christians, he added, “are safe
and well protected” in the area.
Msgr. Anthony Lobo, bishop
of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, does
not share the inspector’s view.
He told AsiaNews: “This letter
spread,” Father Lombardi said
on Vatican Radio.
“The Pope’s speech, how-
ever, was not simply spiritual-
istic, cut off from the reality of
the surrounding world,” the
Vatican spokesman added. “It
was a response to those who
asked him how the Church
would respond to the chal-
lenges that come from the great
injustices and imbalances of
this continent—challenges that
were dealt with in the past, and
that are still around today,
sometimes based on different
ideologies—on one hand mate-
rialistic liberalism and on the
other Marxism.”
Father Lombardi continued:
“The Pope responded with a
balanced and profound dis-
said: “All this really gives a
very bad image of our country.
The government should inves-
tigate these incidents properly
and punish those responsible
for the bloodshed”.
The bishops “share the grief
of the families of the victims
and are close to those who
were injured. Violence is never
an answer: we demand a
peaceful solution to this grow-
ing crisis and that the executive
acts justly with all parties in-
volved.”
Meanwhile, there is no let-
up in violence in the country:
Syed Hamid Raza, general
chancellor of the Supreme
Court, was killed by armed
men who broke into his home
this morning on the outskirts
of Islamabad. A police spokes-
man said the murder “could
count for your deeds,” the Holy
Father said.
Benedict XVI emphasized
that human dignity “cannot be
trampled upon in this way. The
harm done will receive the
same censure that Jesus re-
served for those who gave scan-
dal to the ‘little ones,’ the favor-
ites of God.”
The Pope wished “pax et
bonum” (peace and good)—a
traditional Franciscan greet-
ing—to all those undergoing
treatment, as well as to “those
who have been cured, volun-
teers, families, those who have
already been through the pro-
gram and benefactors.”
The light
The Holy Father continued:
“The Church of today needs a
renewed awareness of its task
to draw the world’s attention to
the voice of him who says, ‘I am
the light of the world; he who
follows me will not walk in
is not a joke, but a threat that
needs to be taken seriously. It
has left the Christian commu-
nity of Pakistan very fright-
ened. We have already ap-
pealed to higher powers in the
country to ask for help and we
will continue to do so.”
The bishop said it was impor-
tant “to understand that even
jokes, if aimed at minorities,
could become reality. Even if
this letter is the work of an iso-
lated madman, it’s possible that
he may commit some atrocity
against Christians.”
The bishop added: “Now we
must pray, but we cannot stop
at that. We have already pro-
tested against this situation of
fear and uncertainty and we
will continue to do so. In the
meantime, I appeal to the world
to help us in this dangerous
struggle against fundamental-
ism.” (AsiaNews)
World News
course distinguishing the
Church’s task of proclaiming
God’s word from the strictly
political task, making clear the
Church’s role in teaching val-
ues, giving a religious view of
the person and the reality that
is essential—so that it will not
be seen in reductive terms, as
something merely material.
“And therefore one should
not search for solutions that are
partial at best, that result in
negative consequences.
“The values of love and jus-
tice that we receive from the
Gospel and the Church’s
preaching help those who are
building social, economic and
political structures to find an
ever greater justice, to find so-
lutions that are rational and
have been the outcome of a
robbery attempt.”
The All Pakistan Minorities
Alliance (APMA) chairman,
Shahbaz Bhatti, said: “The vio-
lence committed against oppo-
sition parties’ workers, jour-
nalists and lawyers is a bar-
baric act of terrorism. The gov-
ernment is deliberately stirring
up violence against those who
may be its political oppo-
nents.”
General Musharraf, presi-
dent, “is riding this wave to
depict possible opponents as
being violent, but this opera-
tion will not end well. Violence
will not stop the struggle for
independence of the judiciary,
and for the return of democ-
racy and freedom of expres-
sion.” (Qaiser Felix /
AsiaNews)
darkness, but will have the light
of life.
“It is the Pope’s mission to
renew in the hearts of people
everywhere that light which
does not grow dim, because it
seeks to illumine the depths of
every soul that seeks the true
good and peace that the world
cannot give.”
“All that this light needs is a
heart open to the desire for
God,” Benedict XVI said. “God
does not force us, he does not
oppress our individual free-
dom; he simply asks for open-
ness in the inner sanctum of our
conscience, through which pass
all our noblest aspirations, as
well as the affections and dis-
ordered passions which tend to
obscure the message of the Al-
mighty.”
The Holy Father added,
“Jesus comes and gently knocks
at the hearts of those properly
disposed.” He said that the
Lord does this “through a
Pope Clarified Priorities, Says Expert
Encouraged Prelates to Proclaim Christ
VATICAN CITY, May 14, 2007—
Benedict XVI told Latin Ameri-
can bishops that their priority is
proclaiming Christ, says the di-
rector of a think tank that focuses
on the Church’s social doctrine.
Stefano Fontana, director of
the International Observatory
Cardinal Van Thuân for the So-
cial Doctrine of the Church,
spoke with ZENIT about the
Pope’s address at the inaugura-
tion of the 5th General Confer-
ence of the Episcopate of Latin
America and the Caribbean, be-
ing held through May 31 in Bra-
zil.
Fontana, who is also a mem-
ber of the Pontifical Council for
Justice and Peace, said that the
Holy Father asked the Church in
Latin America to avoid preoccu-
pying themselves principally
with unjust structures or pre-
Columbian cultures and to make
their first priority the proclama-
tion of truth and love.
“Benedict XVI inaugurated the
fifth assembly of Latin American
bishops in Aparecida, Brazil,
with a surprisingly short but in-
cisive discourse to establish the
route to be taken, instead of en-
tering into particulars,” he
added.
According to Fontana,
“Benedict XVI established the
primary task for the Church in
Latin America as being the proc-
lamation of Christ.”
He added that the Holy
Father’s focus was not on unjust
political structures, indigenous
cultures, popular religions or
upright, that are aware of the
entire human person.”
The Vatican spokesman
quoted the Holy Father in say-
ing that “the Church is not di-
rectly involved in politics, but
is an advocate of justice and of
the poor.”
Father Lombardi also under-
lined the Pope’s observation of
the need for lay Catholics in
politics in Latin America: “The
characterizing task of the laity
is that of transforming the
world, making it more just,
more human, making it better
able to respond to the needs of
a respectful coexistence for ev-
eryone, in harmony and with
justice for all members of soci-
ety.” (Zenit.org)
friend or a priest, or, who
knows, perhaps he arranged a
series of coincidences which
enabled you to realize that you
are loved by God.”
God’s love
The Pope said to the staff of
the “Fazendas da Esperança”
that “the conversions, the redis-
covery of God and active par-
ticipation in the life of the
Church ... confirm the impor-
tance of your work.”
“It is not enough to care for
the body, we must adorn the
soul with the most precious di-
vine gifts acquired through
baptism,” he added.
At the end of his address the
Pontiff mentioned of “many
other institutions throughout
the world which work to re-
build and renew the lives of
these brothers and sisters of
ours present in our midst,
whom God loves with a pref-
erential love.” (Zenit.org)
Christians’ experiences in the
work place.
Instead, Fontana said, the Pope
emphasized “the proclamation
of God as revealed in Christ as
truth and love.”
“The Pope insisted on Christ
being the way,” Fontana said,
“the way that permitted the pre-
Columbian cultures to be puri-
fied and freed from alienation,
the way to give to the Latin
American people their cultural
identity, because the Word of
God is also in history and cul-
ture, the way to know reality.”
“Christ, according to Benedict
XVI, is able to be known in the
Church, in the Word of God that
she proclaims and in the teach-
ings of the Church,” Fontana
continued. “The theological
place to know God and his
project for man, therefore, is not
in the sociological data of the
Church in Latin America, but the
apostolic faith transmitted by the
Church.
“Only by belonging to the
Church, being educated by
catechesis and nourished by the
Eucharist can Catholics be able
to work for authentic promotion
of the human person.
“It is very important that the
Holy Father mentioned the
Compendium of the Catechism
of the Catholic Church and The
Compendium of the Social Doc-
trine of the Church, inviting a
real ‘social catechesis and ad-
equate formation in the social
doctrine of the Church.’”
(Zenit.org)
Women Arrested for Protesting
Against Muslim Extremism
LAHORE, Pakistan, May 15,
2007—Pakistani police yester-
day arrested 24 activists of the
Women’s Action Forum who
were protesting peacefully
against the “talebanisation” of
the country undertaken by the
students of Jamia Hafsa, the
“red madrassa” of Lahore.
This was confirmed by the
leaders of the group, which re-
leased a statement yesterday
evening to condemn what had
happened and to call on the
government to “explain this
gross violation of the human
rights of its citizens”.
The statement said the activ-
ists “were protesting against
the extremism preached by the
imams of the Lal Masjid
Mosque and put into practice
by the Jamia Hafsa madrassa.
The manifestation was a peace-
ful one but the police inter-
vened as if they were dealing
with terrorists.”
The group said “it is the soft
stand taken by the government
with regard to extremists that
is creating enormous harm: we
are talking about attacks on uni-
Family Day Rally in Rome Dwarfs
Expectations
ROME, May 14, 2007—Hun-
dreds of thousands of Italians
massed in Rome for a Family
Day rally on May 12, demon-
strating popular opposition to a
government proposal that
would offer legal recognition to
same-sex civil unions.
Although organizers stressed
that the day’s rally was intended
as an expression of support for
the family, rather than a demon-
stration about any particular
piece of legislation, the enor-
mous crowd was seen—by poli-
ticians, the media, and the par-
ticipants themselves—as a clear
statement against the civil-union
plan.
Estimates of the crowd’s size
varied radically, from 200,000 to
1.7 million. The huge discrep-
ancy in estimates could be attrib-
uted in part to the biases of dif-
ferent reporters. But accurate
calculations were impossible,
since the crowd jammed the pi-
azza in front of the basilica of St.
John Lateran and spilled over
onto the surrounding streets.
There was no doubt, however,
that the crowd size vastly ex-
ceeded the organizers’ predic-
tions that 100,000 people would
attend.
Hundreds of Thousands Celebrate
90th Anniversary of Fatima
Apparitions in Portugal
FATIMA, Portugal, May 14,
2007—In the presence of hun-
dreds of thousands of faithful at
the Shrine of Our Lady of
Fatima, the former Vatican Sec-
retary of State, Cardinal Angelo
Sodano, the Pope’s special en-
voy to the event, presided at the
Mass celebrating the 90th anni-
versary of the apparitions of the
Virgin Mary, which began on
May 13, 1917.
In recalling the apparitions to
Lucia dos Santos and Francisco
and Jacinta Marto, Cardinal
Sodano emphasized, “Fatima
triumphed over the incredulity
of the world, the opposition of
the authorities and the reserva-
tions of the Church. The be-
loved Cardinal Cerejeira, Patri-
arch of Lisbon, rightly states, ‘It
was not the Church that im-
posed Fatima, but rather Fatima
that imposed on the Church.”
During his homily Cardinal
Sodano reminisced about the
visits of Paul VI and John Paul
II to the famous shrine. Paul VI’s
visit took place some forty years
ago, while John Paul II visited
Fatima in 1982, 1991, and 2000,
and he beatified Jacinta and
Francisco, the two visionaries
who died at a young age.
Cardinal Sodano emphasized
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14 - 27, 2007
versity students and liberal pro-
fessors at the Quaid-e-Azam
University, and calls to throw
acid on the faces of women who
do not wear veils.”
To date, added the group,
“the government has failed to
guarantee the rights of its citi-
zens. It is shameful that Paki-
stani law and police pay no
heed to basic human rights,
like the right to peaceful pro-
test or to reject the
talebanisation of our society.”
The Jamia Hafsa madrassa
became notorious after some of
its students raided an alleged
house of ill repute in
Islamabad, abducted its
owner, her sister and young
nice, and forced the closure of
the building.
A few days later, the
madrassa’s director, Maulana
Abdul Aziz, asked the govern-
ment to “enforce Sharia (Is-
lamic) law in Pakistan. Other-
wise, it will be applied by all
these young people who no
longer tolerate the moral deca-
dence imported from the
West.” (AsiaNews)
Family Day was organized
primarily by lay Catholic
groups, although other religious
leaders joined in endorsing the
event. Several prominent politi-
cians attended, led by former
Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi, who commented
that “you cannot be Catholic and
yet stand with those on the other
side.”
Prime Minister Romano
Prodi, whose government has
endorsed the civil-union pro-
posal, was in Germany over the
weekend. Prodi declined to
comment directly on the impli-
cations of the Family Day rally,
saying only that “the family is a
matter of great importance.”
A rival rally staged by homo-
sexual activist groups and spon-
sored by the Radical and Social-
ist parties, drew a small but
noisy crowd, estimated at about
1,000, to the Piazza Navona.
In other news, Italy’s Presi-
dent Giorgio Napolitano sent a
message to an annual gathering
of the Italian homosexual activ-
ist group Arcigay in Milan, Italy.
Napolitano is the first Italian
head of state to greet the homo-
sexual organization’s gathering.
(CWNews)
the “profound devotion” of
John Paul II to Our Lady of
Fatima, noting that on May 13,
1982, the pontiff visited the
shrine to express his gratitude
for being saved from the attempt
on his life. “Here, the ‘Totus
Tuus’ Pope made a solemn act
of surrender and consecration of
all humanity to Mary,” he re-
called.
In commenting about the
message of Mary in the appari-
tions, Cardinal Sodano prayed
to the Mother of God, “to once
again show her maternal solici-
tude for the men and women of
our day, who are sometimes
tempted to stray from God in
order to prostrate themselves
before the ‘golden calf’ of the
banalities of the earth.”
The countries of Europe, he
went on, are experiencing “a
surreptitious apostasy that can-
not leave us indifferent.” “We
entrust to the Immaculate Heart
of Mary the destiny of mankind
and of the peoples of our conti-
nent, and we commit ourselves
to putting again at the heart of
our society that leaven of the
Gospel that fermented its his-
tory throughout the centuries,”
the Cardinal said in conclusion.
(CNA)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14 - 27, 2007 News Features A3
Fatima Secrets Fully Salesians Hold National
Disclosed, Cardinal Congress for Catechists
and Youth Ministers
Bertone Insists
ROME, May 14, 2007 - Cardi- remains hidden.
By Ben Carlo Atim

ABOUT 883 Catechists and services to the different dio-

nal Tarcisio Bertone, the
Vatican Secretary of State, has
rejected charges that the
Vatican is hiding some portion
of the famous “third secret” of
Fatima.
With the Catholic world ob-
serving the 90th anniversary of
the appearances by the Virgin
Mary to three Portuguese chil-
dren at Fatima, Cardinal
Bertone admitted his frustra-
tion over the continuing popu-
larity of theories suggesting
that the “third secret” involves
an apocalyptic prophecy that
the Vatican does not wish to
disclose.
The “third secret” was part of
the message the Virgin con-
veyed to the children at Fatima.
While most of the message was
made public soon after the ap-
paritions, the “third secret” was
confided to the personal care of
the Pope, and remained hidden
for decades.
A number of influential
Catholic analysts offered their
own theories on the content of
the “third secret,” and when the
Vatican at last made the mes-
sage public, some Fatima ana-
lysts claimed that the disclosure
was incomplete. In addition to
wild conspiracy theories, in re-
cent months two prominent
Italian journalists have written
books offering their own rea-
sons for believing that at least
some part of the “third secret”
Cardinal Bertone—who
played a major role in the
Vatican’s public release of the
Fatima message—insists that
these claims are “pure fantasy.”
In June 2001, the Vatican dis-
closed that the “third secret”
was a prophetic vision, describ-
ing a struggle between the
Catholic Church and a totalitar-
ian system, culminating in an
attempt on the life of the Pope.
That vision, Pope John Paul II
said, evidently referred to the
attempt on his life, which took
place on May 13—the feast of
our Lady of Fatima—in 1981.
Troubled by rumors that the
third secret had not yet been
fully revealed, the Congrega-
tion for the Doctrine of the Faith
later issued a statement saying
that the message had been dis-
closed in its entirety. Then-
Archbishop Bertone, who was
the secretary of the Congrega-
tion, announced in December
2001 that he had met with Sis-
ter Lucia, the cloistered
Carmelite nun who was the sole
surviving Fatima seer, and she
had confirmed that “with abso-
lute clarity and precision” that
the full secret had been dis-
closed.
“Everything has been pub-
lished; no secret remains,” Sis-
ter Lucia said. Apart from that
statement, which was released
by the Vatican in December
2001, Sister Lucia maintained
Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta
her public silence until her
death in February 2005.
Cardinal Bertone has pre-
pared a book-length interview
about his conversations with
Sister Lucia, entitled The Last
Fatima Visionary . The book,
with an introduction by Pope
Benedict XVI, is available (in
Italian only) through the
Vatican publishing house.
(CWNews)
Youth Ministers from differ-
ent dioceses, schools, and
parishes in the country met
at Don Bosco Technical In-
stitute in Makati City on
May 2-4 2007 for a three-day
conference with the theme:
“Catechesis and Youth Min-
istry: Listening to, Sharing,
and Living the Story of Jesus
Today”.
Convenor and Head of
Salesian Commission on
Youth Ministry Fr. Renato
G. de Guzman, SDB, said
this year’s theme was in-
spired by the theme of the
1 st Asian Mission Congress
held last year in Chiang Mai,
Thailand which is the telling
of the story of Jesus in Asia.
The theme suggests that
through listening, sharing,
and living the story of Jesus
people will be able to under-
stand and live the profound
message of Jesus. Catechists
and youth ministers should
adopt new ways and means
in translating the life story
of Jesus by means of retell-
ing and sharing his story to
the people especially with
today’s youth who are more
pragmatic and cynical of the
teachings of the Church.
Overall Coordinator of
the conference Lysander
Rivera said there is a need
of telling, sharing and living
the story of Jesus today
through our catechists and
ceses and schools, helping
catechists and youth minis-
ters in different places.
Three years ago, they orga-
nized the first national con-
ference with more than four
hundred participants com-
ing from different dioceses,
schools, and parishes.
John Paul II—A Cat-
echist and Youth Minis-
ter
The congress got its inspi-
ration from Pope John Paul
II who passed away at the
time the first congress was
held.
“What inspired this con-
gress was the death of John
Paul II,” opined De
Guzman. “We did not have
any name yet for this con-
ference but when we were
organizing it John Paul II
passed away, so we said ‘we
name it after him’ after his
person, because he is a cat-
echist and a youth minister
as well,” he added.
Pope John Paul II lovingly
showed his compassion for
the youth and believed in
their power to transform the
world into a better and har-
monious place to live in.
Organizers hope that the
theme, which serves as a
framework of this year’s
conference, will enable cat-
echists and youth ministers
to gain new knowledge,

Pope: Faith, Not Politics, Will

youth ministers. methods and techniques in
“The catechists are forming the youth’s spiri-
sharers, they are the tellers tual and moral growth.
of the story of Jesus to the

Save Latin America

APARECIDA, Brazil, May 14, 2007—The
greatest gift the Church can offer to Latin
America is the Catholic faith, Pope Benedict
XVI told the region’s bishops, as he pre-
sided at the May 13 opening of the 5th gen-
eral assembly of the Latin American Bish-
ops’ Conference (CELAM).
“Only from the Eucharist will the civili-
zation of love spring forth which will trans-
form Latin America and the Caribbean,”
the Holy Father said, in his lengthy address
to the opening session of the CELAM meet-
ing.
The Pope stressed that evangelization
must be the top priority for Catholic lead-
ers in Latin America, and the Church’s so-
cial action should flow from and serve that
primary mission. The people of the region
need a firm foundation in the Gospel, he
said, in order to resist the temptations of
Marxism, materialism, and a superficial or
emotional approach to religious faith.
Earlier on Sunday, at a morning Mass
that formally inaugurated the CELAM
meeting, the Pontiff had said in his hom-
ily: “This is the priceless treasure that is so
abundant in Latin America, this is her most
precious inheritance: faith in the God who
is Love, who has shown us his face in Jesus
Christ.”
Pope Benedict expanded on that theme
in his afternoon speech, delivering a major
address on the challenges facing the Church
in Latin America: a region that he had
dubbed “the continent of hope.”
The Pope’s opening talk at the CELAM
meeting was the dramatic high point of his
5-day visit to Brazil. He had arranged the
trip in order to attend the CELAM session,
and selected the Marian shrine at
Aparecida as the site for the meeting.
The Pope’s address was delivered at a
Vespers service, after CELAM’s president,
the Chilean Cardinal Francisco Javier
Errazuriz Ossa, had greeted the bishops
gathered from across the continent.
Pope Benedict began his address by not-
young people,” said Rivera. Priest’s Primary Role
But Rivera underscored De Guzman said the
the importance for cat- priest has a primary role to
echists and youth ministers play in helping catechists
to live in their own lives the and youth ministers in their
ing that the culture of Latin America is thor- political subject,” he observed, “she would message of Jesus, emphasiz- work of evangelization.
oughly permeated by Christianity. The do less, not more, for the poor and for jus- ing that one can only share “Well, the primary role of
Pope rejected the argument that Christian- tice, because she would lose her indepen- what he himself knew and a priest, is to encourage the
ity came to the region through the suppres- dence and her moral authority.” experienced. vocation of the catechists
sion of an existing culture. The evangeliza- Assessing the religious life of the conti- The three-day meet fea- and youth ministers, and
tion of the continent, he argued, “did not nent, Pope Benedict praised the “notable tured different workshops this encouragement is seen
at any point involve an alienation of the degree of maturity in faith” among lay for each day, such as bible- in his program of formation
pre-Columbian cultures, nor was it the im- evangelists. But he added that “one can sharing methods, work- and activities for catechism
position of a foreign culture.” Quite the detect a certain weakening of Christian life shops on scripture, liturgy, ministry, supporting them
contrary, he said, “The wisdom of the in- in society overall and of participation in the music, dance, and theater. financially if possible, and
digenous peoples fortunately led them to life of the Catholic Church, due to secular- The workshops provide spiritually,” said De
form a synthesis between their cultures and ism, hedonism, indifference and new ways and means in Guzman.
the Christian faith.” proselytism by numerous sects, animist re- propagating and evangeliz- He said the priest is not
Today, the Pope said, the Church faces ligions and new pseudo-religious phenom- ing the story of Jesus Christ. expected to do what the cat-
the challenges brought by a global economy ena.” He later added his concern about “a Speakers included Most echists do, but he should
which “brings with it the risk of vast mo- flight toward emotionalism, toward reli- Rev. Teodoro Bacani, DD, “make himself present
nopolies and of treating profit as the su- gious individualism.” bishop-emeritus of among the catechists in dif-
preme value.” In Latin America, he added, The antidote to these tendencies, the Novaliches who expounded ferent places,” being able to
there is another disquieting trend: “authori- Pope concluded, is a spiritual renewal of on the thoughts of the main see the challenges and prob-
tarian forms of government and regimes the Catholic faith, and a new, vigorous theme: Listening to, Shar- lems of catechists and col-
wedded to certain ideologies that we evangelization of the continent. ing, and Living the Story of laborate with them.
thought had been superseded.” Here the About 200,000 people gathered at Jesus Today. De Guzman reiterated the
Pope seemed clearly to be referring to left- Aparecida for the Sunday-morning Mass Mr. Joey Velasco, artist need for pastors to continu-
ist governments such as the Venezuelan that began the CELAM meeting. That and painter of “Hapag” de- ously support the idea of
regime of Hugo Chavez, who has clashed crowd was well short of the expectations livered his conference on catechists and youth minis-
frequently with Church leaders there. of organizers, who had prepared for nearly The Story of Jesus Accord- ters as the “right hand” of
The Pope offered a strong critique of 1 million. A much larger congregation— ing to the Children of the priests in spreading ac-
Marxism, saying that wherever it has been estimated at about 1 million— had gath- Hapag. Velasco shared his tively the word of God and
practiced, the ideology not only left a sad ered on Friday for the canonization of Frei reflection and experiences the true story it tells.
heritage of economic and ecological de- Galvao at a ceremony in Sao Paulo. with the children in the
struction, but also a painful destruction of The opening session of the CELAM meet- “Hapag” painting. Catechists and youth
the human spirit.” ing was the last major event on the sched- Most Rev. Broderick
However, the Holy Father did not limit ule for the Pope’s trip to Brazil. On Sun-
ministers in action!
Pabillo, SDB, auxiliary The responsibilities of the
his critique to leftist ideology. The same day evening he took a helicopter from bishop of Manila shared his
materialism that characterizes Marxism, he Aparecida to the Sao Paulo / Guarulhos catechists and youth minis-
experience in social action ters are important as that of
said, can also be seen in secular societies airport. In a farewell talk, the Holy Father through a symposium
based on consumerism, “where the dis- said that his memories of the trip, and of a priest. They are the exten-
called The Story of Jesus in sion of a priest’s responsi-
tance between rich and poor is growing the enthusiasm he saw among the faithful the Social Action of the
constantly, and giving rise to a worrying of Brazil, were “forever impressed on my bility and of the Church as
Church. well, in living and sharing
degradation of personal dignity through memory.” Then he boarded his return flight
drugs, alcohol and deceptive illusions of for Rome, arriving there early on Monday the word of God to those
On-going Formation for who do not know him and
happiness.” morning. Catechists and Youth
In this social context, the Pope reasoned, Rather than returning directly to the thirst for him.
Ministers “We’ve met a lot of
the Church can be most helpful by coun- Vatican, the Pope went to his summer resi- De Guzman shared how
teracting the force of materialism with a dence at Castelgandalfo, where he is ex- people, we have been meet-
he came up with this ordi- ing friends. Marami kaming
clear spiritual message. “If the Church were pected to spend the week, resting after his nary congress that caters on
to start transforming herself into a directly trip. (CWNews.com) natutuhan sa mga conferences,
on-going formation of the sa mga workshops, sa liturgy,
catechists and youth minis- sa mga ginagawang activities
ters. (We learn many things

Media Professional Lauds Papal Statement Pope “This conference [was] ac-
tually inspired by my expe-
rience in Los Angeles sev-
through the conferences, in
the workshops, liturgy, in
doing activities). A very

Encouraged Prelates to Better Communication

eral years ago, when I joined fruitful conference as a
the 13th International Reli- whole,” said Lita Siapo, cat-
gious Congress that the dio- echist and catechetical coor-
cese of L.A does every year dinator of the diocese of
VATICAN CITY, May 14, 2007—Benedict XVI’s call to use me- America has a greater media presence than ever to dialogue with during the season of Lent,” Parañaque.
dia in the new evangelization of Latin America “underlined a the world, to offer its message and create areas for meeting and said De Guzman. However, the challenge
crucial theme for today’s world,” said a member of the Pontifi- communion.” The LA conference which for the catechists, on how
cal Council for Social Communications. “The Church is publishing numerous periodicals and reviews,” drew together 40 thousand they effectively translate the
Leticia Soberón, who is also the general coordinator of the Red she added. “It is present among the people through a network of catechists, youth ministers story of Jesus to the youth
Informática de la Iglesia en América Latina (Information Net- Catholic radio stations which are very educational, articulate and and lay leaders from differ- has always been there.
work of the Church in Latin America), made these comments to important. There are also a growing number of Catholic televi- ent parts of USA left a tre- “We’ve been able to im-
ZENIT after the Pope delivered his opening address Sunday to sion networks and Catholic Web pages.” mendous impact on De part whatever we learn to
open the 5th General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin The media professional said that the Information Network of Guzman, who thought the the youth and that we’re able
America and the Caribbean. the Church in Latin America serves “as a cornerstone of commu- same event can be replicated to live as a witness. Kasi use-
The Pope said in his opening statement: “We must not limit nication in the bishops’ conferences and dioceses,” and is also here in the Philippines. less naman na magsalita ka
ourselves solely to homilies, lectures, Bible courses or theology present within the conference of Latin American bishops “offer- Coming back home, De lang sa gitna, mas kailangan ng
courses, but we must have recourse also to the communications ing communications support.” Guzman made use of their youth ngayon models eh.
media: press, radio and television, Web sites, forums and many Soberón said, “All of this is offered to the bishops as a sort of own resources in the (Words are useless if they
other methods for effectively communicating the message of platform for the most beautiful of messages, and at the same time Catechetics and Youth min- are not seen in your life.
Christ to a large number of people.” as an educational tool to use a new means to communicate the istry. They broaden their Salesians / A7
Soberón said that it “is providential that the Church in Latin Gospel.” ( Zenit.org)

A4
EDITORIAL
Scandalous Wealth amid
Poverty
THE biggest budget so far for TV and radio ad for one
senatorial candidate was reported to be in the
neighborhood of One hundred Fifty Million Pesos. But
other sources reveal that funds for mobilization and vote
buying were definitely heftier than those of the ads. In a
country of corrupt politicians, nobody, of course, will
admit that a budget of Three Hundred to Four Hundred
Million Pesos could easily be a benchmark of the
campaign chest.
But how in the world can a senatorial candidate, or their
lackeys, spend this much? Of course, no one in his sane
mind would believe the cliché that these were
contributions from faithful friends—unless these friends
are jueteng and drug lords which is not improbable.
And how in the world can a candidate let loose a gigantic
campaign fund in a constituency marked with bad roads,
poor delivery of basic services and extreme poverty?
That is a painful parody. It surely needs a strange
character, or a hardened one maybe, for one to be
scandalously campaigning in wealth and luxury in the
midst of gaping poverty.
It is also fitting and proper for the Anti-Money Laundering
Council to immediately require commercial banks to
report interestingly huge withdrawals during the last
banking day before the May 14 elections. The Council
will do the entire Filipino people service by disclosing
their findings at the soonest possible time.
The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission should also
check on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth
of these personalities. Who knows they may immediately
get their biggest fish ever.
But granting that these mammoth funds came from the
sweat of their brow, what is the sense of spending
hundreds of millions when the legal returns will only be
a monthly salary of forty or so thousand? But then,
without telling, the illegal returns maybe more.
Without being too simplistic about it, the elections is the
cradle of corruption in the country. Unless this is
addressed, all other concerns for social change maybe
palliative. Perhaps the Church must continue to
Christianize Philippine elections—in and out of season.
A Popular Consensus
THE academic assumption that this midterm election may
become a referendum on the acceptability or otherwise of
the national leadership is actually becoming a popular
sentiment.
All previous respectable surveys continuously say that the
national opposition candidates for the senate were majority
winners. All formal and informal exit polls said exactly the
same thing—up with the opposition, down with the pro-
administration senatorial candidates.
All the unofficial vote counts also said the same—the
opposition topped the administration senatorial bets. All the
media quick counts likewise said the same—most of the
opposition senatorial candidates have it while the pro-
administration contenders lagged behind.
The more painful reality is that even an opposition senatorial
candidate accused of rebellion against the administration
and adamantly still held in prison, appears to be winning the
elections. Even independent candidates for the senate appear
to be making it among the twelve senatorial line-up.
But the big and real danger seems to be in the offing. What
if the so-called “total and official count” made by
COMELEC, suddenly and decidedly proclaims exactly the
opposite of what all previous surveys, all exit polls, all
media and other quick counts said and continues to say to
this day?
Given a consistent Pinoy track record, such a contradiction
could instance a popular dissent. And the ultimate result of
which is anybody’s guess.
What makes things worse is the still fresh wound caused by
the “hello garci” tapes among many other glaring scandals
appended to the present administration. It is not very
implausible that the opposition will again move for the
resumption of the impeachment case, which is fast becoming
habitual, against the present leadership.
It looks like there is no more amount of deodorizing that
could hide the stench that is steadily provoking a popular
consensus.
ISSN 1908-2940
CBCP Monitor
P r o ta g o n i s t of Tr u t h , Promoter of
Pedro C. Quitorio Pinky Barrientos, FSP
Editor-in-Chief Production Manager
Melo M. Acuña Rowena T. Dalanon
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor
Dennis B. Dayao Ernani M. Ramos
On-Line Editor Circulation Manager
Roy Q. Lagarde Mercelita Dominguez
News Editor Comptroller
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Com-
munications Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and
business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O.
Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business:
(063)404-1612. Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Website:
www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor
Opinion
Abp. Angel N. Lagdameo, DD
In and Out of Season
THE survey which tells that “nine out of
ten Pinoys support birth control” involves
some 1,800 adult respondents, who want
the government to pay for the medication,
intra-uterine devices, condoms, ligation
and vasectomy. Our Catholic Family Life
Apostolate spread all over the country is
not shocked by statistics which involves
1,800 interviewees.
Our Catholic Family Life Apostolate does
not have the complete statistics of the
people who practice scientific natural fam-
ily planning methods that are approved
and promoted by the Catholic Church. But
the Apostolate is spread all over the coun-
try.
If there are acceptors of the use of
condoms, ligations and vasectomies, it
means among others that the Catholic Fam-
ily Life Apostolate will have to work harder
and more zealously. It is not true that the
widespread use of contraceptives will re-
duce illegal abortions. In countries where
contraceptives have become widely avail-
able, cases of abortion have increased. This
is because contraceptives also fail; and
some contraceptives are in themselves
abortifacients.
The Truth of Marriage
MARRIAGE in its flesh and blood reali-
ties can be gleaned from cases submitted
to a Church court for resolution. From this
perspective, the truth of marriage is to be
ferreted out from the messy, if not un-
known, elements of the contested matri-
monial bond. The judge has much to say
on the matter. As a minister of ecclesiasti-
cal justice, he is supposed to know the real
meaning of marriage, to be faithful to the
application of the law to the case at bar, as
well as true to the standard practices of
the Tribunals of the Holy See.
In the recent Papal Allocution to the Tri-
bunal of the Roman Rota delivered last 27
January 2007, Pope Benedict XVI strongly
reminded the judges of their serious mis-
sion to always uphold the truth of mar-
riage as handed down by the revered Tra-
dition and Magisterium of the Church in
the resolution of matrimonial cases. He
said: “In this perspective, the love of truth
emerges as a point of convergence be-
Peace
tween procedural research and the pasto-
ral service of the person. We must not for-
get, however, that in causes of the nullity
of marriage, the legal truth presupposes
the “truth of the marriage” itself” (“Ad-
dress of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the
Members of the Tribunal of the Roman
Rota, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2007).
Needless to say any Church judge is to
approach every case with a pastoral bias.
But this pastoral concern of the judge for
the parties under litigation should not in
any way compromise the objective truth
of marriage. In judging, the minister of jus-
tice should be reminded of the Church
doctrine that states: “The indissolubility
Layout by Blue Flame
of marriage does not derive from the de-
finitive commitment of those who contract
it but is intrinsic in the nature of the “pow-
erful bond established by the Creator”
(John Paul II, Catechesis, General Audi-
Restating the Church’s
Advocacy on Natural
Family Planning
The widespread use of contraceptives,
even with government support, and the great
number of abortions committed daily do not
change the objective moral law on birth con-
trol. Surveys favoring contraceptives or birth
control will not alter the Church’s position
and insistence in teaching the objective moral
laws regarding the dignity of human life and
family.
The pro-life, pro-family and pro-morality
stand of the Church is wrongly perceived by
certain people as obstructing the economic
progress of the country. However, scientific
studies have shown that there is no correla-
tion between population and poverty. Ac-
cording to United Nation’s estimates, the
Philippine population growth rate has de-
clined from 2.36 % to 1.84 % (or 2.05 accord-
ing to the NSO). Our country’s total fertility
rate is not 3.5 but 3.2 (UN/NSO) and is
headed towards further decline. Based on
these data, this is what is alarming: our popu-
lation is decreasing, but still poverty is wors-
ening!
Overpopulation = Poverty? We are already
declining in number! Soon, as in many de-
veloped countries, there will be more old
people for the government to support, and
Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD
ence 21 November 1979, n. 2; ORE, 26 No-
vember 1979, p, 1).
People who contract marriage must be
definitively committed to it because mar-
riage is such in the plan of creation and of
redemption. And the essential juridical
character of marriage is inherent precisely
in this bond which represents for the man
and for the woman a requirement of jus-
tice and love from which, for their good
and for the good of all, they may not with-
draw without contradicting what God
Himself has wrought within them.”
In contested marriage, the judge is con-
fronted with a matrimonial bond that is
lived out in flesh and blood by the man
and woman who freely bound themselves
as husband and wife. Christian marriage
is indissoluble. This is a property that is
essential to marriage; without it there will
be no genuine Christian marriage. It is
lived out by the husband and the wife who
effected the matrimonial bond by the acts
of their will. Faced with the traditional
doctrine of the Church on marriage and
the realities at hand, the judge who is a
minister of justice of the Church, should
take into account that the totality of the
truth of marriage, indissolubility of mar-
riage included, is something given. It has
to be defended at all cost.
Meantime, the Pope observed that
within the modern cultural context which
is marked by relativism and juridical posi-
tivism, marriage can conveniently be ma-
nipulated by the couple. In fact, there are
groups who arbitrarily declare that the
union of husband and wife is a mere so-
cial formalization of emotional ties. As
such marriage is believed to be based on
the subjective will of the couple. After all,
marriage, so they say, as established by the
Church as an “intima communitas vitae et
amoris”, the intimate partnership of life
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14 - 27, 2007
less young people to run the economy. And
what more will happen, considering that
many of our young generation who migrate
to “greener pastures”?
The Church is not against family planning
per se. But let it be done, not according to some
“cafeteria methods” with instant results, such
as through contraceptives, abortions, liga-
tions and vasectomy. The formation of core
values, as well as the education in the natu-
ral methods of family planning are part of
the advocacy of the Church’s Family Life
Apostolate. What are these methods? The
Lactational Amenorrehea, the Basal Body
Temperature, the Billings Ovulation Method,
and the Symptho-Thermal Method. It is so
important that the Family Apostolate in the
parishes and barrios have lay persons—es-
pecially married couples—who have under-
gone training and value formation in these
methods. Patient and continuous education
is necessary in this apostolate.
If doing the ‘wrong thing” clamors for gov-
ernment support, all the more doing the “right
thing” demands such government support.
This includes measures aimed at promoting
correct economic policies, good governance
and overcoming systemic corruption.
Tidbits
and love (cf. GS 48), is an “ideal” to which
“normal Christians” are not bound to fol-
low. Eventually the theory leads to a de-
nial of the existence of an indissoluble con-
jugal bond.
The Pope raised his fears that such a
dangerous trend may influence the atti-
tude of Church judges. In the name of, if
not in the guise of, pastoral concern, the
judge may be led to the false assumption
that for the good of the persons concerned
the process of the declaration of matrimo-
nial nullity is merely a legal means to
achieve subjective claims, a sort of “regu-
larization” of an irregular relationship of
a given husband and wife. With that as-
sumption the judge can easily be misled
to that posture of not considering anymore
the objective validity or nullity of his/her/
marriage which seriously look into the
truth of his/her personal status. As the
Pope himself puts it: “We must not for-
get, however, that in causes of the nullity
of marriage, the legal truth presupposes
the “truth of the marriage” itself.
In truth, it is God who created man as
male and female. As such He gave them
the power to unite forever those natural
and complementary dimensions of their
persons. As Jesus put it: “What therefore
God has joined together, let no man put
asunder”. St. Augustine in his commen-
tary on St. Paul’s instruction regarding the
juridical relationship between husband
and wife, made this bold declaration: “The
Apostle attributes so much of a right to
this fidelity (of the covenant of marriage)
that he calls it a power, saying ‘a wife does
not have power over her own body but
rather her husband does, likewise a hus-
band does not have power over his body,
but rather his wife does’] ( De Bono
Coniugali , 4, 4).
Tidbits / A7
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14 - 27, 2007
Melo M. Acuña
Issues and Concerns
NOW that the “relatively peaceful” cam-
paign period and the May 14 midterm polls
are over, we can only look back and reflect
on what transpired since we’ve been “po-
litically divided” (no thanks to the person-
alities and the cash involved).
No less than Comelec Chair Benjamin
Abalos, Sr. estimated the turnout at 75%
although several precincts in Metro Manila
reported 50-60% turnout. A radio listener
from Rizal said of the 195 voters listed in
his precinct where he worked as poll clerk
only 79 showed up.
If indeed we had a low turn-out, could it
be attributed to the reported “massive dis-
enfranchisement” of registered voters?
Commissioner Rex Borra described the
number as insignificant for it was just
blown out of proportion by the media.
If indeed very few voters were disenfran-
chised, would it be safe to say a significant
number of Filipino voters opted not to
vote? Their reasons would vary from lack
of time (taxi, jeep and bus drivers included)
to lack of credible and competent choices
to the extreme of being cynical of the whole
process.
The Absentee Voting privilege failed to
attract voters in droves to Filipino embas-
sies and consulates. Ballot boxes were dis-
A Tribute to Sonia
Ronda
DEDICATION of one’s life to an institution
deserves a tribute from its leaders. Sonia
Ronda passed away suddenly on Sunday,
April 22. So on the last day of mourning,
on April 27, a mass for the departed was
celebrated at San Antonio de Padua Par-
ish, San Francisco del Monte, by CBCP
President Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo,
concelebrated by CBCP Treasurer, Bishop
Honesto Ongtioco.
During the tenure of Bishop Angel N.
Lagdameo as the National Director, Sonia
was Treasurer and Executive Vice President
of LAIKO, for the period 1986-1997. She
was President from 1997-2000 during the
tenure of Bishop Gabiriel Reyes. As trea-
surer of the Philippine Solidarity Fund
Foundation she also worked with Bishop
Honesto Ongtioco for the period 2001-
present.
On the first day of the wake, April 23, at
St. Peter’s Funeral Homes, Bishop Gabriel
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Vie ws and P
iews oints
Points
THE last elections simply serve to prove
one clear and imminent danger: The slow
but sure erosion of democracy in this coun-
try. Democratic life cannot long co–xist
with poverty, hunger and sickness. Such a
pitiful situation does everything except
make people free. And freedom is the cen-
terpiece of democracy. Poverty, hunger and
sickness are anti-thetical to a democratic
way of living.
The well evident rampant vote buying
usually in terms of noodles, canned goods
and/or cash practically all over the land is
but an effect of the dangerous national
symptom of progressive poverty, hunger
and sickness. The rampant vote buying was
done not only in retail but also wholesale.
Most of those who sell their votes in ex-
change of some pesos and/or few grocer-
After Elections Comes
the Challenge
BY the time this article is published, the
National Elections would be over. It
would take a few more weeks to know
definitely who our new senators, congress-
men, governors, mayors, and councilors
are, but we would already have a pretty
good idea who are the top winners.
The months and weeks before May 14
have kept us very busy in our campaign
to get pro-life/pro-family candidates
elected. Since we are an advocacy group,
we were not prevented from naming can-
didates, unlike the clergy and those in-
volved in PPCRV or NAMFREL or
NASSA.
After identifying lawmakers who had
good track records in the past congress,
we issued a list in the websites and passed
them through text messages. These were
the representatives who stood up to speak
against the DEATH Bills. And we remem-
ber too well those who filed and authored
those DEATH Bills as well, informing
people not to vote for them. Most of you
reading this column know by now who we
refer to when we speak of the DEATH
Opinion
“Pagkatapos Ng
Palabas”
tributed in areas where most OFWs con-
verged but still failed to draw them in.
The Comelec, media and the NGOs for-
got all about the Party-List groups. It’s in-
teresting to find the results and the regions
where these groups found strong support.
Are these party-list groups truly represen-
tative of the so-called marginalized sectors
in Philippine society?
This only proves our representatives
from the various congressional districts
have miserably failed to represent their
constituents and have all remained “old
boys club.”
The latest political party Kapatiran failed
to land seats at the Senate. It was an at-
tempt to offer non-traditional candidates to
Filipino voters and whatever votes they got
came from people probably tired of seeing
the same old faces. Archbishop Angel N.
Lagdameo said he looks forward to seeing
Kapatiran in the coming political exercises.
As I said before, Kapatiran would either
fail getting their message across or Filipino
voters haven’t reached political maturity
after all. I believe most Filipino voters
opted for more “visible” candidates and not
on what these candidates stood for.
The midterm election results may be
viewed as “closure” to the issues involving
Jose B. Lugay
Reyes celebrated mass for Sonia attended
by immediate members of the family,
LAIKO and PSF officers. Bishop Reyes
came again to celebrate mass on Thursday
during the necrological rites held by
LAIKO, the Philippine Solidarity Founda-
tion, the National Social Action Council,
Sandigan Foundation, the Catholic
Women’s League, the Catholic Teachers’
Guild, and other family organizations.
Sonia would be pleased to know that Msgr.
Pepe Quitorio, Msgr. Ding Coronel, Fr.
Ramon Santos parish priest of San Anto-
nio de Padua, Fr. Fortaleza, Fr. Leonardo
Mercado offered their masses during her
wake.
As chairperson of the National Social
Action Council (NASAC), Bishop Teruel of
the Apostolic Catholic Church and his
group attended the wake for several days.
The family is grateful for the arrangements
made by St. Peters’ Funeral Home, facili-
As the Filipinos wallow
in Poverty, Hunger,
Sickness
ies are not bad people they are merely
needy individuals with even needy fami-
lies.
This is why the last elections somehow
reversed the infamous triad of guns, goons
and gold. Now gold is first, goons come
second, and guns appear last. But they are
still a threesome, still dangerous and mor-
tal, still shameful and shameless. If people
only had enough and if they were suffi-
ciently schooled, then the said three Gs
could be history in Philippine politics.
This is also why to these time, only the
elite and moneyed families run for elective
offices, readily invade the political arena,
easy rule the country as a whole with their
past and present generations. That is why
the non-moneyed individuals have no
place in Philippine politics. Their integrity
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
Bills—those for legalizing absolute Di-
vorce, Euthanasia, Abortion, Total Popu-
lation Control, and Homosexual Unions.
Of course, those Senate and House Bills
had beautiful sounding titles such as
Patient’s Rights Bill, Responsible Parent-
hood and Population Management Act,
Anti-Discrimination Bill, etc. But our
studying the bills revealed to us the inner
intent and so, pro-lifers actively lobbied
during the last congress to ensure that they
will not be legalized. Praise the Lord that
none of them passed. Thank God for the
cooperation of so many parish and orga-
nization volunteers who spent time and
funds to educate the lawmakers on the
truth regarding those issues as well as
those who attended vigilantly the evening
sessions day after day in the halls of con-
gress until the sessions ended last March.
Several pro-life voters education forums
were organized in different provinces, en-
suring that people knew how to vote for
pro-life/family party lists. My latest out-
of-town trips took me to Palawan and
Bohol. It was exciting to see posters and
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the
“Hello Garci” episode. The Administration
may not be concerned about the so-called
Magic 12 up there in the Senate. The focus
is on the composition of the House of Rep-
resentatives where impeachment com-
plaints are first discussed. Were they that
desperate to enlist the popular Manny
Pacquiao against an incumbent lawmaker
who happens to be from the opposition?
Another reason why the Administration
is keen on keeping the majority at the
House of Representatives is the possibility
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would
push for charter change during her com-
ing State of the Nation Address by the 23r d
of July and come with a shift in the form of
government. Someone may have set sights
beyond 2010!
Still, I offer this thought: “It’s not the
system but the kind of people running the
system that matters most.”
After all the carefully and creatively
crafted jingles, film clips and print ads and
feisty political campaign speeches along
with the song-and-dance routines aptly
described as “ palabas,” what comes before
us? The more we have to watch and pray
or better still see – judge – act as events
unfold.
Laiko Lampstand
Laiko
tated by LAIKO President, Ernie Burdeos.
Of the many glowing tributes to Sonia,
Bishop Gabby gave this touching episode:
“Sonia had complete faith in God when
crisis came during the preparation for the
Golden Anniversary of the Council of the
Laity of the Philippines which was to be
on September, 2000. There were no funds
available but Sonia insisted that the Golden
Anniversary celebration must go on. She
assured me, “ Bishop, even if I have to hock
my house to obtain funds for the celebration, I
will do it since I am sure the Lord wants LAIKO
to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.” Lo and be-
hold, with the help of Msgr. Soc Villegas.
Couples for Christ, and Friends of CBCP,
the celebration was a great success!”
To those who know Sonia and learn
about her demise for the first time, say a
little prayer for the repose of her soul. Her
service to the Lord through LAIKO will
never be forgotten.
and competence do not matter. Their com-
mitment and dedication are of no conse-
quence.
This is why the glorious pronouncements
of economic progress repeatedly made by
the national leadership are so far from re-
ality. Its glowing press releases of national
development are neither true nor factual.
In like manner, any political candidate can
dream many dreams. To dream is fun and
free, but dreamland is the enemy of real-
ity.
This is finally why even anti-administra-
tion political candidates in prison or un-
der bail, get a good number of votes.
Whether they eventually win or lose the
elections. They are making a loud and clear
statement: the national leadership is not
acceptable, not credible, not respectable.
Lo
Lovve Lif
Lifee
streamers of the pro-life oriented candi-
dates and party lists. Many people ex-
pressed their awareness of who and why
they were voting for this or that person.
After the Elections, what? The challenge
now is to gather as many people to “moni-
tor” the winners to perform their duties
well in order to uplift our nation from pov-
erty—economic, environmental, and
moral impoverishment.
Surely, some congressmen will again file
the DEATH Bills. Lots of foreign funds
will again be used to influence the law-
makers, government officials and media
to believe that the only way to solve pov-
erty is to control our population through
contraceptives and abortifacients. Will
there be enough pro-life representatives
and pro-life lobby groups to stop their
passage?
Will YOU join us in this campaign for
respect for life and care for the family?
Pro-life can be contacted at tel. 911-2911.
The office is located in the Good Shepherd
Compound, 1043 Aurora Blvd, Quezon
City.
A5
From Brazil Resounds a
Word Sharper than a Sword
by Sandro Magister
AMONG the twelve speeches, homilies, messages, and
greetings pronounced by Benedict XVI during his four-day
trip to Brazil, the one most keenly awaited was the inaugu-
ral address for the fifth conference of the bishops’ confer-
ence of Latin America and the Caribbean, in Aparecida.
But the discourse that will be remembered in the future
as the one most revealing of the pope’s objectives was an-
other. It was the one he delivered to the bishops of Brazil in
the cathedral of Sao Paolo, at the end of Vespers on Friday,
May 11.
The pope begins it with words “sharper than a sword”:
the words of the New Testament on perfect obedience to
the Father of Jesus, the savior of all precisely because he
was obedient in everything, even to the cross. The bishops,
he asserts, are simply “bound” to this obedience: their mis-
sion is that of preaching the truth, baptizing, “saving souls
one by one” in the name of Jesus.
“This, and nothing else, is the purpose of the Church,”
Benedict XVI emphasizes. Therefore, where the truth of the
Christian faith is hidden, and where the sacraments are not
celebrated, “the essential is also lacking for the solution of
urgent social and political problems.”
All of the instructions that the pope gave to the Brazilian
bishops following the address descend from this founda-
tion. Benedict XVI’s clear intention is that of reestablishing
Jesus, true God and true man, as the center of the Latin
American Church: a Church that, in his judgment, has in
recent decades strayed too far into political territory, un-
der the influence of liberation theology.
For Benedict XVI, a strong effort of evangelization is the
real response to the attacks against the family, to the crimes
against life, to the abandoning of Catholicism in favor of
the new “evangelical” and Pentecostal sects. And priestly
celibacy also weakens when “the structure of total conse-
cration to God begins to lose its deepest meaning.” And
the poor must also be offered “the divine balm of the faith,
without overlooking material bread.”
Evangelizing means teaching Christian truth in its en-
tirety, as summarized in the Catechism. It means celebrat-
ing the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucha-
rist: not collective Confession, but individual, because “sin
is a profoundly personal reality,” and the Eucharist in keep-
ing with the norms, because it “is never anyone’s private
property, neither of the celebrant nor of the community.”
The pope asks the bishops to keep watch over theologi-
cal activity, to pay attention to the formation of priests, to
practice ecumenism without forgetting that “the one Church
of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the
successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with
him.”
It is easy to intuit the situations that prompted each of
these instructions given by Benedict XVI to the bishops of
Brazil: from unbridled liturgical spontaneity to the wide-
spread violation of priestly celibacy. The pope did not give
himself over to describing these situations. Exactly as he
did not say a single explicit word—contrary to the expecta-
tions of many—about liberation theology. He gave only the
slightest outlines of an analysis of the success of the Pente-
costal sects. And he did not meet with any of the leaders of
these sects, not even in the brief encounter scheduled for
Sao Paolo with the heads of other Christian confessions and
other religions.
Instead, Benedict XVI centered all of his preaching on
the foundation from which he began in his address to the
bishops: Jesus. That is, he carried out the same work of con-
centrating on the essential that characterizes his encyclical
“Deus Caritas Est ” and his book “Jesus of Nazareth.”
He entrusts the analyses and the course of action to the
bishops and delegates of the continental congress that he
inaugurated in Aparecida on May 13. He merely pointed
out the objective for them.
For example, in regard to the “aggressive proselytism”
of the Pentecostal sects, he did not propose a counter-pro-
paganda of the same kind. He instead said, in the homily
for the Mass on Sunday, May 13:
“The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she
grows by ‘attraction’: just as Christ ‘draws all to himself’
by the power of his love, culminating in the sacrifice of the
Cross, so the Church fulfils her mission to the extent that,
in union with Christ, she accomplishes every one of her
works in spiritual and practical imitation of the love of her
Lord.”
This is a message that Benedict XVI addresses, not only
to Brazil or to Latin America, but to the Church all over the
world.
The CBCPMedia Office Joins the
Catholic Church in Celebrating the
41st World Communications Day
The Media Office of the Catholic Bishops' Confer-
ence of the Philippines publishes the monthly Impact
Magazine and the fortnightly CBCP Monitor; and man-
ages CBCPNews Service which is a local Catholic news
agency.
In answer to the call of the Holy Father "to make the
internet as a new forum for proclaiming the Gospel,"
the CBCP Media Office makes good use of information
technology.
It has an internet facility that provides broadband
connectivity (filtered of pornography) through satellite
systems (VSAT and Radio IP systems) to over 100 catho-
lic schools and dioceses nationwide, through
CBCPWorld.
It has a team that designs and hosts websites. It
gives training to church workers on IT (e.g. Systems
Administration, Educational Technology, Web Design
and Multimedia applications for Evangelization). It also
produces video documentaries using the latest in soft-
ware and hardware technology.
CONTACT US
Tel. Nos.: 527-4141, 527-4139
Websites: www.cbcponline.net / www.impactmagazine.net
www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
Video Blog: www.youtube.com/cbcpmedia
Email: cbcpmedia@cbcponline.net

A6
Violence, Fraud and
Killings Mar Elections
MANILA, May 16, 2007—Up to
100,000 voters were unable to
participate in national polls
fearful of violence. Still, despite
violence and many murders,
the Commission on Elections
and international observers
said that the process was gen-
erally peaceful and orderly. But
allegations about vote-buying
have led a Pampanga bishop to
lament that whoever sells his
vote, sells his future.
As many as 100,000 voters in
the south of the country were
unable to cast their ballots due
to the threat of violence or lack
of ballot papers, some of which
were stolen, the Commission
said. Moreover, “despite the
augmentation of security
forces, [many] election inspec-
tors refused to serve because of
security reasons,” commission
official Rene Sarmiento said.
Such fears were not un-
founded. On Election Day, two
election workers, both teachers,
were killed when unidentified
men burned down a school
used as a polling place south of
Manila. With their death, the
poll-related death toll rose to
126. Another 149 people were
injured.
Nonetheless, the Philippine
National Police (PNP) Director
General Oscar Calderon said
that recorded elections-related
incidents were so far “relatively
low” compared to previous
elections.
Volunteers Overwhelming - PPCRV
“We’ve been overwhelmed
with the response to help. We
have a volunteer as old as 82
and as young as 18 doing the
poll watching,” PPCRV chair
Henrietta De Villa said.
Even before the Election
Day, the Church’s poll watch-
dog was not really worried
about the number of volun-
teers manning the polls.
The Parish Pastoral Council
for Responsible Voting
(PPCRV) was counting on
more volunteers that it had,
but with just days to go, it was
already a different story.
There was already an elec-
tion crowd. And not just to
vote, but to volunteer to help
Elections / from A1
Catholic churches differed.
Former Ambassador to the
Vatican and PPCRV Chair
Henrietta T. De Villa said they
got the voters lists from the
Comelec.
“Where would we get it aside
from the Comelec?” De Villa
asked in an interview over
Catholic-run Veritas 846.
“This is not funny anymore”
PPCRV Chairperson Henrietta
T. De Villa further said.
In a related development, an
independent, non-stock, non-
profit think-tank attributed the
low voters’ turnout last Monday
to the prevalent disenfranchise-
ment of voters nationwide.
Contrary to the Commission
on Elections’ claim of 75% turn-
out, some reports showed 65%
turnout, a considerable drop
compared to previous elections.
In its paper entitled “ Election
Forensics 2007 ” the Center for
People Empowerment in Gov-
ernance ( CenPEG) said even
claims of a 75% turnout from
over 45 million registered vot-
ers can be considered “lowest”
in six years.
Asked of common complaints
and concerns that reached the
PPCRV offices nationwide, De
Villa said reports of missing or
misspelled and misplaced
names, relocated precincts, un-
readable voters lists, harassment
CBCP / from A1
try has barely begun.
“Worthy candidates may not
be able to protect their votes by
themselves and would need the
people’s support,” Quitorio said.
He said, “Whenever election
results are altered through
“dagdag-bawas” to favor losing
candidates, the sanctity of the
ballot is violated and the biggest
losers are the voters them-
selves.”
He lauded the efforts exerted
by thousands of PPCRV,
NAMFREL-NASSA volunteers
and various media entities who
work so hard to make sure ir-
regularities are minimized in
Incidents include the theft of
ballot boxes and other material
before sunrise yesterday, Elec-
tion Day, and the killing of
some 60 candidates and 15 po-
licemen; 17 other policemen
were wounded in violent inci-
dents in Occidental Mindoro,
Masbate, and Abra provinces.
Despite the violence and
charges of electoral fraud, voter
turnout was high reaching 75-
80 per cent, compared to 77 per
cent in 2004, and 85 per cent in
2001.
Voters had to elect 12 sena-
tors (out of 24) and all 275 mem-
bers of the House of Represen-
tatives as well as 17,600 local
government officials casting
their ballots in 224,667 precincts
nationwide.
Henrietta de Villa, who
chairs the Parish Pastoral Coun-
cil for Responsible Voting, a
Catholic Church-based poll
watch-dog, said polls were gen-
erally peaceful.
Her office fielded about
500,000 volunteers to ensure
clean and honest elections and
distributed leaflets on the “10
commandments of responsible
voting;” among others, urging
voters to shun candidates who
lead immoral lives, who use
force and money to intimidate
and those with known records
of graft and corruption.
In this election as in the past,
the main problem was electoral
fraud and vote-buying. For this
in poll watching.
The PPCRV has consistently
fought for clean elections at
the local and national level.
We need voter’s education for
the people to know the right
choice. We need politicians
who are beholden to the vot-
ers in the aggregate rather
than to particular fat cats of
coffers.
“We will not achieve cred-
ible and effective election by
merely sitting and doing noth-
ing,” said De Villa.
For this election, the PPCRV
had around 500,000 volun-
teers stationed in more than
300, 000 polling precincts na-
tionwide.
from supporters of contending
candidates and in some in-
stances, harassment from the
police and the military.
De Villa said these concerns
should be taken seriously by
government.
“They (people in government)
should really address all these
to avoid suspicion of having a
deliberate attempt to disenfran-
chise voters,” she added. She
hastened to ask “Are these in-
tentional, an innocent problem
or just a problem of ineffi-
ciency?”
The Philippine National Police
claimed the past political exercise
was “relatively peaceful” com-
pared to previous elections. A
few hours before polling pre-
cincts closed, police reports dis-
closed 114 persons died while
132 others were wounded in 191
cases of violence. In 2005 presi-
dential polls, 189 people died in
249 poll-related incidents.
“Killing is terrible for an elec-
tion for this should not happen
at all,” De Villa said. She asked
what were law enforces doing
to prevent violent election-re-
lated incidents.
Was this year’s midterm polls
a repeat of previous political
exercises with the same prob-
lems, despite claims of long
preparations by Commission on
Election officials?
this midterm elections.
While PPCRV was tasked to
do poll watching and
NAMFREL-NASSA with its Op-
eration Quick Count, concerned
citizens have continuously re-
ported election irregularities us-
ing 3G mobile phones.
He added technology and
people’s vigilance prevented
whatever sinister plans from po-
litical operators and losing can-
didates.
“Everyone should remain
vigilant until winning candi-
dates are proclaimed,” Msgr.
Quitorio concluded.
(CBCPNews)
Local News
reason, the Commission on
Elections set up a special panel
to look into reports of cheating;
110 special courts have also
been set up to handle an ex-
pected flood of fraud claims.
Meanwhile Pampanga Arch-
bishop Paciano Aniceto told
AsiaNews that he was alarmed
by reports of alleged vote-buy-
ing and vote-selling in different
parts of the country.
In his pastoral letter titled
“Do What is Right: A Pastoral
Letter on Vote-Buying and Vote-
Selling” which was read during
last Sunday mass, he reminded
the faithful to heed the 1992
Pastoral Exhortation on Elec-
tions issued by the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-
ippines which condemned
vote-buying as a particularly
Why have thousands turned
out at the polling precincts,
for many straight nights, to
help at the polls?
“I’m free and interested in
how the process works and see
if I can help out any way I can,”
said a 22-year-old volunteer.
For the hundreds of other
volunteers who heeded the
call, they got hands on lesson
in assisting voters.
And some, for the first time,
found out about the hard
work it takes to put an elec-
tion.
“I would like to emphasize
the spirit of volunteerism em-
bodied by out volunteers is re-
ally something to emulate.
Paulines / from A1
The new media have a great
appeal to the young. Nowa-
days, children spend most of
their waking hours in front of
television or surfing the
Internet. Speakers will discuss
this phenomenon in the fo-
rum. Mr. Alejo Espinosa will
talk on the topic Internet: the
New Media and Children.
Melo Acuña and Jing Lanzona
of Radio Veritas will tackle
Children and Television,
while Marcelle Fabie will talk
about Creative Thinking and
Awareness: Addressing Youth
Formation through Blogging.
The symposium is open to
all interested in deepening
their understanding on how
media affect our lives.
Parents, educators, commu-
nicators and young people are
encouraged to participate in
this forum and share in the
Church’s vision of human dig-
nity for all people, that is cen-
tral to all human communica-
tion. (Tessie Espina, FSP)
Priest / from A1
As of this writing, his body
is in the hospital awaiting au-
topsy. Arrangements are being
made for the wake. Fr. Ayo
also sought the assistance of
Ambassador of the Philippines
to the Holy See, Leonida L.
Vera, for the transfer of Fr.
Andy’s remains to the Philip-
pines.
Eighteen priests and three
religious sisters of the Collegio
Filippino community cel-
ebrated the Eucharist for the
eternal repose of Fr. Andy at
the Collegio Filippino chapel.
Bishop-elect of Daet, Msgr. Gil-
bert A. Garcera, presided.
Fr. Andy was sent to Rome
by Archbishop Arguelles in
2005 to pursue his doctoral
studies in Canon Law at the
Pontifical University of the
Holy Cross. He was expected
to defend his dissertation in
October 2007. (Fr. Enrico
Emmanuel A. Ayo)
degrading form of cheating.
“For the past several days
now we have been receiving
reports about people being
gathered in cockpit arenas, coli-
seums, sports complexes and
other venues where they re-
ceive cash gifts from certain
candidates,” Archbishop
Aniceto said.
“When you sell your vote,
you sell your honor. You be-
come nothing in the eyes of
those who buy you. You harm
your future and that of your
countrymen,” he lamented.
To the people who got money
from vote-buyers he said: “Do
not allow your conscience to be
bound by an unjust deal. [...]
Repent and be converted to the
Lord.” (Santosh Digal /
AsiaNews)
And you can see that the spirit
of volunteerism is still very
strong,” she stressed.
And they can also be held as
examples for our country. The
former ambassador to the
Vatican said we don’t have to
wait for our government offi-
cials to help our country “get
out from the rut”.
She said the country need a
concerted effort to clean up
the election process. “Volun-
teer efforts make a huge dif-
ference.”
“There is real energy in
people who volunteer,” said
De Villa. “For me, life is about
giving back. Our volunteers
do that.” (Roy Lagarde)
Church / from A1
foreign counterparts: 12 resi-
dents (called housemates) are
forced to live with each other
inside a house for about 100
days.
They are controlled by a voice
known only as “Big Brother,”
who gives them weekly/daily
challenges, and confronts them
about their personal lives in a
“confessional room.”
Through a process of elimina-
tion that also includes viewer
voting through SMS, the
housemates are evicted from the
house one by one. The winner
gets the grand prize that consists
of a package worth about six
million pesos.
Even from the start, ABS-CBN
had already received protests
from different organizations
over the airing of PBB.
On its first week alone, the
Pro-Life said, the show was
given a stern warning by the
MTCRB, saying that it airs con-
tent that is definitely not suitable
for children, such as talk about
contraceptives and “very inti-
mate” scenes.
The Pro-life Philippines,
along with other multi-sectoral
groups, submitted a position
paper to MTRCB registering its
objection to the airing of PBB
because of its “bad implica-
tions” not only to children but
also to society in general.
Acknowledging these objec-
tions, ABS-CBN then began each
episode with a reminder to the
audience that some scenes in the
show are not suitable to young
audiences.
In spite of this, the Pro-Life
said scenes that were deemed to
be beyond the parental guidance
rating given by MTRCB were
still shown, “prompting
MTRCB to suspend the program
for its September 25, 2005 epi-
sode.”
Two years after the numerous
protests over PBB’s airing, ABS-
CBN continues to air the show
with its offensive content.
(CBCPNews)
Parish Celebrates Fiesta on
a Restored Antique Church
THIS year’s feast of St.
Ferdinand de Castille in
Ilagan, Isabela on Wednes-
day, May 30 will be more
meaningful with the
completion of its restoration
project.
Fr. Roseller Lora, St.
Ferdinand de Castille pastor
said he and his parishioners
are thankful to God and
their benefactors for the res-
toration project.
He commended Architect
Susan Castillo and her team
of five other distinguished
individuals who pooled
their talents and expertise to
complete the project in
record time.
The church is well known
for its unique design, Do-
minican missionary Fr.
Pedro Salgado, in his book
entitled “Cagayan Valley and
Eastern Cordilleras (1581-
1898) noted the church’s
tower to be of Spanish vin-
tage and its bell dated 1786.
Midterm / from A1
ments and 13 abductions al-
though police authorities have
still to validate nearly half the
total number of incidents. Cen-
tral Luzon had a total of 46 elec-
tion reported violent incidents
as of May 15. Bicol had 44 inci-
dents while Eastern Visayas
had 34 incidents.
Both local and foreign media
focused on provinces consid-
ered “areas of immediate con-
cern” which included Abra,
Kalinga, Nueva Ecija, Masbate
and San Carlos City in
Pangasinan.
In an interview over Veritas
846, Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines Presi-
dent and Jaro (Iloilo) Arch-
bishop Angel N. Lagdameo
said nuns who volunteered for
PPCRV reported peaceful elec-
tions in the city simply because
“vote-buying has already been
made at least a week before
May 14.”
Speaking in Pilipino, Arch-
bishop Lagdameo said one of
his priests from Jaro witnessed
vote-buying activities from
P300 – P500 per voter. He de-
scribed vote-buying as “very in-
sulting.”
“Kahit sabihin pa na tahimik, na
peaceful ang eleksyon at yung
bilihan (ng boto) ay rampant, may
violation pa rin ng human rights,”
Lagdameo said.
PPCRV Chairperson and
former Philippine Ambassador
to the Holy See Henrietta T. de
Villa praised thousands of vol-
unteers, nearly half a million of
them, whose age ranged from
18 to 82; who spent time to man
polling precincts and kept
watch until election parapher-
nalia have been delivered to
their respective municipal, city
and provincial canvassing cen-
ters.
In a press briefing at the
PPCRV National Office at
Pope Pius XII Catholic Center
in Manila, de Villa said “we
will not achieve credible and
effective elections by merely
sitting (down) and doing
nothing.”
She said she and the PPCRV
council were “overwhelmed by
the warm response” from con-
cerned Filipinos, including
Muslims in southern Philip-
pines.
PPCRV volunteers, de Villa
said, wanted to know how the
(electoral) process works.
“What they got was hands-on
training and lessons how to as-
sist voters,” she further said.
CBCP Vice President and
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop
Antonio Ledesma, S.J. said
there’s a need for more voters’
education in using a more ob-
jective criteria in choosing their
candidates.
“There’s a need to counter
rampant vote-buying,” Arch-
bishop Ledesma added.
In Bataan, Bishop Socrates B.
Villegas said the recent mid-
term polls was “the dirtiest
ever.”
In a pastoral letter, Bishop
Villegas said the balloting went
peacefully but “there were re-
ports of massive vote-buying.”
He regretted the fact the poor
sold their votes.
“Both the loser and the win-
ner are to blame” as “both voter
and the one elected are tainted
by this dirty election.”
He described those who
voted according to their con-
science and refused to sell their
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14 - 27, 2007
Fr. Salgado said Ilagan,
then known as Bolo, was
founded in 1619 and was
destroyed by a local rebel-
lion in 1621.
Fr. Pedro Jimenez, O. P.
was credited for the town’s
reconstruction in 1678 in
time with the establishment
of the congregation’s pro-
vincial chapter in 1686 and
having the parish named St.
Ferdinand of Ilagan in
honor of St. Ferdinand de
Castille.
“Ilagan” is an Ibanag
word for “transferred” hav-
ing moved a short distance
from where it was originally
established.
Fr. Lora said Novena
Masses will begin on Mon-
day, May 21. Msgr. Daniel
Guiyab, pastor of Our Lady
of the Visitation shrine in
Guibang, Isabela will offici-
ate the Fiesta Mass on
Wednesday, May 30.
(CBCPNews)
votes are “our signs of hope.”
Former CBCP President and
Lingayen-Dagupan Arch-
bishop Oscar V. Cruz said the
recent midterm elections “were
basically a referendum on the
acceptance or rejection of the
Malacañang occupant as a na-
tional political leader.”
He noted opposition and in-
dependent candidates appear
to be winning in the unofficial
quick vote counts, including the
Comelec-approved NAMFREL
Quick Count. He expressed
concern of the possibility that
the “Total and Official Count—
suddenly and decidedly pro-
claim exactly the opposite of
what all previous surveys and
exit polls, media and other
quick counts said and continue
to say to these days.”
Asked what should be the top
agenda for the coming 2010
polls, Archbishop Cruz said
computerization would help
restore integrity; government
funds should finance candi-
dates and have a total revamp
of the Commission on Elec-
tions.
From the Prelature of Isabela,
Basilan, Bishop Martin S.
Jumoad and the entire clergy
called on the faithful to con-
tinue to pray and remain vigi-
lant as the canvassing goes on.
In a pastoral letter dated May
17, Bishop Jumoad called on all
candidates and supporters to
remain calm and serene though
he encouraged everyone to
openly express election related
concerns in the proper forum
(in the spirit of dialogue) and
continue to uphold peace and
non-violent means of resolving
conflict.
Sr. Roseanne Malillin, SPC,
NASSA Executive Director
said her office and NAMFREL
received disturbing reports
ranging from Comelec docu-
ments without its official logos
and security markings in East-
ern Samar, to threats from
about 500 armed men in
Cayontor, Kauswagan, and
Maigo in Lanao Del Norte,
Board of Election Inspectors
who refused to release the 6th
copy of Election Returns to
NASSA-NAMFREL volunteers
in Sultan Kudarat province
and Bonifacio and Clarin in
Misamis Occidental during the
May 14 elections.
Over in Tagum, Davao del
Norte, some Board of Election
Inspectors have no ERs (Elec-
tion Returns) and 6th copy for
NASSA-NAMFREL while in
Vigan, Ilocos Sur, some election
returns have no dry seal and
some have unusual shade of
thumb marks, quite different
from the color normally used in
valid ERs.
Last Wednesday, NASSA-
NAMFREL received reports
that figures from Namfrel
Quick Count differed from in-
formation from municipal can-
vassers in Tuguegarao City.
Two volunteers identified
Allan Panes, 26 and Bryan
Golveque suffered fractures af-
ter figuring in a vehicle accident
while chasing people bringing
ballot boxes with markings to
the polling place.
Armed men took two election
returns in Maria Aurora town
in Aurora Province, according
to Fr. Israel Gabriel, SAC Direc-
tor. (With reports from Roy
Lagarde and Pinky Barrientos,
FSP)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14 - 27, 2007
Sex-Ed Text Books that Promote
Homosexuality Pulled from
Schools in Panama
PANAMA, May 14, 2007—The
Minister of Education in
Panama, Miguel Angel
Canizales, ordered the removal
of four text books on sex edu-
cation from the country’s
schools, after complaints were
raised over the contents of the
books, which included the pro-
motion of homosexuality
among adolescents.
According to the newspaper
“El Siglo,” Canizales canceled
a planned evaluation of the text
books which his office “in-
tended to use to cement a sex-
ed program throughout the
country, after an avalanche of
criticism” of the contents of the
manuals.
El Siglo, which obtained cop-
ies of the manuals, said the con-
tents could provide “the final
push” any adolescent strug-
gling with his or her sexuality
would need to embrace homo-
sexuality.
“One of the ‘exercises’ pro-
posed in these manuals (aimed
at fourth through sixth graders)
invites the teacher to use a rope
to make an imaginary uterus on
Features
the floor and have each student
step inside, because they are
going to need to be born again,”
the article stated, quoting di-
rectly from the manual: “You
will make a signal to indicate
to each student that he or she
will be born and should con-
struct his or her identity, choos-
ing from a group of color-coded
cards (one color each for hetero-
sexual, homosexual, bisexual,
transvestite and transsexual)
placed on a table. Ask them to
return to their places and to re-
flect on their new identity, how
A7
European Bishops
Acknowledge Uphill Road to
Re-Christianize Europe
VATICAN
CITY, May
8, 2007—
they feel, interiorizing their European
new traits.” bishops
According to Canizales, the gathered in
text books were sponsored and Rome for
drafted by the Ministry of the seventh
Health, UNICEF, and the UN meeting of
World Population Fund. the Special
However, Fernando Carrera, Council for
a representative of UNICEF in Europe of
Panama, claimed the manuals the General
were “drafted by Panamanian Secretariat Archbishop Nikola Eterovic
professionals and not by inter- of the
national consulters.” El Siglo Synod of Bishops ac- “In the face of the mod-
noted that on the cover of each knowledged today that ern challenges facing the
manual UNICEF is listed as one the impulse for a new Church throughout the
of the authors. (CNA) evangelization faces seri- continent of Europe, it is
ous challenges on the old Episcopal collegiality that
continent. represents the appropriate
space for the communion of

Mugabe Issues Warning to Catholic Bishops

KONIGSTEIN, Germany, May
10, 2007—President Robert
Mugabe has warned the Catho-
lic bishops of Zimbabwe that
they have embarked upon “a
dangerous course,” reported
Aid to the Church in Need
(ACN) after having spoken
with a priest in Zimbabwe. The
priest’s identity remains anony-
mous.
Mugabe’s warning came af-
ter the bishops issued a pasto-
ral letter in which they lay the
blame for the political and eco-
nomic situation of the country
on him.
According to the priest, offi-
cial statistics indicate that three
million people fled the country.
Unofficially, he said, the figure
is five million. People are leav-
ing for Botswana, South Africa,
Australia and New Zealand.
“There is no open resistance
against the regime; the people
are too afraid for that,” the
priest said.
The Catholic Church is trying
to help with the elderly and the
sick, who have been especially
hard-hit by the circumstances.
However, the Church urgently
needs help from abroad, the
priest said.
Zimbabweans trust the
Catholic Church, and the
churches are full, he stated. On
Fridays there are regular
prayers and fasting campaigns
for the country.
However, the state is accus-
ing the Church of being respon-
sible for the suffering in Zim-
babwe. Some foreign priests
and religious have been refused
renewal of their residence and
work permits. The state is dras-
tically restricting the aid cam-
paigns of the Catholic Church.
Economic sanctions are hitting
the poorest people very hard.
“Inflation has now reached
between 2,200 percent and
3,000 percent, while unemploy-
ment stands at around 80 per-
cent. Five months ago, I paid
11,000 Zimbabwe dollars for a
chicken; a month ago they cost
50,000 and now they cost more
than 100,000. People are dying
of malnourishment,” the priest
told ACN.
One of the biggest problems
is the state-controlled news
media, the priest added. “The
Catholic Church can support us
if she can provide us with ac-
curate information about the
situation in the country,” the
priest said. “The people need
food and medicine in order to
survive; otherwise more and
more people will die.
“The Church continues to
help as well as she can. But now
she must tell people in her own
country and in the world about
the true extent of the crisis,” he
reportedly said. (CNA)
During the meeting,
Archbishop Nikola
Eterovic, Secretary gen-
eral of the Synod of Bish-
ops, made reference to
John Paul II’s 2003 Apos-
tolic Exhortation “Ecclesia
in Europa” and recalled
“the challenges and the
signs of hope facing the
Church on the European
continent.”
According to the state-
ment “the challenges of
the current moment
should encourage all the
living forces of the Church
to renew the impetus of
evangelization on the Eu-
ropean continent, which is
showing signs of some
weariness but also of re-
vival.”
pastors among themselves
and with the Holy Father,
with a view to renewed
evangelizing activity,” the
statement adds.
“Such communion,
which enjoys the guarantee
of unity and effectively en-
sures the real unity of the
universal Church and of the
Church in Europe,
strengthens pastors as they
constantly announce the
Gospel in their various situ-
ations, where it is necessary
to reaffirm the primacy of
God in order to reiterate the
dignity of man, created in
His image and likeness, in
the personal and commu-
nity dimension, the docu-
ment concludes. (CNA)

Spokesman for CELAM Says Political

Involvement by Priests Destroys Unity
APARECIDA, Mexico, May 15,
2007—Speaking about the issue
of liberation theology and its
impact on the clergy, the
spokesman for the 5 th General
Conference of the Latin Ameri-
can Bishops’ Council, Bishop
Hector Gutierrez Pabon, said
Sunday that priests who get in-
volved in politics “immediately
break the unity and the mission
they were entrusted with.”
During a press conference
following Pope Benedict XVI’s
discourse inaugurating the
CELAM conference, Bishop
Pabon explained that some
priests and their communities
want to take advantage of the
leadership and organizational
skills of our priests. The danger
of this is that it threatens to turn
them into political partisans.
“The Church has had experi-
ence in this area and has been
very clear: to each his own.”
“As soon as a priest becomes
political, the unity and the mis-
sion that he was entrusted with,
which is to make the message
of the Lord known to all with-
out regard for social class or
political beliefs, are immedi-
ately broken,” Bishop Pabon
stressed.
He noted, however, that bish-
ops become involved in politics
in so much as the issue is a mat-
ter of the “common good and
is based on the Gospel and is
spelled out by the Church in her
social teaching.” (CNA)

Pro-Choice Senator Prohibited from Speaking at

Catholic High School Graduation
MISSOURI, USA, May 8,
2007—A Catholic all-girls high
school withdrew its invitation
to Sen. Claire McCaskill to
speak at this year’s graduation
ceremony because her positions
on abortion and stem cell re-
search are not in line with the
teachings of the Catholic
Church.
Students at St. Joseph’s Acad-
emy, in the St. Louis suburb of
Frontenac invited McCaskill to
speak at the ceremony, but the
invitation was withdrawn last
week. McCaskill’s daughter at-
tends St. Joseph’s Academy.
School president Sr. Michaela
Zahner said she reluctantly
made the decision after receiv-
ing a call from diocesan offi-
cials, reported The Associated
Press.
A spokeswoman for the arch-
diocese, Anne Steffens, said the
decision was not made by
Archbishop Raymond Burke.
But Sr. Zahner told the AP
that the archdiocese’s policy,
forbidding a public forum for
speakers who diverge from
Church teaching, clearly re-
flects Burke’s position.
McCaskill said she was dis-
appointed by the decision, but
that it did “not diminish my
respect and admiration for St.
Joseph’s Academy, their fac-
ulty, and students.” (CNA)

Foreign / from A1
Hotline of Alliance of Con-
cerned Teachers among others.
The members of the People’s
International Observers’ Mis-
sion (IOM) said they were
“shocked” and “dismayed” at
what they called brazen and nu-
merous violations of election
laws in Lanao del Sur.
In a statement sent to the
CBCP Monitor the IOM 2007
Lanao del Sur team said the
people were denied peaceful
and credible elections by both
the Commission on elections
and the opposing political in-
terests and clans from the area.
They received and verified
reports of Failure of Elections
in 13 of Lanao del Sur’s 39
towns due to a number of rea-
sons, including absence of elec-
tion officers to preside over the
distribution of election para-
phernalia, the often and sudden
reshuffle of municipal election
officers by their immediate su-
perior, “with some reportedly
being recalled to the provincial
Comelec office on election day
itself, violent incidents, specifi-
cally “killings, shootings and
burnings that endangered vot-
ers which caused fear among
residents” and “greater animos-
ity between opposing clans and
groups and lack of election
paraphernalia.”
They observed the entry and
performance of municipal Elec-
tion Officers’ functions by mili-
tary men in decision-making
process which according to the
observers was a clear violation
of laws which calls for impar-
tiality and non-involvement in
the actual conduct of elections.
The group witnessed voters
casting ballots several times
along with minors who were al-
lowed to vote “instigated by sup-
porters of candidates. The so-
called “indelible ink” was easily
washed off with soap and water.
They also condemned the
harassment they experienced
from partisans outside polling
precincts notwithstanding their
display of Comelec-issued
identification cards.
In Manila, international ob-
servers saw poverty as major
election issue. Over in Tondo,
voters said they are “somewhat
frustrated that no one is doing
enough to stop the intensifying
poverty and demolition of ur-
ban poor communities in Metro
Manila.”

Salesians / from A3 Tidbits / A4

What the youth need nowadays are role models),”
Siapo added.
Youth minister Jason Dolosa of Sacred Heart of
Jesus Parish in Sta. Mesa, Manila saw a prevail-
ing problem with the youth in convincing them
to serve the Church.
“Madali kumuha ng mga kabataan kaso ang
problema ay paano mo sila papatagalin sa grupo, paano
mo sila papatagalin maglingkod, (It is easy to recruit
the youth but the problem is how to make them
stay and commit themselves to serve),” he said.
Nonetheless, they are optimistic that the tech-
niques and methods they learned through the
workshops and conferences of the three-day con-
gress will help them engage themselves effectively
in helping the youth deepen their spiritual and
moral growth.
Hence, the indissolubility of marriage is not
based on the subjective commitment of those
who contract it. It is intrinsic in the nature of
marriage bond itself as established by the Cre-
ator” (John Paul II, Catechesis, General Audi-
ence 21 November 1979, n. 2; ORE, 26 Novem-
ber 1979, p, 1).
People who contract marriage must be defini-
tively committed to it because marriage is such
in the plan of creation and of redemption. And
the essential juridical character of marriage is
inherent precisely in this bond which represents
for the man and for the woman a requirement
of justice and love from which, for their good
and for the good of all, they may not withdraw
without contradicting what God Himself has
wrought within them.
 CBCP Monitor
CBCP Monitor
A8 People, Facts & Places Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14 - 27, 2007

Radio Veritas 846 Launches

Official Website
RADIO Veritas 846 launched
its official website
www.veritas846.ph last April
26, 2007. Bishop Bernardino
Cortez, Auxiliary Bishop of
Manila and Chairman of the
Episcopal Commission on So-
cial Communication (ECSC) of
the Archdiocese of Manila
sponsored the event. Present
during the launching were Mr.
Samuel Sung, International
President of JobsDB, Ms. Jayjay
Viray, General Manager of the
JobsDB, and Rev. Fr. Anton
C.T. Pascual, Radio Veritas
Chief Operating Officer.
The event also coincided with
the 42n d Anniversary celebra-
tion of Radio Veritas 846 and
the signing of partnership con-
tract between Radio Veritas 846
and Jobsdb.
Prayers, and perseverance, as
well as the collaboration of
management, staff, and the
Daughters of St. Paul, helped
www.veritas846.ph became a
needs help and enlightenment
both from Church teachings
and counseling. Those who ac-
cess the website can also get
information on various social
issues that concern our nation.
Veritas logo
Since the launching of its new
logo on April 2005, Veritas has
been dreaming of putting up a
website to compliment the
Station’s logo. When Veritas’
homepage is opened, the
Veritas logo majestically zooms
in, with the words SUMAINYO
ANG KATOTOHANAN . This
expression actually serves as
parting words to listeners from
Veritas’ announcers as they end
their program or news report.
The phrase means the truth has
been announced; the Truth who
is Jesus Himself has been pro-
claimed; and, as a representa-
tion of truth which is the station
itself, the Station of Truth . The
word Makinig on the right side
with the logo since it is the ra-
dio station’s aim to be listened
to by all Catholic faithful.
Veritas envisions to be a God
centered Catholic radio indus-
try leader committed to evan-
gelization.
The website’s homepage is
highlighted with three types of
programming: Religious pro-
gram, Public Service for the
Poor, News and Social Con-
cerns. These three categories of
programs aim to reach Veritas’
target audience—Catholic
Faithful, Poor and Youth. As
the web visitor clicks the pro-
gram title, the visitor is led to
the schedule of program. The
next 3 columns are the main
modules of the station, the
Church News, Saints for the
Day, and Veritas Editorial.
Seeded with simple profile
and information of the station, CBCPWorld is one with the
Catholic World in celebrating
Veritas’ official website will soon
post live audio stream, in which
the program being aired live is

the 41st World Communications

reality. Veritas846 is now just a zooms in after the phrase. streamed through the web. (Sr.
click away to everyone who Makinig is also indispensable Gemma Ria F. dela Cruz, FSP)

CFA Celebrates 47 Years of Mission Day on May 20, 2007

CFA’s legacy of excellence and
inspiration lives on as it
reached its 47th founding an-

“The Children and the

niversary last May 4th.
Celebrating Foundation Day
just a day ahead of the birth-

Media: A Challenge for

day of the late CFA founder Fr
Cornelio Lagerwey raised the
spirits of CFA employees,

alumni and guests. Fr. Cor,
as he is fondly referred to by the CFA family,
was a Dutch Missionary of the Sacred Heart who
devoted the best years of his life to development
communication work in the Philippines until his
death in 1995. He began his communication mis-
sion in 1960, with the launch of the Philippine
edition of the Catholic Digest.
The program began at 2:00 in the afternoon
with a wreath-laying ceremony in memory of
Fr. Lagerwey, held at the CFA podium, where
his bust and commemorative marker are lo-
cated. CFA President Fr. Fil Pelingon celebrated
the holy mass inside the auditorium with CFA
Vice-President Fr. Jay-Ar Babor, MSC and Fr.
Stephen Cuyos, MSC. CFA Executive Director
Ms. Teresita Hemano gave an inspirational mes-
sage where she dwelt on the capacity of every
KC Names New Luzon Deputy
A KNIGHT known for
his promotions for voca-
tions to the priesthood is
now the newly appointed
Luzon Deputy of the
Knights of Columbus.
Alfonzo Lim-Tan, who
has been consistently ad-
vocating the promotion of
vocations being the Presi-
dent of the K of C Fr
George J. Willman Chari-
Alfonzo Lim-Tan ties, Inc. and K of C Phil-
ippines Foundation, Inc.,
will take charge the general welfare of the Luzon
Jurisdiction with particular emphasis on member-
ship and council growth.
Appointed on May 11, 2007, he will serve a 2-
year term starting this July to June 2009.
Education”
human person to strive more, even against the
odds. In fact, CFA’s decades of history have
proven an unrelenting commitment to human
development work. This year’s service
awardees, whose work at CFA has spanned five
to twenty-five years, attest to this love of mis-
sion. Employees who have shown punctuality
CBCPWorld, which has for its mission the making of
and diligence were also recognized. The pro-
gram concluded with the remarks of CFA Presi-
the internet as a new forum for proclaiming the
dent Fr. Pelingon.
At five in the afternoon, CFA held its annual
Gospel, is now on its 5th year.
sports festival championships. A component ac-
tivity of Foundation Day, the annual sportsfest
includes a series of games of basketball, volley-
It provides filtered broadband internet connectivity
ball, bowling and badminton. The employees
ended their celebration that evening with din-
via VSAT and IP Radio systems to over a hundred
ner and music. (cfamedia.org)
catholic schools, dioceses, congregations and
partners.
A significant part of his new assignment is also
to encourage volunteer for charitable activities of Other services:
districts and councils of the KC Luzon Jurisdiction.
Tan entered the K of C in 1977. In 1981 and 1986,
he was one of the recipients Manila Council 1000,
• Training in Systems administration, Web Designing,
Knights of the Year awardees. Educational Technology and many more
The new-elect Luzon deputy also became the
Most Outstanding District Deputy for K of C Luzon • Web Design, and Free Web hosting for religious and
jurisdiction in 1993.
State Deputies for the other two jurisdictions educational sites
were also appointed together with Mr. Tan, namely:
Dionisio Esteban, Jr.., for Visayas and Sofronio Cruz • Construction of local and wide area networks using WiFi
for Mindanao
The Knights of Columbus are Catholic gentle- technologies
men committed to the exemplication of charity,
unity, fraternity and defense of the priesthood. Visit our website:
Territorial deputies are appointed by the Su- www.cbcpworld.com or call (02) 404-2182 / 4041612
preme Knight and lead areas not yet incorporated
into State Councils (Denise C. Solina)

CELEBRATED. Jubilee of religious profes-
sion of the following Augustinian Recollect
Sisters. Diamond Jubilee: Sr. Lourdes
Tablizo, 81; Sr. Mary Matanguihan, 92;
Golden Jubilee: Sr. Candida Umali, Sr. Ma.
Leontina Mira, Sr. Ma. Goretti Cui, Sr. Ma.
Milagros Lucero, Sr. Ma. Leoncia Bandal. Sil-
ver Jubilee: Sr. Ma. Corazon Caberte, Sr.
Marilou Delmoro, Sr. Aurelia Pastidio and Sr.
Ma. Irma Castrodes; April 24, 2007. His Ex-
cellency, Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo, DD,
auxiliary bishop of Manila, presided the 10:00
AM Thanksgiving Mass at San Sebastian Ba-
silica, in Quiapo, Manila.
CELEBRATED. REV. FR.
JESUS M. MALIT, SSS, 25th
anniversary of ordination to
the priesthood, May 1, 2007
at Sta. Cruz Church. Fr. Malit
belongs to the Congregation
of the Blessed Sacrament, a
congregation of religious
men founded by St. Peter
Julian Eymard on May 13, 1856. Born on Decem-
ber 5, 1953 in Lubao, Pampanga, Fr. Malit earned
his college degree at Our Lady of the Angels
Seminary “Franciscans” in Novaliches in 1975.
He finished his theology from the Regional Ma-
jor Seminary of Davao City in 1981, and was or-
dained to the priesthood on May 1, 1982. He
earned his licentiate in Scriptures from the Pon-
tifical Biblical Institute in 1988, and obtained his
doctorate in Ministry from the Catholic Theologi-
cal Union in Chicago, USA in 2001. Afterwards,
he then went back to the Philippines where he
was made Local Superior of the Sta. Cruz com-
munity. He was elected provincial superior of
Our Lady of the Assumption Province—Philip-
pines, Hawaii and Uganda—in 2005.
Markings
CELEBRATED. Heart of Mary Villa, 50 th An-
niversary of foundation , May 2, 2007, Most
Rev. Deogracias Iñiguez, DD celebrated the Eu-
charistic celebration, with twelve other priests
concelebrating. Established by the Good Shep-
herd Sisters in 1957, the Maternity Home has
served over 5,000 pregnant girls and women
since its foundation. Women facing unwanted
pregnancies find loving alternatives for the ba-
bies they are bringing into the world: alterna-
tives to early marriage and abortion. At the
villa, women discover their innate talents and
parenting skills, as well as their capacity to
grow emotionally and spiritually. For babies
given up for adoption, temporary care is pro-
vided in a well-equipped nursery. Social ser-
vices and referrals are integral components of
the pre-and post adoption program. The Social
Welfare Administration approved these two-
pronged services on April 18, 1969. Since
then, accreditation has been maintained
through the triennial evaluations conducted
by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development.
CELEBRATED. Bro. Dominic Hernaez
Egida, SSP, 45th anniversary of Religious
Profession, May 19, 2007. Bro. Dominic is a
member of the Pious Congregation of the
Society of St. Paul, one of the five religious
institutes founded by Blessed James
Alberione. A native of Antique, Bro.
Dominic celebrated his anniversary in his
home town at San Juan de Nepomuceno
Parish, Anini-y, Antique with a thanksgiv-
ing mass presided by Most Rev. Romulo T.
de la Cruz, DD, bishop of the diocese of San
Jose de Antique.
 CBCP Monitor
• B2 • B4
The Priest’s Duty of Obedience to His Ordinary
• B3
7 Questions for Bishop Gabriel Reyes
• B5
B1
Vol. 11 No. 10 • May 14 - 27, 2007 Feature: The Diocese of Lucena Plan of Action: National Youth Coordinating Council

Pastoral Concerns
Flores de Mayo Photos courtesy of ECY

Not only flowers but pure minds and hearts
By Ben Carlo Atim
THE month of May signals the
grandiose and festive celebra-
tions of “fiestas” in different
places all over the country.
Likewise, May is also known
as the “Month of Mary”.
Along with these festivals
is the centuries-old Marian
practice of offering flowers and
prayers to Mary, also known
as Flores de Mayo, a tradition
that symbolizes
the deep
devo-
tion
Filipinos to the Blessed Virgin Divine Mercy. In this month of
Mary. In fact, the practice re- May, the group is capitalizing
minds us of the Virgin Mary’s on the long-honored practice of
purity as we offer flowers and offering flowers to the Virgin in
prayers to her. order to bring to the conscious-
In collaboration with ness of families and youth the
the Episcopal Commission on observance of moral values
Family and Life (ECFL) and especially chastity and purity.
Episcopal Commission on “We will ask the Fili-
Youth (ECY), the Friends of pino youth and Filipino families
Mary Mediatrix of All Grace not only to bring flowers to the
is spearheading a revival of images and shrines of Mary but
the traditional practice to bring pure hearts and minds
of Flores de Mayo, to church, to home, to school, to
as an opportunity work, and to wherever they go,”
to evangelize the the group said in a statement.
youth and fami- In a letter addressed to
lies on the need the clergy, religious and families
to practice chas- in his archdiocese ECFL Chair-
tity within and man Paciano Aniceto stressed
before mar- the pastoral significance of this
riage.” practice to the youth and fami-
The lies.
Friends of “The pastoral duty to form
Mary Me- the youth and families in ac-
diatrix of All cordance with Catholic values
Grace is an cannot be overemphasized
association of given the situation that secu-
a group of re- lar sex education has invaded
tired women campuses and schools,” Aniceto
who do the said in his letter.
rounds of var- In addition, new technologies
ious dioceses that have great attraction to
promoting the the youth, such as the internet,
devotion to the have served as conduits in the
proliferation of pornography
of which the young can easily
have access to.
In this context, Aniceto
stressed the importance of the
practice in forming “conscienc-
es consistent with authentic
Christian teaching, especially
those that concern human sexu-
ality and family life.”
Meanwhile, Episcopal Com-
mission on Youth Chairman
Bishop Joel Baylon calls the
attention of youth groups to
participate in this one month-
long celebration of Flores de
Mayo.
“I would like to encourage
the various youth groups in the
parishes all over the country to
support this worthy practice
and gather from it countless
graces that will help them grow
in the knowledge and filial de-
votion to our Blessed Mother,”
Baylon said.
Baylon also highlighted the
project’s line up of modules for
reflection and sharing on top-
ics that are very relevant and
timely for the youth today.
Noting that May is a month
where many of the young peo-
ple engage on various activities
that spell of fun and freedom,
Baylon stressed the importance
of allowing “this long-honored
and lovely Marian devotion to
fill some of the youth’s space
and time, and lead them ever
closer to Jesus through Mary.”
The Friends of Mary Me-
diatrix prepared a month-long
program to coincide with flower
offering. A meditation for each
day of the month that touches
on the topics of chastity and
purity has been prepared for
families.
Each day of the month, a
specific intention or point of
reflection on the topic of purity
is aired on nationwide radio
and television including video
streaming on the internet.
As a culminating activity,
the group is proposing to have
a Marian procession at the end
of May where every one is en-
couraged to present a spiritual
bouquet to Mary “composed of
our intentions, promises to stay
pure, offerings of sacrifices and
personal consecrations to the
Mediatrix of All Grace.”
Youth Ministry
—to be Where the Young People Are
By National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate
THOUGH the years, the CBCP Episcopal Commission on
Youth (ECY) has been engaged in organizing or helping put
together various youth ministry programs and initiatives.
Some of the most recent are the following:
1. “Witnessing to Christ in the world of work”: Ninth In-
ternational Youth Forum held on 27 March – 1 April 2007 in
Rocca di Papa, Rome, Italy.
The ECY, upon the invitation of the Pontifical Council
for the Laity (PCL), searched for two representatives of the
Philippines to the Ninth International Youth Forum (IYF).
The forum participants reflected on and discussed youth
ministry in the workplace. Ms. Juanita Rey of the Diocese of
Sorsogon and Ms. Karen Lei Talidano of the Archdiocese of
Davao were the official Philippine delegates.
2. “Just as I have
loved you, you also
should love one an-
other”: 2007 Visit
of the World Youth
Day Cross and Icon
of Our Lady on 1-6
March 2007 in the
Archdioceses of
Cebu, Jaro, Cagayan
de Oro, Lingayen-
Dagupan, Naga and
Manila.
The Philippines
is privileged to be one of the countries to be visited by the
WYD Cross and Icon of Our Lady prior to their year-long
pilgrimage around Australia, host-country of WYD 2008.
The ECY spearheaded the organization of this visit, assisted
by the valuable collaboration of the youth ministry offices of
the six host-archdioceses. People who came in contact with
these religious icons have expressed their sentiments of faith
and gratitude. More than promoting awareness about the
upcoming WYD 2008 in Sydney, this visit became a touching
experience of God’s dwelling with us.
3. Pilgrimage of Trust in Kolkata on 5-9 October 2006; Kol-
kata, India
The Pilgrimage of Trust in Kolkata was an international
meeting for young people, a step along the “pilgrimage of
trust on earth”, begun by the late Brother Roger, the founder
of the Taizé Commu-
nity. The aim of the
meeting is to support
young people in their
search for God and

The Jesuit Music Ministry

THE Jesuit Music Ministry (JMM), an official
ministry in the Philippine Province of the So-
ciety of Jesus, traces its roots to the pioneering
work of Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros SJ, who began
composing Filipino liturgical songs in response
to the mandate of Vatican II in the ‘60s.
Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium urged
the entire assembly to actively participate in
the liturgy which includes singing. From the
first song Fr. Honti composed for a group of
young boys and girls in Barangka, Marikina
to the songs composed by present generation
Jesuits and lay partners, JMM songs have been
sung in churches not only in the Philippines
but in the world.
The background of the Jesuit Music Minis-
try is Jesuit history itself. From the beginning
of its missionary work, the Society of Jesus
made its mark by contributing to Baroque
music played in churches and sung even in
Jesuit colleges. The first school of music in the
Western Hemisphere was a Jesuit school in Sao
Vicente in 1553. Mozart composed an opera
for the Jesuit College in Salzburg. Giovanni
Pierluigi da Palestrina was master of music
from 1566-1571 at the Jesuit Roman College,
now Gregorian University, in Rome.
But the biggest name is Domenico Zipoli
SJ, an Italian Baroque composer who studied
under Alessandro Scarlatti in Naples and
played as an organist in the Church of the Gesu
in Rome, and composed the famous, Sonate
d’intavolatura per organo e cimbalo. He entered
the Society of Jesus in 1716 and volunteered
to be sent to the Jesuit mission in Paraguay
where his musical expertise developed the
musical talents of the Guarani Indians in the
Paraguay Reductions.
The Paraguay Reductions was made popu-
lar by the 1986 British film, The Mission, starring
Jeremy Irons, Robert de Niro, Aidan Quinn
and Liam Neeson, which showed Guaranis
singing the music composed by the Jesuits who
manage their community. Fr. Zipoli’s music
has been discovered today in Chiquitos, Potosi
and Sucre in Bolivia—including masses, psalm
settings, office hymns. Domenico continues
to influence many composers that succeeded
him.
The succeeding years after the mandate
of Vatican II, the St. Louis Jesuits in the US
responded effectively, appropriating their
music to scriptural texts. We know these:
“Sing A New Song (Psalm 98)”, “Yahweh,
You are Near (Psalm 139)” and “Here I Am
Lord (Isaiah 6)”.
In the Philippines, the generation of compos-
ers inspired by Fr. Honti such as Frs. Fruto
Ramirez SJ (“Purihin ang Panginoon”), Nemy
Que SJ (“Mahal na Puso ni Hesus”), Charlie Cen-
zon SJ (“Awit ng Paghahangad”), Jboy Gonzales
SJ (“Panunumpa”), Arnel Aquino SJ (“Ito ang
Araw”) and Manoling Francisco (“Hindi Kita
Malilimutan”) followed suit composing also
inspirational melodies that draw insight from
By Fr. Jboy M. Gonzales SJ
contemporary music.
The Jesuits promoted the use of the arts
especially in schools because they believed that
schools were places of the imagination and of
the senses. And thus, the arts particularly mu-
sic, became part of Jesuit education. Ignatian
spirituality holds that God can be found in all
things, and that human creativity is of God
and can be used for God’s glory. St. Ignatius
placed a great role in the imagination and the
senses, and believed that these can bring a
person to God.
A case in point: An email was recently sent
to JMM from Nico Lariosa of Australia: “I
should say that the JMM-produced albums
have helped me a lot in coming to understand
God’s unconditional love since I came across
one copy of Himig Heswita in 1997. Ten years
later, I still find myself strongly moved by the
songs. I feel indebted to Hangad and Bukas Palad
for making me aware of my vocation ten years
ago through their music. God bless and keep
the music playing. You don’t know whom you
are drawing to God through them.”
So the Jesuit Music Ministry continues the
work of its predecessors. Today, JMM produc-
es around 50 albums of vocal and instrumental
religious music for use in prayer and worship
even for easy listening and relaxation. People
tell us that they use these songs to calm them
when they are on the road. They find listening
to our BukasPalad, Hangad, Himig Heswita and
Noel Cabangon albums inspiring. And they
use our instrumental albums such as Lauds,
Vespers, and Matins series as effective aids
to meditation and prayer. Our music and
their desire to com-
mit themselves to the
Church and society.
Trust and peace were
the central themes of
the meeting.
The Taizé Commu-
nity invited twelve
youth ministers from
the NSYA, the dioc-
esan youth ministries,
and the FNYO-mem-
ber organizations to
attend the event. Their
participation is also an
initial step for the Pilgrimage of Trust in the Philippines, to
be held sometime in 2009 or 2010.
4. “Youth, Hope of Asian Families”: Asian Youth Day 4 and
Asian Youth Ministers’ Meeting 4 on 28 July – 5
August 2006 and 5-9 August 2006 in the Diocese of Hong
Kong.
The AYD 4 gathered an estimate of 1,000 young people
from all over Asia. The ECY Chair and Co-Chair, Most Rev.
Joel Z. Baylon, DD and Most Rev. Patrick Buzon, SDB, DD,
respectively, led the Philippine delegation of sixty-four youth
and youth ministers. They were assisted by the ECY Execu-
tive Secretary, Fr. Conegundo B. Garganta, and by the NSYA
staff. The AYMM 4, gathering youth animators of the Asian
MTVs won awards at the Awit Awards and countries, was participated in by 7 Philippine representatives,
the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) spearheaded by Bishop Buzon and Fr. Garganta.
and are regularly shown in local television Aside from participation, the Philippine delegation was
channels. also represented in the drafting of the AYD 4 Statement, in
Aside from producing music, JMM began the animation of the liturgies, and in facilitating the workshop
expanding its services: training parish and on Family Spirituality and on Sexuality.
school choirs, giving liturgical music semi-
nars and staging concerts locally and abroad. 5. National Youth Bible Camp II – Ministers’ Edition on 24-
BukasPalad organized a Choir Convention 28 April 2006; Bukal ng Tipan, Taytay, Rizal.
at the Ateneo de Manila High School with The camp was co-organized by the Episcopal Commission
key speakers, Frs. Manoling Francisco SJ and for the Biblical Apostolate (ECBA), the ECY, and the Bukal
Carlo Magno. Hangad held a vocal training ng Tipan of the
workshop. Recently, JMM artists performed CICM Mission-
at Cubao’s Diocesan Youth Assembly at Christ aries. The vari-
the King Seminary, Quezon City and Fr. Jboy ous methods
Gonzales SJ taught a class on liturgical music in used to achieve
the 3rd John Paul II Catechetics & Youth Ministry the objectives of
Conference at the Don Bosco Technical Institute the program in-
in Makati City. cluded: prayer
Just as the past Jesuits immediately respond- sessions and
ed to the needs of their age, the Jesuit Music liturgies, Bible
Ministry now, while continuing its endeavors, studies and
hopes to respond more to the younger genera- sharings, pract-
tion which comprises 51% of the population of icum, work-
the Philippines. We hope that through God’s shops, group interaction, dances and other forms of artistic
grace we will be able to reach out to the youth expression, and others. All in all, the program presented and
through new music genres that would make developed basic means and skills in creating a ministry that
them active participants in the liturgy. is Bible-based and youth-friendly.
(The JMM music albums and songbooks are Some participants expressed their interest to have the
available at Tanging Yaman branches at the Ateneo same camp organized in their own regions. Their sentiment
de Manila University-Sonolux Building & Loyola shows the need for bringing the Word of God to young
House of Studies, SM Megamall B, Gateway Mall- people in ways that are accessible and meaningful to them,
2/L Concourse Area, and also at leading record and for skilled ministers who would do this with love and
stores nationwide. For more information, please call commitment.
the JMM office at 426-1023 or the JesCom office at Youth ministry / B4
426-5971 to 72, or visit www.jesuits.ph/jescom.)
 CBCP Monitor
B2 Updates Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14-27, 2007

Ending the
Morning and
Evening Prayer
and Some

© Philippe Lissac/Godong/Corbis
Questions About
Concelebrants Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers two questions: regarding the ending of morning and evening prayer,
and about concelebrants.

Q: We are a community of religious
who have perpetual adoration and
who pray morning prayer and eve-
ning prayer together. Morning prayer
is followed by the celebration of the
Eucharist, and evening prayer is often
followed by Benediction. Often our
chaplain is present for the morning
prayer and evening prayer and prays
the concluding prayer. Is this reserved
for the priest when he is present, and
if so, what is the blessing that he prays
after the concluding prayer? Our chap-
lain prays: “Let us bless the Lord,” to
which the assembly replies: “Thanks
be to God.” The other blessing -- “May
the Lord bless us and keep us from all
evil and lead us to everlasting life” --
seems more complete, yet I see in the
breviary that there is a dialogical form
for the priest and the assembly. I would
be grateful for some clarity regarding
the correct way to end the prayer of
the Church when prayed in common.
-- L.R., Dublin, Ireland
A: The situation described by our
reader would explain the actions of the
priest, which appear quite correct.
First of all, he should pray the closing
prayer as this is a presidential prayer
and should be prayed by the priest (see
No. 197 of the General Introduction).
The priest should also open the office
with the corresponding invocation, ei-
ther “Lord, open our lips,” if the invita-
tory psalm is prayed, or “O God, come
to our aid,” before morning prayer and
evening prayer.
He probably omits the blessing after
morning prayer because Mass is about
to begin, and it concludes with a bless-
ing and dismissal.
The blessing is omitted after the
concluding prayer of evening prayer
because blessings are never imparted
in the presence of the Blessed Sacra-
ment exposed as it is in the present
case. Thus there would be no blessing
even if Benediction did not take place
immediately after vespers.
In the cases described above, there
would be no concluding formula at all
if the office is immediately followed by
either Mass or Benediction. Therefore
the question as to the correct conclusion
would be moot.
If Benediction does not follow im-
mediately, but the Blessed Sacrament
is still exposed, then the correct conclu-
sion would be: “The Lord bless us, and
keep us from all evil, and bring us to
everlasting life.” To which all respond,
“Amen,” since this is not properly
speaking a blessing but an invocation.
If the Blessed Sacrament is reserved
before the office begins, then the priest
should bless and dismiss the assem-
bly as usual, using either the formula
proposed in the breviary or, if vespers
are celebrated with solemnity, one of
the solemn blessings taken from the
missal.
The formula “Let us praise the Lord”
and the response “Thanks be to God”
are not used for morning prayer and
evening prayer but for the office of read-
ings and the prayer during the day.
***
About concelebrants
One, from Pretoria, South Africa,
asked: “Does the concelebrant remain
seated for the concluding prayer of the
Offertory before proceeding to join the
main concelebrant at the altar at the
opening of the Preface?”
In interpreting the General Instruc-
tion of the Roman Missal (GIRM), one
has to remember that the different
forms of Mass are described in decreas-
ing detail.
That is, the Mass of a single priest is
described quite minutely. Elsewhere,
the Mass with a deacon, the concel-
ebrated Mass, and the Mass with
only one minister, usually only detail
what is different from the first form of
Mass. The overall presumption is that
whatever is not specifically mentioned
in these celebrations follows what is
described in the form of Mass with a
congregation.
Taking this into account we can see
two details from the GIRM.
No. 146 describes the posture to be
adopted for the offertory prayer: “Upon
returning to the middle of the altar, the
priest, facing the people and extending
and then joining his hands, invites the
people to pray, saying, ‘Orate, fratres’
(Pray, brethren). The people rise and
make their response: ‘Suscipiat Domi-
nus’ (May the Lord accept). Then the
priest, with hands extended, says the
prayer over the offerings. At the end the
people make the acclamation, Amen.”
No. 215 describes the movement of
concelebrants at this time: “After the
prayer over the offerings has been said
by the principal celebrant, the concel-
ebrants approach the altar and stand
around it…”
Since nothing is stated about when
the concelebrating priests stand, it is
reasonable to presume that they do so at
the same time as the people as indicated
in No. 146.
Also, liturgical tradition would never
condone anyone’s remaining seated
while the principal celebrant recited a
presidential prayer such as the prayer
over the gifts.
Another reader, from St. Paul, Min-
nesota, wrote: “I still have uncertainty
about concelebrating Mass with a large
group of priests. Do the concelebrants
have to receive bread consecrated
at that Mass to really have offered
Mass? And do the concelebrants have
to receive the Blood to have actually
celebrated Mass?”
We have dealt with a similar question
in an earlier column (see Oct. 12, 2004).
In short, the Mass would be valid but
illicit for the priests receiving the previ-
ously consecrated hosts or not receiving
the Precious Blood, except in special
cases of illness or alcoholism where a
dispensation has been granted (see June
7, 2005; and June 13 and 27, 2006).

The Priest’s Duty of Obedience

to His Ordinary
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
I AM writing on behalf of my Bishop about of the Ordinary. What is being disobeyed is
Fr. Z, a young and intelligent priest incardi- a legitimate command of the ordinary—i.e.,
nated to our diocese, who was given permis- something that is lawful and within his com-
sion sometime in 1996 to take up graduate petence to command.
studies in Europe. At the completion of the Preceptive just penalty. This is a point that
course—around 1999—he requested and many Bishops seem to miss. The purpose of
was given permission by our Bishop to Canon Law (or the Penal part of it) is precisely
proceed to the U.S. for further studies and to establish juridical firmness (stability) to the
experience. Sometime in 2001-2002, our ecclesial order. Thus, even if sanctions are
Bishop asked him to return to our diocese in the last resort, such resort is not only a right
order to exercise diocesan ministry. To our of the Pastor but many times can be a duty,
surprise, Fr. Z. refused—despite firm words precisely because what is at stake is the salus
The Catholic Media Network (CMN) Joins the World in from our Bishop—alleging commitments animarum— not only of the delinquent but
that he has made in the U.S. parish where also (perhaps more importantly) of the whole
Celebrating the 41st World Communications Sunday he is presently working. It appears further flock. Thus, for such crimes, the Codex makes
that the Parish priest in the U.S., with whom the imposition of the penalty by the Pastor
he is working, is supportive of his further preceptive—i.e., a matter of duty on the part
A Network of 48 Radio Stations Nation- Visayas stay there. What canonical options are open of the Pastor, even if he still can go against
wide Via Satellite 1. DYKA-AM - San Jose, Antique to my Bishop? it (since he is the one answerable to God for
2. DYOZ-FM - Iloilo City Two important canonical principles are in his flock)—with the use of the imperative
3. DYAF-AM - Bacolod question in this case: (1) The cleric’s duty of mood, in this particular case: Iusta poena
Luzon 4. DYAG-AM - Cadiz city residence in his ecclesiastical circumscrip- puniatur (“must be punished with a just
5. DYWC-AM - Dumaguete City tion.; and (2) the cleric’s duty of canonical penalty”). What is left to his discretion is the
6. DYRF-AM - Cebu City obedience to his Ordinary. We have recently kind of just penalty, but he is bound to inflict
1. DZEA-AM - Laoag City 7. DYDW-FM - Cebu City devoted two articles to the first principle in it: Puniatur!
2. DZPA-AM - Bangued, Abra 8. DYRD-AM - Tagbilaran City general; now we can focus on the more spe-
3. DWWM-FM - Bangued, Abra 9. DYRD-FM - Tagbilaran City cific case of disobedient absence. The Specific Case of Absence due to Studies
4. DZNS-AM - Vigan, Ilocos Sur 10. DYDM-AM - Maasin and Formation.
5. DWMX-AM - Santiago, Isabela 11. DYDW-AM - Tacloban The Duty of Canonical Obedience to the The Congregation for the Evangelization of
6. DWRV-AM - Bayombong, 12. DYVW-AM - Borongan Ordinary… Peoples issued an Instruction on the Send-
Nueva Vizcaya Clerics are bound by a special obligation to ing Abroad and Sojourn of Diocesan Priests
7. DZWT-AM - Baguio City Mindanao show reverence and obedience to the Supreme from Mission Territories on 25.IV.2001. Al-
8. DZWR-FM - Baguio City 1. DXGD-AM - Bongao Pontiff and to their own ordinary (c.273). though issued for mission territories strictly
9. DZUL-FM - La Union 2. DXMM-AM - Jolo, Sulu The theologico-canonical basis of this special speaking, the criteria contained are relevant
10. DZWM-AM - Alaminos, 3. DXVP-AM - Zamboanga obligation is the very nature and identity of to the case under consideration.
Pangasinan 4. DXMS-AM - Cotabato City the ordained minister, who is ordained (the First of all, the Instruction states that as
11. DWTJ-FM - Alaminos, 5. DXOL-FM - Cotabato City sacramental moment) to be at the service of a general rule, what is sanctioned by c.283,
Pangasinan 6. DXND-AM - Kidapawan a specific ecclesiastical (hierarchical) circum- §1 is reiterated. The Congregation for the
12. DZJO-FM - Baler, Aurora 7. DXDM-FM - Kidapawan scription, a service which is concretized, mod- Evangelization of Peoples requires that all
13. DWJO-AM - Infanta, Quezon 8. DXOM-FM - Koronadal erated and coordinated by the Bishop who is Bishops and diocesan Priests strictly observe
14. DWVR-AM - Nueva Ecija 9. DXDD-AM - Ozamis City the Pastor of that particular flock (through the above canon. The Instruction then pro-
15. DZRV-AM - Manila 10. DXDD-FM - Ozamis City the missio canonica). So important is this fact ceeds to specifics, and we quote the pertinent
16. DWVM-FM - Lucena 11. DXCP-AM - Gen. Santos City that it can rightly be said that the priest can- texts as follows:
17. DWAM-FM - Batangas City 12. DXDB-AM - Malaybalay not act ecclesially without his Bishop: nihil
18. DXVT-AM - San Jose, Mindoro 13. DXGN-FM - Davao sine Episcopo. Norms for the sending abroad of ordained
19. DWBS-AM - Lepaspi City 14. DXHM-AM - Mati, Davao Oriental Thus, “unless they are excused by a le- priests for further studies:
20. DZGN-FM - Sorsogon 15. DXNS-AM - Surigao City gitimate impediment, clerics are bound to Art. 4 - The diocesan Bishop who receives
undertake and faithfully fulfill a duty which a priest student from mission territories into
has been entrusted to them by their Ordinary” his own Diocese should make sure that a pre-
(c.274,§2). cise agreement has been reached, as specified
above, with the Bishop who is sending the
…and the Canonical Crime of Disobedience priest for further studies.
With the above norms, canonical disobedi- Art. 5 -The Bishop who is accepting priest
ence is therefore typified as a crime by c.1371, students into his Diocese is obliged to provide
2º: The following are to be punished with a spiritual assistance for them by inserting them
just penalty: a person who wrongly does not into the diocesan pastoral plan, ensuring that
otherwise comply with the legitimate pre- they participate in the life of the Presbyterate
cepts or prohibitions of the Apostolic See, the and accompanying them with fatherly care.
Ordinary or the Superior and who persists in Art. 6 - In the eventuality of grave problems,
disobedience, after a warning. The elements this same Ordinary, after having discussed
of the crime are the following: them with the Bishop of the said priest, must
Persistence in disobedience, juridically veri- take adequate measures that may even result
fiable after a warning. It is understood that in the termination of permission to remain in
only one formal warning is necessary. that Diocese.
Non-compliance with a legitimate precept The Priest’s / B6
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May14-27, 2007
The Beginning of a New Era
The Catholic faith first came to
the diocese in the latter part of the
16 th century through the Francis-
can missionaries who established
the center of faith in the parish of
Tayabas, Quezon.
Later on, other Franciscan mis-
sionaries preached the Gospel to
the towns of Mauban, Sariaya,
Gumaca, and others. It can be said
without fear of contradiction that
this province was built and orga-
nized by the Franciscans, who left
their footprints in the people’s
culture and way of life.
Then, the province was admin-
istered by the Bishop of Nueva
Caceres. In 1910, the province of
Tayabas (now Quezon) became
part of the Diocese of Lipa. That
annexation lasted up to August
12, 1950.
Within that period, the faith
spread and the Church flourished.
The ministry of shepherding the
flock became laborious and intri-
cate due to geographical distances.
Msgr. Alfredo Verzosa, then Bish-
op of Lipa, signaled the coming
of a new era for the province by
establishing a Minor Seminary in
the town of Tayabas in 1942. He
placed it under the protection of
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
That seminary was the first stone in
the building of a diocese that took
shape in 1950.
Canonical Erection of the
Diocese
In September 1950 the
Papal Bull “Quo aeter-
nae dominici gregis” an-
nouncing the erection
of the new diocese
of Lucena, was read
before a huge crowd
that gathered in
the Cathedral of
Lucena. By virtue
of this announce-
ment, the terri-
tories o f Q u ezo n
(excluding Infanta and
neighboring towns) and
Marinduque became the
new Diocese of Lucena.
Witnessing the his-
torical event were Most
Rev. Rufino J. Santos,
who was proclaimed
Apostolic Administra-
tor of the new diocese,
and Most Rev. Alfredo Ma.
Obviar, Auxiliary Bishop
of Lipa. Some forty priests
were also present during
the event.
There were thirty-six priests,
thirty-four parishes, and a minor
seminary at the time of the canon-
ical erection of the new Diocese of
Lucena.
The First Residential Bishop
Most Rev. Alfredo Ma. Obviar
(now Servant of God), was for-
mally appointed as the first
bishop of Lucena in June 1969.
Among the historic events under
the period of Bishop Obviar’s
shepherding of the diocese includ-
ed the following: the establishment
of the Third Order of Carmelite
Discalced in the diocese in 1954;
the transfer of Most Holy Rosary
Seminary (now Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel Seminary) to its present
site in Sariaya, Quezon in 1955;
the foundation of the Missionary
Catechists of St. Therese of the In-
fant Jesus (MCST) in 1958; and the
formal opening of St. Alphonsus
School of Theology in 1972.
Bishop Obviar retired in 1976,
after more than 25 years of dedi-
cated service to the local Church.
The Most Rev. Jose T. Sanchez (now
Cardinal), then Coadjutor Bishop
of Lucena, formally took posses-
sion of the Diocese on October 19,
1976 after being proclaimed second
bishop of Lucena.
In 1978, the whole province of
Marinduque was created a separate
diocese, now the Diocese of Boac.
The First Diocesan Synod of
Lucena
The First Synod of Lucena on
April 24-27, 1979, was marked
within the incumbency of Bishop
Sanchez. He planned the Synod to
take place in the beginning of his
administration in order that it may
serve as springboard and founda-
tion of the pastoral programs of the
diocese within the next ten years
or till the next synod. Being the
first Synod to be held in the Phil-
ippines after the Second Vatican
Council, it had as primary objec-
tive the renewal of the diocese by
directing and ordering the pastoral
programs, as well as her primary
structures together with their re-
spective duties and activities in
accord with the Second Vatican
Council.
The Fruits of the First Synod
With the appointment of Bishop
Sanchez as the Archbishop of
The Diocese of Lucena
‘Nomen Domini Invocabo’
By Alwin Racelis
Nueva Segovia (Vigan, Ilocos Sur),
the Most Rev. Ruben T. Profugo,
then Auxiliary Bishop of Lucena,
was elected Vicar Capitular of the
Diocese. On May 15, 1982, Bishop
Profugo was appointed as the new
bishop of the Diocese of Lucena.
He formally took possession of the
diocese as its third bishop on July
13, 1982.
In 1984, the Diocese of Gumaca,
comprising the eastern part of Que-
zon Province, was created.
The early years of the administra-
tion of Bishop Profugo were marked
by zealous efforts to allow the fruits
of the First Synod of Lucena perme-
ate the ecclesial life and mission
of the diocese. The multifarious
aspects of ecclesial life were each
given adequate attention includ-
ing, among others, the diocesan
structures, the presbyteral and
religious communities, and the role
of the laity both as individuals and
as organized groups.
In succeeding years, the Diocese
of Lucena has been an image of a
Church persistently renewing her-
self to further become a particular
Church whose members desire to be
united and to grow in faith.
The Golden Jubilee
The Diocese of Lucena celebrated
its golden jubilee in 2000. The
golden jubilee celebration has
been a privileged occasion for the
particular Church to “remember the
past with gratitude, live the present
with enthusiasm, and look forward to
the future with confidence.” It was a
fitting moment, marked by festive
and solemn celebrations, to recog-
nize the unfailing presence of God
and the invaluable contributions
of certainly not only a handful of
priests, religious, and laity who
have left their marks in the life and
mission of the diocese for the past
fifty years.
On May 4, 2002, the Holy Father
appointed the Most Rev. Emilio Z.
Marquez, then Bishop of Gumaca,
as Coadjutor Bishop of Lucena
and Apostolic Administrator of
Gumaca. Bishop Marquez formally
took possession of the diocese as
its fourth Bishop on November 4,
2003.
The Second Diocesan Synod
Diocese B3
Second Synod of Lucena be given
concrete expression in the circum-
stances of her life, mission, and
witnessing as a particular Church.
After the Second Synod clarified
that the primary pastoral thrust and
duty of the diocese have something
to do with the Basic Ecclesial Com-
munities (Munting Sambayanang
Kristiyano), the criterion of deter-
mining the growth of the diocese
becomes much clearer now. Consid-
eration must therefore go beyond
structures, programs, plans, and
numbers. What must remain alive
in the vision of all in the diocese is
the desired kind of life as followers
of Christ—a life that is concretized
in the Basic Ecclesial Communi-
ties.
Such kind of vision is gradually
finding its concrete expression in
the present pastoral activities in
the diocese which include, among
others, the formation and train-
ing of the Lingkod-Manggagawang
MSK and Pangkat-Manggagawang
MSK, the formation of the MSK
Coordinating Council bot h i n t he
d io c e s a n a n d p a r o c h i a l le ve l s,
the rest ruct uri ng of the Diocesa n
Cou ncil of t he Lait y a nd t he Pa r-
ish Pastoral Cou ncil redi rect i ng
t h e i r at t e nt ion to a nd d raw i ng
m o r e a c t i ve i n vo l ve m e n t f r o m
t he BECs—all for t he pu r pose of
r e i nv ig o r at i n g t h e f a it h -l i f e o f
t he members of BECs a nd propa-
gat i ng it as t he new i mage of t he
diocese…a Chu rch i n renewal.
Photo courtesy of Lucena Diocese
Complementing this kind of ap-
proach is the Christian Stewardship
Program, which the presbyterium,
led by Bishop Ma rquez, is persis-
tently propagating in all parishes
of t he diocese. Wit h t he out pou r-
i ng of support f rom Cat holic lay-
The Cathedral of Lucena leaders, t he said prog ram is able
to lead fam ilies comprisi ng BECs
to actively share their time, talent,
a nd t reasure toward the buildi ng
up a nd cont i nued g rowt h of t he
IMPORTANT FACTS pa rt icula r Chu rch.
Bishop …………………........ 1 With Parochial Vicars ... As we jou r ney toget her i n re-
Retired Bishop ……..…....... 1 12 spondi ng to t he call for renewal,
Priests Entrusted to Diocesan t he con f idence t h at t he ent i re
Filipino …………...........109 Clergy ....................... 34
d i o c e s e s h a l l n o w a n d a l w ay s
Foreign …………............. 1 Educational Centers
b e g at h e r e d i n u n it y a n d l ove
Sisters College ......................... 2
Filipino ………............. 161 High School ………..... 17 en l iven s t he hope t h at t here
awa it s a g lor iou s rea l i z at ion of
Foreign ...……................. 4 Elementary ……………13
Catechists Kindergartens ………...15 the communal action for the good
Salaried ………….......... 16 of t he Chu rch. Tremendous chal-
Volunteers ……........... 579 Institutions lenges i ndeed lie a head, but we
Seminarians Hospital ……………...... 1 t r ust i ngly place ou r hope i n t he
Theology ………........... 16 Printing Press ……….... 1 assista nce of h i m who said, I am
Philosophy …….......…. 30 Radio Station ………..... 1
with you always to the e nd of age
Pre-College ………....... 8 Diocesan Newspaper ... 1
(Mt. 28:20). Such reliance on God’s
High School ……........ 69 Social Action Cente....... 1
prom ise, wh ich ever ybody—f rom
Diocesan Divisions Healing Center …….... 1
Episcopal Districts......... 4 t he bishop, priests, relig ious, to
the last layperson—in the diocese
Vicariates ……….......... 9 Population ……….. 976,535
Parishes ……............... 34 Catholics …………. 849,586 sh a r e s, i s v iv id ly show n i n t he
With Resident Pastor ... 34 Area ……….... 34.59 sq. kms. mot to of Bishop Ma rquez, “I will
c a l l o n t h e Na m e o f t h e L o r d”
(Nomen Domini Invocabo).
After a thorough examination of
the present condition and pastoral
needs of the diocese, Bishop Mar-
quez decided to pursue the holding
of the Second Synod of Lucena on
June 7-11, 2004. While being cog-
nizant of the bountiful fruit of the
First Synod held some twenty-five
yea r s ago, t he d io ce s e i s awa re
that she cannot remain unaffected
by the many changes taking place
around her and the new challenges
that she has to face at the onset of
the new millennium. In light of the
many contradictions marking the
society, the diocese saw the need
to come out w it h hu m i l it y a nd
openness to meet the challenge of
improving her pastoral and mis-
sionary approach.
In order to realize the desired
renewal, the diocese has, through
the Second Synod, aimed her focus
at and directed her thrust to the Ba-
sic Ecclesial Communities (BECs),
wh ic h, accord i ng to t he S e cond
Plenary Council of the Philippines,
a re the concrete expression of a
Church in renewal. This has, from
the beginning, inspired all efforts
in the synodal preparations and
proceedings as the diocese adopted
the following mission-statement:
“We, the priests, religious, and laity of
the Diocese of Lucena, are called upon
to build up a community of the dis-
ciples of Christ, be formed in the spirit
of the Gospel and example of Mary, the
model disciple, renew the community
to become a genuinely Church of the
Poor, and intensify the formation,
edification, and spread of the Basic
Ecclesial Communities (BECs) as the
new image of our Diocese.”
The synod—which was held at the
Mother of Good Counsel chapel at
the St. Alphonsus Regional Semi-
nary in Lucena City and attended
by about 246 priests, religious wom-
en, and lay-leaders representing the
parishes of the diocese, religious
institutions, and various Catholic
communities—has borne as its ini-
tial fruits nine synodal documents
and hundreds of resolutions. These
were confirmed and ordered pro-
mulgated in the diocese by Bishop
Marquez through a decree issued
in February 2005.
The Hope That Sustains Us
The diocese sincerely desires
that the ideals and directives of the
 CBCP Monitor
B4 Features Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14-27, 2007

7 QUESTIONS for
Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, DD
Most Rev.
Gabriel V.
Reyes, DD was
appointed third
bishop of An-
tipolo on De-
cember 7, 2002.
In this issue of
CBCP Moni-
tor, the bishop
shares about
the various
concerns in his
diocese such as
addressing the
situation of the
poor, participa-
tion in politics
as part of the
social agenda
of the Church,
the problem of
gambling, the
family and life program, social costs of migration, situation
of vocations in the diocese, and the ongoing formation of
the clergy.
HOW is the social con- The proliferation of all
cern agenda of the forms of gambling in
church being observed the Antipolo vicinity is a
in your diocese? growing concern for the
local Church. How is this
The Diocese of Antipolo being addressed?

The Desert Journey

follows in general the Vi-
sion-Mission of the Philip-
pine Church: the Vision is to
be a community of disciples
and a Church of the Poor; the
Mission is integral evange-
lization whose components
are catechesis, liturgy, and
social action. We have a Di-
ocesan Social Action Center
and every parish has a Par-
ish Social Action Center.
The social action activities
they do can be classified
into charitable (dole-outs),
developmental (livelihood
projects, skills training, etc.)
and liberational (action for
justice, conscientization,
etc.).
At present, the social ac-
tion activities of our dioc-
esan social action center are
organizing BEC’s in some
parishes, micro-finance
lending, Botika ng Bayan,
Hapag-asa, relief and reha-
bilitation during typhoons
or fire, etc. The diocese has
a house for elderly indi-
gents, and has provided the
lot for Tahanang Walang
Hagdanan (a house
We continue preaching
against it. We write or talk
to the Governor, the may-
ors and even to President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
expressing our opposition
to it. We encourage groups
to go to court, questioning
the right of casinos to be
established in communities
that are against casinos. We
hold rallies.
How is the family and
life program in your dio-
cese?
We have a Diocesan Min-
istry for Family Life. In the
diocesan level, seminars re-
garding family life like SAFE,
are held.
Every parish has a family
life ministry, applying to the
parish the diocesan family life
program, for example, teach-
ing the different methods of
natural family planning.
We have organizations pro-
moting family life, like the
Couples for Christ, CFM, etc.
Fr. Ben Barrameda
The Journey Queries Malankara and Chaldeans—all united in the in Kuwait.
same faith. Among them, the largest group Unlike in other mission territories which
Who is with you in your life’s journey? consists of those belonging to the Latin have intact Catholic communities, we have
Are Jesus and Mary with you? Like the two Rite or what is called the Western Catholic here scattered recipients like working people
disciples on the road to Emmaus, what are Church. In Kuwait, the Latin faithful come with irregular time and duties, mixed reli-
you talking about on the way? What is the from India, the Philippines and other Arab gions and nationalities. We are attending
content of your conversations? While on the States; a small number are from Europe, more to the workers in the malls and shops,
road, what are you doing? Which place are Africa, America, other Asian countries and their accommodations and families.
you heading for? Who is in that place? What the Far East. Usually we gather in family units for the
is your goal in life? On the occasion of the First Pastoral Visit celebration of the Word and other spiritual
I officially joined the Vicariate Apostolic of His Excellency Camillo Ballin, the Catholic activities. We have Marian devotions in
of Kuwait on 31st of July 2006. Kuwait Bishop of the Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait the said mission areas, like the Our Lady
has three Catholic parishes, The Holy on February 23, 2007, he inaugurated the of Manaoag; and one of the Mission-Arms
Family Cathedral, The St. Therese Parish AFANA mission. I have been put in-charge is the Our Lady of Peñafrancia--INA nin
in Salmiya, Kuwait and The Our Lady of of this mission since August 25, 2006. Kabikolan which was established on Sep-
Arabia Parish, Ahmadi. The Clergy that AFANA stands for Ahmadi, Fahaheel and tember 16, 2006 in Kuwait.
regularly minister to these parishes is Neighboring Areas under the Our Lady of We are still in the Dialogue of Life phase
composed of one bishop and of the BEC. We use to visit the
eleven priests. There are three
religious congregations doing
Say not, ‘I am too young.’ To recipients where they could jour-
ney with us in this mission work.
their apostolate here in Kuwait, We are still journeying and look-
the Salesians of Don Bosco, the whomever I send you, you shall ing for the people in need of our
Apostolic Carmel Congregation, spiritual service. It is not an easy
go; whatever I command you,

7
for paraplegics) in
Cainta and also a lot
for a Medical Clinic
run by the Camil-
lian Fathers. The
Shrine of Our Lady
of Peace and Good
Voyage (Antipolo)
has a scholarship
program for around
QUESTIONS
100 students.
The parishes have their
own social action activities
in the parish level ranging
from the charitable to the
liberational.
During these May 14 elec-
tions, the diocese is in charge
of Namfrel, PPCRV, and
Vote-Care of NASSA. The
bishop is the diocesan chair-
man of the three agencies
and the parishes provide
the man-power for the three
aforementioned agencies.
Would you consider par-
ticipation in politics as
part of the social concern
agenda of the Church?
Yes. By politics, I mean the
science or art of government.
As the Church has the duty
to teach morality regarding
any human activity, it has
the duty to preach morality
in politics. More so, because
the government has a very
important role [to fulfill]
in obtaining the common
good of society. Government
can cause so much harm or
so much good to society.
“Gaudium et Spes, 76”
says “she also has the right
to pass moral judgments,
even on matters touching
the political order whenever
basic personal rights or the
salvation of souls make such
judgments necessary.”
Of course, the Church
should not be involved in
partisan politics or should
not be directly involved in
Statistics from
ECMI show An-
tipolo is one of
the dioceses
that has the
highest num-
ber of migrants
deployed over-
seas. How does
this phenom-
enon affect the
situation of families, es-
pecially the youth in your
diocese?
The Diocese of Antipolo is
not the highest but only third
in the number of overseas
Filipino workers.
Overseas employment of
Filipinos has brought much
economic gains to the coun-
try. Unfortunately it has its
social costs: broken families,
children not well reared, etc.
We have a migration desk
in our Diocesan Social Ac-
tion Center and the priest in
charge tries to put up WOW
or HOW (wives or husbands
of overseas workers) groups
in the parishes. He coordi-
nates with the Family Life
Apostolate regarding the
pastoral care of families of
overseas workers.
How is the situation of vo-
cations in the diocese?
We have a number of
vocations for the priesthood
but not enough. To increase
the number of priestly ordi-
nations we recently put up
a Minor Seminary. We are
starting with first year high
school. Out of 103 appli-
cants, we admitted 53.
How is your program for
the ongoing formation of
your clergy?
Every other month we
invite experts to talk to us
who both run schools; and the task to do mission in this Muslim
Sisters of the Rosary Congre- country but we are dedicated,
gation. The Nuncio resides at
the Vatican Embassy with the
you shall speak. Have no fear and convinced that God is with
us. We are doing our ministry to
Filipino First Secretary, Msgr. reach out to others, to share the
Arnie Catalan.
before them, because I am with good news and to let the love of
Presently, I am ministering the God be felt by all despite our very
migrants especially the overseas you to deliver you, says the limited capacity.
Filipino workers (OFWs) here in
Kuwait City. I have been exer- LORD. (Jeremiah 1:7-8)
Very soon, we shall be having
the Parish Renewal Experience
cising my pastoral care ministry (PREX) as our formation tool in
for the stranded and distressed carrying and sustaining the pro-
OFWs in the Philippine Overseas Labor Arabia Parish, Ahmadi Kuwait. grams of this AFANA Mission.
Office, in Jabriya Kuwait since February This AFANA Mission in Kuwait was ini- The Bishop, the Clergy, the AFANA Mis-
8, 2006. tially designed and initiated to cater to all sion Team and Lay Faithful of Kuwait ask
The Catholic Church is the largest among Filipino Catholics (but now, the mission is your prayers and support in this noble work
the groups of Christians in Kuwait. The open to all Catholics) in far places especially of ministering to the spiritual and moral
community is a picturesque mosaic of multi- near the oil refineries and commercial areas needs of our brothers and sisters especially
national, multi-cultural and multi-lingual where mostly our brothers and sisters have in this foreign land.
migrant workers. More importantly, the no time and means to go to Church every All of us are in a journey towards eternal
community reflects the diversity and rich- Sunday and Holy days. This is really hap- life. We are all pilgrims in this world and
ness of the Universal Church as there are pening because of work load, lack of rest and together we travel towards our true home
an estimated 300,000 Catholics belonging financial constraints to pay for a ride going in heaven to be with God all the days of
to different Rites—Latin, Maronite, Greek to the Church. our life.
Catholic, Coptic Catholic, Syrian Catholic, The thrust of this mission is the forma- (Fr. Ben Barrameda is a 32-year old priest originally
Armenian Catholic, Syro-Malabar, Syro- tion of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) from the Diocese of Legazpi, Philippines).
Youth Ministry / from B1
6. Taizé Intercontinental Meet- bay, the Church document on youth ministers and young in informal, new, and emerging
ings youth ministry. More and more people who have joined the settings, through varied and
Every year, the Taizé Com- people, even those from minis- journey of youth ministry in its even unconventional means
munity invites youth ministers tries other than youth ministry, various levels for twenty years. (e.g. website, multimedia, cha-
from the Philippines to stay in have expressed appreciation of The year 2006 has spelt twenty trooms, edu-tainment, etc.).
Taizé for three months for im- the book. Through Unang Hak- years of existence for the ECY. Youth ministry is an ecclesial
mersion in its life: helping in the bang, many youth ministers If we were to look at its pasto- ministry to ALL youth, whether
welcome of young people who now speak a common language ral work, the ECY has indeed they are within the Church, or
come to Taizé, interacting with and manifest a clearer and more responded to this very special have gone out of it, or are still
fellow ministers, and engaging unified understanding of youth ministry. But this is not where to be reached out to. We hope
in prayer and activities aimed ministry, that is translated into the celebration ends. to be there where the young
at deepening their faith-journey a more cohesive and collabora- people are, no matter how for-
and ministry. tive way of doing ministry. … Moving Forward midable the challenges might
For the year 2006, 8 youth This sharing is brought to In the years to come, and be. We shall strive to enter their
ministers from each of the fol- life more vividly by the vari- especially in the light of its world, as we as a Church have
lowing dioceses were invited: ous collaborative efforts that upcoming silver anniversary in proclaimed 10 years after PCP
the Archdioceses of Lipa and the ECY entered into. Filipino the year 2011, the ECY dreams II. And after we do, we hope to
Manila, the Dioceses of Ba- youth ministers have been ac- to venture into a new course: bring Christ to them that they
colod, Novaliches, Pasig, and tively involved in preparing to reach out to young people may meet him, help them grow
Sorsogon, the Prelature of Lib- and organizing youth and who are not only within the into a relationship with him, so
manan, and the Military Ordi- youth ministry events, both at Church’s structures and in oth- that they, in turn, may inspire
nariate. Staying with the Taizé the national and international er formal settings (i.e. schools, others to enter into the same
Community at present are 4 levels. A stronger link is now campuses, etc.), but also to those experience.
youth ministers who come from established by the ECY with
the Dioceses of Malaybalay, institutions that minister to the
Masbate and Tagbilaran, and youth (e.g. Youth Desk of the
the Prelature of Infanta. FABC-Office of Laity and Fam-

We are just a click away...

politics. She should not in-
terfere in politics when the
issue or question involved
is not about morality say,
for example, about which
is more efficient or about
which is the better economic
program, etc.
regarding theology, psychol-
ogy, spirituality, liturgy,
the Bible, etc. Of course, we
have our recollections and
our annual retreat. We send
our priests to the renewal
programs of the CBCP Com-
mission on the Clergy.
For the period 2005-2006,
youth ministry highlights the
spirit of “sharing of gifts.” It
is a challenge and a call for ev-
eryone in the ministry. Within
the Philippine context, more
and more Church workers,
especially youth ministers,
became more aware of Ka-Lak-
ily, Youth Section of the PCL,
Fondacio-Asia, etc.), and with
the other CBCP commissions
(e.g. ECBA, ECCCE, ECFL,
• www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
etc.).
• www.cbcpworld.com/cbcpnews
Indeed, we have seen the
• www.cbcpworld.com/cinema
emergence of a youthful and
vibrant Philippine Church,
thanks to our predecessors:
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May14-27, 2007
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
The month of May began
several days ago. For many
Christian communities this is
the Marian month par excel-
lence. As such, in the course of
the centuries it has become one
of the peoples’ dearest devo-
tions and has been valued by
pastors as a propitious occasion
for preaching, catechesis and
community prayer.
After the Second Vatican
Statements B5
of Latin America and the Ca-
ribbean.
This fifth general conference
will begin next Sunday in the
great national shrine of Our
Lady of Aparecida, in the city
of the same name. Before this,
however, I will travel to the
metropolis of São Paulo, where I
will meet the young people and
bishops of Brazil and have the
joy to register Frei Antonio de
Sant’Anna Galvão in the book

Council, which emphasized the
role of Mary most holy in the
Church and in salvation history,
Marian devotion underwent
a profound renewal. And the
month of May, coinciding at
least in part with the Easter sea-
son, is quite propitious for illus-
trating the figure of Mary as the
Mother who accompanies the
community of disciples united
in prayer in expectation of the
Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:12-14).
Consequently, this month can
be an occasion to return to the
faith of the primitive Church
and, in union with Mary, un-
derstand that our mission even
today is to proclaim and bear
witness with courage and joy
to Christ crucified and risen, the
hope of humanity.
© CEZARO DE LUCA/epa/Corbis
of saints.
This is my first pastoral visit
to Latin America and I am
preparing myself spiritually to
visit the continent where almost
half the Catholics of the whole
world, many of them young
people, live. It is for this reason
that Latin America has been
given the name “continent of
hope”: It is a hope that has to do
not only with the Church, but
with the whole of America and
On Mary’s Month
the entire world.
Dear brothers and sisters, I
“Pray for This Apostolic Pilgrimage”
invite you to pray to Mary most
holy for this apostolic pilgrim-
to Brazil
age and, in particular, for the (Address Benedict XVI delivered on May 6, 2007 before reciting
5th General Conference of the the Regina Caeli at St. Peter’s Square.)
Episcopate of Latin America
and the Caribbean, so that all Vatican’s Address to U.N. on Population
the Christians of those regions

I would like to entrust to
the Holy Virgin, Mother of the
Church, my apostolic voyage
to Brazil March 9-14. As did my
venerable predecessors, Paul VI
and John Paul II, I will preside
at the opening of the General
Conference of the Episcopate
National Youth Coordinating Council 2007
may see themselves as disciples
and missionaries of Christ, the
way, the truth and the life. Many
and multiple are the challenges
of the present: This is why it
is important that Christians be
formed to be a “ferment” of
good and a “light” of holiness
in our world.
I greet all the English-speak-
ing pilgrims and visitors here
today. Today’s Gospel reminds
us that love is at the heart of
all Christian discipleship. Dur-
ing this Easter season may we
strengthen our desire to bear
“Promote a Culture
witness to Christ’s love in our
lives. This Wednesday I leave
for my pastoral visit to Brazil. I
ask all of you: please accompany
me with your prayers! Upon
each of you present and your
families, I invoke God’s bless-
Respectful of the
ings of peace and wisdom.
Rights of the Least-
protected”
(Statement delivered April 10 by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy

Plan of Action
See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, at the 40th session of
the Commission on Population and Development of the U.N. Economic
and Social Council.)

“Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and live it” [Luke 11:28]
To the Episcopal Commission on Youth of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-
ippines, and to our fellow youth ministers
in the dioceses, and member organizations
of the Federation of National Youth Orga-
nizations,
WE, members of the National Youth Co-
ordinating Council 2007, coming from the
(10) Regional Youth Coordinating Councils
of the Philippine Catholic Church, have
gathered in the Diocese of Balanga this 30
January – 2 February 2007 to listen, reflect,
discuss, share, and pray together on issues
and topics concerning youth ministry. We
have chosen the Gospel verse “Blessed are
they who hear the Word of God and live it”
[Lk. 11:28] as our theme, as we hope that it
will illumine the path we will take as minis-
tering individuals and communities.
We have come together the past three days
not only as a response to the invitation of the
Episcopal Commission on Youth, but also as
an expression of our continued journeying
together in our desire to be united, purpose-
ful, and effective in the ministry entrusted
to us by the Lord.
Closest to our hearts and foremost in our
minds as fruit of our reflection and sharing
is the good of the young people to whom
we were sent to serve. Our reflection and
sharing have led us to identify concerns
related to these situations. As we discussed
these concerns, we allowed ourselves to be
moved by the Word of God as source and
strength in the ministry.
Our resolution-making was guided by the
three goals of youth ministry in the Philip-
pine Catholic Church:
Goal 1: To establish and strengthen the
youth’s relationship with Christ
Goal 2: To provide opportunities for
personal growth
Goal 3: To encourage community in-
volvement
We rejoice in the various efforts and ac-
tivities which actualize these goals, while
we embrace the challenge of consciously
guiding ourselves with these goals in all
our plans in the ministry, ensuring that all
three are targeted.
As we carry on with our ministries, we
hope to continue listening to God’s Word
so that we can live it fully and faithfully. It
is our prayer that all our efforts to minister
to the young, specifically in this year 2007,
reflect our faithfulness to His Word. To this
end and desire, we humbly submit the fol-
lowing proposals and action plans.
1. For the National and Local Elec-
tions of 2007
Young people are used by candidates with
ill-intentions, especially during elections.
For the upcoming national and local elec-
tions 2007, as concrete actions of the youth
ministry in the Philippines, we, the members
of the NYCC 2007:
• encourage the youth ministers all over the
country to conduct programs of forma-
tion—“Kabataang Bayani” could be one
of their resources—that will enable and
empower the young to play an active role
in the electoral exercise;
• come out with a “Voter’s Primer for the
Youth”, copies of which will be distributed
to the dioceses; and
• invite all young people, through their
dioceses (parishes and vicariates) and
youth organizations, to light a Candle for
H.O.P.E. at exactly six o’clock on the eve
of the Elections 2007 and, through an or-
ganized activity, pray for honest, orderly,
and peaceful elections.
2. For stronger and more regular com-
munication
We further request the ECY, through the
NSYA, to strive for a stronger and more
regular communication with the youth min-
isters (clergy, religious, and laity) in the dio-
ceses and FNYO-member organizations.
For matters that concern the Regional
Youth Coordinating Councils and where
communications are directed to them, the
dioceses and FNYO-member organizations
will also be furnished with the same com-
munications. And since communication
is a two-way process, the Diocesan Youth
Councils and National Councils of the
FNYO-member organizations, from their
end, shall maintain regular communica-
tion with the ECY and with their respective
Regional Youth Coordinating Councils. All
levels shall work for a constant exchange of
updates and prompt responses.
Different forms of mass media will be
utilized for better means of communica-
tion. This includes establishing a website
for the ECY.
3. Youth in the Family Context
In this meeting, we were blessed to receive
insights and updates from the Fourth Asian
Youth Day and Asian Youth Ministers’
Meeting, the theme of which is “Youth,
Hope of Asian Families.” We received the
AYD 4 Statement, which was created from
the insights and experiences of all the AYD
4 delegates. We would like to share this
statement with you in our future regional
meetings, so that we can reflect and act on
this together.
In general, we are all encouraged to
integrate the family in our youth ministry
through the:
• fostering of family spirit in the youth
ministry
• inclusion of the family into the youth minis-
try (in its programs, activities, etc.)
• embrace and integration of the “family”
paradigm (as context, agent, and theme)
in youth ministry
We are also enjoined to link our ministry
with that of the family ministry through:
• the strengthening and furthering of the link-
age between youth ministry and family life
ministry (e.g. asking for representatives
from families / family life ministry to youth
/ youth ministry events in various levels:
national, regional, etc.; having a renewed
outlook about parents and the family in
the education of the youth, that parents are
the main educators, and that the school is
merely a sharer in their mission; attending
activities of the family life ministry in vari-
ous levels: national, regional, etc.)
• helping develop a ministry to family that
is holistic, i.e. covering all aspects, e.g.
advocacy, formation, livelihood, evange-
lization, fellowship, vocation, liturgy, etc.;
embracing all members, the youth, parents,
etc.; and ecclesial, i.e. all Church sectors
are involved
We shall do this not only because we be-
lieve in the family as an important setting
and valuable agent in youth ministry, but
also because we are in solidarity with the
bigger journey of our brothers and sisters in
Asian Catholic youth ministry. Our future
regional meetings will include this topic,
and we shall further discuss how we will
realize these proposals.
4. Formation for Youth Ministers and
the Youth
Mr. Chairman, in most other regions will
Indicators continue to sug- have run out.
gest that by 2050 the world’s To assure that Africa will
The dioceses, youth organizations, and
population should stabilize not miss this window of
regions shall provide the ECY, through the
at about 9 billion. Although opportunity for economic
NSYA, their on-going formation modules
this implies that national development, it must be
for their own youth ministers. The ECY,
populations will not need helped, inter alia, to invest
shall in turn, make these available to inter-
to be regulated as proposed in its human capital and
ested youth ministry offices. And, through
by radical opinion in the infrastructure to underpin
the NSYA and all youth ministry levels, the
past, this commission should economic growth. Because
ECY will work for a compilation of youth
continue to serve a useful many of this future work
formation programs that will be made avail-
purpose in monitoring the force are already born and
able for the young.
demographic trends in all are already of school age,
Seeing the need to accompany our youth
parts of the world. In this my delegation believes that
ministers in their faith formation, we also
regard, policy goals and the the most decisive invest-
ask the ECY, in partnership with a host-re-
means to achieve them must ment to be made here is in
gion, to organize annual retreats for youth
remain sound and focused education.
ministers - the first of which will be co-orga-
on the dignity of the human The U.N. Secretariat es-
nized with the National Capital Region.
person. timates that to achieve pri-
This 40th session of the mary education for all by
5. Federation of National Youth Orga- commission coincides with 2015 would cost $9 billion
nizations the 40th anniversary of a estimated in 1998 dollar
document on population value. By any estimate, this
In this meeting, we also affirm the need for
and development written by can hardly be considered a
the Federation of National Youth Organiza-
the late Pope Paul VI, known high price to pay for such
tions (FNYO) to have a national chaplain.
as “Populorum Progressio,” a prize.
The FNYO Coordinating Council is encour-
that is, “The Progress of Moreover, education, es-
aged to choose a chaplain from among the
Peoples.” pecially for girls and young
priests who are within the context of youth
At a time when the world women, can have a nota-
organizations, for said chaplain to better
was commonly divided into ble impact on population
minister to them. We ask that the ECY assist
two blocs, East and West, the growth. As women become
the FNYO in requesting said priest/chaplain
document focused instead on better educated, they gain
to take on this official function.
peoples and societies, whose greater respect; they be-
conditions were marked not come breadwinners; they
6. Collaboration with other Commis- by being Eastern or Western, acquire maturity in parental
sions but by the levels of devel- responsibility and a greater
opment and well-being in say in family affairs. Invest-
We ask the ECY and the Youth Councils
some parts of the world, in ing in people in this way,
of the regions, dioceses, and youth organi-
contrast to the degree of pov- especially in education, is
zations, to strengthen its collaboration with
erty and underdevelopment surely to be preferred to
other Church offices and commissions.
in others. legal imposition of limits, to
The emphasis placed by artificial corrective measures
7. Other Recommendations the document on the indi- and drastic policies, and to
vidual and on societies, both the unacceptable practice
We ask the ECY, the NSYA, and all levels
as the primary focus of devel- of eliminating fetuses, es-
of youth ministry to:
opment policies and as pro- pecially females, in order to
• Study the functionality of the Regional
tagonists of their own devel- limit population growth.
Youth Coordinating Councils,
opment, even today provides Finally, since this com-
• Explore the possibility of networking with
a sure guide for demographic mission’s 39th session last
inter-congregational formation centers,
policies to promote a culture year, important initiatives
and
respectful of the rights of the have been both completed
• Prepare a financial statement after every
least-protected members of and launched, in particular
youth and youth ministry activity.
our human family, especially concerning migrants, a topic
We further ask that the ECY and Local Or-
before birth and in extreme of no small importance in
ganizing Committees (LOCs) be more sensi-
old age. relation to the changing age
tive and critical in choosing sponsors and
The reports made to the structures of populations.
benefactors of all youth events which they
commission this year sug- My delegation regards last
will co-organize so as not to compromise the
gest that dependency ratios year’s High-Level Dialogue
goals and programs of these events.
are set to soar in some places, on International Migration
where an increasing number and Development as having
Conclusion
of elderly people will lay a been useful and welcomes
the offer of Belgium and
heavier burden on the active
On this 2nd day of February 2007, we
population. It is to be hoped other countries to maintain
joyfully affirm this Plan of Action as a docu-
that states will work to foster its momentum in the form
ment that binds us all to one another.
respect for human life in all of the forthcoming Global
It is our fervent hope that through our
its stages and to find solu- Forum on Migration and
selfless commitment to this Plan of Action,
tions that are right and just, Development.
and with the full support of the Episcopal
not merely pragmatic. Here It is to be hoped that the
Commission on Youth, we will be able to
in particular, promoting soli- Forum will build upon what
listen to the Word of God and allow it to take
darity between generations was achieved during the
flesh in our daily lives of faith and ministry.
will be very valuable. high-level dialogue. There
Especially in our efforts and activities where
While by 2050 Europe is is almost no country in the
we promote communication, coordination
set to have an elderly de- world untouched by migra-
and collaboration, may Jesus’ mandate,
pendency ratio similar to tion and it has become an
“As I have loved you, so you should love
that of Africa’s in the 1960s, extremely important source
one another” [Jn. 15:12], find wonderful
Africa is set to have the both of labor and of remit-
realization as we embrace it as our theme in
lowest dependency ratio in tances depending on each
this year’s World Youth Day and National
the world. This projection country’s circumstances.
Youth Day.
should hand that continent Therefore, it is in the in-
May Mary, herself our shining example of
an unprecedented advan- terests of all states—not to
listening to and obeying the Word, accom-
tage in economic terms, as a mention the migrants them-
pany us with her motherly intercession.
young and numerous work selves—that the forum be
force should be available to allowed room to succeed.
Youth minister-participants of the National
it until at least 2050, while Thank you, Mr. Chair-
Youth Coordinating Council 2007
the demographic dividend man.
02 February 2007, Balanga City
 CBCP Monitor
B6 Reflections Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14-27, 2007

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Saksi sa Katotohanan

A New Springtime in the Church?

Likha at titik ni Noel Malicdem
Dubai, UAE

Nagkaisa ang bayan, sigaw ay kalayaan

HAVE you noticed a surge
of groups in your parish or
in your neighborhood do-
ing some prayer meetings
and other religious activi-
ties? That’s because there
happily is a rise of ecclesial
movements these days.
To mention a few, you
have the El Shaddai, Cou-
ples for Christ, Bukas Loob
sa Dios, Christian Family
Movement, and a number
of charismatic groups and
what are now known as
covenanted communities.
You cannot deny that
they attract multitudes
of followers who openly
admit
that these groups have
helped them tremendously
in their spiritual life.
Pope John Paul II called
this phenomenon “a new
springtime,” a manifesta-
tion of the Holy Spirit’s
continuing action in the
Church. It’s like having
a spiritual bonanza in
the Church, in spite of its
troubles.
Pope Benedict, euphoric
during his inauguration
in 2005 upon seeing this
spiritual resurgence right
before him, could not help
but exclaim, “the Church is
Patalsikin ang diktaduryang nagpahirap sa bayan
Napunta lang sa mas matinding hidwaan
alive.” Yes, the Church is mentality! Leadership is in their expressions is even been made about how con- Demokrasyang ipinaglaban, walang kinahinatnan.
alive and kicking, in spite not a matter of domination a tougher job. cerned Church officials
of its age. and possession. It cannot be denied that and everybody else should Ilang dekada ang lumipas ang aking nagisnan
This, of course, is a great These new things can abuses and errors have behave when apparent Tila wala pang bakas na patutunguhan
cause for joy, a boost to our have a certain radicalness accompanied what other- spiritual manifestations Ang kalayaan nakamit at ipinaglaban
spirit. But it also reminds to them. We have to be wise can be considered as take place. Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin patutunguhan.
us of grave duties and open and prepared for a genuine charism. Point- Let’s make them more
responsibilities. them. We have to learn ing them out and cor- known, so that everyone Naging saksi na ako sa mga lumaban
The Church is not only how to handle both old recting them require real can be properly guided. Upang iparating hinaing ng mamamayan
visible and hierarchical. and new things as well as a fortitude and prudence. Both the authorities and the Ngunit naging biktima lang ng karahasan
It also is invis- To top it persons or groups claiming Upang matahimik mabulgar ang katiwalian.
ible and char- The Church is not only visible and all, Church some charism can easily
ismatic. It is in leaders and seek out each other. Hope- Sadya nga bang bulag ang sambayanan
how to blend
hierarchical. It also is invisible and officials fully, openness, mutual Ang mamuhay sa huwad na kalayaan
these two di- charismatic. It is in how to blend should also understanding and coor- Malinlang sa tunay na kaganapan
mensions these two dimensions where the skills know how dination can ensue. Walang pinag-iba hanggang sa kasalukuyan.
where the skills to promote In this regard, it is
and genuine
and genuine spirituality of Church it, how to worthwhile to recall some Ayaw ko rin isisi lahat sa pamahalaan
spirituality of leaders are tested. develop its relevant indications meant Gusto ko lang imulat sa katotohanan
Church leaders potentials to to test the authenticity of a Ang bulag na sambayanan
are tested. multiplicity of elements. the full and to integrate it charism. They are: Na naging biktima ng mas malalang kahirapan.
Our Church leaders It is this working of the for the benefit of the whole a) Is the charism clearly
should be wary of falling Holy Spirit, manifested Church. Nothing less than rooted in the faith of the Hangga’t walang pagkakaisa ang mamamayan
into red tape and bureau- in many ways, which the heroic sanctity is expected Church? At manatiling bulag sa kamalian
cracy. visible and hierarchical of them to carry out this b) Do those claiming it At pagamit sa politikong walang pakialam
They have to be always Church should carefully function. stand by the successors of Mananatiling gutom sikmura ng karamihan.
alert to new develop- and, as much as possible, These responsibilities the Apostles and of
ments, because the Church punctually discern, defend, certainly depend on the Peter? Do they obey the Sa wari ko hindi lunas pag-aaklas sa daan
by nature always exceeds promote and properly inte- guidance of the Holy hierarchy? Upang patalsikin kasalukuyang pamahalaan
expectations. grate within the Church. Spirit. On our part, we c) Are they free for social Tama na ang marahas na pakikipaglaban
While we continue to Discerning the authen- should be quick to dis- service and the proclama- Tapat na pakikibaka sa tahimik na pamamaraan.
live within certain struc- ticity of charisms, for ex- cern this divine guidance tion of the Gospel?
tures and known laws, we ample, is already a formi- and translate it into some d) Is there a personal Ang aking tula ay isa lamang paraan
should not rule out new dable task. Bogus charisms human workable system. encounter of the members Upang ipadama pag-ibig sa bayan
things that the Holy Spirit are plenty. But that’s not The Spirit wants to rely on with Christ? Huwag sanang masamain kung ito’y may
can surprise us with from all. Purging charisms from human means too. With these, we hope the katotohanan
time to time. Away with impurities that can take I am sure that a lot of springtime in the Church Saksi lang ako kahit malayo sa ating bayan.
rigid ways and uniform place at their reception or guidelines have already becomes perpetual.

Atty. Jo Imbong Bo Sanchez

THE second shortest word
in the English language. The
message sent is stark. No
embellishments needed.
A real No has the sound of
a thunderclap, unequivocal.
It has no half tone or middle
ground. Like a foot stomped,
it ends all arguments.
To be worth its profound
meaning, it should be de-
livered with a timbre that
brings out the conviction of
the speaker. The tone of voice
can be hushed, but icy, and it
will be piercing and effective,
nonetheless. To the hearer,
its delivery should
rule out any ele-
ment of doubt as to The value of any Yes you unleash
what is meant. is measured only by the number of
With a No, you
command respect,
No’s built under it.
not forbearance.
For to utter it in the face of
great temptation demands
strength of character. Only
the person who has mas-
tered himself can say it... and
mean it.
And its effects are daunt-
ing: It is the shield of true
character, making it impreg-
nable.
It shows your inner
strength... or lack of it. For
the weak can only use it as a
pretext.
It is reliable: an instant
and fool-proof safety de-
vice against unexpected am-
bushes.
For many sensible women
who understand its power, it
has saved them from the per-
ils of “innocent” what ifs.
The woman who can say
No
No to the first invitation to
danger carries the most stable
insurance against fire, thieves of
the soul, and other “accidents”
that waylay her kind.
It preserves the dignity of
young men from the inveigle-
ments of excess, passion, and
experimentation.
It is the high fence that pre-
serves the innocence of the
innocent.
It is the thick fortress of the
family home, holding off its
head from recklessness and
folly, guarding the mother from
indiscretion, the boys from mis-
chief, and the young ladies from
vulnerability.
It makes your armor of truth
invincible. It makes your safety
impermeable.
In case of doubt, it is the saf-
est answer, especially when
you cannot think through the
questions of life, instead of
conjuring false premises.
Say it and mean it. Say it and
look your friend in the eye.
You will be happy for it,
rather than blurting, “Maybe.”
“Why not?” “How interesting!”
“It depends.” “Just once.” “It
won’t hurt anyone.” “No one
will know.” “One last time.”
“Whatever.” [Translation: “Ba-
hala na.”]
Just say No. It does not need
an explanation.
In the great debates of life,
the No’s win.
The value of any Yes you
unleash is measured only
by the number of No’s built
under it.
It’s about time you lived
a life worthy of the Love
that begot it: carve out your
resolute No’s and your life’s
awesome programme will
unfold. At the throes of your
dilemma, your No will de-
scend upon you like a Deus
ex machina that will slay all
bedevilments. They will be
like scales falling off from
your eyes.
Answers will
unfold.
Why wait for
another time.
Don’t expect a
personal, earth-
shaking Damas-
cus. Not everyone is privi-
leged, you know. Cultivate
now the strength to use your
arsenal of No’s. Plant them
around your personal space.
And position the sharpest
No’s strategically.
“Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes.”
(Ephesians 6:11)
Be soft and gracious as
you do it. But let the center
of your soul be a steel of
No!
Better be keen on how to
use it, for beneath its brev-
ity and simplicity lurks an
enormous power: “Begone,
Satan! . . Then the devil left
him . . .” (Matt. 4: 10-11)
Let it be a No!
Now!
In every Trial
there is a Treasure
I NOW realize that joy or mis-
ery is a choice that we have to
make daily.
This came to me strongly
when one day, I was driving in
Novaliches with my family to
visit some relatives. Because of
the enormous roadwork there,
we got lost taking alternative
routes. Besides, Novaliches is
famous for an amazingly cir-
cuitous network of streets—re-
minding me of my intestines.
“Can you help us find this
address?” my Mom asked a guy
driving a little jeep. “Sure,” he
said, “follow me. I’m going in
that direction…”
And we did: For
about two hours!
He led us through
the inner labyrinths
of Novaliches.
Through dark al-
leys. Through pot
holes. Through
dirt roads. In total,
we took 32 rights,
47 lefts, and 13 U-
turns.
All the while,
my family was complaining
like crazy. “We’re lost!” they
whined. “Oh, why all these
roadwork at the same time?”
another grumbled. “And who’s
this guy leading us anyway?
We don’t know him at all! He
could be…” And there was a
tense-filled pause. Finally, one
family member said, “Oh my
God. We’re being kidnapped!
WE’RE BEING KIDNAPPED
BY THAT MAN!” (Divulging
identities of who said what has
proven hazardous to my health,
so I’ll refrain from mentioning
names here.)
I had to laugh and say,
“C’mon, the guy doesn’t look
like a kidnapper at all…”
“Really? Good…” sighed
everyone.
“He’s no kidnapper,” I shook
my head, “I think he’s a serial
killer.”
Boy, were they mad and mis-
erable.
What was I doing all this
time?
Aside from driving for them,
I was singing. I was having the
time of my life. I was excited
making those zigs and zags!
For about two hours, a man
driving a little jeep led us
through the inner labyrinths of
Novaliches. Through dark alleys.
Through pot holes. Through dirt
roads. In total, we took 32 rights,
47 lefts, and 13 U-turns.
Under my breath, I prayed,
“Lord, I thank you that I feel
like Indiana Jones trapped in
a maze. What a thrilling ad-
venture!”
Generally, I was thanking
God for blessing us. I was
thanking God for those rare
times that I’m with my fam-
ily—no matter how crazy they
can be. I was thanking God for
my car. I was thanking God for
the relatives we were visiting. I
was thanking God for sending
us an angel as our guide—using
a serial killer to lead our way.
Because I was so busy being
grateful, I realized I didn’t have
time to be miserable!
When we finally reached
the home of our relatives, my
family stepped down from the
car with angry exasperation.
And that was when the real
performance began. (All the
complaining they did in the
car was just dress rehearsal.)
“We had a terrrrrrrrible time!”
they griped in unison as they
greeted our cousins. As they
were replaying their sad ordeal
to them, I opened the car door,
stepped down, stretched my
tired muscles, and
smiled, “Ahhh….
Now was that ex-
citing or what?”
One week af-
ter, every time
my family got
together, they’d
still grumble and
relive the agony of
that trip. (At some
special days, the
“Nightmare in
Novaliches” had
matinee shows in the after-
noons and main performances
in the evenings.)
But I recall the event with
sweetness. And fun!
Because every morning, I face
the mirror and tell myself, “Bo,
no one can take away your joy.
This is the day that the Lord
has made, let us rejoice and be
glad in it!”
Because I believe that in
every problem, there’s a rich
blessing.
In every trial, there’s a trea-
sure waiting to be unearthed.

The Priest’s / from B2

The staff of CBCP Monitor and Impact Magazine renews their Art. 7 - Any priest who, after having
commitment to the work of evengelization through print media on been warned as prescribed by law, ob-
stinately refuses, to abide by his Bishop’s
the occasion of the 41st World Communications Day. decision and return to his Diocese, will
be punished with an appropriate penalty
as decreed by law. Before proceeding,
however, the Ordinary ought to inform
the overseas Bishop of his intention.
2) The Ordinary of the place (in the U.S.)
where Fr. Z is at the moment can be asked
to make it clear to the latter that he has no
canonical or ecclesiastical support there. For
all we know Fr. Z may be emboldened in his
position because of the encouragement of
the Parish Priest (who needs his help).
3) If Fr. Z persists on not obeying to return,
he can be sent another paternal admoni-

CBCPMonitor Name _________________________________________________

(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
Conclusion and Recommendation
There is a clear case of serious viola-
tion of the canonical norms on obedience
(cc.274,§2 and 273), which is subject to
tion with a formal warning. This must be
documented and served properly. As to
the latter, the most practical route would be
through the curia of whatever diocese he is
SUBSCRIPTION RATES a just penalty after canonical warning in the U.S. It should contain all the canoni-
Mailing Address ________________________________________
(c.1371,§2). There is also a clear case of cal criteria, give a time frame for his coming
________________________________________________________ serious violation of the general canonical back (c.1347,§1), and state the disciplinary
The CBCP Monitor is published norm on residence (c.283,§1), since Fr Z. consequences of the failure to comply with
Phone No.: _________ Fax No.: ________ E-mail: ___________ is unduly prolonging his absence from the deadline.
fortnightly by the CBCP Media
Mode of Payment the diocese, despite the clear indication 4) If the warning is unheeded, the Ordi-
Office, with editorial and busi- of the Ordinary to the contrary. nary of Fr. Z can proceed—via administra-
ness offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Check/PMO enclosed Cash Payment The bishop may follow a stepped pro- tive (by decree)—to inflict a sanction (cf.
Intramuros, Manila. PO Box 3601, (Payable to: CBCP Communications Development Foundation Inc.) cedure, making a last attempt to break cc.1341 and 1342,§1). A practical sanction
1076 MCPO contumacy, before proceeding to punitive (just penalty) in this case is a suspension
• Domestic measures: (c.1333,§1), which cannot be in perpetu-
________________________ 1) The Bishop should delve into the ity since it was not imposed judicially
1 Year Php 500.00
Signature deeper reason for Fr. Z’s resistance to (c.1342,§2). A copy of such a decree can
2 Years Php 900.00
return; he may really be needed by the be sent to the diocesan curia of his place of
• Foreign: Asia PLEASE SEND TO: parish in the U.S. If, however, the bishop temporary residence in the U.S. and also to
1 Year US$ 55.00 sees that there is no sufficient reason, he the US Bishop’s Conference. Fr. Z should
CBCP Monitor, P.O. Box 3601, Manila, Philippines
• All Other US$ 80.00 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines | Tel (632) 404-2182 • Telefax (632) 404-1612 can send a message of paternal admoni- understand that with such a penalty, he
Or e-mail this at cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.com tion. cannot exercise his ministry in the U.S.
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 10
May14-27, 2007
ONE graduate a day! 365
scholars of Caritas Manila
(CM), the lead social service
agency of the Archdiocese of
Manila, graduated this sum-
mer of 2007, with 19 college
students leading the pack.
Starting school year 2006-
2007, CM had 5,400 scholars
after two years of continuous
scaling-up of its Educational
Assistance Program (EAP) for
the poorest of the poor in the
Archdiocese of Manila and the
Suffragan dioceses of Cubao,
Caloocan, Novaliches, Para-
ñaque, and Pasig.
CM Chairman Cardinal
Gaudencio Rosales and CM
Executive Director Fr. Anton
Pascual, began boosting its
scholarship program, but dou-
bling and tripling its number
of scholars since school year
2004-2005. From less than 1,000
during the school year 2003-
2004, CM increased scholars
to almost 3,000 the following
year, and then to almost 5,500
in school year 2006-2007. Now,
the number of graduates has
started to climb as well.
According to EAP Program
Officer Analyn Julian, in SY
2003-2004 and in previous
school years, the number of
graduates was only 50 to less
than 100 each school year.
“Now we have 365 graduates
for 2007. That’s one graduate
for each day of the year,” Ju-
lian remarked.
The number of Caritas Ma-
nila’s scholars reached 3,291 as
of last year which was already
a major leap from 2004 when
Caritas Manila had only 989
scholars.
However, CM leadership
headed by Gaudencio Cardi-
nal Rosales and the Board of
Trustees wants the number to
Social Concern B7
hit 10,000 by 2010 but would
actually prefer to hit the target
much earlier.
“The sooner the better,” says
Father Anton CT Pascual.
The 10,000 mark for scholars
was set by CM’s leadership
as part of a medium-term
strategic plan for 2006 to 2010
that has a main goal of aiding
300,000 urban poor families in
Metro Manila.
Last year, Manila Archbish-
op Gaudencio Rosales and Fr.
Pascual ordered the increase
of scholars from 989 to 3,000
in anticipation of the swelling
of students coming from the
urban poor sector who would
be seeking scholarships due
to the crisis that continue to
hound the country’s economy.
This time, raising the number
of scholars is part of an overall
plan to try and attain a signifi-
cant volume of families whose
lives will be improved by Cari-
tas Manila’s programs.
“We need to catch up if we
really want to make a signifi-
cant effect against poverty here
in Metro Manila,” explains Fr.
Pascual.
In order to send the 5,386
scholars to school the entire
year, Caritas Manila needs to
raise over 12 million. So far,
CM has raised PI2 million for
scholars in 2006.
“Work hard, pray, and have
faith, God will provide. That
is our motto. Last year, we
Left to Right: Caritas scholars Jona P. Nanales, Diana D. Tiamson and Regina G. Enteria
needed over P10 million for
the more than 3,000 scholars
we had but we only had close
to P5 million when the school
year opened. Nonetheless, we
were actually able to raise P12
million so that we were able
to add scholars particularly in
365 Caritas Scholars Graduate!
the college-vocational level,” By Helen Oreto and Choy Gagalac
narrates Ms. Sheila Conti,

CM’s Resources Mobilization
officer whose team is in charge
of the unenviable task of rais-
ing the P36 million.
“We certainly need help and
we are calling on companies,
organizations, institutions,
and individuals who want
to help. We can partner with
them for their corporate social
responsibility programs where
they can maximize the help
they will be extending without
having to incur the high opera-
tional or administrative costs.
These scholars will be their
scholars,” stresses Conti.
Caritas Manila’s scholarship
program is not just about num-
bers. CM reports that starting
school year 2006-2007 they
will implement an integrated/
holistic approach in order
to attain true development
for the beneficiaries under
Caritas Manila’s scholarship
program.
“Educate and develop both
the students and the parents,
is the instruction from Caritas
Manila’s top management,”
says Fr. Pascual. Starting this
school year, the integrated for-
mation program for scholars
will also require the parents to
attend training and formation
modules.
Under the program, the
scholars along with their par-
ents, guardians, or immediate
family members will undergo
values formation modules,
which includes sacramental
appreciation, health and nu-
trition, livelihood and skills
training and natural family
planning and responsible par-
enting.
The formation will be con-
ducted on the parish level by
Caritas Manila trained volun-
teers on a regular basis every
school year.
Scholars are selected and
recommended to Caritas Ma-
nila in the parish level. CM
scholars in public schools
are expected to maintain an
80% grade average and those
placed in private schools are
expected to maintain 85%. The
slots are awarded to other ap-
plicants if the student fails to
maintain the required average.
But with the new integrated
approach, the students and
parents must also undergo
the required formation if they
want to maintain their schol-
arship from Caritas Manila or
from CM’s partner institution.
A significant portion of the
scholarships being managed
by CM come from corpora-
tions, agencies, and other
partner organizations.

In Celebration of
the 41st World
Communications
Sunday…
 CBCP Monitor
B8 Entertainment Vol. 11 No. 10
May 14-27, 2007

Moral Assessment Technical Assessment

Abhorrent Poor
Disturbing Below average
Acceptable Average
Wholesome Above average
Exemplary Excellent

PETER Parker (Tobey Maguire ) feels
secure as he finally finds a balance be-
tween being Spider-Man and spending
time with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten
Dunst ) so he decides that he will pro-
pose marriage to her. However, the
vengeful former best friend of his, Harry
Osborne (James Franco) attacks him
again, this time with much sophisticated
weaponry and powerful surfboard-like
glider. The attack eventually leaves
Harry with short-term amnesia, forget-
ting his hatred towards Peter in a while.
Then a tiny meteor crash-lands in a park
while Peter and Mary Jane are on a date.
Unknown to Peter, the meteor contains
a black alien specie which hitches a
ride home with Peter on his shoe and
eventually bonds with his Spider-Man
costume at night, when he is asleep.
After the bonding, Peter finds his cos-
tume has changed, and it is now black
in color and has enhanced his spider-
powers. Meanwhile, an investigation
reveals that his Uncle Ben’s killer, Flint
Marko (Thomas Haden Church), who
has escaped Prison, who has also turned
into Sandman—a monster made of
sand. Realizing this, Peter pursues him
with vengeful spirit, thus becoming the
black Spider-Man. The events turn Pe-
ter into a different hero and a different
person, eventually pushing Mary Jane
away, making her closer to Harry.
This third installment of the Marvel
comics inspired sequel turns out to Title: SPIDER MAN 3
be the busiest plot among the series. Running Time: 139 min.
This time, the characters have evolved Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst,
into much more complex beings. The Thomas Haden Church, Topher
movie has managed to maintain a tight Grace, James Franco
Director: Sam Raimi
narrative thread despite the many Producers: Avi Arad, Laura Ziskin,
subplots that intertwine. But then, the Grant Curtis
entire feel appears to be quite mushy Screenwriters: Sam Raimi, Ivan
and cheesy as compared to the two Raimi, Alvin Sargent
previous flicks. Although to say that Music: Christopher Young
Spider-Man 3 pales in comparison with Editor: Bob Jurawski
the either two Spider-Man series will Genre: Action/Fantasy/Adventure
be an overstatement. Perhaps, it will be Cinematography: Bill Pope
just a disappointment to those who are Distributor: Sony Pictures
Location: USA
expecting much more action, thrill and
adventure than overused and overdone Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment: ● ● ● ½
melodramatic clichés. Still, the “Spider”
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and
spectacle is there and is not really lost so above
it is still worth the wait and worth the
while. The computer generated effects, much more are only free to choose what
like the Sandman turning into a tornado is right. Choosing evil is not an option
of sand as he swooshes away, are very at all. Rather, it is the purposeful giving
professionally done—not a frame of the up of one’s freedom of choice. Once this
actions shots is wasted. freedom is given up, evil succeeds. The
Spider-Man 3 has strongly explored film clearly depicts the consequence of
man’s freedom of choice. The film harboring hatred in one’s heart: it turns
did not say anything new but it did into cobwebs that bring about eventual
reinforce what one already knows but chaos. At the end of it all Spider-Man 3
oftentimes forget: “We always have says that humans are free to choose love
a choice and we have the freedom to instead of anger, friendship instead of
choose which is right.” Spider-Man 3 war, forgiveness instead of hatred, and
succeeds in putting a play in this moral humility instead of vanity. But then,
concept of freedom for it is oftentimes given the film’s genre, it is not free
misconstrued as the freedom to choose from visual depiction of violence so the
either good or evil. Heroes and humans young audiences must still be guided.
Title: LUCKY YOU by winning—his is a combina- and a host of other gamblers table, poker takes a back seat and
Running Time: 124 min. tion of skill and a little luck—but wearing (poker) masks of steel. the battle of egos and wills raises
Cast: Phyllis Somerville, Eric his problem is he doesn’t know Barrymore ’s performance is the stakes higher that the stacks
Bana, Drew Barrymore, when to stop. Even the fragile watered down, as her sensible of chips on the table.
Horacio Sanz, Joey Kern, relationship he gets into with character calls for, and just about Movies like Lucky You, with
Debra Messing, Delaine lounge singer Billie Offer ( Drew the only time she spits fire is its plausible story supported by
Yates Barrymore ) nearly snaps when when she reprimands Huck for effective dialogue, have much
Director: Curtis Hanson he steals from her purse the thinking only of himself. We to offer for the whole family’s
Producers: Denise di Novi, are willing to presume this is reflection, particularly when
Carol Fenelon morning after an intimate night.
Screenwriter: Eric Roth This is where his gambling intentional in director Curtis considering the effects on the
Music: Christopher Young reaches a dangerous level—as he Hanson’s part, because mak- person of broken homes and
Editor: William Kerr begins to steal to play—but Bil- ing the romance angle between unprocessed issues in childhood.
Genre: Drama lie, feeling betrayed, also begins Billie and Huck a shade more Here, a boy learns his father’s
Cinematography: Peter to act as his conscience. intense would have relegated to profession, and then uses the re-
Deming Lucky You is not a romantic the background the real pivotal sulting expertise to get even with
Distributor: Warner Bros. comedy, not even a romance, but aspect of the drama—the level- the father who had wronged his
Location: USA a smoldering drama between fa- ing off between a father who family. It must be noted that the
Technical Assessment: abandoned his family and his father-and-son poker players
ther and son. Don’t expect much
½ action here, for you might see the son who has for years nursed the here are not addicted to gam-
Moral Assessment: ● ● ● deep wound it caused. Lucky bling in that they are aware of the
film as dragging especially if you
CINEMA Rating: For viewers
do not know poker. Those who You is not even about merely risks their game exposes them to.
14 and above
do know the game, however, the issue of gambling either, for In fact, the father in trying to talk
HUCK Cheever (Eric Bana) and those who can perceive the while it generates enough sus- sense into his son, saying that
learned to play poker from his nuances of a stressful relation- pense as mounds of chips change he is “playing poker the way he
dad L.C. Cheever (Robert Du- ship between a father and a son hands at the poker table, poker should run his life, and running
vall) when he was as tall as the will find Lucky You worth the here is used as an indispens- his life the way he should play
kitchen table where they’d bet price of admission. It’s a good able device to both symbolize poker.” The ending is redeem-
pennies and nickels. Grown up plot which benefits from good and underscore the wordless ing enough as far as the story
now he has made a profession direction and fine acting. Bana and strained communication goes, but we know very well that
of the game, leaving hardly any and Duvall as protagonists are between two souls who have old in real life a character like Huck
room in his life for friends or a perfect match for they have debts to settle. Using poker with is still miles and miles way from
loved ones. Huck is trying to an intelligent grasp not only of hockey or pool for the same pur- salvation. The one clear message
raise $10,000 to be able to join the their characters but of the story’s pose would not achieve the same in Lucky You is forgiveness,
World Series of Poker Champi- theme as well: obsession and re- effect, but with cinematographer working hand in hand with the
onship which his father had won demption. Thus, the “action” is Peter Deming ’s well-timed conversion of the heart, frees the
twice. Not really a lost gambler mostly at the poker table where close-ups, the picture speaks human person to a spirit-filled
as he never bets anything not psychological warfare takes more loudly than the unspoken future. And for the young: do
in his power to lose, this casino place between son Huck and lines. With Duvall and Bana’s not let your future depend on the
mouse is nonetheless obsessed father L.C. , and gambler Huck gut-level clashes at the poker turn or the playing card.

ANSWER TO THE
LAST ISSUE:

AS FAR AS
THE LAW OF
MATHEMATICS
REFER TO REALITY,
THEY ARE NOT
CERTAIN; AND AS
FAR AS THEY ARE IN the not-so-distant future, the sun
CERTAIN, THEY
DO NOT REFER TO fails which causes the Earth to freeze.
REALITY. As a last hope, a spacecraft, Icarus II
with a crew of eight men and women is
launched. The Icarus II carries a stellar
bomb that aims to re-ignite the sun. The
first Icarus left seven years ago with the
same mission but contact was lost. As
Icarus II heads towards the sun, the crew
of eight see the distressed Icarus ship
that had been missing for seven years.
Capa (Cillian Murphy), the physicist
who controls the bomb, persuades the
group into a decision to rendezvous
with Icarus for possible repair of the
ship, so as to give themselves another
bomb to increase the chances of the
success of their mission, should their
QUOTES IN QUIZ
BOOKLETS AVAILABLE AT bomb fail to deliver the desired effect.
BOOKSALE S TO R E S What happens next is a series of chal-
I N SM, R O B I N S O N S
AND SELECTED MALLS IN
lenges for the entire crew as they decide
MANILA. FOR MAIL ORDER to change direction, risking Icarus II’s
TEXT 0919 2803036.
mission and the entire humanity’s hope
for sunshine.
This science fiction flick begins with
a strong premise of the Earth’s future
although it fails to visually describe
what the Earth really looks like without
the sun’s rays. Most of what it tells the
audience is left to the imagination. But
then again, the movie’s focus is on the
spacecraft, the crew and the mission,
so audiences are taken directly to outer
space where the film is true to its sci-fi
look and form. In a usual “ship of fools”
plot, the director succeeds in fleshing out
the humanness of the characters, each
endowed with exceptional intelligence,
and shows how individual differences
determine either failure or success of a
mission such as Icarus II. But then the
film fails to explore further characters’
relationships and backgrounds, leaving
the audience with narrow understand-
ing of their inner motivations. Although
the plot is interesting with the not-so-
predictable twists, it drags towards the
end with the introduction of a character
that is both alien and alienated and
which makes the film look more of a
horror flick than science fiction.
Sunshine poses many moral argu-
ments about human life. To begin with,
is the life of one person less important
as compared to many? In the future
described in the film, the gauge of
heroism is either dying or killing to save
mankind. It is disturbing to see in the
film that a crew member would need to
commit suicide as the rest of the group
decide to kill him so as to be able to com-
plete the mission of saving mankind.
Killing is always morally wrong even
if the motivation for doing it is good.
Then towards the end, the movie throws
a deeper argument: If in the future, the
sun fails to shine as part of God’s plan
for the human race to die out, should
Title: SUNSHINE
Running Time: 105 mins
Lead Cast: Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis,
Chirs Evans, Troy Garity, Gillian
Murphy, Hiroyuli Sanada, Mark
Strong, Benedict Wong, Michelle
Yeoh
Director: Danny Boyle
Producer: Andrew McDonald
Screenwriter: Alex Garlnad
Music: Karl Hyde
Editor: Chris Gill
Genre: Sci-fi /Suspense
Cinematography: Alwin H. Kachley
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Location: The Universe
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment: ● ● ●
CINEMA Rating: For viewers14 and
above
humans interfere and prevent it from
happening? Do humans have God’s
permission to alter the course of the
universe? Sunshine reminds viewers
of the limitations of the human person
no matter how brilliant the mind is. The
film makes the audience ponder on the
significance of God’s gift, the “sunshine”
which human beings experience every
morning but most of the time take for
granted. Because of the strong language
and violence in the film, CINEMA
recommends that the movie may be
viewed only by audiences 14-years-old
and above.