•A3 Teresa

Pontiff says Mother

‘invaluable’ for
•B1 Communion
Building Ecclesial
is the
C1 A Supplement Publication of KC Life and
The Cross

the world Key to Mission the Order of the Knights of Columbus

Corruption, sign of lack of Groups urge DENR to

democracy—EBF
THE pervasive corruption in all levels of Philip-
pine society is just but a symptom of a bigger
problem, an ecumenical religious group said.
The Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum (EBF), a
group of Catholic and Protestant Bishops,
priests and nuns, in a statement said the big-
ger problem in the country today is the lack of
democracy in economy and politics.
And it is seen in how the country patterned its
economic policies to suit the “demands of glo-
balization, specifically of the world-dominating
Corruption / A6
act against illegal sale of
cyanide
CONCERNED groups and individuals have
petitioned the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) urging the agency
to stop the illegal sale of cyanide used for clean-
ing jewelry.
In a letter sent to DENR Secretary Ramon
Paje and EMB Director JuanMiguel Cuna, the
petitioners led by EcoWaste Coalition, a toxic
watchdog, said the deadly concoction anyone
August 30 - September 12, 2010 Vol. 14 No. 18 Php 20.00 Cyanide / A7

Bishop seeks ‘new DOH plan

to lift ban on

life’ for justice system organ donation

alarms bishops
THE Department of Health’s plan to
review the existing ban on organ dona-
tion from non-related Filipino donors
to foreigners has alarmed the Catholic
hierarchy.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines’ President and Tandag
Bishop Nereo Odchimar has expressed
concerns on Health Secretary-designate
Dr. Enrique Ona’s statement regarding
the possibility of “amending, if not re-
versing, the country’s policy on organ
transplantation.”
Odchimar has raised the issues in a
letter sent to President Benigno Aquino
asking him to implement the rules and
regulations on organ trafficking.
Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros,
Chairman of the CBCP Office on Bio-
ethics recommended that the bishops’
conference make appropriate represen-
tations with President Aquino to strictly
implement the DOH Administrative
Orders 2010-0018 and 2010-0019, as well
as “The Implementing Rules and Regu-
lations on Organ Trafficking” which
took effect on June 21, 2009.
The CBCP remains committed to pro-
tect the marginalized sectors of society
from falling to organ trafficking.
Ona’s recent media interviews re-
vealed his opposition to the total ban
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

for foreigners to receive organs from

Catholic bishops sprinkle holy water over flowers offered for the victims of the recent bloody hostage taking after a Mass on Aug. 31 at the Quirino Grandstand, the site of the incident.
By Roy Lagarde Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the
justice system needs some fixing and the resolution
of pending cases should be expedited.
THE Aquino government has been He said the “defective” and slow pace of the justice
system is what triggered the hostage taker Rolando
urged to address the injustices in the Mendoza to commit the crime.
country, which, according to a Catholic Although, the bishop condemned the incident,
bishop, is the root of the recent bloody Pabillo said the hostage taker felt injustice was
hostage crisis. done to him.
living non-related Filipino donors as the
health executive expressed support for
what he referred to as “gratuity pack-
ages” for possible donors.
The Department of Health in 2008,
has issued a ban for foreigners’ access to
organs from living non-related Filipino
“He is also a victim of injustice,” said Pabillo who donors.
also chairs the National Secretariat for Social Action— The sanction was made to protect the
Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference marginalized Filipinos who are prone
of the Philippines (CBCP). to abuses and exploitation which have
On August 23, in front of the Quirino Grandstand in been rampant before the ban.
Manila, Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus with 21 Hong Odchimar said he is optimistic Aqui-
Kong tourists and four Filipinos on board. no will respond accordingly to the is-
Mendoza, 55, was honored by police chiefs in 1986 sues raised in the said letter.
Justice / A6 DOH plan / A7

Pro-lifers urge lawmakers to pass bills that promote life

PRO-LIFERS have renewed the call on Respect life in all levels professional psyche.”

Muslim leaders endorse

legislators to pass two important bills in But support for life should be applied in “We all are part of the web of life,” she
Congress which support the promotion and all human activities, said Mendigo, as one said. “When we begin to devalue the life of
defense of life. cannot condemn a law enforcer in torturing one member of the human race, we escalate

CDO archbishop to
The lobby group in a statement urged a prisoner and yet advocate the murder of into the cheapening of the rest of human
lawmakers to deliberate on and pass two defenseless and voiceless human beings life,” she added.
proposed life bills titled “Citizen Protection through abortion. Mendigo said legislators should consider

peace negotiating team

Act” and “Protection of the Unborn Child
Act 2010.”
The call was made after a Manila police-
man turned hostage taker killed eight Hong
Kong tourists seen in television worldwide.
“Why a dismissed policeman should be
allowed to possess a high-powered rifle is
an issue that lawmakers should address
as they deliberate on a proposed bill call-
ing for stricter measures for the carrying of
firearms,” said Andrea Mendigo of Pro-Life
Philippines Foundation.
Mendigo was referring to a police inspec-
tor and his men who were earlier implicated
for torturing a prisoner inside a Tondo police
precinct after a video of the act was shown
on television.
“Respect for life must apply in all human
activities, whether it be in sports, sexual
encounters, or one’s profession,” Mendigo
stressed.
She said doctors “who perform abortions
on the one hand, and deliver healthy babies
on the other hand, may feel conflicted in their
this “domino effect” when they deliberate on
the bill calling for protection of the unborn
child.
HB 13
Stepping up its lobby to gain support
for the bill, Prolife Philippines has recently
launched an online petition to push the pas-
sage of the measure “An Act Providing for
the Safety Protection of the Unborn Child’,
also known as HB 13.
Pro-lifers / A6

Long courtship seen as one key to successful marriage

© Bong D. Fabe

AMID the growing number of personally and intimately ac-

Illustration by Bladimer Usi
failed marriages, the Catho-
lic Church’s family and life
ministry thinks that a lengthy
courtship before marriage could
remedy the situation.
Fr. Melvin Castro believes
that there’s a relationship be-
tween courtship length and
marital success and that the
longer a couple’s courtship is,
the more successful the union.
In other words, he claimed,
both very fast and very slow to
marry couples are more likely
to go on separate ways than an
average-length courtship.
An “ample time” for court-
ship is important, he said,
because it is the period which
an unmarried couple become
quainted with each other.
“You don’t have to rush into
marriage but you have to pre-
pare for it instead,” said Cas-
tro.
“Adequate time for courtship
is needed because that’s where
an unmarried couple gets to
know each other very well,”
he said.
Castro is executive secretary
of the Episcopal Commission on
Family and Life of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-
ippines (CBCP).
He added that couples who
cruise through courtship and
engagement prior to marriage at
an average speed, which is “one
Courtship / A7
Members of the Interfaith Forum for Peace, harmony and Solidarity prayed
after partaking meal during a dinner meeting at the Archbishop’s House on
August 28. (L-R) NCMF-13 Director Mitocur Macabando, Al Haj; Archbishop
Antonio J. Ledesma, two sisters of Our Lady’s Missionaries; 4th ID Roman
Catholic chaplain Fr. (Major) Leonides Cruel Jr; NCMF-10 Director Ombra
Gandamra and 4th ID Muslim chaplain Capt. Farouk Sarip.
MUSLIM leaders in North- Haj, director of the Nation-
ern Mindanao and Caraga al Commission on Muslim
Regions have endorsed the Filipinos (NCMF) in Caraga
archbishop of the Archdio- Region (Region XIII), said
cese of Cagayan de Oro to Archbishop Antonio J. Ledes-
sit in the government panel ma, S.J., D.D., will “greatly
negotiating peace with the contribute to the attainment
Muslim separatist group in of lasting peace in Mindanao”
Mindanao. if he sits in the government
Mitocur M. Macabando, Al Muslim / A6

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

 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010

Bishops planning ‘green’ pilgrimage

Aim to Present Church’s
Outlook on Creation
ESZTERGOM, Hungary, August 27,
2010—Representatives of the Council
of European Episcopal Conferences are
aiming to present the Church’s outlook
on the gifts of creation by way of a
“green” pilgrimage.
The Sept. 1-5 event will bring pilgrims
by boat from Esztergom, Hungary, to
Bratislava, Slovakia; by coach from
Bratislava to St. Polten, Austria; by train
from St. Polten to Lake Erlaufsee, and
on foot for 10 kilometers (six miles) to
Austria’s Shrine of Mariazell.
The pilgrims will reflect on the theme
chosen by Benedict XVI for the 2010
World Day of Peace: “If you want to
cultivate peace, protect creation.”
“We thought of a pilgrimage in the heart
of Europe because it seemed to us the
means most in accordance with our aims,”
explained Father Duarte da Cunha, gen-
eral secretary of the Council of European
Young people finding creative ways
moral crisis, in fact one influences the
other,” he added.
to raise money for WYD Madrid
The priest pointed to Benedict XVI’s MADRID, Spain, August 27, 2010—With World
teaching that true concern about the Youth Day Madrid less than a year away, young
planet cannot exclude a “serious reflec- people from various countries in Latin America
tion on human ecology, a spiritual con- are coming up with creative ways to raise the
version and a change in life styles.” money needed to attend the event.
“Often the theme of safeguarding According to WYD Madrid 2011 organizers,
creation is focussed on scientific, po- young people like Karen, Paulina and Nataly in
litical and ethical issues. We think that Medellin, Colombia, are holding bake sales and
it is also important to remember the making breakfast at their parishes.
spiritual, theological and anthropolgi- “After WYD in Sydney, we saw a video of the
cal vision which is at the basis of real Pope announcing that the next one would be in Ma-
concern for creation and is not tied to drid,” Karen said. “We were filled with emotion and
mere political and/or economic aims,” we asked the Lord to help us attend,” she added.
Father da Cunha affirmed. “We cannot Deissy and her friends, also from Colombia,
continue to tackle the issue in segments. have been selling lunches in their city and going
The human person is whole!” door-to-door to ask for donations.
Among those who will be meeting In the Brazilian capital of Brasilia, many young
the pilgrims along the way are Cardinal people are taking on extra jobs in order to raise
Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom- money. “We are doing everything we can,” says
Budapest and CCEE president; Car- a young Brazilian named Ieda.

Episcopal Conferences (CCEE).
“The ecological ‘crisis,’ understood
as the irrational and irresponsible use
of the gifts of creation, which we are
experiencing in Europe today, is not
divorced from the continent’s current
www.bestcatholic.com
dinal Peter Turkson, president of the Young Catholics in Arequipa, Peru are selling
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; homemade key chains, bookmarks and books with
Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard of religious pictures. Most of the young people agree
Malines-Brussels; and Cardinal Chris- that the trip to Spain begins with their work to
toph Schonborn, archbishop of Vienna. raise money. (CNA)
(Zenit)

Bishops to run in Denver marathon to pay off cathedral debt and boost vocations DENVER, Colorado, August 29,
2010—Two Catholic bishops will
take part in a Denver marathon
in October. One is running to
raise funds to pay off the $2.07
million debt on his diocese’s
cathedral, while the other is join-
ing local Catholics to increase
prayers for and awareness of
vocations to the priesthood and
religious life.
Bishop of Springfield, Ill.
Thomas J. Paprocki, a longtime
marathon runner, has announced
he is training for the Oct. 17
www.catholicnewsagency.com
Immaculate Conception in Spring- Catholics who gather and pray director Fr. Jim Crisman and two
field,” said the bishop, who took at our magnificent Cathedral,” St. John Vianney seminarians as
over the diocese in June. Bishop Paprocki wrote. part of a relay team to increase
“Catholics in the Diocese of The “Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver support for and awareness of
Springfield in Illinois can take Marathon” website says that the vocations. He will run 8.9 miles
rightful pride in our beautiful time limit for the full marathon is of the course and is following
mother church, especially the six hours, a pace of 13:45 minutes a training regimen of 15 miles
many people who have already per mile. per week.
contributed generously to help Auxiliary Bishop of Denver In the past he has run in the
pay the restoration costs,” he James Conley will also take part Colfax 1/2 Marathon, the Chi-
commented. in the event. cago Marathon, the Rome Mara-
However, he explained that Natalia Fletcher, executive thon, the Monte Carlo Marathon,
“unexpected expenses” had assistant in the office of priestly the Pikes Peak Ascent and the
caused the debt and he would like vocations, responded to a CNA Rome-Ostca 1/2 Marathon.
to “retire this debt completely.” inquiry about the bishop’s par- According to Fletcher, the

event. In a statement from the
Diocese of Springfield, the 58-
year-old prelate said he enjoys
running and has participated in
16 marathons.
“This year I have decided to
dedicate my marathon effort to
Bishop Paprocki and the renovated Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in help pay off the debt of the recent
Springfield restoration of the Cathedral of the
He invited tax-deductible pledge ticipation. She reported that archdiocese asks other runners
donations and asked for prayer Bishop Conley and Bishop Pap- and teams of runners to sign
intentions for him to include while rocki attended graduate school up for the event. Rather than
he is running and praying. together in Rome. Conley later seeking financial donations,
“As sacred Scripture says, ‘Let told CNA in an e-mail that the the archdiocese asks that run-
us run with endurance the race two had run together in Rome, ners seek pledges of prayers for
that is set before us’ (Hebrews but not in a marathon. vocations to holy orders and to
12:1). Your support will be great- The Denver auxiliary bishop the consecrated life within the
ly appreciated by me and all will join archdiocesan vocations Archdiocese of Denver. (CNA)

Pontifical Council for Laity organizes Vatican Briefing

evangelization congress in Asia
VATICAN CITY, August 21, 2010—The
Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) has an-
nounced that the Congress of Asian Catholic
Laity will be held in Seoul, South Korea from
Aug. 31 to Sept. 5 under the theme “Pro-
claiming Jesus Christ in Asia Today.”
The congress will bring 400 hundred
people together, including representatives
and bishops from 20 countries from within
the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences
and delegations from 35 different Asian
Catholic lay associations, movements and
communities.
According to a statement distributed
through the Holy See’s Press Office, the PCL
initiative aims to strengthen local Church
ties with Rome.
“The decision to focus on Asia expresses a
missionary concern for a continent that ... is
now emerging as a key player in an age of im-
mense transformation,” the statement said.
The Council for the Laity noted that the
choice to host the congress in Korea “mani-
fests the Church’s pastoral attention for
Asian lay Catholics who are called to witness
to Jesus Christ in communion with their pas-
tors, and to proclaim the Gospel of Christ as
a universal gift of salvation.”
Catholics told to follow St. Augustine’s examples
Benedict XVI urged the faithful for a continued search for
The congress will place a special focus on
the history of the Church in Asia as well as the “profound truth”, after the example of St. Augustine. In
current challenges to evangelization in the an Aug. 25 general audience at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the
region. Addresses, panel presentations and pope told around 3,500 people that no one should be afraid
extensive discussions will examine many to encounter truth, which could “find us, get hold of us and
elements from within this framework. Some change our lives.”
of the topics to be covered include the for-
mation of laity, Christian witness in society, Pope condemns Somalia hostility
religious freedom and the role of women in The pope condemned the continued fighting between gov-
the Church. ernment forces and militant Islamist group Al-Shabaab that
The experiences of movements and com- left many dead and injured in Somalia’s capital of Mogadi-
munities on the forefront of evangelization shu. Benedict XVI also expressed his closeness to the victims.
will also be presented during the congress. From Castel Gandolfo, he said at the general audience that
(CNA) he is “close to all the families of the victims and all of those

Iraqi archbishop warns minorities could be

who, in Somalia, suffer due to hate and instability.”

Indulgence for Cuban patron pilgrimage

A plenary indulgence will be granted by Benedict XVI to

‘scapegoats’ after US withdrawal

ROME, Italy, August 26, 2010—
Civil war could be on the horizon
in Iraq, according to a high-ranking
Catholic prelate in the country.
Minorities, including Christians,
would suffer most if that were the
case, Archbishop of Kirkuk Louis
Sako told SIR news on Thursday.
As President Barack Obama
brings the number of American
troops in the Middle Eastern
nation down to 50,000 by next
Monday, Archbishop Sako told
the Italian bishops’ news agency
that the future looks grim for the
country’s minorities.
“The war of 2003 turned Iraq
upside down,” said the arch-
those taking part in a pilgrimage and national mission in
honor of the 4th centenary of Our Lady of Cobre, Cuba’s
patron. In preparation for event, which will be marked in
2012, a pilgrimage is already underway as the image of the
loss of teachers who have been Virgin travels throughout the country.
killed or fled the violence.
While granting that there Vatican mourns death of ex-Italian President Cossiga
is generally greater liberty in The Holy Father is mourning the death on Aug. 17 of Fran-
the country, he said that the cesco Cossiga, 82, who was president of Italy from 1985 to
movement towards democracy 1992. Cossiga had been rushed and admitted to the hospital
is “slow” due to the long-term earlier with respiratory problems. Reports said that the pon-
plans of the U.S. government. tiff sent Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella to visit the former
“It seems to me that the U.S. may president in the hospital. Cossiga was born July 26, 1928,
have never wanted to resolve the in Sassari, Sardinia.
problems of Iraq (by) fostering and
protecting the formation of a strong Heaven is found within God’s love, pope says
government,” he noted, adding Heaven is not a location in the cosmos, but a place within
that the pressure being exerted on God where those who believe in him will enjoy his love
the local government by neighbor- forever, Pope Benedict XVI said. Celebrating a Mass Aug.
ing nations is “worrying.” 15, the feast of the Assumption of Mary, he said that when
And with the U.S. withdrawal, he the Church affirms that Mary was taken, body and soul, into
told SIR, “Iraqi fear of a civil war that heaven, it is not referring “to some place in the universe, a
www.catholicnewsagency.com

bishop, referring specifically to
the nation’s army, security, econ-
omy and national unity. He also
lamented that the country has
become polluted, corrupt and
“intellectually impoverished” in
recent years, the latter due to the
Chilean miner promises to marry in the Church after rescue
could bring ethnic and religious divi- star or something like that.”
sion to the country is increasing.”
He predicted that Sunni, Shiite Church asks aid for Pakistan flood victims
and Kurdish factions would each be The Vatican reiterated its appeal for solidarity and concrete
able to gather an army, while leav- aid for the millions of people affected by flooding in Pakistan.
ing the minorities as “the scapegoats At a weekly general audience Aug. 18 in Castel Gandolfo,
Archbishop Louis Sako
of this situation.” (CNA) Benedict XVI cited “the dear population of Pakistan, recently
stricken by serious flooding, which has caused numerous
victims and has left many families without a home.”

SANTIAGO, Chile, August 27, 2010—One of
the 33 miners trapped in the San Jose Mine in
Atacama, Chile has promised his family that
once rescued, he and his wife will officially
marry in the Catholic Church.
According to the Spanish daily, La Razon,
Esteban Rojas received a note from his wife,
Jessica, expressing her hope that once he is
rescued, “we will finally get married in the
Church.” The two have been married civilly
for 25 years.
Rojas responded: “Hi Jessica, thanks for
your concern and for praying that we are all
right. Say hello to the children, the grandchil-
dren, my in-laws and my parents … I love you
all, and keep praying that we get out of this
place. And when I get out, we’ll buy a wed-
ding dress and get married in the Church.”
Jessica says she trusts Esteban will keep
his promise, and has told friends she will
be sending them a gift registry soon. “As US told to leave behind peace in Iraq
you know, I need a stove and refrigerator!” The powerful United States has a duty to leave behind peace,
she joked. not chaos, when many troops, who left Iraq on Aug. 31,
According to La Razon, the trapped are finally withdrawn from Iraq, said several Iraqi church
miners have lost 22 pounds because of the leaders. “We desire, we ask, and we scream for peace and
underground pressure and temperatures in security,” Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of
the mid-90s. Each day after eating and plan- Baghdad said in an interview with Vatican Radio Aug. 19.
ning their schedule, they read their messages About 50, 000 US troopers remain in the area until the end
and organize the supplies that are being sent of 2011 to continue training and assisting security forces.
daily. (CNA)
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
A3

Pontiff says Mother Teresa Cardinal

‘invaluable’ for the world
VATICAN City, August 26,
2010—Mother Teresa of Calcutta
was an “invaluable gift” for the
world during her lifetime, and
she continues to be so through
the ministry of the order she
George
announces
gratitude to God for the invalu-
able gift that Mother Teresa was in
the course of her life and that she
Vatican
approval of
continues to be through the loving
and tireless work that you, her
spiritual daughters, carry out.”

founded, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope affirmed this in a
message to the superior-general
of the Missionaries of Charity,
Sister Mary Prema. The mes-
sage was made public today, the
100th anniversary of the birth
of Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, the
future Blessed Teresa.
The Holy Father’s message
invites the Missionaries of Char-
ity to continue to follow Blessed
Teresa’s example.
He said: “Having responded
with trust to the direct call of the
Lord, Mother Teresa exemplified
excellently the words of St. John:
‘Beloved, if God so loved us, we
also must love one another. ...
[I]f we love one another, God
remains in us and his love is
brought to perfection in us.’”
“May this love continue to in-
spire you, Missionaries of Chari-
ty, to give yourselves generously
to Jesus, to all those you see and
serve, that is, to the poor, the
marginalized, the abandoned.
I encourage you to draw con-
stantly from the spirituality and
new Roman
At home
According to AsiaNews, the
message was read this morning
by Archbishop Lucas Sirkar of
Calcutta during a Mass presided
over by Cardinal Telesphore
Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi,
Missal
India, in the Motherhouse of the
Missionaries of Charity. Implementation Set
Some 1,000 people attended
the Mass, celebrated in the center
where Mother Teresa’s remains
for First Sunday of
rest, UCAN agency reported.
Before the start of the ceremo-
ny, a simple homage took place
Advent 2011
during which Sisters Nirmala
Joshi and Mary Prema, Mother WASHINGTON, D.C. August 20,
Teresa’s first and second suc- 2010—Cardinal Francis George, OMI,
cessors as superiors of the Mis- Archbishop of Chicago and President of
sionaries of Charity, released a the United States Conference of Catholic
white dove and balloons. Bishops (USCCB), has announced that
For his part, Cardinal Toppo the full text of the English-language
lit a candle and put it next to translation of the Roman Missal, Third
the tomb. “In this centenary, we Edition, has been issued for the dioceses
must listen to Mother’s message of the United States of America.
that we have been created for The text was approved by the Vatican,
greater things, to love and to be and the approval was accompanied
loved,” he said. by a June 23 letter from Cardinal Llo-
The Mass was presided over vera Antonio Cañizares, Prefect of the

the example of Mother Teresa
and, following in her footsteps,
to accept Christ’s invitation:
‘Come and be my light.’”
The Pontiff expressed his trust
that the year of the centenary
“will be for the Church and for
the world an occasion of fervent
www.vashiculturalassociation.com
by the cardinal and concelebrat- Congregation for Divine Worship and
ed by Archbishop Sirkar, as well the Discipline of the Sacraments. The
as retired Archbishop Henry Congregation also provided guidelines
D’Souza of Calcutta, Bishop Sal- for publication.
vadore Lobo of Baruipur, and by In addition, on July 24, the Vatican
the postulator of Mother Teresa’s gave approval for several adaptations,
cause for canonization, Father including additional prayers for the
Brian Kolodiejchuk. (Zenit) Penitential Act at Mass and the Renewal
of Baptismal Promises on Easter Sun-

Vatican to Muslims: let’s fight violence together

day. Also approved are texts of prayers
for feasts specific to the United States
such as Thanksgiving, Independence
Day and the observances of feasts for

Stress importance of education toward respect saints such as Damien of Molokai,

VATICAN City, August 27, 2010—The
Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue sent a message to Muslims,
underlining the need for a joint effort
against violence.
The message, published today by the
Vatican, was sent to all Muslims on the
occasion of the end of Ramadan, which
this year will take place Sept. 10.
“Throughout this month, you have
committed yourselves to prayer, fasting,
helping the neediest and strengthening
relations of family and friendship,” the
message affirmed. “God will not fail to
reward these efforts!”
The message, which was signed by the
council president, Cardinal Jean-Louis
Tauran, and secretary, Archbishop Pier
Luigi Celata, centered on the theme,
“Christians and Muslims: Together in
overcoming violence among followers
of different religions.”
The prelates noted that this theme is,
“unfortunately, a pressing subject, at
least in certain areas of the world.”
They acknowledged that “the Joint
Committee for Dialogue instituted by
the Pontifical Council and al-Azhar
Permanent Committee for Dialogue
among the Monotheistic Religions had
also chosen this topic as a subject of
study, reflection and exchange during
its last annual meeting,” which took
place in Cairo last February.
In their message, the Vatican officials
underlined some of the conclusions
published at the end of this meeting.
“There are many causes for violence
among believers of different religious
traditions,” they noted.
The message outlined some of these
causes, such as: “the manipulation of
the religion for political or other ends;
discrimination based on ethnicity or
religious identity; divisions and social
tensions.”
“Ignorance, poverty, underdevelop-
ment are also direct or indirect sources
of violence among as well as within
religious communities,” it added.
Common good
The prelates exhorted: “May the civil
and religious authorities offer their con-
tributions in order to remedy so many
situations for the sake of the common
good of all society!
“May the civil authorities safeguard
the primacy of the law by ensuring true
justice to put a stop to the authors and
promoters of violence!”
The message also highlighted some
“important recommendations” pub-
lished after the February meeting.
Among these, it included: “to open
our hearts to mutual forgiveness and
Katharine Drexel, and Elizabeth Ann
Seton. The Vatican also approved the
reconciliation, for a peaceful and fruitful Mass for Giving Thanks to God for
coexistence; to recognize what we have the Gift of Human Life, which can be
in common and to respect differences, celebrated on January 22.
as a basis for a culture of dialogue; and Cardinal George announced receipt of
to recognize and respect the dignity and the documents in an August 20 letter to
the rights of each human being without the U.S. Bishops and issued a decree of
any bias related to ethnicity or religious proclamation that states that “The use of
affiliation.” the third edition of the Roman Missalenters
The message underlined the “necessity into use in the dioceses of the United States
to promulgate just laws which guarantee of America as of the First Sunday of Ad-
the fundamental equality of all.” vent, November 27, 2011. From that date
It also recommended recalling “the forward, no other edition of the Roman
importance of education towards re- Missal may be used in the dioceses of the
spect, dialogue and fraternity in the United States of America.”
various educational arenas: at home, in The date of implementation was
the school, in churches and mosques.” chosen to allow publishers time to pre-
“Thus,” the prelates urged, “we pare texts and parishes and dioceses to
will be able to oppose violence among educate parishioners.
followers of different religions and “We can now move forward and
promote peace and harmony among continue with our important catecheti-
the various religious communities.” cal efforts as we prepare the text for
(Zenit) publication,” Cardinal George said.
In the coming weeks, staff of the

Implement genuine agrarian reform for farmers, Aquino told

MANILA, August 22, 2010—A church-based lay or-
ganization has called on President Benigno Aquino III
to implement a genuine agrarian reform for farmers
in the interest of social justice.
The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP),
a national church organization who work with the
rural poor for land, justice, freedom and integrity of
creation, said Aquino should make sure farmers get
the land they till.
In a statement, the group urged Aquino to “show
his support for the social justice component underly-
ing land reform and ensure that land distribution is
paramount and not allow alternatives such as the
stock distribution option.”
“We particularly call on him to express this prin-
ciple in relation to Hacienda Luisita; we also call on
him to enact a law carrying genuine agrarian reform
for the tillers,” the group stated.
The statement was issued during the RMP’s 26th Na-
tional Assembly held in Davao last August 12 to 16.
RMP pointed out the lack of services, landlessness
and displacement as some of the underlying problems
that burdened the rural poor.
“Land is still not distributed to the tiller, as there is
no genuine agrarian reform and no basic services to
the farmers. Land is still monopolized by landlords
and corporations, as seen with the creation of Special
Economic Zones, open-pit mining, logging, planta-
tions for biofuels and export crops. As such, land is
being converted, and the effect is the destruction of
our ecology, the displacement of farmers, fisher folk
and indigenous peoples, and the worsening of food
security,” the statement partly read.
The group also decried the human rights violations
against the poor perpetrated by some members of the
armed forces.
“We see clearly how the Armed Forces of the Philip-
pines, along with the paramilitary and private armies
are being used to protect the interest of the landlords
and corporations resulting to an ever increasing num-
ber of human rights violations,” the statement said.
It also criticized the armed forces’ counter insur-
bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship
will prepare the text for publication
and collaborate with the staff of the
International Commission on English
gency program dubbed Oplan Bantay Laya, saying in the Liturgy (ICEL), which will assist
that it targeted those “who defend the legitimate Bishops’ Conferences in bringing the
interests of the rural poor.” text to publication. In particular, ICEL
“Under Oplan Bantay Laya, civilians become ‘collat- has been preparing the chant settings
eral damage’ as they become victims to militarization. of the texts of the Missal for use in the
This systematic disregard of human rights institution- celebration of the Mass. Once all neces-
alized through Oplan Bantay Laya under the guise of sary elements have been incorporated
“wiping out insurgency” only exacerbates the poverty of into the text and the preliminary layout
the people, creating a culture of fear,” it further said. is complete, the final text will go to the
The group urged Aquino to abolish the controver- publishers to produce the ritual text,
sial anti-insurgency program, and as Commander in catechetical resources and participation
chief “lead the army to protect the people and not the aids for use in the Liturgy.
interest of big business.” Receipt of the text marks the start of
The gathering drew some 80 women and men, proximate preparation for Roman Mis-
priests, religious and rural lay missionaries from all sal implementation. Before first use of
over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. the new text in Advent 2011, pastors are
Themed “Paigtingin ang gawaing RMP tungo sa urged to use resources available to pre-
pagtugon sa mga hinaing ng mga dukha sa kanayu- pare parishioners. Some already have
nan”, the national assembly also coincided with the been in use; others are being released
RMP’s 41st anniversary of foundation. (Pinky Bar- now. They include theParish Guide
rientos/CBCPNews) for the Implementation of the Roman
Missal, Third Edition, and Become One

Fisherfolks’ alliance urges DENR to act on Aurora eco-zone

ANTIPOLO City, August 28, 2010—The
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Ma-
mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamala-
kaya) has called on the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) to break its silence to the pos-
sible environmental problems that the
proposed Aurora Special Economic
Zone Authority (Aseza), will create in
the near future.
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando
“Ka Pando” Hicap said, Environment
Sec. Ramon Paje should speak up
about the status of the application of
the Aseza’s environmental compliance
certificate (ECC), a clearance that the
DENR is issuing to corporations, agen-
cies, and other entities that certifies the
project or an endeavor is environmen-
tal-friendly.
“If they had already issued Aseza an
ECC, the public has the right to know on
what basis that the Environmental De-
partment had issued such certification,
as people from Casiguran, Aurora—
those people who are the directly af-
fected by the project—continuously air
their opposition to the creation of both
Aseza and Aurora Pacific Economic
Zone and Freeport,” Hicap said.
Earlier, the Pamalakaya and the local
environmental groups in Aurora had
issued statements with regard to the
issues of land grabbing by the Angara
clan in order to pursue the project and
the possible environmental degradation
as the project proceeds.
“But up to now, Paje is on silent mode
and it seems he does not want to be
bothered by the growing opposition
against the ambitious project of the rul-
ing Angara political dynasty in Aurora
province,” Hicap said.
Hicap also accused Paje and the
DENR of being “powerless” and
“afraid” in confronting the reigning
political dynasty of the Angara family
in Aurora.
“The Aseza does not represent the
real interest of the people. It was made
in the name of the ruling political dy-
nasty in Aurora province that is why
it should be billed as Angara Special
Economic Zone Authority because it
is only meant for the powerful Angara
clan. The sad part of the tale is that the
DENR is not doing its assignment for
the sake of people’s environment and
welfare,” the fisherfolks’ leader said.
In 2007, the father and son tandem of
Sen. Angara and Rep. Sonny Angara had
filed separate bills in the Senate and the
House of Representatives, respectively
that aimed to create a special economic
zone in the province of Aurora.
Republic Act (RA) 9490 took effect as
Body, One Spirit in Christ, a multi-
media DVD resource produced by ICEL
in collaboration with English-language
Conferences of Bishops. Both will be
available from the USCCB. Information
a law last April 22. However, this was on resources can be found at www.
amended and RA 10083 came into being. usccb.org/romanmissal.
According to the law, the 13,000- Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson,
hectare coastal area of the province will New Jersey, Chair of the Bishops’
be developed into a model agro-marine Committee on Divine Worship, voiced
center with a fish port, processing and gratitude for the approval.
canning plants. “I am happy that after years of prepa-
Pamalakaya fears that if the project ration, we now have a text that, when
will pursue, the livelihood and homes introduced late next year, will enable the
of the fisherfolks and some indigenous ongoing renewal of the celebration of the
peoples, will be severely affected. Sacred Liturgy in our parishes,” he said.
On July 21st, the Catholic Bishops’ Msgr. Anthony Sherman, Director of the
Conference’s National Secretariat for Secretariat for Divine Worship of the
Social Action, Justice and Peace (NAS- USCCB noted, “A great effort to produce
SA) had issued a statement, favoring the the new Roman Missal for the United
postponement of the project. States, along with the other necessary
Pabillo assailed the provisions of the resources, has begun. Even as that work
law that allows the implementers of the is underway a full–scale catechesis about
project to confiscate lands, even those the Liturgy and the new Roman Missal
are under the comprehensive agrar- should be taking place in parishes, so that
ian reform project (CARP).(Noel Sales when the time comes, everyone will be
Barcelona/CBCPNews) ready.” (USCCB News)
 A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010

EDITORIAL

An icon of love for the poor

BARELY two decades after the dawn of a new outlook of

the social doctrine of the Church in Rerum Novarum of Pope
Leo XIII, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was born in the world
that would challenge her to live her whole life in pursuit
of—in the words of Centessimus Annus of Pope John Paul
II—“the defense of the human person and the safeguarding
of human dignity.”
Of late, or on the dates surrounding August 26, the world has
marked in so many ways the celebration of the centennial of
the birth of Mother Teresa that would even include a rally
of supporters in front of the Empire State building in New
York that has refused the lighting up of the building in blue
and white on the 100th birth anniversary of a Nobel Peace
Laureate. (But several theater marquees and billboards in
Times Square have illuminated in blue on Aug. 26 to honor
the nun whose blue-striped white habit became a symbol of
care for the poor throughout the world.)
Among those outside the confines of the Catholic Church,
Mother Teresa was acknowledged as an icon of love for the
poor. To mention just a few, Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia,
for instance, remembers her as “An example of selfless
devotion to charity. I hope she can be a good example to

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

all charity workers and philanthropists.” The former prime
minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif regarded her “as a rare
and unique individual who lived long for a higher purpose.
Her life-long devotion to the care of the poor, the sick and
the disadvantaged was one of the highest examples of service
to humanity.” Boris Yeltsin of Russia was quoted as saying
“All the life of this great woman was the bright incarnation
of service to the high humanitarian ideals of goodness,
compassion, selflessness and faith.”
The love for the poor has been, of course, a byword by
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Jueteng – STL tandem,
a formidable political
anybody especially beginning with the 60s or perhaps after

Views and Points

the Second Vatican Council. Even politicians who dreamed

force
of scoring a win would use this as a battle cry. The leftists,
too, with their structural analysis, or dialectical materialism
if you may, would also end up crying for the poor. The
Second Plenary Council of the Philippines challenged church NOW it can be openly and pub- and loudly proclaimed that There is such a especially releasing or withholding—its
leaders to go for a preferential option for the poor—which licly told what was probably al- jueteng should be “legalized”— forceful pairing between the two practically inexhaustible gam-
until today has remained just that. ready known before but remain in the spirit of the saying that if in the sense that STL is used as bling funds for political purpos-
unsaid or underestimated. There you cannot lick ‘em, then join a cover-up of Jueteng which is es. Blessed are those politicians
But in Mother Teresa, the extreme love for the poor was was strong and solid reason ‘em. Simple yet devoid of prin- like a giant octopus with its huge who enjoy the favor and support
neither ideological nor philanthropic. It was not even an behind the fact that all the post- ciple, and wherefore ethically tentacles in powerful grip of the of the operators of the jueteng-
ecclesiological mandate or, as some familiar faces around Martial Law administrations flat broke. country as a whole. Further- STL tandem, and damned are
would boast, “an apostolate.” It was simply living the Gospel in the past shamelessly danced If by itself then, jueteng was more, it is a categorical certainty those who cross them in one way
where the poor is encountered as a Good News and not as a with jueteng lords. Now, there is not only a national shame but that the pairing is under the com- or another. The same Jueteng-
burden or a social responsibility. more forceful and cogent cause also fearsome social cancer, very mand of exactly the same long STL tandem has slowly but
why even the present adminis- much more it is during these operating jueteng lords them- surely become a formidable
In her Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1979, Mother Theresa tration—with anti-corruption times since Small Time Lottery selves. And as a deadly matter political force.
simply said: “I choose the poverty of our poor people. But I and pro integrity as its loud and (STL) became its intimate buddy, of course, STL uses the jueteng It then become perfectly un-
am grateful to receive (the Nobel) in the name of the hungry, repeated battle cry—express- its bosom partner—making hierarchical structure, giving derstandable that even the in-
the naked, the homeless, of the crippled, of the blind, of ly and officially declared that themselves an awesome and payolas to the same protectors cumbent administration that
the lepers, of all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, eradicating jueteng was not and fearful pairing. In case there in the persons of infamous local is supposedly the incarnation
uncared-for throughout society, people that have become a remains not a “priority”. are people who are still unaware public officials and PNP author- of honor and probity does not
burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.” And as a matter of course, of it or who miss the sinister ities—who thus cannot but bow have vanishing jueteng from the
much less does the PNP together significance and foreboding low and well before their said face of the land as a “priority”.
with local public officials look at consequences of the JUETENG– beneficiaries. This will be courting political
neutralizing jueteng as anything STL TANDEM, let them know The jueteng–STL tandem disaster—especially so during
relevant. In fact, recently a for- the following on-the-ground makes and unmakes local and election times. How sad yet
mer president at that, fervently realities. regional politicians by using— how true!
The evils of rampant gambling
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
THE moral evil of such large-scale, systematic gambling is
not simply because it is illegal. It is truly immoral under
the circumstances that it operates and in the evil effects that
it has spawned. Simple faith Love Life
Today, gambling is, indeed, a social cancer, gradually and
surely destroying a great many of our positive social and
moral values. It is a social scourge that is debilitating even NENA was one month pregnant on their her child was breaking her heart. said she had been noticing her for the past
our moral sense, our ability to distinguish right from wrong. third child when she got widowed. Her It was a one night and two days trip to hours clinging to her bags, and guessed that
It is deeply infecting us as a people. husband died in a tragic accident. He fell Manila – a hard travel, more so for a preg- she was in trouble. The woman admitted
from a coconut tree and hit his head on a nant woman. But her persistence to reach that she was helped by the staff some time
Rampant gambling, particularly in its form of jueteng, has stone. Because they live in a far away bar- Manila and go to that church in Quiapo was ago when she also had a problem, that is
become a way of life for many. People no longer care or rio in Samar, they could not bring him to a her main goal. why she is one of the volunteers now in
dare to condemn it because: (a) no effective action against hospital so he died in the arms of Nena, a few Having worked in Manila in her early the parish.
gambling has ever been taken by our political and police hours after his friends discovered him under twenties as a housemaid, she knew how Shyly, Nena went to the Counseling
authorities, except through some token occasional raids the tree, still breathing but severely bleeding. to get there. Once inside Quiapo Church, Center inside the parish hall. She poured
against small-time gambling operators; and (b) very powerful His brother made a wooden coffin and the she knelt to pray, getting up only to have a out her story. The counselor lost no time
family and a few friends walked three hours drink from one of the nearby vendors out- in contacting the Good Shepherd Sisters of
people operate gambling.
to the nearest cemetery to bury him. side the church. Several hours passed, she Welcome House a crisis shelter for women.
Through jueteng and other forms of rampant gambling, values Although in grief and devastated as to just stayed there, having no other place to In Welcome House, Nena was finally able
are distorted. Hard work, rational reflection and planning that where she will get the meals for her children go to. Sometimes, she dozed off on one of to rest and have a full meal.
are trademarks of responsible human work are substituted now that her husband was gone, Nena did the benches. Other times, she would make a She participated willingly in the day to
by irresponsible risk-taking. Laziness is promoted while not lose time to request her mother to take round of the statues, praying in front of each day routine of the clients – battered women,
the dream of easy money becomes an obsession. The poor care of her children while she will try her one, especially to the statues of Jesus, the abused girls, unwed mothers and troubled
are exploited. Power and money are used to protect—as luck in Manila – find a job and hope that she Black Nazarene to whom she had a special teens. Nena was more mature than most
will be able to meet people who will help devotion as her employer had introduced of them and so she acted as their big sis-
well as to enforce submission to—the system. The values
her during her pregnancy till she delivers her to the practice visiting Quiapo church ter for the three weeks she stayed there, a
of the Gospel and of the Kingdom of God are put aside for this baby. In her mind, the only way she and every Friday. prime example of generosity, diligence and
the sake of profit. So long have we complained about the her two children will be able to go through Late afternoon, a woman whispered to her honesty.
disappearance of such values as industry, thrift, truth, honesty the rest of their life was to put her baby for that if she had a problem, she could go to the When asked by Sr. Joan, the sister-in-
and integrity, and justice. adoption even if the idea of separating from Church office and ask for help. The woman Lovelife / A7
Make Yourselves a New Heart and a New Spirit, 1998
Fr. Roy Cimagala
Higher sense of
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Candidly Speaking purpose needed
NOW that we are enjoying a less possibilities of usages and make use of these technological egoism, etc., are having a field
flowering of technological de- advantages that the electronic marvels. I’m afraid that without day in this arena.
velopment, we need to realize world is now offering us. this clear sense of purpose, more These dangers can start with
more deeply that the quantum More inventions and innova- elevated than the usual practical people, especially the young
leap in that area calls for a tions are made. Just recently, level, we would end up wal- ones, to waste a lot of time
matching quantum leap in our in fact, I have been invited to a lowing more deeply in our own and to express and cultivate
Pedro C. Quitorio Kris Bayos sense of purpose. Otherwise we talk on blogging and on other world, increasingly insensitive their youthful weaknesses with
Features Editor would get what is tantamount programs like Tiddlywiki that to the ultimate dimension of our nuclear dynamics.
Editor-in-Chief
to an overdose. provides tremendous and very life, which is spiritual, moral I remember reading an article
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Gloria Fernando I think such assertion is com- practical facilities for taking and supernatural. about the Google CEO warning
monsensical. Yet we ignore it, notes. In fact, this wallowing phe- that young people should be
PUBLICATION LAYOUT BY KRIS BAYOS

Associate Editor Marketing Supervisor

mainly because the so-called
Melo M. Acuña Ernani M. Ramos overdose is not so much painful
Managing Editor Circulation Manager as it is euphoric. The danger is
not immediately felt and seen. It
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez can hide behind many rational-
News Editor Comptroller
izations and justifications. The
overdose assumes the character
of a sweet poison.
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communica- Many times in my chats with
tions Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business offices young fellows in the front lines
at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. of this warp-speed technologi-
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940
cal progress, I get the impres-
sion that there seems to be end-
I’m at the moment just dis-
covering the wonders of the Fa-
cebook and struggling, dummy
and unteachable as I am, to cope
with its many possibilities. And
here comes other programs
knocking at the door for me to
consider. I’m not sure anymore
whether I’m simplifying my
life or complicating it. Anyway,
we’ll see…
Thing is we need to have a
higher sense of purpose to truly
nomenon is what we are seeing
these days in the electronic
world. What begins as humanly
valid practical uses sooner or
later deteriorates into inhuman,
sinful modes if not animated
properly by spiritual and moral
values.
There are now a lot of inanities
circulated around electronically.
Subtle and even open forms of
human moral anomalies like
vanity, envy, sensuality, greed,
allowed to change their names
after some time because they
would already have compro-
mised their future with the
irresponsible things they have
posted on the net. Their cyber
past would just be too hot to
handle.
I have even seen in the web
wanton displays of poor taste
and impropriety on the part of
some Church and spiritual lead-
Candidly Speaking/ A6
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
Opinion A5
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL Jose B. Lugay

Spaces of Hope
MY friendship with Grace began
as a choice between her and
her best friend and colleague,
Vicky, and Jacky Chan. Yes, you
read it correctly: Jacky Chan,
the actor.
It was sometime in 2006 and
I was attending a training con-
ducted by Cheche Lazaro of the
Probe Team. Cheche’s group
included her cousin, Vicky,
and her teammate, Grace. “I
am looking for a volunteer for
my first point,” invited Vicky.
I raised my hand, not knowing
what I was getting into. “Please
stand here and face the group,”
Vicky gently instructed me. I
did. Then she tossed a bunch
of small balls at me and said:
“Here, Fr., catch!” I tried my best
but caught only a ball or two.
This was my first exposure to
the dynamic duo. “Too many
messages and words beyond
three syllables are akin to toss-
ing too many balls,” Vicky con-
cluded. Lesson one: focus. We
were on our way to understand-
ing some key communication
principles.
Later that morning, I actually
found it hard to focus. A friend
had texted to inform me that she
had reserved a chair for me in
a room where they were host-
ing Jacky Chan of the Drunken
Master fame. Jacky and my
friend were partners in a café
venture.
I entertained the idea of sneak-
ing out of the training workshop,
only that we were supposed to
do some role playing. I decided
to stay put.
I had made the better choice.
*****
I soon struck up a friendship
with the two ladies from the
world of branding. I was in
unfamiliar territory and they
patiently facilitated my entry
into it.
Grace was passionate about
her craft and was a highly ar-
ticulate, gentle, playful and keen
observer when she facilitated
seminar-workshops. She wrote
in a purposeful frenzy using
“meta cards” to bring together
ideas of participants. She was
the original “flash woman”
although one can sense her
writing barely kept up with
her thought processes and the
synapses that connected art,
anthropology, geography, mu-
sic, food, and other interests,
including the Bible.
She was especially adept at
gathering the “snapshots” of
table discussions to produce
a “panoramic picture” usu-
ally written on a piece of table
napkin. Many strategic insights
emerged in this manner.
Dilaab, at this time, was in a
Coming home
crucial period of transition that
merged three separate advocacy
groups to a single movement.
Three children gave birth to
a mother. It was in this chal-
lenging and difficult period of
transition that Grace was heaven
sent.
Many of Dilaab’s initiatives
started as gut-feel efforts with
minimum market study and
problem-tree analysis. In hind-
sight, I would like to think they
were leadings of the Spirit.
If Grace, with her corporate
background, felt uneasy with
this arrangement she seldom
showed this.
Grace was very generous with
her time, talent and treasure. She
even made a monthly pledge on
top of her volunteer work, and
her Makati penthouse became
a home for Dilaab volunteers
who came in from Cebu. At the
thick of our CiDE commitments,
Grace even surprised a Dilaab
team with a two-day blissful rest
at a retreat-haven in Cavite.
*****
One can say that Grace was an
effective midwife in the birthing
process of Dilaab (Cebuano for
“conflagration” or Tagalog for
“tongues of fire” – “dila” and
“alab”). For two days in late
2006, Grace and Vicky volun-
teered their expertise for a shield
and branding workshop. The
key insights are all captured in
five symbols inside a shield. A
tagline was confirmed: “Igniting
spaces of hope” and a simple
message was born: “A good
Christian, a good citizen and a
good leader.”
A few months later, in early
2007, they were at it again, fa-
cilitating an anti-narcopolitics
tool that eventually became the
LASER test for lifestyle, action,
supporters, election conduct and
reputation.
Grace also helped emerge
CiDE (Circles of Discernment
for Elections) through two work-
shops in 2008 leading to the
formation of the short-lived
HEARTS and Pearl networks.
These two were precursors of
CiDE that began in earnest only
in early 2009 with two national
consultations and proceeded
with the conduct of CiDE semi-
nars in different parts of the
country.
Another defining moment
was in December 2008 and Janu-
ary 2009 with the formulation of
Dilaab’s understanding of “pas-
toral accompaniment.” This was
based on our lived experiences
with partners from the PNP and
elected officials. Grace also left
her imprint here.
This was no small feat. The
Spaces / A7
Laiko Lampstand
Issues on education
and climate change
AFTER the delivery of the SONA of President Benigno
Simeon Aquino, media has been delivering news about
changes in personnel of important positions of govern-
ment including cabinet secretaries, and heads of important
departments and bureaus. I closely watch the changes and
pronouncement of these two departments, the Department
of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) since their
policies affect the future of the young generation including
my eight grandchildren.
We are particularly interested on the present administra-
tion’s governance that affects future generations. Among
the many issues, let us focus first on the education of the
young. Pope John Paul II predicted that “The future of
evangelization depends in a great part on the Church of the
Home.” This means that what affects the children today
will be reflected in their behavior in the future and it is their
formation in the home by their parents that is the critical
factor. Of course there are also many influences from the
learning environment where they acquire their values. In
his Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, paragraph
52, Pope John Paul II described the threats on the young
and the future generation: “In places where anti-religious
legislation endeavors even to prevent education in the
faith and in places where widespread unbelief or invasive
secularism makes real religious growth practically impos-
sible, the “Church of the Home” remains the one place
where children and young people can receive an authentic
catechesis.” The present discussions among legislators and
advocacy groups clearly indicate the present danger.
Put yourself in the current scenario and assess these in
the light of the Church teachings. The RH bill particularly
the sex education imposed on the very young in school is
carefully watched by our Pro-Life groups. The appoint-

Fallacies of legalizing Fr. Russell Bantiles ment of the La Salle President, Brother Armin Luistro as
the Secretary of Education was a good move by P-Noy but
the coast is still not clear since the reproductive health is-

abortion Cogito
sue is still in the agenda of the 15th Congress. The recent
pronouncements of foreign funding sources who advocate

(Part I of II)
(A response to an article titled “Filipino
women need safe and legal abortion in RP” by
EnGendeRights, August 2, 2010, posted in ABS-
CBNews.com. See http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
insights/08/06/10/filipino-women-need-safe-
and-legal-abortion-rp).
ONE needs not study Logic or Philosophy
to see how this article is replete with lots of
fallacious arguments. I am not exaggerating
when I say that the bottom line of what it
tries to convey is this: that we should save
our women from numerous maternal deaths
brought about by unsafe abortion methods
by legally killing our children! In what fol-
lows, I shall unmask each of these fallacies
and argue that abortion is immoral because
it an act of murder. Legalizing abortion does
not change its immorality, for what is legal
may not necessarily be morally right.
The article opens with this affirmation:
“Filipinos should address the issue of access
to safe and legal abortion in the country. The
impact of lack of access to safe and legal abor-
tion is a grave public health issue as shown
in the report of New York-based Center for
Reproductive Rights titled, ‘Forsaken Lives:
The Harmful Impact of the Philippine Crimi-
nal Abortion Ban’, which was released today
at Annabel’s restaurant. In the Philippines,
over half of all pregnancies are unintended
and one-third of these unintended pregnan-
cies end in abortion. Due to the illegality of
abortion, Filipino women induce abortion
clandestinely through unsafe methods.”
The report cites recent statistics showing
about half a million Filipino women yearly
who, because of various reasons includ-
ing rape and dire socio-economic reasons,
induce abortion with about 1000 women
dying and 90,000 being hospitalized due to
complications from unsafe abortion. This
means that the illegality of abortion does not
stop abortion but only makes it dangerous
for the health and lives of Filipino women,’
said Attorney Clara Rita A. Padilla, Execu-
tive Director of EnGendeRights, and former
Brian Caulfield
Visiting International Legal Fellow at Center The first most efficient solution is for the
for Reproductive Rights”. mother to decide NOT TO ABORT. This is
The basic structure of the argument is the safest means to avoid numerous maternal
this: because abortion is illegal in the Phil- deaths. Second, we need to persecute legally
ippines, women clandestinely abort their those who are doing abortion illegally in
babies through unsafe methods and many this country. If women would not abort and
die due to complications. Therefore, to the law is implemented well, I am sure the
avoid numerous maternal deaths, abortion problem will be solved.
should be legalized to provide safer abor- The second fallacy is the appeal to author-
tion methods. ity. The report of New York-based Center
The first fallacy committed in this argu- for Reproductive Rights (CRR) claims to be
ment is confusing cause and effect. The an authority on this subject because it has
banning of abortion is not the direct cause conducted a statistical study on abortion in
of the numerous deaths of women who the Philippines. Padilla’s argument appeals
abort their children. Hence, the conclusion to this authority and argues that we should
on the legalization of abortion to curb these consider its findings in addressing “the issue
deaths is fallacious. The illegality of abortion of access to safe and legal abortion in the
is simply a contributing or circumstantial country”. The basic structure of Padilla’s
factor that drives women to clandestine abor- argument is this: CRR is an authority on this
tion employing unsafe methods, but never subject. CRR conducted this study and says
its cause. Abortion is harmful (may cause that the impact of the illegality of abortion
numerous maternal deaths) not because it in the Philippines is harmful. Hence, CRR’s
is illegal. It is illegal—not legally allowed— finding and conclusion is true.
because it is harmful: it causes the death of Any law student who studies Logic could
children and – as Padilla has cited—possibly demonstrate well how illogical this argu-
that of the mother. ment is. CRR’s finding cannot be true simply
But what directly causes these numerous because it claims authority on this subject. It
deaths of women is the women’s decision to can be true only if it follows logical reason-
abort. Had they not decided to abort their ing, which I doubt it does. Hence, to argue
child, they would never have died of unsafe that CRR’s conclusion is true because it is an
abortion methods. Now, legalizing abortion authority on this subject is a fallacy.
does not guarantee that these deaths would I don’t doubt the professional authority
not occur. Instead, if abortion is legalized, of CRR in conducting statistical studies. But
more women would be encouraged to abort. given the fallacious reasoning of its conclu-
The legalization of abortion would only raise sion (namely, that illegal abortion causes nu-
to the highest level the risk of numerous merous maternal deaths), what I doubt is its
maternal deaths. moral authority. When an argument does not
A corollary fallacy in Padilla’s argument follow reason, it cannot have moral authority
is this: legalizing abortion brings about safer because as St. Thomas Aquinas said, “The
abortion methods. This is absolutely false! moral law is that part of the eternal law that
Abortion, whether legal or illegal, is never applies to human choices and can be known
safe because it always puts the mother’s life by our natural reason”. Hence, what does not
in great danger, while it kills mercilessly the follow logical reasoning cannot claim moral
child. That which kills is never safe! authority. The CRR cannot have the moral
So that women should not die due to authority on this subject simply because it
complications from unsafe abortion, the best lacks logical reasoning. Then, why should
solution is not the legalization of abortion. we appeal to it? (To be continued)
A Mother Teresa
the decriminalization of abortion here in the Philippines is
one that is referred to by Pope John Paul II as anti-religious
legislation endeavors.
Even in the United States, malevolent forces operating
against the family is working double time. We cite the
California Supreme Court’s ruling supporting same sex
marriage. Here in the Philippines these forces represented
by certain feminists are introducing a bill in Congress that
would legalize divorce. These are the different forces that
future generation of young Filipinos face that would cause
the breakdown of the Church of the Home, that is, the
Catholic family as an institution.
Even for the sake of argument that the above-mentioned
forces are not working in the Philippines, there is still a
cultural force that prevents the marriage of poor people in
Church. These are caused by cultural values held sacred in
the family life of Filipinos. The marriage ceremony is always
followed by “handaan” the wedding feast attended by all
close relatives and neighbors. The D and E population in
the urban areas and provinces postpone their getting mar-
ried due to lack of funds for the marriage celebration. But
young people in love cannot wait.
They eventually become “live-in” partners sans mar-
riage. To counter this trend family life groups make it
their apostolate to sponsor mass weddings and celebrate
a simple “salo-salo” with all the ninongs and ninangs
joining the “Cana” marriage feast. This fulfills the sacred
duty of man and woman to become husband and wife in
the Catholic tradition.
The issue on education, that is, the addition of two
years—one year of pre-school training, and one additional
year of high school—is the new administration’s policy pro-
nouncement. This elicited many reactions. Some say that the
priority is to build more schools, train and hire more teach-
ers, provide adequate learning tools, books and computers,
etc. But if the Philippines will not follow international
standards, we will be the only nation that will produce low
quality education compared to the whole world!
As usual the problem is affordability—while the govern-
ment supports the tuition fees of enrollees in government
schools, the C, D and E parents complain that they still
need funds to support the daily transportation and meals
of children. Hence, P-Noy’s economic team is mandated
to find sources of funds to support this policy.
While we worry about the education of the young, their
schooling is also affected by the coming of the typhoons.
We rely on the weather bureau for their forecast in order
to anticipate when classes will be suspended or not. This
brings us to the inaccurate reporting of the last typhoon,
Basyang, that passed through Metro Manila. With our
experience of the devastation caused by typhoons Ondoy
and Pepeng, we are all concerned about coming disasters.
The failure of PAG-ASA to accurately predict the passing
of typhoon Basyang through Metro Manila plus the sev-
eral hours of brownout and lack of water supply, angered
P-Noy. The dismissal of PAG-ASA’s head, Prisco Nilo,

Half a World Away
MAYBE it was a miracle of who by her very presence spoke
Mother Teresa, or maybe it of God. I got on the line and
was what some call a “God- began to pray the rosary quietly
incidence”. to myself, as many others were
I think the year was 1992, and doing. Eventually, I got to the
Mother Teresa may have been stage where Mother Teresa was
in New York City to receive the greeting people, but she was sur-
Knights of Columbus’ highest rounded by so many sisters and
honor, the Gaudium et Spes well-wishers that I could not see
Award. I was not working for her small figure in the crowd.
the K of C at the time; in fact, I Suddenly, I felt a wrinkled
was a seminarian with the Arch- yet strong hand grab my hand.
diocese of New York. So when I looked down and saw Mother,
some friends told me Mother her eyes so alive as they stared at
Teresa was in the South Bronx, me as though I was the only one
I went with them by subway to there amid the crush of human-
see her. ity. “God bless you,” she said in
There was a long line of her simple voice, as she pressed a
pilgrims streaming out of the Miraculous Medal into my palm.
Catholic school gym that morn- I walked ahead, off the stage.
ing, but everyone was patient My friends also got Miracu-
and high-spirited. A buzz went lous Medals from her. We talked
through crowd, not to see a ce- about the experience on the sub-
lebrity but to meet a holy woman way ride back to Manhattan. As
miracle?
the car filled up, I gave my seat
to a young Hispanic mother and
her boy. Filled with joy, I held
out the Miraculous Medal and
asked the mother if she ever
heard of Mother Teresa. She nod-
ded, of course. The boy looked
at the medal and reached out to
hold my hand closer. Without
thinking, I said, “Would you
like it?” He nodded yes. His
mother pulled a cord from his
neck which already held other
religious medals. I helped her
place the Miraculous Medal on
the cord next to the others. My
friends looked at me in disbelief.
How could I give away a medal
touched by a living saint? I was
thinking the same thing, but de-
fended my action while still feel-
ing the emotional sting of part-
ing with something precious:
“We cannot cling to holy things
but must share the graces.”
A few days later, I was coming
out of the St. Paul’s bookstore in
midtown, when someone called
my name. An older woman who
I knew from church came shuf-
fling toward me, saying that she
had visited Mother Teresa in the
Bronx over the weekend. “For
some reason, she gave me two
Miraculous Medals, and I’ve
been thinking for days now who
I should give the second medal
to. When I saw you, I knew that
you were the one.”
She handed me the medal
from Mother Teresa, and I told
her the story of how I had given
my medal to a boy on the sub-
way. We both held back tears,
recognizing the hand of God,
and how privileged we were to
have his holy ones among us,
such as Mother Teresa.
caused the people to think how the previous administra-
tion failed in the governance of this particular service
group. The whole world woke up to the warnings of Al
Gore regarding the effects of climate change—the change
in weather patterns, the melting of the ice cap and the rise
of the sea level which our grandchildren will experience
within their lifetime.
Today our government bureaucracy, down to the lo-
cal government, has not realized that this disaster-prone
country with its volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, typhoons
and floods, need support for scientific instruments as well
as well-schooled scientists. Our weather forecasters use
antiquated equipment. However, the bureaucratic red tape
to get the budget approved for modern equipment like the
Doppler radar for rainfall monitoring, took PAG-ASA an
unusually long time. Procuring the equipment once the
budget was approved also took 3 years before the equip-
ment was finally delivered. Maybe P-Noy was right after
all in firing Prisco Nilo.
People expect that the present Aquino Administration
through his well selected cabinet secretaries can ferret out
wrong policies, wrong governance and put a stop to blatant
misappropriation of the people’s money by those entrusted
to manage the system. While P-Noy strives to perform what
he promised to do in his SONA, the numerous corrective
measures that he will have to do are almost insurmountable.
President B. Aquino needs all our prayers to succeed.
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010

CBCP official wary of Caritas Philippines

Aquino’s stand on divorce AN official in the Catholic Church’s
family ministry was indignant when
President Benigno Aquino rejected di-
vorce but said separated couples should
be allowed to remarry.
Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary
of the Commission on Family and Life
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines, said such stand is “tan-
tamount to supporting divorce.”
“We are happy that he is against di-
vorce. However what he is advocating
has the same effect as divorce,” said
Castro.
Mr. Aquino, last week, said he is
against the legalization of divorce,
which is proposed by some female
lawmakers in Congress as an option for
couples in failed relationships.
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
remarry especially when a union is ir-
reparable no matter what interventions
or counseling is done.
Current laws in the Philippines
state that legal separation does not al-
low remarriage and the CBCP official
added that it also does “not dissolve
marriage.”
“The legal remedies for marriages in
distress are more than enough under
existing laws. Marriages in difficult
situations cannot be addressed by new
legislations,” Castro said.
The Catholic Church is against di-
vorce, adding that it is not the answer
in differences between couples and they
should take into consideration a holistic
approach.
Castro said divorce could serve as
appeals for aid in
flood-hit Pakistan
CARITAS Philippines urged the
Filipino faithful to help provide aid
to flood-ravaged Pakistan as the 20
million people made homeless grew
increasingly desperate.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broder-
ick Pabillo, the agency’s president,
said they are already trying to make
consultations with other bishops
on how they could help the relief
efforts.
While they are still waiting official
reports from Caritas Internationalis,
he said they are already preparing
to make a public appeal for assis-
tance.
“We are now making an appeal to
all the dioceses to help us provide
and Peace (Nassa).
Vatican-based Caritas Internation-
alis earlier appealed for US$5.5 mil-
lion to help Pakistan’s flood victims
as the “situation grows increasingly
desperate.”
It said over 1,600 people died
in the disaster as new torrents
inundated more Pakistan villages
especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
and Balochistan as well as parts
of Punjab and Azad Jammu and
Kashmir.
“The priority is to ensure people
have food, water, shelter and medi-
cal help. There are so many people
who are in grave difficulty,” said
Anila Gill, secretary general of Cari-

“I cannot support something like they
do in Las Vegas. The stereotype is you
get married in the morning and you
get divorced in the afternoon,” he told
reporters at an event in Pasay City.
But Mr. Aquino stressed that sepa-
Fr. Melvin Castro
rated couples should be allowed to
an “easy way out” for couples which
should not be allowed since marriage
is a holy contract and a covenant for a
lifetime.
“Legalization of divorce will create
more marital problem,” he said.
(CBCPNews)
financial assistance for flood-devas-
tated Pakistan,” Pabillo said.
The prelate said donations may be
coursed through Caritas Philippines,
the charity arm of CBCP’s National
Secretariat for Social Action, Justice
tas Pakistan.
“It’s such a traumatic situation
for those who have lost everything
and who have to rely on others
even for a drink of water,” she said.
(CBCPNews)

Corruption/ A1 Candidly Speaking / A4

US economy”, they said.
“…what has been considered
as economic growth did not
actually translate to jobs and
welfare for the people… [but]
was characterized by a widening
disparity between the glaringly
few rich and the numberless
poor—the rich became richer and
the poor were buried further in
debt and poverty,” they further
said.
According to statistics the
annual net worth of the top 20
richest Filipinos is equivalent to
the combined annual net worth
of the more than 52 million
Filipinos.
The Church leaders said elec-
tions may be an expression of
democracy, but not the choice of
leaders voted into office.
“Our historical experience
shows that however repeatedly
we underwent elections, the ba-
sic situation of our people never
changed because those elected to
office carry their vested interests
instead of their constituents,”
they stated.
A typical example, according The Aquino government has armed conflict,” the church lead- ers, as in priests and bishops, a higher sense of purpose. And
to them, is the 30-year old agrar- announced on August 16 that ers said. as they frolic in the beach with this is none other than to use
ian reform program that has it would continue to implement They challenged both groups companions that can only raise them for the ultimate purpose
seen many presidents into office Oplan Bantay Laya as an internal to “manifest that the peace eyebrows, engorging them- of our life here on earth. This
but was never implemented as security policy. process is on top of their prior- selves in parties, and other is where religion has to come
required by law. “Instead of addressing the root ity; [ have] emissaries from the forms of frivolity. There seems in, where our relation with
This lack of democracy is also causes of these rebellions, gun parties to talk even outside the be no concern of avoiding pos- God has to come in. This most
apparent in the situation of the powder is addressed with more formal conferences if negotiat- sible scandals. important aspect should not be
indigenous peoples and Bang- fire,” the group said on Aquino’s ing panels are not yet ready; More dangers are still in store. ostracized.
samoro communities in Mind- decision. constitute immediately their ne- Those who are more intellectu- Some great effort is definitely
anao, whose call for self-determi- gotiating panels and schedule as ally gifted or more business- needed here, since first of all,
nation remain unheeded. Resume peace talks soon as possible the resumption minded ply their trades in pur- we have to break that deep-
Aggressors have taken over the They urged President Aquino of talks; adhere to previously suit of purely human gains that seated prejudice against religion
ancestral lands of the tribal com- to go back to the negotiation table signed agreements such as the may lead them to be materially when we engage in our earthly,
munities in pursuit of so-called with the NDFP (National Demo- Hague Declaration, JASIG, the richer but spiritually poorer. mundane affairs. If we ever talk
‘development projects’ leaving cratic Front of the Philippines) CARHRIHL, etc; move forward The bargain is utterly unfair, about religion, we seem to con-
the indigenous people “to fight and resume the peace talks. to the discussion of the second but it’s resorted to with gusto. fine it only inside churches and
among themselves for what mea- The government (under Ar- substantive agenda which is the Of course, Godless ideologies places like those, but not in our
ger resources are left,” they said. royo) and the NDFP were Comprehensive Agreement on would not be long in coming. secular concerns.
already advancing into its sec- Socio-Economic Reforms (CAS- They in fact are now proliferat- Our sense of naturalness
‘Militaristic approach’ ond substantive agenda of the ER); and acknowledge that the ing, giving the impression they seems to be twisted at the root,
The EBF also criticized the peace talks when it was stalled people are essential stakeholders are the mainstream in our world since it seems to be incompat-
government’s militaristic ap- due to rampant extra judicial in the issue of peace.” today. ible with anything spiritual and
proach in solving the insurgency killings. “Justice should always be at We should not just stand by in supernatural. We need to cor-
problem, saying the launching “We call [on] the GRP and the the heart of our efforts in achiev- the face of these developments rect this irregularity, without
of Oplan Bantay Laya during NDFP to go back to the negotia- ing a sustainable peace – a peace taking place right before our going to the extreme of behav-
Macapagal-Arroyo’s admin- tion table and resume long stalled which is not the silence of graves eyes. We need to at least encour- ing in some strange, unnatural
istration led to thousands of peace talks immediately and but a peace which is the rightful age everyone to use these new way.
extra-judicial killings and forced discuss and agree on measures reign of democracy,” they fur- powers with a greater sense of A higher sense of purpose can
disappearances. to address the root cause of the ther said. (CBCPNews) responsibility, hooking them to help us do this.

Justice / A1

as one of the country’s top 10 model case is also calling out to heaven for nothing.” mar said, could have happened else- been more concerned about the hostag-
officers. He was, however, discharged justice.” “We want an investigation with cred- where and the blame for the incident es’ safety than getting exclusive footage
in 2008 for his alleged involvement in ibility and that is the kind of change in should not go to all the Filipinos. of the incident.
drug-related crimes and extortion. Investigation the system that we are asking,” he told “This incident does not reflect the During the Mass, Bishop Pabillo
The disgruntled officer hijacked The Manila prelate also called on the reporters after the Mass. peace loving attitude of the Filipinos called on the media to consider respect
the bus in a bid to clear his name and authorities to conduct a swift, thorough and I hope the international community for the authority, life and protection of
demanded that he be reinstated to and honest investigation on tragic end ‘Black eye’ will not put this against the Filipinos,” basic human rights in their coverage.
service. of the hostage crisis. Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales earlier he said. “We are also asking for new life
After a 12-hour bloody drama, nine He said there should be “no white- said the Philippines is in the dock again Hong Kong denounced in strongest from our media people. Media is not
people died—Mendoza and eight tour- wash, no scapegoat” in the investigation because of the tragedy that gained in- terms the incident and the way the measured by its ‘live’ and ‘exclusive’
ists. of the hostage crisis that left eight Hong ternational attention. authorities handled the crisis, calling it coverage. Respect for authority, respect
Church officials supervised a memo- Kong tourists dead. He said the incident fueled by the “regrettable” and “disappointing”. for life and the protection of basic rights
rial service for the fatalities on Aug. 31, “Not only the Chinese are calling for way authorities handled the situation Aside from HK, the incident, has are also to be considered,” he added.
exactly nine days after the incident. a just a swift investigation of this case. was a big blow to the image of the also spurred other nations like Indo- Other prelates who concelebrated
In his homily, Pabillo said the hostage We Filipinos demand the same from our country. nesia, Thailand, Nepal, Iran, Pakistan, with Pabillo were Bishops Deogracias
incident is a clear manifestation of how officials,” Pabillo said. “It’s really a black eye. That’s the and Russia to issue a travel ban to the Iñiguez of Caloocan and Honesto Ong-
“justice delayed” can have “dire conse- “Bring out the truth; let those respon- worst thing that happened to us,” said Philippines. tioco of Cubao together with several
quences” for the country. sible, whoever they maybe, be held ac- Rosales. priests.
The prelate said a repeat of such a countable… Let there be new life now Police officials admitted there have New life in the media Before the Mass a group of Buddhist
scenario is imminent if its root causes for our justice system.” been shortcomings in the way the crisis As the standoff was aired on live monks also offered prayers to the vic-
will not be properly addressed. Pabillo also chairs the National Sec- was handled. The damage, however, television—both local and interna- tims.
“Mendoza is not the only one who retariat for Social Action—Justice and has been done even before the hostage tional media—netizens from all over the Among the government officials
had been deeply wounded by the slow Peace of the Catholic Bishops’ Confer- drama ended. world were already hitting the police for who attended the event were Manila
grind of our justice system. There are ence of the Philippines (CBCP). CBCP President Bishop Nereo Odchi- their actions. Mayor Alfredo Lim, Tourism Secretary
still many who are crying for justice,” He said he is hoping the Aquino mar also appealed to the international Many also criticized the media for not Alberto Lim, Justice Secretary Leila de
he said. government will prove itself different community not to hate all the Filipinos following the guidelines for journalists Lima, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto
“Let those who dispense justice do from the past administration whose because of what happened. during a hostage crisis. Romulo and Chinese Ambassador to the
their job well, and soon! This terrible investigation “usually end up with The hostage taking incident, Odchi- Local media, they said, should have Philippines Liu Jianchao.

Pro-lifers / A1

The bill, filed by Rep. Roilo
Golez, seeks that government
protect the life of the unborn
child from contraception, specifi-
cally recognizing that “concep-
tion is the moment of fertiliza-
tion.”
A link to the petition, which
is hosted on the Petition Online
site, was posted on the website
(www.prolife.org.ph) of the Pro-
Life Philippines.
“The bill acknowledges the
unborn child as a human being
with a human personality and
extends the mantle of legal pro- The campaign is supported by goes against Church teaching er’s womb inhospitable, thereby the movement’s party list group,
tection to the child from the mo- various educational and advo- but also put women’s health causing abortion,” it added. Buhay.
ment of conception,” read part cacy organizations opposed to at risk. The prelates instead supported He is encouraging legislators
the petition referring to HB 13. the Reproductive Health bill that “With the utmost concern and the pending “Act Providing to drop any support for artificial
“The bill aims to enhance the pushes the government to fund urgency we express our strong for the Safety Protection of the contraception and push instead
health of the mother by avoiding modern contraceptives. objection to the fundamental as- Unborn Child and for Other for the passage of the measure
means that may adversely affect the Reject contraceptives pects of House Bill 96. The basis Purposes” or HB 13 filed by Rep. that seeks the protection of un-
viability of the unborn child in all The Catholic Bishops Confer- of our moral objection is once Roilo Golez. born children.
stages of its maturity,” it added. ence of the Philippines (CBCP) again the central religious truth Unequivocal support “We would be going around in
Petitioners said that they sup- in a recent statement has urged of the divine origin and divine El Shaddai Charistmatic leader Congress to [persuade] congress-
port the bill because it promotes President Benigno Aquino to image of the human person, of Bro. Mike Velarde also voiced men to support our advocacy,”
the right of the mother and the reject policies that push for arti- one’s being and life,” read the out its unequivocal support Velarde told reporters during
children especially the unborn ficial birth control. CBCP statement. for the passage of HB 13, as it the group’s 26th anniversary
child to assistance including Church leaders stressed that “Science has proven that some promised to block the passage of celebration on August 21. (Pinky
proper care and nutrition. artificial contraception not only contraceptives render the moth- reproductive health bill through Barrientos/CBCPNews)

Muslim / A1

panel that is negotiating peace with the “For me, I believe that the problem functions and responsibilities of the de- Ulamas Forum (BUC), co-chair of the Phil- Muslims during this season of Ramadhan.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). is a problem of the heart. It is the heart funct Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA). ippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), One is to break the fast, and two, to break
“Our brother Archbishop Ledesma that urges people to commit crimes and Gandamra said he is urging Maca- as well as founder and board member of the fast with friends like you,” Gandamra
will serve as a spiritual guide to the it is also the heart that urges people to bando to immediately make a manifesto the various non-government organizations told those who attended the meeting to the
government peace panel and we know do good. Therefore, we have to address of endorsement and let Muslim leaders (NGOs) that are working for peace and applause of everyone in attendance.
that he will greatly contribute to the the issue of the heart,” he said. and other peace advocates sign it and development all over the Philippines. Convened by Ledesma, the Interfaith
negotiations,” Macabando told this “If we will be successful in addressing submit it to Malacañang. The Interfaith Forum for Peace, Harmo- Forum is a group of religious leaders
reporter on the sideline of the regular this issue and change people’s heart to do Several Good Shepherd sisters and ny and Solidarity, headed by Monsignor and development workers in Cagayan
dinner-meeting of the Interfaith Forum good, then we can say that we have solve sisters of Our Lady’s Missionaries, who Rey Monsanto, H.P., J.C.D., convened the de Oro who meet regularly to promote
for Peace, Harmony and Solidarity at the the problem in Mindanao,” he added. attended the meeting also agreed with meeting at the Archbishop’s House on peace, harmony and solidarity between
Archbishop’s House on August 28. Ombra Gandamra, NCMF-10 director, Macabando’s proposal. They said it was August 28, Feast of St. Augustine, patron Muslims, Christians and Lumads. It is
Macabando said that the spiritual agreed with Macabando’s proposal. a good one and that they will sign the saint of Cagayan de Oro City. composed of Muslim imams, asatidz and
factor of the conflict in some parts of “His proposal is a very good pro- endorsement once asked. Muslims leaders, including the Mus- other Muslim leaders, pastors, priests
Mindanao has not been given impor- posal and we will sign the manifesto Ledesma is the chairman of the Epis- lim chaplain of the 4th Infantry Division, and religious leaders from the Inde-
tance by the negotiating panels of the endorsing the good archbishop if there copal Commission on Inter-religious Capt. Farouk Sarip and Fr. (Major) Le- pendent Church, Evangelical Churches,
government and MILF and it is high is already one,” he said. Dialogue (ECID) of the Catholic Bishops onides Cruel, Jr., 4th ID Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Church, as well as mem-
time that this be tackled during the The NCMF is the newly-created agency Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). chaplain, also attended the meeting. bers of NGOs involved in peace-building
negotiations. of the government that has taken over the He is also convenor of the Bishops- “There are two happiest moments for us efforts in the city. (Bong D. Fabe)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
Church leaders call for reforms in police force
TAYABAS, Quezon—Catholic Church
leaders urged government authorities
to improve services and implement
reforms in various agencies in the after-
math of the fatal hostage crisis involving
the police force last week.
Describing as unfortunate the hostage
incident that left eight HongKong tour-
ists and the hostage taker dead, Cebu
Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
called for a further retraining of the
police force.
The Philippine government should
Odchimar Vidal subject the police to a further retraining
to avoid similar incidents in the future,
the cardinal said. The retraining will
help them see where they have failed,
he explained.
For his part, Boac Bishop Reynaldo
Evangelista also urged the government
to do everything it could to improve
services from the villages to the police
force, and in various departments in the
bureaucracy.
“The unfortunate incident may have
been a product of neglect and lack of
training and we could not point the
blame to anyone, but the government
and its leaders should take it as a chal-
Lagdameo Evangelista lenge to further improve its services,”
he opined.
The prelates also ask the Filipino peo-
ple to pray for the grieving families and
the repose of the souls of the victims.
Vidal called on everyone to “let
time heal the wounds inflicted on the
victims and their closest relatives and
friends.”
He added that we should allow the
Chinese people’s anger to subside
because nobody thought the incident
would have a bloody end.
“We should ask the Chinese for
forgiveness and understanding as we
express our deepest sympathies for their
loss and we’ll join them in prayers that
their dearly departed with rest in peace
and the wounded recover in due time,”
the cardinal said.
Saddened by tragedy
In an earlier interview, CBCP Presi-
dent and Tandag Bishop Nereo P.
Odchimar said he was saddened by
what happened and mourns with the
bereaved families and condoles with
the victims’ relatives.
“We did not expect things to happen
that way,” Odchimar said.
He further said ordinary citizens like
him cannot do anything but pray for the
victims and their relatives as well as the
A7
incident’s survivors.
Former CBCP president and Jaro
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo and
Lucena Bishop Emilio Marquez ex-
pressed solidarity with the Filipino
nation in praying for the victims and
survivors.
The prelates said they also join the
Filipino families in praying that their
Hong Kong-based workers will not be
subject to any form of discrimination or
any untoward treatment like dismissal
from work.
“While we cannot prevent the nega-
tive reaction from Hong Kong and Chi-
nese residents and leaders, I can only
hope reason and sobriety will prevail,”
Lagdameo said.
The archbishop noted that President
Benigno Aquino has already began with
the right foot forward by apologizing
to his counterpart in Hong Kong and
his constituents after the unfortunate
incident.
He said there is a possibility that the
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phil-
ippines will also make representations
with their counterparts in Hong Kong
although it would depend on the deci-
sion of the CBCP Permanent Council.
(Melo M. Acuna)

2 wounded in grenade attack on Catholic Church

MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon—Revenge by
irate Maranao Muslims could be the moti-
vation in the Aug. 29 grenade attack on the
San Vicente Ferrer parish in Kalilangan,
Bukidnon that wounded two parishioners,
the bishop of Malaybalay said.
Those who were wounded were sit-
ting on the last pews near the entrance
of the church, said Bishop Jose Araneta
Cabantan, bishop of the Diocese of Ma-
laybalay.
Cabantan said the attack happened
past 8:00 in the morning while the pa-
rishioners were praying the “Prayers of
the Faithful.”
The other grenade that failed to explode
was detonated by the Kalilangan police
who were also in the church hearing the
mass of Fr. Art Paraiso, said Cabantan.
“Policemen who were in the church
helped Fr. Paraiso in calming the parish-
ioners down. They then all went outside
the church and Fr. Paraiso proceeded to
say the mass outside,” he said.
Cabantan said that the attackers were
teenagers who were riding in tandem on
a motorcycle.
“According to the police, the one who
threw the grenades was more or less 12
years old who immediately escaped on
board the waiting motorcycle,” he said.
The attack on the church was the first
in the history of the town, the bishop
said.
He said that according to the police,
Sunday morning’s attack could be tied to
the recent attack by Maranao Muslims on
a Rural Transit of Mindanao, Inc. (RTMI)
in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte last week
and also on the killing by Maranao Mus-
lims of an RTMI bus driver in Wao, Lanao
del Sur two weeks ago.
Cabantan said one of the drivers of the
RTMI bus plying the Cagayan de Oro-
Kalilangan route told the police that he
was the target of the killers of the driver
who was recently killed in Wao because
he was the one who run over and killed
a Maranao Muslim boy.
“The police theorized that the attack
on the church could be tied to the attacks
on the RTMI and that the attackers were
just exacting revenge on the Christians
for the killing of the Muslim boy by a bus
driver,” he said.
The San Vicente Ferrer parish has more
than 20,000 parishioners.
Kalilangan is one of the more progres-
sive towns of Bukidnon. It is the last town
before Lanao del Sur. (Bong D. Fabe)
Briefing
Solon scores PNP on inept handling of hostage crisis
CAGAYAN DE ORO City—The chair of the Senate Commit-
tee on Justice and Human Rights has scored the police for its
ineptitude in handling the hostage crisis and urged the Aquino
administration to totally revamp the country’s police force,
including changing the color of its uniform. But Sen. Francis
Escudero said he “cannot blame the Aquino administration”
for the botched hostage rescue operation, saying the new
administration “is barely 60 days old.” “The PNP has been
under the supervision and control of the previous administra-
tion for nine years,” he said. (Bong D. Fabe)
Priests urged to fight against corruption and injustice
OZAMIZ City—A Martial Law activist turned Redemptorist
Brother Karl Gaspar urged the Mindanao clergy to use the
power of the pulpit to fight corruption and injustices in the
country. In a talk given during the Alumni homecoming at
Saint Mary’s Theologate Seminary, Brother Karl Gaspar de-
livered a lecture on the national situation and told the clergy

Naga priest elected prexy of Catholic Missiologists

to work for the promotion of justice. He said the clergy has
a lot to do in order to address the country’s social problems.
(Wendell Talibong)

NAGA City—A priest from the Together with Recepcion, the ence along with Imus Bishop SDB, director of Don Bosco Watchdog assails regulation on use of Facebook,
Archdiocese of Caceres has been other newly-elected members of Luis Antonio Tagle, and Bishop Centre for Indigeneous Cultures, Twitter by gov’t workers
elected president of the Interna- the IACM Executive Board were Silvester of Punalur, Kerala. was the leader of the group ANTIPOLO City—Militant center for government employees,
tional Association of Catholic Sr. Nzenzili-Lucie Mboma from The papers presented in the which discussed the sub-theme Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of
Missiologists (IACM) during the Rome (Vice President), Fr. Fran- General Assembly dealt with the Indigenous Peoples. Government Employees (Courage) had assailed Marikina Rep.
organization’s recent confab in cis Vincent Anthony SDB from main theme ``New Life in Jesus The week-long Conference Federico Quimbo’s HR No. 184 that seeks the regulation of the
Tagaytay City. Rome (Executive Secretary), Fr. in the Areopagus of a Globalized emphasized that the sense of usage of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter
Fr. Andrew Recepcion, the Kevin J. Hanlon MM from USA World`` but from the perspec- mission and the systematic study in all government offices and instrumentalities. In a statement,
Mission Director of the Archdio- (Treasurer) and six continental tives of the different continents. of missiology should act as a Courage said, Quimbo is “barking at wrong tree” as he claims
cese, was one of the 80 partici- representatives that include Fr. Study groups deliberated on synoptic discipline bringing to- that the use of Twitter, Facebook and other networking sites
pants coming from various parts John M. Prior SVD as a represen- the following sub-themes: Proc- gether other theological subjects is adversely affecting the productivity and quality of service
of the world engaged in Catholic tative from Asia. lamation and Witness, Dialogue at the service of the proclamation of government workers. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
mission activities. His Excellency Most Rev. Ed- and Religions, Religious and of the Good News.
Recepcion also currently ward Joseph Adams, Papal Nun- Secular Fundamentalism, Hu- The next Conference and As-
Movie proceeds to feed hungry Filipino children
serves as the Executive Secre- cio to the Philippines, was the man Rights and Eco-justice, and sembly in 2013 will be hosted
MANILA—A movie that tells the greatest miracle of the 20th
tary of the Naga Tercentenary main celebrant at the inaugural Indigenous Peoples. by one of the African countries.
century will be shown in special screening to raise funds for
Celebration Committee. Eucharist of the IACM confer- Fr. Joseph Puthenpurakal, (Federico Jose Lagdameo)
the benefits of malnourished children. Hapag-Asa, a program
Cyanide / A1 of the Pondo ng Pinoy that feeds at least 120,000 poor chil-
dren each year, will be the recipient of the proceeds of “The
can easily buy in the market has led to a apathy and indecisiveness must never be an area who died of cyanide poisoning. 13th Day”— a movie on the miracle of Fatima. The film on
senseless death of many. option,” they further stressed. “I know several young people in the slums the three young children who witnessed the apparition of
“This deadly concoction has become a Among the petitioners were Bishop who committed suicide by ingesting silver Our Lady at Fatima will be shown in cinema in time for the
modern day scourge linked to senseless Deogracias S. Iñiguez of CAMANAVA cleaning liquid,” he said. commemoration of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
deaths of young, adolescent and adult Fili- (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valen- The group said the DENR and EMB should on Sept. 8. (CBCPNews)
pinos,” the petitioners said. zuela), chemical safety campaigners, health implement the ban imposed in 1997 against
The group said the concerned government advocates, environmental lawyers and social the use of cyanide in silver jewelry cleaners Civil society plays vital role in ensuring accountability
agencies should get its act together and move justice activists from Luzon, Visayas and and promote non-toxic alternatives instead. in governance
decisively “mindful that we are racing against Mindanao. They also urged the agency to confiscate CAGAYAN DE ORO City—To ensure accountability and trans-
time to save the next Filipino from getting Petitioner Fr. Benigno P. Beltran, SVD, who cyanide-laced silver cleaners that are being parency in all local government units, civil society organizations
injured and killed by cyanide poisoning.” used to live in Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Ma- sold in the market and charge violators. (CSOs) must get involve in governance, the regional director of
“Where people are exposed to lethal harm, nila said he knew of many young people in the (CBCPNews) the Department of Interior and Local Government in Northern
Mindanao (DILG-10) said. “The wish of the secretary (Jesse
Courtship / A1 DOH plan / A1 Robredo), in line with the vision of the President, is transpar-
ency and accountability in governance (TAG). But this cannot
to two years”, are most likely to be easygoing and levelheaded. The letter was received by the Office of the President at 10:45
be done by us (in government) alone. This can be done with the
The CBCP’s National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal (NAMT) a.m. on the same date with the appropriate bar code of RE
involvement of others in the civil society organizations,” stressed
receives an increasing number of at least 130 annulments cases 0005410.
DILG-10 Regional Director Loreto Bhagwani. (Bong D. Fabe)
yearly but majority of these cases are dismissed due to lack of If and when the spirit of Republic Act 6713 is considered, all
evidence. letter writers will receive an appropriate response as it mandates
Law prohibiting use of styrofoam in schools, filed
Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, NAMT chairman, said only government officials to promptly act on letters and requests from
around 10 cases pass the first phase of the evaluation process and the general public within 15 working days. QUEZON City—Kabataan partylist Rep. Raymond Pala-
the number would be further reduced as the cases progress. Section 5, Paragraph A of the same Code of Conduct and Ethical tino has filed a bill prohibiting the use of styrofoam and
Cruz said most couples who want to go on separate ways cite Standards also calls on government officials to reply with the ap- other synthetic food containers, which he said are harmful to
reasons such as mental disorder, personality maladjustment, social propriate action taken on the request. Mother Nature and people’s health. HB No. 2676 or An Act
immaturity and other matters pertaining to child-raising. The said republic act was approved last February 20, 1989 dur- Prohibiting the Use of Polycarbon Plastics, Styrofoam and
The prelate stressed the hike in annulment cases is also an indica- ing the incumbency of President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. other Synthetic Materials Harmful to the Environment in all
tion of the decline in the Filipino value system. (CBCPNews) (Melo M. Acuna) Food Service Establishments in All Educational Institutions
aims to eliminate the use of non-biogradable food containers
in all food establishments, within and outside the premises of
Lovelife / A4 Spaces / A5 schools all over the country. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
charge, how she could ever join the other mothers waiting lady who was uncomfortable In early 2010, Grace was di-
have left home with no plan as with priests, policemen and Hong Kong OFWs to gov’t: Probe ‘mishandling’ of
for the arrival of their babies. A agnosed with a relatively mild
to where to stay in Manila, her social worker will show her the politicians when she first be- form of leukemia which re- hostage crisis
simple reply was – “I just trusted different options regarding her came involved with Dilaab had quired a lot of blood transfu- ANTIPOLO City—Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong
in the Lord to watch over me and baby – legal adoption, tempo- reached out to all three! sions. A short time later, she was Kong urged the government to probe the possible “mishan-
to send me someone who will rary foster care until she is able also diagnosed with malignant dling” of the hostage crisis by policemen last August 23, which
help me. My only plan was to to take back the child, or to re- ***** tumor in her womb. She was led to the killing of eight of the 22 hostages, all Hong Kong
stay in Quiapo church until help turn to Samar with the baby with Her journey with Dilaab was dying. Soon she went to confes- nationals, at Luneta Park in Manila. In a statement, Dolores
comes. And, Sister, He did not some financial assistance. also the coming home of a beau- sion and received the sacrament Balladres-Pelaez, chairperson of the United Filipinos in Hong
abandon me. I cannot get over To those who think that abor- tiful soul. of the sick. Kong (Unifil-HK) said that Filipino workers in the former Brit-
the fact that a woman would ap- tion would have been an easier In the early months of 2009, In one of my visits to the ish colony were appalled by the hostage drama which has lasted
proach and tell me where I can way for Nena so that she would we noticed that Grace had a dry hospital, after we had prayed for 10 hours and was aired, simultaneously over radio and
get help. And then, all of you, be free of the “burden of preg- cough that refused to go away. the rosary, Grace held my hand television networks, here and abroad. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Sisters, are gifts of God to me. I nancy” and of raising another “It’s just allergies,” she assured and with a faint smile repeatedly
will never forget you. “ child, using as an excuse the us as she put all her heart as a told me: “Only one thing mat- Bishop favors Charter change for peace in Mindanao
Nena was transferred to a death of her husband and dire Dilaab volunteer. ters, Fr M., only God matters. MARAWI City— For peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Maternity Home a few weeks poverty, Nena is a shining ex- The cough persisted and we Tell people to fix their gaze on Front, a Catholic bishop has favored the idea of Constitutional
after her stay in Welcome House ample of SIMPLE FAITH that were worried. Meanwhile Grace Jesus.” amendments just to reach an elusive peace agreement with
where she will spend the rest of God will provide. continued to make herself avail- Last 8 August 2010, our dear the rebels. Marawi Bishop Edwin De La Peña sees no prob-
her pregnancy. She will be seen “Pregnant? Need help?” Call able, even joining us in La Union, Grace died. She had made the lem with Charter change if only to accommodate the valid
by an obstetrician regularly, 733-7027 or contact Sr. Pilar at Dagupan, Lipa, Tagbilaran, and right choice. Welcome home, demands of the MILF in the peace process. (CBCPNews)
given prenatal vitamins, and 0920-945-5494. other places. Grace.
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 30 - September 12, 2010

North Luzon bishops rally behind UST’s dev’t projects

AT least nine prelates from Northern
Luzon have graced the launching of the
Bishop Ramon Villena, Iligan Bishop
Joseph Nacua, and Tabuk Bishop Pru-
University of Santo Tomas’ community dencio Andaya graced the Simbahayan
development project in Tuguegarao City 400 launching and aired support to the
last week. university’s initiative.
The prelates, led by Tuguegarao Arch- “The strong support of the bishops
bishop Diosdado Talamayan, joined of North Luzon is enough for us to
the community of UST alumni and call the event a success. The warm ac-
academic officials, led by Vice Rector ceptance of the bishops and alumni of
Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P., during the official Northern Luzon to the UST delegates
commencement of the UST Simbahayan was overwhelming. In our short stay
400: Tomasino Para sa Simbahan, Tah- in Tuguegarao City, we came to realize
anan at Bayan last August 18. the close bond between the Archdiocese
Under the Simbahayan 400, the and the Dominicans. We felt at home in
university’s centerpiece project in line the city when the natives of the place
with its forthcoming quadricenten- narrated to us a lot of historical events
nial anniversary by 2011, UST alumni which proved that Tuguegarao was re-
nationwide are encouraged to initiate ally a Dominican territory,” said Prof.
community development projects and Marielyn Quitana, executive director of
seek the backing of the university for the Simabahayan 400 project.
their projects’ realization. For hosting the launching, the Arch-

Photo courtesy of UST Office for Community Development

Tiong said no less than 400 commu-
nity projects on education and values
education, livelihood, healthcare, peace
formation, housing, site planning and
ecological management are targeted
for completion by next year, coinciding
the year-long celebration of UST’s 400th
founding anniversary.
Aside from Talamayan, Tuguega-
rao Auxiliary Bishop Ricardo Baccay,
Urdaneta Bishop Jacinto Jose, Nueva
Segovia Archbishop Ernesto Salgado,
Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio, Bagu-
io Bishop Carlito Cenzon, Bayombong
diocese of Tuguegarao will be the first
beneficiary of the UST Simbahayan 400
project. Bishop Jose came to the event
with his community development
project proposal for Villasis, Pangasinan
while Bishop Andaya requested for a
leadership training program for dioc-
esan workers in Tabuk, Kalinga.
“All the other bishops expressed their
appreciation of our program and they
all look forward to work with Simba-
hayan 400 in the future projects for
The Thomasian Alumni with Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan and the different bishops and priests of Northern Luzon at the St. Peter’s Cathedral
during the Simbahayan program launching in Tugueagarao last August 18. their communities,” Quintana added.
(Kris Bayos)

Bishop heads RP delegation to Asian confab for the laity

PARAŇAQUE Bishop Jesse Mercado, who World Union of Catholic Women’s Organi- priorities in the evangelization of Asia.

is also Chairman of the Episcopal Commis-
sion on Laity (ECL) of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), will
head the Philippine delegation to the Asian
Congress for the Catholic Laity.
Organized by the Pontifical Council for
the Laity, the confab is themed “Proclaiming
Jesus Christ in Asia Today” and will be held
in Seoul, Korea on August 31-September 5,
2010.
Among the delegates are the bishop con-
ferences in Asia. Representatives from the
Philippines include ECL Board members,
some from the youth sector and Dr. Zenaida
Rotea, MD, Executive Secretary of the Of-
fice on Women and a Board Member of the
Markings
zation (WUCWO). The panel discussions are about the lay
A number of lay associations and move- movements and new communities in the
ments and new ecclesial communities life and mission of the Church in Asia and
present in the Asian continent will also be the areas and priorities in the evangelization
participating in the congress. of Asia.
Among the topics to be taken up during There will also be group workshops and
the congress are the life and mission of the sharing on the lectures and discussions of
Church in Asia, the mission and vocation of the congress for the participants.
the lay faithful in the light of the post synodal Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Chairman of the LAUNCHED. Online petition
apostolic exhortation, Christian formation of Pontifical Council for the Laity, will be main to support the passage of “An
the laity and lay missionary efforts in Asia celebrant during the opening and closing Act Providing for the Safety
as well as the active participation of the laity Eucharistic mass at the Seoul Cathedral with Protection of the Unborn Child’
the participation of the local community. by Pro-life Philippines Inc., a
in the missions of the Church. lobby group against abortion.
Rotea will be part of the panel discussions. She The event is being sponsored by the Also known as House Bill 13
will talk about the roles of women in the Church Catholic Laity of Korea headed by Professor filed by Rep. Roilo Golez,
and in Society under the category of areas and Thomas Hong-Soon Han. (Kate Laceda) the measure seeks that the
government protect the life
of the unborn child from con-

Naga to hold Int’l Pilgrims’ Congress

traception. The bill also looks
to go further than existing
legislation protecting fetuses
by specifically recognizing that

for Peñafrancia devotees

HUNDREDS of devotees of the Our Lady
of Peñafrancia are expected to attend the
International Pilgrims Congress (IPC) in
Naga City on September 16 to 17.
The gathering of pilgrims, not just of
Filipinos but also those coming from
the other countries will highlight and
culminate the Archdiocese of Caceres’
Tercentenary devotion to Our Lady of
Peñafrancia.
“conception is the moment of
fertilization.” A link to the petition, which is hosted on the Petition Online
site, was posted last week on the website (www.prolife.org.ph) of the
Pro-Life Philippines. The petitioners said they support the bill because it
promotes the right of the mother and the children especially the unborn
Organizers said that over the years, the live in holiness like the Blessed Mother. child to assistance including proper care and nutrition. The campaign
devotion to what the Bicolanos refer to as The Caceres archdiocese will mark the is supported by various educational and advocacy organizations op-
posed to the Reproductive Health bill that pushes the government to
“Ina” has taken root in various parts of the 300 years of devotion to Our Lady of Peña- fund modern contraceptives.
Philippines and other continents. francia with a Pontifical Mass to be presided
The IPC, they said, will then be an oppor- by Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi at the INSTALLED. Frt Ryan Jay Aban,
tunity for the faithful to reflect more on the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral on Sept. 10. Frt. Joseph Baslao, Frt. Rogelio
Monton, and Frt. Dexter Pri-
significance of their devotion. Several bishops and priests will con- ete to the Ministry of Lectors;
With the theme “Thanskgiving, for grow- celebrate and thousands of devotees are Frt. Ryan Digal and Frt. Peter
ing in holiness under the mantle of Ina”, the expected to attend in the Eucharistic Pocbit to the Ministry of Acolytes
gathering seeks to encourage more people to celebration. (CBCPNews) among the Mission Society of the
Philippines (MSP) in a simple
ceremony during the celebra-
tion of the Eucharist at the MSP

Blessed Mother Teresa,

ARCHBISHOP Edward Joseph
Adams, Apostolic Nuncio to
the Philippines, hailed Blessed
Mother Teresa of Calcutta as an
and the Templeton and Magsay-
say awards.
The nuncio also said that
Mother Teresa as a holy woman
Seminary Chapel in Tagaytay
City. Fr. Alfredo Africa, MSP Fa-
ther Moderator officiated the ceremony held on July 15, 2010. The new
MSP Lectors are first year Theology students while the new Acolytes

‘icon of compassion
icon of compassion and mercy
who had centered her life with
God.
are second year Theology students.
and a messenger of God was a CELEBRATED. Lay Forma-
blessing to every faithful. tion Center (LayForce) of the
“This holy woman, a mes- Archdiocese of Manila, 25th

and mercy’—Nuncio “We look to her as an example

of Christian life and of Christian
mission. She is an icon of com-
passion and mercy and a source
for inspiration for us as we seek
to follow Christ and his ways,”
he said.
Adams expressed his admira-
tion of the saintly nun during
the Eucharistic celebration held
yesterday at the Manila Cathe-
dral in commemoration of the
centenary of Blessed Mother
Teresa of Calcutta.
Mother Teresa was born as Ag-
nes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August
26, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia.
She had received numerous
awards and distinctions in rec-
© Noli Yamsuan / RCAM
senger of God whose life was
marked by love is a blessing.
The celebration of her centenary
intends to thank God for the life
that has reached each one of us
through her,” Adams said.
“Mother Teresa is indeed as
she described herself a mission-
ary and an ambassador of His
holy peace. Her hands, her arms,
her gesture, her smile all carried
this message,” he added.
Adams further said Mother
Teresa’s life was wholly cen-
tered in God, that she saw the
face of Christ in the sufferings
and difficulties of other people,
especially the poor and outcast
of society.
anniversary of foundation, July
17, 2010. A brainchild of the late
Cardinal Jaime Sin, Layforce is
a house of prayer and a center
of spiritual formation for the laity.
It envisions a kind of lay forma-
tion that “embraces the fullness
of life towards radical openness
to life through integral human
development.” Located within
the sprawling compound of the
San Carlos Seminary complex,
the formation center has been
instrumental in providing the laity
a holistic program that helps them
become more effective lay ministers in the Church. Since its foundation,
the programs offered by the formation center have grown and expanded
to meet more effectively the needs of the laity. Since November 2009
until the present, Layforce is under the leadership of Manila Auxiliary
Bishop Bernardino Cortez in partnership with Dr. Gaines Marie Rosario
of the Commission on the Formation of the laity
DIED. Fr. Albert Meersschaert, CICM, 95, August 12, 2010. A member
of the CICM congregation, Fr. Meersschaert had served in various

ognition of her work for the poor
and outcasts of society. Among
those were the Pope John XXIII
Peace Prize (1971) and the Nehru
Prize for her promotion of inter-
national peace and understand-
ing (1972).
The nuns of the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Te-
resa, sing during the Eucharist held at the Manila Cathedral in celebration of the Mother Teresa has also re-
centenary of her birth. ceived the Balzan Prize (1979)
“She devoted her energy to
the service of those in need but
agony and suffering was not the
center of her attention instead
her life was devoted for his God.
She offered herself to God with-
out conditions for His purposes
no matter what she felt,” Nuncio
said. (Kate Laceda)
posts during his stay in the Philippines. He was assistant priest in
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya from 1948-1951; prefect and professor
at the Lipa Major Seminary, Lipa, Batangas City from 1951-1953; and
professor/prefect/rector at the San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, Makati
City from1953-2004. He was also a confessor at the Edsa Shrine until
he became sick. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
said Mass for him on August 15 and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop
Socrates B. Villegas on August 16. He was buried at the Maryhurst
Seminary Chapel in Baguio City on August 17, 2010.

Lipa to host nationwide Marian Congress
DEVOTEES and lovers of the Blessed Virgin Mary
are set to gather in a three-day nationwide Marian
congress in Lipa on September 8-12.
To be held at the Carmelite Monastery Chapel,
the First National Marian Congress will feature as
speaker Rev. Fr. Manfred Hauke, a well-known
writer and Mariologist.
Fr. Hauke is the president of the German Mario-
logical Society, and author of the book “Mediatress
of All Grace”.
The congress will kick off with a 5 p.m. Mass at
the San Sebastian Cathedral on September 8, birth-
day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and ends with the
Seventh National Day of Prayer for Peace and for
the Sanctification of Priests on September 12.
The National Day of Prayer for Peace and for
the Sanctification of Priests is a yearly event that
draws Marian pilgrims all over the country to pray
for peace and the clergy.
On September 11, Fr. Edgardo Arellano of
EWTN and the Oblates of the Two Hearts will
facilitate a whole night vigil at the Lipa Cathedral
to cap with a dawn procession to the proposed new
parish of the Mediatrix of All Grace. Archbishop
Ramon Arguelles will preside the 6 a.m. Mass.
Cebu archbishop Cardinal Ricardo Vidal will
officiate the closing Eucharistic celebration on
September 12 at the Carmel Monastery.
Expected to attend the Marian Congress and
pilgrimage are all lovers of Mary, priests, nuns,
Mariology students, media and lay organizations.
(CBCPNews)
CBCP office finds home for handicapped child
TO a child, especially with disability, a home is
always synonymous with love, care and protection
from all life’s uncertainties.
The Episcopal Commission on Health Care
(ECHC) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) has recently helped a handi-
capped child to find his permanent home.
Joel Samal, a handicapped child who had been aban-
doned immediately after his birth, has found a home in
a community of persons with disabilities in Cebu.
The child was being taken care of by Anecita
Samal, an elderly poor lady, but since the boy
was growing heavier and needed more care, she
turned to the nuns for help.
In turn, Sr. Margaret McConville from the Little
Sisters of the Assumption has asked the help of
the CBCP commission.
A Cebu-based community called the “Mission-
aries of the Poor” that takes care of persons with
disabilities agreed to welcome Joel to Cebu City.
The institution has already accepted some 25
abandoned severely disabled children in their
community in Naga City.
Currently, there are about 40 persons with
disabilities in Cebu. They also accepted a whole
group of abandoned mentally ill patients in their
organization.
The ECHC has extended their gratitude to the
missionary community and to the Superferry -
Aboitiz Transport System Corporation for the
assistance they have provided to the commission
and the child. (Kate Laceda)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010 Pastoral Concerns B1

Building Ecclesial Message of His

Holiness, Pope
Communion is the Benedict XVI, on the
occasion of the World
Key to Mission Mission Sunday 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The month of October, with the
celebration of World Mission Sunday,
offers to diocesan and parish communities,
institutes of consecrated life, ecclesial
movements and the entire People of God
an opportunity to renew the commitment
to proclaim the Gospel and to give
pastoral activities greater missionary
perspective. This annual event invites
us to live intensely the liturgical and
catechetical, charitable and cultural
processes through which Jesus Christ
summons us to the banquet of his word
and of the Eucharist, to taste the gift of his
presence, to be formed at his school and to
live ever more closely united to him, our
teacher and Lord. He himself tells us, “He
who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and manifest myself
to him” (Jn 14: 21). Only on the basis of
this encounter with the Love of God that
changes life can we live in communion
with him and with one another and
offer our brothers and sisters a credible
witness, accounting for the hope that
is in us (cf. 1 Pt 3: 15). An adult faith,
capable of entrusting itself totally to God
with a filial attitude fostered by prayer,
meditation on the word of God and study
of the truth of the faith, is a prerequisite
for furthering a new humanism founded
on the Gospel of Jesus.
Furthermore, in many countries the
various ecclesial activities are resumed in
October, after the summer break, and the
Church invites us to learn from Mary, by

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
praying the Holy Rosary, to contemplate
the Father’s plan of love for humanity, to
love her as he loves her. Is not this also
the meaning of mission?
Indeed, the Father calls us to be sons
and daughters loved in the beloved Son,

every people, culture, race and the effort to establish a universal

nationality in every place. This
awareness is nourished through
the work of Fidei Donum priests,
consecrated people, catechists and
lay missionaries in the constant
endeavour to encourage ecclesial
communion so that even the
phenomenon of “interculturality”
may be integrated in a model of
unity in which the Gospel is a
leaven of freedom and progress,
a source of brotherhood, humility
and peace (cf. Ad gentes, n. 8). The
Church in fact “is in the nature of
sacrament a sign and instrument,
that is, of communion with God
and of unity among all men”
(Lumen gentium, n. 1).
Ecclesial communion is born
from the encounter with the Son
of God, Jesus Christ, who, through
the Church’s proclamation reaches
out to human beings and creates
fellowship with himself and hence
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
(cf. 1 Jn 1: 3). Christ establishes
the new relationship between
man and God. “He reveals to us
that “God is love’ (1 Jn 4: 8) and
at the same time teaches us that
the fundamental law of human
www.karnatakacaps.com
brotherhood will not be in vain”
(Gaudium et spes, n. 38).
The Church becomes
“communion” on the basis of
the Eucharist in which Christ,
present in bread and in wine
with his sacrifice of love builds
the Church as his Body, uniting
us with the Triune God and with
one another (cf. 1 Cor 10: 16ff.).
In the Apostolic Exhortation
Sacramentum caritatis I wrote,
“The love that we celebrate in the
sacrament is not something we
can keep to ourselves. By its very
nature it demands to be shared
with everyone. What the world
needs is God’s love; it needs to
encounter Christ and to believe
in him” (n. 84). For this reason the
Eucharist is not only the source
and summit of the Church’s
life, but also of her mission: “an
authentically Eucharistic Church
is a missionary Church” (ibid.),
which can bring all to communion
with God, proclaiming with
conviction “that which we have
seen and heard we proclaim also
to you, so that you may have
fellowship with us” (1 Jn 1: 3).

perfection, and consequently of Dear friends, on this World

the transformation of the world,
is the new commandment of love.
He assures those who trust in the
charity of God that the way of
love is open to all men and that
Mission Sunday in which the
heart’s gaze extends to the
immense spaces of mission, let us
all be protagonists of the Church’s
Mission / B7

and to recognize that we are all
brothers and sisters in him who is
the gift of salvation for humanity
divided by discord and sin, and
the revealer of the true face of God
who “so loved the world that he
gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish
but have eternal life” (Jn 3: 16).
“We wish to see Jesus” (Jn
12: 21), is the request in John’s
Gospel that some Greeks, who
had arrived in Jerusalem for the
paschal pilgrimage, address to the
Apostle Philip. It also resonates in
our hearts during this month of
October which reminds us that
the commitment to, and task of,
Gospel proclamation is a duty of
the whole Church, “by her very
nature missionary” (Ad gentes,
n. 2), and invites us to become
champions of the newness of life
made up of authentic relationships
in communities founded on the
Gospel. In a multiethnic society
that is experiencing increasingly
disturbing forms of loneliness
and indifference, Christians must
learn to offer signs of hope and
Like the Greek pilgrims of two
thousand years ago, the people
of our time too, even perhaps
unbeknown to them, ask believers
not only to “speak” of Jesus, but
to “make Jesus seen”, to make
the face of the Redeemer shine
out in every corner of the earth
before the generations of the
new millennium and especially
before the young people of every
continent, the privileged ones to
whom the Gospel proclamation
is intended. They must perceive
that Christians bring Christ’s
word because he is the truth,
because they have found in him
the meaning and the truth for
their own lives.
These considerations refer to
the missionary mandate that
all the baptized and the entire
Church have received but that
cannot be fulfilled without a
profound personal, community
and pastoral conversion. In fact,
awareness of the call to proclaim
the Gospel not only encourages
every individual member of the
faithful but also all diocesan and
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

to become universal brethren, parish communities to integral

cultivating the great ideals that
transform history and, without
false illusions or useless fears,
must strive to make the planet a
home for all peoples.
renewal and ever greater openness
to missionary cooperation among
the Churches, to promote the
proclamation of the Gospel in
the heart of every person, of
B2 Updates
Collaboration of Non-Ordained Faithful
in the Sacred Ministry of Priests (Part I)
By Fr. Jaime Blanco Acha-
coso, J.C.D.
Speaking in
IN a recent Workshop of the
tongues at mass Executive Committee of the
Canon Law Society of the
Philippines, a nagging question
was again raised: What is the
canonical status of Basic Ecclesial
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Communities (BEC)? The matter
Apostolorum university, answers the following query:) was raised by the canon lawyers
from Mindanao (priests and a
Q: What is allowed for regarding the (so-called) “speaking bishop), because of the growing
in tongues” during a Charismatic Mass? And what exactly frictions between the ecclesiastical
is an acceptable type of such Mass? Recently, I attended a organization and the so-called
Mass where the priest added his own prayers during the basic ecclesial communities. In
elevation of the Eucharist (having said the formal prayers of the past, this question had always
consecration) and, with those present (who were, excluding been sidelined by the lack of
myself, members of the parish charismatic prayer group), any clear theological notion of
prayed in tongues during the Eucharistic Prayer and at other such communities; hence—the
moments of the Mass. There were various other obvious argument went—it was futile to
illicit moments during the Mass and perhaps afterward as attempt a canonical analysis of
well (e.g., layperson anointing with some type of oil), but the problem.
I’m particularly curious about the “tongues.” As far as I can This time, however, it was
deduce, this is not allowed, but it’s exceedingly difficult to pointed out that even if it might
find anything to the contrary aside from mere opinions.—P.H., be premature to attempt a
Limerick, Ireland definition of the canonical status
of Basic Ecclesial Communities,
A: There are practically no universal guidelines on this some working guidelines might
subject, except of course the general norms that prohibit adding be in order, by way of delimiting
anything whatsoever to officially prescribed texts. the scope of pastoral action of
Although some individual bishops have published norms such communities, in accordance
for their dioceses, as far as I know the most complete treatment with Church Law. In short, even
of this subject is that published by the Brazilian bishops’ if it might not be possible to
conference. The document, “Pastoral Orientation Regarding categorically state what Canon
the Catholic Charismatic Renewal,” was issued in November Law states these communities
1994. It can be accessed in the Portuguese original at the are, it might be possible to draw
bishops’ Web site:www.cnbb.com.br. from existing legislation what
It must be noted that the Brazilian bishops have a generally these communities are not. In
positive view of the Charismatic Renewal, and a significant more practical terms, perhaps
number participate in charismatic Masses. The renewal is we can glean from Canon Law
considered as being especially attuned and appealing to a wide what these communities may
swath of Brazilian society and is credited as helping to stem and may not do.
the hemorrhaging of Catholics toward Pentecostal sects. In fact, this is the task that
Therefore, the norms issued by the bishops should be seen the Canon Law Society of the
as genuine orientations to help the Catholic Charismatic Philippines proposed to tackle in
Renewal achieve its full potential as an integral portion of its National Convention in May
the wider Catholic community. They should not be seen as 2011. As a starting point for the
condemnation of aberrations and abuses. canonical investigation, the CLSP
In dealing with liturgy (Nos. 38-44), the bishops’ document Execom identified a little-known
recommends that the members of the renewal receive an document of the Holy See, which
adequate liturgical formation. It reminds them that the liturgy was issued in 1997. To arouse
is governed by precise rules and nothing external should be interest in this topic, we shall
introduced (No. 40). No. 41 has precise indications: revisit that document in this and
“In the celebration of Holy Mass the words of the institution the following issue of the CBCP
must not be stressed in an inadequate fashion. Nor must Monitor.
the Eucharistic Prayer be interrupted by moments of praise
for Christ’s Eucharistic presence by means of applause, The Instruction Ecclesia de
cheers, processions, hymns of Eucharistic praise or any other Mysterio
manifestations that exalt in this way the Real Presence and end On 13 November 1997, the
up emptying out the various dimensions of the Eucharistic Pro Prefect of the Congregation
celebration.” for the Clergy, presented to the
In No. 42 the bishops indicate that music and gestures Press the Instruction Ecclesia de
should be appropriate to the moment of the celebration and Mysterio, On Certain Questions
follow the liturgical norms. A clear distinction should be made Regarding the Collaboration of
between liturgical hymns and other religious songs that are the Non ordained Faithful in
reserved to prayer meetings. Hymns should preferably be the Sacred Ministry of Priests.
chosen from an official repertoire of liturgical songs. The document reaffirmed the
Finally, the bishops say that Charismatic Renewal meetings teaching of the Second Vatican
should not be scheduled to coincide with regular Masses and Council (especially of Lumen
other gatherings of the whole ecclesial community. Gentium, n.33 and Apostolicam
When referring to speaking in tongues (No. 62), the Actuositatem, n.24). Its main
document offers the following clarifications: purpose was to acknowledge and
“Speaking or praying in tongues: The object or destination promote what is specific to the
of praying in tongues is God himself, being the attitude of a vocations of the lay faithful and of
person absorbed in a particular conversation with God. The ordained ministers, with the goal
object or destination of speaking in tongues is the community. of encouraging real communion
The Apostle Paul teaches, ‘When I am in the presence of the in the Church.
community I would rather say five words that mean something In the decade prior to the
than ten thousand words in a tongue’ (1 Corinthians 14:19). document’s publication, Bishops,
Since in practice it is difficult to distinguish between the priests and lay people had
inspirations of the Holy Spirit and the instigations of the group been requesting authoritative
leader, there should never be a call encouraging praying in directives on the identity of
tongues, and speaking in tongues should not take place unless priests and lay people with
there is also an interpreter.” regard to particular cases of
I think that these wise counsels and norms from the Brazilian pastoral activity improperly
bishops show that it is not in conformity with the authentic exercised by non ordained
charism of the Catholic Charismatic renewal to speak in faithful. Thus, an Inter-dicasterial
tongues during Mass. Commission was established
for that purpose, coordinated
by the Congregation for the
Clergy and involving seven other
dicasteries: the Pontifical Council
for the Laity, the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith,
the Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline of the
Sacraments, the Congregation for
Bishops, the Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples, the
Congregation for Institutes of
Consecrated Life and Societies of
Apostolic Life, and the Pontifical
Council for the Interpretation of
Legislative Texts.
In a series of meetings, this
Commission worked out a text
which was sent to the Presidents
of the Episcopal Conferences
and to the individual Bishops
of the dioceses where this issue
was considered most urgent.
About 92 percent of those
questioned were in favor, but
asked that ambiguous wording
be avoided in the text, that the
most authoritative legal form
possible be used and, given the
urgent need for clarification,
that the document be published
without delay. The Commission
scrupulously followed these
instructions.
On 15.V.1997 the text was
discussed by the heads of the
dicasteries of the Roman Curia in
the presence of the Holy Father.
Special attention was paid in this
last stage to critical observations
until a clear convergence of views
among the bishops concerned
was reached. The result of this
lengthy and thorough process
is the Instruction we are now
considering.
Preliminary hermeneutic
clarifications
For a correct understanding
of the document, we must first
consider some of its formal
aspects.
1. An Instruction is an
administrative provision. As
c.34, §1 states, instructions “clarify
the prescriptions of laws and
elaborate on and determine
an approach to be followed in
implementing them”. Thus,
it does not create new law,
but merely insists that the law
currently in force be observed. The
same c.34, §1 states that they “are
given for the use of those persons
whose concern it is to see that the
laws are implemented and oblige
such persons in the execution of
the laws.” Thus, an instruction
has also been characterized as
an internal general disposition
of the ecclesiastical organization,
which is directed to the authority
or titleholder of an office who is
charged with the execution of
the law.
2. An Instruction has immediate
effectivity. The document was
dated 15.VIII.1997 but was
not published until 13.XI.1997.
Somebody could object that
it gave no indication of when
it would go into force. That is
basically unnecessary, since
an Instruction merely reminds
the recipients of an obligation
already in force for some time.
The months elapsed between
the date of approval and the day
of publication were probably
needed for translating the text
into the various languages.
3. Involvement of 8 Dicasteries.
The fact that eight dicasteries
were involved in drafting the
Instruction is in itself very
significant. On the one hand, it
can be said that this procedure
conformed with the legislative
provisions of the Roman Curia,
according to which, what falls
within the competence of
different offices should be treated
by all, under the coordination of
the office primarily concerned
with the question. Nevertheless,
it would have sufficed if the
document had only been
signed by the Congregation
for the Clergy, while noting
the preceding inter-dicasterial
consultation. The fact that all
the dicasteries involved signed
with their respective heads and
secretaries clearly expressed
their co responsibility as well as
the importance that the Curia
attaches to this subject.
4. Very limited scope of the
Instruction. The Instruction has
a very limited purpose and its
title should be carefully read
with that in mind. The subject
is not collaboration between
priests and lay people, but the
priestly ministry in so far as lay
people can collaborate in it. The
document is thus concerned
with only a limited area of the
laity’s field of activity in the
Church. It is important not to
forget this fact, since the vast,
ordinary field of activity for
lay people in the Church and
the world is intentionally not
considered by the Instruction.
It is only concerned with giving
appropriate direction to the
exercise of particular functions
by particular lay people.
5. Binding force of the
document. The importance of the
document is also underscored by
the fact that the Pope approved
the Instruction in forma specifica.
This mode of approbation chosen
by the Pope must be considered
in the light of the fact that as
stated in the Conclusion—by this
administrative act “all particular
laws, customs and faculties which
are contrary to the foregoing
norms, and were conceded ad
experiment by the Holy See or
other ecclesiastical authorities,
are hereby revoked.” Thus we
are spared the possible objection
that an administrative act cannot
derogate from the norms (laws
or customs) currently in force;
the intention to ensure coherent
legislation in this entire matter
is also apparent. Consequently
any form of appeal against it is
impossible.
On the other hand, we must
not forget that a preponderant
majority of the Bishops whose
opinions were consulted for the
draft had asked precisely that
the most authoritative legal form
possible be used.
Objectives of the Instruction
To conclude Part I of this
article, let us summarize the basic
objectives of the Instruction.
1. Encourage the ordained
ministers and foster the ordained
ministry. It seeks to encourage
ordained ministers by forcefully
reintroducing the subject of
vocations to the priesthood,
stressing that the Church’s life
depends on the sacrament of
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
© Noli Yamsuan / RCAM
Holy Orders as a free, absolutely
irreplaceable gift, because the
ordained ministry (Bishops,
priests, deacons) is part of
the Church’s very structure.
Thus, the Instruction concludes
by stating that “the solutions
addressing the shortage of
ordained ministers cannot be
other than transitory and must
be linked to a series of pastoral
programs which give priority to
the promotion of vocations to the
Sacrament of Holy Orders.”
2. Remind the laity of their
specific role. The Instruction also
reminds us how the fundamental
equality of Christians—based on
Baptism—is compatible with an
essential difference—based on
Sacred Orders—and that lay
Christians, precisely because
of Baptism, are called to the
consecratio mundi, which differs
from the task of anyone who
belongs, through the sacrament,
to the ministerial ranks. Thus,
by avoiding every form of
clericalism, lay Christians are
encouraged to be more aware
of their identity and to give their
witness in the world and in the
Church without considering
the exercise of ministerial
duties which they may perform
from time to time as a form of
advancement but only as one of
substitution.
3. Authentic promotion of the
lay apostolate. The Instruction
does not limit lay participation
in the evangelical and ecclesial
apostolate. On the contrary,
this is encouraged in the right
direction consistent with Catholic
ecclesiology. “However—as
Card. Ratzinger emphasized at
the time—it intends to rebut and
prevent the tendency towards a
clericalization of the lay faithful,
and the risk of creating, in reality,
an ecclesial structure of parallel
service to that founded on the
sacrament of Orders.”1
This affirmation of the
future Pope Benedict XVI is of
paramount importance in our
proposed study of BECs.
4. Encourage terminological
precision. In Article 1 of the
practical provisions—-entitled:
“Need for an Appropriate
Terminology”—the Instruction
insists on the need for a suitable
terminology, clarifying the
confused use of the word ministry,
which describes both the officia
and the munera exercised by
Pastors in virtue of the sacrament
of Orders, and those exercised by
the non ordained faithful.
5. Eliminate abuses. As Card.
Ratzinger also affirmed at the time:
“The timeliness and urgent need
of this Instruction is explained in
the light of the situation occurring
in specific and widespread
ecclesial circles, which demands,
special insistence on the faithful
application of the principles and
norms contained in the teachings
of the Magisterium and the
Church’s universal legislation in
the concrete life of the particular
Churches.”2 (To be continued)
1
Joseph Ratzinger, “Unity of the church’s
mission involves diversity of ministries”,
in L’Osservatore Romano, N. 17 (29.
IV.1998), 18. Cf. Post-Synodal Exhora-
tion, Christifideles laici, n.23, §6.
2
Joseph Ratzinger, loc. cit. Emphasis
added.
 Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
B3
Mother Teresa’s message to the Fourth
World Conference on Women held in
Beijing in September 1995
(On the occasion of the first centenary of the birth of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, celebrated on August 26, 2010, we are reprinting
her message to the United Nation’s sponsored conference—Eds)
Dear friends, grateful we must be to God for and to pray is in the family, by
I Am praying for God’s blessing this wonderful gift that brings seeing the love and prayer of
on all who are taking part in the such joy to the whole world, their mother and father. When
Fourth World Conference on women and men alike! Yet we can families are broken or disunited,
Women in Beijing. I hope that this destroy this gift of motherhood, many children grow up not
Conference will help everyone especially by the evil of abortion, knowing how to love and pray.
to know, love, and respect the but also be thinking that other A country where many families
special place of women in God’s things like jobs or positions are have been destroyed like this
plan so that they may fulfill this more important than loving, will have many problems. I have
plan in their lives. than giving oneself to others. often seen, especially in the rich
I do not understand why some No job, no plans, no possessions, countries, how children turn to
people are saying that women no idea of “freedom” can take drugs or other things to escape
and men are exactly the same, the place of love. So anything feeling unloved and rejected.
and are denying the beautiful that destroys God’s gift of But when families are strong
differences between men and motherhood destroys His most and united, children can see
women. All God’s gifts are good, precious gift to women—the God’s special love in the love of
but they are not all the same. ability to love as a woman. their father and mother and can
As I often say to people who God told us, “Love your grow to make their country a
tell me that they would like to neighbor as yourself.” So first loving and prayerful place. The
serve the poor as I do, “What I I am to love myself rightly, child is God’s best gift to the
can do, you cannot. What you and then to love my neighbor family and needs both mother
can do, I cannot. But together like that. But how can I love and father because each one
we can do something beautiful myself unless I accept myself as shows God’s love in a special
for God.” It is just this way with God has made me? Those who way. The family that prays
the differences between women deny the beautiful differences together stays together, and if
and men. between men and women are they stay together they will love
God has created each one of us, not accepting themselves as God one another as God has loved
every human being, for greater has made them, and so cannot each one of them. And works of
things—to love and to be loved. love the neighbor. They will only love are always works of peace.
But why did God make some bring division, unhappiness, and So let us keep the joy of loving
of us men and others women? destruction of peace to the world. in our hearts and share this joy
Because a woman’s love is one For example, as I have often said, with all we meet. My prayer
image of the love of God, and a abortion is the greatest destroyer for all of the delegates, and for
man’s love is another image of of peace in the world today, and every woman whom the Beijing
God’s love. Both are created to those who want to make women Conference is trying to help, is
love, but each in a different way. and men the same are all in favor that each one may be humble and
Woman and man complete each of abortion. pure like Mary so as to live in love

other, and together show forth
God’s love more fully than either
can do it alone.
That special power of loving
that belongs to a woman is seen
most clearly when she becomes
a mother. Motherhood is the
gift of God to women. How
Instead of death and sorrow,
let us bring peace and joy to the
world. To do this, we must beg
God for His gift of peace and learn
to love and accept each other as
brothers and sisters, children of
God. We know that the best place
for children to learn how to love
www.erikaearl.files.wordpress.com
and peace with one another and
make our families and our world
something beautiful for God.
Let us pray.
All for the glory of God and
good of souls.
God bless you.
Mother Teresa, MC

Wild and wacky Wikipedia

If you put a dozen monkeys in a room with a dozen typewriters, which would they eventually tap out—Hamlet or Wikipedia?
By Thomas C. Reeves
AS a professional historian, I’m interested
in the nature of authority. Wherever I
happen to be in my reading or research
I ask: On what is truth, beauty, and
morality based at this point? Often the
answer is simply that the supreme leader
or the ruling class defines the terms. At
other times the answer contains a strong
religious emphasis.
In recent decades, public opinion
polls, sales figures, and elections
dominate. Gallop, Pew, Bloomberg,
and Rasmussen are quoted breathlessly
and frequently as the voice of truth. If
more people like rock than opera, then
guess what will be found on almost
every radio and television station
amid legions of advertisements? If one
party gains control of Congress and
the White House, its leaders can do
almost anything they like (as long as
the Supreme Court contains a sufficient
number of party allies.) As for moral
principles, why not just “hook up” with
anybody for as long as you feel like it
and have as many babies as you want?
What’s wrong with that?
It is hardly news that Western
culture is rapidly embracing secular
materialism, a culture in which age-
old truths are banished as bigotry
and chaos and narcissism abound.
The media and the schools are largely
responsible. The message that streams
into our homes from cables, satellites,
antennas, and cell phones declares the
joy of doing what feels good, never
growing up, owning as much as possible,
and declaring the past irrelevant. In
schools at all levels political correctness,
increasingly enforced by the federal
government, preaches “inclusiveness”
and “diversity.” These are code words
for leftist dogmas that seek to foster a
society based on color and sex, and that
would banish supernaturalism, destroy
the traditional family, dismiss venerable
moral standards, and set up a wholly
indulgent welfare state.
In an increasing intellectual and moral
vacuum, how does one know anything
for certain? How can one learn, say,
history when the historians themselves
are overwhelmingly committed to a single
ideology? (Thus the near unanimous
condemnation of George W. Bush by
“presidential scholars” and their passionate
praise of Obama.) Can one even trust
traditional facts and dates anymore?
Which brings me to Wikipedia,
probably the most widely read source
of information in the world. Earlier this
year, the web site claimed to be attracting
nearly 68 million visitors each month,
and it boasted of having 12,460,561
registered users. Wikipedia contains
more than 15 million articles in more
than 270 languages, some 3 million in
English. Type in a name, an event, a
product, or an idea and your browser
will take you there in a split second,
often at the head of a list of sites.
But can you believe what you’re
reading? Is Wikipedia reliable? Can
we make sense of life and solve our
problems by consulting it?
The web-based Wikipedia was created
in 2001. From its inception, the entire
concept seems, to this scholar, fatally
flawed. Wikipedia articles are written
by unpaid and, more often than not,
anonymous authors. Wikipedia explains,
“The expertise of qualifications of the
user are usually not considered.” And it
boasts, “Wikipedia is written largely by
amateurs. Those with expert credentials
are given no additional weight.”
Some footnotes are encouraged,
especially if they refer to anything in
print. In short, if a fact or judgment
can be found in a book, magazine, or
pamphlet, it must be true! Wikipedia
declares, “Original research and ideas
which haven’t appeared in other sources
are therefore excluded.”
Worse, almost any article in Wikipedia
can be altered in any way by anyone
at any time. There have been over 31
million edits, and the only qualification
is internet access. Do I mean to say, for
example, that a scholarly article on the
French Revolution can be altered by an
anonymous 10-year-old? Yes.
Wikipedia has editors who “may”
perceive and alter “obvious errors,”
obscenities and the like. But this small
body of volunteers (we are told that
there are 1,724 “administrators”) can’t
possibly examine the huge amount of
incoming information let alone police
the extant articles that may have already
Wikipedia / B4
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010

By Archbishop Ramon
Arguelles
THIS year 2010, the Archdiocese
of Lipa, covering the whole
province of Batangas, celebrates
its Centennial as a local church,
having been erected on April
10, 1910 by Pope St. Pius X. In
celebration of this Holy Year,
Pope Benedict XVI assigned 21
Churches of the Archdiocese
as privileged Jubilee Churches,
where the faithful may gain a
Plenary Indulgence, applicable
to the holy souls, each time one
enters any of the 21 Churches,
prays, and fulfills the prescribed
conditions.
The Jubilee Year of the
Archdiocese started with
the Mass of His Eminence,
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales on
April 10, 2010. In its opening
month, Lipa was the venue of the
successful Philippine Apostolic
Congress of Mercy (PACOM). In
its concluding month, April 2011,
the archdiocese will host the Lipa
Archdiocesan ApostolicCongress
on Mercy (LAACOM).
The month of August, 2010
celebrated THE FESTIVAL OF
BATANGUEŇO PRIESTS AND
RELIGIOUS and was dedicated
to Intense Vocation Animation.
The festival was launched by the
Papal Nuncio in a concelebrated
Mass on August 2.
Every September is exceptional
grace for all visitors of the
archdiocese. On September 12,
1948, it is believed that Our Lady
Mediatrix of All Grace appeared
for the first time to a Carmelite
postulant. This was followed
by fifteen more apparitions.
As in Lourdes, Fatima and in
Celebrating the centennial of Lipa
San Sebastian Cathedral, Lipa City / Contibuted Photo
all authentic apparitions of the
Virgin Mary, her main request
is for prayer, most of all, the
Holy Rosary. In 1950, Bishop
Alfredo Versoza called for a
day of Prayer for Peace and
Sanctification of the Clergy.
Believers from overseas and
many parts of the Philippines,
despite the 1951 ban, heeded
Mama Mary’s call and made
Lipa a pilgrimage destination.
From 2004, every September 12
has become the National Day
of Prayer for Peace and for the
Sanctification of Priests.
Also this September, 2010,
Lipa will be the venue for the
3-DAY FIRST NATIONAL
MARIAN PRAYER CONGRESS.
It will start on the birthday of
the Blessed Mother, September
8, with the 5 p.m. Mass at the
San Sebastian Cathedral. The
Congress will end on September
12, 2010 with the Seventh
National Day of Prayer for
Peace and for the Sanctification
of Priests. Registration for the
3-day First National Marian
Congress is open to all Marian
Devotees and friends of Our
Lady, at which they are most
welcome.
From September 9-11,
2010, renowned writer and
Mariologist, REV. FR. (DOCTOR)
MANFRED HAUKE will be the
featured speaker for the 3-DAY
FIRST NATIONAL MARIAN
PRAYER CONGRESS, at the
Carmelite Monastery Chapel. Dr
Hauke, President of the German
Mariological Society, wrote the
book “MEDIATRESS OF ALL
GRACE”.
As in the past six years,
the Seventh National Day of
Prayer for Peace and for the
Sanctification of Priests, will
start and will effectively merge
with the closing moments of the
3-day First National MARIAN
Prayer Congress. Both will come
together, in intense prayer.
A whole night vigil on
September 11, 2010 will be
held at the Lipa Cathedral to
be facilitated by Fr. Edgardo
Arellano of EWTN and the
Oblates of the Two Hearts. At
4:00 o’clock in the early morning
of September 12, 2010, there will
be the procession of the Most
Holy Sacrament and the Image
of Our Lady Mediatrix of All
Grace from the Cathedral to
the proposed new Parish of the
Mediatrix, where the Eucharist
will be presided by Archbishop
Ramon Arguelles.
September being the Jubilee
month for the Laity, a whole
day program of lay people
sharing their Marian reflections
is currently being organized
for September 12. A procession
of the Most Blessed Sacrament
and the Mediatrix from the
proposed Parish back to Carmel
will prepare for an afternoon
Eucharist to be presided by
Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at
Carmel. The preacher will be
Fr. Manfred HAUKE.
All lovers of Mama Mary,
priests, nuns, Mariology
students, media, lay
organizations, are invited and
are welcome to participate in
these activities and to share
in the centennial graces of the
Archdiocese of Lipa.
For inquiries, please contact
the following: SECRETARIAT—
Sabsy Palanca, Mermie
Armenta, Carol Briones 4034534,
09175966031, 09162631354;
EMAIL: ISQvalues@gmail.
c o m ; RE G I S T RA T I O N —
Jocelyn Misanes 09266499454
jocelynpmisanes@yahoo.
com; TRANSPORTATION—
Peanut Pamintuan 5330266,
09175423391.

‘The 13th Day’ Movie’s Message

of hope: proceeds to feed hungry
Filipino Children
By Teresa Tunay
IN today’s very corporeal world dominated
with technology-laden visuals comes “The
13th Day,” a film by Ian and Dominic Higgins
based on the memoirs of Lucia Santos, one
of the three children in Portugal chosen by
the Blessed Mary to offer a message of hope
to the world.
“The 13th Day” dramatizes the true
story of three young shepherds, Lucia,
Jacinta and Francisco who experienced six
interactive apparitions with a “Lady from
Heaven” between May and October 1917,
which culminated into the final prophesized
miracle. The stylistically beautiful and
technically innovative re-creation of the
scenes in the movie are further enhanced
with today’s digital screens that capture the
stunning images of the visions and the final
miracle that have never before been fully
realized on screen.
In commemoration of the Blessed Virgin
Mary’s birthday and to continuously
www.wafusa.org
in theaters is undertaken together with the
Marian Solidarity for Pope Benedict XVI
for the benefit of HAPAG-ASA, a feeding
program of Pondo ng Pinoy Community
Foundation co-managed by Assisi Foundation
in partnership with dioceses, parishes and
local organizations. HAPAG-ASA was thus
conceived as a church and sector response to
the country’s high-prevalence of malnutrition
among children who belong to the poorest
of the poor.
Anchoring on a clear and reality-based
rationale that malnutrition affects about
8 million Filipino children, Pondo ng
Pinoy’s HAPAG-ASA Feeding Program has
overridden the challenges against common
perception that feedings are short-term
solutions. HAPAG-ASA’S program has
already fed more than 500,000 poor and
hungry children in the last five years. The
program aims to continuously alleviate the
incidence of hunger considered by Pope
Benedict XVI to be “the most cruel and
concrete sign of poverty.”
In keeping with its altruistic mission to
for it only takes P10 a day or P1,200 for 6
months to feed a hungry child and help him
improve his future.
Channeling entertainment to sustain
Pondo ng Pinoy and Assisi Foundation’s
mission, proceeds of the movie will go
directly to HAPAG-ASA. Further reaching
out to broader audiences’ participation in
HAPAG-ASA’S mission to feed the (hungry
and malnourished) Filipino children—“The
13th Day” ticket prices in Ayala cinemas are
pegged at P75.00 for block screenings and at
P100.00 for walk-in patrons.
For advanced online ticket purchase, check
out Ayala’s www.sureseats.com. Interests for
group and block screenings may call 632-1003
or send email to assisifoundation.13thday@
gmail.com
Witness the greatest miracle of the 20th
Century, and experience the incredible,
emotionally-charged and often harrowing
world of three young children whose choice
to remain loyal to their beliefs, even in the
face of death, would inspire thousands.
“The 13th Day” will open September

propagate the Marian message, the Assisi feed at least 120,000 malnourished children 8 at Greenbelt 3, Glorietta 4, TriNoma,
Development Foundation brings “The 13th each year, HAPAG-ASA invites the movie Market!Market!, Alabang Town Center and
Day” in cinemas on September 8. Bringing going public – young and old, sectarian and (consecutively) in Ayala Center Cebu and in
forth a message of hope, the movie’s release non-sectarian alike to watch “The 13th Day” Marqueemall at Angeles Pampanga.

Wikipedia / B3

been changed in meaningful ways.
Moreover, how do we know that the
Wikipedia editors, whoever they are, are
themselves qualified and objective?
Moreover, Wikipedia publicly warns
readers that many of its articles are
untrustworthy! “In particular, older
articles tend to be more comprehensive
and balanced, while newer articles
more frequently contain significant
misinformation, unencyclopedic [sic]
content, or vandalism. Users need to be
aware of this to obtain valid information
and avoid misinformation that has been
recently added and not yet removed.”
Officials believe that since Wikipedia
content is ongoing, in time there will
be sufficient progress to make all
articles accurate and objective. This
is madness, revealing an astonishing
innocence about human nature and
scholarly evidence. (Jimmy Wales has
a background in finance.) It’s close to
the venerable theory that if enough
monkeys hit typewriter keys long
enough, they will produce Macbeth. A
few articles, Wikipedia informs us, can
no longer be altered. “Featured Articles”
display a small star in the upper right
corner. A second tier are designated
“Good Articles.” Editors create these
distinctions, which contradict the basic
premise of Wikipedia. Moreover, the
process of selection “can take months
or years to be achieved.” An article on
Hillary Clinton, containing an error
about her education, was edited more
than 4,800 times over 20 months before
a television news channel exposed the
error and it was removed.
Frustrated authors have the right
to appeal alterations, but imagine
how long that process takes. “Every
day,” Wikipedia tells us, “hundreds
of thousands of visitors from around
the world collectively make tens of
thousands of edits and create thousands
of new articles...”
I have had personal experience with
this portal of knowledge and wisdom.
I’ve made corrections on several topics
I know well, only to find that they have
later disappeared. I once tried to add a
book title of mine to a rather significant
footnote, and it too vanished. As a favor to
friends, I’m about to submit five articles on
people and activities I have researched at
length. Will they be edited or vandalized
by unqualified people? Why not?
This reminds me of a similar policy
displayed on Amazon.com. To review
a film or a book, you need only over
13 years old. That’s it. I once had
an anonymous “student” attack my
biography of Senator Joe McCarthy. I
had assigned the rather large volume to
a class not long before and suspect that
the reading requirement was behind the
negative commentary. It was surely not
a product of a scholar in the field. But
who knows? And who cares?
(Thomas C. Reeves writes from Wisconsin.
Among his dozen books are Twentieth
Century America: A Brief History, and
biographies of John F. Kennedy, Joseph R.
McCarthy, Fulton Sheen, Walter J. Kohler,
Jr. and Chester A. Arthur. This article is
published under special arrangement with
MercatorNet)
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
B5

‘Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace’ Rural Missionaries

A communiqué published July 13, 2010 by the Vatican press office on the
theme of the 44th World Day of Peace, which is observed every Jan. 1.
“RELIGIOUS freedom, the path
to peace.” This is the theme
chosen by Pope Benedict XVI for
the celebration of the 2011 World
Day of Peace. The World Day of
Peace—celebrated since 1968 on
the first day of every year—will
be therefore dedicated to the
theme of religious freedom. As is
well known, in many parts of the
world there exist various forms of
restrictions or denials of religious
freedom, from discrimination
and marginalization based on
religion, to acts of violence
against religious minorities.
Religious freedom is rooted in
the equal and inherent dignity
of man, it is oriented toward the
search for “unchangeable truth,”
and thus can rightly be presented
as the “freedom of freedoms.”
As such, religious freedom is
authentically realized when it
is experienced as the coherent
search for the Truth and the truth
of man.
This notion of religious freedom
offers us a fundamental criterion
for discerning the phenomenon
of religion and its manifestations.
It necessarily rejects the
“religiosity” of fundamentalism,
and the manipulation and the
instrumentalization of the truth
and of the truth of man. Since
such distortions are opposed
to the dignity of man and
to the search for truth, they
cannot be considered as religious
freedom. Rather, an authentic
of the Philippines
26th National Assembly
notion of religious freedom
offers a profound vision of August 12 to 16, 2010
this fundamental human
right, one which broadens the Rivier Retreat House, Davao City
horizons of “humanity” and
“freedom” of man, allowing
for the establishment of a deep
relationship with oneself, with
Unity Statement
the other and with the world.
Religious freedom is a freedom WE, 80 women and men, priests, religious and lay members of
in this respect for human dignity the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, together with guests,
and life. coming from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao participated in
As the Fathers of the Second the 26th National Assembly of the Rural Missionaries of the
Vatican Council emphasized: Philippines (RMP) and to celebrate the 41st anniversary of
“Man has been made by God RMP’s founding. The event took place from August 12–15,
to participate in this law, with 2010 at Rivier Retreat House, Catalunan Grande, Davao, with
the result that, under the gentle the theme “Paigtingin ang gawaing RMP tungo sa pagtugon
disposition of divine providence, sa mga hinaing ng mga dukha sa kanayunan”.
he can come to perceive ever Mindanao was chosen as the site for the Assembly as it is here
more fully the truth that is that exploitation of peasants and human rights violations in the
unchanging. Wherefore every form of killings, bombings and disappearances are particularly
man has the duty, and therefore rampant. We as RMP whose distinctive character as a national
the right, to seek the truth in church organization is to work with the rural poor for land,
matters religious in order that justice, freedom and integrity of creation, consider it appropriate
he may with prudence form for to hold our Assembly in Mindanao as a sign of solidarity with
himself right and true judgments those who share our same vision and to continue to live a
of conscience, under use of all prophetic life in the midst of immense difficulties.
suitable means” (Declaration It is clear after the sharing from each of the RMP regions,
“Dignitatis Humanae,” 3). The from listening to the analysis of the global and national
vocation to believe in God, situations, currents of the church, and as well as personal
recognized as a fundamental testimonies of human rights victims, that there are common
human right, is a pre-requisite problems nationwide which continue to keep the rural poor
integral human development (small farmers, agricultural workers, fisher folk and indigenous
(Caritas in Veritate, 29), and a people) in bondage.
condition for the realization of the The most basic of these is landlessness. Land is still not
common good and the promotion © Noli Yamsuan / RCAM distributed to the tiller, as there is no genuine agrarian reform
of peace in the world. and no basic services to the farmers. Land is still monopolized by
As Pope Benedict XVI affirmed landlords and corporations, as seen with the creation of Special
during his visit to the General Economic Zones, open-pit mining, logging, plantations for
Assembly of the United Nations: biofuels and export crops. As such, land is being converted, and
Religious Freedom / B7 the effect is the destruction of our ecology, the displacement of
farmers, fisher folk and indigenous peoples, and the worsening

Ecumenical Bishops Forum Unity Statement

North Western Mindanao, Study-Workshop on Peace
August 18-20, 2010 Gardenia Guest House, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro
“...let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:24 (NIV)
THE words of the prophet Amos reverberates
in the minds of the church people as we
reflect upon the current unpeace situation
in the country. Once again, we reiterate
that genuine and lasting peace can only be
achieved through justice.
The new government under PNoy points
to corruption as the Philippine malady.
But we believe that the national problem
is more than just the issue of corruption,
which is just a symptom of the real problem.
We believe that what we really lack is
genuine democracy—both in economy and
politics. The lack of democracy in economy
is manifested by the subservience of the
nation’s economic policies to demands of
globalization, specifically of the world-
dominating US economy. Thus, what has
been considered as economic growth did
not actually translate to jobs and welfare for
the people. Rather, it was characterized by
a widening disparity between the glaringly
few rich and the numberless poor – the rich
became richer and the poor were buried
further in debt and poverty. Statistics show
that the annual net worth of the top 20 richest
Filipinos is equivalent to the combined
annual net worth of the more than 52 million
Filipinos.
The present election system has been
equated with democracy itself. But the
election process is just going through
the motions of voting—where even the
choice of leaders is already limited to those
holding economic power. Our historical
experience shows that however repeatedly
we underwent elections, the basic situation
of our people never changed because those
elected to office carry their vested interests
instead of their constituents. A classic
example is the 30-year agrarian reform
program that justified re-concentration
of lands to the landlords instead of justly
distributing these to the tillers. The program
saw several faces in the presidential seat. And
until now, as we return to another ‘Aquino’
administration, the issue of the Hacienda
Luisita is still flooded with blood.
In Mindanao, we specifically see the further
marginalization of the Indigenous Peoples
and Bangsamoro communities. The people
crying for their ancestral domains and their
very right to self-determination are unheeded.
‘Development’ projects—mining operations,
plantations, logging concessions—were
introduced into Mindanao’s rich lands.
And more than the struggle of the rightful
owners against these aggressors, they have
to fight among themselves for what meager
resources are left.
In a parallel trend, as the state of the
nation worsened, armed groups seeking for
new forms of government grew in number.
Despite the pacification of the Moro National
Liberation Front and Cordillera People’s
Liberation Army, gunfights continue
between the government military forces
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and
the New Peoples’ Army. The government
retaliated with the US-inspired Oplan
Bantay Laya I & II which only resulted to
thousands of extra-judicial killings and
hundreds of enforced disappearances, the
victims, activists, church and media people
legally protesting.
And now, this situation is further
exacerbated as the new government
seemingly continues a militaristic approach to
solving these armed hostilities by announcing
on Monday, August 16, 2010, to continue the
Oplan Bantay Laya as a national internal
security policy. Instead of addressing the
root causes of these rebellions, gun powder is
addressed with more fire. PNoy’s statement
in his State of the Nation Address asking for
concrete demands instead of critiques from
the CPP-NPA-NDFP is actually illogical.
Because should he go back to the negotiation
tables which had been stalled during the
height of extrajudicial killings under the
Arroyo government, he would learn that the
peace process between the GRP and the NDFP
is already on its way to the second substantive
agenda: the Comprehensive Agreement on
Socio-Economic Reforms.
And then he coupled this statement with
a hope for a ceasefire before negotiations
could resume—again, even as Oplan Bantay
Laya continues operating in the field. We
believe this is inconsistent with the Hague
Declaration that imposes no preconditions to
talks. Under all these circumstances, peace
seems more elusive—even illusory.
We therefore call the GRP and the NDFP to
go back to the negotiation table and resume
long stalled peace talks immediately and
discuss and agree on measures to address
the root cause of the armed conflict.
We challenge both parties:
1. To manifest that the peace process is on
top of their priority.
2. For emissaries from the parties to
talk even outside the formal conferences if
negotiating panels are not yet ready.
3. To constitute immediately their
Ecumenical Bishops / B7
of food security.
We see clearly how the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
along with the paramilitary and private armies are being used to
protect the interest of the landlords and corporations resulting
to an ever increasing number of human rights violations.
Under Oplan Bantay Laya, those who defend the legitimate
interests of the rural poor are branded as enemies of the state
and become military targets, when they only have their voices
as their weapons. Under Oplan Bantay Laya, civilians become
‘collateral damage’ as they become victims to militarization.
This systematic disregard of human rights institutionalized
through Oplan Bantay Laya under the guise of “wiping out
insurgency” only exacerbates the poverty of the people, creating
a culture of fear.
Furthermore, the continuing presence of US troops in the
Philippines under the VFA leads to increased violations of
human rights as we have experienced with Balikatan exercises
and now through the details of the horrific death of Gregan
Cardeño who was killed in the camp of the 103rd Infantry
Brigade in Camp Ranao in Marawi while servicing the US
troops based there. That these US troops are not subject to
Philippine Law and that their barracks are not accessible even
to Philippine government officials undermines our desire for
national sovereignty.
President Benigno Aquino III took office with a motto of
“dadalhin tayo patungo sa daang matuwid” (making the way
straight). This Biblical allusion to Isaiah 40:3 must be seen in
the context of Isaiah’s message of justice and liberation. We as
a body are united in asking President Aquino to take seriously
his motto. Particularly we call on him to:
a) Show his support for the social justice component
underlying land reform and ensure that land distribution
is paramount and not allow alternatives such as the stock
distribution option. We particularly call on him to express
this principle in relation to Hacienda Luisita; we also call
on him to enact a law carrying genuine agrarian reform for
the tillers;
b) Abolish Oplan Bantay Laya and ensure that no similar
program of the armed forces replaces this. As Commander in
Chief we call on him to lead the army to protect the people
and not the interests of big business;
c) Push for the resumption of peace talks in pursuit of
just and lasting peace to address the roots of the armed
conflict.
d) Prosecute Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her accountability
to the extrajudicial killings and other crimes committed by
the state agents against the farmers and against the Filipino
people in general;
e) Scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement and ensure the
withdrawal of all foreign troops from Philippine territory to
uphold national sovereignty;
f) Scrap the Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942), and other laws
and acts that result to the plunder of the environment;
g) Ensure justice for human rights victims and their families,
in particular for the family of Gregan Cardeño whose case
suggests lying and deceit on the part of the PNP, AFP and US
commanders in a conspiracy to cover up the truth;
h) Free all political prisoners, including the Morong 43, who
are implementing the community based health program, a
program to which RMP gave “birth” to in the 1970’s
We share the anguish of the struggling poor peasants. In
times of our doubts and helplessness in holding to our prophetic
role, we find the courage of the poor peasants to go beyond
what is feasible and their continuous invitation to us to join
them in their daily life and struggle inspires us to deepen our
commitment.
As we move towards 2011, we are approaching the 20th
anniversary of PCP II. We as church people are called to immerse
ourselves with the rural poor, to know the real causes of poverty
by analyzing them through the eyes of those poor who have
been awakened to their dignity and rights as children of God,
and then act in solidarity with them, including making church
resources available to further their upliftment from bondage
and poverty. We were encouraged by the participation of so
many church people in the second National Rural Congress,
even though we are disappointed that in many cases this
relationship between church people and the rural poor has
not been sustained nor resolutions implemented. It is our
experience as Rural Missionaries that this is the only way to
become a “church of the poor”. The time is ripe. We challenge
all Church people to join us in the journey.
Signed by the 80 delegates of the 26th Rural Missionaries of the
Philippines’ National Assembly, this 15th day of August, 2010 at
the Rivier Retreat House, Davao City.
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010

Lost sheep, lost coin, lost son...found people

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time; (Lk 15:1-32 or 15:1-10); September 12, 2010
By Fr. Joseph Pellegrino
TODAY’S readings present a shepherd
rejoicing over finding a lost sheep, a
housewife rejoicing over finding a lost
coin, and a father rejoicing over the
return of his lost son. The three parables
are in answer to the Pharisees and scribes
complaints about Jesus. They said that
He can’t be the Messiah because He
welcomes sinners and eats with them.
Eating with someone, for the ancients
as well as for us, is a way of expressing
friendship and love. Jesus does not
argue that He is eating with sinners.
His argument is that He has called
them to God, and they have come. He
is friends with them. He loves them. He
is full of joy that they have come home
to the Father.
Jesus is telling us that we should be
happy that others have been forgiven.
He is also telling us that we should join
in the joy of the Lord because we have
been forgiven.
Unlike the Pharisees and scribes
who saw themselves as holy and who
considered everyday people as the
hoard of sinners, the vast majority
of us are well aware of our failures.
Sometimes we think about something
that we have done and feel devastated.
These thoughts besiege us: How
could God forgive me? Maybe I don’t
Forgiving Father, His focus is not on
the past. He doesn’t carry a grudge.
His focus is on our present and our
presence with Him. Our return to Him
is a cause of his joy.
It takes a tremendous amount of
humility to recognize that God has
forgiven us. We have been restored to
His Love. This is His doing. His Grace.
We cannot cause God’s grace to happen
in our lives. We cannot cause God’s
forgiveness to take place. But He does
forgive us. We need to remember that
God is bigger than us, infinitely bigger.
And God is greater than us, infinitely
greater. So what is it that we have
done that we think is so bad that God
would not invite us to eat with Him?
Can anything we have done be beyond
God’s compassion and mercy? There is
nothing. There is nothing He does not
forgive when we take that step and say,
“Father forgive me.” His only reaction
is pure joy. But if we stay mired in the
past, we will have no present and no
future. The Lord is calling us into our joy
and calling us to move beyond whatever
is holding us back. He forgives us. We
need to forgive ourselves.
The Scribes and Pharisees did not seem
at all pleased that Jesus had forgiven
known sinners. We really have to be
careful that we don’t behave the same
way. Perhaps we come to Mass at times

even belong here, with people whose
commitment to the Lord has been
far more solid than mine. Perhaps at
times we have an experience of God’s
love in our lives and then suffer from
our past even more. This is all really a
normal reaction to our commitment to
the Lord. The closer we come to Him,
the more we are aware of the impact
of the times that we did not choose
Him. Maybe the problem is that we are
focusing on ourselves rather than on
God. According to the three parables,
the Lord is delighted that we are
once more in His Company. Like the
www.1.bp.blogspot.com
and see someone that we know has
done some really bad stuff. What is our
reaction? According to the Gospel for
today, your reaction and my reaction
should be: I am happy he or she is here,
choosing Christ. Another’s past is not
my concern. I need to be happy for
him or her. I am here to eat with him to that extreme, but perhaps there are that person whose presence in Church am the foremost. But for that very reason
or her. Sadly, I have had people say to times that the thought comes flashing shocks us. The Lord forgives us. The I was mercifully treated, so that in me
me, “Father, that person you were joking across our minds: “What is that lowlife Lord forgives him or her. The Lord Christ might display all His Patience as
with has really done some horrible doing here?” That is terrible. That person wants us to live in His Love. The Lord an example for those who would come
things.” Oh, so I should avoid him or is here for the same reasons that we wants that person to live in His love. to believe in Him.”
her and only spend time with the very are here: compassion, forgiveness, and In the second reading, from Paul’s Jesus came into the world to forgive
best of people? That does not sound like love. The Lord has compassion on us First Letter to Timothy, Paul mentions sinners. And I am one of them. And,
the instruction the Gospel for today is because He knows what we have done an early Christian saying, “Christ came with the exception of the angels among
presenting. Perhaps none of us may go to ourselves. And He has compassion on into the world to save sinners. Of these I us, so are you.

Bo Sanchez

SOULFOOD Bishop Pat Alo

Give your heart away and
find it whole
I NOW have six children.
One day, I had zero. The next day, I have
six.
No, I don’t have six wives that gave birth
on the same day.
Last June 1996, I took in six orphans in
my little bamboo hut in Anawim. Varying
in ages, they’re siblings whose parents died
a few years back.
Taking them was a big mistake.
I ate with these kids, prayed with them,
played with them, read them bedtime stories,
and whenever I arrived home, they’d hang
on to me like I was a Christmas tree.
When we’d finish dinner, I’d hear one of
them say, “Kuya Bo, magbasa ka na tungkol
kay Jesus...”
I recall sitting on the bamboo floor, and
the two smallest kids scramble for my lap,
and the older ones standing beside and
behind me. I’d read slowly, pointing to the
Fr. Francis Ongkingco
pages of a kid’s picture Bible. A thousand
questions are asked. They’d laugh, share
their simple experiences, and sometimes
just listen quietly. In the meantime, the
youngest girl would yawn, rest her head
on one of my arms, and sleep beautifully.
I’d look at her cuddled up on my lap, and
I’d tell myself again, “this is really one big
mistake.”
One night, I cried. But they were really
tears of joy. I was realizing that my life was
ridiculously changing, right before my eyes.
Because whenever I left them to go back
to my apartment in Manila, or preach in
different parts of the world, I cannot silence
the persistent ache within me. It throbs like
a hidden wound.
It just takes a sight of a parent carrying his
child. Or a toy left on the floor. Or a store
selling children’s clothes. Immediately, my
heart travels a thousand miles away to my
ENCOUNTERS
bamboo hut in Anawim. What are my kids
doing now?
I miss them terribly.
I miss their noise, their laughter, their
smells.
I miss holding that tiny, sleeping girl in
my arms.
I must admit. My heart is no longer
mine. It has been broken, and its shattered
pieces now reside in tiny hearts. They
do not know the power they have over
me. In their utter helplessness, they now
own me. I love them deeply. I’ve become
their prisoner. And I hope I’ll never get
released.
But ironically, in this shattered condition
of my heart, I’ve never felt so whole. So
alive. So free.
Yes, it was a big mistake adopting them.
Probably one of the most beautiful mistakes
I’ve ever made in my life.
Hasty answers,
hasty blunders
IF only we realized how important it is to be on the side
of truth we would not be so hasty in our statements or
answers. We ought to be conscious of what the truth really
is or means. First it is identical with a complete reality being
spoken of or described. So in courts of justice where they
require from you the truth, they will ask: Do you promise to
tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth without any
mental reservations or purpose of evasion? So it is said a lie
is a half-truth, that is, part only of the truth. So let’s beware
of voicing out inaccurate statements, just because of hurry
or we want to appear like a hypocritical know-it-all person.
What will you get from such appearances when they are only
other forms of deception?
It’s essential to follow the way of truth because the very
opposite is being part of the devil’s tactics, how he has
attempted to deceive humanity from the very beginning, and
bring as many as possible to the underworld of eternal hell. St.
Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite and great teacher in the Church

WHATEVER showed how much she favored truthfulness in our talks or

statements. Her quoted maxim is quite proverbial. She said:
“Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.” That
will be important advice for media people who are heard by

“SO Karl, how are you recovering
from your intense weekend with
the special operations over at the
Black Sea?” The question nearly
jolted the first year student out
of his seat.
“Ho…, how… how did you
know, Father?” he retorted.
“That was supposed to be a….”
“…a secret?” I smiled. “These
days, with FaceBook around,
there isn’t really any room for
secrets. And definitely not an
operation you and your friends
have eagerly been preparing for
even before summer break.”
“But who…?” He was definitely
not happy to learn how word
got around. “We agreed not to
tell anyone that we would be
out the entire weekend for this
special ops!”
“Come on, Karl, it’s only a
video game!”
“I know, Father. But a secret
is a secret!”
***
It may sound strange how the
young these days can seriously
take video games. In reality,
‘It’s only a game!’
however, the makers of today’s crave for his games: to boost
video games are the ones taking his ego.
seriously these “virtual toys”. Matt Bowman, a freelance
They want to make sure that reporter on technology news,
gamers will get “hooked” and attended this conference and
come back asking for more. concluded that developers
Peopleinthefieldof“interactive increase a player’s desire to play
arts and sciences” –as it is more by “treating them as egomaniacs”.
sophisticatedly known, have How is this done throughout
been quite successful in their the game? Bowman makes the
efforts. In 2007 alone, statistics following observations which I
revealed that teenager boys in have summarized:
the U.S. “score” an average of a) Winner paradox or make
18 hours a week (girls only reach them feel good – make the
8 per week). How did game chances of winning “abnormally
companies accomplish this? high.”
It would have been obvious b) It’s cool to reward than
that well designed games (i.e. to punish – designers try to
more realistic graphics, precise avoid punishing bad behavior,
historical settings, and well this means always giving an
contextualized music) would incentive or reward at every turn
attract players more. However, of the game; and that they always
in a recent Game Developers have a chance at “replaying”
Conference in San Francisco where they have lost;
Sid Meier, a well known game c) Level Up One – Guys just
developer and the second person love a challenge: game levels
to be included into the Academy are increased , since desiring to
of Interactive Arts and Sciences’ go to a higher level encourages
Hall of Fame, revealed a rather “replayability” or the sense of
surprising key to make players being able to play better at each
given chance;
d) Moral suspension – avoid
making them get into a moral
dilemma about their actions.
Make them feel they’re always
making the right decisions.
e) Suspend disbelief – the
player needs to live the character
he’s playing. This is somehow an
unwritten agreement between
the designers and the player:
“I make a make-believe world,
and you agree to believe by
playing it.”
“It’s only a game!” This is
what some parents might be
inclined to say about their
children’s game mode settings.
Undoubtedly, there might be a
lot of other activities (i.e. bad
peers, smoking, drugs, and sex,
etc.) that could influence our
children negatively more than
video games.
With video games, I’m not here
referring to the highly criticized
ones for containing a senseless
plot of simply killing whatever
you see on the road, as in the
Whatever / B7
the many who tune in to their radio or TV sets.
Why did Jesus undergo such torments of the Cross for love
of us? Because if one were to be condemned to the fires of
hell, they are an eternity of pain. I realize why St. Faustina
who was privileged with a vision of hell (see paragraph 741 of
her diary), ended with a prayer: “Consequently, I pray even
more fervently for sinners. I incessantly plead God’s mercy
upon them. O my Jesus, I would rather be in agony until the
end of the world, amidst the greatest sufferings, than offend
You by the least sin.” This shows why the Church places
great value on humble suffering, as Jesus saved us by His
sufferings on the Cross. The Cross has become the sign of
our redemption (cf. Col. 1:24 and the encyclical of Pope John
Paul II – Salvifici Doloris).
In Jn. 8:44, Jesus describes the devil as a murderer and the
father of lies.
The last book of the Bible talks about the kind of people
who will be welcomed into the gates of heaven. “The pagan
nations will live by its light and the kings of the earth will
bring it their treasures. The gates of it will never be shut by
day – and there will be no night there and the nations will
come bringing their treasures and their wealth. Nothing
unclean may come into it: no one who does what is loathsome
or false, but only those who are listed in the Lamb’s book of
life” (Rev. 21:24-27).
Doing what is loathsome or false points to a life that is not
in accord with God’s rulings of purity, righteousness and
truth because God is truth and justice par excellence. Yet in
his infinite mercy He invites and calls us back to His fold in
a life of change and conversion towards our eternal destiny
in heaven. The lives of saints testify how their many trials
contributed towards their ascent to the heights of sanctity.
“We know that by turning everything to their good God
cooperates with all those who love him, with all those he has
called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
B7

Respect, affirmation, dignity, restore broken lives

By Fr. Shay Cullen
IT’S no secret that guards, police
and barangay officials beat,
abuse, kick and humiliate Filipino
youth when apprehended and
later when awaiting trial in jails
and detention centers. Their
testimonies and their medical
examinations when released
prove it. It happens in the UK
also as the Observer newspaper
recently exposed a government
manual that taught guards how
to beat, punch and gouge youth
in privately run UK detention
centers.
In the Philippines and many
developing countries the youth
an d ch il d r e n , ab an d o n e d
street children are arbitrarily
did it to me”. But who really
cares? They are God’s children
whom Jesus called to himself
but society rejects them.
Likewise the general silence
and failure of religious leaders
and church goers to act and
protest against the widespread
rape, abuse and exploitation
of children trafficked into
the sex industry, the wide-
scale abortion and incest it
promotes, will surely bring
God’s condemnation and great
shame on all.
Faith without action is dead,
St. James says. We live with
shame that stuns the world
and that will continue until
the sword of justice is raised
and lady justice pulls off that
blindfold to see the injustice
indifference to the plight of the
children in this nation.
The cries of the victims for
justice go mostly unheard and
all the while children are raped
by local and international sex
tourists, and relatives. Many
are made pregnant, children
are having children, that’s when
the abortionists don’t get them
first.
In the Preda homes for abused
children, the teenage mothers
get all the help and support they
need to give birth in dignity
and decency and bring up the
child in a safe and in a healthy
environment.
Despite all the physical and
psychological damage, they
can recover once given support,
encouragement, respect,

arrested and held in medieval
dungeon like conditions without
beds, toilets, showers, dining
facilities, exercise, sunshine,
entertainment, recreation or
education for months on end.
They endure hunger, under-
nutrition, lack of medical care,
suffer diseases, scabies and some
are brutalized and sexually
abused by older inmates and
guards.
They may be guilty but have
not been convicted and are
too poor to pay bail. They are
held for weeks, months and
even years before their case is
heard and finished. Then it is
frequently dismissed for lack
of evidence.
The Philippines is 80 percent
Catholic and these inhuman
conditions continue despite
laws forbidding it. That needs
a national examination of
conscience and repentance.
Jesus Christ said: “When I was
and act to end the suffering of
abuse victims.
Non-implementation of the
law to save the victims of sex
tourism and the dismissal by
some prosecutors of trafficking
and child abuse cases is shocking
beyond belief. The endless
courtroom delays, the sickening
sympathy for the suspects
of child rape and the legal
manipulation that allows the
rapists to go free is the most
depressing and the worst
corruption imaginable.
The greatest challenge of the
Aquino Administration and
Secretary of Justice Leila De
Lima is to end this culture of
corruption and blatant bribery
that is robbing the poor Filipinos
of the respect and dignity that
they truly deserve.
While there are thousands
of courageous Filipinos out in
the streets, visiting jails and
courtrooms fighting for the
www.preda.org
affirmation and dignity. These
are the spiritual values that
restore broken and wounded
lives.
In the Preda home for the
teenage boys who have been
rescued from jails and prisons
where they were once treated as
rejects, criminals, vermin, pests
and punch bags do respond
positively to affirming respect,
friendship, care and dignity.
They are transforming their lives
and can live without violence
and crime where their needs, so
long denied them, are fulfilled.
Hundreds have been released
to this program over the past six
years by compassionate judges
and prosecutors all over Central
Luzon. They come to the open
center that has no walls, fences
guards, or punishment and is
free of abuse, physical, verbal
and psychological.
They can walk away anytime
but 93% choose to stay and

www.adb.org
in jail you came to visit me”... victims, there is little support change their lives for the
“So long as you did it to one for their heroic efforts. Their better. It could be replicated
of these the neediest of all you greatest enemy is apathy and for thousands still in jails.

Ecumenical Bishops / B5 Mission / B1

negotiating panels and schedule as soon
as possible the resumption of talks.
4. To adhere to previously signed
agreements such as the Hague
Declaration, JASIG, the CARHRIHL,
etc.
5. To move forward to the discussion
of the second substantive agenda which
is the Comprehensive Agreement on
Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER).
6. To acknowledge that the people
are essential stakeholders in the issue of
peace. And that they should recognize
and provide venues for their active
participation in the peace process.
The people have high hopes in the new
administration who declared, “kayo
ang boss ko”. We pray that PNoy will
not waste such hopes. Let us therefore
work together to pursue “justice and
only justice…” (Deut 16:20, NASB).
Justice should always be at the heart of
our efforts in achieving a sustainable
peace – a peace which is not the silence
of graves but a peace which is the rightful
reign of democracy.
Signed:
Bp. Deogracias Iñiquez, Co-chairperson,
Ecumenical Bishops Forum, Roman
Catholic Church
Bp. Elmer M. Bolocon, EBF National
Convenor, United Church of Christ in
the Philippines
Msgr. Rey Monsanto, Vicar General,
ArchCDO, Roman Catholic Church
Bp. Bert Calang, Iglesia Filipina
Independiente
Bp. Rudy Juliada, Iglesia Filipinia
Independiente
Bp. Denny Dapitan, Iglesia Filipina
Independiente
Bp. Melzar Labuntog, United Church of
Christ in the Philippines
Sr. Tessie A. Dalugdugan, FMDA, Sisters
Assn. in Mindanao (Samin)
Sr. Cecilia L. Turno, CM, Sisters Assn.
in Mindanao (Samin)
Fr. Nathan Lerio, Social Action Center
(SAC) Director, ArchCDO, Roman
Catholic Church
Dist. Superintendent Samuel Domingo,
United Methodist Church
Rev. James Perocillo, United Methodist
Church
Rev. Diosdado Marquez, United Church
of Christ in the Philippines
Rev. Rey Alejandro Lazaro, United
Church of Christ in the Philippines
Rev. Christopher Ablon, Iglesia Filipina
Independiente
Rev. Rufiniano Cabada, United Church
of Christ in the Philippines
Rev. Beltran Pacatang, CONCORD
Rev. Emma Catubig, Iglesia Filipina
Independiente
Rev. Gerson Senturias, United Church
of Christ in the Philippines
Rev. Arturo Veladiez, United Church
of Christ in the Philippines
Rev. Diosdado Marquez, United Church
of Christ in the Philippines
Fr. Rolando Abejo, Iglesia Filipina
Independiente
Rev. Danilo Tobias, United Church of
Christ in the Philippines
Rev. Napoleon Lumapgud, United
Church of Christ in the Philippines
Rev. Antonio Ablon, Iglesia Filipina
Independiente
Rev. Limbag Saniboy, United Chuch of
Christ in the Philippines
Ofel Cantor, Ecumenical Bishops
Forum, National Secretariate
Aldeem Yañez, Iglesia Filipina
Independiente, Local Secretariate
Elpidio Pulmano, Initiatives for Peace
in Mindanao (INPEACE)
commitment to proclaim the Gospel. The
missionary impulse has always been
a sign of vitality for our Churches (cf.
Encyclical Letter, Redemptoris missio,
n. 2), with their cooperation and their
unique witness of unity, brotherhood
and solidarity that gives credibility to
heralds of the Love that saves!
I therefore renew to everyone the
invitation to pray and, despite financial
difficulties, to offer fraternal and concrete
help to support the young Churches.
This act of love and sharing, which
the precious service of the Pontifical
Missionary Societies to which I express
my gratitude will see to allocating,
will support the formation of priests,
seminarians and catechists in the most
Religious Freedom / B5
“Human rights, of course, must include
the right to religious freedom, understood
as the expression of a dimension that is at
once individual and communitarian—a
vision that brings out the unity of the
person while clearly distinguishing
between the dimension of the citizen
and that of the believer” (Address to the
General Assembly of the United Nations,
18 April 2008).
The theme chosen for the 2011
World Day of Peace represents an
accomplishment of a “path to peace”
which Benedict XVI has invited the
human family to consider in depth
on several occasions. Since 2006, his
Message for the World Day of Peace has
focused on important dimensions of the
truth (In Truth, Peace, 2006), the dignity
of the human person (The Human
Person, the Heart of Peace, 2007), the
unity of the human family (The Human
Family, a Community of Peace, 2008), the
distant mission lands and will encourage
the young ecclesial communities.
At the end of this annual Message
for World Mission Sunday, I would
like with special affection to express
my gratitude to missionaries who bear
witness to the coming of the Kingdom of
God in the most remote and challenging
places, often with their lives. To them,
who are in the vanguard of the Gospel’s
proclamation, every believer offers
friendship, closeness and support. May
God who loves a cheerful giver (cf. 2
Cor 9: 7) fill them with spiritual fervor
and deep joy.
As with the “Yes” of Mary, every
generous response of the ecclesial
community to the Divine invitation
fight against poverty (Fighting Poverty
to Build Peace, 2009), and finally care for
creation (If you Want to Cultivate Peace,
Protect Creation, 2010). This journey has
its roots in the vocation of man to truth
(capax Dei) and, having as a “polestar”
human dignity, leads to the freedom to
seek the truth.
Today there are many areas of the
world in which forms of restrictions and
limitations to religious freedom persist,
both where communities of believers
are a minority, and where communities
of believers are not a minority, and
where more sophisticated forms of
discrimination and marginalization
exist, on the cultural level and in the
spheres of public civil and political
participation. “It is inconceivable”—
remarked Benedict XVI—”that believers
should have to suppress a part of
themselves—their faith—in order to
be active citizens. It should never be
to love our brothers and sisters, will
raise up a new Apostolic and ecclesial
motherhood (cf. Gal 4: 4, 19, 26), leaving
us struck by the mystery of the God of
love who “when the time had fully come...
sent forth his Son, born of a woman” (Gal
4: 4) to give faith and boldness to the new
Apostles. Such a response will make
everyone capable “rejoicing in hope”
(Rom 12: 12) by realizing the project of
God, who wills “that the whole human
race form one people of God, be united
in the one body of Christ, and be built up
into one temple of the Holy Spirit” (Ad
gentes, n. 7).
From the Vatican, 6 February 2010
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
necessary to deny God in order to enjoy
one’s rights. The rights associated with
religion are all the more in need of
protection if they are considered to clash
with a prevailing secular ideology or
with majority religious positions of an
exclusive nature” (Address to the United
Nations, cit.).
Man cannot be “fragmented,” and
separated from what he believes,
because that in which he believes has
an impact on his life and on his person.
“Refusal to recognize the contribution
to society that is rooted in the religious
dimension and in the quest for the
Absolute—by its nature, expressing
communion between persons—would
effectively privilege an individualistic
approach, and would fragment the
unity of the person” (Address to the
United Nations, cit.). It is for this reason
that: “Religious Freedom is the Path to
Peace.”

Whatever / B6

case of the Grand Theft Auto attitude in life. This could plant

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(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
series; or with erotic content in
the cut-scenes found in Mass
Effect, and pure unadulterated
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diligence, honesty, purity, and
gore in Dante’s Inferno. sincerity, etc.) necessary to engage
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 B8
Salt: Look beyond the
action to get the message
By Teresa R. Tunay,
OCDS
Salt is a curious amalgam of
James Bond, Bourne Identity,
McGyver and Spiderman—and
because the lead character is a
woman, anything the guys can
do she can do better.
Salt opens with with a near
naked Evelyn Salt (Angelina
Jolie) being tortured in a North
Korean dungeon to talk, but all
she says, in tears, is “I am not
a spy…” Actually she’s really
a spy, one of CIA’s toughest
and brightest A colleague, Ted
Winter (Liev Schreiber) fetches
her out of captivity, saying Salt
owes her freedom to her admirer
Mike (August Diehl), a German
scientist whose forte is arachnid
research and who soon after
becomes her husband.
The chase begins when a
Russian defector, Orlov (Daniel
Olbrychski), who at interrogation
pins down Salt as a KGB agent
in deep cover whose mission is
to assassinate Russian president
Matyveyev (Olek Krupa),
currently in the United States
to attend the funeral of the
American vice-president. The
lie detector test registers truth in
everything Orlov claims, leading
Salt’s other colleague, Agent
Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to
believe Salt is really a Russian
spy. Ted doesn’t believe it,
however, but joins Peabody
in the hunt for the elusive Salt
whose main concern now is to
reach her husband while evading
pursuers.
Salt is one thriller you can
see three times and not tire of.
Jolie as the action star is at her
elusive best, reportedly doing
95 percent of her stunts and
exuding mystique that combines
toughness and fragility. If you’ve
ever seen one of those gold-plated
real orchids from Singapore,
you’ll know what Salt’s persona
is in this film.
Originally meant for Tom
Cruise (as Edwin Salt), this
MAC en COLET
Buhay Parokya
Entertainment
action masterpiece would have
been generic, but because the
role went to a woman, and the
intriguing Angelina Jolie at
that, the movie Salt took on a
spicier flavor. We agree with one
American film critic who says
Jolie is a fine-looking woman
whose lips, eyes, profile, nose,
boobs, butt and indeed the whole
of her enigmatic beauty has been
celebrated on celluloid, but this
time, Salt celebrates her ankles.
She jumps from one moving
truck to another, traverses a high
rise window ledge with bare
hands and feet, rolls off a flyover
and lands on a moving van, and
descends an elevator shaft by
just jumping from level to lower
level—doing all those and more,
the character could have died
from a fractured skull, internal
hemorrhage or a snapped spine,
but here Salt survives without
as much as spraining an ankle.
Indeed, much like a grain of salt
on a free fall from the shaker but
defies the laws of physics and
manages to escape the frying
pan. (Boy, that can only happen
in the cartoons!)
Salt is a curious amalgam of
James Bond, Bourne Identity,
McGyver and Spiderman—and
because the lead is a woman,
anything the guys can do she can
do better. Makes you wonder if
real life spies can be that good
or indestructible but you don’t
care for answers and instead go
along with the chase because
it’s advancing the story, and a
good story to boot. The story
is really about sleeper spies in
the US, orphans trained from
childhood by the Russians, to one
day patriotically wreak havoc
on American society and then
the whole world. Evelyn Salt
is supposed to be one of those
orphans.
Viewers of Salt are enjoined to
look beyond all the media sizzle
generated by Jolie’s exceptional
stunts and dive deeper into
Evelyn Salt’s conflicted character.
Without second thoughts and
second glances she kills everyone
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
Moral Assessment Technical Assessment
 Abhorrent  Poor
 Disturbing  Below average
 Acceptable  Average
 Wholesome  Above average
 Exemplary  E
xcellent
Title: Salt
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev
Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejio-
for, Alex Pettyfer, Gaius
Charles, Victor Slezak,
Marion McCorry, Jonah
Keyes
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Running Time: 99 min.
Director: Phillip Noyce
Writer: Kurt Wimmer, Brian
Helgeland
Technical Assessment: 
½
Moral Assessment: 
who gets in her way but risks
life and limb to save the life of
her pet puppy. Aware that as a
spy she can’t offer a future to the
man who offers her marriage,
she believes in love and marries
him anyway. Brainwashed from
age 12 to believe in the nobility
of her murderous mission, she
grows up as the compleat spy,
and yet look what happens
when everything is taken away
from her.
If there is one very important
thing Salt is leading us to examine,
it is how we adults have come to
regard our children. Salt may
not be consciously doing it but
it’s making us see what happens
when children are used as pawns
in vicious adult games, when
their native intelligence is hewn
to serve inhuman purposes, and
when their innocence is sacrificed
at the altar of ideology.
It’s adults with warped values
who lead children into the dark to
suite their destructive schemes, in
the process destroying their souls.
In Salt, the setting is espionage;
in real life, the stakes are higher.
Mothers push their children into
prostitution and mendicancy.
Fathers lure their daughters into
incest. Governments and schools
inculcate in children the culture
of death attractively veneered as
“reproductive health”. In Salt,
orphans are programmed like
dogs to kill for their masters’ own
shining goal, and yet, can all the
evil in the world really kill the
human spirit? You might find
the answer in Salt.
Ni Bladimer Usi Title: Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
Cast: Bette Midler, James Marsden, Nick Nolte, Christina
Applegate, Michael Clarke Duncan, Neil Patrick Har-
ris, Sean Hayes, Joe Pantoliano, Katt Williams, Chris
O’Donnell
Director: Brad Peyton
Writer: Ron J. Friedman,
Steve Bencich
Genre: Action/Adven-
ture, Comedy,
Family
Running Time: 82 min.
Technical Assessment:
 ½
Moral Assessment:
Look for the image of St. 
Agnes, a communioncake
Hairless cat Kitty Galore
and wedding flowers.
(voiced with gusto by Bette
(Illustration by Bladimer
Midler) is an ex-MEOWS
Usi)
agent who is pushed by a
dog into a vat filled with
permanent hair remover.
She is also kicked out of
the house by her former masters and left out in the snow on
Christmas day. She then vows to take revenge on dogs and
their best friends—humans—wearing various body wigs,
disguising herself as a helpless abandoned animal and a
harmless house pet to secretly unleash her plan, a weapon of
mass destruction. Kitty Galore’s plan, called “The Call of the
Wild” is meant to be activated via an orbiting satellite to make
all the dogs on the planet go mad, making her gain dominion
over all cats who will then enslave humanity. But DOG, the
canine counterpart of MEOWS, recruits Diggs (voiced by
James Marsden), a German shepherd who loathes cats. He
and partner and mentor Butch (voiced by Nick Nolte) join
forces to find feisty pigeon called Seamus (voiced by Katt
Williams), who alone holds vital clues to Kitty’s plan. But the
cats are also concerned for humanity, thus MEOWS top cat
Tab Lazenby (voiced by Roger Moore) proposes a peace pact
with DOG to thwart Kitty Galore’s evil scheme. Soon canine
agents Diggs and Butch and MEOWS special agent Catherine
(voiced by Christina Applegate) agree to set aside their natural
differences in order to hunt down Kitty.
Although the target audience of this spy adventure Cats
& Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore is children below 12,
it’s thoughtful enough to offer something enjoyable for the
youngsters’ chaperones as well. The plot and the visuals—clever
and seamless CGI—make for an entertaining fable, combined
with takes on other movies that grown ups easily recognize.
The story and its telling is engaging enough for the young
viewers who couldn’t care less who’s voicing which character,
or whether or not it’s in 3D, but the oldies accompanying them
certainly could make a lively game of spotting which character,
line or scene is reflecting bits of James Bond, Batman, Silence
of the Lambs, and others. (The title character’s name itself is a
baby-talk derivative of James’ Bond’s Pussy Galore).
Judging from the cheers and the general response of the
children in the audience, his Brad Peyton-directed movie will
certainly enthrall the below-12 crowd who may just “see” their
own household pets in the cute characters. Even though its plot
is capitalizes on the old good-versus-evil formula that adults
may find clicheic, Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore can
still be mined for the valuable life lessons it envelopes—lessons
on anger, revenge, hunger for power and control, and…
uh… animals’ inhumanity to animals (so to speak) may be
downsized to for children’s consumption.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
New and re-elected members of the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors stand before delegates to the 128th Supreme Convention. (www.kofc.org)
LD Tan to assume post as
Supreme Director
The newly elected Supreme
Director, Alonso L. Tan,
will assume his post effec-
tive September 1, 2010.
Tan was elected during the recent
128th Supreme Convention at the
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in
Washington, D.C.
In the Philippines, Tan is also the
KCFAPI President, a Director of the
Keys Realty and the President of
the two KC foundations, the KC Fr.
George J. Willman Charities, Inc and
the KC Philippines Foundation.
He is a member of the Manila
Council 1000 in Intramuros and a
two-time Grand Knight of the said
council.
As a Supreme Director, he will be
Tan / C2
KC Chairman Davide speaks before FINEX
KCFAPI Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr. together with some of the KCFAPI officers and KC Foundation Officer who attended the FINEX meeting: Executive Vice
President Ma. Theresa G. Curia (FINEX Member), Former President Antonio B. Borromeo, Incumbent President Alonso L. Tan, Vice Presidents Magdalene G.
Flores & Angelito A. Bala, Legal and Administrative Services Manager Atty. Rizal V. Katalbas, Jr., Accounting Manager Rowena M. Diapolit, Executive Secretary
Annie M. Nicolas, and KC Foundation’s Executive Director Roberto T. Cruz.
www.kofc.org
Another Service Training for
Fraternal Counselors held
FRATERNAL Counselors from the Lu-
zon Region gathered last August 17-18,
2010 at the main office of the KCFAPI
in Intramuros, Manila for another fra-
ternal service training.
The said training tackled the various
sales tips and techniques that Fraternal
Counselors need to know in order to
equip them in their sales performance.
The participants were the new frater-
nal counselors from Metro Manila and
nearby provinces.
Joseph P. Teodoro, Vice President of
the Fraternal Benefits Group, and Gari
M. San Sebastian, Fraternal Benefits
Services Manager, were the resource
The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI
and the Order of the Knights of Columbus
LD Tan together with other Knights and members of the clergy during the 128th Supreme Convention held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
KC Philippines commemorates 33rd death anniversary of Fr. Willmann
ON September 14, 2010, the Knights of
Columbus in the Philippines will com-
memorate the 33rd Death Anniversary
of Rev. Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J. It
will be highlighted by a Family TV Mass
to be held at the San Agustin Church
at 9:00 in the morning with Most Rev.
Nereo P. Odchimar, D.D., Bishop of
Tandag and CBCP President as the
Main Celebrant to be assisted by Msgr.
Joselito Asis, Fr. Renato Sapungan, Fr.
Jerome Cruz, Fr. Benjamin Deogracias
Fajota, Fr. William Araña, OSA, Fr. Asis
Bajao, OSA and Fr. Bel San Luis.
The Mass will be aired on September
speakers during the seminar.
The topics discussed were about the
KCFAPI products, contribution compu-
tation and the familiarization with the
standard operating procedure (SOP) of
the Association.
This training was conducted in or-
der to motivate fraternal counselors to
achieve improved sales performance
as compared to their last year’s sales
record.
Moreover, organizers said the month-
ly training is being held in view of
strategizing the presentation of prod-
ucts and services of KCFAPI. (KCFAPI
News)
26, 2010 on IBC Chan. 13 from 9:00 to
10:00 a.m. Immediately after the Mass,
a wreath-laying ceremony will be held
at the statue of Fr. Willmann located at
the KCFAPI head office in Intramuros,
Manila. Father Willmann is referred to
as the “Fr. McGivney of the Philippines”
because, like the venerable founder of
the Knights of Columbus, he vigorously
pursued the growth of the Order and
dynamically worked for the radical
transformation of faith into action.
Fr. Willmann spent 44 fruitful and pro-
ductive years in the Philippines serving
the young people, the poor, the sick, the
KCFAPI officials attend
128th Supreme Convention
THE officials of the Knights of Colum-
bus Fraternal Association of the Philip-
pines, Inc. (KCFAPI), a mutual benefits
association that provides life insurance
benefits to the members of the Knights
of Columbus and their immediate fami-
lies, have attended the 128th Supreme
Convention last August 3-5, 2010 in
Washington D.C.
Those present were former Chairman
Patrocinio Bacay; former President
Antonio B. Borromeo; Executive Vice-
President Ma. Theresa G. Curia and
Vice-President for Information and
Benefit Certificate Holders’ Services,
Ronnie Infante.
KCFAPI Chairman, Hon.
Hilario G. Davide, Jr., was the
Guest Speaker during the 8th
General Membership Meeting
of the Financial Executive
Institute of the Philippines
(FINEX) last August 18, 2010
at the New World Hotel with a
theme: MOVING FORWARD:
Doing the Right Things
Right.
Chairman Davide spoke on
the daunting tasks our country
faces, of reforming the govern-
ment through moral suasion,
having a strong moral convic-
tion leaning towards the good
and the right and not in the
pursuit of personal interest.
orphans, the oppressed, the lonely and
the desolate. Fr. Willmann was born on
June 29, 1897 to very devout Catholic
parents in Brooklyn, New York. Through
Presidential Degree No. 740, President
Ferdinand E. Marcos granted him Philip-
pine citizenship. During his more than
four decades in the Philippines, Father
Willmann established numerous orga-
nizations in the country most notable
of which is the Knights of Columbus
Fraternal Association of the Philippines,
Inc. (KCFAPI) which he founded in 1958
together with a number of dedicated KC
members. (Denise Solina)
The three state deputies from the
three KC jurisdictions were also present:
Luzon Deputy Alonso L. Tan, Visayas
Deputy Dionisio R. Esteban, Jr. and
Mindanao Deputy Sofronio Cruz.
Three members of the Philippine hier-
archy were also in attendance, namely,
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal
Rosales who is a member of KCFAPI’s
Founder Members Committee; CBCP
President Nereo Odchimar, also a mem-
ber of KCFAPI’s Founder Members
Committee; and Cubao Bishop Honesto
Ongtioco who is the chaplain of Luzon
jurisdiction.
Convention / C2
C1
In his speech, he said that the
theme chosen was timely and
relevant. He stated “It is only
by doing the right things or
by doing right the right things
that nations and peoples can
move forward. There can be
no change for the better, no
transformation, no reformation
unless nations and peoples do
the right things right.”
He concluded his speech by
urging everyone to observe the
Rule of Law, a duty of every
Filipino, and to join him in his
quest for social transformation
that will complete the total
regeneration of our country.
(Annie Nicolas)
Bishop Nereo Odchimar
CBCP President
to preside over Fr.
Willmann’s death
anniversary
THE president of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) and Tandag
Bishop Nereo Odchimar will
preside over the Eucharistic
celebration that will be offered
to mark the 33rd death anniver-
CBCP / C2
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C2 Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010

Joseph P. Teodoro
Atty. Rizal V. Katalbas, Jr.
For Brother Knights by Brother Knights
From the Legal Standpoint
FBG announces improvement on KCFAPI sales
Denied IN behalf of the Fraternal Benefits Group, we
are pleased to announce the improvement
re-orient them with the rules of the incen-
tives and financial assistance programs and
active involvement from district deputies
and grand knights in the insurance program

due to
in the enrollment of new benefit certificate
holders, which started this August 2010.
Various factors have contributed in the
improvement of KCFAPI’s sales production.
to hear their suggestions and ideas on how to of the Order while the minimum paid lives
improve our services to our brother knights set is a good help in increasing the average
and families. new paid lives per fraternal counselor.
Other factors that have contributed to this We promise to keep the momentum in

concealment
Among these are the series of executive sales improvement are FBG’s 52nd Anniversary going through constant monitoring of the
visitations which were conducted in the Sales Drive; the intensive campaign on the incentive programs and to fire up with more
months of June and July. Apparently, we are Most Outstanding District Deputy Award fuel the enthusiasm of the aspirants of the
now getting its desired results. (MODD); 2009 Annual Awardees; minimum Annual Awards.
In reviewing claims cases there are times when a denial is war- The purpose of the exercise is manifold: 12 new paid lives set for average sales per- FBG also intends to go on a second round
ranted on the ground of material concealment by the insured. to update the field sales groups with the formers and the recruitment of new Fraternal of visitations in conjunction with the area
What then is the meaning of material concealment and when current development in KCFAPI; to arm Counselors. and team managers’ conferences in Visayas
does it become a ground to deny a claim. them with the latest selling techniques; to The MODD program for one encourages and Mindanao.
The Insurance Code of the Philippines defines “concealment”
in Sec. 26 which state:
“A neglect to communicate that which party knows and ought
to communicate, is called concealment.”
Concealment, to be present, must be accompanied with the
following circumstances, namely:
* The party knows the fact which he neglects to disclose or
communicate with the other.
* The party concealing the information is duty bound to
disclose such fact to the other.
* The facts concealed must be material to the risk.
* The other party has no means to ascertain the fact concealed.
* The party misleads the insurer into accepting the risk, or ac-
cepting it at the rate of premium (contribution) agreed upon.
Concealment per se is not a ground to rescind the contract,
it must be material such that the information withheld would
influence the insurer in deciding whether or not to insure the
applicant or cause adjustments in his premium (contribution).
The test in determining materiality of the concealment is found
in Sec. 31 of the Insurance Code which state:
Materiality is to be determined not by the event, but solely
by the probable and reasonable influence of the facts upon
the party to whom the communication is due, in forming his
estimate of the disadvantages of the proposed contract, or in
making his inquiries.
A fine example of material information is the health history of
the applicant, most especially when there is a waiver of medical
examination in a non-medical life insurance. In such case the
applicant’s health history is of vital interest to the insurer since
In photo, (seated 3rd from left) are VP-Fraternal Benefits Group, Joseph P. Teodoro, Executive Vice President, Ma. Theresa G. Curia, KCFAPI President, Alonso
it has no other source of information on the applicants health L. Tan, Fraternal Benefits Services Manager, Gari M. San Sebastian (seated extreme right) together with the participants of the Fraternal Service Training held
except solely on the applicant’s disclosures about previous on August 17-18, 2010 at the KCFAPI Head Office in Intramuros, Manila.
conditions of his health.
The insured’s death need not be related to the information con-

FBS Manager keynotes

cealed what matters is that the fact withheld is of some nature that
if the insurer had known it he would not accept the risk or would
have adjusted the premium (contribution) at a higher rate.
In one case decided by the Supreme Court, the insured ap-
plied for insurance (with waiver of medical examination). In

his application form he failed to disclose to the insurer that he
underwent medical treatment for renal failure. A year after,
the insured died in a plane crash. After a review of the case the
insurer denied the claim on the ground of material concealment
when he failed to disclose his bout with renal failure. The claim-
ants filed a case with the trial court. The trial court concluded
that the facts concealed by the insured were made in good faith
and under the belief that they need not be disclosed. Moreover,
it held that the health history of the insured was immaterial
since the insurance policy was “non-medical.” The trial court
ruled in favor of the claimants.
The insurer appealed its case to the Supreme Court where
it reversed the decision. In its decision it said, matters relating
to the health condition of the applicant becomes more mate-
rial to the insurer if there is a waiver of medical examination.
And even if the facts concealed had no bearing to the cause of
death of the insured, it is well settled that the insured need not
die of the disease he had failed to disclose to the insurer. It is
admission course
GARI M. San Sebastian, Manager of the
Fraternal Benefits Service Department was
the keynote speaker during the Admission
Course and District/Council officers’ orien-
tation for the First Degree knights.
Held on August 15, 2010 at the Imus Ca-
thedral Pandayan Hall in Cavite, San Sebas-
tian talked about insurance promotion and
stressed the need for insuring the members
of the Order.
Manuel H. Carpio Jr., District Deputy I-36
said the topic intended “to inform candidates
about the fraternal benefits that may be
gained by new recruits and refresh officers
of the same.”
The event started with an opening remark
from Ramoncito L. Alindog, Grand Knight of
Council 13538 followed by the Christ in the
KC Indoctrination facilitated by Manuelito R.
Putong, Past Grand Knight of Council 13538.
Carpio also noted that the orientation
was intended to increase the membership
roster and the number of benefit certificate
holders.
Meanwhile, the First Degree Exemplifica-
tion of Council 13538 and the Council 5896
Election of Officers were also conducted.
Cesar B. Brines of Council 14467 and Ed-
gardo A. Luna culminated the program with
their messages and prayer.
Rommel Y. Ondong of Council 13538
facilitated the orientation as well as the ex-
emplification. (KCFAPI News)

Frequently Asked Questions

sufficient that his non-disclosure misled the insurer in forming
his estimates of the risks of the proposed insurance policy or in
making inquiries. (Sunlife vs. CA, G.R. No. 105135)
What happens if there is concealment by one of the parties to
the contract. Section 27 of the Insurance Code explicitly states
that concealment whether intentional or not entitles the other
party to cancel the contract. Q. What are certificate divi- unassigned surplus funds are than expected), and savings certificate years and have been
This right to rescind (cancel), however, is not absolute. The limi- dends? Where do they come usually distributed to qualified on expenses (lower operating terminated either by death or
tation is found in section 48 of the Code which provides that: from? How are they deter- BC holders in the form of cash expenses than expected). The by reaching the BC’s maturity
“Sec.48. Whenever a right to rescind a contract of insurance mined? dividends or certificate divi- Association’s dividend formula date.
is given to the insurer by any provision of this chapter, such A. Certificate dividends come dends. This dividend is usually is annually submitted for review The financial market is a very
right must be exercised previous to the commencement of an from the non-appropriated, paid to a BC holder provided by the Board of Trustees. The dynamic market, and it continu-
action on the contract. distributable surplus of the As- that the BC was in-force at the dividend formula requires that ously evolves. Earnings cannot
After a policy of life insurance made payable on the death of sociation. Surplus can either time of dividend declaration a fraction of the previous year’s be predicted and do not follow
the insured shall have been in force during the life time of the be classified as appropriated or and had met all other qualifying excess of revenue over expenses a straight line. Predictability can
insured for a period of two years from the date of its issue or of its non-appropriated. Appropri- requirements. Dividends are not be apportioned as certificate only be assured on hindsight.
reinstatement, the insurer cannot prove that the policy is void ab ated surplus are surplus funds pro-rated, they are either given dividends for distribution. The As there is no assurance on the
initio or is rescindable by reason of the fraudulent concealment that have been earmarked by in full or none at all. formula also mandates that future performance of the opera-
or misrepresentation of the insured or his agent.” the Board of Trustees to finance The common method of dis- the current year’s dividend be tions of the Association, KCFAPI
This provision makes a life insurance policy incontestable some projects or major business tributing unassigned surplus higher than last year’s dividend always attaches a disclaimer on
after it has been in force during the lifetime of the insured for undertakings. These funds are after complying with all regula- declaration. all FC sales materials or market-
a period of two years from the date of its issue of last reinstate- held in reserve to purchase a tory requirements is the ‘source In addition to the above ing proposals that states among
ment this also serves as security to the insured after such period new computer equipment, pur- of earnings’ or the ‘three fac- dividend, the Association also others that projected dividends
the insurer cannot deny liability. chase or construct a new build- tor’ approach. This method distributes dividends called and the dividend accumulation
It is disheartening to see the future of the insured’s loved ones ing, put up a new company or considers only three factors or terminal dividends commonly rate are not guaranteed and
suffer as a consequence of concealment. It is therefore to the best subsidiary, and the like. Non- sources of income: interest in- referred to as terminal benefits. actual dividends and dividend
interest of an applicant to ensure that personal knowledge of appropriated surplus funds come from investments (higher This type of dividend is given accumulation rate will be based
material facts are divulged to his/her insurer and avoid the sin are funds that are yet to be income than expected), savings one-time to BCs that have been on the actual performance of the
of omission called concealment of a material fact. assigned to any project. These on mortality (lesser death claims in-force for at least ten benefit Association. (Angelito Bala)

Tan / C1 Convention / C1

the representative of the Phil-
ippine Knights in the Supreme
Board where his position ex-
pires on August 31, 2013.
LD Tan was born in Cuyo
Palawan and is the fourth
child of Concepcion and the
late Enrique Tan. He is mar-
ried to Sister Thesse and is
blessed with three children.
He studied and graduated at
the University of the East with
a degree in BS Commerce-
Major in Management.
He also studied Bureau of
Small Business (General Man-
agement Course) at the Ate-
neo De Manila University.
Tan is the State Deputy of
the Luzon Jurisdiction of the
Knights of Columbus Philip-
pines which has the highest
membership Orderwide.
Last year, the jurisdiction
once again surpassed its tar-
get in membership growth
of 8,700 and attained a total
intake of 9,025 equivalent to
103.74%.
It is for this reason that LD
Tan was once again given
the privilege to join the
Supreme Knight’s Circle of
Honor for the third consecu-
tive year.
Meanwhile, Tan said he will
attend his first Supreme Board
meeting on October 5-10, 2010
in Poland. (Kate Laceda)
KCFAPI Spiritual Director
Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio III, As-
sistant Chaplain of the Luzon
Jurisdiction, was also present.
The 128th Supreme Conven-
tion opened with a concelebrated
Mass at the Basilica of the Na-
tional Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception.
Washington Archbishop Don-
ald Wuerl led the Mass together
with some 88 bishops and car-
dinals and about a hundred
members of the clergy.
According to the website
(www.kofc.org) of the Supreme
Council, among the cardinals
who concelebrated in the open-
ing mass were: Cardinals Sean
O’Malley of Boston; Justin Ri-
gali of Philadelphia; Gaudencio
Rosales of Manila, Philippines;
Jaime Ortega y Alamino of
Havana, Cuba; Theodore Mc-
Carrick, Archbishop Emeritus
of Washington, D.C., and two re-
tired U.S. cardinals who served
at the Vatican, namely, William
Baum and Edmund Szoka.
The Supreme Convention is an
annual gathering of thousands of
Knights from various jurisdic-
tions and countries organized
by the Supreme Council.
During the convention, the
Supreme Knight announced that
every year will be the “Year for
Priests” for the Knights of Co-
lumbus. (KCFAPI News)

CBCP / C1

sary of Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ.
With the KC priests and chaplains
concelebrating, the Eucharistic cel-
ebration will be held at the San Agus-
tin Church in Intramuros, Manila, at
9 a.m. on September 14, 2010.
Officers and employees of KCFAPI
and its subsidiaries and the officers
and members of the Knights of
Columbus, especially of the Luzon
Jurisdiction, are expected to attend
the mass.
Fr. George J. Willmann is regarded
as the Fr. Michael McGivney of the
Philippines being the person respon-
sible for spreading the Order of the
Knights of Columbus throughout
the country that now counts about
265,000 in active membership.
He is also the founder of KCFAPI,
which is a mutual benefits association
that provides life insurance benefits
to the members of the Knights of
Columbus and their immediate
families. Its foundation, named after
its founder, which is known as the
KC Fr. George J. Willmann Charities
Inc. has already graduated over a
hundred seminarians who became
priests, and priests who have taken
up further studies in various ecclesi-
astical disciplines.
The celebration will also be an
occasion to raise funds for the said
foundation. “Whatever funds gener-
ated will be used to pursue our goal
to help realize the beatification of Fr.
Willmann and provide support to
the charitable activities of the KC Fr.
George J. Willmann Charities, Inc,”
an officer of the Foundation said.
Recorded on video as live, the mass
will be aired over IBC Channel 13 on
September 26, 2010, Sunday at 9:00
a.m. (Kate Laceda)
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010
C3

Ethics and Profitability

By Supreme Knight Carl A.
Anderson
THE Knights of Columbus and modern
Catholic social teaching were born less
than a decade apart: the Knights in 1882
and the Church’s social teaching that
took into account the rapidly changing
world of commerce with Pope Leo XIII’s
encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891.
Catholic social teaching and the Knights
of Columbus also share a common moti-
vation: Christ’s commandment that we
love our neighbors as ourselves.
Father McGivney’s motivation for
founding the Knights of Columbus
had both religious and financial com-
ponents. He was not interested in
making money for shareholders or in
pursuing profit at any cost. Instead,
he wanted to safeguard the faith—and
the finances—of Catholic families. As
a Catholic organization, the Knights of
Columbus has taken that message to
heart ever since.
Prior to his election as Pope Benedict
XVI, in the 1980s Cardinal Joseph Ratz-
inger warned that without an ethical
foundation, market economies would
collapse. Unfortunately, too many
companies—and too many individuals
who worked for those companies—
compromised core values for the false
promise of quick profit. The United
States, along with the whole world, is
still suffering as a result.
Since the economic downturn in 2008,
the ethics involved in business decisions
have been a topic of much discussion.
Whatever else caused the downturn,
there can be no doubt that greed was a
key catalyst.
The key question is this: Can a busi-
ness be both ethical and successful? The
answer, of course, is yes. And people
know it.
Charity and fraternity
A Knights of Columbus/Marist Col-
lege of Public Opinion poll last year
found that three quarters of Americans,
and more than 9 out of 10 executives,
agree that a business can be both ethical
and successful.
This is not just a matter of opinion. In
a book by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras
titled Built to Last: Successful Habits of
Visionary Companies (Harper Business,
2004), the authors begin by rejecting
the notion that “the most successful
companies exist first and foremost to
maximize profits.”
The authors add that profit is not the
“dominant driving force or primary
objective” of visionary companies and
conclude that “visionary companies
make more money than the more purely
profit-driven comparison companies.”
There are many such visionary enter-
prises, and one of these is the Knights
of Columbus.
The Order has led by example both in
our charitable giving and in our ability
to run a successful business enterprise
based on Catholic social teaching. We
consciously strive to safeguard the fi-
nances of our brother Knights and their
families who invest with us and to treat
our employees fairly.
Our goal has never been simply to
make money. Rather, the Order exists to
protect the financial future of its mem-
bers’ families. And our brother Knights
are our family. That is our strength—
and a consideration that underlies all
of our decisions. That is the rationale
underlying our program of insurance by
brother Knights, for brother Knights.
Ethical dealings in any area, includ-
ing business, must be based on the
understanding of the dignity of each
person, and on our responsibility to
our neighbor. Rather than embracing
the greed and jealousy that motivated
Cain to kill his brother and then pretend
ignorance of the crime by asking, “Am
I my brother’s keeper?”, a proper ap-
proach to business takes as its model
the Good Samaritan and concern for
our brother.
At the Knights of Columbus, that
means that our investment standards
rule out investing in companies that
violate Catholic teaching in a num-
ber of areas, including pornography
and abortion. Yet, in one of the worst
financial crises in memory, we still
made money, and even improved our
strength relative to the industry—not
by compromising our principles, but
by holding to them.
The golden rule
Because of our commitment to run-
ning our business in a way consistent
with Catholic social teaching, we
are one of only three U.S. life insur-
ance companies—and the only one in
Canada—to have achieved the highest
rating for financial strength from A.M.
Best and Standard & Poor’s, as well as
ethical certification from the Insurance
Marketplace Standards Association.
This last certification is very impor-
tant because it is our ethical commit-
ment that makes profitability possible
and sustainable into the future. It is fi-
nancial strength through moral strength
that allows economic development to be
truly sustainable. Pope Benedict made
this clear in latest encyclical, Caritas in
Veritate (Charity in Truth).
Catholic social teaching tells us
and our own experience proves that
the golden rule—which states that
we should treat others as we wish
to be treated—makes good business
sense.
Over time, it is the ethically run moral compass. All of us—whether we author Peter Drucker (1909-2005) that
business that will avoid risky bets with are executives, employees, investors we do not have a need for “business
others’ money. It is the ethical company or consumers—must insist that this be ethics”; our personal ethics—present
that will treat its customers and business the case. in every aspect of our lives—should
associates in a manner that will earn This is not a job solely or even pri- eliminate the need for any specialized
their trust, their future business and marily for government, although gov- ethics.
their loyalty. ernment policies can be used to help Basing profitability on time-tested
We have seen this in recent months create a more moral business climate. moral values means basing decisions on
with an increased demand for quality, Each of us has a responsibility to love bedrock and not on the shifting sands
especially in regard to financial prod- our neighbor and to create an ethical of the latest risky fad. This is a truth
ucts as a key to economic recovery. But environment at home, at work and that Father McGivney understood, a
for Christians, and indeed for all people throughout society. truth Pope Benedict understands, and
of good will, “quality” must always As a general model of business, then, it remains a guiding principle of the
include the quality of a corporation’s we can say with political economist and Knights of Columbus.

Fourth Degree Knights assist in Black Nazarene Procession

Faithful Navigator Laurie A. Luza the second visit of the image of Deputy of V-l39 in Roxas City.
THE Fourth Degree Knights
served as Honor Guards. Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno “Fr. Caldeo, during his hom-

Luzon conducts seminar for

of Columbus members of the
Archbishop Antonio Frondosa It was through the initiative of to the municipality; the first was ily said that, he hopes that the
Assembly, AC-l796, helped dur- the municipal government of Sa- in 2009. visit of the pilgrim image will

Grand Knights, Financial

ing the procession of the image pian, Capiz led by Mayor Arturo “The pilgrim image was en- enable the faithful from all over
of Nuestro Padre Jesus Naza- A. Orosco, Ph.D. and the parish throned at the St. Ann Parish the province and the archdiocese
reno, better known as the Black of St. Ann headed by Fr. Eugene where a simple program was to have the privilege of seeing,

Nazarene of Quiapo.
The procession was held on Au-
gust l6-24, 2010 in Sapian, Roxas
City, where the Knights headed by
D. Caldeo, Jr., parish priest, that
made the visit of the miraculous
image possible.
According to Orosco, this is
held prior to the celebration of
a concelebrated mass presided
by Fr. Eugene D. Caldeo, Jr.,”
said Bienvenido Cortes, District
Secretaries, Treasurers
praying to and touching the
miraculous image during its
nine-day stay in Sapian, Capiz,”
Cortes added. (KCFAPI News)
THE Knights of Columbus-Luzon Jurisdiction has recently
conducted a simultaneous seminar for the Grand Knights,

KCFAPI conducts meeting for Area Managers in Luzon Financial Secretaries and Treasurers of the Luzon councils.
The seminar was held last August 14-15, 2010 in various prov-
inces in Regions I, II, III and IV covered by the jurisdiction.
Organizers said the seminar was intended to discuss the
THE KCFAPI has recently conducted a Excellence (MME); Northern Luzon Gold Following the talk was the oath taking of duties and responsibilities of the Grand Knights and Financial
meeting for the Area Managers in the Luzon Miners (NL); Southern Luzon Lakers the newly elected Area Managers. Secretaries, among other officials.
region. (SL) and the Southwestern Luzon Stars Meanwhile, KCFAPI President Alonso The seminar also emphasized discussion on the member-
The event was held at the main office of the (SWL). L. Tan and Executive Vice President Ma. ship of the diverse councils of the areas.
KCFAPI in Intramuros, Manila last August The meeting tackled the reports about the Theresa G. Curia have given inspirational Also present in the event were the District Deputies, and
12, 2010. area review and evaluation of performance messages to the attendees and participants Treasurers of the various councils in the Luzon jurisdiction.
Among those present were Central Lu- of each Area Manager. It specifically took of the activity. Luzon Deputy Alonso L. Tan led the seminar on Region I
zon Believers (CLB1); Central Luzon Con- up monitoring performance; analysis and Also present were Joseph P. Teodoro, Vice- together with the State Seminar Director Efren V. Mendoza
querors (CLC); Central Luzon Diamonds improvement measures. President of the Fraternal Benefits Group; and assisted by the Regional Membership Chairmen Josefino
(CLD); Metro Manila Achievers (MMA); Organizers said there has also been a and Gari M. San Sebastian, Manager of the Valencia and Salvador Segovia.
Metro Manila Chancellors (MMC); Metro discussion on the membership of each of Fraternal Benefits Services Department. The activity was held at the Alad Resort for the Dioceses of
Manila Dragons (MMD); Metro Manila the area. (KCFAPI News) Bangued, Laoag and Nueva Segovia on August 14 while on Au-
gust 15, it was conducted in Baguio City for the Luzon officers
from the Dioceses of Baguio, Alaminos, Lingayen-Dagupan,
Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines Inc., Bontoc-Lagawe, San Fernando, La Union and Urdaneta.
The Region II conference was headed by State Secretary Arsenio
Isidro G. Yap with State Ceremonial Director Deogenes V. Francia
an established mutual benefits association is currently looking for: and Regional Membership Chairman Armando Gonzales.
The venue of the event was at the Greenview Lodge in San-
Auditor The Knights of Columbus Fra-
tiago City for the Diocese of Bayombong and Ilagan followed
by the Dioceses of Tabuk and Tuguegarao at the St. Peter’s
Accounting Staff ternal Association of the Phil- Metropolitan Cathedral on the two earlier mentioned dates.
State Treasurer Joven B. Joaquin, State Auditor Raoul A.
ippines Inc., is an established
BC Holders’ Relations Office Staff and progressive mutual benefits Villanueva and State Fourth Degree Affairs Chairman Victor
E. Pulangco administered the Region III seminar.
Customer Relations Assistant association operating for 51 years,
has been highly committed to pro-
Attendees of which were the Dioceses of Balanga and Iba.
For Region III, the seminar was held at the St. Columban
H.R. & Corporate Communications Assistant vide mutual aid and assistance to
its members and their immediate
Clubhouse in Olongapo City last August 14.
On August 15, Officers from the Archdiocese of San Fer-
nando, Pampanga participated in the seminar.
families. The Knights of the Dioceses of Boac, Gumaca and Lucena were
If you are dedicated, service-oriented, and have the prom- then present at the August 14 discussion in Tayabas, Quezon.
ising potential to join us in our continuous drive to provide KCFAPI firmly believes that the This conference was facilitated by State Program Director
continued progress and success of Bonifacio B. Martinez and State Youth Director Conrado S.
mutual aid, assistance and excellent service to our mem- Dator, Jr. (Kate Laceda)
the association depends to a great
bers. Kindly send your comprehensive resume’ thru fax extent on its human capital.
number 527-2244 or hand-carry resume’ with a 2x2 photo
and transcript of records to: KCFAPI also believes that through
training and a host of other benefits
if coupled with hard work, will help
employees and the association, at-
tain their goals and objectives.

In our continuous drive to provide

excellent service to our members,
we are currently on the look-out for
individuals with promising poten-
KC Family... Our Concern tials. He must be dedicated, service
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL oriented, and willing to undergo
training.
ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.
Gen. Luna cor. Sta. Potenciana Sts., Our compensation and employee
benefits are comparable, if not
Intramuros, Manila better than most companies of our
You may also call 527 – 2223 local 202 for queries and look for Ms. Kristianne or Ms. April of the Human same size and nature of business.
Resources & Corporate Communications Department.
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C4 Vol. 14 No. 18
August 30 - September 12, 2010

KC seminarian-scholar ordained to the sacred Order of Deacons

Rev. Jose Eliseo B. Buenviaje,
one of the seminarian-scholars
of KC Fr. George J. Willmann
Charities, Inc., was recently or-
dained as Deacon by Most Rev.
Antonio R. Tobias, D.D., Bishop
of Novaliches at the Good Shep-
herd Cathedral in Fairview,
Quezon City.
Rev. Buenviaje is the 3rd child
of the late Eliseo and Florinda
Buenviaje. At an early age of six,
he started to be attracted to the
vocation of priesthood when he
became the youngest altar server
in their Parish in Novaliches as-
sisting their Parish Priest in all
of the latter’s liturgical services
and speaking engagements. In
1987, he entered the Our Lady of
Guadalupe Minor Seminary.
He then continued his stud-
ies at the San Carlos Seminary
until 1993 when he had to leave
for his regency. Thereafter, he
enrolled at Sta. Isabel College
for a Bachelor’s Degree in Mu-
sic. At the same time, he served
as Parish Administrator at the
San Roque Parish in Pateros.
Upon completion of his Degree
in Music, Rev. Buenviaje next
worked as Parish Administrator
of the Ina ng Buhay Parish while
pursuing a Degree in Philosophy
at Letran College.
By June 2000, he transferred to
the Holy Family Parish in Makati
during which he worked in a
bank for almost a year. However,
after all those years of reflections
and searching, Rev. Buenviaje
convinced himself to go after his
real “calling”. With the guidance
of his Bishop, he completed his
Philosophy Degree at the Christ
the King Seminary and was ad-
mitted for formation at the St.
Joseph Formation House. He
was then selected as one of the
scholars of the Foundation dur-
ing the schoolyear 2006-2007 for
a five-year course in Theology at
Maryhill School of Theology.
At present, Rev. Buenviaje is
enrolled as a fourth year Theol-
ogy student. He hopes that by
next year after graduation, he will
be ordained to the Sacred Order Rev. Jose Eliseo Buenviaje (in white cassock), flanked by Grand Knight Brice Abella of Council 7178 (left) and District Deputy Raymund Gubat of District N-31 (right).
of Priesthood. (Denise Solina)

Scholar Alumnus of the Month Luzon Squires

Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos was a scholar
of the Knights of Columbus Fr. McGivney Fund
silica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia
in Naga City where he served as Rector Committee to
attend recollection,
for Advanced Studies in Rome from 1988 to from 1991-1993. Bishop Manolo became the
1990. The scholarship program was funded by sixth scholar of the Foundation during the
the Knights of Columbus Supreme Office and schoolyear 1988-1989. He was granted a

planning
administered locally by the KC Fr. George J. two-year Doctoral course in Canon Law at
Willmann Charities, Inc. the Pontificia Universita Santo Tommaso in
Bishop de los Santos was born on August Rome, Italy.
5, 1947 in Basud, Camarines Norte. He is Upon his return to the Philippines, Bishop
the second child of ten children of a devout Manolo was assigned to various positions
Catholic couple, Arcadio de los Santos and related to the Canon Law Department and THE Luzon Squires Committee is the youth organization of the
Corazon Alarkon. became Archdiocesan Director on Fam- will be attending the Recollec- Knights of Columbus is one of
Bishop Manolo finished his elementary ily Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of tion and Planning on September the most dynamic leadership
schooling at Caramoan Central School and Caceres. He was the Parish Priest of St. 25-26, 2010 at the Alagad ni Maria development organizations for
high school education at the United High Anthony of Padua Parish in Iriga City prior Retreat House in Antipolo City. young Catholic men not only in
School in Caramoan, Camarines Sur. Imme- to his being elevated as second Bishop of Together with the Squires the Philippines but throughout
diately, after graduating from high school, Virac on September 12, 1994, twenty years state officers, the recollection the world.
he started responding to the priestly call- after his sacerdotal ordination. His instal- will be conducted by Squire State Presently it has more than
ing. Seminary life started when he entered lation was held on October 10, 1994 at the Prior Msgr. Pedro Quitorio who 25,000 Catholic young men, ages
the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Virac, is also the assistant state chaplain 10 to 18, in over 1,400 circles
City. He obtained his Philosophy Degree at Catanduanes. of KC Luzon. worldwide.
the Holy Rosary Major Seminary and then Bishop Manolo de los Santos considers A plan of action for the cur- Circles are active in countries
Vicar of Libmanan Parish. He was later des-
completed his Theological Studies at the his call to the episcopacy as a mission. He rent Columbian year will be like United States, Canada,
ignated as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of
University of Santo Tomas where he further takes on his responsibilities and assumes discussed together with the Di- Mexico, Philippines, Puerto
Caceres and Professor of the Holy Rosary
earned a Licentiate in Canon Law. the governance of the Diocese of Virac not ocesan Area Chairmen and other Rico, Guatemala, Panama, Cuba,
Major Seminary in Naga City.
After his ordination to the Sacred Order of in his name but as his Coat of Arms declares officers during the scheduled the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands,
On May 7, 1985, he was conferred the
Priesthood on May 7, 1974 for the Archdio- IN NOMINI DOMINI—in the name of the recollection, planning. Guam, and on U.S. military bases
Honors of Papal Chamberlain at the Ba-
cese of Caceres, he was assigned as Parochial Lord. (Denise Solina) The Columbian Squires which abroad. (Kate Laceda)