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Pope: Lent is time to help others spiritually, materially

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Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works (Heb 10:24)

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The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI and the Order of the Knights of Columbus

Bishop appeals for mining moratorium in Samar

A CATHOLIC bishop has appealed to the Aquino administration to impose a moratorium on mining in Eastern Samar to protect the provinces remaining forests. Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said that several large-scale and small-scale mining operations in the province do not guarantee responsible mining, environment protection and rehabilitation. We, in the Diocese of Borongan and other anti-mining organizations are calling for a mining moratorium to fix all these concerns

NASSA to offer Mass for struggling HLI farmworkers

THE National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will offer Mass for struggling Hacienda Luisita farmworkers at the Minor Basilica of Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Feb. 17. Themed Isang Pagkain, Isang Bayan: Lupa at Hustisya sa Asyenda Luisita, the Eucharistic celebration is NASSA`s way of responding to the continuing struggle for land and justice of HLI farmworkers. Luisita Peoples Alliance (LUPPA) conFarmworkers / A6

Moratorium / A7

February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

Php 20.00

A View to a Kill. With apologies to a movie with the same title, this exactly describes this once beautiful view that is now the site of a nickle mine in Manicani, Guiuan in Eastern Samar that is feared to exact not only social cost, but especially the denudation of marine life. Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez has recently appealed to the Aquino administration to impose a moratorium on both large-scale and small-scale mining operations in Eastern Samar.

Priests, EWTN sue US govt for illegal mandate

Govt policy shows parallel elements with RH bill
consciences or religious beliefs. As a result of the forced coverage, Priests for Life will file a lawsuit against the Obama administration, Pavone announced. Its unthinkable that President Obama would force Americans of any faith to violate their consciences. Yet here he is, arrogantly imposing these regulations that clearly discriminate against Catholics and all Christians, as well as people of any faith who believe in the sanctity of innocent human life. This has clearly become a human rights caseand is no longer just a partisan political football, the priest said in an official statement released February 9. We at Priests for Life are opposing this mandate as employers, not as a religious group. Religious freedom is not a right just of religious groups; its a right of every American, he continued. Noted civil rights attorney Charles LiMandri, who is representing Priests for Life in the groups lawsuit against President Barack Obama, said, This is the first time in history any administration has used brute force to compel someone to violate his conscience or moral convictions. Its unheard of. Its also antithetical to the core American principles of religious liberty and freedom from invasions of privacy. Same coercive element in RH bill As the public outcry against the free birth control policy becomes more intense among Americans, the coercive nature of the Philippine reproductive health (RH) bill continues to be ignored by the measures proponents and supporters despite being repeatedly decried for its constitutional and conscience violations. Among the vehemently opposed

By Diana Uichanco

THE rule is unjust. You dont adapt to injustice; you oppose it.
This is what Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of the New York-based organization Priests for Life, said recently, referring to the new law that requires employers to provide health insurance coverage for sterilization, contraception and abortion-inducing drugs even when these violate their

provisions in the measure is the requirement for employers to provide family planning supplies and services to employees. The bill also proposes procurement and distribution of the full range of birth control supplies and a mandatory comprehensive sex education program for all private and public schools from Grade 5 to 4th year high school. These shall be implemented using taxpayers moneyregardless of the religious convictions of taxpayers. The duty of the State is to respect and
Illegal / A6

CDO archbishop reiterates call for mining moratorium

THE highest official of Cagayan de Oro archdiocese has reiterated calls for a moratorium on mining even as he hit claims that mining has not contributed to the devastation wrought by tropical storm Washi (Sendong) last December. Mining industry defenders, like Mayor Vicente Emano and most members of the City Council, admitted that he had issued special permits to mine several hectares in the citys hinterlands and have not suspended these operations despite snowballing calls for him to halt these operations. I admit I have granted special permits, the law allows me to do that. But [the mining operations] must not destroy the ecology, Emano said, adding that he will only order the stop of all mining operations in the city if a study will be conducted immediately showing that mining operations destroyed the environment, then we will immediately order the cancellation of the permits. Archbishop Antonio J. LedesMining / A6

HIV is a workplace issueNGO

HUMAN immune-deficiency virus (HIV) is a workplace issue that needed to be properly addressed. This was the statement of the International Seafarers Action Center (ISAC) as discrimination continues against people living with HIV (PL-HIV). In a paper by ISAC project development officer Jeremy O. Cajiuat titled REVERSING THE CULTURE OF BLAME: The case for HIV-AIDS as a workplace issue for seafarers, he said that prejudice from employers, in the form of denial of employment possibilities and adequate assistance make it difficult for PL-HIV to cope with the often fatal complications of this illness. Sadly, contrary to accepted international principles that seek to protect PLWAs [people living with HIV-AIDS], government agencies in the Philippines continue to adopt these prejudiced views that eventually result in more serious consequences, reads Cajiuats paper. Cajiuat is referring to the alleged negligence of the seafarer, or worker, for example, that is why he contracted the dreaded disease. Seafarers work nature makes them susceptible to HIV/ AIDS The HIV-AIDS prevention course, included in the pre-departure orientation seminars

(PDOS), a series of lectures for the migrating Filipino worker, seemed to be inadequate given the severity of the situation and the precariousness of the seafarers nature of work or their susceptibility to exposure to this dreaded disease. Citing the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) manual, Cajiuat said that the document had affirmed the veracity of the fact that seafaring is indeed a work that makes one vulnerable of contracting HIV-AIDS. The ITF Manual states that since the seafarers, by the nature of their work had a very long time of non-contact with
HIV / A7

Philvolcs calls for immediate repair of old Churches

THE countrys seismology bureau has called for an immediate repair of old Catholic Churches which are prone to damage by earthquakes. According to the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) warned that historical churches must be prepared for quakes as the country is not far from active fault lines. Leonila Bautista, Philvolcs associate scientist, noted the initiative of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to renovate old churches but he said this must be done as soon as possible. Its a race against time I hope they will do it fast, he said. These churches are important because of their history and also for tourism. Bautista issued the statement a day after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Visayan provinces and reportedly killed at least 52 people. Several highways, churches, houses and buildings were also damaged. There were 90 destructive earthquakes that shook the Philippines over the past 400 years and 40 of them generated
Philvolcs / A6

PHs 1st anti-mining monument erected in Romblon

ANTI-MINING advocates witnessed the unveiling of a Memorial in Romblon on Feb. 14, commemorating the biggest protest held in the province against mining by the Church, local officials and residents. A first in the country, the anti-mining monument is a reminder of the peoples struggle against the entry of large scale mining firms in Romblon. Romblon Governor Eduardo C. Firmalo said the province will not allow any mining activities to destroy the environment and bring suffering to the people, stressing that local government units have the autonomy to defend the general welfare of the population. Today we comMonument / A6
Photo courtesy of Rodne Galicha

Catholics pay Valentine tribute to retired priests

VARIOUS lay faithful have devised a noble way of celebrating Valentines Day and that is by spending time with a number of old and retired priests. Around 40 retired bishops and priests attended this years Valentines Day tribute organized for them by Kadiwa sa Pagkapari Foundation, Inc. at the Villa San Miguel in Mandaluyong City. It was a scene of old priests who can hardly walk and were using canes and some are already in wheelchairs. Msgr. Sabino Vengco, Jr., who heads the Kadiwa sa Pagkapari Foundation, said the event was intended to express their concern for the old priests. While the world talks and dreams about

A memorial testifies to the steadfast commitment of the local people to protect the environment from destruction brought by largeand small-scale mining.

love this Valentines Day, we focused on that love [that] is concretely expressed on
Priests / A6

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

Photo courtesy of NASSA

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ROME, Italy, Feb. 10, 2012Jesus is my contemporary through the saints and people who are suffering: this is how Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, summed up his experience speaking at the international conference Jesus our contemporary promoted by the Cultural Project of the Italian Bishops Conference, of which Cardinal Camillo Ruini is president. Speaking before several hundred people last night, Cardinal Zen spoke his personal life in Shanghai and Hong Kong and the period when he was teaching in the seminaries of mainland China, underlining the deep faith of the Chinese Church, as well as the difficulties in which it is immersed. The contemporary nature of Jesus is also seen from the contemporary nature of the cross, said the cardinal and he recalled a great champion of the faith in China, Msgr. Anthony Li Duan, the late bishop of Xian (d. 2005), a great promoter of the unity of the Church in China, and unity with the pope. Cardinal Zen said that in 2000 Msgr. Li Duan twice refused to submit to the religious policy of the party, refusing to go to an illicit episcopal ordination (without the mandate of the Pope) and a meeting in Beijing where he was to sign a document against Pope John Paul II (who had canonized the Chinese martyrs). Cardinal Zen has shown that even within the pressures and persecutions, there are many conversions to Christianity in China. And in Hong Kong, a small community of 350 thousand faithful in a population of 7 million people, every year there are thousands of adult baptisms.

World News
ness of Christianity is palpable and young Churches (like South Korea) are growing at a dizzying pace, we do not register the same enthusiasm, the same zeal in announcing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, because of which the faith is in danger of dying out like a flame without oxygen. Today, Cardinal Bagnasco reiterated, there is a strange reluctance to speak of Jesus that threatens to transform believers into tired receptors of a bland Christianity that is taken for granted. Hence the necessity and urgency of a season of new evangelization, starting from the knowledge that man without Christ, easily loses himself and that the issue on the ultimate and definitive meaning of life and the world, on the enigma of time and death is the question that runs through human history.

CBCP Monitor
February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

Jesus our contemporary shakes Asia and Europe

To mark the occasion, Benedict XVI sent a message to the president of CEI in which he spoke of his appreciation for the choice of dedicating the conference to the Person of Jesus, which will have a deep resonance in Italys social and ecclesial communities. For the pope, ... many signals reveal how the name and the message of Jesus, even in such distracted and confused times, provokes ... interest ... even those who are unable to adhere to his word of salvation. And after having reiterated the urgent need to open a path to God in the hearts and lives of men, Benedict XVI said that the story of Jesus of Nazareth, in whose name still many believers in different countries of the world face suffering and persecution, cannot therefore be confined to the distant past, but it is decisive for our faith today. (AsiaNews)

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the CEI, began the conference yesterday, evidencing the differences between

European and non-European countries on the issue of faith in Jesus Christ: While in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the fresh-

Official logo unveiled for World Youth Day 2013

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Feb. 9, 2012The colors of the Brazilian flag and the famous Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro form part of the official logo for World Youth Day 2013, designed by Gustavo Huguenin, 25. The designer prayed about the theme of the event, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) before submitting his winning drawing, the official WYD Web site reported. In this passage we see that Jesus met His disciples on a mountain. So, from the beginning, the image of Christ the Redeemer wouldnt leave me Jesus, who is on a mountain. Besides being the universal symbol of Rio de Janeiro,
www.iobserve.org

US Bishops uncertain about Obamas new contraception policy

WASHINGTON D.C., Feb. 10, 2012 The U.S. bishops are hesitant to predict the effects of an ambiguous new policy announced by the Obama administration on its controversial contraception mandate. While there may be an openness to respond to some of our concerns, we reserve judgment on the details until we have them, said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of U.S. bishops conference. He noted the remarkable unity with which Americans have united in recent weeks to fight the erosion of religious freedom and governmental intrusion into issues of faith and morals and called for continued efforts to ensure that religious liberty is protected. On Feb. 10, President Barack Obama announced a new policy that requires many religious employers to contract with health insurance companies that provide contraception free of charge. Under the new policy, religious employers will not have to directly purchase contraceptives, but will be required to pay for health care plans from insurance companies that offer them without cost. The policy was announced in response to the massive outcry against the Obama administrations earlier mandate, which would be excluded from the exemption because they offer their services to people of all faiths. Well over 150 bishops from across the country have spoken out against the mandate, along with people from across a wide spectrum of political and religious beliefs who have voiced concerns that the government is infringing upon the religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment. Obama said that his new policy accommodates religious liberty because it does not require religious employers to directly pay for products that they believe to be immoral. However, a statement on the bishops' conference website alongside the cardinal-designate's remarks indicated that it is not yet clear whether the new policy addresses the central concerns of religious freedom. It suggested that legislation is still necessary in order to secure religious liberty for all. While Cardinal-designate Dolan believes that the new policy may be the first step in the right direction, he continued to express concerns. We hope to work with the Administration to guarantee that Americans consciences and our religious freedom are not harmed by these regulations, he said. (CNA)
www.catholicnewsagency.com

it has everything to do with the theme. In the process of creation I first put the concept which must be transmitted. It should have the figure of Jesus, the figure of the disciple and maybe some reference to nations. These three words would be essential if they could be transmitted graphically. Christ the Redeemer represents Christ, the disciple is represented by the heart, for the disciple is one who carries Jesus in his heart, and the nations are represented by

the forms that recall Rio de Janeiro, the city which at that moment will be the heart of the world for the youth and which will welcome them, in reference to the mountain and the sea, Huguenin explained. The logo is heartshaped with a depiction of the Christ the Redeemer statue in yellow in the middle. The upper half of the heart is green, with a small white cross on the left, and the bottom half is blue. WYD 2013 will be held in Rio from July 23 to 28, 2013. (Zenit)

Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaks at the fall General Assembly on Nov. 14.

would require virtually all employers to purchase health insurance plans that include contraceptionincluding early abortion drugsand sterilization at no cost to their employees. In recent weeks, the administration has faced widespread protest for refusing to expand the mandates narrow religious exemption, which applies only to organizations that exist for the purpose of inculcating religious values and that restrict their employment and services to primarily members of their own faith. A vast number of Catholic schools, hospitals and charitable organizations

Religious leaders, academics rebuff Obamas contraception policy change

WASHINGTON D.C., Feb. 14, 2012Over 200 college presidents, academics, religious leaders and journalists have signed a letter that denounces President Obamas accommodation to the contraception mandate for failing to remove the assault on religious liberty. It is an insult to the intelligence of Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other people of faith and conscience to imagine that they will accept an assault on their religious liberty if only it is covered up by a cheap accounting trick, the letter states. Its signatories include Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president Dr. Paige Patterson, Catholic University of America president John Garvey, Rabbi David Novak of the University of Toronto, and 207 other professors, scholars, journalists and religious leaders. The list of signers includes a substantial number of representatives from the University of Notre Dame, but not the universitys president, Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C. Titled Unacceptable, the letter was released Feb. 14 on the website of the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom, in response to President Obamas Feb. 10 change to the contraception mandate. The Obama administrations regulation will now require all insurance companies to cover contraception, sterilization and some abortioncausing drugs, without charge. Although President Obamas revision was panned as a compromise, the signers of the letter rejected that description because the new rule still coerces religious institutions and individuals to purchase insurance policies that include the very same services they objected to before. It is no answer to respond that the religious employers are not paying for this aspect of the insurance coverage. For one thing, it is unrealistic to suggest that insurance companies will not pass the costs of these additional services on to the purchasers, the letter states. It is a morally weak argument, the signers say, to assert that it is different for the insurance company to explain to an employee that she is entitled to the embryo-destroying five day after pill, than for the religious employer to do so. It does not matter who explains the terms of the policy purchased by the religiously affiliated or observant employer. What matters is what services the policy covers. The letter closes by observing that since the new policy contains the same narrow religious exemption as the first version of the mandate, the Obama administration has effectively admitted that the new policy amounts to a grave infringement on religious liberty. They also joined in prayer for the success of Pope Benedict XVIs visit to Mexico and Cuba March 23-28, that it may be a time of spiritual renewal for these sister nation and for the Church in Latin America. (CNA/EWTN News)

www.asianews.it

Vatican Briefing
Pope shares vision of a better earth

Benedict XVI says that earth can become a place of love, goodness, truth and beauty if the will of God is done here, as it is in heaven. The Pope made this reflection as he spoke Feb. 1 at the general audience about Christs prayer in Gethsemane, saying that nowhere else in sacred Scripture do we gain so deep an insight into the inner mystery of Jesus as in the prayer on the Mount of Olives. In Jesus prayer to the Father on that terrible and wondrous night of Gethsemane, earth became heaven; the earth of his human will, shaken by fear and anguish, was assumed by the divine will, so that the will of God might be accomplished on earth, he said. (Zenit)
Pope invites cardinals to Day of Prayer

Spanish bishops denounce TV censorship of religion ad

BILBOA, Spain, Feb. 9, 2012Catholic bishops in the Spanish dioceses of Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria criticized the public television station EITB for pulling an ad that promoted religion classes in public schools. Church leaders called the move a violation of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and religious freedom after the station said the the public service announcement was incompatible with their advertising policies. In a statement sent to CNA on Feb. 7, the bishops said the two ads (one in Spanish and the other in Basque) were sent to the station, which were slightly edited and then aired two days later. They were soon pulled off the air, however, and despite complaints from the bishops, the station has reaffirmed its decision. The bishops said the ad removal reflected a secular outlook that sees religion as something to be excluded from social life which is unsuitable for a public institution at the service of all. The ads featured two mothers discussing the importance of religious education for their children and encouraged parents to sign
www.4.bp.blogspot.com

The College of Cardinals and those who will join its number Feb. 18 will gather for a day of prayer and reflection prior to the consistory, by invitation of Benedict XVI. The Vatican announced that the Feb. 17 prayer day (the consistory is Feb. 18) will focus on the announcement of the Gospel today, between missio ad gentes and new evangelization, a theme that will be introduced by one of the cardinals-designate, Timothy Dolan of New York. Cardinal-designate Dolan is the president of the U.S. bishops conference. (Zenit)
Scholars analyzing popes Easter homilies

A series of meetings is being held in the Vicariate of Rome to analyze Benedict XVIs Easter homilies. The homily under examination Jan. 26 was that of the Easter Vigil of March 22, 2008, and a round table looked at the theme: Mans Identity in Time and Beyond Time. The speakers at the meeting were Monsignor Livio Melina, president of the John Paul II Pontifical Institute; Laura Palazzani, a teacher of bioethics at LUMSSA University, and Angelo Luigi Vescovi, scientific director of the Hospital Home for Relief of Suffering of San Giovanni Rotondo. (Zenit)
A bishops love can overcome his fearsCardinal George

their children up for religious classes. Religious instruction in public schools in Spain is optional, and parents must sign their children up in order for them to attend. (CNA)

Catholics raise funds, collect food for East Sumba villages at risk for famine
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 8, 2012Indonesian Catholics have organized an outreach programme to prevent famine on East Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara province, where crops failed in September threatening food supplies. With the lives of hundreds of local villagers at risk, the Church appealed for A bowl of rice for East Sumba as a show of solidarity. Members of the Kelompok Bakti Kasih Kemanusiaan (KBKK), a lay humanitarian group led by German dermatologist Irene Setiadi, were among the first to give a positive response. Speaking to his congregation, Msgr. Hilarius Moa Nurak, bishop of Pangkal Pinang on Bangka Island, off the main island of Sumatra, said, It is time to show universal solidarity among Indonesians. Diocesan priest Fr. Hans Jehartu Pr issued the same appeal using the KBKK mailing lists and received a positive response. Catholics in West Sumba also organized A bowl of rice fund raising with the enthusiastic help of activists in Jakarta who made donations. After starting low key, the campaign took off. About US$ 2,000 were raised in a few days. Catholics also collected rice, which is the main staple in the local diet. It is not necessary to collect huge amounts of rice, Irene Setiadi said. What counts is to show our compassion and keep at it every day. She hopes that each Catholic family will be able to collect at least five kilos in 30 days. That should come to some 60,000 Indonesian rupee worth of rice. In addition to working for the rice collection campaign, the Catholic group KBKK is cooperating with the Diocese of Manado (pictured) to provide pastoral services and medical care in the remotest areas of North Sulawesi Province. Thirty-three people from eight dioceses, including Padang in West Sumatra, took part in the mission in Manado. The local bishop, Msgr. Yos Suwatan, thanked KBKK volunteers during the Mass celebrating the 25 years of priesthood of Fr. Terry Ponomban Prs, one of the KBKKs founders. (AsiaNews)

A bishops love for Jesus Christ and the Church can overcome all his fears, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said at St. Peters tomb on Feb. 9. Cardinal George is visiting the Vatican along with the bishops of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, who began their ad limina visit Feb. 9. In the responsorial psalm we asked the Lord to protect us, to take away our fears, which means that the psalmist and the apostles were afraid at times as are we. There is reason to be afraid. But, nonetheless, stronger than fear is faith, and stronger than both is love, he said. (CNA)
Loving Christian family is best soil for vocations, Pope writes

Christian families should be a happy and loving environment in which young people can discern calls to the priesthood or religious life, Pope Benedict XVI says in his message for the World Day of Prayers for Vocations Families are not only the privileged place for human and Christian formation; they can also be the primary and most excellent seed-bed of vocations to a life of consecration to the Kingdom of God, by helping their members to see, precisely within the family, the beauty and the importance of the priesthood and the consecrated life, the Pope said on Feb. 13. (CNA)

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

News Features
work of others without contributing are all cancers that weaken a society from within, the cardinal said. But, he said, the true root of the worlds injustices stems from ignoring or denying Gods existence. By not acknowledging there is a creator and Lord who is greater than man, society degenerates into a conflictual individualism and a struggle of one person against another, Cardinal Sarah said. The theme of the 2012 Lenten message was taken from St. Pauls Letter to the Hebrews: Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works. The pope outlined his message with three points taken from St. Pauls letter: concern for others, reciprocity and personal holiness. Concern for others, the pope said, means wanting what is good physically, morally and spiritually for ones neighbor. But he noted that contemporary culture seems to have lost the sense of good and evil. There is a real need to reaffirm that good does exist and will prevail, the pope said, defining good as whatever gives, protects and promotes life, brotherhood and communion. The pope warned against what he called spiritual anesthesia, which numbs people to the suffering of others. Only a humbleness of heart and the personal experience of suffering can awaken within us a sense of compassion and empathy, he said. The suffering of others is not only physical or material, he said, but it is also spiritual, and he encouraged Christians to remember their spiritual responsibility toward their neighbor. He called for a renewal of a forgotten aspect of the Christian life, that is, fraternal correction. Fraternal correction, he said, is a kind of Christian charity that speaks out against people indulging in sin. We must not remain silent before evil, he said. Often, out of human regard or purely personal convenience, Christians fail to warn others against ways of thinking and behaving that are contrary to the truth. The reluctance to confront others in the name of truth, he said, stems from a world view dominated by individualism, which accepts any moral choice in the name of personal freedom, which then makes people blind to physical suffering and the spiritual and moral demands of life. However, God wants Christians to help and encourage each other to strive for the truth, for good and holy lives, he said. Fraternal correction must never be motivated by a spirit of accusation or recrimination, but instead be both loving and admonishing, as God is with his children, he added. Both our sins and our acts of love have a social dimension, which is why the church asks forgiveness for the sins of its members and at the same time rejoices in examples of virtue and charity in the church, he said. The pope said time is precious and people must not become lukewarm about performing good works and using their God-given spiritual and material riches for the benefit of others. In a world which demands of Christians a renewed witness of love and

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Pope: Lent is time to help others spiritually, materially

VATICAN City, Feb. 7, 2012In his Lenten message, Pope Benedict XVI called on the faithful to be concerned for one another and not to remain isolated and indifferent to the fate of others. Materialism and a sense of selfsufficiency are obstacles to a Christian life of charity, the pope said. Instead of looking first to God and then to the well-being of others, people often have an attitude of indifference and disinterest born of selfishness and masked as a respect for privacy. He said that Gods commandment to love demands that we acknowledge our responsibility toward those who, like ourselves, are creatures and children of God. The annual Lenten message was presented during a Vatican news conference Feb. 7 by Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the office which handles the popes charitable giving, along with Msgr. Segundo Tejado Munoz, the councils undersecretary. The cardinal highlighted the popes call for fraternal correction and the churchs prophetic mission in denouncing situations of injustice and poverty in the world. To overcome such injustices, one must get to the moral roots of such situations, he said. Corruption, accumulation of wealth, violence, and living off the

fidelity to the Lord, may all of us feel the urgent need to anticipate one another in charity, service and good works, he said. (CNS)

Pope applauds Jesus Our Contemporary conference in Rome

ganized by the Italian Episcopal Conference. The Pope explained how Jesus entered forever into human history and continues to live there through his beauty and power in that body which is fragile and always in need of purification but also infinitely full of divine love the Church. The contemporary nature of Jesus is revealed in a special way in the Eucharist, he said, in which he is present with his passion, death and resurrection. It is through the Church that Jesus is a contemporary of every man, able to embrace all men and all ages because she is guided by the Holy Spirit with the aim of continuing the work of Jesus in history. Over three days, numerous events such as lectures, seminars, discussions, film showings and photographic exhibitions are taking place at various locations in and around the Vatican. Several thousand visitors are expected to attend, mainly from the dioceses of Italy. The topics theyll be able to explore include Jesus in contemporary literature, Jesus and the poor, Jesus and the Jerusalem of Yesterday and Today as well as a study of Pope Benedict XVIs biographical trilogy of Christs life, Jesus of Nazareth. The third in the series is expected to be published later this year. This is a major question that niggles at the heart of man today including Christians, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan told CNA Feb. 9. Jesus lived in the time and space of 2,000 years ago. How can he save me today if he is not my contemporary? Answering this question, he said, is the challenge of the conference. Many elements are being proposed that explain to us how Jesus breaks through and transcends time and, for eternity from his resurrection, particularly through his Eucharist, he reaches out to my freedom and that of every man and the freedom of all the human family. This is the sense of the event. Among the other clerical guest speakers are Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, former Vicar General of Rome and Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong. Also taking part are the German theologian Klaus Berger, the French philosopher and historian Jean-Luc Marion, Italian film director and screenwriter Liliana Cavani and the Italian magazine LEspressos Vatican correspondent, Sandro Magister. The title certainly attracted me to the conference, said a local Catholic teacher as she went into the opening session. She described the issue as the challenge of our times, as Jesus is always seen as a man of the past, especially by children. I think this is the most beautiful message that Jesus left us, the love of God the father and this love of God is a universal love that has no time, no boundaries, so Jesus is a contemporary man. (CNA/EWTN News)

VATICAN City, Feb. 10, 2012 Pope Benedict praised the launch of a three-day conference in Rome that seeks to explain to modern society why Jesus Christ is more than a historical figure. I am glad and grateful for your choice to dedicate to the person of Jesus, several days of interdisciplinary study and cultural offerings, destined to resonate within the Church community and throughout Italian society, said Pope Benedict XVI in a message to Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Feb. 9. Jesus Our Contemporary runs from Feb. 9-11 and is or-

Pope says renewal requires Christ-like response to abuse

ROME, Feb. 7, 2012Pope Benedict XVI called upon bishops to respond in a Christ-like manner to clerical abuse as part of a profound renewal of the Church. His Feb. 6 comments marked the opening of an international symposium in Rome to discuss the issue. The Popes wishes were expressed in a communiqu from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's Secretary of State. He (the Pope) asks the Lord that, through your deliberations, many bishops and religious superiors throughout the world may be helped to respond in a truly Christ-like manner to the tragedy of child abuse, the statement said. As His Holiness has often observed, healing for victims must be of paramount concern in the Christian community, and it must go hand in hand with a profound renewal of the Church at every level. The Towards Healing and Renewal symposium is being organized by Romes Pontifical Gregorian University and runs from Feb. 6-9. Delegates have arrived come from about 110 bishops conferences, along with the superiors of more than 30 religious orders. The message from Cardinal Bertone said that the Pope supports and encourages every effort to respond with evangelical charity to the challenge of providing children and vulnerable adults with an ecclesial environment conducive to their human and spiritual growth. Pope Benedict urged symposium participants to continue drawing on a wide range of expertise to promote a vigorous culture of effective safeguarding and victim support throughout the Church. All bishops conferences around the world have until May 2012 to draw up guidelines for dealing with cases of abuse. Those guidelines will then have to be approved by the Vatican. Many countries already have approved guidelines in place. The symposium was opened on the evening of Feb. 6 with an address from Cardinal William J. Levada, Prefect of the Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. His department has handled all alleged cases of abuse since 2001 when his predecessor Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, was in charge of the congregation. The Pope has had to suffer attacks by the media over these past years in various parts of the world, when he should receive the gratitude of us all, in the Church and outside it, Cardinal Levada told delegates. He outlined how then-Cardinal

Intl group holds training on pregnancy support services

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Ratzinger centralized and streamlined the Vaticans procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse, while also significantly increasing penalties for those found guilty. Cardinal Levada also explained how since his election to the papacy in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has made a priority of implementing best practices for handling abuse allegations around the globe. The Pope was also praised by Cardinal Levada for meeting with abuse victims during his pastoral visits to England, Malta, Germany, Australia and the United States. I think is it hardly possible to overestimate the importance of this example for us bishops, and for us priests, in being available to victims for this important moment in their healing and reconciliation. (CNA/ EWTN News)

Conference participants shown here with Infanta Bishop Rolando Tirona came from different parts of the Philippines and abroad.

Palma underscores womens crucial role in nation building

MANILA, Feb. 3, 2012Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma stressed the significant role of women in society as he addressed a crowd of more than a hundred women at a conference organized by Women in Nation Building in the Catholic Church (WNB-CC), February 1. After calling out the various circumstances under which women are able to fulfill their potential and demonstrate their natural strengths, the prelate underscored the indispensable role of those who devote themselves to nurturing life and the home. Because motherhood is a key element to a womans identity, the woman who embraces it plays a special role in nation-building. Through motherhood, she contributes to the nations strength through the basic unit, the family, Palma said. The prelate noted the many challenges confronting modern family nowadays, such as the global campaign to promote divorce or replace male-female union with homosexual partnerships. He said the situation calls for a heroic response from society, especially from women. We are aware [that] at no other period in our history has the family been confronted with so many challenges challenge of the institution of marriage and conjugal procreation being questioned, the rising cost of rearing and education of children, in some places stigmatizing women who devote themselves solely to the care of the home, of husband and children, he said. Palma praised the innate qualities of women which equip them to persevere even in extreme conditions. He noted that being endowed with such God-given gifts only shows the need to enable them to fulfill their potential and live out their vocationas citizens of this world and the next. Obviously, women can do more and would like to do more. They need to be given every opportunity to help transform the nation and the world. This is where your vocation as Catholic women comes in, for you are not only citizens of the state; you are, foremost, citizens of the Kingdom of God. Palma stressed also the duty to impart this understanding, and transmit faithfulness to the Magisterium, to others who may still regard legislative measures that disregard the eternal value of each human life or the sacredness of matrimonial union as possible solutions to the nations problems. Part of our life as Christians is continued opennesswe are being exhorted to pray that they may be open to the light of the Spirit, the light of the Lord, and therefore discern and know Gods design, he said. He pointed out that this finds its practice even in dealing with anti-life legislation such as the RH bill by way of study and discernment, but above all, have that docility to the mind of the Church. And this we can do in prayer. (CBCP for Life)

MANILA, Feb. 6, 2012Pregnancy support services not only address the needs of women dealing with unexpected pregnancies, but save babies and build strong Christian families as well, as shown during the regional conference and training on pregnancy crisis counseling and post-abortion healing held at St. Michaels Retreat Center in Antipolo City last week. Dubbed Heart to Serve, the First Heartbeat-Pregnancy Support Services of Asia (PSSA) Regional Conference brought together nearly 200 counselors, family and life ministry workers, physicians, who learned from speakers who spoke on various subjects, from postabortion survivor syndrome to the basics of setting up pregnancy crisis centers. Participants came from different parts of the Philippines as well as Australia, Pakistan, Seychelles, and the United Arab Emirates. Giving the keynote address at the three-day conference was Jor-El Godsey, Vice President for Affiliate Services of Heartbeat International, who presented a talk titled Pregnancy Crisis Center: The Heartbeat International Experience. Rev. Fr. Joel O. Jason, STL, Dean of San Carlos Seminarys Theology Department, delivered a talk titled The Dignity of Human Life, pointing out the importance of life and the threats surrounding it. Jason, who also heads the Commission on Family and Life of Manila archdiocese and a member of the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Centers Bioethics Committee, likewise went into an extensive explanation of the vital lessons contained in the encyclical Evangelium Vitae. The Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) Office of Laity and Family (OLF) chairman and Infanta Bishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD celebrated mass for the participants. Other speakers include Mrs. Lily R. Perez, a registered nurse and founding President of Heartbeat PSSA; Dr. Nestor

Lumicao, a pediatric surgeon, and his wife Therese, pediatric cardiologist, both of Serve Life Philippines; Dr. Orpah Marasigan DVM, coordinator of Hope Alive Asia; Ms. Naomi David, a registered nurse and child psychotherapist; Ms. Lucita Tagle, an industrial psychologist; and Ms. Carol A. Perez, a guidance counselor of the University of Santo Thomas. The conference topics were The Dignity of Life, the L.O.V.E. Approach, The Positive and Negative Tests Client, Post Abortion Syndrome, Post Abortion Survivor Syndrome, Healing the Effects of Abortion Related Trauma (HEART), and How to Set Up A Pregnancy Crisis Center. The talks highlighted the important role of pregnancy support services to save babies, the need to support women in pregnancy crisis and build strong Christian families, to identify the challenges and issues faced by women in pregnancy crisis and their families, and to discuss the practical steps in setting up pregnancy support service centers in the Philippines and Asia. The three-day event was organized by Heartbeat PSSA in partnership with the Episcopal Commission on Health Care of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and in cooperation with the Commission on Family and Life, Archdiocese of Manila, Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation Inc. and Serve Life Philippines. Heartbeat PSSA is a non-profit association of life-affirming pregnancy resource centers under a Joint Affiliation Program with Heartbeat International Inc., based in the Philippines, initiating the establishment of centers in Asia. Hearbeat PSSAs pregnancy resource centers offer concrete services to people who experience problem pregnancies including pregnancy testing, pregnancy crisis counseling, referral to host homes, medical care, post-abortion healing, Natural Family Planning, abstinence education (Sexual Integrity Program) and other life and family affirming programs. (CBCP for Life)

Photo courtesy of Clarke Nebrao

Ed Gerlock

A4
EDITORIAL

Opinion
Be Concerned!

CBCP Monitor
February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

THAT, in gist, is the message of Pope Benedict for this years Lenten season that will start on Ash Wednesday, February 22. Its taken from a passage in the Letter to the Hebrews 10,24: Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works. From this, the Pope wants us to see the connection between our concern for the others, on the one hand, and its consequence and requirement of reciprocity (mutual cooperation) and personal holiness, on the other. These three elements should go together as an organic whole. Its a message directed to the growing apathy that traces its roots in a creeping Godlessness we can observe in the world today. These are some of the Popes words describing this unfortunate situation: Contemporary culture seems to have lost the sense of good and evil... What hinders this humane and loving gaze towards our brothers and sisters? Often it is the possession of material riches and a sense of sufficiency, but it can also be the tendency to put our own interests and problems above all else... He also laments about individualism that seems to pervade the world now and that makes it blind to the physical sufferings and to the spiritual and moral demands of life. He warns us of what he terms as spiritual anesthesia which numbs us to the sufferings of others, as well as the usual temptation to become lukewarm, to quench the Spirit, to refuse to invest the talents we have received... The message calls us to get out of our shell and to actively enter into the dynamics of a life of communion, marked precisely by love and concern for one another, to which we are called. The Pope offers an elaborate description of this life of communion that we should try to be familiar about, since very often we take it for granted or reduce it to merely social categories. In his words, our life of communion is based on the fact that our existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse. Both our sins and our acts of love have a social dimension. This reciprocity is seen in the Church, the mystical body of Christ. The community constantly does penance and asks for the forgiveness of the sins of its members, and also unfailingly rejoices in the example of virtue and charity present in her midst. As St. Paul says: Each part should be equally concerned for all the others (1 Cor 12,25), for we all form one body. Acts of charity towards our brothers and sistersas expressed by almsgiving, a practice which, together with prayer and fasting, is typical of Lentis rooted in this common belonging. We certainly need to deepen and strengthen our sense of communion. Its definitely not an easy thing to do, but neither is it impossible. We just have to realize that we need to constantly ask for grace for it and be as unsparing as we can in exerting the necessary effort. Truth is there is a lot of needs to be attended to, not only human, but also and most specially the moral and spiritual needs. Theres a lot of poverty and injustice to be resolved as well as ignorance and confusion that need to be dispelled.

Oscar V. Cruz, DD

Views and Points

WITH the reality of a good number of thieves entrusted with public offices supposedly for public service plus the fact of many racketeers specially in the multinational corporate world, and with the well-known wealthy political dynasties not to mention the known gambling agencies with their big-time gambler patrons, it is but right and proper not only to know but to remember well the mandate of restitution of stolen goodsbe this in kind or in cash. And the imperative of restitution is not merely a fundamental ethical norm but also a basic moral principle. Otherwise, people would have a country and a world that would provide a haven for burglars and crooks, swindlers and racketeersthereby making honesty a joke, integrity a farce. In so many words, restitution means giving back to the rightful owner what was stolen, handing back to the legitimate possessor what was illegitimately taken away

Restitution
otherwise, i.e., the thief is free to keep what he has stolen, and free as well to return or not what is not his in the first place. This is why it is both a fantasy and a futility to even think that restitution is irrelevant to the powerful and influential, the so-called bigwigs in graft and corruptionbefore and during the present administration. To say sorry and to keep anything stolen from any victimbe this government, any public entity or private personis but falsity and hypocrisy. This is a good reminder for those still counted among the living as well as for everybody who will eventually die although too late for those already dead. It is good to try this weird agenda: Place but a five centavo coin in the hand of a dead man and see if he could take it with him. It is a certainty that when he has already even returned to dust wherefrom he came, the coin however remains in his coffin. Rather eerie but true.

Destruction of watersheds
WHY is flooding in the lowlands occurring more frequently? Why are our watersheds not able to supply the waters we need at some times of the year? The simple reason is that we have denuded the uplands of forest cover and degraded our rivers with the subsequent soil erosion, and the waste too that we throw into the sea. Who is responsible for this destruction? One recent study, Decline of the Philippine Forest, states: Since most of the Philippine forest was on public land, it was up to government to decide how to make use of it. They were responsible for the management of this national treasure. The situation today is the direct result of the non-implementation of policies and the corruption of former administrations. Deforestation did not just happen. It came about as a result of choices made by government, choices that in effect turned control of the forests over to a small group of people and sustained the marginalization of millions of people. It would be difficult to exaggerate the part played by elite control and corruption in explaining the destruction of the Philippine forest. Since the elite in effect participated in the government and the logging industry, this led to corrupt and inefficient regulation by government of the logging industry. To avoid initiating meaningful structural reform of the socioeconomic system, government encouraged the poor to migrate to previously forested areas. Data on forest cover released by government, instead of presenting a true picture of what was really happening, were designed to mislead the media and researchers. The analysis of data sets makes it difficult to draw any other conclusion. The destructive practices pursued by the logging concessionaires set the example for the poor migrants who followed. The financial returns from logging did not benefit the nation as a whole. Enormous sums were concentrated in the hands of the elite. This exacerbated the problem of the unequal distribution of income, the greatest structural problem in the Philippines today. The above factors have ensured and hastened the destruction of our forests and watersheds. The direct causes of deforestation have been logging, upland migration, and agricultural expansion. These could have been carried out in a manner that would have contributed to the overall development of the country and thus benefited the majority of the people, but did not. However, they were not. Less than 500 individuals and corporations hold access rights to most of the forest resources. The fact underscores the great injustice being done to our people. Ill conceived state policies and programs geared to exploitation have led to the plunder of a natural resource and ensured that meaningful development would never take place. The responsibility for the present sad state of the Philippines watersheds rests with past administrations, greedthe most evident form of moral underdevelopmentand social ignorance. There has been, needless to say, a near total failure on the part of government and society as a whole to recognize the sociocultural and ecological values of the forests. - Water is Life, A CBCP Pastoral Letter, 2000

from him. Reasons: No one is allowed to steal, irrespective of race, color and creed. That is why Res clamant dominum or anything stolen cries for its rightful owner. One therefore earns his keep by the sweat of his browneither by thievery nor through dishonesty in general. If it were otherwise, then there is no reason why everybody would not steal from everybody else. This is why even the laws of man forbid and penalize stealing. In a more systematic consideration, restitution presupposes reformation and conversion. That is to say: The thief undergoes a renewal of life for the better (reformation) plus a change a value system for the good (conversion). This is why restitution is said to be not only right but also proper and justwith the added consideration that it is truth that ushers in justice which in turn brings about peace. It is both irrational and ridiculous to even think that restitution was

What will end all the debates?

JUST one question will silence all others. And just one answer to it will peel off the scales from our eyes. Is the unborn at its earliest existence, human? Does not simple reasoning foreclose the issue? Does not the mother know she and her husbands seed can only beget a human? It would be an insult to both to think otherwise. And yet, an issue is forced upon us to take such obvious answer as false. The mob denies humanity to the unborn at Day One. It does not end there. The clamor also denies to the early existent human the attribute of personhood. This is an insult to the human race. Former POGS Head, Dr. Santiago del Rosario, has more sense than many of his peers. On February 4, 2012, he wrote (Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. B-5), In 1966 when I was still active in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, our adopted position was that life begins at fertilization. Why, thats pretty obvious. Problem is, we do not realize what strength we could wield in the political discourse in support of that statement. This is pathetic. Why? Take the State of Georgia, in the U.S. In the 1990s one person was brave enough to run for Georgias Congress on a prolife promise to overturn Roe v Wade by writing a Personhood amendment into the Georgia Constitution that would protect the unborn. He was pilloried for his undiluted position against abortion. His no exception definition of being prolife estranged him from the voters. As events would have it Daniel Becker did not win a seat in Congress. But his prolife bravado has not waned ever since. Today, the State of Georgias 9th District is

Atty. Jo Imbong

Pro Bono
known as the most solidly prolife U.S. House District in the state, from where nearly all major prolife policies in local politics have emerged. And today, in Georgia, the battle against Roe v Wade is to acknowledge Personhood in the unborn. I said, acknowledge, not accord. For those are two widely different things. To acknowledge is to say that something is there. That is why you acknowledge its existence. To accord is to grant something where there is none. The campaign in Georgia for the recognition and acknowledgment of personhood in the unborn (or, preborn, as they term it) has not been a breeze. It is being waged still, at such unimaginable cost to their prolife efforts in terms of material resources but most of all, in terms of personal persecutions, attacks on reputation, press assaults, and the merciless thrashing by misinformed public opinion. In the Philippines, we do not realize how blest and lucky we are. We are waging neckto-neck skirmishes here and therein Congress, the Senate floor, public debates, school forumscarrying a mantra that life begins at fertilization. And rightfully so! We do not need to pass a Personhood Amendment as in Georgia. We already have that and we are standing right on it: Article II, Section 12, Constitution. And the deposit of original intent in the bowels of the Constitutional Records (Volume IV, September 1986 to be exact) is rich and boundless as to validate the statement that it is only when there is perfect homogenous mixture of sperm and ovum materials and there is a restoration of the equation of 46 somatic chromosomes and 2 sex chromosomes that a new human life begins and endures. That is

Pro Bono / A5

Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

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Living Mission
Vatican II Perspectives
ANGELO Giuseppe Roncali, who took the name John XXIII, was pope from 1958 to 1963. He was the most beloved pope of modern times. His vision of Vatican II was eloquently expressed in the opening talk he gave to the Council on October 11, 1962. Good Pope John, as he was affectionately known, noted that the Council would bring great joy to Mother Church. He encouraged an attentive reading of the signs of the times, so that the Church would be more attuned to the needs of the contemporary world. The Council was to present Christ and His Gospel to the modern world, using literary forms of modern thought. This means that the substance of the ancient doctrine of the deposit of faith is one thing, and the way in which it is presented is another. In short, the fundamental content and message of the Christian faith would not be changed; however, it would be presented in modes of communication that contemporary humanity could readily grasp.

Pope John XXIII Father of Vatican II

Gardens and speak to the workmen. He visited the Regina Coeli prison in Rome on his first Christmas and later went to the childrens hospital. John XXIII manifested both wit and a hearty sense of humor. When he was asked how many persons work at the Vatican, he replied with a wink in his eye: Oh, no more than half of them. Once, when being carried in the portable chair through the crowd, he overheard two Italian ladies speaking of his appearance, saying that his face looked old, his nose was huge, and that he was fat. The Pope quipped to them: Being Pope is not a beauty contest! When John died in June 1963, a major newspaper headline simply read: A Death in the Family. John bequeathed this open and congenial spirit to all he metand to Vatican II. Pope John XXIII, the Pope of Vatican II, was beatified by John Paul II on May 1, 2011. Blessed John XXIII, pray for us!

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Johns positive and optimistic outlook prompted him to say that he disagreed with those prophets of gloom who are always forecasting disaster, as though the end of the world were at hand. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the pope had an optimistic, hopeful outlook on Christian life and faith. The pope continued: The Council now beginning rises in the Church like daybreak, a forerunner of most splendid light; the council would bring profound renewal to the Church. For Pope John, the Council breathes sanctity and arouses great joy. John definitely put his stamp on the Council, even though he died in 1963 after the completion of only the first of four Council sessions; Paul VI was chosen as his successor and immediately declared the continuation of Vatican II. Pope John XXIII, popularly known as The Peoples Pope, was genuinely loved because of his outgoing personality and accessibility. He liked to stroll in the Vatican

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

Opinion
Year of Faith
tion with the life of prayer. It is important that the seminarian well understands that the object that he applies himself to is in fact a Subject who calls to him, that Lord who spoke to him, inviting him to spend his life in service to God and to his brothers. We, of course, need to study philosophy and theology to know God and love him better. In this regard, it is important that we continue to undertake catechesis and pursue a deeper knowledge of the doctrine of our faith, which is a living thing, not a dead word. This duty, for sure, never becomes obsolete. We should be careful, however, not to be trapped in their intellectual aspect such that we fail to connect with God in spite of a seemingly growing knowledge of our faith. This ironic twist has happened many times before, and can continue to happen if we dont take the necessary precautions. Faith, of course, involves all our sciences but it is also a lot more. There is mystery involved in it always, and it is also something to be lived all the time. That is to say, that our very own consciousness should be infused with faith, and not just driven by some intellectual, psychological or emotional movement. Faith should be life itself. A life of faith is a life of truths and mysteries. It is a life that always engenders hope, since faith does not stop in the doctrine that is taught, studied and known, but wants us to live it. The definitiveness of faith does not take away its openness to the continuing promptings of the Holy Spirit. A life of faith is also a life of love and charity. It cannot prosper in any other environment. That is why, any growth in the knowledge of our faith should also yield greater love for God and for others that is expressed in deeds and not only in words and intentions. If this does not happen, then that faith is not authentic. It may have the shell, but it does not have the living substance. This Year of Faith will hopefully bring in another spring time in the Church and in the world. For this to happen, lets hope and pray that everyone contributes to make this Year of Faith fruitful.

A5
Rev. Eutiquio Euly B. Belizar, Jr., SThD

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Candidly Speaking
POPE Benedict XVI has declared a Year of Faith that will start on October 12 this year, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, and will end on November 24 next year, the Solemnity of Christ the King. This, to me, is a good initiative, quite needed at this time when the world seems to be dominated by purely temporal concerns in economics and politics. There is also that technological surge that like wine first excites peoples minds and then blunts and desensitizes them, especially to the spiritual and supernatural realities. Its worth noting that in a document issued to explain the plan, the Vatican said that this year will be a propitious occasion for the faithful to understand more profoundly that the foundation of Christian faith is the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction. This is a timely clarificatory note. Many times, faith is understood as a purely intellectual affair, pursued simply through the study of doctrine and an effort to translate that knowledge more or less into some effect in life. Lost is the main element of faith as a living experience with Christ who is God made man. If not that, then faith is understood as ones recourse to God at the instance of his particular need at the momentto give thanks for some successful venture, or to beg for help, to express sorrow over something, etc. And so ones relation with God would not be abiding. He goes to God only when he feels the need. Faith would then be pretty much reduced to a matter of rationality or feeling, and made to conform to our terms of practicality or human need. In short, with respect to faith, we can end up being actors only, who restrict our relation with God in some performances, and not Gods children who see God in everyone and in everything. And worse, we may just be users of God and not lovers. Some words of the Holy Father recently addressed to seminarians are relevant to this need to study our faith. He said that the study of theology must always have an intense connec-

By the Roadside Truth and honesty

IT certainly is not funny when people in power play around with truth and honesty. The ongoing impeachment trial of the Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court showcases the seriousness of the responsibility to truth. Demosthenes once said: What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice. That a pre-Christian thinker could arrive at such a realization speaks volumes for the presence and activity of the Spirit of Truth everywhere and always. But for us Christians who profess to be following him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:6) the responsibility to truth and honesty is as inevitable as sweetness in sugar and sourness in kalamansi. It comes from who we are, an expression of who we are and, most of all, a challenge to be faithful to who we are. The first problem, of course, is how truth is understood differently by different people. Truth to lawyers has everything to do with the facts of the case and incontrovertible evidence. Truth to journalists means objective reporting and balanced views. Truth to ordinary people is when ideas and words conform to things as they are. And so on. In the end, truth covers everything we think and say that it is. And yet, we would not have arrived at truth in its wholeness. For us Pinoy Catholics truth and honesty, its blood brother, is, at the moment, strongly at issue as the senate, acting as an impeachment court, considers the Chief Justices worthiness to remain in office. The article on the alleged failure by the Chief Justice to disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth or SAL-N seems to have brought the country to an impasse. The defense camp has obtained a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Supreme Court disallowing the revelation of the CJs dollar account(s) because it is in violation of a law and, as of this writing, has alleged that a close aide of the president of the republic has been trying to bribe senator-judges into an open defiance of the TRO to the tune of a hundred million pesos for each senator perceived to be pro-CJ. On the other hand, the prosecution camp alleges that the defense team is, in effect, laying down a ground for a possible walk-out since a senate impeachment court, so tainted by alleged bribery, would not be impartial and objective anymore. They claim that they have established enough evidence of assets not declared by the CJ and that the defense, in an attempt to avert further damage, now has the TRO and later could stage a walk out. If proven true, then all the efforts of the court on behalf of all Filipinos would have been in vain. Meanwhile, the biggest victim would be the search for the truth behind the CJs assets not honestly disclosed in his SAL-N. With truth potentially in grave danger, justice would naturally run the risk of not being served. Pinoy Catholics, all Christians and people of good will cannot stand idly by. So much is at stake. One of the first ones is the clear insight that civil law is not enough to arrive at truth and compel anyone to be honest. Lawyers, judges, senators, justices and ordinary citizens must bow to a higher lawGods law. Specifically, in this instance, the Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (Ex 20:16; Dt 5:20). In context is the covenant between God and Israel. False or true witness, not surprisingly, originally refers to testimony offered in court for or against any member of the community. The prohibition of false testimony is anchored in its destructive consequences on the interrelationships within the community, not to say ones relationship with God himself, the other party to the covenant. Only a true testimony serves not only the covenant but also such interrelationships. Truthful testimony and a loving community are mutually inclusive. For us Christians the attitude, teachings and behavior of Jesus also define ours. From his lips we hear, The reason why I was born, the reason why I came to this world is to testify to the truth. Anyone committed to the truth hears my voice (Jn 18:37). Behavior-wise, he could have courted favor with the powerful scribes and Pharisees but, instead, he denounced their hypocrisy and untruthful conduct (Mt 23:4-5, 27-28). I sometimes hear Pinoys describe an admired character as totoong tao siya (he/she is a true human being). Nothing describes Jesus better. But this is not to say it tells all the truth about Jesus. By his action Jesus was also true to his divine nature, as when he openly forgives peoples sins (Mk 2:5, My son, your sins are forgiven to the paralytic and Lk 7:48, Your sins are forgiven to the penitent woman sinner). To be a Christian is to recognize that Jesus is our norm. To the defense, prosecution and Pinoys in audience this can only mean: One, not presenting false information or half-truths or witnesses who will offer false information or half-truths to advance one sides interests only (a rather difficult option for lawyers defending or prosecuting people). Two, using everything the civil law provides to arrive at an unbiased, impartial presentation of truth so as to render a just verdict or decision, not simply to prove the other side wrong (again a tall order for both prosecution and defense camps since each is biased for the people they represent). Three, not to use technicalities provided for by the civil law simply to protect the guilty or to harass the innocent (but which side will admit, truthfully, that their client is guilty to protect whom they are doing everything under the law?) Four, realizing that truth entails both courage and sacrifice (courage to stand consistently for what is based on real words, acts and events; sacrifice to face the consequences of such an action). Five, seeing that truth is ultimately about faithfulness to our relationship with God who is Truth and with our community who, in truth, will be injured by falsehood. It is hard to stand for the truth because it is hard to be a Christian. Is it, at all, possible to arrive at the honest truth about the worthiness of Chief Justice Corona to remain in office, considering how information and testimony can and is, in fact, sifted through the two opposite sides of prosecution and defense? I pray that it is. Let us pray that it happens in this and in all cases. Socrates once said: The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is to be in reality what we would appear to be. But St. Paul says it for us: We cannot do against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth (2 Cor 13:18).
Pro Bono / A4

Be always ready!
OUR prayers for the victims of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Cebu. Several were killed, many still missing, many roads, bridges, houses and buildings were destroyed; there is difficulty in the delivery of relief goods. Unlike typhoons and tsunami which can be forecasted, earthquake cannot be predicted. During these times, we must not panic, we must remain calm, and we must be always ready; most of all, let us always implore the protection of our Lord Almighty. *** The following tips taken from UPSeis (pronounced up size) website will be helpful. Before an Earthquake Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries. Learn first aid. Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity. Make up a plan of where to meet your family after an earthquake. Dont leave heavy objects on shelves (theyll fall during a quake). Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and appliances to the walls or floor. Learn the earthquake plan at your school or workplace. During an Earthquake Stay calm! If indoors, stay inside. If outdoors, stay outside. If youre indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (desk or table). Stay away from windows and outside doors.

Atty. Aurora A. Santiago

Duc in Altum
the witnesses, are protected and that justice prevails. Let us pray that this ugly chapter in Philippine history, which only divides the nation, be concluded and done with the soonest time so that our senators and congressmen can go back to their legislative work. Everyone watches the impeachment proceedings like a teleserye; but do you know that millions of taxpayers money are spent every time there is an impeachment hearing or caucus or subpoena and subpoena duces tecum are served? The taxpayers have to pay the allowances, honoraria and foods of the senators-judges and congressmenprosecutors as well as the salary of the impeachment courts staffs. This is not to mention the facilities and utilities being used during the hearing. Both houses of the legislature spent almost 75% of their time in the impeachment proceeding and only 25% for their legislative function. *** We may enjoy watching the impeachment proceedings but we may be caught by surprise on what is going on in the Lower House; there is a move for the early termination of the debate on RH Bill because the proponents want to put the Bill on third reading, that is the voting period. Calling on all pro-lifers, please coordinate with your parish Family and Life Ministry on what should be done. Let us have audience with our respective congressman, convince them to reject RH Bill. Let us continue praying the Oratio Imperata, especially during Sunday Masses in our parishes. The billions of pesos appropriated for the implementation of RH Bill can better be used: (1) to supply every barangay clinics
Duc in Altum / A7

If outdoors, stay in the open, away from power lines or anything that might fall. Stay away from buildings (stuff might fall off the building or the building could fall on you). Dont use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines and fire dont mix. If youre in a car, stop the car and stay inside until the earthquake stops. Dont use elevators (theyll probably get stuck anyway). After an Earthquake Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who needs it. Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If any are damaged, shut off the valves. Check for the smell of gas. If you smell it, open all the windows and doors, leave immediately, and report to the authorities (use phone). Turn on the radio. Dont use the phone unless its an emergency. Stay out of damaged buildings and damaged areas. Be careful around broken glass and debris. Wear boots or sturdy shoes to keep from cutting your feet. Stay away from beaches. Tsunamis sometimes hit after the ground has stopped shaking. If youre at school or work, follow the emergency plan or the instructions of the person in charge. Expect aftershocks. *** Let us continue monitoring the impeachment proceedings and make sure that the constitutional rights of everyone, including

Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, SThD

Along The Way

HOW does the Church view the current impeachment proceeding of Chief Justice Renato Corona? One of the questions raised in many discussion forum in the internet is why the Church is silent about it. On the other hand, there is an impression that Corona has the support and blessing of the Church. The novena-masses in the Supreme Court in support of the chief justice nine successive days before the start of the impeachment proceeding contributed to this impression. Ordinarily, novenamasses are celebrated only in churches and chapels before the fiesta of a patron saint and before Christmas (misa de gallo). Holding novena-masses in a government building and in support of a government official accused of betrayal of public trust and corruption has never been done before and is highly questionable. It leads to questions about separation of Church and State and about the abuse of the Eucharist. At the start of the Corona Impeachment trial, Senator Gringo Honasan appealed to the CBCP to provide the people with moral guidelines about the trial to help them reflect on the current issue from the light of the Christian faith. The CBCP as a body has not come up with an official statement or pastoral letter about the impeachment proceeding. Many bishops see this as a purely political process which does not involve any matter regarding faith and morals. From this perspective there is no moral evil involved, so there is no urgent need to exercise a prophetic function or come up with moral guidelines. Thus, the most prudent position is to remain in the sidelines and allow this impeachment process to run its course. The bishops hope for a speedy impeachment trial that would redound to the common good. Many bishops expressed concern that a drawn up impeachment proceeding would distract the governments attention from addressing the pressing problems of the people especially poverty. Thus, according to the CBCP monitor: The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines stressed that while they support governments campaign against corruption, it must not also forget its obligations to the Filipinos. In an interview, Archbishop Jose Palma, the CBCP president

The search for truth and accountability

said: We exhort the people to give their respect and trust to the senator-judges and, of course, our respect and trust in the Constitutional processesWe exhort our brothers and sisters, fellow Filipinos, to pray, study and to do whatever is legally or morally possible so that truth and justice will be attained or realized. We exhort the people to pray especially for wisdom and guidance. The CBCP president focuses on the key themes: (1) Respect and trust to the senator-judges and the constitutional processes. (2) The attainment of truth and justice. All these must be done in the context of the support for the campaign against corruption and the attainment of the common good. Besides truth and justice, accountability should be stressed. The CBCP several years ago came out with a pastoral letter which deplored corruption in Philippine society as a moral evil that needs to be eradicated. In my opinion, the impeachment proceeding should be seen from this broader moral perspective. There is a clamor of the vast majority of the people to root out the cancer of corruption that has permeated all levels of Philippine society, to search for the truth about the involvement of government officials involved in corruption and to hold them accountable. This is the mandate that the people has given to the present administration. The Church must support this campaign to eradicate the culture of corruption and impunity the moral evil which has perpetuated poverty, injustice, inequality, destruction of the environment and violence. The impeachment proceeding against CJ Corona can be viewed as an effort to search for truth and accountability. It is not an attack against the independence of the judiciary. The chief justice stands accused of being beholden to the former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo placed by her by midnight appointment to protect her when the time of reckoning comes. He also stands accused of betrayal of public trust and of corruption. He should face these charges. If he has nothing to hide, then he should allow the impeachment court to see his dollar accounts. Any attempt to stop the impeachment proceeding by a TRO
Along The Way / A7

how Dr. del Rosario puts it. Bless him. That is what the draftsmen of Art. II Section 12 intended Section 12 to mean. Go read the floor discussions in the Record of the Constitutional Commission. But what we have now is an interesting cabal of lawmakers that refuse to take the words of Article II Section 12 for its face value. With eyes closed, they invoke the same Constitution. With eyes open, they see a pompously dressed Emperor, who in fact, has no clothes. To them, at Day One the chromosomal unity is not a human. So what is it, if it is not human! What a convenient excuse to skirt what would be an inevitable, reasonable logic of acknowledging a human right to
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Local News
THE National Secretariat for Social Action-Caritas Philippines is providing emergency assistance to dioceses affected by the recent earthquake. The dioceses of San Carlos and Dumaguete in Central Visayas were severely affected by the recent earthquake of 6.9 magnitude that killed several people and left scores injured. Nassa executive secretary Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez said Nassa is using the fund and contributions collected from local Churches to meet the emergency assistance requested by affected dioceses. We are in contact with the Diocesan Social Acton Center of the Diocese of San Carlos (Negros Occidental) for emergency response that they need,
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CBCP Monitor
February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

NASSA sends aid to dioceses affected by quake

particularly for the 100 families that sought refuge in the chapels of the different parishes, Gariguez said. Dumaguete diocese in Negros Oriental still has to submit its assessment report which will include the assistance it is requesting from the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Reports submitted by dioceses to Nassa cited that the strong tremblor occurred offshore Negros Oriental (Tayasan) at around 11:49 a.m. on February 6 with a depth of 10km and a preliminary magnitude of 6.9mb. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has recorded 157 aftershocks; while death toll according to reports from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, (NDRRMC) has risen to 26, injured 52 and 71 missing from farming communities. There were also 29 others buried in a landslide incident in Sitio Moog, Barangay Planas, Guihulngan City. Structural damages were recorded mainly in Region VII where the cities of Dumaguete, Cebu and Iloilo are situated. Five bridges (Bateria, Tinayunan, Pangaluan, La Libertad, Martelo) were reported to be impassable while five other damaged bridges were passable to light vehicles only. Damages to government and commercial buildings and private properties were also cited, with 22 houses reportedly damaged. Other incidents reported were recession of water several meters away from coastline, landslides, and rise of water along shoreline. But no further reports of unusual sea level changes were received after the two hour extended observation period that led to cancellation of tsunami alerts for the Philippines. NASSA remains alert for further information continuously provided by social action centers primarily of San Carlos and Dumaguete, both in Negros Island. We also advise the local residents to stay alert and away from the shoreline, Gariguez said. (CBCPNews/NASSA)
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Photo courtesy of Diocese of Dumaguete

Residents flee for safety as 6.9 magnitude earthquake brought destruction to lives and infrastructures in some towns of Negros island.

Health Care Commission to hold special education convention

IN a bid to promote the importance of education for all persons with disabilities, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Health Care is organizing a Special Education Convention titled Open Eyes, Open Mind, Open Hearts, on February 28 at Paco Catholic School, Manila. The ECHC aims to provide special attention to the most needy and abandoned handicapped children, the mentally ill, and those with progressive diseases and the terminally ill. Through the convention, the ECHC wants to emphasize that special children needs skilled teachers. Special Education Teachers and parents whose children need special education assistance are urged to attend the event. The Special Education Convention is of free admission and includes snacks and lunch. Interested participants may contact the office of ECHC at 521-5876 or e-mail them at healthhandicap@ gmail.com. (Ronalyn Regino)

our concern for the elderly the retired ministers of the church, he said. If only for a very short moment on this day we can make them feel loved and treasured, the priest added. He added that even ordinary Catholics have a very special mission that is to deliver to the old priests the message that we treasure and we care for them. We want to make this a day of love that makes a difference that makes them feel lighter in their sufferings and pains more bearable, added Vengco. So we just call on others to join us let us love the elderly and the sick, he said. It was Vengco who founded the organi-

zation, until now manned by volunteers, 18 years ago to attend to the needs of retired priests. Every week we have our dalawpari to reach out to the old ones and to break down the possible isolation we also bring to them some things that they maybe in need of, he said. Msgr. Steve Mosuela from the Diocese of La Union was the oldest priest who attended the gathering. He is 95. Also in attendance were retired bishops Nestor Cario of Legazpi, Cirilo Almario of Malolos, Pedro Bantigue of San Pablo, Francisco San Diego of Pasig and Manuel Sobrevias of Imus. (CBCPNews)
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tsunamis. The Philvolcs previously said that they found the records of these powerful quakes mostly in markers of some old Catholic Churches. Bautista also suggested the conduct of earthquake drills in churches to further improve the evacuation preparedness of churchgoers. He said that people should be well-trained in the proper way of dealing with quakes to ensure that everyone will act calmly and responsibly. (Roy Lagarde)

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protect our profession and practice of our faith, just as it must respect and protect the profession and practice of any and all other faiths. We reject contraception and sterilization as intrinsically evil, according to the teaching of our [Catholic] faith. But the RH bill wants us to practice contraception and sterilization, and even use our tax money to pay for the program that attacks our belief, former Sen. Francisco Kit Tatad said in a Cebu pro-life conference late last year. What will it take for the President and the RH proponents in Congress to see that this is religious persecution, pure and simple? Dont they believe that we have the right, even perhaps the duty, to resist such injustice? he added. RH bill against Constitution-guaranteed freedom One reason the RH Bill is offensive is that it forces Catholics to support (through the duty to pay taxes) something that they believe is immoral. Note that there is no law banning the private use of contraceptives, said Atty. Jemy Gatdula, who specializes in international economic law and natural law, and who writes a weekly column for Business World. Article III, Section 5 of the Constitution states that No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights, the lawyer explained.
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This proceeds from the principles declared in Article II, Section 6 which declares that The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable. Read the two provisions carefully. There is nothing there that says citizens (including government officials) shouldnt be guided by the tenets of their faith, Gatdula pointed out. EWTN: Enough is enough It is not only Priests for Life that is suing the US government to stop the free contraception policy. While the international pro-life group and its legal counsel prepare for the lawsuit, a global television network has filed a lawsuit to halt the imposition of the birth control mandate and to have the court declare the rule unconstitutional. Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) Global Catholic Network filed the lawsuit which names Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the United States Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other federal agencies, as defendants, according to a report at National Catholic Registrar. Under the HHS mandate, EWTN is being forced by the government to make a choice: either we provide employees coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs and violate our conscience or offer our employees and their families no health insurance coverage at all. Neither of those choices is acceptable, stated EWTN President and CEO Michael P. Warsaw in an official press release. We are taking this action to defend not

only ourselves but also to protect other institutionsCatholic and non-Catholic, religious and secularfrom having this mandate imposed upon them. There is no question that this mandate violates our First Amendment rights, Warsaw continued. This is a moment when EWTN, as a Catholic organization, has to step up and say that enough is enough. The lawsuit was filed on EWTNs behalf by Mark Rienzi, Kyle Duncan, and Erik Kniffin from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. The Obama administration responded to the lawsuits and growing opposition of the general public by issuing a compromise on February 10, which pro-lifers, including the two organizations, have rejected since the result is even worse. As many Catholics and non-Catholics point out, the principal problem is that the mandate is still in place. The Presidents February 10 announcement changed none of that. What remains is that all employersnot just religious oneshave to provide health insurance for their employees, and all health insurance plans have to cover abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives, and sterilization, Fr. Pavone said in a follow-up statement. Simply put, freedom of conscience which belongs not just to religious people but to every Americandemands that people should retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions (Respect for Rights of Conscience Act), the priest added.

another who is undoubtedly also a human like any of them. A human is the only earthly creature, by nature, with rights. Or else, it is not human. I said, by nature. Better still, by his nature. Other lower animals, by their nature, do not have human rights, or even animal rights. Vegetables too. The last you might think as silly, but someone wrote a poem about how a celery cried when it was cut at the smorgasbord table. So your favorite vegetable has rights but a human blastocyst has none? There should be no debate then on whether or not the unborn be treated as a human. Because if it is human as in fact it is, 100%then there should be no debate on whether the unborn is a person who enjoys rights. Sixty years ago, the Civil Code in Article 40 already acknowledged that: Birth determines personality; but the conceived child shall be considered born for all purposes that are favorable to it, provided it be born later with the conditions specified in the following article. The conceived human already holds in his unformed hand a birthright. Its birthday only marks a date outside the womb, but the entitlement to everything he needs already exists even earlier, by the fact of being conceived a human. what would be an inevitable, reasonable logic of acMonument / A1

knowledging a human right to another who is undoubtedly also a human like any of them. A human is the only earthly creature, by nature, with rights. Or else, it is not human. I said, by nature. Better still, by his nature. Other lower animals, by their nature, do not have human rights, or even animal rights. Vegetables too. The last you might think as silly, but someone wrote a poem about how a celery cried when it was cut at the smorgasbord table. So your favorite vegetable has rights but a human blastocyst has none? There should be no debate then on whether or not the unborn be treated as a human. Because if it is human as in fact it is, 100%then there should be no debate on whether the unborn is a person who enjoys rights. Sixty years ago, the Civil Code in Article 40 already acknowledged that: Birth determines personality; but the conceived child shall be considered born for all purposes that are favorable to it, provided it be born later with the conditions specified in the following article. The conceived human already holds in his unformed hand a birthright. Its birthday only marks a date outside the womb, but the entitlement to everything he needs already exists even earlier, by the fact of being conceived a human.

ma, SJ, DD, who has long been a staunch defender of the environment and has repeatedly called for a stop to all mining operations in the city and in the country scored the seeming business as usual attitude of city government officials following the devastation of Washi. It is unconscionable for the city officials to adapt a business as usual attitude for mining permits to continue, Ledesma said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral marking the opening of the DCM and Bishops Forum on Typhoon Sendong and its challenges for Mindanao as well as a thanksgiving celebration for the 60th anniversary of the archdiocese. Ledesma urged for a multisectoral monitoring team [to be] allowed to verify the extent of these mining activities whether small scale or large
Farmworkers / A1

scale. At the Joint Municipal and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council at the Provincial Capitol, Misamis Oriental Environment and Natural Resources officer Conrado Dodong Sescon and the Philippine Air Force showed graphic pictures of the damage by mining activities on the citys and provinces mountains. Claims of livelihood and economic windfall to the city from the local mining industry prompted Ledesma to issue a call for the city government to account to the public the true extent of the industrys contribution to the economy. With that point, there is a need for a full disclosure of the identities of these mining firms, their allotted area and contribution to the local economy, he said. Ledesma pointed to two factors that caused the flooding in the city as early as 2009

natural and human. The Jesuit prelate also scored the fact that the city government under Emano had allowed families for decades to stay along the rivers own waterways. He was referring to Isla de Oro, an island formed in the middle of the Cagayan de Oro River by the accumulation of river silts where almost 1,000 families lived and were swept by rampaging floodwaters on the night of December 16 at the height of tropical storm Washi. Ledesma said this could have been prevented had the city government had foresight and good city planning. Disaster preparedness and long-term city planning could have mitigated the dire consequences of allowing households to stay along the rivers own waterways, he stressed. The Emano administration was repeatedly condemned by critics and the opposition for its alleged leaderless and

disarrayed response to Washi and its insistence that the mayor cannot prevent people from living in Isla de Oro because of the peoples hardheadedness. A group, the Save CDO Movement, even initiated a campaign to recall Emano for his handling of the citys affairs, especially following the Washi tragedy. The environment watchdog Task Force Macajalar (TFM) had earlier summed up Washis damage as a result of a combination of environmental degradation plus climate change plus bad governance minus an effective and functional disaster risk reduction program. Ledesma reiterated that transparency and accountability are hallmarks of good governance as he urged the institutionalization of participatory citizenry on one hand and responsive government on the other hand. (Bong D. Fabe)

venor Lito Bais said the farmers are depending much for prayers from the Church for a successful implementation of SC decision in favor of the farmers. The power of prayer makes us stronger and braver most especially [in the face of] our latest information that the Luisita management is using a supervisor group to reverse [its] 14-0

decision, said Bais. The primary reasons according to a joint statement released by NASSA, the United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU), and Luisita Peoples Alliance (LUPPA) are, because the decision of the high court is not yet final and executory; the Cojuangco-Aquino clan is allegedly in cohorts with the RCBC in harassing the farmers; the indifferent attitude of

President Benigno Aquino III to tackle the HLI issue is very alarming; and the current fiasco in the Supreme Court brought about by the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona. With this, Lito Bais, Convenor of LUPPA and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo urged the country to unite as one community and pray on February 17. (CBCPNews/NASSA)

memorate the unity of our people to uphold the dignity of life and environment. As a person and public servant, I continue to adhere to the principles of genuine sustainable development, which will not sacrifice the capacity of future Romblonanons to survive, he said. Metallic mining has no room in the province, and to follow the priority industries of President Noynoy Aquino: we should focus on agriculture, tourism and infrastructure, he added. Firmalo expressed hope the Aquino government will respect the autonomy of local government units to defend the health, security and future of the general welfare of its constituents. We hope that the proposed mining policy reform order of President Aquino will uphold the decision of my constituents, recognize and further respect the mandate of the local government officials to defend the health, security and future of the general welfare, Firmalo said. For his part, Msgr. Nonato Ernie V. Fetalino, administrator of Romblon diocese and adviser of Romblon Ecumenical Forum Against Mining (REFAM) explained that safeguarding the integrity of the creation requires a lifetime commitment. For nine months we have united all our voices and efforts but it is a lifetime commitment to defend the integrity of creation, he said. The priest stressed that it is everyones spiritual duty to defend the dignity of life. We look at our environment as significant source of life and we are called to maintain the balance of ecosystem, we are stewards and we are not called to abuse it, he

furthered. Aglipayan Bishop Ronelio Fabriquer, who chairs REFAM, called for the scrapping of Mining Act of 1995 saying that the law has become the source of division among communities and cause of environmental destruction. We cannot permit this to happen in the province, he said. We call for the scrapping of the Mining Act of 1995 and urgent enactment of the consolidated alternative mining bills pending in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Representative Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona is pushing for the enactment of House Bill 4815 that seeks to declare Romblon as a mining no-go zone, stressing that the people will not allow mining in the province. This [is the] biggest legacy we can leave for the provinceto make our province a better place to live in with a balance and healthful ecology. We hope the House Bill 4815 will soon be passed as a law, said Madrona. The provinces anti-mining struggle began in 2006 when 8,000 people held a protest against mining in Sibuyan that led to the killing of activist Armin Marin a year later, by an employee of Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporation. In 2011, more than 12,000 people protested against Ivanhoe Philippines application to explore about 14,000 hectares of land in the island. The mining company, which is wholly-owned by Ivanhoe Canada, withdrew the application in September 30 that same year due to strong opposition from the local government and the people. (CBCPNews)

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

Diocesan News

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Bishop issues Oratio Imperata for deliverance from natural disasters

BACOLOD CityBacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra has issued an Oratio Imperata asking God for protection and deliverance in view of the series of natural calamities that happened in the country in the last two months. It may be recalled that the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were devastated by rampaging flashfloods brought by Typhoon Sendong last December 17. The floods killed more than a thousand and left scores missing and caused millions worth of damages to crops and properties. On February 6, a strong earthquake of tectonic origin shook Central Visayas that killed several people and buried houses in a landslide. Hardest hit was Negros Oriental especially the areas of La Libertad, Tayasan and Guihulngan where 15 houses with 23 persons including children ages 2 to 12 years old were buried by a landslide. In a circular released February 9, Bishop Navarra directed the faithful to say the prayer before the celebration of all Masses. ADSUM, the official newspaper of the diocese of Bacolod, has also requested individuals, groups and families to pray the mandatory prayer. Meanwhile, the bishop through the Diocesan Social Action Center has made an urgent appeal to everyone to once again bring their generous spirit to the fore. Our brothers and sisters need our help especially food and potable water. Donations raised will be apportioned between the two dioceses of Dumaguete and San Carlos. Navarra also thanked God Almighty for sparing us from the destruction and loss of lives of our people and urged the faithful as a sign of our gratefulness to share our blessings to those who are most in need. Cash donations may be coursed through Caritas Bacolod, Social Action Center located at the Bishops House, Rizal St., Bacolod City. For more information, please call 434-4978 and 433- 3310. The full text of the Oratio read as follows: Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders of creation and we acknowledge our sins that we have not been good stewards of nature. Because of this, the environment is made to suffer our wrongdoings and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference. Earthquakes, typhoons, rains, floods, drought, volcanic eruption and other calamities are occurring in increasing numbers and intensity as never before and we are afraid. The recent earthquake has jolted us to recognize our sins and indifference. We therefore turn to You, Our Loving Father, and beg forgiveness that Your mercy will spare us from all calamities and that Your Divine Mercy will spare us from more disasters. We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation and generous neighbors to those in need and protectors of life. While we are grateful for the wonders of creation, we forget that this is
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Rampaging flash floods caused by torrential rains brought by Typhoon Sendong washed away several barangays in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. The tragedy killed more than a thousand, with scores missing and injured, and left thousands of families homeless.

the work of Your hands, that every life is Your gift and so we have been careless about taking care of them. As we are sorry for our neglect and indifference, we also appeal for the mercy of God that we may be preserved from these calamities. This we pray through Christ our

Lord. Amen. Jesus, the Divine Healer, have mercy on us. Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, our patroness, pray for us. Saint Sebastian, our patron and constant protector, pray for us. (Modesto P. Sa-onoy)

Briefing
Group slams Batanes solon for sitting on important House Bills

Ex-DENR exec hits claims hydraulic mining cannot be stopped

CAGAYAN DE ORO CityA staunch environmentalist slammed claims that illegal hydraulic mining in the upstream of Iponan River cannot be stopped because of socioeconomic considerations. A visibly angry Raoul Geollegue, former regional executive director of the Environment department in Northern Mindanao (Region X), criticized the assertion during the Joint Municipal and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council which tackled the rampant illegal hydraulic mining in the Misamis Oriental side of the Iponan River. Geollegue said that local government units should be ashamed for allowing hydraulic mining in the Iponan River to wreak havoc to the environment and lives of Cagayan de Oro City and Opol, Misamis Oriental. Most of the illegal hydraulic mining activities in the river are on the Opol side of Iponan River. When Geollegue was still a regional technical director of DENR-10, (which he later headed as regional executive director), he issued an alarm that the alarming rampant logging and mining activities in the upper water catchment of Cagayan de Oro will result to an Ormoc-like tragedy. This was in 1991. Geollegues worst fears happened last year, or 20 years after his warning. The environment and natural resources officer of Misamis Oriental, Conrado Dodong Sescon, identified 14 persons operating hydraulic machines used in the illegal mining activities along Iponan River, specifically in barangays Bagocboc, Tingalan, Nangcaon and Cauyunan. Sescon also identified a certain Dulper Gayla and the Mendoza family as involved in the hydraulicking activities in Sitio Inapasan, Barangay Bagocboc, Opol, Misamis Oriental. Those involved in the hydraulicking activities along the Iponan River are using engines that range from 10 horsepower to 24 hp to pump water uphill to destroy a mountain side believed to contain gold nuggets. Hydraulic mining is a form of mining that uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge rock material or move sediment. Water is redirected into narrow channels, usually canvas or rubberized plastic hoses and out through a giant iron monitor or nozzle. The extremely high pressure stream was used to wash entire hillsides through enormous sluices. The resulting water-sediment slurry is directed through sluices boxes to remove the gold. For a few grams of goldwhich benefits only a few individualsentire hills and mountains are destroyed and the livelihood of those depending on the river and seas are also affected. Mining up there affects thousands of fishermen downstream. With this equation, what kind of political will would we need to stop this? We are talking about [a few] families doing hydraulic mining up there. And for us to allow this to happen for the last 20 years is a shame because the Local Government Code states that we are dutybound to protect the environment, stressed Geollegue. (Bong D. Fabe)

BASCO, BatanesThe Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has accused Batanes Congresswoman Herminia Abad of sitting on nine house bills and eight resolutions that push for the control on the prices of oil. In a statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Ka Pando Hicap said, since September 2010, the Batanes representative had done nothing on the said legislations, despite the fact that the unabated oil price increases are hurting the livelihood of the people, especially the poor. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
OFWs wish stronger political will for P-Noy to act on oil prices

QUEZON CityMigrante International has expressed wish that President Benigno Aquino, on the occasion of his birthday, will have more political will to halt the soaring prices of oil. Migrante national chair Garry Martinez in a statement said, the unabated pump prices had already resulted to the increase of electricity, food and production prices, and is now taking its toll on the income of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). He had reminded the President that the exchange rates of the US dollars and even the Euro are now plummeting as the world economic recession has not yet come to an end. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Hacienda Luisita workers distrust new Sol Gen

Church group asks help for earthquake victims

ESCALANTE CityThe Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) in Negros-Panay region has launched an appeal for earthquake victims in Negros Oriental. Fr. Gilbert S. Billena, O.Carm, who coordinates the RMP Negros-Panay Chapter said victims temporarily staying in evacuation center at Upper Sitio Moog in Guihulngan are in dire need of food and other basic things. Our effort for relief operation will be targeting to distribute relief goods for at least 500 families in the next few days. We hope
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TARLAC CityFarmworkers in Hacienda Luisita are eyeing the newly appointed Solicitor General with distrust, saying he was one of the Cojuangcos trusted men. Atty. Francis Jardeleza had replaced Jos Anselmo Cadiz after the latter stepped down from the post because he wanted to go back in private practice. The OSG [Office of the SolGen] is a very important and strategic position; it reflects the government stance on the cases it handles like the Hacienda Luisita case The [Palaces] intention is crystal clear: [President Benigno] Aquino wants to reverse the government stance on Hacienda Luisita using Jardeleza, said Uyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura secretary general Rodel Mesa. (CBCPNews)
Media rights group doubts Palaces version of FOI bill

for your response to make the relief operation possible, read his letter of appeal. Billena gave a list of basic goods that donors can send to the victims including rice, dried fish, cooking oil, legumes, and salt sardines, canned meat loaf /corned beef, tents for temporary shelter, sleeping mats, and clothing. Hardest hit areas in Negros Oriental were Guihulngan, La Libertad and Tayasan. Citing initial reports from local chapter of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Billena said a landslide in Guihulngan City

has buried 15 houses with 23 persons including children ages 2 to 12 years old in it. Constant tremors in the site delayed retrieval of bodies buried from the landslides, he added. The victims are temporarily staying in evacuation area at Upper Sitio Moog of Brgy. Planas in Guihulngan. In Barangay Buenavista, he said, several houses were also damaged and local residents have moved in an evacuation center in the upland areas. RMP is coordinating with KMP in the area to facilitate the

relief efforts as people are still waiting for relief operations, according to Billena. Since the RMP Negros-Panay has no organizational bank account at the moment, possible donors can course their donation to Fr. Gilbert S. Billena, O.Carm of Mt. Carmel Parish, Escalante City, Negros Occidental. Cash donation can also be deposited at Banco de Oro. Account Name: St. Francis Convent, Old Poblacion, Account No: 3020009434 (Escalante City Branch) Negros Occidental, Philippines. (CBCPNews)

ANTIPOLO CityMedia rights organization, Burgos Media Center, expressed doubts on the motives of Malacaang in transmitting its own version of the Freedom of Information bill last Feb. 03. BMC spokesperson Marc Joseph Alejo said, the Palaces version of the FOI bill is relatively weak and he doubts what particular sector of the society that the said legislation is serving. The media rights advocate criticized the particular provision of the bill which exempts bilateral agreements between the Republic of the Philippines and other countries to public scrutiny. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Urban poor group doubts CCT behind poverty drop in PH

ANTIPOLO City Urban poor alliance Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) said Social Welfare Sec. Corazon Soliman is mere sloganeering when she said that the drop of poverty incidence in the country is due to the Governments conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. Kadamay secretary-general Gloria Arellano in a statement said, the DSWD cannot deny the fact that theres an increase in the number of families that experienced involuntary hunger at the last quarter of 2011, as shown by the latest Social Weather Stations survey. Solimans claim and blind reference to the CCT as behind the estimated decrease in poverty incidence is highly unfounded, and merely sloganeering, she said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

other persons, aside from their workmates, thus when docked to a port at any country, many want to make up for the loss of contacts during the time on board. The ITF also explained that since seafarers spend more time on the sea than on land, they are deprived of time to attend HIV-AIDS prevention activities. Seafarers also suffer when shipping companies try to cut costs by flying flags of convenience from countries which have lower standards for registering ships. This undermines safety standards, as well as efforts to provide good workplace HIV/ AIDS policies. The struggle against HIV/ AIDS is not an isolated one, and is part of the struggle to win better conditions for members, says the ITF, as quoted in Cajiuats paper.
Moratorium / A1

Situation needs a multi-lateral response, not blame. Rather than succumbing to the so-called policy of blame, says Cajiuat, the situation needs a multi-lateral response that is focused on a more adequate solution, which, in the long term, would reduce the risk of occupational exposure of seafarers to HIV/AIDS. Cajiuat also observed that, the safety standards being implemented on ships are more focused on making the fleet sea-worthy. Shipping companies practice strict safety guidelines in the handling of hazardous materials and the daily life of the crew includes regular review, discussion, monitoring and organizational tasking to ensure the safe handling of all kinds of hazardous materials, complete with guidebooks and data sheets on the safe handling, prevention of accidents and deadly exposures, appropriate protective

equipment and internationally recognized symbols for workplace hazards like flammable, corrosive or radioactive materials. The same treatment goes for highly-communicable diseases such as Malaria, Tuberculosis or Viral Hepatitis where international guidelines for its prevention are included in shipboard policies by ship management itself, and listed as occupational under the POEA Contract. Without adopting any prejudicial view on HIV-AIDS, there should be no reason why this illness should not be treated the same as any hazardous substance or infectious illness, explained Cajiuat. The seafarers rights advocate had also criticized the 2010 Philippine Overseas Employment Administrations (POEA) standard employment contract (SEC) for seafarers which excluded HIV/AIDS as a compensable disease. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Duc in Altum / A5

with emergency medicines; (2) spend for hazard pay, salary adjustment and training of health workers; (3) put additional fund to Philhealth to provide better health benefits and stop the premium increase effective July 2012; (4) fund SSS and GSIS to improve the benefits of members; (5) fund the repair and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, school houses, hospitals, government buildings destroyed by typhoon Pedring and Sendong and the recent killer quake; (6) construction of new school houses. There are countless projects where bil-

lions of money can be allocated instead of appropriating it for the implementation of RH Bill. *** Happy Fiesta to the parishioners of San Roque Cathedral of Caloocan City. Greetings to my niece Ria Edeliza Imperial whose birthday falls on Valentines Day; same with Fr. Gigi Yabut. Also birthday greetings to Fr. Romy Tuazon, our co-anchor in Hello Father 911 Saturday Edition at Radio Veritas, and Fr. Dennis Salise. Happy Sacerdotal Anniversary to Fr. Opi Balana.

first, Varquez said. Another painful reality, he said, is that the issue has created conflict among residents where there are mining operations. People are the ones suffering and these very aggressive mining operations here are dividing our people, said Varquez. Its very painful that communities are divided considering its temporary economic benefits and the irreparable damage mining would create, he said. Varquez cited the cases of large-scale mining operations in the islands of Homonhon and Manicani, both in the towns of
Along The Way / A5

Guiuan, for several years now which caused broad-scale habitat destruction. The bishop said people of these islands have been relying heavily on fishing and farming for their foodthe land and the waters surrounding their island are their sources of subsistence. But the environmental destruction brought about by the mining operations, he added, greatly affected the people there siltation and soil erosion destroyed the marine resources of the island. Homonhon Island is marked in Philippine history wherein Ferdinand Magel-

lans expedition first dropped anchor on its shores before saying the first Mass in Limasawa of Southern Leyte in 1521. Sadly, said the prelate, the islands interior is bald mountains denuded and hollowed out by mining. Agriculture is affected people already lack access to safe drinking water. The people are already suffering, said Varquez. To date, small scale mining operations exist in the towns of Salcedo, Gen. McArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani and Llorente. All these companies are extracting chromite. (CBCPNews)

imposed by his supportive colleagues within the Supreme Court should be opposed and condemned. The Supreme Court does not have the moral high ground at present. It is not only the Chief Justice who is suspected of being corrupted and compromised by the former president. The search for truth and accountability should go beyond the impeachment proceeding. This will include former government of-

ficials as well the present ones in all levels from the judiciary, to the legislative and the executive branches, in the government bureaucracy from the highest to the lowest levels, in the police and in the military. In the end, even the prosecutors themselves and our president should see to it that they are beyond reproach. This will require a moral transformation and reformation in our society. In supporting this moral crusade against

corruption, the Church must also make sure that she is beyond reproach. The Lord will not abandon his people; he will not desert those who belong to him. Justice will again be found in the courts, and all righteous people will support it... You have nothing to do with corrupt judges, who make injustice legal... He will punish them for their wickedness and destroy them for their sins; the Lord our God will destroy them. (Psalm 94:14-15, 20-23)

A8

People, Facts & Places

CBCP Monitor

February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

Activities upholding sanctity of life mark pro-life month celebration

PRO-LIFE Philippines Foundation is spearheading various activities in celebration of Pro-life month aimed at encouraging all Filipinos to embrace a pro-life way of life amidst attacks on the sanctity of family and life. February has been traditionally celebrated in the country as Respect and Care for Life Month as per Presidential Proclamation 214 declared in 1988 by former President Corazon C. Aquino. In a press release, Pro-life Philippines said the annual celebration of pro-life month has provided the foundation an effective venue to fully proclaim and promote [the] advocacy of respecting and preserving the dignity of human life in all its aspects. A Eucharistic celebration on February 5 at the St. Andrews Cathedral in Paraaque kicked off the string of activities for pro-life month. Chairman of Episcopal Commission on Laity and Paraaque Bishop Jesse Mercado presided the Holy Mass at 10 a.m. A pro-life Mass for healing was also scheduled on February 9 at 5 p.m. at the Sto. Domingo Church led by Fr. Efren Rivera, OP. Spearheaded by Brother Gonzalo Goquiolay in cooperation with Blessed Margaret of Castello Movement, the activity aimed to serve as a venue to promote the pro-life stance among more people, most especially the young. On February 25, pro-lifers will congregate at the St. Paul University in Quezon City from 8 to 10 a.m. for a Prolife March-Life Chain that will end at the Christ the King Parish, also in Quezon City, for prayer service. Speakers at the Christ the King Parish are Senator Vicente Sotto III, Luana Stoltenberg and Kay Painter of Operation Outcry International, USA. The group is also aiming to hold a prayer service in front of the National Headquarters of Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), the country branch of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Participants are enjoined to bring placards and streamers with pro-life slogans such as Stop RH Bill Funding of IPPF, No to Death Bills, and No to RH Bill. The pro-life month celebration will culminate on February 26 with a Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral at 6 p.m. with Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes as main presider. (CBCPNews)

Intl speakers grace pro-life month observance

INTERNATIONAL speakers that include Mr. Michael Voris, of St. Michael`s Media, USA, Luana Stoltenberg and Kay Painter from Operation Outcry International, USA, will do a series of talks in the country in celebration of pro-life month. Voris is scheduled to hold his talks and conferences in Cebu on February 13 at the Carmelite Monastery from 8 to 11 a.m., Cebu Catholic Television Chapel at 1 to 6 p.m. and at the Sacred Heart Center at 6 to 9 p.m. On February 15, Voris will be in Bacolod to give a talk at Planta Hotel from 6 to 8 pm. He will be around in Manila on February 16 to speak at Adamson University from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon and also on the same day, at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Mandaluyong City, from 7 to 9 p.m. On February 17, Voris will talk before an assembly of CFC-FFL members at the Christ the King Parish in Green Meadows, Quezon City at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, both Luana Stoltenberg and Kay Painter are giving a talk on February 23 at the College of the Holy Spirit in Mendiola on topic Dealing with Abuse and Pregnancy RelatedTrauma. Hosted by Nurses for Life, the conference will be from 8 a.m. until 12 noon. Stoltenberg and Painter will also field an interview in the radio program Digma ng Buhay hosted by Mr. Ansel Beluso at Radio Veritas846 from 6 to 7 p.m. On February 24, the two will give a talk at the Our Lady of Beautiful Love Parish in Paraaque City from 4 to 6 p.m. Family and Life apostolate groups and other organizations in the parishes are expected to also hold pro-life activities to celebrate the gift of life, to promote pro-life and family values and to further create awareness on vital issues concerning life. Additional information regarding activities and the contests may be gleaned from Malou Agsaluna at the Pro-Life Philippines Foundation Secretariat located at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Student Catholic Center, 2486 Legarda Street, Sampaloc, Manila with numbers 7349425 or 733-7027. (CBCPNews)

The annual celebration of Pro-life month kicked off with a Holy Mass at St. Andrew Cathedral, February 7, with Paraaque Bishop Jesse Mercado as main celebrant.

Caritas sends P6M worth of donations to Sendong victims

A TOTAL of P6 million in cash donations has been given by Caritas Damay Kapanalig to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the Diocese of Iligan to aid the rehabilitation programs for the victims of typhoon Sendong. Caritas Damay Kapanalig is a joint disaster relief and rehabilitation program of Caritas Manila and Radyo Veritas 846. The cash donations were given in tranches, with the first P2 million sent immediately upon receiving the request of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan for assistance right after the tragedy. Fr. Anton CT Pascual, Executive Director of Caritas Manila and President of Radio Veritas846 said that Caritas Manila is able to respond immediately whenever there is calamity because the Manila archdioceses social action arm raises funds for such purpose. Raising funds before a disaster strikes is at the core of Caritas Manilas disaster preparedness advocacy, he said. He explained that Caritas Damay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program has three phasesthe Prevention Phase, Response Phase; and Rehabilitation. We try to raise the funds before calamity strikes so that when there is a major disaster, be it natural or human induced, we can send immediate assistance. We can help instantaneously, he said. Pascual explained that such is the principle behind some of Catholic Churchs resource mobilization programs like Alay-Kapwa, the Churchs Lenten evangelization program for the poor. Once again, this Lent, AlayKapwa will be raising funds for disaster preparedness. We hope people continue to support Alay Kapwa and Caritas Manila, he further stressed. Three truckloads of in-kind
Photo courtesy of Caritas Manila

Photo courtesy of CBCP for Life

Caritas Damay Kapanalig, Radio Veritas and Caritas Manilas disaster relief and rehabilitation program, sends truckloads of donations to typhoon victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

donations raised by Caritas Manila and Radio Veritas were transported by Philippine Navy

to Iligan City. The donations arrived in Iligan on January 31. (CBCPNews)

Markings
APPOINTED. Pope Benedict XVI has named Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles as the new head of the Archdiocese of Davao. Valles took over the Davao archdiocese from Archbishop Fernando Capalla, 77, whose resignation has been accepted by the pontiff. For around five years, Valles has been serving the Zamboanga archdiocese which covers the Prelature of Ipil and Isabela, Basilan and the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo as its suffragan dioceses. Valles was born on July 10, 1951 in Bohol provinces Maribojoc town. He was ordained a priest on April 6, 1976. On June 24, 1997, he was appointed fourth bishop of Kidapawan by Blessed Pope John Paul II. His episcopal ordination was on Aug. 6, 1997. It was on November 13, 2006 when Benedict XVI appointed him the fifth archbishop of Zamboanga. He was installed on Jan. 9, 2007. CELEBRATING. The Salesians of Don Bosco is celebrating its 60th anniversary in the Philippines with a fun run on February 26 at the Quirino Grandstand. Dubbed Don Bosco Fun Run 2012-Run, Jump and Make Noise, the event serves as a fundraising project for the 8 Don Bosco TVET (Technical Vocational Education & Training) Centers in its efforts to educate the marginalized youth. The event is a simultaneous fun run in six different areas namely: Manila, Clark in Pampanga, Naga City, San Jose City in Nueva Ecija, Nuvali in Laguna and Legazpi City. Categories are 3 kilometer, 5 kilometer and 10 kilometer run. Organizers said that the registration fee of Php 300.00 is for all categories including Singlet, Race Bib and RFID (for Manila leg only). Interested runners can register at the nearest Don Bosco Schools and selected registration sites. Registration for participants started on February 4. CELEBRATED. Golden jubilee of religious profession of Sr. Maria Alicia R. Amarga, Sr. Maria Magdalena L. Leocadio and Sr. Maria Corazon M. Ricafrente; also Silver Jubilee of religious profession of Sr. Maria Paula G. Adaoag and Sr. Maria Nancy N. Daclan among the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), February 2, 2012. Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ celebrated the Thanksgiving Mass at the Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel at the RVMs General House compound in Quezon City. UNVEILED. The Minor Basilica of San Sebastian unveiled last January 20, 2012 the marker stating the church structure a National Cultural Treasure. The National Museum of the Philippines declared the all-steel church building as a National Cultural Treasure on August 15, 2011. The award was given by a panel of experts including Fr. Milan Ted D. Torralba, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines Permanent Committee for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, Engineer Orlando V. Abinion, curator of the National Museum of the Philippines and Architect Manuel L. Noche, professor of the University of Santo Tomas. The parish also celebrated the feast day of San Sebastian, its patron saint, with the Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio G. Tagle D.D. officiating at the 6 p.m. Holy Mass. DIED. Rev. Fr. Romwell O. Fabregas of the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan, February 3, 2012. Fabregas died at 10:30 p.m. at the Villafor Hospital. He was ordained priest on 10 May 1991.

Mindanao clergy tackle disaster preparedness in annual convention

THE Diocesan clergy of Mindanao tackled the challenges the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan are facing in the aftermath of typhoon Sendong as the priests met for their annual convention in Cagayan de Oro, February 13-15. This years gathering was a stark departure from the usual annual fellowship of the clergy as organizers sought to keep the meeting simple and relevant in solidarity with typhoon victims. In a letter sent to dioceses, DCM president Fr. Lyndon Sayaz recommended that each diocese sent five to 10 delegates to participate in the gathering which include the bishop and priest-directors of Social Action and BEC formation. The forum titled DCM and Bishops Forum on Typhoon Sendong and its challenges for Mindanao, included presentations and lessons learned on disaster management and preparedness as well as environmental concerns. Speakers were Fr. Pedro Walpole, SJ, who spoke on Watershed Protection of Mindanao and Fr. Rey Raluto on Theological Perspectives on care for the environment. Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma presided the opening concelebrated Mass at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral on February 13 at 5 p.m. The Mass was also a thanksgiving celebration for the 60th anniversary of Cagayan de Oro as an archdiocese. Delegates also visited the affected areas and relocation sites for the typhoon victims. On February 15, the bishops had a follow-up of the earlier consultation on peace building with resource persons from Catholic Peacebuilders Network (CPN). Participating clergy came from Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Ipil (Zambasuli); Dipolog, Ozamis, Pagadian, Iligan, Marawi (DOPIM); Davao, Digos, Tagum, Mati (DADITAMA); Cagayan, Butuan, Surigao, Tandag, Malaybalay (CABUSTAM); Kidapawan, Marbel and Cotabato (KIDMACO). (CBCPNews)

Requiem Mass for Battle of Manila victims

A REQUIEM Mass was said for the thousands of Filipino civilians who died during the Battle of Manila in the early 1945. Led by Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, the Eucharist was celebrated at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros at 10 a.m. on February 13. Organized by the Prayer for Warriors of the Holy Souls, a lay Catholic group, the event aimed to pay tribute to the victims of the month long confrontation in Manila between Japanese and American forces. We want to remember those people who have died and forgotten somehow, so they would know that there are still people who remember them, said Carlos Oda, the groups deputy executive director. Also known as the Liberation of Manila, it was fought side-by-side by Filipinos and Americans against the Japanese forces and ended the almost three years of Japanese military occupation in the country. After the battle an estimated 100,000 Filipinos had died in the city as well, likely one of the highest civilian casualties in urban combat of any World War II battle, second only to Russias Stalingrad City. (Ronalyn R. Regino/ CBCPNews)

Valenzuela City artist wins P40k painting contest

SALVADOR Baares, Jr. from Valenzuela Citys Parish of the Holy Cross is the latest winner of the Archdioceses of Manilas painting competition. Organizer of the annual visual art prize, the archdioceses Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, named Baares its 5th winner recently. Awarded the P40,000 grand prize for his Gabay painting, Baares beat about 273 other entries of this years competition with the theme The Rosary, its Mysteries and the Filipino Family. The contest was open to Filipino students and out-of-school youth, ages 15 to 25 years old. The second prize was awarded to Eric Perreras for his Orasyon painting while Edu Perreras got the third prize for his Inside the Rosary painting. Both winners who are from the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City, Pampanga received cash prizes of P30,000 and P20,000 respectively. The Jurors Choice awards were given to Arnold Lalongisip of Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Roginson Culibrina of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Rizal; and Darwin Sanay of FEATI University. They received P10, 000 each. The MACC Painting Competition is an annual event that hopes to foster contemporary artistic interpretations of the Catholic faith particularly among young artists, and seeks to promote awareness and appreciation of religious art. An exhibition of finalists and winning entries at the Museo ng Arkidiyosesis ng Maynila will run until February 15, 2012. The theme for the 2011 competition was The Rosary, Its Mysteries and the Filipino Family. (CBCPNews)

CEAP holds groundbreaking ceremony for new building

THE construction of the new National Office building of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) is on the way following the groundbreaking ceremony last February 2. Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco led the celebration of the Holy Mass and ceremonial laying of the time capsule for the foundation.v CEAP President Fr. Gregg Banaga welcomed the assembly into what he called a visible beginning of a new milestone in the history of the 71-year old association. The CEAP National Office building is expected to be completed on June 2012 and will be the new home of the National Secretariat and Retirement offices. It will also be a venue for training, seminars, meetings, and other activities that are seen to benefit especially the mission schools, the group said. Witnessing the event were members of the board, several representatives from member schools, CEAP committees and commissions, partners and friends. (Jandel Posion)

www.rcam.org

B1 Pastoral Concerns Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works (Heb 10:24)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2012

Being concerned for each other also entails being concerned for their spiritual well-being. Here I would like to mention an aspect of the Christian life, which I believe has been quite forgotten: fraternal correction in view of eternal salvation. Today, in general, we are very sensitive to the idea of charity and caring about the physical and material well-being of others, but almost completely silent about our spiritual responsibility towards our brothers and sisters. This was not the case in the early Church or in those communities that are truly mature in faith, those which are concerned not only for the physical health of their brothers and sisters, but also for their

DEAR Brothers and Sisters, The Lenten season offers us once again an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life: charity. This is a favorable time to renew our journey of faith, both as individuals and as a community, with the help of the word of God and the sacraments. This journey is one marked by prayer and sharing, silence and fasting, in anticipation of the joy of Easter. This year I would like to propose a few thoughts in the light of a brief biblical passage drawn from the Letter to the Hebrews: Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works. These words are part of a passage in which the sacred author exhorts us to trust in Jesus Christ as the High Priest who has won us forgiveness and opened up a pathway to God. Embracing Christ bears fruit in a life structured by the three theological virtues: it means approaching the Lord sincere in heart and filled with faith (v. 22), keeping firm in the hope we profess (v. 23) and ever mindful of living a life of love and good works (v. 24) together with our brothers and sisters. The author states that to sustain this life shaped by the Gospel it is important to participate in the liturgy and community prayer, mindful of the eschatological goal of full communion in God (v. 25). Here I would like to reflect on verse 24, which offers a succinct, valuable and ever timely teaching on the three aspects of Christian life: concern for others, reciprocity and personal holiness. 1. Let us be concerned for each other: responsibility towards our brothers and sisters. This first aspect is an invitation to be concerned: the Greek verb used here is katanoein, which means to scrutinize, to be attentive, to observe carefully and take stock of something. We come across this word in the Gospel when Jesus invites the disciples to think of the ravens that, without striving, are at the centre of the solicitous and caring Divine Providence (cf. Lk 12:24), and to observe the plank in our own eye before looking at the splinter in that of our brother (cf. Lk 6:41). In another verse of the Letter to the Hebrews, we find the encouragement to turn your minds to Jesus (3:1), the Apostle and High Priest of our faith. So the verb which introduces our exhortation tells us to look at others, first of all at Jesus, to be concerned for one another, and not to remain isolated and indifferent to the fate of our brothers and sisters. All too often, however, our attitude is just the opposite: an indifference and disinterest born of selfishness and masked as a respect for privacy. Today too, the Lords voice summons all of us to be concerned for one another. Even today God asks us to be guardians of our brothers and sisters (Gen 4:9), to establish relationships based on mutual consideration and attentiveness to the well-being, the integral well-being of others. The great commandment of love for one another demands that we acknowledge our responsibility towards those who, like ourselves, are creatures and children of God. Being brothers and sisters in humanity and, in many cases, also in the faith, should help us to recognize in others a true alter ego, infinitely loved by the Lord. If we cultivate this way of seeing others as our brothers and sisters, solidarity, justice, mercy and compassion will naturally well up in our hearts. The Servant of God Pope Paul VI stated that the world today is suffering above all from a lack of brotherhood: Human society is sorely ill. The cause is not so much the depletion of natural resources, nor their monopolistic control by a privileged few; it is rather the weakening of brotherly ties between individuals and nations (Populorum Progressio, 66). Concern for others entails desiring what is good for them from every point of view: physical, moral and spiritual. Contemporary culture seems to have lost the sense of good and evil, yet there is a real need to reaffirm that good does exist and will prevail, because God is generous and acts

generously (Ps 119:68). The good is whatever gives, protects and promotes life, brotherhood and communion. Responsibility towards others thus means desiring and working for the good of others, in the hope that they too will become receptive to goodness and its demands. Concern for others means being aware of their needs. Sacred Scripture warns us of the danger that our hearts can become hardened by a sort of spiritual anesthesia which numbs us to the suffering of others. The Evangelist Luke relates two of Jesus parables by way of example. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite pass by, indifferent to the presence of the man

wrong, those of you who are spiritual should set that person right in a spirit of gentleness; and watch yourselves that you are not put to the test in the same way (Gal 6:1). In a world pervaded by individualism, it is essential to rediscover the importance of fraternal correction, so that together we may journey towards holiness. Scripture tells us that even the upright falls seven times (Prov 24:16); all of us are weak and imperfect (cf. 1 Jn 1:8). It is a great service, then, to help others and allow them to help us, so that we can be open to the whole truth about ourselves, improve our lives and walk more uprightly in the Lords ways. There will always be a need for a gaze which

me, and that his or her life, his or her salvation, concern my own life and salvation. Here we touch upon a profound aspect of communion: our existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse. Both our sins and our acts of love have a social dimension. This reciprocity is seen in the Church, the mystical body of Christ: the community constantly does penance and asks for the forgiveness of the sins of its members, but also unfailingly rejoices in the examples of virtue and charity present in her midst. As Saint Paul says: Each part should be equally concerned for all the others (1 Cor 12:25), for we all form one body. Acts of charity towards our brothers and sistersas expressed by almsgiving, a practice which, together with prayer and fasting, is typical of Lentis rooted in this common belonging. Christians can also express their membership in the one body which is the Church through concrete concern for the poorest of the poor. Concern for one another likewise means acknowledging the good that the Lord is doing in others and giving thanks for the wonders of grace that Almighty God in his goodness continuously accomplishes in his children. When Christians perceive the Holy Spirit at work in others, they cannot but rejoice and give glory to the heavenly Father (cf. Mt 5:16). 3. To stir a response in love and good works: walking together in holiness. These words of the Letter to the Hebrews (10:24) urge us to reflect on the universal call to holiness, the continuing journey of the spiritual life as we aspire to the greater spiritual gifts and to an ever more sublime and fruitful charity (cf. 1 Cor 12:31-13:13). Being concerned for one another should spur us to an increasingly effective love which, like the light of dawn, its brightness growing to the fullness of day (Prov 4:18), makes us live each day as an anticipation of the eternal day awaiting us in God. The time granted us in this life is precious for discerning and performing good works in the love of God. In this way the Church herself continuously grows towards the full maturity of Christ (cf. Eph 4:13). Our exhortation to encourage one another to attain the fullness of love and good works is situated in this dynamic prospect of growth. Sadly, there is always the temptation to become lukewarm, to quench the Spirit, to refuse to invest the talents we have received, for our own good and for the good of others (cf. Mt 25:25ff.). All of us have received spiritual or material riches meant to be used for the fulfillment of Gods plan, for the good of the Church and for our personal salvation (cf. Lk 12:21b; 1 Tim 6:18). The spiritual masters remind us that in the life of faith those who do not advance inevitably regress. Dear brothers and sisters, let us accept the invitation, today as timely as ever, to aim for the high standard of ordinary Christian living (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 31). The wisdom of the Church in recognizing and proclaiming certain outstanding Christians as Blessed and as Saints is also meant to inspire others to imitate their virtues. Saint Paul exhorts us to anticipate one another in showing honor (Rom 12:10). In a world which demands of Christians a renewed witness of love and fidelity to the Lord, may all of us feel the urgent need to anticipate one another in charity, service and good works (cf. Heb 6:10). This appeal is particularly pressing in this holy season of preparation for Easter. As I offer my prayerful good wishes for a blessed and fruitful Lenten period, I entrust all of you to the intercession of the Mary Ever Virgin and cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing. From the Vatican, BENEDICTUS PP. XVI 3 November 2011
Ed Gerlock Ed Gerlock

stripped and beaten by the robbers (cf. Lk 10:30-32). In that of Dives and Lazarus, the rich man is heedless of the poverty of Lazarus, who is starving to death at his very door (cf. Lk 16:19). Both parables show examples of the opposite of being concerned, of looking upon others with love and compassion. What hinders this humane and loving gaze towards our brothers and sisters? Often it is the possession of material riches and a sense of sufficiency, but it can also be the tendency to put our own interests and problems above all else. We should never be incapable of showing mercy towards those who suffer. Our hearts should never be so wrapped up in our affairs and problems that they fail to

spiritual health and ultimate destiny. The Scriptures tell us: Rebuke the wise and he will love you for it. Be open with the wise, he grows wiser still, teach the upright, he will gain yet more (Prov 9:8ff). Christ himself commands us to admonish a brother who is committing a sin (cf. Mt 18:15). The verb used to express fraternal correctionelencheinis the same used to indicate the prophetic mission of Christians to speak out against a generation indulging in evil (cf. Eph 5:11). The Churchs tradition has included admonishing sinners among the spiritual works of mercy. It is important to recover this dimension of Christian charity. We must not remain

loves and admonishes, which knows and understands, which discerns and forgives (cf. Lk 22:61), as God has done and continues to do with each of us. 2. Being concerned for each other: the gift of reciprocity. This custody of others is in contrast to a mentality that, by reducing life exclusively to its earthly dimension, fails to see it in an eschatological perspective and accepts any moral choice in the name of personal freedom. A society like ours can become blind to physical sufferings and to the spiritual and moral demands of life. This must not be the case in the Christian community! The Apostle Paul encourages us to seek the ways which

hear the cry of the poor. Humbleness of heart and the personal experience of suffering can awaken within us a sense of compassion and empathy. The upright understands the cause of the weak, the wicked has not the wit to understand it (Prov 29:7). We can then understand the beatitude of those who mourn (Mt 5:5), those who in effect are capable of looking beyond themselves and feeling compassion for the suffering of others. Reaching out to others and opening our hearts to their needs can become an opportunity for salvation and blessedness.

silent before evil. I am thinking of all those Christians who, out of human regard or purely personal convenience, adapt to the prevailing mentality, rather than warning their brothers and sisters against ways of thinking and acting that are contrary to the truth and that do not follow the path of goodness. Christian admonishment, for its part, is never motivated by a spirit of accusation or recrimination. It is always moved by love and mercy, and springs from genuine concern for the good of the other. As the Apostle Paul says: If one of you is caught doing something

lead to peace and the ways in which we can support one another (Rom 14:19) for our neighbors good, so that we support one another (15:2), seeking not personal gain but rather the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved (1 Cor 10:33). This mutual correction and encouragement in a spirit of humility and charity must be part of the life of the Christian community. The Lords disciples, united with him through the Eucharist, live in a fellowship that binds them one to another as members of a single body. This means that the other is part of

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Updates

CBCP Monitor
February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

Impediments to ordination
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the following query:) Q: Could you explain and discuss the impediments to ordination to the priesthood? Thanks.L.B., Madison, Wisconsin A: This is a very complex theme and falls more within the province of canon law than liturgy. However, we can outline at least the principal concepts found in Canons 1040-1049. These canons deal with the impediments and irregularities for reception and exercise of orders. They are not all the prerequisites for reception of orders; there are many others such as completion of the necessary studies, admissions as a candidate, reception of the ministries of lector and acolyte, a free handwritten request, and a retreat before receiving orders (see Canons 1033-1039). These are the canons concerned: IRREGULARITIES AND OTHER IMPEDIMENTS Canon 1040. Those affected by any impediment, whether perpetual, which is called an irregularity, or simple, are prevented from receiving orders. The only impediments incurred, however, are those contained in the following canons. An irregularity is a perpetual impediment even though a dispensation may be granted in some cases. A simple impediment can cease by other means. For example, someone who in his youth committed an act of schism and was later reconciled with the Church will always require a dispensation before ordination. A married man has a simple impediment that disappears if he is widowed or, in rare cases, dispensed. This latter dispensation is mostly granted to former Protestant married clergy who are admitted to the priesthood. It is sometimes granted when both spouses in a valid marriage decide to pursue a religious vocation, but such cases are not common. Therefore, the irregularities and impediments are: Canon 1041. The following are irregular for receiving orders: 1/ a person who labors under some form of amentia or other psychic illness due to which, after experts have been consulted, he is judged unqualified to fulfill the ministry properly; 2/ a person who has committed the delict of apostasy, heresy, or schism; 3/ a person who has attempted marriage, even only civilly, while either impeded personally from entering marriage by a matrimonial bond, sacred orders, or a public perpetual vow of chastity, or with a woman bound by a valid marriage or restricted by the same type of vow; 4/ a person who has committed voluntary homicide or procured a completed abortion and all those who positively cooperated in either; 5/ a person who has mutilated himself or another gravely and maliciously or who has attempted suicide; 6/ a person who has placed an act of orders reserved to those in the order of episcopate or presbyterate while either lacking that order or prohibited from its exercise by some declared or imposed canonical penalty. Canon 1042. The following are simply impeded from receiving orders: 1/ a man who has a wife, unless he is legitimately destined to the permanent diaconate; 2/ a person who exercises an office or administration forbidden to clerics according to the norm of cann. 285 and 286 for which he must render an account, until he becomes free by having relinquished the office or administration and rendered the account; 3/ a neophyte unless he has been proven sufficiently in the judgment of the ordinary. Canon 1043. If the Christian faithful are aware of impediments to sacred orders, they are obliged to reveal them to the ordinary or pastor before the ordination. The canons distinguish between the reception of orders and the exercise of orders. In other words, the above impediments do not necessarily make the ordination invalid. Should a man be ordained with an impediment, the question remains if he is then able to exercise the ministry he has received. This is specified in the following canons. They are very clear that those who receive ordination while affected by an undispensed irregularity or impediment are also impeded from exercising the ministry. The exception is the prior delict of apostasy, heresy, or schism unless it was publically known. If hidden, the impediment impedes reception of orders but not the exercise of the orders once received. Canon 1044 1. The following are irregular for the exercise of orders received: 1/ a person who has received orders illegitimately while affected by an irregularity to receive them; 2/ a person who has committed a delict mentioned in can. 1041, n. 2, if the delict is public; 3/ a person who has committed a delict mentioned in can. 1041, nn. 3, 4, 5, 6. 2. The following are impeded from the exercise of orders: 1/ a person who has received orders illegitimately while prevented by an impediment from receiving them; 2/ a person who is affected by amentia or some other psychic illness mentioned in can. 1041, n. 1 until the ordinary, after consulting an expert, permits the exercise of the order. Canon 1045. Ignorance of the irregularities and impediments does not exempt from them. Canon 1046. Irregularities and impediments are multiplied if they arise from different causes. They are not multiplied, however, if they arise from the repetition of the same cause unless it is a question of the irregularity for voluntary homicide or for having procured a completed abortion. Canon 1047 1. Dispensation from all irregularities is reserved to the Apostolic See alone if the fact on which they are based has been brought to the judicial forum. 2. Dispensation from the following irregularities and impediments to receive orders is also reserved to the Apostolic See: 1/ irregularities from the public delicts mentioned in can. 1041, nn. 2 and 3; 2/ the irregularity from the delict mentioned in can. 1041, n. 4, whether public or occult; 3/ the impediment mentioned in can. 1042, n. 1. 3. Dispensation in public cases from the irregularities from exercising an order received mentioned in can. 1041, n. 3, and even in occult cases from the irregularities mentioned in can. 1041, n. 4 is also reserved to the Apostolic See. 4. An ordinary is able to dispense from irregularities and impediments not reserved to the Holy See. Canon 1048. In more urgent occult cases, if the ordinary
Impediments / B4

Understanding the socalled Favor Matrimonii

By Fr. Jaime Blanco Achacoso, J.C.D.
AT times we hear of couples whose marriage had supposedly broken down irreparably. Unfortunately, at times also we hear of such couples separating after having been counseled to do so by supposedly Catholic institutionson the grounds that in conscience they think their marriage was invalid from the start. More unfortunate still is when either or both of them subsequently enter into new matrimonial relationships, at the margin of any authoritative declaration of the nullity of their previous canonical marriage. In short, they enter into a new marriageobviously civilly onlybased on what they claim is their conviction that their previous marriage was invalid, clearly ignoring what in Church Law is called the favor matrimonii. Notion of the Favor Matrimonii and the Point of Controversy Can. 1060 of the Code of Canon Law states: Marriage enjoys the favor of the law; consequently, when a doubt exists the validity of a marriage is to be upheld until the contrary is proven. Though the canon clearly establishes the presumption of validity of a canonically canonical marriage of a general presumption that constitutes a principle in all juridic systems: The presumption of validity of a juridic act whose external (juridically relevant) elements have been verified correct, as expressed in c.124, 2: A juridic act correctly placed with respect to its external elements is presumed to be valid. Thus, a juridic presumption is the link established by law between a certain fact (the external elements of given juridic reality), which is called the factical index or basis of the presumption, and that juridic reality, which is called the presumed fact. On the other hand, as John Paul II--addressing the members of the Roman Rota on 29.I.2004--had pointed out this presumption cannot be interpreted as the mere protection of appearances or of the status quo as such, since the possibility of contesting the act is also provided for, within reasonable limits. Rather, what appears outwardly to be correctly placed, to the extent that it is lawful, deserves initially to be considered valid and, consequently, to be upheld by law since this external reference point is the only one which the legal system realistically provides to discern situations which must be safeguarded. To hypothesize the opposite, that validity of a marriage. Often the real problem is not so much the presumption in words as the overall vision of a marriage itself; hence, the process to ascertain the validity of its celebration is put in doubt. In this regard, a more or less open skepticism has been inferred as to the human ability to recognize the truth about the validity of a marriage. In this area too, a renewed confidence in human reason is necessary with regard both to the essential aspects of marriage and to the specific circumstances of each union. 3. The failure of marriage argument. Finally there is the argument, which holds that the failure of conjugal life implies the invalidity of the marriage. Unfortunately, this erroneous assertion is sometimes so forceful as to become a generalized prejudice that leads people to seek grounds for nullity as a merely formal justification of a pronouncement that is actually based on the empirical factor of matrimonial failure. This unjust formalism of those who are opposed to the traditional favor matrimonii can lead them to forget that, in accordance with human experience marked by sin, even a valid marriage can fail because of the spouses own misuse of freedom. Logical and conceptual flaws 2. Favor matrimonii vs. favor libertatis. More absurd still is the contraposition made by other authors between the favor iuris enjoyed by marriage and an erroneous application of the general principle in dubio pro libertate, according to which one must not burden anyone with an obligation unless such obligation is certain. However, such objectors forget that the principle in dubio pro libertate operates only when there is no opposing presumption based on a certain fact, such as the common good which is the case in the favor matrimonii. On the other hand, what they claim as the right to freedom of the spouses almost always refers to the future-i.e., a liberation from past commitments--disregarding the obvious fact that such commitments were made in the exercise of their own freedom in the first place. It is interesting to understand favor matrimonii precisely from the point of view of the freedom of the spouses-i.e., the protection of their ius connubii which had already been exercised (and exhausted) when they validly contracted marriage. Conclusion In the end we have to conclude with John Paul II that the problem concerns the concept of marriage seen in a global

celebrated marriage, the continued applicability of such a juridic presumption has been contested. The problem stems in part from the very redaction of c.1060, in which the causal particle quare seems to suggests that the reason for the presumption of validity of a marriage (duly celebrated or peacefully accepted and consequently placed in doubt) is the favor iuris enjoyed by marriage. Thus, this doctrine has been attacked from the point of view of the validity of the favor matrimonii, i.e., the favor iuris enjoyed by marriage itself. Before addressing the attacks against the favor matrimonii itself, it is good to remove the red herring, by making the conceptual distinction between the two parts of c.1060: 1st Part: Marriage enjoys the favor of the law. This is the canonical declaration of the favor matrimonii. 2nd Part: When doubt exists, the validity of a marriage is to be upheld until the contrary is proven. This actually constitutes the canonical declaration of the presumption of validity of a marriage duly celebrated canonically or hitherto peacefully accepted. It is important to realize that the foundation of the presumption of validity of a duly celebrated canonical marriage is not the favor matrimonii. Rather, it is simply an application to the case of

is, the obligation to provide positive proof of the validity of the respective acts, would mean exposing the subjects to a demand that would be almost impossible to achieve. Arguments against the Favor Matrimonii John Paul II, in the aforementioned address, outlined the attacks against the principles enunciated by c.1060 as follows: 1. Skepticism regarding the validity of consent at present times. To some people, [the favor matrimonii] seems to be anchored in social and cultural situations of the past, in which the request to marry in accordance with canon law had normally implied that those engaged to be married un d e r s t ood a nd a c c ep t ed the true nature of marriage. In the crisis that marks the institution of marriage today-those people hold--the very validity of the consent may often be jeopardized, due to various forms of incapacity or to the absence of the essential properties. Thus, these critics wonder if it might not be correct to presume the invalidity of the marriage contracted rather than its validity. In this perspective, the favor matrimonii, they say, should give way to the favor personae, the favor veritatis subiecti or the favor libertatis. 2. Skepticism regarding the process of ascertaining the

in the arguments against the Favor Matrimonii After clarifying the real basis of the presumptio iuris for the validity of a duly-celebrated canonical marriage, we can reduce the objections to the favor matrimonii to two: 1. Favor matrimonii vs. favor personae seu favor veritatis subiecti. The confrontation that some authors make between the favor matrimonii and the so-called favor personae or favor veritatis subiecti belies a reductive vision of the favor matrimonii, understood almost exclusively in its abstract or institutional sense, disconnected from any concrete marriage, which is always founded on the truth of an authentic marital consent legitimately manifested between two capable persons. We have to recall that the favor matrimonii is simply the juridical protection of a very personal right--the ius connubii of the spouses--and the truth of a very real and concrete marriage. At the same time, such objection often belies an equally narrow view of the so-called favor personae or favor veritatis subiecti which often refers only to the person of the spouse or spouses who are pretending the declaration of nullity of a marriage, disregarding those who hold its validity or who may be interested in its eventual convalidation.

vision of reality. The essential dimension of the justness of marriage, which is based on an intrinsically juridical reality, is replaced by empirical viewpoints of a sociological, psychological, etc. kind, as well as by various forms of juridical positivism. Without in any way belittling the valid contributions of sociology, psychology or psychiatry, it cannot be forgotten that an authentically juridical consideration of marriage requires a metaphysical vision of the human person and of the conjugal relationship. Without this ontological foundation the institution of marriage becomes merely an extrinsic superstructure, the result of the law and of social conditioning, which limits the freedom of the person to fulfill himself or herself. It is necessary instead to rediscover the truth, goodness and beauty of the marriage institution. Since it is the work of God himself, through human nature and the freedom of consent of the engaged couple, marriage remains an indissoluble personal reality, a bond of justice and love, linked from eternity to the plan of salvation and raised in the fullness of time to the dignity of a Christian sacrament. It is this reality that the Church and the world must encourage! This is the true favor matrimonii!

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CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

Year of the Missions

Mission Festival on April 18 to 20 at the Marikina Sports Complex. Since one of our tasks in the youth ministry is the formation of our young people to be missionaries, this Year of the PMS is a fitting continuation of our faith-journey from last years CBCP Year of the Youth, he said. The Church official called on parish-based and school-based youth groups and independent organizations nationwide to send representatives to join their respective diocesan delegation to the Grand Mission Festival. I wish us youth ministers and the young people under our care to collaborate with the PMS and their diocesan counterparts in the activities for this special year, both at the national and diocesan levels. In particular, I invite you to participate in the Grand Mission Festival this 1820 April 2012 in the Diocese of Antipolo, he said. For those in dioceses, let us do this by linking with the Mission Director of our respective dioceses and joining the delegation of the diocese; for those in FNYO (Federation of National Youth Organizations) member-organizations, by organizing our own respective delegations to this event, he added. Garganta likewise urged the young to pray for the renewal of missions, which the CBCP president, Archbishop Jose Palma, has requested the faithful to pray during Sunday Eucharist this 2012. (YouthPinoy)

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Youth urged to participate in the Year of Mission

AFTER the successful celebration of Year of the Youth in 2011, young Catholics are now encouraged to actively participate in the on-going Year of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) by no less than the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) invited youth ministers to actively participate in the Year of PMS, citing the relation of youth apostolate with the formation of young Catholics to be missionaries. ECY executive secretary Fr. Co neg u n d o G arg a n t a encouraged youth ministers to collaborate with the PMS and their diocesan counterparts for the activities set for the occasion, especially the upcoming Grand

CBCP Media Office holds seminarworkshop for campus journalists

IN a bid to promote more effectively the yearlong celebration of the Year of Mission, the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) gathered several high school and college students for a journalism workshop- seminar at the Pontifical Mission Society building in Manila, February 11. Some 25 high school and college students from different schools around Metro Manila, Rizal and Laguna participated in the daylong seminar aimed at helping students to enhance their skills in writing, to boost their knowledge in the view of the Church in terms of media association and the appreciation of journalistic writing as a vocation. A collaborative effort of the CBCP Media office and the Pontifical Mission Society (PMS), the seminar-workshop was conceptualized by Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, Media Director of the CBCP to involve student publications in promoting the celebration of the Year of Pontifical Mission Society. The idea just came from Monsignor Pepe, [since] 2012 is the Pontifical Year of Missions
Seminar / B4

Lone Filipino Missionary Priest in the South Pacific Ocean

By Alfie Africa, MSP
FATHER Ver Aro, a priest of the Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP), took the challenge to be assigned as lone missionary in the Island of Tukelau, a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. Tuekelau is considered mission sui juris and, as such, is under the direct supervision of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Thus, Fr. Aro received his official appointment from the Vatican. He was installed by His Excellency, Most Reverend Charles Balvo, Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, as the Ecclesiastical Superior of the Catholic Christian community in Tokelau on October 1, 2011, the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Patroness of Mission. Though Fr. Aro has yet to learn the language, on the first day of his assumption to the office, he has already celebrated the mass in the vernacular of Tokelau, as he proudly reported. Christianity in Tukelau Tukelau, a Polynesian word which means north wind, consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400. Christianity was preached to the island from 1845 to the 1860s by French Catholic missionaries and missionaries of the Protestant London Missionary Society. The beginning of MSPs mission in the place For the past twenty years the Tukelau Mission was administered by a diocesan priest from New Zealand, Monsignor Patrick OConnor. When he reached the age of seventy-five, he tendered his mandatory resignation as the Ecclesiastical Superior. However, it took almost five years before the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo, found a replacement for him. The isolation of the place is one big reason for some missionary congregations to decline the offer to take charge of Tokelau Mission. When the Nuncio learnt of MSPs presence in the Pacific and Oceania, he asked the MSP Leadership to handle this Mission in Tokelau which is Mission Sui Juris. Monsignor Charles Balvo explained that the priest who will be assigned here will be the Ecclesiastical Superior and will become member of the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific. He will join the bishops in the Ad Limina visit in Rome every five years to give his periodic report. Since the Mission Society of the Philippines received its Pontifical Right Status on January 6, 2009, the acceptance of such mission in the South Pacific sealed that invaluable recognition of its missionary presence in such territory which is directly under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. With the approval of the Council, the MSP recommended Fr. Oliver Aro who is willing to take the challenge of working in Tokelau as the first MSP missionary. Mission in Tukelau Mission in Tokelau is both appealing and challenging. The simplicity of the people and the tranquility of the place can easily captivate the attention and queer imagination of every missionary. Creative mind is most helpful in enduring and exhausting different possibilities in this mission territory. However, the trip to Tokelau from Samoa by boat can be cruel at times. Since the trip to Tokelau is through the open seas in the South Pacific Ocean, huge waves are treacherous for a small boat to navigate. From Apia, the capital of Samoa, the boat is allowed to carry a limited number of 14 passengers only though in the inter island trips about forty passengers can be accommodated. On fair weather condition, if
Lone / B4

Canossian students, teachers launch Year of Mission

IN line with the declaration of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines for 2012 as the Year of Pontifical Mission Society, the academic community of Canossa Academy in Calamba has launched their local celebration, January 31. Around 1,000 grade school and high school students together with some teachers, staff and religious sisters gathered for the celebration of the Year of Mission at the Canossa Academy grounds. Sr. Marie Maureen Cejas, a Canossian nun and secretary for Mission Education Commission of the Pontifical Mission Society (PMS), said the event was highlighted with a Holy Mass presided by the Diocesan Mission Director of San Pablo diocese, Fr. Rolo Alcasid, SDB. Alcasid, in his homily has stressed the role of the members of the Holy Childhood Association. Children must help other children and must inspire other children to become missionaries, he said. In a mission animation given before the Mass, Cejas presented the theme of the
Photo courtesy of Sr. Maureen Cejas, FdCC

Novaliches launches Year of Mission

year of mission Remembering our History, Proclaiming Jesus Story, Celebrating our Faith. She showed pictures of the schools involvements in PMS at the National level, such as the Holy Childhood Convocation held in Pasay City Sports Complex last January 2011 and the Propaganda Fide Convocation held last October 2011 in Ateneo de Manila. The school was also involved during the national launching of Year of Pontifical Mission Society at the St. Therese Shrine

in Pasay last January 14. Cejas proposed some activities to the young people like joining the Grand Mission Festival in March 2012 and by liking the PMS in Facebook were they can send messages, reflections and stories on what their world is like with PMS. On the local level, Cejas said they will continue the mission animation during Religion classes, prayer adoration for the renewal in Mission, intensify promotion of the Holy Childhood and

Propaganda Fide members, conduct formation through the outreach program and use the Mission rosary in praying the rosary for missions. The nun also mentioned that they are all members of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The grade school pupils are members of Holy Childhood Association and while the High School students are Propaganda Fide members. When asked about the contribution of their young members to the celebration of the year of missions, the Canossian sister pointed out that the youth can intensify their role to be SMART Canossians. Why smart? Because they are SHARERS of Gods Love, MAN and Woman of Faith, ACADEMICALLY competent, RESPONSIBLE Agent of Transformation and TRUE Brothers and Sisters to the poor, she explained. Upcoming events for the young Canossians are the launching at Canossa San Pablo and Sta. Rosa of the celebration of the Year of Missions on February 20 during the celebration of Consecrated Life of the Diocese of San Pablo. (Jandel Posion)

ABOUT 500 priests, religious sisters and brothers, youth groups and lay people gathered at St. Peters Parish in Commonwealth, February 3 at the launching of the Year of Pontifical Mission Society. Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias led the Holy Mass, stressing in his homily that mission is the life of the Church. While expressing his support on the activities initiated by the Pontifical Mission Society, Tobias also emphasized that every Christian is called to be a missionary and a part of the integral process of becoming faithful disciples of Christ. Meanwhile, PMS national director Fr. Soc Mesiona, MSP, in a talk given before the Mass, stressed the significance of the declaration of the Year of Mission which aims to rekindle the missionary vocation of every Catholic. He also explained the four pontifical societies of PMS and its goal of promoting the missionary spirit in the Church. The ongoing missionary promotion

of PMS through the Pope Mission Societies namely, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith: passes on the mission flame by promoting a world-wide mission enthusiasm, the second is the Society of St. Peter the Apostle: serves mission through the spiritual and intellectual formation of apostolic personnel, third is the Holy Childhood: fosters mission awareness and commitment of Children and lastly, the Missionary union of the Clergy promotes the missionary dimensions of priestly life and prays for an increase in missionary vocations. Diocesan Mission director Fr. Polash Henry Gomes, SX, disclosed various activities lined up for the year-long celebration of the Year of Mission. Activities include Diocesan Children Congress on May 26, 2012; Promotion of Mission Rosary in parish level for the Month of October; Mission Awareness Seminar on October 6, 2012; Welcoming and Sending off Mission Mass on

www.facebook.com

October 21; and the Closing program for The Year of PMS on December 15 in Good Shepherd Cathedral. Noting that every Christian is a missionary by virtue of baptism, Gomes said the promotion of missionary spirit is a task shared by all. All of us both religious and lay are called to be active missionary in our respective sector, place or church. We dare to hope that our Local Church will become a communion of Basic Ecclesial Communities filled with missionary spirit. A Spirit which makes us aware that the church is missionary in nature and that promotion of mission should not be peripheral but a key element in the normal pastoral activity of parishes, schools, mandated organizations and groups, especially children and youth, he said. The launching was spearheaded by the Mission Animation Ministry (NAM) of the Diocese of Novaliches. (Jandel Posion)

Photo courtesy of Fr. Polash Gomes, SX

Photo courtesy of Sr. Maureen Cejas, FdCC

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By Fr. Mickey Cardenas

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles

Features

CBCP Monitor
February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

THE Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral was formally declared as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles on February 2, feast day of Our Lady of Candles or Nuestra Seora de la Candelaria. In his message for the occasion, Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo said Our celebration this year of Jaro Fiesta becomes doubly meaningful because our Cathedral is now a National Shrine of Our Lady, the Candlebearer, the bearer of Jesus who is the light of the world. In the same message the Archbishop reminded the faithful that Our devotion to Mary, the Candle-bearer, should lead us to her as Bearer of the Light of the World. She is not the Light herself but she brings the Light wherever she goes. She mirrors for us our expectations for a better humanity. True devotion to Mary, the Candle-bearer, would mean a challenge to the faithful: Our involvement in human development and social transformation should make us look towards Mary. The ideal is, the more devoted we are to Mary the more we are impelled to work for human development and social transformation, Archbishop Lagdameo said. Likewise, Bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza, Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Candles Parish, emphasized in his message that Like Mary, the Candle Bearer, may our personal and communal witnessing of our faith radiate the light of Christ to all pilgrims so that they may acquire renewed vigor to adhere and live the Gospel values for the renewal of our Church and society. These messages of the Archbishop and the Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro tell us that the recognition granted by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines with the subsequent declaration of the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles on February 2 is not a mere formality but a great call and a challenge to the parishioners of Jaro Cathedral. According to Fr. Alejandro P. Esperancilla, Special Assistant for Liturgical Affairs of Jaro Cathedral, it is not enough that we have a beautiful church. A shrinemore so a National Shrinehas to do more than what is normally expected in a simple parish. To be designated a Shrine is not just a privilege.
Impediments / B2

held outside the church during the day. Although the shrine is frequented daily by devotees, during fiesta it receives the most number of pilgrims who visit the shrine and pay homage to the Blessed Mother and touch her image. The faithful can also avail of the sacrament of Penance from Tuesday to Friday in the morning and in the afternoon from 4:30 until 5:50 p.m. The parish plans to build a new parish convent which will include a Chapel to accommodate penitents who wish to go to confession so that the shrine will have a more conducive place for confessions undisturbed by the many liturgical activities in the church. Center of evangelization In the different barangays surrounding the shrine the parish has established Basic Ecclesial Communities consisting of 10 to 15 households. These are called the URNA cells for they gather around the urna of Our Lady of Candles which are passed around daily from one family to the next. They also gather for their weekly faith-sharing and formation. Through its Education arm the shrine/parish conducts catechism classes in public schools, weekend catechesis for children in the barangays, and adult catechesis. The Shrine has 14 professional catechists who undergo an on-going formation program and classes. And it also has 38 volunteer weekend catechists. The parish helps the shrine pilgrims grow in their devotion to Mary by providing them with on-going catechesis. The catechesis is currently held in the La Isabelita building by the Jaro Parish Catechetical Ministry and the Cofradia. The faithful of the parish of Jaro, through the shepherding of its Pastor, Bishop Alminaza, are ready to answer the call and face the challenge: We believe that now being a National Marian Shrine with a new Shared Vision, we have many opportunities to greatly contribute to the fulfillment of the desire of our Holy Father in declaring the Year of Faith, which will begin on 11 October 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II, and will end on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Universal King on 24 November 2013, to be a moment of rediscovering the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ (Porta Fidei, 2).

Our Lady of Candles Parish, Jaro, Iloilo City

It also brings with it obligations we have to fulfill. As a newlydesignated National Shrine, the faithful of the parish of Jaro have been tasked with the care, not just of the shrine but also of its pilgrims. A de facto Shrine The Church defines a shrine as a church or other sacred place which, with the approval of the local Ordinary, is by reason of special devotion, frequented by the faithful as pilgrims. The Bishop has to recognize the sacred place by decree as a shrine, in order that it may be designated as such. But in reality, as in the case of the Shrine of the Candelaria, the bishop merely recognizes what has already been a de facto shrine, made so by the people, years and even centuries before. To be called a diocesan shrine, the bishop has to recognize it as such and names it so through a decree. To be called a National Shrine, the Episcopal Conference of a country, in our case the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, or CBCP, has to recognize it with a decree approved by all the bishops of that country. Many pilgrims from all over the country find in the Parish Church of Jaro a worthy Shrine, where people can truly encounter God in prayer, in the sacraments, in the proclaimed word and in the charity of the faithful.

A center of charitable works The shrine has what it calls the KABALAKA Project. This is a program of the Shrine/Parish of Jaro to help people help themselves by reducing poverty through meaningful livelihood programs in the Basic Ecclesial Communities, the Church in the neighborhood. It consists of the following: Formation and Livelihood Training Programs, Marketing Support, Micro-Credit and Day-Jobs Networking. It also established three years ago the Our Lady of Candles Cooperative which manufactures partly the official candles sold by the shrine. These in turn are sold by members of Basic Ecclesial Communities in the barangays surrounding the shrine. Through its social action arm, the shrine/parish also provides monthly medical/dental missions, nutrition program for malnourished children under Dulang Paglaum, Scholarship programs and Emergency assistance consisting of food and medicines. The parish faithful have promised to improve significantly the Social Action Ministry arm of the Parish that it may fulfill its mission to redistribute the wealth of the parish to those who have less through meaningful livelihood programs. Liturgical celebrations The church holds five masses a day from Monday to Saturday,

with three masses in the morning, one at noon and another at 5:30 in the afternoon. On Sundays, nine masses are made available to the faithful. Baptisms are celebrated weekly on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. As the Seat of the Archdiocese it celebrates two confirmations every month on the first and third Thursdays catering to the needs of the faithful in the whole archdiocese. A Perpetual Adoration Chapel is located in the church compound where people come to adore the Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist. This is one of the first Adoration Chapels constructed in the archdiocese and is open the whole day. Devotees use this place for a more personal encounter with the Lord after visiting the sacred image of Our Lady of Candles. The Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of Candles is held every Thursday at 5 p.m., thirty minutes before the mass. A Parish Vespers using the Liturgy of the Hours is held every Saturday at 5 p.m. before the anticipated mass. This common prayer was initiated by the Cofradia of Our Lady of Candles. The praying of the Liturgy of the Hours is part of the duties of members of the Cofradia. The Holy Rosary is recited in common at the balcony in front of the cathedral where the venerated image is located. At present this is done every first

Saturday of the month at 6 p.m. A dawn rosary is also held at 5 a.m. every Saturday, and during October this is done every day and participated by the different Barangays of the Parish. To facilitate the constant influx of pilgrims, especially from out of town, the church is open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Balcony shrine, however, where the venerated image is located is open 24 hours a day. Many people come to mass on Sundays beginning with the anticipated mass which is attended mostly by young people being a youth mass. The nine masses on Sundays are also well attended and are usually SROs with the crowd overflowing in the church park (the church can only seat 1,500 people). To facilitate and active participation of the faithful in the liturgy, the parish has installed a sound system in the park and during special occasions also installs widescreen videos for the people. The daily masses are attended not just by parishioners but also by people from all over the city and out of town visitors. Attendance averages from 200 to 400 people per mass. During fiesta on February 2 the parish holds at least 11 masses inside the church, and another 14 masses in the grotto located within the compound to cater to thousands of devotees. In the tradition of Ilonggos, the palapak is continually

Seminar / B3

Lone / B3

or, when it concerns the irregularities mentioned in can. 1041, nn. 3 and 4, the Penitentiary cannot be approached and if there is imminent danger of grave harm or infamy, a person impeded by an irregularity from exercising an order can exercise it, but without prejudice to the obligation which remains of making recourse as soon as possible to the ordinary or the Penitentiary, omitting the name and through a confessor. Canon 1049 1. Petitions to obtain a dispensation from irregularities or impediments must indicate all the irregularities and impediments. Nevertheless, a general dispensation is valid even for those omitted in good faith, except for the irregularities

mentioned in can. 1041, n. 4, and for others brought to the judicial forum, but not for those omitted in bad faith. 2. If it is a question of the irregularity from voluntary homicide or a procured abortion, the number of the delicts also must be mentioned for the validity of the dispensation. 3. A general dispensation from irregularities and impediments to receive orders is valid for all the orders. There are many questions to be resolved regarding the concrete application of these irregularities and impediments, and each case must be resolved on its merits. Canon lawyers debate the fine points of the

law as to when certain impediments are applicable or not. For example, what should be done when a mental condition might not be permanent? Is a man who caused a death by imprudent driving subject to the impediment of homicide? Does a doubtfully genuine suicide attempt invoke the irregularity? These are just some of the questions that have to be resolved. Finally, most canonists would appear to agree that most irregularities and impediments would not apply to someone who was not Catholic at the time of the delict, although they would still have to be carefully weighed in judging a mans suitability for ordination.

and we need to really promote it, PMS National Director Fr. Soc Mesiona said. Mesiona added that the student participants are active in school publications in their respective schools. These students, as school journalists, are active in promoting missions. We, in the PMS are hoping that they can feature and promote fully [in their publications] this special year of the missions. Joining Quitorio in the workshop were CBCP Media Office staff writers Ronalyn Regino, Yen Ocampo and Jandel Posion. TopicsfocusedontheChurchandMedia Apostolate, Introduction to Journalism, Elements of Catholic Journalism and the basics and Techniques in News Writing. (Jandel Posion/CBCPNews)

people are lucky enough, the trip can be only 27 hours; otherwise, it could be more than 30 hours. With seasickness, the trip is an agony for as long as the trip is, so long is the fasting would be as no food can stay in ones stomach. With this very unpleasant experience on the boat trip and the warm acceptance of the people, once a missionary arrives at the place, he would think twice seriously if he would take another trip out of the island again in the soonest possible time. The Tokelauans are very warm people and have a strong faith and trust in Gods providence. Fr. Aro will surely learn many things from the people and will be most challenged by their capacity to see things through Gods eyes.

May They Be One

Help Put a Bible in Every Filipino Home
Members of the MTBO Advisory Committee: Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo DD, Fr. Oscar A. Alunday, Mr. Rod G. Cornejo, Mr. Rene E. Cristobal Sr., Dr. Philip C. Flores, Mr. Dante M. Lanorio, Fr. Antonio B. Navarrete, Fr. Art B. Orense and Mr. Albert S. Tanlimco. Praise God for hundreds of people from different schools, parishes, offices and sectors who have already registered for the May They Be One Bible Run scheduled for March 3, 5 a.m. at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park. Pray for more organizations, parishes and schools to participate in the historic, first-of-its-kind unity Bible Run. To learn more about how you can be part of the Campaign and make significant change, call us at PBS 526-7777, ECBA 527-9386 or visit www.bible.org.ph and www.ecba-cbcp.com. Donations can be made by making a deposit at any BPI branch to the following bank accounts: PBS-MTBO Account #393-0649-34 (BPI Sta. Mesa Branch). Fax deposit slip to 521-5803 or ECBA-CBCP Account #0251-021376 (BPI-Tayuman Branch) Fax deposit slip to 527-9386. For credit card payments go to PBS website (www.bible.org.ph)

The old is gone, the new has come

TWO members of the San Rafael Parish in Tondo, Manila share how their lives were changed as a result of their encounter with Gods Word under the May They Be One (MTBO) Bible campaign. Josie Lico, prayer coordinator of the parish, says that she may have been a frequent churchgoer in the past but she admits that she lacked love toward her neighbor. Ever since she received an MTBO Bible and began taking part in the parishs Bible sharing activity, her love for her neighbor became much stronger. In fact, it became easier for her to forgive those who did her wrong. For her part, Erlinda Logicas change came in the experience of greater courage. Erlinda says that she once had stage fright, but that thanks to the MTBO Bible and the ensuing Bible formation in the parish, she found a voice. She can now readily share what the Lord has done for her life before a crowdwithout fear or trembling. Indeed anyone who is joined to Christ (the Word) is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. Total Bible Distribution: (Jan 2009- Feb. 08, 2012): 553,144 cps Target No. of Bibles for Distribution for 2012: 600,000 cps. No. of Dioceses participating in the Bible Campaign 83 out of 86 Dioceses Bibles Distributed (Jan 1, 2012 - Feb. 8, 2012): 19,286 copies Bibles Distributed by Languages - Tagalog (13,391 cps.) Cebuano (2,691cps.) English (1,712cps.), Hiligaynon (402 cps.), Ilocano (1,090 cps.), Samarenyo (200 cps.) Parishes/Communities served in 2012: 9 Total Funds Needed for Printing and Transport of Bibles in 2012: P60M

Bible Campaign

Photo courtesy of Fr. Mickey Cardenas

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

Statements

B5
Re-affirming the Peoples faith in the Judiciary: A call for Chief Justice Renato C. Corona to give his written consent to the opening of his Foreign Currency Deposit Accounts relative to the Impeachment Proceedings
The behavior and conduct of judges must re-affirm the peoples faith in the integrity of the Judiciary. Justice must not merely be done but must also be seen to be done. (Section 2, Canon 2 of the New Code of Judicial Conduct) IN an unfortunate turn of events, the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the Senate acting as an Impeachment Court, preventively cutting short the inquiries conducted last February 9, 2012 relative to the accounts owned and maintained by Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, specifically as regards his foreign currency deposits, pursuant to section 8 of RA 6426 (as amended by P.D. 1035, and further amended by PD 1246) which declares and considers all foreign currency deposits as absolutely confidential in nature and in no instance shall these deposits be inquired or looked into by any person, government official, or office whether judicial or administrative or legislative, or any other entity EXCEPT upon the written permission of the depositor. This is truly disconcerting inasmuch as the political process of impeachment is seen by many Filipinos as an avenue for authentic institutional reforms in the Judiciary. Instead, the impeachment trial of CJ Corona is being challenged as a violation of the theory of Co-Equal Branches of Government, more so when viewed in light of the prevailing criticism that the Supreme Court has stepped in on this issue, to protect one of its own. The CEAP, a national association comprising 1,345 schools, colleges and universities, believes that CJ Coronas voluntary assent to open his foreign currency deposit accounts can set the tone for authentic judicial reforms by letting the Impeachment Proceedings run its course and not insist on meeting the Legislative and Executive branches head-on with this issue, lest it would stir conditions ripe for a constitutional crisis in our country. Moral Integrity Judges shall ensure that not only is their conduct above reproach, but that it is perceived to be so in the view of a reasonable observer. Section 1, Canon 2 New Code of Judicial Conduct. The CEAP believes that a judge must be someone who gives a tangible semblance to an otherwise intangible conceptjustice in society. In fact, some judicial pronouncements even describe judges as the visible representation of the law and justice. (Arban vs. Borja, 143 SCRA 634) This must be so because the peoples faith in the legal and judicial system is not based only on the magnitude of legal knowledge and diligence of members of the bench but also on the highest standard of integrity and moral uprightness they are expected to possess. (Dawa vs. De Asa 292 SCRA 703) Simply put, it is about integrity. In the Judiciary, moral integrity is more than a cardinal virtue, it is a necessity. (Pascual vs. Judge Rodolfo R. Bonifacio, 398 SCRA 695.) If this ethical standard is made to apply to all judges, this admits of no exceptions, not even for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Thus, when Chief Justice Corona conveniently hides behind the mantle of protection offered by this TRO issued in favor of PSBank, it reveals his questionable character leading one to logically posit this questionif Chief Justice Corona is truly innocent as he so claims, then why is there resistance in the request for a disclosure of his foreign currency deposit accounts? The CEAP calls on the Chief Justice to be a shining example to all members of the bench by exhibiting the kind of moral uprightness demanded of them as best exemplified if he provides his written assent to the disclosure of his foreign currency deposit accounts. Propriety Like all positions in government, a judicial office is also regarded as a public trust. As such, his actions must be viewed closely by the public as any betrayal of his sworn duties only serves to destroy that trust reposed on him by the people and only contributes to the further erosion of the peoples faith in the Judiciary. While Canon 4, sec.6 of the New Code of Judicial Conduct explicitly recognizes that judges, like any other citizen, are entitled to basic constitutional freedoms his freedom of expression, assembly, including his right to privacy in relation to his financial records the same proviso is also clear that in the exercise of such rights, the judge must always conduct himself in such a manner as to preserve the dignity of the judicial office and impartiality and independence of the judiciary. To that end, if there is truly nothing that Chief Justice Corona is hiding in his foreign currency deposit accounts, the CEAP strongly urges CJ Corona to take heed and permit the disclosure of the same. Not only is this consistent with ethical standards, the same is likewise consistent with the requirement of a judge to be financially transparent about his personal fiduciary interests as well as those of his family members. A disclosure of these foreign currency deposits also strengthens the capacity of the people to have access to relevant records not ordinarily available to them, an essential component in the publics right to know whether its servant, the judge (the Chief Justice) is properly performing his duty. As held in Cowley vs Pulsifer (137 Mass. 392): It is of the highest moment that those who administer justice should act under the sense of public responsibility, and that every citizen should be able to satisfy himself with his own eyes as to the mode in which a public duty is performed. We therefore urge CHIEF JUSTICE CORONA to heed our call. In the interest of truth and justice, allow the disclosure of these foreign currency deposit accounts in order that the Impeachment Proceedings can fully and fairly take place. We pray that the Chief Justice recognize the impeachment proceedings as a vital part of our political exercise designed by the 1987 Constitution for the protection of the body politic, and therefore must take all steps to ensure that this political exercise enshrined in our Constitution be faithfully carried out. Finally we hope that CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO C. CORONA is one with us, in our collective call for authentic and long lasting reforms not only in the judiciary but also in other branches of governmentcharacterized by a high sense of accountability to the public, financial transparency and utmost integrity, one that not only restores but re-affirms the faith of our people in its public servants. CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES 11 February 2012

Migration and the New Evangelization

Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (2012)

DEAR Brothers and Sisters, Proclaiming Jesus Christ the one Savior of the world constitutes the essential mission of the Church. It is a task and mission which the vast and profound changes of present-day society make all the more urgent (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14). Indeed, today we feel the urgent need to give a fresh impetus and new approaches to the work of evangelization in a world in which the breaking down of frontiers and the new processes of globalization are bringing individuals and peoples even closer. This is both because of the development of the means of social communication and because of the frequency and ease with which individuals and groups can move about today. In this new situation we must reawaken in each one of us the enthusiasm and courage that motivated the first Christian communities to be undaunted heralds of the Gospels newness, making St Pauls words resonate in our hearts: For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Cor 9:16). Migration and the New Evangelization is the theme I have chosen this year for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and it arises from the aforesaid situation. The present time, in fact, calls upon the Church to embark on a new evangelization also in the vast and complex phenomenon of human mobility. This calls for an intensification of her missionary activity both in the regions where the Gospel is proclaimed for the first time and in countries with a Christian tradition. Blessed John Paul II invited us to nourish ourselves with the word in order to be servants

of the word in the work of evangelization ... [in] a situation which is becoming increasingly diversified and demanding, in the context of globalization and of the consequent new and uncertain mingling of peoples and cultures (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 40). Internal or international migration, in fact, as an opening in search of better living conditions or to flee from the threat of persecution, war, violence, hunger or natural disasters, has led to an unprecedented mingling of individuals and peoples, with new problems not only from the human standpoint but also from ethical, religious and spiritual ones. The current and obvious consequences of secularization, the emergence of new sectarian movements, widespread insensitivity to the Christian faith and a marked tendency to fragmentation are obstacles to focusing on a unifying reference that would encourage the formation of one family of brothers and sisters in societies that are becoming ever more multiethnic and intercultural, where also people of various religions are urged to take part in dialogue, so that a serene and fruitful coexistence with respect for legitimate differences may be found, as I wrote in my Message last year for this World Day. Our time is marked by endeavors to efface God and the Churchs teaching from the horizon of life, while doubt, skepticism and indifference are creeping in, seeking to eliminate all the social and symbolic visibility of the Christian faith. In this context, migrants who have known and welcomed Christ are not infrequently constrained to consider him no longer relevant to their lives, to lose the

meaning of their faith, no longer to recognize themselves as members of the Church, and often lead a life no longer marked by Christ and his Gospel. Having grown up among peoples characterized by their Christian faith they often emigrate to countries in which Christians are a minority or where the ancient tradition of faith, no longer a personal conviction or a community religion, has been reduced to a cultural fact. Here the Church is faced with the challenge of helping migrants keep their faith firm even when they are deprived of the cultural support that existed in their country of origin, and of identifying new pastoral approaches, as well as methods and expressions, for an ever vital reception of the Word of God. In some cases this is an opportunity to proclaim that, in Jesus Christ, humanity has been enabled to participate in the mystery of God and in his life of love. Humanity is also opened to a horizon of hope and peace, also through respectful dialogue and a tangible testimony of solidarity. In other cases there is the possibility of reawakening the dormant Christian conscience through a renewed proclamation of the Good News and a more consistent Christian life to enable people to rediscover the beauty of the encounter with Christ who calls Christians to holiness wherever they may be, even in a foreign land. The phenomenon of migration today is also a providential opportunity for the proclamation of the Gospel in the contemporary world. Men and women from various regions of the earth who have not yet encountered Jesus Christ or know
Migration / B7

Stand up and go; your faith has saved you (Lk 17:19)
DEAR Brothers and Sisters, On the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, which we will celebrate on 11 February 2012, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, I wish to renew my spiritual closeness to all sick people who are in places of care or are looked after in their families, expressing to each one of them the solicitude and the affection of the whole Church. In the generous and loving welcoming of every human life, above all of weak and sick life, a Christian expresses an important aspect of his or her Gospel witness, following the example of Christ, who bent down before the material and spiritual sufferings of man in order to heal them. 1. This year, which involves the immediate preparations for the Solemn World Day of the Sick that will be celebrated in Germany on 11 February 2013 and will focus on the emblematic Gospel figure of the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk 10:29-37), I would like to place emphasis upon the sacraments of healing, that is to say upon the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and that of the Anointing of the Sick, which have their natural completion in Eucharistic Communion. The encounter of Jesus with the ten lepers, narrated by the Gospel of Saint Luke (cf. Lk 17:11-19), and in particular the words that the Lord addresses to one of them, Stand up and go; your faith has saved you (v. 19), help us to become aware of the importance of faith for those who, burdened by suffering and illness, draw near to the Lord. In their encounter with him they can truly experience that he who believes is never alone! God, indeed, in his Son, does not abandon us to our anguish and sufferings, but is close to us, helps us to bear them, and wishes to heal us in the depths of our hearts (cf. Mk 2:1-12). The faith of the lone leper who, on seeing that he was healed, full of amazement and joy, and unlike the others, immediately went back to Jesus to express his gratitude, enables us to perceive that reacquired health is a sign of something more precious than mere physical healing, it is a sign of the salvation that God gives us through Christ; it finds expression in the words of Jesus: your faith has saved you. He who in suffering and illness prays to the Lord is certain that Gods love will never abandon him, and also that the love of the Church, the extension in time of the Lords saving work, will never fail. Physical healing, an outward expression of the deepest salvation, thus reveals the importance that manin his entirety of soul and bodyhas for the Lord. Each sacrament, for that matter, expresses and actuates the closeness of God himself, who, in an absolutely freely-given way, touches us through material things that he takes up into his service, making them instruments of the encounter between us and himself (Homily, Chrism Mass, 1 April 2010). The unity between creation and redemption is made visible. The sacraments are an expression of the physicality of our faith, which embraces the whole person, body and soul (Homily, Chrism Mass, 21 April 2011). The principal task of the Church is certainly proclaiming the Kingdom of God, But this very proclamation must be a process of healing: bind up the broken-hearted (Is 61:1) (ibid.), according to the charge entrusted by Jesus to his disciples (cf. Lk 9:1-2; Mt 10:1,514; Mk 6:7-13). The tandem of physical health and renewal after lacerations of the soul thus helps us to understand better the sacraments of healing. 2. The sacrament of Penance has often been at the centre of the reflection of the Churchs Pastors, specifically because of its great importance in the journey of Christian life, given that The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to Gods grace, and joining with him in an intimate friendship (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1468). The Church, in continuing to proclaim Jesus message of forgiveness and reconciliation, never ceases to invite the whole of humanity to convert and to believe in the Gospel. She makes her own the call of the Apostle Paul: So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20). Jesus, during his life, proclaimed and made present the mercy of the Father. He came

Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the 20th World day of the Sick (February 11, 2012)
not to condemn but to forgive and to save, to give hope in the deepest darkness of suffering and sin, and to give eternal life; thus in the sacrament of Penance, in the medicine of confession, the experience of sin does not degenerate into despair but encounters the Love that forgives and transforms (cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 31). God, rich in mercy (Eph 2:4), like the father in the Gospel parable (cf. Lk 15:11-32), does not close his heart to any of his children, but waits for them, looks for them, reaches them where their rejection of communion imprisons them in isolation and division, and calls them to gather around his table, in the joy of the feast of forgiveness and reconciliation. A time of suffering, in which one could be tempted to abandon oneself to discouragement and hopelessness, can thus be transformed into a time of grace so as to return to oneself, and like the prodigal son of the parable, to think anew about ones life, recognizing its errors and failures, longing for the embrace of the Father, and following the pathway to his home. He, in his great love, always and everywhere watches over our lives and awaits us so as to offer to every child that returns to him the gift of full reconciliation and joy. 3. From a reading of the Gospels it emerges clearly that

Stand up / B7

Pinky Barrientos, FSP / CBCP Media

B6

Ref lections

CBCP Monitor
February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

People need not be prisoners of their paralyzing past

An exegetical reflection on the Gospel of the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B (Mark 2:1-12) February 19, 2012
words had authority and power over sickness and diseases, and over the powers of evil. That the man was paralyzed demonstrates the extent to which Satan holds sway, and Jesus came precisely to free men from these powers. But at the same time, the story adds a new dimension to the theme: Jesus had power over sin. In bringing this out, Mark is trying to stress that Jesus is more than a miracle worker. The truth is, he comes from God. And to crystallize this theme, he inserted into the miracle story (vv 3-5,1112) the conflict dialogue (vv 6-10) on the origin of the forgiveness of sins. On the basis of various scriptural texts (Exod 34:6-7; Isa 43:25, 44:2; Ps 103:3), the teachers of the Law argued that forgiveness is a divine prerogative, which God will exercise in the life to come. In having Jesus exercising this divine prerogative, Mark wishes to say that in Jesus Gods presence, power and authority residea proclamation which he later on puts on the lips of a Gentile soldier, who saw how Jesus died on the cross (Mark 15:39). From this text alone, it is difficult to infer the relationship between the two themes: the healing of the paralytic and the forgiveness of sins. Of course, we are familiar with the findings of psychology which shows that our guilt could sometimes paralyze us, and one may be tempted to conclude that if the paralytic was healed, it was because Jesus forgave his sins. After all, this was how Jesus contemporaries thought of physical illness: it had sin for its cause (cf Luke 13:1-5; John 9:2-3). But this is not consistent with what appears in other traditions where Jesus never ascribed physical illness to human sinfulness (John 9:3). The most that can be said is that in touching his condition, Jesus saw that the man needed more than just physical healing. To be able to go back to a really normal life, he needed not just the restoration of his physical defect, but also his reconciliation and fellowship with God. But of course, because the teachers of the Law believed that the man could not be cured unless his sins are forgiven, Jesus did cure him to illustrate that he had the power over sin. Marks purpose would be polemical, then. But the point is simply this: so the man could be truly whole again, Jesus not only made him walk, but also forgave his sins. By exercising his power over sin, Jesus freed the man from the prison of his past. Sins against God and neighborlike

By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD

WHEN a person is paralyzed, he is practically no longer the master of himself. Dependent on others, he is not in control of what he thinks should happen to him. He is not free to chart his future. He can even be brought to places where he would not dare to go. He looks at the world through the eyes of others. At the same time, he no longer moves with the community. In fact, he is often left behind. The community to which he actively belongs in the past tends to alter its attitude. And no matter how much he tries to think that nothing has changed in him except his physical condition, the members of the community will likely imprison him to his condition, sometimes to the effect that they will tend to think there is almost nothing more to him than a paralyzed body. At the heart of todays Gospel (Mark 2:1-12) is a miracle story: it is a narrative about Jesus curing a paralytic. This, of course, represents a continuation of the theme which Mark stressed at the beginning of his gospel: the power of Jesus words. Unlike those of the teachers of the Law, his

Jesus, the total healer

Reflections on the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) February 19, 2012
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
TODAYS Gospel passage says nothing of the reaction of the owner of the house whose roof was ripped open by the four men who wanted to get a paralytic near Jesus at all costs. We can easily guess how that owner of the house felt by just imagining that the house was ours . . . . We can, likewise, easily guess what the people surrounding Jesus expected he would do upon seeing a paralyzed man being laid right in front of him. Obviously, the man had been carried there in order to be healed of his physical impediment. A spectacular miracle was expected by all. But Jesus disappointed them, though only for a little while. He did that not in order to create a greater suspense, but simply because he knew that the man was paralyzed not only physically but also spiritually. And of the two forms of paralysis Jesus cured first the spiritual one because he considered it more crippling than the physical handicap. The scribes present in the crowd reacted negatively to Jesus opening words. To them the sentence, Your sins are forgiven sounded blasphemous. Jesus remained unruffled by their sanctimonious objection and did not engage in a verbal debate. Instead, he answered their objection by simply ordering the paralyzed man to rise, pick up his mat and walk home. In so doing, not only did he solve the scribes difficulty (see v. 6), but also completed the healing of the poor man, thereby showing that he was the perfect healer or the total healer. Jesus was fully aware that there is a deep relationship between our body and our soul, for we are just one being. That is why his ministry was characterized not only by physical healings but also by a constant attempt to liberate the whole human person from whatever disables or destroys it. His casting out devils, his being compassionate toward repentant sinners were as much prominent as his cleansing lepers, restoring
Healer / B7

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greed, lust, and prideaffect our whole person; they change the way we perceive ourselves, our outlook, our attitude to others, and even our relationship with God. There are people who may be physically well, but because of wrong human relationships, they are often caught paralyzed. They are virtual prisoners of their own past. They are bitter about themselves, and about others, and suffer in isolation. They cannot move forward, or cope up with situations which under normal circumstances one can easily put under control. By uttering his powerful word of forgiveness, Jesus offered the paralytic a fresh start. His turbulent soul was healed, his conscience unburdened. And having received forgiveness, he acquired a new power which freed him from the encumbrances of his life, and which made his life whole again. One can be sure that when the man walked away, bringing up his pallet, he was a completely new person, and extremely happy at what had happened to him (cf Isa 43:18-19, 1st Reading ). And, of course, this shows that to lead a truly human life, it is important not only that we are physically healthy, but also that we experience Gods forgiveness, and fellowship with him.

The call to conversion and renewal in the light of the Gospel

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Reflections on the 1st Sunday of Lent (B) National Migrants Sunday February 26, 2012
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
LENT is a long journey with a clear purpose and a wonderful destination: sharing in the life of grace, the fruit of Christs passion and resurrection. It is a quest for a fuller life, orfor those who have lost Gods gracea repentant reaching out toward a renewed experience of Gods friendship. In order to achieve such a purpose, we need to be properly guided. We all need a wise, knowledgeable, and trustworthy guide. People setting out on a journey in unfamiliar regions feel the need for maps and a guide someone who knows the way and can lead the travelers safe and sound to their destination. In our effort to regain or experience more fully the vibrant life of divine grace, we Christians can find no better guide than the WORD OF GOD, both the Old and the New Testaments, and especially the Gospel, which contains the Good News of our salvation and the indication as to how to achieve it. Other books may be more attractive in their typographical presentation; more intriguing in their plots and sparkling in their language. But no piece of literature can match the truthfulness and perennial relevance of the Gospel. Wrapped in the simple words of men who lived more than 19 centuries ago, the Gospel contains a message which is the Word of God, the Word of Christ, the Man of the Good News, our Way, our Truth, our Life. This Lent will be a golden opportunity for us to get acquainted with the content of the Gospel and listen to its heartening message. We can do so individually or with the other members of our family, group, class, or community. But reading it will not suffice. We shall have to assimilate its spirit through a work of prayerful reflection and interiorization, constantly open to the action of the Spirit at work in us in the teaching of the Church as well as in the signs of the times and the experiences and insights of communities and individuals. The Gospel, as the divinely inspired guide, deserves to be trusted to the full. It bears the hallmark of truth on every page. Its author is no apprentice; its
Rise / B7

The call to rise and move forward

Reflections on Ash Wednesday (B) February 22, 2012

By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
LENT is not a season of mourning over an irredeemable past characterized by sin and failure. Rather, it is a time for honest self-evaluation and discernment, a time for prayer, and a time for action. This Lent will necessarily include a reflection on the futility of an aimless life and of a life of sin. It will also include a sincere meditation on the sufferings which Jesus endured because of the sins of mankind . . . because of our sins. But our basic orientation must be a positive one: a yearning for a fuller life of faith, hope, and love, service to God and neighbor. If we find out that our life is to some extent dis-oriented, we have to re-orient it by redirecting it to God, without uncertainties and without delays. We are expected to turn away from the dark paths of spiritual death, and to start walking the highway of a virtuous life. Lent, therefore, is a call to both repentance and commitment. It is not just a matter of calling a halt to a life of lukewarmness,
Conversion / B7

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

WHATEVER

(On the Occasion of World Day of the Sick, February 11)

SOMETIMES caring for the sick can be a very burdensome and unfulfilling task. We must, however, realize that Christ delights in the sacrifice we put in serving our brothers and sisters who may be ill. We will soon discover, if we are patient and compassionate, the treasures that sick people are. Lawrence G. Lovasik says: () sickness brings out many a lovable feature in a person. In sickness, a man becomes once more a man, stripped of official garb and externals of position and honor. Whatever he may have been, upon a bed of suffering he becomes like any simple child in need of help. Sickness makes people more simple and humble. A kind of divine radiance plays over the poor human features of a sick person, for, in some way, he resembles the suffering Christ, outwardly disfigured so that He had no form or comeliness that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. (Isa. 53:2) Perhaps inwardly he is sad, as Christ was when He said, My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. (Mt 26:38) There is nothing that the sick suffer that Christ has not suffered before him. (Op. cit. L.G. Lovasik) We must help those who visit the sick to also discover the gem that our sick brethren are. It is told how St. John of the Cross was once washing the feet of a humble beggar, when suddenly there appeared on the feet he was washing the stigmata of our Lord. Unperturbed and with utter simplicity, the saint looked up into the beggars eyes and said, So it is You, Lord. (Op. cit. L.G. Lovasik) A few ideas: * It is important to know who plan to visit and how many. The patients privacy and rest are our primary and constant concern. Thus, too many visitors might sound great, but not at the expense of the patients health and recovery. * In some sensitive cases, it may advisable to inform the visitors that there is no need to ask the patient about his or her illness, less it could make the person more depressed. Encourage them to talk about cheerful and inspiring topics. * Make the visitors useful. Scheduled visits may be a good chance to request the arriving relatives and friends to bring some things that would delight the patient (i.e. flowers, chocolates, some things at home, etc.) A simple exercise for the sick person in bed or the hospital: 1. Make a list of five people who are most likely to pay you a visit. 2. Make a list of five people who are most unlikely to visit you. 3. Say a prayer or a simple offering for each of these persons. *** Sometimes the best gift we can give our loved ones who are sick is the gift of kindness and affection. Undoubtedly, this can be manifested in very material and concrete details. Our loved ones, however, can sometimes already be filled with peace, joy and understanding if we also learn to genuinely give ourselves to them. This is beautifully described in a story once narrated by Benedict XVI in his book God and the World: Believing and Living in Our Time, A Conversation with Peter Seewald: There is a lovely story told by Rilke. The poet tells how, in Paris, he used always to pass a woman into whose hat someone had thrown a coin. The beggar woman was always quite unmoved by this, as if she had no feelings at all. One day, Rilke gives her a rose. And in that moment her face glows. He sees for the first time that she does have feelings. She smiles, and then for a week she is no longer there begging, because someone has given her something that is more than money. I think that is such a lovely little incident, in which you can see that sometimes a rose, a little act of giving, of affection, of acceptance of the other person, can be more than many coins or other material gifts. Likewise, we should realize that it isnt necessary to do extraordinary things for the sick. Like our Lords miniature gesture of taking the hand of Peters mother-in-law, we can also express in a thousand small hidden details of affection our love, care and compassion for those who are sick. *** On the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, which we will celebrate on 11 February 2012, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, I wish to renew my spiritual closeness to all sick people who are in places of care or are looked after in their families, expressing to each one of them the solicitude and the affection of the whole Church. In the generous and loving welcoming of every human life, above all of weak and sick life, a Christian expresses an important aspect of his or her Gospel witness, following the example of Christ, who bent down before the material and spiritual sufferings of man in order to heal them. (Pope Benedict XVI, 20 November 2011, Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King)

The visited and the visitor

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

Social Concerns
agreement between the SBMA, the Aboitiz Power Corporation, RP Energy, and the Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation (TCC), call them The Power Company. The government was to have a role as partner to monitor compliance with safety and health standards, but that has been eliminated. The government is just a lessor of the public land for a measly give-away pittance, no more than US$3.50 a sq meter to be paid over 50 years. This is grossly detrimental to the public interest, it is worth vastly more than that and it smells of a corrupt sweetheart deal. The present SBMA board must rescind it. The people will get nothing from the profits or the lease but will, in effect, pay for the plant which will damage them and their environment. The rich families will get richer and the poor will get very sick. Another provision of the Memorandum of Understanding agreement was that The Company would assist local communities off-set any damage to the environment and reduce the health risk with state of the art technology. But no written commitment as to what would have been signed. Such health problems has been clearly forecast and acknowledged. A third provision agreed upon was that low-cost electricity would be supplied to the local communities and the SBMA. None of these will happen. The plant will sell all its power to the national grid.

B7

By Fr. Shay Cullen

Subic coal plant getting permits by stealth?

WHEREVER there is a coal-fired power plant, people get sick and die and the environment is damaged beyond repair. Coal is the dirtiest and most toxic form of power generation. The people of Zambales, Bataan and Olongapo City vehemently oppose the proposed coal plant to be built on scenic Subic Bay and are asking what dirty coal deals have been made between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and The Power Company, made up of Aboitiz Power Corporation, RP Energy, and the Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation (TCC) and the higher Philippine government officials who have allowed this to go forward? The toxic fumes of the electricity-generating coal plant will cause many diseases especially among the children and the elderly. Despite the campaign of President Benigno Aquino for a transparent, clean nation, environment and good government, a dirty deal from the past administration is still going ahead in the SBMA and will bring shame and hurt to the President. The three main provisions of the original Memorandum of Understanding set up under the corrupt Arroyo Administration have not been honored or implemented by the proponents of the coal plant. The agreement started out as a joint-partnership
Stand up / B5

As soon as the The Company got the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by higher authorities under strange and questionable circumstances, The Company failed to sign any binding contract with the SBMA. They failed to show any evidence of meeting the strict ECC standards. Inexplicably, they mysteriously got the final permit first. The SBMA officials issued a Permit to Operate (PTO) before the other necessary permits were

issued. The requirements for a PTO apparently were waivered. Besides, all safety and design requirements needed to qualify for a Permit to Operate were allegedly not complied with. Also the original project application stated that it would be a 300 Megawatt coal plant and now they are trying to get an extension of the ECC to double the project to 600 Megawatt plant. The ECC is only good for a 300 MW, it cant cover a 600 MW. The Company must start again

and follow the requirements to qualify for an ECC for a 600 MW. The ECC for a 300MW plant is null and void since they will build a 600 MW plant, a project with double the hazards to health and the environment. The proponents of the coal plants are trying to push for Clean coal, Green coal, Safe coal, There is no such thing as clean coal and dont believe the profit-hungry companies that tell you there is. All over the world, they are into coal plants for the

money, big profits and all to be paid for by the taxpayers. Perhaps the government officials behind this coal plant are the saintly exceptions and will never take a single dollar in exchange for a signature. If they are indeed true and honest people of integrity with the best interests of the Filipino people at heart, they will join the protesting people and oppose the project and allow the alternative renewable energy projects to go ahead instead.

Jesus always showed special concern for sick people. He not only sent out his disciples to tend their wounds (cf. Mt 10:8; Lk 9:2; 10:9) but also instituted for them a specific sacrament: the Anointing of the Sick. The Letter of James attests to the presence of this sacramental act already in the first Christian community (cf. 5:14-16): by the Anointing of the Sick, accompanied by the prayer of the elders, the whole of the Church commends the sick to the suffering and glorified Lord so that he may alleviate their sufferings and save them; indeed she exhorts them to unite themselves spiritually to the passion and death of Christ so as to contribute thereby to the good of the People of God. This sacrament leads us to contemplate the double mystery of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus found himself dramatically confronted by the path indicated to him by the Father, that of his Passion, the supreme act of love; and he accepted it. In that hour of tribulation, he is the mediator, bearing in himself, taking upon himself the sufferings and passion of the world, transforming it into a cry to God, bringing it before the eyes and into the hands of God and thus truly bringing it to the moment of redemption (Lectio Divina, Meeting with the Parish Priests of Rome, 18 February 2010). But the Garden of Olives is also the place from which he ascended to the Father, and is therefore the place of redemption This double mystery of the Mount of
Migration / B5

Olives is also always at work within the Churchs sacramental oil the sign of Gods goodness reaching out to touch us (Homily, Chrism Mass, 1 April 2010). In the Anointing of the Sick, the sacramental matter of the oil is offered to us, so to speak, as Gods medicine which now assures us of his goodness, offering us strength and consolation, yet at the same time points beyond the moment of the illness towards the definitive healing, the resurrection (cf. Jas 5:14) (ibid.). This sacrament deserves greater consideration today both in theological reflection and in pastoral ministry among the sick. Through a proper appreciation of the content of the liturgical prayers that are adapted to the various human situations connected with illness, and not only when a person is at the end of his or her life (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1514), the Anointing of the Sick should not be held to be almost a minor sacrament when compared to the others. Attention to and pastoral care for sick people, while, on the one hand, a sign of Gods tenderness towards those who are suffering, on the other brings spiritual advantage to priests and the whole Christian community as well, in the awareness that what is done to the least, is done to Jesus himself (cf. Mt25:40). 4. As regards the sacraments of healing, Saint Augustine affirms: God heals all your infirmities. Do not be afraid, therefore, all your infirmities

will be healed You must only allow him to cure you and you must not reject his hands (Exposition on Psalm 102, 5; PL 36, 1319-1320). These are precious instruments of Gods grace which help a sick person to conform himself or herself ever more fully to the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. Together with these two sacraments, I would also like to emphasize the importance of the Eucharist. Received at a time of illness, it contributes in a singular way to working this transformation, associating the person who partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ to the offering that he made of himself to the Father for the salvation of all. The whole ecclesial community, and parish communities in particular, should pay attention to guaranteeing the possibility of frequently receiving Holy Communion, to those people who, for reasons of health or age, cannot go to a place of worship. In this way, these brothers and sisters are offered the possibility of strengthening their relationship with Christ, crucified and risen, participating, through their lives offered up for love of Christ, in the very mission of the Church. From this point of view, it is important that priests who offer their discreet work in hospitals, in nursing homes and in the homes of sick people, feel they are truly ministers of the sick, signs and instruments of Christs compassion who must reach out to every person marked by suffering

(Message for the XVIII World Day of the Sick, 22 November 2009). Becoming conformed to the Paschal Mystery of Christ, which can also be achieved through the practice of spiritual Communion, takes on a very particular meaning when the Eucharist is administered and received as Viaticum. At that stage in life, these words of the Lord are even more telling: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day (Jn 6:54). The Eucharist, especially as Viaticum, isaccording to the definition of Saint Ignatius of Antiochmedicine of immortality, the antidote for death (Letter to the Ephesians, 20: PG 5, 661); the sacrament of the passage from death to life, from this world to the Father, who awaits everyone in the celestial Jerusalem. 5. The theme of this Message for the Twentieth World Day of the Sick, Stand up and go; your faith has saved you, also looks forward to the forthcoming Year of Faith which will begin on 11 October 2012, a propitious and valuable occasion to rediscover the strength and beauty of faith, to examine its contents, and to bear witness to it in daily life (cf. Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei, 11 October 2011). I wish to encourage sick people and the suffering always to find a safe anchor in faith, nourished by listening to the Word of God, by personal prayer and by the sacraments, while I invite pastors to be increasingly ready to

celebrate them for the sick. Following the example of the Good Shepherd and as guides of the flocks entrusted to them, priests should be full of joy, attentive to the weakest, the simple and sinners, expressing the infinite mercy of God with reassuring words of hope (cf. Saint Augustine, Letter 95, 1: PL 33, 351-352). To all those who work in the field of health, and to the families who see in their relatives the suffering face of the Lord Jesus, I renew my thanks and that of the Church, because, in their professional expertise and in silence, often without even mentioning the name of Christ, they manifest him in a concrete way (cf. Homily, Chrism Mass, 21 April 2011). To Mary, Mother of Mercy and Health of the Sick, we raise our trusting gaze and our prayer; may her maternal compassion, manifested as she stood beside her dying Son on the Cross, accompany and sustain the faith and the hope of every sick and suffering person on the journey of healing for the wounds of body and spirit! I assure you all of a remembrance in my prayers, and I bestow upon each one of you a special Apostolic Blessing. From the Vatican, 20 November 2011, Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King. BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

him only partially, ask to be received in countries with an ancient Christian tradition. It is necessary to find adequate ways for them to meet and to become acquainted with Jesus Christ and to experience the invaluable gift of salvation which, for everyone, is a source of life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10); migrants themselves have a special role in this regard because they in turn can become heralds of Gods word and witnesses to the Risen Jesus, the hope of the world (Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini, 105). Pastoral workerspriests, religious and lay people play a crucial role in the demanding itinerary of the new evangelization in the context of migration. They work increasingly in a pluralist context: in communion with their Ordinaries, drawing on
Conversion / B6

the Churchs Magisterium. I invite them to seek ways of fraternal sharing and respectful proclamation, overcoming opposition and nationalism. For their part, the Churches of origin, of transit and those that welcome the migration flows should find ways to increase their cooperation for the benefit both of those who depart and those who arrive, and, in any case, of those who, on their journey, stand in need of encountering the merciful face of Christ in the welcome given to ones neighbor. To achieve a fruitful pastoral service of communion, it may be useful to update the traditional structures of care for migrants and refugees, by setting beside them models that respond better to the new situations in which different peoples and cultures interact with one another. Asylum seekers, who fled

from persecution, violence and situations that put their life at risk, stand in need of our understanding and welcome, of respect for their human dignity and rights, as well as awareness of their duties. Their suffering pleads with individual states and the international community to adopt attitudes of reciprocal acceptance, overcoming fears and avoiding forms of discrimination, and to make provisions for concrete solidarity also through appropriate structures for hospitality and resettlement programmes. All this entails mutual help between the suffering regions and those which, already for years, have accepted a large number of fleeing people, as well as a greater sharing of responsibilities among States. The press and the other media have an important role in making
Healer / B6

known, correctly, objectively and honestly, the situation of those who have been forced to leave their homeland and their loved ones and want to start building a new life. Christian communities are to pay special attention to migrant workers and their families by accompanying them with prayer, solidarity and Christian charity, by enhancing what is reciprocally enriching, as well as by fostering new political, economic and social planning that promotes respect for the dignity of every human person, the safeguarding of the family, access to dignified housing, to work and to welfare. Priests, men and women religious, lay people, and most of all young men and women are to be sensitive in offering support to their many sisters and brothers who, having fled

from violence, have to face new lifestyles and the difficulty of integration. The proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ will be a source of relief, hope and full joy (cf. Jn 15:11). Lastly, I would like to mention the situation of numerous international students who are facing problems of integration, bureaucratic difficulties, hardship in the search for housing and welcoming structures. Christian communities are to be especially sensitive to the many young men and women who, precisely because of their youth, need reference points in addition to cultural growth, and have in their hearts a profound thirst for truth and the desire to encounter God. Universities of Christian inspiration are to be, in a special way, places of witness and of the spread of the new evangelization, seriously committed to

contributing to social, cultural and human progress in the academic milieu. They are also to promote intercultural dialogue and enhance the contribution that international students can give. If these students meet authentic Gospel witnesses and examples of Christian life, it will encourage them to become agents of the new evangelization. Dear friends, let us invoke the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of the Way, so that the joyful proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ may bring hope to the hearts of those who are on the move on the roads of the world. To one and all I assure my prayers and impart my Apostolic Blessing. From the Vatican, BENEDICTUS PP. XVI 21 September 2011

Rise / B6

half-heartedness, indifference, and sin. We are also expected to commit ourselves to doing good as much as we can, with joy-filled enthusiasm. Lent has a dynamic character, an upward orientation. Therefore, it is a call to change for the better, to aim high and soar higher. It is like an invitation to join a pilgrimage to the sacred shrine of Gods life. It is like an Exodus: our personal Exodus from the marshes of mediocrity and the slavery of sin to the promised land of the committed freedom of Gods children. Such an Exodus/pilgrimage will necessarily entail a break away. It will demand self-denial, not for its own sake, but for the sake of the greater good:

the holiness we aspire to. God does not delight in our affliction, not even in our tears of sorrow over our past sins. Rather, He delights in our regained correct disposition and consequent actions. He delights in the efforts we make to remain faithful to our commitment to Him, and in our refusal to revert to the sinful situation of the past. Having this in mind, we shall proceed in our Lenten pilgrimage, moving resolutely toward Easter, our final goal and greatest aspiration. If we are faithful to such an ideal, we shall be given the grace of already experiencing a foretaste of our personal Eastera joyous reflection and fruit of the Resurrection of Christ.

sight to the blind and agility to paralytics, multiplying food for the hungry crowds, and even calling dead persons back to life. It is not only our body which can be struck by sickness, paralysis or death. Our soul also can get sick, suffer strokes, different degrees of paralysis and even death. All these are produced by SIN, the deadly virus which weakens and cripples the soul, reducing it to a wreck, and disfiguring the beautiful image of God imprinted by Him in each of us. Nor is the destructive effect of sin limited to our spiritual component. Sin always affects negatively also the

body, though there may be cases when this side effect is not immediately noticeable. We have to become more aware of the destructive power of sin. But even more we must become aware of the fact that Jesus is the great healer and savior of both soul and body, not only in the life to come but also in this life. Such a holistic approach to salvation and healing reaches us right in our daily lives. This means that, as Christians, we must show an active concern for the salvation and well-being of the whole human person, starting already in this life. Such is the essence of integral evangelization and integral salvation brought by Jesus.

authentic interpreter, no amateur. It also bears the hallmark of life, not only in the sense that it promises and leads to eternal life, but also in the sense that its truth has to become part of our life. We are expected to live out its message consistently, constantly, and bravely. The Gospel, more than any other trusted guide, has to be obeyed at all times, especially when it demands self-denial. All this is not easy. Often it may demand that we change our way of thinking, or the way we relate to God and others. It may demand a radical conversion. Such is the spirit of Lent. Such is the call of Christ, addressed to each one of us, today.

www.preda.org

B8
Moral Assessment

Entertainment
Technical Assessment

CBCP Monitor

February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

Abhorrent Disturbing Acceptable Wholesome Exemplary

Poor Below average Average Above average Excellent

SEAN (Josh Hutcherson) gets coded messages he suspects have come from his long-lost explorer grandfather (played by Michael Caine). With the help of his stepfather and legal guardian Hank (Dwayne Johnson) they decode the message and locate its origin, the Mysterious Island which is somewhere off Palau. Sean is dead set on finding the Mysterious Island; Hank is eager to bond with the young boy and as his legal guardian obliges the latter. Off they go, renting a rickety four-seater plane to cross the ocean with just the pilot (Luis Guzman) and his strong-willed daughter (played by Vanessa Hudgens). Like most adventure stories, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, owes its appeal to breathtaking views of a pristine and hidden paradise, definitely out-of-thisworld for its beauty. And what would an exotic island be without its share of monsters and predators? Here they are birds that in our world would fit snugly in our hands but out there would be as big as pterodactyls that hunt humans for snacks. In our world elephants would be

gigantic creatures one doesnt fool around with, but in the misty Mysterious Island they are only slightly bigger than poodles and just as cuddly! All the elements that make for a wholesome family adventure movie are present in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: the funny schtick in the person of the bumbling pilot; the tenderhearted muscleman going against all odds to win the trust of his beloved womans son; the ingenious 80-year-old adventurer who lives in an enviable treehouse; the chaste and budding teen romance; etc. There are no pirates and bad people herethe villains are the distressing circumstances the group has to contend with. But, of course, nature helps, as in the form of giant bumble bees that people can ride as the blue people of Avatar ride flying dragons. It must been intended by director Brad Peyton to be really one undemanding, wholesome, enjoyable movie where the characters elicit your sympathy and supportyou root for them, you want them to be safe, you want them to be happy with one

TITLE: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island CAST: Dwayne Johnson (Hank), Josh Hutcherson (Sean Anderson), Vanessa Hudgens (Kailani), Michael Caine (Alexander), Luis Guzman (Gabato), Kristin Davis (Liz Anderson) DIRECTOR: Brad Peyton GENRE: Action & Adventure, Kids &Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy LOCATION: United States RUNNING TIME: 95 minutes TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT: MORAL ASSESSMENT: CINEMA Rating: For viewers 13 years old and below with parental guidance

another. Definitely the whole family may see thisin case the young children tend to get scared of monsters you can quickly tell them theyre only made of cardboard. But theyll probably shrug off the monsters and would rather focus on the giant bumble beescreatures they can cheer for them since they look no more menacing than a hamburger chain mascot.

MAC en COLET

Ni Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya

Look for the image of the Holy Bible, Crucifix and St. Paul the Apostle. (Illustration by Bladimer Usi)

TITLE: J. Edgar CAST: Leonardo DiCarpio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Dame Judi Dench, Ed Westwick, Josh Hamilton, Josh Lucas, Judi Dench, Lea Thompson DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood GENRE: Drama LOCATION: USA RUNNING TIME: 137 minutes TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT: MORAL ASSESSMENT: CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 years old and above

J. EDGAR tells the story of J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo diCaprio), the head of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for nearly 50 years. The story jumps from one period to another between 1920s and 1970s highlighting Hoovers achievements from his point-of-view as the old Hoover narrates to younger agents. He tells stories of how he protected the United States from Communist attacks and how he int roduced various innovations (like the central fingerprinting system) to advance criminology, thus, preventing criminality. Some of the films highlights were the tracking of the mastermind of the kidnapping of Lindbergh baby that paved the way for Hoovers eventual rise to power. All these juxtapose with his secrets untold including that of his relationship with his mother (Judi Dench) and assistant Clyde Tolson (Armi Hammer). The film has tried hard to capture the complexities of one of the most controversial figures in the history of the US. J. Edgar may be utterly successful in bringing about the details of Hoovers achievements as the FBI director only to discredit him later on, but the movie fails in entirety to really flesh out the humanness of J. Edgar the man. This is not really much the fault of the filmmakers but the material itself calls for such complexity beyond the capacity of the film medium. But then again, the non-linear storytelling works well in sustaining audiences interest and diCaprios intensity and screen presence is as brilliant as always. Perhaps the prosthetics did not really help that much and they should have thought of another way of representing the old Hoover, (Getting a real veteran actor, perhaps?) so actors wont have to look ridiculous. The cast ensemble is strong and the film surely has its brilliant moments only that it should have shown more of the real J. Edgar. Is J. Edgar Hoover a hero or a foe? That makes the figure a real controversial one. The film does not really say so but at the very least, it has presented the many contradictions in his character, although quite limited on the surface. There is much to ponder on as far as his intentions for his country is concerned. While he is able to protect the US from Communist attacks, he has also invaded private lives and spaces beyond the rule of law. Hoover has broken the very law he has pledged to protect. All the while in the film, open secrets about his real personality including his childhood and repressed sexuality transposes to his duty as FBI director, thus quite saying that a weakling hides behind the mask of an iron man. The said back story could be a justification how the infamous J. Edgar came to be. But then, his integrity, dedication and loyalty as FBI head still cannot be questioned and his fiery passion to protect the country from communists, radicals and criminals must be emulated by every citizen of any land. In that respect, J. Edgar is still worth seeing, and the many questions the film did not answer and the many secrets kept hidden are all worth pondering.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

C1

A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI and the Order of the Knights of Columbus

Postulator Dr. Andrea Ambrosi (seated center) with his Assistant, Madelaine, Vice Postulator Brian Caulfield (seated 3rd from right) together with KCFAPI Board of members and officers led by Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (seated 2nd from right) and President Guillermo N. Hernandez (seated 4th from left) and Officers of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines led by Supreme Director Alonso L. Tan (seated extreme right) and Luzon Deputy Arsenio Isidro G. Yap (seated extreme left) during a dinner hosted by KCFAPI at the Casino Espaol in Manila.

The Cross

Venerable Fr. McGivneys cause for Sainthood moves forward

Supreme office seeks miracle from the Philippines
devotion. He said they are looking for the faithful brothers here to pray for a possible miracle in their lives and that the said miracle happens to give honor to the Filipino Knights. A miracle is needed to be attributed through the intercession of Fr. McGivney in order for him to be beatified, and an additional miracle is needed for his Canonization, a declaration of sainthood. How do we go about it? Pray the prayer leaflet regularly and if someone is sick or seriously ill, ask for Fr. McGivneys intercession to perform medical miracles because they are most probable in the sense. In the case where the doctors will say this person is better and I dont have any explanation for this other than the work of God. It is beyond the knowledge of medicine that only God can explain. The miracle could happen but it has to be reported, Caulfield stressed. Fr. McGivney established the Knights of Columbus at St. Marys Parish in New Haven, Connecticut USA in 1882the largest fraternal Order for Catholic men and the right arm of the Catholic Church. He founded the organization out of his worries about the religious faith and financial stability of immigrant families. He died on August 14, 1890 at the age of 38 due to pneumonia. The Vatican has recognized cause for sainthood and to urge the Filipino brother knights to pray for Gods miracle through his intercession. Americans do not have a strong devotion to the saints unlike Filipinos, so were here in the Philippines for Fr. McGivney to be well known. We will work with radio stations, Brother Knights, parishes, Bishops, meeting with the territorial chaplains, among others, said Caulfield, who is also a Communication Specialist from the executive office of the Supreme Knight. Caulfield added that the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines have many ways of inspiration, faithfulness and the heroic virtues of Fr. McGivney on March 15, 2008 when Pope Benedict XVI declared him Venerable Servant of God. Dubbed as protector of the poor and defender of the widows and orphans, Fr. McGivney will be the first American-born priest to be declared a saint, if canonized. Father McGivneys vision remains as relevant as ever in the changing circumstances of todays Church and society, according to Blessed Pope John Paul II. Meanwhile, the noble Cause for the Beatification of the founder of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines, Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ has also taken

By Yen Ocampo

POSTULATORS from Rome and United States have arrived in the country to seek the human effort of faithful Filipinos to bring the Knights of Columbus founder Venerable Michael J. McGivney to the honors of the altar.
Postulator Dr. Andrea Ambrosi and international journalist Brian Caulfield as vice-postulator for the cause of Fr. McGivney chose the PhilippinesAsias number one Christian country to start promoting the latters noble

a major step forward. Local Brother Knights are challenged to unearth additional materials and gather testimonies that will help support the Cause of Fr. Willmann. Fr. McGivney and Fr. Willmann were known for their tireless work as servants of the Lord in serving the people amidst difficult situation. The faithfuls are encouraged to avail the graces derived through Fr. McGivneys intercessions by clicking this website www. fathermcgivney.org, and become a member (click join the guild) to start receiving the monthly newspaper and 2nd class relic such as little medal as necklace to be worn.

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney, Venerable Servant of God

Say NO to Pro RH politicians in 2013 Luzon Deputy

THE Knights of Columbus Luzon Deputy Arsenio Isidro Yap is calling on all Brother Knights to be more vigilant and say NO to the Pro Reproductive Health Bill politicians who will run in 2013 Philippine Senatorial race. Im calling on those who love God and respect life to please remember the names of those who are Pro RH and give them a resounding NO in the 2013 election. Its time that Catholics band together and give these politicians a beating they have never experienced before, Yap said. Yap also urged his fellow Brother Knights and their families in the Luzon Jurisdiction to continue to stand for the rights of the unborn and oppose any Congress bill that would weaken the structure of the family which eventually could lead to bills that would allow Abortion, Divorce and Same Sex Marriage. Please impress upon lawmakers in your area [K of C councils] that the Reproductive Health Bill has no room in a society dominated by sensible Catholics who could not be tempted nor lured to accede to the demands of a few with twisted morality and blinded by false promises of said bill, stressed Yap. Its time for the faithful Catholics to realize their voting power, Yap said. (KC News)

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body, which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast.

We humbly ask that you glorify your Venerable servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request), through Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Father Hail Mary Glory be Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney - intercede for us Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney - intercede for us Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney - intercede for us

Nueva Ecija and Aurora hold 1st KC Grand Family Day

THE provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora held their first Knights of Columbus Grand Family Day on February 11, 2012 at the Crystal Wave Resort Hotel & Restaurant in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. Almost one thousand participants, members and their families attended, including the Luzon state officers headed by State Deputy Arsenio Isidro Yap and officials from Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI), according to KCFAPI Central Luzon Conquerors Area Manager Manuel Naldoza. Attendees enjoyed the raffle prizes, free ice cream, pop corn, cotton candy for the children, fun games, welcome drinks, pick a prize, discounted entrance fees for K of C members and families, photo booth, among others. The first K of C Grand Family Day in Nueva Ecija and Aurora is a joint project of the Round Table of District Deputies of Nueva Ecija and Aurora and the KCFAPICentral Luzon Conquerors. (KC News)

State Deputies expect thousands to attend Walk for Life

STATE Deputies of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines are expecting thousands of participants to attend the annual Walk for Life to be done simultaneously nationwide on March 24, 2012. According to a survey done by the Luzon Jurisdiction, more than 100,000 participants in more than 30 dioceses are expected to attend the event. The dioceses of San Pablo in Laguna are expecting a crowd of 35,000; Imus, Cavite with about 21,000; San Jose, Nueva Ecija with 10,000; Tuguegarao with 9,400; Malolos with close to 8,000; and Baguio with more than 7,000 among the big sites. Were hoping the figures are correct and the District Deputies would live up to expectations, Luzon Deputy Arsenio Isidro Yap said. The Luzon Jurisdiction also released a sample council resolution against the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) which all councils are encouraged to adopt and pass during their council meetings. State officers, on the other hand, provided a sample letter for the individual to copy and send individually to their respective congressmen and even to their mayors and governors. We also provided the councils with a sample declaration of support to the non passage of the RH Bill and also against Freemasonry for prospective members to undertake. Should at anytime, they will change their views and either be Pro RH or
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KCFAPI female employees during a photo op after their dance presentation at the KC Grand Family Day. With them in this photo are the Executive Vice President, Ma. Theresa G. Curia (3rd from left), Executive Secretary Annie Nicolas (in red shorts) and Underwriting Manager, Carmelita Ruiz (2nd from right).

KC provides flu vaccine to 3,500 detainees

THE Knights of Columbus from Central Luzon conducted simultaneous jail visitation and medical mission among 3,500 inmates last December 2011. The RoundTable of District Deputies (RTDD) of Nueva Ecija and Aurora together with the Archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes visited the Cabanatuan City District Jail which has more than 500 inmates and personnel as recipients. Brother Knights held a Eucharistic celebration, flu vaccination, entertainment, and served food. The RTDD, with the help of Gapan Council 3939, San Jose City Council 4073 and their ladies were also provided flu vaccine and snacks to be given to more than 450 inmates and personnel of Gapan City Jail and San Jose City Jail. Other councils who also visited jails and provided flu vaccination were Zaragoza Council 6838 with over 800 detainees as beneficiaries; Ina ng Laging Saklolo Council 8226 with more than 1,500 beneficiaries; and Gabaldon Council 9763 with 250 beneficiaries. Meanwhile, on February 24, the RTDD with the KCFAPI- Central Luzon Conquerors will hold its annual Mountain Climbing at Mt. Taklang Damulag, with this years theme In Communion with God and Nature and a Walk for National Pride and Discipline. At least ten priests, Brother Knights, Columbian Squires and authorities have confirmed participation to the event. After hours of long and hard climb, the 400 participants we expect will surely embrace the beauty of nature, and we encourage them to talk to God and pray. God speaks in silence, said Central Luzon Conquerors Area Manager Manuel Naldoza. (KC News)

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Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

The Cross

CBCP Monitor
February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

Chairmans Message
WE dedicate this February issue of our supplement publication THE CROSS with LOVE as the theme because of St. Valentines Day on 14 February. It is the festival in honor of St. Valentine, the priest-martyr who has become the Saint for lovers; it is a day, which is almost universally known as Day for Lovers. As we celebrate the day, we have to look deeper to capture its true significance, which is the word LOVE. It is a word deeply rooted in the Bible. It is intrinsic in all Gods creation. We learn from Genesis that God first created the world, ordering rhythm and harmony in Nature and preparing it for mankind. And on the sixth day, when this was accomplished, He created man and woman in His image and likeness to go forth and multiply. Only Love can create man and woman in the image and likeness of the Creator. When the world was convulsed with sin, God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to redeem humankind and the world. It was because of Love that He suffered on the Cross; and the Cross, once a symbol of torture and shameful death, became the symbol of Love, Salvation and Life. About Love, the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13: 1-13) tells us that even if we speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, we are a resounding gong or clashing cymbal; even if we have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge, all the faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, we are nothing; and even if we give away everything we own and hand our bodies over so that we may boast but do not have love, we gain nothing. St. Paul teaches us the boundless demands of Love, which goes beyond faith and hope. In his address to the Colossians (Col 3:14) Paul says that Love is the bond of perfection. Thus, we cannot be true and authentic Christians unless we have in each one of us that Love of God made eternally manifest in the giving to us His Son who because of Lovefor He is Love incarnatedied on the Cross. If we have that Love and share it with others even if they are not Christians, then we will have a world of peace, nurtured and strengthened by a civilization of love and a culture of life. If we have that civilization of love and culture of life there will be no wars, terrorism or religious intolerance; there will be no public official who will enrich himself in office; and there will be no public official who will support any form of legislation or government policy that violates Gods law of creation, especially on the right to life. Thus, as we celebrate St. Valentines Day, let us pray that all lovers pledge to live LOVE God wants it to be. God bless all Lovers.

The Cause for the Beatification of Father George J. Willmann, SJ

EMULATING the virtues that bespeak of sanctity of a person, like Father George J. Willmann, is what we need today to draw us into a deeper living out of the fullest meaning of our Catholic Faith in the context of increasing secularism. Thus, we believe, is one of the most important objectives in initiating the Cause of the good Father George. As prescribed by the Congregation for Causes of Saints in Rome, a person may be elevated to the honors of the altar if he has lived up to a heroic degree of the supernatural virtues of faith, hope and charity, as well as the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. We believe that Father Willmann practiced them all to an exceptional degree. In order to establish and widen the fame of Sanctity of Father Willmann, may we call on all Brother Knights, their families and friends to respond to the following appeal: Submission of testimonies on Fr. Willmanns heroic virtues; Recitation of Prayer for his Beatification in private and during K of C meetings and affairs; Invocation of his intercession in our prayers; Submission of Reports on answered prayers through the intercession of Father Willmann; Visitation of his tomb in the Sacred Heart Novitiate Cemetery, Novaliches, Quezon City. Membership to Fr. George J. Willmann Fellows. This is a challenge for all of us Knights of Columbus members, who dearly love Father George J. Willmann, SJ.

Prayer for the Beatification of Father George J. Willmann, SJ

Lord God, look down upon us, your children, who are trying to serve You with all our hearts, in our beloved land, the Philippines. Deign to raise Fr. George J. Willmann, of the Society of Jesus, to the honors of the altar. He is the wise, strong, cheerful, dauntless model that all of our Filipino men need in this new era, in this new millennium. He was your Knight, Your gentle warrior, especially in his ministry with the Knights of Columbus. A man leading other men, in the war of good against evil, in the war of the Gospel of Life against the Culture of Death. Make him the lamp on the lamp stand giving light to all in the house. Make him the city set on the mountain, which cannot be hid, so that all of us may learn from his courage, his integrity, his indomitable spirit in the struggle to lead men to God, and to bring God to man. We ask you this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Visayas Jurisdiction sends aid to Iloilo fire victims

THE Visayas Jurisdiction of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines sent aid to the fire victims of Brgy. Malipayon, Tanza in Iloilo City whose houses were burned down during the celebration of Dinagyang Festival, January 22. Brother Knights donated 10 sacks of rice, noodles, canned goods, and clothes. These items were turned over to the K of C Tanza Council No. 5395. The latter was tasked to repack the goods and to distribute the same time to the affected families within the area. More than 405 houses were affected, leaving about 500 families homeless. The wild fire started at around 5 pm and was declared under control at around 8:00 oclock in the evening. In set: State Officers from Visayas Jurisdiction and other Brother Knights went to the (KC News) affected site to personally see and feel the grief of the fire victims.

Guillermo N. Hernandez

Presidents Message
THE family has always been the centerpiece of any society. No less than Blessed John Paul II affirmed this in his Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio that the future of humanity passes by way of the family. Today however, it is under siege. A significant number of nations are passing legislation that reduce or marginalize the family. Even in the Philippines, bills of the same nature are being deliberated now in both houses of Congress, two of which have already reached the plenary level. This has sown divisiveness among Filipinos, not to mention the growing rift between the Catholic Church and the present Administration on the issue. The Knights of Columbus for its part has thrown its full support to the Church in areas where its resources are best called for. The stand of the Church which is basically pro-life in its purest form has required members of the Knights of Columbus to not only be involved in anti-RH bill actions but more so to serve as role models for what they stand for by taking responsibility in the care of their respective families. February, the Month of Hearts is a perfect time to show this. Allow me therefore to enjoin our brother Knights to celebrate Valentines for our family the KCFAPI WAYBLESS LIFE. BLESS as manifested by our being the Best, Loving, Exciting, Sharing and Sacrificing human beings for our families so that we can have a LIFE that is Long, Interesting, Fulfilled and Enjoyable. Vivat Jesus!

Pedro P. Lubenia

Corporate Governance

Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees

Any material transactions not in KCFAPIs ordinary course of business activities must be reviewed and approved by the board. Within the board itself, there is a system of checks and balances in order to avoid any group or individual from influencing major decisions that the board has to undertake. The board is provided with the appropriate reporting system so that they can monitor and assess the performance of the management. Correspondingly, the management submits a balanced and understandable assessment of KCFAPIs performance and financial condition on a regular basis and makes a report annually to all stakeholders. Adhering to the principles of good corporate governance, a Compliance Officer is appointed by the board to coordinate, monitor and facilitate compliance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. The services of a Corporate Secretary is also present in the board to ensure that all appointments are properly made, all necessary information are obtained from Trustees, both for KCFAPIs own records and for the purposes of meeting statutory obligations, as well as obligations arising from the requirements of the Insurance Commission and other regulatory agencies. Performance Evaluation The board of trustees conducts annually an evaluation of their performance through a formal and rigorous process including that of its various committees. The chairman shall act on the results of the performance evaluation by recognizing the strengths and addressing the weaknesses of each trustee and shall be included in the annual report. Led by the independent trustees, performance of the chairman shall be undertaken by other members of the board. Board Committees 1. Nomination and Screening 2. Audit, Compliance, Risk Management and Governance 3. H.R. Committee 4. Strategic Planning and Budget 5. Investment 6. Fraternal Benefit (Note: Duties and responsibilities of the above committees will be discussed in the next issue)

Luzon paves way to strengthening the family

LUZON Deputy Arsenio Isidro G. Yap recently announced that a Valentines dinner party with renewal of marriage vows, organized by Luzon Jurisdiction Office will be held on February 14, 2012 at Manila Grand Opera Hotel, Doroteo Jose, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Among those invited are Luzon State Officers, Directors and Chairmen and Metro Manila
Walk for Life / C1

ONE of the responsibilities of the board of directors is to ensure that all risks are properly managed and as such, risk management plays a critical role in the activities of an organization. KCFAPIs board of trustees are responsible in identifying principal business risks and ensuring that appropriate actions are implemented specifically on matters affecting underwriting, reinsurance, investment, finance and operations. They are also responsible in approving corporate policies in the aforementioned core areas of operations. Our trustees must ensure that the conduct of providing fraternal benefits that requires trust and confidence from our members is properly managed in a fair and equitable manner.

District Deputies. At least 50 couples are expected to attend to affirm their love to their better halves. Luzon State Chaplain, Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao will be the main celebrant in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and in officiating the renewal of marriage of vows. (KC News)

Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines Inc., an established mutual benefits association is currently looking for: Human Resources & Corporate Communications Assistant Marketing Staff Customer Service Staff (BRO Staff) Auditor Training Manager Real Estate Administrator If you are dedicated, service-oriented, and have the promising potential to join us in our continuous drive to provide mutual aid, assistance and excellent service to our members. Kindly send your comprehensive resume thru fax number 527-2244 or handcarry resume with a 2x2 photo and transcript of records to:

The Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines Inc., is an established and progressive mutual benefits association operating for 53 years, has been highly committed to provide mutual aid and assistance to its members and their immediate families. KCFAPI firmly believes that the continued progress and success of the association depends to a great extent on its human capital KCFAPI also believes that through training and a host of other benefits if coupled with hard work, will help employees and the association attain their goals and objectives. In our continuous drive to provide excellent service to our members, we are currently on the lookout for individuals with promising potentials. He must be dedicated, service oriented, and willing to undergo training

will join the masonry, the said declaration shall be considered as a form of voluntary resignation from the Order, Yap added. In the Visayas Jurisdiction, Brother Knights together with the other organizations in their parishes have invited universities, high schools and colleges to participate in March for life. Our jurisdiction is making a drive for a signature campaign per district to lobby their congressmen and senators who support the passage of the RH BILL, Visayas Deputy Rodrigo Sorongon said. Meanwhile, Brother Knights in the Mindanao Jurisdiction are distributing pro-life post-

ers, streamers and tarpaulins to drum up their campaign against the RH Bill and Abortion. We will send letters to our senators and congressmen to let them know our stand, that our Order is Pro-life, said Mindanao Deputy Balbino Fauni. State deputies also encouraged their council members to conduct symposia, lectures and exhibits opposing RH Bill and abortion. Meanwhile, in celebration of Pro-life month, the Order is also promoting the advocacy of respecting and preserving the dignity of human life in all its aspects among its members and families. (KC News)

KC Family . . . Our Concern KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES INC. Gen. Luna cor. Sta. Potenciana Sts., Intramuros, Manila You may also call 527 2223 local 202 for queries and look for Ms. Kristianne.

Our compensation and employee benefits are comparable, if not better than most companies of our same size and nature of business.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 16 No. 4
February 13 - 26, 2012

The Cross
In our families and communities, we are called to be missionaries of the new evangelization.

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A Renewal of Faith
of course, is the great challenge and the great drama of Christian faith among the laity today in countries that are becoming increasingly secular. Not all of us may feel competent to become missionaries, but every Catholic can participate in the new evangelization by the testimony of his own life and that of his family. In fact, the lay faithful are called to play a central role in the new evangelization. This was Pope Benedicts message when he met recently with members of the Pontifical Council for the Family. On that occasion, he observed that the new evangelization depends largely on the domestic church and that the new evangelization is inseparable from the Christian family. He repeated his call that Catholic married couples should evangelize with their witness of life and urged them to assist priests in their pastoral activities. The pope concluded by saying that the Catholic family is the closest ally of the priestly ministry. To further our understanding of the familys privileged place in the pastoral mission of the Church, the Knights of Columbus has, for more than two decades, sponsored the work of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, which is now located at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Today, hundreds of institute graduates are working to advance the pastoral and teaching mission of the Church throughout North America. The Pontifical John Paul II Institute is one of the most visible signs of the work of the Knights of Columbus to support the role of the family in the new evangelization. But more important is the work of our local councils, which constantly find ways for our members and their families to show the world the love and presence of Christ. This daily witness in our parishes and local communities is our greatest contribution to the work of the new evangelization. As we prepare for the Year of Faith, we will continue to collaborate with our pastors

By Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

IN October, Pope Benedict XVI announced a Year of Faith for the universal Church, an opportunity, he said, for us to rediscover the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ. In this way, the pope added, we can respond to the profound crisis of faith that has affected many people. Pope Benedict has often spoken of the need for a new evangelization. In 2010, he established a new Vatican entity, the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, and announced that the next World Synod of Bishops will study the new evangelization. In doing so, he recalled the words of Blessed John Paul II in Christifideles Laici: Without doubt a mending of the Christian fabric of society is urgently needed in all parts of the world. But for this to come about what is needed is to first remake the Christian fabric of

the ecclesial community itself (34). Thus, the Church is both an evangelized and evangelizing community, and the new evangelization should address Catholics and non-Catholics alike. In other words, our witness is not only directed to those outside the Church; it must be accompanied by a renewal of faith by those already within the Church. Continuing the message of his predecessor, Pope Benedict has made clear that the new evangelization requires a new missionary enthusiasm and the courage and commitment of public testimony. In declaring the Year of Faith, he reminded us, A Christian may never think of belief as a private act. Faith is choosing to stand with the Lord so as to live with him. Of course, renewal has many aspects. Yet, one of the most important is the witness offered by the lives of believers, Pope Benedict observed, adding that by their very existence in the world, Christians are called to radiate the word of truth that the Lord Jesus has left us. This,

and chaplains to make each of our councils a place where the world may encounter the Gos-

pel values of charity, unity and fraternity. Vivat Jesus!

Joseph P. Teodoro

For Brother Knights by Brother Knights

KCFAPI was able to bring in P127.4 Million in first year contribution (FYC) for the year 2011. It did not only hurdle its P125 Million 2011 target but also established the highest ever first year contribution eclipsing the previous highest of P124 million established in 2009. This feat is attributable to KCFAPIs marketing mix, viz: Product The products are affordable and applicable to the needs of brother knights and family members such as: 1. The onetime payment plans in peso or dollar denominations. 2. The educational plan which can stand in competition with other products offered by commercial companies in the market. 3. The investment plans which provides periodic maturities in shorter premium payment periods. 4. The ordinary and limited pay plans suited for those needing higher life insurance protections but with limited available funds. 5. The Special Plan for Elderly Knights (SPEK) which can provide protection for those desiring to join our benevolent cause but cannot normally do so due to age, health and availability reasons. Place The availability of brother knights and family members called fraternal counselors who devote their time in seeing to it that every member and their family members enjoy the fraternal protection they deserve and should enjoy.

KCFAPI draws highest sales

Promotions The availability of promotional activities which increased the reach and awareness about KCFAPI. Comparative advantages The comparative advantages also contributed in chalking up the record sales. 1. KCFAPIs financial stability. 2. Fast adjudication and payment of claims. 3. Increasing dividends. 4. Contribution to the benevolent and charitable projects. With continuous dedication of the management team and field representatives guided by the Board of Trustees, KCFAPI will continue to reach new sales record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I applied for a Benefit Certificate loan of 50,000 pesos last January 15, 2010. I made a partial payment of 5,000 pesos last January 2, 2011. My BCs anniversary date is every January 15. How come my loan balance is still 50,000 pesos? A. Per general provisions on loans as specified on the benefit certificate, any unpaid interest as of anniversary date becomes part of the principal loan. If the loan interest rate is 10% per annum, the borrowed amount of 50,000 earns interest charges of 5,000 (10% of 50,000) after one year. This amount partly offsets any loan payment made on the benefit certificate. If there are no other BCrelated transactions, come January 15, 2011 the BC loan will have an outstanding balance of 49,982 pesos. This is determined based on the following computations: Loan balance, beginning 50,000.00 Add: Loan interest 5,000.00 Less: Loan payment 5,000.00 Less: Interest adjustment 17.81 Loan balance, ending 49,982.19 where the loan interest adjustment is computed based on thirteen days prior to the next anniversary date of the benefit certificate, 13 / 165 * 10% * 5,000. So as not to let the loan balance become unmanageable, it is advisable to pay, at the very least, the interest charges before the anniversary date. By doing so, the principal balance will not balloon to an unreasonable value. If the loan is left unmanaged, the balance will accumulate interest charges that may result in early lapsation or forced surrender. Moreover, any loan payment (or a series of loan payments) on top of the interest charges will reduce the loan balance come anniversary date. More importantly, by making periodic loan pay-

Angelito A. Bala

ments, the insured is still protected. Note that in case of an unfortunate event, the death benefit will primarily comprise of the BCs face value less any outstanding loan balance. Hence, to maximize ones insurance protection, always keep your BC free from any loan. By paying your contributions in full and on time as they fall due, your family or loved ones are assured of guaranteed maximum insurance benefits.

Members of the KCFAPI Board of Trustees led by Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (seated 2nd from right) and KCFAPI Officers led by President Guillermo N. Hernandez (standing, center) and EVP Ma. Theresa G. Curia (3rd from right) together with the Supreme Director, Alonso L. Tan (seated, extreme right) and Luzon Deputy, Arsenio Isidro G. Yap (seated, extreme left) with Mr. Brian Caulfied, Communication Specialist from the executive office of the Supreme Knight (seated, 2nd from left) during a courtesy call to the new CBCP President, Archbishop Jose Palma (center).

Photos taken during the 1st Installation of Council Officers and Induction of Service Program Personnel Columbian Year 20112012 of the Our Lady of Fatima Suterville Council Nr: 15409, held at 2nd floor Perlita Hotel, Sucabon, Zamboanga City

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The Cross

CBCP Monitor

February 13 - 26, 2012

Vol. 16 No. 4

KCFAPI Officers led by President Guillermo N. Hernandez (seated 2nd from right) and EVP Ma. Theresa G. Curia (seated extreme left) with Ms. Ermelinda P. Andres during the recently held Certification International Surveillance Audit.

Luzon Deputy receives live ducks as token of appreciation

Mrs. Lucinee Pulgar, widow of Bro. Virgilio Pulgar and children are shown receiving a new benefit certificate from KCFAPI Fraternal Counselor, Emma Nena Gumapac.

IN a very rare situation, the Luzon Deputy of the Knights of Columbus in the country received a pair of live ducks as a token of appreciation during the Council Chartering of Council 15389 in Mababanaba, San Jose, Tarlac last month. Since the Council Chartering was done in a farm residence surrounded by mountains, Charter Grand Knight Carlito D.

Corpuz, a retired military training instructor had an idea that a pair of live ducks is much better to give as a good luck token instead of a plaque of appreciation. Duck is also a symbol of faithfulness in ancient China. The Chartering became more memorable when the Charter officers, Council members together with their Chaplain

Rev. Fr. Mark Mary Raphael B. Castro, SRC (Servants of the Risen Christ) accompanied the Luzon Deputy and other state officers in a side trip to the Philippine version of the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro called as Christ the Redeemer, located at Mount of the Resurrection, Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose. (KC News)

Fraternal Counselor, Emma Nena G. Gumapac awards a check representing claims proceeds to Mrs. Lucinee Pulgar, widow of Bro. Virgilio Pulgar of Council 7656 of Diego Silang, Quezon City. With them is Grand Knight Eduardo Avila.

Luzon Deputy holds simultaneous Chartering at Mindoro Oriental

LUZON Deputy Arsenio Isidro G. Yap, together with Technical Assistant to the State Officers Ramon C. Sanchez; Officer in Charge Columbian Squires and acting District Warden George Michael Tuyay conducted simultaneous chartering at Mindoro Oriental last January 13, 2012. Calapan Apostolic Vicariate and District Deputy Francisco E. Atienza Jr. formed the Knights of Columbus Councils from San Teodoro and Pachoca to assist the Luzon Deputy and team upon their arrival. G ran d K n i g h t F r an c is c o Agutaya hosted a dinner fellowship attended by former Calapan Vice Governor Atty. Panaligan and actor-politician, now Calapan Board Member Hon. Patrick dela Rosa. The group had an overnight stay at Anahaw Island View Resort operated by Bro. Dennis Alcancia. Afterwards, Yap and other Brother Knights from Manila went to Sto. Nio Cathedral, Calapan for a courtesy call to the Parish Priest and Vicar General Fr. Nestor Adalia. This was also attended by the four District Deputies, officers of the councils, and assemblies. They also went to the Calapan Capitol hosted by Vice Governor Humerlito A. Dolor, an a sumptuous lechon na baboy damo (roasted wild pig). District Deputy Atienza invited the group for a night tour at Sabang, Puerto Gallera (where the Mayor is an active member of the council). During the Sto. Nio Feast, the group had their breakfast at the Restaurant of Francesca Apartelle owned by Grand Knight Pancho Mendoza of Council 9233 Puerto Gallera and his wife, a Dentist who also spends time in Church Services as Catechist, Lector and Commentator. On their way back to Calapan, the group stopped at the famous Tamarraw falls and arrived at the Divine Mercy Chaplaincy, Pachoca for a Eucharistic Celebration by its Chaplain Fr. Vicente R. Uy. Afterwards, Charter of Pope John Paul II Council 15386 was presented by the Luzon Deputy Yap to Grand Knight Emmanuel G. Servando. The Installation of Officers was formally officiated by District Deputy Francisco E. Atienza Jr. and assisted by acting Warden George Michael Tuyay. Before the end of the program the Youth Ministry performed a dance presentation which was lauded by the audience. The lunch was sponsored by Fr. Uy assisted by Church volunteers. (Mon Sanchez/KC News)

active member of Council 8361 at Victoria District C-43. There was a short program with messages from the Vice Governor and Luzon Deputy. The group also took the Caluangan Lake Discovery cruise via the floating restaurant. This is owned by the Mindoro Tourism Cooperative and operated by the members of the Knights of Columbus (majority from Council 7189). They now have two floating restaurants in Calapan and Puerto Gallera. The regular tour in Calapan normally takes about two hours and shows a good view of Mt. Halcon. The lake was formed from a tsunami generated by

an earthquake few years ago in which the epicenter was near Calapan. During a courtesy call to Bishop Warlito Cajandig DD, the prelate praised the social actions of the Knights in the area even suggesting that it would be good if the Holy Trinity Memorial Chapel could also set up a branch in Calapan. Yap travelled 20 kilometers West from Calapan going to San Teodoro for the Chartering of Council 15368 at Immaculate Conception Parish. The Mayor of this town is a Freemason, while the Vice Mayor Aquilino Arguilles is a charter member of the Knights of Columbus.

They were welcomed by the Parish Priest and Charter Chaplain Rev. Fr. Arnulfo A. Magboo. The program started with a parade of Brother Knights coming from different councils carrying their respective banners. The drum and bugle corps provided music. The honor guards gave color to the parade and escorted the dignitaries. After the Eucharistic Celebration of Fr. Magboo, the Luzon Deputy presented the Charter to Grand Knight Allan A. Arguelles a town councilor and nephew of the Vice Mayor. The Installation of Officers was formally officiated by District Deputy Francisco E. Atienza Jr.

and assisted by acting Warden George Michael Tuyay. All of the officers wives were present for the investment of officers jewels. Fr. Magboo laid hands to all officers of the councils after the investment of jewels. After the program they reached Puerto Gallera. The Palangan Bay View Beach Resort is owned by District Deputy Atienza and wife Eva. Both are Civil Engineers and engaged in a construction business. The structures have several air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, billiard pool, bar and other amenities. The main course during dinner was