Monitor

CBCP

JUNE 26 - JULY 9, 2017 VOL 21, NO. 13 CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

UGNAYAN A3: NEWS A6: LOCAL NEWS B1: PASTORAL CONCERNS

THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT For first World Day of the Poor, Filipinos asked to join in praying for peace Pope Francis message for the
OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST Francis encourages personal encounter 1st World Day of the Poor

Fight fake news,

bishops urge Catholics
By Roy Lagarde

AS fake news takes

over social media
feeds, the countrys
Catholic bishops on
Wednesday called
on the faithful to
fight spread of false
information and on-
line deception.
For the first time, the
Catholic Bishops Conference
of the Philippines issued a
pastoral exhortation against
fake news which is a sin
against charity because it
leads the people to wrong
decisions.
Our Catholic faith
obliges us to refrain from
patronizing, popularizing and
supporting identified sources
of alternative facts or fake
news, the bishops said.
Refuse to be themselves
purveyors of fake news and
to desist from disseminating
this whether on social media
or by word of mouth or
through any other form of
public expression, they said.
Freedom of expression is
a bedrock of democracy but
its irresponsible exercise, the
bishops said, is something
that Christians cannot be
South African Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier of Durban visits the residents of the Our Lady of Banneux Community, a housing project under the Couples for Christs Answering the Cry of the Poor (CFC-Ancop) program, in
part of. San Mateo, Rizal. The new village has at least 84 housing units for families who used to live in danger zones or along the city streets of Metro Manila. Cardinal Napier visited the country to grace the 36th anniversary
Fight / A7 of CFC Global Mission that has a big community in South Africa (See related story on A6). ROY LAGARDE

Cardinal Quevedo stands in 2 bishops who died on same day laid to rest
solidarity with Muslims at THE two Catholic bishops who
passed away on the same day
were laid to rest in their respective

Ramadans end pastoral jurisdiction.

Bishops Leopoldo Tumulak of
the Military Ordinariate of the
Philippines and Rodolfo Beltran
of San Fernando in La Union both
succumbed to cancer on June 17.
After a five-day wake, Tumulak
was interred with full military
honors at the Shrine of St. Therese
of the Child Jesus in Pasay City on
June 22.
The burial followed a liturgy led
by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at
the St. Ignatius Cathedral inside
Rest / A7 Tumulak & Beltran

Church hits desecration

Cotabato Citys Golden Mosque. FILE PHOTO
MINDANAOS lone cardinal has
called for more harmony between
Christians and Muslims in time for
the Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan.
Cardinal Orlando Quevedo of
Cotabato took the usual step of
personally expressing his greetings
of peace as Muslims mark the end
of the Ramadan fast.
While it is a long-established
practice for Catholic leaders to send
message to Muslims, the cardinal
this time cant help but share his
sentiments on the ongoing siege in
Mindanao.
He particularly lamented the
attacks launched by ISIS-linked
armed groups against civilians
and the desecration of a Catholic
cathedral in Marawi City and a
chapel in Pigcawayan, N. Cotabato.
I have wondered if the killing
of the innocent, the deliberate
destruction of a Catholic cathedral,
the burning of a Protestant college,
the kidnapping of civilians, would
desecrate the holy month of
Ramadan, Quevedo said.
Yet deep and genuine religious
faith is always optimistic. It is full
of hope. It dreams that the meaning
of Ramadan might become a reality
for all of us, he said.
Muslim religious and political
leaders have condemned such acts as
Ramadan / A7
Marawi prelate leaves fate of Maute
captive priest to government
Fr. Teresito Chito Suganob together with some
staff of the Marawi cathedral and a number of
civilians were abducted by the Maute group on
May 23. PHOTO FROM CHITO SUGANOB FACEBOOK
A CATHOLIC prelate tossed the
ball in the governments court in
ensuring the freedom of the priest
and other civilians held by the
Islamic State-linked Maute group.
Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Pea
said its up to the government to
decide whether or not to enter
negotiation with the militants.
It is the governments call to
decide to enter to negotiation or
not, Dela Pea told Church-run
Radio Veritas on June 27.
Let us all just wait for the
governments next move. The ball
is in their court, he said.
The military yesterday reported
that Fr. Teresito Chito Suganob
is still alive as relayed by a civilian
that was rescued from the war zone
Prelate / A6
of chapel in N. Cotabato
CARDINAL Orlando Quevedo of
Cotabato deplored the wicked
desecration of a Catholic chapel
by terrorist gunmen in North
Cotabato.
The cardinal said the gunmen did
not only destroy religious icons but
also desecrated the Sacred Hosts
that were kept inside the chapel of
Malagakit village in Pigcawayan town.
These are irreligious acts that
cry out to heaven, Quevedo said.
Such acts are similar to the
desecration of a mosque and the
sacred Quran by non-Muslims.
Both desecrations are gravely
sinful, he said.
The government troopers on
Wednesday foiled an attempted
raid on a militia post in Malagakit
after they engaged about 300
Desecration / A6
A2 WORLD NEWS June 26 - July 9, 2017 Vol 21, No. 13 CBCP Monitor

Judge halts deportations of

t

Vatican Briefing
Cardinal Turkson: Marijuana debate ignores ethical
questions
The Vaticans top personality on social justice issues
has voiced his concern for the increased demand for
drugs, including recreational marijuana, saying debate
on the plants usage doesnt take ethical concerns into
account. In a June 26 letter on the occasion of the U.N.
International Day against Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
of Drugs, Cardinal Peter Turkson lamented the fact that
narcotics continue to rage in impressive forms and
dimensions throughout the world.It is a phenomenon
that is fuelednot without concessions and compromises
on the part of institutionsby a shameful market that
crosses national and continental borders, intertwined
with mafias and drug trafficking, he said. (Elise
Harris/CNA)
Francis urges Serrans to keep moving forward
promoting vocations
Pope Francis offered encouragement to members of
Serra International, which promotes religious vocations,
urging them to persevere in their beautiful vocation
of being laity who are friends to priests and to (k)
eep moving forward!Pope Francis said June 23 that
friendship is central to the experience of faith.Serra
International is a lay apostolate dedicated to promoting
vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and does
this by both prayer and assistance to discerners. (CNA)
Meeting with NFL hall-of-famers, Pope promotes
teamwork
Pope Francis addressed members of the National
Football League Hall of Fame on June 21, encouraging
them to promote the values of sportsmen not only on
the field but also within their communities.Teamwork,
fair play and the pursuit of personal excellence are the
valuesin the religious sense, we can say virtuesthat
have guided your own commitment on the field, said the
Pope, meeting with the hall-of-famers. He addressed the
need for role models in the world, especially for youth,
teaching them to live out their God-given gifts and
talents, showing how to bring out the best in each person
and leading the way to a better future. (CNA)
Chaldean Christians to Iraq
DETROIT, Mich. A district court judge
on Thursday halted the deportation of
more than 100 Iraqis, including many
Chaldean Christians, who were recently
picked up by immigration officers and
detained.
We are thankful and relieved that
our clients will not be immediately sent
to Iraq, where they face grave danger of
persecution, torture or death, Michael
Steinberg, legal director of the ACLU
of Michigan, which represented the
Iraqi nationals, stated in response to
the ruling.
On Sunday, June 11, U.S. Immigrations
and Customs Enforcement began
picking up Iraqi nationals in the Detroit
metropolitan area who had previous
criminal records.
Ultimately, 114 Iraqis were picked
up, some reportedly at their homes
in front of their families and others
in public places like restaurants. They
were detained and informed of their
immanent deportation.
Many of the detainees were Chaldean
Christians, and members of the local
Chaldean Church were dismayed at
the arrests.
ICE stated that the detainees had
criminal records and although they
had entered the U.S. legally and had
not yet become citizens, they were
no longer eligible for full citizenship.
London cardinal appalled by Finsbury
Furthermore, they had been ordered for
removal by a federal judge, although in
some cases the orders were reportedly
decades old.
Iraq had previously refused to accept
the Chaldeans, in some cases, for
humanitarian reasons, Thursdays
decision read.
However, they recently agreed to
accept them as part of a deal with the
U.S. that removed Iraqs place on a list
of countries where foreign nationals
were barred from traveling to the
U.S., except in special cases, as part of
President Donald Trumps immigration
executive order.
Bishop Francis Kalabat of the
Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St.
Thomas the Apostle of Detroit insisted
that many of those who were detained
were responsible residents since they
had served their time in prison, and
that many of the crimes had been
committed decades prior to the June
11 arrests.
Pleas to stay the deportations
reportedly reached the highest levels
of government. The ACLU represented
the Chaldeans in court, filing a habeas
corpus action petition on their behalf,
while the Knights of Columbus and
members of Congress wrote Secretary
of Homeland Security John Kelly.
Leading U.S. bishops also wrote
Secretary Kelly, advocating for a
stay on the deportations until Iraq
could guarantee the safety of religious
minorities.
Returning religious minorities to
Iraq at this time, without specific
plans for protection, does not
appear consistent with our concerns
about genocide and persecution
of Christians in Iraq, a letter
by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of
Houston-Galveston, president of the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,
along with Bishop Oscar Cantu of
Las Cruces, chair of the U.S. bishops
international justice and peace
committee, and Bishop Joe Vasquez
of Austin, chair of the bishops
migration committee, stated.
The persecution that the Christian
and Chaldean Catholic community
has faced in Iraq is well- documented,
they added. The deportations to this
same country, under such scrutiny for
abuse and genocide of Christian and
other minorities, seems to run counter
to what is happening in other parts of
our government.
Lawyers for the detainees insisted
that under the Convention Against
Torture they should not be sent back to
a country where they have a reasonable
expectation of persecution. (CNA/
EWTN News)

Pope Francis sends aid to a troubled South Sudan

Park attack on Muslims
After the Vatican stated last month the postponement LONDON, England and peace, day by day, in foster good relations in the It is a reminder that
of Pope Francis proposed trip to South Sudan, they Cardinal Vincent Nichols our homes, our work and Finsbury Park community, terrorism, extremism and
announced that the Pope will instead send aid to the of Westminster has offered our communities. That is the the cardinal added. I pray hatred take many forms; and
people suffering from worsening conditions. The Vatican prayers for the victims of a only way. that your work will be our determination to tackle
announced June 21 that Pope Francis will be aiding terror attack in north London The cardinal also wrote strengthened at this most them must be the same
projects in the areas of education, healthcare, and that targeted worshippers to Mohammad Kozbar, difficult time. whoever is responsible.
agriculture, called the Pope for South Sudan Initiative. outside a mosque in the early trustee of the Finsbury The attack came after The Finsbury Park Mosque
The program will be coordinated through the Dicastery for hours of June 19. Park Mosque, saying, I am the group had taken part had been associated with
the Promotion of Integral Human Development, headed One person was killed and horrified that people should, in evening prayers after Islamist terrorism in the
by Cardinal Peter Turkson, and by Caritas International. nine have been hospitalized, again, be targeted in this breaking their Ramadan early 2000s. Abu Hamza al-
(Hannah Brockhaus/CNA) after a van drove into a group way. I write to assure you of fast. Masri, its imam from 1997
outside the Finsbury Park my prayers for the person The vans driver, a 48 year to 2002, was found guilty in
Vaticans first General Auditor resigns abruptly Mosque shortly before 12:20 who has died, for those who old man, was restrained at the UK of inciting violence.
In an unexpected move in the Holy Sees ongoing financial am. have been injured and for the scene of the attack, and He was later extradited to
reform, the Vatican announced on June 20 the resignation The Muslim worshippers all deeply affected by this the mosques imam kept him the US, where he was found
of Libero Milone, General Auditor of the Holy See, effective were helping an elderly man brutal attack. I know that I from being attacked. He has guilty of terror charges.
immediately. The brief Vatican statement simply said that who had fallen down in the speak for all Catholics when been arrested on suspicion The mosque was shut
Libero Milone had offered his resignation, and that the street. I assure you of prayers and of attempted murder. down in 2003 after a police
Vatican had accepted it. The lack of reason given for the Together with people support. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of raid, but was reopened in
resignation has some speculating that it is another part of all over this country I am In a similar message to London, commented that 2005 under new trustees
the ongoing, internal conflicts of Vatican financial reform. appalled at the deliberate Ahmed Kheloufi, director While this appears to be and new imams which have
Milones resignation comes as a surprise because of the attack on people leaving of Muslim Welfare House, an attack on a particular reportedly turned it around.
emphasis the Vatican placed on the importance of his their late night prayers, Cardinal Nichols wrote to community, like the terrible In his message to
position when it was created.Since his election in 2013, as the end of their day of assure you of my prayers and attacks in Manchester, Mohammed Kozbar,
Pope Francis has sought to reform the Vaticans bank and fasting, at the mosque in of my deep compassion for all Westminster and London Cardinal Nichols said that
finances. (CNA) Finsbury Park, Cardinal who have been injured and Bridge, it is also an assault Fr John OLeary has told
Nichols stated. affected by this deliberate on all our shared values me of all the good work you
In book foreword, Pope Francis calls corruption a Violence breeds violence. act of violence. In particular of tolerance, freedom and do to foster strong and good
cancer Hatred breeds hatred. Every I pray for the person who respect. relations with all people in
Pope Francis, in a foreword to a work by Cardinal one of us must repudiate has been killed. May Gods Prime minister Theresa Finsbury Park. Long may this
Peter Turkson, has said corruption infects the world like hatred and violence from blessings strengthen you May said that there has good work continue and may
a cancer, and the Church must combat it by working our words and actions. all. been far too much tolerance your resolve be strengthened
together with society, infusing it with mercy.We must We must all be builders of I also want to thank of extremism over many at this difficult time. (CNA/
all work together, Christians, non-Christians, people understanding, compassion you for the work you do to years. EWTN News)
of all faiths and non-believers, to combat this form of
blasphemy, this cancer that weighs our lives, the Pope
wrote. His words on corruption were written in a foreword
Chinese bishop forcibly removed from diocese still missing
for Corrosion, a book-length interview of Cardinal Peter VATICAN The Vatican has issued response to questions
Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral a statement on the situation of the from journalists.
Human Development, published June 15. (Hannah Chinese Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin of There were reports
Brockhaus/CNA) Wenzhou, who has not been returned last week claiming
since being forcibly removed from his that the bishop had
Philosopher who supports legal abortion joins diocese by the Chinese state May 18. been spotted in the
Vatican pro-life academy The Holy See is observing with local airport with
Philosopher Nigel Biggar, who backs legal abortion, grave concern the personal situation of government officials,
is among the 45 new appointments to the Pontifical Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou, though the claim has
Academy for Life, according to a statement on the Vatican forcibly removed from his episcopal not been substantiated
website. Biggar, the Regius Professor of Moral and see some time ago, read the June 26 and his present
Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford, has said statement by the Director of the Holy whereabouts are still
that he supports legal abortion up to 18 weeks. Biggar See Press Office, Greg Burke. unknown.
Chinese pilgrims attend the World Youth Day in Krakw, Poland in 2016. ROY LAGARDE
has also opposed the legalization of assisted suicide, and The Catholic community of the In this respect, the
written in defense of just war. Other appointments to the diocese and his family and friends Holy See, profoundly would have been his first time as head
Academy include Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the remain with no news of the bishops saddened for this and other similar of the diocese.
Knights of Columbus, Dr. John M. Haas, President of the whereabouts or of the reason for his episodes that unfortunately do not He is not the only Chinese bishop or
National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, and removal, the statement continued. facilitate ways of understanding, Christian to be detained. Persecution of
Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney. (CNA) The Vatican-approved Bishop Shao, expresses the hope that Bishop Peter Christians in China varies by province,
who is not recognized by the Chinese Shao Zhumin may return as soon but certain provinces have seen an
In latest meetings, cardinal advisors continue forward government, was summoned by their as possible to the diocese and that uptick in recent years.
with reform religious bureau on May 18 and has he can be assured the possibility of In Zhejiang province, where the
Pope Francis and the Council of Cardinals held their since not been heard from or returned, serenely exercising his episcopal Diocese of Wenzhou is located,
20th round of meetings in Rome on June 12 to 14, La Croix International reports. ministry, the Vatican statement more than 1,500 churches have been
continuing their work on reform of the Roman Curia, Following canon law, the Vatican continued. desecrated or demolished. Churches
including their discussion of ways the Curia can better confirmed Bishop Shao as the successor We are all invited to pray for Bishop in Zhejiang have been ordered to stop
serve local churches. According to a June 14 communiqu, of the Wenzhou diocese on Sept. Shao Zhumin and for the path of the displaying crosses and Christians there
the meetings largely continued the work of previous 21, 2016, following the death of his Catholic Church in China. have been detained.
gatherings, including progress on the possibility of predecessor, Bishop Vincent Zhu Bishop Shao was first detained, along Overall, the situation of religious
transferring some faculties from Vatican dicasteries to Weifang. Since then he has been with three other priests, following the freedom in China has deteriorated
local bishops or episcopal conferences in a spirit of healthy removed from the diocese or detained death of his predecessor, Bishop Zhu, even more in recent years, the United
decentralization.Proposals also considered ways in which on four different occasions. preventing him from presiding over the States Commission on International
the Curia could deepen service to the local churches, as He is not a part of the state-run funeral Mass. Religious Freedom noted in its 2017
well as widen the scope of those consulted in the proposal Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association He was also detained just one month annual report, as the countrys leader
of candidates for bishop appointments to include more (CCPA) and is therefore part of the prior to this current detainment, from Xi Jingping has further consolidated
lay people and members of consecrated life. (Hannah underground church not recognized by April 12-17, which ostensibly was to power and worked to promote the
Brockhaus/CNA) the communist government. prevent him from celebrating the sinicization of religion. (CNA/
The Vaticans statement was issued in Triduum and Easter liturgies, which EWTN News)
CBCP Monitor June 26 - July 9, 2017 Vol 21, No. 13 NEWS FEATURES A3

For first World Day of the Poor, Francis

encourages personal encounter
VATICAN In his message for the
first World Day of the Poor, Pope
Francis said that the suffering and
broken bodies of the poor are where
we encounter the body of Christ
and to know Christ we must know
the poor.
If we truly wish to encounter
Christ, we have to touch his body
in the suffering bod-ies of the poor,
as a response to the sacramental
communion bestowed in the Eu-
charist, he said in his message,
released June 13.
The Body of Christ, broken in the
sacred liturgy, can be seen, through
charity and sharing, in the faces and
persons of the most vulnerable of
our brothers and sisters.
We may think of the poor simply
as the beneficiaries of our occasional
volunteer work, or of impromptu
acts of generosity that appease our
conscience, he contin-ued.
And these acts may be good for
putting others needs more clearly
before us, but what they should
ultimately do is lead to a true
encounter with the poor and a shar-
ing that becomes a way of life.
On our paths to becoming
true disciples of Christ, we find
confirmation of our evan-gelical
authenticity in the charity and
sharing stemming from a real
encounter, he said. This way of life
gives rise to joy and peace of soul,
because we touch with our own
hands the flesh of Christ.
Pope Francis established the
World Day of the Poor in his
apostolic letter, Miseri-cordia et
misera, presented Nov. 20, 2016
at the end of the Churchs Jubilee
Year of Mercy.
To be celebrated on the 33rd
Sunday of Ordinary Time this
year falling on Nov. 19 the idea
came about, he explained, during
the Jubilee for Socially Excluded
People, highlighting in particular
the homeless, which took place
at the Vatican near the end of the
Jubilee.
At the conclusion of the Jubilee
of Mercy, I wanted to offer the
Church a World Day of the Poor, so
that throughout the world Christian
communities can become an ever
greater sign of Christs charity for
the least and those most in need,
the Pope ex-plained in the message.
Pope Francis himself will
celebrate Mass on Sunday, Nov. 19
in St. Peters Basilica, Archbishop
Rino Fisichella told journalists at
a press conference on the Popes
mes-sage June 13.
Afterward, there will be a lunch
for the poor, serving around 500,
in the Pope Paul VI hall.
The theme for the World Day of
the Poor, which includes a special
logo depicting an open door, and
one person welcoming another
inside, is Let us love, not with
words but with deeds.
Words alone arent enough, the
Pope pointed out in his message,
illustrating the point with the words
of St. James in his epistle.
St. James writes, If a brother or
sister is poorly clothed and in lack
of daily food, and one of you says
to them, Go in peace, be warmed
and filled, without giving them the
things needed for the body; what
does it profit? So faith by itself, if it
has not works, is dead.
Quoting St. John Chrysostom,
as well, Francis continued, If you
want to honor the body of Christ, do
not scorn it when it is naked; do not
honor the Eucharistic Christ with
silk vestments, and then, leaving
the church, neglect the other Christ
suffering from cold and nakedness.
We are called, then, to draw near
to the poor, to encounter them, to
meet their gaze, to embrace them
and to let them feel the warmth
of love that breaks through their
solitude.
The Pope said he wanted to add
this day to the already established
world days, be-cause it adds an
exquisitely evangelical fullness,
that is, Jesus preferential love for
the poor.
This day is meant to encourage
all believers, regardless of religious
affiliation, to re-act against a culture
of discard and waste, and instead
embrace a culture of encoun-ter,
which shares with the poor through
concrete signs of solidarity and
fraternity.
God created the heavens and the
earth for all; yet sadly some have
erected barriers, walls and fences,
betraying the original gift meant for
all humanity, with none ex-cluded,
he lamented.
But though as Christians we have
often failed in our duty to the poor,
throughout history, the Holy Spirit
has raised up holy men and women
who have truly lived this out, setting
an example for us all.
St. Francis, for example, is an
excellent witness of how to serve the
poor authentical-ly, he explained. It
was because the saint kept his eyes
fixed firmly on Christ first that he
was able to see Christ also in the
poor and vulnerable, he said.
If we want to help change history
and promote real development, we
need to hear the cry of the poor and
commit ourselves to ending their
marginalization, he said. At the
same time, I ask the poor in our
cities and our communities not to
lose the sense of evangelical poverty
that is part of their daily life.
The poor are not just a chance to
serve Christ, however, he said. They
also offer us an opportunity to step
outside of our places of comfort
and certainty and acknowledge the
counter-cultural view that poverty
has a value even in itself.
Let us never forget that, for
Christs disciples, poverty is above
all a call to follow Jesus in his own
poverty.
Poverty means having a humble
heart and accepting our limitations
and sinfulness. More than anything,
poverty, like the poverty of spirit
Christ speaks of in the beati-tudes,
is an interior attitude that doesnt
get caught up in thinking happiness
is found in material goods and
worldly success.
And prayer should be at the heart
of all our concrete actions, he said.
The Our Father is the prayer of the
poor, because in it we ask God for
our daily bread, expressing our
entrustment to God for our most
basic needs.
When the disciples asked Jesus
to teach them to pray, he answered
in the words with which the poor
speak to our one Father, in whom
all acknowledge themselves as
brothers and sisters. The Our Father
is a prayer said in the plural: the
bread for which we ask is ours, and
that entails sharing, participation
and joint responsibil-ity, Francis
said.
The Pope asked that bishops,
priests, deacons, and consecrated
persons, as well as associations,
movements and volunteers around
the world help to make this day of
the poor a tradition that concretely
contributes to evangelization in
todays world.
This new World Day, therefore,
should become a powerful appeal
to our conscienc-es as believers,
allowing us to grow in the conviction
that sharing with the poor en-ables
us to understand the deepest truth
of the Gospel.
The poor are not a problem,
he concluded, they are a resource
from which to draw as we strive to
accept and practice in our lives the
essence of the Gospel. (Hannah
Brockhaus / CNA/EWTN
News)

A new procedure for bishops ad Is there a pontifical commission

to reinterpret Humanae Vitae?

limina visits to Rome VATICANAs rumors

VATICANIn order to foster
collegiality, Pope Francis has
added to the usual schedule
of bishops ad limina visit
to Rome: one additional
meeting with the heads of the
Vatican dicasteries.
The ad limina
apostolorumto the tomb
of the apostlesvisits are
the meetings that groups
of bishops from each
ecclesiastical region in the
world have with the Pope
every five years. In such
occasions they also visit and
celebrate Mass at the tombs
of St. Peter and St. Paul.
Before meeting the Pope,
the bishops from a particular
country or region visit all
t h e d i c a s t e r i e s Va t i c a n
dicasteries and can schedule
personal meetings with the
head of each dicastery to
discuss particular matters.
During such visits,
bishops conferences prepare
exhaustive reports for each
dicastery, describing the
status of the Church in the
country or region.
Before Pope Francis, the
meeting of the bishops with
the Pope included an exchange
of speeches: the president
of the bishops conference
delivered a speech to describe
the state of the region, and
the Pope delivered a speech
in his turn which provided
pastoral recommendations
and priorities.
After the exchange of
speeches, the Pope held a
short conversation with each
bishop individually.
Comedienne attests: Church truly merciful
Comedienne Aileen Ai-ai Delas Alas
abound concerning a Vatican
commission to reinterpret
Hu-manae vitae in light of
laetitia shows Pope Francis
path toward a decentraliza-
tion of doctrinal issues, and
that whenever the Christian
the region and its needs. We
Amoris laetitia, the president community falls into the
got ad-vice from the Curia.
of the Pontifical Academy error of proposing models
We gave our input to them,
for Life has rejected these of life derived from too-
the Curia officials gave their
rumors. abstract and artificially con-
input to us.
I can confirm that there structed theological ideals, it
Bishop Dowd added that
is no pontifical commission conceives its pastoral action
the Pope listened to us, and
called to re-read or to re- as the schematic applica-tion
we had coffee together at the
interpret Humanae vitae. of a doctrinal paradigm.
end.
However, we should look Msgr. Marengo told
The auxiliary bishop of
positively on all those CNA that the issue of a
Montreal recounted: The
initiatives, such as that of conciliation between Amoris
Pope basically said: We want
professor Marengo of the laetitia and Humanae vitae is
to hear from you about what
John Paul II Institute, which not in the agenda.
is your situation. Tell us
aim at studying and deepening I have found it always
your experience. The various
Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Cuban bishops during their ad lumina visit this document in view of harmful to invent answers
dicasteries had prepared
to the Vati-can May 4. LOSSERVATORE ROMANO/CNS the 50th anniversary of its to useless questions, said
remarks based on the reports
publication, Archbishop Msgr. Marengo, though he
But since the beginning of way related to pastoral care that we sent in advance to the
Vincenzo Paglia, who is also added that theological and
his pontificate, Pope Francis or some of the main is-sues ad limina visit.
grand chancellor of the John pastoral reflection have still
chose the format of an open at stake in the ecclesiastical He added that, as the
Paul II Insti-tute, told CNA. a long way to go in order to
conversation with the whole region visiting Rome. discussion went on, some
Vatican reporter Marco gain a proper and fruitful
group of bishops. All of them Bishop Thomas Dowd, of the dicasteries read the
Tosatti first reported in May, understanding of both Paul
are allowed to ask ques-tions, auxiliary bishop of Montreal, texts they prepared, but most citing unnamed Vatican VIs and Pope Francis texts.
and the Pope responds off told CNA that for the first of them did not read the texts, sources, that Pope Francis Archbishop Paglia also told
the cuff. time with our group, the but reacted to the experienc- had, or was about to, form CNA that there is in fact
The Pope also prepared Pope met twice with the es raised during the open a secret commission no doubt that the heart of
a formal speech, a copy of bishops: before in a meeting discussion. to ex-amine and suggest Hu-manae vitaethe value
which was provided to each with sev-eral heads of the During the meeting, Pope modifications to the Churchs of human procreation is a
bish-op. Vatican dicasteries, and after Francis listened attentively to teaching on contraception, as theme on which we all need to
With time, even the delivery for the usual exchange of all the discussions. He spoke laid out in Bl. Paul VIs 1968 reflect with much attention;
of the papal speech fell into opinions, which lasted about at the end, to summarize the encyclical Humanae vitae. the breaking of the marriage-
disuse. Now, no official pa-pal two hours. discussions and provide an And on Wednesday, family-procreation trip-tych
text is prepared and therefore Bishop Dowd described it overall reaction. Roberto de Mattei of is a risk which the Church and
the press only knows of the as a working meeting which The bishops of Peru Corrispondenza Romana all of human society cannot
matters discussed during the included representatives followed next in May, with reported that Msgr. Gilfredo take.
visit from the bishops who from the Secretariat of State, the same new extra meeting. Marengo, a professor at the The archbishop was
attended it. the Congregation for Clergy, Archbishop Jos Antonio John Paul II Institute, would appointed head of the
Pope Francis has made an the Pontifical Council for Eguren Anselmi of Piura told coordinate the commission. Pontifical Academy for Life in
additional, recent change: the Promotion of the New CNA that the double meeting, Corrispondenza Romana 2016, and he has come under
the bishops have now a meet- Evangelization, and the first with the heads of the said the commission sharp scrutiny and criticism
ing presided over by Pope Dicastery for Laity, Family dicasteries and then only with was composed of Msgr. from former members who
Francis with many heads of and Life. the bishops gives great Pierangelo Sequeri, head of are con-cerned by his actions.
the Vatican dicasteries. Thanks to provided attention to the local Churches, the John Paul II Institute, And while Archbishop
Not all the heads of Vatican translation, the Pope, prefect, since we have the possibility Professor Philippe Chenaux, Paglia was head of the
dicasteries take part in the and bishops of Quebec to spend at least four hours a professor of Church history Pontifical Council for
meeting, but only those had an open exchange of with the Pope. (Andrea at the Pontifical Lateran the Family, the dicastery
whose dicasteries are in some opinions about the Church in Gagliarducci/CNA) University, and Msgr. Angelo organized seminars on
Maffeis, head of the Paul VI marriage and family
Institute in Brescia.
Citing Msgr. Marengos
life in which many of the
par-ticipants suggested a
QUEZON City In a Holy Mass help raise funds for the construction of previous writings, de Mattei penitential path that
celebrating the 76th birthday of the Kristong Hari Parish by its parish presented the priest as some- would allow the divorced-
Novaliches Bishop, Antonio Tobias, priest, Fr. Roland Jaluag. The Kristong one who would be in favor and-remarried to receive
multi-awarded actress and comedienne Hari Parish Construction is one of the of reviewing Bl. Paul VIs sacramental Communion
Aileen Ai-Ai Delas Alas proudly diocesan projects of No-valiches, which teaching against the use of while still engaging in sexual
proclaimed her personal experience of the bishop personally supervises and con-traceptives. rela-tions. The seminars
mercy in the Catholic Church. solicits funds for. Speaking to CNA, Msgr. lectures were published with
This is the proof that the Church Marengo dismissed what he a foreword by Archbishop
is really forgiving, said the actress Wedding in the offing described as the imaginative Paglia.
in Filipino dur-ing an assembly at I am a dirty womanI have so many report about him heading Interest in the reception of
the Visitation of Our Lord Parish sins, but I have a Papal Award. Thank a commission to review Humanae vitae is increasing,
in Lagro in this city on June 13, you, Lord! Thank you! She said smiling Humanae vitae, and referred as the encyclical nears the
referring to the Papal Award she ear to ear, as the assembly composed of to his own writings on Amoris 50th anniversary of its
received last year. the cler-gy, the religious, and the laity laetitia to fully understand publication. In view of the
According Delas Alas, she became of Novaliches applauded. my theological path. anniversary, papers and
close to Tobias when she was asked to Merciful / A7 He has written that Amoris Humanae Vitae / A6
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