•A3 Benedict XVI remembers

Taize community on •B1 Transformation

through values
•C1 Ugnayan
The News Supplement for
bittersweet anniversary Couples for Christ

PPCRV backs SK abolition Voters’ education should

THE Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible
Voting supports the proponents of the abolition
of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections,
claiming it’s useless.
PPCRV chairperson Henrietta de Villa said
she agrees with the calls to scrap SK polls
because it only becomes “an entry for political
dynasties to extend their role in the area.”
“It’s not good and at an early age young
people are developing a mindset about politics
on the basis of wrong values,” said De Villa.
While they support for the scrapping of SK polls,
PPCRV / A6
continue even outside
election time—LAIKO
ELECTION time maybe over but not voters’
education on politics and good governance.
At least for the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipi-
nas, the lay implementing arm of the CBCP
Episcopal Commission on the Laity, voters’
education should not only be limited during the
election season but a continuing process.
Edgardo Tria Tirona, Laiko National Presi-
August 16 - 29, 2010 Vol. 14 No. 17 Php 20.00 LAIKO / A6

Church warns of excommunication to active participants in abortion

A ROMAN Catholic prelate
warned the Catholics they
risked excommunication from
the Church if they assisted in
abortion.
The Church described abor-
tion as a “mortal sin” and as a
matter of policy, Canon lawyer
Archbishop Oscar Cruz said
Catholics who contributed to
abortions would be penalized.
alty of excommunication as far as
abortion is concerned is imposed
upon all those who have been
“actively involved” in making
the abortion happen.
“That is called active partici-
pation… from the woman con-
cerned, the husband who helped
her, the abortionist, or the nurses
of any,” said Cruz.
“Excommunication means that
there are only two sins whereby
the penalty of excommunication
is involved. First, said Cruz, are
for those who are guilty of abor-
tion and those who physically
hurt the Pope.
Women’s rights groups earlier
called for the partial legalization
of abortion in the country amid
their claims that an estimated
half a million women resort to
life of the mother.
She said a woman must also be
given the right to abortion when
her pregnancy is a result of rape
or incest.
Upreti also blamed the crimi-
nalization of abortion for the
high incidence of illegal and un-
safe abortion in the Philippines
Citing the report “Forsaken
Lives: The Harmful Impact of
were hospitalized for complica-
tions due to unsafe abortions.
But Marbel Bishop Dinu-
aldo Gutierrez said abortion
is a “crime” in the eyes of the
church and there is no way they
will allow it.
He said that one cannot re-
spond to one tragedy with an-
other tragedy. The bishop added
that abortion is the wrong an-

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

According to canon law, any-
one who procures a completed
abortion incurs an automatic ex-
communication, meaning there
is no need for an official decree
from church authorities.
The archbishops said the pen-
the person concerned is sepa-
rated from the spiritual benefits
enjoyed by all members of the
Church. Furthermore, the same
person could not take commu-
nion,” he added.
In the Catholic Church today,
unsafe procedure every year.
Melissa Upreti, legal adviser
to the New York-based Centre
for Reproductive Rights, said the
government should amend the
penal code to legalize abortion
when pregnancy threatens the
the Philippine Criminal Abor-
tion Ban,” the group said unsafe
abortion in the country has
caused about 560,000 induced
abortion in 2008.
The report also claimed 1,000
women died as many as 90,000
swer and should be avoided in
every way.
“Abortion is murder. It kills
deliberately the fetus, a human
person who has the inviolable
right to live. Abortion is a moral
sin,” he said. (CBCPNews) Cruz

Bishop urges SC to void Luisita deal

Church,
By Roy Lagarde

AN official of the Catholic

gov’t back
bishops’ leadership asked
the Supreme Court (SC) to
nullify the compromise agree-

sustainable
ment between the owners and
farmers of Hacienda Luisita
Inc. (HLI).

agriculture
Not only that it’s “unfair,” Manila
Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said
the compromise deal totally violates the
land reform law.
Pabillo called on the high court to
reject the controversial agreement and
consider it invalid for carrying stock CHURCH and government leaders
distribution option (SDO), a scheme joined hand s in promoting agricul-
whose legality is being questioned tural productivity through sustain-
before the SC. able agriculture while encouraging
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

“This is a matter of social justice and responsible stewardship of natural

the rights of farmers to own a land must
be respected,” said Pabillo, chairman of
the National Secretariat for Social Ac-
tion of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines.
The bishop said the Cojuangco-Aqui-
no family should distribute the land to
the beneficiaries instead of offering a
compromise.
Pabillo along with farmers opposed
to the deal attended the HLI case’s oral
arguments before the SC on Aug. 18,
the first high-profile court drama of the
Aquino administration.
The hearing zeroed in on the valid-
ity of the SDO deal that farmer benefi-
ciaries entered into with HLI and the
Tarlac Development Co. in 1989. HLI
lawyers argued that only the court can
avoid the stock distribution option that
HLI forged with farmers.
The Presidential Agrarian Reform
Council (PARC) headed by former
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
ordered the revocation of SDO in 2005,
which purportedly failed to fulfill the
objectives of the agrarian reform law
of promoting social justice.
The PARC also ordered the distri-
resources during a gathering of
farmers in Malaybalay, Bukidnon
recently.
Justices listen to the oral arguments on the Hacienda Luisita Inc. land dispute at the Supreme Court in Manila August 18 as CBCP-Nassa Chair and Affirming the Church’s support
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo (photo below) observes inside the SC chamber with a group of farmers opposed to the stock distribution to the cause of farmers, Fr. Edu
option (SDO) compromise.
Gariguez said the Church backs
“initiatives that increase agricultural
productivity through sustainable
agriculture.”
Gariguez is the executive of the Na-
tional Secretariat of Social Action, Jus-
tice and Peace (NASSA) of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP).
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio
Ledesma, one of the speakers during
the assembly, provided the spiritual
dimension of sustainable agriculture
and climate change in a lecture titled
“Stewards of God’s Gift for all Genera-
tions.”
Talking to participants composed of
farmers, priests involved in social ac-
tion, religious men and women, NGO
leaders and government executives,
Ledesma said “all projects should be
for integral human development, need
to be marked by solidarity and inter-
generational justice.”
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

bution of some 4,915 hectares of land Ledesma anchored his speech on

covered by the Comprehensive Agrar- two important Church documents,
ian Reform Program (CARP). first, the Compendium on the Social
In 2006, owners of Hacienda Luisita Doctrines of the Church released in
elevated the case to the SC asking for a 2004 and Pope Benedict XVI’s Caritas
temporary restraining order and revoke in Veritate.
Luisita / A6 Agriculture / A6

Pro-life groups denounce new Fisherfolks to join Church vs. gambling
drug ella as abortifacient
AFTER the Federal Drug
Administration recently ap-
proved the new drug ella,
which is being marketed as
emergency contraception,
numerous pro-life groups
reacted strongly to the move,
claiming that the pill acts as
an abortifacient.
On Aug. 13, the FDA re-
leased a statement announc-
ing the approval of ella for
distribution in the United
States, explaining that in
June, an advisory committee
“unanimously voted that the
MILITANT fisherfolks under gambling capital of Asia to the
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang
Mamamalakaya sa Pilipinas (Pa-
malakaya) is joining force with
detriment of coastal people and the
bay environment,” stated Hicap.
The Pamalakaya leader said
application for ella provided the Roman Catholic Church in his group is planning to seek a
compelling data on efficacy the crusade against “Las Vegas- dialogue with CBCP anytime to
and sufficient information on nization” of the Philippines. discuss the devastating impact
safety for the proposed indica- In a statement, Pamalakaya of the project to small fisherfolk
tion of emergency contracep- national chair, Fernando Hicap, and urban poor and its destruc-
tion.” Ella has been approved had appealed to the 117 arch- tive effect to the already fragile
for distribution in Europe bishops and bishops of the CBCP Manila Bay environment.
since May of this year. to support the fisherfolks and “We will move heaven and
Although the drug is being other affected people in Manila earth to put up a strong opposition
marketed internationally as a Bay in opposing the proposed against this largest gambling proj-
morning after pill, the FDA reclamation of a part of Manila ect clinched during the adminis-
statement also noted that bay to become a casino. tration of former President Gloria
“women with known or sus- “We ask our archbishops and Macapagal-Arroyo and passed on
pected pregnancy and women bishops to join the Manila Bay to the new administration of Presi-
who are breastfeeding should coastal people in their legitimate dent Benigno Simeon “Noynoy”
Ella / A6 and just struggle against evil forces Aquino III,” vowed Hicap.
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
who want to make this nation the Fisherfolks / A6

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

 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

Pope speaks of Christian promise

of eternal life in heaven
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, August
15, 2010—The destination of Mary as-
sumed is a reality founded on the love
of God, taught the Pope on Sunday.
The Christian promise of heaven, he
said, brings great joy and encourages
believers to work for the construction
of the “world of God.”
Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass
in the intimate atmosphere of the pon-
tifical parish of St. Thomas of Villanova
for the Solemnity of the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary in the town of
Castel Gandolfo. During the celebration,
attended by parishioners and a select
few military, civil and religious leaders,
the Holy Father spoke of the destination
of Mary as she was taken from earth.
He explained that in the Assumption,
“we believe that Mary, as Christ her
Son, defeated death and triumphs al-
ready in the celestial glory in the totality
of her being, ‘in body and soul’.”
Expanding on the idea of the “ce-
lestial glory” to which Mary arrived,
Pope Benedict noted that people today
are conscious that by “’heaven’ we are
not referring to just any place in the
universe, to a star or something similar”
but “to something much bigger and
and gives us eternity…”
He explained that in order to un-
derstand this we can look to our own
lives and the way loved ones live on
in our hearts after they die but only as
a “shadow” because also this memory
is destined to expire with the death of
those who conserve it.
“God, on the other hand,” he taught,
“does not ever pass and we all exist
in accordance with His love. We exist
because he loves us, because he has
thought of us and he called us to life.
We exist in the thoughts and in the love
of God. We exist in all of our reality, not
only in our ‘shadow’.”
The serenity, hope and peace of man
is founded on God’s thought and love,
Benedict XVI explained, “he does not
survive just in a ‘shadow’ of ourselves,
but in Him, in His creative love, we are
protected and introduced with all our
life, with our being in eternity.”
“It is His love that defeats death and
gives us eternity, and it is this love that
we call ‘heaven’ ...”
This is a truth, concluded the Pope,
“that should always fill us with pro-
found joy:” the Christian promise of
eternal life in heaven, “not just any

more difficult to define with our limited
human concepts.
“With this term ‘heaven’,” he said,
“we wish to assert that God, the God
made close to us, does not abandon us
even after death, but has a place for us
www.uscmediareligion.org
salvation of the soul in an imprecise
beyond.”
This gives Christians “a strong hope
in a bright future and opens the way
towards the realization of this future,”
he added. (CNA)

Cardinal Zen hopeful situation in

Pope to Knights: respond to injustice with fidelity
VATICAN CITY, August 16, 2010—
Benedict XVI is affirming his personal
gratitude to the members of the Knights of
Columbus, and assuring them that fidelity
to God is the best response to “often unfair
and unfounded” attacks on the Church
and its leaders.
The Pope made this affirmation through
his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Ber-
tone, in a message sent to Carl Anderson,
the leader of the men’s charitable organiza-
tion. The Knights were gathered earlier this
month in their 128th convention.
The papal message offered particu-
lar congratulations to Anderson, who
marked the 10th anniversary of his elec-
tion as supreme knight.
China will improve for Catholics
particularly in the Novena conducted on the that, as the Church embraces this period of
eve of the fifth anniversary of his election,” the purification, her light will come to shine all testimony of the faithful amidst
message continued. “He remains deeply con- the more brightly before men and women widespread repression is fun-
soled by this testimony of fidelity to Christ’s of fair mind and good will.” damental for the future of the
vicar amid the turbulence of the times, and The papal message further lauded the Catholic Church there.
he asks that prayers continue to be offered up Knights for efforts to “uphold the reason- According to L’Osservatore
for the unity of the Church, the spread of the ableness of the Church’s moral teaching Romano, Cardinal Zen recently
Gospel and the conversion of hearts.” and its importance for a sound, just and accompanied a group of nine
enduring social order.” Chinese Salesian sisters at Pope
Priest supporters As well, he praised their “witness to Benedict XVI’s general audience
The Pontiff also thanked the Knights for their the sanctity of human life and the au- at Castel Gandolfo. Regarding
“spiritual solidarity with the clergy” during the thentic nature of marriage,” and lauded the situation for Catholics in
Year for Priests, which concluded in June. the Knights’ efforts to “promote in the China he said, “It is important
“Here too, your traditional spirit of faith Catholic laity a greater consciousness of to follow the guidelines laid out
and fraternity found ready expression in the the need to overcome every separation by the Pope in this 2007 letter to
desire to stand, as your ‘brother’s keeper,’ between the faith we profess and the Catholics in China,” which still
alongside your priests and to confirm them daily decisions which shape our lives has not been widely read due to
www.usccb.org

Referring to the Knights’ commitment
to the “Gospel imperative of love of neigh-
bor,” the letter affirmed the Holy Father’s
“gratitude for this great outpouring of
solidarity and love, which represents an
outstanding witness to the charity of Christ
and the saving truth of the Gospel.”
“His Holiness is personally grateful for
the generous support which the Knights
have given him in recent months, espe-
cially through their constant prayers and
in their vocation to holiness and the generous as individuals and the life of society as government repression.
service of God’s People,” the message noted. a whole.” The future of the Church in
“In the face of often unfair and unfounded At the convention, the Knights made China depends on the silent
attacks on the Church and her leaders, His eight resolutions, including efforts to but efficacious testimony of
Holiness is convinced that the most effective build a culture of life, to be in solidarity ROME, Italy, August 12, 2010— Catholics in country, the cardinal
response is a great fidelity to God’s word, with Benedict XVI, to support the insti- The Bishop Emeritus of Hong continued.
a more resolute pursuit of holiness, and an tution of marriage, and to honor Mother Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, said Referring to the Salesian sis-
increased commitment to charity in truth on Teresa of Calcutta on the 100th anniver- this week he hopes the situa- ters, Cardinal Zen said, “The fact
the part of all the faithful. sary of her birth. tion for Catholics in China will that they live amidst the people
“He asks the Knights to persevere in their The 2011 convention will be held next improve despite the religious and are committed to ordinary
witness of faith and charity, in the serene trust August in Denver, Colorado. (Zenit) freedom difficulties that exist in tasks gives particular weight to
the country. He added that the their testimony.” (UCAN)

Eighteen language-specific Facebook pages help expand World Youth Day’s reach
MADRID, Spain, August 15,
2010—World Youth Day (WYD)
Madrid has opened four more
language-specific pages on Face-
book, bringing its total Facebook
pages to 18. The pages were cre-
ated thanks to young volunteers
who see the importance of hav-
ing WYD information available
in their own language.
Japanese, Vietnamese, Mal-
tese and Croatian are the lat-
est languages to have WYD
outposts on Facebook. World
Youth Day Madrid organizers
credited the pages to “the de-
termination and the excitement
of the youth.”
Tran The Vinh, one of the ad-
ministrators of the Vietnamese-
language Facebook page, first
suggested the creation of a page
in her language. She said she
believes the page is important
because it overcomes “the ob-
stacle of speaking in a language the first time she will participate
other than your own.” as a volunteer.
Vinh, a 23-year-old architec- Ai Hongo, the 44-year-old
ture student, spends three to administrator of the Japanese
five hours daily administrating Facebook page, described herself
WYD’s profile, with the help as “young at heart.” In her view,
of other administrators. She videos are the best way to pro-
answers questions from page mote WYD because “they show
subscribers, translates informa- in the best possible way what a
tion coming from Spain and day in WYD is like.”
promotes WYD. The administrator of the Mal-
Viktorija, an education stu- tese WYD Facebook page is
dent at the University of Zagreb, Mariam de Giorgio. She said she
is one of the four administrators felt that the Madrid event will be
of the Croatian WYD page. She “one of the most unforgettable
said the WYD Facebook page WYDs ever,” in part because
serves as a place where youth she will have the opportunity
can resolve their doubts or to meet in person the various
reunite and share their experi- friends she has made through
ences. social networks.
A participant in previous According to WYD Madrid,
WYD gatherings at Cologne Spanish was the first language
and Sydney, Viktorija said her to have a WYD Facebook page,
attendance at WYD Madrid will followed by English, French and
be “special” because it will mark Chinese. (CNA)

Over 55,000 Vietnamese at feast of Our Lady of La

Vang, waiting for the Pope
HUE, Vietnam, August 16, 2010—At least
55 thousand faithful arrived in the diocese
of Hue over the last three days to attend the
celebrations of Our Lady of La Vang, the
national shrine. Many Catholics are hoping
that at the close this year, which will take
www.vietnamdreamforsuccess.org
cution of the King Vietnamese against the
Catholic Church (1798-1801), thousands of
Christians were killed for their faith. Sev-
eral of them fled into the jungle to La Vang,
then a small village in Quang Tri province.
There Mary appeared to comfort them. Since
Catholic hierarchy. It will end its January 6,
2011 in La Vang.
After many decades of destruction and
decay, the government has finally given
permission to restore the sanctuary, return-
ing the land taken from the Church in the

place January 6, 2011 at La Vang, the pope
will come to Vietnam.
Yesterday, along with 55,000 faithful at-
tended the Mass for the Assumption together
with some bishops and 120 priests from dif-
ferent dioceses.
The shrine of La Vang dates back to the
eighteenth century. During the great perse-
then, what was once a small village became
home to the sanctuary of Our Lady of La
Vang, visited by millions of people, whether
Catholic or not.
On 24 November 2009 the bishops
launched the Jubilee Year of the Church of
Vietnam, marking the 350th anniversary of
its birth and 50 years of the institution of the
past. Work will begin immediately after
Jan. 6, 2010.
By that date millions of pilgrims are ex-
pected to have arrived from abroad. Many
also hope for a visit by Benedict XVI.
In 1999 John Paul II had hoped to visit La
Vang, but the government in the end can-
celled any possibility. (AsiaNews)
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010
A3

Benedict XVI remembers Taize

community on bittersweet anniversary
VATICAN City, August 11,
2010—Pope Benedict has joined
himself in prayer with the Taize
community as the anniversary
of the death of their founder,
Brother Roger, and the milestone
of the community’s 70th year,
approach. The Pope called the
founder “a pioneer” in building
the unity of Christians.
Brother Roger founded the
now famous community in
Taize, France on Aug. 20, 1940
to assist refugees of World War
II, counting on the aid of friends
and his sister. They devoted
themselves to tending to all
people in need, a charism that
members continue to carry out to
this day, nearly 70 years later.
The coming anniversary will
be bittersweet for the community
as this month also marks the fifth
anniversary of the murder of their
founder, which took place on Aug.
16, 2005 during evening prayer.
the community, communicating
their greetings, congratulations
and condolences.
In a letter signed by Cardinal
Secretary of State Tarcisio Ber-
tone, the Holy Father transmitted
his sentiments to the community’s
current prior Brother Alois.
The Pope said that he wished
to show his “spiritual closeness”
and “union in prayer with the
community and with everyone”
who is remembering Brother
Roger over these days.
“A tireless witness to the gos-
pel of peace and reconciliation,
Brother Roger was a pioneer in
the difficult paths toward unity
among the disciples of Christ,”
he recalled.
Brother Roger’s community
continues to welcome thousands
of young people from across the
globe who seek meaning in their
lives, noted Cardinal Bertone, re-
calling how they are welcomed in
“although he has entered eternal
joy, he still speaks to us,”
“May his witness to an ecu-
menism of holiness inspire us
in our march towards unity, and
may your Community continue
to live and to radiate his charism,
especially towards the younger
generations!”
The community is unique in
that it welcomes any Christian,
from Catholic, Protestant or
Orthodox backgrounds among
its ranks. On its Taize.fr website
the community describes itself
as “a ‘parable of community’
that wants its life to be a sign of
reconciliation between divided
Christians and between sepa-
rated peoples.”
Concluding the letter to the
community, Cardinal Bertone
conferred the blessings of Benedict
XVI on the Taize community and
all who work with them in seeking
the unity of Christ’s disciples.

www.taize.fr
The anniversary has led many prayer and allowed to experience a The community will be cel-
Christian leaders, including personal relationship with God. ebrating the double anniversary Brother Roger, Founder of Taize
Pope Benedict, to send letters to And, the letter continued, on Aug. 14. (CNA/EWTN News)

Benedict XVI’s monastic characteristics CBCP official scores

military presence inside
may be helping ties with Orthodox Church Hacienda Luisita
ROME, Italy, August 12, 2010—Speak- MANILA, August 11, 2010— An official
ing to the Italian magazine 30 Giorni (30 of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Days), Dominican Fr. Charles Morerod of the Philippines (CBCP) chided the
said that Pope Benedict’s way of carry- continuing presence of government
ing out his ministry leads to his being troopers inside Hacienda Luisita in
liked by the Orthodox Church. It is a Tarlac City.
question of his being similar in nature Father Edu Gariguez said the haci-
to the Orthodox bishops, he observed. enda is currently under tight security
Fr. Charles Morerod is the general as farmers demanding full land distri-
secretary of the International Theologi- bution continue to gain media mileage
cal Commission and rector of the Pon- and public attention.
tifical University of St. Thomas Aqui- “We went there (recently) and we
nas, known as the Angelicum, as well saw the presence of the military and
as a member of the joint commission for militiamen inside Luisita. Soldiers and
theological dialogue with the Orthodox militiamen have a main camp there,”
www.catholicnewsagency.com

Church for the last five years. said Gariguez.

His commentary on the Pope’s rela-
tions with the Orthodox Church came
at end of an interview with 30 Giorni in
which he spoke extensively about the
positions of the Orthodox and Catholic
Churches as they approach the next
round of talks about the primacy of
Rome in meetings this September.
Asked if he had noticed that there
was a “particular sympathy and atten-
tion” towards Pope Benedict XVI from
the Orthodox Church, Fr. Morerod said
it is something he has seen as he visits
with representatives from different
Orthodox Churches.
“They have a great esteem for him,
maybe also because they see in him
a monastic type of figure, and all the
Orthodox bishops are monks.”
Pope Benedict XVI
Contrary to the common erroneous
vision other Christian faiths have of the
Pope as “everything” to Catholics, Fr.
Morerod said, actually, “if the Pope does
not put himself forward, if he repeats
only that which he has received, if he re-
mains a little hidden behind his ministry,
this on its own helps ecumenism.
“A Pope who, in exercising his min-
istry, puts ‘as little as possible’ of his
(personal considerations) into it and
concentrates on the essential is destined
He said the soldiers are present in at Fr. Edu Gariguez
least ten barangays inside the hacienda
and built military camps. Hacienda Luisita, it’s not easy to be a
Gariguez believes that the presence of leader of an organization or farmers’
the military is not to protect the people union,” said Gariguez.
Fr. Charles Morerod but of the interest of the powerful The priest was referring to the strike
Cojuangco family who owns the 6,419- in 2004 that ended in violence and killed
to be liked more by the Orthodox,” the hectare property. at least seven farmers near the gate of
Dominican priest commented. The CBCP official said the hacienda the sugar mill in what is known as Lu-
Relations with the Russian Orthodox has long been militarized even during isita massacre.
Church are considered to have reached the term of former President Gloria Ar- Gariguez said they are planning a talk
a high point this year with Metropolitan royo but more soldiers were assigned with the Armed Forces of the Philip-
Hilarion Alfeyev’s visit to the Vatican there lately. pines through the Military Ordinariate
last May. The metropolitan, Patriarch Nowadays, he said, the “expanded” of the Philippines headed by Bishop
Kirill’s “minister of the exterior,” bat- military presence there has generated Leopoldo Tumulak.
ted around the possibility at the time fear to thousands of agricultural work- “We would like to make an appeal
of a landmark visit between the the ers and their families. to the military not to side with the land
Patriarch and the Pope. (CNA/EWTN “Leaders of farmers’ organizations owners but to instead give protection to
News) are afraid because we know that in the people,” he said. (CBCPNews)

Implement policy on Zero

Waste, DOT told
MANILA, August 10, 2010—A “litter-
free” environment is not only good for
the health but a boost to tourism as well,
an environmental group said.
EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pol-
lution watchdog, has called on the De-
partment of Tourism to implement an
existing environmental policy to clean
the country of ubiquitous garbage.
Aside from being health hazards, the
garbage in the metropolis and elsewhere
also drive tourists away, the group said.
In a letter sent to the Department of
Tourism (DOT) the group asked DOT
Secretary Alberto Lim to implement a cir-
cular signed by former Secretary Joseph
Ace Durano declaring “‘Zero Tourism
Waste as a goal and direction for sustain-
that will bolster our competitive edge
over our Asian neighbours,” he said.
Alvarez urged Lim to pursue the con-
cept of “litter-free Pilipinas” and make
it a crusade of DOT during President
Aquino’s administration.
“Under your leadership, we expect the
entire tourism industry to play a high-
profile role in instilling environmental
awareness and responsibility among all
the tourism stakeholders,” he said.
Alvarez said both the tourism sector
and the environment will benefit if a
crusade against littering will be imple-
mented.
The DOT circular states “tourism
establishments and facilities [that]
generate significant volume of waste
Vatican spokesman praises decision to
drop sex abuse lawsuit against Holy See
VATICAN City, August 10, 2010— ish the Vatican’s condemnation of
Following the decision of a group sexual abuse or compassion for the
of plaintiffs in Kentucky to drop a victims.
lawsuit against the Holy See, Vatican “Justice for victims of sexual
spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi abuse and the protection of minors
praised the move, saying it was “good remain our primary objective,” he
news” that the allegations were ulti- explained.
mately proven “unfounded.” Vatican Radio reported on Tues-
On Tuesday, plaintiffs in the day that lawyers for the plaintiffs
case of O’Bryan vs. the Holy See said earlier court rulings recogniz-
abandoned their lawsuit against the ing the sovereign immunity of the
Vatican. Attorney William McMurry Holy See influenced the outcome,
attempted to gain class-action status as well as the fact that most victims
for the case involving three men who have already sought compensation
claim they were abused by priests from their dioceses.
decades ago. He also represented Jeffrey Lena, the American lawyer
www.catholicnewsagency.com

able tourism and development.”
“We trust that the implementation of
Zero Waste in the tourism sector will
be a cornerstone of your strategy to
preserve our rich cultural and natural
heritage that has been attracting domes-
tic and foreign visitors,” wrote Roy Al-
varez, EcoWaste Coalition president.
Alvarez said the tourism industry
will get a boost if a litter-free environ-
ment is adopted by the department.
“Protecting our tourist attractions and
destinations from waste and other forms
of environmental abuse and neglect is
key to any tourism development strategy
can be considerably reduced to zero if
a policy on waste prevention, reduction,
separation at source, recycling and com-
posting is put in place and genuinely
carried out.”
Likewise, the memorandum also
seeks to promote the “education and
training on ecological solid waste man-
agement (ESWM) in the tourism sector;
inclusion of ESWM as a basic require-
ment for the accreditation of hotels and
other tourism-related establishments;
and the greening of tourists events
and destinations.” (Pinky Barrientos/
CBCPNews)
243 sex abuse victims who settled for the Holy See, said the dropping
with the Archdiocese of Louisville of the Kentucky case shows there
in 2003 for $25.3 million. has never been a Vatican policy re-
Attorneys for the plaintiffs at- quiring concealment of child sexual
tempted to implicate Vatican offi- abuse.
cials – and potentially even the Pope Lena added that although the
Fr. Federico Lombardi
– in allegedly ignoring or covering case against the Holy See always
up the mishandling of clergy sex- lacked merit, it does not mean that
abuse cases by American bishops. involvement of the Holy See in conceal- the plaintiffs themselves did not
Lauding the abandonment of the ing abuse and which has also had strong suffer as a result of sexual abuse.
lawsuit on Aug. 10, Vatican spokes- negative effects on public opinion, has The attempted lawsuit, he said, only
man Fr. Federico Lombardi told ultimately been proven … unfounded.” served to distract from the important
reporters “it is good news that a case Fr. Lombardi also said that the goal of protecting children from
that has lasted six years on the alleged outcome does not in any way dimin- harm. (CNA/EWTN News)

‘Pro-life’ group slams call to legalize abortion
MANILA, August 9, 2010— A
lay advocacy group has come
down heavily on calls to legalize
abortions in the country, calling
it “unacceptable” because it is a
complete abomination to safe-
guarding human life.
“Induced abortion is the de-
liberate termination of the life
of an innocent human being and
therefore, it is a crime,” the Pro-
Life Philippines Foundation, Inc.
said in a statement.
Along with the Catholic hi-
erarchy, the organization has
openly lobbied lawmakers to
drop any proposed legislation
to legalize contraception.
Pro-Life also vowed to oppose
any move to legalize even elec-
tive abortion for rape cases or
when the fetus is deformed.
New-York-based Center for
Reproductive Rights earlier
pushed for legalized abortion in
the Philippines to stop the thou-
sands of women who undergo
“unsafe” and potentially fatal
abortions each year.
The so-called women’s rights
women in crisis pregnancies.
“If the government is seri-
ous in its efforts to remedy this
of marriage and other causes of
unwanted pregnancies,” it said.
“All men and women need to
advocates thought that there will dilemma, help should come in be educated on fetal development,
be certain liberal standards on the providing counseling services the consequences of sex outside
delicate issues of abortions and especially with abortion-minded of marriage, on human sexuality,
naturally the Church and other or- women, post-abortion mothers fertility and love, respect and rela-
ganizations are upset about this. and fathers, education programs, tionships. Pregnant women need
But the Pro-Life claimed that maternal and child care services, support and help, not abortion.
the legalization of abortion is economic and social develop- We should be saving lives, not
not necessary to accomplish the ment programs that would put taking them,” the group added.
government’s concern for poor a stop to rape, incest, sex outside (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)
 A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

EDITORIAL

Graviora delicta

WHEN the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith published the

Normae de gravioribus delictis (Norms concerning the most serious
crimes) last July 15, 2010, the media, which Fr. Federico Lombardi,
the Vatican spokesperson, referred to as “non-specialist public,” was
immediately on hand to lash out its own reading of the norms.
The loudest among them was the New York Times which eclectically
made a big brouhaha on why the issue of ordination of women as
priests was categorized on the same parallel with the grave offense
as pedophilia. Its July 15 issue wrote: “But what astonished many
Catholics was the inclusion of the attempt to ordain women in a list
of the “more grave delicts,” or offenses, which included pedophilia,
as well as heresy, apostasy and schism.”
The social media that has grown exponentially in months made
trending of this issue with not a few making it appear that the Vatican
was embattled and out of its wits. Even the blog of the Vatican
Information Service was swamped with online comments such as:
“The ordination of women as one of the most serious crimes against
the Roman Catholic canon law, or “delicta graviora”—putting
it in the same category as sexual abuse of children by priests, is
reprehensible.” Or another “I most emphatically denounce the
comparison of ordained women with pedophile priests.” And
more of such stuff.
Fr. Lombardi is right with his “non-specialist public” allusion. It’s
either the mainstream media did not read the norms well or were
heavily influenced by a secularist agenda or both. Because, really the

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

norms did not make any parallelism between ordination of women and
pedophilia. It is, in fact, an improvement to the application of Pope
John Paul II’s Motu Proprio Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela of 2001
that gave the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith responsibility
to address serious crimes within the ambit of Canon Law.
Commendably, the Norms have codified serious crimes against
the faith, and more serious crimes against the sacraments of the
Holy Eucharist (Art 3), Sacrament of Penance (Art 4), Sacrament
of the Holy Orders (Art 5), and against Catholic Morals (Art 6).
The ordination of women is mentioned, obviously, in the crimes Abp. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD
against the Sacrament of Holy Orders, while pedophilia is treated
under the crimes against Catholic morals. But singling out just these The empty tomb in
Pastoral Companion Bontoc
two issues is a misreading of the Norms that deals with all serious
crimes against faith and morals.
Indeed, the Norms are a feat that should in fact be hailed in that it
will serve every bishop to fulfill his responsibilities, including the
handling in the best possible way allegations of sexual abuse by BISHOP Francisco Claver, S.J., line of bishops of Malaybalay, One evening as he took his turn and 1970, as a scholastic regent
clerics. Perhaps, the “more serious crimes” (graviora delicta) are passed away on July 1st, 2010. starting with himself followed based in Xavier University, I
those that try to embezzle the truth. cooking and carrying the food to
My last visit to him in the infir- by Bishops Gaudencio Rosales his small community of Jesuits in organized and supervised a
mary of Loyola House of Studies and Honesto Pacana, S.J. Colorado, he casually broke the “Summer-of-Service” (S.O.S.)
was towards the end of May. I news to them: “Your cook has program in Bukidnon. We con-
Voices of the Rural Poor brought him the latest issue of A Missionary Church been made a bishop.” tacted several Jesuit-run parishes
our archdiocesan newspaper, In 1969 when the Jesuit Mission It was this casual, yet forth- to host our student volunteers
Bag-ong Lamdag (New Light), District in Bukidnon became the right, manner that characterized for four weeks of community im-
THE researches, consultations and dialogues unearthed several causes which featured the installation Prelature of Malaybalay, there Bishop Cisco’s “episcopating” mersion and development work.
of rural poverty. Foremost is the lack of serious implementation
of laws and policies designed to address asset reforms to promote of Bishop Jose Cabantan on were only 16 parishes manned style – a term that he uses in his It was in this setting, traversing
social justice. Inadequate resources and capacities to provide May 15th as the fourth bishop for the most part by Jesuit mis- latest book with a touch of hu- what were then the bumpy and
basic services were also mentioned. Other major concerns were of Malaybalay. He did not know sionary priests. (Now, after four mor and self-criticism. Since he dusty roads of Bukidnon, that
the prevailing graft and corruption and a sense of helplessness – Bishop Joe personally, but was decades, Bukidnon has 45 par- came from Bontoc in the Moun- I got to know more about the
that there is nothing anyone can do to change the situation. The interested to know more about ishes with 87 diocesan priests.) tain Province and was going to diversity of strong characters
extensive presence of extractive industries, foremost of which is him. He was glad to know that Its first appointed bishop was Bukidnon (meaning, a place of among the missionary parish
large scale mining, destroys the environment which directly impacts Bishop Joe came from the Arch- Bishop Cisco. At the age of 40, he mountains), he aptly chose for priests.
the poor. On the other hand, it was recognized that the rural poor diocese of Cagayan de Oro, was one of the youngest bishops his episcopal motto the Psalm- There were Italian Jesuits like
need to discern more their rights and responsibilities as citizens which was the mother Diocese to be appointed. Indeed, Cisco ist’s prayer: “Levavi oculos in Frs. Venere, Leoni and Caroselli
and as children of God. Five basic sectors articulated the complex of Malaybalay. On my part, I was still finishing his graduate expelled from China, and now
challenges they face today. montes.” (“I lifted my eyes upon
mentioned to him that Bishop studies in cultural anthropology the mountains.”) learning another foreign lan-
Small Farmers and Landless Workers: They are the rural sector that Joe was succeeding an illustrious at the University of Colorado. During the summers of 1969 Pastoral Companion / A7
today has the single most urgent claim on the conscience of the
nation whose most pressing need is land reform. Academic studies
and numerous documentations by civil society have attested to the Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
significant contribution of agrarian reform in reducing poverty,
creating opportunities for growth leading towards sustainable Defining ‘Responsible
Parenthood’ Love Life
development. These gains must not only be protected and sustained,
but expanded to cover all legitimate beneficiaries of agrarian
reform. Despite efforts to raise these concerns we are saddened
to find that elected representatives do not heed the voices of their
poor constituents.
THIS is the story of Meda (not her real name). Maybe you will think that I am irresponsible, from her husband and mother to be able to
The small farmers call for basic services in the development of
the countryside, such as irrigation systems, farm to market roads, She found my email address from the Pro-life but my only concern now is how my husband raise up the children properly.
lending facilities, and access to the market. The farmers in many Website (www.prolife.org.ph) and we have and mother will accept the fact that I am again Her latest letter was full of joy and hope.
places are suffering from large scale mining and the continuous been communicating for a few weeks now. bearing a child. I often go into self-pity and She started with quoting me: “Having
conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural use to avoid Meda’s main concern is her present preg- loneliness. I am often tired having to take care children is not a sign of irresponsibility.
being covered by the land reform program. nancy – her seventh child. I will quote here of the children. I am happy that even If I had Sr. Pilar, this helped me a lot! Thank you!
most of her letter to me so you can under- to quit my job, my husband now has a job. I really don’t know what to say…I have
Fisherfolk: They call for the strict implementation of the Fisheries stand the dilemma of mothers with many Please pray especially that my mother will always been afraid of being pregnant but
Code, including its review to address loopholes in its implementation.
The fisherfolk also identify specific issues such as limited access to children, in the face of so much anti-natal, accept my situation as she is my guide and have always been pregnant! I was afraid of
municipal waters, pollution of our waters, the practice of destructive pro-contraceptive mentality promoted by the moral support. And please pray that I will be many things. I was afraid of what people
and illegal fishing methods, and the encroachment by commercial heavily-funded population control groups. able to deliver a healthy baby.” will say…of what my family will say… I
trawlers into municipal waters. They further call for more programs “Dear Sr. Pilar, many thanks for responding I responded to her letter with congratulat- was embarrassed because of my thinking
that would enhance the capacities of their sector. They reiterate the to my letter. I have been very busy with the ing her for her persistence in accepting her that having a lot of kids [makes me] an ir-
need to promote the sustainable utilization of natural resources in kids and in my part-time work until I have own pregnancy in spite of the many odds responsible person. That is what we learned
our seas, rivers and lakes, including the establishment of sanctuaries had to stop because of this present pregnancy. against her. She did not think of abortion. in school and what people say. There were
where marine life can regenerate itself. The past few years have not been great, but Also, that having many children is not a times when I could not give everything my
Indigenous People: They demand the recognition of the customary not bad either. I don’t know how to say this, sign of irresponsibility. She does not have children wanted or even needed. Even if we
laws and culture of the indigenous people (IP) communities, the but my problem is still the same as when I to believe the propaganda that having a came from a middle class broken home, I was
intensified implementation and review of the Indigenous People’s first wrote you a couple of years ago – I am small family is equal to being a responsible provided with what I needed. I was only 19
Rights Act (IPRA), the recognition of the continuing threat to their pregnant again and my husband does not parent. She has been a good mother to al her when I met my husband, went pregnant so I
communities posed by destructive mining and logging activities, want the baby. I am ashamed to admit to children, instilling in them good values and married him. There were lots of trials in our
by armed conflict between the rebels and the military and by the you – but I did use contraceptive pills and attend God with His plan to share heaven relationship but I never gave up because I
entrance of companies causing their displacement, the watered-down injectables but I had to stop them because of with more souls. I ended with saying that did not want my kids to grow up in a broken
application of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, the side-effects. So now I am pregnant again. I will pray that she gets the necessary help home as well.
and the strengthening of the National Commission of Indigenous
People (NCIP) so that it truly represent the interests of the indigenous
peoples and not the foreigners and big business enterprises. Fr. Roy Cimagala

Bigotry or insanity?
–God Hears the Cries of the Poor, Concluding Statement of the
CBCP on the Second National Rural Congress, 2009

Pedro C. Quitorio
Editor-in-Chief
Pinky Barrientos, FSP
PUBLICATION LAYOUT BY KRIS BAYOS
Candidly Speaking
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
THE issue is not immediately
relevant to us, but though it is
Californian or American, it has
treacherous global implications
that can affect us sooner or later.
And so we just have to make
some comments on it as it is
evolving at the moment.
I am of the opinion that we
Kris Bayos need to react now to avoid this
Features Editor complicated development to
reach our shores. We cannot
Gloria Fernando deny that its dangerous seeds are
already sown in our society. It is
marriage.” Every single one of
them reaffirmed the true nature
of marriage.
Now, a judge wants to strike
down the state law that defines
marriage as between a man and
a woman. In a brazen act of ju-
dicial activism, he is redefining
marriage based on an ideological
reasoning.
In his argument, he said that
the “ability to marry” is a fun-
damental right that cannot be
denied to gays and lesbians. This
this can only happen between a
man and a woman.
The nature of marriage does
not depend on the subjective
feelings and preferences of the
parties involved. It has an ob-
jective, absolute and universal
basis.
Of course, in real life, this
objective basis may not be fully
appreciated by different people
in different cultures and circum-
stances. But there has always
been a consensus that it has to
and equal protection under law.
I consider these claims as alibis.
For sure, everyone is entitled
to his opinion. I prefer to see
the whole development not as
bigotry on the part of those who
are not in favor of same-sex
unions, but as a step toward legal
insanity.
Insanity is never a matter of a
lack of reason. An insane person
thinks and reasons a lot, except
that his logic is detached from
reality.

Associate Editor Marketing Supervisor

part of the culture of death that
Melo M. Acuña Ernani M. Ramos the late Pope John Paul warned
Managing Editor Circulation Manager us about.
I’m referring to a recent deci-
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez sion of an American judge to
News Editor Comptroller
overturn the so-called Proposi-
tion 8 that bans same-sex unions
in California. This proposition
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communica- was put to a plebiscite before,
tions Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business offices and it won.
at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. In fact, in all the 31 states
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940
where this issue was put to a
vote, no state voted for “gay
is diametrically opposed to his-
torical evidence where societies
have always made some restric-
tions to this “ability to marry.”
As in, one may not marry your
own sibling, nor marry several
spouses at the same time, etc.
There are many valid reasons
why marriage has to be regu-
lated. Foremost among those
should be the obvious natural
truth that marriage is meant for
couples to have children, and
be between a man and a woman.
Same-sex unions have largely
been seen as abnormal.
Several pro-same-sex union
commentators were quick to de-
clare that with this judge’s ruling,
bigotry has been smashed, obvi-
ously referring to the Christian
understanding of marriage.
One noted that the judge’s
decision faulted Proposition 8
banning gay marriages for vio-
lating the rule on due process
And when a legal system
confines itself solely within
reason, of the social type more
than the metaphysical, and fails
to anchor itself on an ultimate
source of truth, as in faith and
beliefs, then it is likely to lapse
into legal insanity.
Its understanding of due pro-
cess and equal protection under
the law, while formally com-
mendable, will suffer a basic
Candidly Speaking/ A7
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010
Opinion A5
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Gambling in the Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD

Views and Points Philippines—a work in By the Roadside

IT is certainly not an exaggera-
tion to declare, once and for
all, that this otherwise beauti-
ful and admirable country by
reason of its majority of simple
and guileless citizens, is a gam-
bling nation in the making. This
is definitely not some kind of
an expression of frustration,
much less a cry of desperation.
It is an existing national real-
ity that is precisely becoming
more and more deeply rooted
and extensive in coverage. Of
course Luzon is way ahead
in the vibrant incarnation of
gambling, with the Visayas
closely following, and Mind-
anao slowly but surely gaining
grounds—all in the context of
“Gambling Philippines”.
There are major and marked
indications to reasonably arrive
at such a nauseating observa-
tion and conclusion—even if
but considering the follow-
ing three standing realities in
the Philippine scene. These
public and living facts may no
longer rightfully demand for
“evidence”—considering the
naked truth long since well
known and accepted by the
general public. Hereunder are
the factual and real observa-
tions that only downright fools
or ignoramuses would dare to
ask for proofs:
One: Once upon a time,
there were Jueteng, Bingo,
Lucky Nine and similar petty
neighborhood gambling forms.
Then lo and behold, there was
Pagcor, Lotto, STL and other
more ardent and heavy gam-
bling, internet gambling, not
to mention public bookies
here and there. After some
progress
harassments especially from
local police authorities and
after certain “considerations”
asked by and given to them by
the gambling operators with
the usual “gambling lords”,
gambling happily, freely and
profitably went on, goes on
and intends to become even
more and more, not less.
Two: The distinction made
between “legal” and “Illegal”
gambling is but part of the
diarrhea of sound and words
in the realm to objective truth
and reality. In other words,
with no juridical difference be-
tween them, any and all forms
and modalities of gambling
publicly and freely operate in
all conceivable places in the
country and at all opted times.
Meantime, the supposedly
local, regional and national
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL
public authorities see nothing,
say nothing, do nothing. Thus
it is that “everybody is happy!”
with the present national gam-
bling situation to the standard
ultimate loss of bettors and
the standing “happiness!” of
gambling capitalists and their
protectors.
Three: On account of the
above throbbing realities, the
fact is that recently, one or more
now incumbent ingenious and
honorable legislators came up
with the brilliant idea of “creat-
ing” some kind of a “National
Gambling Commission” in-
tended to “supervise” any and
all kinds of gambling in the
country for their proper taxa-
tion! Brilliant and ingenious
yet amoral and demoralizing
for Filipino with still sound
value system.
Beauty, anyone?
IT is said that there are only two kinds of men: men who
admire those who are beautiful and men who think they are
beautiful. I’m astounded at how more and more obsessed
our world has become with beauty. Add to that how we
take for granted that obsession. I’m equally amazed at how
more and more sophisticated people have become in mak-
ing themselves look good or better. Again, add to that how
that preoccupation could be regarded a thing so natural
it’s taken in the same league as breathing, eating or drink-
ing, or a goal so fundamental it’s regarded by so many as a
sine-qua-non of the pursuit of happiness. Isn’t it amazing
how some people think not being beautiful means not being
happy? In fact, I’m amazed that I’m amazed.
But let me drop these rambling thoughts and get down
to the business of reflecting.
First, it’s at least clear to me that the ancient thinkers
have different perspectives on beauty. Socrates once said
that beauty is “a short-lived tyranny”, possibly because
beauty, say in a woman, can make her the cause of a va-
riety of afflictions in people, particularly in those under
her spell, from having to carry its possessor’s luggage to
committing graft or even murder on that person’s order or
wish, if actual events were to be our gauge. But, perhaps
fortunately, physical beauty is characteristically ephem-

Leaven
eral and yet, let’s face it, the fact that beauty fades in time,
even if somewhat slowly in a few, is the agony of people

Spaces of Hope whose number is beyond counting. As Mėrė once declared:

I RECENTLY tried my hand at baking
bread. A friend of mine, however, took
the lead in assembling the ingredients and
tools, taking the measurements, mixing
the ingredients, etc., while I just did some
kneading and shaping. We tried out whole-
wheat flour with a sprinkling of sliced
bananas and assorted nuts embedded into
the dough.
Those who regularly bake tell me that
bread tastes only as good as the love that
one puts into it. Conversely, they say that if
one is in a bad mood, the bread tastes bitter
or is tasteless. I still cannot tell; I am not yet
an old hand, if I ever become one. But it is
an intriguing thought.
Perhaps apart from the practical conse-
quences of being focused only on oneself
and thus not really paying attention to the
tasks at hand, one is indeed communicating
something of oneself in the act of creating
something palatable. It seems no mere
coincidence that our Lord chose bread to
communicate his lingering presence to us.
***
I felt joy and excitement as I viewed the
baking materials and tools. 700 grams of
all-purpose flour was mixed with 300 grams
of whole grain flour, followed by ten grams
of leaven and other ingredients. This was
made to sit for an hour. Then something
marvelous happened before my eyes. The than 20% of Catholics are catechized. The
dough was growing! A mere one percent sacrament of matrimony is often perceived
of yeast did the magic. Patient waiting was as a middle class phenomenon. Politicians
part of the magic. who happen to be Christians buy votes
Yeast, I read somewhere, is a single-celled while voters who happen to be Christians
plant which multiplies and grows through sell their votes. Faith and life are often
contact with sugars and water, releasing disconnected.
carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol. Yeast Yet, in this midst of this “disconnect”
multiplies as long as there is air. Then my there are individuals and groups who are
baking companion punched down the responding to the call to go beyond them-
dough to break up clusters of yeast cells for selves and be committed disciples. They
contact with more air and food. are a minority.
We waited again for the dough to rise,
after which we formed it into desired shapes ***
ready for the oven. Soon we had fresh, Christians and other citizens are called to
steaming hot bread ready to eat! be a leaven for social transformation. This
requires a change of mentality leading to
a change in behavior. This cultural change
*** requires bite-size efforts creating ripples of
Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to change. Patience is key, as in the period of
“yeast which a woman took to knead into waiting that is so much a part of the magic
three measures of flour until the whole mass of baking.
of dough began to rise” (Luke 13:20-21). The The barangay elections scheduled for
Lord chose his image well. History has vali- October 2010 represents a key bite-size mo-
dated his comparison. Cardinal Ratzinger ment in the critical task of providing leaven
(now Benedict XVI) in his Introduction to for a politics that serve the common good.
Christianity points out that even during There are opportunities here for meaning-
the Middle Ages “there was the great mass ful engagement by the Church at the parish
of nominal believers and a relatively small level, in terms of helping emerge credible
number of people who had really entered candidates and discerning voters.
into the inner movement of belief.” This is an area where committed members
The picture has not really changed. In of the Church can act as leaven to raise the
the Philippines it is estimated that fewer dough of Philippine politics.
Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM
“Beauty is the first present nature gives…and the first it
takes away”, evidently an extension of Plato’s earlier opin-
ion that “beauty is a privilege of nature”. In a word, though
it does not come to a person by way of merit, its possessor
gains an incomparable edge in the society of all-too-flawed
humans such as ours. Of course, we say in no way is beauty
on the same footing as achievement. A man or woman who
has a successful career—for instance, as a lawyer, doctor,
accountant, artist or writer—by logic has more reason to feel
proud than a man or woman who simply possesses beauty
or a handsome appearance. Still, in real life, we all know
how physical beauty can so enthrall or even possess people
that it becomes a veritable source of power and influence
for its owner. The ‘artistas’ and people in showbiz are a
perfect example. People with beautiful faces, handsome
appearances and crisp well-chiseled bodies could, to repeat
Socrates, become tyrants, if often unintentionally, simply
because they command people’s attention and adulation,
despite sometimes not having the talent or competence in
any given endeavor they get themselves into. All the more
reason we are not surprised when Aristotle, even in ancient
Greece, already said that “beauty is better than all the letters
of recommendation in the world”.
On the other hand, we realize, sooner than later, that
physical beauty alone, though admittedly a form of power
over others, is only “skin-deep”. Genuine beauty, our finer
instincts tell us, has deeper roots.
In fact, lesser known thinkers already lead us to these
deeper roots. For example, Quarles said that “the fountain
of beauty is the heart”. Bacon, as if in response, asserted:
“The best part of beauty is that which no picture can ex-
press”. But I am most taken by the words of Bovee to the
effect that “when a graceful figure is the habitation of a
virtuous soul—when the beauty of a face speaks out the
modesty and humility of the mind, it raises our thoughts
to the great Creator…”
All these confirm the insight that genuine beauty is within
and involves the heart and one’s inner attitudes and conduct,
though admittedly external physical beauty helps. But the
really profound observation is that beauty takes us to God

Always in season
THIS year we celebrate the
twentieth anniversary (1990-
2010) of the famous mission
encyclical of Pope John Paul
II; it bears the title Redemp-
toris Missio (The Mission of
the Redeemer). This pivotal
document carries a signifi-
cant sub-title: “The Permanent
Validity of the Church’s Mis-
sionary Mandate.” The pope
is affirming that the Church,
following Jesus our Savior, is
to be in mission continuously
and permanently.
John Paul II is actually ex-
pressing the vision promul-
gated by the Second Vatican
Council (1962-1965). In its mis-
sionary decree, Vatican II as-
serted: “The pilgrim Church is
missionary by her very nature”
(Ad Gentes 2). This means that
if the Church is not engaged in
mission, she is lacking a key
dimension of her very identity.
The Church does not “do” mis-
sion; she “is” mission!
This “core identity” of the
Church is to be realized on
all levels of Church life, from
bishops, priests and religious,
down to every baptized person.
In a word, the Church is mis-
sionary “from top to bottom.”
Her missionary mandate pos-
sesses a “permanent validity”;
mission is “always in season”;
it is never only an “optional”
task or commitment.
Mission is what the Church
does to promote the Kingdom
of God here on earth. More
specifically, mission involves
announcing the Gospel to those
who have not heard it (or have
only heard it superficially).
This task can be done in one’s
own country (home mission);
it may be accomplished abroad
(foreign mission). Today mis-
sion is often described by us-
ing the word evangelization,
popularized by Pope Paul VI
in his Evangelii Nuntiandi
(Evangelization in the Mod-
ern World). This means the
Church’s mission is to bring the
light and power of the Gospel
into all aspects of life.
Missionary activity goes back
to the person of Jesus himself.
He sent out his disciples to
proclaim his message of the
coming reign of God (Mark
6:7-13; Matthew 10:1-16; Luke
9:1-6). Jesus commissioned his
apostles to go to the ends of the
earth and to make disciples of
all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Acts of the Apostles can be
read as an account of the earli-
est missionary endeavors of the
Church, beginning in Jerusalem
and ending in Rome, the center
of the then-known world. The
New Testament presents Saint
Paul as the greatest missionary
of the early Church.
The Church has understood
and carried out her mission
of evangelization in a variety
of ways throughout history.
Before Vatican II mission was
perceived as saving people’s
souls and establishing local
Churches, often on a Western
model. In more recent times,
a key emphasis in mission has
been the building up of truly
inculturated local Churches.
In Asia, a key emphasis in the
Church’s mission of evangeli-
zation includes interreligious
dialogue with Asia’s vener-
able religious traditions, such
as Islam, Confucianism, and
Hinduism. Equally important
is the Church’s involvement in
social questions, human rights,
and integral development.
The Church’s permanently
valid mission can take on many
forms and expressions.
Recently, in an effort to more
deeply explore new challenges
facing the Church’s mission, a
world-wide group, the Interna-
Living Mission
tional Association of Catholic
Missiologists (IACM), met in
Tagaytay, Philippines. Sev-
enty-four mission specialists
from twenty-seven countries
explored the theme: “New Life
in Jesus in the Areopagus of a
Globalized World.” They met
from July 27 to August 2, 2010
at the Saint Scholastica’s Center
for Spirituality. The convoca-
tion opened with a Eucharistic
celebration by the Papal Nun-
cio, Edward Joseph Adams; it
also included a visit to Cardinal
Gaudencio B. Rosales.
This week-long IACM as-
sembly explored the contem-
porary “areopagus” of the
world wherein the Church is
to accomplish her mission.
In the Acts of the Apostles
(17:22-34) we read that Saint
Paul addressed the leading
citizens of Athens in the Are-
opagus and made a valiant
effort to proclaim Christ. Paul
was facing a new, unfamiliar,
and changing world when he
attempted to communicate
the Christian faith to Greeks
assembled in the Areopagus, a
meeting place of the supreme
council of Athens.
Today the Church faces many
new forms of the “areopagus”
in its effort to proclaim the
Gospel. So many rapid changes
have taken place in our global-
ized world that the Church and
her evangelizers find them-
selves facing very unfamiliar
realities and challenges. Yet,
her mission of proclamation re-
tains its “permanent validity”!
Already in his 1990 encycli-
cal, Redemptoris Missio, Pope
John Paul II spoke of “the mod-
ern equivalents of the Areopa-
gus” (RM 37). Some new chal-
lenges the pope identified are:
the world of communications
and mass media (especially its
impact on youth), the liberation
of peoples (especially minori-
ties, women, children), safe-
guarding the created world,
international relations, culture
and scientific research.
The International Associa-
tion of Catholic Missiologists
(IACM) envisions that it can
offer the wider Church help-
ful assistance as it explores
through scholarly study these
new questions that relate to
the missionary nature and
activity of the Church. As a
body of scholars with a mission
specialization, the IACM truly
seeks to serve the diverse local
Churches in their mission of
evangelizing all peoples and
all human situations.
Indeed, to fulfill its mission
of evangelization, the entire
Church—and each Christian—
must face many contemporary
forms of the “areopagus.”
They must act with boldness
and courage, profound faith
and charity. The contribution
of all Christians is needed—if
the Church hopes to make her
message attractive to our glo-
balized world.
When Jesus sent his disciples
to the ends of the earth, he
intended they would enter
new and radically different
situations. They were to use
their creativity and witness of
life to announce the Gospel.
Church organizations, such as
the IACM, can make a contribu-
tion to rethinking the Church’s
mission of evangelization. Yet,
everyone must recall that a full
answer will only emerge when
all concerned Catholics be-
come engaged in these burning
questions of our times. Never
forget that you and I, all of us,
are pivotal actors, according to
Pope John Paul II, in fulfilling
“the Permanent Validity of the
Church’s Missionary Man-
date.”
himself. Ironically Pinoys find it funny when, to the ques-
tion of “Is she beautiful (Maganda ba sya?)”, they hear the
answer, “She’s kind (Mabait sya)” in an apparently polite
way of saying, “No, she’s not beautiful” and a deft way of
not having to say the ‘U’ word (if you, dear reader, want
to know what that is, please don’t ask me). In the process
we miss the deeper insight that ‘kindness’ is at the heart of
true ‘beauty’, bearing in mind Pope John Paul II’s teaching
that the “heart of God is compassion.”
This is where Mama Mary comes in. When St. Juan Diego
saw the Blessed Virgin Mary whom we call now Our Lady
of Guadalupe he saw, in his words, “a lovely lady dressed in
Aztec dress”. We wonder how Mama Mary’s beauty could be
so unfading, what with two thousand years having passed.
But from the angel’s words we clearly hear of God’s action
in her and, no wonder, it is a touch of beauty. Bovee’s words
quoted above are a reminder of a universal sense among
human beings that when physical beauty is coupled with
virtue, such as modesty and humility, it becomes a power-
ful sacrament of God. In his words, “it raises our thoughts
to the great Creator”.
When the archangel Gabriel declares to Mama Mary
God’s plan of making her the Mother of his Son, he calls
her kecharitomene. Earlier translated as “full of grace”, later
scholars render it (the) “favored one”. ‘Grace’ indicates not
only Mary’s beauty in its fullness, both physical and spiri-
tual, but especially its character as a gift from God, which is
also clear in the concept of ‘favor’ being showered on Mary,
a name which in Hebrew means “excellence”. Although the
physical beauty of Mama Mary is often not stressed in her
apparitions, it’s also just as factual, and this we gather from
visionaries of her in Lourdes, Fatima, La Salette, etc. But it’s
also true that in the gospels, attention to the physical beauty
of Mama Mary is beside the point. Rather what we read and
hear about is the beauty of her heart, her total innocence
when she asks the archangel Gabriel how she is going to be
a mother in the absence of a man’s intervention (a remark
that some early Fathers of the Church interpreted to mean
Mary’s intention not to get married), her indomitable hope
and courage at the foot of the cross, her deep humility in
regarding herself as merely the “handmaid of the Lord”
but, most of all, her faith and obedience apparent in her
surrender to God’s will, i.e., “Let it be done to me accord-
ing to your word”.
This is what makes Mama Mary truly beautiful. By her
humility and obedience Mama Mary easily makes herself the
perfect dwelling place of God. And indeed she is the ‘new
ark of the covenant’ because in her God the Son dwelt even
as the angel declared, “The Lord is with you”. Now, when
someone is filled with God, she must be the most beautiful
creature in the whole world for, as St. Augustine once said,
God is “Beauty ever ancient, ever new”.
Now here’s the best part: This is a beauty everybody,
male or female, can possess. That is, if, with God’s grace,
we could also imitate the virtues that make Mama Mary the
quintessence of true beauty.
Then the matter of distinguishing those who admire the
beautiful and those who are beautiful wouldn’t matter
anymore.
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

Aquino lauded for revoking ‘midnight’ appointments

Bacani
SOME Catholic bishops lauded Presi-
dent Benigno Aquino’s decision to
revoke the “midnight appointments”
of former President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo.
Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro
Bacani said Malacañang made the right
decision if only to restore the trust in the
government.
“It is part of the necessary cleaning (in
the government),” said Bacani.
Auxiliary Bishops Broderick Pabillo
of Manila and Francis de Leon of Anti-
polo also supported President Aquino’s
move since such appointments are
against the law.
Pabillo
The Palace has announced the issu-
ance of Executive Order No. 02 recall-
ing at least 977 midnight appointments
made by Arroyo on or after March 10.
Aquino believed that Arroyo vio-
lated Constitutional ban on midnight
appointments two months before the
May 10 elections.
Malacañang said the midnight ap-
pointments range from positions of
undersecretaries, assistant secretaries,
directors, to prosecutors.
EO 2, however, does not include those
appointments made by Arroyo in the
judiciary, including that of Supreme
Court Chief Justice Renato Corona
De Leon
which Aquino previously refused to
recognize.
Bishop Pabillo said Arroyo ap-
pointees should have resigned vol-
untarily and urged the others who
are covered by EO 2 to quit from
their positions.
But De Leon believes there maybe
some Arroyo appointees that are ca-
pable for their posts “so they should be
given a chance to apply again.”
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez
also favored the President’s decision,
adding that any violation of the Con-
stitution should not be tolerated. (Roy
Lagarde)
Casino protest rolls
out in Nueva Ecija
OPPONENTS of casino gambling
rallied outside the Nueva Ecija
provincial capitol in Palayan City,
saying the planned gaming facility
will destroy the province.
The rally comes as provincial
government officials showed no sign
of holding back its decision to allow
casinos in San Leonardo town.
Bishops Sofronio Bancud of Caba-
natuan and Mylo Hubert Vergara of
San Jose and their priests joined the
mass action in support of around
6,000 anti-casino protesters.
Bancud said the time to talk is not
when the shovel is in the ground.
“We want to air opposition to the im-
pending opening of the casino and
other forms of gambling,” he said
over Church-run Radyo Veritas.
The demonstration, he said, was
just the first of the series of rallies
that they want to do unless the
government will not stop the imple-
mentation of the project.
What is important for now, ac-
cording to the bishop, is that they
were able to send a message to the
local officials that many people are
against gambling.
“They should always listen and
consider the sentiments of the peo-
ple,” said Bancud.
The protesters, accompanied by
students of private and state colleges
and universities and representatives
of the Nueva Ecija Chamber of Com-
merce and Industry, shouted anti-
gambling phrases and also prayed in
front of the capitol.
The operation of casino in Palayan
City had been approved by the
previous provincial board and the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming
Corp. (Pagcor) to boost local tourism
and economy.
But Vergara said there are many
ways to improve the province’s eco-
nomic situation by still upholding the
public morals.
By institutionalizing gambling,
he said, it would seriously affect the
moral fiber of the community.
“There are so many ways. All we
need is creativity,” said Vergara.
(Roy Lagarde)

PPCRV / A1 LAIKO / A1 Agriculture / A6

the PPCRV head clarified they still
see the need of a youth representa-
tive in the barangay council.
“We want a youth member to
be elected during the barangay
elections and be registered as
member of the barangay coun-
cil,” she said.
Vice President Jejomar Binay
earlier called for the abolition of
the SK, saying mayors should
instead be given the authority
to appoint barangay captains
and representatives from the
youth sector.
On the other hand, De Villa
nixed the idea of postponing
the barangay elections which is
scheduled on October 25.
Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile said the Senate will be
prioritizing the passage of a bill
moving the barangay and SK
elections to October 2012.
Enrile was referring to the
Senate Bill No. 60, filed by Sena-
tor Juan Miguel Zubiri. A similar
bill was filed in the House of
Representatives by House Mi-
nority leader and Albay Rep.
Edcel Lagman. (Roy Lagarde)
Ella / A1
not use ella.”
Numerous pro-life critics
denounced the FDA’s approval
of the pill, with many arguing
that the drug is mislabeled and
misleading because it acts as an
abortifacient.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.)
wrote on Friday that rather
“than doing its due diligence
on the impact this harmful drug
will have on women and devel-
oping unborn children, the FDA
has turned a blind eye to the seri-
ous dangers posed by ella.”
“By misclassifying ella as
emergency contraception, this
administration has paved the
way to covertly allow federal
funding for abortion through
Medicaid, Title X, and inter-
national family planning pro-
grams,” he noted.
Explaining how the drug
works, the American Associa-
tion of Pro Life Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (AAPLOG) said
that ella “is the first selective
progesterone receptor modu-
lator (SPRM) available in the
United States for the indication
of ‘emergency contraception
Fisherfolks / A1
Pamalakaya said the plans of
reclaiming a part of Manila bay
is illegal, pursuant to a 2008 rul-
ing by the Philippine Supreme
Court.
“This is ridiculous, very, very
ridiculous. Please allow us to in-
form the bishops that the Supreme
Court ruling is clear: Malacañang
should rehabilitate Manila Bay
and it is barred from transforming
the bay into gambling capital of
Asia,” said Hicap.
On that decision the SC told the
national government and the other
concerned government agencies
to restore Manila Bay back to its
historic and proud past.
“Besides, it is detrimental to
the health of the bay, not to men-
tion to the fishermen’s income,”
Hicap said.
Hicap explains, the construc-
tion of Manila Bay casino similar
dent said although Filipinos may
be happy with the turn out of
the previous national and local
elections, [still] people should
reflect whether majority of those
elected were really the best and
the brightest as far as lawmaking
is concerned.
“We thought there should be
other parameters in choosing
candidates because we know
there are good people out there
who are extremely good and de-
serving of the people’s support,”
Tirona added.
The Commission on the La-
ity, according to Tirona, has
prepared modules for political
education based from Church
teachings.
“We made a study and com-
piled all these [Church] exhorta-
tions and opted to give flesh into
the teachings and make modules
that are easily understood,” he
explained.
Tirona added that even school
children should be taught of
politics because they also get to
elect class officers and school or-
ganization heads and are made
(EC).’”
“This class of drug (SPRM)
blocks progesterone which is
necessary to maintain a pregnan-
cy. It disables the uterine lining,
compromising it’s (sic) ability to
form ‘secretory’ endometrium—
the lining which nourishes the
fertilized, implanting new hu-
man baby.”
“This effectively deprives the
brand new human child of oxy-
gen and nutrients, and the child
dies,” AAPLOG underscored.
“This is abortifacient action.”
Dr. Charmain Yoest of Ameri-
cans United for Life cited con-
cerns on the potentially harmful
effects that the drug will have
on women.
“The chemical make-up and
mechanism of action of ella
are very similar to RU-486,
which is known to cause seri-
ous adverse health risks such as
severe bleeding, ruptured tubal
pregnancies, serious infections,
and even death,” Yoest wrote
on Aug. 13.
The Americans United for
Life leader also said that several
members on the FDA advisory
to first-rate casinos in Las Ve-
gas and Macau will trigger the
displacement of three million
coastal people in Metro Manila
and Cavite who are dependent
on fishing as their principal
source of livelihood.
“Any move to transform or
convert Manila Bay for other
purposes like the $15-billion
casino project will have a kill-
ing impact on the livelihood of
small fishermen, aside from the
fact that they would be demol-
ished from their communities,
once construction of support
structures and establishments
begins,” Hicap furthered.
Last week, Philippine Amuse-
ment and Gaming Corporation
(PAGCOR) president and COO
Rafael Butch Francisco had an-
nounced that the construction
of the Bay Shore Entertainment
to decide who among the candi-
dates deserve their support.
“They should be taught values
on how to choose their candi-
dates,” he further said.
Tirona expressed hope that the
Department of Education and
Commission on Higher Educa-
tion, including the Catholic
Educational Association of the
Philippines will support their
program.
Laiko is launching a “Cat-
echism on Politics” in its bid
to further instill values on the
voting public.
Tirona is also optimistic the
laity will support their initiatives
as they launch their “Catechism
on Politics” which may take place
on the National Laity Week from
September 26 – October 2, 2010.
The Sangguniang Laiko ng
Pilipinas is an association of
49 diocesan lay organizations
spread across the 86 ecclesiastical
provinces nationwide. It actively
supports the Catholic Church in
its programs and commitments
to bring human development to
reality. (Melo M. Acuna)
panel in June raised concerns
about the effect that the drug
would have on pregnancy, not-
ing that there was “insufficient
data.”
“However, at the end of the
meeting,” Yoest said, “the panel
inexplicably voted unanimously
in favor of approving the drug as
a contraceptive, and specifically
recommended that the FDA not
require a pregnancy test before
dispensing ella.”
Family Research Council
Jeanne Monahan, director of
the organization’s Center for
Human Dignity, echoed Yoest’s
criticisms, saying that the “FDA
advisory panel largely ignored
important questions, including
impacts on women’s health
and the abortifacient capacity
of Ella.”
“By approving this drug
quietly on a Friday afternoon
when most of Washington was
on vacation,” Monahan added,
“the Obama Administration
and the FDA once again placed
politics above science, women’s
health and informed consent.”
(CNA)
City is expected to start in the
latter part of the year.
The Pagcor chief said the con-
struction is expected to start in the
third quarter at an estimated cost
of $400 million for the first phase.
According to the state-run gam-
bling corporation, the complex
will include two five-star luxury
hotel towers of over 1,000 rooms
within a world-class entertain-
ment and convention facility.
Pamalakaya said 3,500 small
fisherfolk and their families in
Pasay Reclamation Area, and
another 3,000 coastal and urban
poor families along the coastal
shores of Parañaque were evict-
ed by the government of former
President Ramos to pave way for
the construction of the proposed
casino that would make the Phil-
ippines the Las Vegas of Asia.
(Noel Sales Barcelona)
“What is needed is respon-
sible stewardship which simply
means use, not abuse our natural
resources as calamities have hap-
pened in the past in Ormoc and
Infanta over the past years,” the
prelate said.
He added that people and
government should be able to
protect the watersheds and riv-
ers and basin areas.
Ledesma noted the gradual,
cumulative adverse effects
from environmental degra-
dation and the loss of bio-
diversity and the extinction of
wild-life species manifested by
social erosion and irreversible
damages that will affect future
generations.
Organic Agriculture
An advocate of sustainable
agriculture, Department of Agri-
culture Secretary Proceso Alcala
lauded the existing partnership
between the government and the
Catholic Church in developmen-
tal projects across the country,
notably in pursuit of organic
farming.
Alcala, who was in Congress
before becoming DA secretary,
has authored Philippine Organic
Act (RA 10068) that seeks to
promote and develop organic
farming in the country.
The adoption of organic farm-
ing practices will increase farm
productivity, reduce pollution
and arrest the destruction of the
Luisita / A1
the PARC order.
Since then, the high tribunal
only began to hear the case on
the HLI case on August 18.
SDO
During the hearing, HLI legal
counsel Gener Asuncion argued
that only a judicial body can
revoke the SDO agreement and
not the PARC.
But most members of the mag-
istrates present during hearing
believe that since PARC ap-
proved the deal, it also has the
power to void it.
Associate Justice Conchita
Carpio-Morales believed the
SDO controversy is a legislative
issue and must be solved there
and not in the court.
For her part, Associate Justice
Jose Perez said the deal might
have violated the 1988 Compre-
hensive Agrarian Reform Law.
Section 31 of the law dictates
that stock distribution should be
implemented within two years
or else the agricultural land of
the corporate owners “shall be
subject to the compulsory cover-
age of this Act.”
In the 1989 SDO agreement,
however, stocks would be trans-
ferred to the farm workers within
30 years, or until 2019.
As of press time, the hearing
at the SC is still ongoing, while
demonstrators asking for revoca-
tion of the agreement gathered
outside the court.
Twelve of the 15 magistrates
of the SC were present during
the hearing. Only Associate
Justice Antonio Carpio, Eduardo
Nachura, and Arturo Brion were
absent.
Also expected to be discussed
in the hearing of oral arguments
environment, and prevent the
depletion of natural resources
and protect and promote farm-
ers’ health, consumers and the
general public.
The law intends to save on
imported farm inputs and adopt
a comprehensive program that
promotes organic systems in the
community as a viable alterna-
tive farming scheme.
“I hope to reduce the barriers
or levels from the farm to the
market by the creation of bagsa-
kan facilities as what has been
constructed in Sariaya, Quezon,”
Alcala said.
He assured of appropriate as-
sistance through product-market
matching to avoid losses and
wastage.
Alcala said there is no reason
for organically-produced prod-
ucts to remain costly because
farmers will definitely save
on fertilizers and other farm
inputs.
“When we met with sugar
industry leaders yesterday
to discuss the current sugar
shortage, we also discussed
ways and means to remain self-
sufficient in sugar and prepare
for the entry of tariff-free sugar
by 2015, I said the only way to
get a big part of the market is
to produce organic sugar,” he
said.
Alcala said the DA will pro-
vide farmers with necessary
inputs and appropriate tech-
is the compromise deal forged
between HLI and farmer-bene-
ficiaries on August 6, but not all
farmers are agreed to it.
Intervention
Pabillo earlier appealed to
President Benigno Aquino III to
intervene on the issue to resolve
the two-decade old land dispute
involving his family.
“We want to talk to the Presi-
dent. The farmers want the lands
given to them. This dialogue is
not for me but for the farmers
who are victims of the unjust
deal,” he said.
Under the August 6 agree-
ment, the HLI farmers are again
offered the option to retain their
stocks in the sugar plantation,
or to get their share of land from
some 1,400 hectares out of the
6, 453- hectare sugar estate in
Tarlac City.
The deal indicated that al-
most three-fourths of the 10,502
farmer-beneficiaries just want
to retain their stocks in the Ha-
cienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) instead
of getting land.
This also means that 7,302 out
of 7,441 farm workers preferred
the stock distribution option
(SDO) in the corporation and
only 139 farmers voted for land
distribution.
The agreement also came al-
most two weeks before the hear-
ing of oral arguments at the SC
regarding HIL’s 2006 petition to
revoke the said PARC order.
Pabillo, however, criticized
the deal and urged the HLI
not to “skirt around” the land
reform law through an “unfair
agreement.”
However, Tarlac Bishop Flo-
rentino Cinense insists the de-
nology such as soil analysis to
find out which plants are suit-
able for certain areas and what
nutrients and inputs would be
required.
“We will never leave you
empty-handed because we will
provide assistance to assure you
of marketable products,” the
55-year old agriculture secretary
added.
Self-sufficiency in rice pro-
duction
Alcala said the country may
soon wean itself from importing
rice within three years when the
DA’s medium-term plan of self
sufficiency in rice production
succeeds.
“We have concrete plans to
address food security issues,
especially on rice, by way of
improving the maintenance or
upkeep of the country’s irriga-
tion system,” he said.
He said rice production is
directly proportional with the
improvement of irrigation fa-
cilities.
Alcala said they are mov-
ing the rice stocks away from
their warehouses to make
way for the country’s second
cropping season harvests by
October.
He declined to give the DA’s
rice harvest projection for Oc-
tober but added they will soon
find out concrete figures in two
weeks. (Melo M. Acuna)
cision of the farmers to retain
shares in the estate “should be
respected.”
Cinense said the concerned
parties have more to say on
whether to discontinue the
land reform mechanism or
continue with the compro-
mised deal.
Cinense opined he cannot
blame the farm workers in
choosing the stock distribution
where they become stockhold-
ers and have work than having
land but incapable of making
such land productive to provide
their needs.
“That is the law. Give the
land to farmers. But there is
also another moral principle,
‘To the willing, you cannot do
injustice,’” Cinense said.
Follow the law
Even Manila Archbishop Gau-
dencio Cardinal Rosales said
that no less than the Constitution
is calling for land distribution as
part of land reform and no one
can violate that.
“Land distribution is stated
in the Constitution and in
what we called the CARP
(Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program). Therefore,
we cannot violate that,” Ro-
sales said.
Rosales stressed that the Aqui-
no administration should imple-
ment CARP to break the land
monopoly currently enjoyed
by big landlords and corporate
interests.
“The law is very clear that
farmers have the right to own the
land they till. That’s all I have to
say because I don’t know any-
thing about its implementation,”
Rosales said.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010
Divorce will destroy society—CDO Archbishop
CAGAYAN DE ORO City—
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma,
S.J said that legalizing divorce
will destroy the moral fiber of
society because “marriage itself
is a social contract.”
Interviewed during a break
in the “Peace and Reconcilia-
tion Workshop—Enhancing the
Study and Practice of Catholic
Peace building in Mindanao”,
Ledesma explained that di-
vorce is immoral because it goes
against the teaching of Christ
that marriage is a lifelong com-
mitment between two persons of
the opposite sex.
According to Ledesma, legal-
izing divorce “is another way of
saying that the lifelong commit-
ment in marriage is no longer
viable.”
“Divorce Bill” proponents
Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ila-
gan and Rep. Emerenciana de
Jesus claimed that legalizing
Diocesan News
divorce will help in putting
an end of domestic violence
still prevalent among married
Filipino couples because it will
give these couples “another le-
gal remedy that they can resort
to in addition to the country’s
existing laws on legal separation
and annulment.”
“Legalizing something that
is immoral will not make it
right but will make it worse,”
he said.
The Jesuit prelate said that
marriage is a holy sacrament as
well as a social contract entered
into by two persons who vow to
love each other “for better or for
worst, for richer or for poorer, ‘til
death do us part.”
As such, individual freedom
is set aside for the good of the
spouse as well as the children
and society as a whole when
two persons take the sacrament
of matrimony.
A7
“The sacrament of marriage
is something that is meant for
a lifelong commitment, for the
good of the children and the
community. It is no longer just
an individual kind of freedom
because marriage itself is a social
contract,” he explained.
The Philippines is one of only
two countries in the world that
has not legalized divorce, ex-
cluding the Vatican. The other
country is Malta.
Catholicism continues to be
the official and dominant reli-
gion in Malta, like in the Philip-
pines.
Instead of divorcing his/
her spouse, Ledesma urged
couples who plan to marry to
first search his/her own heart
if he/she is ready for a lifelong
commitment.
“They should be ready for a Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma poses with friends during a break in the “Peace and Reconciliation Workshop—Enhancing
lifelong commitment,” he said. the Study and Practice of Catholic Peacebuilding in Mindanao” in a hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. (Photo: Bong Fabe)
(Bong D. Fabe)

Workshops boost Catholics’ practice Briefing

of peace building in Mindanao
CAGAYAN DE ORO City— A series of
workshops on reconciliation aimed at help-
ing Catholics become better prompter of
peace in Mindanao was held at the Country
Village Hotel, this city, from August 11-14.
Led by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ,
the “Peace and Reconciliation Workshops—
Enhancing the Study and Practices of Catho-
lic Peace building in Mindanao”, brought
together members of the clergy, laymen
and laywomen, and peace advocates from
the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the
Dioceses of Iligan, Malaybalay and Pagadian
and Marawi.
“These workshops are the continuation of
our work in promoting the culture of peace
here in Mindanao,” Ledesma said.
Ledesma, who is also a convenor of the
Bishops-Ulama Forum as well as co-chair-
person of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace
Platform, explained that the workshops were
designed to “help diocesan and parish work-
ers to reflect more deeply on reconciliation,
which is a distinctive aspect of Christian
spirituality.”
It also tried to answer the question of many
on “how we can work towards concrete ef-
forts at peace building,” he added.
Christians hinder peace efforts
The prelate said that they came up with
the workshops to help in renewing the
mindset of Catholics in Mindanao, especially
those who still harbor biases and prejudices
against the practitioners of Islam, to exert
effort in bringing about lasting peace in
Mindanao.
He said there is truth to allegations that
some “Christians hinder peace efforts be-
cause of biases and prejudices” against the
Muslims and indigenous peoples.
“That is true,” he said, which is why “it is
Pastoral Companion / A4
very important that we change how we look
at people of other cultural groups such as
the Muslims and the indigenous peoples,”
he said.
Aside from a change of mindset and a
change of heart, Ledesma said Christians
should also exert efforts to be reconciled
with the practitioners of other religions
particularly Islam.
“Reconciliation should be part and parcel
of peace building,” he stressed.
Resource persons for the workshop were
Fr. Robert Schreiter, C.PP.S and Professor
Scott Appleby, both acknowledged experts
on reconciliation.
No reconciliation, no peace
Schreiter said that reconciliation plays a
significant part in peace building because “it
brings together in unity people in conflict de-
spite their diversity of religion and culture. It
brings together people to live in harmony.”
“Without reconciliation, peace in Mind-
anao will be very hard to achieve,” he said.
Schreiter is a professor of Theology at
the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
He has published 17 books including The
Ministry of Reconciliation: Spirituality and
Strategies and Mission in the Third Millen-
nium.
According to him, peace builders should
always “be ready to fail.”
“You can’t control the other person’s reac-
tion to your efforts at reconciliation,” said
Professor Scott Appleby, author of The Am-
bivalence of the Sacred: Religion, Violence
and Reconciliation.
Appleby, a professor of history and John
M. Regan director of the Kroc Institute for
International Peace Studies at the University
of Notre Dame who examines the roots of
religious violence and potential of religious
peace building, said that “Christians should
move first towards reconciliation” because
“if we wait for someone to apologize, we
may have to wait forever.”
“If we wait, we are held hostage by a past
event for the rest of our lives,” added Fr.
Schreiter.
Reconciliation, not coercion
Schreiter explained that the work of recon-
ciliation is an extension of a person’s spiritu-
ality because it is anchored with God.
“God is the author of reconciliation,” he
said, adding: “We are made in the image of
God.” Therefore, “the quality of our work
(for reconciliation) depends on the quality
of our relationship with God.”
Appleby said that Christians should also
learn not to coerce the other person to ac-
cept his/her offer of reconciliation or feel
spurned or dejected and disappointed when
their effort to be reconciled with the person
he/she is in conflict is rejected.
“God doesn’t coerce us (sinners) to be
reconciled to Him,” he stressed, adding that
what is important in the work of reconcilia-
tion “is our own transformation.”
The Cagayan de Oro City leg of the work-
shops was the second of the 3-leg workshop
series that the Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
helped in organizing along with the Catholic
Peace building Network (CPN).
The first workshop was held August 9-11
in Zamboanga City, which was participated
by delegates from the Archdiocese of Zam-
boanga, Diocese of Ipil, Prelature of Isabela
and Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo.
The third and final leg of the workshops
will be held in Tacurong City on August 16-
18, to be participated in by the Archdiocese
of Cotabato and the dioceses of Kidapawan
and Marbel. (Bong D. Fabe)
RH bill is a serious form of corruption—bishop
MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon—Dipolog Bishop Jose Manguiran
said the country and its people should brace for a more serious
form of corruption should President Aquino support the sex
education in public schools and reproductive health bill. He
said Aquino’s battle cry to rid the country of corruption would
come to naught if he continues to support the controversial
programs. (Melo M. Acuna)
Church plays big role in advancing organic agriculture
GINGOOG City—The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is
propagating organic agriculture to advance its advocacy of
protecting the environment and ensure food security. The
archdiocese’s Enterprise Ministry has set up a one-hectare
organic demonstration farm in Barangay Agay-ayan where
some organic farming technology is being implemented such
as vermiculture to produce the organic fertilizer vermicast
used for rows like ginger, among others. They also raise pigs
using an organic technology developed in Korea that elimi-
nates foul odor from the pigs’ dung. (Bong D. Fabe)
Bishop, peace expert urge schools to add peace ed in
curriculum
CAGAYAN DE ORO City—Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ,
has urged educational institutions in Mindanao to integrate
peace education in their curriculum to help educate the new
generation to pursue peace in light of the decades-old “Mind-
anao conflict.” “We need a change of mindset especially in our
understanding of the dignity of the human person, whatever
his/her culture or religion and the best way to inculcate this
on the younger generation is through the educational system,”
he said. (CBCPNews)
OFWs laud suspension of mandatory Pag-IBIG
membership
ANTIPOLO City—International migrants’ watchdog, Mi-
grante International commended Vice President and Housing
and Urban Development Coordinating Council chair Jejomar
Binay on his decision to suspend the implementation of the
mandatory Home Mutual Development (Pag-IBIG) Fund for
overseas Filipino workers. In a statement, Migrante’s regional
chapter in the Middle East said that OFWs all over the region
are elated with Binay’s decision but reiterating that Pag-IBIG
membership should be optional, not mandatory. (Noel Sales
Barcelona)

guage, Bisaya, to shepherd their
adopted parish flocks. There
were American Jesuits, outspo-
ken, erudite, former professors
or novice masters – like Frs. Hor-
gan, Shea, Groenendael, Cun-
ningham, Poulin, Fitzpatrick,
Risacher, Kirchgessner, Cul-
len, Bittner, Stoffel. And there
were Filipino Jesuit priests as
well – like Frs. Flores, Balansag,
Jimenez, Alingal – who likewise
manned several of the newly-
formed parishes. At that time,
there were only two Filipino
diocesan priests; one of them
was Fr. Jose Manguiran who is
now Bishop of Dipolog.
A Church under Martial Law
It was in this context of a
pioneering, missionary, local-
izing church still spreading its
roots that Bishop Cisco had his
hands full. But it was probably
the declaration of Martial Law
in September 1972 that trans-
formed the casual manner of
Bishop Cisco in dealing with his
brother priests into his forthright
manner of condemning the ex-
cesses of military rule and the
violations of human rights. The
prelature’s radio station was
closed. Its newsletter, Bandilyo,
was banned. And Fr. Cullen who
was supporting the Federation
of Free Farmers was detained
at the Constabulary headquar-
ters. Bishop Cisco had no other
recourse but to write his weekly
pastoral letters that were dis-
tributed and read from pulpits
throughout the prelature.
During Holy Week in April
1981, Fr. Godofredo Alingal,
S.J., a known critic of Martial
Law, was gunned down inside
his convento in Kibawe by hired
killers suspected to be close to
a local politician. Fr. Alingal’s
remains were to be buried in
Kibawe, but upon the pleas of
a sorrowing mother, the Jesuit
Provincial allowed the remains
to be brought to Dapitan to be
buried in his hometown. Bishop
Claver nonetheless celebrated
the funeral Mass in Kibawe and
delivered a homily, titled, “The
Empty Tomb in Kibawe.” It was
as much a stirring indictment of
continued violations of human
rights under Martial Law as it
was also a renewed pledge to
continue the struggle for justice
and peace in the light of the
Easter promise of the Resur-
rection.
Among his fellow bishops,
Bishop Cisco came to be counted
with the “Magnificent Seven”
who were critical of Martial Law
from the start. Gradually, as
the years of Martial Law deep-
ened, more and more bishops
distanced themselves from the
martial law regime. By Febru-
ary 1986 at the culmination of
the snap elections pitting the
widow Cory Aquino against the
incumbent martial law President
Ferdinand Marcos, the bishops
finally came together in a special
meeting to condemn the conduct
of the polls: “In our considered
judgment, the polls were unpar-
alleled in the fraudulence of their
conduct… According to moral
principles, a government that as-
sumes or retains power through
fraudulent means has no moral
basis.” The chief drafter of the
bishop’s statement was Bishop
Claver.
But what was distinctly char-
acteristic of his outlook was re-
flected in the bishops’ “response
in faith”:
“We therefore ask every loyal
member of the Church, every
community of the faithful, to
form their judgment about the
February 7 polls. And if in faith
they see things as we the bishops
do, we must come together and
discuss what appropriate actions
to take that will be according to
the mind of Christ.” In effect, the
bishops were saying that they
would not take the lead for the
people but they would “stand in
solidarity with them in the com-
mon discernment for the good of
the nation.”
It was this same principle
of people’s participation and
communal discernment that
Bishop Claver would stress in
drafting the bishops’ “1997 Pas-
toral Exhortation on Philippine
Politics”:
“As at EDSA in 1986, so today:
We must reason together for the
common good, we must pray
together and act together to
transform politics into a means
of national renewal, a means of
just and integral development
for every Filipino and for all
Filipinos.”
This practice of praying, dis-
cerning, and acting together
would also be for Bishop Cisco
the distinguishing marks of Basic
Ecclesial Communities. In his
recently-published book, “The
Making of a Local Church,”
that synthesizes his four de-
cades of pastoral experience,
Bishop Cisco describes BECs as
“worshipping communities of
faith-discernment and - action
at the lowest levels of the church
that try, in a participatory way
and under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, to put life and faith
together into an integrated
whole.”
Journey to Bontoc
In January 1982, while I was
on tertianship formation in Ba-
guio, Bishop Cisco invited me
and another tertian to ride with
him to his hometown in Bontoc.
We didn’t mind skipping one
day from our tertianship ses-
sions in exchange for the chance
to see his native place. It was for
me an eventful ride, passing at
one point the highest section
of the Philippine highway sys-
tem. When we reached Bontoc,
Bishop Cisco introduced us to
an elderly Belgian ICM Sister
who was maintaining a local
museum of native Igorot cul-
ture. Then he brought us around
some of the Igorot homes built
in traditional style – some with
a designated spot beside the
house for the future burial site
of the head of the household.
In going up and down the nar-
row lanes, we noticed the solid
stone walls that are part and
parcel of Igorot culture − and a
trademark skill of Bishop Cisco
wherever he was assigned for
some length of time. In visiting
his hometown, little could I
foresee that Bishop Cisco would
be appointed in 1995 as Vicar
Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe.
He had come full circle and
returned to his roots in the Cor-
dillera – where, as he himself
had once expressed in a meeting
of local superiors, only native
priests can truly bring about the
inculturation of the Christian
Faith for their own people.
A few months before he died,
Bishop Cisco sent a letter to the
Jesuit Provincial asking that his
remains be buried in the Jesuit
cemetery in Novaliches. In one
sense, he was going against the
cultural practice of his people.
But in another sense, the empty
tomb in Bontoc signifies that
Bishop Cisco belongs to us all
now – together with his message
of hope in the midst of adversity
and his faith in the communal
strength of little people. May
his spirit of casual yet forthright
service continue to encourage
us in our own pastoral concerns
and actions for the People of
God today.
Bishop backs safe recycling program for waste pickers
CALOOCAN City—Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr. said the
government should create a safe recycling program that would
reduce exposure of waste pickers to harmful chemicals in
dump sites. “We owe it to the informal waste sector to create
and support conditions for recycling that will not put their
health and that of their families and communities in danger,”
he said. He added that “the waste pickers belong to the poorest
of the poor who work in the most difficult and toxic condition
to make ends meet.” (CBCPNews)
Candidly Speaking / A4
infirmity that can easily be ma- self an absolute source of its own
nipulated by ideologues pursu- power, authority and wisdom.
ing some private agenda. We become the most pitiable
This has happened many times creatures in the universe when
in many places and in different we allow this disorder to reign
episodes of history. We have to over us.
be wary of these tendencies that When law and justice have
come as a result when the moral no deeper foundations than our
and spiritual foundations of a own understanding of things,
society weaken. our own preferences, our own
We need to be discerning of historical, cultural and social
the dangerous trends our current conditionings, with no recogni-
world, especially involving the tion of a higher source of wis-
more developed but decadent dom, then we truly would be in
countries. We have to be quick to profound trouble.
read the signs of the times, and This is legal positivism, pure
ready to wage a battle of love and simple, a very funny if most
and truth to correct emerging painful predicament, where we
anomalies. can have very sophisticated
An abominable danger we laws, thoroughly developed
should all be careful about is and elaborated, but resting ulti-
when our legal system makes it- mately on a vacuum.
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

‘Segunda Mana’ opens CBCP office

to join prison

first branch in mall

CARITAS Manila’s “Segunda Mana”
chaplains’
global confab
THE prison ministry office of the Catho-
lic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
Charity Store has opened another branch,
this time inside a mall in Makati City. is participating in the 6th Worldwide
Caritas Manila said the store at the conference of the International Prison
Makati Cinema Square along Chino Ro- Chaplains Association (IPCA) in Stock-
ces Avenue will also be its first branch holm, Sweden on August 20-25, 2010.
that will operate in Metro Manila’s Rodolfo Diamante, Asia’s Represen-
Central Business District. tative to the IPCA Steering Committee
The Manila archdiocese’s social action and Executive Secretary of the Episcopal
arm said it was the management of the Commission on Prison Pastoral Care
Makati Cinema Square and Top Shoppe (ECPPC) heads the delegation of ECPPC
who offered them space for free. prison volunteers and chaplain.
Segunda Mana is the revitalized Among the delegates are Gerard
donations-in-kind program of Caritas Bernabe, ECPPC National Coordina-
Manila, where donated hand-me-down tor of Volunteers in Prison Service; Fr.
items will later be sold to raise funds for Antonio Saniel, Convenor of North Min-
its poverty-alleviation initiatives, includ- danao Chaplains and VIPs; Tita Sierras,
ing medical and scholarship programs. Coordinator of the Prison Ministry in
Through the project, people, organi- the Archdiocese of Palo and Manuel
zations, and corporations help by donat- Galang, ECPPC Resource Person.
ing items they no longer need or have Several lectures during the confer-
too much of. The first Segunda Mana ence will discuss the various needs and
Charity Store is at the headquarters of programs of the prison commission of
Caritas Manila, in Pandacan. The sec- different countries.
ond is in Paombong, Bulacan. Regional meetings and workshops to
The branch in Makati City was for- further extend and share one’s idea on
mally opened to the public on August 8, the situation and plans of one’s country
following an 11:00 a.m. Mass presided by for this advocacy will also be held.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pa- The Election for IPCA President and
billo, chairman of Caritas Philippines. endorsement of regional elected repre-
Caritas Manila said there are two sentatives are also expected to happen
main sections in the Segunda Mana during the conference.
Charity Store, the brand new section IPCA is an international association of
and the used or second hand section. prison chaplains which seeks to uphold
Segunda Mana offers various items an ecumenical approach to prison min-
from clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, istry and interdependence as well as to
office equipment, to books for sale. work together among various religious
(CBCPNews) organizations. (CBCPNews)

Radyo Veritas launches ‘Campus Hour’

A CATHOLIC radio station has
recently launched a program to tech-
nically assist around 3,000 selected
Mass Communication students in the
National Capital Region by providing
them with a weekly one-hour radio
program.
Dubbed as “Campus Hour,” Ra-
dyo Veritas 846 will provide the
students with the necessary facilities
and technical expertise with “values
formation” to augment the “holistic
learning” in each of their respective
learning institutions.
“Moreover, this project seek to
harness the creative potentials of these
gifted students by allowing them to
plan, develop, create and execute their
own radio program within the station’s
protocols and the Kapisanan ng mga
Broadcaster ng Pilipinas,” it said.
Bro. Clifford Sorita, Campus Hour
program director, said the program
will be solely conceptualized and man-
aged by students to harness their cre-
ative potential to bridge the classroom
learning experience with real working
environment.
“As a teaching radio station, Cam-
pus Hour program aims of making
the axiom ‘youth serving youth,’”
Sorita said.
Veritas Campus Hour will be aired
every Saturdays starting August 14
until January 29, 2011 from 2:30 p.m.
to 3:30 p.m.
Sorita added that each partner,
Unibersidad de Manila, Polythec-
nic University of the Philippines,
Far Eastern University, Paman-
tasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila,
Philippine Women’s University
and AMA College will manage the
production for the radio program.
(CBCPNews)
Markings
ELEVATED. Prelature of Ipil into a diocese
on August 7, 2010, in a concelebrated Mass
at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker.
Eighteen archbishops and bishops led by Pa-
pal nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams
concelebrated the Eucharist. The Papal Bull,
containing the Holy Father’s decision to elevate
the Prelature of Ipil into a diocese, was read in
the traditional Latin and translated to Cebuano.
Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles installed
Bishop Julius S. Tonel as the first Bishop of the
Diocese of Ipil during the Mass. Present also
during the celebration was Ipil Prelature’s first
Bishop Federico Escaler. Now 88 years old, the
Jesuit bishop served the prelature from February
20, 1979 to June 28, 1977. Ipil second prelate,
Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ also graced
the occasion. He led the ecclesial province from
June 28, 1997 to November 4, 2009. Archbishop Ledesma now serves the Archdiocese

OFW families encouraged to save,

of Cagayan de Oro. Catholic priests from the different dioceses in Mindanao and the
Visayas also joined the celebration. Religious women from various congregations and
thousands of faithful flocked the cathedral, with delegates coming in droves from 19
parishes of the four vicariates of Ipil diocese. Erected as Prelature on December 24,

invest in livelihood projects

1979, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Ipil into a Diocese last May 1, 2010.

ORDAINED. Rev. Janjan Alota, Rev. John Lino and Rev. Henry Rabe to the Sacred
Order of Deacons by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez, August 10, 2010 at
the St. Peter’s College Seminary, San Pablo City on the occasion of the Feast of St.
Lawrence, deacon and martyr. Present during the ordination was San Pablo Bishop Most
Rev. Leo M. Drona, SDB who requested Bishop Cortez to officiate the ordination on his

Parañaque cathedral
WITH newly-acquired business tive businesses to families of behalf as he was recuperating from an eye operation he had recently. The ceremony
acumen, families of migrant migrants left behind. was attended by members of San Pablo Clergy and Religious, parents, relatives and
benefactors of the candidates.

sets concert series

workers could now look forward
to a secure future by investing
wisely the hard-earned money
of their loved ones abroad.
Aiming to encourage the fami-
lies left behind by Overseas Fili-
pino Workers (OFW) to save and
invest in livelihood projects, a
business and livelihood fair was
held at the St. Mary’s Academy
in Caloocan City on August 7.
The diocesan business fair was
organized by the Episcopal Com-
mission on Migrants and Itiner-
ant People (ECMI) of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philip-
pines (CBCP) together with the
Pioneer Life Foundation.
Participants were families of
migrant workers coming from
various parishes, according to
the organizers.
The event was a comprehen-
sive re-integration program of
ECMI which intends to provide
additional income and produc-
Organizers said the program
has helped the families not to
depend too much on their loved
ones’ remittances from abroad.
The business fair also includ-
ed lectures on saving, financial
literacy and tips on handling
remittances.
Present in the event were rep-
resentatives from various gov-
ernment agencies that deal with
OFWs such as the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) and
the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST).
Last July 31, a similar liveli-
hood fair was organized for
families of OFWs at the Agoo
Municipal Event Center in La
Union. The livelihood fair in
Agoo was the second held by
organizers. The first activity
was held last July 24, 2010 at
the Robinson Heroes Covered
Court in Antipolo City. (Kate
Laceda)
CELEBRATED. Patronal
fiesta and 385th anniver-
sary of the enthronement
of the revered image of
AT least three musical events will be held at the Ca- Nuestra Señora del Buen
thedral of Saint Andrew in Parañaque City in honor Suceso in Parañaque, Au-
of the 385th feast of Our Lady of Good Events. gust 10, 2010. Highlights
Monsignor Manuel Gabriel, cathedral’s rector, said of the day’s celebration
included the procession
the first concert features the University of Santo Tomas of the image during which
Symphony Orchestra on August 10 at 6:00 p.m. after a a young lady serenaded
Mass to be presided by Bishop Jesse Mercado. the Virgin from a balcony
The date, Gabriel said, marks the actual feast day of the by singing the Gozos de
patroness of the city and the Diocese of Parañaque.
la Virgen del Buen Suce-
so, a poem written by the
The second concert is scheduled on August 21 at 7:30 eminent Augustinian writer
p.m. with the Saint Andrew’s Parish Choir performing and historian, Fr Joaquin
in commemoration of the group’s 40th anniversary. Martinez de Zuniga, OSA,
Gabriel said the event will also be held as a tribute to and set to music by the late Prof. Lucio San Pedro, National Artist for Music. This was
followed by the Solemn High Mass with Most Rev. Jesse E. Mercado, DD, Bishop of
choir founder, the late Francis Dandan, who composed Parañaque as main celebrant together with Msgr. Manny Gabriel and the clergy of the
the hymn of the Buen Suceso and the now famous diocese. The multi-awarded UST Symphony Orchestra and Coro Tomasino, under the
Christmas song “Pasko na Sinta ko” popularized by baton of Prof. Herminigildo Ranera rendered the liturgical music for the occasion. Before
Gary Valenciano. the mass ended, the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso was enthroned on her
newly-built altar amidst waving of white handkerchiefs and the singing of “Mabunying
The last concert will be held on September 8 to celebrate Ina ng Palanyag” written by Dr. Erwin Carabeo for this celebration and set to music by
the 10th year anniversary of the Canonical Coronation of Professor Ranera. Veneration of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso or Our Lady of the
the Image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso. Good Event started in St. Andrew’s Church (now St. Andrew’s Cathedral) in 1625 when
Gabriel said the three concerts are open to the gen- Rev. Fr. Alonzo de Mentrida, OSA then Provincial of the Augustinians ordered that the
image be enthroned in the church. Parañaque became one of the earliest centers for
eral public for free. (CBCPNews) pilgrimage or “romeria” outside Intramuros. People came to pray to the Virgin of Buen
Suceso for various needs. Aside from the countless sick people, the sailors and fisher-

Blind people learn Scriptures through audio Bible

BLINDNESS is not an impediment for
anyone who wants to learn the Bible.
An audio Bible called “The Proclaim-
er” has made it possible for blind people
to listen and share on the word of God.
The audio Bible is a special supple-
ment of the May They Be One (MTBO)
project; a joint undertaking of the Epis-
copal Commission on Biblical Apos-
tolate (ECBA) of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
and Philippine Bible Society (PBS).
It contains 27 New Testament books
from Matthew to Revelation where a
group of listeners gather to hear the
Word of God.
Fr. Oscar Alunday, Executive Secre-
tary of ECBA, said this program aimed
to help people listen to the Word of
God through the radio and CD formats
and to bring God’s church together and
make disciples.
“The Faith-Comes-By-Hearing pro-
gram audio player contains the New
Testament in the heart language on an
embedded microchip. It can play by
solar panel, rechargeable batteries, hand
crank or AC adapter,” he added.
The system allows about more than
300 groups of listeners called Bible Lis-
tening Group to listen to God’s Word.
The listening session is being held
once-a-week by the group together with
their Church Leader.
The priest also explained that the
session, which begins with the Book
of Matthew, is limited only from 1 to1
½ hours.
“The ‘Chapter – Play, Pause & Share’
method is very effective. This program
is a ‘Leader-Facilitator/Member discus-
sion,” he said.
Alunday said that the” Audio Bible
is translated in the heart language of
the people, dramatized by over 27 tal-
ents, w/ music background and sound
effects, and cues the listeners on what
book or chapter they will hear.”
ECBA and PBS presented the Audio
Bible to the Northern Luzon Asso-
ciation for the Blind Campus Ministry
last August 8, 2010 in Bokawan Road,
Baguio City.
The Northern Luzon Association for
the Blind is a ministry of the Our Lady
of Mount Carmel Montessori headed by
Donna Rosario. (Kate Laceda)
man were the benefactors of the favors she dispensed which earned her the title of
“Abogada delos Navigantes.” Galleons that sailed out of the port in Cavite fired their
canons to salute the Virgin of Buen Suceso when the vessels pass in front of the church.
She is also credited for saving the town of Parañaque from the ravages of the revolu-
tion, war, epidemics and natural calamities. His Holiness, Pope John Paul II authorized
the Canonical Coronation of the image which was held on September 8, 2000. The
late Archbishop of Manila, Jaime L. Cardinal Sin proclaimed Nuestra Señora del Buen
Suceso as Patroness of the City of Parañaque on the same year.
DIED. Fr. Lorenzo de Leon, 66, resident-priest at
the Albay Cathedral, of massive heart attack, Au-
gust 13, 2010. Born on March 10, 1944 in Tiwi, Al-
bay, Fr. de Leon was ordained priest on November
28, 1970 by Pope Paul VI at the Rizal Park, Manila
on the occasion of the pope’s visit to the Philippines.
He served the Diocese of Legazpi as a priest for
almost 40 years. Among his pastoral assignments
were: Rector of St. Gregory the Great Seminary in
Tabaco City, Vice-Rector of the Holy Rosary Major
Seminary in Naga City, parish priest of Manito, Tiwi
and Camalig, Vicar Forane of the Second Vicariate
and Member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council.
He also served as Chaplain to Filipino migrants in
the Archdiocese of Paris from 1997-2003. Gifted
with love for music, Fr. de Leon has shared the
same passion for liturgical music to generations of
seminarians, priests and choir members.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010 Pastoral Concerns B1

Transformation
through
values
(Talk of Manila Archbishop
Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
delivered by Manila Auxiliary
Bishop Broderick Pabillo
during the 10th MAGPAS First
Saturday Catechesis held on
August 7, 2010, at the Paco
Catholic School auditorium,
Paco, Manila.)
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

The Means Will Serve the End
It has been said from the wisdom of
elders that once the desire for an end
has been identified, the choice of the
means will follow. This is true of life.
The moment a person decides on what
he really wants to achieve, the steps he
takes is mandated by what he wants. If a
man desires good health, he would take
steps to monitor his food intake and will
faithfully attend to regular exercise. He
would fill this desire with the means that
lead to good health. That is why the next
advice of our wise elders is this: be very
careful with what you desire, because
whatever one desires, he will buy at the
cost of his soul (Heraclitus).
Be choosy with what is wanted.
Correct desires can build character and
save life; but wrong and selfish desires
can also make selfish individuals and
can even dictate criminal acts. Ultimately
a person is what he desires. Today we
go back to our apostolic vision because
it has somehow articulated for us the
beginning of what we want to be and
where we want to go. We want God
and we want to go back to Him. We
are a people of God, called by him as
Father, and He wants us to be persons
with fullness of life—with the dignity
and humanity that is ours as children
of a loving Father—within a community
that everyone wants to build. And in
this community we witness to the God’s
Reign in constant pursuit of our vision,
through sometimes bitter change of
fortunes, but always arriving at the truth
that we are beloved of God and guided
towards what is good.
Leadership and accompaniment are
not enough to lead us to that change
we have always wanted to achieve. We
believe and we hope that tomorrow
will always be better than today. But
what are we to embrace today in
order that tomorrow will bring us to
that transformation of our society.
Understandably tomorrow will be ours,
only if we possess the potentials and the
reasons to change ourselves today.
We have the potentials and we possess
the means that enable us to change
ourselves and through ourselves to
transform our community (society).
The Role of Values in Any Change or
Transformation
Values are the primary key to change
or any transformation. In one of our
regular Saturday MAGPAS catecheses,
we said that principles (PRINSIPYO)
are not the authentic beginning of
change, although the root of the word
“principle” is taken from the Latin word
“principium,” a beginning. The truth is
every principle, every beginning must
be based and founded on a value or else,
there can be no beginning.
Values are the key to any change,
whether the question is to begin or to
continue. The great scientist Albert
Einstein once counseled his friends, “try
not to be persons of success, but rather
be men of values.”
Principles are based on values. Value
is the worth that is given to a thing,
subject or object. It is something we
do not ordinarily define, but everyone
understands in daily life that when
someone is ready to give up his
belonging in order not only to possess
a thing, that already reveals the value of
the object. The Lord Jesus gave us the
best lesson on values when he said that
a farmer once sold everything he had –
plow, cow, house, furniture, and other
belongings – in order to buy a piece of
land that harbors a tremendous treasure.
Giving up everything for the best shows
everyone the true value of an object. The
Kingdom of the love of God is one such
value. (Matthew 13:44).
Some values have already been
prepared for by God, Creator, and
strengthened (in varying degrees) in
every human being. In this portion of the
catechesis on our vision, we will revisit
some of these key values that already
the Filipino has kept from long ago; and
these will need a revisit, an intensification
of those moral treasures.
In the Pastoral Constitution of
the Church, Gaudium Et Spes, the
safeguarding of key values and how
these will be shared with the young
has already been outlined for us. The
Document reminds all that “Still, it
remains each man’s duty to safeguard the
notion of the human person as a totality
in which predominate values of intellect,
will conscience, and brotherhood, since
these values were established by the
creator and wondrously restored and
elevated by Christ.”
“Education of this kind has its source
and its cradle, as it were, in the family:
there, children in an atmosphere of love
learn more quickly the true scale of
values, and approved forms of culture
are almost naturally assimilated by
the developing minds of adolescents.”
(GS, 61)
For this kind of values formation and
value transmission, the family has been
singled out as the most ideal site of moral
transformation, utilizing the values that
already are available to everyone, but
would still be needing support in its
role for change.
The First Six Values That Can Empower
Change and Transformation
Of the six values for change we take
the first two values of (1) reason and (2)
conscience. What is the role of reason
in Christian and civil life? Reason is a
special gift of God to humans, making
them different from the rest of material
creation. Humans can understand,
they can learn, they can ask questions
and reason out answers to questions.
But reason has to be helped to grow, to
mature and needs to be guided. The gift
of reason is capable of finding an answer
to the question of origin. With the help of
reason the human person can know with
certainty through the works of creation,
the existence of a Creator. Reason is both
a gift from God and a value we must
treasure and protect. Faith is always
ready to confirm and enlighten reason
in the correct understanding of this truth
on creation. (CCC, 286)
Conscience is the next big treasure
and value that the human person
possesses. Every person has a human
conscience. If we may recall, there
was another catechesis in this First
Saturday MAGPAS talks where we even
mentioned the degrees of sharpness of
the human conscience (aside from the
kind of conscience that a person can
have: certain, doubtful, enlightened,
etc.). But let us just go back to the basic
meaning of this great treasure we
have—conscience.
A rightly formed conscience helps
the person to recognize the goodness
or badness (evil) of his or her action,
or act that s/he is about to perform.
“Conscience is the law of the mind …
It is the messenger of him, who, both
in nature and in grace, speaks to us
behind a veil, and teaches and rules us
by his representatives. Conscience is the
aboriginal Vicar of Christ.”
“A man who acts according to his
conscience assumes the responsibility
for the acts performed. If a man commits
evil, the just judgment of conscience can
remain within him as the witness to the
universal truth of good, at the time as
the evil of his particular choice” (CCC,
1778; CCC, 1781).
“Time and again stories were told
where a person has done bad and
harmed another grievously – through
big thievery or harm to life or killed
someone—that that person had spent
many a sleepless night causing the
person’s loss of health and even
disturbance of mental balance. Thus
it was said in the past that the greatest
tormentor of the human soul was a guilty
conscience. Some had gone mad because
of crimes that had ignored conscience.
Be the friend of your conscience, it is
the voice of God in you. Treasure it, love
it and value it.
Another value we treasure in our
culture is the Maka-Diyos value of the
Filipino. Hardly is there a Pinoy who
does not profess a faith in, fear of and
love for God. This is a treasure we all
have, and many people from other
countries and cultures openly remark
about the Pinoy’s faith and reverence
for God. S/he may be poor in other
aspects, but his or her faith makes them
appear “fulfilled” even in the midst of
many more needs. Their faith shows in
their face. Even before other countries
learned how to smile, the Filipinos
have already worn joy in their lives
and shared it in their celebrations. Their
belief in God and love for Him has
enormous consequences for their lives
(CCC, 222).
Many a tragedy and disaster, natural
and man-made, have taken turns to visit
and revisit the country, but the Filipino
has managed to bounce back. And they
came back with much hope coupled
even with an element of joy. Have you
not noticed that it is the Filipino who
can manage to smile even in the midst
of a flood that made him homeless?
To realize the greatness of this value
of faith and love of God, reverse the
situation. Try to imagine the opposite:
that there is not the element of faith in
the Filipino culture; remove faith and
the touch of joy linked with the Pinoy’s
celebration of God’s gifts memorialized
in their “fiestas.” Surely there will be
much sadness or near hopelessness. But
let that value of faith reach out beyond
prayer and celebration, let faith in God
embrace one’s neighbors for they, too,
are images and likeness of Him who
made all, and you will find Pinoys
helping their neighbors. Bayanihan is
not just a neighbor helping a neighbor.
It is love that has given expression in
compassion, destined to arrive at some
measure of fullness of life.
The Filipino has a soft heart for the
weak. In short, the Filipino is a person
of love with compassion. It is said
of him that when disasters come to
destroy the countryside and have made
people victims and refugees, the best of
Filipino benevolence shines best. Even
before public requests for aid is aired,
the Filipino takes it as their initiative to
extend help to those who are affected by
the tragic event. Where does this value
begin or how does the public exercise
such affection for the weak?
It all begins in the home where the
family exposes the young to the balance
of love and compassion. Here is where
the values are born. Again and again
we have witnessed the discussion and
sometimes moments of complaints at
home where the young or the weaker
members of the family appear to
receive added attention from parents.
And the complaining ones will always
hear, “This is not favoritism. It is only
because this young one or this weaker
one is in a moment of great need
that we must give more attention to
him/her.” Ilang ulit nating naririnig
sa magulang: “Palamangin muna
natin si Nene sapagka’t meron siyang
karamdaman.”
This is how values are learned and
imbibed in the home. “We listen, we
observe and we share in those practices
of love, then without our making much
effort, we are already passing on that
value as life’s practice to others.” There
is no formal school for habitual values as
virtues. Life itself is the school. And the
teachers for values are the children, the
young and the old. They observe each
other, the old leading the young, while
the young are open to the adults. Grateful
and reverent of one another, the elders
and young ones mutually encourage
one another, thus values are established
mutually among the one who gives and
the others who receive.
Humans are primarily influenced by
what is good. It has been said by child
psychologists that the first lesson is not
preventive. “Do not do this or do not do
that.” The first lesson is “Love.” Once the
child learns love, because he is loved and
shown love, s/he will be ready to obey.
Then, even the preventive and protective
measures become easy to take.
And while we are speaking of love
as a value in life, let us read from the
Catechism of the Catholic Church
because it has stated this lesson so
accurately. “To love is to will the good
of another. All other affections have
their source in this first movement of
the human heart toward the good. Only
the good can be loved.” (CCC, 1766)
Thus, when speaking of values our first
orientation is towards what is good.
Discipline is another value society
appreciates and needs. What are laws
for if they are not obeyed? A foreigner
visiting the country for the first time
Transformation / B4
 B2
Norms Addressing ‘Gravioribus Delictis’
(A Vatican translation of the norms addressing cases of “gravioribus delictis” (grave crimes) published by the Vatican Press Office on July 15, 2010)
www.arnewde.com
Part One
Substantive Norms
Art. 1
§ 1. The Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith,
according to art. 52 of the
Apostolic Constitution Pastor
Bonus[1], judges delicts against
the faith, as well as the more
grave delicts committed against
morals and in the celebration of
the sacraments and, whenever
necessary, proceeds to declare
or impose canonical sanctions
according to the norm of both
common and proper law, with
due regard for the competence of
the Apostolic Penitentiary[2] and
in keeping with Agendi ratio in
doctrinarum examine. [3]
§ 2. With regard to the delicts
mentioned above in § 1, the
Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith, by mandate of
the Roman Pontiff, may judge
Cardinals, Patriarchs, Legates
of the Apostolic See, Bishops as
well as other physical persons
mentioned in can. 1405 § 3 of the
Code of Canon Law[4], and in
can. 1061 of the Code of Canons
of the Eastern Churches. [5]
§ 3. The Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith judges the
reserved delicts mentioned in
§ 1 according to the following
norms.
Art. 2
§ 1. The delicts against the faith
referred to in art. 1 are heresy,
apostasy and schism according
to the norm of can. 751[6] and
1364[7] of the Code of Canon
Law, and can. 1436[8] and 1437[9]
of the Code of Canons of the
Eastern Churches.
§ 2. In the abovementioned
cases referred to in § 1, it pertains
to the Ordinary or Hierarch to
remit, by norm of law, if it be
the case, the latae sententiae
excommunication and likewise
to undertake a judicial trial in
the first instance or issue an
extrajudicial decree, with due
regard for the right of appeal or
of recourse to the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Art. 3
§ 1. The more grave delicts
against the sanctity of the most
Holy Sacrifice and Sacrament
of the Eucharist reserved to the
Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith for judgment are:
1° the taking or retaining for
a sacrilegious purpose or the
throwing away of the consecrated
species[10], as mentioned in
can. 1367 of the Code of Canon
Law[11], and in can. 1442 of the
Code of Canons of the Eastern
Churches[12];
2° attempting the liturgical
action of the Eucharistic Sacrifice
spoken of in can. 1378 § 2, n. 1, of
the Code of Canon Law[13];
3° the simulation of the same,
spoken of in can. 1379 of the
Code of Canon Law[14] and in
can. 1443 of the Code of Canons
of the Eastern Churches [15];
4° the concelebration of the
Eucharistic Sacrifice prohibited
in can. 908 of the Code of
Canon Law[16], and in can. 702
of the Code of Canons of the
Eastern Churches[17], spoken
of in can. 1365 of the Code
of Canon with ministers
of ecclesial communities which
do not have apostolic succession
and do not acknowledge the
sacramental dignity of priestly
ordination.
§ 2. Also reserved to the
Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith is the delict which
consists in the consecration for
a sacrilegious purpose of one
matter without the other or even
of both, either within or outside
of the eucharistic celebration[20].
One who has perpetrated this
delict is to be punished according
to the gravity of the crime,
not excluding dismissal or
deposition.
Art. 4
§ 1. The more grave delicts
against the sanctity of the
Sacrament of Penance reserved
to the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith are:
1° the absolution of an
accomplice in a sin against the
sixth commandment of the
Decalogue, mentioned in can.
1378 § 1 of the Code of Canon
Law[21], and in can. 1457 of
the Code of Canons of the dismissal or deposition.
Eastern Churches[22];
2° attempted sacramental
absolution or the prohibited
hearing of confession, mentioned
in can. 1378 § 2, 2° of the Code of
Canon Law[23];
3° simulated sacramental
absolution, mentioned in can.
1379 of the Code of Canon
Law[24], and in can. 1443 of
the Code of Canons of the individual cases.
Eastern Churches[25];
4° the solicitation to a sin
against the sixth commandment
of the Decalogue in the act, on
the occasion, or under the pretext
of confession, as mentioned in
can. 1387 of the Code of Canon
Law[26], and in can. 1458 of begins to run from the day on
the Code of Canons of the Eastern
Churches[27], if it is directed to
sinning with the confessor
himself;
5° the direct and indirect
violation of the sacramental
seal, mentioned in can. 1388 §
1 of the Code of Canon Law[28],
and in can. 1456 §1 of the
Code of Canons of the Eastern
Churches[29];
§ 2. With due regard for §
1, n. 5, also reserved to the
Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith is the more grave delict
which consists in the recording,
by whatever technical means,
or in the malicious diffusion
through communications media,
of what is said in sacramental
confession, whether true or false,
by the confessor or the penitent.
Anyone who commits such a
delict is to be punished according
to the gravity of the crime,
not excluding, if he be a cleric,
dismissal or deposition [30].
Art. 5
The more grave delict of the
attempted sacred ordination of
a woman is also reserved to the
Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith:
1° With due regard for can.
1378 of the Code of Canon Law,
both the one who attempts to
confer sacred ordination on a
woman, and she who attempts
to receive sacred ordination,
incurs a latae sententiae Prefect is vacant or if the Prefect
excommunication reserved to
the Apostolic See.
2° If the one attempting to
confer sacred ordination, or the
woman who attempts to receive
sacred ordination, is a member of
the Christian faithful subject to
the Code of Canons of the Eastern
Churches, with due regard for
can. 1443 of that Code, he or she
is to be punished by major appointed judges be priests, of
excommunication reserved to the
Apostolic See.
3° If the guilty party is a cleric
he may be punished by dismissal
or deposition[31].
Art. 6
§ 1. The more grave delicts
Updates
against morals which are Art. 11
reserved to the Congregation for To present and sustain an
the Doctrine of the Faith are: accusation a Promotor of Justice
1° the delict against the sixth is to be appointed, who is to be a
commandment of the Decalogue priest, possessing a doctorate in
committed by a cleric with a canon law, outstanding in good
minor below the age of eighteen morals, prudence, and expertise
years; in this case, a person in the law. He is to carry out his
who habitually lacks the use of office in all grades of judgment.
reason is to be considered first instance.
equivalent to a minor.
2° the acquisition, possession, Art. 12
or distribution by a cleric of For the functions of Notary and
pornographic images of minors Chancellor, priests are appointed,
under the age of fourteen, for whether or not they are officials
purposes of sexual gratification, of this Congregation.
by whatever means or using
whatever technology; Art. 13
§ 2. A cleric who commits the The role of Advocate or
delicts mentioned above in § 1 is Procurator is carried out by a
to be punished according to the priest possessing a doctorate in
gravity of his crime, not excluding canon law. He is to be approved
by the presiding judge of the
college.
Art. 7
§ 1. A criminal action for delicts Art. 14
reserved to the Congregation Indeed, in the other tribunals
for the Doctrine of the Faith is dealing with cases under these
extinguished by prescription after norms, only priests can validly
twenty years, with due regard to carry out the functions of Judge,
the right of the Congregation Promotor of Justice, Notary,
for the Doctrine of the Faith to and Patron [Procurator and
derogate from prescription in Advocate].
§ 2. Prescription runs according Art 15
to the norm of can. 1362 § 2 of the With regard to the provisions
Code of Canon Law[32], and can. of can. 1421 of the Code of Canon
1152 § 3 of the Code of Canons Law[34], and can. 1087 of the
of the Eastern Churches[33]. Code of Canons of the Eastern
However, in the delict mentioned Churches[35], the Congregation
in art. 6 §1 n. 1, prescription for the Doctrine of the Faith may
dispense from the requirements
which a minor completes his of the priesthood and of a
eighteenth year of age. doctorate in Canon Law.
Part Two Art. 16
Procedural Norms Whenever the Ordinary or
Hierarch receives a report of a
Title I more grave delict, which has at
The Constitution and least the semblance of truth, once
Competence of the Tribunal the preliminary investigation
has been completed, he is to
Art. 8 communicate the matter to the
§ 1. The Congregation for Congregation for the Doctrine
the Doctrine of the Faith is the of the Faith which, unless it calls
Supreme Apostolic Tribunal for the case to itself due to particular
the Latin Church as well as the circumstances, will direct the
Eastern Catholic Churches, for the Ordinary or Hierarch how to
judgment of the delicts defined proceed further, with due regard,
in the preceding articles. however, for the right to appeal,
§ 2. This Supreme Tribunal if the case warrants, against a
also judges other delicts of which sentence of the first instance only
a defendant is accused by the to the Supreme Tribunal of this
Promotor of Justice, by reason same Congregation.
of connection of person and
complicity. Art. 17
§ 3. The sentences of this If a case is referred directly
Supreme Tribunal, rendered to the Congregation without
within the limits of its proper a preliminary investigation
competence, do not need to be having been undertaken, the
submitted for the approval of
steps preliminary to the process,
the Supreme Pontiff. which fall by common law to the
Ordinary or Hierarch, may be
Art. 9 carried out by the Congregation
§ 1. The Members of the itself.
Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith are ipso iure the judges Art. 18
of this Supreme Tribunal. With full respect for the right of
§ 2. The Prefect of the defense, the Congregation for the
Congregation presides as first Doctrine of the Faith may sanate
among equals over the college of acts in cases lawfully presented to
the Members, and if the office of it if merely procedural laws have
been violated by lower Tribunals
himself is impeded, the Secretary acting by mandate of the same
of the Congregation carries out Congregation or according to
his duties. art. 16.
§ 3. It is the responsibility of
the Prefect of the Congregation Art. 19
to nominate additional stable or With due regard for the right
deputed judges. of the Ordinary to impose from
the outset of the preliminary
Art. 10 investigation those measures
It is necessary that such which are established in can.
1722 of the Code of Canon
matureage,possessingadoctorate Law[36], or in can. 1473 of the
in canon law, outstanding in Code of Canons of the Eastern
good morals, prudence and Churches[37], the respective
expertise in the law. Such priests presiding judge may, at the
may at the same time exercise a request of the Promotor of Justice,
judicial or consultative function exercise the same power under
before another Dicastery of the the same conditions determined
Roman Curia. in the canons themselves.
Art. 20
The Supreme Tribunal of the
Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith judges in second
instance:
1° cases adjudicated in first
instance by lower tribunals;
2° cases decided by this same
Supreme Apostolic Tribunal in
Title II
The Procedure to be followed
in the Judicial Trial
Art. 21
§ 1. The more grave delicts
reserved to the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith are to be
tried in a judicial process.
§ 2. However, the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith
may:
1° decide, in individual cases,
ex officio or when requested by
the Ordinary or Hierarch, to
proceed by extrajudicial decree,
as provided in can. 1720 of the
Code of Canon Law[38] and
can. 1486 of the Code of Canons
of the Eastern Churches[39].
However, perpetual expiatory of art.20.
penalties may only be imposed
by mandate of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith.
2° present the most grave
cases to the decision of the
Roman Pontiff with regard to
dismissal from the clerical state
or deposition, together with
dispensation from the law of
celibacy, when it is manifestly
evident that the delict was
committed and after having given
the guilty party the possibility subject to the pontifical secret.
of defending himself.
Art. 22
The Prefect is to constitute a
turnus of three or five judges to
try the case.
Art. 23
If in the appellate stage the
Promotor of Justice brings
forward a specifically different
accusation, this Supreme Tribunal
can admit it and judge it as if at
first instance.
Art. 24
§ 1. In cases concerning the
delicts mentioned of in art. 4
§1, the Tribunal cannot indicate
the name of the accuser to
either the accused or his patron
unless the accuser has expressly
consented.
§ 2. This same Tribunal
must consider the particular
importance of the question
concerning the credibility of the
accuser.
§ 3. Nevertheless, it must always
be observed that any danger of
violating the sacramental seal be
altogether avoided.
Art 25
If an incidental question arises,
the college is to decide the matter
by decree most expeditiously
[expeditissime, cf. cann. 1629,
n.5< CIC; 1310, n. 5< CCEO].
Art. 26
§ 1. With due regard for the
right to appeal to this Supreme
Tribunal, once an instance has
been finished in any manner
before another tribunal, all of
the acts of the case are to be
transmitted ex officio to the
Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith as soon as possible.
§ 2 The right of the Promotor
of Justice of the Congregation to
challenge a sentence runs from
the day on which the sentence
of first instance is made known
to this same Promotor.
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010
www.sanfranciscosentinel.com
Art. 27
Recourse may be had against
singular administrative acts
which have been decreed or
approved by the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith in
cases of reserved delicts. Such
recourse must be presented
within the preemptory period
of sixty canonical days to
the Ordinary Session of the
Congregation (the Feria IV)
which will judge on the merits
of the case and the lawfulness of
the Decree. Any further recourse
as mentioned in art. 123 of the
Apostolic Constitution Pastor
bonus is excluded [40].
Art. 28
A res iudicata occurs:
1° if a sentence has been
rendered in second instance;
2° if an appeal against a
sentence has not been proposed
within a month;
3° if, in the appellate grade,
the instance is abated or is
renounced;
4° if the sentence has been
rendered in accord with the norm
Art. 29
§ 1. Judicial expenses are
to be paid as the sentence has
determined.
§ 2. If the defendant is not able
to pay the expenses, they are to
be paid by the Ordinary
or Hierarch of the case.
Art. 30
§ 1. Cases of this nature are
[41]
§ 2. Whoever has violated the
secret, whether deliberately (ex
dolo) or through grave negligence,
and has caused some harm to the
accused or to the witnesses, is to
be punished with an appropriate
penalty by the higher turnus at the
insistence of the injured party or
even ex officio.
Art. 31
In these cases, together with
the prescripts of these norms, by
which all Tribunals of the Latin
Church and Eastern Catholic
Churches are bound, the canons
concerning delicts and penalties
as well as the canons concerning
the penal process of each Code
also must be applied.
Notes
[1] Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Constitutio
apostolica Pastor bonus, De Romana
Curia, 28 iunii 1988, art. 52, in AAS 80
(1988) 874: «Delicta contra fidem necnon
graviora delicta, tum contra mores tum
in sacramentorum celebratione com-
missa, quae ipsi delata fuerint, cognoscit
atque, ubi opus fuerit, ad canonicas
sanctiones declarandas aut irrogandas
ad normam iuris, sive communis sive
proprii, procedit».
[2] Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Constitutio
apostolica Pastor bonus, De Romana
Curia, 28 iunii 1988, art. 118, in AAS
80 (1988) 890: «Pro foro interno, tum
sacramentali tum non sacramentali,
absolutiones, dispensationes, com-
mutationes, sanationes, condonationes
aliasque gratias eadem largitur».
[3] Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei,
Agendi ratio in doctrinarum examine, 29
iunii 1997, in AAS 89 (1997) 830-835.
[4] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1405 - § 3.
Rotae Romanae reservatur iudicare:
1° Episcopos in contentiosis, firmo
praescripto can. 1419 § 2;
2° Abbatem primatem, vel Abbatem
superiorem congregationis monasticae,
et supremum Moderatorem institutorum
religiosorum iuris pontificii;
3° dioeceses aliasve personas ecclesias-
ticas, sive physicas sive iuridicas, quae
Superiorem infra Romanum Pontificem
non habent.
[5] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orien-
talium, can. 1061 – Coram tribunalibus
Norms / B7

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
(Due to immediacy and relevance, we decided to reprint the following guidelines of American Bishops on social media—Eds)
Introduction
These guidelines are offered as a
synthesis of best practices. They include
material compiled from church entities,
for-profit corporations, and non-
profit organizations. Suggestions and
comments are welcome at CommDept@
usccb.org.
In this document, “church personnel”
is defined as anyone—priest, deacon,
religious, bishop, lay employee, or
volunteer—who provides ministry or
service or is employed by an entity
associated with the Catholic Church.
Department of Communications
United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops
June 2010
Guiding Principles
The world of digital communication,
with its almost limitless expressive
capacity, makes us appreciate all the
more Saint Paul’s exclamation: “Woe to
me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor
9:16).—Pope Benedict XVI, 44th World
Communications Day message (2010)
Social media are the fastest growing
form of communication in the United
States, especially among youth and
young adults. Our Church cannot ignore
it, but at the same time we must engage
social media in a manner that is safe,
responsible, and civil.
As Pope Benedict XVI noted in
his message for the 44th World
Communications Day (2010), this new
form of media “can offer priests and all
pastoral workers a wealth of information
and content that was difficult to
access before, and facilitate forms of
collaboration and greater communion
in ways that were unthinkable in the
past.”
The Church can use social media
to encourage respect, dialogue,
and honest relationships—in other
words, “true friendship” (43rd World
Communications Day message [2009]).
To do so requires us to approach
social media as powerful means of
evangelization and to consider the
Church’s role in providing a Christian
perspective on digital literacy.
Before beginning work on social
media guidelines, you may want to
read both the 43rd and 44th World
Communications Day messages.
These are available at 43rd World
Communications Day Message and
44th World Communications Day
Message.
The Church and Social Media: An
Overview
The online encyclopedia Wikipedia
defines social media as “media designed
to be disseminated through social
interaction, using highly accessible and
scalable publishing techniques. Social
media use web-based technologies
to transform and broadcast media
monologues into social media
dialogues.”
A longer and perhaps more
philosophical definition is offered by
Jon Lebkowsky, a longtime social media
specialist, on his site, weblogsky.com:
Social Media is a fundamental
transformation in the way(s) people find
and use information and content, from
hard news to light entertainment. It’s
an evolution from broadcast delivery
of content—content created by a few
and distributed to many—to network
delivery, where content can be created
by anyone and published to everyone,
in a context that is “many to many.” Said
another way, publication and delivery
by professionals to mass audiences has
changed—now publication and delivery
can be by anyone, professional or not,
to niche audiences through networks
of many channels. This is because
the means of production are broadly
accessible and inexpensive.
As a result of all this, attention and
mindshare are fragmented, there’s
emphasis on relationship, new forms
of media are conversational, and
transaction costs for communication
approach zero.
Social media offer both opportunities
and challenges to Catholic organizations.
These can be grouped into three primary
categories: Visibility; Community;
Accountability
Visibility
Online social media communities
are vast and are growing at a rapid
pace. For example, there are more than
400 million active users on Facebook,
which is greater than the population
of the United States. Given the size
and scope of these communities, they
offer excellent forums for the Church’s
visibility and evangelization.
The key question that faces each
church organization that decides to
engage social media is, How will we
engage? Careful consideration should
be made to determine the particular
strengths of each form of social media
(blogs, social networks, text messaging,
etc.) and the needs of a ministry, parish,
Features
B3
Social Media Guidelines
or organization. The strengths should media as a paradigm shift in how which can be chosen by the user. These to some popular positions (gay rights,
match the needs. For instance, a blog humans communicate, a development messages can be submitted by a variety abortion, immigration reform, health
post may not be the most effective way as important as that of the printing of means, including text messaging, care reform). In other words, the
to remind students of an event. However, press and the discovery of electronic instant messaging, e-mail, digital audio, Church’s social justice teachings,
a mass text message to all students and communication. or through a Web interface. The content including the pro-life aspects of those
their parents telling them that the retreat of a micro-blog differs from a traditional teachings, often elicit unfavorable
begins at 9 a.m. may be very effective. Definitions blog in that it is typically smaller in comments. Some people determine that
Because of the high volume of content Definitions provide clarity and a actual size and aggregate file size. A those topics will not be engaged with on
and sites, and the dynamics of search common language. They are even more single entry could consist of a single official sites. Others provide guidance
engines and computer networking, important in guidelines for social media, sentence or fragment, an image, or a on how to engage in dialogue around
social media require constant input since the usage of terms is rapidly ten-second video. these topics. (See “Rules of the Road”
and monitoring to make the Church’s evolving. * Example: Twitter is a form of micro- below for examples.)
p r e s e n c e • Include examples of Codes of
effective. To Conduct that should be posted on social
keep members, networking sites. Codes of Conduct
a social are for visitors to the site. These codes
networking site, should always be brief and immediately
such as a blog, apparent to visitors. Visitors should also
needs to have be made aware of the consequences of
new content on violations of the Code of Conduct.
a regular basis. The Code of Conduct on the USCCB’s
In the case of Facebook site is as follows: “All posts
social media, the and comments should be marked by
axiom “build Christian charity and respect for the
it and they truth. They should be on topic and
will come” is presume the good will of other posters.
not applicable. Discussion should take place primarily
It is important from a faith perspective. No ads please.”
to set internal Always block anyone who does not
expectations abide by the Code of Conduct.
regarding how • Define instructions. Include
often posts will instructions on how to report, block, etc.,
be made, so that on the more popular social networking
your followers sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This
can become provides guidance for those church
accustomed to personnel who may be entering into
your schedule. • Web 2.0: The term “Web 2.0” blogging in which entries are limited to social media for the first time.
is commonly associated with Web 140 characters. • Provide recommendations on how
Community applications that facilitate interactive • Social network: A social network is to deal with difficult “fans.” Give church
Social media can be powerful tools information sharing. A Web 2.0 site a Web 2.0 site that is entirely driven by personnel permission to trust their
for strengthening community, although allows its users to interact with other content of its members. Individuals are instincts on blocking repeat offenders of
social media interaction should not be users, to change website content, to allowed flexibility in privacy settings; a site’s Code of Conduct. Argumentative
viewed as a substitute for face-to-face provide reaction to content, to share in posting text, photos, video, links, participants can easily change the tone of
gatherings. Social media can support the site’s content with others, or to and other information; and in level of every post. A good way to determine if
communities in a myriad of ways: filter content being provided by the interaction with other members. they should be blocked is to go to their
connecting people with similar interests, site creator. This is in contrast with * Examples: Facebook, LinkedIn, profiles and browse through the pages
sharing information about in-person non-interactive websites, where users MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr that they have “fanned.” Do not allow
events, providing ways for people to are limited to the passive viewing of are often included in lists of social those unwilling to dialogue to hold your
engage in dialogue, etc. information that is provided to them. networking sites, although sometimes site and its other members hostage.
A well-considered use of social media * Example: Amazon.com’s inclusion YouTube and Flickr are designated In particular situations, the moderator
as multimedia might determine it is best to ask a
sharing sites, member to take a conversation “offline.”
while Twitter These offline conversations can be
is currently conducted in person, over the telephone,
more often or through private e-mail. The site
designated as a moderators should be able to refer to
micro-blogging the appropriate resources, such as the
application. pastor, program director, diocesan
• Ministry communication office, etc.
website:3 • Provide trusted sites for reference,
An Internet and recommend that site administrators
website/tool have a thorough knowledge of these
created by sites. Often a link to the parish, diocesan,
employees, USCCB, or Vatican site can provide
clerics, and necessary information, thereby helping
volunteers for redirect the tone and substance of an
the sole purpose online conversation.
of conducting • Remind site administrators they
diocesan/ are posting for a broad audience. Social
a f f i l i a t e media are global platforms. Online
business. content is visible to anyone in the world
• Personal who comes to their sites.
website: A
social network Establishing a Site
page, blog, or Websites or social networking profile
any Internet pages are the centerpiece of any
has the ultimate goal of encouraging of users’ reviews and offering of website/tool created by employees, social media activity. The following
“true friendship” (43rd World recommendations based on the clerics, and volunteers primarily to share are recommended guidelines for the
Communications Day message [2009]) consumer’s past use of the site make it personal commu-nication with friends establishment of a site. These can apply
and of addressing the human longing a Web 2.0 site. and associates. to a profile or fan page on a social
for meaningful community. • Blog: A blog (a contraction of the networking site such as Facebook, a
term “web log”) is a type of website, blog, a Twitter account, etc.
Accountability usually maintained by an individual, Guidelines • Site administrators should be
Social media provide tools for with regular entries of commentary, When developing guidelines for adults.
building community. Membership in descriptions of events, or other material church personnel to use social media, • There should be at least two site
communities also requires accountability such as graphics or video. Entries consider including the following administrators (preferably more) for
and responsibility. Users of social are commonly displayed in reverse- elements: each site, to allow rapid response and
media expect site administrators to chronological order. “Blog” can also be • Define appropriate boundaries for continuous monitoring of the site.
allow dialogue, • Do not use personal sites for
to provide diocesan or parish programs. Create
information, separate sites for these.
a n d t o • Passwords and names of sites should
acknowledge be registered in a central location, and
mistakes. The more than one adult should have access
explosion of to this information.
information • Be sure those establishing a site
available to know these key “Rules of the Road”:
social media 1. Abide by diocesan/parish
consumers has guidelines.
meant that they 2. Know that even personal
often only use communication by church personnel
information reflects the Church. Practice what you
from trusted preach.
sites or sites 3. Write in first person. Do not claim
recommended to represent the official position of the
by those whom organization or the teachings of the
they trust. Church, unless authorized to do so.
While not 4. Identify yourself. Do not use
every demand pseudonyms or the name of the parish,
or inquiry can program, etc., as your identity, unless
be met, it is authorized to do so.
important that 5. Abide by copyright, fair use, and IRS
creators and site financial disclosure regulations.
administrators 6. Do not divulge confidential
of social media understand how much used as a verb, meaning to maintain or communications. These should be in sync information about others. Nothing
social media are different from mass add content to a blog. with diocesan codes of conduct for other posted on the Internet is private.
media and the expectations of their * Examples: There are many types of areas, such as the diocese’s standards for 7. Don’t cite others, post photos or
consumers. Creators and consumers blogs on sites throughout the Internet. protection of children and young people, videos of them, link to their material,
of mass media generally accept their They are common for celebrities, writers, Internet acceptable use policies, etc. etc., without their approval.
one-way conversations (letters to the journalists, etc. WordPress is one of Define what is considered confidential 8. Practice Christian charity.
editor being the exception). Social the more popular tools used to create information, verifiable consent, personal
media’s emphasis is on the word blogs. identifiable information, contact with a Social Networking with Minors
“social,” with a general blurring of • Micro-blog: This form of multimedia minor, etc. Be sure to have permission from
the distinction between creators of blogging allows users to send brief text Topics that are in current debate will a minor’s parent or guardian before
content and consumers of content. updates or to publish micromedia such generate more comments/responses. contacting the minor via social media or
Many communication experts are as photos or audio clips, to be viewed These include issues in which the before posting pictures, video, and other
describing the adaption of social either by anyone or by a restricted group, Church’s teachings are often in contrast Social Media / B7
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

What we need is cheap and abundant information

Through the internet gushes a torrent of information. How can students possibly absorb it?
By Robert Moniot
WE have asked several of our
contributors to respond to
a question in our occasional
series of forums. This time the
question is: What is the world’s
most dangerous idea? We expect
that the answers will be quite
controversial. Please add your
comments.
In case you missed it, US
President Barack Obama declared
October 2009 to be “National
Information Literacy Awareness
Month.” The cynical may see this
action as a sign that our leaders
fear we are losing the battle
against cheap information, and I
agree. By cheap I mean that the
internet has made huge amounts
of information easily available: for
example the free, collaboratively
written Wikipedia measures up
quite well against traditional
expensive print encyclopedias.
But much of the information
that is available is cheap in terms
of quality as well. The very
abundance and ready availability
of information undermine efforts
by educators, librarians and others
to develop good information
literacy skills and habits.
The concept of information
literacy is itself only a generation
old, a child of the Information
Age. The need to be able to find
information and evaluate it is
not new, but in former times
there were fewer sources of
information. Researching a topic
mainlymeantspendingsometime
in the library. More importantly,
what sources of information there
were came with some assurance
of authenticity, backed by the
publisher’s reputation. As new
ways of storing, organizing, and
distributing information arose,
new skills were clearly needed
not simply to use these new
technologies, but to avoid being
overwhelmed by them.
DavidGelernter,Yalecomputer
scientist and Unabomber
survivor, almost two decades
ago foresaw the coming flood
of information as the internet
opened to individuals, businesses,
government agencies, and the
like. Tapping into this flood has
been likened to ‘drinking from
a fire hose,’ and he envisioned a
scheme for dealing with it. His
proposal assumed that artificial
intelligence would develop
to the point where an army of
robotic agents could filter, sort,
and summarize information
to create a manageable and
usable flow for each user. The
flood of information that he
foresaw has indeed occurred, but
unfortunately the artificial agents
to filter it have not yet appeared,
except in very rudimentary
forms. Individuals are on their
own when trying to drink
from the fire hose. To switch
metaphors, the information
superhighway has been built,
but many users are driving on it
with a horse and buggy.
Is information literacy a lost
cause? Some studies suggest that
today’s young people are savvier
about online information than we
may think. For instance, a recent
survey by Project Information
Literacy (projectinfolit.org) found
that college undergraduates
generally do recognize that
Wikipedia is a good place to start
their research on an unfamiliar
topic, but not a good place to
end it.
However, my own experience
in the classroom, similar to
anecdotal reports from other
college professors, seems
somewhat at odds with this
survey’s results. We find that
students often are content to
do their research with a Google
search that turns up a few sources
of dubious reliability, such as
blogs or forum postings, or more
reliable but still lightweight
sources such as newspaper
articles.
Seldom without specific
prodding by instructors will
students utilize the library’s
databases to find serious scholarly
articles. Worse yet, some students
show a failure to understand
the difference between such
materials and materials found on
the web. Perhaps the surveyed
students were saying what they
felt they were expected to say,
rather than what they really
believe. Or perhaps they don’t
always act in accordance with
what they know. Students often
procrastinate, and under time
pressure they may resort to
simply grabbing a few articles
quickly off the web.
Perhaps one day robotic agents
like those envisioned by Gelernter
will be capable of not only locating
information needed by users,
but sifting the wheat from the
chaff as well. Meanwhile it will
take more than an Information
Literacy Awareness Month to
win the battle against cheap
information.
(Associate Professor Robert
Moniot teaches computer science
at Fordham University in New
York. This article is reprinted here
by virtue of a special publishing
arrangement on MercatorNet)

Marikina parish receives MTBO Bibles for parishioners

By Helen A. Saldana
THE May They Be One (MTBO) Bible
project is a joint undertaking of the
Episcopal Commission for the Biblical
Apostolate (ECBA) and the Philippine
Bible Society (PBS) that seeks to
distribute 5 million Bibles to 5 million
poor Filipino families within 5 years.
Since MTBO’s launch in September 2008,
207,704 Bibles have been distributed in
369 parishes and communities. Seventy-
four out of 86 dioceses are involved in
the Bible campaign. The story below
gives a glimpse of MTBO at work in a
parish in Marikina.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
The parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe
was faced with a dilemma after floods
brought by Ondoy in September last year
swept through parts of the Metropolis:
How can the ministers share the Word
of God to some 100,000 parishioners
without owning a single Bible?
The dilemma was resolved when
parish priest Fr. Emmanuelle Borelli
learned about the May They Be One
Bible campaign that provides Bibles at
an affordable price.
“We purchased one thousand Bibles…
using local pastoral fund available to our
religious missionary community for the
newly established parish, Our Lady of
Guadalupe,” Fr. Borelli said.
The Bibles were distributed to members
of the Basic Ecclesial Communities
(BECs) or the Maliit na Sambayanang
Kristyano (MSK) of the parish. Fr. Borelli
said that the parish chose to undertake
the MTBO program because most of the
people lost their Bibles during the flood
caused by Typhoon Ondoy. He added
that while the Catholic Community was
But the blessing did not stop there.
Recipients of the MTBO Bibles are being
given Modular Seminars on how to
interpret Bible passages correctly and
to apply the lessons in their day to day
living. Every Monday, MSK leaders hold
Bible meetings. Lay leaders undergo
weekly trainings so that they can hold
their own.
Bible Listening Group and Bible
Proclaimer
Among the youth, Bible Listening
Groups (BLG) have been launched in
partnership with the Philippine Bible
Society and Faith Comes By Hearing.
The BLG in Marikina is among the 40 that
have already taken place in parishes in
several provinces. Every Saturday, about
10 to 15 young people meet to listen to
dramatized New Testament in a radio
format called Bible Proclaimer. The BLG
meets for at least 30 minutes every week
and listen to selected passages. Then,
Fr. Borelli would give Bible formation
talks on the audio Scripture portion of
the day.
“The atmosphere was one of
recollection and prayer and the style
was interactive. Considering its success,
we would like to extend this pilot project
to the other young people of the Parish”,
Fr. Borelli revealed.
When asked in what ways the MTBO
campaign has helped the parish, Fr.
Borelli said, “Definitely, the initial
acquisition of the Bibles at an affordable
price by the parish on November 20, 2009
has been a great help to the Christian
Community.”
The Bible, considered the most
valuable possession of the Filipino
family, is usually enthroned in the homes
alongside the other symbols of the faith
of the people.
them to recover the Bibles they lost in the
flood. In the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace
in Bulelak, though we could not fully
promote the official Bible distribution
that happened, we were able to distribute
hundreds of Bibles in less than two hours.
There, we saw how people appreciated
what we were doing. With a big smile,
recipients uttered ‘Salamat po, Father’ as
they held their children in one arm and
received a brand new copy of an MTBO
Bible in the other.”
Fr. Borelli further elucidated on the
concerns of the parish and the value of
the Bible to the people’s faith.
“The Bible is essential to the growth
of the faith of the people. Now the mere
possession of the Book is not enough.
We need to help the people to ask
questions about the Bible and not to be
content with easy answers. The Word
of God does not give instant solutions
to our many problems but instructs and
empowers us how to become disciple of
Christ Jesus.”
Concerning the future, Fr. Borelli
shares the plans of the parish.
“We wish to make the Bible available
to the youth. So far, majority of the
recipients of the MTBO Bibles had been
adult and elderly women. To work with
the youth is definitely more challenging.
Thus, we had been thinking of acquiring
500 MTBO Bibles for the young people.
But before we buy the Bibles, we would
like to see how many would be interested
in joining Bible Studies. About the
funding, the Lord will provide. People
are very generous when it comes to the
Word of God.”
The Scripture verse “Your Word is
a lamp to guide me and a light for my
path” (Psalm 119:105) is progressively
becomingarealityamongtheparishioners
of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
Contributed Photo

the priority in the list of beneficiaries, Feedbacks on the MTBO campaign

everyone who asked to have a Bible from Bible recipients were largely (Helen A. Saldana is the Resource
regardless of religious affiliation was positive. Fr. Borelli recalled that “people Development Officer of Philippine Bible
given a copy. were happy to learn that we were helping Society.)

Transformation / B1

was appalled by the clogged and
disorganized and disordered
traffic in the local streets. Chaotic
was the right word he said. “Your
laws are only suggestions and not
for execution.” People complain
of the disorder in the streets,
markets, public parks and offices,
etc. Again, we must begin at home
and in the schools. Whatever lack
of discipline there is in the home
is reflected in public life.
Everybody needs discipline
for his or her own good. There
is no such thing as limitless
expression, just as there is no
such thing as continuous eating.
There is a limit or an end to
anything for one’s own good.
And the only value that can
intervene in such setting in life is
the act of disciplining one’s self.
Again it is in the home where
discipline could first be learned
and practiced. Complete lack of
discipline augurs great tragedies
in later life as an adult.
The word discipline comes
from the word “disciple,” one
who is a pupil, a student, one who
is ready to learn. He is one who
is willing to learn by instruction
and the exercise of self-control. A
disciplined person understands
that there are moments that
“NO” must be accepted for the
good of self and others. Order
may eventually come to the
streets, market place, park and
offices, when for the good of the
community there are citizens
who are willing to say “no” to
themselves. There again, love of
others may entice the majority of
people to seek “no” in order that
others may at least live in some
fort or safety.
Another word for discipline
is self-sacrifice, which must be
linked with self and others, thus,
a well-disciplined citizen learns
to sacrifice for the love of his
fellowmen. And when one loves
another, s/he enters the realm of
love of country. He is a patriot,
above all, s/he is a Christian,
a believer, a good citizen. St.
Thomas of Aquinas taught that
Patriotism or love of country is
part of love for one’s brethren.
And should anyone desire peace
and order in one’s neighborhood,
the first task is to work on the
value of order and discipline
in one’s self and in one’s home,
which is the closest community
one could ever have. Order in the
larger scale of the nation follows
only what order and discipline
there are in the home.
Part of that love for country
is for the citizen to be formed
through discipline and to fulfill
its obligation to the state. The
teaching of the Church on
helping the country is this: “It is
the duty of citizens to contribute
along with civil authorities to
the good of society in a spirit
of truth, justice, solidarity and
freedom.”(CCC, 2238, 2239).
“It is morally obligatory for the
citizen to pay taxes, to exercise
the right to vote and to defend
one’s country: to pay to all of
them their dues, taxes to whom
taxes are due, revenue to whom
revenue is due, respect to whom
respect is due, honor to whom
honor is due.” (CCC, 2240).
Six Sails Empower One Boat
Headed Towards It’s Vision
Obviously there are more
values in our culture aside
from the six we have discussed
in this paper. We have singled
out these six treasures in our
culture because they are the most
needed today in the building up
of our country. The six values
are: Reason; Conscience; Faith:
fear and love of God; Love and
Compassion; Discipline and
Sacrifice; Patriotism: love for
Country.
Values are like a sail to a boat.
Even if the boat is equipped with
a rudder, the boat will remain
motionless in the middle of
the sea. The rudder gives the
direction but is the sail that
catches the wind and puts the
boat in motion.
Values, therefore, are important
because they move us to where
the vision (rudder) directs us.
Only values can empower a
person, a church or a nation
towards change, transformation,
and development.
With the help and blessings of
the Father, who calls us, let us
now move towards the fullness of
life (that includes family, church
and country) with purified values
leading to our apostolic vision.
Thank You. God bless!
+GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL
ROSALES
07 August 2010
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010
B5

Statement on Hacienda Luisita Press Statement

Compromise Agreement The significance of the

publication of the new
‘Norms concerning the
most serious crimes’
IN 2001 the Holy Father John Paul II promulgated a very
important document, the Motu Proprio “Sacramentorum
sanctitatis tutela”, which gave the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith responsibility to deal with and judge a series of
particularly serious crimes within the ambit of canon law. This
responsibility had previously been attributed also to other
dicasteries, or was not completely clear.
The Motu Proprio (the “law” in the strict sense) was
accompanied by a series of practical and procedural Norms,
known as “Normae de gravioribus delictis”. Over the nine years
since then, experience has naturally suggested that these Norms
be integrated and updated, so as to streamline and simplify the
procedures and make them more effective, and to take account

THE Church in the Philippines
acknowledges that “agrarian
reform is still the one big issue
that touches our rural poor most
directly.”The agenda for social
justice and the realization of our
preferential love for the poor are
seriously tested in our resolve to
address the problem of inequity
and rural poverty through our
commitment to implement
genuine land reform (Acts and
Decrees of the Second Plenary
Council, No. 391).
The case of the reported
compromise deal in the 21-year
dispute in Hacienda Luisita
was taunted as a breakthrough
in the effort to end the long-
standing agrarian issue over
the 6,500-hectare land owned
by the Cojuangcos, the family
of President Benigno Aquino
III. The deal could have been a
cause for celebration if not for a
number of questionable processes
and highly inequitable terms
contained in the said agreement
whose reported approval of the
farmers was brokered by the
company itself, the Hacienda
Luisita Inc. (HLI).
We will laud and support any
initiative to immediately resolve
the two-decade land dispute, but
it should be in a manner that is fair
and would uphold the farmers’
rightful claim to the land. The
unusual haste that characterizes
the whole process of arriving at
a compromise makes the deal
all the more questionable and
suspicious. Hence, we raise
the following issues below to
question the supposed terms
of agreements and the process
by which the compromise was
crafted.
In 2005, the directive from the
Presidential Agrarian Reform
Council and the Department
of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
explicitly called for the
redistribution of 4,415 hectares
of the 6,500 hectarage under the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program. Implementation
of this order was stalled by
the Temporary Restraining
Order (TRO) granted by the
Supreme Court. But the present
compromised agreement totally
disregarded the DAR order
and made the farmers accept
the lopsided sharing scheme—
with the farmer-beneficiaries
being offered only 33% of the
land or only 1,400 hectares out
of the 6,500-hectare property.
Clearly, this arrangement is
disproportionately in favor of
the HLI and totally contradicting
the social justice intent of the law.
In effect, the farmers will end up
owning very small parcel of the
land for the sprawling land estate
would be divided among 10,502
CARP beneficiaries, based on
the list submitted by Hacienda
Luisita management. And the list
itself actually needs meticulous
scrutiny and verification.
The compromised agreement
also made provision for the
implementation of the Stock
Distribution Option (SDO), which
is in fact, already revoked by DAR
in the same order in 2005. The
SDO scheme is unacceptable for
it is an outright circumvention
of the agrarian provision for
land distribution. And it is worth
mentioning that in the twenty
one years of implementing the
SDO, it had not lifted the farmers
out of their impoverished and
vulnerable state. The SDO scheme
facilitated the virtual surrender of
the farmers of their rightful claims
to the agricultural lands of the
hacienda in exchange for a pittance
or meager shares of capital stock
and production shares.
The much-ballyhooed
compromised agreement on
Hacienda Luisita’s estate was also
tainted with anomalous processes
in the way the company chose
representatives for the farmer
sector. The present leadership
both of ULWU (United Luisita
Workers’ Union) and AMBALA
(Alyansa ng Manggagawang
Bukid ng Asyenda Luisita),
question the authority of the
company-designated leaders,
namely Noel Mallari and
Eldifonso Pingol, to represent the
organizations that had already
disowned and expelled them a
long time ago.
Moreover, the manner of
obtaining farmers and workers
signatures was also dubious in
view of the allegation of bribe-
offers disguised as “financial
package” or “monetary benefits.”
We acknowledge the fact that
destitution in Hacienda Luisita
would drive the farmers to
seek immediate and temporary
relief from their economic woes,
hence making the compensation
package of the SDO an enticing
option. But the strategy of
capitalizing on peoples’ poverty
to trick them into accepting the
disadvantageous compromise is
another form of grave injustice
committed against the farmers.
In the light of the foregoing,
we denounce the compromise
deal in Hacienda Luisita as a
grand scheme to thwart the
implementation of the agrarian
reform law and a pre-emptive
strategy to influence the Supreme
Court decision on the TRO case
pending for resolution soon.
To serve the interest of justice,
we appeal to President Benigno
Aquino III to fulfill his pro-
poor platform of governance
by implementing the agrarian
law and by not honoring the
compromise deal that ran counter
to the constitutional mandate
that the entire 4,415 hectares
of land should be distributed
to the plantation farmers. The
President cannot feign neutrality
in this issue, for his silence and
www.internationalist.org
of new problems. This has been achieved principally by the Pope
attributing new “faculties” to the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith; faculties which, however, were not organically
integrated into the initial Norms. This has now come about,
within the context of a systematic revision of those Norms.
The serious crimes to which the regulations referred
inaction will mean an implicit concerned vital aspects of Church life: the Sacraments of the
endorsement of the unjust Eucharist and of Penance, but also sexual abuse committed by
compromise deal orchestrated a priest against a minor under the age of eighteen.
by Cojuangco-owned HLI. If land The vast public echo this latter kind of crime has had over
reform cannot be implemented recent years has attracted great attention and generated intense
in Hacienda Luisita, we see no debate on the norms and procedures applied by the Church to
possibility of implementing judge and punish such acts.
it in any place at all. Hindi na It is right, then, that there should be complete clarity
kami pwedeng mangarap... concerning the regulations currently in force in this field, and
sa pagpapatupad ng tunay that these regulations be presented organically so as to facilitate
na katarungan para sa mga the work of the people who deal with these matters.
mahihirap! An initial clarification - especially for use by the media - was
Concretely, we appeal that the provided recently with the publication on the Holy See website of
compromise deal be set aside and a brief “Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures concerning
allow a genuine and transparent Sexual Abuse Allegations”. The publication of the new Norms is,
process of consultation with the however, quite a different thing, providing us with an official and
farmers to be conducted, allowing updated legal text which is valid for the whole Church.
them to understand the full range In order to facilitate the reading of the Norms by a non-specialist
of options available and the public, particularly interested in the problems of sexual abuse,
advantageous counter-proposal we will seek to highlight a number of important aspects:
that will truly benefit their sector. Among the novelties introduced with respect to the earlier
This initiative should be carried Norms, mention must be made, above all, of measures intended
out by DAR, in partnership to accelerate procedures, such as the possibility of not following
with the legitimate farmers’ and the “judicial process” but proceeding by “extrajudicial decree”,
workers’ organizations. or that of presenting (in particular circumstances) the most
We believe that the social serious cases to the Holy Father with a view to dismissing the
justice agenda of the Aquino offender from the clerical state.
administration will be loudly Another Norm intended to simplify earlier problems and
spelled by the decisive to take account of the evolution of the situation in the Church
intervention of the President to concerns the possibility of having not only priests but also
push for the rights of the farmers lay persons as members of the tribunal staff, or as lawyers or
over and above the sinister prosecutors. Likewise, in order to undertake these functions
attempt of the Cojuangcos to it is no longer strictly necessary to have a doctorate in canon
retain ownership of the CARP- law, but the required competency can also be proved in another
able hacienda. way; for example, with a licentiate.
We affirm the social teaching Another aspect worthy of note is the increase of the statue of
of the Church that explicitly limitations from ten years to twenty years, with the possibility
underlines that “the right to of extension even beyond that period.
private property is subordinated Another significant aspect is establishing parity between
to the right to common use, to the the abuse of mentally disabled people and that of minors, and
fact that the goods are meant for the introduction of a new category: paedophile pornography.
everyone” (Laborem Exercens, This is defined as: “the acquisition, possession or disclosure”
No. 14). by a member of the clergy, “in any way and by any means, of
We will continue to pray pornographic images of minors under the age of fourteen”.
and work for the resolution of Regulations concerning the secrecy of trials are maintained,
agrarian conflicts so that justice in order to safeguard the dignity of all the people involved.
and the Lord’s peace may be One point that remains untouched, though it has often been
truly realized. the subject of discussion in recent times, concerns collaboration
with the civil authorities. It must be borne in mind that the
+BRODERICK PABILLO, DD Norms being published today are part of the penal code of
Auxiliary Bishop of Manila canon law, which is complete in itself and entirely distinct
Chair, Episcopal Commission on from the law of States.
Social Action, Justice and Peace On this subject, however, it is important to take note of the
August 12, 2010 “Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures concerning
Sexual Abuse Allegations”, as published on the Holy See
website. In that Guide, the phrase “Civil law concerning

Legal abortion saves no one

reporting of crimes to the appropriate authorities should
always be followed” is contained in the section dedicated to
“Preliminary Procedures”. This means that in the practice
suggested by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Abortion does not protect women’s rights; rather,

it violates the right to life of all.
WE are disgusted by the recent pleas of
some so-called women’s rights advocates
pushing for legalized abortion in the
country (Center for Reproductive Rights
recent publication). It is utterly a complete
abomination to safeguarding human life.
This call is UNACCEPTABLE.
Induced abortion is the deliberate
termination of the life of an innocent human
being and therefore, it is a CRIME! They are
oblivious of the fact that abortion is the culprit
of all the statistics they are boasting of, ergo,
abortion should be eradicated not propagated.
How unfathomable it is that these lobbyists
brainwash our minds with the unethical idea
of compromising the life of the unborn! And
the claim that legalizing it will render the
abortion safe for the mother is unfounded as
well. Numerous researches now reveal the
many physical, psychological and spiritual
side effects on thousands of women who
submitted themselves to the so-called “safe
abortion”
Central to this petition are three scenarios:
that unsafe abortions cause maternal death
and illnesses; that rape victims should be
given the choice to terminate an unwanted
pregnancy; and that poverty causes poor
women to turn to unsafe abortions.
On their first argument, we remain ardent in
saying that abortion as a medical procedure is
never safe. Abortion is an invasive procedure
and advocates themselves have stated that
“risks associated with induced abortion
increase as the pregnancy progresses.” They
also failed to mention the numerous adverse
effects of committing abortion physically and
psychologically. Some of these women who
had elective abortion even end up barren for
the rest of their lives. Studies have also linked
induced abortions to breast and ovarian
cancer. Operation Outcry and Canada
Silent No More are collecting testimonial
declarations from women suffering after legal
abortions in developed countries and there
are over 4,000 affidavits so far.
As for rape victims, we dare say that the
right to life is in equal footing with the right
to a freedom of choice – a choice that is very
limited due to fear, anger, pressure and poor
advice from people around the victim. It is
crucial for us to see the link between life and
freedom. Pope John Paul II puts it succinctly:
“It is of the greatest importance to reestablish
the essential connection between life and
freedom. These are inseparable goods: where
one is violated, the other also ends up being
violated. There is no true freedom where life
is not welcomed and loved; and there is no
fullness of life except in freedom.” In this light,
we determine that aborting the child of a rape
victim does not solve the problem but instead
aggravates it. It is not the fault of the child that
he/she came to be because of a crime. Further,
killing the child does not redeem the rape
victim from her status. It all the more drowns
her in deeper depression and confusion. There
are records of raped women who have found
more peace in bringing to birth the child than
those who had the child aborted. And there
are even more records showing that the child
of rape was truly grateful for having been
given the chance to live.
Their last argument is too formulaic for
a population control scheme. For the nth
time, poverty is the problem not the baby.
The government should banish graft and
corruption, foster good governance and
therefore become a good provider. Legalizing
abortion will never alleviate poverty. In
hindsight, it could even add fuel to the
fire as we are manually deleting potential
manpower who could lend warm bodies to
participate in ending our economic crises.
Therefore, we firmly believe that the
legalization of abortion is not necessary to
accomplish the government’s concern for poor
women in crisis pregnancies. If the government
is serious in its efforts to remedy this dilemma,
help should come in providing counseling
services especially with abortion-minded
women, post-abortion mothers and fathers,
education programs, maternal and child care
services, economic and social development
programs that would put a stop to rape, incest,
sex outside of marriage and other causes of
unwanted pregnancies. All men and women
need to be educated on fetal development, the
consequences of sex outside of marriage, on
human sexuality, fertility and love, respect and
relationships. Pregnant women need support
and help, not abortion. We should be saving
lives, not taking them.
We therefore call on our legislators, medical
professionals, educators and the general
public to lend deaf ears to this malevolent urge
to kill the members of our future generation.
Help us defend our pro-life country and our
families whose quality of life is threatened.
SAY NO TO LEGALIZED ABORTION!
(Official Statement of Pro-Life Philippines
Foundation, Inc. on the issue of legalizing
abortion)
it is necessary to comply with the requirements of law in the
various countries, and to do so in good time, not during or
subsequent to the canonical trial.
Today’s publication of the Norms makes a great contribution
to the clarity and certainty of law in this field; a field in which the
Church is today strongly committed to proceeding with rigour
and transparency so as to respond fully to the just expectations
of moral coherence and evangelical sanctity nourished by the
faithful and by public opinion, and which the Holy Father has
constantly reiterated.
Of course, many other measures and initiatives are required
from the various ecclesiastical bodies. The Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith is currently examining how to help the
bishops of the world formulate and develop, coherently and
effectively, the indications and guidelines necessary to face the
problems of the sexual abuse of minors, either by members of the
clergy or within the environment of activities and institutions
connected with the Church, bearing in mind the situation and
the problems of the societies in which they operate.
This will be another crucial step on the Church’s journey as she
translates into permanent practice and continuous awareness
the fruits of the teachings and ideas that have matured over
the course of the painful events of the “crisis” engendered by
sexual abuse by members of the clergy.
In order to complete this brief overview of the principal
novelties contained in the “Norms”, mention must also be
made of those that refer to crimes of a different nature. In this
case too it is not so much a case of introducing new substance
as of integrating rules that are already in force so as to obtain
a better ordered and more organic set of regulations on the
“most serious crimes” reserved to the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith.
These include crimes against the faith (heresy, apostasy and
schism) for which competency normally falls to ordinaries,
although the Congregation becomes competent in the case of an
appeal; the malicious recording and disclosure of sacramental
Confession about which a decree of condemnation was
published in 1988; and the attempted ordination of women,
about which a decree was published in 2007.
FR. FEDERICO LOMBARDI, SJ
Vatican Spokesperson
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

Salvation as primarily the work of God, not ours

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 14:1.7-14; August 29, 2010)
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, like the Pharisees in Jerusalem who
SThD expected the best seats as reward for
their meticulous observance of the law,
will find themselves humbled to take
ALTHOUGH we eat and drink to nourish the lowest places. After all, they have
our bodily systems, yet, when taken in a received their reward in the honor
party, banquet or dinner, there is more to that banquets brought them. Rather,
food and drink than mere nourishment. membership in the Kingdom, which
In such a context, eating and drinking can be identified with one’s salvation, is
is a form of communication. It says given as an unmerited gift to those whom
something about the host, the guest and God in Jesus calls. He invites those who
even the atmosphere in which the dinner acknowledge their unworthiness before
is held. As Bruce Malina points out, “just him. It is these who will ultimately find
as the material used for communication in themselves raised up to high places. This
speech is language, so the material used reversal of fortune is best expressed in
for communication in a festive meal is Mary’s canticle: “He has deposed the
food and drink and their setting. Thus the mighty from their thrones and raise the
type of food and drink chosen, their mode lowly to high places” (Luke 1:52).
of preparation, method of service, and Second, in the Kingdom of God,
setting or reclining arrangements all say fellowship is of great value. After all,
something about the inviter’s assessment salvation is about living in fellowship
of those invited (cf Luke 14:7-11).” For with the Triune God and the saints. But
one to be invited to a party, for example, this will not be realized without having
reflects the importance a host gives to to cultivate fellowship with those who
him, for he is clearly set apart from those are in the lower brackets of society.
who were not invited, even if the inviter It may be recalled that the Pharisees
knows them by name. But even among refused social contact with those who
the invited, it often happens that they could not fulfill the requirements of the

are not treated equally. We do mind the
dignity society accords to people of note
and prominence. Some are seated at the
presidential table, others are not. There
is always a protocol to be observed. At
the time of Jesus, it was customary to
seat guests according to their dignity and
rank, not according to age. And the most
prestigious places in a banquet are those
to the right and to the left of the host. The
farther one is from the host, the lesser he
is in the latter’s eyes.
In today’s Gospel, we are told that
when Jesus was invited to dine at a
Pharisee’s house, he noticed how the
Pharisees chose the first places for
themselves. According to Luke, these
people were rigorous when it comes to
the law (Luke 6:2), and sometimes did
more than what it required (Luke 18:12).
Precisely because of their effort to strictly
keep the law, they had reasons to think
that they had a great dignity before God
and of course before men. If the Gospels
portray them as lovers of the first seats in
the synagogues, craving for the special
greetings in public places, this should be
thought of as a natural consequence of
the dignity they claimed for themselves.
It is thus natural on the whole that they
sought the best places in the banquet to
which a Pharisee invited them together
with Jesus. In our society of unequal
wealth and status, one could always
find sympathy with the Pharisees. At
our formal dinners, we more often than
not have a list of guests to be seated at
the presidential table. We know that
the seating arrangement provides much
indication of the social standing not
only of the guests but also of the host
himself. Tell me who are your visitors,
and I will tell you who you are. Of
course, social climbers have been known
from Adam. Indeed, how often we
emphasize the importance of knowing
the right people, especially because
what is of consequence nowadays in
not so much what you know as who
you know. Unlike the Pharisees, though,
we do consider dignity not in terms of
following the law, but in terms of power
and wealth.
In the Gospel, Luke portrays Jesus
as setting rules for guests and host
at a banquet. At first blush, it would
seem that Jesus was giving the invited
Pharisees and their host a worldly
wisdom with regard to seeking out
position of prestige, meant at the same
time as a warning against embarrassment
in social functions. As it appears, Jesus’
teaching about seeking the lowest place
at a banquet echoes an Old Testament
wisdom: “Claim no honor in the king’s
presence, nor occupy the place of great
men; for it is better that you be told,
‘Come up closer,’ than that you be
humbled before the prince” (Prov 25:6-7).
We do not know if historically Jesus was
concerned with proper decorum in this
episode; but there is much reason to
think that the intention of Luke is not
limited to social etiquette. For one thing,
Luke clearly states that this is a parable
(Luke 14:7), and in Luke a parable is
usually about the Kingdom of God. For
another, one finds it strange that in the
www.turnbacktogod.com
entire gospel, it is only in these sayings
that Jesus concerns himself with social
etiquette. One may not be mistaken in
regarding the gospel text not as rules
of etiquette or social graces but, most
likely, as matters on social behavior
used to teach us two important points
about the Kingdom of God.
The first lesson concerns the
composition of the Kingdom of God.
From his observation on guests
competing for the best places at table
to show their status before other guests
and the host, Jesus draws the lesson
that membership in the community of
the Kingdom does not depend on one’s
merits, social standing or economic
status. Unlike in many marriage
banquets, these count nothing in the
Kingdom of God. We do not save
ourselves by these means. Salvation
is the work of God in the first place.
Hence, those who consider themselves
worthy of high places in the Kingdom,
Pharisaic piety. This gave the impression
that, if the Pharisaic practice was an
indication of the Kingdom of God,
those who formed part of the lowest
rung of the Jewish society, were to be
excluded from the communion in the
eschatological banquet. But it is precisely
against this tradition that Jesus’ words
about hosts at banquet are directed:
“When you hold a banquet, invite the
poor, the crippled, the lame and the
blind” (Luke 14:13). Indeed, merely to
associate with those who belong to one’s
social circle or standing, or with those
whom one wishes to be with reinforces
the inequality of society. For Jesus, to be
generous toward those who are excluded
by standard piety constitutes a required
behavior in a community that reflects
the Kingdom of God. This recalls Jesus’
sermon: “If you love those who love
you, what credit is that to you?” (Luke
6:32). He illustrates this by saying that
those who belong to the Kingdom of
God cannot but show solidarity with the
poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind
by sharing with them the festive table.
When they do this, the Pharisees would
show that they have been converted to
the values of the Kingdom.

Bo Sanchez

SOULFOOD Bishop Pat Alo

Do what love demands
I NOW own a cell phone.
People who have been reading my stuff
for a few years know how I love the simple
lifestyle, ala St. Francis of Assisi. I’ve always
wanted an uncluttered and free life. I didn’t
want ringing, beeping, and vibrating things
disturbing my prayer time. And for the sake
of humility (or so I thought), I didn’t want
the status symbol of a cell phone hanging
from my belt.
So except for my computer where I write
my books, for many years I’ve avoided all
sorts of personal gadgetry, equipment, and
other luxuries: no car, no cellular, no beeper,
no wristwatch, no walkman, no girlfriend,
etc.
But slowly, I had to face harsh reality.
My once friendly, gentle, and otherwise
mentally balanced staff of seventy-five
Fr. Francis Ongkingco
people—either working for SHEPHERD’S
VOICE, or my Catholic community, or
ANAWIM (our work for the poor)—have
become more and more violent these past
few months.
I hear screams like, “Where were you?
Planet Mars?! We’ve been looking all over
the world for you these past three days!”
Suicide attempts have been reported to me.
A few have been acting weird every time the
moon is full. And I have received a few death
threats from otherwise very loving people,
if I don’t get a cell phone.
I’ve realized that there is one law above
every other law. Yup, even above my desire
for simplicity. Or prayer. Or humility. It’s
called the demand of love.
If I love these people, I’m going to get a
cell phone. Whether it will interfere with
ENCOUNTERS
my simple lifestyle, my prayer life, and my
great humility. (You see, I’m the most humble
person in the world. I get awards for my
profound humility. You know, I’m so humble
that blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...)
What does love demand in your life?
Disturbing your prayer time because
your little son wants you to carry him? Not
attending your prayer meeting this week
because it’s Mom’s birthday? Saying “yes”
to a leadership position even if you really
want something low-key? Saying “no” to an
abusive friend even if everything about you
wants to say yes?
For me, it was the simple act of getting a
cell phone.
I also got myself a girlfriend who
later became my wife, but that’s another
story.
Moratorium on
logging and mining
GROUPS from the Catholic clergy and people of Davao
Oriental have been requesting a moratorium of the large
scale mining and logging operations taking place in the
same province. We believe this is for the good of the people.
Considering the worldwide dangers of global warming and
environmental calamities (e.g. floods) in many areas of Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao, it’s about time.
The honorable mayor R. Hagedorn of the capital city of
Palawan, namely Puerto Princesa, has clearly shown in
word and example, how Palawan has progressively boomed
through preservation of its natural resources of wood trees
and mining minerals, thus preserving the economy by
tourism and the usual and normal livelihood of the native or
local inhabitants. He made a reversal in policy or conversion
of heart from being a logger and miner previously. He even
assured our priests of Davao Oriental that he is willing to

WHATEVER talk about his success story in Palawan to our people here
in Davao Oriental. You see for yourself and go to Palawan
to see how truth speaks for itself.
As the world has always shown, the temptation and

“AP-PLE…,” Jake was sweating
profusely as he showed his
Grade 1 pupils a reading exercise
flash card. “Now, repeat after
me…,” he patiently said.
The children were quite
restless in their rickety wooden
benches. Jake could not help feel
pity for them. “How could they
even pay attention when four
children were crammed into
one seat? They were huddled
together like a ball of sticky rice
that had fallen to the ground
and was smudged by grime all
over.”
“AP-PLE!” The kids repeated
aloud together.
Jake looked at his watch.
He had been drilling them for
nearly an hour. “What was
all of this achieving?” He had
volunteered for an activity called
‘Read to lead’
“Read to Lead” which sought going to also teach reading but
to compensate in some way in another section.
children’s reading skills. “Hey, dude, how was the
He was moved by the class?” Mark asked.
lamentable state of children’s “Pretty slow, Mark,” Jake
reading skills. “One who didn’t said in a dissatisfied tone. “And
know how to read, was like being you?”
born blind. One will not be able “Guess, we’re in the same boat,”
to see many of life’s beautiful Mark shrugged his shoulders. “I
realities and possibilities.” mean, these kids are so deprived
“BA-BY…,” he showed them of good education. We’re trying
another flash card. to teach them to read because
“BA-BY…,” the pupils it will give them an edge and
repeated. hopefully allow them to lead in
Somewhere outside the school, the future.”
someone started hitting a rusty “But without proper teaching
water pipe hanging from an old means, without good teachers
Jackfruit tree. It bellowed a low and not to mention how they’re
clanging sound that signaled exposed overtime to media and
recess time and the end of the gadgets that deteriorate their
section’s reading class. reading and writing skills. They
As Jake left the room, he don’t even hear English since
bumped into Mark who was most shows are dubbed in the
vernacular. It would be great
that they at least pick up some
Japanese, Korean or Spanish
from the numerous imported
foreign shows.”
“I was talking to the
organizers the other day,” Mark
commented. “I was telling them
that this venture of Read to Lead
might be a good idea, but not
practical. Logistically, we can’t
cover all eight sec…,”
“Sir! Sir!” an old lady suddenly
interrupted their conversation.
She approached them and
did not cease thanking them,
“Salamat! Salamat! Salamat!”
“You know this lady, dude?”
Mark asked Jake.
“Nope, but seems like she
knows us,” Jake said.
The woman started crying
Whatever / B7
corruption comes because of the money in the various sorts
of commerce happening around. People get lured because
of the money offers. But transactions done because of the
money lead to self-destruction, as Judas Iscariot hanged
himself, after betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, and the
many calamities causing loss of countless lives that came as
a result of irresponsible logging or mining transactions.
What is our guiding word from the Bible for genuine
business people of our times? We have to approach the
whole matter the way God wants us to do, putting first
things first, seeking the will of God first or the true good of
man, before the monetary considerations. “Set your hearts
on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these
other things will be given you as well” (Mt. 6:33). “The
love of money is the root of all evils and there are some
who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and
so given their souls any number of fatal wounds” (1 Tim.
6:10). Remember Judas betrayed Jesus for the money, then
hanged himself.
The great business analyst Robert Townsend, author of
Up the Organization, writing about 40 years ago (1970),
had cautioned us: “Money, like prestige, if sought directly,
is almost never gained. It must come as a byproduct of a
worthwhile objective or result which is sought and achieved
for its own sake.” Of the irresponsible people, logging and
mining for the money, devastating the environment, we can
only pray as Jesus did at the cross: “Father, forgive them;
they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34).
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010
B7

Building homes, building lives

By Roy Lagarde

IN a secluded village about 17 miles

north of Manila, Knights of Columbus
have assisted in building scores of new,
colorful houses along the rugged hills.
Many of the residents were formerly
homeless, but now they and their
children have a new start in life and
hope for the future.
Their houses comprise the Knights
of Columbus Village, a building project
funded by the Knights of Columbus
Fraternal Association of the Philippines,
Inc. (KCFAPI), the insurance arm of the
Order in the Philippines. Located in the
were restored with our new home.
They brightened up our lives with
goodness.”
The houses are simple, yet durable:
concrete, steel-framed units that are
brightly painted and measure about
76 square feet each. Room is limited,
especially for larger families, but there
are outdoor common areas where
families can gather and children can
play. For the time being, residents use

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

city of San Jose del Monte of Bulacan,
the village is part of a larger housing
development sponsored by Gawad
Kalinga, a faith-based organization
whose name in Filipino means “giving
care.”
This past April, five new units in the
complex were dedicated and named
in honor of Supreme Knight Carl A.
Anderson. This made a total of 22 houses
and one chapel built at the site by the
KC Philippines Foundation with support
from KCFAPI.
Jocelyn Tusi, a mother of four children,
said that coming to the village was an
answer to her prayers. She and her
husband helped to build their house and
also took lessons from Gawad Kalinga
instructors on building a better a life.
“We live under one roof that we can
now call our own,” she said. “It seems
that our confidence, dignity and hopes
a deep-well pump for drinking and
washing until the government extends
water lines into the hills.
Akin to the worldwide Habitat for
Humanity program, residents provide
“sweat equity” by joining hundreds of
other skilled and unskilled volunteers
in the construction process.
Monetary donations to Gawad Kalinga
provide the remaining construction
funds. Knights in the Philippines have
been major donors and volunteers
since 2008.
In addition, volunteers from
KCFAPI have staffed a mission
to monitor the health of village
residents and to ensure that they
understand the basics of nutrition
and hygiene.
The Gawad Kalinga project includes
dozens of homes in addition to the K of C
Village and seeks to build a community
that is vibrant and sustainable, despite
being isolated from the surrounding
villages. It has a school program
that provides children with a pre-
school, primary school and vocational
education, and a livelihood program
that develops farmland for the benefit
of the whole community.
The spiritual needs of the residents
are met by Couples for Christ, a Catholic
organization that provides Christian
mentoring, prayer meetings and Mass,
as well as catechetical programs for
children. In addition, the Knights of
Columbus constructed a chapel named
after Father George Willmann, a Jesuit
missionary priest who is known as the
“Father McGivney of the Philippines”
for his work with the Order for 40 years
until his death in 1977.
Justice Jose Reyes Jr., chairman of the
KC Philippines Foundation Inc., said that
the new homes are just the beginning
of an ongoing effort to house the area’s
poor, who live in cardboard or scrap
metal shacks along the highways and
dirt roads of the country.
“The Knights of Columbus has long
been helping the poor,” he said. “We
really wanted to help this project … an
honest to goodness help to the poor. This
is now a realization.”
According to Reyes, Knights maintain
a close relationship with village residents
and provide ongoing faith formation to
help build a small Christian community
among the people.
(This article is lifted from the online version
of the Columbia Magazine at http://kofc.org/
un/eb/en/columbia/detail/2010_08_homes.
html)

Social Media / B3

information that may identify
that minor.
Parents must have access to
everything provided to their
children. For example, parents
should be made aware of how
social media are being used, be
told how to access the sites, and
be given the opportunity to be
copied on all material sent to their
children via social networking
(including text messages).
While parents should be
provided with the same material
as their children, it does not have
to be via the same technology
(that is, if children receive a
reminder via Twitter, parents
can receive it in a printed form
or by an e-mail list).
Church personnel should
be encouraged to save copies
of conversations whenever
possible, especially those that
concern the personal sharing of
a teen or young adult. (This may
be especially important with text
messaging.)
Make everyone aware of
the Children’s Online Privacy
Protection Act, which is federal
legislation that oversees how
websites interact with children
under age 13.
Personal Sites
Personal sites of church
personnel should also reflect
Catholic values. Businesses are
cautioning their employees that,
while employees have a right
to privacy and confidentiality
regarding what their employers
know about them, an employee’s
use of social networking—
because of its very nature—means
he or she relinquishes some
privacy and could be construed
as representing the company’s
ethics and values. Likewise,
church personnel should be
encouraged to understand
that they are witnessing to the
faith through all of their social
networking, whether “public”
or “private.”
Many employers and church
organizations ask their personnel
to consider including a disclaimer
on their personal sites, especially if
employees/church personnel are
highly visible in the community
and/or post material related to
church work/ministry on their
personal sites. One example:
“The views expressed on this
site are mine alone and do not
necessarily reflect the views of
my employer.”
How to Report and Monitor
Ask church personnel to report
unofficial sites that carry the
diocesan or parish logo to the
diocesan communication office or
pastor. It is important that the owner
(the diocese or the parish) is able to
protect its brand and identity.
Inform church personnel whom
to contact on the diocesan level
(most likely the communication
office) if they find misinformation
on a site. This is especially
important when responding to an
incorrect wiki, such as Wikipedia,
Masstimes.org, etc.
Have a clear policy on
whether diocesan personnel
should be expected to respond
to defamatory, libelous, or
slanderous comments—
not original postings, but
comments—on a site, such as a
blog. Some policies indicate that
the diocesan communication
office will provide a response to
a major news outlet’s blog or a
popular blogger, but not to every
comment on those blogs or to
other bloggers.
Consider posting these and
similar policies and notices
on your organization’s social
networks.

Norms / B2
Sedis Apostolicae conveniri debent personae,
quae auctoritatem superiorem infra Romanum
pontificem non habent, sive sunt personae
physicae in ordine episcopatus non constitutae
sive sunt personae iuridicae salvo can. 1063 §
4 nn. 3 et 4.
[6] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 751 - Dicitur
haeresis, pertinax, post receptum baptismum,
alicuius veritatis fide divina et catholica creden-
dae denegatio, aut de eadem pertinax dubitatio;
apostasia, fidei christianae ex toto repudiatio;
schisma, subiectionis Summo Pontifici aut com-
munionis cum Ecclesiae membris eidem subditis
detrectatio.
[7] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1364 - § 1. Apostata
a fide, haereticus vel schismaticus in excom-
municationem latae sententiae incurrit, firmo
praescripto can. 194, § 1, n. 2; clericus praeterea
potest poenis, de quibus in can. 1336, § 1, nn. 1, 2
et 3, puniri. - § 2. Si diuturna contumacia vel scan-
dali gravitas postulet, aliae poenae addi possunt,
non excepta dimissione e statu clericali.
[8] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1436 - § 1. Qui aliquam veritatem fide divina
et catholica credendam denegat vel eam in du-
bium ponit aut fidem christianam ex toto repudiat
et legitime monitus non resipiscit, ut haereticus
aut apostata excommunicatione maiore puniatur,
clericus praeterea aliis poenis puniri potest non
exclusa depositione.
[9] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1437 - Qui subiectionem supremae Ecclesiae
auctoritati aut communionem cum christifideli-
bus eidem subiectis detrectat et legitime monitus
oboedientiam non praestat, ut schismaticus
excommunicatione maiore puniatur.
[10] Pontificium Consilium de Legum Textibus In-
terpretandis, Responsio ad propositum dubium,
4 iunii 1999 in AAS 91 (1999) 918.
D. Utrum in can. 1367 CIC et 1442 CCEO verbum
«abicere» intellegatur tantum ut actus proiciendi
necne.
R. Negative et ad mentem.
Mens est quamlibet actionem Sacras Species
voluntarie et graviter despicientem censendam
esse inclusam in verbo «abicere».
[11] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1367 - Qui spe-
cies consecratas abicit aut in sacrilegum finem
abducit vel retinet, in excommunicationem latae
sententiae Sedi Apostolicae reservatam incurrit;
clericus praeterea alia poena, non exclusa dimis-
sione e statu clericali, puniri potest.
[12] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orienta-
lium, can. 1442 - Qui Divinam Eucharistiam
abiecit aut in sacrilegum finem abduxit vel
retinuit, excommunicatione maiore puniatur et,
si clericus est, etiam aliis poenis non exclusa
depositione.
[13] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1378 - § 2. In po-
enam latae sententiae interdicti vel, si sit clericus,
suspensionis incurrit:
1° qui ad ordinem sacerdotalem non promotus
liturgicam eucharistici Sacrificii actionem at-
tentat...
[14] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1379 - Qui, praeter
casus de quibus in can. 1378, sacramentum se
administrare simulat, iusta poena puniatur.
[15] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1443 - Qui Divinae Liturgiae vel aliorum sac-
ramentorum celebrationem simulavit, congrua
poena puniatur non exclusa excommunicatione
maiore.
[16] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 908 - Sacerdotibus
catholicis vetitum est una cum sacerdotibus vel
ministris Ecclesiarum communitatumve eccle-
sialium plenam communionem cum Ecclesia
catholica non habentium, Eucharistiam con-
celebrare.
[17] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 702 - Sacerdotes catholici vetiti sunt una
cum sacerdotibus vel ministris acatholicis Divi-
nam Liturgiam concelebrare.
[18] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1365 - Reus
vetitae communicationis in sacris iusta poena
puniatur.
[19] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1440 - Qui normas iuris de communicatione
in sacris violat, congrua poena puniri potest.
[20] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 927 - Nefas est,
urgente etiam extrema necessitate, alteram
materiam sine altera, aut etiam utramque extra
eucharisticam celebrationem, consecrare.
[21] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1378 - § 1. Sac-
erdos qui contra praescriptum can. 977 agit,
in excommunicationem latae sententiae Sedi
Apostolicae reservatam incurrit.
[22] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1457 - Sacerdos, qui complicem in peccato
contra castitatem absolvit, excommunicatione
maiore puniatur firmo can. 728 § 1, n. 2.
[23] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1378 - § 2. In po-
enam latae sententiae interdicti vel, si sit clericus,
suspensionis incurrit: ... 2° qui, praeter casum
de quo in § 1, cum sacramentalem absolutionem
dare valide nequeat, eam impertire attentat, vel
sacramentalem confessionem audit.
[24] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1379 - Qui, praeter
casus de quibus in can. 1378, sacramentum se
administrare simulat, iusta poena puniatur.
[25] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1443 - Qui Divinae Liturgiae vel aliorum
sacramentorum celebrationem simulavit, congrua
poena puniatur non exclusa excommunicatione
maiore.
[26] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1387 - Sacerdos,
qui in actu vel occasione vel praetextu confes-
sionis paenitentem ad peccatum contra sextum
Decalogi praeceptum sollicitat, pro delicti gravi-
tate, suspensione, prohibitionibus, privationibus
puniatur, et in casibus gravioribus dimittatur e
statu clericali.
[27] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1458 - Sacerdos, qui in actu vel occasione
vel praetextu confessionis paenitentem ad pecca-
tum contra castitatem sollicitavit, congrua poena
puniatur non exclusa depositione.
[28] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1388 - § 1. Confes-
sarius, qui sacramentale sigillum directe violat, in
excommunicationem latae sententiae Sedi Apos-
tolicae reservatam incurrit; qui vero indirecte
tantum, pro delicti gravitate puniatur.
[29] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1456 - § 1. Confessarius, qui sacramentale
sigillum directe violavit, excommunicatione
maiore puniatur firmo can. 728, § 1, n. 1; si vero
alio modo hoc sigillum fregit, congrua poena
puniatur.
[30] Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei, Decretum
de sacramenti Paenitentiae dignitate tuenda, 23
septembris 1988, in AAS 80 (1988) 1367.
[31] Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei, Decretum
generale de delicto attentatae sacrae ordina-
tionis mulieris, 19 decembris 2007, in AAS 100
(2008) 403.
[32] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1362 - § 2. Prae-
scriptio decurrit ex die quo delictum patratum
est, vel, si delictum sit permanens vel habituale,
ex die quo cessavit.
[33] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1152 - § 3. Praescriptio decurrit ex die, quo
delictum patratum est, vel, si delictum est per-
manens vel habituale, ex die, quo cessavit.
[34] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1421 - § 1. In
dioecesi constituantur ab Episcopo iudices di-
oecesani, qui sint clerici; § 2. Episcoporum con-
ferentia permittere potest ut etiam laici iudices
constituantur, e quibus, suadente necessitate,
unus assumi potest ad collegium efformandum.;
§ 3. Iudices sint integrae famae et in iure canonico
doctores vel saltem licentiati.
[35] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1087 - § 1. In eparchia nominentur ab Episco-
po eparchiali iudices eparchiales, qui sint clerici.;
§ 2. Patriarcha consulta Synodo permanenti vel
Metropolita, qui Ecclesiae metropolitanae sui
iuris praeest, consultis duobus Episcopis epar-
chialibus ordinatione episcopali senioribus per-
mittere potest, ut etiam alii christifideles iudices
nominentur, ex quibus suadente necessitate
unus assumi potest ad collegium efformandum;
in ceteris casibus hac in re adeatur Sedes Apos-
tolica.; § 3. Iudices sint integrae famae, in iure
canonico doctores vel saltem licentiati, prudentia
et iustitiae zelo probati.
[36] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1722 - Ad scandala
praevenienda, ad testium libertatem protegendam
et ad iustitiae cursum tutandum, potest Ordinar-
ius, audito promotore iustitiae et citato ipso ac-
cusato, in quolibet processus stadio accusatum
a sacro ministerio vel ab aliquo officio et munere
ecclesiastico arcere, ei imponere vel interdicere
commorationem in aliquo loco vel territorio,
vel etiam publicam sanctissimae Eucharistiae
participationem prohibere; quae omnia, causa
cessante, sunt revocanda, eaque ipso iure finem
habent, cessante processu poenali.
[37] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1473 - Ad scandala praevenienda, ad testium
libertatem protegendam et ad iustitiae cursum
tuendum potest Hierarcha audito promotore
iustitiae et citato ipso accusato in quolibet statu
et grado iudicii poenalis accusatum ab exercitio
ordinis sacri, officii, ministerii vel alterius muneris
arcere, ei imponere vel prohibere commorationem
in aliquo loco vel territorio, vel etiam publicam
Divinae Eucharistiae susceptione prohibere; quae
omnia causa cessante sunt revocanda et ipso iure
finem habent cessante iudicio poenali.
[38] Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1720 - Si Ordi-
narius censuerit per decretum extra iudicium
esse procedendum: 1° reo accusationem atque
probationes, data facultate sese defendendi,
significet, nisi reus, rite vocatus, comparere
neglexerit; 2° probationes et argumenta omnia
cum duobus assessoribus accurate perpendat; 3°
si de delicto certo constet neque actio criminalis
sit extincta, decretum ferat ad normam cann.
1342-1350, expositis, breviter saltem, rationibus
in iure et in facto.
[39] Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium,
can. 1486 - § 1. Ad validitatem decreti, quo poena
irrogatur, requiritur, ut: 1° accusatus de accusa-
tione atque probationibus certior fiat data sibi
opportunitate ius ad sui defensionem plene ex-
ercendi, nisi ad normam iuris citatus comparere
neglexit; 2° discussio oralis inter Hierarcham vel
eius delegatum et accusatum habeatur praesen-
tibus promotore iustitiae et notario; 3° in ipso
decreto exponatur, quibus rationibus in facto et
in iure punitio innitatur. § 2. Poenae autem, de
quibus in can. 1426, § 1, sine hac procedura im-
poni possunt, dummodo de earum acceptatione
ex parte rei scripto constet.
[40] Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Constitutio apostolica
Pastor bonus, De Romana Curia, 28 iunii 1988,
art. 52, in AAS 80 (1988) 891: Ǥ 1. Praeterea
[Supremum Tribunal Signaturae Apostolicae]
cognoscit de recursibus, intra terminum pe-
remptorium triginta dierum utilium interpositis,
adversus actus administrativos singulares sive
a Dicasteriis Curiae Romanae latos sive ab
ipsis probatos, quoties contendatur num actus
impugnatus legem aliquam in decernendo vel in
procedendo violaverit. § 2. In his casibus, praeter
iudicium de illegitimitate, cognoscere etiam
potest, si recurrens id postulet, de reparatione
damnorum actu illegitimo illatorum. § 3. Cogno-
scit etiam de aliis controversiis administrativis,
quae a Romano Pontifice vel a Romanae Curiae
Dicasteriis ipsi deferantur necnon de conflictibus
competentiae inter eadem Dicasteria».
[41] Secretaria Status, Rescriptum ex Audientia
SS.mi Il 4 febbraio, quo Ordinatio generalis
Romanae Curiae foras datur, 30 aprilis 1999,
Regolamento generale della Curia Romana, 30
aprile 1999, art. 36 § 2, in AAS 91 (1999) 646: «Con
particolare cura sarà osservato il segreto pontifi-
cio, a norma dell’Istruzione Secreta continere del
4 febbraio 1974».
Secretaria Status seu Papalis, Rescriptum ex
Audientia, instructio Secreta continere, De
secreto pontificio, 4 februarii 1974, in AAS 66
(1974) 89-92:
«Art. 1.- Secreto pontificio comprehenduntur: …
4) Denuntiationes extra iudicium acceptae circa
delicta contra fidem et contra mores, et circa
delicta contra Paenitentiae sacramentum patrata,
nec non processus et decisio, quae ad hasce
denuntiationes pertinent, salvo semper iure eius,
qui ad auctoritatem delatus est, cognoscendae
denuntiationis, si id necessarium ad propriam
defensionem fuerit. Denuntiantis autem nomen
tunc tantum patefieri licebit, cum auctoritati op-
portunum videatur ut denuntiatus et is, qui eum
denuntiaverit, simul compareant; …» (p. 90).

Whatever / B6

while firmly gripping on the for help.

CBCPMonitor Name _________________________________________________

(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
arms of the two volunteers. They
wondered about her reaction
and asked what it was they did
“Our youngest daughter, who
attends the morning classes,
came and took the bottle. To my
to receive such an immense husband’s surprise and relief
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Mailing Address _______________________________________________ gratitude. Anita managed to open it. Later
She said that her husband was on, he asked Anita how she did
_________________________________________________ given a new heart medication it. She replied that she simply
Phone No.: ________ Fax No.: ________ E-mail: ___________ by the pharmacy. Yesterday, read the words engraved on the
The CBCP Monitor is published while she was in the market, cap: PRESS DOWN AND TWIST
fortnightly by the CBCP Media Mode of Payment her husband suddenly felt a TO OPEN and then followed
Office, with editorial and busi-  Check/PMO enclosed  Cash Payment tight sensation on his chest. He them.
ness offices at 470 Gen. Luna realized that he had not yet taken “My husband, who is a
(Payable to: CBCP Communications Development Foundation Inc.) his medication. garbage collector, doesn’t know
St., Intramuros, Manila. PO Box
3601, 1076 MCPO “When he opened package how to read. If it were not for
_____________________________ of the new medication, he was your reading lessons, something
• Domestic
surprised to see that the tablets terrible would have happened to
1 Year Php 500.00 Signature were inside a small plastic bottle. my husband.”
2 Years Php 900.00 He tried to twist the cap but That day, Jake and Mark
• Foreign: Asia couldn’t open it. He wondered returned home, feeling consoled.
1 Year US$ 55.00 what could be so hard with this They realized that no matter how
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 B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

Moral Assessment Technical Assessment

 Abhorrent  Poor
 Disturbing  Below average

 Acceptable  Average

 Wholesome  Above average

 Exemplary  E
xcellent

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio)
leads a team of spies/ thieves who
illegally and unethically extracts
the most treasured secrets of a
person through intruding into
their dreams using sophisticated
technology. This and some
details of his past, involving a
dark secret about his deceased
wife (Marion Cottilard), has
made him a fugitive, and unable
to return home to his two young
children for quite a long while.
So when an influential Japanese
business magnate, Saito (Ken
Watanabe), offers him to clean
his legal records in exchange for
a dangerous, nearly impossible
mission, Cobb accepts. Instead
of extracting, Cobb’s mission
would be “inception” - that is,
he would plant an idea into the
mind of Robert Fischer (Cillian
Murphy), heir to a rival business
which threatens Saito’s empire.
To be able to do this, Cobb and his
team must intrude into Fischer’s
subconscious that lies in the
deepest of his dreams. However,
Cobb’s professionalism is always
hindered by his personal inability
to control his own distracting
-subconscious brought about by
his dark past.
Inception is an out-of-the box
spectacle that is able to exploit
the limitless possibilities of
visual storytelling. The premise
dwells on a subject matter usually
thought of as implausible for the
cinema arts. At the onset, the
audience is predisposed with
another sci-fi flick but it turns
out that Inception is more than
that. There’s a lot of genius at
work in the story that borders
in the absurd and the insane but
the writer-director, Christopher
Nolan, is able to synchronize all
the plot elements in a cohesive
whole. Things happen so fast
in the film though, stories and
complications of various layers
pile up simultaneously which
tend to make the audience
breathless and sometimes, at
a lost if they are unable to
keep up with the film’s rapid
pace. DiCaprio and the rest of
the cast are at their best. They
make a tremendous ensemble
given the demands of the film’s
convoluted plots, subplots and
more subplots. For having
pulled-off such a ridiculous,
ambitious concept into a
seamless, memorable cinematic
experience, the Inception is
more than exceptional. It is
phenomenal.
In today’s technological
advancement and domination,
everything seems possible.
Eversince people have allowed
technology to enter into their
private spaces, they have already
subjected themselves into public
scrutiny. In Inception, even
one’s subconscious can no
longer be a secret. Much worse,
one’s deepest secret can now
be extracted and stolen just
like everything else. In effect,
everything is commodified.
Hacking and piracy is no longer
limited to ideas, computers and
copyrights --- it now extends to
one’s secrets, even those that lie in
the deepest parts of their dreams
and subconscious. It is now a
dangerous world indeed. There’s
no question that Cobb’s business
is illegal and unethical. Their
skills and genius went a little too
far and they are all aware of it.
The film, with all its spectacular
technical magnificence, manages
to consistently put into play the
Title: Inception
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio,
Joseph Gordon-Levitt,
Ellen Page, Tom Hardy,
Ken Watanabe, Dileep
Rao, Cilaian Murphy, Tom
Berenger, Marion Cotil-
lard, Pete Postlethwaite,
Michael Caine, Lukas
Haas
Director: Christopher Nolan
Producers: Christopher No-
lan, Emma Thomas
Screenwriter: Christopher
Nolan
Music: Hans Zimmer
Editor: Lee Smith
Genre: Suspense-Sci-Fi,
Drama
Cinematography: Wally Pfister
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Pictures
Location: US
Running Time: 148 minutes
Technical Assessment:

Moral Assessment:  ½
CINEMA Rating: For viewers
14 and above
rudiments of Cobb’s emotional
and psychological turmoil with
the kind of life and livelihood
he has chosen. That in itself is
punishment enough. No one
would ever aspire for a life filled
with guilt and resentments. In
the blurring of lines between
fantasy and reality, there’s
still nothing worse than to be
left in a limbo where love and
meaningful relationships do
not exist. Inception would make
the audience look at dreams
and realities in a different
light. However, some scenes of
violence, themes of suicide, and
vulgar language (although in
context) may not be suitable for
viewers below 14 years of age.

Title: Street Dance 3D

Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Patrick Baladi, Nichola Burley,
MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi
Chris Wilson, Eleanor Bron
Directors: Max Giwa, Dania Pasquini
Producers: Allan Niblo, James Richardson
Editor: Tim Murrell
Genre: Drama/ Dance
Cinematography: Sam McCurdy
Distributor: Viva International Pictures
Location: UK
Running Time: 98 mins.
Technical Assessment: 
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

Buhay Parokya
Look for the images of
baptismal candle, holy
water font, and church
bell. (Illustration by
Bladimer Usi)

Street Dance 3D features winners from the reality show

Britain’s Got Talent and heavily borrows themes from previous
dance movies: competition, fusion of styles and determination.
The movie begins with Carly faced with putting together her
dance crew after Jay, the leader and her boyfriend, announces
that he is leaving. The crew also loses their rehearsal space
and is to find alternative spaces which at times prove to be
insufficient. The crew dreams of winning a dance off finals and
make it to New York but things look impossible without an
appropriate rehearsal space. Fortunately, Carly meets Helena,
a ballet instructor running her own studio with a lot of talented
but passionless dancers, in one of her deliveries. She manages
to invite Helena to her crew’s rehearsal. Helena is impressed
with the group’s vibrance and offers Carly free use of the ballet
studio on condition that Carly would teachstreet dance to the
ballet students. The task is difficult at first as the two dance
disciplines clash with each other but in the end, the ballerinas
and the street dancers become friends and come up with a unique
dance choreography. The plot thickens as Carly falls for Thomas,
one of the ballet students, while Jay tries to get back to her.
Very seldom do we see a dance movie with a serious plot other
than trying to win in a competition or pass an audition. Street
Dance is not different. You’ve seen the storyline once too often
that at the very first dance sequence, you already know the last
one. The performances are a little too flat – a common dilemma
in trying to cast real non-acting dancers. The dance disciplines
are a bit type-casted. Ballet need not be stiff and snooty and street
dance need not be carefree and crude. The choreography is good
and entertaining but nothing really memorable that will be a
signature move in the years to follow. However, Street Dance
has one trick up its sleeves – the use of 3D technology. With a
lot of stop-motions, intricate leaps and footwork and powerful
music, the movie is very entertaining and enjoyable.
There are two important lessons one can pick up from the
movie. One is determination to succeed. In life, we always have a
competition to win and a goal to accomplish. The movie reminds
us that along the way to success are heartaches and challenges
and we need not only a strong character but also resourcefulness
and flexibility. There are times you have to work with people or
circumstances that are completely the opposite of what you are
used to. And learning to deal with such adversities strengthens
your person and improves your creativity. Another lesson deals
with unity as a fruit of respect and acceptance. People need to
acknowledge the beauty and brilliance of another no matter
how good he or she may be in one area. Learning to do so opens
people up to cooperation and collaboration, thus leading to more
refined and profound output.
 CBCPMonitor
CBCP Monitor
Vol.14
Vol. 14No.
No.17
3
C1
C1
February
August 16 1 - February
- 29, 2010 14, 2010

The News Supplement of

Couples for Christ

CFC Canada Celebrates Fullness

CFC Canada held their annual confer-
ences on the last two weekends of July. CFC
in Eastern Canada had their 2010 CFC
Eastern Canada and Kids for Christ Kids
Village Conference at Brock University in
St Catharine’s, Niagara, while CFC West-
ern Canada held theirs in Calgary.
Eastern Canada
Almost 800 CFC and KFC mem-
bers from all over Toronto, Hamilton,
Windsor, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg,
Bermuda and US, converged at Brock
University to attend the 2010 CFC
Eastern Canada and KFC Kids Village
Conferences.
The celebration centered on the 2010
CFC theme “Fullness of Life in Christ”
and was based on Colossians 2:6-7:
“Since you have accepted Christ Jesus
as Lord,
live in
u n i o n
with Him.
Keep your
roots deep
on Him,
build your
lives on
Him, and
become
stronger
in your
faith as
you were
taught.
And be
filled with
thanks-
giving.”
The var-
ious talks
were fo-
cused on
a call to CFC and its Family Ministry
members to experience more deeply
the fullness of our life and mission in
CFC which is anchored on the Lord
Jesus Christ. The twin mission of
building the Church of the home and
building the Church of the poor with
Christ at its center, remains as CFC’s
holistic and integrated mission. The
conference also sounded a renewed call
for all members to strengthen the basics
of personal and community life - to live
in union with Christ, to keep our lives
rooted in Him, to grow more strongly
in faith and, to be thankful for all that
He has blessed us with and for what is
still to come.
The conference started with a Mass
celebrated by Fr. Gary Schlack, Par-
ish Priest of Annunciation of Our
Lord Parish in Hamilton. After the
praise and worship, the conference
continued with a Parade of Colors
followed by a short but beautifully
choreographed creative number from
CFC Toronto. Ouel Gardon and Grace
Parillas, FM coordinators and Jun
Clarito, Regional Head for Ontario,
officially declared the KFC and CFC
conferences open.
The Saturday session started with a
mass celebrated by Fr. Mike McHugh,
Parish Priest of Holy Family Roman
Catholic Church also in Hamilton. This
was followed by a series of talks, shar-
ings and creative performances. The
night ended with the very lively “Festi-
val of Choirs” competition participated
by all the areas.
The KFC Kids Village conference, on
the other hand, brought fun, laughter
and lifelong memories for the kids
through various activities, games and
workshops all in a spirit of fun. They
also held their own version of “KFC’s
Got Talent” competition.
Msgr. Wayne Kirkpatrick, Adminis-
trator in the Diocese of St. Catharine’s,
officiated the Sunday Mass. In his hom-
ily, he called upon all CFC members
to be true instruments of God’s love,
mercy and compassion by living their
faith and giving their committed service
especially to those who are in need. He
thanked CFC for their strong commit-
ment to evangelization and helping
priests through their various work in
their respective parishes.
The mass was followed by praise and
worship and the weekend was summed
up by Melo Villaroman, CFC Family
Ministries International Director. Ricky
Cuenca, the newly-designated Chief
Executive Officer of ANCOP, brought
the conference to a fitting denouement
by leading the final praisefest of the
conference and getting everybody
dancing, jumping and shouting for the
glory of God.
One word to sum up the entire con-
ference --- AMAZING!
At the closing rites, it was announced
that the 2011 CFC Eastern Canada Con-
ference will be held in Quebec.
Western Canada
MOST of the visitors who arrived in
Calgary, Alberta during the first and
second week of July came for the Cal-
gary Stampede, dubbed as the “greatest
outdoor show on earth.”But the 718
Couples for Christ and 133 Kids for
Christ members came for something
else entirely -- the 2010 CFC-KFC
Western Canada Conference. The con-
ference focused on the theme “Fullness
In Christ,” which is taken from Colos-
sians 2:6-7.
As in any CFC conference, the rosary
was prayed and a Mass celebrated first-
asking the Lord’s presence for the entire
conference weekend, with Fr. Andre
of St. Patrick Church officiating and
co-celebrated by Fr. Alfredo Perreira,
spiritual director of CFC-Calgary.
The con-
ference was
formally
opened by
the symbol-
ic handing
over by Roy
Maligson of
CFC-Victo-
ria (host of
last year’s
CFC West-
ern Canada
Conference)
of seedlings
as a message
of new life
to Rosco and
Sally Doro-
mal of CFC-
Calgary. Vi-
brancy char-
acterized
the welcome
presentation of each area during the
“Harvest Festival of Colors” - Edmon-
ton, Fort McMurry, Vancouver (who
had the biggest delegation for out-of-
town registrants), Lethbridge, Cran-
brook, Winnipeg, Yellowknife Victoria
and Regina, Saskatchewan. CFC Executive Director Joe Yamamoto and wife Mila and CFC Family Ministries Director Melo Vil-
The second day also began with a laroman Jr, with wife Nini, led the celebration of ”Fullness in Christ” in both Canada conferences
and attended the Clergy-Lay Congress, Top photo shows the CFC leaders, joined by Nick Borja,
Mass, officiated by Fr. John of St. Thomas National Director for Canada, with Bishop Matthew McGrattan of Toronto, and in lower photo, with
Moore Parish., followed by the confer- Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary.
ence talks. The talks, given by CFC lead-
ers led by CFC Executive Director Joe this obsession with work and busyness? each other. The exchanges of gratitude
Yamamoto and CFC Canada National Is it because our lives are empty and we and loving embraces that ended the
Council member Jun Clarito, were loud need to fill them with busyness? Are we morning session was heartwarming.
and clear in delivering God’s message of afraid of having nothing to do? Or do George Fournier, head of CFC-
accepting His call, of being one and root- we actually believe that hard work and Calgary Family Ministry led the final
ed in Christ on our journey of faith. The tireless activism is all that is needed to praisefest, with the participants prais-
fellowship and dancing that followed save the world? In truth, busyness is the ing and worshipping the Lord for a
the whole day session simply affirmed supreme distraction. Busyness leaves remarkable weekend. As Nick Borja,
the community’s unity and love. us in the upside down world that Jesus National Director and Regional Head of
Despite the late night dancing, the tried to turn right side up. Choose life in Pacific Region, declared Whistler, Brit-
Sunday morning mass of Bishop Fred- Christ and abandon all loyalties.” ish Columbia as the next venue of the
erick Henry of Archdiocese of Calgary Melo Villaroman, CFC Family Minis- Western Conference, the hall vibrated
was well-attended. In his homily, Bish- tries International Director, summed up with claps and shouts of joy. (Stories
op Henry reminded the audience about the weekend with a truly powerful and contributed by Rico and Gina Tingin for
the folly of being obsessed with work insightful talk and a very touching pray- Eastern Canada and Rey and Cheryl Guin-
and busyness. The bishop asked: “Why over session where couples prayed over satao for Western Canada.)

Clergy and CFC Experience “Fullness in Christ”

1st CFC Lay-Clergy Congress in Toronto a very enlightening experience
By Rico Tingin
The 1st CFC Lay-Clergy Con-
gress to be conducted in Can-
ada was held last July 28 at St
Patrick’s Church in Markham,
Toronto. It was a huge success
not just in establishing directions
and cooperation between the
two groups but also in moving
towards oneness with the Catho-
lic Church in the country.
Fifteen (15) members of the
clergy from all over Eastern
Canada, led by the Most Rever-
end William McGrattan of To-
ronto and at least a hundred CFC
leaders attended the congress.
The objective was to discuss and
examine ways by which the lay
and the clergy can work together
in proclaiming Christ not just in
Canada but all over the world.
The day started with a
Mass officiated by Bishop
McGrattan. Nick Borja, CFC
Canada National Director,
in his opening remarks, men-
tioned the importance of
the continuing dialogue and
cooperation between the Lay
and the Clergy.
The session opened with a
very inspiring talk from Bishop
McGrattan emphasizing the im-
portant role of lay movements,
like Couples for Christ, in the
church’s overall mission of evan-
gelization. The Bishop, in his talk
entitled “Lay Movements in the
Life and Mission of the Church
in Canada,” challenged CFC on
the following areas:
• As one of many lay move-
ments, CFC must not be
complacent with the suc-
cess it has experienced in
Toronto. Rather, the evange-
lization work must continue
in bringing Christ to the rest
of Canada, especially to re-
mote places, and to the rest
of the world.
• CFC, its roots being in the
Philippines, must set aside
ethnicity that seems to ca-
ter mostly to Filipinos. The
community must reach out
and share its passion and
commitment to Christ with
other nationalities and cul-
tures.
• Called upon to rise above
individualism, CFC is en-
couraged to strengthen its
relationships within the
community in developing
love for one another. In the
same message, the Bishop
said, “you are not called
Individuals for Christ but
Couples for Christ for a rea-
son.” It requires a relation-
ship of and between cou-
ples, families and groups of
individuals.
The second talk was on “Evan-
gelization of the Youth,” deliv-
ered by Melo Villaroman, Jr.,
member of the CFC International
Council and Family Ministries
Director. It centered on how CFC
can tap and involve the youth in
its evangelization mission. CFC,
in particular, through the Fam-
ily Ministries (YFC and SFC),
should take advantage of and
support the youth in this area.
CFC leaders are also enjoined to
ensure smooth transition of the
youth from one ministry to the
next, from KFC to YFC to SFC
to CFC.
The afternoon session was a
series of workshops where the
clergy joined CFC leaders in col-
laborating and formulating ways
and strategies by which CFC can
effectively work hand-in-hand
in fulfilling its Christ-centered
mission of “building the Church
of the home and building the
Church of the poor.” The results
gathered from the various work-
shops are being summarized and
will be released to all members
in the weeks to come.
The third and final talk of
the day, entitled “The Laity as
Builders of Social Justice,” was
delivered by Joe Yamamoto,
CFC Executive Director. Joe
emphasized that “Social Justice”
is part of CFC’s overall mission.
He stressed that CFC members,
should not be satisfied with
conducting CLPs. The overall
core values of CFC as being Pro-
God, Pro-Poor, Pro-Family and
Pro-Life, should be at the heart of
each and every CFC member.
These series of dialogues with
the clergy will continue and
hopefully forge a strong relation-
ship between the laity, especially
CFC, and the clergy in Canada.
 C2 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

Joe Yamamoto, CFC Director

Reflections on the Road

The month of July, in any given
year, is laden with schedules for
talks in conferences in the US
and Canada. And so we found
ourselves ‘living out of our suit-
cases.’ The travels were hectic
but most productive, affirming
and heartwarming. They were
not only occasions to meet the
leaders and members of CFC
in the areas but also to interact
with them, to learn more about
them and their community life.
This year, the post-conference
Clergy-Lay Congresses added
a new dimension – of relating
closely with the laity - which
was certainly informative and
upbuilding.
CFC USA held their Clergy-
Lay Congress in Houston on the
second week of July while CFC
Canada held theirs in two sepa-
rate venues, Calgary and To-
ronto, on the last two weekends
of July. These were occasions to
meet and interact well with the
pastors of the Church.
The Canadian trip allowed
my wife Mila and me, Melo and
Nini (Villaroman), as well as the
CFC Canada Council members,
to meet three Canadian bishops
who have been most supportive
of the community for the many
years that CFC has been present
in their dioceses.
Bishop Frederick Henry of
the Diocese of Calgary gave the
first talk of the Congress. He
began by emphasizing the two
greatest longings of contempo-
rary man. The first was about a
deep hunger for spirituality and
the second, the quest for peace,
compassion and justice.
What he said resonated deeply
in our hearts. People of today
are indeed experiencing a deep
sense of spiritual hunger that
is probably heightened by the
longer life span of man. While he
lives longer in a modern affluent
society, where healthcare, educa-
tion and basic human services are
adequate, somehow there is a lack
that is represented by his search
for inner strength. While this is
obviously happening to us in CFC
because of a vibrant Church life
and strong community, the ma-
jority do not enjoy what we have
simply because they are looking
for the answer from the wrong
direction and expecting instant
gratification which the world
repeatedly fails to provide.
The good and affable bishop
reiterated the message of John
Paul II- ‘Be not afraid.’ This is
of course Jesus’ message to us
as well. This is not just a timely
and appropriate message but
one that embodies the answer
to the quest. People who found
Christ and lives in His presence
will have that kind of assurance
that no matter what the world
hurls, the message and assurance
remain for us to take courage for
Christ already won the victory
for us two millennia ago, in Cal-
vary. For those who have yet to
find Christ, they continue to be
paralyzed by fear.
In this regard, CFC as an eccle-
sial movement and community
has all the encouragement to
continuously proclaim Christ
and His salvation in word and in
action. “Be not afraid” applies to
us not only in our daily ministra-
tions to those in community but
in a greater sense and with much
urgency in the mission given us
as Christ’s disciples to proclaim
the message to those who have
not yet heard the message of
salvation – the message that will
change lives. The metaphorical
last two minutes of the clock
continues to run its course and
we have to do our share of bold
gospel proclamation by opening
more homes and territories to
Christ. The message of Christ
is the only message we need to
carry but we must be the hands
and feet that will help carry the
good news.
In the world today, there is a
general sense of things falling
apart. Everyone seems to speak
of the good old days not really
knowing what was good and
meaningful in the old days. On
the average, a person who lives
longer today will definitely have
more failures than those who are
much younger. In short, there is
a direct proportion to life span
and occasions for failure. Lest
people become insecure to the
point of helplessness, there is a
corollary message that an impor-
tant lesson in life’s failures is not
in not experiencing them but in
learning the lessons and apply-
ing the solutions to the failures
in their lives.
The poet George Santayana
once wrote that people who refuse
to learn the lessons of history are
bound to make the same mistakes.
The first and greatest mistake of
modern man is to try to find solu-
tions in life from what surrounds
him in this modern world, when
the solution lies in knowing God
who loves us greatly and uncon-
ditionally. The solution lies not in
modernity but in the eternal truth
of God’s love.
You need not go far and wide
to notice that everyone carries
around a sense of wounded-
ness and the desire to be healed.
Countless people are living a
life of isolation and are being
cast adrift and cut off from the
rest, perhaps from neglect of
society and massive scandalous
poverty, an offshoot of apathy
due to selfishness.
If anyone cares to notice, the
young are searching for meaning
and trying to resort to the wrong
model – that of the supernatural.
Lately there has been a stream of
vampire movies, witchcraft and
similar genre. Certainly, Holly-
wood makes much of it in terms
of financial returns and question-
able entertainment value. What
the yearning for the supernatural
hides is, in reality, the youth’s
longing for God, a longing that
they have not had occasion to
entertain or explore, much less
allowed to seep into their restive
lives. The spiritual truths that
the young search for have been
quickly found by the renewed
in our young family ministries.
But these renewed youth have
the obligation to proclaim their
discovery among the peoples. Or
else, this quest for meaning and
significance, if not addressed in
Christianity, will definitely find
expression in modern day ani-
mism and paganism.
Worldwide, there is a widen-
ing movement towards peace
in a scale never seen before,
not even during the height of
the Vietnam war. This quest for
peace is tied up with the search
for compassion and social jus-
tice. Two world wars have not
brought solutions to human
misery and loss of millions of
innocent lives. Poverty has be-
come a systemic evil that haunts
every nation of the globe. The
decades following the establish-
ment of the UN have seen more
civil wars, fratricidal wars and
genocides; world powers have
conducted their proxy wars to
the detriment of the poor and
the innocent.
The prevalent desire for peace
not only among nations but
especially among families have
never been felt more acutely
than today. Consider the reality
that the most dangerous place
for the unborn is in the mothers’
womb. More babies are killed
by abortion than all the military
and civilian casualties of all wars
since recorded human history.
According to Bishop Henry,
there has been a globalization
of compassion for the victims of
wars. To date there have been at-
tempts at showing varied expres-
sions of compassion for the victims
of wars and of violence especially
to women and children. Global
attention to the HIV epidemic is
being enhanced and expanded.
The tragedies of the December
2004 tsunami and the devas-
tating hurricane Katrina, plus
the recent Haiti earthquake
emphasized the long overdue
worldwide cooperation and
involvement in the mitigation
of human suffering. The biggest
opportunity towards this goal
has been the Campaign against
Poverty launched in 2005. Much
has been said about this and the
world waits with bated breath if
indeed, this initiative will make
the difference. Consequentially
for the rich nations, their atten-
tion is being repeatedly called by
the clamor of the impoverished
majority of nations for the con-
donation or even cancellation of
their heavy indebtedness. The
ball is in their court.
Ironically, the peace in Ireland
was brought about not by the
political nor military leaders
but by a group of women acting
as unofficial leaders and taking
the bold step of resolution and
talking heart to heart with their
counterparts. This peace may
also happen in the Middle East.
The mothers in that part of the
world may find the elusive for-
mula for peace.
This deep hunger for spir-
ituality is gradually and pro-
gressively being addressed in
the Church by ecclesial groups
responding in their particular
charisms to the need for recreat-
ing the world today. Similarly,
the same ecclesial movements
are also finding many occasions
and opportunities to share their
vision and version of their work
for social justice especially, in
terms of work with the poor.
We came away from the cler-
gy-lay congresses affirmed that,
whether clergy or laity, we all
share the same call and the same
mission. By including the youth
and their expectations from the
Church in the congresses, we
have acknowledged that the
future of the Church lies in the
hands of the young. For CFC,
we have long recognized the
truth that family renewal – the
transformation of the heart not
just of the couple but of their
entire family – is key to trans-
forming society. We have also
recognized that the Church is
not simply the institution that
Jesus founded but the Church
is all of us, working together to
proclaim the message of truth
that Jesus Himself proclaimed
two thousand years ago.
And so CFC has enshrined
our oneness with the Church
in its vision and has encapsu-
lated it in our two-fold mission
-- Building the Church of the
Home and Building the Church
of the Poor.

Contemplative Workshop - The Journey Begins

By Jan Chavez & Annette
Taguba
AS a follow through of the initiative
of Sister Mary Niere to introduce
CFC to contemplative prayer, a
three-day contemplative workshop
was conducted for the CFC-Vietnam
expat community on July 23-25, 2010.
Rouquel and Nina Ponte spearheaded
the workshop.
The first session saw Rouquel ex-
plaining the purpose and idea behind
the workshop. He described how the
words of God can give life, nourish, en-
courage and deepen one’s relationship
with God. He said that throughout the
workshop, the participants may receive
God’s messages in different forms. He
emphasized the importance of adopting
an attitude of receptivity -- of welcom-
ing, listening and trusting the Lord so
the walls that block an individual’s
heart would be toppled and bridges
could be built to connect a heart-to-heart
relationship with God.
Nina began the workshop proper on
the second session with a short prayer
centered on the idea “that all will get
out of that place not the same person
as they came in.” Nina emphasized the
importance of opening the door of our
hearts because it is at its depths where
we will encounter God. It is the place
where we can have full knowledge of
God, of ourselves and of the world. As
we aim to go deeper into our hearts, we
will discover God in our own realities.
She described how the three levels of
prayer can lead us to a heart-to-heart
relationship with God: from being vo-
cal, to being reflective until we become
contemplative in prayer. The more
prayerful we become, the deeper our
relationship with God would be. By
becoming more connected to God, we
also become, little by little, more like
God in how we view and interact with
the world. Our daily experiences and
activities would then become a sort of
prayer. As a result, we become a bless-
ing to others through humility.
The third day began with the Holy
Mass, followed by the workshop
proper. If the first night was an opener
to become receptive to God’s words
and the second night was the revela-
tion and the birth of God’s words in
our hearts, the third day was the af-
firmation of the central essence of the
workshop: ‘God’s Love.’ Rouquel
and Nina led more contemplative
exercises. From God’s initial invita-
tion to “come and see”, the different
colorful images of God’s love were
uncovered as each participant went
deeper and deeper into their dis-
covery of the vivid truth of God as a
loving Father.
The three-day workshop has forti-
fied the awareness that Sister Mary
Niere initiated in February. The seed
of knowledge, which Sister Mary
Niere planted, has been nourished
into an actual experience of God
speaking to each participant in a
unique way.

Tithing: A Key to Prosperity By Fr. Elmer B. Gonzales
WHAT is tithing? Tithing is
the practice of turning over ten
percent of whatever blessings
we have received back to God.
It comes from the old english
word teotha, which means
“a tenth.” The first recorded
act of tithing in the Bible was
when Abram gave a tenth of
everything he had to the high
priest Melchizedek (Genesis
14:18:20).
But the tithing system started
during the time of Moses when
God declared that the tenth of
all the produce of the land be-
longed to him (Leviticus 27:30).
Tithes were assigned to the
Levites, who were consecrated
to serve the Lord because they
didn’t possess any land (Num-
bers 18:20-24). According to
Deuteronomy 14:22 (TLB), “The
purpose of tithing is to teach
you always to put God first in
your lives.”
Is tithing a Catholic teaching?
Yes, it is. In fact, the Second
Plenary Council of the Philip-
pines espouses it, proposing
that it replace the current arancel
system in the Church where the
faithful give a contribution or
payment for every service they
avail of (baptism, weddings,
house blessing, etc). Church
teaching is quite clear that we
His Excellency Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes of Antipolo, with the CFC Provincial Council of Rizal and YFC leaders, headed have the responsibility to sup-
by its Provincial Area Director Rommel Serrano. The good Bishop accepted the group’s invitation to say Mass in the port both the Church - that is,
Southern Tagalog YFC Regional Conference in Rizal. He asked CFC to move on in its task of evangelization and to
continue with its revitalized work with the poor, the ANCOP. its ministers, and the structural
obligations that go with running
an organization (Code of Canon
Law (CIC) Canon 222 and 1260)
and the poor and disadvantaged
(c.f. CIC Canon 1262).
Isn’t tithing only for the Old
Testament? No. In fact, Jesus
himself refuted this in the New
Testament. He said, “Woe to you
Pharisees! You pay tithes on mint
and rue and all the garden plants,
while neglecting justice and the
love of God. These are the things
that you should practice, without
omitting the others” (Luke 11:42).
In the New Testament, we are
taught that we are to give gener-
ously according to what we have
decided (2 Corinthians 9:6-15).
We also recall the story of An-
nas and Sapphira (Acts 5) where
they held back the proceeds of
the sale of some goods from the
service of the Lord. This does not
mean that we should go without
but what we should remember is
that everything we have is a gift
from the Lord and we should be
willing to treat it as such.
The two texts, when coupled
together, teach us that it is the
spirit behind what we are doing
when we give that is most impor-
tant. Furthermore, the parable
of the widow’s mite reminds us
again of this. Jesus says that her
two copper coins are more than
the large amounts of the rich as
she gave from her need and not
just from her excess.
To whom should we turn over
our tithes? Malachi 3:10 says,
“Bring the whole tithe into the
storehouse…” Storehouse, in this
passage, refers to your source of
spiritual sustenance, where you
are getting fed spiritually. That
may be your parish church, your
spiritual director, or the ministry
or community you belong to.
What has tithing got to do
with financial prosperity?
Malachi 3:10 is the only pas-
sage in the Bible wherein God
tells us to put Him to the test.
“Try me in this, says the Lord
of hosts: shall I not open for
you the floodgates of heaven, to
pour down blessings upon you
without measure?” Tithing
not only opens up God’s abun-
dance to us; it also promises
to protect our possessions and
blessings we have received.
The most important thing is
the attitude behind our giving.
If it is freely given in love and
out of generosity, than you
have the perfect example of
giving according to the New
Testament.
Whatever it is, 10%, 5% or 45%
is irrelevant! For some, to tithe
10% may well be too big a bur-
den, and for the very rich, far too
little! It is up to the individual to
give what he or she determines
God wants of him or her, and
to make sure it is given in love.
(Fr. Elmer is the parish priest of
Maliwalo, Tarlac and the spiritual
director of CFC Tarlac.)
References:
Catechism of the Catholic
Church, http://www.Catholic.
Org.Uk
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010
Ugnayan C3

Healing Happens in a
Loving Community
By Arnel Santos
There are many stories of healing and
of loving in the CFC community. The
following are stories from only one sec-
tor (West B in Metro Manila):
• A CFC household member donated
his kidney for transplant to a fellow
household member.
• A now 83-year-old CFC leader
overcame Stage 3 colon cancer in
2002; angioplasty in 2005; cancer-
ous cyst in the head in 2007; and
41 radiation therapy sessions for
prostrate cancer in 2010. He is now
healed, and still a very active mem-
ber of CFC WB Sector Governance
Team (SGT).
• A CFC leader had a vision, during
an almost fatal seizure, of being
told to go back because a lot of
people are praying for her wellness,
especially from among the CFC
community.
• A reputable hospital is puzzled
by an influx of blood donors for a
CFC leader who just underwent a
hysterectomy.
• A sector-wide intercessory prayer
brigade is conducted for the healing
of the sick members of the commu-
nity every 8 AM daily.
• Home visits, hospital visits, out-
right financial assistance and free
medical attendance by CFC doctors
are provided to indigent CFC mem-
bers, and regular prayer petitions
on behalf of terminally ill members
of CFC are said during household
meetings and prayer assemblies.
As thanksgiving for all these healing
stories and to seek God’s healing for the
CFC members stricken by ailments and
diseases, the leaders and members of
CFC West B Sector gathered together
on July 29, 2010, at the Sacred Heart
Parish in Kamuning, Quezon City, for
a Healing Assembly, dubbed as “Habag
at Awa ng Diyos” (HAND).
With close to a thousand members in
attendance, the event was opened by a
Spirit-filled worship and prayer assem-
bly led by West B SGT member, Joven
Floren, and capped by a healing mass
celebrated by Fr. Mario Bije, SVD.
Healing sessions were conducted
after the mass by Fr. Mario, assisted by
the medical professionals of the sector
who were earlier prayed over to re-
ceive the gift of healing. They were Dr.
Maricel Regino, pediatric cardiology;
Dr. Amado Regino, general surgery;
Dr. John Duenas, internal medicine;
Dr. Tine Duenas, pediatrics; Dr. Chris
Disioco, a general practitioner; Dr.
Ross Aquino, a dentist, and Dr. Karen
Gail Floren, daughter of Joven and Glo
Floren.
The doctors thought that they would
just recite the Prayer for Consecration
and Empowerment. However, they
were prayed over by Fr. Mario, who
right then and there, commissioned
them to conduct healing sessions dur-
ing the assembly. ““Touch them,” said
Fr. Mario, “if God wills it, kaya ninyong
magpagaling.”
The assembly became a visible ex-
pression of the CFC community’s ut-
most love and care for fellow members.
Aside from accompanying them in wor-
shiping, praying and in hearing mass,
CFC members have made voluntary
contributions to raise funds for their
brethren’s medical expenses. Donations
ranging from five pesos to P 20,000.00
reached P62,685.00 on the night of the
assembly alone.
Indeed, as Fr. Mario emphasized in
his homily; “Healing happens in a lov-
ing community.”
The assembly was also an eye-opener
for the medical professionals of the
sector.
Dr Maricel Regino said she was the
one healed. She first felt unworthy to
pray over the CFC members who lined
up to be touched by her. She turned
around and saw the altar. She turned
back and saw a lot of people in need of
prayer for healing. She thus commenced
with the healing session with many
being slain.
Dr. John P. Duenas said, “it was a
great privilege to be empowered.” What
he witnessed were miracles. There were
instances that “nag-uumpisa pa lang
na-slain na” and there were moments
when he and the person being prayed
over were just standing still and in
tears. He felt the “Lord was working
through us.”
This gave him a broader perspective
even in his medical practice. He now
deliberately prays for his patients, not
only for physical but for spiritual and
emotional healing as well.
Dr. Ding Regino said that the experi-
ence gave him a “strong connection
with the people by immersing and
empathizing with them.” He became
aware that he should not rely on his
“own galing as a doctor but as a channel
of God’s blessing.” He now focuses not
on the sickness, but on the love.

CC Family Day turns into big bash

By Fernando Academia Top Ancop/CFC Leaders Define Mission;
COUPLES for Christ
(CFC) Central C sector
and its family minis-
Discuss Projects During Texas Summit
tries held their annual THE Woodlands, TEXAS unteer their services through
Family Day last July - Top officers of ANCOP CFC Chairman Joe Tale delivers a talk ANCOP.
31, 2010 at the Arellano (Answering the Cry of during the summit. Ricky Cuenca, newly-
Law School. the Poor) -Tekton and designated Chief Executive
According to North America took turns Officer of ANCOP, urged the
Chino Caluag, Fa- in defining the group’s formation of a strong mar-
milyMinistry head of mission and in discussing keting team for ANCOP. As
Central C, the activ- projects for poor Filipinos ANCOP CEO, he announced
during the well-attended that he will focus his efforts
ity, dubbed “Pista sa
ANCOP Summit held last on three points, namely:
Centro,” was meant
July 5, 2010 at the Marriott a) strong marketing; b)
“to gather the mem- efficient program imple-
bers in Central C in an Waterways Hotel in this
Texas township. mentation and delivery,
event that will allow them to know one another and the unique and c) transparency in
Jose Tale, ANCOP-Tekton
qualities of each ministry in a spirit of celebration, fun, fellowship reporting and communica-
and CFC Chairman, traced
and worship.” the history of ANCOP since tions system.
He added that the Pista was a prelude to the sector’s Crossover its founding in Barangay Ba- Tony Ventura, ANCOP
Activity on September 4. Crossover is an activity to transition mem- gong Silang, Caloocan City, U.S.A. President, gave a
bers to another ministry namely: Kids for Christ (KFC) to Youth for in 1994 as a pastoral forma- lengthy and thorough dis-
Christ (YFC), YFC to Singles for Christ (SFC), SFC to CFC and CFC to tion project for the youth cussion of ANCOP U.S.A.’s
Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) or Servants of the Lord (SOLD). of Bagong Silang. “In the vision and mission as well
The Pista turned into a truly festive day with the Lord through beginning, there was no GK, as updates on projects. He
fun-filled activities, free food and an experience with the whole CFC only ANCOP. We started also set the directions of
family of Central C. our work for the poor by his group’s activities in the
Entire families got involved in the group games, such as the family repairing houses,” shared future. Glen Santayana and
sack race, sack race doubles, chess and dart games and tug of war. Tale. He continued, “Later Roger Santos, both ANCOP
Other fun activities were the Wacky Hat Photo Booth, balloon on, when GK was born, we U.S.A. Directors, spoke about
bursting booth and the SFC Café. There was even free “taho” for started to build houses for ment for healing, addressing ANCOP Tekton President, two ANCOP projects, name-
everyone. Each ministry had a booth, with the KFC doing brisk the poor. But due to fun- their relevant needs (material, revealed that health is part of ly: the Children Sponsorship
business selling souvenir T-shirts for the Singapore KFC Kids Vil- damental differences, CFC physical and emotional) and ANCOP’s projects. A cardio- Program (CSP) which spon-
lage and the HOLD being once again colorful in their flashy “Ku- granted independent status fulfilling their yearning for a vascular surgeon by profession, sors poor Filipino children to
mukutitap” booth. to GK last year, thus, AN- better future through personal Dr. Yamamoto said it was be able to acquire education,
The day did not lack for entertainment, with home-grown talents COP was born again,” the and family transformation everyone’s moral and reli- and North America Walk for
amazing everyone with their performances, particularly during the CFC chairman concluded. that leads to a just and car- gious duty to preserve health, the Poor, a 3-mile walk to
Central C Got Talent portion, the HOLD dance number, the Ikaw, In defining the group’s ing society and a life of dignity it being a gift from God. be held simultaneously in
Tayo, Iisa kay Kristo (ITIK) SFC singers vocal renditions and Wonder mission, Tale said ANCOP for all.” The ANCOP-Tekton President 12 cities around the U.S. on
Boy the Magician of KFC’s tricks. “shares Christ’s love with In his talk, Jose Yamamo- asked CFC members who are in August 28, 2010 to raise funds
The event had a fitting ending -- Holy Mass presided by Fr. Jean the poor as an instru- to, CFC Executive Director and the health care industry to vol- for CSP.
Marie Rollin Flores of Our Lady of Sorrows and praisefest led by
Francis Diaz, chapter head of SFC Makati 1D.

First-timers Lead Youth Camp! Ipil Prelature Now a Diocese

By Vic Lauro
By Beth and Glen Santayana, CFC –
USA The prelature of Ipil was officially elevated to a diocese last
August 7, 2010. On the same day, Most Rev. Julius Sullan Tonel,
The weekend of July 23 – 25 was, for us, truly a D.D. was installed as the first Bishop of the diocese by Most Rev.
family affair with the Lord. Our son, Matthew, Romulo G. Valles, D.D. Archbishop of Zamboanga City. The
led the camp along with Jea Campued, the daugh- Apostolic Nuncio
ter of the area’s YFC coordinators. We parents, to the Philippines,
along with other parents of the youth-servants, Most Rev. Edward
were there to see our children serving and sharing Joseph Adams,
their faith with other youth. D.D., together
It was a humbling experience for the parents to with 20 bishops
see the children showing total dependence on the and priests from
power of the Holy Spirit. all over the Philip-
The CFC youth coordinators, the Campued and pines, attended the
Dela Cruz couples, showed great dedication, as celebrations.
they stayed night and day at the venue, the Sacred The CFC Coun-
Heart Retreat Center of St. Bartholomew Parish in cil Members of
Miramar Parkway, Florida to support the youth. Zamboanga City,
It was a wonderful experience, not just for the Vic Lauro, Nand-
youth who attended and were introduced to the ing Gonzales and Joel Gregorio traveled to Ipil to share with
YFC way of life, but to us parents. It was most all the CFC members in the area their joy at the elevation and
wonderful for the youth who served and who ex- installation.
perienced the joys of serving our amazing God. The young YFC campers ham it up for the camera at the end of the weekend activity.
 Ugnayan
CBCP Monitor
C4 Vol. 14 No. 17
August 16 - 29, 2010

CFC-Singles for Christ Metro Manila Conference 2010

The Heart of the Matter

By Nirva de la Cruz
Awesome, riveting and heart-warming.
For the more than 2,500 singles who
attended the Singles for Christ - Metro
Manila Conference 2010, that pretty
much sums up this shared God experi-
ence. It is impossible to describe it any
other way as the conference mainly
revolved around the most central and
powerful part of the human person –
the heart.
Last July 23, 25, SFCs from all over
Metro Manila gathered at the Roga-
tionist College in Silang, Cavite for
the SFC MMC with the theme, “One
Heart“taken from the verse “I love you
just as the Father loves me; remain in
my love” (John 15:9).
The weekend was powered by speak-
ers who spoke about God’s passionate
love and how it is a love that we will
never quite comprehend. For the first
session, Lawrence Quintero, an SFC
missionary, emphasized that our hearts
are really fashioned for God’s love;
nothing else will quite fulfill us the way
only God can.
With such a love, we would think
that only happy endings are possible
but often, we choose to harden our
hearts against God’s ways. The second
speaker, Hazel Lasala, compared us to
sheep who are basically near-sighted,
helpless and stupid. In our stubborn-
ness, we choose to overlook that God
is our Shepherd, the One who truly
watches over our welfare and ultimate
happiness, making us “lie down in
green pastures.”
Undeniably, the sharers for each
talk stole the show and provided the
“riveting” part of the conference. There
were life stories shared by a former
professional thief, of being crushed by
heartbreak, of getting uprooted from
the U.S. and serving in Manila and spectives and insights into what it consultations with our priest and nun
feeling God’s unspeakable love in a Jolo means to “remain in God’s love.” Most friends. The conference grounds were
convent, among others. But no other notable were the workshops on the Sac- full of snaking lines of singles, bursting
personal experience moved the singles rament of Reconciliation (The Heart of to share their heart concerns with the
more than the story of Donna Carreon Confessing) and how this sacrament is religious.
of SFC – West whose struggle with nothing but the Father’s limitless mercy What more can one say about a
cancer has become nothing less than made available to us; a workshop on weekend in heaven? The conference
a faith experience. Donna shared with healing the family tree (I Will Survive: ended Sunday noon with a praisefest
the unmistakable bravado of a person Family Edition) also discussed how that can only be described as God’s pure
who has seen death and has come back prayers can heal an inheritance of sin, enjoyment. And as God’s children, SFCs
stronger. For her, to rely fully on God sickness and weakness; and Beyond could not help but respond with a lot of
as her strength is not a mere concept, Borders, a workshop on choosing to go hugging, jumping up and down, crazy
but a baffling reality. on international mission. singing, laughing and crying. Crazy?
Workshops also provided new per- There was also a time for private Try God’s crazier love.

Fullness of Life in the Caribbean

By Lorraine Hodges-
Ramjit
FOCUS on your mission and
witness of Christian family
life to society. That was
the essential message from
Archbishop Edward Gilbert
to members of the Couples
for Christ (CFC) Ministries at
the opening Mass of the 11th
Annual CFC Conference.
The conference was held
last July 16-18 at the Daaga
Hall Auditorium, University
of the West Indies, St Au-
gustine. It had as its theme
Fullness of Life in Christ
(Col 2: 6-7). A parade of
flags officially opened the
conference, with the follow-
ing participating countries:
Antigua, Aruba, Curaçao, Ja-
maica, St Maarten, St Vincent
& the Grenadines, St Lucia,
Canada, United States, the
Philippines and host Trinidad
and Tobago.
Archbishop Gilbert was as-
sisted during the Mass by Arch-
bishop Robert Rivas of the Arch-
diocese of Castries St Lucia,
five priests concelebrating and
permanent deacon Rev Len-
nox Toussaint. In his homily,
Archbishop Gilbert underscored
the role of CFC in renewing
families through its various
ministries. He said CFC’s “wit-
ness as individual families and
as a community of families is a
powerful form of ministry,” but
reminded them of the challenge
they face. “My advice to you is:
do not concentrate on numbers.
Concentrate on your mission.
Concentrate on mutual support.
These conferences are a form of
your support.”
Each year the regional con-
ference is held in a territory in
which CFC is established, and
gives the CFC regional fam-
ily the opportunity to share
each other’s experiences and
come together to renew their
focus on building the Christian
family.
Among the series of talks pre-
sented by CFC representatives
from Curaçao, Trinidad, St Lucia
and the USA at the conference
were: “Accepting the Call”, “One
in Christ”, “Rooted in Christ”
and “Journey of Faith”. CFC
Caribbean coordinator Joe Duran
delivered the final talk, “Filled
With Thanksgiving”. The Philip-
pines-born US-based coordinator
implored all present to find every
opportunity to give thanks and
to evangelize, re-evangelize and
invite the intercession of our
Blessed Mother, Mary.
As host country, the Trinidad
and Tobago team gave visiting with talented pannist Johann jumbies. Wilson of Curacao and Fr
delegates a cultural treat through Chuckaree, a Pierrot Grenade, The weekend culminated Manuel Antao of St Maarten.
their local cuisine and a cultural a Carnival head-piece costume with a closing Mass celebrated The annual CFC Caribbean
night filled with a delightful mix display, all completed by tassa by Bishop Luis Secco of the Conference will be hosted in
of calypso, song, steelpan music drummers and dancing moko Netherland Antilles, Fr Simon St Maarten in 2011.

CFC Seychelles turns 4! the families led by Clarke Nebrao, head

of the International Missions Office
(IMO) of CFC. It was a rare opportunity
for healing and prayer with even the
kids having a turn in lifting up their
families in prayer to the Lord.
The experience of fullness of life in
Christ is one that will continue to inspire
our Seychellois community.

New leadership anointed for CFC

COUPLES for Christ in Seychelles
celebrated their fourth year anniversary
last July 4, 2010. The anniversary Mass
was held at the parish of St. Thérèse de
Liseux, Plaisance with members of CFC
and its Family Ministries sponsoring
ship with the whole community of CFC
Seychelles.
One of the highlights at the end of the
day was a moment of prayer for and by
Seychelles
A new Governance Team has been
appointed to lead the CFC community
in Seychelles. The appointment was
done in consultation with all the leaders
and the community’s spiritual chap-
lains, and with International Missions
Coordinator Clarke Nebrao. Msgr.
Denis Wiehe remains as the spiritual Shown in photo are the new governance team members with the community’s spiritual advisers:
director of CFC Seychelles, with Fr. Standing from left to right: Joseph Gozun (in charge of Family Ministries), Fr. Collin Underwood,
Lonnie Adrienne appointed as CFC Monsignor Denis Wiehe, Theo Rachel (National Director and Island Mission Head for Praslin and
La Digue) and Michael Adela (Chapter Head of CFC Mahe); Seated, from left to right: Allison Gozun,
chaplain and Fr. Collin Underwood as Marlene Rachel, Marie-Cecile Adela, Rosy Denis (Administration/Secretary). Not in photo is Geoffrey
chaplain for the Family Ministries. Leon (Evangelization and Mission)

Golfing for ANCOP

and animating the mass. The church
was filled with CFC members and
their families from all over the island
of Mahé, where the CFC community
started 4 years ago.
The Fullness of Life Conference, an
annual retreat centered on the com-
munity’s theme for the year, capped
the anniversary week. It was held on
July 10 at St. John Bosco Parish, Pointe
Larue. Members of the CFC community
gathered at 8 AM for the Holy Mass,
celebrated by Father Lonnie Adrienne,
parish priest of Pointe Larue. The
conference marked the first time that
all ministries of Couples for Christ in
Seychelles came together in one as-
sembly. All took part in serving at the
conference, from the Kids for Christ
helping with the church cleaning to
the Handmaids of the Lord setting up
flower arrangements in the church.
For the first time also, CFC members
from the island of Praslin attended, and
were able to join in praise and fellow-
The Alex Chiu Golf Tournament is
an annual event managed by Coun-
cilor Alex Chiu of Markham, Ontario,
Canada. The tournament raises funds
for charity and, this year, the desig-
nated beneficiary was the ANCOP
Homes Shelter Program of ANCOP
Canada, specifically the Villa Monique
Markham ANCOP Village in Las Pinas
City, Philippines. Councilor Alex and
his wife Alice visited Villa Monique
last May to meet the families benefited
by the initial 10 homes built from do-
nations from Alex Charities.
This year’s tournament, participated
in by 264 golfers, donated $50,000 to
build another 20 homes in the project.
Ms Tessie Ting, chairperson of the
event and Councilor Alex Chiu pre-
Tessie Ting (left) and Alex Chiu (right) present the check to Ricky Cuenca (second from left) and sented the check to Ricky Cuenca and
Temi Pangilinan.
Temi Pangilinan, Chairman and
President, respectively, of ANCOP
International Canada Inc.
Villa Monique is one of the many
ANCOP Homes Village projects for
the poor in the Philippines. When
completed, the village will consist
of a total of 52 homes for the family
beneficiaries.
Groundbreaking was done in
early 2010 and the first 10 hous-
ing units were completed in May,
2010 by CFC ANCOP Tekton,
ANCOP Canada’s agency partner
and builder of ANCOP Homes in
the Philippines. The units were
turned over to the beneficiary
families in a simple ceremony at-
tended by representatives of both
companies.