•A3 Catholic
Pope Benedict asks
press to keep •B1 ‘New Technologies ... can
Muslims join outrage vs
birth control
A GROUP of Muslims has joined the growing
chorus of voices opposing any effort by Presi-
dent Benigno Aquino III to promote artificial
family planning.
In what could be a boost to the Catholic
Church’s campaign against contraceptives, the
Imam Council of the Philippines said they are
against birth control pills and condoms even
among married couples.
Ibram Moxir, council head, said the Islam
Muslims / A6
Quevedo
Church apologizes
for sins against IPs
CBCP official says death penalty won’t gain justice
AN official of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines re-
cently said that exclusion of the right
to life will not achieve justice.
Rodolfo Diamante, executive secre-
tary of the Episcopal Commission on
Prison Pastoral Care said in a state-
ment that any deprivation of life will
Sumilao farmers get remaining 10 hectares from DAR
THE long wait is over!
The famous Sumilao Farm-
ers received on October 10 the
remaining 10 hectares, plus 3
hectares, of the disputed 144-
hectare estate from Agrarian
Reform Secretary Gil delos
Reyes and DAR Undersecre-
tary Jerry “Jing” Pacturan in a
simple turn-over ceremony.
The turn-over ceremony
of the remaining 10 hectares
came six months after they
were awarded the 15 hectares
of land outside the disputed
144 hectares estate of the San
Miguel Corp. and another 50
Sumilao / A6
www.cbcponlineradio.com
make the True and the
flame of hope lit
October 11 - 24, 2010
File photo
not satisfy justice for anyone.
“We stand by our belief that any
deprivation of the right to life will
not gain justice for all. Rendering the
death penalty as a means to obtain
justice simply does the opposite as
recent history has proven,” he said.
He furthered that death penalty
•C1
False interchangeable’
Vol. 14 No. 21
Asian Church evangelizes through
witness of life, says Cotabato prelate
DESPITE its being a minority ity also becomes a challenge “to
in the world’s largest and most make our communion a reality
populous continent, the Catho- and a witness of the Lord,” he
lic Church in Asia seriously said.
responds to the challenges of Quevedo, who is also the
evangelization through com- Secretary General of the Asian
munion and witness of life. Bishops Conferences, is among
Cotabato Archbishop Or- the participants to the Synod of
lando Quevedo said Catholics Bishops’ Special Assembly for
being a minority in Asia can be the Middle East that is being
considered as a “little flock”. held at the Vatican from Oct.
But being part of the minor- 10 to 24.
will only lead to more and constant
injustice in the country.
“The death penalty has not deterred
criminality and has even spurred
more injustice by killing the innocent,
those wrongly accused, those without
proper defense and those who have
been deprived of the opportunity to
www.cbcphealthcare.org
Ugnayan
The News Supplement for
Couples for Christ
Church issues prayer to
help fight gambling
THE Roman Catholic bishop in Nueva Ecija
has brought its campaign against gambling to
the highest level.
For the Diocese of Cabanatuan, there is no
doubt that the only way to stop the proliferation
of gambling is to pray to God for help.
Last October 8, Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio
Bancud has issued an obligatory prayer writ-
ten in Tagalog to strengthen its fight against
gambling—legal or illegal.
Php 20.00 Prayer / A6
Speaking on Oct. 11 before And these challenges include
the second general congrega- “the phenomenon of migra-
tion, Quevedo shared on the tion which is sometimes called
Asian bishops’ experience in the the new slavery, the negative
light of the theme “The Catho- impact of economic and cul-
lic Church in the Middle East: tural globalization, the issue of
Communion and Witness”. climate change, issues or reli-
He said the call to give wit- gious extremism, injustice and
ness in the Asian context is violence; religious freedom, and
a challenge that the Asian biogenetic issues that threaten
bishops have to seriously ad- human life in the womb and
dress to. Asian Churches / A6
By Roy Lagarde
ADDRESSING the “sins” it
committed against the tribal
communities, the Catholic
Church has begged for for-
giveness from the indigenous
peoples and vowed to do ev-
erything possible to protect
them.
The Episcopal Commission on Indig-
enous Peoples of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines said the
church is sorry for its disrespect of other
cultures such as colonization of native
peoples in the past.
ECIP chairman Bishop Sergio Utleg
said they want to apologize for the times
when they entered native communities
“from a position of power, indifferent to
their struggles and pains.”
“As we continue to welcome IPs into
the Catholic community, we ask forgive-
ness for suppressing their spirit as a peo-
ple and the moments when we injured
their personhood as they took on a new
identity as Catholics,” Utleg said.
“We ask forgiveness for moments
when we taught Christianity as a religion
robbed with colonial cultural superior-
ity, instead of sharing it as a religion that
calls for a relationship with God and a
way of life.”
The bishop made the statement as the
church and various indigenous com-
munities marked this year’s celebration
of the IP Sunday in Baguio City on
October 10.
With the theme “Healing for Solidar-
ity: Asking for Forgiveness for Sins
against Indigenous Peoples”, most ac-
tivities until October 12 were held at the
Hundreds of people Baguio Cathedral.
register their opposition
to the controversial
Reproductive Health
Stronger ties
(RH) bill in a protest A group of IPs, meanwhile, accepted
the church’s apology as it noted that
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
rally outside the
Quiapo Church in
Manila, October 2,
unity can be the “strongest asset of the
2010. Their message is indigenous peoples to change the flight
clear: contraception is we face.”
immoral and is not the “Learning from past mistakes forges
solution to the country’s
worsening economic stronger ties,” the group Katribu said
woes. (Story in A6) in a statement. “Together with the Fili-
pino people, the Church and indigenous
peoples can work for a peaceful future,”
it added.
Katribu is the progressive party of the
indigenous peoples which account for 15
reform and restore the injury they percent of the country’s population.
caused others. This is because ours
is a system of justice replete with Tong-tongan, Bodong
human errors,” he added. The “tong-tongan” reconciliatory rites
In a press statement, Diamante re- Apology / A6
iterated an earlier call for the justice
system to transcend from the punitive
Death Penalty / A6
Cruz to
Aquino:
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino
‘I’ll be
III will need a lot of patience
since retired Archbishop
File photo
Oscar Cruz shows no sign of
grumpier’
letup on making comments
against his policy decisions.
Cruz / A6
www.cbcpmedia.com
 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

Population expert condemns China’s

one-child policy on 30th anniversary FRONT ROYAL, Va., Oct. 7,
2010—On Tuesday, popu-
lation expert Steve Mosher
condemned recent statements
made by Chinese government
officials praising the country’s
one-child policy. Mosher, who
helped voice alarm over the
policy when it took effect 30
years ago, decried situation
as an “unmitigated social di-
saster.”
Commenting to China Daily
on Sept. 27, National Popula-
tion and Family Planning Com-
mission leader Li Bin lauded
the one-child policy, saying the
country would continue to up-
hold it. Over the past 30 years
in China, 400 million births
have been prevented.
www.adairjones.files.wordpress.com
“Historical change doesn’t
come easily, and I, on behalf
of the National Population and
Family Planning Commission,
extend profound gratitude to
all, the people in particular, for
their support of the national
course,” Li Bin said.
“So we will stick to the fam-
ily-planning policy in the com-
ing decades,” she added.
In a statement on Oct. 5,
however, Population Research
Institute (PRI) president Steve
Mosher called the country’s
one-child mandate an “unmiti-
gated social disaster,” making
China the “ugly poster child
of forced abortion and coerced
sterilization.”
Despite government offi-
cials’ claims that the policy
has helped China’s economy
and contributed to other social
advances, Mosher argued that
a primary goal of the mandate
has been to “help maintain
the muscular rigor of the one-
party dictatorship that rules
China.”
“China is a police state, after
all,” Mosher continued, adding
that “such a state, to remain
strong, must have something to
police. Economic controls have
been loosened over the past 30
years, so control over other as-
pects of life must be tightened.
The brutal one-child policy
is one consequence of such a
system’s relentless drive for
control over people’s lives.”
“The Chinese government,”
he noted, “supported by for-
eign population control zeal-
ots, believe that its program
should be held up as a popula-
tion control role model for the
rest of the world.”
“In reality, it should be
roundly condemned for its
widespread and systematic vi-
olations of human rights, espe-
cially the rights of women.”
Mosher has been joined in
his criticism of the one-child
policy by Rep. Chris Smith (R-
N.J.), who recently appealed
to President Obama to speak
out in defense of the Chinese
people “on this terrible an-
niversary,” noting “what an
encouragement that would
be for hundreds of millions of
Chinese hearts, to suddenly
feel that the leader of the free
world understands and em-
pathizes with their plight.”
(CNA)

7,000 volunteers working to Vatican Briefing

prepare Youth Day
VATICAN City, Oct. 7, 2010—Some 7,000
volunteers are already hard at work to
prepare the next World Youth Day, which
will take place next August in Madrid.
María Dolores Jaureguizar, assistant
director of the event’s department of com-
munications, reported this during a press
conference in the Holy See Tuesday.
The 2011 Madrid World Youth Day
“is never asleep” because “someone is
always awake” working for this event,
she stated.
She noted that many families in Spain
have offered their homes to the hundreds
of thousands of participants who will ar-
rive from different parts of the world.
Jaureguizar reported that there are also
close to 70 community managers who
translate the news of the youth day into
18 languages so that it will come to young
people “in their language, the language of
the social networks.”
More than 200,000 people have become
fans of the youth day through the online
social networks.
“They send us all kinds of suggestions,
from the way to design the pilgrim’s cap
(which will really be necessary with the
heat of Madrid in August), to proposals
of cultural activities of all types,” she
added.
However, they do not just work in
Spain but in different countries of the world
through the Internet, Jaureguizar said, as
“all the information and all the promotional
material can be found on the official Web
site, the interaction of the social networks
and videos on YouTube.”
She highlighted the work of many young
people who are collaborating as actors in the
promotional videos “going through hard
castings,” in which they give their image and
time without charge.
“And many other young people, from
the other side of the camera or on comput-
ers of advertising agencies have produced
these campaigns with all the eagerness in
the world,” Jaureguizar said, “without even
paying them for the filming expenses.
She also highlighted the work of those who
publicize the event in Spain’s universities,
who “explain World Youth Day to friends,
who perhaps don’t even have faith.”
Cross
Jaureguizar said that thousands of young
people are pausing to pray before the famous
cross and icon of this event, which since last
year have been traveling to different dioceses
of Spain. Hence this pilgrimage has become
“a celebration, a moment of encounter with
Christ and of true spiritual preparation for
World Youth Day.”
“They receive the cross with emotion
Pope asks young to reject Mafia’s ‘path of death’
Benedict XVI called on the youth of Sicily to reject the “path
of death” offered by the organized crime and to stand up to
evil by following the Gospel. “Don’t be afraid to fight against
evil!” he said during his visit to Palermo, the Sicilian capital on
Oct. 3. “Don’t give in to the suggestions of the Mafia, which is
a path of death, incompatible with the Gospel, as your bishops
have so often said!” (CNS)
Piacenza named prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy
The 66-year-old secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for
the Clergy was appointed as its new prefect. Archbishop
Mauro Piacenza will bring many years of inside experience to
the role in which he will oversee the world’s Catholic priests.
Piacenza’s appointment was made on Oct. 7 along with the
news that the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” had also received
a new president. (CNA)
Pope urges Church-State collaboration
and veneration in their parishes, in their There should be “loyal and respectful collaboration” between
schools, in their shrines,” she said, and “it the Church and state, Benedict XVI affirmed in speaking with
is leaving a trail that nourishes the faith Chile’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Fernando Zegers
of thousands of people.” Santa Cruz on Oct. 7. The pope also stressed an appropriate
Jaureguizar took advantage of the relationship for Church and state, “independent and autono-
moment to share the testimony of some mous each in its own field,” but both called “to develop a loyal
young prisoners on the outskirts of Ma- and respectful collaboration to serve the personal and social
drid, who received the pilgrim cross re- vocation of persons themselves.” (Zenit)
cently: “They told me that they, deprived
of liberty, want to be present in World
Vatican bank head named in money-laundering probe
Youth Day with their prayers and that
The president of the Vatican bank, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, has
we can count on them.”
been placed under investigation by Italian magistrates in a
She also mentioned the Solidarity Fund
money-laundering probe, the Italian state television RAI re-
in which, through a text message from
ported. RAI, citing judicial sources, said the move followed the
mobile phones, participants can donate
seizure Sept. 20 by Italian treasury police of 23 million Euros
money to help finance the trips of pil-
(US$30 million) that had been deposited in a Rome bank ac-
grims from countries of scarce resources
count by the Vatican bank. (CNS)
“or where the Church suffers for any
reason.” (Zenit)
Book-length interview with pope to be released Nov.23
“Light of the World,” a book-length interview with Pope

Cardinal lambasts ‘culture of death’

KOCHI, Oct. 11, 2010—The
head of the Syro-Malabar
Church says some people’s
faith has become “ritualistic
and superstitious” and that
“practical materialism” has
smothered life.
A pastoral letter from Car-
dinal Varkey Vithayathil of
Ernakulam-Angamaly read in
all parishes of the Church on
Oct. 10 says the outside world
criticizes the Church because of
“our failure to live according to
our faith.”
The three-page letter high-
lighted the outcome of the
Benedict XVI will be released Nov. 23 in the world’s major
languages, including English, the head of the Vatican publish-
ing house said. Salesian Fr. Giuseppe Costa said the text of the
book based on interviews conducted in July by the journalist
issues. Peter Seewald had already been consigned to 12 publishing
Cardinal Vithayathil, the ma- houses from around the world. (CNS)
jor archbishop of the Church,
says faith that ignores human Pontiff urges Eastern Catholics to maintain traditions
rights is self-deception. For Benedict XVI urged the visiting participants in a congress
him, the basis for human rights marking the 20th anniversary of the Code of Canons of the
is the Ten Commandments as it Eastern Churches to maintain their ancient traditions, as wit-
not only asks people to respect nesses to the important diversity of the universal Church.
other’s rights, but to sacrifice He also noted that the occasion was an important chance to
“one’s own rights freely for examine its impact on the lives of Eastern Catholics, and to
the other.” consider its effectiveness as an instrument for the unity of
He also criticized the abuse many self-governing churches that maintain communion
of sexuality as a commodity, within the Catholic fold. (CNA)
couple’s reluctance to have
children and the growing trend Vatican-ordered probe to focus on abuse victims
to wallow in selfish luxury. In an Oct. 6 statement, the Vatican said that the apostolic
According to the prelate, visitation of Ireland’s Catholic Church will pay special atten-
www.ucanews.com

Church’s five-yearly Major
Archiepiscopal Assembly that
was held in August.
His letter to the 3.8 mil-
lion-strong Church said the
bishops’ synod has set up
a 15-member committee to
implement the assembly’s pro-
posals that discussed faith, life,
countermeasures against the
culture of death and Church
responses to environmental
children are the index of a
nation’s economic growth.
“However, the collective self-
ishness of those who are born
and living denies life to those
who are yet to be born,” Car-
dinal Vithayathil said.
At the same time, the car-
dinal criticized procreation
without “any sense of respon-
sibility.”
Lambasting the unscrupu-
tion to victims of clerical sex abuse to help the local church
respond adequately to past cases of abuse and prevent it. “The
visitators will give particular attention to victims of abuse and
their families, but will also meet with and listen to a variety
of people, including ecclesiastical authorities, lay faithful
lous abuse of nature, he said lic, finds the pastoral letter and those involved with the crucial work of safeguarding
that the world has “sufficient timely and relevant. “We have children,” it said. (CNS)
resources for the needs of ev- come under the influence of
eryone but the entire universe culture of death knowingly or Organizers use YouTube, Facebook to promote WYD
may not be sufficient for the unknowingly. We have become World Youth Day organizers, who are expecting more than 2
greed of anyone.” selfish and need change,” he million participants, are preparing for the 2011 event in Madrid
Antony Kuriakose, a Catho- said. (UCAN) with Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and fundraisers using text
messages. Social networking sites have been key outlets “for

Brazilian priest reminds Catholics they cannot support raising awareness, mobilizing, communicating and financing
World Youth Day,” said Auxiliary Bishop Cesar Franco Mar-
tinez of Madrid, who is the general coordinator of the Aug.

pro-abortion candidates 16-21 international event. (CNS)

African prelate chosen by Pope to lead charity

BRASILIA, Brazil, Oct. 7, 2010—The director
of priestly formation at the Canção Nova
Community in Brazil, Father Jose Augusto
Souza Moreira, reminded Catholics this
week that they cannot vote for candidates
who support abortion.
Dilma Rousseff, the Labor Party’s presi-
dential candidate, is the favorite to win
the country’s October 31 run-off elections.
However, her backing of abortion, which
she has recently tried to downplay, has led
to a decline in voter support.
“I did not vote nor will I vote” for the
Labor Party because “I support life,” said
Fr. Souza in a recent homily.
Catholics must not vote for those who
support the killing of the unborn, he said,
and they must not remain silent when
political parties promote abortion. Those
who participate in an abortion are automati-
cally excommunicated, he noted, adding, “It operations
doesn’t matter how children come into this On Oct. 7, Benedict XVI has appointed 65-year-old Archbishop
world, they have the right to life.” Robert Sarah as the new president of the Pontifical Council
The founder of the Canção Nova Com- “Cor Unum.” He steps into the shoes of the now retired Car-
munity, Bishop Jonas Abib, stressed that dinal Paul Josef Cordes in leading the Holy See’s department
as Brazilians go to the polls, “We must be for charity and relief. Hand-picked from his place as secretary
faithful to the values of the Church.” of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Sarah
“Each person must vote according to his will bring nearly a decade of experience in the Vatican to the
convictions and in accord with the social mission of “Cor Unum”. (CNA)
teachings of the Church,” he added. (CNA)
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010
A3

Pope Benedict asks Catholic

press to keep flame of hope lit VATICAN City, Oct. 7, 2010—
Noting the influence of media on
perception of reality in an ever
developing world, the Holy Fa-
ther on Thursday called Catholic
communications experts to base
their efforts in the truth of the
Word of God. The “Word,” he
said, continues to be the “fun-
damental and ... essential instru-
ment of communication.”
The Holy Father met with
participants on the final day of
this week’s Catholic Press Con-
gress promoted by the Pontifical
Council for Social Communica-
tions. The conference has exam-
ined the place of the Church in
the digital age, inviting Catholic
communications professionals
from all over the world to the
Vatican to share their experi-
ences.
Benedict XVI spoke of two
aspects concerning Catholics
working in the media: the nature
of the press in a globalized era
marked by changing technolo-
gies and how Catholic publica-
tions should strive to remain
“explicitly and substantially”
faithful to Church teaching by
daily committing to follow the
path of truth.
“Catholic journalists must
www.media.masslive.com
important than ever today, he
said, as the idea of “image” is be-
coming increasingly important.
Explaining that there are
positive aspects of putting
increased importance on pro-
moting “image” through new
technologies, he said that it
can also result in a detachment
from reality, thus “giving life to
a virtual world, with various
consequences.”
The first among these, he
continued, is the “risk of indiffer-
ence towards what is real,” that
“technologies and the progress
they bring can render the true
and the false interchangeable,
they can lead to a confusion be-
tween real and virtual.”
This can lead to a perspective
of seeing the events, regardless
of nature, as mere spectacle and
not as occasions for reflection,
he noted. In this case, the Pope
said, the “search for ways for
an authentic promotion of man
passes then to the second plane,
because the event is presented
mainly to arouse emotions.
“These aspects resound as an
alarm bell: they invite consid-
eration of the danger that the
virtual may distance (one) from
the reality and might not stimu-
the reasons for its indispensable
mission.”
Reflecting on how Christianity
shares a “fundamental structure
with communication: the fact
that the means and the message
coincide,” Pope Benedict said
that this facilitates the mission
of the Catholic media. “Indeed,”
he said, “the Son of God, the
Word incarnate, is, at one and
the same time, the message of
salvation and the means though
which salvation is achieved. This
is not a mere concept but a reality
accessible to everyone”.
The “Word” continues to be
the “fundamental and ... essen-
tial instrument of communica-
tion.”
Saying that people who work
in the Catholic press must “al-
ways put God at the top of
their scale of values,” if they do
not wish to be just a ‘clanging
cymbal,’ he told them that their
task is “that of helping modern
man to turn to Christ, the one
Savior, and to keep the flame
of hope alight in the world, so
as to live worthily today and to
adequately build the future.
“For this reason,” he conclud-
ed, “I exhort you to constantly
renew your personal choice for

seek the truth with impassioned
minds and hearts”, he explained,
“but also with the profession-
alism of competent workers
equipped with adequate and
efficient means.” This is more
late the search for ‘the true,’ the
truth.”
“In this context, the Catholic
press is called, in a new way,
to give full expression to its po-
tential and, day by day, to give
Christ, drawing on those spiri-
tual resources which, though
undervalued by the modern
mentality, remain valuable,
indeed, indispensable.” (CNA/
EWTN News)

Pope to focus on truth,

Vatican spokesman urges authenticity in media for
credibility, transparency in 2011 communications day
response to controversy ROME, Sept. 30, 2010—For World
Communications Day 2011, Pope
Benedict will emphasize that truth
to take on the task of sharing it requires
the ‘guarantee’ of an authenticity of life
from those who work in the media, and
ROME, Italy, Oct. 6, 2010—In being examples of this credibility, he noted and authentic human experience must especially from Catholic journalists;
truthful, transparent and loyal, the that institutionally, as a result of remain at the core of communication an authenticity of life that is no less
Church will be able to renew and pu- cases of sexual abuse, there has been even in the digital age. Although required in a digital age.”
rify itself from moral problems, Fr. “a great loss of faith in the Church— technology might change the means The statement highlighted that “(t)
Federico Lombardi said as he listed in part justified, in part caused by of communication, the truth “must echnology, on its own, cannot establish
the Church’s priorities for respond- the negative and partial presentation remain the firm and unchanging point or enhance a communicator’s credibil-
ing to controversy at a conference of the problems.” of reference of new media and the ity, nor can it serve as a source of the
on Tuesday. These damages, he added in refer- digital world.” values which guide communication.
The Vatican’s spokesman, Fr. ence to Benedict XVI’s words, can The theme of “Truth, proclamation The truth must remain the firm and
Federico Lombardi, addressed be “compensated by a ‘good’ if the and authenticity of life in the digital unchanging point of reference of new
the Pontifical Council for Social direction of profound purification age” was chosen by the Holy Father media and the digital world, opening
Communication’s Catholic Press and renewal is continued so that for the 45th World Communications up new horizons of information and
Congress on Tuesday afternoon. this wound is overcome in a stable Day to be celebrated next year. A state- knowledge.”
His address was delivered as part way. ment from the Holy See’s Press Office Pursuing the truth, the statement
of a series of presentations made by “One of the dimensions of ‘over- explained that this theme “is to be concluded, is ideally the “fundamental
panel members who examined the coming’,” he explained, “is the understood as focusing on the human objective of all those who work in the
topic “Ecclesial Communion and veracity, the transparency, the loy- person who is at the heart of all com- media.”
Controversies. Freedom of Expres- alty to see and confront the moral municative processes. On the feast of the patron of journal-
sion and the Truth of the Church.” problems of the institution.” “Even in an age that is largely domi- ists, St. Francis de Sales, on Jan. 24 of
www.ladepeche.fr

After describing some of the ways
the Holy See’s communications
operations have adapted to a faster,
more diverse and highly globalized
news environment, he asserted that
a strong grasp of the “correct ‘hierar-
chy’ of themes” is necessary for un-
derstanding the place of the different
debates within the Church.
Topping the list of “essential pri-
orities” for the Church, he explained,
are matters relating to “God and the
religious dimension of man (faith as
a friend of reason), Jesus Christ who
reveals to us the true face of God
(God is love), and ecumenism as
loyalty to the command of Christ.”
The final two priorities of Church
communication, Fr. Lombardi said,
are “the dialogue between religions
to feed the transcendent dimension
of life (and) the commitment to trans-
lating the faith into works of charity
and solidarity for the construction of
an integral development.”
Fr. Federico Lombardi
This sequence of themes offers a
“positive, substantial and rich message”
in today’s context, which is marked by
the loss of “essential points of reference”
in society. These priorities also serve as
a “counter-current in the secularized
world,” observed Fr. Lombardi.
In this context where the Church is
often “unarmed,” he underscored the
importance of focusing on these central
themes, “on which converge the serious
attentions of the Catholic press and of
secular communications concerned
for the destiny of the person and of
humanity.”
Fr. Lombardi said that beyond this
“central content,” the “credibility of
the messenger,” whether a person or an
institution, is also “essential.”
Posing the two most recent Popes as
Noting the heightened public sen-
sitivity to issues of “sex and money,”
he said that “a credible Church in the
face of the world is a poor and honest
Church in the use of assets, capable
of accounting for such use, integrated
loyally and legally in the network of
economic and financial relationships,
without anything to hide.”
The Vatican’s “bank,” the Institute
for Works of Religion (IOR), has
been under investigation by Italian
authorities since last month after it
was seen that several transactions
between IOR accounts at different
international banks did not follow
standard European procedures.
Fr. Lombardi assured everyone
that he is certain of the “upright
intentions” of those in charge of the
Vatican’s economic institutions, but
ceded that there is still some work
to be done to show the public the
“correctness” of these operations.
(CNA/EWTN News)
nated, and at times conditioned, by new next year, the full text of Pope Benedict
technologies, the value of personal wit- XVI’s message for World Communica-
ness remains essential,” the statement tions Day 2011 will be released. (CNA/
continues. “To approach the truth and EWTN News)
Bishop backs global ‘respect
for recyclers’ drive
MANILA, Oct. 5, 2010—A Catholic
bishop has joined calls for recognition,
respect and support for recyclers, par-
ticularly the waste pickers, as govern-
ments meet in Tianjin, China to continue
the stalled negotiations for a global
climate agreement and action plan.
“We are called upon to recognize our
brothers and sisters who work very
hard to reclaim and recycle tons of
valuable resources from the bins, trucks
and dumps,” said Caloocan Bishop
Deogracias Iñiguez.
“As we struggle against the ecological

NGOs urge gov’t to halt aerial spraying

crisis afflicting the planet, let us give the
recyclers the recognition and respect
they deserve for their service to the

of banana plantations
MANILA, Oct. 10, 2010—A network of
faith-based and non-government orga-
nizations has again urged the govern-
ment to put a halt on aerial spraying of
banana plantations in Mindanao.
The Philippine Misereor Partnership
(PMPI) said local and international
studies have shown that aerial spraying
of banana plantations “has ill-effects to
the life and health of people, their liveli-
hood and to the environment.”
(PMPI) is a partnership of more than
200 faith-based non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), peoples’ orga-
nizations (POs) and development as-
sociations in the country.
In a press statement, PMPI criticized
the government’s inaction on the mat-
ter and lamented that “the environ-
ment is being put in danger, including
the health, livelihood and welfare of
many poor people living around the
plantations”, in exchange of short-term
economic gains.
Concerned companies, however,
claimed the studies made are not con-
vincing enough to effect a ban on aerial
spraying.
But PMPI argued that above all else,
“the safety of the people and the envi-
ronment should be given prior protec-
tion” while quoting Pope Benedict XVI
that “every economic decision has a
moral consequence.”
PMPI said a ban on aerial spraying should
be put in place, despite demands from com-
panies to validate the studies made.
The Arroyo administration failed to
act on the issue despite calls from the
Department of Health’s to stop aerial
spraying because of its harmful effect on
people’s health; and recommendations
from the Commission on Human Rights
to implement a ban “while studies are
being conducted and validated.”
With a new government led by
Aquino, the group is hoping the ban
will be implemented soon.
“We call on President Benigno Aqui-
no, which claims to walk the right path,
and the Supreme Court to act decisively
against this practice for the sake of the
poor and the environment,” PMPI said.
(CBCPNews)
environment and society that we often
take for granted,” he added.
The Quezon City-based Global Al-
liance for Incinerator Alternatives
(GAIA), which is currently in Tianjin
together with its partner waste pickers’
groups, thanked the Caloocan Bishop
for his timely statement.
“We thank Bishop Iñiguez for en-
couraging our society to ponder and
acknowledge the special role of waste
pickers in helping to stabilize the
earth’s climate through their painstak-
ing labor,” said Manny Calonzo, Co-
Coordinator of GAIA.
Bishop Iñiguez, who attended a
waste pickers’ workshop organized by
the EcoWaste Coalition last August,
had earlier said that “the waste pickers
belong to the poorest of the poor who
work in the most difficult and toxic
condition to make ends meet.”
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez
“In appreciation of their role in the
recycling chain, let us do whatever is
necessary to make their work more
humane and less injurious to their
health,” said Bishop Iñiguez, who also
chairs the Public Affairs Committee of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines.
According to the GAIA report “Re-
spect for Recylers: Protecting the Cli-
mate through Zero Waste,” about 15
million people worldwide rely on waste
picking and the recovery of discards for
their livelihoods.
Programs that reduce, reuse and
recycle municipal waste are effective
and high-impact means of reduc-
ing GHG emissions, the report said.
(CBCPNews)
 A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

EDITORIAL

RH is not about health

NO, the Reproductive Health Bill is not about health. It is about

population deceleration, so that if there is less population there
will be less mouth to feed and therefore, or so the equation goes,
better economy. It is about eugenics, so that in order to ascertain
their happy survival the superior races, who are the wealthier,
are financing the deterioration of the lower and poorer ones.
It is about profit and all the money, including corruption, that
goes with it, so that multinational pharmaceutical corporations
that produce contraceptive products—such as condom,
intrauterine device, pills the likes of RU-486 and Mifiprex
that are euphemistically known as morning after pills—rake in
billions of dollars once the government and millions of users
start patronizing them.
It is about a government trying its best to legislate couples’ right
to choose and penalizing those who violate this law, granting it
becomes one, with one to six months imprisonment or a fine of
ten to fifty thousand pesos or both.
It is all about something that it is not about. And yet it is
seemingly getting the upper hand in the cold war of perceptions.
Roberto Tiglao of Malacañang memory, in his recent column
at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, dared a strong opinion that the
threat of Church people to launch civil disobedience once this
administration stubbornly push for the approval of the RH bill
will not materialize because majority of the populace are for it.

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

There had been social surveys, too, the other year telling the
same thing, although questioned by pro-life groups for including
wholesale questionnaires that were intrinsically deceptive.
Believe it or not, the position of the Catholic Church is the only one
that is true and free of other agenda. And yet there are less people,
at least perception-wise, that seem to buy it. The reason is, the
Church does not explain it well. Coming out with threats, say, civil
disobedience—or even the misattributed excommunication—does
not serve well. Instead of catechizing or clarifying the issues it has
become counterproductive by provoking instead the “Damaso” Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

Motives for mission

rallying point of the RH supporters.

Living Mission
The agenda surrounding the RH bill is gargantuan and gargantuan
too are the logistics and tactics that have been heaped for its
lobby in congress and in people’s minds through the media.
Admittedly, the church, aside from its solid moral and theological
foundations, is still groping for ways to communicate to the
public the truth that, for instance, contraception is immoral and WHY mission? Why evange- blessing’ (Eph 1:3)…. Mission is of the gift of faith must be incul- which the Church can offer to
destructive and never will ever be the solution to the country’s lize? These questions often above all else an overflow of this cated in all Christians.” Asia. Sharing the truth of Jesus
worsening poverty. come to the mind of any serious life from grateful hearts trans- 4. “We evangelize also be- Christ with others is the solemn
Christian, especially during formed by the grace of God. That cause we have been incorporated duty of all who have received the
October, the “mission month” is why it is so important for us by baptism into the Church, gift of faith” (EA 10).
of the Church. These ques- Christians to have a deep faith- which is missionary by its very “The great question now fac-
tions become even more urgent experience of the love of God nature…. The Church exists ing the Church in Asia is how to
when we consider the vastness in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:39)…. in order to evangelize…. Each share with our Asian brothers
The Changing Context of the Asian continent and its Without a personal experience member, by virtue of the sacra- and sisters what we treasure
billions of peoples, the number, of this love received as gift and ments of baptism and confirma- as the gift containing all gifts,
FOLLOWING the pattern of PCP-II, we sought to discern God’s complexity and tenacity of its mercy, no sense of mission can tion has received the right and namely, the Good News of Jesus
call to renewal within our changing historical and ecclesial problems, the minority status flourish.” duty to the apostolate from the Christ” (EA 19). “Only if the
context. PCP-II pointed to the strengths and gifts of the Filipino of the Church in Asia (less than 2. Christians need to be aware Lord himself.” People of God recognize the gift
people. It also indicated the ills of the nation stemming from 3% of the more than four billion that “mission is also a mandate. 5. “And, finally, we evan- that is theirs in Christ will they
tragically unbalanced economic and political structures and Asians are Christian). We evangelize because we are gelize because the Gospel is be able to communicate that gift
ambivalent cultural traits. Unfortunately much of what was said All these complex realities sent into the whole world to leaven for liberation and for the to others through proclamation
then is still true today. New causes and factors have spawned could cause paralysis and dis- make disciples of all nations. The transformation of society. Our and dialogue” (EA 31).
new forms of the old ills. couragement in Christians. Thus, one who sends us is Jesus…. We Asian world needs the values October, the “Month of Mis-
the local Churches of Asia, clergy cannot fulfill this mission apart of the Kingdom and of Christ sion,” is a fine time for a little
The global economy, in tandem with superb new technologies and
means of social communications, has produced a global culture and laity alike, constantly need from him (Jn 15:4-5).” Every in order to bring about the hu- soul-searching: How deep is my
that has been radically changing the culture of Filipinos, especially grounding and renewal in their Christian, regardless of national- man development, justice, peace personal motivation and desire
of the young, even in rural areas. Individualism, materialism, motivation for mission. A cre- ity, must strive to take Christ’s and harmony with God, among to share my faith with others?
a “feel good” morality are eroding civic and religious values. ative expression of renewed mis- mission commands to heart. peoples and with all creation that Do I really care (or not) if others
Respect for tradition, committed relationships and self-sacrificing sion motivation is in the FABC 3. Why mission? We the peoples of Asia long for.” come to know and love Jesus?
love are often sacrificed on the altar of pragmatism. New forms documents of the Asian bishops; evangelize also because “we In addition to the motives for As I write this reflection, a
of oppression of the poor are appearing, systematically blinding five “core motives” can respond believe in the Lord Jesus. We mission, so sensitively expressed song is ringing in my ears. Do
and enslaving their minds and hearts. Corruption in government to the perennial question: “Why have received the gift of faith. by the FABC for the Asian con- you remember the Sound of
has reached scandalous proportions, as demonstrated by the evangelize?” We have become Christians…. text, one finds helpful insights Music (Oscar Hammerstein) and
scandal of a presidential impeachment trial. 1. Asia’s bishops (FABC V) as- Unfortunately for many Catho- for engagement in mission in the one song which says: “Love
sert: “We evangelize, first of all lics, faith is only something to be John Paul II’s Ecclesia in Asia. isn’t love, “Til you give it away”?
The Church in the Philippines has, to our shame, also remained from a deep sense of gratitude to received and celebrated. They “The Church’s faith in Jesus I believe: “Faith isn’t faith, ‘Til
unchanged in some respects. Due to weakness in formation and God, the Father ‘who has blessed do not feel it is something to be you give it away”—through
is a gift received and a gift to
education, the lack of defined diocesan pastoral directions and
us in Christ with every spiritual shared. The missionary nature be shared; it is the greatest gift mission!
programs, and deficiencies in structures, many prescriptions of
PCP-II have not been implemented. But beyond these factors,
we see that failures in renewal have come from a deeper source:
Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD
Of mission and being
our hardness of heart and resistance to conversion. We confess
that among those who make up the Church, even among some
in positions of leadership and responsibility, the new attitudes,
options, and lifestyles demanded by a Church that is Community
of Disciples and Church of the Poor have all too often been
honored in words but rejected in life. Moreover, largely due to
missionaries By the Roadside
inaction, uncritical acceptance of values and patterns of behavior
of the dominant society, lack of consistent witnessing, we, as Reflections for World Mission Sunday, October Sunday message this year. We who engage don’t pray, like Moses’ hands falling down,
Church have to confess some responsibility for many of the 17, 2010 in mission need to ever savor and allow our- we also fail in our missionary responsibili-
continuing ills of Philippine society. selves to be like a collective sponge and soak ties. The Spirit does not enliven our efforts,
We rejoice, however, in the perseverance and increase of many LET me tell you about Ate Melanie (not her ourselves in God’s love. “Nemo dat quod no we end up becoming the donkey pursuing
movements of renewal in Philippine society that have promoted real name), a distant relative. You would think habet,” our Scholastic professors constantly people’s hosannas that truly belong to the
the causes of women, the youth, farmers, laborers, fisher folk, ‘distant’ is an apt word because she and her told us in college seminary. “Nobody gives One on our back.
the urban poor, overseas workers, families, tribal communities family live on the far side of my hometown. what he doesn’t have.” I believe we should True prayer teaches us humility. ‘Humus’,
and the environment. We rejoice, too, that in the Church many I remember watching her when her son Jojo ask ourselves constantly: If God’s Love is not the root of humility, reminds us of the earth
committed lay people, religious women and men, priests, was stricken with tetanus. I thought she was in me, how can I even try to proclaim it? “It from which we came and with Abraham we
bishops, Catholic communities and institutions have sustained desperate when she asked me to give him the is only from this encounter with the Love of exclaim, “I am bold indeed to speak like this to
efforts to effect renewal through faith formation, the building of Anointing of the Sick. It struck me that her God that transforms our existence,” the Holy my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes” (Gen
Basic Ecclesial Communities, livelihood and political education son’s every spasm of pain also registered on Father insists, “that we can live in communion 18:27). It teaches us that, contrary to our own
programs, and election monitoring, to name a few. her face and body. She was always by his side, with Him and among ourselves and offer our feelings of self-sufficiency especially after
forgoing eating or sleeping except when she brethren a credible testimony, giving reason experience, study and immersion in people’s
was half scolded by her older siblings to do so. for our hope (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).” lives have enabled us to forge strategies and
“Behold I make all things new” (Rev 21:15); Message of the From her I saw the power of a parent’s love. It The power of God’s love is at work in the approaches that confidently ensure success,
National Pastoral Consultation on Church Renewal, 2001 is a power that enables one to share in a loved way he answers the prayer of Moses being everything still depends on God. It is his love
one’ pains. If Jojo was celebrating a happy mo- supported by Aaron and Hur in our first that we must, in the words of the Holy Father,
ment, you would have seen his happiness on reading this Mission Sunday. In a real sense “make visible”, not the efficiency and glory
her face too. Also that power enables a person the love of Moses as well as of the men sup- of our talents and abilities.
to endure, even cast aside, one’s own suffering porting him for their own people merely As I write I must confess that I’m a bit
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
or hardship to bring relief to a loved one. Con- reflects the love of God for Israel, and for us. struggling with fear. My responsibility as
sider this: Ate Melanie, sleepless and hungry, It is the all-powerful love of God that saves pastor calls me to go to a far and difficult
pestering her son’s doctor and nurses just so Israel from the forces of Amalek just as it is the barangay in my parish. Even now I can see
that her son may be saved from death. all-powerful love of God that saves us from in my mind’s eye the daunting mountain
Jojo eventually recovered. Only then did I the forces of sin and death. It is this love that climb that greets every traveler to the village
see a smile on Ate Melanie’s face. makes Israel a community anticipating that and slippery, rocky mountainous pathways
I often think of Ate Melanie when I think community of God’s Love we call the Church, I need to negotiate to reach it. I think of some
of mission. The love that impelled her to a community approached by representatives of my companions who had slipped into near
go through anything or, as they say, “do of the human race with the request: “We deaths. But now I also pause to pray for fresh
Pedro C. Quitorio Kris Bayos anything, come hell or high water”, is to me wish to see Jesus (Jn 12:21)”. The power of courage. I remind myself: It’s God’s love that
Editor-in-Chief Features Editor symbolic of God’s love that pushes us on to God’s love is also at work in the widow of I bring and must make visible, not my fears
mission. This is how I picture our whole situ- our gospel endlessly, relentlessly pestering and hesitations. So please help me, Lord. Then
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Gloria Fernando ation. God sees our terrible suffering when an unjust judge for her just rights. We need I think of Ate Melanie and the power of her
Marketing Supervisor sin has separated us completely from him. to imitate her in relentlessly pestering our love as a mother. Now, more than ever, I pray
PUBLICATION LAYOUT BY KRIS BAYOS

Associate Editor
His heart bleeds. In response he sends his unjust world for justice to our poor, hungry for the humility that will help me put myself
Melo M. Acuña Ernani M. Ramos only-begotten Son, his most precious jewel, and downtrodden. In fact, this power needs in the palm of God our Father’s hands, the
Managing Editor Circulation Manager enduring the immeasurable pain of losing us, our bodies and spirits as disciples, as its power of whose Love is visible on Cross of
him from heaven’s infinite security and glory. instruments, as its servants. his Son Jesus Christ.
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez As though being exiled from heaven was not Because our bodies breathe, we live. When Together with Ate Melanie, I also think of
News Editor Comptroller
enough, the Son, the first Missionary, had to our spirits breathe, what they do is pray. my friend Mel. Forgive me for introducing
endure poverty, hard work, obscurity, later Prayer is our spirits breathing in God’s breath, him rather late. He is a shy painter who loves
misunderstanding and, worse, rejection from God’s Ruah, the Spirit. And the Spirit? He is obscurity but paints such glowing colors of
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communica- the very people whose loving acceptance was “God’s Love in Person” according to Pope life as anyone can see in his paintings. I once
tions Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business offices a logical response because they were the first John Paul II (Dominum et Vivificantem, n. 8). requested him to restore the then time-worn
at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. object of God’s love. It’s small wonder then Because of this the Spirit is also the “principle and fading old Stations of the Cross portraits in
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940
that the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, of evangelization” (DeV 45). Prayer therefore my former parish church. The results speak for
stresses the power of this love in his Mission is key to mission. It is our life-blood. When we By the Roadside / A5
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010
Opinion A5
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Commentary
Views and Points Excommunication Zac Alstin

THERE are many errant
thoughts and angry talks, the
good amount of confused and
confusing claims, the sudden
appearance of experts in the
matter of “excommunication”—
with bitter and insulting mis-
sives especially to the members
of the hierarchy and the clergy
amid confusion and hysteria that
suddenly and bitterly emerged
on the occasion. That being the
case, it might be proper to briefly
and candidly clarify the matter
even if only through the few,
simple and candid observations
about the now infamous subject
matter of “excommunication”—
which is:
One: An admittedly serious
censure imposed upon Catholics
for having effectively committed
a serious forbidden act. While
they may remain Catholics if
they so desire, once excommuni-
cated, they lose the privilege of
receiving the Sacraments—Holy
Communion in particular—in
the same way that they are
excluded from the beneficial
prayers of the Universal Church
the world over.
Two: There are in truth but
three categorical excommunica-
tions which are automatically
imposed and incurred by Catho-
lics who in fact committed the
act precisely censured by the
penalty of excommunication:
One, the effective commission
of abortion, not the mere desire
or design thereof. Two, the
effective violation of the Seal
of Confession by a priest, not
the mere plan or intent to do it.
Three, the serious attempt on
the life of the Holy Father, ir-
respective of whether he dies or
survives it.
Three: Open advertisement,
sale, distribution of chemical or
synthetic contraceptives may
be in particular promotional of
promiscuity “without borders”
and a great incentive to irrespon-
sible copulation, irresponsible
procreation and irresponsible
parenthood. Strictly speaking
as such, they are not subject to
automatic excommunication.
Incidentally, aside from “auto-
matic excommunication”, there
is the “Imposed Excommunica-
tion”. This species of excommu-
nication undergoes administra-
tive or judicial process prior to
its penal imposition. This case
has particular application to
multinational pharmaceuticals
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL
who manufacture downright
abortifacients as a mere business
and money making venture.
Let them know that those who
receive, buy and use their prod-
ucts could in fact kill thousands
upon thousands of the unborn.
Needless to say, they have much
to answer for their downright
murders—especially before any
god they might still have.
As a final word, the Church
cannot and may not play blind,
deaf and dumb to the incursions
of contraceptives and aborti-
facients in this country. Teach
she does. Proclaim she insists.
Act she must. Those who do not
want to listen, to follow, to abide
by the Church stand, then they
are on their own. It is their own
call. It is their own option. It is
their own accountability.
Defending children
against eroticised
adult culture
WHO could have predicted even a decade ago that one of the
pressing issues facing parents and psychologists in this century
would be the marketing of adult sexuality to young children?
Some optimists might dispute that producing little ballroom
shoes with heels for two-year-olds amounts to any such thing;
but thongs, bralettes and pole dancing kits for seven-year-olds
are unambiguous signs of a trend that has forced professional
groups and governments into action.
In 2007 the American Psychological Association issued a
report on the sexualisation of girls, noting that this form of
self-objectification is linked with “three of the most common
mental health problems of girls and women: eating disorders,
low self-esteem and depression or depressed mood”.
Soon after, an Australian Senate committee held a public
inquiry and reported in 2008 that “the inappropriate sexuali-
sation of children in Australia is of increasing concern” and a
“significant cultural challenge”.
Earlier this year a report commissioned by the British Home

Walking out of the

Office confirmed that the sexualisation of young people (not
just girls) is a serious issue.

shadow
THE shadow of the hostage tragedy will be
with us for some time. The day will come,
however, when, like other issues, it shall
be covered by the sands of time and other
issues of national importance will grab our
attention.
We therefore need to take a long, reflec-
tive look upon this tragedy to learn from
it. When the dusts of emotional agitation,
latent racism, and finger pointing have
settled, will we, as a nation, emerge stron-
ger? Will our governmental institutions
be strengthened and less susceptible to
unwarranted political meddling? Will we
become more united as a people? I suggest
we focus on three areas.
First, we need to pinpoint dysfunctions in
our governmental institutions, from the PNP
to LGUs and other government agencies, as
well as the scoop-motivated imprudence of
media which contributed to the botched-
up rescue effort. Hard questions need to
be asked but not in the spirit of convenient
finger pointing, hindsight with axes to grind,
and political positioning. Incompetence in
the areas of knowledge, skills and resources
needs to be admitted and effectively ad-
dressed. Political meddling and its impact on
the rescue effort need to be looked into.
After all, if the hostage rescue had been
a success, how many politicians would be
taking advantage of a photo-op instead of
washing their hands? To what extent did
the ego of individuals get the better of them
in terms of making sound judgment? When
fact-finding efforts result in concrete recom-
mendations, what mechanism is there to
Fr. Roy Cimagala
ensure that these are indeed implemented
and there is follow through for a cumulative
process of learning? Where are the lessons
of the 1989 hostage-killing of Brig. Eduardo
Batalla and Col. Romeo Abendan in Cawa-
Cawa, Zamboanga City?
Second, we should not allow this failure
to define us as a people. Our prospects of
learning from the tragedy hinge upon as-
serting our God-given dignity as Filipinos,
both individually and as a nation. We need
to be humble in admitting our failures yet
we should not allow ourselves to be bullied
and treated as doormats. This is not the first
time a rescue attempt failed. Even world
military powers have had their share of
failures, as the 2002 Russian Nord-Ost Siege
and the USA’s Operation Eagle Claw in 1980
to rescue hostages in Iran. These failures do
not define these nations.
We also need to remind ourselves that
blood was spilled mainly because an agitated
man with guns was not stopped in time by
a poorly equipped and poorly led SWAT
team. This was largely error in judgment and
governmental dysfunction, not a bloodbath
for ideological or racist reasons carried out
deliberately and methodically. Let our sense
of shame at our failure be put in proper
perspective.
Third, we Filipinos have a special calling
to strike a balance between faith, democracy,
and development. We have been gifted with
tremendous natural resources and we are a
very special people who put a human and
religious face into globalization. This is the
larger picture to be considered: the scales
Spaces of Hope
of value. The long view requires us to work
hand in hand so that structural and institu-
tional reforms at the level of the technologi-
cal, economic and political spheres may be
sustained by cultural transformation that
really represent our ultimate goal.
As one wise man puts it, “The futil-
ity of achieving meaningful social reforms
through structural and institutional change
without cultural change is a vain effort and
constantly confirmed to be so in history.”
This is not an instant process but a lengthy
one, requiring loving patience from all our
citizens as well as wise, competent and effec-
tive leadership from leaders on the journey
towards integrity.
We all can contribute something to this
long-term endeavor.
A friend of mine recently sent me an email
she had received from a Chinese classmate of
hers at the Asian Institute of Management.
Let me share verbatim some portions of it:
“…thank you for your message. actually
I don’t know how to comfort your feeling
about this hostage incident happened re-
cently, but it is true, it happened, you can’t
avoid it, although everybody who have just
and fair heart would not bear it, that’s the
real world, every day, somewhere might be
the same thing happened or being happened,
so what we need to do is just to try our best
to make the world more peace and harmony.
Hope you all walk out of that shadow, let
the dead rest in peace, let the living be more
health and happy, I think this is the world
majority’s wish and hope. Yes, with God’s
grace we can walk out of that shadow.”
And yet, the sexualisation of children says more about our
attitudes to sex than our attitudes to children.
The heart of the problem is that children—people who are
culturally, physically, and mentally too young to engage sexu-
ally as adults—are being moulded and modelled to match an
eroticized adult culture.
Although this problem is epitomized by products and mar-
keting directed at children, anti-sexualisation campaigners
are just as likely to criticize sexualized material aimed more
commonly at an older audience. Lingerie ads, “men’s maga-
zines”, and the general “sex sells” principle evident in much
advertising -- these are all fair targets of the anti-sexualisation
campaign. Campaigners recognise that the objectionable con-
cepts and material being promoted to young children are an
extension of what is commonly available in the adult realm.
Even critics of the campaign implicitly confirm that this is
an issue of children being socialized into adult culture:
“Trying to hold girls back from the natural desire to put on
mum’s lipstick, read big sister’s magazines, play with Barbie—
who after all looks like a grown woman—I can’t see how that’s
going to have any more detrimental effect than [it did] on me
and my generation back in the ‘50s and ‘60s.”
There is some truth in this defence, as there is in the market-
ers’ refrain that they do not determine the values of the culture,
but merely employ the most effective means to sell a product.
Media and marketing constitute the vanguard of a sexualized
culture, hence they are legitimate targets of concerned parents.
But even the most egregious examples of sexualized marketing
to children have not emerged from a cultural vacuum.
The sexualisation of media and marketing is informed by the
growing sexualisation of society and its culture, which can in
turn be linked to changes in sexual behavior. In the past few
decades, adult life has undergone significant changes in the
context of sexuality. Three important factors are the increase
in the age of first marriage, the increase in the age of parents,
and the decrease in the age of first sexual intercourse.
The median age at first marriage in Australia has increased
from 23.8 years for men and 21.2 years for women in 1966, to
29.6 years for men and 27.7 years for women in 2008.
The median age of parents has likewise increased: from 29.7
years for men and 26.9 years for women in 1983, to 33.1 years
for men and 30.7 years for women in 2008.
Reliable data for age at first sexual intercourse is harder to find,
but a 2003 study titled Sex in Australia found that the median age
for men had declined from 18 years among men born between

Yellowing journalism 1941 and 1950, to 16 years among men born between 1981 and
1986. For women in the same age-groups, median age at first
Candidly Speaking sexual intercourse declined from 19 years to 16 years.
The pattern is very similar in the US and Britain.
What these figures reveal is a growing rift between sexual
experience and its traditional context within rites of passage
EVERYONE is familiar with It affects more the broadsheets, shuts out the inputs of faith. sacrifice, it’s no surprise it many such as marriage and having children. If young people can
what is called “yellow journal- the more standard and main- Besides, they cite the scandals times loses to the practicality of expect to have their “sexual debut” at age 16, but marry and
ism,” that kind that is screaming stream brand of journalism. in the Church as reason to dis- reason unburdened by faith. have children anywhere from 11 to 17 years later, then sex is
and sensationalistic, not averse They have become vulnerable credit the faith, a clear example What aggravates this situation clearly no longer limited to the context of marriage and pro-
to exaggerating things and even because of certain journalistic of throwing the baby out with is the phenomenon of strange creation. So what context does sex belong to now?
inventing and staging events to requirements that have been the bath water. As if there are creatures who call themselves When sex is part of the package of getting married and having
grab people’s attention. neglected. no scandals in other places, for- Catholics only to go against the children, it is subject to a tighter set of conditions and responsi-
Yellowing journalism is the Most of the media practitio- getting we are all humans, with Catholic faith. Their Catholicism bilities. Practical considerations such as income, accommoda-
process involved in making ners, from publishers down to the our own share of shortcomings is self-produced, self-arrogat- tion, and general stability necessarily apply. Sex becomes just
it. It’s a dynamic mix of many reporters, do not know the rela- irrespective of where we are ed and self-inflicted. They go one aspect of a lifelong commitment to another person.
elements and factors, condi- tion between faith and reason, placed. around proudly proclaiming But if sex is divorced from all such conditions, then we are
tions and circumstances, multi- between religion and their work, Remember that there was a they are Catholics for Choice. left with a merely natural and enjoyable act that is limited only
layered and multi-threaded, the spiritual and material aspects Judas among the apostles. And These, I think, are the deadly by one’s choices and opportunities in life. This is the idealized
whose course is uncharted, like of man, Church and state, etc. Judases can spring up anywhere elements present in yellowing form of sex in the modern world. All that remains is to maxi-
an adventure that gives suspense These things are considered anytime. That’s always a pos- journalism. They thrive in an mize one’s sexual potential, by cultivating the sexual attributes
and excitement, except that it can abstract and academic and are sibility, given our weakened environment stirred by emo- considered most desirable in the present society.
end in a big destructive mess. kept that way, with no effort to human condition. tions and passions, with reason In the greater context of these opposing views of sex, the
The media coverage of the convert them into something Our attitude should rather playing second fiddle. Faith is sexualisation of children has emerged as a point of conflict.
current RH bill controversy concrete and practical. If ever be to help one another, and ridiculed and ostracized. The The conflict arises because the vision of sex promoted by our
reminds me of this yellowing they have to acknowledge these be objective in distinguishing crisis is at bottom a question of culture is so free of constraints and responsibilities, that there
journalism. All the ingredients values, it’s mainly just lip ser- between the truths involved in faith in relation to our earthly is nothing in principle to dissuade or prevent children from
seem to be present and made to vice, for photo-ops, and not an issue, derived from faith and affairs. being socialized into it. What, after all, are the requirements for
stew. There’s passion and emo- much more. our human sciences, and the Worsening things is the sex in this idealized form? Consent, and opportunity. How can
tion, slogans and buzz words, Those who still care about their personalities involved, between emerging reality that much of children prepare to take part in this aspect of the adult culture?
myths and speculations. Biases faith are ashamed to show it, let the office and the occupant, be- what we see in the press today By maximizing their sexual potential, in accordance with the
and questionable ideologies are alone, to shape and define the tween the doctrine and the way regarding the RH Bill seems to sexual attributes considered desirable in our society.
the driving forces. character of their work and their it is lived. be orchestrated by a tremendous The disturbing truth is that our culture is doing what it is
If reason is ever used, it is life. So they become easy target to Faith-based morality is placed machinery of public relation meant to do: prepare children for their future roles as adults.
made to serve the passions. atheistic and agnostic sophistries at the margins, since nowadays outfits, clearly funded by mon- The problem is that in the context of sex, these roles require
Faith, that is supposed to guide that are often stuffed with imme- it seems to be the fad to deem eyed international groups and nothing more than achieving some semblance of the sexual
reason, is considered Public En- diate practical benefits. morality to be nothing other helped by their local lackeys, ideals promoted within our culture – the fashion, the physique,
emy Number One in what is sup- In fact, they usually frame than a result of economic, social, the NGOs, etc. The fingerprints and the attitude. Individuals do not need the long-term plan-
posed to be an objective pursuit issues like the RH Bill within a political and other human and are all over. ning necessary to make life-changing commitments. They do
for what is good for us. In fact, strictly economic or social point earthly considerations. Sorry, Unless faith is given a fair not need the financial independence to support a family. They
there’s a shrill cry for liberation of view, as if problems are solved but with this attitude, we are in hearing in this debate, I don’t do not need to consider how they will relate to their sexual
from Church, faith, religion and only in these levels. Purely hu- deepening trouble. We won’t be think we can really resolve this partner in ten, twenty, or thirty years’ time. Our culture does
the like. man means are flaunted as our getting nowhere. issue properly. Faith, the very not require them to be adults, merely to look like them.
This yellowing journalism is authentic savior. This is the tyr- Since faith requires grace, then soul of our reason, has to be If the sexualisation of children is a logical extension of our
not associated with the tabloids. anny of this kind of attitude. It effort, often torturous, and even given its proper place. present sexual culture, then the rallying cry in defense of child-
hood innocence is at heart a truly counter-cultural movement.
By the Roadside / A4 As a grassroots campaign, it holds great promise for highlight-
ing both “corporate paedophilia” and the hyper-sexualisation
themselves: the mysteries of the sufferings and making it VISIBLE in the world of our day and Our aim is to do all we can, in obedience to of the surrounding culture.
triumph of Jesus in living color. But it struck age. St. Ignatius of Loyola once encouraged his the Spirit, so that our fellow human beings This groundswell may not have the power to resolve under-
me one day how those bright living colors need brothers with the words: “Make yourselves may be able to say with St. Therese of Lisieux: lying cultural problems, but it gives parents the opportunity,
the lowly canvas to be what it is in order for liked by all, become all things to all men in “One glance at the holy Gospel, and the life and hopefully the courage, to take on the culture in defense
the artist’s ideas to be visible. That, I said to humility and love…” We best do it when we of Jesus becomes a perfume that fills the air of their children.
myself, is the same thing with every Christian acknowledge the truth that we are the mere I breathe.”
and with every Christian missionary. canvas, not the painter. We do so when, in That life has the power of Love written (Zac Alstin works at the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute in
God is the painter. It is his Love that is beau- faith, we put ourselves in God’s hands through large in the Gospel, enabling anyone, espe- Adelaide, South Australia; this article is reprinted here under special
tifully made visible first by Jesus Christ. Our prayer and then allow the power of his Love cially the missionary, to climb the steepest republishing arrangement with MercatorNet)
mission, so says Benedict XVI, is to continue to propel our efforts to proclaim the Gospel. mountains.
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

Hundreds gather for anti-RH bill rally in Quiapo HUNDREDS of people trooped
to Quiapo Church last October 2
for a “pro-life” prayer rally that
included a Catholic archbishop
who urged the government to
rethink its position on contra-
ception.
A group of rallyists were
holding a streamer bearing a
sign of “Kontrasepsyon Bahagi
ng Globalisasyon.”
Another group carried the
sign “Pondo sa Kontrasepsyon
Ilagay sa Edukasyon at Health
Services (allocate the fund for
education and health services
instead of contraceptives).
Some priests, ministers, nuns
and Black Nazarene devotees
were scattered through the
crowd, which organizers esti-
mated at around 1,500 people.
This was the first time that a
Church-backed rally has taken
place under the Aquino ad-
ministration, which observers
described as an “initial step”
to air their opposition against
a government plan to promote
artificial birth control.
The demonstrators were strong
in opposing the controversial
Reproductive Health (RH) bill
which seeks to control the coun-
try’s growing population and
the spread of HIV-AIDS through
the promotion of contraceptives
such as condoms and pills.
Upon arrival from the United
States, President Benigno Aquino
has said he is determined to pro-
vide couples an informed choice
in planning their families.
“We are all guided by our
consciences. My position has not
changed. The state’s duty is to
educate our families as to their
responsibilities and to respect
their decisions if they are in con-
formity to our laws,” he said.
Aquino’s position earned
the fury of many anti-abortion
advocates and many Christian
and Muslim leaders.
Speaking to reporters at Qui-
apo Church, San Fernando Arch-
bishop Paciano Aniceto called on
Aquino to emulate the leadership
of his mother, the late president
Corazo Aquino, on the issue of
family and life issues.
“Our President should emu-
late his mother.... There is hope
that the President will listen.
His mother and the bishops
were close. We say his mother
was very saintly. She listened to
the Church. I think he will give
importance and value to that,”
Aniceto said.
He said the country must learn
to embrace the gift of life and to
defend it against the “culture of
death.”
Aniceto chairs the Episcopal
Commission on Family and Life
of the Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines (CBCP).
The prelate also said that
it was not just Catholics who
are opposing artificial con-
traceptives but also Muslims
and evangelical Protestants.
(CBCPNews)

Solon seeks return of Balangiga bells

A NEOPHYTE lawmaker has filed a bill
seeking the return of two church bells that
were taken by US army in 1901 from Balan-
giga town, in Eastern Samar.
In filing House Bill 460, Eastern Samar
Rep. Ben Evardone said the substantive
meaning of the annual observance Balangiga
massacre has been “diminished” year after
year due to the absence of the bells.
The three church bells were taken by the
United States Army from the Balangiga after
reprisals following the Balangiga incident in
1901 during the Philippine-American War.
The bells were reportedly rung, without
permission of the parish priest, to signal an
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
One church bell is in the position of the
19th Infantry Regiment at Camp Red Cloud,
their base in South Korea, while two others
are displayed on a former base of the 11th
Infantry Regiment at F.E. Warren Air Force
Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Evardone said that the bells have “lost”
their historic significance in the eyes of the
Americans contrary to the primacy of the
importance the Filipino people have attached
to them.
“…Despite concerted efforts for the recov-
ery of the said bells since the time of former
President Fidel Ramos until the Arroyo
administration, not a single bell has been
Bells,” it said.
On September 28, people and public of-
ficials of Eastern Samar commemorated the
109th year of the celebration of the Balangiga
Massacre.
In his speech during the event, Evardone
vowed to exert all means possible to restore
the bells because “they rightly belong to the
people of Balangiga.”
“We will not stop until the bells will be
returned to us,” he said.
The Diocese of Borongan, meanwhile, has
earlier stepped up its efforts by organizing
a Diocesan Committee on Balangiga Bells
composed of Filipinos from the Philippines

attack on the American garrison that killed
all but two of the regiment.
At retaliation that burned Balangiga and
neighboring towns while killing thousands
of the natives, the 11th US Infantry Regi-
ment confiscated the bells of Balangiga and
brought them to US as “war booty.”
returned…” said part of the resolution.
“The changes in the administration of both
the United State and the Philippines which
saw the rise of populist leaders in President
Barrack Obama and President Benigno
Aquino III have opened fresh hopes of a shift
in US policy towards returning the Balangiga
and in the US.
Last August, Bishop Crispin Varquez
of the Diocese of Borongan met with the
members of the committee in the US who are
spearheading the lobby in the US Congress
for the return of the bells for some years now.
(CBCPNews)

Muslims / A1 Asian Churches / A1

Erratum: Men’s group vows

community is one with the
Catholic hierarchy in opposing
the passage of the Reproduc-
tive Health bill which seeks to
control the country’s growing
birth rate.
“Sa contraceptives, hindi tayo
pabor diyan para bawasan ang
populasyon ng Pilipinas. Kontra
po diyan ang Islam dahil bakit
natin i-under estimate ang plano
ng Panginoon,” he said over
Radyo Veritas.
Moxir also said he is saddened
that the government is pushing
for the legislation so that at least
P100 will be allocated for the pur-
chase of artificial contraceptives.
Prayer / A1
Fr. Noel Jetajobe, chancellor,
said the prayer is to be recited
by the faithful at the succeeding
“in all Masses and celebration
of the Word of God without a
priest.”
“In line with our advocacy
against gambling in the diocese,
the bishop’s office has drafted an
oratio imperata for the promo-
tion of the dignity of labor and
reiterating our stand against all
forms of gambling,” he said.
The Oratio Imperata, an or-
dered prayer for a special inten-
tion, was issued to all parish
priests, shrine rectors, chap-
“Bakit hindi natin ilalaan from conception to natural
ang nasabing pondo sa ibang death.”
kapaki-pakinabang na paraan? Quevedo said that even with
Baka maging immoral na tayo
diyan. Bakit tayo mamahagi ng
ganyan?” he said.
In the Sept. 27-
Oct 10, 2010 issue of
diverse cultural traditions, the
Asian bishops have “gained a
certain degree of communion,
to defend church’s
stand vs RH bill
President Benigno Aquino Monitor the title of fellowship, solidarity, [and]
III earlier said he supports the article on B7 should cooperation,” which was made
use of contraceptives among have been Diocesan possible because of “a common
couples because they should be Foundation feeds un- vision of mission and pastoral AMID a raging birth control The tourist guide was pro-
the ones to decide what type of dernourished school priority.” debate, a group of Catholic testing the church’s opposi-
family planning methods they And it is through the bishops’ men is girding to protect and tion to President Benigno
will use.
children instead of leadership that “the Church defend the church’s position Aquino III’s position on arti-
It is, however, believed that Jesuit foundation in Asia continues to undergo on the RH Bill. ficial contraception.
the said statement might lead to feeds undernour- waves of conversion or renewal, The 250,000-strong Knights The following day, a rally
the swift passage of the contro- ished children. (Our towards a renewed evangeliza- of Columbus in the Philip- was held at the gate of the main
versial reproductive health (RH) apologies, Eds.) tion and discipleship of life, a pines said they are ready to headquarters of the Catholic
bill in Congress. (CBCPNews) Church renewed in the Word mobilize its forces and oppose Bishops’ Conference of the
and Bread of God,” he said. a government plan to promote Philippines in Intramuros by
Reflecting on the words of artificial contraception. pro-RH bill supporters.
Pope Benedict XVI’s “without Alonso Tan, K of C Luzon The demonstrators also went
Communion there is no witness; deputy, said they would join shouting “unprintable words”
lains. in health, education, and infra- the life of communion is truly any activities initiated by the and carried placards with the
Last August, Bancud and San structure projects. the great witness,” Quevedo Church and even mass pro- messages such as “Keep you
Jose Bishop Mylo Huber Ver- They also said that casino said witnessing is crucial for tests to uphold and promote rosaries out of our ovaries.”
gara led a mass demonstration gaming would be a very viable the church in Asia because “in their anti-reproductive health “The Knights of Columbus
to protest their strong opposition industry for Nueva Ecija and has many places in Asia where there bill stand. being pro-life, pro-family and
against the planned casino op- significant potential for direct is no freedom of religion the Tan also criticized tourist pro-Church cannot just let these
eration in San Leonardo town. and indirect employment. only way to proclaim the Lord guide Carlos Celdran for “dis- current onslaughts against the
The prelates believe that gam- But the Church believes that is to witness to Him by a silent rupting” an ecumenical service Church pass without doing
bling would not bring good all these projected social benefits but truly faithful Christian life, at the Manila Cathedral. something,” said Tan.
to society. They said that local brought about by gambling, if a life of love for God and service Celdran was arrested last “I therefore encourage my
officials should instead look for true, fail in proportion to the evil to our neighbour.” September 30 after he walked Brother Knights to uphold
alternative livelihood instead of that it brings to society. The Synod of Bishops’ Special at the cathedral’s main altar and promote our anti-RH bill
opening the casino. In its fight against gambling, Assembly for the Middle East holding a placard with the stand and defend and protect
Proponents of casino gam- the Church has often forwarded opened Oct. 10 with a Mass name “Damaso,” and shout- the bishops, the priest and the
bling said that the revenues from a moral principle that the end, presided by the Holy Father, ing, “Stop getting involved church at large,” he added.
it will be placed in a special fund no matter how good, does not Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s in politics.” (CBCPNews)
to finance capital development justify the means. (CBCPNews) Basilica. (CBCP News)

Sumilao / A1 Cruz / A1

hectares within the 144 hectares
last April 16, 2010.
“Matapos ang tatlong taong
pakikipaglaban sa aming kara-
patan sa lupa, naibalik na sa
amin ang kabuuang 144 ektary-
ang lupain,” said Panaw Sumi-
lao Multipurpose Cooperative
Chairman and President Napo-
leon “Yoyong” Merida Jr.
The 26 years old Merida took
the mantle of leadership of the
embattled Sumilao farmers after
the killing of their famous leader,
Ka Rene Peñas on June 5, 2009.
Peñas was on his way home
on board a motorcycle from a
celebration following the suc-
cessful passage of the CARPER
law when he was ambushed and
killed almost midnight along a
secluded stretch of road in ba- 13 hectares for a total of 147 hect- After all, Cruz said, his movie. made the incident investiga-
rangay San Vicente. ares,” he told this reporter. criticisms are meant to help “Again, I might come to tion and review committee
Jan Perry Eugenio, lawyer of Merida said that 50 hectares of the Aquino administration that state of being alone and (IIRC) on the Aug. 23 hostage
the alternative law group that the 144 hectares have been dis- to become better in the long old… it’s because I watched crisis in Manila.
serves as the Sumilao farmers’ tributed to 63 farmer-members run. the Grumpy Old Men so I will Cruz said he was not of-
lawyers, Balay Alternative Legal of the Panaw Sumilao MPC; He said the President should try to understand him all the fended, in any way, by Aqui-
Advocates for Development in 50 hectares serve as communal discern between criticism that time,” he said drawing laugh- no’s comments against him
Mindanaw, Inc. (BALAOD-Min- farm of the cooperative; 34 hect- is meant to help, and the one ter from newsmen. but warned that grumpy old
danaw), expressed happiness ares will be farmed by the Panaw that is just meant to harm his The chief executive also man could get grumpier as he
that the battle is finally over. Sumilao MPC farmers starting administration. noted that the church official gets older.
Eugenio also said that he is next year since these land, al- “I’ll continue to do what never had good words for his “I thank him for this obser-
very happy that instead of 144 though already have a CLOA in I’m doing which is pointing administration. vation because it comes from
hectares, San Miguel gave the favor of the farmers, are under out to realities in the admin- “I think the Bible says: the President, but now he can
farmers a total of 147 hectares or leased by Del Monte Philippines, istration which could help ‘Blessed are the persecuted’ be assured that I’ll be older
3 hectares over what the farmers Inc. and are being planted with it better serve its purpose,” so I want to thank him because and grumpier,” Cruz said.
were demanding. pineapples by DMPI. Cruz said. I would be blessed,” he also “The older you get, the
“San Miguel decided to award The 13 hectares awarded to Aquino, in a press confer- said. grumpier you are. I think that
13 hectares last Sunday because them last Oct. 10, according to ence, yesterday lashed out the Mr. Aquino’s remarks is the law of nature. There is
the area was contiguous and they Merida, will be part of the com- outspoken prelate whom he stemmed from the observation nothing exceptionally extraor-
do not want the hassle to subdi- munal farm of the Panaw Sumi- likened to the old characters of Cruz that he didn’t adopt dinary about that,” he added.
vide it. So they gave the farmers lao MPC. (Bong D. Fabe) in the “Grumpy Old Men” the full recommendations (CBCPNews)

Apology / A1 Death Penalty / A1

and other tribal rituals were also held at
the cathedral on October 11.
Officiated by elders, tong-tongan is
one way of settling land disputes in the
town of Buguias in Benguet province in
northern Luzon.
Majority of the IP participants from
different dioceses across the country un-
derscored the continuing encroachment
of mining ventures into their ancestral
domains and assault of indigenous cul-
tures as their major concerns.
The half-day activity also paved the
way for the presentation of agreements
and exchange of gifts, followed by the
celebration of the Eucharist.
Some bishops earlier asked the Truth
Commission created by President Be- “This is evidently the beginning of a to restorative justice. toral Care (ICCPPC) is set to meet
nigno Aquino III to look into “environ- long-term process of dialogue between “We offer the tenets of restorative on October 25-29, 2010 in Cavite to
mental crimes.” the Christian faith and the way of life justice that while our justice system promote humanization, revision and
A “bodong” (peace pact) ritual, popular of the indigenous peoples,” said Tony seeks to punish the wrongdoer, it reform of the prison system in the
in the neighboring Kalinga province in the Abuso, program coordinator of the ECIP should move beyond punishment and world.
Cordilleras, was also held on Oct. 12. Secretariat. seek healing of all stakeholders, the The meeting hopes to encour-
During the ritual, the “hurts” caused The dialogue is expected to lead to victim, the offender and the society age the Church and the society of
by the church was expressed by the rep- a “change of heart, ways of thinking, we all live in,” said Diamante. a “greater awareness” of the Prison
resentatives of the IPs. Then, representa- discernment, and theologizing, as well Meanwhile, Diamante called on Pastoral Care and to form pastoral
tives of the church expressed the asking as, paradigm shifts in approaches and other prison advocates to join them in information, courses and studies for
of forgiveness. pastoral programs of the Church,” he recommending the alternative way of the prison pastoral ministry.
It was followed by presentation of said. keeping peace in the community and The assembly will be conducted
certain points of agreements, consisting Bishop Utleg also said that the church generating an enabling environment right after the celebration of the
of the calls of the IPs to the Church. and government can work together to prevent criminality. 23rd Prison Awareness Week on
An exchange of symbolic gifts to each to help solve the concerns of the tribal On another development, the Ex- October 19-24, 2010 which will be
party concluded the rite followed by the communities through consultation and ecutive Board of the International spearheaded by the CBCP-ECPPC.
celebration of the Eucharist. a continuous cultural exchange. Commission of Catholic Prison Pas- (Kate Laceda)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010
A7

Borongan to host 3rd

Regional Youth Day

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar— Celebration of the diocese which ering would be coming from the Photo courtesy of Lynlyn Pinarok

Around 300 Catholic youth will
gather here on Oct. 27 to 29 for the
3rd Regional Youth Day (RYD)
with delegates coming from Cen-
tral and Eastern Visayas regions.
With the theme “Young
Visayans: Come Together, Share
the Word, Live the Eucharist,”
the gathering hopes to continue
the journey of the youth to grow
in faith.
Borongan Bishop Crispin
Varquez said the gathering co-
incides with the Golden Jubilee
will culminate on October 22.
“This is indeed a grace-filled
year for us and it is from here
that we gather with the objective
to grow in the common faith,
deepen communion and inspire
mission,” Varquez said.
RYD, organizers said, is a
“journey of faith” embarked by
young faithful from the pastoral
jurisdictions under the Central
Eastern Visayas Regional Youth
Coordinating Council (RYCC).
Participants of this year’s gath-
archdioceses of Cebu and Palo,
and the dioceses of Dumaguete,
Tagbilaran, Maasin, Talibon,
Calbayog, Borongan, Catarman
and Naval.
Since the inception of the
Central Eastern Visayas RYCC,
it has long been dreamed by its
members that a youth day in the
regional level be realized.
The RYD was first held in the
Archdiocese of Cebu in 2006
and then in the Diocese of Dum-
aguete in 2007. (CBCPNews)

Manaoag shrine offers new facilities, attractions for pilgrims

MANAOAG, Pangasinan—The
Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag
in Pangasinan has recently add-
ed new facilities and done im-
provements on existing ones to
enhance the shrine’s prayerful
ambiance.
The Our Lady of Manaoag
Museum, which houses the
historic and religious articles
related to the miraculous im-
age offers an extended area for
reflection to the pilgrims.
Items, accompanied by his-
torical notes, are arranged to tell
the story of Manaoag—from the
early missions of the Dominican
Order in Pangasinan, to the ap-
parition, to the construction of
the “Church on a hill.”
Displayed at the 14 x 10-meter
www.static.panoramio.com
sels; and valuable accessories,
vestments, and perfumes of the
image.
The museum is open to pil-
grims for the whole week, except
on Tuesdays, from 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
A more spacious new can-
dle gallery can now accom-
modate the large number of
devotees who light candles for
their prayers and petitions. The
candle gallery has been designed
by Architect Armando “Don” de
Guzman.
Subdued lightings that accen-
tuate the glares of candlelight
also add solemnity to the place.
At the center of the structure, a
soothing fountain is yet to be
completed, where a replica of
the candle gallery. The area
accommodates the blessing of
holy water, religious items, and
vehicles.
Pilgrims may also find re-
ligious books and items at
the newly-renovated religious
stores in the shrine premises
that sell a variety of rosaries,
religious images, novenas and
books.
Recently, the Shrine has
launched its website, www.
manaoagshrine.org, and the
DVD of “Manaoag: The Call
of the Virgin,” the two-hour
documentary that enjoyed high
ratings during the Black Satur-
day of 2010 after being aired at
GMA-7.
Our Lady of Manaoag is a ca-

hall are a vintage carroza, used
to transport the image dur-
ing processions; a collection of
Pre-Vatican II garments, which
some may date back to the 17th
century; a variety of sacred ves-
the image of the Our Lady of
Manaoag will be installed.
Devotees who wish to have
their religious articles blessed
may ask a priest to bless the
items at “blessing area” beside
nonically crowned image of Our
Lady of the Holy Rosary, duly
recognized by the Vatican and
enshrined in a church under the
Dominican Order in the country.
(Levine Lao)

City council urges people to ‘war’ Briefing

vs. power interruption
CAGAYAN DE ORO City— Councilors
of this city have urged Kagay-anons
and the people of Mindanao to go to
“war” against the National Power
Corporation (NPC/NAPOCOR) and
the National Grid Corporation of the
Philippines (NGCP) over the resump-
tion of two-hour rotating brownouts in
Mindanao.
Mayor Vicente Emano is personally
leading this “war” against NAPOCOR
and NGCP, including the local power
utility Cagayan de Oro Power and Light
Company (CEPALCO), which despite
the brownouts have filed before the
Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)
a petition for an increase in power rate
per kilowatt hour, said Councilor Presi-
dent Elipe.
Elipe, chairman of the adhoc com-
mittee charged to look into the brown-
outs by virtue of his being chairman
of the City Council Committee on
Energy, said people of Cagayan de
Oro and Mindanao should now make
their voices heard and let NAPOCOR,
NGCP and CEPALCO explain to the
people the real situation of power in
the island.
He said Kagay-anons should also
register their vehement objection to
CEPALCO’s petition for an increase in
power rate per kilowatt hour which it
planned to implement next year.
Upon the resumption of rotating
brownouts in Mindanao late last month,
the power transmission company
NGCP pointed the media to the NA-
POCOR when asked for reasons of the
brownouts.
But when reached for their reaction,
the NAPOCOR refer the inquiries to
the NGCP.
The NGCP, in a statement, blamed
the brownouts to the “scarcity of power
supply and generation” of NAPO-
COR.
It said that NAPOCOR’s power
plants cannot meet the actual demand
of customers connected to the Mind-
anao grid.
“At any given time, two to three of
NAPOCOR’s eight power plants (i.e.
Agus 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, Pulangi, and Power
Barge 104) are shut down for various
reasons. Thus, lately, there is substan-
tially less energy traffic within the Min-
danao grid, and the energy demands of
Mindanao cannot be met. It is for this
reason that Mindanao has started to ex-
perience, again, a spate of brownouts,”
it explained in its release.
But NAPOCOR said its power plants
are generating enough power to meet
the demand of Mindanao and blamed
the NGCP for the curtailment.
As the two companies continue to
trade accusations, Councilor Edgar
Cabanlas strongly urged his colleagues
to pass a resolution condemning NAPO-
Solon says Aquino men needed to get acts together
CAGAYAN DE ORO City—Sen. Francis Pangilinan said President Aquino
can only be effective if his chosen Cabinet officials get their acts together
COR, NGCP and even CEPALCO for
conspiring against Kagay-anons. and help him fulfill his campaign promises. Although Aquino got a “pass-
Cabanlas said these three companies ing grade” from the people in his first 100 days in office, Pangilinan said
are conspiring to raise electricity rates in the President still needs to show he is the leader and let his Cabinet toe the
the city and Mindanao to the detriment administration line. (Bong D. Fabe)
of the power consumers.
“We are always on the losing end. Aquino’s first 100 days full of ‘missed opportunities’
They are only making fun of us. This CAGAYAN DE ORO City—President Aquino III’s first 100 days in Malaca-
is just a game for them,” an angry Ca- ñang were characterized by “missed opportunities” especially in promoting
banlas said in the vernacular, adding: human rights, Amnesty International Philippines said. “During his first
“We don’t have access in the process 100 days in office, President Aquino has highlighted serious human-rights
of verifying” the true power situation issues in the Philippines, but has yet to take concrete action against them,”
in Mindanao. AIPh director Aurora Parong said. (Bong D. Fabe)
He said power consumers should
not just accept any of these companies’ Power-Coop consumers assert right to legislate
claim that power supply is at an all-time LEGAZPI City—Multi-stakeholders of the power cooperative here have ap-
low in Mindanao because they are not proved a resolution mandating the Board of Directors of the Albay Electric
providing enough data to support this Cooperative (Aleco) to facilitate a special meeting of member-consumers
claim. on Oct.16, to come up with solutions that will bail out the ailing power
However, there is also no way for the facility. Aleco consumers asserted their right to call for a special assembly
ordinary power consumers to verify to find a way out of the problems hounding the power cooperative. (Elmer
this claim. James Bandol)
“I’m in a quandary every time these
three claim that power supply is very 14 OFWs in Saudi nabbed for practicing Christian faith
low in Mindanao. Definitely, they are QUEZON City— Migrante Middle East (ME) appealed to the government to
conspiring against the people,” Caban- help the 14 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrested by the Saudi cultural
las said. police for participating in a Christian worship. John Leonard Monterona, re-
Early this year when widespread gional coordinator of Migrante-ME said that the 14 OFWs, whose names are
brownouts hit Mindanao, power com- yet to be verified, were included to more than 100 foreigners apprehended by
panies parroted the claim of NGCP and the Saudi authorities for practicing Christianity. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
NAPOCOR that power supply was very
low because there was not enough wa- Gov’t urged to probe rape of Pinay nurses in Saudi
ter in NAPOCOR’s hydro-power dams MALABON City— An affiliate of a Filipino migrant rights group in Riyadh,
in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon because Saudi Arabia urged the Philippine Embassy to conduct an investigation
of the El Niño. (Bong D. Fabe) about the reported two separate incidents of abduction and rape involving
Pinay Nurses. Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan chair Eric Jocson said they’re

Two bishops perform in piano concert
LAOAG City— Two bishops performed in a piano concert
during a thanksgiving jubilee celebration at the Carmelite
Monastery in Laoag on October 1.
The night filled with resounding and melodious music
when Bishop Sergio L. Utleg of Laoag and Bishop Camilo
Gregorio of the Prelature of Basco, played the piano with
grace during the concert.
The performance featured UST Conservatory of Music
scholar Jaenna Catherine Ku Peralta with Bishop Utleg as
assisting artist.
After Bishop Utleg played the Claire de Lune of Debussy,
he announced a surprise performance of Bishop Gregorio.
Introducing Bishop Gregorio to the audience, he told on
how he first met the bishop back at the Central Seminary.
Bishop Utleg said he was amazed when he first saw Bishop
Gregorio playing the piano. They become friends eventually.
He said that he followed Bishop Gregorio wherever he went.
“When he went to Rome, I followed to Rome. When he
went to US, I followed him to US. And when he became a
bishop, I became a bishop too,” he said.
“I was following, literally, his footsteps,” he quipped.
(Mark Vertido)
now conducting their own investigation about the reported 2 separate in-
cidents of abduction and rape, the victims were Filipino nurses working in
Riyadh hospitals. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Tondo urban poor protests imminent demolition
MANILA—Urban poor families from Tondo protested an impending demo-
lition of their houses that will give way to the Philippine Ports Authority’s
and private corporations’ ‘developmental projects.’ More than 500 families
from the Isla Puting Bato, Collector’s Road, and Slip Zero protested near
Malacañang on Oct. 4 to protest the looming demolition of their houses on
Nov.15. Joy Lumawod of the Tondo Foreshoreland People’s Alliance said
that the current administration is not true to its words that it would uplift
the lives of the poor. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

La Naval festivities focus on change

FOCUSING on the theme of renewal, the La
Naval festivities kicked off on Oct. 1 with the
traditional novena and enthronement of the
Marian image at the Sto. Domingo Church,
Quezon City.
Fr. Giuseppe Pietro Arsciwals, OP, Sto.
Domingo Convent prior said the focus of
the La Naval celebrations—“Tagumpay at
Pagbabago” (Triumph and Change) was
inspired by people’s clamor for change as
seen in the last elections.
“After the elections, people continue to
talk about change,” he said in an email. “And
this change serves as inspiration and hope
to our country.”
Arsciwals explained that “triumph” has
always been part of the saga of La Naval, cit-
ing the epic victory of trade galleons against
the heavily armed Dutch armada in 1646 and
the success of the People Power I in 1986.
He added that the feast intended to re-
mind people that the true change cannot be
achieved through violence. Neither can it
solely rely on big projects.
“The true change can come from the per-
son who accepts the will of God for him or
her,” Arsciwals said. “This is the triumph of
the Blessed Virgin.”
Themed “La Naval de Manila: Tagumpay
sa Pagbabagong-buhay” (La Naval de Ma-
nila: Triumph in a Change of Life), the entire
celebration was done in Filipino, departing
from the usual practice of using the English
medium.
The move to hold the usual recitations of
the rosary, novena, and masses from English
to Filipino was meant to bring the faith closer
to the people.
Celebrants for the traditional novena
masses for La Naval include Bishop Teodoro
Bacani, retired auxiliary bishop of Manila;
Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, OP, University of
Santo Tomas rector; Fr. Ramonclaro Mendez,
OP, Aquinas University rector; Fr. Mario
Sobrejuanite, SSP, Director of the Center
for Pauline Spirituality and Animation; Fr.
Honorato Castigador, OP, Colegio de San
Juan de Letran–Calamba rector; and Fr.
Gerard Francisco Timoner, OP, UST Central
Seminary rector.
Completing the list of celebrants were Fr.
Eugenio Cabillon III, Fr. Allan Lopez, Fr.
Virgilio Ojoy from the Dominican Province
of the Philippines.
Novena started on Oct. 1, signaled by the
enthronement ceremony for La Naval, and
ended on Oct. 10 with the traditional grand
procession.
Our Lady of La Naval is a canonically
crowned image of Our Lady of the Holy
Rosary, duly recognized by the Vatican and
enshrined in a church under the Dominican
Order in the country.
There is a museum at Sto. Domingo
Church that exhibits the history of the rosary
and the convent, as well as vestments, impor-
tant images and documents pertaining to the
devotion to La Naval, including the antique
religious items of the church. (Levine Lao)

Cardinal leads Bible Campaign

anniversary celebration
7 Filipinas join world
meeting of women
organizations
A SEVEN-WOMAN delegation
from various Catholic women’s
groups will represent the country
during the World Union of Catholic
Women’s Organizations’ 2010 Cen-
tenary Assembly beginning October
5 until October 12 in Jerusalem.
Dr. Zenaida Rotea, executive
secretary of the CBCP Office on
Women and incoming Catho-
lic Women’s League national
president Wennie Reyes, Atty.
www.ecba-cbcp.com
www.farm4.static.flickr.com
Mt. Olives on Thursday and pro-
ceed to the Garden of Gethsemane
to visit the Church of All Nations.
They will also have the chance to
visit the Nativity Church.
The delegates will likewise have
a half-day tour of Jerusalem while
a whole-day session has been
scheduled on Saturday, October
9 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Dr. Rotea said they are also
scheduled to visit Catholic parishes

MANILA Archbishop Gaud-
encio Cardinal Rosales led the
celebration of the 2nd year an-
niversary of the May They Be
One (MTBO) Bible Campaign, a
Bastes; Caloocan Bishop Deogra-
cias Iñiguez; Antipolo Bishop
Gabriel Reyes, Legaspi Emeri-
tus Bishop Nestor Cariño, Palo
Emeritus Bishop Pedro Dean
Nathanael Lazaro, Chairman of
the National Council of Church-
es of the Philippines (NCCP);
Ambassador Henrietta de Villa
of the Parish Pastoral Council
ing session was represented by
Cardinal Rosales and the Papal
Nuncio as well as some bish-
ops that are participants in the
campaign.
Roslina Edita Jinez and four oth-
ers have left for Tel Aviv in time
for the world meeting.
The opening liturgy will be
held at 10:00 a.m. at St. Saviour’s
Church in Jerusalem. All other
sessions will be held at the Notre
Dame Auditorium.
The participants will also visit
within Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The closing ceremonies will be held
on Monday, October 11. A trip to
Galilee has also been scheduled on
Tuesday, October 12th.
The other delegates are Eu-
lado Diaz, Nelia Zamaco and
Mesdames Batad and Abapo.
(CBCPNews)

bible project that aims to distrib-
ute million of bibles to families
in five years.
Held at the Manila Cathedral
in Intramuros, Manila, the mass
was presided by the Cardinal
and concelebrated by Archbish-
op Edward Joseph Adams, Ap-
ostolic Nuncio to the Philippines;
Bishop Pablo David, Chairman
of the CBCP’s Episcopal Com-
mission on Biblical Apostolate
(ECBA); Lingayen-Dagupan
Auxiliary Bishop Renato Ma-
yugba; Sorsogon Bishop Arturo
and the Metro Manila Priests.
The celebration was jointly or-
ganized by the Episcopal Com-
mission on Biblical Apostolate
(ECBA) and the Philippine Bible
Society (PBS).
Bishop David led the Ecu-
menical prayer service while
representatives from various
religious and lay organizations
shared scripture passages and
reflections.
Among the speakers were
Bishop Fred Magbanua of the
Jesus Our Life Church; Bishop
for Responsible Voting (PPCRV);
Edgardo Tria Tirona from the
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas
and Rev. Charlie Pridmore,
Union Church of Manila.
Culminating the activity was
a symbolic Bible Handwriting
session of the “12 apostles” or
the representatives from vari-
ous sectors of society including
the church, government, youth,
persons with disabilities, busi-
ness, military, media and urban
poor.
For the Church, the handwrit-
Markings
Launched last 2008, the MTBO
Bible Campaign intends to dis-
tribute five million Bibles to 5
million poor Filipino families
within 5 years.
It also encourages Filipinos to
further study the scriptures for
one’s transformation and the CELEBRATED. Lingayen-Dagupan
country’s total renewal. Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, 25th
At least around 218,211 poor anniversary of sacerdotal ordination,
families in 814 parishes have October 6, 2010; at the St. John Evan-
gelist Cathedral, Dagupan City. Or-
already been provided with dained priest by Jaime L. Cardinal Sin
MTBO Bibles through the par- on October 5, 1985, Villegas served as
ticipation of 75 dioceses. (Kate secretary to the Cardinal soon after his
Laceda) ordination, a position he occupied until
his appointment as Bishop of Balanga
in 2004. He was named Archbishop of

Evangelical group declares ‘election-

Lingayen-Dagupan by Pope Benedict
XVI in 2009, succeeding Archbishop
Oscar Cruz who had retired upon
reaching the mandatory age of retirement. Villegas is also the Chairman
of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education

consciousness week’
(ECCCE) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

ELECTED. Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ, as

AN alliance of evangelical organizations
engaged in voters’ education has de-
clared an ‘election-consciousness week’
in view of the forthcoming nationwide
barangay elections.
VoteNET Philippines has declared
October 10-17 as “Puso sa Puso Election-
Consciousness Week” to educate the
public on their responsibilities as vot-
ers.
Bishop Efraim Tendero, National Di-
rector of Philippine Council of Evangeli-
cal Churches and Chairman of VoteNET
Philippines, in a letter, has invited voters
to attend the “election-consciousness”
week and make a difference for the good
of the country.
“We encourage you to participate
during the “Puso sa Puso Election-
Consciousness Week” for the glory of God
and for the church to grow as salt and light
of this country,” he said.
Tendero said that during last elections,
many have “actively engaged in the election
process [by] praying, educating others, and
poll-watching.”
“Our involvement has led us to reflect on
how we can be more effective in our partici-
pation in this political exercise,” he said.
In the guidelines it issued for the election-
consciousness week, the group recommend-
ed to the member churches/organizations
to pray for candidates and other election
stakeholders to achieve an honest and cred-
ible election on Oct. 25.
It also urged the pastors to discuss the
biblical principles of elections and good
governance with their congregation. Other
guidelines include a candidates’ forum;
education of voters; help clean the
voters’ list; not to sell one’s vote; be a
peacemaker; and guarding of the vote at
election time.
The week-long activity aims to “raise
the consciousness of the Christian com-
munity on the Biblical basis [of their]
participation; organize an avenue where
[they] can get to know more about the
candidates and their platform of gover-
nance; enhance the skills in educating
others; collectively pray for Honest,
Orderly, and Peaceful Election (HOPE);
promote clean elections through poll-
watching and refusing vote-buying;
and use the wave of election as platform
to share Jesus in our communities.”
(CBCPNews)
the new president of Xavier University in
Cagayan de Oro City. Fr. Yap succeeds
Xavier University’s outgoing president Fr.
Jose Ramon Villarin. He will assume the
post at the end of the current academic
year. Jesuit provincial, Fr. Jose Cecilio
Magadia announced the election of Yap
by the university’s Board of Trustees in
a letter sent to the academic community.
Xavier University initially known as Ate-
neo de Cagayan was founded in 1933 by
Fr. James T.G. Hayes, SJ, who became
the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of
Cagayan de Oro. Ateneo de Cagayan was given its university status
on August 27, 1958 and the name was changed to Xavier University.
It was the first university in Mindanao, and the first Jesuit institution in
the Philippines to be granted a university status. Xavier University has
established the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture (RIMCU) in
1957 to study cultural issues in Mindanao and Southeast Asia Rural
Social Leadership Institute (SEARSOLIN) in 1963 to train leaders from
other countries in agricultural work.
ORDAINED. Rev. Carlo Perez del Rosario and Rev. Adonis Galamgam
Saclolo, to the order of priesthood, by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales, September 25, 2010; at the Minor Basilica of the
Immaculate Conception, Intramuros, Manila. The two deacons took
their seminary formation at the UST Central Seminary and Redemptoris
Mater Mission Seminary.

Youth leaders to gather in national confab

YOUTH ministers nationwide
are set to gather in a biennial
conference organized by the
Episcopal Commission on Youth
(ECY) of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP).
Themed “Youth Ministers:
Disciples of the Lord,
transforming the world”, the
conference will be held on
October 18-22, in Bukidnon,
Malaybalay City.
The assembly intends to
strengthen the coordination and
collaboration among the youth
ministries in the dioceses and
youth organizations.
Organizers said the gathering
is also a venue for formation
and fellowship as well as an
occasion for affirmation of
the identity and mission of
the youth ministers, of the
community of the youth
minister, of the task of youth
ministers in the bigger mission
of the church.
Among those who will be
attending are the youth directors,
coordinator and leaders from the
dioceses and the FNYO member-
organizations.
Discussions about
evangelization; more intense
discipleship and more
committed involvement in social
transformation will be tackled
during the confab.
Prayers, reflections, workshops
and other related activities
will also part of the youth’s
gathering.
The event will be hosted by the
Diocese of Malaybalay headed
by Bishop Jose Cabantan.
Meanwhile, Legazpi Bishop
Joel Baylon, Chairman of ECY,
hopes the conference will become
instrumental in deepening the
faith of young people in their
ongoing journey. (Kate Laceda)
LAUNCHED. The Pontificio Collegio Filippino has launched its 50th an-
niversary celebration with a solemn Mass on the Feast of Our Lady of the
Rosary, October 7, 2010. Fr. Gregory Ramon D. Gaston, Collegio Filip-
pino’s new rector, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. The Collegio
is directly under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and
the Congregation for Catholic Education of the Vatican. It is a community
of secular priests from the different Philippine dioceses, and from a few
guest countries, who are taking up further studies in various ecclesiasti-
cal disciplines. Aside from Gaston, the team of Collegio Administrators
include the Vice-Rector and Procurator, Msgr. Wilfredo E. Andrey of the
Diocese of Gumaca; and the new Spiritual Director, Fr. Domingo M. Sa-
longa of the Diocese of Malolos. Four Filipina Dominican Sisters of the
Most Holy Rosary help in the day to day services of the Collegio.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24 2010 Pastoral Concerns B1
‘Catholic Press is different… Because it shares
in the Mission of the Church’
(Address given by John Thavis, Rome bureau chief of Catholic News Service; at the World Press
Congress that concluded October 7, 2010, organized this past week by the Pontifical Council for
Social Communications.)
HOW Catholic communicators painful. None of us in the Catholic reported on the sex abuse scandal public domain with a vengeance. of CNS client kind of abuse and deal with it.
deal with controversy is not a press want to be seen as apologists over the last 20 years; and second, Boston was the epicenter, but soon publications chose clergy sex I think Catholic media have
theoretical exercise: the priestly for perpetrators or inept bishops. some distinctive differences enough past cases of abuse were abuse as the top story of the been on a learning curve since
sex abuse crisis is a kind of classic At the same time, there’s a sense between the Catholic press and emerging in many dioceses (much year. 1993—a year when cases that time, nearly 20 years ago.
case of how Catholic media have that much of the mainstream the secular press in covering this like we’re seeing today in Europe.) of clerical sex abuse were made We need to be honest here. For a
had to respond to bad news inside reporting has not done justice to issue today. But that’s not the full history. public; when major lawsuits long time, local diocesan media
the church. The events of recent the complexities of this issue. In a sense, for U.S. Catholic The revelations of 2002 seemed were threatening the financial were reluctant to report on sex
months have been very painful for I want to focus on two things media this past year has been to replay similar revelations in wellbeing of local churches; abuse cases, often because their
Catholics. The facts are painful. today: first, how the English- déjà vu. In 2002, the clerical sex the United States from the early and when many U.S. dioceses bishop didn’t want it in the
And the news coverage has been language Catholic press has abuse scandal broke into the 1990s. In fact, in 1993, the editors established policies to prevent this Catholic Press / B5

www.2.bp.blogspot.com

‘New Technologies ... Can

Make the True and the
False Interchangeable’
(Address of the Holy Father to the Participants of the World Press Congress which ended Oct. 7,
2010; sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.)
Esteemed Cardinals,
Venerated Brothers,
Distinguished Gentlemen and Ladies,
I RECEIVED you with joy at the end of
the four days of intense work promoted
by the Pontifical Council for Social
Communications and dedicated to the
Catholic press. I cordially greet all of
you—coming from 85 countries—who
work in newspapers, weeklies or in other
periodicals and Internet sites. I greet the
president of the dicastery, Archbishop
Claudio Maria Celli, whom I thank for
giving voice to the sentiments of all,
as well as the secretaries, the under-
secretary and all the officials and staff. I
am happy to be able to address a word of
encouragement to you to continue, with
renewed motivations, your important
and qualified work.
The world of the media is going
through a profound transformation
also within itself. The development
of the new technologies and, in
particular, widespread multimedia,
seems to call into question the
role of the more traditional and
consolidated media. Appropriately,
your conference pauses to consider
the specific role of the Catholic press.
A careful reflection on this field, in
fact, brings up two particular aspects:
on one hand the specificity of the
means—the press, that is, the written
word and its timeliness and efficacy,
in a society which has seen antennas,
satellite dishes and satellites multiply,
becoming almost the emblem of a new
way of communicating in the era of
globalization. And the other point,
the connotation “Catholic,” with the
responsibility that derives from it to be
faithful in an explicit and substantial
way, through the daily commitment to
follow the masterful way of truth.
The search for truth must be pursued
by Catholic journalists with a passionate
mind and heart, but also with the
professionalism of competent staff
who are equipped with adequate and
effective means. This is even more
important in the present historical
moment, which asks of the figure itself
of the journalist, as mediator of the flow
of information, to undertake a profound
change. Today, for example, the world
of the image with the development of
ever new technologies has ever greater
weight in communication. But if on one
hand this entails undoubtedly positive
aspects, on the other hand, the image
can also become independent of reality;
it can give life to a virtual world, with
several consequences, the first of which
is the risk of indifference to truth.
In fact, the new technologies, together
with the progress they entail, can make
the true and the false interchangeable;
they can induce one to confuse the
real with the virtual. Moreover, the
recording of an event, joyful or sad, can
be consumed as a spectacle and not as
an occasion for reflection. The search for
the paths of an authentic promotion of
man then takes second place, because the
event is presented primarily to arouse
emotions. These aspects sound like an
alarm bell: They invite consideration of
the danger that the virtual draws away
from reality and does not stimulate the
search for the true, for the truth.
In this context, the Catholic press
is called, in a new way, to express to
the heights its potential and to give
a reason day in and day out for its
mission that can never be given up.
The Church has a facilitating element,
since the Christian faith has in common
with communication a fundamental
structure: the fact that the means and
the message coincide; indeed, the Son of
God, the Incarnate Word, is at the same
time message of salvation and means
through which salvation is realized. And
this is not a simple concept, but a reality
accessible to all, also those who while
living as protagonists in the complexity
of the world, are capable of preserving
the intellectual honesty proper to the
“little ones” of the Gospel. Moreover
the Church, Mystical Body of Christ,
present at the same time everywhere,
nourishes the capacity of more fraternal
and more human relations, being a place
of communion among believers and, at
the same time, a sign and instrument
of everyone’s vocation to communion.
Her strength is Christ, and in his name
she “pursues” man on the roads of the
world to save him from the “mysterium
iniquitatis,” insidiously operating in
him. The Catholic press evokes more
directly, as compared to other means of
communication, the value of the written
word. The Word of God has come to men
and has been given to us also through
a book, the Bible. The word continues
to be the fundamental instrument and,
in a certain sense, the constitutive
instrument of communication: It is used
today under various forms, and in the
so-called civilization of the image it also
keeps its entire value.
From these brief considerations, it
seems evident that the communicative
challenge is, for the Church and for
all those who share her mission, very
involved. Christians cannot ignore the
crisis of faith that has come to society,
or simply trust that the patrimony of the
values transmitted in the course of past
centuries can continue inspiring and
shaping the future of the human family.
The idea of living “as if God didn’t exist”
has shown itself to be deadly: The world
needs, rather, to live “as if God existed,”
even if it does not have the strength to
believe; otherwise it will only produce
an “inhuman humanism.”
My very dear brothers and sisters,
whoever works in the media, if he does
not wish to be “a noisy gong or a clanging
cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1)—as Saint
Paul would say—must have well-rooted
in himself the underlying option that
enables him to deal with the things of
the world placing God always at the top
of the scale of values. The times we are
living through—despite having a notable
positive weight, because the threads of
history are in God’s hands and his eternal
design is ever more revealed—are also
marked by many shadows. Your task,
dear members of the Catholic press, is
to help contemporary man to orient
himself to Christ, only Savior, and to
keep burning the flame of hope in the
world, to live worthily our today and to
build the future appropriately.
Because of this I exhort you to
constantly renew your personal choice
for Christ, drinking from those spiritual
resources that the worldly mentality
underestimates, despite the fact they are
valuable, more than that, indispensable.
Dear friends, I encourage you to continue
in your endeavor that is not easy, and
I accompany you with my prayer, so
that the Holy Spirit will always make
it fruitful. My blessing, full of affection
and gratitude, which I am pleased to
impart, intends to embrace all of you
here present and all those who work in
the Catholic press worldwide.
 B2
Collaboration of Non-Ordained Faithful
in the Sacred Ministry of Priests (Part IV)
By Fr. Jaime Blanco
Achacoso, J.C.D.
In a recent Workshop of the
Executive Committee of the Canon
Law Society of the Philippines, a
nagging question was again raised:
What is the canonical status of Basic
Ecclesial Communities (BEC)?
The matter was raised by the canon
lawyers from Mindanao (priests and
a bishop), because of the growing
frictions between the ecclesiastical
organization and the so-called
basic ecclesial communities. In
the past, this question had always
been sidelined by the lack of any
clear theological notion of such
communities; hence—the argument
went—it was futile to attempt a
canonical analysis of the problem.
This time, however, it was
pointed out that even if it might be
premature to attempt a definition
of the canonical status of Basic
Ecclesial Communities, some
working guidelines might be in
order, by way of delimiting the
scope of pastoral action of such
communities, in accordance with
Church Law. In short, even if it
might not be possible to categorically
state what Canon Law states these
communities are, it might be possible
to draw from existing legislation
what these communities are not. In
more practical terms, perhaps we can
glean from Canon Law what these
communities may and may not do.
In fact, this is the task that the
Canon Law Society of the Philippines
proposed to tackle in its National
Convention in May 2011. As a
starting point for the canonical
investigation, the CLSP Execom
identified a little-known document
of the Holy See, which was issued in
1997. To arouse interest in this topic,
we are revisiting that document in a
4-part series that started three issues
ago of the CBCP Monitor, which we
conclude with this present issue.
Specific Practical Provisions
Article 6: Liturgical
Celebrations unlawful”.
Two areas are covered in this
article of the Instruction:
1) The Holy Mass in particular
- “Abuses which are contrary to
c.907 are to be eradicated” (§2)
to wit:
a) “Deacons and non-ordained
members of the faithful may
not pronounce prayers─e.g.,
especially the Eucharistic Prayer
with its concluding doxology─or
any other parts of the liturgy
reserved to the celebrant priest”.
This abuse is not uncommon
in the Philippines. To be sure
many times it could be by the
initiative of the faithful, but even
so it should be the duty of the
pastor to explain these matters to
them, even by way of a general
advertence even within the Mass
itself, in the moments permitted
to him by the rubrics (e.g. before
the final blessing).
b) “Neither may deacons or
non-ordained members of the
faithful use gestures or actions
that are proper to the same priest
celebrant.” This is another area
where abuses have proliferated in
Philippine churches, many times
at the instigation of the priests
themselves. The rubrics of the
Roman Missal and the provisions
of the General Instructions
for the Roman Missal (IGMR)
are quite explicit and specific
as regards the gestures and
postures of the celebrant and
the congregation during the
Holy Mass, precisely because
the liturgy is the public worship
of the Church−i.e., its regulation
cannot be left to private and
individual initiative.
Thus, the Code clearly
stipulates: “The liturgical books
approved by the competent
authority are to be faithfully
observed in the celebration of
the sacraments; therefore no
one on personal authority may
add, remove or change anything
in them” (c.846, §1; emphasis
added). Examples of such abuses
are: the faithful extending and/or
lifting their arms and/or holding
hands with each other during
the Our Father; the celebrant
inserting words of his own
composition--ad lib--into the
text of the Missal, especially in-
between major prayers or when
he addresses the faithful, and
even before the Consecration; the
non-fulfillment of the stipulated
postures and procedures when
Holy Communion is received
by the hand.
2) Use of Sacred Vestments in
General - Two possible abuses
are addressed: (§2)
a) “The sacred ministers
are obliged to wear all
of the prescribed liturgical
vestments”. Again, the practice
in many parishes─especially
during concelebrations─of
concelebrants just using a
stole (without chasuble alb or
sometimes even just over street
clothes) during the Holy Sacrifice
is a flagrant violation of this
norm.
b) “The use of sacred vestments
which are reserved to priests
or deacons (stoles, chasubles
or dalmatics) at liturgical
ceremonies by non-ordained
members of the faithful is clearly
Article 7: Sunday Celebrations
without a Priest
The Instruction starts by
stating that “much good derives
for the local community from this
useful and delicate service” in
those cases when “in the absence
of priests or deacons, non-
ordained members of the faithful
lead Sunday celebrations” (§1).
However, it clarifies that this is
only so when such is carried out
“in accordance with the spirit
and the specific norms issued
by the competent ecclesiastical
authority”─specifically:
1) “A special mandate of the
Bishop is necessary for the non-
ordained members of the faithful
to lead such celebrations. This
mandate should contain specific
instructions with regard to the
term of applicability, the place
and conditions in which it is
operative, as well as indicate the
priest responsible for overseeing
these celebrations” (§1).
2) “The practice of inserting
into such celebrations elements
proper to the Holy Mass─e.g.,
the use of the Eucharistic Prayers,
even in narrative form─is
prohibited” (§2).
3) “It should be emphasized
Updates
(to) those participating, that such
celebrations cannot substitute
for the Eucharistic Sacrifice,
and that the obligation to attend
Mass on Sunday and holy days
of obligation is satisfied only by
attendance at Holy Mass” (§2).
Article 8: The Extraordinary
Ministry of Holy Communion
It is in this article perhaps where
the most obvious abuses can be
observed. Thus, the Instruction
starts by categorically stating
that “the canonical discipline
concerning extraordinary
ministers of Holy Communion
must be correctly applied so as
to avoid generating confusion”.
It proceeds to concretize this
criterion:
Main Principle: “A non-
ordained member of the faithful,
in cases of true necessity, may be
deputed by the diocesan Bishop
(...) to act as an extraordinary
minister to distribute Holy
Communion outside of liturgical
celebrations ad casum vel ad
tempus or for a more stable
period” (§1).
Thus, the so-called
extraordinary ministers (or lay
ministers of Holy Communion
as they are commonly called) are
so deputed, in principle, only for
distributing Holy Communion
outside liturgical celebrations
(i.e., outside the Mass or Holy
Week services).
1st Exception: “In
exceptional cases or in
unforeseen circumstances,
the priest presiding at the
liturgy─supposedly this includes
the Mass─may authorize such
ad casum” (§1). Again we have
to note that this should be
in exceptional or unforeseen
circumstance. Obviously, if
such were to happen Sunday
after Sunday, it wouldn’t be
exceptional or unforeseen
anymore; thus, to make use of
this prerogative regularly would
be an abuse.
2nd Exception: “Extraordinary
ministers─i.e., those deputed as
such by the diocesan Bishop─may
distribute Holy Communion at
Eucharistic celebrations (e.g.,
Holy Mass) only” in any of the
following situations: (§2)
1) when there are no ordained
ministers present;
2) when those ordained
ministers present at a liturgical
celebration are truly unable to
distribute Holy Communion;
3) when there are particularly
large numbers of the faithful such
that the liturgical celebration
would be excessively prolonged
because of an insufficient number
of ordained ministers to distribute
Holy Communion.
It is important to note that
the Instruction categorically
states that this exceptional
function “is supplementary
and extraordinary, and must be
exercised in accordance with the
norm of law” (§2). This norm of
Law is precisely concretized by
the three situation outlined above
by the Instruction.
In the case of a Mass, the first
situation cannot arise (since the
celebrant is precisely an ordained
minister); the second situation
hardly arises, since the celebrant
normally should be able to
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010
Breaking of
the Host
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina
Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)
Q: Why is it that within the institution narrative, before the
words of consecration, the priest doesn’t break the bread while
he is saying, “He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples ....”
I mean, why does he still wait for the Agnus Dei to break the
bread? I think this question rings out also in the head of some
priests; that is why, in order to make sense, some would really
break the bread during the institution narrative. Kindly help
me out!—X.A., Quezon City, Philippines
A: Before addressing the motive why the host should
not be broken at this moment, I recall that this practice has
been specifically addressed in the instruction Redemptionis
Sacramentum, No. 55: “In some places there has existed an
abuse by which the Priest breaks the host at the time of the
consecration in the Holy Mass. This abuse is contrary to the
© Noli Yamsuan / RCAM
tradition of the Church. It is reprobated and is to be corrected
with haste.”
There are several reasons why the Latin rite tradition does
not ritually break the host at the above-mentioned moment,
and we will try to illustrate some of them.
The institution narrative describes four actions of Christ:
taking the bread, giving thanks and praise, breaking the bread,
distribute Holy Communion giving it to the disciples. These four moments constitute what
himself. Thus, normally, only the erudite Anglican liturgist Gregory Dix called the “shape”
the third situation would be the of the Eucharistic liturgy.
probable cause for exercising Indeed, the Latin Church has ritually structured the Liturgy
this prerogative, and even then, of the Eucharist and of holy communion around these four
the Instruction itself considers moments. Taking the bread is expressed above all by the
as an abuse “the habitual use rite of presentation of the gifts. Giving thanks and praise is
of extraordinary ministers of the essence of the Eucharistic Prayer. Breaking the bread is
Holy Communion at Mass, thus carried out in the fraction and giving it to his disciples is done
arbitrarily extending the concept at communion.
of a great number of faithful” The institution narrative is within the Eucharistic Prayer and
(§2 in fine). thus falls within the context of giving thanks and praise to God
This is perhaps one of the more the Father. The supreme act of thanks and praise is the paschal
glaring inconsistencies between mystery of Christ, the Word made Flesh. In the institution
the norm and the present praxis narrative the Church relates to the Father the action of his Eternal
in the many parishes, where Son and his command to continue this memorial action. This
lay ministers distribute Holy efficacious memorial is not limited to the transubstantiation
Communion on a regular basis, of the sacred species but makes present the whole mystery of
Sunday after Sunday, and even salvation in recalling Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension
daily. This obviously needs to into heaven. No other act of thanks and praise to the Father
be addressed by the Bishops, can equal what occurs during the Eucharistic liturgy.
according to the tenor of the Now, since the object of the Eucharistic Prayer is offering
present Instruction. thanks and praise to the Father, dramatic gestures directed
Other possible abuses: Aside toward the faithful such as breaking the host or making a
from the previously mentioned gesture of proffering while saying “Take this, all of you” are
phenomenon of the regular use of misplaced and actually detract from the essential meaning of
extraordinary ministers of Holy the rite at this moment.
Communion, the Instruction It could be adduced that the above argument would also
points out “certain practices to suggest that the Latin-rite practice of the priest’s taking the
be avoided and eliminated where host and chalice in his hands and showing it to the faithful
such have emerged in particular after the consecration is equally out of place. Theologically
Churches”: speaking, the gestures of handling and showing are not
1) “Extraordinary ministers strictly necessary for the validity of the consecration, as is
receiving Holy Communion demonstrated from the practice of some Eastern Churches. It
apart from the other faithful as is also true that historically the rite of showing the host and
though concelebrants”─e.g., in chalice was introduced in response to a devotional desire to
the sanctuary. see the sacred species.
2) “Association (by the Notwithstanding these origins however, the rite of showing
extraordinary ministers of Holy the host and chalice enjoys the favor of almost 1,000 years of
Communion) with the renewal of approval as part of the Church’s universal liturgy and, as a
promises made by priests at the consequence, has guided and fostered faith in the Real Presence
Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, for centuries. It must therefore be considered as a legitimate
as well as with other categories organic development of the liturgy. I believe that the gesture
of faithful who renew religious of breaking the host before the consecration cannot be seen in
vows or receive a mandate as the same light, and not only because it has been specifically
extraordinary ministers of Holy reprobated.
Communion.” The Roman rite, in placing the fraction after the Eucharistic
In both cases, what is obviously Prayer and accompanying it with the chant “Lamb of God,”
at stake is the danger of eroding underlines that we share Christ our Redeemer and not just
in the mind of the faithful ordinary bread. We participate in a sacrificial banquet. Our
the conviction of the essential request for mercy and peace is strengthened by this faith.
difference between the common Breaking the host before the consecration, and thus before
and the ordained priesthood, and completing the thanks and praise, impinges upon this
the danger of clericalizing the meaning.
laity and thereby disempowering A final, albeit weaker, argument could be made from the point
them from fulfilling what they of view of ritual logic. If it were to be accepted that the words
really─vocationally─ought to “He broke the bread” necessarily implies ritually executing
do: to proclaim Christ in the the gesture, then it could equally be argued that the same
midst of temporal (secular) should apply to the words “He gave it to his disciples.” We
realities. would logically have to distribute a host to everybody before
Article 9: The Apostolate of pronouncing the words of consecration. I cannot imagine how
the Sick to handle the giving of the chalice.
The Instruction begins by This argument is, of course, absurd and only serves to point
affirming that “in this area, the out that not all ritual words require an accompanying gesture,
non-ordained faithful can often especially when the liturgy itself explicates their deepest
provide valuable collaboration” meaning in a fuller way.
and that “these constitute a
Christian presence of the greatest
importance to the sick and the regarded as sacraments, whose ordained─ministers of the
suffering” (§1). In fact, this seems administration is proper and Holy Eucharist can really play
to be one area where the laity exclusive to the Bishop and to an important role, given the
can really collaborate with the the priest.” shortage of priests.
pastoral work of the priests, given 3) “In no instance may the non- Article 10: Assistance at
the shortage of sacred ministers ordained perform anointings Marriages
and the non-sacramental nature either with the Oil of the Sick or The Instruction first states
(at least for the most part) of this any other oil”─i.e., not even by “the possibility of delegating
ministry. Thus the Instruction way of a para-liturgical rite. the non-ordained faithful to
reminds the Pastors of the 4) “The priest (is the) only valid assist at marriages” since, on
following (§1): minister” of the sacrament of the one hand this is strictly
1) “The non-ordained faithful Anointing of the Sick...No other an ecclesiastical norm (for the
particularly assist the sick by person may act as ordinary or canonical form of marriage); and
being with them in difficult extraordinary minister of the on the other hand, because such
moments, encouraging them to sacrament, since such constitutes delegation “may prove necessary
receive─and by helping them to simulation of the sacrament” in special circumstances where
have the dispositions to worthily (§2). there is a grave shortage of sacred
receive such─the sacraments of Finally, we might add that ministers” (§1). It then proceeds
Penance and the Anointing of even if the Instruction does to remind the Bishops of the
the Sick.” not specifically mention it, the following norms:
2) “In using sacramentals, the administration of Holy Eucharist 1) Only “the diocesan Bishop
non-ordained faithful should to the sick seems to be one may concede this delegation” (§1).
ensure that these are in no way where the extraordinary─non- Collaboration / B7

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010
www.commons.wikimedia.org
Why is House Bill No. 96 Pro-abortion?
By Conrado Ll. Lorenzo, Jr.,
M.D.
HOUSE No. 96 was introduced by Rep
Edcel Lagman, at the First Regular
Session of the Fifteenth Congress, July 1,
2010. It is a revised version of the earlier
House Bill No. 5043, which was also
authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman.
It is pro-abortion, pure and simple.
Sec. 3 (e) of this bill states: “The State
shall promote, without bias, all modern
natural and artificial methods of family
planning that are medically safe, legal
and effective.” In effect, this provision
mandates the State to promote the
Intra-uterine device (IUD) which causes
“medical abortion”.
But how does the IUD work?
The IUD is a plastic device (usually
a coil) that is inserted into the uterine
cavity and left there for as long as the
woman wants to contracept. It may be
replaced after a few years. The IUD
does NOT prevent ovulation nor does
it prevent the sperm from fertilizing the
ovum (egg).
Being a foreign body, it triggers a
“foreign body reaction” in the inner
lining (endometrium) of the uterus.
The foreign body reaction renders the
Contraceptives are harmful to women’s health
By Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas
THOSE who are advocating the
passing of the Reproductive Health
Bill in the Philippine Congress are
guilty of gross misrepresentation.
They maintain that the bill is intended
to promote the health of women. That
claim could not be farther from the
truth. There are abundant scientific
and medical evidences that the so-
called “modern methods” of family
planning, such as birth control pills,
intrauterine device (IUD), barrier
methods (condoms/diaphragms)
and ligation can have harmful effects
to millions of women all over the
world.
In a most enlightening paper by
Dr. Angelita Miguel-Aguirre, M.D.,
Fellow and Diplomate of the Philippine
College of Physicians and Chairperson
of the Committee on Ethics of the
Makati Medical Society, the ill effects of
contraceptives on women’s health are
very well documented. Unfortunately,
these harmful consequences of
contraceptives are hidden by the
promoters of birth control, especially
from unsuspecting poor women who
have no access to the information
that experts like Dr. Miguel-Aguirre
provide to the public. Even worse,
there are advertising and marketing
campaigns funded by the anti-life
people (such as those appearing
in some local T.V. channels) that
present contraceptives as “essential
medicines,” peddling outright lies
that pills and contraceptives can
cure cervical cancer and other female
diseases.
What does an expert like Dr.
Miguel-Aguirre say about birth
control pills? According to her, on
top of numerous studies showing
the carcinogenic properties of birth
control pills since the development
of the synthetic estrogens in 1938
by Sir Edward Charles Dodds, the
International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) announced last
July 29, 2005 that “after a thorough
review of the published scientific
literature, it has concluded that
combined estrogen-progestogen
oral contraceptives (and combined
estrogen-progestogen menopausal
therapy) are carcinogenic to humans
(Group 1 category, which is used
Features
endometrium hostile to the fertilized
egg. So when the fertilized egg attempts
to implant itself in the endometrium, it
is rejected and dies. Many authors call
this mechanism medical abortion in
contrast to surgical abortion. The latter
is carried out by scrapping or pulling
out a perfectly healthy foetus from the
uterus.
This same Sec. 3 (e) by virtue of the
phrase, “shall promote, without bias, all
modern natural and artificial methods
of family planning that are medically
safe, legal and effective”, promotes
the use of the different kinds of “the
morning after pills”, such as RU-486,
which is marketed in the United States
as MIFIPREX and others such as PLAN
B and OPTINOR.
How does MIFIPREX work?
Mifiprex uses a combination of two
medications, namely: mifepristone
and misoprostol. The first medication,
mifepristrone is usually given in the
clinic. It blocks progesterone, a hormone
which is needed to maintain the
pregnancy, causing the endometrium
to slough off. Bleeding occurs and the
cervix softens.
Then, 24 to 72 hours after the first
medication, the second medication,
misoprostol is given which causes
when there is sufficient evidence of
carcinogenicity in humans).
Prior to this announcement, a
respected journalist from Columbia
University, Barbara Seaman, after years
of research, published several books
exposing estrogen’s detrimental effect
on the health of women. Notable among
these books are the “The Doctor’s Case
Against the Pill,” and “The Greatest
Experiment Ever Performed on Women.
Exploding the Estrogen Myth.” Barbara
Seaman is a co-founder of the National
Women’s Health Network, a women’s
advocacy group in Washington D.C. that
refused money from the drug industry
as part of its charter.
There are numerous adverse effects of
the pill on women that have been equally
well documented. They are breast cancer,
cervical cancer, liver cancer, premature
hypertension and coronary artery
disease leading to heart attacks and
strokes, thromboembolism/pulmonary
embolism. Other negative side effects
are decreased libido, infertility, leg
cramps, gallstone formation, nausea,
and bloatedness. Although some women
the uterus
to contract. The
pregnancy is usually expelled
within 6 to 8 hours. When these two
drugs are used in combination, they are
95-97% effective.
In the same bill, Sec. 9, Family
Planning Supplies as Essential
Medicines, states: “Hormonal
contraceptives, intrauterine devices,
injectables and other safe and effective
family planning products and
supplies shall be part of the National
Formulary and the same shall be
included in the regular purchase of
essential medicines and supplies of all
national and local hospitals and other
government health units.”
This section mandates the State to
buy intrauterine devices (IUDs) and
the morning after pills (both of which
are abortifacients) and supply all
government hospitals and health units
in the entire country.
Consequently, the State not only
promotes and mandates the use of
abortifacients like the IUD and the
morning after pills, it also penalizes
health providers (doctors and nurses)
who refuse to insert IUDs or dispense the
morning after pills with imprisonment
of one month to six months and/or a
may notice improvement in their
complexion, others may develop acne
by using the pill. It is claimed to reduce
the risk for ovarian cancer. But evidently
this is outweighed by its numerous
risks for more common forms of cancer.
Unfortunately, the side effects most
frequently communicated to potential
users, in order to qualify for “informed
choice,” are simple headaches, increased
weight or increased appetite or other
minor ailments.
The top three causes of mortality
in the Philippines are 1) diseases of
the heart; 2) diseases of the vascular
system; and 3) malignant neoplasm.
With the aggressive promotion of the
contraceptive pill, many of the casualties
of these diseases will be women who
will be suffering from the adverse
effects of synthetic estrogen as is already
happening in developed countries. It
must be pointed out that next to lung
cancer, breast cancer is the most common
cause of malignancy in our country and
only 5 to 10% of those women with breast
cancer have a genetic predisposition.
There are studies in Indonesia (Bustan
B3
enacted in
1987, pro-
nounces as
among the
fine policies of
of P10,000 the State
to P50,000 pesos. that “[The
Sec. 23, on Penalties reads: State] shall
“Any commission of the prohibited e q u a l l y
acts or violations of this Act shall be protect the life of the mother and
penalized by imprisonment ranging the life of the unborn from conception.”
from one (1) month to six (6)months or (Sec 12, Art. II)
a fine of Ten Thousand (P10,000) to Fifty And as everybody knows abortion
Thousand pesos (P50,000) or both such is criminalized by the Revised Penal
fine and imprisonment at the discretion Code of the Philippines, which was
of the competent court; ....” enacted in 1930 and remains in effect
One of several prohibited acts stated today. Articles 256, 258 and 259 of the
in Sec 22. a) 2 reads: “Refuse to perform Code mandate the imprisonment for the
legal and medically-safe reproductive woman who undergoes the abortion, as
health procedures on any person of well as for any person who assists in the
legal age .....” procedure even if they be the woman’s
This means that a Catholic doctor parents, a physician or midwife.
or midwife, who refuses to insert an It is therefore indisputably safe
IUD or dispense any of the morning- to conclude, even from the medical
after pills because they go against his/ point of view, that HB 96 IN ITS
her religion, can go to jail and/or be PRESENT FORM is not only PRO-
fined. ABORTION AND IMMORAL, it is also
Clearly, HB 96 not only subverts the UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
moral fibre of Filipinos by promoting
medical abortion it also goes against (Conrado Ll. Lorenzo, Jr., M.D., is of the
the Constitution of the Philippines. The Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of
present Constitution of the Philippines Makati Medical Center)
prospective users have to sign a
seven-page document before the
device is inserted in the U.S. Because
an abortion actually takes place here,
there is also the psychological trauma
that can cause long-term depression
symptoms among women who have
undergone abortion.
The barrier methods−condoms
and diaphragms−have the highest
rate of failures among birth control
methods, varying from 4 to 30
percent, depending on the age group
surveyed. These are the causes of
most of the so-called unwanted
pregnancies which generally end
up with abortion. These devices also
contribute to increased incidence
of sexually transmitted disease/
infection (STD/STI). The widespread
use of condoms in Thailand ironically
has led to an explosion in the number
of women infected with HIV. Because
condoms encourage promiscuity,
they also indirectly contribute to
the spread of the Human Papiloma
virus (HPV), which is the major cause
of cervical cancer. Barrier methods
www.3.bp.blogspot.com
are ineffective since shedding
occurs from widespread areas of
the perineum. HPV causes warts
anywhere on the skin and mucous
membranes.
The adverse effect of tubal ligation
Contraception 1993) which show that the are also well known. They are
risk of breast cancer among Indonesian hemorrhage and bleeding; increased
women is 210% for those who started risk of heavy menses in the long term;
taking the pill at age 22 and below; 70% increased future gynecological rate
risk for women age 22 to 26 and 60% risk of surgery, including hysterectomy;
for women age 27 and up. adverse anesthesia effects; and post-
Another contraceptive being tubal ligation syndrome. There are so
promoted by the population control many health risks that accompany
advocates is the intrauterine device or the use of artificial contraceptives
the IUD. The IUD is not a contraceptive. or abortifacient devices that they far
As categorically stated by Dr. Jerome outweigh the dangers of pregnancy
Lejeune, the late expert on Fundamental and childbirth to a woman’s health.
Genetics of the University of Paris, It would be wiser for the Government
“the IUD acts primarily by preventing to invest instead in basic obstetric
the embryo from implanting−not by care and emergency obstetric care
preventing conception. It is, therefore, equipment and services and provide
an abortifacient, not a contraceptive.” skilled medical staff to the childbirth
A textbook titled “The Reproductive centers. The bill, if it is at all to be
System, Principle of Anatomy and considered for final legislation,
Physiology,” by Tortora and Grabowski should focus on how to make
provides a succinct description of the available to all poor women the
IUD: “IUDs cause changes in the uterine basic obstetric care and emergency
lining that prevent implantation of the obstetric care that can significantly cut
fertilized ovum.” The effect is known to down the number of women dying in
both the promoters and manufacturers childbirth. The focus should be on
of IUDs. Because of the high incidence maternal health, not on preventing
of litigations resulting from the adverse maternity. For comments, my email
effects suffered by women in the U.S., address is bvillegas@uap.edu.ph.
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

By Fr. Mario Antonio

Villegas Baclig, SDB
The Virac Magic in Switzerland Many spoke German and
English. A few were just
beginning to learn German.
But the language of the Youth
DESPITE my long experience Encounter toppled down
with the Youth Encounter (Virac communication barriers.
model), having accompanied Working alone, in small groups,
more than a thousand batches and in assembly, they breezed
in a variety of Philippine through the input sessions and
situations and conducted reflection moments. By Sunday,
numerous seminar-workshops the last day, they were ready to
for facilitators, I had every draw up their vision as young
reason to be a bit nervous. agents of transformation in
This Youth Encounter, dated their families and communities.
September 24-26, 2010, was I helped them imagine World
different! Youth Day in Manila, 15 years
To get to the venue meant earlier, with stories of the
hopping into the “Stoos Express,” Youth Jubilee Cross moving
a cable train pulled by giant steel through all the dioceses of
cables to a mountain village 1300 the Philippines and of John
meters above sea level. In fact, Paul II, the great Pope of the
some participants missed the youth. I kept repeating: “You
last trip of this cable train and are the future of your families,
settled for a more daring climb in of your communities, and of
the cable car. They arrived a few Switzerland!” I challenged them
minutes before midnight! to continue their journey and
All around the rented house prepare for the WYD 2011 in
were snow-capped mountain Madrid.
peaks, birch trees awaiting The final Eucharist was a
the go-signal for autumn, and touching moment of bonding—

world-famous Swiss cows
grazing quietly except for the
occasional sound of their large
cowbells. No wonder that the
youth feasted on pizza and
pasta, milk and cheese, and
the drink from milk whey,
Rivella!
Fortunately, heaters kept the
place warm and welcoming
despite the cold outside. I put
aside my warmers and began
walking around in slippers.
Lester, a young Filipino, prepared
a poster in the dining room, with
“Willkommen” in big letters,
and “Kain na kayo” in smaller
ones. This Youth Encounter was
meant for the youth of Filipino
families based in Switzerland. It
was part of the 4-year pastoral
plan of the Philippine Swiss
Catholic Mission, headed by Fr.
Johan Dumandan. Eleven young
people signed up and came,
plus the young couple Jojo and
Susan from Basel—all in all, 13
participants.
It was already past midnight
when I began distributing the
handouts for Session no. 1,
“Welcome,” and played the
timeless tune “Welcome to
the family.” Within minutes, I
realized that the Youth Encounter
magic was just as powerful and
alive, as in all other batches. This
Youth Encounter, indeed so far
away from Virac (Philippines),
was not at all different!
I could feel the presence of
Msgr. Ping Molina, founder
of the Youth Encounter,
his guiding hand reaching
down from heaven. I quickly
regained my confidence in the
Youth Encounter—the official
formation program for Filipino
youth, approved and endorsed
by our bishops in 1986.
After all, in front of me were
Filipino youth. I could hear them
making remarks and sharing
stories in Pilipino, inserting
German and English words as
they went on. I could sense their
interest in the stories I shared,
Contributed Photo
with God and with one
another. “Walang iwanan!”
was my refrain. “Remember the
Encounter dream!” After our
Mass, we braved the cold and
many of them culled from my posed for a final photograph.
many contacts with Filipino As we walked down to the
youth. During meals, I could cable train station, the clouds
see them filling their plates with began covering the mountain
rice and adobo, and sipping peaks. Deep in my heart, I
their glasses of soda. During the whispered my final prayer to
sessions, I was able to share their God, that he keep the Youth
dreams and aspirations, their Encounter flame alive and
problems and concerns at home burning in the hearts of those
and in school, their desire to young Filipinos.
relate with God in a deeper way, May the Virac magic continue
and their longing for genuine to inspire and renew many more
friendship. young Filipinos!

ECM Fun Run: Missionary Spirit on Display

By Nirva Delacruz
One hundred seventy-three runners
put the vibrancy and excitement of
missionary life on display during the
Run for Life, Run for the World Fun
Run.
Seminarians, students, missionaries
and religious coming from 10 missionary
communities and organizations ran
around the Quezon city circle last
September 26 to promote the lay
missions as a vocation in celebration
of the Feast Day of San Lorenzo Ruiz,
the first Filipino saint and a model lay
missionary.
Organized by the Episcopal
Commission on Mission (ECM), the run
brought together people from all over
with a passion for bringing the Good
News. Interestingly, several placers
for both the 4 and 6-km divisions for
both men and women, were not even
Filipinos. The run specifically aimed to
promote and raise awareness regarding
the Catholic lay missionary communities
and congregations in the Philippines,
their work and service.
Truly global winners
Contributed Photo
from China bested other runners with
his record time of 17 minutes, 28 seconds
for the 4-km, men’s division; Gerry
Monera bags 2nd place with 20 minutes,
12 seconds; Fr. Polash of Bangladesh
comes in at 3rd place with 22 minutes,
43 seconds.
For the 4-km, women’s division, Qin
Li snatched the top spot at 21 minutes,
48 seconds; Elizabeth crossed the finish
line in 22 minutes, 8 seconds; lastly, Aye
Aye Kyu of Myanmar places 3rd with
23 minutes, 2 seconds.
For the 6-km, men’s division, Ephraim
Vasquez left the rest in the dust with a
personal time of 20 minutes, 8 seconds;
Kimbert Sarmiento was 2nd place with
22 minutes, 35 seconds; Yang Zuxin,
the third fastest with 25 minutes, 28
seconds.
Grabbing 1st place with the biggest
margin is Princess Guanze for the 6-km,
women’s division with 39 minutes, 8
seconds. The next fastest runner at 2nd
place, following her only after a little less
than 10 minutes, is Julie Ann Regeneia
with 49 minutes, 35 seconds. Lastly,
Arlene Prado is in 3rd place with 50
minutes, 35 seconds.
Collaborative effort of missionary
Vincentian Brothers were just some of
the communities that participated in the
run, making the Quezon city Circle such
a colorful and spirited sight so early in
the morning. The Missionary Servants of
the Blessed Sacrament community had
the biggest group with 35 runners.
Fr. Soc Mesiona, the executive
secretary of the Episcopal Commission
on Mission and the National Director
of the Pontifical Missions Society,
evaluated the run, “Masaya ako kasi
‘di ko ineexpect na gano’n ‘yung turn
out ng participants. Kasi this is the first
time, wala tayong basis kung pa’no
i-organize. It was very, very successful.
[I’m happy because I didn’t expect
that we would have such a turn-out
of participants. Since this was the first
time, we didn’t have any basis on how
to organize it.]”
The run is the first collaborative effort
of some eight Philippine Catholic lay
missionary groups. Bishop Edwin Dela
Peña of the ECM, who was also present
at the run, expressed such enthusiasm
for the event that he even talked about
having Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
legs for the Missionary Fun Run in the
future. The run ended with the placers
receiving medals and cash prizes; every

The fact that several of the placers groups runner got a complimentary shirt that
came from different countries seems Fondacio, Catholic Lay Missionaries, had the word ‘MISSIONARY’ printed on
to show the truly global reach of the Couples for Christ, Institute of the back. The run may have ended, but
Filipino missionary spirit. Tang JinKun Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA) and the everyone’s mission continues.

ECM Fêtes Lay Missionaries Biblia sa Bawat Bahay

By Nirva Delacruz
POPE John Paul II spoke about
a “Springtime of the Church”,
emphasizing the significant
contributions of lay missionaries
to the propagation of the faith.
It is in acknowledgment of this
that the Episcopal Commission
on Mission under the CBCP
held the Consumed by Love: a
Missionaries’ Ball last September
28 at the Greenmeadows
Clubhouse in Libis, Quezon
City. More than 200 missionaries,
friends and collaborators dressed
up for a night of good music,
sharing and of course, dancing,
dancing and more dancing!
Missionary essence is love
The gathering was also a chance
for the missionaries to revisit the
essence of their vocation—love.
Fr. James Kroeger, MM, one of the
top missiologists in the country,
gave a 20-minute refresher
on missionary leadership. He
quoted Mother Theresa by
saying that missionaries are just
people who do not necessarily
love in extraordinary ways; they
are just people who love without
getting tired.
Fr. Kroeger, who also teaches
at the Ateneo, talked about how
missionaries should have a
capacity for solitude and should
know their boundaries when
serving people. He stressed that
ultimately, evangelizing is about
befriending people.
Stellar performances
The ball was a much-needed
and long overdue effort to gather
all the Catholic lay missionary
groups for some honest to
goodness fellowship. Despite
coming from various groups,
missionaries and supporters had
a lot of shared fun that night with
stellar performances from artists
like Top Susara, Mayumi and
Makisig Morales. The charming
brother and sister tag team of
Mayumi and Makisig wowed the
missionaries, particularly when
they sang a moving rendition of
“You Raise Me Up.” Top Susara,
who used to be the vocalist for
R&B band Freestyle, made the
ladies swoon in their seats with
popular ballads.
Popular singing groups
Hangad and Bukas Palad, who
have rarely performed in public
together also sang that night,
saying that “it was a true privilege
to perform for you, missionaries.”
The inspiring Minnie Juan shared
about how she overcame her
blindness through faith and trust
in God. The 26-year old Minnie
also entertained everyone with a
song that best describes her life,
“Go the Distance”.
One of the highlights of
the evening had to be when the
missionaries started doing a train
dance on the dance floor as the
29 A.D. Musicionaries sang an
80’s medley of hits like Buttercup,
Mama Mia and Achy Breaky
Heart. Nearly everyone was
dancing; no one really wanted
to go home. The audience was
also particularly blown away by
the group’s version of Don’t Stop
Believing á la Glee.
Honoring those behind the
scenes
The night was also an
opportunity to recognize and
honor the eight lay missionary
groups that helped organize
the ball. Fr. Soc Mesiona, MSP,
executive secretary of the ECM
and National Director of the
Pontifical Missions Society;
Clarke Nebrao, event head for the
ball; and Fr. Kroeger presented
certificates of appreciation to
several groups for their mission
readiness and willingness to
get involved in an entirely new
endeavor. Fondacio Philippines,
Inc, Philippine Catholic Lay
Missionaries, Columban Lay
Missionaries, FMAA, Couples for
Christ, Vincentian Missionaries,
Theresian Association and the
FMMA were recognized that
night.
In an interview, Clarke Nebrao
of Couples for Christ who also
happens to be the event head
for the ball talked about the
challenges of organizing such
an event, “It’s challenging to put
everyone together, from different
communities, from different
backgrounds in their service in
the Catholic Church. But I guess
the major success of this event is
just putting them together and
allowing them to see a bigger
picture of how we can promote
the missions, especially, the lay
missions. Surely, it will be a
yearly thing for us to promote
the Catholic lay missions and at
the same time, to promote the
vocations for the lay missions.”
The night wound down with
the 29 A.D. Musicionaries singing
“Still”, reminding everyone
that the reason for our being
missionary is simply God’s love.
The missionaries’ ball was the
first of its kind; it will definitely
not be the last.
DURING the May They Be One (MTBO) Bible Campaign 2nd
Anniversary Celebration at the Manila Cathedral on September
30, 2010, the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) staff offered up
their coin banks to provide MTBO Bibles for poor parish
communities. The coin banks were part of Biblia sa Bawat Bahay
(BBB), a project launched in December 2009, to mobilize the
PBS Community to give their share to the Bible Campaign. PBS
staff gaily decorated their coin banks into which they dropped
loose change to save up for the MTBO Bible campaign.
On top of the coin savings, the staff also pledged amounts from
their own salaries as their main contribution. To date, giving
has exceeded BBB’s target amount of P100,000 and has reached
P113,899.20. Of this amount, PhP 23,399.20 came from the coin bank
collections. PhP 20,000 more is expected to be collected from total
pledges until December 2010. Selected as first beneficiaries of BBB
were the families of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Marikina, led
by parish priest Fr. Emanuele Borelli. It would be recalled that the
parishioners lost most of their Bibles in floods brought by Ondoy
last year. An initial MTBO Bible distribution in November 2009
significantly boosted the parish’s effort to recover their lost Bibles.
BBB subsidized 50 additional MTBO Bibles for the parish’s 2nd
Bible distribution held in Sept 29, 2010, bringing much joy and
encouragement to members hungry for God’s Word.
No. of Dioceses participating in the Bible Campaign – 76 out of 86 Dioceses;
Bibles Distributed (Jan 2010 – Sept 20, 2010): 140,466 cps; Bibles Distributed
by Languages - Tagalog (35,785 cps.), Cebuano (42,212 cps.) English (25,896
cps.); Ilocano (14,147cps.), Hiligaynon (11,416 cps.), Bicol (6,151cps), Pan-
gasinense (3,858 cps.), Pampango (1,001 cps.); Parishes/Communities served:
472; Total Bible Distribution: (Jan 2009 - Sept 20, 2010): 244,726 cps; Target
No. of Bibles for Distribution for 2010: 200,000 cps; Total Funds Needed for
Printing and Transport of Bibles in 2010: P30M
To learn more about how you can be part of the Campaign and make signifi-
cant change, call us at PBS 526-7777, ECBA 527-9386 or visit www.bible.org.
ph and www.ecba-cbcp.com. Donations can be made by making a deposit
to the following bank accounts: PBS-MTBO Account#393-0649-34 (BPI Sta.
Mesa Branch) Fax deposit slip to 521-5803 or ECBA-CBCP Account #0251-
021376 (BPI-Tayuman Branch) Fax deposit slip to 527-9386. For credit card
payments – go to PBS website (www.bible.org.ph)
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010
B5
Philippine-Misereor Partnership Inc.

Let the stones shout! 19th National Coordinating Committee (NCC) Meeting
September 27-30, 2010

Ban Aerial
Spraying
now!
IN the letter of Pope Benedict XVI titled “If you want to
cultivate peace, protect creation” for the World Day of
Prayer for Peace on January 1, 2010, he clearly pointed out:
“Environmental degradation is often due to the lack of far-
sighted official policies or to the pursuit of myopic economic
interests, which become a serious threat to creation…. Every
economic decision has a moral consequence!” We, the Philippine
Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), a partnership of more than
200 faith-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
peoples’ organizations (POs) and development associations,
see this statement applicable to the practice of aerial spraying
over banana plantations in Mindanao. Aerial spraying is an
agricultural practice of spraying fungicides over plantations
using airplanes. For the sake of short-sighted economic gains
the environment is being put in danger, including the health,
livelihood and welfare of many poor people living around

Pastoral Letter of His Grace, the Most Reverend Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P.,
D.D., On the Right of the Church to Proclaim the Truth and her Duty to
lead the Faithful to True Freedom in and for the Truth
Introduction
The tercentenary of the gift
of devotion to Ina, Our Lady
of Peñafrancia, has brought
us together to celebrate as a
community and as a Church. The
celebration has offered us great
joy to remember with gratitude
the many blessings that God
has bestowed upon us through
Ina; and has given us hope to
share this gift of devotion with
loving concern to those in need
especially the poor.
Recently, however, when the
issue on Reproductive health
bill sprung up, it scattered along
with it the seeds of division,
cynicism and animosity among
us. Malicious and tasteless
name-calling and criticism
hounded the Church’s stand
on responsible parenthood. The
prophetic role of priests and
bishops were challenged on the
basis of their “inexperience” on
matters like family planning.
Some politicians even argue
that the Church does not have
the right to intervene in political
affairs since this is not her field
of competence. Likewise, they
say that the right of the Church
should only concern the saving
of souls rather than meddling
in the affairs of the state. If the
Church truly has the concern
for the poor, why does she
oppose the seemingly noble and
well-meaning RH bill, which
according its proponents, is a
potent solution to poverty?
My brothers and sisters, are
all these: division, animosity,
wavering faith, vague
2. The Duty of the Church to
lead the faithful to true freedom
in and for the truth that leads to
integral salvation.
3. Reproductive Health as a
Constitutional and Moral Issue
The Right of the Church to
Proclaim the Truth
Why does the Church have
the right to speak about social,
economic or political issues? First
of all, the Church is a mother and
teacher. As a mother, she has the
heart of Christ, who calls her to
preach with fidelity the Gospel of
Life and Truth![1] As the Church
proclaims this Gospel, which she
has lovingly received from Christ,
to the people, who are constantly
barraged by social, economic
and political problems,[2] her
preaching serves as: 1) a light that
illumines, 2) a spiritual force that
needs to critique the social and
political affairs, [3] 3) the leaven
that renews and empowers[4] the
society and 4) the good news to the
people of every age and culture.
[5] Since the Church has been
entrusted by the Lord with the
mission to proclaim the Truth and
abide by the Truth, she speaks and
must always speak about it with
clarity, firmness and consistency,
whereby she can never agree to
call good evil and evil good.[6]
The Duty of the Church to
lead the Faithful towards True
Freedom
Every right has a corresponding
duty or responsibility. What then
is the sacred duty of the Church,
which impels her to address the
problems of our society? The
promulgate this Constitution.”
This reinforces even more
the duty of the Church to
remind the government of
her constitutional mandate to
protect this aspiration. And what
does the Church desire for us?
The Church desires that all
of us may have life, that we
would be able to establish a free
nation: where human dignity
and solidarity are respected and
promoted; where moral principles
prevail in socio-economic life and
structures; where justice, love and
solidarity are the inner driving
forces of development.”[8] Is this
not the same aspiration written in
our Constitution?
The Church envisions that
we don’t just have life but
eternal life.[9] This desire of the
Church regarding life urges her
to remind the faithful through her
teachings that real concern for our
fellowmen, most especially for the
poor, begins with the respect for
human life,[10] respect for human
dignity and freedom.[11]
The journey to eternal life begins
with the encounter with Christ. The
Church helps the person encounter
Christ who will accompany him
in this journey of life.[12] As the
“pillar and bulwark of truth”[13]
the Church helps us to walk in
truth and freedom by forming
our conscience through the moral
principles that she proclaims.[14]
In the midst of growing voices
that call for absolute freedom or
right of choice, let us not harden
our hearts so as to also hear the
voice of truth coming from the
Church: “The freedom of man
www.flickr.com
the plantations.
We call on the government to ban aerial spraying. Many
local and international studies have shown that the present
practice of aerial spraying in the banana plantations has ill-
effects to the life and health of people, their livelihood and to
the environment. The Holy Father reminds us: “The primary
capital to be safeguarded and valued is the human person in his
or her integrity. The human being is the source, the focus and
the aim of all economic and social life.” (Caritas in Veritate 25)
Even if it is claimed by the companies affected that the studies
are not conclusive, the precautionary principle states that if
people desiring to live under the there is doubt, the safety of the people and the environment
providence and aid of God, in a should be given prior protection. Let a ban of aerial spraying
nation where the regime of truth, be put in place, while studies are being confirmed, if this is
justice, freedom, love, equality, what the companies are demanding.
and peace reign. Does the RH bill The previous administration has not addressed this issue in
respect or violate this spiritual spite of the stand of the Department of Health (DOH) against
aspiration of the people? this practice and the recommendations of the Commission of
Only in an environment of Human Rights (CHR) to immediate effect a ban while studies
dialogue are we able to uphold are being conducted and validated. We call on President Benigno
this constitutional aspiration. It Aquino, who claims to walk the right path, and the Supreme
was along this same line that our Court to act decisively against this practice for the sake of the
bishops before sought to clarify poor and the environment. Ban aerial spraying now!
the same concern with the cabinet
members of then President
Corazon Aquino on the issue of
Population Control.[17]
2. The RH bill is a moral
issue.
As a moral issue, RH bill
engages all of us to know the
issues contained therein. RH bill is
not just about family planning. It
includes among others the issues
on development, sexual health,
rights of women and children.
These issues require a thorough
study and careful analysis.
Conclusion
The teachings of the Church
concerning prevailing social issues
that affect people are not merely
limited to renunciation of immoral
acts, but in a more positive light,
these teachings seek to form and
illumine our conscience to enable us
to choose the good and to genuinely
decide in accordance with what
is true.[18] In this sense, the
Church is a vital contributor in the
political debate, a transformative
resource[19] insofar as she helps
in purifying and shedding light
upon the application of reason to
the discovery of objective moral
www.flickr.com

understanding of the mission Church as a herald of the Gospel is the acceptance of Truth which principles.[20] Ultimately, the
of the Church, the fruits of the of Truth aims to bring the Filipino leads the human person to his right and duty of the Church to
three hundred years of the gift Catholics to their true destiny. true good: to live in Truth and to speak about the Truth and to form
of devotion to our Ina, here in [7] And what do we desire as a live for Truth.”[15] This duty of conscience in the Truth is rooted not
Caceres? nation? the Church to lead the people to so much in her doctrinal statements
The Preamble of our genuine freedom in and for the and pastoral letters but in her Signed:
Objective of the Pastoral Constitution expresses this truth is her faithful obedience to fidelity in following Jesus.[21]
Letter national aspiration: “We, the the Word of God, “which must be Let the stones shout! Let the MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COORDINATING
It is obvious that the issue at sovereign Filipino people, free of intellectual conformism or Church built upon the solid rock COMMITTEE
hand is complicated. A thorough imploring the aid of Almighty facile accommodation to the spirit of faith of the Apostles, fulfill its
discussion of the specific issues God, in order to build a just and of the age.”[16] task of proclaiming the Truth for CLUSTER POINT PERSONS:
cannot be carried out by a homily. humane society and establish a it is the truth, which sets us free! Carlito Dumulot, Central Luzon Cluster
It requires a series of “feeding the Government that shall embody The Reproductive Health Bill The truth will bring us freedom if Sr. Crescencia Lucero, SFIC, NCR-National Cluster
lamb.” I intend to develop the our ideals and aspirations, as an Issue this truth is founded on the Rock Fr. Jose Dizon, Southern Tagalog Cluster
different themes but for this Sunday, promote the common good, Why does the Church oppose of Truth, who is Christ! Fr. Ramoncito Siguebense, Bicol Cluster
I wish to clarify the following: conserve and develop our the passing of the RH bill into Given this 9th day of October Jose Mabulay Jr. – Eastern Visayas Cluster
1. The Right of the Church, patrimony, and secure to law? 2010 in the year of Our Lord from Ms. Jacqueline dela Peña – Central Visayas Cluster
through her ministers: the ourselves and our posterity 1. The RH bill is not just a the Office of the Archbishop, City Fr. Edwin Laude – Negros Cluster
Bishops together with the priests, the blessings of independence legislative but a constitutional of Naga. Marilou Llvan – Panay-Romblon Cluster
to proclaim the Gospel of Life and democracy under the rule issue. Paul Paraguya – CABUSTAM Cluster
and Truth and thus permeate of law and a regime of truth, We have cited above the +Leonardo Z. Legaspi, Annie Sandalo – DAVAO Region Cluster
the socio-political arena with the justice, freedom, love, equality, Preamble of the Constitution O.P., D.D. Fr. Jose Ante, ZAMBASULI Cluster
Gospel values. and peace, do ordain and that enshrines our aspiration as a Archbishop of Caceres
PMPI CO-CONVENORS:
Catholic Press / B1 Cesar Villanueva, Chairperson
Marietta Paragas, Co-Convenor for Luzon, Northern Luzon
diocesan paper. And this raises some serious Service. We ran hundreds of stories on the Catholic media joined this discussion. There Cluster Point Person
questions: What happens when the bishop is topic in the 1990s, and hundreds more over were critical voices in the Catholic press, Fr. Romeo Catedral, Co-Convener for Mindanao
the publisher of the newspaper, or directly the last decade. It was easier for CNS because then and now, over the way the hierarchy EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:
manages other media in the diocese? If you are although we’re associated with the US bishops’ responded. To cite just one example, Russell NASSA – Fr. Edwin Gariguez
a professional communicator and a Catholic conference, we are an editorially independent Shaw, a longtime Catholic journalist, a one- Misereor – Mr. Elmar Noe
who is loyal to the church, where does the wire service, and our client newspapers expect time spokesman for the US bishops and a
commitment to journalistic excellence end? us to cover all the news, good and bad, that consultor to this pontifical council, said a BISHOP CO-CONVENERS:
Over the years we’ve had a series of directly affects the Catholic Church. I think the culture of clericalism and unnecessary secrecy Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo, DD – NCR-Urban Cluster
statements in the church about the need for events of 2002 began to change the paradigm in the church were primary contributing Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez,Jr. DD – NCR National
clear and open communications: Pope John of Catholic news coverage of the sex abuse causes of the sex abuse scandal. Cluster
Paul II said the church should be a “glass scandal. Eight years ago was also a time when many Most Rev. Jose R. Manguiran, DD – DOPIM Cluster
house.” More recently Pope Benedict said First, because many in the Catholic press Catholic bloggers emerged, and they gave
the sex abuse crisis calls for transparency and shared the sense of outrage over these voice to grassroots questions and criticisms PMPI SECRETARIAT:
“absolute sincerity” in the church. disclosures. Keep in mind that by this time, over the sex abuse scandal. Because they were Yolanda R. Esguerra, National Coordinator
In light of this, perhaps Catholic the Vatican and the pope had come forward less tied to existing institutions like a diocese Chito Aguilar, Deputy National Coordinator
communicators should examine their own with their own condemnations of sex abuse. or a religious order, they wrote and spoke
consciences and ask: Have we held ourselves It’s simple, of course, to express outrage more freely. They were always opinionated, TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP
and, in some cases, our superiors, to these over the sexual abuse of minors. It’s much not always correct with their information, but Tessie Fernandez, Chairperson, TWG on Family Life and
higher standards? Or have we been part of more difficult to assess how well bishops they contributed greatly to the sense that this Gender
the problem? handled these cases, what should be done to was a real conversation among Catholics, and Beth Yang, Chairperson, TWG on Peace and Human Rights
Covering the sex abuse story over the last perpetrators, what protection policies should not something being handled behind closed Vince Cinches, Chairperson, TWG on Fisherfolk Concerns
20 years was much easier for Catholic News be put into place. But increasingly, in 2002, Catholic Press / B7
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

Justification before the Judgment Seat of God

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C (Luke 18:9-14) October 24, 2010
By Msgr. Lope C. Robre- sinfulness, it was because he is
dillo, SThD a God who loves the humble
and despises the proud and the
disdainful (Luke 1:51-52). One’s
LAST September 2001, an evening achievements in religion could
television show featured the become a cause for pride and
Mangyans in Mindoro. At one contempt for men and women
point, the reporter asked one who cannot come up to what
of their chiefs if they had any common religiosity requires. It
desire to improve their situation often happens, for instance, that
by, say, making more money those who go to church Sundays,
in order to buy elegant clothes, fast, contribute sizable amount to
construct beautiful houses, and the parish projects and programs
own the latest vehicles. The and practice virtues think that
chief answered that it was not they have enough reason to be
in their culture to accumulate proud of themselves as Catholics
and concentrate wealth and that who belong to a stratum formed
they were happy the way they by the elite in religiosity and, as
were. His answer was, of course, a consequence, to criticize those
flabbergasting to us. But that is who do not reach their standard.
because we were brought up in This happens, too, in the secular
a culture far removed from the world. Many think that they form
one in which the Mangyans live an elite enclave within the greater
and survive. society on account of their wealth,
Culture largely defines our education and upbringing.
values, and therefore the way we At its marrow, however, the
look at people. But our culture story is not simply about how
has largely been defined by the we pray, but really about our
West. And if we ask: who is justification before God. As
acceptable to our community J. Fitzmyer observes, “one
that has been shaped by Western achieves uprightness before
values, the answer would be God not by one’s own activity
entirely different. Before the but by a contrite recognition

judgment seat of our culture,
one must not only be good, but
even more important, he must
have an achievement—political,
economic, cultural, religious—
in order to be considered
praiseworthy. No wonder,
precisely because of our cultural
make-up, many people parade
their stockholdings, land titles,
bank accounts, palatial houses,
academic degrees tacked to their
names and framed citations,
among others. How they display
their assets! Of course, these
are important. To have bank
accounts, academic degrees,
land titles, framed citations—
one needs them in order to
live what people brand as
respectable life. To live without
them—how would one appear
before our people and society if
Bo Sanchez
not a destitute, with nothing to
survive on in this competitive
world?
It is interesting to note that such
outlook has been transferred,
or at any rate can be found, in
our life of faith. In the realm of
religion, it is likewise important
for many people that one must
have something before God.
In today’s Gospel (Luke 8:9-
14), this is well illustrated in
the prayer of the Pharisee and
the tax collector. What the
Pharisee was able to accomplish
made himself respectable, and
obviously he lived within a circle
of people whose social stratum
and achievement no one at the
time of Jesus would criticize: he
did not extort, did something
unjust, nor committed adultery.
On the contrary, he did more
than what the law required: he
fasted in food and drink twice a
week (Monday and Thursday),
although fasting was obligatory
only on the Day of Atonement
(Lev 16:29-31; Num 29:7); he
tithed all his purchases, which
was more than what the law
stipulated (Deut 14:22-29). He
would be like a Catholic who
never transgresses any of the Ten
Commandments, fasts Tuesdays
and Fridays, and contributes
much to the Church. God would
certainly be pleased with such
religiosity! On the other hand,
almost at the extreme end of the
cultural and religious spectrum
in Jesus’ day was the tax collector
who had nothing to his name.
A known collaborator with the
Romans who were the enemies
of the Jews, he was avoided by
his own people and excluded
from the company of respectable
men in the Jewish society. An
extortionist, he would have to
make restitutions for his ill-gotten
www.parodyuniverse.com
one one’s own sinfulness before
him.” The reason why it was
the tax collector who was
ultimately pleasing before God
is that, before his judgment
seat, human achievements, both
wealth before he could ever hope in religion and in the secular
to be forgiven, if one goes by the world, are not decisive, however
teaching of the Pharisees. Of important they may appear to
course, even in our own society, our Western culture. God is not
any person like this particular tax a God who can be controlled
collector would have difficulty in by any human achievements.
being accepted. Quite the contrary, man cannot
The Gospel today tells us that claim to be just on account
these two went to the Temple of his achievements, because
to pray, the Pharisee reciting a these do not count before him
catalogue of his achievements in the first place. “What man
and a litany of his own praises, thinks important, God holds
the tax collector an inventory of in contempt” (Luke 16:15). It
his faults and a recital of his lack is not man who makes himself
of achievements. But in telling just. It is God, who gives justice
this parable of the Pharisee and as a gift. Man does not attain it
the tax collector, Jesus surprised through his own effort. What is
us with his concluding comment. ultimately decisive is that one
What transpired was a reversal of puts his trust in God, abandons
himself to him. And this is what
fortune, which would not have

SOULFOOD
been acceptable, since normal the tax collector did. In terms
Judaism took for granted that the of religious achievements, he
Pharisee was a justified person, had accomplished nothing to

Are negative emotions causing

and the tax collector could only present before God. But by
be such if he made retribution acknowledging his sinfulness,
in addition to giving one-fifth to unworthiness, and nothingness,

you to get sick?
ONE day, a man had a flu.
So he won’t spread his germs, his wife
dropped his plate and utensils in boiling
water. Their 5 year old daughter saw this and
asked, “What are you doing Mommy?”
“I’m boiling the dishes to kill Daddy’s
germs,” she said.
The girl remained quiet. After awhile,
she said, “I have an idea. Why not just boil
Daddy and kill all his germs?” Germs. We
blame them for our sickness. But that’s only
partly true.
Our immune system is so terrific, it can
That means that among the 17 million
people who died of heart disease last year,
and among the 7.2 million people who died
of cancer last year, 85% of those diseases were
rooted in their emotions.
Man! If only someone taught them to work
on their emotions (not just on their bodies),
some of them might still be alive today.
Here’s what I believe. Most of our diseases
are messages. What message? Diseases are
telling us that we have a spiritual need that
we need to fill.
But instead of listening to the message, we
sickness is telling us, “You need to stop
worrying and trust God more,” but instead
of trusting, we take a pill. Or our sickness
is telling us, “You need to stop working
too hard and relax more with your family,”
but instead of playing with our kids, we
take a pill.
In primitive societies, doctors were also
priests. When people got sick, the cure was
holistic. Aside from giving them herbs,
doctors told them to pray, to forgive, to
trust in God.
And then the scientific revolution came,
all those whom he had swindled, he allowed God to give him the
and reformed his life. Hence the gift of being right before him.
question: What went wrong? The parable, therefore,
Does the parable mean that God teaches us about the failure of
is happier with a sinner provided human achievements and of
he repents, than with a virtuous self-righteousness to justify
man with all his merits and oneself. It is God who justifies
achievements? us sinners, and justification is
On the surface, one may readily always received as a gift from
affirm that if God accepted him. We have nothing to boast
the tax collector despite his before him.
Bishop Pat Alo

fight almost all germs. But we get into trouble
when our immune system gets weak. And
one thing that causes it to weaken is our
negative emotions.
This blew my mind.
Studies show that 85% of all diseases are
rooted in our emotions. Wow.
kill the messenger. We get rid of the sickness
without addressing our soul needs. Very
soon, the sickness will reappear.
Sometimes, in a fatal way. For example,
our sickness may be telling us, “You need
to forgive and get rid of your anger,” but
instead of forgiving, we take a pill. Or our
ENCOUNTERS
and doctors focused purely on the body.
Today, the old model is coming back.
Because now, my friend doctors are
praying with their patients, are telling them
to have faith, to forgive, and to spend time
with their families. They’ve become doctors
and priests again.

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

WHATEVER Truth will be out

IN the present debates concerning the RH Bill that seems
to push for artificial contraception and abortion, we know

Major, major, major…mistake!
HOW would you have answered
the question addressed to Maria
Venus Raj, the Philippine’s
contestant to Miss Universe: What
is one big mistake that you’ve
made in your life, and what did
you do to make it right?
Her rather unexpected and
incomplete reply surprised the
judges and many other expectant
viewers who saw the stunning
young lady as one of the most
likely candidates to win the
contest. “Wrong answer, no
crown!” ABS News reported.
What made such a simple
question so hard to answer?
Putting myself in her stilettos
(ouch!), I believe she may have
been so rattled to her heels that
she was not able to fully grasp
the question. Her answer shows
that she may have heard it right
but understood it as: “What is the
greatest or most serious problem
you have had in your life, and
how did you solve it?” Mistakes,
after all, are often considered as
problems.
Interestingly, the same report
by ABS News on the event
delved not so much on Raj’s
imprecise answer. It was baffled
with the difficulty of answering
such a “simple” query which is
so common in job interviews. It
went on to show interviews where
even prestigious individuals (e.g.
ex-U.S. President George Bush
and their own colleagues in news
media) failed to give a satisfactory
response to the same question.
Their conclusion: “No one
wants to admit he makes
mistakes.” They ended their
report with an interesting point:
“Admitting one’s flaws would
have been the perfect answer.”
***
Admitting our flaws, however,
isn’t one of our favorite casual
daily chores. We have a rather
natural allergy to the word
mistake. It’s hard to bare one’s
shortcomings to the four winds
because doing so would render
one vulnerable to a host of other
undesired reactions (i.e. criticism,
rejection, contempt and anger).
This negative reaction seems
to be hardwired in man from
the very beginning. Adam
and Eve were described as
“hiding from God” when they
“disobeyed” His command.
When they are “found” by God,
they “gave excuses” to justify
their actuations. Every person has
a similar experience: the natural
aversion to making mistakes, and
when we are “caught” we find it
hard to admit it.
In facing many of life’s
dilemmas, we somehow
comfort ourselves by often
having recourse to sayings like
“nobody’s perfect” or “I’m
only human”. Despite this, we
cannot escape the uneasy and
uncomfortable feeling of having
“fallen short”, “not having
reached certain expectations” or
“having let down others” due to
our shortcomings. Why?
The answer rests in our concept
of what “ought to be” or “what is
the many pros and cons being advanced. In all the din and
hullabaloo we know that eventually truth will triumph. It
would be good and beneficial to be on the side of the simple
and humble truth. That’s what the expression above implies.
One way or another, in spite of all efforts to conceal it, the
truth will come to be known.
good”. This interior evaluating
For example, check what perhaps the motives behind.
mechanism is something rooted in
Some may be after base gain, or other worldly interests. Who
the fact that man is called or created
or which side is working for the common good of the people
for “the good”, “for perfection”
and the human person’s benefit of both body and spirit?
and “for Heavenly bliss” by
After all, we know life on earth is but a transitory stage and
God. Thus, we have a natural
someday we have to face the judgment of God who rewards
consciousness of and feelings of
according to our deeds. Are we here to limit the guests to
shame for having strayed from
life’s table or must we rather work to increase resources and
these standards desired for our
facilities for the betterment of life’s condition? Who is really
own good by God.
working for the good of man, not just pretending to do so
When we commit mistakes,
out of ignorance or self-interest?
however, God doesn’t simply
Since God alone reigns forever and above all, what is really
accuse us. From the episode of
God’s will in the issue at hand? Money seems to be the
Eden, God was walking through
enduring symbol of power, pleasure and greed. Who then
the garden looking the first man
are being enslaved by it? “The love of money is the root of
andwoman.WhenHefoundthem
all evils and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered
He didn’t act harshly, –although
away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of
all-knowing of man’s failure– to
fatal wounds” (1 Tim. 6:10). We care for life now and for the
correct their sin. Instead, He
future of our land and nation. Let’s not forget the gospel truth
encouraged in them sincerity,
that what we do for others shall eventually come back to us.
humility and conversion. But
“Do not judge and you will not be judged yourselves; do not
Adam and Eve chose otherwise:
condemn and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant
they lied, blamed each other
pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be
and were punished for their
gifts for you; a full measure, pressed down, shaken together,
disobedience.
and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the
When God asks man to admit
amount you measure out is the amount you will be given
his mistakes, He doesn’t require
back”(Lk. 6:36-38).
that it be announced publicly. It
Whatever / B7
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010
B7

Mati celebrates Indigenous Sunday

with Lumads’ cultural exhibits
By Sr. Marietta Alo, OND
THE Diocese of Mati’s Indigenous
People’s Apostolate or IPA (Apostolado
sa Lumad) marks celebration of
Indigenous Sunday with a traditional
Lumad concelebrated Mass and cultural
exhibits.
Mati Bishop Patricio Alo will preside
on October 10 the 8:00 a.m. Eucharistic
celebration at the Divine Mercy Shrine
and Parish.
A socio-cultural program supervised
by diocesan IPA director Fr. Roberto
Ombon, will follow at the St. Therese
Gym in the Clergy House Compound,
in Madang.
Lumads in their colorful costumes
will once again present ethnic songs and
dances, and meaningful rituals to delight
the audience and share the richness of
the Mandayan culture and heritage.
Church and government leaders, as
well as non-government organization
the October IP month until its closing
day on October 31at the Mati Socio-
Cultural Center, Sainz, Mati, Davao
Oriental.
An accredited activity of the
Sambuokan Festival 2010 of Mati, the
event is supported by Mayor Michelle
N. Rabat and the LGU of Mati and other
culture-loving officials and individuals,
the Indigenous Peoples Apostolate
(IPA) of Mati diocese, and the Mandaya
communities of Sangab, Pantuyan, and
Calapagan.
The Lungga Center
The Lungga Center or LMACI was
founded in 2000 by KAMUNAAN
chair Atty. Alejandro “Al” Aquino, a
Mandayan native from Caraga, Davao
Oriental, and official lawyer of the
diocese of Mati.
Aquino studied at the Maryknoll
School of Caraga (now St. Mary’s
Academy of Caraga) and finished his
law course at the San Beda Law School

(NGO) assisting the lumads of Davao
Oriental, such as Lungga Mangmang
Agong Center, Inc. (LMACI) will deliver
their messages during the program.
In the afternoon, the LMACI or Lungga
Center will spearhead the opening of
KAMUNAAN, an exhibit and lecture
series on the Mandaya culture.
KAMUNAAN comes from the
Mandaya rootword MUNA (meaning
ANCESTORS). It refers to the ways
and things of the Lumads’ ancestors or
of the past.
The activity will be open daily to mark
in Manila.
He was one of the four selected
lumads in October 2008 to represent the
Philippines in the Geneva international
human rights assembly for indigenous
peoples.
Aquino became known as the
dangpanan, because of his dedication
to the lumads of Davao Oriental. He
proposed the first KAMUNAAN to
enable more and more people to know
and appreciate the richness of the
Mandayan culture.
The exhibit is scheduled at 8:00
to10:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and
the lectures from 10:00 a.m. to12 noon,
and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., except on Fridays
when actual demonstrations will be
conducted.
The lectures will cover the cultural
history of the Mandaya tribe, Mandayan
religious rituals, Environment and
Ancestral Domains, Traditional
Community Life and Leadership,
Tools, Utensils and Weaponry,
Agriculture and Traditional Livelihood,
Legends, Folklores, Poems and Songs,
Indigenous Foods and Drinks, Sounds
and Music, Origin and Significance of
the Dagmay Woven cloth, embroidery
and ornamentals, and IPRA and related
laws. The three-week long event hopes
to awaken appreciation and love for the
God-given Mandaya legacy.
www.mati.gov.ph
With free admission, the exhibit is open
to the public, government employees,
professors, students, lumads, christians,
muslims and all groups and sectors.
For more information, contact Lungga
Center or Aquino Law Office, Madang,
Mati at telephone numbers (087)3884308
and (087)8112485, and cellphone number
09097181487 and look for Laarni M.
Passion.

Catholic Press / B5

doors.
The adoption of US sex abuse
norms in 2002 was a focus of this
conversation. I cannot remember
a topic that was so thoroughly
examined and debated, in such
detail, in the Catholic media in
the United States. You rarely
have Catholic reporters and
bloggers talking about the finer
points of canon law, but in this
case you did. I think US Catholics
and Catholic media felt some
tension with the Vatican over this;
this was evident after Cardinal
Castrillon Hoyos, at a Vatican
press conference, suggested that
sex abuse was a problem primarily
in the English speaking world.
That prompted a reaction among
many US Catholic journalists: the
cardinal’s comment was seen as
evidence that the Vatican just
didn’t get it. But in fact, I think
the Vatican was slowly “getting
it” and Cardinal Castrillon was
becoming a minority voice. When
the Vatican approved the US sex
abuse norms, it marked a turning
point in the handling of the abuse
crisis. It led to additional Vatican
provisions in 2003. And this
past year, when many of those
provisions were made part of
universal church law, it was a
sign of how much has changed
at the Vatican.
Let me give you an example of
what has changed: In 2001, CNS
broke the story of Pope John Paul’s
motu proprio “Sacramentorum
sanctitatis tutela,” which reserved
sex abuse cases to the doctrinal
congregation, and set up strict
new procedures to deal with
offenders. We worked for weeks
on the story, and we had to
squeeze information out of
Vatican officials. And this was
not a “bad news” story; this was
a “good news” story about the
Vatican taking action, taking
these sins more seriously. You
would think they would want the
world to know; but they didn’t.
Today, it’s completely different.
As you know, the Vatican has
made so much information
available about sex abuse policies
and procedures that I bet there are
very few in this room who have
read it all. They have a Vatican
Web page dedicated to the issue.
The Vatican today is proactive.
In terms of information, in terms
of journalism, these are hard-won
battles. In recent months, as we
all know, the re-emergence of
the sex abuse scandal has drawn
coverage by Catholic and secular
media. And I think this time
around, Catholic media share in
the disappointment felt by bishops
and the Vatican at the way the
mainstream media has reported
the issue. Here are some distinctive
traits that I think Catholic media
have brought to this coverage,
traits that are often missing among
secular journalists:
1. Context: Because Catholic
media are familiar with what
happened in 1993 or in 2002, they
know the church has already
responded with some very good
steps and programs.
2. Time frame: Catholic media
know that most cases of clerical
abuse are from past decades,
with very few occurring today—
something that I think most
readers of newspapers still don’t
understand.
3. Fairness: There has been, I
think, a “gotcha” mentality in
efforts to somehow lay the sex
abuse scandal at Pope Benedict’s
doorstep. Catholic journalists
know that this is simply not how
it happened, and that the current
pope took many steps as head
of the doctrinal congregation to
deal with the problem. As with
many things, he was methodical
and determined and patient. In
the eyes of some critics, perhaps
too patient and deliberate. But
certainly he was moving in the
right direction. The portrait of
Pope Benedict as an architect of
cover-up is a false caricature, in
my opinion.
4. Perspective: Catholic media
have resisted, by and large, the
trend toward hammering one
big story incessantly, almost to
the exclusion of anything else.
For the first six months of this
year, if you read a story about the
Vatican in a major US newspaper,
it was probably about sex abuse.
This is a hallmark of the cable-
news mentality that seems to
have invaded every newsroom:
a big story is established and
then fed daily, like a beast.
The essential storyline is never
questioned. Details, subtleties
and ambiguous information all
fall by the wayside. You keep the
big story going: this is the gospel
of the modern mass media, I think
largely for economic reasons. And
fortunately, the Catholic press
has managed to resist this and
keep a perspective, reporting on
sex abuse as a painful failure, but
not as if it were the only aspect—
or even the main aspect—of
contemporary church life.
What worries me is that
Catholic communicators, with
all their perspective, context
and fairness on the sex abuse
story, have not really had much
impact beyond their own limited
audience. We feel frustration at
times over how the mainstream
media treats the church; but this
frustration is often translated into
a kind of closed-circuit discussion
among ourselves. There’s a risk of
becoming too self-congratulatory.
We need to ask: how well do
we really communicate with
the modern world, the wider
world, beyond our own ecclesial
borders?
One final point: in terms of
communion and controversy,
the Catholic press is different and
distinctive because it shares in the
mission of the church — to spread
the Gospel through contemporary
means of communication. This
is exactly what Catholic News
Service says in our own mission
statement. We want to tell the
truth, and we want to do it fairly
and fully. And if I may, I’ll close
by reading from our mission
statement about how we cover the
news: “Some of that news is good
and some is bad, but it is what
readers need to know in order to
work for salvation. They need to
know that there are saints in the
making in the Church today and
they need to know that there are
sinners too.”

Collaboration / B2

“With the exception of an extraordinary
case due to the absolute absence of both
priests and deacons who can assist at
marriages, no ordained minister may
authorize the non-ordained faithful
for such assistance. Neither may an
ordained minister authorize the non-
ordained faithful to ask or receive
matrimonial consent according to the
norm of c.1108, §2” (§3).
2) The diocesan Bishop may concede
this delegation “subject to the verification
of three conditions” (§1; cf. c. 1112,
§1):
1° “there are no priests or deacons
available;”
2° “after he shall have obtained for his
own Diocese a favorable votum from
the Conference of Bishops” regarding
this move;
3° “the necessary permission of the
Holy See”.
3) “In such cases, the canonical norms
concerning the validity of delegation,
the suitability, capacity and attitude
of the non-ordained faithful must be
observed” (§2).
Article 11: Extraordinary Minister of
Baptism
“Apart from cases of necessity,
canonical norms permit the non-
ordained faithful to be designated as
extraordinary ministers of Baptism”,
but the Instruction reminds the Pastors
of the conditions for the licitude of this
extraordinary designation:
1) “There is no ordinary minister or
in cases where he is impeded, (but) care
should be taken to avoid too extensive
an interpretation of this provision and
such a faculty should not be conceded
in a habitual form.”
2) The Instruction concretizes
a negative list of reasons for that
deputation, which would therefore make
such deputation illicit:
1° “the ordinary minister’s excessive
workload”;
2° “his non-residence in the territory
of the parish”;
3° “his non-availability on the day on
which the parents wish the Baptism to
take place.” the previous article as regards the sense
Article 12: Leading the Celebration
at Funerals
The Instruction reminds the Pastors
of the following norms as regards
obsequies:
1) “It is desirable that priests and
deacons, even at some sacrifice to
themselves, should preside personally
at funeral rites in accordance with local
custom, so as to pray for the dead and
be close to their family, thus availing
of an opportunity for appropriate
evangelization.”
2) “The non-ordained faithful may
lead the ecclesial obsequies”, with the
following conditions:
1° “There is a true absence of sacred
ministers.” In the absence of further
explication within this article of the term
true absence of sacred ministers, we have
to attend to the sense given to this term in
of lack of ordinary minister for baptism,
including the negative list of situations
when this is not verified.
2° The deputed non-ordained
extraordinary minister must “adhere
to the prescribed liturgical norms”, and
should therefore “be well prepared both
doctrinally and liturgically”.
Conclusion
The Instruction ends by re-stating
the two fundamental criteria in this
matter:
First, the need to reinforce the
identity of the ministerial priesthood, by
respecting the principle of diversity in
the People of God and more specifically
of the proper status and mission of the
laymen. “The Holy Father reminds us
that the particular gift of each of the
Church’s members must be wisely and
carefully acknowledged, safeguarded,
promoted, discerned and coordinated,
without confusing roles, functions or
theological and canonical status.”
Second, the shortage of ordained
ministers must be addressed by
fostering vocations to the priesthood,
not by substituting priests with laymen.
“Solutions addressing the shortage
of ordained ministers cannot be other
than transitory and must be linked to a
series of pastoral programs which give
priority to the promotion of vocations to
the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”

Whatever / B6

is sufficient for one to be sincere himself– require God’s grace for

CBCPMonitor Name _________________________________________________

(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
before God, admitting one’s sins
and infidelities, and resolving to
begin again with more trust in
conversion. This also gives us the
necessary grace to reject future
sins and temptations.
God’s help. c) Spiritual direction. It is
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Mailing Address _______________________________________________ God has left us marvelous good for man not only to know
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 B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

Moral Assessment Technical Assessment

 Abhorrent  Poor
 Disturbing  Below average

 Acceptable  Average

 Wholesome  Above average

 Exemplary  E
xcellent

Brothers Soren and Kludd
may look the same outside but
inside these barn owlets are
worlds apart. Soren (voiced by
Jim Sturgess) won’t get tired of
the bedtime story their father
tells about the Guardians of
Ga’Hoole, a noble band of
warriors who vanquished the
evil army named the “Pure
Ones”. For Kludd (voiced by
Ryan Kwanten), however, such
are silly stories only daydreamers
like his brother could buy.
Sneaking out of the family
nest one night to try their wings
at “flying”, barn owlets Soren
and Kludd tumble off a branch
to the ground. But before they
are captured by a hungry wild
boar, they are swooped away in
the talons of huge mean-looking
owls. Their captors turn out to be
the minions of the Pure Ones who
run an “orphanage”—in reality a
training camp that brainwashes
abducted owlets to serve their
wicked purposes.
Aware of their captors’
nefarious activities to annihilate
the owls of the “lesser species”
(meaning those outside of the
Pure Ones’ dominion) but
deceived by the promises of
their evil Queen Nyra (voiced by
Helen Mirren), Kludd accepts to
be a future soldier while Soren
is sent to the camp’s slave labor
area when he defends a tiny elf
owl Gylfie (voiced by Emily
Barclay). Soren and Gylfie think
the owldom must be warned of
the Pure Ones’plan to wipe them
out, but who will escape the camp
to do it? An old warrior from the
ranks of the Pure Ones, Grimble
(voiced by Geoffrey Rush) trains
the young pair to fly so that they
may one day escape the camp and
warn the unsuspecting owls.
Directed by Zack Snyder and
brought to the screen by Animal
Logic, the same studio that made
that penguin movie, Happy
Feet, this owl film is definitely
something worth hooting about.
It’s a visual treat, right from the
start. The animators certainly
created a magical world—forest,
sea, sky—that one could only
wish to be real in its majesty
and beauty.
This is one time you’ll forget
about those plastic 3D glasses
you’re wearing as you note the
fine details, colors and textures
that the film is never short of:
the subtle lighting shifts on the
owls’ feathers ruffling in the
breeze, on the scenic backdrops
of sea or storm, on Soren’s flight
through a nasty funnel cloud, or
on the clouds made translucent
by their gliding across the sun.
Such gorgeous photo-realism
takes Legend of the Guardians
several notches higher than
even the better animation films
so far made, especially with
the impressive rendering of the
owls’ eyes.
From childhood we know that
owls, with their wide, intelligent
looking eyes, have traditionally
symbolized wisdom, but being
nocturnal, they can hardly be
scrutinized at the zoos, so we
have never really seen how
they move their eyes. But now,
Legend of the Guardians gives
us owls with eyes as expressive
as humans’. We know a bit
about CGI and how difficult
artists find it to capture the
eyes in animation, but here we
have owls’ eyes so realistically
conveying human emotions
about equally human concerns,
like their family’s future or
vanquishing evil, that we could
come to think they’re not really
owls, much less animated owls,
but actually human beings in
owls’ clothing!
Preposterous though that may
sound, Legend of the Guardians
Title: Legend of the Guard-
ians: The Owls of
Ga’Hoole
Technical Assessment: 
½
Moral Assessment: 
Rating: PG 13 (Aged 13 and
below with parental guid-
ance)
depicts laudable ideals and most
assuredly delivers a message on
the human condition. Perhaps
the story and the script are
rather familiar to adults, but to
preteens in search of heroes a
tale of bravery like this would
be uplifting, inspiring us to self-
confidently keep our head and
heart in the right place in the face
of adversity.
The movie is definitely worth
a peek for viewers of all ages, but
please keep the younger children
(below primary school age) and
nervous 10-year olds out of the
audience. Although it’s a worthy
story about the quest toward
self-awareness, the dark story is
generously spiked with intense
situations, and startling fierce
encounters between good and
bad owls—the stuff nightmares
are made of.
You’d never think that owls
would be concerned with
heroism, honor, adventure,
peace, legends, power, family,
orphans and class distinction
butLegend of the Guardians
says they are, indeed. Well, as
we have said, these owls to us
feel like humans. The only thing
that will probably jolt you out
of this “humanowled” world is
the warriors’ intricately crafted
combat masks. Appreciating
the craftsmanship you’d think,
“Gee, how could owls make such
exquisite metal masks?” Then
you’ll realize: it’s only a movie!
(Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS)

Title: I do
MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi
Cast: Erich Gonzalez, Enchong Dee, Dennis Padilla, Pok-
wang, Isay Alvarez ; Director: Veronica Velasco; Pro-
ducer: Malu Santos; Screenwriter: Veronica Velasco;
Distributor: Star Cinema; Genre: Comedy/ Drama;
Location: Manila; Running Time: 100 minutes
Technical Assessment: 
Moral Assessment:  ½
Rating: For viewers 14 and above

Si Yumi (Erich Gonzalez) ay naniniwala sa kapalaran at

nangangarap na balang araw ay makikilala niya ang kanyang
Prince Charming at sila’y ikakasal sa kanyang dream wedding.
Nang makilala niya si Lance (Enchong Dee), aakalain niyang ito
na ang kanyang hinihintay. Magiging mabilis ang pangyayari

Buhay Parokya
sa kanilang dalawa at makalipas lamang ang ilang buwan ay
magugulat na lamang si Yumi na siya ay nabuntis na pala. Sa
takot ni Yumi sa kanyang pamilya ay agad niyang niyaya si Look for the
Lance na magpakasal kahit hindi pa ito handa, bukod sa hindi images of nun,
rin matanggap ng pamilya ni Lance na ikakasal ito sa isang chalice and
hindi nila katulad na Tsino. Magiging malabis ang kalituhan crucifix.
ni Lance at hindi nito itutuloy ang pagpapakasal kay Yumi.
Maraming beses silang mag-uurong-sulong sa pagpapakasal
dala ng maraming aberya, pati ang komplikasyon sa kani-
kanilang pamilya, damay na rin ang kanilang anak. Matupad
pa nga kaya ang inaasam ni Yumingdream wedding?
Bagama’t kung tutuusin ay gasgas na ang kwento ng I do,
nagawa nitong bigyan ng bagong bihis ang tila palasak nang
konsepto. Maraming nakakaaliw na eksena na binigyang
buhay at kulay ng mga batikang komedyante at aktor. Ang
mga bida naman, bagama’t halatang mga pa-cute pa ay
nagawa namang umarte sa mga eksenang kinakailangan at
sadyang ibinagay sa kanila ang kani-kaniyang papel. Pero
nagkulang pa rin sa hagod ang pelikula. Bukod sa kakulangan
ng hagod ang pag-arte ng mga pangunahing tauhan lalo na
si Dee, kulang din sa lalim ang kabuuang pagkukuwento
ng pelikula. Hindi gaanong napalalim ang mga tunay na
isyung dapat tinalakay. Sa halip, nasobrahan ng pagkaka-
sentro sa kasalan ang kwento, kaya’t halos mawalan na ito ng
saysay. Maaring ito rin ang gustong palabasin ng pelikula sa
kabuuan ngunit nabigo ito dahil sa mahinang pundasyon ng
kuwento. Sa kabuuan tuloy ay madali ring makakalimutan
ang pelikulang ito.
Ang kuwento ng mga kabataang mapupusok na nauuwi
sa di-inaasahang pagbubuntis ay palasak na rin sa lipunan.
Isa itong problemang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin at hindi
magkakaroon ng solusyon kung dadaanin na lamang sa tawa.
Ito ang ginawa ng I Do – ang gawing katatawanan ang isang
napakaseryoso, at maging mga sagradong sitwasyon. Walang
nakakatawa sa maagang pagbubuntis nang wala pang kasalan.
Magiging sanhi ito ng marami pang komplikasyon na dapat
sanang ipinakita sa pelikula upang maging halimbawa sa mga
kabataang manonood. Oo nga’t mabigat na ang buhay at hindi
na dapat lalo pang pabigatin ngunit sa ginawang pagpapagaan
ng I Do sa sitwasyon ay lalo itong naging nakakabahala. Wala
ngang matinding halikan o hubaran na ipinakita ngunit ang
pagkauwi ng isang bubot na relasyon sa pagbubuntis ay
hindi dapat ipinagsa-walang bahal ng perlikula. Wala man
lang matapat na pagsisisi mula sa sinumang tauhan. Bagkus,
nakatuon pa rin ang babaeng tauhan sa maraming ilusyon—
ilusyon ng pag-ibig at pagpapakasal. Hindi dahil sa isa itong
mahalagang sakramento kundi dahil, isa itong magandang
palabas. Hanggang sa huli’y parang hindi naman nabago ang
pagtingin na ito. Para bang ninais pa nitong sabihin na, basta’t
mahal mo’y, yun na. Hindi isina-alang-alang ang kahalagahan
ng sakramento at ang malalim na inspirasyong kaugnay dito.
Sa malaking bahagi ng pelikula, naging insidental at tila
palamuti na lamang ang naging anak ng dalawang tauhan.
Kahit paano mo ito tingnan, ito’y isang kamalian. (Rizalino
Pinlac, Jr.)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol.
Vol. 14
14No. 21
No. 3
C1
C1
October 111- -24,
February 2010 14, 2010
February

The News Supplement of

Couples for Christ

Filled With Thanksgiving:

By Zeny Gimenez
CFC Celebrates!
COUPLES for Christ is indeed filled
with thanksgiving!
Aside from the many blessings in its
evangelization and mission efforts these
past months, CFC has one great reason
to celebrate -- CFC finally has a home
it can call its own!
The community celebrated in a fit-
ting manner last Saturday, October 2
in an event aptly called: “Filled with
Thanksgiving: CFC Celebrates!” The
Ultra reverberated with songs of praise
and worship, shouts of joy and joyous
dances as CFC partied.
All the Family Ministries participated,
presenting dance numbers that showed
their joy and exuberance. The Inter-
national Council spoke for the entire
community when they expressed their
happiness at this momentous event,
which aptly comes at the end of a year
that the Lord had declared as a year of
Fullness in Christ.
They pointed out that every single
CFC member, young and old, rich and
poor, has a stakehold in this new home.
They also emphasized that the reason
the center of CFC’s operations is not
called CFC Head Office or CFC Center
but rather CFC Home Office is because
this is truly our home, our heart.
Fr. Fernando Suarez officiated at the
Holy Mass that kicked off the celebra-
tions. He affirmed CFC’s priorities -
putting Christ in the Eucharist first
before anything else -- saying that no
organization will flourish if its center is
not Christ. He was assisted by Msgr. Al-
len Aganon, spiritual adviser of the IC,
and two members of his congregation,
Companions of the Cross, Fr. Francis
Donnelly and Fr. Jeff Shannon.
At the end of the evening, everyone
offered a flower on a giant cross, symbol
of their oneness with the community’s
goals and aspirations, all of which are
founded on Christ.
The occasion also saw the relaunching
of the Build My House campaign, meant
to gather donations from the entire CFC
global family in order to fund the pur-
chase of the new CFC home. The CFC
Council reminded all the
leaders present that the
new home comes with a
responsibility for every-
one to share in making
sure that our dream be-
comes reality. Everyone
was urged to bring down
the message to the mem-
bers that for this dream
to come true, all every-
one has to do is to be a
“brick,” or to contribute
at least P100 each. With
more than 600,000 mem-
bers in the Philippines,
each person’s contribu-
tion of P100, if everyone
gives, will translate to
P60 million, exactly the
amount needed for the
first phase of the dream –
to purchase the building
and make the necessary
repairs and renovations
so that the transfer can
be effected before 2010
is over.
IC members Joey Arguelles,
Lito Tayag, Joe Yamamoto,
Joe Tale and Melo Villaroman,
Jr. pose in front of the gigantic
flower cross.

One Heart: Southern CFC Cooperatives Federation,

Tagalog Regional Conference
By Jed Juntereal
LAST September 3-5, the CFC
Singles for Christ Southern Ta-
galog held their ONE HEART
Regional Conference in the
Province of Rizal. More than
700 delegates from the region
arrived at the Casimiro Ynares
Sr. Memorial Gymnasium in
Binangonan town.
The conference kicked off on
Friday morning with the vari-
ous competitions. Basketball,
volleyball, and badminton
tournaments were held in two
venues a few minutes away
from the Ynares Gym, while
the main venue hosted the cre-
ative competitions. Once the
tournaments wrapped up, the
delegates gathered back at the
main venue for the Holy Mass.
The celebration was conducted
by Bishop Gabriel Reyes of the
Diocese of Antipolo, who spoke
of having one heart for God and
for the Church.
The conference proper opened
afterward, with the first talk, “A
Heart Made for God,” delivered
by YFC International Coordi-
nator Rommel Ancheta, who
spoke of God’s extravagant
love. The first day ended with
an advocacy concert highlight-
ing the various SFC advocacies:
One Life, One Hope, One Earth,
and One Nation.
Each advocacy called for a
specific action: One Life called
for support for House Bill 13
providing for the safety and
protection of the unborn. One
Hope encouraged love offerings
for the CFC’s Build My House
campaign. One Earth urged
proper waste management
through reuse-reduce-recycle
approaches and One Nation
exhorted the application of the
Twelve Little Steps Filipinos
Can Do in the lives of the SFC.
The concert was capped by
a candle-lighting ceremony
signifying the commitment of
SFC Southern Tagalog to these
advocacies.
Saturday morning saw the
delegates heading off to their
various workshops, as they
learned more creative means of
listening to and sharing God’s
message to the people around
them. After lunch they head-
Co-Ops for Christ-Manila
Partner with CISP
The CFC Cooperatives Federation or CCF, now under the
ed back to the ANCOP umbrella, signed a Memorandum of Agreement
main venue to (MOA) with the Cooperative Insurance System of the Philip-
listen to Junie pines (CISP) to join and form the CISP Mutual Aid Benefit
Romero talk on System (CISP MABS). The vision is for all Couples for Christ
“Heartwired to members and their families to be covered by an affordable but
Christ.” As part significant life insurance. This will ensure that families who
of her talk, Junie are left behind will receive adequate financial support to help
exhorted the del- them in their time of bereavement.
egates to confess During the MOA signing at the Sulu Riviera Hotel in Quezon
their sins and City last September 21, 2010, the CISP, headed by President
wrongdoing to and CEO Ambrosio Rodriguez, welcomed the CCF as the first
the priests who Cooperatives Federation to enter into a partnership with them.
were there at the The CISP MABS would take the place of the Mutual Aid System
venue, ready to and the Mutual Aid Benefit, the CCF’s welfare programs which
hear them, as provide death benefits to members and their beneficiaries.
well as to seek Together, the CCF and Co-ops for Christ-Manila has trans-
individual coun- ferred the enrolment of a total of 4,668 active MAB/MAS
seling from the members to the CISP MABS. Members will enjoy better long
nuns, who were term benefits under the new program.
also on hand to Cooperative Membership (Number of Years) Benefit
give counseling 1 to 3 years Php 30,000.00
service. 4 to 6 years Php 60,000.00
The third 7 to 9 years Php 90,000.00
talk, “Heart to 10 to 12 years Php120,000.00
Heart,” was 13 years & over Php150,000.00
given by Adri- Any CFC member may join this program by becoming a
an Enaje. The regular member of any Co-ops for Christ Primary in their prov-
Bishop Gabriel Reyes delivers his homily. ince. CFC is given up to December 30, 2010 to enrol members
session ended
with a celebra- above 65 years old. After December 30, the age cap for first
tion of the Holy Eucharist, fol- a song number. The Mass was time enrolees will be 65 years old.
lowed by the Holy Hour, both followed by the fourth talk, An annual premium of Php 250 per member is required in order
led by Msgr. Allen Aganon. “One Heart in Christ,” wherein for the members or their beneficiaries to avail of the assistance.
Through these activities, the the speaker, Shok Arriola, en- Aside from this, the partners will further study and improve
p a r t i c i p a n t s treated the participants to love the financial assistance to possibly include health and retire-
w e r e a b l e God in all ways—offering every ment benefits to the members in the near future.
t o c o n v e r s e opportunity as a reason to love
with God and Him. As the conference drew to
k n o w m o r e a close, the delegates watched
a b o u t h o w presentations of the upcoming
His heart pen- International Conference in
etrates to the Camarines Sur as well as the
depths of our Island Conference in Palawan,
souls, while both to be held next year.
we learn His Truly, God has blessed each
ways. and every one of the attendees
The last day of the conference. It often hap-
o f t h e c o n - pens that He offers His heart
f e r e n c e b e - solely and exclusively for us.
gan with the The SFC Southern Tagalog will
H o l y M a s s never cease to be amazed and
celebrated by be awed by God’s everlasting
Fr. Jun Tena, and extravagant love, and will
who also en- never cease to explore every
tertained the chance to be with Him and love CCF President Pol Pinera and CISP President and CEO Ambrosio Rodriguez seal
delegates with Him in return. the deal with a handshake as CCF officials look on.
 C2 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

Joe Tale, CFC Chairman

A Time for Thanksgiving

(Exhortation during the “Filled with
Thanksgiving: CFC Celebrates” event held
at the Ultra on October 2, 2010.)
GOOD evening brothers and sisters.
This is truly a night of celebration,
a night of thanksgiving. Let us give
thanksgiving to the Lord before
anything else, just for making this
evening possible. Let’s thank the Lord
that we are here.
This event was somewhat spontane-
ous. And the reason we decided to hold
this event is because we really thought
that this year, we have been truly
blessed. We have been blessed with
a theme that has guided us through
the months from January up to now
and will serve us to December. That
theme is “Fullness of life in Christ.”
And one of the key verses there, in
fact the very last verse, but actually
the most important verse, is “Be filled
with thanksgiving.” This verse is ap-
propriate for our lives because it shows
us that we really have to be grateful to
God for everything. This evening is an
example of gratefulness. I know that
you all have other activities, maybe
other events you need to attend, many
reasons for not being here but you are
here to celebrate and so we thank the
Lord for that.
One of the first memos we in the
International Council sent at the start
of our new term in 2009 was a memo
that said, “As we prepare for our 30th
anniversary in 2011, let us claim from
the Lord the gift of a new home.” At
that time, we had not even begun to
look for a new home. At that time, that
statement was truly just our hearts’
desire expressed in faith.
And this is why the readings at
today’s Mass are so beautiful and so
meaningful, because they all speak of
the gift of faith. It says in the reading
that even if our faith is as small as a
mustard seed, the Lord will bless it.
And so we stepped out in faith. Deep
in our hearts, we knew, with expectant
faith, that by the time we celebrate our
anniversary in June next year, it will
also be the time that we will bless our
new home, our new building. our own – a building at 156 20th Av- time, the Lord has deemed it right to will be a great place for us to experience
But our Lord can never be outdone in enue, Cubao, Quezon City. bless us, Couples for Christ, with a God’s love. It will be a great place for
His love and His generosity. He gave us Many of you are aware that we home of our own. us to really experience the love of one
our new home way in advance -- nine looked at many sites, we explored many And so we gather in this spontaneous another. It will be a great place for us
months before our 30th anniversary! options. Many of them, just by looking thanksgiving celebration. We gather to continue serving God.
We have a home of our own given in at them, we felt right away that it was tonight in this spontaneous offering to It is not a fancy home. It is a very
advance from all our prayers. And so not THE place for us. There were some God of everything that we have, eve- simple structure but we know that this
it really feels as if the Lord is giving this places that we thought, “Maybe this rything that we are because He blesses is the best home for us at this time. And
home to us as a gift. is it” but somehow our plans did not us continuously. Brothers and sisters, so, as we thank the Lord, it is also the
In all of its 29 years, CFC has been push through. But we kept, deep in we now have our new home but we all time for us to commit and to strengthen
moving from home to home, from office our hearts, the knowledge, the expect- need to work together in order to keep our commitment to serve Him through
to office. I would like to thank the Lord ant faith, that the Lord will bless us it. One other reason that we gather to- this community that we love – Couples
for each of the offices that we were in with a home in His own time and in night is so that all of us are made aware for Christ.
for the past 29 years. They all served the His own way. and all of us will pass on to all our breth- Last September 22, we had the sign-
purpose for ren around ing of the Memorandum of Agreement
the commu- the world the with the owners of the building. That
nity at that great joy that signing was announced at practically
time. we have and the last minute. We didn’t invite eve-
T h e r e also the great ryone and yet our brethren went there
might be opportunity to be part of this exciting and historic
some of us for everyone occasion. Our excited brethren filled
who still re- to help make the small room that was originally
member our this a real- the venue for the signing, and so the
first home, ity. owners had to hurriedly look for an-
which was In my re- other venue – one of their conference
in 300 P. flection, as rooms. It just shows the commitment
Guevara. I was offer- of everyone to support our commu-
And then ing my own nity’s project of finding a new home. It
we moved to prayers of shows everyone’s support for our Build
Grace build- thanksgiv- My House program to raise funds for
ing along ing to God our new home. We thank the Build
Ortigas al- for our new My House committee members who
though we home, asking are giving their all, so that we all can
didn’t stay Him what enjoy the benefit of our very own home.
there very He has in They spend practically every waking
long. Then store for us moment calling leaders, reminding
we moved in the future, them about their and their members’
to Strata 200, I sensed this commitment to fund our home.
where we clear mes- But our new home is not just the work
stayed for sage from of the committee. We are all in this
about two or Him: “As I together. As we really pour ourselves
three years. give you this here, as we unite, as we really make
At this time, home, I also every effort to ensure that everyone is
we are in 349 Chairman Joe Tale and Executive Director Joe Yamamoto (front) and ANCOP President and CEO Ricky Cuenca would like counted, then this home will become
recently met with Ric Pascua of the Bukas Loob sa Diyos.
Ortigas Av- all of you to more meaningful. Let us offer this
enue, Green- be more com- great gift from the Lord back to Him. It
hills East. In today’s reading, in Habakkuk, it is mitted. I would like all of you to give will be a place where we will worship
In all of these places, the Lord blessed said that sometimes, we grow weary, more of yourself to Me.” The Lord is Him, we will proclaim Him, we will
us. In all of these places, even if we were we get disappointed because the Lord asking all of us in CFC to do things exalt Him and we will commit to more
only renting, they were still home. But seems to be taking a long time to answer the best we can because He deserves mission for Him.
now I believe the Lord is leading us our prayers but actually, the Lord is the best. We will do all these for Him for He
to greater heights of serving Him and never delayed, the Lord is never late. These are indeed exciting times for alone is enough for us. And everything
serving one another. The Lord is also The Lord is always on time, at the right CFC. We now have a new home. It will that we do is always so that He may be
blessing us with a permanent home of time for everything. Today and at this be a great place to gather together. It glorified!

Joe Yamamoto, CFC Director

“GO into the deep” is the bold
motto of the Apostolic Vicar of
Brunei, Bishop Cornelius Sim,
whom I had the good fortune to
meet in the course of a pastoral
visitation to Brunei, where
CFC celebrated 16 years of
evangelization work. I chanced
upon seeing the herald of the
bishop during the night that
I gave a teaching to our CFC
members in their parish church
and outright I connected those
Latin words to the very reason
for our work- to go into the
deep and cast the nets of
evangelization.
In December 1975, Pope Paul
VI issued the very important
encyclical, Evangeli Nuntiandi
(Evangelization in the Modern
Word), summing up the respon-
sibility of the church, both clergy
and laity, in the task of proclaim-
ing the Gospel.
The document stresses that
“the Church exists in order to
evangelize.” Pope Paul VI fur-
ther said that “the whole church
therefore is called to evangelize”.
In other words, when the church,
including the laity, fails to take
evangelization seriously, the
true identity of the church is
compromised and is therefore
in danger of irrelevance.
At the time of the first call of
the disciples, Jesus declared “Do
not be afraid. From now on you
will catch men” and thus, the
erstwhile fishermen broke out of
their old mold and became fish-
ers of men. The mission call re-
mains as timely and as relevant
today as it was when originally
handed out.
The recently held Vatican
initiated lay congress in Seoul,
South Korea, calling the laity
to task in the great Asian land-
mass, posed the big challenge
of “Proclaiming Jesus Christ in
Asia Today” (August 31 to Sep-
tember 5, 2010).While pointing
to the Asian continent as a huge
area that is home to two-thirds
of the world’s population, the
church pastors and leaders ap-
Duc In Altum
propriately emphasized the
awesome challenge to the work
of evangelization. Both clergy
and laity are urgently called to
the gospel proclamation, the
misio adgentes.
The awesome magnitude of
the task is underscored by the
reality that despite the passage
of two millennia, Christianity
remains a religion of the minor-
ity in the vast Asiatic land mass.
In a continent characterized by a
wide disparity in wealth between
the rich and the poor, there is
also the challenge and barri-
ers of geography and terrain,
diverse cultures and ethnicity,
with the attendant multiplicity
of languages and dialects. Asia
likewise has relatively very few
open societies where religious
freedom is allowed.
The Seoul conference in Seoul
is a fitting and timely reminder
for the Catholic laity regard-
ing the challenges as well as
opportunities for the work of
evangelization. The clergy and
the laity spoke clearly about
what needs to be done, with the
conference providing a point of
reference in their respective roles
of Co-Responsibility.
The Seoul event was a follow-
through to the 2006 Conference
in Chiang Mai, Thailand where
the meeting announced the
thrust of “telling the story of Je-
sus to Asia.” Clergy and lay will
have to work closely as never
before to make this story telling
wonderful and real. By this, it is
taken to mean that those who are
sharing Christ must show Him
to be real and personal to the
recipients of the message.
Perhaps, a simple anecdote
is worth narrating, taken from
“Defining Moments”, the latest
book of Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD
(p.19): “One early morning at
Lake Galilee, I (Fr. Orbos) passed
by a fisherman fishing at the
shore and saw his little catch. A
few moments later, I saw another
fisherman come in a boat, and
saw his bountiful catch. The dif-
ference?- One did not leave the
safe, familiar shore- while the
other dared and ventured into
the deep.”
Isn’t that what “duc in altum”
is all about? To go into the deep
and cast our lot , not to fear and
not to rely on chance , but unto
the Lord.
1. Identity and dignity of the lay
faithful
Primarily, the laity belong
to the secular world, not in a
negative connotation but as
those having been placed in a
specific environment for their
existence and therefore, sphere
of influence. The first and most
important part of society where
the Christian faithful must ex-
ercise his vocation conferred by
Baptism is in its basic unit- the
FAMILY. First and foremost in
the formation of Christians is for
the parents to animate the lives
of their children with the love of
God, by presenting them to God
and for God to be present in the
families through the parents. In
other words, if all of us are called
to holiness, the very first place
that it must be learned is within
the intimacy of family life led by
Godly parents.
The lay people carry with them
the following distinguishing
marks: 1. Active member of the
people of God 2.participating in
the mission of the whole church,
especially in the circles of family,
society at large and the profes-
sions 3.jointly responsible for the
church (aka Co-responsible) 4.
Not ordained and not belonging
to the religious order 5.engaged
in world affairs 6. Makes Christ
visible in the world, as witnesses
and bearers of the good news 7.
Permeates the world with the
Holy Spirit.
The laity share, through Bap-
tism, in the three-fold mission
of Christ as Priest, Prophet and
King. But most importantly,
there is a unique distinguishing
mark of the laity that is not avail-
able to the clergy, and that is
their secular character. The situa-
tion is best described as “being in
the world but must not be of this
world” because of the vocation
of the laity as evangelizers.
As a matter of importance, in
the thinking of the Church, the
world is the particular environ-
ment and means for the fulfill-
ment of the lay vocation.
2. The call to Holiness
The first and most fundamen-
tal aspect of the lay faithful’s
call to holiness is the vocation
to the ‘perfection of charity,’ a
demonstration that requires true
witnessing to a life in and with
Christ and where there is vital
synthesis between faith and life’s
daily duties.
The important encyclical,
Christifidelis Laici should be-
come our Vade Mecum, a small
document or book that we carry
around for regular reference.
The document sees this living
holiness of the laity, emanating
from their participation in the
Church’s holiness. After all,
personal and corporate holiness
is an essential and indispensable
condition for carrying out the
Church’s mission of salvation.
In the proclamation and liv-
ing of the gospel, holiness and
a deep life of prayer are vital
necessities.
Hope as Common Denomina-
tor
The Congress also emphasized
that the common denominator
of the Church through Asia is
HOPE. Since the Seoul meeting
is in a big sense an occasion of
learning and realization, it has
become therefore a school of
Hope where the more than 400
participants will now in turn
echo the same message to their
peers back home. The learners
have to become the messengers
of that important message.
Pope Benedict XVI, in his en-
cyclical Spe Salvi noted that “We
live in a world, which, despite its
celebrated scientific and techno-
logical progress, is permeated by
a painful inability to hope.” He
lamented that postmodern man
has forgotten God, having been
permanently burned by the fail-
ure of false paradises promised
by failed ideologies.
Where there is lingering hope-
lessness, the Pontiff strongly
countered that HOPE comes
from Christ and it is “linked to
a lived union with a people.”
Thus, every Christian is called to
witness to that hope to the world
and by the lives they lead must be
able to readily explain the very
reason for their hope- Christ.
The congress gives a mandate to
all who profess to be followers of
Christ in Asia to “announce hope
to this continent.”
Again, in Christifidelis Laici,
Pope Benedict says that “The
church today ought to take a
giant step forward in her evan-
gelization effort and enter into a
new stage of history in her mis-
sionary dynamism.” This means
that the lay faithful is called to
take their role as persons who
have “co-responsibility” in the
life and mission of all Christian
communities.
Our Responsibility as Evan-
gelizers
The scale of the evangelical
harvest in Asia gives urgency
to the Great Commission. It
assumes urgency also because
of the dangers of the relativistic
mindset that is creeping in the
modern world with respect to
evangelization, among them:
• the propensity to replace mis-
sion with dialogue in which all
positions are equal;
• the tendency to reduce evan-
gelization to the task of simple
human development, believ-
ing that it is enough to help
people to become more hu-
man or more faithful to their
religion;
• a false concept of respecting
the freedom of others, which
leads to a relinquishing of the
call to conversion.
All Christians must recognize,
simply by virtue of their being
“for Christ,” that evangeliza-
tion is an explicit mandate from
Our Lord. It is not an ancillary
activity of the Church, but rather
the very reason for its being. The
heart of the mission for every
member of Couples for Christ
and all laity must always be the
heart of Christ.
In Redemptoris Missio, the
Pope emphasized that evange-
lization is an issue of faith, “an
accurate indicator of our faith
in Christ and his love for us.” It
becomes our primary responsi-
bility simply because “the love
of Christ impels us.” (2 Cor
5:14) In short, there can be no
true evangelization without the
explicit proclamation of Jesus
as Lord, by word and witness
of life. This is in recognition of
the fact that people today put
more trust in witnesses than in
teachers, in experiences than in
teaching and in life and action
than in theories.
It is important to remember
that the foundation of effective
evangelization is a life of prayer.
Thus our words of proclamation
must always be bathed in an
intense life of prayer.
Corollary to prayer, and one
which must likewise stem from a
prayerful life, is humility. This is
the message of the parable of the
mustard seed, that great realities
often have humble beginnings.
Humility dictates that evangeliz-
ers must not expect immediate
results nor demand that these
results be attuned to their own
will and timing. For the Lord
of the harvest is God. He alone
decides the pace, the timing, and
mode of growth of the seed. We
only need to remind ourselves of
this truth in order to be protected
from being discouraged as we
discharge our missionary com-
mitment.
Formation of the Laity
Formation of the lay faithful
Duc / C3
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010
Ugnayan C3

YFC ANCOP
Scholars’ Night
By Robert Jaldon
SEPTEMBER 25, 2010 was a memorable
night for CFC Youth for Christ. On
this day, YFC conducted the first-ever
YFC ANCOP Scholars’ Night at the Lay
Formation Center, San Carlos Seminary
in Guadalupe during which 16 YFC
ANCOP scholars were formally intro-
duced to YFC Couple Coordinators of
Metro Manila and to people serving in
ANCOP.
“Tonight is a gift from God. We are
blessed to have this opportunity to re-
spond to our calling to work with the
poor”, said Jeremy Quimpang, YFC-
ANCOP Program Head.
Accompanied by their proud parents,
the young scholars accepted the scholar-
ship and expressed hope that this will be
the start of great things for their future.
They acknowledged that the scholar-
ship would allow them the opportunity
to finish college, have a degree, and later
have a decent job to help their family
rise above their financial constraints.
The sixteen young scholars are ac-
tive YFC members in Metro Manila.
They are: Analyn de Guzman, Carlos
Guillera Jr., Jasmine Rose Casipe, Jessa
Desoyo, Mariah Jesabelle Simanca, and
Roseann Banaag of South Sector A,
Angeline Rosette Dazo, Jonald Balorio
and Ma. Valerie Espenido of East A,
April Elalpe, Reygie Ranga, and Roel
Espadilla of West B, Ma. Belinda Dela
Cruz, Jonathan Figuracion, Marcelino
Nemedez Jr., and Sherley May Altar
of West C.
Rommel Ancheta, YFC International
Coordinator, stressed in his opening
remarks that the reason behind this
development is to answer and affirm
the Lord’s call for YFC.
“The highest calling of YFC is to
study, that’s the reason why we are
here and that is the reason why we have
chosen to respond to the work with the
poor in terms of education” he said.
He further stressed that education
is important “because [of the desire]
of every youth, especially the poor, to
fulfill the call that the Lord has given
them. And that is the reason why we
are here, and that is the reason why we
have chosen the part of scholarship.
What is important is we start with our
obedience and faithfulness.”
According to the statistics presented
by Jeremy Quimpang, out of every 1000
students enrolled in Grade 1, only 650
will finish Grade 6. Of these, only 580
will enter high school and only 420-430
of them will graduate from high school.
Of the high school graduates, only 230
will enroll in college and only 120 will
earn a degree. This represents a dropout
rate of 88% out of every 1000 students
who started Grade 1. It is also important
to note that out of the 120 college gradu-
ates, only one of them will come from
the ranks of the poorest of the poor.
One of the 16 scholars, Jasmin Rose
Casipe, in her response, said: “In be-
half of the ANCOP scholars, gusto ko po
magpasalamat sa lahat po na tumutulong
sa aming pagaaral. Maraming, maraming
salamat sa ANCOP, sa mga sponsors, sa
coordinators at mga aming parents na
patuloy po sumusuporta sa amin. Sobra
kaming naniniwala na kaya kami nandito
ngayon kasi gusto ni God na mag set kami
ng example sa mga kabataan at para patu-
nayan sa lahat na hindi po sagabal ang pag
serve sa pagaaral, [and] in fact ito pa po
makakatulong sa amin para maaabot [ang]
mga pangarap namin sa buhay. “ (On be-
half of the ANCOP scholars, I would
like to thank all those who are helping
us with our education. Many, many
thanks to ANCOP, to the sponsors, the
coordinators and to our parents who
continue to support us. We firmly be-
lieve that the reason we are here today is
because God wants us to set an example
for other youth and to prove to all that
our service in the community is not an
obstacle to our studies but rather a help
to us so we can attain our dreams.)
Jerry Tanigue, ANCOP Marketing
and Media head and ANCOP Country
Coordinator of Middle East, gave an
overview of ANCOP, its vision and mis-
sion. He also announced that at present,
there are a total of 1,793 ANCOP schol-
ars. Of this figure, 1,170 (29 in college),
are sponsored by ANCOP Canada, 520
(123 in college) sponsored by ANCOP
USA, 17 (1 in college) sponsored by CFC
Freemont, USA, 24 (9 in college) funded
by Spain, 15 by Switzerland, 17 (all in
college) sponsored by Saudi Arabia,
14 by HOLD and the 16 new scholars
sponsored by YFC.
YFC sees this scholarship program
as part of God’s greater plan for YFC-
ANCOP and that nothing is too big and
difficult as long as they are obedient
and faithful to what the Lord is telling
them to do.

BDO partners with CFC-ANCOP Tekton

ON the first year anniversary of
typhoon Ondoy, BDO Unibank,
Inc. through its social respon-
sibility arm, BDO Foundation,
donated two parcels of land
with a total area of almost 8, 500
square meters located at Baran-
gay Hinukay, Baliwag, Bulacan
to the municipality. The site
will serve as resettlement site for
typhoon victims in this munici-
pality and those still living in the
danger zones along the Angat
tributaries.
This project is a partnership
with the International Federation
of Red Cross (IFRC) through the
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) who
will fund and build over one hun-
dred twenty five (125) transitory
houses, Couples for Christ An-
swering the Cry of the Poor (CFC
ANCOP) Tekton Foundation,
Inc. who will provide the values
formation program of the benefi-
ciaries, and the city government
who will do the site development
and planning.
At the signing ceremony of
the Deed of Donation (DOD)
and Memorandum of Agree-
ment on Usufruct (MOA), BDO
President Nestor Tan reiterated
the bank’s role in the recovery
and rehabilitation phase of last
year’s disaster. The bank was
also actively involved in the
relief operations.
Present during the signing
ceremony were CFC Chair-
man Joe Tale, Nestor V. Tan,
President of BDO Unibank,
mc; Gwendolyn T. Pang, Secre-
tary General of Philippine Red
Cross, Selvaratnam Sinnadural,
Country Representative, Philip-
pine Delegation of International
Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies, Maureen C.
Abelardo, Managing Trustee
of BDO Foundation, Inc., Ricky
Cuenca, CEO of CFC-ANCOP
Tekton Foundation and Hon.
Romeo M. Estrella, Municipal
Mayor of the Municipality of
Baliwag, Bulacan.
The market value of the prop-
erty donation is P8.5M. The
land value is expected to reach
about P18M after the develop-
ment and transitory houses are
turned over.
This is the second resettle-
ment site that BDO Foundation
is building for typhoon victims.
The first one was in Calumpit,
Bulacan, in partnership with an-
other international humanitarian
agency, CRS (Catholic Relief
Service) through the Diocese of
Malolos and the municipality of
Calumpit.
The signing ceremony was
held at The Anvil, BDO Corpo-
rate Center, South Tower last
September 29, 2010. Joe Tale (third from left) and Ricky Cuenca (third from right) pose with BDO officials
after the MOA signing.

Proclaiming Jesus Christ in Asia and to the World

By Raymond Bucu
“CFC, your problems are over!”
Thus reported Jose Tale, CFC Chair-
man, during the Metro Manila Mission
Core regular teaching Night held for the
first time in Meralco Theater in Ortigas
Avenue last September 21, 2010. He
attributed this statement to Professor
Guzman Carriquiry, undersecretary of
the Pontifical Commission for the Laity
during the Vatican-sponsored Congress
on Asian Catholic Laity held last August
31 to September 5, 2010 in Seoul, South
Korea.
Tale said that Professor Carriquiry
later clarified the statement to mean that,
as CFC undertakes its role in the Catho-
lic Church, faithful and committed to
the Vatican statutes as an International
Association of the Catholic Faithful, it
has the support and encouragement of
the Pontifical Council of the Laity.
Several instances of affirmation was
received by CFC during the event,
among them the comment that CFC is
on the right track in defining its mission
of global evangelization, attested by its
presence in nearly all countries of the
world, and further attested by the fact
of CFC’s presence in the conference.
The country report of Nepal specifically
mentioned CFC and the important role
it is playing in the Church’s mission of
evangelization in that country.
Rouquel Ponte, who also attended
the event, later synthesized one of the
talks given by Bishop Joseph Clemens
during the Congress, entitled, “Voca-
tion and Mission of the Lay Faithful in
Light of Christi Fideles Laici.” Christi
Fideles Laici (Christ’s Faithful People)
was an apostolic exhortation issued in
1988 by Pope John Paul II a year after the
Bishops’ Synod in Rome in 1987 to guide
the laity in particular and the Church in
general to see our vocation and mission
of evangelization in light of the world,
as we see it today.
According to Rouquel, Christi Fideles
Laici is deemed truly relevant for three
reasons; one is that it has become the
Magna Carta or handbook for the laity as
it summarizes the teachings of Vatican
II, the Second Ecumenical Council of the
Vatican, which was the twenty-first Ecu-
menical Council of the Catholic Church.
It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11
October 1962 and closed under Pope
Paul VI on 8 December 1965. Secondly,
the apostolic exhortation provides
guidance and discernment to ecclesial
movements such as Couples for Christ
with regards to their experiences, trends
and other forms of lay participation in
light of the Church’s own mission of
evangelization. Lastly, it aims to stir
up and promote awareness among the
lay faithful of their God-given gift and
responsibilities that everyone shares in
the life and mission of the Church.
Rouquel also echoed the talk’s em-
phasis on four crucial elements of the
apostolic exhortation, which include
the following;
1. The study of the Word of God and
obedience to what the Holy Church
teaches and proposes for our belief;
2. The mission of evangelization must
be accomplished through a deep and
intense personal prayer life;
3. The recognition of gifts and charisms
should be put together for the life of
the community;
4. A look at the signs of the times espe-
cially in light of what is happening in
the world around us must guide us
in the manner by which we move our
community forward.
On the other hand, Joe Yamamoto,
CFC Executive Director, recalled that
Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Spe Salvi
(Saved in Hope) that “we live in a
world where despite the celebrated
technological and scientific progress,
we are permeated by painful inability
to hope.”
Joe Yamamoto also reflected that the
laity are not just passive observers or
mere onlookers in the greater scheme
of things but that they are called to
play a very pro-active role as being co-
responsible to the life and mission of all
Christian communities. In this manner,
“the Church is relying more and more
on empowered lay communities like
Couples for Christ, considering the
scale and scope of evangelistic harvest
in Asia which thereby gives urgency to
the Great Commission.”
The change in venue was enthusiasti-
cally received by the Mission Core mem-
bers. In a later memo, Joe Tale clarified
that while CFC will try its best to hold
teachings in Meralco Theater, the venue
may not always be available. Thus, the
teaching night in October will be at Irwin
Shaw Theater in Ateneo but will be at
Meralco Theater again in November.

Duc / C2

YFC Zambales Holds 1st Prov’l Conference
Youth for Christ Zambales
held its first provincial youth
conference recently with the
theme ONLINE based on the
anchor verse “Now is your
time of grief but I will see you
again and you
will rejoice, and
no one will take
away your joy.”
John 16:22.
With the word
ONLINE denot-
ing connected-
ness to God, the
conference fo-
cused on how the
youth could be re-
stored in terms of
their relationship
with God. More
than 160 youth
delegates from all
over Zambales came for the
conference and reveled in the
joy of simply being together
for the sports and the creative
competitions, but especially for
the messages that they heard
during the talk and the testimo-
nies. The talk was given by Alvin
Morada, island head of Luzon
and Region Head of YFC Central
Luzon, who spoke of the seven
capital sins that break the connec-
tion between man and God.
Eros Quiabang, Central A
Chapter Head, and Melanie
Guiang, Central B Chapter Head
shared about their struggles
with obedience, self control and
humility.
Melanie’s sharing was made
must be one of the priorities of
the diocese and the whole com-
more poignant by what hap- munity (clergy, lay faithful and
pened afterward. Realizing religious) must converge on this
their daughter’s struggles and goal.
understanding her better be- Lay formation is a duty and
cause of her sharing, parents at the same time a right of the
Danny and Melinda Guiang laity. Formation must aim to lead
were moved to the faithful to a constant review
embrace Melanie of their Christian commitment,
and the family active participation in the life of
professed to be the Church and constant deepen-
further strength- ing of their shared responsibility
ened by the love for the Church’s mission in the
of God. A week world.
later, Melinda The lay faithful, because of
died suddenly their secular state, are in truth
from a massive called upon to contribute to the
stroke. development of society, guided
Of course, by the principles of the Church’s
the conference social doctrine.
would not be But in all of these, in the midst
complete with- of all our efforts to renew the
out the celebra- face of the earth according to the
tion of the Holy likeness of our Lord and Saviour,
Mass, which was officiated by the end goal of Christian forma-
Fr. Reymand Katindig and the tion remains to be HOLINESS.
prayers and songs from the We are called to be individually
opening worship, led by Jhyro and collectively holy, as the Lord
Aguanta, and the praise fest is holy.
led by Mark Cruz, Provincial And that holiness must radiate
head of YFC Zambales. and be seen by all. As disciples
of the Lord, we are called to be
salt that gives flavor as well as
the lamp on the lampstand that
spreads the light to the world. In
being salt and light, in following
our Master, it can sometimes
mean making radical choices,
even to the extent of going
against the trend in society.
A case in point is the rag-
ing conflict between pro-life
and pro-choice advocates over
the issue of the Reproductive
Health Bill that is now being
pushed into law. As Christ-
followers, where do we stand? It
is lamentable to note that some
Catholics are even openly going
against the stand of the Church
and advocating pro-choice, in
direct reaction to what they see
as “meddling” by the Church
in secular matters. How naïve
of them to think that life and its
preservation and protection is a
monopoly of the state.
There is a tendency to forget
that the vocation of the laity
is to be agents of change for
Godly purposes in society. This
is precisely why the Second
Vatican Council emphasized the
laity as existing in the secular
order. Is this not more a matter
of urgency for the Church and
for us Christians -- who need to
be holy as Christ is holy- to be
protective of life and creation as
God who created all life expects
us; to proclaim God’s truth in
the limelight rather than in the
sidelines ?
Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, dur-
ing his closing remarks, brought
home this message to all Chris-
tians in Asia, and particularly
to the entire community of CFC
when, in his closing remarks, he
quoted the same Gospel verse
that has inspired our community
life for 2010: “So as you received
Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in
him, rooted in him and built
upon him and established in the
faith as you were taught.” (Col
2:6). This is the very message of
Fullness of Life in Christ!
“Duc in altum.” Go out into
the deep! As we face the chal-
lenges of our modern times, and
as we weather the storms that
continue to beset our communi-
ty, this remains our mandate – to
evangelize, to proclaim God, to
witness to our Christian identity,
by our words, our actions and
our aspirations.
 C4 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 21
October 11 - 24, 2010

Anniversaries and Milestones

CFC Vietnam is 12 Years Old!
By Annette Taguba and Ed
Ubaldo
CFC-Vietnam kicked off a 3-day cel-
ebration commemorating its 12th year
anniversary. The celebrations began on
August 20, 2010. George and Cynthia
Campos (Vietnam Country Coordina-
tor), accompanied by their entire fam-
ily, were the special guests during the
activity.
On the first day, Vietnam Country
Head Antit Macatol delivered a talk on
the Fruits of the Holy Spirit with the
venue being his own residence. The talk
was followed by fellowship highlighted
by a very sumptuous dinner.
The second day of celebration, August
21 was another remarkable day, filled
with praise and music. It was held at
the Pastoral Building, Tan Dinh Church,
District 1, HCMC. After the praise and
worship, former leaders of the country
were honored for their dedication in
planting the seed of faith and the seed
of love in Vietnam. But the night was
geared mainly for entertainment and so
music, dancing and and laughter filled
the whole place.
The main event of the celebration was
on the final day, August 22. The com-
munity, garbed in their designated col-
ors, gathered together at the St. Paul’s
Convent in Saigon.
Fr. Lito Ancla celebrated Holy Mass
which, for all CFC, is always the center
and the apex of every activity. An As-
sumption nun, Sister Vi Lyn, who is
very supportive of CFC, joined in the
celebration. After the mass, Praveen D’
Souza from CFC India, led everyone in a
rousing praise and worship, accentuat-
ing the need for everyone to draw upon
that deep connection with God.
The anniversary session began with
a brief history of CFC Vietnam given
by Antit, followed by inspirational
messages from George and Cynthia
Campos. Sharers, who testified to the
presence of God in their lives and to
the transformations wrought by God
in their lives were Hyatt, Ed and Agnes
Ubaldo (from Phu My Hung). Lina
Escobia (SFC), and Liezl Dawa (from
An Phu).
After lunch, the SFC conducted a
mini sports activity. A spirited and
vibrant praisefest capped the 3-day
celebrations.
By Emmy Pineda
CFC Bataan at Twenty-One
JUST as an adolescent individual is
ushered into adulthood, the CFC com-
munity in Bataan came of age when
it celebrated its 21st anniversary last
26 September. The global CFC com-
munity’s theme of “Fullness of Life in
Christ” this year proved to be apt as the
local CFC in the province was blessed to
experience a grand anniversary celebra-
tion that was so full of life and centered
on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Area Council, after praying for
discernment, arrived at a consensus
to adopt a purely praise-and-worship
format for this year’s anniversary
celebration, instead of the usual talks-
and-presentations program. The main
objective was, of course, to offer to God
a special thanksgiving for His faithful-
ness to CFC Bataan for the past 21 years
through a continuous and lively praisef-
est, in line with the local theme “Full of Bataan leaders pose with Bishop Santos and Fr. Joen after the anniversary Mass. Also in at-
Life”. There was, however, a secondary tendance were Bataan Provincial Head Vic Yamamoto and wife Nora (fifth and fourth from right)
purpose – to encourage all chapters to and Central Luzon Regional Head Nonong Ignacio (third from right).
form their respective music ministries
from among their members. Ruperto C. Santos D.D., Bishop of praisefest that truly manifested how
Guided by the discerned format, a the Diocese of Balanga, as the main CFC Bataan is so full of life – sing-
storyline on the “love affair” between celebrant, and the Very Rev. Joen ing, praising, worshipping, dancing,
God and CFC Bataan was developed by Buenaventura, a former member of clapping, jumping, raising hands,
assigning praise and worship songs to the CFC Singles for Christ and now embracing each other and/or holding
each talk in the Christian Life Program, the Assistant Priest of the Cathedral hands all throughout. The enthusiastic
with three (3) songs for each of the Parish of St. Joseph and CFC Bataan participation in the entire event was
thirteen (13) topics, starting from the Spiritual Director, as co-celebrant. further elicited by the interpretative
Orientation Talk up to the Dedication The songs during the Mass were led dances, presentations, banner parades
Talk. Each song was prayerfully chosen by the CFC Kids for Christ. and action-leadings by the selected
to reminisce and highlight how the Lord Right after the Mass, anniversary brethren that complemented well the
has lovingly and faithfully blessed CFC messages were given by Nonong Ig- exhortations and prayers of the praisef-
Bataan through the years. nacio, CFC Central Luzon Regional est leaders. The prayer for empower-
Music Ministries with full band Head, and Vic Yamamoto, CFC Bataan ment of new leaders, as well as the
complement (at least one each of elec- Area Head. Nonong congratulated recitation of the expanded CFC Global
tric, acoustic and bass guitars and a CFC Bataan for its many blessings in Vision and Mission, was also fittingly
drum set) were identified. Nine came all of its 21 years of existence and for incorporated.
from among the CFC chapters, while its very well-attended celebration. Vic Although there was so much chal-
another three were from the Family expounded on what it takes to have the lenge on the technical aspects of the
Ministries, namely the Provincial YFC, fullness of life in Christ, and cited how praisefest, especially during the transi-
SFC, and SOLD. The Provincial (MCG) CFC Bataan is so full of life through tions from one band to the other, the
Music Ministry completed the line up of the example of Lita Mendoza and bands blended relatively better than
13 bands to play 3 songs each assigned Ellen Atenta. Lita became a National expected, and resulted to a “seamless”
to a particular CLP topic. Praisefest Awardee of “Dangal ng Bayan 2010” praise and worship from start to finish.

CFC Zamboanga Sibugay leaders and group performers or song

action interpreters were also assigned,
chosen from the other CFC chapters in
for returning to the teller an excess of
PhP750,000.00 from the amount she
withdrew from a local bank. Ellen
These despite the fact that instructions
were given out during only two (2)
service meetings within a span of only

Celebrates 15th Year Anniversary order to ensure participation from all

By Lovely Enteria
COUPLES for Christ-Zamboanga
celebrated their 15th Anniversary in
Head of Zamboanga Sibugay, empha-
sized the importance of CFC’s Family
Ministries. A Holy Mass celebrated
by Rev. Fr. Rex Rocamora capped the
chapters.
The anniversary celebration was
ushered in at 1:00 pm by a concel-
ebrated Mass, with the Most Rev.
consistently attends all CFC activities,
including this anniversary celebration,
despite her being a Stage 4-cancer
patient.
Then followed the almost four-hour
2 weeks before the anniversary. Every-
body agreed that the event was hugely
successful because everyone was able
to focus on the Lord of the celebration,
instead of just the celebration.

CFC: One with the

Marian College, Ipil, Zamboanga,
Sibugay last August 21 to 22, 2010.
The two-day affair was well attended
by CFC members from 16 different
towns of Zamboanga, Sibugay. Guests
afternoon event.
But the festivities were not over. A
Bounty Parade followed as well as com-
petitions in singing, dance and band.
The Holy Mass on the following

Church Even in Partying

from Manila, Iligan and Zamboanga day, Sunday, was celebrated by His
City also graced the celebration. Excellency Bishop Julius S. Tonel, DD,
The theme of the anniversary re- of the Diocese of Ipil. In his homily,
volved around the message: “Build on Bishop Tonel reminded CFC that being
Christ” taken from 1 Corinthians 3:11 a member of the community is not a
“For no one can lay any foundation guarantee that we can enter the narrow By Nirva de la Cruz
other than the one already laid, which gate to heaven unless we strive to be
is Jesus Christ.” holy like God. CATHOLIC lay missionaries
The festivi- partied together for the first time!
ties started with Couples for Christ was part of the
a sports fest. In serious fun last September 28 at
the afternoon, the Greenmeadows Clubhouse in
everyone trooped Libis, Quezon city with a couple
to St. Joseph Ca- of hundred other lay missionaries,
thedral for some friends and collaborators. The
teachings. Nonoy event entitled Consumed by Love:
Dalman, Area
A Missionaries’ Ball was organized
Head of Zam-
boanga City, by the Episcopal Commission on
talked about dis- Mission under the CBCP to gather
cipleship while all Catholic lay missionary groups
Vic Lauro, Area for fellowship.
The night was a celebration of on their feet and dance. Dict Jadulco, groups with plaques to express the
a vibrant Catholic Church with a missionary for Singles for Christ who Church’s appreciation for all their

Marajaw Karajaw CFC Surigao!

performances from self-described came with his wife, Babes, enthused, hard work.
missionaries of music – Hangad, “It was awesome! I really enjoyed the CFC missionary Sky Ortigas, who
Bukas Palad, and CFC’s very own night.” actively helped in the preparations
Minnie Juan, who shared how she CFC was honored that night for of the event in behalf of CFC, like-
By Joven Z. Inosanto transcended her blindness through helping organize the event. For several wise shared her enjoyment, saying,
God’s grace. CFC lent its own brand months, some eight lay missionary com- “[It was] affirming as a missionary
OVER 5,000 members of CFC Surigao del Norte celebrated God’s sufficient grace, of entertainment with the 29 A.D. munities and groups met regularly to to meet other missionaries. [You
unbounded love and outpouring generosity during their 18th anniversary last Musicionaries’ rousing perform- plan and coordinate for the ball. Fonda- realize] you’re not alone. It’s not
September 26. ance. This healing music ministry, cio Philippines, Inc, Theresian Associa- just your community but there are
By 7 AM of the anniversary day, the streets of Surigao City were filled with noise composed mainly of CFC and SFC tion and the Columban Lay Missionar- others.” Over-all, it was a great
and enthusiasm as the street and float parades threaded their way to the main members, delighted everyone with ies were just some of the other groups chance for CFC to unite itself even
venue: the Surigao City Sports Complex. Different chapters of CFC Surigao City, Don’t Stop Believing, followed by honored and acknowledged that night. more to the Body of Christ, the
the province of Surigao del Norte, and the chapters of Dinagat Island expressed songs from the 80’s that made eve- Fr. Soc Mesiona, MSP, the executive Church. Who imagined it would be
their creativity in different float designs. The celebration formally opened with ryone feel the sudden urge to get secretary of the ECM, presented the so much fun?
an opening worship led by the chapter head of the Dinagat Island, Ondoy Guaco,
followed by the welcome remarks of the Provincial Area Director, William Lim.
Aside from the sports competitions, one of the highlights of the anniversary was
the praise parade of the different chapters wherein each chapter was able to show-
case their talents in dancing and creativity in every presentation. Another highlight
was the raffle draw where the winners received rice and grocery items.
CFC on a Mission Run
Adding color to the event was the presence of the remaining 1st batch of the first By Nirva de la Cruz hundreds of runners from congregations and communities
like the Vincentian missionaries, the Philippine Catholic Lay
Christian Life Program (CLP) - 18 people symbolizing also the 18th year of CFC
Missionaries and the Theresian Association. Fresh from a
Surigao del Norte. International Council member Joey Arguelles and his wife Tess COUPLES for Christ proved that aside from going on actual missionary stint in East Timor, CFC missionary Anthony
joined in the celebration, with Joey giving the traditional anniversary message. mission, they can also run for mission. CFC was one of the Rodriguez who helped with secretariat work for the run
The celebration would not be complete without the Holy Mass which was celebrated Catholic lay missionary groups and communities that par- shared, “It was a good event. It was my first time to attend
by the Bishop of the ticipated in the Run for Life, Run for the World Fun Run, an an event like this.” The first time proved to be a charm, as
Diocese of Surigao, even organized by the Episcopal Commission on Mission CFC’s involvement in the fun run points to deeper and
Bishop Antoni- (ECM). CFC, specifically members of the West sector, which more committed efforts to work with the Church and other
eto Cabajog D.D, covers a part of Quezon city, handled the nitty gritty of the communities in the future.
con-celebrated by run operations like fielding mar-
Fr. Manny Quiban shals to man the run perimeter,
DCS, parish priest coordinating with the Office of
of St. John the Bap- the Mayor for security needs
tist Parish, Ipil, Su- and basically managing how the
rigao City. The day fun run would flow.
of celebration ended As early as three o’clock in
with a spirit-filled the morning, CFC missionar-
praise fest led by ies and members were already
YFC Fulltime Pas- setting up at the Quezon City
toral Worker Joven circle, anticipating the arrival of
Inosanto.