Pope Francis’ refreshing views about the Roman Catholic Church

Pope Francis

If there ever has been a pronouncement coming from Pope Francis, only six months into his papacy, that is giving instructive lessons to priests all over the world and refreshingly impacting on the Catholic faithful, both active and inactive, it is the result of his interview conducted by Rev. Antonio Spadaro, editor of La Civilta Cattolica, a Rome journal for the religious order.

In that interview that was compiled into a 12,000-word article, Pope Francis has warned that the Roman Catholic Church could lose its way if it focuses too much on enforcing rules against contraception, abortion, and homosexuality, instead of throwing open its doors and making the church more merciful.

Francis said, “The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently.”

“We have to find a new balance,” he said. “Otherwise, even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.”

“We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible,” he said. “The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear, and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.”

Surely, these are declarations that defer in tone and style from his immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who were both intellectuals and for whom doctrine was paramount guide for priests.

What makes Francis also different, yet admirable, is his being human –  practical and pragmatic – yet judicious, making sure that he does not veer away from the teachings of the church.

In the U.S., as in the Philippines, too, some ranking members of the church have shown dismay that the pope has not made emphatic his views on abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

Thus, in the U.S. the bishops continued their crackdown on American nuns, as it started during the time of Benedict, who were accused of letting doctrine take a backseat to their social justice work caring for the poor — precisely the priority that Francis is endorsing.

Not to be outdone, high ranking members of the Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines went agog fighting against the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill into law, to the extent that they even admonish the faithful attending church services who were supporters of the said bill.

“I think what Francis is doing when he’s talking about these hot-button issues, he’s not saying one side is right or the other side is right. He’s saying that arguing over these things gets in the way of the work that Catholics are supposed to be doing,” said David Cloutier, a theologian at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland.

Exactly!  The Catholic Church must work to heal the wounds of its faithful and seek out those who have been excluded or have fallen away and try saving them.

Talking about understanding, tolerance and respect of ones choices and beliefs.

“The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules,” Francis said. “The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you. And the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all.”

How I wish the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will support and follow the direction Pope Francis is taking the Roman Catholic Church and start preaching about his down-to-earth approach as he is doing it effectively by winning back adherents because of his own simple deeds that has endeared him to them and because of the respect he has shown for others, even those outside of his own religion.

To the members of the CBCP, I want to say this: To be more papist than the pope, as some of  you guys are wont to do sometimes, is simply self-serving and won’t do good in the propagation of the faith and in saving souls.

Political and religious leader’s improprieties

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma talking to Rep. Pablo Garcia, while suspended Gov. Gwen Garcia looks on. This was during one of the prelate’s visit to Gwen’s office where she is holed up.

Recent events in the province of Cebu were not only about political turmoil brought about by Gov. Gwen Garcia’s defiance of her suspension and her decision to barricade herself in her office, but equally a religious fervor in anticipation of the Sinulog festival honoring the Sto. Niño de Cebu led by Archbishop Jose Palma.

I was hoping that with the successful celebration of the Sinulog, that Gwen’s political dilemma would have ended, too, having decided to dance in the streets, which has been her way of honoring the Sto. Niño the last eight years she has been governor.

She kept the Cebuanos guessing whether she will get out of her sanctuary, dance and not come back anymore, like a sane person should do, and let justice take its normal course.

To the dismay of many, however, after her participation in the grand parade she went back running to the Provincial Capitol where her parents were said to be waiting for her.

At the outset, Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale assured her and the public that there was not going to be any takeover, meaning that she was free to come back, yet she showed skepticism, for how else would you interpret it when she had her parents looking after her den when she went out.

This is what adds to the dismay, when you have brilliant lawyers in the family, one which happens to be Gwen’s father, who instead of teaching his daughter to be an upright person and an exemplary leader, has advised her, instead, to err, to be irresponsible and to be above the law.

I have criticized the suspended governor for defying a lawful order coming from the President, and I will continue denouncing her for taking for granted the sanctity of the Capitol building as seat of power and authority and making it a lowly board and lodging facility for her and her supporters.

Gwen, her family and supporters should realize that she has lost all moral ascendancy to govern, much less continue staying at the Capitol, now that power and authority has been vested on Magpale and orders emanating from her, in the course of her governance, are being followed and executed.

Everyday that Gwen finds herself ensconced in her former office becomes a day of shame and impropriety.

Another person also that seems to be going against the grain of conventional wisdom, harboring an ill-feeling and defying the majority decision relative the Reproductive Health (RH) bill is CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

I could not believe this high ranking man of the cloth, instead of showing irreproachable attitude in his homily during the Pontifical Mass in honor of the Sto. Niño, had interjected politics and his misgivings on the passage of the RH bill, the coming elections, and subtly insinuated to repudiate those who supported the bill, while at the same time thanking the politicians that supported the Church stand.

But, what is even worst is that Palma went beyond the bounds of propriety, decency and respect for the law when he crossed the realm of politics inciting those in attendance to have more children if they want to, even with the passage of the bill.

“Even with the passage of the RH law, those who want to have children, not just one, not two, but three or four, should put their trust in the Lord,” Palma exhorted.

Tell it to the rich, yes, but it’s easy for him to say that because, after all, it is the State that takes the burden of caring for the poor and destitute.

Why can’t Palma just keep his mouth shut and let the law function as it is intended to work. Give it a year or two and if it is not working or there are violations committed then have the Church mount a crusade.

But, until then, Palma and his ilk should stick to their religious and spiritual endeavors, which is what they are there for.

RH bill advocates: Forge ahead or turn tail

Now that the proponents of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill are savoring their very slight margin of victory with the measure’s passage during the second reading, would this feeling be the same after the third and final reading?

The more important question is: Can the momentum be sustained to make it finally a battle won by the poor Filipino couples, who wants nothing, but to be educated in responsible parenthood so they can have easier and fulfilling lives ahead with their families?

To the anti-RH lawmakers, they say that the contest is far from over, trusting that more of their colleagues who failed to cast their votes this time will be participating in the final historic voting.

In the same manner, the Catholic Church, the acknowledged power behind the nay RH bill voters in congress, is not giving up and will continue putting pressure on the politicians, especially the re-electionists, to move heaven and earth and make sure to overturn the votes in their favor on the third reading.

I suspect there will be more Church officials appearing in the final session at the lower House, if only to forewarn the politicians of their political future. That seems to be the ace the prelates have under their sleeves – the Catholic votes or so they think.

Hopefully, the sight of the many bishops and archbishops inside the halls of congress will not make our lawmakers/politicians cower in fear and turn tail from their obligation to pursue the safe passage of the controversial bill for the benefit of the greater number of our population, but rather be more determined and have the political will to forge ahead, no matter the consequences.

Having said that, does it not make one wonder why Fr. Joaquin Bernas, a Jesuit priest, has a different view on the RH bill that do not conform with the mainstream concept of the Catholic religion?

Is being a lawyer, which Bernas is, making a difference?

Not really, because there are many lawyers who are siding with the beliefs of the Church.

What is making a big difference is that Bernas is not a politician, who owes nobody, nothing.

Rather, Bernas is a priest and a lawyer with a progressive mind, who looks upon the righteousness of all the application of freedoms we have that are enshrined in the Constitution, including the freedom of religion.

Compared to the conservative view of the members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Bernas possesses a wider perspective of understanding of the RH bill, as a responsible parenthood tool for the poor Filipinos, than the myopic and horse eye-blinder overview espoused by the Catholic hierarchy on the controversial bill.

Bernas is not talking about what is politically right or what is religiously wrong, but his point of view is making people understand the constitutionality of the RH bill in today’s Philippines society.

This is what should matter to all.

The RH bill and Sotto’s plagiarism issue

 

Senator Vicente Sotto III turns back table and accuses late JFK of plagiarism

So much have been said about Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III relative to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill and plagiarism issues that, regularly, he is being ridiculed, making him appear to be less and less of a Senator of the realm and more and more of an ass that he so happily and arrogantly portrays himself to be.

I described him once as a clown, more than a senator (https://quierosaber.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/more-than-a-senator-sotto-is-a-clown/), but that was two years ago and the way he has been conducting himself lately, both on the RH bill and plagiarism issues, has made him overwhelmingly reprehensible that even his clowning is no longer funny – as it has never been, no matter how he tries hard to be.

Just look at how stupidly he has exposed himself to more derision, when instead of putting closure to the accusation that he lifted quotes from a 1966 speech of the US president’s late brother, Sen. Robert Kennedy, translating these into Filipino and passing them off as his own in a speech delivered in September, by simply apologizing to the aggrieved party, he has now dragged the good and revered name of the late John F. Kennedy himself, claiming that the latter has also plagiarized the “Ask not what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country …” portion of his 14-minute speech, delivered at his inauguration on Capitol Hill on Jan. 20, 1961.

I do not exactly know what Sotto is trying to prove here, but if he thinks this is an ace that he has been keeping under his sleeve to avenge his own shameful act and get away from the ethics complaint he is facing, which has been filed  by a group of academicians who also accused the senator of “lifting quotes from four US-based bloggers, twisting these to support his argument against the reproductive health (RH) bill and failing to properly credit them when he delivered three speeches in August and September against the measure”, then, he has only himself to fool.

I rest my case here against this abominable senator. Going further only tends to upset my blood pressure and I don’t want him to feel the pleasure of having done that.

But, for more on this, and for better understanding on the importance of the RH bill for the woman’s health, I urge you to go to this link: http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/on-plagiarism-the-pill-and-presumptuousness/.

 

Ironic fate of the RH bill

This is what the Catholic Church wants our legislators to do in Congress: Sleep on the RH bill

The way our legislators in both houses of Congress are conducting themselves toward the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, leaves no doubt in ones mind that they don’t want this important measure passed into law at all.

The lower House can’t seem to muster a quorum for it to be voted upon and the upper House, through its leadership, is exerting all diversionary tactics to delay its discussion.

What is even pathetic about the whole situation is that, these politicians are not only downplaying the significance of this bill, but are making us believe that both Houses simply lack the numbers to have it approved.

That is what makes the fate of the RH bill ironic.

When we thought we had these servant-politicians put in Congress to craft laws beneficial to the country and its people, now we see them putting their own interest and that of the Catholic Church over and above the interest of the State and the well-being of its people.

One can’t help but question the respectability and sensitivity of these politicians in Congress who are against the RH bill when this particular measure was planned and designed to help educate, especially the poverty-stricken sector of our society, about responsible parenthood.

Who are they to say that Congress doesn’t have the numbers, when the real numbers are outside of Congress.

Here we are talking about the millions of impoverished Filipino couples found scattered all over the country who badly need to know about family planning and what it takes to be responsible parents?

The argument that the country doesn’t need the RH bill because the population growth has already gone down is too simplistic a reasoning.

The RH bill is more concerned about saving the lives of both mother and her baby, thus, the importance of having access to reproductive health or family planning services through the RH bill.

What could be more wrong than politicians giving in to the caprices of the Catholic Church hierarchy in exchange for political patronage during elections for the rich Catholic votes, and shrugging off and neglecting the clamor from the greater number of poor Filipino couples to pass the RH bill to law so they could learn from it and improve their lives?

The non-passage of the RH bill is, in effect, short-changing the Filipinos that need it.

It is not for these presumptuous servant-politicians to decide what should or shouldn’t be desired by poor couples wanting to have a family of their own.

It is for them to provide a law on reproductive health and let the people be answerable to God.

Enrile’s handling of Senate RH bill and plagiarism issues

 

I have always been partial in my thoughts and opinions about Juan Ponce Enrile as Senate President, notwithstanding his close association with Marcos and his role during the Martial Law regime. He seemed to have vindicated himself in his performance as Senator of the realm.

Enrile’s sterling leadership during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona confirmed my high regard for him, despite the critic’s second thoughts about his advancing age.

Even in the heated debate Enrile had with his presumptuous colleague, Sen. Antonio Trillanes, on the latter’s role as the backdoor negotiator in the country’s territorial dispute with China, I sided with the old geezer because of his wise arguments.

But, lately I had been having my doubts about Enrile’s fitness to continue being the leader of the upper chamber of Congress.

Could it be that age has finally caught up with him and has started fogging his brain?

Where his opinion, decision, wisdom and foresight are needed most for the welfare of the greater number of people, especially the poor and the unlearned sector of our society, Enrile seems to have his mind and interest somewhere else.

I am referring to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, which majority of the public want to be enacted into law, but to this day remains far from being seriously discussed and voted upon, thanks to Enrile, who has shown dogged loyalty to the Church more than being a servant to the State.

We all know that the RH bill seeks to provide access to natural and modern family planning methods or teach responsible parenthood and promote sex education, but the Catholic bishops are strongly against it.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, the principal sponsor of the bill, has expressed her frustration with the delays in the RH bill in the Senate and has hinted that Enrile’s staunch opposition to the RH bill is a factor in the delay.

Proof to this is when Cayetano urged the Senate to fast-track the discussion of amendments to the measure before tackling the budget and the sin tax bill, which came very much later in the calendar of business to be taken up in the Senate session, but was negated by Enrile when he said that the chamber was more focused on passing the 2013 national budget and the sin tax reform bill on time.

Needless to say that the RH bill is not and has never been an urgent measure to be passed into law as far as Enrile is concern.

“I do not know, Madame Senator, when I’m ready,” Enrile arrogantly answered Cayetano, when asked if he was ready to submit his own amendments to the RH bill.

Another issue that Enrile seems to be downplaying or toying about is Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto’s plagiarism scandal. It has been discovered that Sotto translated the speech of the late Robert Kennedy in connection with his opposition to the controversial RH bill.

While Sotto continues to hesitate in admitting his mistake, over 30 people, including professors from the country’s leading institutions – University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University – have already filed an ethics complaint against Sotto to make him accountable for the alleged nine instances of plagiarism he committed on the Senate floor.

Unrepentant, Sotto instead cited his parliamentary immunity in responding to the plagiarism issue.

Enrile has been siding with Sotto all the way.

“We cannot be questioned for what we say inside this chamber anywhere, not because we are a special breed but because that is the immunity given by the sovereign people so we can speak on any subject under the sun,” Enrile said.

This is one argument that no longer bodes well with Enrile as Senate President now, more than ever. The tag ‘special breed’ he used to describe the members of the Senate is, to him, more honorable than honoring legitimacy and ethicality.

It simply isn’t right.

 

Women RH proponents having more ‘balls’ than male counterparts in Congress

 

Philippine Congress

It is simply disappointing that to this day the very important Reproductive Health (RH) bill is being looked upon with disdain by some members of Congress whose views are more sympathetic to that of the Catholic Church than to the poor sector of our society that needs it badly.

I am specifically referring to those members who literally have balls (cojones), yet are the ones trying to stall the passage of the bill into law, to the delight of the members of the Catholic hierarchy. It makes them only more effeminate and more of a wimp when compared to the women members of Congress who has shown the courage and the resoluteness to fight for the passage of the RH bill without fear or fervor.

“If by next week nothing happens, you can be sure you will hear from us. I’m beyond patience already and ready to lose my temper,” Pangasinan Rep. Kimi Cojuangco told reporters. “I’ll be the one to start the war.”

Atta girl!

What a shame really to those in Congress who continue to play politics and engage in religious favors at the expense of poor Filipino couples wanting education in responsible health care and parenthood.

The fact that the most emphatic voices you hear in Congress advocating for the passage of the RH bill come from the women sector only signifies even more the importance and necessity of this law in the country today.

Also appealing for stoppage of dirty tactics being applied in delaying the votation of the bill by non-attending the session for the purpose of discussing and making amendments are Rep. Emmeline Aglipay of the party-list group Democratic Independent Workers’ Association and Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon.

If the Lower House has these stouthearted members, the Senate has also Senator Pia Cayetano, along with RH bill co-author and sponsor Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who have called on their colleagues to put the bill to a vote since all issues about the measure have already been exhausted during extensive debates.

For elaboration, let me just mention here the 10 facts that Cayetano wants every Filipino to know about the RH bill, to make a better judgment, whether it is contrary to our beliefs and values or whether it is for the interest and well being of the populace:

1. That the RH bill gives a person freedom to choose what family planning method to use or not to use any method at all.
2. That the RH bill does not legalize abortion and in fact adheres to the penal law against abortion.
3. That the bill does not impose an ideal family size and leaves such decision to couples.
4. That religious convictions and cultural beliefs of all sectors are respected in the bill.
5. That sex education shall be age-appropriate, meaning that that 10-year-olds are not taught how to use condoms under the RH bill.
6. That the RH bill promotes both natural and artificial family planning methods.
7. That contraceptives are safe and effective family planning tools.
8. That there will be no indiscriminate distribution of condoms and other contraceptives to Filipinos.
9. That regardless of whether there’s just one woman or 11 women dying giving birth daily, the fact remains that mothers are dying from a highly-preventable cause.
10. That the RH bill will not force anyone to act against his or her ethical or religious beliefs.

So, there you are.

It simply boggles my mind why a beneficial bill, such that will teach married couple, especially the poor and unschooled, and advocated by learned and competent women themselves, is being looked upon with contempt and even disparaged by male members of Congress and by high-ranking Church officials?

Why, indeed?

Pangilinan’s move good for country

Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan

Businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan’s (MVP) decision to severe ties with his alma mater – the Ateneo de Manila University – over controversial issues, particularly the Reproductive Health (RH) bill and mining may be lamentably bad for the institution, but the right move for the country.

I say lamentably bad because MVP has always made material and financial contributions to the Ateneo, including the Manuel V. Pangilinan Center for Student Leadership.

On the other hand, reacting and expressing his contrary view to an Ateneo position paper named the “Jesuit Paper” is giving Filipinos insight on how things should be done that will benefit the country socially and economically through the Mining Act of 1995 and not the Church’s supported version of EO 79 (Executive Order 79, on mining) and the Implementing Rules and Regulations.

This is what the Jesuit Paper is all about, which according to MVP was presented to him by Fr. Jose “Jojo” Magadia S.J., the current Provincial Superior — the head — of the Philippine Jesuits.

It is said to be a 9-page document citing Catholic principles that should be applied to mining.

This of course did not sit well with MVP who is chairman of the Philex Mining Corp., TV 5 Network, and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. In his letter to Ateneo president Jett Villarin S.J., Pangilinan pointed out that ‘the value of mining is enshrined in the country’s Constitution, and its value is recognized by the very presence of the Mining Act of 1995.’

“For the Church to say otherwise contradicts a very basic document of our people and frustrates the people’s constitutional will, values, and preference – plus the right to improve economic welfare,” he said.

MVP also hit the Jesuit paper for suggesting that “a particular business is per se evil” if its relations with the government give rise to corrupt practices or other problems.

“It is man’s frailty–Filipino frailty to be exact–that should be blamed, not the business,” Pangilinan said.

For more detailed information on this issue, including the list of Catholic principles mentioned, please go to this link:
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/43768/the-jesuit-paper–the-document-that-pushed-mvp-to-part-with-ateneo

In the same vein, MVP also made it clear in his letter to Villarin his disapproval of the Church stance on the RH bill. This, after some members of the Ateneo faculty clashed with an administration statement opposing the RH bill in Congress.

“I do not agree with some of the CBCP’s pronouncements, including its recent stance on the RH bill. At times, I believe the CBCP has taken positions contrary to the interest of our country,” Pangilinan said.

Pretty straightforward confession from a man whose business acumen is legendary and who now admits that the Church’s views, as will as that of Ateneo’s, on the issues of mining and the RH bill are “irreconcilable” with those of the business empire he heads as well as his personal views as a Filipino.

I applaud MVP for coming forward and upholding the role of the State and not of the Church with regards to the issues of mining and the RH bill.

 

Fr. Bernas logic should end RH bill issue

Jesuit constitutionalist, Fr. Joaquin Bernas

Jesuit constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas is obviously a Catholic priest, but not the kind that has been pontificating and advocating protest rallies against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

He has made public his own stand and for those who haven’t read it yet, both the pros and antis, let me invite you to visit this link: http://opinion.inquirer.net/5340/my-stand-on-the-rh-bill.

He is not talking about what is politically right or what is religiously wrong, but his point of view, being a brilliant student of religion, the Constitution and church-state relations, is making people understand the constitutionality of the RH bill in what he describes as a ‘pluralist society’ like ours.

A lawyer with a progressive mind, he looks upon the righteousness of all the application of freedoms we have that are enshrined in the Constitution, including the freedom of religion.

Compared to the conservative view of the members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Bernas possesses a wider perspective of understanding of the RH bill, as a responsible parenthood tool for the poor Filipinos, than the myopic and horse eye-blinder overview espoused by the Catholic hierarchy on the controversial bill.

But despite Fr. Bernas’ superior understanding of the RH bill, high ranking Church officials like Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes criticize his opinion and beliefs.

This criticism of Reyes, however, did not go unanswered as Bernas refuted his arguments.

For a more perceptive and elucidating opinion by Bernas on his defense of the RH bill, let me once again invite you to this link: http://www.rappler.com/nation/12130-bernas-refutes-bishop-s-rh-claims.

Nobody could have explained it any better, clearer and logically realistic, enough to put an end to the controversial RH bill issue and make it part of the laws of the land instead.

‘Sottoism’ is now Pilipino word for plagiarism

Senator Vicente Sotto III is accused of plagiarizing Robert F. Kennedy speech

Senator Vicente Sotto III has never stopped distracting and unnerving me ever since he has been taking it upon himself to determine and judge whether or nor the Reproductive Health (RH) bill is an effective tool for responsible parenthood among women.

Sotto is acting just like the red-cap members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) who think they are sex authorities and know better.

Sotto has gone to the extent of disparaging and devaluing the importance of RH bill in our society today by his highfalutin speeches that he was accused of plagiarism in his August 13^th “turno en contra” speech.

Sotto vehemently denied, however, the accusation, although his chief-of-staff Hector Villacorta admitted that portions of his speech was taken from blogger Sarah Pope’s article without attribution.

Sotto stood up once again on September 5^th to deliver the last part of his “turno en contra” speech against the contentious RH bill.

And what do you know?

Sotto is again facing the dilemma of being accused of translating to Pilipino language portions of Robert F. Kennedy speech delivered in South Africa in 1966.

Sotto again denies that it was plagiarism.

Well, what else is new?

So, to enrich further our Pilipino vocabulary, I suggest that, henceforth, the Pilipino translation for plagiarism is ‘Sottoism.’

Why can’t just Sotto give up his post and go, for Chrissake?

What he has done is not only dishonorable, considering his position, but embarrassing to his peers as well.

Sotto does not deserve to be hiding in that notorious cloak of legislative immunity. He has to be smoked out (using Dubya’s famous expression).

(For more comprehensive information on Sotto’s latest caper, let me invite you to this link: http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/technology/136-viral/11836-sotto-tagalized-kennedy-speech-sinotto)

(Source of above images of Sen. Vicente Sotto III and Robert Kennedy was from this link:  http://www.kimoftheworld.com/05/sen-sottos-turno-en-contra-speech-is-35-duplicate-of-google-translated-robert-kennedys-day-of-affirmation-address.html)