CBCP
Page 3Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
Biblical
March Scholars
5 - 18, 2007 Reject
Filmmakers’ Claim About
Tomb of Jesus
Bishop Bans
Political Programs
on Air
TO provide a level playing field to all
political parties so that the upcoming
elections are contested with a cricket
spirit, a bishop has barred political
programs from being aired at a Church-
owned radio station.
Bishop / P4
Bishops Support Debate
Over Platforms
IF it’s going to help voters
choose the right candi-
dates, some Roman Catho-
lic bishops welcome the
idea of holding a debate
among the candidates to
discuss their platforms.
CBCP head Arch-
bishop Angel Lagdameo
urged political parties to
lead the country in a
healthy national debate on
crucial issues that highlight
clear alternatives for voters
rather than lead them down
to a narrow partisan road
of negative campaigning.
“There’s a need for
every political party to state
and explain their platforms
of government,” he said.
The bishops said can-
didates should do things
that serve the best interests
of democracy, allowing vig-
orous ideological debate
aimed at strengthening the
nation.
According to CBCP
vice-president Archbishop
Antonio Ledesma, a “demo-
cratic space” is significant
for all the candidates to ex-
plain their platforms and
their programs once they are
Rosales
Takes
Possession
of his Titular
Church in
Rome
MANILA Archbishop
Gaudencio Cardinal
Rosales formally took
possession of his titu-
lar church, the parish of
the Most Holy Name of
Mary in Via Latina in
Rome on March 4.
As he conferred
red hat on Rosales
along with 14 other new
cardinals during last
year’s consistory, Pope
Benedict XVI also as-
signed each cardinal to
a titular parish.
The said tradition
symbolizes their dis-
tinctive roles as the
closest collaborators of
the Pope and estab-
lishes the seat of their
authority in the Church
of Rome.
Rosales, which left
the country on March
1 for Rome, is one of the
three Filipino cardinals
in the Philippine Catho-
lic Church at present.
The College of
Page 5
Holy See’s Statement on
Status of Women
www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
CBCP Monitor
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace
March 5 - 18, 2007
elected into office.
It is also important, he
said, for ordinary citizens
and voters themselves to
be made aware about the
record and the promises of
each candidate.
“That is the essence of
democracy of voting based
on concrete evidence of
the sincerity of each of the
candidates,” said Ledesma.
For his part, Caloocan
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez
said that if the debate
would be “well motivated”,
it would help voters know
the candidates more.
Lingayen-Dagupan
Archbishop Oscar Cruz, on
the other hand said that
political debates are often
only pure words “which the
poor, the hungry and the
sick have no use for.”
“The better debater
does not necessarily mean
the champion of the truth,”
Cruz also said. “Those who
will listen to the debate are
those who already have
their own convictions. The
great majority will rather
watch telenovelas.”
(CBCP News)
Cardinals represents
the clergy of Rome, and
each cardinal is given
the title to a parish or
suburban diocese
there.
The cardinal is ex-
pected to take an inter-
est in his titular Roman
church, providing ad-
vice and support as he
can, although he is not
directly involved in the
administration of the
parish.
Rosales also at-
tended the meeting of
the Pontifical Council
for Social Communica-
tions where he is also a
member.
He also celebrated
a Mass on March 8 with
the Filipinos in Rome at
the Collegio Filipino,
the residence of Fili-
pino priests studying in
Rome where he
launched his project
“Pondo ng Pinoy sa
Italya”. (CBCPNews)
Youth Challenged
to Stand up to their
Faith
“I think it’s the miracle of the cross that can bring people together…,” said Bishop Joel
Baylon of the World Youth Day Cross that journeyed lately in selected dioceses in the country
on its way to the 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia.
Pope to Meet Filipino Youth via Satellite Linkup
POPE Benedict will meet Catho-
lic Filipino students in praying
the rosary on March 10 along
with dozen European and Asian
countries linked via satellite
with the Vatican.
The event in the Vatican
aims to discuss charity and co-
operation between the two con-
tinents.
The Philippines, repre-
sented by students of the Uni-
versity of Santo Tomas (UST),
is among the three Asian coun-
tries invited to join the occasion.
Vatican Official to Meet Local
Canon Lawyers on Marital Issues
A CHURCH law expert from
Vatican will arrive in Cebu next
month to meet with the
country’s Canon lawyers and
discuss issues about canonical
marriages.
Roman Rota Judge Msgr.
Cormac Burke’s visit to the
country coincides with the
Canon Law Society of the Phil-
ippines’ (CLSP) 15th Annual Na-
tional Convention on April 16
to 18 at the Montebello Villa
Hotel in Cebu City.
The Roman Rota is a tribu-
nal of the papal curia exercising
jurisdiction especially in matri-
monial cases appealed from di-
ocesan courts.
Page 10
Catholic Associations and
Partisan Politics
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
Vol. 11 No. 5
“Intellectual Charity, Path
for New Cooperation between
Europe and Asia” is the theme
of the Saturday event, which will
begin at 4 PM in Rome (around
11 PM here) and will be hosted
from Paul XVI Hall.
During the event, Benedict
XVI will symbolically pass on to
the students Pope John Paul II’s
apostolic exhortations “Ecclesia
in Europa” and “Ecclesia in
Asia,” documents featuring the
conclusions of the two continen-
tal synods of bishops.
Hosted by Ricardo Cardi-
nal Vidal and the Cebu archdio-
cese, the convention will focus
on the theme: “Towards an Au-
thentic Juridical Anthropology
of Marriage: A Review of Juris-
prudence on Marriage Nullities
under the 1983 Code of Canon
Law.”
Burke will also deliver three
different lectures focusing on
the Challenges to Matrimonial
Jurisprudence posed by the
1983 Code of Canon Law, The
Incidence of Immaturity in the
Juridic Concept of Grave Lack
of Discretion for Matrimonial
Consent, and The Notion of
Vatican / P4
Page 13
A Month of Prayer and
Peace for Filipino Family
1
Church Group
Calls for End to US
Aid to RP Military
IF the US government is serious in
helping stop political killings in the
country, it must first stop giving sup-
port to the Armed Forces of the Phil-
ippines, a Church group critical of the
Arroyo administration said.
Php 20.00 Church / P4
By Roy Lagarde
CATHOLIC Bishops challenged thousands of young
faithful who have gathered to see and touch the World
Youth Day (WYD) Cross to renew their commitment to
the Church.
Bishop Joel Baylon, chairman of the CBCP-Episco-
pal Commission on Youth (ECY) urged the youth to stand
up and be counted by remaining faithful to Christ, and
that they should not be afraid to commit themselves to
Him.
The WYD Cross, and an accompanying Icon of the
Virgin Mary were brought back to the country to en-
courage youth to join together and make a difference by
using the Gospel to transform society.
The two significant symbols of the largest youth
gathering in the world were being carried around the
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
world “as a sign of Christ’s love for humanity.”
With so many social problems in the country as a
backdrop, Baylon took advantage of the journey of the
cross and the Icon to carry out a catechesis that re-
minded young faithful that Christ is our only savior.
He entrusted these efforts of the Church to the
Mother of God and invited young people to accept her
as their role model and source of consolation.
“The Cross has been able to reconcile warring tribes
within the nation,” said Baylon.
Youth / P4
The meeting will end with
the young people joining the
1 billion viewers in 1987, in 16
different countries, for the event
Pope in praying the rosary.
The students will be joined
“A Prayer for World Peace,” and
later that year joined American
by Papal Nuncio Archbishop youth during his Los Angeles
Fernando Filoni and Catholic visit, connecting four U.S. cit-
Bishops’ Conference of the Phil- ies.
ippines (CBCP) head Arch- Other cities in which the
bishop Angel Lagdameo who young people will gather to be
will also preside the Eucharistic connected by satellite with the
celebration. Vatican are: Bologna, Italy;
The German Pope is not the Calcutta, India; Coimbra, Portu-
first to use satellite technology gal, Krakow, Poland; Hong
to meet the faithful. Kong; and Manchester, En-
John Paul II reached nearly gland. (CBCP News)
Religions are not to Blame for
Conflicts
RELIGION is not, and never has dignity.
been, the true cause of violence Religious leaders claimed
or warmongering, religious lead- that religion has never been the
ers said. cause of any evil doings add-
Organized by the CBCP- ing that it is people who use
Episcopal Commission for Inter- religion as weapon to all the
religious Dialogue (ECID) and atrocities mankind committed
the Cultural Section of the Em- over the centuries.
bassy of the Islamic Republic of ECID chairman Arch-
Iran, Christians and Muslims bishop Antonio Ledesma urged
met at the University of Santo government leaders not to “hi-
Tomas recently for the second jack” religion just to push for-
major attempt to try to curb con- ward their own political inter-
flicts fought in the name of reli- ests.
gion. Another aim of the dia-
It was made clear during the logue was forging means to en-
gathering that Christianity and sure that no individual or orga-
Islam are religions of peace, for nization succeeds ever again to
dialogue and respect for human Religions / P4

2 World News
Pope to Meet Youth via Satellite
Linkup To Discuss Cooperation
Between Europe and Asia
VATICAN CITY, February 28,
2007—Benedict XVI will meet via
satellite transmission with univer-
sity students from Europe and
Asia to discuss cooperation be-
tween the two continents.
The theme of the March 10
event is “Intellectual Charity, Path
for New Cooperation between
Europe and Asia.” The event will
begin at 4 p.m. Rome time and be
hosted from Paul VI Hall.
During the event, the Holy
Father will symbolically pass on
to the students Pope John Paul
II’s apostolic exhortations
“Ecclesia in Europa” and
“Ecclesia in Asia,” documents
Family group denounces failure of
Spanish Parliament to defend marriage
MADRID, Spain, March 2, 2007—
The president of the Institute for Fam-
ily Policy in Catalonia, Liberto
Senderos, expressed regret this week
that Spain’s House of Representa-
tives has rejected a petition by more
than 1 million citizens to protect mar-
riage as a union between one man and
one woman through the reform of the
Civil Code.
“Instead of listening to the voice
of the citizens, the Spanish Parlia-
ment has given in to the interests of
absolutely minority lobbyists and
has not wanted to hear the cry of the
people for the defense of marriage,
which can only be understood as the
union between one man and one
woman,” Senderos said.
He said the petition organized
Sydney Opens World Youth Day
Registration
SYDNEY, Australia, March 5, 2007—
World Youth Day 2008 organizers
have officially opened group regis-
trations for the international Catho-
lic youth event, to be held in Sydney,
Australia, next July 15 to 20.
Group registrations opened of-
ficially on March 2nd, with still 500
days to go until the start of WYD.
Registration for individuals will open
featuring the conclusions of the
two continental synods of bish-
ops.
The meeting will end with
the young people joining
Benedict XVI in praying the ro-
sary.
The German Pope is not the
first to use satellite technology
to meet the faithful.
John Paul II reached nearly 1
billion viewers in 1987, in 16 dif-
ferent countries, for the event “A
Prayer for World Peace,” and later
that year joined American youth
during his Los Angeles visit, con-
necting four U.S. cities.
Pope / P10
by the Spanish Forum on the Family
and was signed by more than
1,330,000 people. It was the largest
signature-driven legislative pro-
posal in the history of the country.
Senderos criticized lawmakers
for not allowing members of his orga-
nization to speak in defense of the
proposal during debate. Representa-
tives who voted against the measure,
he said, preferred to keep a norm in
place that is clearly unconstitutional
and contrary to international treaties
and declarations on human rights.
Likewise, he said that instead of
approving “marriage” and adoption
for same-sex couples, the Parliament
should have supported a social
policy truly beneficial to the family.
(CNA)
mid-year. Organizers are
expecting 500,000 pil-
grims.
“We are opening
group registrations online
now - earlier than is nor-
mal for World Youth Days
- to capture information on
expected numbers, lan-
guage groups and special
needs,” said WYD 2008
coordinator, Bishop An-
thony Fisher, OP.
“This will enable us
to plan early and match
groups to accommoda-
tion and catechesis sites
throughout Greater
Sydney,” he said, adding
that most pilgrims come as members
of diocesan pilgrim groups, religious
movements and youth groups.
Furthermore, the Australian
government is offering all WYD pil-
grims a free three-month standard
visa in an effort to promote tourism
throughout the country.
A new DVD, titled Sydney: Wit-
Sydney / P10
Youth Cross Carried to the Border with North as a Sign of Hope
SEOUL, South Korea, March 3,
2007—The World Youth Day Cross
given to the youth of the world by
Pope John Paul II was carried to the
border that separates North and
South in a symbolic gesture for the
peaceful reunification of the Korean
peninsula and as a blessing for
Christians’ life in North Korea.
About a hundred young
people carried the Cross to the de-
militarized zone that divides the
country, where they prayed the Ro-
sary and asked for Our Lady’s in-
tercession for durable peace and
union between the two halves of
Korea.
In the years in between world-
wide celebrations of World Youth
Day the Cross is carried all around
the world. It arrived in Korea this
month after a tour across Africa.
Roman Congregation Approves Beatification of 188
Japanese Martyrs
TOKYO,
Japan, Feb-
ruary 18,
2007—A
committee
of cardi-
nals meet-
ing on Feb.
6 at the
Congrega-
Cardinal Fumio Hamao
tion for the
Causes of Saints in Rome approved
the beatification of Peter Kibe and
the 187 other Japanese martyrs.
According to Bishop Osamu
Vatican Delegation in Hanoi to Discuss
Religious Freedom, Diplomatic Relations
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam,
March 5, 2007—Vietnam’s state-run
press reported the arrival in Hanoi
of a delegation representing the
Holy See to discuss religious free-
dom and the normalization of diplo-
matic relations.
Newspapers report that the
Vatican delegation, led by
Undersecretary of State for Relations
with States Msgr. Pietro Parolin, will
work directly with the government
and the local Church. He is sched-
uled to remain in the country until
March 11.
The delegation will also visit a
few dioceses, some without bishop
like B c Ninh in the north, L ng Sõn
also in the north near the border with
China, and Ban Me Thuat, in the cen-
tral part of the country.
Swedes Forewarn
of “Abortion
Paradise”
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 4,
2007—Christian leaders urged that
Sweden not be turned into an “abor-
tion paradise,” after a government
proposal to allow women from
abroad to come here to undergo late-
term procedures.
Last Sunday, Catholic Bishop
Anders Arborelius of Stockholm and
the leader of the Pentecostal church,
Sten-Gunnar Hedin, wrote an article
in Sweden’s largest daily paper de-
crying the move.
Göran Hägglund, of the Chris-
tian Democratic Party, has backed the
proposal to open Swedish health-
care facilities to women from coun-
tries where abortion restrictions are
tighter.
“We see ourselves obliged to
recommend our Christian voters not
to vote for the Alliance in the next
elections in 2010,” the bishop and
Pentecostal leader wrote. “As Chris-
tians it is our duty to defend the in-
violability of human life.”
Sweden / P10
Within a week it will be on its
way to more Asian countries before
it reaches Sydney where the next
World Youth Day will be held in the
summer of 2008.
Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-
suk, archbishop of Seoul, spoke
about reunification and peace in the
Korean peninsula in his Lent mes-
sage.
Titled “Repent, and Believe in
the Gospel,” he stressed that the
“faith in God manifests itself in con-
cern and love for one’s poor neigh-
bors. During the Lenten season, the
observance of fast and abstinence
from meat as well as making sacri-
fices can obtain significance only if
we share charity with our neigh-
bors.”
“The Church,” he noted,
“should listen carefully to those
Misobe (Takamatsu diocese), chair-
man of the Bishops’ Conference
Special Committee for the Cause of
Japanese Martyrs, if Pope Benedict
XVI grants his approval, the date
for the beatification will be sched-
uled.
Speaking on Feb. 7, Bishop
Misobe said, “We have reached the
final stage. Optimistically speaking,
we have crossed the mountain! I am
hoping that final approval will soon
be granted and we can begin prepa-
rations for the beatification cer-
emony in Japan.”
Discussions will be held with
the government’s Religious Affairs
Committee.
“We hope that in the future the
Church will have a Vatican represen-
tative,” Father Joseph, a priest in one
of Ho Chi Minh City’s parishes, told
AsiaNews.
“Although Hanoi and Rome do
not have diplomatic relations, Viet-
namese Catholics have carried out
some religious activities since 1986
when the country opened its doors
to economic development and inte-
gration into the international com-
munity. However, the government
still intervenes in the appointment
of bishops and sets limits to the num-
ber of priests per parish.”
Vietnam’s Catholics are just un-
der 10 per cent of the total popula-
Regent Restates
Vatican’s Anti-
Masonry Position
ROME, March 2, 2007—The
Church has not changed its ruling
on Catholic membership in the Ma-
sons, said the regent of the Apos-
tolic Penitentiary.
Bishop Gianfranco Girotti made
this statement Thursday at a confer-
ence on the topic of Freemasonry
held at the St. Bonaventure Pontifi-
cal Theological Faculty.
The bishop presided over the
congress held in cooperation with the
Socio-Religious Research and Infor-
mation Group of Italy. Officials of Ma-
sonic associations and grand masters
also took part in the meeting.
Bishop Girotti reminded his lis-
teners that the Church has always
criticized the concepts and philoso-
phy of Freemasonry, considering
them incompatible with the Catholic
faith.
He mentioned the last official
reference document, “Declaration on
Masonic Associations,” which was
signed by the then prefect of the
Masonry / P10
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
suffering and in difficulty and heal
their wounds. Charity spiritually
enriches both givers and receiv-
ers.”
He concluded saying: “Let us
make this Lent full of grace by re-
penting, following the Gospel, over-
coming death and bearing witness
to life.” (AsiaNews)
Cardinal Fumio Hamao, who at-
tended the meeting of cardinals,
said, “I was the one who requested
their beatification. All the cardinals
and bishops attending the meeting
voiced approval.”
“Now the prefect of the Con-
gregation for the Causes of Saints
will go to the Pope and request his
final approval. Preparing for the
canonization ceremony in Japan will
involve a lot of work, so I requested
the approval as soon as possible,”
added Cardinal Hamao. (Japan
Catholic News)
t i o n ,
some 8
million
Catho-
lics out of
84 mil-
lion.
Af-
ter 1975
the Com-
munist
regime expelled some foreign priests
and nuns as well as the Vatican rep-
resentatives.
The first visit by a Holy See
delegation took place in 1990. Now,
especially following the Vatican visit
by Prime Minister Nguy n T n
Di´ng, there should be greater
space for religious freedom.
(AsiaNews)
Anti-terrorism
Law Used to Choke
Media Dissent
COLUMBO, Sri Lanka, March 2,
2007—The government of Sri Lanka
is using the anti-terrorism law to si-
lence critical voices in the press, said
the International Federation of Jour-
nalists (IFJ).
The charge follows the arrest
of a media executive who has been
in prison without charge since 26
February. Dushantha Basnayake,
40, is a director of Standard News-
papers, a private firm which pub-
lishes the Sinhalese language
weekly Mawbima. He is the second
person affiliated to the publication
Media / P10
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
News Feature 3
CATHOLIC biblical scholars
and an Israeli archaeologist
rejected filmmakers’ claim that
a tomb uncovered nearly 30
years ago in Jerusalem is the
Biblical
burial site of Jesus and his
family.
Dominican Father
Scholars Reject
Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, a
biblical archaeologist and ex-
pert in the New Testament at
the French Biblical and Ar-
Filmmakers’
Delegates to the 2nd Western Visayas Family Life Congress
chaeological School of
Jerusalem who was inter-
viewed for the film two years
Claim About
Jaro Hosts 2nd Western ago, said he did not believe

Visayas HLI-HLA Congress

there was any truth to the
claim.
“It is a commercial ploy
that all the media is playing
By Marjorie E. Libo-on into,” he told Catholic News
Service Feb. 27.
“OUR enemy attacks us in the form of euphemisms,” Amos Kloner, an Israeli
said Msgr. Higinio Velarde, H.P. JCD, Chancellor of Jaro archaeologist who wrote the
archdiocese, at the opening of the Second Western original excavation report on
Visayas Human Life International (HLI)-Family Life the site for the predecessor of
Apostolate (FLA) at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary on Feb- the Israel Antiquities Author-
ruary 24, 2007. ity, called the claim “non-
Velarde stressed that people should be aware of the sense.”
guise and different strategies undertaken by certain “In their movie they are
groups to destroy human life and the family as the basic billing it as ‘never before re-
unit of society. Drawing on the theme Standing on a ported information,’ but it is
Common Ground for Family and Life, he reiterated his not new. I published all the
desire for the delegates to reach a resolve on the mea- details in the Antiqot journal
sures needed to respond to the challenges that endan- in 1996, and I didn’t say it was
ger the Church today. the tomb of Jesus’ family,”
Mrs. Filipinas Rañada, a teacher in Special Educa- said Kloner, now a professor
tion, civic worker, lecturer, researcher, and crusader of archaeology at Israel’s Bar-
against abortion and other anti-life programs, discussed Ilan University.
“Sex Education: The Final Plague.” Her talk centered “I think it is very
on “The Hidden Danger in the Classroom.” Rañada ex- unserious work. I do scholarly
posed the disguise under which the lessons on sex edu- work... based on other stud-
cation and population control are given to the primary ies,” he said.
and elementary pupils and the high school students. “Sex Toronto filmmaker Simcha
education is like a thief in the night; while we all were Jacobovici and Oscar-winning
sleeping, through the ‘back door’ it came . . .” Canadian director James
Rañada answered the questions of teachers and par- Cameron announced at a
ents as to what they were supposed to do to counteract press conference in New York
the negative approach in the sex education awareness City Feb. 26 that by using new
and defense of human life. technology and DNA studies
Mr. Bernardo Cañaberal, national director of the Fam- they have determined that
ily Rosary Crusade and media practitioner, tackled the among the 10 ossuaries—
topic “Media: The New Communicator.” “God,” accord- burial boxes used in biblical
ing to him, “is the perfect communicator. His message is times to house the bones of
love.” the dead—found in the cave
Cañaberal said the trend today is that the television by Kloner in 1980 are those of
and other forms of media have taken the place of the Jesus, his brothers, Mary, an-
parents and elders who traditionally taught children the other Mary whom they believe
values that were morally and socially acceptable. He is Mary Magdalene, and
continued to share the words of Fr. Patrick Peyton, “Judah, son of Jesus.”
founder of the Family Rosary Crusade, “a world of prayer, The documentary film by
is a world at peace.” Furthermore, he still adheres to the Jacobovici and Cameron is to
slogan “the family that prays together, stays together.” be aired on the Discovery
Cañaberal emphasized that the task at hand in the Channel March 4 and in
information age is to be at the service of truth. He enu- Canada March 6 on Vision TV.
merated the following: Be critical of the significant im- A book on the topic, written
pact of media. Be critical about the marketing strategies.
Be critical about the content and format. Be analytical,
critical, discerning of whatever is heard and seen through
by Jacobovici and Charles
Pellegrino and published by
HarperCollins, is to go on sale
Feb. 27.
Father Murphy-
O’Connor said the names
found on the ossuaries “are a
combination of very common
names.”
“Fifty percent of all Jew-
ish women in the first century
were called either Mary or
Salome. It doesn’t mean much
at all,” he said. “You can prove
anything with statistics.”
The DNA tests could
“only prove that they are hu-
man” but “certainly did not
prove” any familial connec-
tion, he said.
Father Murphy-
O’Connor noted that Kloner
had written about the findings
a decade ago, and though it
was all out in the public do-
main nobody had been inter-
ested.
According to press re-
ports, the filmmakers said they
had worked on the project with
world-renowned scientists,
including DNA specialists, ar-
chaeologists and statisti-
cians. They said the ossuaries
were not identified as belong-
ing to Jesus’ family when they
were first discovered because
the archaeologists at the time
did not have the knowledge
and scientific tools that now
exist.
But Kloner noted that
Jesus’ family was from Galilee
and had no ties to Jerusalem,
Tomb of Jesus
By Judith Sudilovsky
casting serious doubt that
they would have had a burial
cave in Jerusalem. He added
that the names on the
ossuaries were common dur-
ing that time and their discov-
ery in the same cave is purely
coincidental.
He said the tomb be-
longed to a middle- or upper-
middle-class Jewish family
during the first century and
the cave was in use for 70-100
years by the family.
Other books, films and ar-
ticles about the tomb, includ-
ing a full-page feature in
London’s The Sunday Times,
a British Broadcasting Corp.
documentary film and a book
called “The Jesus Dynasty”
by James D. Tabor, have been
published and produced on
the topic in the years since
the tomb’s discovery.
At the New York press
conference, Jacobovici said
he thought the so-called
“James ossuary,” purported
by its owner, Oded Golan, to
have belonged to James, the
brother of Jesus, was also from
the tomb, and he cited a fo-
rensic technique used to de-
termine this.
He did not mention that
in 2003 the Israel Antiquities
Authority declared the in-
scription on the James
ossuary a forgery or that
Golan is currently on trial for
forging part of the inscription.
Basilian Father Thomas
Rosica, a biblical scholar and
head of Toronto’s Salt and
Light Catholic Media Founda-
tion, said this latest film shows
that “self-proclaimed experts”
have learned nothing from the
James ossuary incident.
“One would think that we
learned some powerful les-
sons from the media hype sur-
rounding the James ossuary
several years ago, and how
important public institutions
like the ROM (Royal Ontario
Museum of Toronto) were
duped in their hosting such
fraudulent works,” he said.
Father Rosica said:
“Why did the so-called ar-
chaeologists of this latest
scoop wait 27 years before
doing anything about the dis-
covery? James Cameron is far
better off making movies
about the Titanic rather than
dabbling in areas of religious
history of which he knows
nothing.”
However, Tabor, who is
also chairman of religious
studies at the University of
North Carolina, said he thinks
the tomb might be connected
to Jesus “despite all the hype
and heat and at the risk of be-
ing derided by some. In my
view we should give the evi-
dence a fair hearing.”
Tabor was a consultant
to the film, but said he has no
legal or financial connection
to it.
“What has surprised me
the past two days is the will-
Tomb / P11

Sapporo Parish Youth Luzon Diocesan Vocation

media. According to him, “media is just a reel; go to the
real. It is man’s duty to communicate the truth.”
Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, Family Life coordinator for
Visayas and Mindanao also presented short information
on some election tips and other Pro-Life issues.
The Second HLI-FLA Congress was attended by
parents, delegates from the different family life groups,
women religious, priests, teachers, and the youth. The
Statement of the Congress, which embodied the com-
mon ground upon which the HLI-CFL stands regarding
issues related to human life and the family, was read to
the participants. The event concluded with the final bless-
ing given by Msgr. Ramon Pet, HP, chairman of the Com-
mission on Family Life of the Archdiocese of Jaro.
Pope’s Prayer
Intention for
March
POPE Benedict’s general prayer in-
tention for March is: “That the
Word of God may be ever more
listened to, contemplated, loved
and lived.”
His mission intention is:
“That the training of catechists,
organizers and lay people commit-
ted in the service of the Gospel
may be the constant concern of
those responsible for the young
Churches.” (VIS)
Visits Manila
SAPPORO, Japan, February 4,
2007—Eighteen high school
and university students from
12 parishes in the Sapporo
diocese visited Manila and
Quezon City in the Philippines
Jan. 4 – 10, 2007.
The Konopporo Church
in Sapporo is a sister-church
of the Mabuting Pastol Par-
ish in the Novaliches diocese
in the Philippines and has or-
ganized various exchanges
since 1990. In addition to the
exchange programs, the Japa-
nese parish arranges charity
concerts and other events to
give education scholarships
to students in the Philippines.
According to Taisuke
Mizukami, 75, who led the
group, each of the young
people spent four nights stay-
ing at the homes of families of
the parishes they visited.
These parishes are in a poor
area of Quezon City where
social services are as yet un-
developed, and people from
rural areas on their way to Ma-
nila often gather there.
Mizukami said that
though many of the local
people appear to be full of life,
electricity and water services
have only recently been sup-
plied to the area. However,
since there are still no sewage
pipes, household waste often
flows onto the streets.
During this trip, scholar-
ships worth 150,000 yen were
entrusted to the Congrega-
tion of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary (CICM) which admin-
isters parishes in the area.
One of the participants in
the exposure trip, Mai
Oyamauchi, 18, of the
Kitajuichijo Church said, “Last
year’s exposure trip was can-
celled, so I was really looking
forward to this trip. I felt at ease
with the family from the first
day of the home stay, and I en-
joyed the local children and the
kids at the church. The Mass
was moving and powerful. Ev-
eryone was truly friendly.” (Ja-
pan Catholic News)
Directors Meet
By Fr. Joel Francis Victorino
THE National Office of Direc-
tors of Vocations in the Phil-
ippines, through its National
Coordinator, Fr. Jason
Laguerta, gathered recently 32
vocation directors from differ-
ent dioceses in Luzon for the
first in a series of Conferences
for Diocesan Vocation Direc-
tors.
With the theme, “Dioc-
esan Vocation Directors: Vo-
cation Collaboration and Di-
rection,” the conference was
held last January 28 to Febru-
ary 1, 2007 at the Convent of
the Holy Spirit in Baguio City.
This conference was a follow-
up of the first gathering of vo-
cation directors held two
years ago in Cebu City.
The conference aimed to
help the vocation directors in
their ministry in the various
local Churches as they set
goals and programs in voca-
tion promotion. It was also
convened as a response to
certain challenges posed in
some dioceses where a voca-
tion ministry is not present
or where there is a need for
more organization and struc-
ture.
At a time where mass me-
dia has control in almost all
aspects of life and with the
young people choosing more
what media is giving them, the
vocation directors were given
insights how to maximize its
resources, especially in the
area of vocations promotion
and animation.
Arlene Aquino of
McCann Erickson, gave a
picture of a recent study made
regarding the youth’s per-
ception of priests and reli-
gious. It offered valuable help
to the participants in recog-
nizing how the youth see their
religious leaders, both posi-
Luzon / P11

4 News
Church Watchdog Seeking More Volunteers
THE Archdiocese of Cebu urged the
faithful to do volunteer work in
voter’s education and poll watch-
ing.
The church-backed Cebu Citi-
zens’ Involvement and Maturation
in People’s Empowerment and Lib-
eration (C-Cimpel) said they are in
need of at least 19,000 volunteers
for the synchronized national and
local elections on May 14.
The group said the target num-
ber of poll watchdogs would be
enough to serve the more than
10,000 precincts in Cebu.
The C-Cimpel was able to get
Blaze Razes Catholic School in Tondo
HUNDREDS of Catholic school stu-
dents have lost their classrooms in a
fire few hours before March—the fire
prevention month.
While nobody was hurt in the
incident, the fire which started 10 p.m.,
on February 28, destroyed eight class-
rooms and laboratory equipment at
the Holy Child Catholic in Tondo,
Manila.
Investigators said the blaze
broke out on the second floor of one
building and crossed over to the
fourth floor of the adjoining building.
The damage to property was ini-
tially placed at P 1 million, authori-
ties said.
Arson investigators have yet to
Church Observes Ash Wednesday
WITH the words “Turn away from
your sin and be faithful to the Gos-
pel” or “remember, man, that you
are dust and to dust you will re-
turn,” a black smudge of ash is
placed upon the foreheads of many
Catholics on February 21.
The day marks the start of
Lent, 40 days of prayer, fasting and
almsgiving which are to serve as
preparation for Christ’s Resurrec-
tion on Easter Sunday.
“We are in the beginning of the
Lenten Season. Lent is sacrifice.
Lent is loving,” said Jaro Arch-
bishop Angel Lagdameo, president
of the Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines (CBCP).
This time of fasting and repen-
tance, Lagdameo also reiterated his
call for prayer, spiritual reflection
and social transformation.
Our vision of social transfor-
Religions / from p1
use religion to instigate violence and
terrorism.
“In that sense we are all united in
the fight against violence, terrorism,
and we would like to make that known
especially to our own religious com-
munities,” he said.
In attendance during meeting
were some Catholic Church leaders,
Iranian leaders, government officials,
senior Imams and Muftis.
Apostolic nuncio Archbishop
Fernando Filoni said, it is not religion
that has caused war but the lack of
peace in mankind’s heart that has led
to hatred.
Religion has often been seen to
contribute to violence and strife, when
actually, conflicts stem from politics
and other underlying motivations, said
Filoni.
Vatican / from p1
Dolus in Defective Matrimonial Con-
sent.
Asked about the choice of topic,
CLSP head Bishop Romulo Vergara
cited Pope Benedict XVI’s recent
address to the Roman Rota, in which
he warned that the “truth of marriage
(loses) existential relevance in a cul-
tural context marked by relativism
and juridical positivism, which con-
sider marriage as a mere social for-
malization of emotional bonds.”
around 10,000 volunteers in the last
election that served in various vot-
ers’ assistance centers, task forces
and mobile monitoring groups.
But for a volunteer to be quali-
fied to do poll watching, the group
said that he must be non-partisan
starting February 2007 to June 2007.
Cebu Archbishop Cardinal Vidal
also urged all cause-oriented
groups to collaborate with C-Cimpel
to ensure clean and honest elec-
tions.
“We cannot leave to the politi-
cians alone the state of our political
life and nation,” the group said.
determine what caused the fire, but
Manila Senior Fire Officer said a com-
puter left on may have sparked or some
overloaded electrical outlets may
have triggered the fire.
The school’s rector initially sus-
pended classes March 1 and 2 to give
way to the investigation being con-
ducted by the authorities and for the
administrators to assess damage and
plan for further action.
“Thank God the fire happened
in the evening and no one was hurt,”
said Fr Enrique Santos.
According to statistics, the com-
munity of Tondo from among
Manila’s 16 districts has the highest
population and lowest poverty level.
mation, of an end to underserved
poverty, of an end of man’s inhu-
manity to fellowmen, the birth of
hope for those who suffer from ca-
lamities, necessarily demands radi-
cal personal conversion, he said.
“No reform is possible unless
the reformers are themselves re-
formed. No renewed society unless
the agents are themselves re-
newed,” said Lagdameo.
“Social transformation is pos-
sible. With the help of God we can
change the corrupted image of our
country.”
In Ash Wednesday services,
churchgoers are marked on the
forehead with a cross of ashes as a
sign of penitence and mortality.
The use of ashes, made by
burning palm crosses from the pre-
vious Palm Sunday, is very sym-
bolic. They also symbolize death
“There’s no religious war. These
things are political,” he said.
These evil things, the nuncio said,
are perpetrated by people in power,
who have invoked their religion to jus-
tify their actions and motivate people.
“These are not based on religious
but political and economic factors,”
said Filoni.
He called on religious and politi-
cal leaders to maintain and promote
social justice and moral values as well
as peace, freedom for all peoples, re-
spect and reciprocity.
The Muslim panel, meanwhile,
stressed that aggression “is always
wrong” adding that atrocities are “not
allowed” by Islamic teaching.
“War in order to impose one’s
religion upon another by force is
wrong,” the Muslim panel said in a
The Holy Father, he said, re-
ferred to this phenomenon as a veri-
table “crisis of the meaning of mar-
riage,” which has even led to calling
same-sex unions as marriage.
Furthering their ministry
through Canon Law, the organizers
have also inserted within the Con-
vention a Symposium on Canon Law
on April 18, at the Celebrity Ballroom
of the Montebello Villa Hotel, open
to the local clergy, religious and lay
Recently, the Parish Pastoral
Council for Responsible Voting
(PPCRV) has come out with its elec-
tion manual that would help the poll
watchers in safeguarding the up-
coming political exercises.
The “Election Monitoring
Manual” is an updated complete
guidebook for the PPCRV poll
watchers.
“It is like a bible for the women
and men volunteers who will be
PPCRV’s witnesses to truth in the
voting precincts nationwide,”
Henrietta de Villa, PPCRV national
chairperson said. (CBCP News)
Santos said he would ask help from
the Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial
Schools Administration (MAPSA), an
umbrella organization of 94
archdiocesan and parochial schools.
“Many poor students rely on us
and this fire won’t stop us from con-
tinuing our mission,” the priest said.
Only a few weeks before the
school year ends, the school resumed
classes on March 5.
Affected high-school students
will hold classes in spare rooms in
the pre-school building Monday,
Thursday and Friday, while affected
grade-school students will come on
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
(CBCP News)
and so remind us our mortality.
“Remember you are dust and
unto dust you shall return,” are
usually the words that are spoken
during the imposition of ashes.
In Catholic churches, the wor-
shippers leave with the mark still
on their forehead so that they carry
the sign of the cross out into the
world.
At the other Christian
churches, however, the service
ends with the ashes being washed
off as a sign that the participants
have been cleansed of their sins.
The ash is usually mixed with
anointing oil, which makes sure
that the ashes make a good mark.
The use of anointing oil is said
to be a reminder to the faithful of
God’s blessings and of the anoint-
ing that took place at their baptism.
(CBCPNews)
press statement.
“Terrorism and random violence
that target non-combatants and the
innocent are not allowed by Islam.”
Muslim leaders pointed out that
acts of terrorism is not a prerogative
of a single religion but are masks of
madmen using religion. The Muslims
share this view and condemn all that
corrodes civil society.
“It was acknowledged however
that in every tradition some people may
become fanatics when they perceive
that justice cannot be achieved by
peaceful means. They are misguided
and must be educated but the situation
is complex,” they Muslim leaders said.
“On the one hand, we should ad-
dress the injustices while on the other
hand we should strive against vio-
lence.” (CBCP News)
people of Cebu and nearby prov-
inces.
Convention chairman Fr. Raul
Go, in a telephone interview, assured
that preparations are in full swing to
welcome not only the CLSP members
and other Convention participants,
but also all the faithful—clergy, reli-
gious and lay—who may be inter-
ested to attend the half-day sympo-
sium on April 18. (With reports from
Fr. Jim Achacoso)
Youth / from p1
Learn eyes of faith
The large wooden Cross and
the Icon first arrived in Cebu on
March 1, 2007 and was received
by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Car-
dinal Vidal.
In a Mass, Vidal urged the
faithful to “stop, look at the cross,
listen to the crucified and learn
from Him, with the eyes of faith.”
“As baptized persons, you
are expected to behave accord-
ing to your belief in the love of
God, in the grace of our Lord, and
in the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit,” the cardinal said.
We need to take up our cross,
he said, and to be humble and
honest enough to call sin a sin
and not by any other name.
The cross and the Icon then
proceeded to Jaro Cathedral the
following day. On March 3, the
symbols traveled to Saint Augus-
tine Metropolitan Cathedral in
Cagayan de Oro City.
They were also brought to
the archdioceses of Lingayen-
Dagupan and Caceres on March
4 and 5.
Eucharistic celebration, ven-
eration of the cross, catechesis,
reconciliation, spiritual animation,
cultural presentations and simi-
lar activities have been organized
by each host dioceses.
The Cross and the Icon is
due to arrive in Sydney, Australia
on July 1 in time for the WYD
2008.
Sydney’s WYD is expected
to attract more than 100,000 over-
seas pilgrims, rivaling the 2000
Olympic games in attendance.
Only few Filipinos could join
the event but that is precisely the
reason why the WYD Cross was
brought here for the second time
since 1995.
“It’s here for us to experience
its power as well,” said Baylon.
Tool for reconciliation
Before the two symbols left
the country bound for Guam on
March 7, they also spent few
Church / from p1
In a statement, the Promotion of
Church People’s Response (PCPR)
also described as mere “posturing”
the US embassy’s seeming concern
on the issue of extra judicial killings.
The group was obviously refer-
ring to US Ambassador Kristie
Kenney, who has been urging the
government to take steps to stop the
killings.
“If the US government really
wants to help solve political killings
under Arroyo, it should stop advis-
ing, funding and giving all forms of
support to the military,” said Fr Jerry
Sabado, PCPR spokesperson.
He said the possible hand of the
US on the killings must also be in-
vestigated by the international hu-
man rights bodies.
Bishop / from p1
Bishop Patricio Alo of Mati,
Davao Oriental imposed the ban over
DXHM-AM despite proposals of
block time programs from various
local candidates and political parties.
Alo issued a memorandum stat-
ing that “no political block time pro-
grams should be allowed in the sta-
tion.”
DXHM’s station manager,
meanwhile, said the bishop’s move
only highlights the real mission of
their station.
“After all, our main thrust is
evangelization—a contradiction to
character assassination escalating
on times of election,” said Fr Dennis
Alingalan.
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
hours at the Saint Andrew Cathe-
dral of the Diocese of Parañaque
and Immaculate Conception Ca-
thedral of the Diocese of Cubao.
For Parañaque Bishop Jesse
Mercado, the Cross has been an
instrument for reconciliation in
the face of conflicts and problems
in our society.
The Cross that has been car-
ried all throughout the world
since 1984 “really has the power
to bring us together”.
“I think it’s the miracle of the
cross that can bring people to-
gether not only of the youth,” he
said.
‘Sleeping giant’
“The youth is beginning to
wake up,” Mercado said when
asked to describe the youth of
today.
He said the youth is like a
“sleeping giant” that is only be-
ginning to discover its role and
participation in the development
of Christian community especially
in the Basic Ecclesial Communi-
ties (BEC).
The prelate called on the
young faithful to be aware of how
important they are in the Church.
“The youth has the role to
play in making the Church more
relevant and more in touched with
the world today,” said Mercado.
Legacy
Established by the late Pope
John Paul II, the WYD has been
held every year since 1986.
He established the interna-
tional gathering as an occasion
for young people from different
parts of the world to gather and
celebrate their faith.
The WYD Cross, entrusted
to the youth by Pope John Paul II
in 1984, stands 12 feet tall and
weighs 88 pounds.
The Icon of Our Lady accom-
panies the WYD Cross in all its jour-
neys. It is a copy of the painting of
Salus Populi Romani, or the Pro-
tectress of the Roman People.
In the first place, he said, some
counter-insurgency operations of
the Philippine military have been
“heavily funded” by the US govern-
ment.
“We see the US’ hand in extra-
judicial killings directly above the
Malacañang-AFP operations that are
guided by US agenda to rid the coun-
try of militant groups that are critical
of US economic, political and mili-
tary intervention,” said Sabado.
The priest added that as long as
the military operations are designed
to preserve Arroyo in power, govern-
ment-formed groups to probe the kill-
ings will all be part of Arroyo’s “cos-
metics” to deny state accountability
on political killings and other human
rights violations. (CBCP News)
Alingalan said they’ve rejected
several political parties already eye-
ing for a program slot.
Other stations, however, are up-
beat about the handsome revenues
streaming from political programs.
The priest admitted that the
money that can be generated through
political programs could serve as
“big help” in the operation of the
radio station.
But he said respect and credibil-
ity given to the station is more impor-
tant than the hefty revenues the sta-
tion could raise from politicians.
The station is to celebrate its 16th
founding anniversary on March 19,
2007. (Neela Duallo)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
7 QUESTIONS for
Bishop Sofronio A.
Bancud, SSS, DD
Most Rev. Sofronio A. Bancud was first appointed
Auxiliary Bishop of Cabanatuan in May 24, 2001. He
succeeded Most Rev. Sofio Balce as bishop of the
diocese and was installed in January 25, 2005.
Recently, CBCP Monitor asked His Excellency to
share his thoughts on various concerns in the
Church, especially in his diocese.
The Year of Social Concerns has
just come to a close. How are the
social teachings of the Church be-
ing realized in your diocese?
The year of Social Concern was, in-
deed, a graced occasion to reawaken the
consciousness of the Clergy, Religious
and the Lay faithful of the inherent so-
cial responsibility in living out our bap-
tismal vows. One of the highlights of
the year-long celebration was a diocesan
program called “Dalaw Kristiyano”
which was designed for the whole month
of October, being the mission month,
where the priests, religious and lay lead-
ers visited every single family in the par-
ish. This program proved very helpful
inasmuch as those who have been away
from the Church for years, for a variety
of reasons, had the opportunity to ex-
press their experience of the Church as
well as their needs, their hopes and ex-
pectations. After an evaluation of the
Mission month program it was strongly
recommended that the “Dalaw
Kristiyano” be enhanced and continued
as a helpful means to be in touch with
our people. The other Diocesan Commis-
sions have, likewise, made use of the data
gathered in order to develop further their
programs making them more relevant and
responsive to the expressed needs of the
parishioners.
7
Would you say that partici-
pation in political advo-
cacy is a part of the social
concern agenda of the
Church?
The area of politics is just
one of the many aspects of life
and so when we speak of the
Church’s mission in our world
QUESTIONS
today, this has to be addressed.
In fact, this has been underscored in the
1971 Synod of Bishops’ Justice in the
World which affirms that “action in be-
half of justice and participation in the
transformation of the world fully appear
to us as a constitutive dimension of the
preaching of the Gospel, that is, of the
mission of the Church for the redemp-
tion of the human race and its liberation
from every oppressive situation.” There-
fore, by virtue of our baptism it is our
prophetic role to become involved in ev-
ery way possible in the area of politics, in
accordance with each one’s state of life.
And I must stress that the kind of involve-
ment that is expected of us is a commit-
ment that flows from the Gospel.
How is the family life program in your
diocese?
The Family and Life Apostolate is
now instituted in our diocese as a work-
ing Commission to address family con-
cerns. As we uphold the belief that the
family is the basic unit of the society and
the domestic Church, such conviction
impels us to attend to the many challenges
that beset all families with out exception.
Existing programs on family life like the
Pre-Cana seminars are now being re-
viewed and further developed in coordi-
nation with the national office of the Fam-
ily and Life Apostolate. The various
needs that have emerged during the di-
ocesan “Dalaw Kristiyano” program are
now being looked into. Issues and con-
cerns related to family life have been iden-
Feature
tified. It is hoped that the programs/
projects that are to be considered for the
family and life apostolate will rouse greater
interest and involvement of every family
in this noble task of building a civiliza-
tion of love and a culture of life.
What is your take on the changing
patterns of families today, and how
does this situation influence the qual-
ity of vocations for the priesthood and
religious state especially in your dio-
cese?
It is, indeed, very true that the set
up of families nowadays have changed
radically. The onslaught of materialism,
secularism and consumerism have an
overwhelming influence in the upbring-
ing of our youth. Added to this is the
widespread phenomenon in our country
today where one or both parents are ab-
sent during their children’s early and cru-
cial years of formation. Aware of the fact
that these are the very circumstances
from which our candidates to the priest-
hood and religious life come from it is of
utmost importance that the formation
program be made more relevant and re-
sponsive to this reality. In this way we
can be assured of a formation that can
facilitate the development of committed
disciples and dedicated servant-leaders
of the Church.
Do you get a good number
of vocations entering the
seminary today? How is the
percentage of those who per-
severe until ordination?
We do not get as many can-
didates as we used to some 20
years ago and, correspondingly,
the percentage of perseverance
until ordination, are just as mea-
ger. But we do have, in the next years,
candidates in line for ordination. This situ-
ation may seem grim. However, we are
encouraged when we recall Jesus’ words
“pray to the Lord of the harvest that He
sends laborers to his vineyard…”
Does the diocese have a program
which ensures the continuing for-
mation of the clergy?
Yes. Besides our regular monthly rec-
ollection, annual R & R, and annual retreat
we have sabbatical programs that are made
available to the jubilarians (i.e., those in 10,
15, 20, 25 etc. years in the ministry). Fur-
ther studies in areas of specialization and
some other relevant courses offered here
and abroad could also be availed by the
clergy. The Commission on the Clergy fa-
cilitates the implementation of such pro-
grams and periodically reviews and evalu-
ates their accomplishment.
What is your perception of the main-
stream media’s treatment of Church
issues in the news?
Church issues seem to draw so much
attention and interest among the many, so
much so that they become vulnerable to
different biases or interpretations. And as
such it is unfortunate that what would have
been expected to set moral directives have
turned into woeful discountenance. Greater
objectivity in handling whatever issues on
hand, I believe, would dispel pointless ani-
mosity.
Holy See’s
Statement on
Status of
Women
(The following is the statement Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See’s permanent
observer to the United Nations, delivered on Friday to the 51st session of the Commission
on the Status of Women, held March 2, 2007. The session is considered a follow-up of the
Fourth World Conference on Women and of the twenty-third special session of the General
Assembly entitled “‘Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-
first century”).
ON the occasion of the 51st
session of the Commission of
the Status of Women, my del-
egation welcomes the
progress made in favor of
women over the years and
hopes that positive achieve-
ments in this field may con-
tinue to establish a sane and
solid foundation for the fu-
ture.
However, it seems incon-
gruous that, at a time when the
sensitivity for women’s issues
appears stronger than ever,
the world is now obliged to
confront new forms of vio-
lence and slavery directed es-
pecially at women.
It is therefore appropriate
that the Commission has cho-
sen this year as its priority
theme “The elimination of all
forms of discrimination and
violence against the girl
child.” Every day, violations
of the rights of women, ado-
lescents, and young girls are
committed and even tolerated
in many fields. Women bear
the brunt of the world’s child
prostitution, sexual exploita-
tion, abuse, domestic vio-
lence, child labor and human
trafficking. The international
sex trade has become an im-
portant industry as degrading
as almost any mistreatment of
women prior to it. This trade
is often passed over in silence
because it is considered a part
of supposedly democratic
freedoms and is too deeply
rooted in places or is too lu-
crative to confront, so my del-
egation commends those
states and organizations that
have stepped forward in re-
cent times to combat and draw
attention to this scourge.
The mistreatment of
women is a long-standing re-
ality in many places and a dis-
regard for the age and vulner-
ability of young girls in par-
ticular is especially repugnant.
If we wish to engage in a sus-
tained process to stop and
reverse this phenomenon,
peoples and cultures will have
to find common ground that
can safely underpin human
relations everywhere due to
our shared humanity. There is
still a profound need to strive
to uphold the inherent dignity
and worth of every human
being, with special attention
to the most vulnerable of so-
ciety, our children and all the
girls among them.
We would also do well to
examine why women and es-
pecially younger women are
so vulnerable. This appears to
be due to the inferior status
bestowed upon women in cer-
tain places and upon female
infants in particular. In some
local traditions they are
thought of as a financial bur-
den and are thus eliminated
even before birth. In this way,
abortion, often considered a
tool of liberation, is ironically
employed by women against
women.
Even those allowed to live
are sometimes considered as
if they were a piece of prop-
erty best disposed of as soon
as possible. This is to be
found in many parts of the
world, due to prejudicial tra-
ditions extraneous to what
should be a universally avail-
able and safe nurturing envi-
ronment for girls. Besides the
usual thriving channels of
trafficking in persons, even
the institution of marriage is
sometimes misused to give a
safe façade to sexual exploita-
tion and slave labor by means
of what is known as “mail or-
der brides” and “temporary
brides.”
The trade which results
in the exploitation and profit
of women forms a driving mo-
tive in this equation. No one
profits from this except the traf-
fickers themselves and the cli-
ents. In order to put an end to
the violation of human rights
of trafficked women and girls,
it is not enough to sensation-
alize their tragic plight; rather
there is a need to trace the
question back to the market
that exists due to the demand
which makes such trade pos-
sible and profitable. Thus, if
the reason behind the vio-
lence visited on women and
girls is mostly cultural preju-
dice, exploitation and profit,
which body should be man-
dated to intervene in order to
overcome this situation?
5
This is a clear question
of human rights, since traf-
ficked women have their right
to life and dignity violated.
Health, freedom and security,
are all compromised in such
circumstances, to say nothing
of universal rights regarding
torture, violence, cruelty and
degrading treatment. For
younger women it can also be
a question of forced marriage,
the violation of the right to
education, the right to work
and the right to self-determi-
nation. Nor should we limit the
complexities of trafficking to
a few social laws or customs,
the construction of a refuge
here and there and the social
reinsertion of the women in
question. Ways must be
found to let them go home
safely and without shame, and
not merely have them repatri-
ated; and if women do decide
to travel abroad for work, they
should be able to do so safely.
Raising awareness is a
simple and effective means to
combat this phenomenon at
the local level. Rural villages
where the search for employ-
ment impels girls to seek work
elsewhere need to know as a
community how to deal
openly with the risks to their
young people. Organizations
with a proven track record al-
ready exist and could assist
communities in this way. Lo-
cal and national politicians
also need to be brought to
account for their policies in
this regard.
The promotion of women
will be achieved not only by
the legitimate vindication of
women’s rights. With that
there must also be established
a fresh appreciation of au-
thentically feminine values in
the heart of our societies.
 CBCP Monitor
6 Opinion Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007

Editorial
“At a time when the sensitivity for women’s
issues appears stronger than ever, the world is now
Were EDSA 1 and 2 Acts obliged to confront new forms of violence and
slavery directed especially at women.”
of Terrorism?
IN his blog Archbishop Oscar Cruz thinks that
the Anti-terrorism Law a.k.a “Human Security
Act of 2007” shall condemn EDSA 1 and 2 as
acts terrorism. Because, this law stipulates that
terrorism is anything that “causes widespread
and extraordinary fear and panic to force the
government to give in to an unlawful demand.”
In both EDSAs there was “extraordinary
fear”. There was “extraordinary panic” too.
And both the governments of Marcos and
Estrada had been forced “to give in to an
unlawful demand”—or were they “lawful”,
because in revolutions the winners always
become right and the losers adjudged wrong.
“People Power” was canonized by both
EDSAs. And this has propelled the Philippines
to international acclaim among nations which
highly regarded the Filipino as avant-garde in
modern democracy for demonstrating non-
violently people’s supremacy and power over
erring, if despotic, regimes.
Should this perspective be in order then the
heroes of EDSA would automatically be tagged
as terrorists and villains—including one cardinal!
Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD
Social Security of the
If not, then something is terribly wrong with Tidbits Diocesan Clergy
the Anti-Terrorism Law.
THE busy chore in the parish which in- need” (Acts 4:35). It is on this account the faithful. Other dioceses have to con-
cludes among others the looking after that she comes out strongly with this tend with old financial systems that may
Thank you, Woman the spiritual needs of the people en-
trusted to his care, the setting up of the
stipulation in law: “Provision must also
be made so that they (clerics) possess
have incorporated the social security of
their members, but are in fact failing to
organizational systems and needed that social assistance which provides meet the needs of the aging priests.
ON this women’s month, the late: Pope John structures, the building up of BECs and for their needs suitably if they suffer A case at bar comes to the fore. In
Paul II’s Letter to Women still reverberates in taking care of faith communities and from illness, incapacity, or old age” one of the clergy meetings this issue
the midst of current issues. He talks about the other movements, teaching the children (Canon 281, §2). This law is actually a surfaced when a member of the aging
and forming the youth, giving guidance juridical formulation of the desideratum priests of the diocese presented to the
“feminine genius” that was highly expressed in counseling to married young couples expressed by Vatican II which states: “In body an innovative system that would
Mary herself. And delivers the primordial and troubled families, the keeping up of countries where social security has not somehow help the sick priests in pur-
anthropological gratitude: the physical plant of the community, all yet been adequately organized for the chasing their prescribed medicines. The
Thank you, women who are mothers! You these programs and activities could en- benefit of clergy, Episcopal Conferences idea is this: make collection boxes with
have sheltered human beings within yourselves gage the parish priest so much that he are to make provision…for the setting a big-letter message painted on them as,
forgets that time is not always his. Be- up of diocesan organizations…for the “Support Our Aging Priests (SOAP)”
in a unique experience of joy and travail. Thank fore he realizes it, illness is getting hold proper support of priests who suffer and place them in strategic places in the
you, women who are wives! You irrevocably of him and the advancing age is slow- from ill health, disability or old age” (PO parish churches. Simple or crude the
join your future to that of your husbands, in a ing him down. And there he is alone and 21). The Second Plenary Council of the idea brings home the message that the
relationship of mutual giving, at the service of untended. Philippines specified more this provision aging priests are overwhelmed with the
The Church, true mother that she is of the Code and in terse language stated: mounting expenses that they have to
love and life. Thank you, women who are would not like that scenario to happen “When…priests retire from years of ser- defray. Seven thousand (P7,000.00) to
daughters and women who are sisters! Into the to her priests. She knows very well the vice in the Ministry, the Church should nine thousand pesos (P9,000.00) as
heart of the family, and then of all society, you all out dedication of her priests in the see to it that their respective Dioceses monthly expense for maintenance medi-
bring the richness of your sensitivity, your ministry, their heroism in giving up their continue to support them….” (PCP-II, cines is simply staggering for any priest
own personal dreams and ambition for Acts, 561). whose monthly earning is only
intuitiveness, your generosity and fidelity. the sake of the Kingdom. She too re- Here the dioceses in the Philippines P9,000.00. They need support; they beg
Thank you, women who work! You are members full well she started as a small are enjoined to dig deep into their own for help. Who could help them if not the
present and active in every area of life-social, community in Jerusalem and yet with creative selves to devise workable sys- generous lay faithful? After all, it is the
economic, cultural, artistic and political. pooled resources could support one tem that would meet squarely the plight lay faithful who through the years have
another as well as the poor and the of her ailing clergymen. The task at hand been the beneficiaries of the services of
Thank you, every woman, for the simple needy (cf. Acts 4: 32): for “they held is not at all easy, especially for poor dio- these ordained ministers. In fact, this
fact of being a woman! everything in common” and “distribu- ceses that have to depend mostly on doctrine is already enshrined in the
tion was made to each according to the love offerings and contributions of Tidbits / P8

ISSN 1908-2940 March 25—Day of the Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS

Unborn in the Philippines Love Life

CBCP Monitor
P r o ta g o n i s t of Tr u t h , Promoter of Peace THREE years ago, pro-lifers gathered in
Malacañang to witness the proclamation
Whereas, almost three percent of
total fetal deaths have been registered
been sent copies of the Proclamation so
that they will celebrate the day in a spe-
of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo that each year, due to the effect of maternal health and cial way.
Pedro C. Quitorio Pinky Barrientos, FSP March 25 would be celebrated as the nutrition and socio-behavioral factors on While we celebrate March as
Editor-in-Chief Production Manager
“Day of the Unborn”. This idea was pre- the eventual outcome of pregnancy; Women’s month, let us remember the mil-
sented to her by several pro-life groups Whereas, to prevent and effectively lions of female babies in the womb who
Melo M. Acuña Rowena T. Dalanon
Managing Editor Circulation Manager
because several countries around the manage complications of pregnancy and are being aborted due to sex discrimina-
world have been celebrating it also on childbirth, it is necessary that quality and tion. Let us put in more effort to reach
Dennis B. Dayao Ma. Lourdes G. Ebilane this day. timely interventions before, during and out to women in distress because of preg-
On-Line Editor Marketing Supervisor What a fitting time to commemorate after pregnancy be developed through nancies they are not ready for. Let us put
the value and dignity of the unborn child comprehensive health services; a stop to abortion now.
Roy Q. Lagarde Ernani M. Ramos as a human person on the feast of the Whereas, the “Day of the Unborn” For a copy of the Proclamation and
News Editor Comptroller Annunciation when Mary conceived will promote a culture of life and defense for more information on Pro-life activi-
Jesus in her womb though the power of of life from the moment of conception, ties, call our office at telefax 421-7147, or
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP
Communications Development Foundation, Inc., with
the Holy Spirit. Now, therefore, I, Gloria Macapagal email life@prolife.org.ph or mobile 0919-
Layout by Blue Flame

editorial and business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Proclamation 586 signed March 24, Arroyo, President of the Republic of the 233-7783. Our website:
Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Edito- 2004 is very well worded” Philippines, by the virtue of my powers www.prolife.org.ph You may also refer
rial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612. “Whereas, pregnancy is a physi- vested in me by law, do hereby declare counseling pregnant, post-aborted
Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Website: ologic process that has certain risks be- March 25 every year as the “Day of the women, natural family planning informa-
www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor cause not all pregnancies lead to the birth Unborn.” tion and teen problems to our counse-
of a live and healthy child; Parishes and organizations have lors at 911-2911.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Vie ws and P
iews oints
Points
THE much dreaded and much debated
anti-terrorism bill desired, crafted and
endorsed by the administration, carries
both good and bad news as now for-
mally approved by Congress. First the
good news: much of its sharp and mor-
tal fangs have been removed. And to
make it less disgusting and disturbing,
it is even given a new title: “Human Se-
curity Act of 2007”. It has to be admit-
ted that the amendments made thereon
constitute more than just having it
merely deodorized.
Yet, it also carries a bad news: it
punishes those who bring about “wide-
spread and extraordinary fear and panic
among the populace in order to coerce
the government to give in unlawful de-
mand.” To say the least, this provision
by itself alone already says a mouth-
ful. In effect, it raises many legitimate
doubts and questions even among well
The Measurement of
Corruption
ELECTION time is here again. Surveys
from Pulse Asia taken last January 29
before the start of the campaign
showed Loren Legarda leading the pack
of the Genuine Opposition (GO)
senatoriables. Atty. Adel Tamano, the
GO campaign manager, started taunt-
ing Team Unity (TU) for its poor show-
ing in the survey. Of course, the
Administration’s spokesman, Secretary
Gabriel Claudio was quick to demolish
the early claim of the Opposition. The
local government leaders, he avowed,
90% of whom promised support and al-
legiance to the Administration, will de-
liver a 9-3 or 8-4 victory in the TU’s
favor.
The accuracy of predicting the
winners depends to a great degree on
the measures used, statistical sampling
and/or the use of baseline indicators,
properly validated, to extrapolate the
outcome, i.e., the majority voters’
choice. The technology of measure-
ment is now as scientific as it could be.
In a recent meeting last February
26, the measurement of corruption was
done by the World Bank in its Country
Procurement Annual Report (CPAR)
deliberation. Representing the CBCP-
LAIKO, having been involved for the
past 3 years in the government procure-
ment process as observer, I was invited
by the World Bank and Government
Melo M. Acuña
Issues and Concerns
DURING my high school days (that
was a long, long time ago), then
strongman Ferdinand Edralin Marcos
declared Martial Law. It was Septem-
ber 21, 1972 when Mr. Marcos imple-
mented the contents of Proclamation
1081 and instantly declared a “New
Society.” In fact, it was described as
the “smiling Martial Law” as soldiers,
including elements of the Philippine
Constabulary were caught on state-
controlled media as courteous and at-
tentive to the needs of the people.
However, in the towns and boon-
docks of Bicol, reports had it that sol-
diers and NPA guerillas were engaged
in periodic skirmishes. Constables usu-
ally patrolled the streets of Albay’s 17
towns but not in Legazpi City.
The marching cadence from com-
bat boots in the stillness of the night
brought shivers to peace-loving indi-
viduals for they were in full battle gears
and ready to strike known enemies. In
fact then strongman Marcos said he
declared Martial Law to save the coun-
try from the communists.
Opinion
Human Security Act
of 2007
meaning citizens.
What really makes fear—not sim-
ply trepidation, apprehension or dis-
tress? As basically an interior psycho-
emotional perception, will there be a
mind reader to say when there is real
fear or actually none? And, what makes
fear extraordinary? What degree or
gravity should it have? How many—
children and youth, men, women and
old folks—should harbor fear to make
this extraordinary?
And what is the panic contem-
plated by the law? How much panic
should there be among how many
people of what age, sex and status?
What about panic caused by fear with
no real basis? What is the gauge or
measure used for panic to be qualified
as extraordinary? How intense and per-
vasive should the panic be, to make this
extraordinary?
Jose B. Lugay
Laiko Lampstand
Laiko
Procurement Policy Board organizers to
attend a meeting to deliberate on the
country index of corruption. Now it is
clearer to me how they ranked the Phil-
ippines next to Indonesia and Vietnam
in the year 2000 as the top three most
corrupt countries in East Asia. This
past year however the Philippines show
a good measure of improvement in good
governance.
The exercise given to the partici-
pants was to discuss the validity of the
observations using Base Line Indica-
tors, or BLI’s. These are measures of
systems of good governance, its laws
and policies; and how implementation
is managed and reported for corrective
action. To be measurable, these base
line indicators are grouped into four
pillars, namely,
Pillar I – Legislative and Regula-
tory Framework
Pillar II – Central Institutional
Framework
Pillar III – Procurement Operations
Pillar IV – Integrity and Transpar-
ency of Procurement.
Each Pillar’s 3 or 4 indicators with
their sub-indicators are given scores.
The score of 3 is the highest and 0 is
the lowest. Once the four pillars and
their corresponding indicators are ap-
proved by the World Bank and OECD
donors, these are used to measure the
The Armed Forces
and Special Courts
Today, we still have NPA guerillas
in the countryside. Their issues against
the government remained unchanged
as genuine land reform, graft and cor-
rupt practices, violations of Human
Rights, among others. The Armed
Forces of the Philippines has said NPA
guerillas have dwindled over the years
and may well be considered a “spent
force” in the same way as the Abu
Sayyaf which was reported to have
been significantly reduced by intense
military operations.
Alas, the military leadership said
local government officials requested
for regular patrols in their areas to ar-
rest the threats of drug trafficking and
criminal elements. I still have to hear a
city or municipal mayor saying they’ve
given up on the police service. After
all, no chief of police sits without the
approval of the concerned city or town
executive. If indeed the soldiers were
sent to scare pushers away, it won’t
solve the drug menace. It is the
government’s responsibility to arrest
and prosecute and jail people in the il-
Furthermore, who decides what is
fear and panic, and what make them ex-
traordinary or otherwise. Questions
and doubts are not pleasant to hear.
But truth and reality do raise valid ques-
tions and reasonable doubts about the
interpretation and application of the
above cited provision—which is but
one element of the security act of 2007.
The fact of the matter is even a most
clear and very simple law can be dan-
gerous when invoked and applied by a
public authority of dubious mentation
and/or with devious intention. This is
the more true when a law under ques-
tion and doubt is the subject matter.
No sane person would love a ter-
rorist nor promote terrorism. But every
reasonable individual should watch
against seeing a terrorist when there is
none, pointing at terrorism when this
is non-existent.
participating countries’ procurement
performance. Each country will be rated
using the Compliance Performance In-
dicators or CPI’s which will be ranked
accordingly.
The findings that are of most con-
cern to me as a technical man serving
the Council of the Laity, is the concen-
tration of the corruption measurement
on adherence to the legal system, the
procedures, the management system
and the areas for the improvement for
good governance. It would seem from
the discussions that when all the above
pillars and indicators are measured, and
assuming the government, lawmakers
and local executives follow the ideal
system of governance of procurement
all is well and done—corruption may
now be a thing of the past. Yes, the
legal framework rated almost perfect.
Republic Act 9184, the new government
procurement law received a very high
score! Does that mean that the coun-
try will succeed in eradicating corrup-
tion? Not quite!
What is missing in the whole equa-
tion is the moral aspect of corruption.
The measures arrived at, the base line
indicators, are measures of performance
in implementing the procurement sys-
tem. Corruption in procurement is an
activity that occurs between the sup-
Laiko / P8
legal drug trade. Detectives can very
well track down these shady charac-
ters but not soldiers in camouflage uni-
forms. If they’re into civil-military op-
erations doing medical and dental mis-
sions, wouldn’t this duplicate the re-
sponsibilities of city and municipal
health offices?
While we appreciate the creation
of special courts to try cases involving
political killings, it wouldn’t solve the
killings without strongly worded state-
ments from the executive department
that the full force of the law would be
used to curb Human Rights violations,
and that ought to apply to everyone.
The government has targeted 8%
growth rate in ’08. Our economic man-
agers declared the country’s growth
should trickle down to the grassroots.
That simply goes to show we have to
wait, as we have always waited, for the
crumbs that would come our way. If and
when the common tao sees and feels a
marked improvement in the current
standards of life, insurgency and sepa-
ratism would become history.
7
Michelle Bauman
In the Light of Day
Letter to Children
TODAY’S society seems to have a negative perception of
young people. In my dealings with adults, I have seen
many people who stereotype teenagers in harmful ways. I
have come to see two major generalizations that are often
held about young people. However, I have also found
hope in a letter to children, written twelve years ago by
Pope John Paul II. This letter reaffirms the value and dig-
nity of the youth and calls all people to grow in holiness.
Young people are often seen as being inadequate.
Many employers are hesitant to hire teenagers because
they are afraid they will be lazy, stupid, or incompetent.
They think they will lack the skills, knowledge, or dedica-
tion for the job. This stereotype of teenagers as inferior
human beings is harmful and degrading. Furthermore, it is
false. While it is certainly true that some teenagers are lazy
and inept, it is also true that there are many others who are
just as talented, dedicated, and mature as most adults, and
judging an entire group of people based on a few is de-
structive to the group as a whole.
The second phrase I often hear about young people
is that they are “the leaders of tomorrow.” While this view
is more hopeful than the previous one, it still does not do
justice to the youth of the world. Labeling young people
as the scientists, doctors, and businessmen of tomorrow
fails to recognize their value today. It suggests that they
have potential for greatness in the future, but do not yet
possess what is necessary for greatness now. Despite its
good intentions of encouraging and motivating young
people, this perspective is actually detrimental to the way
in which they are viewed. Unfortunately for the youth,
many adults have bought into either this mentality or the
previous one, both of which are harmful labels.
The late Pope John Paul II, however, was able to see
beyond these stereotypes and generalizations and see
deep into the heart of the youth. In his Letter to Children,
written in December of 1994, he wisely reminds us that the
call to holiness is a call to all people, young and old. He
reminds us of the great dignity and worth of young people
in their current state of life, not only in their potential as
adults. Although his letter was specifically intended for
small children, his message applies to all young people of
today, including those in their teenage and young adult
years.
Very little is known about Jesus’ youth. But, as the
Pope points out, the one story we do have of the young
Jesus is the story of the Finding in the Temple, in which
twelve-year-old Jesus taught the teachers in Jerusalem.
Although his public ministry had not yet begun, he was
already starting his Father’s work and spreading the Gos-
pel.
Clearly, the Pope places great value on the lives of
young people. He puts emphasis on the way in which
Jesus was able to carry out his Father’s will as a child. And
just as Jesus was able to make an impact on those around
him as a child, all young people in the world today can
make a difference in the lives of the people surrounding
them. It is not necessary for them to try to do adult things;
rather, they must simply strive to follow God’s will in their
everyday lives, living out their youth in Christ.
In his letter, John Paul II commissions children to pray
for world peace. It is to the youth, not the adults, that he
entrusts this important task. Why? Because he recognizes
the power of a child’s prayers. Children give an example of
how to pray: with simplicity and complete trust. When
Jesus says “unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven,” (Mt. 18:3) he is
pointing to children as models for adults. All people are
called to imitate the simplicity and trust found in the hearts
of children, who, in their simple wisdom, realize that “love
and harmony build peace,” while “hatred and violence
destroy it.” The Pope invites everyone to follow the ex-
ample of goodness and purity set by small children, who
“instinctively turn away from hatred and are attracted by
love.”
The Pope then continues to ask children to pray to
discover their vocations, and to follow them with love; to
remember God’s love for them and to spread that love to
the whole world. This is a message that applies to all
people, and it is a good reminder to all young people of
their inherent worth in God’s eyes. We do have immeasur-
able value—not only in the future, but now as well. We
are capable of doing good things by following God’s will,
and we even have the ability to set an example of holiness
for the adults in our lives. These truths are so simple and
yet so important in how adults look at young people and
how young people view themselves. John Paul II saw
this, and in his wisdom, he passed on this message to
young people throughout the world. It is now time for the
youth to respond to this calling and to live in the holiness
for which we were made.
(Michelle Bauman is an honor student in the 12th
grade at Bishop Machebeuf High School in Denver.
Catholic News Agency)
 CBCP Monitor
8 CBCP Commissions Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007

• To include in the mailing list of free 6. Terminally ill Support

newsletters (updates on activities This is for those who only can-
and information disabilities). not afford curative, but also cannot
• To, hopefully, obtain 20% transpor- afford to buy pain relievers when
tation discount for the disabled. dying in pain.

3. Educational Assistance 7. Areas of special concern: request

a) Sign Language
Manila and various places: We
organize sign language classes for
free at all levels: Basic, Intermedi-
ate and Advance. Each class lasts 60
hours of lectures.
b) Reading Materials in Braille
For our blind brothers, the Com-
mission have made essential but ex-
pensive Braille reading materials
available free of charge, from Grade
1 to College, as well as for adults.
c) Special Education Courses
The Commission offers free
graduate level special education for
teachers in various universities of
the country to help them educate the
disabled and special children with
special needs.
4. Sunday Holy Mass with the Dis-
abled
This is a concrete application at
the parish level for one Holy Mass
per Sunday at virtually no cost. This
will create a welcoming atmosphere
for the mentally ill: “A patient, A
bed”
Ever since, the Commission had
a most special concern for the men-
tally ill. Even in specialized institu-
tions, most of them not only lack
food and medicines but they also lack
bed—they sleep on the hard pave-
ment. Strengthened by the recent
letter of the Pope asking for the nec-
essary care and treatment of the men-
tally ill, the Commission increased
their efforts to help them.
8. Advocacy on issues affecting the
disabled
• Accessibility of buildings and ser-
vices
• Catechetical and spiritual formation
• General Education
• Vocational Training
• Employment
Officers:

Episcopal Commission on for the disabled and improve the

awareness of the other parishioners
about persons with disabilities with-
out expenses.
Chairman: Bp. Patricio H. Alo
Vice Chairman: Bp Jose R. Manguiran
Members:
Bp. Prospero N. Arellano

Health Care Some examples:

Caring for the disabled, sick, aged, dying
“Whatever you have done to the least of My brothers and sisters, you have done it to Me.”
(Matthew 25:40)
STARTED on December 8, 1993, the commissions for the pastoral care
Episcopal Commission on Health of the sick, aged, and disabled
Care works toward a world where all must be created, and these com-
people will be loved and who, in turn, missions should be functional
will love and help others as Jesus and effective.”
Christ did. • It strongly supports the need for a
Its mission is to help people, greater unity with members of the
especially those who are in greatest hierarchy, other commissions, vari-
need including the multiple handi- ous Catholic organizations and
capped, the mentally ill and those NGO’s.
dying on the streets. • One of the aspects stressed by PCP
The Commission assists the II was being a Church for and of
people with disabilities, the sick, the the poorest of the poor. As a
aged, the dying. It also reaches out group, the persons with disabili-
and tries to provide people who suf- ties are surely the poorest of the
fer severely and have the least ser- poor. Among them, the multiple
vices, with spiritual, pastoral, social, handicapped are at the very bot-
psychological, medical, nutritional tom. The mentally ill occupy a spe-
assistance through various activi- cial place as most of them do not
ties. have enough food or medical care
besides being ridiculed by soci-
Guiding Principles ety. As a Church, we try to give
leadership, show the way and pro-
• The Commission assists the Bish- pose methods we have tested our-
ops in their concern for the handi- selves.
capped, the sick, the aged and the
dying. It endeavors towards the Activities
implementation of Decree No. 33
of the Second Plenary Council of 1. General
the Philippines (PCP II) that is very a) Newsletters
effective and rather easy to ex- The Commission mails a series
ecute: “Diocesan and parochial of simple but free newsletters (one
• the deaf can sign some common
parts
Bp. Patricio A. Buzon, SDB
Bp. Warlito I. Cajandig
Bp. Edgardo S. Juanich
• a blind person can take care of the Bp. Filomeno G. Bactol
First Reading using the Braille text
(we can send free of charge) Executive Secretary:
• the blind can join the choir Fr. Luke Moortgat, CICM
• the physically and intellectually
disabled persons can assist in the Office Address:
offertory procession. De La Salle University (LS156)
for each disability and mental ill- 2401 Taft, Ave., 1004 Manila
ness as well as general ones) to all 5. Low Cost Medicines: FOR ALL
parishes, catholic schools and com- Aware of the system that raises Mailing Address:
mitted individuals. A special mailing the costs of medicines to levels that P.O. Box 4453, 1000 Manila
is the one with the message of the too many people can not afford, the Telephone: (02) 521-08-27
Pope for the World Day of the Sick. Commission started a project where Fax: (02) 521-58-76
b) Congresses and Symposia the hope is to sell medicines at 1/3 SMS: 0920-211-3425
Commission organizes various below the retail cost in leading drug E-mail:
symposia and meetings to increase stores (half the cost of that retail HealthHandicap@yahoo.com,
public awareness and understand- price in the leading drug stores). HealthHandicap@skyinet.net
ing as well as to plan for activities
for the people afflicted with differ-
ent ailments and illnesses, the men-
tally retarded, the physically dis-
abled, the blind, the deaf, the men-
tally ill, the elderly, those with pro-
gressive diseases, as well as the ter-
minally ill.
2. Handicapped Survey
Objectives:
• To gather data on the existence of
persons with disabilities / handi-
capping sicknesses that will serve
as basis for planning. Psychologi-
cal disabilities as epilepsy and
mental illness, progressive and
terminal diseases are also in-
cluded.
• To tap available support from the
commission for identified clientele
through the local parish / diocesan
ministries.

Tidbits / from p6 Laiko / from p7

Code which states: “The Christian faithful are obliged
to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church
has what is necessary for divine worship, for the works
of the apostolate and of charity, and for the decent
support of ministers” (C. 222, §1). And so, the idea was
hatched.
But that idea did not take away the obligation of
the diocese to take care of its priests in need. The
presbyterium understood well the plight of their brother
aging priests. And so they came out with two resolves:
first, ask the aging priests to desist from the planned
collection boxes; second, the diocese will resume the
serious talk on the social security system of priests.
These resolves are based on the conviction of the
presbyterium who sincerely believed in the principle
enunciated by the Second Vatican Council (PO 20):
“Completely devoted as they are to the service of God
in the fulfillment of the office entrusted to them, priests
are entitled to receive a just remuneration. For ‘the la-
borer deserves his wages’ (Lk 10:7), and (1 Cor 9:10)
‘the Lord commanded that they who proclaim the Gos-
pel should get their living by the Gospel’ (1 Cor 9:10).
plier and the purchaser—between the
private sector and the government sec-
tor. The root of corruption is a moral prob-
lem of individuals, hence, it can only be
solved by formation. As we are predomi-
nantly Catholics, the moral problem is
addressed by conversion and evangeli-
zation. The intervention for change there-
fore should be the training of participants
of procurement in the private sector, the
government sector and civil society. In
addition to the training on procurement
and the governing law and systems, it
should encompass both professional
ethics and moral formation of all procure-
ment practitioners in government and the
private sector. It is a fact that the World
Bank which receives donated funds from
OECD countries will not support fund-
ing for religion-related activities. Hence
the approach to solving the problem of
corruption by the World Bank does not
address the root cause which is moral in
nature—the violation of the command-
ments of God.
Nevertheless, the World Bank’s
Country Procurement Assessment Report
(CPAR) and their methodology to mea-
sure corruption should be supported by
the government regardless of its weak-
ness. Hopefully what it lacks in moral for-
mation has been addressed partially by
the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission’s
Integrity Development Action Plan. Us-
ing 4 strategies of corruption prevention,
investigation and strategic partnership,
inculcating these to 70 government agen-
cies, has resulted so far in rating these
agencies as compliant with 22 doable
anti-corruption measures. PAGC chairper-
son, Constancia de Guzman recently an-
nounced the ten most compliant agen-
cies of the anti-corruption program of the
IDAP. They are the 1) DOH, 2) DSWD, 3)
DOST, 4) DTI, 5) BIR, 6) DPWH, 7) PNP,
8) Office of the President, 9) DepED, 10)
MMDA. This is a good sign that there is
improvement in the government’s advo-
cacy drive for good governance.
It is a challenge however, to the
Church in the Philippines, particularly the
Catholic Lay Organizations, to undertake
the moral regeneration program. The par-
ishes must redouble their efforts to cat-
echize the youth and support family evan-
gelization programs. Everybody has a
stake in the redemption of this country
from the evils of corruption. Hopefully
we elect legislators who are morally
formed and untainted by corruption since
their pork barrel allotment, taken from the
Priority Assistance Development Fund
(PDAF) amounting to P 11.445 Billion for
2007, is known by the electorate as the
greatest source of funds for their reelec-
tion.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
Most Rev. Reynaldo G. Evangelista
Bishop of Boac
CREATED suffragan of the Archdio-
cese of Lipa, separating from the
Mother Diocese of Lucena on 2 April
1977, the Diocese of Boac comprises
the whole civil province of
Marinduque. It has a total area of
959.2 sq. kms. In his book, “Historico
Religioso Estado Geografico,”
1865, Fr. Felix de Huerta says that
the first apostle to Marinduque was
the Franciscan Missionary Fray
Estevan Cruz, who planted the first
cross in 1579 that paved the way for
the evangelization of the people. The
first “visita” was established in 1580
and it was called “Monserrat de
Marinduque” (now Boac) with Fray
Alonzo Banol as its minister. In 1609
two other “visitas” were instituted,
“San Juan de Marinduque” (now Sta.
Cruz) and San Bernardo de
Marinduque (now Gasan) with Fray
Pedro de Talavera and Fray Juan
Rosado as their first pastors, respec-
tively. Later on, the Franciscans
ceded the administration of the is-
land to the Archbishop of Manila in
1613.
“The Jesuits in the Philippines
1581-1768,” a book written by Fr.
Horacio de la Costa, states that Arch-
bishop Miguel Garcia Serrano of
Manila entrusted the island of
Marinduque to the care of the Soci-
ety of Jesus in 1621. The Jesuits
stayed in the province and founded
the town of Boac on 8 December 1622
and later on the towns of Sta. Cruz
and Gasan. By virtue of a Spanish
Royal Decree dated 19 May 1864, the
Augustinian Recollect Fathers took
over the spiritual administration of
Boac in exchanged for the Curacies
they left behind to the hands of the
Jesuit missionaries in Mindanao.
Before the creation of the Dio-
cese of Lipa by St. Pius X, the island
of Marinduque, since 14 August
1595 till 10 April 1910, belonged to
Archdiocese of Manila. When the
Diocese of Lucena was created on
20 August 1950, Marinduque be-
came a part of her. In 2 April 1977, by
virtue of the Apostolic Bull “Cum
Tempura Maturuere” issued by
Pope Paul VI, Marinduque was cre-
ated as an independent Diocese. It
was called Diocese of Boac.
On 10 May 1978, carried by the
effect of the Papal Bull, the Diocese
of Boac was canonically erected ac-
cording to the Decretum
Executorium signed by Most. Rev.
Bruno Torpigliani, the Apostolic
Nuncio to the Philippines. Most Rev.
Rafael M. Lim, the former Bishop of
Laoag since 1971 and a native of
Boac, was appointed on 26 January
1978 by Paul VI as the first Bishop of
the new Diocese.
Boac is a poor Diocese in the
island province of Marinduque. Its
geographical location contributes
greatly to this situation driving
Marinduqueños (the inhabitants of
the island) to seek for greener pas-
ture outside of its provincial confine.
Seeking excellence through God-
given talents, some have defied pov-
erty by going out of the island and
engaging into a multi-faceted busi-
ness world. Many have succeeded;
others have worked hard and
“Duc in altum, ecclesia pauperum, in
iustitia, in caritate et in pace.”
By Rev. Fr. Renato M. Sapungan
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Boac, Marinduque.
achieved the prestige of national
positions in government offices;
while the majority has remained in
the island-province contented with
the kind of life they had since birth.
Marinduqueños are peace-loving,
simple, religious and hardworking.
Through the loving guidance of
the Most Rev. Rafael M. Lim, the first
bishop of the diocese, a diocesan vi-
sion is made in 1981: Marinduque,
Simbahan ng mga Dukha na may
Katarungan, Pag-ibig at
Kapayapaan. Through a concerted
effort of the faith community and
upon the leadership of the Clergy, the
local Church of Marinduque tried to
realize this dream for the diocese. Pro-
grams and activities were focused
towards this vision. Many of them
have succeeded and have been con-
tinuously implemented within the
diocese. In one of the monthly recol-
lections in 1998, the members of the
Clergy affirmed that the Diocese is a
Church that is materially poor but with
a deep grasp and sense of the Lord.
Poverty exists because of sinful struc-
tures and those who are socially poor
are marginalized. The diocese aims
towards a participatory Church where
both poor and rich people share each
other’s time, talent and treasure;
where harmonious relationship exists
between them thereby giving witness
to the spirit of pastoral charity. As the
Church denounces the sinful causes
and structures of poverty, she at the
same time designs programs and plans
to alleviate the condition of the poor
Diocese
Diocese of Boac, Marinduque
and inspires her ministers to the real
witnessing of the spirit of poverty.
Although the Diocese is mate-
rially poor, giving and sharing have
a great place in the minds, hearts,
and practices of the people. There is
a remarkable atmosphere of sensitiv-
ity, cooperation and responsibility
towards one’s neighbors and to the
Church’s programs and activities.
Poverty has become an occasion for
sensitivity among the people of God
in the Local Church of Marinduque.
On 10 September 1998, Most Rev.
Rafael M. Lim, the first Bishop of the
diocese passed away. Concerted ef-
forts of the members of the Clergy
and the collaboration of the faith
community towards achieving a di-
ocesan vision have not been ham-
pered by his death. Through an un-
ending support of the successors of
Bishop Lim, the diocese edged to-
wards achieving its vision. Their
dedication and zealousness have
paved and cemented the areas of
concerns for the benefit of the people
of Marinduque especially in their
faith and belief in God.
On 10 May 2003, the Silver An-
niversary Foundation of the Diocese
of Boac was celebrated. Prompted by
the creative thinking and pastoral
concern of the new Bishop Jose F.
Oliveros, the First Diocesan Synod
was held on 4-9 May 2003 whose
objectives include: to thank God for
all the graces the Diocese received
from Him for the past years; to as-
sess and evaluate the life of faith and
pastoral activities in the past up to
the present; and to plan for the better
future of the Diocese. This ecclesial
activity is based on the admonition
of the Holy Father John Paul II in his
Apostolic Letter entitled Tertio
Millennio Ineunte which says that:
“We do all these things in order to
discover and reflect on the face of
Christ. Because our witnessing
would be nothing if we would not
discover and reflect the face of God.”
Synodal decrees came out after a
weeklong deliberation and reflection
of the appointed delegates from the
fourteen parishes of the diocese.
Participated also by government
and civil servants and together with
the different sectoral leaders from the
local communities, the progress of
the Synod edged slowly towards its
historic culmination wherein decrees
based on the diocesan vision:
Marinduque Simbahan ng mga
Dukha na may Katarungan, Pag-
ibig at Kapayapaan were finally
voted and ratified. In her journey
towards a new way of life as a
Church, after the advent of the Di-
ocesan Synod 2003, the local Church
of Marinduque is once again sent
by Christ: “Duc in altum, ecclesia
pauperum, in iustitia, in caritate et
in pace.” This is a new call that de-
IMPORTANT FACTS
Name: Diocese of Boac
Area: 952.2sq.m
Population: 216,815
Catholics: 193,585
Bishop 1
Priests 31
Religious Sisters 23
Seminarians:
Major in Theology 9 Napo, Sta. Cruz
College in Philosopy 16
Pre-College 4 Academy, (Diocesan) Torrijos.
High School 2 Holy Infant Jesus Parochial School,
Total 31
Diocesan Division:
Vicariates 3 Lourdes Children’s Catechetical Cen-
Parishes 14
Educational Centers
College 1
Enrollment 263
High School 3 Monastery of St. Clare - Bantauyan,
Enrollment 916
Kindergarten
Enrollment 109
9
mands a new response and sharing
in the mission of Christ. As a Dio-
cese, she cannot accomplish all the
necessary changes expected of her
as a people of God, all by herself.
There will be no significant imple-
mentations of all the Synodal De-
crees towards the realization of her
vision: “Marinduque, church of the
poor with justice, love and peace”,
without the much needed support
and cooperation of all the faithful to
this new endeavor.
After the Synodal Decrees were
solemnly voted by the delegates at
the Immaculate Conception Cathe-
dral in Boac and canonically ratified
by the Local Ordinary of the Diocese,
much remained for their eventual
implementation. This has become the
main task handed over to the new
Bishop-elect Most Rev. Reynaldo G.
Evangelista by the former Bishop
Oliveros who was transferred to
shepherd the Diocese of Malolos in
5 August 2004. Having in mind the
value of the Synodal Decrees,
Bishop Evangelista expressed his
desire to continue with the existing
programs and activities in the dio-
cese. Equipped with pastoral expe-
riences and engaged in the forma-
tion of seminarians in the Archdio-
cese of Lipa before becoming a
Bishop of Boac, Bishop Evangelista
called for a Pastoral Assembly in
September 2006 to look into the De-
crees and its implementation in the
diocese. A Diocesan Pastoral Plan
was unanimously approved based
on the Synodal Decrees.
Positive outlook of the future is
heightening based on the optimism
of the people of Marinduque since
the First Diocesan Synod in 2003.
The positive gestures of the Bishop
and the entire Clergy are encourag-
ing and thus ushering in great hope
for a brighter future of the Church in
Marinduque. God is so good to the
Diocese through the witnessing of
the priests and the Bishop of Boac.
The Diocese of Boac aspires to be-
come a witnessing community of the
Church of the Poor where justice,
love and peace reign. Moving to-
wards the task of continuous evan-
gelization of the people, the diocese
propels towards the vast ocean to
fish for its constituents in her local
Church bringing and putting into
mind the imperative of Jesus Christ:
“Duc in altum, ecclesia, pauperum,
in iustitia, in caritate, et in pace.”
Teaching Personnel:
Lay 65
Sisters 9
Priests 2
Educational Centers:
St. Marys College of Marinduque
(RVM), Boac.
St. Joseph Acdemy (Diocesan),
Our Mother of Perpetual Succor
Sta. Cruz.
Holy Child Jesus Learning Center,
Buenavista
ter, Malibago, Torrijos
Miscellaneous Listings:
Sacred Heart Pastoral Center - Boac
Boac
Mary of the Passion House - Quatis,
Gasan
 CBCP Monitor
10 Canon Law Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007

clear in stating the sphere of au- ful—autonomy in temporal affairs—

tonomy of such associations of
Christian faithful:
a) Public Associations: Can.
315. Public associations on their own
initiative can begin undertakings in
keeping with their character, and
they can direct them in accord with
their statutes, but under the further
direction of the ecclesiastical author-
ity mentioned in c.312, §1.
b) Private Associations: Can.
321. The Christian faithful guide and
direct private associations according
to the prescriptions of their statutes.
Such autonomy, therefore, is not
absolute, as provided by c.232:
§1. Although private associations
of the Christian faithful enjoy au-
tonomy in accord with the norm
of c.321, they are subject to the
vigilance of ecclesiastical author-
laid down in c.227: Lay Christian
faithful have the right to have rec-
ognized that freedom in the affairs
of the earthly city which belongs to
all citizens; when they exercise such
freedom, however, they are to take
care that their actions are imbued
with the spirit of the gospel and take
into account the doctrine set forth
by the magisterium of the Church;
but they are to avoid proposing their
own opinion as the teaching of the
Church in questions which are open
to various opinions.
In effect, every Christian faith-
ful—but most especially a Catholic
layman—has the right to engage in
partisan politics, without such right
being limited by the Ecclesiastical
juridic ordering, except in accord with
c.227.

Catholic Associations and ity in accord with the norm of c.305,

and are subject to the governance
of the same authority.
§2. It is also the responsibility of
If an Association of Christian
Faithful were as a body to engage in
partisan politics, then the corporate
position would unduly infringe on

Partisan Politics ecclesiastical authority, while ob-

by Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
It is an election year once more, and
an old question has again come to
the fore: the involvement of the
Church in politics. Granting that the
Hierarchy itself should not be in-
volved in partisan politics, the fol-
lowing questions have been asked:
1) Can Associations of Christian
Faithful—either Public or Private—
engage in partisan politics? 2) If Pub-
lic Associations of Christian Faith-
ful cannot engage in partisan poli-
tics, can Private Associations of
Christian Faithful do?
This is indeed a thorny issue
that has been discussed in ecclesi-
astical circles repeatedly. What is
novel is the way it is being asked
now. The concrete application is of
course quite obvious: Can the
Couples for Christ or the Knights
of Columbus—for example—issue a
mandate for its members to push for
the candidacy of a specific person
or party? The pertinent provisions
of Canon Law on this issue can be
summarized as follows.
1. Existence & Nature of Asso-
ciations of Christian Faithful.
In the Church there are associa-
tions distinct from institutes of
consecrated life and societies of ap-
ostolic life, in which the Christian
faithful, either clergy or laity, or
clergy and laity together, strive by
common effort to promote a more
perfect life, or to foster public wor-
ship or Christian doctrine, or to exer-
cise other apostolic works, namely
to engage in efforts of evangeliza-
tion, to exercise works of piety or
charity and to animate the temporal
order with the Christian spirit
(c.298, §1).
2. There are Two Kinds of As-
sociations of Christian Faithful:
a) Private Associations.
Can.299: §1. The Christian faithful
are free, by means of a private agree-
ment made among themselves, to
establish associations to attain the
aims mentioned in c.298, §1, with due
regard for the prescriptions of c.301,
§1.
§2. Such associations are called pri-
vate associations even though
they are praised or recommended
by ecclesiastical authority.
§3. No private association of the
Christian faithful in the Church is
recognized unless its statutes are
reviewed by competent authority.
b) Public Associations.
Can.301: §1. Competent ecclesiasti-
cal authority alone has the right to
erect associations of the Christian
faithful which set out to teach Chris-
tian doctrine in the name of the
Church or to promote public worship
or which aim at other ends whose
pursuit by their nature is reserved to
the same ecclesiastical authority.
§2. Competent ecclesiastical author-
ity, if it judges it expedient, can also
erect associations of the Christian
faithful in order to attain directly
or indirectly other spiritual ends
whose accomplishment has not
been sufficiently provided for by
the efforts of private persons.
§3. Associations of the Christian
faithful which are erected by com-
petent ecclesiastical authority are
called public associations.
The distinction between public
and private associations of faithful,
therefore, stems neither from the na-
ture of their ends, nor even from the
degree of supervision or control of
the competent ecclesiastical author-
ity over their actuations, but rather
in the way they come about:
— Public associations of faithful are
erected by the competent ecclesi-
astical authority.
— Private associations of faithful are
established by mutual agreement
of private individuals, and then
praised, recommended or recog-
nized by the competent ecclesias-
tical authority after reviewing their
statutes.
3. Autonomy of Associations of
Christian Faithful.
The Code of Canon Law is quite
serving the autonomy proper to
private associations, to be watch-
ful and take care that their ener-
gies are not dissipated and that
the exercise of their apostolate is
ordered toward the common good.
The aims of associations of
faithful have to be not only consis-
tent with but also relevant to the fun-
damental pretension of the Ecclesi-
astical Juridic Ordering: the salvation
of souls. Can.298, §1 specifies this
when it establishes that the faithful
in such associations strive by com-
mon effort: (i.e., individually they
can freely do other things on their
own) to promote a more perfect life;
to foster public worship or Christian
doctrine; to engage in efforts of
evangelization; to exercise works of
piety or charity and to animate the
temporal order with the Christian
spirit.
4. Can associations of Chris-
tian faithful engage in partisan
politics?
The point may be raised that
engaging in partisan politics might
fall under the heading of the canoni-
cally recognized aim of Associations
of Christian faithful to animate the
temporal order with the Christian
spirit (c.298, §1). After all, such evan-
gelizing action is indeed what is
proper of the Church as a whole, and
more specifically of its lay faithful.
However, such an interpretation
would unduly compromise a funda-
mental right of every Catholic faith-
the individual right of the members
of the said association to maintain
their own partisan political orienta-
tion. In other words, if an Associa-
tion of Christian Faithful were to have
an official position as regards parti-
san politics, then its members would
have to toe that line; hence, the indi-
vidual members would not have the
freedom to follow their own party
leanings, if they are to remain in good
graces within the Association. This
would be tantamount to the Asso-
ciation, proposing their own opin-
ion as the teaching of the Church in
questions which are open to various
opinions (c.227).
Conclusion
The right of the individual
Christian layman to autonomy in
temporal matters (including partisan
politics) is recognized in the Canoni-
cal Order. Such a right is as funda-
mental as the Right to Religious Free-
dom of the citizen under the Law of
the State.
In other words, just as it would
be unjust for a State institution to
actively promote a purely religious
position, it also would be equally
unjust for an Ecclesiastical institu-
tion (e.g., Association of Faithful,
whether public or private) to corpo-
rately foster a specific political parti-
san position.
This is the reason why after all
these years the Catholic Church has
always resisted resorting to what
others have touted as the Catholic
vote.

Pope / from p2 Sydney / from p2 Masonry / from p2

The cities in which young people will gather to be
connected by satellite with the Vatican are:
• Bologna, Italy, where university students will gather
with Cardinal Carlo Caffarra in the University Church
of St. Sigismund.
• Calcutta, India, where they will meet with Archbishop
Lucas Sirkar, in the Crypt of the House of the Mis-
sionaries of Charity, next to Mother Teresa’s tomb.
•Coimbra, Portugal, where they will meet with Bishop
Mamede Cleto in the University Chapel.
• Krakow, Poland, where they will meet with Cardinal
Stanislaw Dziwisz, in the Church of Divine Mercy.
• Hong Kong, where they will meet with Cardinal Jo-
seph Zen, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Con-
ception.
• Manchester, England, where they will meet with
Bishop Terence Brain, in St. Augustine’s University
Chapel.
• Manila, Philippines, where they will meet with Cardi-
nal Gaudencio Rosales, on the campus of the Uni-
versity of Santo Tomas.
• Prague, Czech Republic, where they will meet with
Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, in the academic Church of the
Holy Savior.
• Tirana, Albania, where they will meet with Archbishop
Rrok Kola Mirdita, in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
• Turin, Italy, where they will meet with Cardinal
Severino Poletto, in the Church of the Holy Face.
• Islamabad, Pakistan, where they will meet with Bishop
Anthony Lobo, in the University Chapel of Ave Maria
College of Rawalpindi.
The Vatican Television Center will broadcast the
event. (Zenit)
ness the Spirit,
about WYD
and Australian
tourism sites
will be available
online. The
DVD includes
personal invita-
tions from the
archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George
Pell, and Bishop Fisher.
Registration information is on
the website (www.wyd2008.org) in
English, Italian, Spanish, and French.
(CNA)
Sweden / from p2
The Christian leaders continued:
“As Christians we are deeply worried
that the Swedish government is pre-
paring a new bill in which foreign
women are given the possibility to
come here and have late abortions
done.
“As Christians we want to appeal
to the Minister of Health and Social Af-
fairs not to make Sweden an abortion
paradise. …We ask instead to have a
policy asking our rich country, Sweden,
to do more for the women who need
help to bear their children, both in our
own country and abroad.” (Zenit)
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, on Nov. 26, 1983.
The text states that since the principles of
Masonic associations “have always been con-
sidered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the
Church,” membership in them, therefore, “re-
mains forbidden.”
“The faithful who enroll in Masonic asso-
ciations are in a state of grave sin and may not
receive holy Communion,” adds the declara-
tion signed by Cardinal Ratzinger, who is now
Benedict XVI.
Father Zbigniew Suchecki, an expert in the
subject, quoted number 1374 of the Code of
Canon Law, which reads: “Whoever is in-
Media / from p2
to be detained under the new law.
Witnesses said men from the anti-terror-
ism division interrogated Basnayake for four
hours in his office before taking him to prison.
The IFJ said Mawbima is known for its critical
stand towards the government and has already
refused to bow to pressure and intimidation to
review its editorial policy.
A reporter of Mawbima, Tamil journalist
Munusamy Parameshawary, 23 years old, has
been detained without charge since last No-
vember.
In a press statement issued yesterday, the
president of the IFJ, Christopher Warren, ex-
pressed concern that the anti-terrorism law is
scribed in an association that plots against
the Church must be punished with a just pen-
alty; whoever promotes or directs that asso-
ciation, must be banned.”
“Masonry’s attempts to express divine
truths are based on relativism and do not agree
with the principles of the Christian faith,” said
the Conventual Franciscan.
Bishop Girotti made reference to the state-
ments of some priests who have declared pub-
licly their membership in Masonry and called
for the intervention of “their direct superiors,”
not excluding the possibility that “measures
of a canonical character might come from the
Holy See.” (Zenit)
being used by the authorities in Sri Lanka to
“oppress the press and suffocate independent
voices”.
The fear is that “Basnayake’s arrest will
emulate Parameshawary’s who tomorrow will
have spent 100 days in detention although no
formal charges have been made against her.”
“These cases send a strong massage to
the international community that the Sri
Lankan authorities are abusing the anti-ter-
ror laws in an attempt to quash criticism,” said
Warren.
The IFJ is an organization that gathered
more than 500,000 journalists from over 115
countries around the world. (AsiaNews)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
Christian Behavior
During Election Season
by Fr. Roy Cimagala
THIS is an attempt to de-
scribe what proper Chris-
tian behavior should be
during elections. However,
this is not meant to articu-
late an exclusively Christian
behavior, since there’s no
such thing, given our com-
plex human condition.
I’m sure many of us
will have our ideas and
opinions on how this Chris-
tian behavior should be, all
of them with their valid
points. My hope, in fact, is
that everyone starts to ex-
press his views in this mat-
ter in public.
The idea is to increase
our level of literacy regard-
ing how a Christian citizen
should behave in our po-
litical exercises. We need to
know what attitudes, dispo-
sitions and virtues are
needed, since we have to
liberate ourselves from the
inhuman morass our politi-
cal activities have sunk into.
So far, we have been
exposed to the ridiculous
ways the political cam-
paigns have been done.
There’s so much mudsling-
ing, negativism, hatred-
peddling. Polluting noises
emit unabatedly from self-
righteous ideologues, poi-
soned partisans and
screaming faggots.
Reason, sobriety, ob-
jective discussions of is-
sues, not to mention the
requirements of charity and
understanding in tackling
matters open to several
valid and moral opinions,
are thrown overboard.
Things are made worse
when opinions are con-
verted into dogmas, while
articles of faith and matters
of conscience are held sim-
ply as opinions. Some
people manipulate truths,
facts, data to suit their pur-
pose. Freedom is twisted.
The distinction be-
tween the person of the
candidates and politicians
in general, and the views
they hold and the actions
they do, is recklessly
blurred, leading to serious
offenses against charity
and freedom. Rash judg-
ments explode in profusion.
Many politicians seem
to metamorphose into mon-
sters during the election
season, using sly tricks and
games, following the un-
scrupulous logic of greed
and disordered ambitions.
Conceit spins its own
deadly yarn of creativity.
And a big part of the
electorate, due to poverty,
ignorance, apathy, etc., prac-
tically invites political
abuses. Often complacent
and remiss, they fail to see
through many of the hidden
selfish agenda of politi-
Social Concern
cians. What a nightmare!
I think it’s really up to
us, citizens, to tolerate this
state of affairs or not. I think
we have the power to set
the proper tone of our poli-
tics. Yes, we are part of the
problem, but we also hold
the key to its solution.
But for this to happen,
we have to take our social
and political commitment
more seriously. We have to
get our act together. We
need to understand that for
our social and political com-
mitment to prosper, we need
to follow what the Church
teaches.
In the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, we read
this relevant point:
“It is necessary to
appeal to the spiritual and
moral capacities of the hu-
man person and to the per-
manent need for his inner
conversion, so as to obtain
social changes that will re-
ally serve him.” (1888)
Then to reassure us
that this teaching is not in-
effective as many people feel
religious doctrines to be, the
same point continues:
“The acknowledged
priority of the conversion
of the heart in no way elimi-
nates but on the contrary
imposes the obligation of
bringing the appropriate
remedies to institutions and
living conditions when they
are an inducement to sin, so
that they conform to the
norms of justice and ad-
vance the good rather than
hinder it.”
We have to under-
stand that only in God can
we learn to be truly con-
cerned about the common
good. Apart from him we
simply are at the mercy of
our subjective, whimsical
ideas.
Our social and political
commitment necessarily
calls us to action, first with
our own selves, and then,
among ourselves. Many
initiatives can come to
mind.
Like, having an inde-
pendent body that system-
atically gives a thorough
backgrounder of the candi-
dates, providing personal,
family and professional in-
formation, citing their
pluses and minuses.
This is to help voters
have an idea of the candi-
dates’ integrity and compe-
tence. Simply depending
on the data given by parti-
sans will take us nowhere.
And an ongoing for-
mation for all citizens
should be undertaken, es-
pecially explaining the finer
points of prudence in poli-
tics, respect for freedom,
and the like.
LONG before typhoons
Reming and Seniang devas-
tated the provinces of the
Bikol Region, Masbate al-
ready fought the hard life in
the worst of times. The sur-
veys showed it, Masbate had
been consistently in the list
of the poorest provinces na-
tionwide. No matter how
some local government offi-
cials ignored it and even
tended to deny it, hunger al-
ready engulfed particularly
the rural populace.
Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon,
D.D., the Bishop of Masbate,
saw first hand in his pastoral
visits the real plight of the
Masbateños. The towns-
people and barrio folks,
though always hospitable,
were evidently shortchanged
in the wholehearted support
they afforded their leaders.
Children pitiably bore the con-
sequences of patronage poli-
tics. Roads and other infra-
structures were never thought
of as means to economic
progress than as sources of
easy kickbacks. Lands were
owned by few landlords who
glory in the moniker of a
“cattle country”. Not to men-
tion the culture of violence
that still stifles the province’s
prospects of any good future.
The youthful demeanor
of Bishop Baylon probed be-
yond what appears evident as
root causes of Masbateños’
woes. Dirty politics and other
social ills after all thrived on
moral decadence. Where wit-
nesses of a crime always hide,
they hide justice with them in
expense of their comrades’
well-being.
The Church suffered long
enough. As Bishop Baylon
Tomb / from p3
ingness of many in our fields
(archaeology, biblical stud-
ies, history) to comment to
the press in a negative and
dismissive way before view-
ing the film or reading the
book,” he said in an e-mail
Feb. 28.
A spokeswoman for the
Israel Antiquities Authority
said two of the ossuaries had
been loaned to the filmmak-
ers for their press conference
as is customary for such re-
quests for exhibiting antiqui-
ties as long as certain condi-
tions are met. The loan was
made in the name of freedom
of expression and creativity,
she said, and did not mean
the authority supported their
claims.
She said one of the Mary
ossuaries has been on dis-
play for many years at
Jerusalem’s Israel Museum;
the Judah ossuary is on dis-
play in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida; two ossuaries are
currently with the filmmakers;
and the other six are in the
authority’s warehouse just
outside Jerusalem. (CNS)
took over the reins of the dio-
cese from his predecessor of
happy memories, the Most
Rev. Porfirio R. Iligan, D.D.,
Masbateños seemed to have
breathed in a new spirit. In his
inaugural homily, Bishop
Baylon hinted on what would
become the diocese’s lifetime
quest, the establishment of
Basic Ecclesial Communities
(BEC’s). For the Church to be
a catalyst of change, it must
first find its sense of existence,
its reason for being.
When the Cathedral was
renovated and eventually
dedicated, the bishop was
quick to point out “An
simbahan dili bato, an
simbahan tawo” (literally,
church is not a stone; it is
people). This became the
bishop’s clarion call for all to
heed. Wherever he engaged
himself in conversations and
other encounters, said slogan
would strike down barriers and
open up paths of comforts
and hope.
About a couple of years
preceding the CBCP’s resolve
to declare 2006-2007 a Social
Concerns Year, Bishop Baylon
already dug deep way ahead
into the Masbateños fatalis-
tic sets of mind. He turned
their nose up at, among oth-
ers, the conspiracy of silence;
the nonchalance; the indeci-
sions etc. Once, the Bishop
pushed for Anti-Poverty Sum-
mit, but it only merited ego-
centric reactions from politi-
cians and their misinformed
bandwagons both of whom
could not identify themselves
with the poor and the
marginalized.
The Diocesan Commis-
sion for Social Action (DSAC)
Luzon / from p3
tively and negatively. In the
context of vocation promo-
tion, the sharing helped the
vocation directors to assess
the kind of vocation activi-
ties they are conducting and
evaluate the “vocational jour-
ney” they are doing with the
youth who are potential can-
didates to the religious life.
Another speaker spoke
on the dimension of having a
needs assessment and qual-
ity of responses from the
youth discerning their voca-
tion. It was said that an hon-
est-to-goodness life direc-
tion program need to be set
in place, but one wherein the
vocation directors can be of
real assistance to the dis-
cerner. A sample 12-month
life-direction program called
“Voice-Choice” was pre-
sented to the participants.
The organizational
structure of the vocation
ministry in the dioceses was
also discussed, especially
with regard to the roles and
functions of the diocesan
vocation director. The re-
gional groupings too were
What Ever
Happened to
Masbate?
By Rev. Fr. Errol G. Bataga, Jr.
coordinated with Caritas Ma-
nila to bring the Hapag-asa
experience to Masbate. The
clergy were briefed about the
feeding program. And the
project gained unprecedented
support. This inspired the
embattled Church in
Masbate. Then grace upon
grace poured in, like
microfinance and lately the
local adaptation of Pondo ng
Pinoy dubbed Mumho
(crumbs).
Lay participation and
empowerment proved exten-
sively helpful in Masbate’s re-
awakening. When typhoons
Reming and Seniang engulfed
the Bikol Region, the bishop
organized the disaster man-
agement network, Operasyon
Tabang Bikol. When the pow-
ers that be thought that the
problems that beset their
neighboring provinces are not
their own and nothing could
be done, the bishop met with
concerned individuals and
civic groups to act. Almost
instantaneously, people re-
sponded to the bishop’s ap-
peal for assistance. Relief
goods piled up at the chan-
cery. The unreserved gener-
osity of the lay faithful made
enhanced for better network-
ing purposes. The conference
also gave new insights on
doing vocation promotion
through the use of mass me-
dia (e.g. radio advertise-
ments).
The gathering was an
opportunity for the partici-
pants to share with one an-
other their work and experi-
ences. It also provided an
impetus for them to collabo-
rate closely in the regional
level and to draft programs
and activities where they can
support and assist one an-
other.
Two more conferences
are being planned within the
year for the diocesan voca-
tion directors in Visayas and
Mindanao. The gatherings
are being held to help prepare
the vocation directors for the
upcoming National Vocations
Convention in Palo, Leyte in
2008. The planned conven-
tion is being organized by the
Episcopal Commission on
Vocations - Directors of Vo-
cations in the Philippines
(ECV-DVP).
11
a promising turn around of the
Masbateños stubbornness.
So, we ask, what ever
happened to Masbate? Per-
haps a couple of stories
would best illustrate what re-
ally ensued:
It was nearing Christmas
when typhoons Reming and
Seniang came. Little children
saw the images of disaster
from televised news casts. A
group of these children went
on caroling. And not only to
Masbate’s pride and redemp-
tion but also to all Christians
as well, these same children
donated all that they got from
caroling to the Diocesan So-
cial Action Center for the ty-
phoon victims.
Members of Campus Min-
istry gave two sacks of rice,
also for the Bicol Mainland.
This seemed not an extra-or-
dinary story after all. But,
wait till we know how the two
sacks came about. Students
brought to school a cup of
rice each from their boarding
houses, from their budget rice
for their own consumption.
These they gathered and
filled two sacks.
Finally, Masbate rises up
to the challenge.
We are
just a
click
away...
www.cbcponline.net/
cbcpmonitor
www.cbcpworld.com/
cbcpnews
www.cbcpworld.com/
cinema

12 Statements
Standing On A Common
Ground for Family and Life
Statement of the 2 Western Visayas nd
HLI-FLA Congress on Family and Life
February 24, 2007
St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary
Jaro, Iloilo City
THE Gospel of Life is to be preached 2. The first and primary source of
with dauntless fidelity as “good moral instruction is the family, a
news” to the people of every age and basic block of civilization made up
culture (Evangelium Vitae, 1) and in of a father married to a mother, plus
our time, at this “moment of history a child or children;
in which the family is the object of 3. Giving children an adequate prepa-
numerous forces that seek to destroy ration for adult life demands edu-
it or in some way to deform it, and cation in the Christian meaning of
aware that the well-being of society sexuality and the sanctity of hu-
and her own good are intimately tied man life. Abortion is a violation of
to the good of the family,” (Familiaris the right to life, and sex education
Consortio, 3) we the people of God in without morality is a subtle attack
Western Visayas, delegates to the 2nd on the family and life, and pro-
WV Human Life International - Fam-
motes the culture of DEATH (Di-
ily Life Apostolate, having perceived
vorce, Euthanasia, Abortion, To-
and having been convinced “in a
tal Population Control, Homo-
more urgent and compelling way”
sexual Marriages);
(FC) our “mission of proclaiming to
4. Responsible Christian parenthood
all people the plan of God for mar-
is the foundation of family stabil-
riage and the family, (FC, 3) hereby
ity and solidarity;
affirm not only our adherence to the
5. Gender equality and equity as un-
following principles and realizations
derstood in the Christian context
but also our resolve to proclaim them:
are essential to integral human
1. The true aim of education is not
development. Both man and
only the development of the intel-
woman have respective comple-
lect but also the formation of moral mentary roles in this development.
character. A developed intellect Marriage is part of the plan of God
without moral anchoring is a dan- and motherhood, or fatherhood, is,
gerous tool not only to the indi- has never been a form of discrimi-
vidual himself/herself but also to nation;
society; 6. True reproductive health founded
“The Conscious Means of a Wonderful Event of Grace”
Papal Address to Confessors who serve the Four Papal Basilicas in Rome
February 19, 2007
Dear Brothers, in renewed friendship with him.
I am happy to welcome you and In this mysterious process of
I greet you with affection, beginning interior renewal the confessor is not
with Cardinal James Francis Stafford, a passive spectator, but persona
Major Penitentiary, whom I thank for dramatis, that is, an active instrument
the kind words he addressed to me a of divine mercy. Therefore, it is nec-
few minutes ago. With him I greet essary that to a good spiritual and
the Regent, Mons. Gianfranco pastoral sensibility he unites a seri-
Girotti, and the members of the Ap- ous theological, moral and peda-
ostolic Penitentiary. gogical preparation that enables him
This meeting offers me the op- to understand the life of the person.
portunity to express my lively satis- Furthermore, it is very useful for
faction above all to you, dear Father him to know the social, cultural and
Confessors of the Papal Basilicas of professional environment of those
the City, for the precious pastoral who approach the confessional in
ministry that you carry out with dili- order to be able to offer appropriate
gent dedication. advice and spiritual practices and ori-
At the same time I wish to ex- entations.
tend a cordial thought to all the May the priest not forget that
priests of the world who dedicate in this Sacrament he is called to take
themselves with commitment to the on the role of father, spiritual guide,
ministry of the confessional. teacher and educator. This demands
The Sacrament of Penance, constant updating: this is also the
which has such importance in the aim of the so-called “internal forum”
Christian life, renders present the promoted by the Apostolic Peniten-
redemptive efficacy of Christ’s Pas- tiary.
chal Mystery. In imparting absolu- Dear priests, your ministry bears
tion, pronounced in the name and above all a spiritual character. To
on behalf of the Church, the confes- human wisdom, to theological prepa-
sor becomes the conscious means ration, therefore, one must add a pro-
of a wonderful event of grace. found spiritual disposition, nour-
With docile compliance to the ished by prayerful contact with
Magisterium of the Church, he Christ, Master and Redeemer.
makes himself minister of the con- In virtue of presbyteral ordina-
soling mercy of God, he draws at- tion, in fact, the confessor carries out
tention to the reality of sin, and at a particular service “in persona
the same time he manifests the Christi”, with a fullness of human
boundless renewing power of divine gifts that are strengthened by grace.
love, love that gives back life. His model is Jesus, the One sent
Therefore, confession becomes by the Father: the source from which
a spiritual rebirth that transforms the to draw abundantly is the vivifying
penitent into a new creature. Only breath of the Holy Spirit. Before such
God’s grace can work this miracle, a lofty responsibility human strength
and it is accomplished through the is surely inadequate, but the humble
words and gestures of the priest. and faithful adherence to the salvific
By experiencing the tenderness design of Christ renders us, dear
and pardon of the Lord, the penitent brothers, witnesses of the universal
is more easily led to acknowledge the Redemption worked by him, putting
gravity of sin, is more resolved to into effect the admonition of St Paul
avoid it in order to remain and grow who says: “God was in Christ recon-
on Christian principles is a human
right and access to it has to be
respected;
7. The curriculum of the educational
system must reflect, propagate and
strengthen the values of a people,
and not be an instrument in the
hegemonic designs of the vested
well funded interest groups;
8. The Mass media is a powerful
means of communication and must
be used to spread the Gospel of
Life. It can also be an instrument
of disinformation. Its misuse can
cause regrettable consequences
that might be irreparable especially
on the young who are very vul-
nerable to its influence.
We, the delegates, are aware of
the subtle attacks now being made
against the family and life, hence, we
hereby resolve to live by these prin-
ciples and continue to expose all of
these subtle, treacherous, and or-
chestrated efforts to destroy the fam-
ily and undermine the sanctity of life.
We resolve to be vigilant because
these subtle attacks can come like
the thief in the night. (Job 24:14)
Above all, we must not only watch
but also pray. (Mark 13:33)
ciling the world to himself... and en-
trusting to us the message of recon-
ciliation” (II Cor 5:19).
To fulfill such a duty we must,
above all, root this message of sal-
vation in ourselves and let it trans-
form us deeply. We cannot preach
pardon and reconciliation to others
if we are not personally penetrated
by it. As it is true that in our ministry
there are various ways and instru-
ments to communicate the merciful
love of God to our brethren, it is,
however, in the celebration of this
Sacrament that we can do it in the
most complete and eminent way.
Christ has chosen us, dear
priests, to be the only ones to be
able to pardon sins in his Name: it
concerns, then, a specific ecclesial
service to which we must give prior-
ity.
How many people in difficulty
seek the comfort and consolation of
Christ! How many penitents find in
confession the peace and joy that
they sought for so long! How can
one not recognize also in our age,
marked by so many religious and
social challenges, that this Sacra-
ment also be rediscovered and pro-
posed anew?
Dear brothers, let us follow the
example of the saints, in particular
those who, like you, were almost ex-
clusively dedicated to the ministry
of the confessional. Among them are
St Jean-Marie Vianney, St Leopold
Mandic, and closer to us, St Pio of
Pietrelcina.
May they help you from heaven
to be able to abundantly dispense
the mercy and pardon of Christ. May
Mary, Refuge of Sinners, obtain for
you the strength, encouragement
and hope to generously continue
your indispensable mission.
I assure you of my heartfelt
prayer, while with affection I bless
you all.
“Communion Among Charisms a
‘Sign of the Times’”
Papal Address to Focolare and Sant’Egidio Friends
February 8, 2007
Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate,
I am happy to welcome you to this
special Audience and cordially greet
all of you who have come from differ-
ent nations of the world. I also ad-
dress a particular thought to those
who are here with us and belong to
other Churches.
Some of you participate annu-
ally in this appointment of Bishop-
Friends of the Focolare Movement,
which has the theme: “Christ Cruci-
fied and abandoned, light in the cul-
tural night”.
I welcome this occasion to send
Chiara Lubich my wishes and my
Blessing, which I extend to all the
members of the Movement she
founded.
Others are taking part in the
Ninth Convention of Bishop-Friends
of the Sant’Egidio Community, ad-
dressing the topic so pertinent to-
day: “The globalization of love”. I
greet Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, and
with him, Professor Andrea Riccardi
and the entire Community, who, on
the anniversary of its founding, will
gather this evening in the Basilica of
St John Lateran for a solemn Eucha-
ristic celebration.
I do not have all your names here,
but naturally I greet all my dear Broth-
ers, Bishops, Cardinals and all you
dear Brothers of the Orthodox
Church, all of you from my heart.
Dear Brothers in the Episcopate,
I would first like to tell you that your
closeness to the two Movements,
while emphasizing the vitality of these
new aggregations of faithful, also
manifests that communion among
charisms which constitutes a typical
“sign of the times”.
It seems to me that these en-
counters of the charisms of the unity
of the Church in the diversity of gifts
are a very encouraging and impor-
tant sign.
The Post-Synodal Exhortation
Pastores Gregis recalls that: “The re-
lationships of exchange between
Bishops... go well beyond their insti-
tutional meetings” (n. 59). It is what
occurs also in conventions such as
yours, where not only collegiality is
experienced, but an episcopal frater-
nity that draws from the sharing of
the ideals promoted by the Move-
ments a stimulus to render more in-
tense the communion of hearts, to
make stronger the reciprocal support
and a more active commitment to
show the Church as a place of prayer
and charity, a home of mercy and
peace.
My venerable Predecessor,
John Paul II, has presented the Move-
ments and New Communities which
have come into being in these years
as a providential gift of the Holy Spirit
to the Church, in order to respond in
an effective way to the challenges of
our time. And you know that this is
also my conviction.
When I was still a professor and
then Cardinal, I had the occasion to
express my conviction that Move-
ments are really a gift of the Holy
Spirit to the Church. And precisely
as the encounter of the charisms,
they also show the richness of both
gifts and unity in the faith.
For example, could one forget
last year’s extraordinary Pentecost
Vigil that witnessed the joint partici-
pation of many Movements and
EcclesialAssociations? The emotion
I felt in participating in St Peter’s
Square in such an intense spiritual
experience is still alive in me.
I repeat to you what I said then
to the faithful gathered from every
part of the world, and that is, that the
multiplicity and the unity of the
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
charisms and ministries are insepa-
rable in the life of the Church.
The Holy Spirit wants the multi-
formity of the Movements at the ser-
vice of the one Body, which is the
Church. And this comes about
through the ministry of those he has
placed to sustain the Church of God:
the Bishops in communion with the
Successor of Peter.
This unity and multiplicity which
comprises the People of God in some
way also makes itself manifest today,
with many Bishops being gathered
here with the Pope, near to two dif-
ferent Ecclesial Movements, charac-
terized by a strong missionary dimen-
sion.
In the rich Western world, where
even though a relativistic culture is
present, at the same time a wide-
spread desire for spirituality is not
missing, and your Movements wit-
ness the joy of the faith and the
beauty of being Christian in great
ecumenical openness.
In the vast depressed areas of
the earth, they communicate the mes-
sage of solidarity and draw near to
the poor and the weak with that hu-
man and divine love that I wished to
repropose to the attention of all in
the Encyclical Deus Caritas Est.
The communion between Bish-
ops and Movements, therefore, pro-
vides a valid impulse for a renewed
commitment by the Church in an-
nouncing and witnessing to the Gos-
pel of hope and charity in every cor-
ner of the world.
The Focolare Movement, pre-
cisely beginning from the heart of its
spirituality which is Jesus crucified
and abandoned, emphasizes the
charism and the service of unity,
which is realized in various social and
cultural environments as, for example,
the economic with the “economy of
communion”, and through the ways
of ecumenism and of interreligious
dialogue.
The Sant’Egidio Community,
placing prayer and liturgy at the cen-
tre of its existence, wants to draw near
to those who experience situations
of hardship and social
marginalization.
For the Christian, man, however
distant, is never a stranger. Together
it is possible to face with greater ef-
fort the challenges that summon us
in a pressing way at the beginning of
the third millennium: I think in the
first place of the search for justice
and peace and of the urgency of
building a more fraternal and united
world, beginning precisely with the
countries from which some of you
come and that are tried by bloody
conflicts.
I refer especially to Africa, the
Continent that I carry in my heart and
that I hope will finally know a time of
stable peace and true development.
The next Synod of African Bishops
will surely be an opportune moment
to show the great love that God has
for the beloved African population.
Dear friends, the original frater-
nity that exists between you and the
Movements you befriend, bids you
to carry together “one another’s bur-
dens” (Gal 6:2), as the Apostle rec-
ommends, especially concerning
evangelization, love for the poor and
the cause of peace.
May the Lord render your spiri-
tual and apostolic initiatives ever
more effective. I accompany you with
prayer and gladly impart the Apos-
tolic Blessing to you present here, to
the Focolare Movement and the
Sant’Egidio Community, and to the
faithful entrusted to your pastoral
care.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007 Feature 13
NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH:
A MONTH OF PRAYER AND PEACE FOR
FILIPINO FAMILY
By Eden Bunagwa-Parot & Amelia G. Suarez

NIKKA (not her real name), a 15-year
old girl abused by her father since
she was 12 years old said, “He told
me to stop going to school because
we cannot afford it anymore.
That was the time he started
abusing me everyday…”
“I chose to stay in the
violent relationship because
I wanted to have a complete
family. I never thought that
there will come a time that I
will kill him….” This was the
realization of Dolores who
serves her term at the Correc-
tional for Women for killing
her abusive husband.
The above given ex-
amples are just two of the
many heart-rending stories
the counsellors from
Women’s Crisis Center
(WCC), hear from victims
who come to them for help.
WCC is a non government
organization helping women
and children victims-survi-
vors of Violence Against
Women (VAW) in the fami-
lies.
WCC’s apostolic work with
women and children victims of VAW
was able to reach to at least 6,131
women and children through its com-
prehensive programs and services
since its foundation in 1989 up to
June 2006. Sixty percent (60%) of
these cases comprise women abused
by their husbands and partners,
while 18.4% are victims of sexual
abuse, such as rape and incest.
WCC records show that major-
ity of the sexual abuse victims are
children of battered women. The Cri-
sis Center’s programs and services
include counselling, legal, medical,
temporary shelter, referral, survivor’s
support group, education and train-
ing, advocacy and research.
Over the years, WCC has jour-
neyed in prayers and in grief, the fate
of countless women and children
who have suffered VAW at home and
in their families. In spite of almost 20
years in this mission work, WCC still
find many hapless victims afraid to
talk and to seek for help due to
shame, fear and lack of support.
The United Nations celebrates
March 8 as International Women’s
Day thus honouring women
throughout the world; not only those
who have contributed a lot in mak-
ing this world a better place to live
in, but also the many faceless un-
named women who have fallen vic-
tims to abuse because of their gen-
der and status in life.
The Philippines cel-
ebrates National Women’s
Month throughout the
month of March. This year’s
theme, “A Month of Prayer .
. . For Peace in the Filipino
Family”, fits well the state of
the families of women and
children victims of VAW.
With the declaration of the
month of March as the
Month of Prayer by the
Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines
(CBCP), WCC calls on all the
faithful to offer prayers for
the women and children vic-
tims of VAW in the family.
As WCC offers prayers
for these victims, the Center
also asks the abusers to re-
flect and refrain from their
violent behavior so that
peace may reign back in their
families. We pray that all the
faithful may offer a hand of
support to the victims as Christian
gestures of genuine love and peace.
We honor the survivors who
speak the truth and brave the odds
to free themselves from the violence.
May other women and children mus-
ter the same courage and strength
to do the same. Help is available
among our Christian brothers and
sisters. Do not be afraid to take a
bold step towards eliminating VAW
in the family. Let us strengthen our
Filipino families by not tolerating all
forms of violence against women and
children.
Fact and Figures
International Women’s Day 2007
March 8, 2007
• Violence against women is the most common but least punished
crime in the world.
• It is estimated that between 113 million and 200 million women are
demographically “missing.” They have been the victims of infanti-
cide (boys are preferred to girls) or have not received the same
amount of food and medical attention as their brothers and fathers.
• The number of women forced or sold into prostitution is estimated
worldwide at anywhere between 700,000 and 4,000,000 per year.
Profits from sex slavery are estimated at seven to twelve billion US
dollars per year.
• Globally, women between the age of fifteen and forty-four are more
likely to be maimed or die as a result of male violence than through
cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war combined.
• At least one out of every three women has been beaten, coerced into
sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Usually, the abuser is a
member of her own family or someone known to her. Domestic vio-
lence is the largest form of abuse of women worldwide, irrespective
of region, culture, ethnicity, education, class and religion.
• It is estimated that more than two million girls are genitally mutilated
per year, a rate of one girl every fifteen seconds.
• Systematic rape is used as a weapon of terror in many of the world’s
conflicts. It is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 women in
Rwanda were raped during the 1994 genocide.
• Studies show the increasing links between violence against women
and HIV and demonstrate that HIV-infected women are more likely
to have experienced violence, and, that victims of violence are at
higher risk of HIV infection. (Source: United Nations)

International Women’s Day: Looking Back

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is celebrated in many
countries around the world. It is a day when women are
recognized for their achievements without regard to di-
visions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, eco-
nomic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on
past struggles and accomplishments, and more impor-
tantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and
opportunities that await future generations of women.
In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the
United Nations began celebrating International Women’s
Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the
General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a
United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and Interna-
tional Peace to be observed on any day of the year by
Member States, in accordance with their historical and
national traditions. In adopting its resolution, the Gen-
eral Assembly recognized the role of women in peace
efforts and development and urged an end to discrimi-
nation and an increase of support for women’s full and
equal participation.
International Women’s Day first emerged from the
activities of labor movements at the turn of the twenti-
eth century in North America and across Europe.
• 1909: The first National Woman’s Day was observed in
the United States on 28 February. The Socialist Party
of America designated this day in honour of the 1908
garment workers’ strike in New York, where women
protested against working conditions.
• 1910: The Socialist International, meeting in
Copenhagen, established a Women’s Day, interna-
tional in character, to honor the movement for women’s
rights and to build support for achieving universal
suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with
unanimous approval by the conference of over 100
women from 17 countries, which included the first three
women elected to the Finnish Parliament. No fixed date
was selected for the observance.
• 1911: As a result of the Copenhagen initiative, Interna-
tional Women’s Day was marked for the first time (19
March) in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzer-
land, where more than one million women and men
attended rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to
hold public office, they demanded women’s rights to
work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimi-
nation on the job.
• 1913-1914: International Women’s Day also became a
mechanism for protesting World War I. As part of the
peace movement, Russian women observed their first
International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in Feb-
ruary. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of
the following year, women held rallies either to pro-
test the war or to express solidarity with other activ-
ists.
• 1917: Against the backdrop of the war, women in Rus-
sia again chose to protest and strike for ‘Bread and
Peace’ on the last Sunday in February (which fell on 8
March on the Gregorian calendar). Four days later,
the Czar abdicated and the provisional Government
granted women the right to vote.
Since those early years, International Women’s Day
has assumed a new global dimension for women in de-
veloped and developing countries alike. The growing
international women’s movement, which has been
strengthened by four global United Nations women’s
conferences, has helped make the commemoration a ral-
lying point to build support for women’s rights and par-
ticipation in the political and economic arenas. Increas-
ingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on
progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts
of courage and determination by ordinary women who
have played an extraordinary role in the history of their
countries and communities.
The Charter of the United Nations, signed in 1945,
was the first international agreement to affirm the prin-
ciple of equality between women and men. Since then,
the UN has helped create a historic legacy of interna-
tionally-agreed strategies, standards, programmes and
goals to advance the status of women worldwide.
Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies
have promoted the participation of women as equal part-
ners with men in achieving sustainable development,
peace, security, and full respect for human rights. The
empowerment of women continues to be a central fea-
ture of the UN’s efforts to address social, economic and
political challenges across the globe. (Source: United
Nations)
Pakistani Women
Increasingly Victims of Forced
Conversions and Violence
by Qaiser Felix
AS in previous years, celebrations
of International Women’s Day in Pa-
kistan is at odds with a local reality
characterized by women’s lack of
power, growing socio–economic dif-
ficulties and violence, problems that
afflict millions of Pakistani women,
this according to the annual report
by the Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan (HRCP).
The report noted that last year
forced conversions of minority
women, rape and arranged marriages
for minors were on the increase, de-
stroying the lives of thousands of
young women and teenagers.
Specifically, the HRCP reported
1,821 cases of violent crimes against
women in 2006, including murder,
rape, mutilation, burning and other
offences. In 2005 at least 1,726
women suffered similar violence.
Despite the situation, several
events were prepared to celebrate
the day in favour of women: rallies,
special ceremonies and debates with
both men and women speakers.
The Catholic Church’s National
commission for Justice and Peace
organised different activities, meet-
ings and conferences for March 8 to
promote the status of women in vari-
ous cities like Lahore, Hyderabad,
Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.
Joseph Francis, secretary gen-
eral of the Pakistan Christian National
Party, told AsiaNews that his party
was holding a seminar on Women’s
day in which the main issue was
forced conversion of Christian
women and girls. After the
Muhammad caricature controversy,
many Christian girls were forced to
convert to Islam, mainly in rural ar-
eas.
Forced conversion is especially
true for Christian women and girls
working in Muslim households or
small factories, where they are ab-
ducted, raped and then forced to
convert to Islam.
“According to our research,
Muslims do this to Christian girls in
order to disgrace the US,” he said.
“In their minds Christianity is con-
nected to that nation.” (AsiaNews)
 CBCP Monitor
14 Reflections Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007

life; he is trying to raise a child

in the laboratory, outside of
wedlock; he wants to raise chil-
dren of an anonymous person-
ality, without a face, without
identity, without a home.
Alone, without Christ who
breaks bread, man becomes a
voracious greedy monkey who
wants to consume the re-
sources of the earth without
sharing with others, without

The Youth of Jesus by James Tissot

replenishing. To his eyes, the
environment (forest, sea, rivers,
land, sky) is not a thing of
beauty, but an enemy to be con-
quered, to be poisoned, to be
plundered.
Alone, without the Lord of
Order, man can invert the scale
of values; what is luxury be-
comes a necessity.
Self Denial: Being alone is selfishness;
it is suicidal act. Self-denial, al-
lowing Christ to walk with us, An Appeal from Jesuit Refugee Service
Allowing Christ is finding the right perspective
of living.
Self-denial, when it is sin-
We are called upon to be effective signs of
God’s love and reconciliation. Even in the
Calls to establish new projects and ex-
pand others are constantly made to JRS. In

to Walk With Us
By Bp. Jose R. Manguiran
AT Lenten time, the Christians
are reminded to practice self-
denial as taught and lived by
Jesus Christ.
Christ initiated the move to
deny Himself: for a while, He
negates His divinity by becom-
ing man and, by doing so, He
affirmed humanity. This is incar-
nation, His way of suffering, like
a reversed exodus from the ab-
solute state to the particular time
in space. Christ’s self-denial is
His desire to walk with man in
his journey through life.
But man’s tendency is to
walk alone, without Christ’s di-
rection; he wants to be the sole
cerely put into practice among
the Filipinos, will greatly help
recover our national posture.
This virtue impels to uphold
freedom and conscience and
reject robotism. It rejects con-
sumerism but challenges us to
master of his destiny. be creative and frugal. It de-
Alone, without the com- mands of us to uproot imported
pany of Jesus, man tends to mentality of prosperity which
become a robot. The movies has turned us into beggars in
are showing how the people our country. It challenges us to
are acting without their will. reject unnecessary, unsubstan-
Man is inclined to adore the tial, junk stuff to pamper our
golden calf of technology; his appetite, and concentrate our
eyes are glued to the screen of effort to what is necessary.
the video machine, his mouth The spirit of denial from
is sandwiched in a tin car; his those which do not enhance life
stomach is embattled by the is an imperative now than ever
instant ready-made stuff. Al- before. The spirit of acceptance
though wanting to be the mas- what is pro-life is a mission. In
ter, he finds himself a slave of the verdict of Jesus, “unless a
his own making. tree dies, it will not grow.” In St.
Alone, in the absence of John’s confession, “I must de-
the Lord of life, man disrespects crease and he must increase.”
darkest moments of the last six months, staff
and volunteers have brought light to the
most forgotten. As peace returns to Angola,
Liberia and Indonesia, JRS (Jesuit Refugee
Service) teams have accompanied displaced
persons back home, and where this was not
possible helped them to integrate into their
new communities.
In other countries, primarily Sri Lanka
and Sudan, conflict has exploded. Esti-
mates put the number killed this year as
high as 3,000 in Sri Lanka, on top of 65,000
killed and 350,000 displaced since 1983. The
recent violence and displacement have se-
riously curtailed our capacity to provide
education and rebuild local schools and
homes. Nonetheless, JRS Sri Lanka contin-
ues to bring humanitarian relief to suffering
persons. In Darfur, western Sudan, the situ-
ation is catastrophic where some two mil-
lion people have been forced to flee their
homes, and, despite the sporadic violence,
JRS has continued to provide education
services to displaced children.
Angola, without adequate documentation,
many refugees end up in prison. We are
now working to ensure refugees get proper
documentation and protect them from arbi-
trary detention. In the Democratic Republic
of Congo, JRS negotiate with armed groups
to free child soldiers, and ensure they re-
ceive psychosocial support, education and
vocational training. Since June last year,
other projects have also been opened in
Guinea, Indonesia, and Liberia.
Your support and prayers for JRS are es-
sential. Without them, we would struggle more
than ever to fulfill our mission to accompany,
serve and advocate the cause of refugees.
Meeting so many diverse needs is an ongo-
ing strain on our already overstretched re-
sources. Our role is to promote peace and
struggle against injustice. From the bottom
of my heart, I thank you for your solidarity.
Yours sincerely,
Lluis Magriña, SJ
International Director

GLOBAL warming was in my mind natural offerings here in the Novi- nightly activity we were doing to cul-

that early evening. I was somehow
horrified upon pondering over the
scenarios of the special report given
by TIME which is created by the ever
increasing amounts of greenhouse
gases pumped into the atmosphere
through the unyielding burning of
fossil fuels that releases carbon di-
oxide in the atmosphere in a fast rate,
the unabated clear-cutting or burn-
ing of forests which reduces oxygen
and increases drought, and with the
rising of global temperatures, the
biological world is continuously dis-
rupted—pushing many species to
the brink of extinction and turning
others into runaway pests. Top this
with the terrifying thawing out of the
North Pole—polar ice and permafrost
are melting down.
Same with my other Novice
brothers, I experienced the earlier
days and nights of February here in
Baguio City utterly cold. (Because
the No. 3 of the Preliminary Notes of
our Ignatian Retreat stated “NO:
reading of newspapers, watching of
Cold Spell
tiate, I instantly shared in advance minate each day of our Spiritual Ex-
the feeling of Week Four’s Resurrec- ercises, I believe Gaia was singing
tion! What a wonderful world after with us the meaningful lyrics in our
all! closing hymn:
Yes indeed, we are living in a Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
by Nov. John Jay C. Magpusao, OSC wonderful world. A simple world it is Body of Christ, save me.
not, though. It is a living organism Water from the side of
television, and listening to radios,” In the morning that day, we had just called Earth. A Gaia. Environmental- Christ, wash me.
it was beyond our knowledge that finished our in-depth discussion on ist James Lovelock famously Passion of Christ, give me
the mountainous city where we are the Vow of Chastity. I learned that dubbed this Earth image. strength…
currently living was already having vis-à-vis the religious chastity as “Disasters have been with us “In a solar system crowded
a highly publicized cold spell. Tem- fasting from, for, and with, we must and surely always will be,” the TIME with sister worlds that either emerged
perature once dropped to 9 degrees also hit the road of thinking its eco- article says. A sad reality I believe stillborn like Mercury and Venus or
Celsius! A similar condition which re- logical dimension—the Trinity is In- every Filipino knows about. Ormoc, die in infancy like Mars, we’re finally
portedly destroyed P10 million worth teractive: an Ecological God. Real, Guinsaugon, Albay… Who is coming to appreciate the knife-blade
of vegetables in Atok, Benguet and In the veranda, the throbbing in to be blamed? margins within which life can thrive.
which also caused more presence of my heart quickly transformed into a Meditate upon the passion and For more than a century we’ve been
tourists in this Pines City for their consolation. Simply because, on site, death of our Savior Jesus Christ. monkeying with those margins. It’s
high interest of its cold weather re- aside from the nipping evening Meditate upon the passion and long past time we set them right,”
ported by media.) Hence, my thought breeze, were the beautiful moon nearing death of our Savior-needing the global warming feature story
that early evening was driven to re- above casting its comforting silver Gaia. concludes.
flect on Earth’s tipping point status. glow to the Novitiate and the pleas- Scientists, environmentalists, And in my head it was ringing,
It was nerve-freezing. ing screeching of Cute, Chubby, and even skeptics have concluded, “Only to do right and love good-
When I was riveted on the mat- Matapang, and Maliwanag down in global warming is a real deal, and ness,” the line which prophet Micah
ter, we were still on Week Three of the mini-forest below. Mga lovely human activity has been causing it. inspires.
our 30-day Retreat here in the Novi- owls po sila. Maaamo, mga In our Adoration to the Blessed How’s that to warm up the cold
tiate (16 January – 14 February 2007). kaibigan po namin sila. With these Sacrament that night, a calming spell?

Bo Sanchez barrassing! “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Too bad,” “Oh my God….” ful”—and even “who’s ho-

Stop Comparing and

Start Living
REMEMBER when we
were kids?
One little tyke will say,
“My grandfather’s house
is so large, it has forty-two
rooms!”
“Wala yan sa bahay
ng Lolo ko!” his playmate
chimes up, “To go from the
kitchen to the living room,
you have to ride a tri-
cycle.”
Naturally, the third
But then of course, what
should we expect? Where did
the kids learn it from, anyway?
(I’m gonna bet we learned
some of it from our mothers.)
I remember the story of the
boy speaks up, not wanting four mothers who were nursing
to be beaten. “Hah! Wala their babies, chatting over a cup
yan sa bahay ng Lolo ko! If of tea. One of them said, “My
you’re in the dining room, son will be famous when he
and you want to call the grows up. He’ll be a Bishop,
people to eat, you’ll have to and when people see him,
phone them in their bed- they’ll say, “Your Excellency…”
rooms—and you’ll have to “Peanuts,” groaned the
pay long-distance charges!” other mom. “That’s nothing.
Kids do that sort of thing. When my son grows up, he’ll
And we laugh. be a Cardinal, and when
But when adults do the people see him, they’ll say,
same thing—it’s utterly em- “Your Eminence…”
piped up the other woman,
“because my son will be Pope,
and when people see him,
they’ll say, “Your Holiness…”
The fourth mother was
silent, patting her little bundle
of joy. So the other women
were intrigued and asked her,
“And what will your son be
when he grows up, hmm?”
She smiled. “Oh, he’ll
just be a priest.”
“Just a priest?” the oth-
ers asked incredulously.
“Yes. And he’ll only be a
short fellow, maybe 5 feet tall.
But he’ll weigh a horrendous
350 pounds. So that when
people see him, they’ll say,
I remember I came from
our prayer meeting, and my
friend Mike Joseph Jr.
preached to us that day.
Mike’s a terrific preacher, and
so I told my mother that I re-
ally loved his preaching. Mom
answered, “Yeah, I liked his
preaching too. But Bo, face
it—no one can preach as
good as you do.”
Wow. The President and
Founder of Bo’s International
Fan’s Club, in action!
I guess we’ve got this
crazy thing in us that wants
to know “who’s better”,
“who’s bigger”, “who’s
richer”, “who’s more beauti-
lier”!
But I believe this is the
source of much discontent
in our lives.
Really!
If we can only stop
comparing ourselves with
others, I believe that we’ll
be happier and more at
peace within.
My suggestion? Be
yourself.
Live your life.
Do the best you can,
and leave the rest to God.
And you’ll be at
peace.
(And finally, our Lolo’s
can rest in peace as well.)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
Moral Assessment
Abhorrent
Disturbing
Acceptable
Wholesome
Exemplary
Title: YOU GOT ME
Running Time: 105 mins
Lead Cast: Toni Gonzaga, Sam Milby, Zanjoe Marudo, Johnny
Delgado, Dick Israel
Director: Cathy Garcia-Molina
Producers: Marizel Samson
Screenwriters: Raz dela Torre, Francis Lua
Music: Raul Mitra
Editor: Marya Ignacio
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Cinematography: Raz dela Torre
Distributor: Star CINEMA Productions
Location: Manila
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below with parental
guidance
SI Amor (Toni Gonzaga) ay
kahanga-hangang police woman
na madaling mapintuho ng
kalalakihan -- matapang,
maganda, palaban, matuwid,
walang arte at madaling
pakisamahan -- maliban na lamang
kung liligawan dahil tanging ang
kanyang ama (Johnny Delgado)
lamang ang lalaki sa buhay niya.
Kaya't madaling umatras si Kevin
(Sam Milby), kapwa niya pulis, na
tuluyan siyang ligawan kahit
malaki ang pag-ibig nito sa dalaga.
Sa kabilang banda, si Caloy
(Zanjoe Marudo), isang vendor
ng mga piratang DVD, ay
matiyaga at malakas ang loob na
magpursiging mapa-ibig siya.
Dahil sadyang mahina ang loob,
sumuko si Kevin nang makitang
nagkakahulugan sina Amor at
Caloy. Magiging magkasintahan
si Amor at Caloy sa paglayo ni
Kevin, subalit makalipas ang 6 na
buwan, magbabalik ulit ito para
sa isang operasyon ng presinto
na susubok sa tunay na
damdamin at relasyon ng tatlo.
Sino kaya ang mas magiging
matimbang sa puso ni Amor: Si
Kevin na kinagigiliwan niya pero
natatanga sa harap niya, o si
Caloy na may pagka-brusko pero
lantarang inihahayag ang
kanyang pagtingin sa iba't ibang
nakakatuwang paraan?
May sariwang ideya sana
ang kwentong pag-ibig ng
pelikula subalit hindi pa rin
maiwasang haluan ng mga
palasak na formulang eksena
(konting bakbakan, konting
iyakan, konting kilig).
Gayunpaman, maayos ang mga
CBCPMonitor
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aspetong teknikal kaya't magaan
ang daloy nito. May kabagalan
nga lamang ang huling ikatlong
bahagi kaya't naging anti-climac-
tic ang pagtatapos nito. Mahina
ang pagganap ni Milby subalit
nasasalo naman siya ng
masayang interpretasyon ni
Gonzaga sa kanyang tauhan at ng
mga supporting cast tulad ni
Delgado at Israel upang manatili
ang personalidad ng pelikula. Sa
kabuuan, kagiliw-giliw na rin
silang panuorin.
May dalawang puntong
magandang pag-usapan. Una,
kung paanong ang tunay na
pagmamahal ay magdadala sa iyo
upang magsikap na maging
mabuting tao. Mas kahanga-
hanga kaysa sa matamis na
panliligaw o matiyagang
paglilingkod ang malayang
pagdesisyon na maging matuwid
at iayos ang buhay. Upang
maging karapat-dapat kay Amor,
sinikap ni Caloy (kahit sa simula)
na bitiwan ang pagbebenta ng
piratang DVD at magsikap na
makakuha ng marangal na
trabaho. Ikalawa, higit na dapat
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Title: IT'S A BOY GIRL THING
Running Time: 95 mins
Lead Cast: Samaire Armstrong,
Kevin Zegers, Emily Hamp-
shire, Brook D' Orsay
Director: Nick Hurran
Producers: David Furnish
Screenwriters: Geoffe Deane
Music: Christian Henson
Editor: John Richards
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Cinematography: Steve Danyluk
Location: USA
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age
13 and below with parental
guidance
NELL Bedworth (Samaire
Armstrong), a teenager nerd is not
impressed with her neighbor and
high school mate Woody (Kevin
Zegers) though he is the most popu-
lar football player in school. Not
only do their families belong to dif-
ferent social registers, the two teen-
ers also have entirely different tastes
and interests. Nell shows the man-
ners of her middle class breeding, has
no interest in anything physical, and
is enthused about literature, espe-
cially Shakespeare and poetry. But
Woody goes for ear-splitting music,
is sometimes uncouth in his manners
and has no predilection for anything
Title: MUSIC AND LYRICS
Running Time: 103 mins
Lead Cast: Hugh Grant, Drew
Barrymore, Brad Garrett,
Haley Bennet, Campbell Scott
Director: Marc Lawrence
Producers: Marc Lawrence
Screenwriters: Marc Lawrence
Music: Adam Schlesinger
Editor: Susan E. Morse
Genre: Romance
Cinematography: Xavier Perez
Grobet
Distributor: Warner Bro.
Location: USA
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14
and above
A SHOWBIZ has-been Alex
Fletcher ( Hugh Grant ) wants to re-
turn to the stage to satisfy the de-
mands of his middle aged female
fans. Among these fans, however,
is a sexy female teenage recording
and concert star, Cora ( Haley
Bennett ) who claims his songs had
guided her spiritually as a child in a
dysfunctional family. Cora--a
Britney Spears clone--wants badly
to do a duet with Alex for her new
album, a to perform in tandem with
him in a concert, but alas, his well
has run dry and he can't produce
anymore songs. Enter Sophie
Fisher ( Drew Barrymore ), substi-
tuting for the plant sitter at his apart-
(Given Name) (Middle Name)
Cash Payment
______________________
Signature
15
and Nell (now Woody) has been ac-
cepted for an interview for entrance
to Yale University. The movie shows
how the two teenagers cope with
their predicament.
Being teenage oriented, It's a
Boy Girl Thing will interest and en-
tertain young people, especially stu-
dents in high school, despite the fact
that it has a hackneyed premise
(body switching) and it is utterly
predictable. The movie has its light
moments but most of the jokes are
crude, overused and off-color. The
two leads Armstrong and Zegers
must be credited for their good per-
formances, successfully giving life
to their characters. But the others in
the cast are just one-dimensional.
intellectual. One fateful day on a visit Most teenage comedies/ro-
to the science museum, they notice mances anchor their jokes on sex and
a statue of an ancient Aztec god of this movie is no exception. But one
sorcery. The statue brings about a notices, with relief, that unlike most
change in their genders. Upon wak- others of the same genre, It's a Boy
ing up the following morning, Girl Thing does not show an accep-
Woody realizes he has the body and tance or tolerance for pre-marital sex.
looks of Nell, and Nell finds herself There are no explicit sexual scenes.
in the body of Woody. This trans- The movie also shows some values
formation brings about embarrass- like having respect and love for par-
ments and misadventures as each ents. Most important, there is a real-
has to act according to his /her ization on the part of the two leads
physical body and looks. Though that putting oneself in the place of
they resent each other, they realize another can bring about greater un-
they have to do something fast be- derstanding of each other and that
cause Woody (now Nell) has an im- ultimately results in becoming bet-
portant foot-ball match coming up ter persons.
is well made, though, and while its
technical aspects are nothing ex-
traordinary, it possesses a certain
appeal that emanates from the char-
acterization, the realness of the
people whose simple story is told.
Grant is pathetically hilarious as he
thrills his middle-aged women fans
with his pelvic thrusts--not quite as
vigorous as Elvis' but? that's reality
in showbiz. A rather underweight but
sweet Barrymore plays Grant's part-
ner with just the right amount of
chemistry to make the team come
across as credible and project the
level of attraction the story calls for.
The plot is light enough to be
entertaining, and for a movie of its
genre (romantic comedy), should
prove delightful for all audiences
especially girls and women. It is no-
ment. She hardly knows anything table that while there is much hype
about tending plants but she hap- about the "sexy" musical star Cora ,
pens to be a songwriter, a delicious her numbers are not seductive or as
and convenient fact he chances "hot" as may be expected--this
upon while he is at his driest trying seems deliberate on the part of the
to compose a song with his agent director, especially when viewers
Chris Riley ( Brad Garrett ) to beat consider that the character has spiri-
the deadline set by Cora . After tual leanings and in the end is men-
some mild persuasion Sarah agrees tioned as having Fletcher sing at her
to co-write the lyrics to Alan 's wedding. In short, it is noteworthy
melody, and they seem destined to that the movie does not take advan-
make beautiful music together. tage of the milieu (showbiz) to pro-
Music and Lyrics is not exactly mote the usual and less-than-whole-
a musical, but because of the theme some things found in the entertain-
and the storyline and the presence ment world, like extra-marital affairs,
of some musical numbers, it could suggestive dancing, foul language
be mislabeled, leading the public to or double talk, and general sexual
expect the wrong things out of it. It permissiveness.
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16
Lipa Archdiocese Prepares for Centenary
THE Arch-
diocese of
Lipa is set to
formally
launch an in-
tensive three-
year prepara-
tion for its
100th Year of
foundation as
a diocese in April 10, 2007, with a
solemn mass at the Cathedral of San
Sebastian, Lipa City. Archbishop of
Lipa, Most Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles,
D.D., will preside in the Eucharistic
celebration commencing the three-
year preparation adopting the theme:
Conversion to Jesus Christ that
leads to Evangelization!
Earlier, the Archbishop decreed
that every April 10 henceforth, an
archdiocesan assembly will be cel-
ebrated to announce the theme for
the year’s celebration.
In 2008, the theme will focus on
Mary and the Holy Spirit; while in
2009, St. Joseph and God the Fa-
ther. The Grand Jubilee Year 2010
will center on the Holy Family and
the Trinity.
Curiously, the theme got its in-
spiration from the unique Millennium
Cross the Archdiocese, under Arch-
bishop (now Cardinal) Gaudencio
Rosales, produced as its contribu-
tion to the millennium celebration.
One face of that Millennium Cross
depicts the Father holding and show-
ing the Crucified Son with the Holy
Spirit, symbolized by a dove, resting
on the Son’s shoulders. On the re-
verse side of the Cross are the im-
ages of the Holy Family.
Western Visayas Philosophy Seminarians
Meet in Capiz
TWO hundred twenty-two philoso-
phy seminarians and thirty semi-
nary-formators of Region 6 met at
Sancta Maria Mater et Regina
Seminarium in Roxas City last Janu-
ary 25-26 for the 6th Regional Gather-
ing of Philosophy Seminarians in
Western Visayas.
Six seminaries participated in the
event: Sto. Nino Seminary (Kalibo),
St. Peter’s Seminary (Antique), St.
Vincent Ferrer Seminary (Jaro), Sa-
cred Heart Seminary (Bacolod), Little
Way College Seminary (Kabankalan)
and Sancta Maria Mater et Regina
Seminarium (Capiz), the host semi-
nary.
The participants started the day
right when they sang this year’s
theme song “Dali sa Capiz!” (Has-
ten to Capiz!). Prof. Florentino
Hornedo, Ph.D., a faculty member of
the University of Santo Tomas, gave
a philosophical lecture entitled “In-
finite Responsibility for the Other.”
Sports were part of the day. The
seminary’s basketball and volleyball
courts were filled with yells as semi-
narians enjoyed the ball games. Most
thrilling was the laro ng lahi (native
sports).
Vicar General Rt. Rev. Msgr.
Vicente Hilata, H.P., presided over the
evening eucharistic celebration in
commemoration of the Conversion
of the Apostle Paul. He reflected in
his homily the Christian message of
People, Facts & Places
Archbishop Arguelles said that
this is more than just a coincidence.
It should be recalled that Lipa
was one of the four dioceses and an
apostolic prefecture created by Pope
St. Pius X on April 10, 1910. It was
given to then Pro-Nuncio to the Phil-
ippines, Most Rev. Joseph Petrelli,
an Italian; as its first residential
Bishop. The other three dioceses
were Calbayog, Zamboanga, and
Tuguegarao. Palawan was the lone
Apostolic Prefecture the saintly
Pope created together with the four
dioceses. The Diocese of Lipa then
included the civil provinces of
Batangas, Laguna, Quezon,
Marinduque and the island of
Mindoro.
To date, Lipa, Tuguegarao and
Zamboanga have been elevated as
ecclesiastical provinces.
The months preceding the for-
mal launching will be devoted to
making the faithful aware of this
forthcoming historic event.
Vicar General Rt. Rev. Msgr.
Alfredo Madlangbayan, P.A. heads
the ad hoc committee, which has
tasked the different Archdiocesan
Commission, such as the Commis-
sion on Formation, the
Archdiocesan Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine, the
Archdiocesan Commission on Lit-
urgy among others; to take the lead
in promoting awareness among the
faithful regarding the significance
of the Centenary celebration.
Archbishop Arguelles pledged
to ask Rome to declare the centenary
a Jubilee Year for the Archdiocese of
Lipa. (Fr. Nonie Dolor)
love as our vocation and the spring-
board of our mission. The evening
also showcased the seminarians’
prowess in different presentations
during the cultural show and the
agape.
The seminarians had a caravan
the following day proceeding to the
famous Sta. Monica Church of
Panay, home of the largest bell in
Asia. Fr. Eugenio Caldeo celebrated
the culmination mass at the famed
church.
Fr. Victor Bendico, SLD, rector
of the host seminary; expressed his
gratitude to the Lord for the graceful
event and to other seminaries for
their favorable response.
Highlighted by the theme One
Vocation, One Mission, One Heart
for Social Renewal, the two-day ac-
tivity immersed the participants to a
breathtaking experience of brother-
hood in the region. Moreover, visi-
tors were overwhelmed with the
Capiznon hospitality which they
dubbed as “seafood galore.”
Held annually, the gathering
aims to promote unity, brotherhood
and solidarity among philosophy
seminarians in the region, a “com-
munity of communities” character-
ized by “unity in diversity.”
Next year’s gathering will be
held in Sto. Nino Seminary,
Numancia, Aklan. (Sem. Dedert
Duarte)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 5
March 5 - 18, 2007
Markings
CELEBRATED. Most Rev. Luis cred Theology and Doctorate in Canon Law from the
Antonio G. Tagle, DD, 50, bishop Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained
of Imus; 25 th anniversary of bishop on April 22, 1971.
presbyteral ordination; February
27, 2007 . Ordained priest in Feb- INSTALLED. Bp. Isabelo C.
ruary 27, 1982 Bp. Tagle finished Abarquez, DD, 50, as bishop of
his theological studies at Loyola Calbayog; March 8, 2007, in Sts.
School of Theology in Ateneo. Peter and Paul Cathedral at
He obtained his Licentiate and Calbayog City. Abarquez, who
Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Catholic Uni- has been Auxiliary bishop of Palo,
versity of America in Washington, DC. Bp. Tagle assumes the position left vacant
succeeded Bp. Felix Perez, DD as the third bishop of by Archbishop Jose Palma who was installed as arch-
Imus on December 12, 2001. He is chairman of the bishop of Palo in May 2006. Ordained priest in June
CBCP Commission on the Doctrine of the Faith.. He 1987, he was made bishop in 2003 and immediately
was a member of the International Theological Com- assigned as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of
mission in Vatican and currently a member of the Coun- Cebu where, earlier on, he held the position as rector
cil of the Synod of Bishops. of the Metropolitan Cathedral and as Rector of San
Carlos College Seminary in Cebu.
CELEBRATED. Most Rev.
Leopoldo S. Tumulak, DD., Mili- CELEBRATED. Holy Child
tary Ordinary of the Military Parish, Gitagum, Misamis
Ordinariate of the Philippines, 20th Oriental; 50th foundation an-
anniversary of Episcopal ordina- niversary, March 5, 2007. Be-
tion; March 16, 2007. Ordained longing to the Archdiocese of
bishop on March 16, 1987 at the Cagayan de Oro, the parish
Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu, has a catholic population of 11,494. Since its founda-
Abp. Tumulak was born in Santander, Cebu on No- tion in 1955, fourteen pastors have already ministered
vember 29, 1944. He spent his high school education to this parish. The current parish priest is Fr. Wilson
at St. Mary’s Academy in Oslob, Cebu and at Seminario Legaspi. Helping in the nurturing the faith of the
Menor de San Carlos,Cebu City. He finished his theol- parishioners especially the youth is the Sto. Niño
ogy at Seminario Mayor de San Carlos, Cebu and ob- Catholic High School which is run by the Sisters of
tained his M.A. in Education Administration from St. Paul de Chartres.
Colegio de San Jose Recoletos, also in Cebu.
CELEBRATED. The centennial
CELEBRATED. Most Rev. Cesar of the Decree of Praise granted to
C. Raval, SVD, DD., bishop- the Congregation of the Reli-
emeritus of Bangued; 25th anni- gious of the Virgin Mary; on
versary of Episcopal ordination; March 17, 2007; in a solemn mass
February 18, 2007. Ordained at the Our Lady of the Assump-
bishop on February 18, 1982, Bp. tion Chapel, RVM Mother House
Raval was born in Laoag City on in Quezon City, to be presided by the Apostolic Nun-
December 17, 1924. He joined the cio, Archbishop Fernando Filoni. The Congregation
Society of Divine Word and fin- of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, the oldest and
ished his theology course at Christ the King Semi- largest Filipino congregation, is the first all-Filipino
nary. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, religious congregation for women in the Philippines
1952. founded in 1684 by a Filipina, Mother Ignacia del
Espiritu Santo. Presently, it is involved in various
CELEBRATED. Most Rev. ministries: education, retreats, dormitory, social min-
Miguel G. Purugganan, DD., istry, overseas mission, among others.
bishop-emeritus of Ilagan, 50 th
anniversary of priestly ordina- DIED. Ma. Elisa S. Alvar, RVM,
tion; March 3, 2007. Born on No- March 4, 2007; Ma. Milagros E.
vember 18, 1931, Bp. Purugganan Laredo, RVM, March 4, 2007; S. Ma.
was ordained priest in Rome on Teofila S. Manalo, RVM, March 4,
March 3, 1957. He finished his 2007; S. Ma. Susana R. Baleares,
theological studies from the University of Sto. Tomas RVM, February 25, 2007; S. Ma.
Central Seminary and obtained his Licentiate in Sa- Milagros I. Dulay, RVM, January 12, 2007.
Proclaiming from the roof tops. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), headed by Ambassador Henrietta De Vila,
practically uses all means available just to be able to reach every Filipino with its advocacy—so much unlike other church groups that sulk and
cower for fear of being misunderstood and misreported by the media. De Villa organizes press conferences, radio interviews and name-it, at the
light of day.