Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
00
00
“
Quote in the Act
“When they got very sick and people could not
IMPACT
ISSN 0300-4155
look after them, they buried them.” Asian Magazine for Human Transformation
Through Education, Social Advocacy and Evangelization
Margaret Marabe, a local activist in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; P.O. Box 2481, 1099 Manila, Philippines
claimed that people with AIDS were buried alive by their relatives when ©
Copyright 1974 by Social Impact Foundation, Inc.
they became too sick to care for.
REMITTING ADDRESSES
“This is a victory for the working class, the AUSTRALIA : Impact P.O. Box 2034, East Ivanhoe, Victoria 3079
toiling peasants and the small traders involved with BANGLADESH: 1. Community Center, 5 Sadar Road, Barisal; 2. The
retail of agricultural products.” Priest-in-Charge, P.O. Box 152, Chittagong
CAROLINE ISLANDS: Social Action Center, Inc., P.O. Box 202, Truk,
Ashock Ghosh, a Forward Block leader allied with the Communist party of Caroline Islands 96942
“
India; on the closure of an Indian supermarket chain in West Bengal and HONGKONG: Catholic Periodicals Subscription Office, Catholic Centre,
Uttar Pradesh shortly after opening due to violent protests and appeal to 16, Caine Road, 11/F, Hong Kong
the local government fearing that supermarkets would ruin the local INDIA: 1. Asian Trading Corp., 310, The Mirabelle, Lotus-House,
farming sector and small-scale retail business. 33A, Marine Lines, P.B. No. 11029, Bombay - 400 202; 2. Asian
Trading Corp., 150 Brigade Rd., Bangalore - 56-0025
INDONESIA : 1. Y.S.T.M. Jl. Gunung Sahari III/7 Phone: 021-354700
“I am not gay.” Jakarta Pusat; 2. YPD Jl. Veteran 7, P.O. Box 1066, Semarang 5010;
3. Biro Sosial, Jl. Taman Srigunting 10, Semarang.
Larry E. Craig, incumbent Republican Senator from Idaho; after pleading JAPAN: Enderle Book Co. Ltd., Ichico Bldg., 1-5 Yotsudya Shinjuku-
guilty to misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct when an undercover ku, Tokyo 160, Japan
police officer accused him of soliciting sex in June in a Minneapolis KOREA: J. R. Heisse, C.P.O.. Box 206, Seoul, Korea
airport restroom. MALAYSIA: 1. Anthonian Store Sdn. Bhd., Wisma Anthonian, 235,
Jalan Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur 09-08; 2. Catholic Information
Services 50 E&F, Penang Rd., Penang
“The real question for Republicans in NEW ZEALAND: Catholic Depot Ltd., 64 Wyndham Street, Auckland
PAKISTAN: Fr. Joseph Louis, 8-Katchery Road, Lahore
Washington is how low you can go, because we are PHILIPPINES: P.O. Box 2950, 1099 Manila
approaching a level of ridiculousness.” SINGAPORE: Select Books PTE. Ltd., 215 Tanglin Shopping Centre,
2/F 19, Tanglin Road, Singapore 10
Scott Reed, a Republican strategist; after a string of sex scandals TAIWAN: P.O. Box 8-146, Taipei 100
following Mark Foley of Florida, Jack Abramoff and Senator David Vitter, THAILAND: NASAC, 2 Saensuk, Prachasongkroh Road, Bangkok 10.
all of the Republican breed. U.S.A.: c/o Mrs. M. Taranella, Walsh Bldg., 1st Floor, Maryknoll, New
“
York 10545
Africa, Caribbean, Latin America - 1 year - US$ 60.00 Visit our website at www.impactmagazine.net
CONTENTS
TERRORISM is ideological. It is pursued for rea-
sons of politics, religion or both. Which is why acts EDITORIAL
of terrorism are always justified, because politics
and religion justifies—or so it is understood and One too many ...........................................................27
made so by those enclaved in it.
COVER STORY
Banditry is not terrorism. When an ideologue is
reduced to banditry, it becomes defrocked of its
reason for being, and, hence, of its self-attributed
dignity and justification.
Classifying the Abu with the MILF or the CPP is like The Impact of Microfinance in the Philippines ........ 4
classifying a dog with its manure. Be that as it may,
but it has earned the Abu a special treatment of an
THE DIRTY SEVEN .................................................. 7
all-out-war from the Philippine government, no The CBCP’s Second National Rural Congress: In
less. Now it’s a war between the best generals
trained at the Philippine Military Academy and True Gospel Fidelity for the Rural Poor .............. 9
street thugs who should be laughing by now for
meriting a good attention. It is not so unlike waging
Hegazi Case: Islam’s Obsession with
war with a chicken dung, courtesy of the bright Conversions ......................................................... 11
boys of Malacañang’s war room.
Mission Impossible: Eject the Holy See from the
But what do you expect of the military, much less of
this government? At least a short episode with the
United Nations ...................................................... 14
Abus will be a breather from the “inspired” extra-
judicial killings and disappearances. Besides, an
The Tears of Lady Edita ......................................... 22
all-out-war has bigger budget than, say, abduc- Lifestyle and Entertainment ................................. 23
tions or making militants (and some election re-
turns) disappear. DEPARTMENTS
This issue opens with Gemma Rita Marin’s “The Quote in the Act ....................................................... 2
Impact of Microfinance in the Philippines.” Poverty
alleviation and the empowerment of the poor begin News Features .......................................................... 24
with micro-enterprise not with mega-investments
that habitually allure salivating crocodiles of cor-
From the Blogs ......................................................... 26
ruption. From the Inbox ........................................................ 28
Our cover story is written by Fr. Milan Ted D. Book Reviews .......................................................... 29
Torralba. “Landmarking the Cultural Heritage of
the Church: Highlights of the Holy See—Philippines CINEMA Review .................................................... 30
Agreement,” is a perspective from within. Which is
why, there are issues on the cultural heritage of the Quotes in Quiz ........................................................ 30
Church that come as a surprise. Read on. News Briefs .............................................................. 31
Volume 41 • Number 9 3
The Impact of Microfinance in the Philippines
The Impact of
branching for banks engaged in
microfinance, and BSP Circular no.282
opened a rediscounting window for
microfinance.
Microfinance in
However, the achievements and mile-
stones of microfinance in the country have
mostly been confined to the level of the
the Philippines
microfinance institution and too little on
the beneficiary side.
T
here are many high points in the use such as education loan, emergency that would look into the impact or contri-
implementation of microfinance in loan, hospital bill reimbursement, scholar- butions of microfinance on the lives of the
the Philippines since the 1980s. ships and death benefit. Borrowers tended poor clientele. With funding support from
The experiment of Nobel Peace to divert the loan proceeds to pressing Oikocredit and ICCO, the research team of
Awardee Professor Muhammad Yunus of financial needs other than the project or INAFI and JJCICSI visited ten MFIs
Bangladesh to provide small, non-collat- stated purpose. On the part of the MFIs, it around the country, interviewed at least
eralized loans to women at affordable in- minimized the risk of unpaid obligations. six client–and staff-key informants per MFI,
terest rates, famously called Grameen Bank, Other more productive offerings were and surveyed more than 300 client-respon-
echoed in the Philippines in the late 1980s. micro-insurance or mutual benefit asso- dents. The research was concluded last
Its first replicators were NGOs, the sector ciation which mitigated the vulnerability May, and its findings were presented in a
most exposed to the plight of the poor. of the poor clients. In 2003, housing loans, forum with an audience of almost 50 people
Among the pioneers include Ahon sa utility and housing-related credit such as coming from the participating MFIs and
Hirap, Inc., Tulay sa Pag-Unlad, Inc. (now providing solar power were initiated in line representatives from the government, non-
known as TSPI Corporation) and Negros with improving the quality of life. government and private sectors.
Women for Tomorrow Foundation. These The Philippine government, in its de- The research employed a framework
NGO-MFIs offered a wide array of finan- termined fight against poverty, identified that measured the extent to which
cial products and services. First was credit microfinance as its national strategy or microfinance institutions have achieved
for productive purposes. The package in- approach for delivering financial services the objectives of poverty alleviation and
cluded provisions for saving such as to the poor. This was concretized with the empowerment (especially of the women),
weekly savings which were kept safe by creation of the National Anti-Poverty for the past ten years. On a scale of 1 to 4
the microfinance institution (MFI) and Commission (NAPC) in June 1998. Among with 4 as very much achieved and 1 as not
could only be withdrawn upon the its mandates were to develop and promote achieved, key informants gave a score of
member’s disengagement from the group microfinance by establishing the People’s almost 3.00 to both, indicating that they
and the MFI. Development Trust Fund, strengthening perceived the twin objectives as achieved.
The MFIs also came up with loan the People’s Credit and Finance Corpora- Between the two, however, poverty alle-
facilities for consumptive or providential tion as the forerunner of microfinance ser- viation was slightly higher at 2.97 vis-à-vis
empowerment’s rating of 2.83. When the The impact of microfinance’s on at 2.60. The client-survey respondents,
client-respondents were asked an open- poverty alleviation numbering 317, confirmed this observa-
ended question as to the other benefits tion when 72 percent agreed or strongly
they enjoyed from availing themselves of Under poverty alleviation, the indica- agreed that they borrow less from the
microfinance services aside from better tor on increase in access to financial ser- informal lenders. They recognized that the
incomes and more assets, the responses vices / reduced dependence on high-cost MFI has become a ready source of credit
still referred to aspects of poverty allevia- credit was seen as most attained at 3.22 and financial services like savings and
tion more than empowerment. while access to social services was lowest insurance. Top reasons for borrowing were
Volume 41 • Number 9 5
The Impact of Microfinance in the Philippines
General character
of microfinance in
the country
The study is in
the process of being
put into final form. The
open forum opened a
venue for healthy ex-
change and discus-
sion among the par-
ticipants for clarifica-
tion, inquiries and fur-
ther analysis and en-
hancements of the
study. Overall in the
meantime, the study
gathered that the gen-
T
hey have been called “the dirty
seven.” It sounds like characters in
a bad cowboy flick, but the label
referred to the seven abandoned mines
that the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (D.E.N.R.) has priori-
tized for rehabilitation.
The tag seems less apt, however, for
the places and communities that sustained
THE DIRTY SEVEN
damage from irresponsible mining, and
more fitting instead for the companies that By Cielito C. Goño
fled the social and environmental havoc
they caused. These companies are enu-
merated in Table 1. The first six are ordered
here according to the general risk ranking various creeks that cut through the mine portions of the Taft River as well, and was
measured for the D.E.N.R. by the engineer- site before they drain into the Taft River in increasingly narrowing its contributing
ing consultancy group Tetra Tech EM Inc. Eastern Samar, raising questions regard- creeks.
in 2001. (The seventh was not part of the ing the safety of local aquatic life. Local Under prior laws governing its mining
risk assessment and ranking.) wildlife was also suspected of ingesting activities, P.P.C. never was and never will
contaminated vegetation, as well as con- be under any obligation to do anything
taminated aquatic resources from the Taft about this. Consequently, the Philippines’
River and its contributing creeks. tax payers are left holding the bag, as the
The 2005 assessment of the Mines country incurs loans to finance even the
and Geosciences Bureau (M.G.B.) affirmed most preliminary steps towards the long-
that there was continuing acid mine drain- delayed clean-up work that should have
age (A.M.D.) with significant concentra- been required of companies like P.P.C.
tions of iron, copper and zinc in Bagacay. The World Bank’s Board of Executive
As a result of A.M.D. build-up, the vicinity Directors approved last June 26, 2007 a
of the Bagacay mine remains devoid of US$57 million loan and grant that will fund
vegetation and animal life. The M.G.B. the National Program Support for Environ-
also found that tailing dams, dilapidated ment and Natural Resources Management
mill structures and unstable mine pit slopes (NPSENRMP) for five years. A compo-
were in need of stabilization, and that they nent of this fund especially targets the
could be further releasing contaminants “development of full rehabilitation plans
Topping the list, and the only one that are disturbed and carried off by water for abandoned mines,” as well as initial risk
with rehabilitation funding in the pipeline, in times of heavy rainfall year after year. mitigation in the Bagacay site during the
is the mine that the Philippine Pyrite Cor- Excessive siltation continued to cloud first year of funding. (See Box 1.)
poration (P.P.C.) abandoned in Bagacay,
Western Samar in 1992. The area has since
turned into a ghost town, as the local
population dwindled when the main source
of livelihood—the pyrite and copper
mine—shut down due to pressures from
an unfavorable international market for
minerals, as well as a local labor dispute.
The P.P.C. is yet another illustrative
case in which a mining company’s use of
a mineral-rich site has not spun off other
economic activities that would sustain the
local community past the life of the mine.
It is just as well that the out-migration
has happened, however, considering that
the former mining area has very likely be-
come rather too perilous for human habi-
tation, regardless of the employment op-
portunities. Local concentrations of ar-
senic, lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and
mercury were measured at high enough
levels to threaten wildlife in and around
the abandoned site, according to the Tetra
Tech assessment of 2001. Metal contami-
nants have been found in sediments in
Volume 41 • Number 9 7
THE DIRTY SEVEN
REFERENCES:
This new loan and grant money will country. These are resources that could D.E.N.R. Mines and Geosciences Bureau Min-
reportedly take around a three-month de- have gone into education and health for ing and Safety Division. November 27,
tour through the Department of Budget the poor, and other measures for poverty 2006. “Environmental Assessment of
and Management, and could therefore alleviation, had there been sufficient fore- Abandoned Bagacay Mine Relative to the
Proposed Interim Remediation Measures of
expectedly be in the hands of the D.E.N.R. sight, integrity and cunning on the part of the World Bank Supported Project.”
as early as October 2007. In the meantime, policy makers to hold mining companies D.E.N.R. Environmental Management Bureau.
according to engineers at the M.G.B., the accountable. “Social Assessment of the Bagacay Mine.”
Kuipers, James R., Ann S. Maest, Kimberley A.
D.E.N.R. is preparing the Terms of Refer- At the core of this difficulty is an MacHardy and Gregory Lawson. 2006.
ence for the bidding process to select local intractable moral hazard. Governments and “Comparison of Predicted and Actual Wa-
contractors that could implement the all actors outside mining companies do ter Quality at Hardrock Mines: The Reliabil-
ity of Predictions in Environmental Impact
Bagacay rehabilitation and remediation job not have the ability to independently se- Statements.”
with the M.G.B. cure complete information regarding the Repetto, Robert. July 2004. “Silence is Golden,
The fund will clearly focus mainly on repercussions of mining activities. Only Leaden, and Copper: Disclosure of Mate-
rial Environmental Information in the Hard
planning and policy reform. Apart from mining companies are in the best position Rock Mining Industry.” Yale School of
the interim efforts in Bagacay, no actual to do this. Yet, it runs completely against Forestry & Environmental Studies Publica-
rehabilitation and remediation work will be their interest to be transparent regarding tion Series. Report Number 1. Available at
www.yale.edu/fes/publications.htm.
covered. After this project, the Philippine what they should be held accountable for. Tetra Tech EM Inc. 2001a. “Executive Summary:
government will have to find a way of This moral hazard plagues environ- Semi-detailed Assessment of 21 Aban-
financing what it said was its target of mental regulation in mining industries in doned/Inactive Mine Sites in the Philippines.”
cleaning up seven abandoned mines. different parts of the world. For instance, Submitted to Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural
Whether this will be done through Robert Repetto, an economist at the Uni- Resources Mines & Geosciences Bureau.
another loan or through the allocation of versity of Colorado, examined ten envi- Tetra Tech EM Inc. 2001b. “Philippine Pyrite
part of future mining revenues, the money ronment related hardrock mining events Corporation, Hinabangan, Western Samar:
Semi-detailed Assessment of Abandoned/
that would be spent to rehabilitate aban- including spills and abandonment, involv- Inactive Mine Sites in the Philippines.” Sub-
doned mines represents opportunity costs. ing mines that were run by publicly traded mitted to Republic of the Philippines Depart-
By failing to require mines to provide as- companies in the United States and else- ment of Environment and Natural Resources
Mines & Geosciences Bureau.
surances that they can pay for clean-ups, where. All ten companies, he wrote in his World Bank. 2007a. May 11, 2007. Integrated
the Philippines’ policy makers, and the 2004 report, knew of the risks and uncer- Safeguards Datasheet Appraisal Stage.
special interests that influenced them, have tainties that led to the events. All but one National Program Support for Environment
and Natural Resources Management
exposed Filipino taxpayers to burdensome failed to fully disclose risks and liabilities Project. Report No. AC2360.
debts and foregone gains. The task of to investors. It was not good for investor World Bank. 2007b. May 25, 2007. Project
prevention would have been much less confidence, and not good for business, for Appraisal Document. National Program
Support for Environment and Natural Re-
costly than the work or remediation that a mining company to be accurate and sources Management Project. Report No
now confronts this already cash-strapped forthcoming about any of its liabilities. 38670-PH.
D
uring its January 2007 Plenary
Volume 41 • Number 9 9
The CBCP’s Second National Rural Congress: In True Gospel Fidelity for the Rural Poor
own ideas, the planning of how we must as comes of the Diocesan and Sub-regional tariat (under Msgr. Juanito Figura).
a people come together to work for the Consultations. The Congress itself may The ad intra secretariat for the dioc-
common good of the country and for our- take two to three days. esan consultations on BECs includes: Sr.
selves.” Thinking that partnership with the Rosanne Mallilin of CBCP-NASSA (Coor-
In this light, multi-tiered consultations rural poor need not end in the NRC, a post- dinator); Msgr. Elmer Abacahin of the CBCP-
are to be implemented by the bishops: NRC scenario of engagement with govern- BEC Office; and a representative of the
ment, church, business, academe, etc. has Episcopal Commission on Indigenous
Phase One been proposed to bring forward the most Peoples. The ad extra secretariat for Sub-
important outcomes of the Second NRC to regional consultations on rural issues are
To be implemented from July to No- pertinent agencies and other venues and the following: Ms. Lourdes Cipriano of
vember 2007 in two parallel tracks: the first stakeholders of rural development. PMP (Coordinator), Fr. Jess Malit of
group of Diocesan-level consultations to According to Archbishop Antonio J. AMRSP and Ms. Belinda Formanes of RPS.
be organized by the Ad-Intra Secretariat— Ledesma, S. J., the actual schedule and A Board of Lay Consultants has like-
National Secretariat for Social Action conduct of the Diocesan, Sub-Regional wise been convened to provide inputs
(NASSA) and the Offices for the Basic and the Second National Rural Congress and recommendations to the process and
Ecclesial Communities (BEC) and the In- will likely be adjusted subject to decisions composed of the following: Former
digenous Peoples; the second group of by the upcoming September 13, 2007 CBCP Comelec Commissioner Christian S.
Sub-Regional level Consultations to be Permanent Council meeting. Monsod, FFF leader Leonardo
conducted by the Ad-Extra Secretariat— On the helm of the entire process Montemayor, Former Senator Bobby
Philippine Misereor Partnership (PMP), under the CBCP Plenary Assembly is the Tanada, and Ms. Mary Racelis of the Insti-
the Association of the Major Religious NRC Central Committee with Archbishop tute of Philippine Culture.
Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) and Antonio J. Ledesma (Executive Chairman), Research Institutes have likewise been
the Rural Poor Solidarity (RPS), a coalition Bishop Broderick Pabillo (Vice Chairman), convened to provide important academic
of non-government organizations and Bishop Socrates Villegas, Bishop Sergio and ground level studies support to the
people’s organizations. Utleg and Sr. Rosanne Mallillin, SPC (mem- NRC processes. These include the follow-
These consultations are mechanisms bers). ing: ASI, ICSI, PARRDS, HDN, APPC,
by which representatives of farmers, in- The Central Committee is to be as- CSI, PDI, IBON, Philrights, CARRD, UP-
digenous peoples and fisherfolks shall sisted by the Episcopal Advisory Council, SOLAIR, UST-SRC, and IPC-Ateneo de
identify and analyze their priority issues which is composed of Gaudencio Cardinal Manila.
and recommendations for presentation Rosales (Luzon), Ricardo Cardinal Vidal The unusual excitement generated by
and prophetic action at the Diocesan lev- (Visayas), Archbishop Orlando Quevedo the Second National Rural Congress ush-
els and the NRC level. (Mindanao), and Archbishop Angel ers a newfound, or what others would call,
Lagdameo (CBCP). a reawakened church—peasant/rural poor
Phase Two An auxiliary arm of the NRC-Central relationship. A kind of partnership that
Committee will be composed of the CBCP the rural poor is earnestly pinning their
To be implemented in the first quarter Offices: Research (under Archbishop hopes ahead—to reclaim their dignity as
of 2008, the Second National Rural Con- Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ., Media (under human beings and be emancipated from
gress shall discuss and collate the out- Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, III ) and the Secre- the clutches of grinding poverty! I
© http://www.adelaideinstitute.org
T
he case has received a lot of public The case of Mohammad Hegazi, young Egyptian converted to Christian-
attention: a young Egyptian, ity, who wishes to be legally recognized as such, has opened a new
Mohammad Ahmad Hegazi, age 25, debate in the Islamic world on conversions, which are often seen as acts
converted to Christianity some years ago of apostasy that merit death. What has emerged is a veritable obsession
(some say 9, others 6 years ago; according in Islam for personal conversions, this religion having been reduced
more to an ethnic and sociological submission. There is even talk of a
to the Islamic version, it was just a few plan to convert Europe and the world to Islam, to which European
months ago!). He then married a woman governments are giving a hand. This piece, which is taken from
named Zeinab, who also became Chris- AsiaNews with permission, is the first part in an analysis by Fr. Samir
tian, taking the name Cristina. In recent Khalil Samir, Egyptian Jesuit who is expert on Islam, on the issue.
months, he asked that his documents show
his new religious affiliation. In Egypt, iden-
tity cards must indicate the holder’s reli-
gion and, so far, Hegazi’s is officially Is- pecting a baby. And if they are registered general public. The vast majority is saying
lam. This means that he is considered to as Muslims, the child will have to be as that Mohammad Hegazi must be killed as
be Muslim for various legal questions well, regardless of the parents’ wishes. an apostate. Only a small part dares to
pertaining to inheritance rights, family law, When administrative authorities quote the Koran—which states that “there
etc. balked at his request, Hegazi went to the is no compulsion in religion”—and states
His request has effectively been courts to claim his rights, with the help of its support for his freedom.
turned down by administrative authori- a lawyer from an NGO. The case is ex-
ties, who did not see his request through. tremely important, more than it may ap- Identity cards
So, Hegazi went directly to the govern- pear, also because it has been reported by
ment. Why did he ask for this change to be media around the world and now the press The liberal world in Egypt has for
made only now, years after his conver- in Egypt is also discussing it. Initially, decades been asking that religion be re-
sion? Perhaps because the couple is ex- reactions came from imams, then from the moved from official documents. The speci-
Volume 41 • Number 9 11
ARTICLES
fication of religious affiliation serves only bassy. In reply, the Tunisian consulate
to allow discrimination—of non Muslims, asked for a document that shows that her
that is. I myself have experienced such fiancé is “Muslim”! And to think that
discrimination many times and must say Tunisia is one of the few “moderate” and
that, despite the promises of many politi- highly secularized Muslim countries! Still
cians, religion is still indicated on identity today, the couple has not been able to
cards. There are for example Catholic semi- marry due to the Tunisian consulates re-
narians who, according to their identity fusal to give the woman a document stat-
card, are “Muslim.” Almost by default, ing that she is free to marry.
newborns are registered as Muslim in pub- A great debate has been underway in
lic records. If one wants the registration Egypt in past months over the case of 12
changed, he is told that “it’s complicated” Christians: they formally converted to Is-
and that “there are advantages to being lam to be able to divorce, obtaining a new
Muslim.” All this is not just a bureaucratic identity card that shows their new religion
problem. right away. Immediately after, they de-
There is the desire, on the part of clared themselves to be Christian again
certain administrative offices, to use their and asked to have their old ID card re-
position to “Islamize” Christians, or sim- turned. It seems that the matter will take a
ply an aversion to making such a change. positive turn for them and should be re-
This aversion is not due however to the solved favorably this September. As we
inefficiency of Egyptian bureaucracy. The can see, the “identity card” question has
proof is that, going the other way, there is great political importance, and this ex-
never any difficulty in changing the iden- plains the intensity of the debate under-
tity card of a Christian who wants to be- way in the Islamic world. It is in fact a step
come Muslim: this gets done right away! that should bring the state to a certain
This is therefore a lobby and a tendency in neutrality vis-à-vis religions.
the public administration to Islamize people,
starting with their official documents. The conversion obsession
Something similar happens even in Tur-
key—the secular Turkey!—where it takes The Islamic world is truly obsessed
years to change one’s name to a Christian with conversions. At least 7 Islamic coun-
name, as a confrère tells me. tries apply the death penalty to those
It’s a general phenomenon, aimed at who convert from Islam: Sudan, Iran,
Islamizing the greatest number of Chris- Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan,
tians possible (there are at least 7 million of Mauritania. But in other states, like Egypt,
them in Egypt. The documents of a family converts are condemned to prison, not as
related to me, third generation Christians, apostates but for contempt of Islam, as
still say they are “Muslim.” The children, Hossam Bahgat, a member of the Egyp-
who go to mass every Sunday, are regis- tian Initiative for personal rights, explains.
tered as “Muslims.” This makes it difficult According to government daily Al-
for them to marry Christians, and often in Massa’, all imams are unanimous on the
cases like this, people are forced to flee the need to kill the apostate Hegazi. They say
country in order to be married in a Christian that sharia (not the Koran) must be en-
church. The problem is that this situation forced and it calls for the death penalty.
is upheld by the law. The more moderate say: if the apostate
Under Egyptian law, children “belong hides his conversion, does not broadcast
to the better religion”, i.e. Islam. That this his decision, then it is not necessary to
is stated in a body of law explains the kill him; he can live. If he lets it be known,
discrimination in question. For example, a then he causes scandal (fitna) and must
Muslim woman does not have the right to die.
marry a Christian man: since children be- I happened to be looking through the
long to the father, their children would be web-site of the “Forum of Arab Avia-
“Christian.” Legislation as a whole is tion.” This case—Hegazi’s conversion—
designed to Islamize. The consequences is the sole topic of the site’s “Islamic”
are also felt outside the Muslim world. In section. There are 8 reactions registered
Italy, last year, there was the case of a on the page and they all say that he must
Tunisian woman who wanted to marry an be killed. Some are subtle, saying for
Italian man, a baptized Catholic but non- example: “The government must take the
practicing. Italian laws required the woman harshest decision to eliminate this prob-
to present a document from her country of lem,” but all the others quote the Koran:
origin showing that she is free to marry, “Fitna is worse than killing” (2,191 and
which she sought from the Tunisian em- 2,217); others say that “Islam is the better
religion”; others still “Kill him to avoid thority, stated to the Washington Post
fitna” (8,39); others: “He who wants a last June that apostasy “should not” be
religion other than Islam, his worship will punished by death, eliciting numerous
not be accepted and in the Hereafter he reactions from Al-Azhar. After many
will be among the losers” (3,85). people expressed their approval for a
No one quotes the Koranic phrase death sentence, he retracted in a con-
that affirms freedom of conscience, the fused matter and his stance is still today
one quoted by the Pope at Regensburg unclear. On the surface, he wanted to
last September 12: “there is no compul- reassure the West by using ambiguous
sion in religion (2, 186); nor the other that wording, like the one that goes: “Apos-
says: “Truth comes from your Lord. Let tasy is to be punished when it represents
him who will believe and let him who will fitna or when it threatens the founda-
not believe” (18,29). This was the case in tions of society.”
dozens upon dozens of comments in nu- Instead, as we have said, there is no
merous Islamic web-sites in the last week punishment in this world for the apostate
alone. Generally, for every 10 people who according to the Koran. But the imams
call for his death, there is just one who rely on one of the Prophet’s hadith of
said: “I think that Hegazi should be free to Islam handed down by Ibn ‘Abbas: “Kill
choose.” Others say that, yes, the Koran the one who changes religion.” And they
has the verse that says “there is no com- rely on the fact that Mohammad applied
pulsion...”, but it has been cancelled this punishment to Abdallah Ibn al-Azhal
(nusikha) by the famous “sword verse” who, to avoid being killed, had sought
(âyat al-sayf) that would have cancelled protection in the Kaaba shrine, but
dozens of verses, which however no one Mohammad ordered his companions to
can identify: if that would be verse 5 of kill him.
chapter 9 (known as the “penitence” To all this must be added the reaction
verse, al-tawbah), or verse 29, or 36, or of Hegazi’s and his wife’s parents. Ques-
else 41: all these speak of killing the other, tioned by Islamic judges, his father de-
and are often applied to apostates. nied that his son converted to Christian-
ity. His mother began screaming hysteri-
Death for the apostate cally: “My son is dead, there will be no
relation between us until the judgment
In any case, 3 famous imams have day!” Ali Kamel Suleiman, the father of
pronounced themselves against Hegazi. Zeinab, Hegazi’s wife, was more explicit.
The first is Imam Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a He declared to the independent daily al-
big expert in his field, who cites dozens Dustûr: “Bring me my daughter in what-
of references from the first centuries ever way possible, even dead.” In our
and concludes that Hegazi has to be Egyptian mentality, this means: kill her, or
killed because the group is in danger bring her to me alive and I will kill her.
and the group takes priority over the Because of the parents’ behavior,
individual. The idea is: if this person Mamduh Nakhla, a Copt, director of the
begins to speak and says that he is “Al-Kalima” Centre for Human Rights,
happy to be Christian, and smilingly who had submitted to the administrative
appears in photos with a Gospel in his courts a request for the recognition of
hands, this is intolerable and is non- Hegazi’s conversion to Christianity, then
Muslim propaganda, which is officially withdrew it for 2 reasons: “to not break
allowed neither in Egypt, nor in other Hegazi’s ties with his family” and due to
Islamic countries. And since Hegazi is the “lack of a certificate of [Hegazi’s]
spreading Christian propaganda, he conversion to the Copt Church.” This
must be killed. was confirmed by Father Morcos, a
Suad Saleh, Muslim judge and dean bishop close to the Patriarch Shenouda,
of the Faculty of Islamic Science at Al- who stated, “The Church does not pros-
Azhar University, has stated: yes, in elytize.” In all such matters of conver-
matters of faith there is no compulsion, sion, the Copt Church is usually very
but Hegazi is spreading propaganda and prudent, because it must take account of
thus the law must be applied. The judge the “common good,” so as not to com-
advises that the apostate be given 3 promise other negotiations with the gov-
days to repent and reconvert to Islam ernment. Rumani Gad el-Rabb, another
(istitâbah), then “apply the law” (i.e. executive of the Al-Kalima Centre, in-
execution). stead told AFP that the group withdrew
The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Ali the request after having received threats.
(AsiaNews) I
© George Steinmetz/Corbis
Volume 41 • Number 9 13
N E W S
FEATURES
Mission Impossible:
by Sandro Magister
I
n cauda venenum,” the Latin saying position that can be traced back to the “This is why the Holy See’s activity
goes. And there’s poison in the tail of beginning of the international community within the international community is of-
the July 21 article on Vatican diplomacy itself, and has been reinforced above all ten a ‘sign of contradiction’, because it
in “The Economist.” After two pages full since the end of the nineteenth century. does not cease to raise its voice in defense
of pleasantries, the article in the English “With the disappearance of the Papal of the dignity of each person and of the
weekly—which is widely read in govern- States, it has, in fact, become increasingly sacredness of all human life, above all the
ment foreign offices—ends with this ad- more clear that the Holy See’s interna- most vulnerable, and in defense of the
vice for the Holy See: tional juridical personality is independent family founded upon marriage between
“It could renounce its special diplo- of the criterion of territorial sovereignty. one man and one woman. It does not cease
matic status and call itself what it is—the This situation is accepted tranquilly by to assert the fundamental right to religious
biggest non-governmental organization in the international community both on the freedom, and to promote relations among
the world.” On a par with Oxfam or Doctors bilateral level—I recall that there are al- individuals and peoples founded upon
without Borders. most 180 countries that maintain diplo- justice and solidarity.
The Vatican was not pleased, and matic relations with the Holy See—and on “In carrying out its international role,
decided to react. The response came on the multilateral level, as shown in particu- the Holy See is always at the service of the
August 9, from the head of Vatican diplo- lar by the UN general assembly resolution comprehensive salvation of man, accord-
macy, the French archbishop Dominique 58/314 of 2004, which expanded the range ing to Christ’s commandment. It comes as
Mamberti, secretary for relations with and prerogatives of the Holy See’s action no surprise that there are some who seek
states, in an interview with the newspaper as a permanent observer at the UN. to diminish the resonance of its voice!”
of the Italian bishops’ conference, “Behind the invitation to reduce itself Archbishop Mamberti’s response
“Avvenire.” to a non-governmental organization, apart deserves some illustration.
Here is his complete reply to the con- from a lack of understanding of the Holy The idea of expelling the Holy See
clusion of “The Economist”: See’s juridical status, there is probably from the concert of nations is not new.
“This is certainly not an acceptable also a reductionist vision of its mission, Since 1995, “Catholics for a Free Choice”
invitation! It may have arisen from an im- which is not sectarian or linked to special has tried to do this through petitions
precise understanding of the Holy See’s interests, but is universal and inclusive of signed by various countries. The Ameri-
position in the international community: a all the dimensions of man and humanity. can group is led by a former religious
bly approved a resolution that not only ing the UN, the African Union, and the
confirmed, but even reinforced the Holy Organization of American States.
See’s presence in the organization. Essentially, it is easier to count the
The Holy See has been at the UN since countries with which the Holy See still
April 6, 1964 with “permanent observer does not have relations. There are seven-
status”: a rank that until a few years ago it teen. Nine of these are Muslim: Afghani-
shared with Switzerland, until this became stan, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Comoros,
a full-fledged member state. Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritania,
In its capacity as an observer, the Oman, and Somalia. Another four are run
Holy See does not vote in the general by communist regimes: China, North Ko-
assembly, but has a right to address the rea, Laos, and Vietnam. The remaining four
body and to reply. But it is a full member in are Bhutan, Botswana, Myanmar, and
various subsidiary bodies of the United Tuvalu.
Nations, for example in the commission for With such a high number of states
refugees. that maintain bilateral relations with the
But the strongest element that serves Holy See—and thus acknowledge its ju-
Archbishop Dominique Mamberti to confirm the recognition of the Holy See ridical personality—it is unthinkable that
as an international juridical personality these same states would refuse to recog-
sister, Frances Kissling, but it’s Catholic similar to a sovereign nation is the network nize its right to a place in a multilateral
in name only—more than that, it’s been of bilateral diplomatic relations that it main- organization.
officially excommunicated by the bishops tains: a network that has become increas- It follows that the campaign to eject
of the United States. The campaign was ingly large with the passing of the centu- the Holy See from the UN is not motivated
called “See Change,” and it was aimed at ries, and above all in recent years. by what the Holy See is, but by what it
expelling the Holy See from the United The first permanent papal nunciature does. I
Nations. was established in
The reasons advanced in support of 1500, in the repub-
expulsion were the same ones that “The lic of Venice. The
Economist” has now brought back to light: first Protestant
the Catholic Church is the only religion in state that sent an
the world that sits at the UN as a permanent ambassador to
observer, with “privileges” similar to those Rome was Prussia,
of sovereign nations; it thus represents an in 1805. The first
anomaly that moreover foments disagree- non-Christian state
ment; if the Church strives to bring peace that established
to Burundi, that’s unobjectionable, but diplomatic rela-
when it opposes abortion and euthanasia, tions with the Holy
no, it is not right that in order to support its See was Japan, in
own interests it should make use of an 1942.
international juridical status that doesn’t When John
truly belong to it. Paul II was elected
It is no accident that the campaign for pope in 1978, the
the expulsion of the Holy See from the UN Holy See had dip-
heated up after the international confer- lomatic relations
ence in Cairo in 1994, on population, and with 84 states.
the following conference in Beijing, on Today, it main-
women. At both conferences, the Vatican tains relations with
delegation played an effective role of op- 176 states. The
position to the pro-abortion policies pro- most recent was
moted by the UN itself, and by the major added last May 31:
Western powers. the United Arab
Apart from life and the family, another Emirates.
issue on which the Holy See becomes a Special diplo-
“sign of contradiction”—as archbishop matic relations
Mamberti recalled—is religious freedom. have been estab-
In the bureaucracies of the UN and of lished with Russia,
© Corbis
Volume 41 • Number 9 15
C O V E R
S T O R Y
A
historic ground-breaking event
Highlights of the
Plenipotentiaries of the Holy See and of
the Philippines, in the presence of both
Church and Government officials and
guests, signed the landmark Agreement
Between the Holy See and the Republic of
the Philippines on the Cultural Heritage
Holy See–Philipp
of the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Fernando Filoni, then Ap-
ostolic Nuncio in the Philippines (now
Sostituto for General Affairs, Papal Secre-
tariat of State), signed the said Agreement on
Agreement
behalf of the Holy See, and Mr. Alberto G.
Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, signed
it on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines.
This international bilateral Agreement is the
first between the two Sovereign Entities
since diplomatic relations were established
in 1951 between the Holy See and the Repub-
lic of the Philippines.
The present Accord, as it is known in By Fr. Milán Ted D. Torralba
diplomatic language, which consists of six
articles, regulates the cooperation between
the Holy See and the Republic of the Phil-
ippines for the protection of the Cultural
Heritage of the Catholic Church, in par-
ticular, for the safeguarding of the colonial
churches, museums, archives, libraries,
and works of art belonging to ecclesiasti-
cal institutions that have considerable
historical value and heritage significance.
In this article, we look into the back-
ground that created the environment for
developing the idea of a bilateral interna-
tional agreement and how it can take ef-
fect. We will underscore salient points of
the Accord, and then point out what this
mutual pact hopes to achieve.
Background
e
pines
Volume
Volume 41
41 •• Number
Number 99 17
C O V E R
S T O R Y Landmarking the Cultural
from the NCCA, National Historical Insti- of the NCCA and for the preliminary pe- implications that will bear upon the proper
tute (NHI), National Museum (NM), the rusal of this project, copies were then pastoral care (i.e., the administration, man-
DFA, and the CBCP, the last being repre- advanced to the CBCP and the DFA, the agement, and valorization) of the ecclesias-
sented by this writer, on behalf of the latter of which was for its consideration tical cultural heritage the moment the Agree-
CBCP-PCCHC. and transmittal to its embassy to the Holy ment enters into full force. Corrections,
Meeting during the first half of 2003, See and to the Apostolic Nunciature in the amendments, and revisions accentuated
the TWG came up with different drafts Philippines. the Agreement draft as it made its way
until it concluded its work on 30 July of the A flurry of activities marked this pe- through the CBCP offices of the Episcopal
same year and presented the first text of riod when the document was dispatched Commission on Canon Law, Legal Office,
the Accord. from one office to another for the purpose and Permanent Committee for the Cultural
Transmittals. With the endorsement of measured study in view of the crucial Heritage of the Church. It was tabled for
discussion in the meetings of the CBCP
Permanent Council and in the CBCP Plenary
Assembly for a number of times.
Holy See Suggestion. At a certain
point in the late 2004, the Papal Secretariat
of State, through the Apostolic Nunciature,
presented its observations to the Philip-
pine side and proposed to make concise
the draft into the present six-article Ac-
cord. Having studied the proposed text of
the Agreement, it arrived at the conclusion
that the best way to ensure a true safe-
guard and protection of the cultural heri-
tage of the Church in the Philippines would
be the elaboration of a national agree-
ment guaranteed by an international
Agreement.
In this way, the Holy See foresees two
Agreements: the one at the international
level between the Holy See and the Philip-
pine Republic, and the other at the national
level between the Philippine Government
and the CBCP. The international agree-
ment is the framework juridically assuring
© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media
√ There are 32 Philippine Catho- seum according to the above declared as such by Presi- √ The preservation, restora-
lic colonial churches de- classification on 31 July dent Marcos through P.D. 260.
tion, and/or reconstruction of
clared as National Cultural 2001, in line with P.D. 374. These churches are: the
Barasoain Church (Malolos, these declared colonial
Treasures? The first three— For effective collaboration
churches are subject to the
Paoay Church (Ilocos Norte), for their restoration, these Bulacan), Miag-ao Church
(Iloilo), San Sebastian supervision and control of
Bacarra Church (Ilocos said churches were the sub-
Church (Quiapo, Manila), and either the National Museum
Norte), and San Agustin jects of a memorandum of
agreement entered into, by, the Sto. Niño Church and its or the NHI, both in collabora-
Church (Intramuros, Manila) tion with the Department of
and between the CBCP and convent (Cebu City). Later
and all its liturgical objects on, President Marcos Touris m?
therein—were declared as the NCCA on 7 January 2002.
amended P.D. 260 with P.D.
such by the late President
Ferdinand Marcos by virtue √ There are more than 30 co-
375, on 14 January 1974, to √ The p enalty for violation
include Taal Basilica
of Presidential Decree (P.D.) lonial churches throughout against the provisions of P.D.
(Batangas) and Sta. Maria
260 that he signed into law the Archipelago that the Gov- 260, as amended by P.D.
Church (Ilocos Sur). The rest
on 1 August 1973. The 29 ernment declared as National of the churches were de- 1505 of 11 June 1978, is,
remaining churches were Historical Landmarks? The clared by the National His- upon conviction, imprison-
declared by the National Mu- first batch of churches was torical Institute (NHI). ment for not less than one
T
State also proposed a Joint Committee he Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the individual Bishops actively pur-
constituted of the Government and Church of the Philippines (CBCP) Perma- suing the proper pastoral care, valua-
sides whose task it will be to substantiate nent Committee for the Cultural tion, and utilization of the ecclesiastical
the provisions of the international agree- Heritage of the Church was created on cultural heritage of the local Church in
ment by elaborating a proposed national 8 July 1996, during the CBCP’s 73rd the Philippines through effective means
agreement. Plenary Assembly held at the Betania assigned at its disposal by the CBCP
At the instance of the Apostolic Retreat House, Tagaytay City. The Statutes. It advocates for the heighten-
Nunciature, the CBCP presented the names Assembly elected Most Rev. Leopoldo ing of awareness and sensitivity to
of those who, for the Church side, will be S. Tumulak, then Bishop of Tagbilaran, these so-called privileged means of the
members in the Joint Committee. They are: to be its first chairman. He served from new and renewed Evangelization that
Their Excellencies Most Rev. Diosdado 1996 until 2005, completing five con- particular Churches must address with
Talamayan, Onesimo Gordoncillo, Paciano secutive terms permitted by the CBCP primary attention.
Aniceto, Ernesto Salgado, Jesus Dosado, Statutes. Most Rev. Julito B. Cortes, It also liaises with Philippine Gov-
C.M., Leopoldo Tumulak, Leonardo Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu, succeeded ernment national cultural agencies on
Medroso, Nereo Odchimar, and Julito him. the matter of heritage churches declared
Cortes. The Apostolic Nunciature will also The present members include Most by these agencies as landmarks or sites
be represented in the said Committee, in Rev. Leonardo Y. Medroso, Bishop of worthy of State protection, now in line
compliance with the provision of the Agree- Tagbilaran (Bohol), Most Rev. Chris- with the provisions of the international
ment. The Joint Committee is expected to tian Vicente F. Noel, Bishop of Talibon bilateral Agreement between the Holy
begin its work at the moment of the ex- (Bohol), Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, See and the Republic of the Philippines
change of the instruments of ratification. Archbishop of Zamboanga, and Bishop on the care of the ecclesiastical cultural
Final Phase. With all parties at both Leopoldo Tumulak, Ordinary of the heritage of the Philippine Catholic
sides having been properly consulted Philippine Military Ordinariate, who is Church.
within a span of 4 years, and with the also the Permanent Committee vice- The Permanent Committee also in-
respective mandate of the two Sovereign chair. Fr. Milán Ted D. Torralba, a priest teracts with the Holy See’s Pontifical
Entities to enter into a mutual accord, the of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, is the Commission for the Cultural Heritage of
Agreement, in English and Italian lan- Permanent Committee executive secre- the Church, an advantage made pos-
guages both having equal force, was fi- tary since 1996. sible when Bishop Tumulak was ap-
nally signed on 17 April. The Permanent Committee serves pointed in May 2000 as consultor to the
As of this writing, the Agreement as a consultative body of the CBCP and said Pontifical Commission.
awaits ratification by the Holy See. For the
year nor more than 5 years, √ The S an Agustin Church tural Treasures were also World Heritage Committee
or a fine of not less than PhP inscribed in the UNESCO held in Buenos Aires, Argen-
(Intramuros, Manila), the old-
1,000.00 nor more than PhP World Heritage List in 1993, tina, the St. Peter’s Basilica,
est stone church in the coun- as well as the entire Vatican
10,000.00, or both, at the dis- together with San Agustin
try, was declared a National City-State, was inscribed,
cretion of the court con- Church (Intramuros, Manila)?
cerned? Cultural Treasure by virtue with unanimous consent and
of P.D. 260? It was also later
√ All colonial churches in the applause, in the UNESCO
√ Certain colonial churches
on declared a National His-
torical Landmark by the NHI. Philippines are automatically
World Heritage List? It was a
decision entered into with
have dual declarations as categorized as classified
In 1993, it was inscribed by great importance in the field
National Cultural Treasures historical structures or sites, of international law, and its
UNESCO in the prestigious
and National Cultural Land- in accord with NHI Resolu-
World Heritage List. symbolic value must be obvi-
marks? Some of these repre- tion No. 3, of 22 October ous to all. (see, L’Osservatore
sentative churches are: Pan-
ay Church (Capiz), Boljoon √ The Sta. Maria Church (Ilocos 1991? Roma no, 24 December 1984,
19).
Church (Cebu), Loboc Sur), Paoay Church (Ilocos
Church (Bohol), and Lazi Norte), and Miag-ao Church √ On 31 October 1984, during
Church (Siquijor). (Iloilo) that are National Cul- the 8th Session of the UNESCO (Researched by: Fr. MTD Torralba)
Volume 41 • Number 9 19
Landmarking the Cultural Heritage of the Church: Highlights of the H
nate from the Holy See that demand appre- space for respectful dialogue with the Apostolic Letter Inde a Pontificatus Nostri
ciation and proper action. Government side as regards Philippine of 25 March 1993: “Indeed, by its very
Conscientious familiarity with these Laws enacted during the Martial Law years nature, faith tends to express itself in artis-
documents will eventually raise aware- that were imposed without the courtesy of tic forms and historical testimony having
ness, heighten the level of sensitivity, and any consultation. Another contentious an intrinsic evangelizing power and cul-
foment appreciation for the ecclesiastical area will be the procedures for resolution tural value, to which the Church is called
cultural goods. These are also expected to of heritage contestation where and when to pay the greatest attention.” As for the
lead Church Authorities to acknowledge these occur. A veritable source of conflict Government, the cultural patrimony of the
that the cultural heritage of the Church is is the appeal to the courts to resolve per- Nation, 80% of which is derived from the
a heritage worthy to be shared to the ceived Church violation of Philippine Laws local Church in the Philippines, provides
Filipino Nation on the basis of its partak- that ironically were enacted to protect pride of place, rootedness, and national
ing in the universal value of humanity’s ecclesiastical cultural properties. (Already, identity.
heritage. a civil case to this effect is now sub judice.) By an international bilateral Accord
Other than this is the juridically recognized at the international
acknowledgement that 80% of Philippine Conclusion level, Church and Government demonstrate
heritage was at one time, and still is, cre- that level of wisdom required for the attain-
ated, owned, and managed by the local The proper safeguarding of cultural ment of a just and peaceful ordering of
Church in the Philippines. One cannot heritage is a common means utilized by society. Through it, Church and State lead-
also avoid conceding the immense role the both Church and Government. Being so, ers offer their unique contribution to the
Church played in the historical evolution proper safeguarding guarantees the per- enhancement of the quality of human life
of the Filipino Nation from the very begin- petuation of the inherent sign-value and founded on the imperatives of the natural
ning when the fateful decision was deci- significance of the protected cultural heri- moral law. I
sively made to plant the banners of the tage property. It is true that Church and (Fr. Milán Ted D. Torralba is a priest of the Diocese
Spanish crown and the instrumentalities Government both differ as to their finality: of Tagbilaran, Bohol, and served his diocese in many
of the Cross on these shores. for the Church, its cultural heritage serves capacities. A canon lawyer, he is assistant secretary
of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines, and
2. Installation of Legal Measures to as privileged means of the new and re- executive secretary of the CBCP Permanent
Guarantee Protection. The Agreement newed Evangelization. It can only be so, Committee for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.
At one time, he was a member of the NCCA National
hopes to invest the ecclesiastical cultural for as the Venerable Servant of God Pope Committee on Monuments and Sites, becoming its
goods with a good measure of legal pro- John Paul II affirms in his motu proprio head in 2004.)
tection designed to preserve, promote,
Volume 41
Volume 41 •• Number
Number 99 21
ARTICLES
The Tears
offerings are not good enough. To gain
their favour, nothing less than human blood
would do. They are no different from the
ancient Phoenicians who offered human
of Lady Edita
babies on a red-hot altar to their fire god
Moloch.
As we read the papers everyday, we
hear people disappearing or killed without
the benefit of due process. It takes no less
By Bro. Manuel V. de Leon, FMS than the Chief of Justice of the Supreme
Court to call for a summit to address the
I
’ve been introduced to Mrs. Edita northern frontier of China. But no sooner issue of extra-judicial killings. It has
Burgos and her late husband in 2001 by was one piece built than another fell down, reached a stage that has alarmed the inter-
a common friend and we had the chance and the wall made no progress. national community. The challenge now
to exchange ideas about what they are Then a wise (?) man said to him: “A for us ordinary peace-loving people is
doing in Bulacan to help the farmers go wall like this, which is over ten thousand how not to become apathetic to the situa-
into organic farming and at the same time miles long, can be built only if you immure tion. We cannot simply remain a bystander.
enjoy the simple life of being close to the a human being in every mile of the wall. We, too, need to shed tears to bring about
soil after retirement from teaching. Each mile will then have its guardian.” It the collapse of the wall of the culture of
I cannot imagine Mrs. Edita Burgos, a was easy for the emperor to follow this impunity prevailing in our political life as
retired teacher, bringing up her children to advice, for he regarded his subjects as so a nation.
be violent individuals and become a threat much grass and weeds, and the whole land The world or a society that refuses to
to national security as what the military began to tremble under this threat. shed tears for the victims of injustice is a
officers want to portray them to be. But I Plans were then made for human sac- heartless world. Tears are signs of life.
must also admit that my knowledge of the rifice in great numbers. At the last minute Tears well out of the heart of love and
Burgos family is very limited. Thus, I am “an ingenious scholar” suggested to the restore to the human community the abil-
not in the position to debunk whatever Emperor that it would be sufficient to sac- ity to love. They revive our soul for a
information the military has with regards rifice a man called Wan “since Wan means promise and a future. People who don’t
to the involvement of Jonas Burgos who ten thousand”. Soldiers were dispatched shed tears are no less than the statues—
has been missing since April 28, 2007. at once to seize Wan who was sitting with a piece of stone.
I would like to compare Edita to the his bride at the wedding feast. He was Let our tears become tears of rebel-
character in the book of C.S. Song “The carried off by the heartless soldiers, leav- lion. Let us wage a revolution against the
Tears of Lady Meng.” The Tears of Lady ing Lady Meng, his bride, in tears. brute forces that rape our dignity as Filipi-
Meng is a parable about the struggle of a Eventually, heedless of the fatigues nos. Let us rebel against the forces that
woman seeking justice for the lost of her of the journey, she travelled over moun- rape our conscience, our virtue. Let the
groom who was sacrificed for the sake of tains and through rivers to find the bones powerful rage in fury. But their fury is no
“national security.” of her husband. When she saw the stu- match to the power of the truth. The truth
The parable goes like this: pendous wall she did not know how to find shall set us free.
This happened in the reign of the the bones. To Ma’am Edith, take consolations in
wicked, unjust Emperor. He was afraid at There was nothing to be done, and the fact that the history of a nation does
this time that the Huns would break into she sat down and wept. Her weeping so not consist mainly of emperors, kings,
the country from the north and not leave affected the wall that it collapsed and laid presidents and military generals. What
him any peace. bare her husband’s bones. makes history are the people like you, with
In order to keep them in check, he The legendary story of Lady Meng, whom the soul of Lady Meng lives as they
decided to build a wall along the whole as well as the contemporary story of Mrs struggle for truth, love and justice. I
Lifestyle and
Entertainment
By Fr. Roy Cimagala
T
his is a standard section in all pa- of lifestyle and entertainment includes the to refer ourselves to God, we get lost about
pers, radio and TV. No matter how element of absolute freedom as to what can what true freedom is, or what comprises our
serious the press may be, there’s be done, said and shown in this section. authentic development.
always this part that seeks to lighten Any limitation set by whatever law or Sadly, to many, freedom nowadays is
people’s minds and hearts. standard is considered against the very purely a matter of choice. Artistic privileges
If only for that reason, it deserves not nature of that section. Talk about censor- and creative licenses are entirely a matter of
only a good space and airtime, but also praise ship, and you’re bound to provoke a blister- self-expression. Any reference to any objec-
from everyone. I have met many men and ing storm of protests! tive law or goal outside of the subjects con-
women, otherwise serious in their endeavors, I’m actually all out in support of literary cerned is considered a violation to their nature.
who follow closely, either openly or secretly, or artistic freedom. The problem is that while With this frame of mind, the idea of
the items there. It’s clear they enjoy it. freedom, artistic rights and privileges, and human development can go free-for-all, com-
But precisely because of its immense creativity are supposed to bring us to our pletely subjective and loose. Legitimate
popularity, everything has to be done that potentials’ highest level, without any guid- human and material values get spoiled as
it properly serves its audience. This should ing law they bring us down instead, like water they are detached from their proper context
always be in our mind. Its instant allure seeking its own lowest level. and purpose.
should not blind us to this concern. This has always been the challenge. Pope Benedict talks about a gripping
That moral dangers and abuses abound The passage of time, the great strides of relativism that is ailing the world these days.
there cannot be denied. First, the tendency progress, the accumulation of a wealth of This is the sick ethos of considering every-
to be frivolous, flippant, seems to be a perma- experience, have hardly improved the pic- thing as relative to oneself, to a culture, to
nent threat. Then there is the easy slide to ture. On the contrary, there are indications time and place, etc. Nothing is held absolute
vulgarity and bad taste that are getting to be things are deteriorating. and objective.
more common these days. We don’t have to eyeball our surround- This, I think, is the core of the problem.
Many people are complaining that val- ing to see there is a glorification of the body, And as the Pope says, there is a certain
ues promoted in this section, not very openly, sex, and worldly values—materialistic, con- tyranny involved, since the only absolute
of course, but as it were, in hints and shad- sumerist—at the expense of the spiritual rule relativism follows is precisely that ev-
ows, are rotten. It seems they advance all values. erything is relative.
possible variations of the capital sins. The problem is not only a matter of We should congratulate ourselves,
The spin of the stories, the celebrities focus. It’s now a matter of a systematic since we are still in relativism’s beginning
placed in the limelight in all their luscious negation and even war against anything that stage, still playing it coy and sweet. We are
glory, at least subliminally hype vanity, pride, has to do with the spiritual and supernatural not yet in its ultimate, most rotten stage!
greed and gluttony, lust and sensuality, values that are supposed to govern us. But there’s an inherent contradiction in
laziness, avarice, envy, etc. They tease and What’s happening there obviously is a this madness. It can’t last. But its exposure
gratify the senses, while poisoning the spirit. mere reflection of a deeper crisis swamping and untangling depend on us. Do we take the
It appears that the now fashionable idea our culture today. Without conscious effort challenge? I
Volume 41 • Number 9 23
N E W S
FEATURES
Governance
Talking to AsiaNews
Archbishop Joji expressed his
“deepest sorrow to the vic-
Hyderabad
tant help that can be provided
is to offer a sense of hope in
this time of seeming hope-
lessness.”
Thousands of Catholic
HYDERABAD, India, August to work throughout the night were a pool of blood. One medical staff, doctors and
26, 2007—”The Church of to help victims. All Catholic bomb was in an amusement nurses, were given a special
Hyderabad condemns this institutions like schools, hos- park and another in a fast food dispensation from Sunday
terrorist attack in the stron- pices and parishes are open place that are in the centre of mass to offer all possible assis-
gest possible terms. It is hor- all night to offer hospitality, the city. Dead bodies were tance to the victims of the at-
rendous that elements can un- food and safety to families one on top of the other. Some tacks.
leash such a horrific wave of afraid of going home. bodies do not even have Several Catholic parishes
terror on innocent citizens. The first blast occurred heads. Other bodies are are located near the affected
These bomb blasts are acts at 7.50 pm (GMT 2.20 pm) at crushed beyond recognition. areas. For this reason, Msgr.
of cowardice,” said Msgr. Gokul Chat Shop in Kothi. The Many are seriously injured in Joji “personally phoned all 30
Marampudi Joji, Catholic arch- second one took place a few the hospitals. The whole city parish priests in the diocese
bishop of Hyderabad, as he minutes later about five is in turmoil,” an eyewitness to be on high alert and be very
slammed the two blasts that kilometres away during a la- told AsiaNews. cautious of any suspicious
yesterday killed at least 42 ser show in an auditorium in Andhra Pradesh Home activity in around the
people and injured another 60 Lumbini Park with about 500 Affairs Minister K Jana churches and schools. [...] I
in two separate attacks in the people present. The blast Reddy called the two blasts have told them not to panic,
state capital of the southern ripped through the middle row “a terrorist act.” A senior lo- but trust in God and take pre-
Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. of the auditorium when the cal police official said the ex- ventive measures to ensure
Msgr. Joji called on all show had just begun. plosives used in the twin the safety of the Church and
Christian doctors and “The two places, where blasts today were similar to our personnel.” (Nirmala
nurses—a few thousands— the bomb blasts occurred, that used by terrorists in the Carvalho / AsiaNews)
Volume 41 • Number 9 25
FROM THE
B L O G S
Default Mode
T
he present administration must be in
a default mode on prudence and the
pursuant right judgments. It is not
enough that it issues faulty Presidential
Proclamations and shameful Executive
Orders every now and then to the conster-
nation of the Supreme Court.
I
t is an open secret that practically all Question: What really is “Psycho-
destructions still in the making on account marriages “annulled” by the gov- logical Incapacity”? The nomenclature
of the on-going war. ernment forward the ground of “Psy- itself already says something pitiful and
Lo and behold, considering that the chological incapacity” on the part of irremediable, viz. an incapacitated hu-
above aberrations appear to be still insuf- either or both spouses. It is also quite man psyche. It is in fact a serious adver-
ficient—and there are too many to men- known that especially so in these “an- sity of a personality constitution, the
tion—the present administration just came nulment” cases, the best lawyers are more immediate expressions of which
up with another dangerous idea, another not those who know the law but those range from ingrained immaturity and
ominous plan: Nuclear power! The encom- acquainted with the fiscal and judge gross irresponsibility to deep emotional
passing reason alleged appears ostensi- concerned. All these however notwith- instability and marked lack of remorse—
bly nobly acceptable at first glance, viz., to standing, it might serve not only the all of which cut deep into the meaning of
lower the electric power rates. What it truth but also the awareness of the being an adult.
does not want to remember much less general public what “Psychological In- Question: What are the actual con-
admit is that the government itself is the capacity” really means and what actu- sequences of “Psychological Incapac-
ultimate cause of costly power in the coun- ally implies when such ground is for- ity”? A subject party who is psychologi-
try. mally attributed and judicially proven cally incapable, is precisely that, viz., he
But there are questions the national as appended to a husband and/or wife. or she is disabled in his or her psycho-
leadership itself might want to consider For a start, it will be good to ex- logical constructs from being someone
and hopefully give reasonable answers: pressly and clearly say that “Psycho- sober, better, sounder. The party con-
How much again will it cost the Filipinos to logical Incapacity” is a very serious cerned neither listens to corrections nor
have a working nuclear plant? What com- accusation against someone with grave learns from experience. Such a liability is
pany again will the Government engage, and lasting deleterious consequences usually the product of a downright per-
what contract again will the Government in the latter’s dimension as a person, as sonality disorder.
sign? What about the fault line detected at an individual, and as a man or a woman. Questions: What is the cure of “Psy-
the grounds of the present non-functional Woe to any husband/father or wife/ chological Incapacity”? None. This is
nuclear plant? Where will the government mother who owns such an attitudinal why it is the summit of contradiction that
throw the nuclear waste? What will the and behavioral liability, or who accepts someone proven psychologically inca-
Government do in the event of terrorist such a mental and affective disability— pable and given an “annulment” of his
attacks directed at the plant? although such is not the honest and or her previous marriage, would still be
If the national leadership could even real truth. It is not only mean but also allowed to enter into another marriage.
invent acceptable answers to the above demeaning to the good name and repu- This too is open to “annulment”—and
questions—specially on the matter of the tation of anyone to be branded and so too with all his or her other subse-
handling of public funds, the disposal of known as someone afflicted by “Psy- quent marriages, one or the other.
nuclear waste and the relevance of terror- chological Incapacity”. ovc.blogspot.com
ism—then let it put up nuclear plants in
every street corner all over the land!
But then, this government does not drugs, not to mention jueteng and video sions to leave behind hopefully by 2010?
even know what to do with garbage. It carera. It is not even able to stop smug- Or is this the key component of the glow-
cannot even keep the floods away from no gling and get the smugglers. And now, it ing vision of the Philippines as a first world
less than Metro Manila. It is incapable wants to go nuclear! Is this the glorious Country come 2030?
even of cleaning the country of illegal legacy that the national leadership envi- ovc.blogspot.com
Volume 41 • Number 9 27
FROM THE
I N B O X
A
successful Christian business man board room. When Jim arrived, he was
was growing old and knew it was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the There was once a man who was very
time to choose a successor to take other executives. They were beautiful—in rich and very miserly at the same
over the business. all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot time. The villagers disliked him in-
Instead of choosing one of his Direc- on the floor and many of his colleagues tensely. One day he said to them,
tors or his children, he decided to do some- laughed, a few felt sorry for him! “Either you’re jealous of me or you
thing different. He called all the young When the CEO arrived, he surveyed don’t understand my love of
executives in his company together. the room and greeted his young execu- money—God alone knows. But you
He said, “It is tives. Jim just tried dislike me; that much I know. When
time for me to step to hide in the back. I die, I won’t take anything with me.
down and choose “My, what great I will leave it all for others. I will make
the next CEO. I have plants, trees, and a will, and I will give everything to
decided to choose flowers you have charity. Then everyone will be
one of you.” The grown,” said the happy.”
young executives CEO. “Today one Even then people mocked and
were shocked, but of you will be ap- laughed at him. The rich man said to
the boss continued. pointed the next them, “What is the matter with you?
“I am going to give CEO!” Can’t you wait a few years to see my
each one of you a All of a sud- money go to charity?”
SEED today—one den, the CEO spot- The villagers didn’t believe him.
very special SEED. I ted Jim at the back He said, “Do you think I’m immortal?
want you to plant of the room with his I’ll die like everyone else, and then
the seed, water it, empty pot. He or- my money will go to charities.” He
and come back here dered the Financial couldn’t understand why they
one year from today Director to bring didn’t believe him.
with what you have him to the front. Jim One day he went for a walk. All
grown from the seed was terrified. He of a sudden it started raining heavily,
I have given you. I thought, “The CEO so he took shelter under a tree. Un-
will then judge the plants that you bring, knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me der this tree he saw a pig and a cow.
and the one I choose will be the next CEO.” fired!” The pig and the cow entered into
One man, named Jim, was there that When Jim got to the front, the CEO conversation, and the man over-
day and he, like the others, received a seed. asked him what had happened to his seed. heard what they were saying.
He went home and excitedly, told his wife Jim told him the story. The pig said to the cow, “How
the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and The CEO asked everyone to sit down is it that everybody appreciates you
compost and he planted the seed. Every- except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then and nobody appreciates me? When
day, he would water it and watch to see if announced to the young executives, “Be- I die, I provide people with bacon,
it had grown. After about three weeks, hold your next Chief Executive Officer! ham and sausage. People can also
some of the other executives began to talk His name is Jim!” Jim couldn’t believe use my bristles. I give three or four
about their seeds and the plants that were it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed. “How things, whereas you give only one
beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his could he be the new CEO?” the others said. thing: milk. Why do people appreci-
seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, Then the CEO said, “One year ago ate you all the time and not me?”
four weeks, five weeks went by, still noth- today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. The cow said to the pig, “Look,
ing. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water I give them milk while I’m alive. They
By now, others were talking about it, and bring it back to me today. see that I am generous with what I
their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and But I gave you all boiled seeds; they have. But you don’t give them any-
he felt like a failure. were dead—it was not possible for them to thing while you’re alive. Only after
Six months went by—still nothing in grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought you’re dead do you give ham, bacon
Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his me trees and plants and flowers. and so forth. People don’t believe in
seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, When you found that the seed would the future; they believe in the
But he had nothing. Jim didn’t say not grow, you substituted another seed present. If you give while you are
anything to his colleagues, however. He for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one alive, people will appreciate you. It
just kept watering and fertilizing the soil— with the courage and honesty to bring me is quite simple.”
he so wanted the seed to grow. a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the From that moment on, the rich
A year finally went by and all the one who will be the new Chief Executive man gave all he had to the poor.
young executives of the company brought Officer!” rowena.dalanon@cbcpworld.net
their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim rowena.dalanon@cbcpworld.net
Paul
so much the places he wants to
remember, but the truths, the vir-
tues, ideals and noble experience,
and pious thoughts that have brought
His Letters, Message fellow travelers together and inspired
and Heritage: A them to a greater trust of God.” Indeed,
Reflective as Msgr. Santos asserts in his writ-
Commentary ings, man is on a continuous journey.
Just as Jesus Himself was a migrant
Michael J. Taylor, SJ on this earth, so are we. Continuously
we are on the move, searching for
greener pastures, in a way, making us
O riginally by Alba House,
the book has been in cir-
culation for many years al-
understand that our true home is
heaven. Currently the Rector of
ready in the United States, al- Collegio Filipino in Rome, Msgr.
though this is the first time Santos is also the National Coordina-
St. Pauls Philippines has tor for the Pastoral Care of Filipino Mi-
published it. The time could grants in Italy since 2003.
not be more opportune, as 2008 has
been declared by the Holy Father him-
self as a year dedicated to St. Paul. Go- Lights, Camera… Faith!
ing through this reflective commentary
readers are given an excellent means The Ten Commandments
to understand deeply the mind of the
apostle and to appreciate more his writ- Rose Pacatte, FSP and Peter Malone, MSC
ings. Is he the patriarchal, chauvinist,
antifeminist apostle his critics portray
him to be? Fr. Taylor begs to disagree.
Being a respected liturgical and ecu-
H ow do we make our catechism more
interesting to young people and adults
alike? How do we get their attention to
ists. Pacatte is an award-winning author
of books on Scripture and Film. Malone
was former president of SIGNIS (World
menical scholar, and a New Testament take a second look and reflect a little more Catholic Association for Communication)
professor, Fr. Taylor knows whereof he deeply to moral issues that we are con- and also author of several books on Film.
speaks. In this commentary he gives a fronted with daily? Teaching Catechesis The two have earlier written a three-vol-
chapter by chapter, and verse by verse to a tech-savvy generation always remains ume series titled Lights, Camera…Faith!
exposition of the Pauline letters. The a challenging task. This latest book from A Movie Lectionary for Cycles A, B, and C.
book contains what scholars agreed on Pauline Publishing House gives a fresh This present volume features movie syn-
as authentic Pauline letters; that is, writ- take on the Ten Commandments, of fer- opsis, film commentary, film dialogue with
ten by Paul himself. Written in a clear ing an exciting approach to the study of the Scriptures and the Decalogue, points
and underst andable way, the book is Christian faith. The book explores the for reflection and conversation, sug-
easy to read both for layman and scholar drama of moral life by creating a dialogue gested prayers among other things. In-
alike. An excellent resource for anyone between Scripture, the Ten Command- deed, an excellent resource for catechists,
who wish to know more about Paul and ments, and film. The authors, Rose film educators and professionals, and for
his message in celebration of 2000t h Pacatte, FSP and Peter Malone, MSC, are anyone who seeks profound meaning in
anniversary of his birth. two internationally-known media special- movies.
Volume 41 • Number 9 29
ENTERTAINMENT
O verweight
teenager CATHOLIC INITIATIVE
T r a c y FOR ENLIGHTENED
Turnblad (Nikki
Blonsky) and her
MOVIE APPRECIATION
best friend Penny Title: Hairspray
(Amanda Bynes) Running T ime: 117 mins. Editor: Michael Tronic
top their school Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Genre: Comedy/ Drama/
day swooning
over the song- Travolta, Amanda Bynes, Musical
and-dance TV Christopher Walken, Cinematography: Bojan
show of Corny Queen Latifa, Michelle Bazelli
Collins (James Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Distributor: New Line
Marsden). Tracy Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley Cinema
dreams of one day Director: Adam Shankman Location: Canada
appearing on TV Producers: Neil Meron, Technical Assessment:
with her idol Craig Zadan ½
Corny, but her Screenwriters: Leslie Dixon, Moral Assessment: zzz
grotesquely fat John Waters CINEMA Rating: For viewers
mother Edna Music: Marc Shaiman 14 and above
(John Travolta)
would rather see
her happily run- ger than the role. In a fat suit pires to rid viewers of prejudice.
ning the family’s that jiggles as he moves, First it seems to say that racism
laundry shop. Travolta comes across as is evil, as dramatized in a pro-
However, her father Wilbur the movie, however, is the Travolta in drag pretending to integration march and as finally
(Christopher Walken) wel- cast—each actor seems born be Edna; this sort of distracts reflected towards the end when
comes her fantasy, telling for the role as they each per- from the guile-free appeal of the whites and the blacks cel-
her to follow her heart. An form to advance the movie’s the movie. However, when at ebrate racial harmony in song
opportunity comes for Tracy message. The screen crackles last it is time for Travolta to and dance. Next it sets the self-
when the show announces when newcomer Blonsky as dance, and you half-expect him conceit of the “beautiful”
auditions. In complete Tracy comes on—at home with to segue into pelvis-grinding against the healthy self-confi-
school uniform, Tracy signs her flab and tantalizing with her “Saturday Night Fever”, dence of the “ugly”—between
up but show producer Velma smile. Pfeiffer with her blonde Travolta succeeds in funnily the lines you hear that “beauti-
Von Tussle (Michelle curls, frosted blue eye-shadow spoofing himself. ful outside does not necessar-
Pfeiffer) scoffs at the pudgy and top-rate acting is every The likable characters ily mean beautiful inside or even
girl who sticks out like the inch a lovely witch. Travolta as played by the relatively less beautiful at all” and that “with
proverbial sore thumb in a the obese mother, however, known actors enhance the real- faith in your dreams you can
line of svelte chorus girl seems gimmicky. This is what life credibility of the story. In its also overcome your overweight
types. Corny likes Tracy’s happens when the star is big- own gentle way Hairspray as- without shedding a pound.”
bubbly and natural ways
and gives her a break, irri-
tating the control-freak
Velma. Serving as a sur-
prise and somewhat spoofy
addition to the show, Tracy
becomes an instant hit.
Hairspray owes much of
its entertaining quality to the
songs and dances which spin
almost nonstop, matching the
light but well-woven plot. The
tunes are catchy and the
dances jaunty. Set in Baltimore
USA 1962, the movie features
many songs that lampoon ra-
cial discrimination. Its attrac-
tiveness lies in its lack of pre-
tension—it does not come on
like it’s reaching for the Os-
cars, but as a natural-born
musical spiced up by a dash of
comedy it certainly makes you QUOTES IN QUIZ Booklets available at
feel it’s worth the price of ad- ANSWER TO THE LAST ISSUE: KINDS WORDS CAN BE SHORT AND EASY BOOKSALE stores in SM, Robinsons and selected
mission. The main strength of TO SPEAK, BUT ECHOES ARE TRULY ENDLESS. -- MOTHER TERESA malls in Manila. For mail order text 0919 2803036.
Pakistan lacks religious Majority of whales The world’s largest Rebel group sneaks 40
freedom, says priest killed are pregnant— snake hunt tonnes of weapons to
report Gaza
Christians here still Seven million: that’s
face persecution for their Over 50% of the the estimated annual toll An Israeli intelligence
faith, a Church official whales killed by Japanese in the world’s largest assessment of the mili-
said. This, according to whalers in the Antarctic snake harvest on Tonlé tant Islamic group Hamas
Catholic Bible Commis- Whale Sanctuary in 2006 Sap, this country—the disclosed that Hamas has
sion of Pakistan secre- were pregnant, a report largest freshwater lake in smuggled 40 tonnes of
tary Fr. Emmanuel Asi, said. A Japanese survey south-east Asia. Tonlé weapons into the Gaza
is a contradiction of “the of their most recent whale Sap’s water snakes were Strip, apparently intent
father” of the Pakistani hunt in Antarctic waters largely undisturbed until on resuming suicide
nation’s dream of reli- showed that of the 505 about two decades ago, bombings in Israel. A se-
gious freedom. Christians whales slaughtered, 262 when declining fish nior officer of Shin Bet,
make up only 1.5% of the of them were pregnant, catches and demand for the domestic security
167 million Pakistanis. including one of the three meat for local crocodile agency, told the cabinet
Asi said they are often giant fin whales. The re- farms left Tonlé Sap’s in private testimony that
treated as second-class port was released ahead desperately poor fisher- Hamas’ exiled leadership
citizens, denied basic of the resumption of a men with little choice but in Syria was plotting at-
human rights and victim- Federal Court case the to set their nets for the tacks to sabotage peace
ized by social discrimi- Humane Society Interna- snakes. About 70 per cent talks between Israel and
nation and political op- tional is taking against the of the snakes caught are the Fatah-led Palestinian
pression. Japanese whaling com- rainbow water snakes Authority.
pany Kyodo Senpaku (Enhydris enhydris).
Kaisha Ltd.
S. KOREA CHINA
Volume 41 • Number 9 31