Monitor
CBCP
FEBRUARY 4 - 17, 2019, VOL 23, NO. 03
Pope Francis celebrates a historic Mass for an estimated 170,000 Catholics
at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Feb. 5, 2019. The three-day
UAE trip, which was focused on interreligious dialogue, was the first papal
visit to the Muslim Gulf. VATICAN MEDIA
Church mourns victims
of Jolo cathedral blasts
By Roy Lagarde
POPE Francis led the
Catholic Church’s
m o u r n i n g o f
worshippers killed in
twin blasts that rocked
a cathedral in southern
Philippines on Jan 27,
killing 22 church-goers
and seriously injuring
about a hundred.
Speaking in Panama on the
last day of World Youth Day, the
pope deplored what could be one
of the deadliest attacks in recent
years in a region long plagued by
instability.
“I raise my prayers for the dead
and wounded. May the Lord, prince
of peace, convert the hearts of the
violent and give the inhabitants of
that region a peaceful coexistence,”
he said.
Fr. Romeo Saniel, Apostolic
Administrator of Jolo, said that
most of those who died were his
Blasts / A6
Filipino bishops to meet with Pope Francis in Vatican
THE bishops of the Philippines
will make a pilgrimage to Rome
in the coming months where they
will meet Pope Francis and report
the state of their dioceses.
Fr. Marvin Mejia, secretary
general of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines,
confirmed that the church
hierarchy will undertake the “Ad
Limina apostolorum” (to the
threshold of the apostles) visit in
Bishops to voters: Preserve checks, balances in May polls
CATHOLIC bishops urged voters
to preserve checks and balances in
government by electing ‘principled’
candidates this coming midterm
elections.
In a pastoral letter issued on Jan.
28 after their plenary assembly in
Manila, the bishops stressed the
need for such system that restrain
not only government but those who
run it.
It is “crucial”, they said, because
the checks and balances in the
government today are being
“undermined”.
“We encourage voters to be more
discerning in their votes,” reads
part of the statement.
According to them, the Senate is
the only government institution so
Polls / A7
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE
The scene outside the Jolo Cathedral after two bombs exploded Sunday, Jan. 27, while mass was in progress. AFP WESTERN MINDANAO COMMAND
May and June.
He said that the visit will take
place in three different groups:
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
And since Luzon is a big
delegation, the bishops under the
Ecclesiastical Province of Caceres
will join the Visayas group and
those from the Ecclesiastical
Province of Lipa will be with the
Mindanao prelates.
“It will be held in the last two
More than 80 members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines gather at the Pope Pius
XII Catholic Center in Manila for their 118th plenary assembly, January 26, 2019. ROY LAGARDE
weeks of May and the first week
of June so each group will have a
week in Rome,” Mejia said.
Aside from a personal meeting
with the pope, the visit also
consists of a pilgrimage to major
basilicas in Rome and encounters
with various dicasteries of the
Roman Curia.
Ad limina visits traditionally
have been scheduled every five
years.
CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM
This will be first ad limina visit
for the Filipino bishops under
Francis’ papacy. The last one was
made in 2011 when they met with
Pope Benedict XVI.
The Catholic News Service
previously reported that Pope
Francis launched a new style
of ad limina visit which is more
informal and characterized
by a free-flowing dialogue.
(CBCPNews)
Bishops warn against attempts to
foil midterm elections
THE country’s Catholic bishops
have warned against attempts to
avoid the midterm elections.
In a statement, they urged the public
to turn their attention to the “threat”
that the Lower House’s version of the
federal constitution poses. (See full
text of the statement in page B4)
“Its version of federalism is vague
and it will do away with the 2019
elections,” the bishops said.
“We denounce any attempt to
avoid the elections. This right of
the people to vote should not be
shelved,” they said.
The church officials issued the
warning after their plenary assembly
in Manila over the weekend.
Bishop ‘deeply
saddened’ over
Saudi execution
of Filipina helper
A CATHOLIC bishop said he
was “deeply saddened” over
Saudi Arabia’s execution of
a Filipina household service
worker found guilty of murder.
“This is a very sad and
tragic news, especially our
own is involved,” said Bishop
Ruperto Santos of the Church’s
Commission on Migrants and
Itinerant People.
The bishop’s reaction came
after the Department of Affairs
(DFA) confirmed Thursday
that Saudi authorities carried
out the death penalty for the
unnamed Filipina on Jan. 29.
It is regrettable, he said that
legal assistance to the 39-year-
old Filipina “was not enough”.
“Yet, assistance and help
should still be extended to her
kin,” said Santos.
“We commend to God her
eternal rest, and we pray always
for the safety and security of
our overseas Filipino workers,”
he added.
The DFA declined to identify
the Filipina, saying her family
requested privacy.
It said the Philippine
Embassy “provided her with a
lawyer to assist her in all stages
of her trial, sent representatives
to visit her, and provided her
family in the Philippines with
regular updates about her
case.” (CBCPNews)
According to them, the charter
change passed by the lower chamber
and now being dangled to the senators
is a serious and “more insidious”
matter that people should look into.
“It takes away the term limits
of most of the elected officials
and allows political dynasties to
continue,” they said.
The draft federal constitution,
they claimed, also opens the national
resources to foreign ownership and
eventual control.
“Let us be vigilant in what is
happening. Let us not just be on-
lookers but let us be involved,” the
bishops said. (Roy Lagarde /
CBCPNews)
A2 WORLD NEWS February 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 03 CBCP Monitor

New movie tells story of abortion Vatican Briefing

clinic worker turned pro-life advocate
BRYAN, Texas— A movie its work, at first. Following Jesus is a daily choice, pope tells religious at Vatican
chronicling the conversion of a Just a few weeks The choice to follow God in life is not just a once-in-a-lifetime
former Planned Parenthood clinic later, however, opportunity but a decision that is made every day, Pope Francis
director who became a pro-life she was in the said. Christians truly encounter Jesus through concrete events in
advocate will be released in theaters nearby office of life that occur “every day; not every now and then,” the pope said
nationwide on March 29. the Coalition For in his homily for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the
A trailer for the film Unplanned, Life, telling its World Day for Consecrated Life. “When we welcome (Jesus) as the
which tells the story of Abby director Shawn Lord of life, the center of everything, the beating heart of everything,
Johnson, was released on Jan. 31. Carney –with then he lives and relives in us,” the pope said at the Mass Feb. 2 in
Based off Johnson’s book of the whom she knew St. Peter’s Basilica. The feast commemorates the 40th day after the
same name, Unplanned recounts her from his years birth of Jesus, when Mary and Joseph presented him to the Lord in
experiences in the abortion industry. of opposition the temple. (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
After being first approached at an to Planned
on-campus activities fair, Johnson Parenthood–
began volunteering at Planned that she could no World needs courageous prophets, pope says at Angelus
Parenthood as a clinic escort. After longer continue The world is in need of true disciples of Christ who are prophets
graduation, she took a job with the helping women of hope to the poor and the downtrodden, Pope Francis said. All
company and eventually became the have abortions. men and women, especially those who are suffering, can gain hope
director of the Bryan, Texas clinic. In a 2011 by encountering “people who are courageous and persevering in
In 2008, she was named as the interview with responding to the Christian vocation,” the pope said before reciting
clinic’s employee of the year. CNA, Johnson the Angelus Feb. 3 with people gathered in St. Peter’s Square. The
During her time working at the said she joined world needs “people who follow the ‘push’ of the Holy Spirit, who
nation’s largest abortion provider, the pro-life sends them to proclaim hope and salvation to the poor and excluded;
Johnson herself had two abortions. movement to people who follow the logic of faith and not of miracles; people
Due to a personnel shortage, help women dedicated to the service of all, without privileges and exclusions,”
she was called in to assist in an understand he said. (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
ultrasound-guided abortion for the the truth about
first time in September 2009. She abortion, not
was initially disconcerted to note to become a True love for God leads to compassionate care for others, pope says
how much the unborn child, after public figure. People cannot feel authentic compassion for others if they do not
13 weeks, looked like the image she She said that it feel true love for Christ, Pope Francis said. “Jesus wants us to touch
had seen of her own living daughter was Planned Parenthood, not the are currently expecting their human misery, to touch his flesh in the flesh of those who suffer in
while pregnant. Coalition For Life, that turned her eighth child. body or spirit. Touch in order to let ourselves be touched” by God,
The next few minutes changed departure into a public battle. And Then There Were None has he told members of the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God.
Johnson’s life irrevocably, as she “Planned Parenthood released helped nearly 500 former clinic Understanding God’s mercy and shaping one’s life to conform to
watched the baby –whom she had this to the media” in late 2009, she workers leave the abortion industry. Christ and his compassion lead to doing what is good in the world
believed to be incapable of feeling said. “Planned Parenthood made Unplanned stars Ashley Bratcher and healing all kinds of illnesses and infirmities, he said. The pope
anything– squirming and twisting this a news story. This is something as Johnson. During filming, made his remarks Feb. 1 during an audience with members of the
to avoid the tube into which it would that they did.” Bratcher discovered that her own order’s general chapter, which was taking place Jan.14-Feb. 6 in
be vacuumed. “This is not what I planned for my mother had planned on having an Rome. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
“For the briefest moment,” she life. But God set this up for me– and abortion when she was pregnant
wrote in her memoir, “the baby it would be the wrong thing, to turn with her, but walked out of the
looked as if it were being wrung like away from something that He has appointment instead. Vatican doctrinal official steps down amid investigation of solicitation
a dishcloth, twirled and squeezed. planned for my life.” Unplanned was written and An Austrian priest under canonical investigation stepped down as
And then it crumpled and began Johnson went on to found the directed by Chuck Konzelman and an official at the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
disappearing into the cannula organization “And Then There Cary Solomon, the writers of God’s in an effort “to limit the damage already done to the congregation
before my eyes.” Were None,” which seeks to Not Dead and God’s Not Dead 2. and to his community,” the doctrinal office said. The priest, Father
“The last thing I saw was the tiny, assist abortion workers with The movie was partially funded Hermann Geissler, “affirms that the accusation made against him
perfectly formed backbone sucked leaving the industry and finding by Michael Lindell, a born-again is untrue and asks that the canonical process already initiated
into the tube, and then it was gone.” a new career. Although not Christian and the founder of the continue. He also reserves the right for possible civil legal action,”
Shocked by what she had seen, shown in the film, Johnson company MyPillow. the office said in a note released by the Vatican press office Jan. 29.
Johnson still continued her work and her husband subsequently The film will be distributed by The 53-year-old theologian, who is a member of a community called
running the clinic and promoting converted to Catholicism and Pure Flix. (CNA) The Spiritual Family The Work, submitted his resignation Jan. 28
to the prefect, Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, who then granted his
Cuba’s first church inauguration since the revolution request. He had worked at the congregation for 25 years and had
been head of its doctrinal section since 2009. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
PINAR del Rio, Cuba— day,” said Father Cirilo to re-education camps. “From the day they put
The first new Catholic Castro, who supervised The Church was driven the first stone we have Vatican underlines support of universal health care coverage
church in Cuba since the the construction of the underground until been watching it grow The Vatican supports efforts to build stronger and sustainable
the country’s revolution church, according to CNN. religious tensions in the little by little. Patience has essential health care services on the way toward achieving universal
60 years ago was “We knew it would happen country began to ease given us this church,” said health coverage, a Vatican official said. The Catholic Church is
inaugurated on Saturday. one day,” he added. in 1991. St. John Paul II Aleida Padrón Zabala, part of this effort in providing primary care to people in need and
Sacred Heart of Jesus The church is a sign then visited the island a Sadino resident who always “with due recognition to the sacredness of human life, from
parish in Sandino, 45 of the country’s increase in 1998. Pope Francis attended the church’s conception to natural death,” said Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Vatican
miles southwest of Pinar of religious freedom. played a role in the 2015 inaugural Mass with her observer to U.N. agencies in Geneva. Speaking to the executive
del Rio, was inaugurated Communist rule was restoration of diplomatic family, according to CNN. board of the World Health Organization Jan. 28, the archbishop
Jan. 26. It is the first of established soon after the relations between Cuba Bishop Jorge Enrique noted the organization’s call for a renewal of primary health care
three new parishes to be conclusion of the Cuban and the US. Serpa Perez of Pinar and the Sustainable Development Goals’ target of universal health
completed; the other two Revolution in 1959, which The construction of del Rio commented: coverage to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at
will be in Havana and ousted the authoritarian Sandino’s new church “Sometimes you have to all ages.” (CNS)
Santiago. It was built on ruler Fulgencio Batista. building, which seats 200, overcome many obstacles
land granted by the state. Under communism was made possible by a but then you get to a
“To see this finished churches and schools $95,000 donation from point where things can Pope confirms November visit to Japan
is like coming out were closed, and priests St. Lawrence parish in be accomplished.” (CNA/ Pope Francis will visit Japan in November of this year. The
of the night into the were exiled or assigned Tampa, Fla. EWTN News) pope confirmed the timing of the upcoming trip during remarks to
journalists on the flight from Rome to Panama, Jan. 23. According
Indian court denies bail to Missionary of Charity accused of child trafficking to Vatican News, while greeting members of the media aboard
the papal plane, Pope Francis responded to a question from a
NEW DELHI, India— A religious The couple reportedly paid Indwar The Albanian-born Mother correspondent of the Japanese Kyodo News Agency, who asked if
sister with the Missionaries of 120,000 Indian rupees ($1,760) Teresa founded the Missionaries he will visit the country in 2019. “I’ll go to Japan in November, get
Charity accused of cooperating in for the child. They complained of Charity in Kolkata in 1950. She ready!” the pope said. Francis also expressed his desire to travel
the sale of a child from a home for that Indwar took their money in was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Iraq but noted that the local bishops have made it clear the
unwed mothers has been denied exchange for the child, and that she in 1979, and canonized in 2016. country is not yet secure enough for a papal visit. Interim papal
bail by India’s Supreme Court, later took the child back from them, There are now 5,167 Missionaries spokesperson Alessandro Gisotti released a statement Jan. 23 to
according to UCANews. without returning the money. of Charity sisters, both active and say that a papal trip to Japan is in the “study phase.” (Hannah
Sister Concelia (Konsalia) was In a video, Sister Concelia said she contemplative, around the world. Brockhaus/CNA)
arrested July 4, 2018 in connection found out about the reported sale The order has 244 houses in India.
with the reported sale of a child after being questioned about it by After the incident, the
from the Nirmal Hriday home in the CWC. She asked Indwar, who Missionaries of Charity released a Vatican transfers task of Ecclesia Dei to the CDF
Ranchi. then allegedly admitted to having statement expressing regret, sorrow Pope Francis issued a motu proprio Saturday ending the
Her plea for bail was rejected tried to sell the child. Sr. Concelia and condemnation for the action, pontifical commission Ecclesia Dei and creating an office within
this week by the India Supreme said she then alerted the authorities and their willingness to cooperate the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith to focus on doctrinal
Court, due to a lack of formally filed about the matter and said the baby with authorities in the investigation. dialogue with traditionalist groups. For over 30 years, the
charges from the police on the case. should be brought back. They also announced that they pontifical commission Ecclesia Dei has “facilitated the full ecclesial
While the court urged police to file A police source said at the time were conducting their own internal communion of priests, seminarians, communities or individual
charges soon, Sr. Concelia remains that Indwar provided to police investigation of the case. religious linked to Mgr. Marcel Lefebvre’s fraternity, who wished
in custody in the eastern state of a handwritten note from Sister According to UCANews, local to remain united to the Successor of Peter in the Catholic Church,
Jharkhand. Concelia asking Indwar to take the media reports have said that the preserving their spiritual and liturgical traditions,” Pope Francis
It is the third time the sister has blame on herself, Matters India Jharkhand government has revoked wrote in the apostolic letter published Jan. 19. “The institutes and
been denied bail, but the Supreme reported at the time. the sisters’ licence to run the Nirmal religious communities that usually celebrate in extraordinary form
Court will allow her to apply again, Some Catholic bishops of the Hriday, but the sisters told UCA have found today their own stability of number and life,” the pope
UCANews reported Jan. 31. country have questioned whether that they have received no official noted. (Courtney Grogan/CNA)
Anima Indwar, an employee Sister Concelia is actually guilty of notification.
of the Nirmal Hriday home since collaborating with Indwar in the UCANews also reported that
2012, was arrested the day before sale, or whether she is the victim of some Christian leaders believe that Pope warns against ‘spirals of hatred’ on social media
Sr. Concelia, in connection to the a coerced confession. the incident is being used by pro- Pope Francis has warned against the increasing narcissism
reported sale of the child. Indwar “Nobody was allowed to meet Hindu groups to cast Christians and and “spirals of hatred” found on today’s social media networks,
had been entrusted with escorting Sister Konsalia in custody,” Bishop missionaries in a bad light. encouraging people to cultivate community through their internet
unwed mothers, their babies, and Theodore Mascarenhas, Auxiliary Bishop Mascarenhas told UCA interactions instead. In his World Day of Social Communications
their guardians to the hospital and Bishop of Ranchi, said at the time. news that he is concerned for the message, Pope Francis said that online discussion is “too often
to the Child Welfare Committee “Her advocate could meet her on health of Sr. Concelia, a diabetic, based on opposition to the other.” “We define ourselves starting
(CWC) office when the religious Wednesday, eight days after her while she is held in custody. with what divides us rather than with what unites us, giving rise
sisters were engaged with other arrest, only after we approached the “We feel very sad that an innocent to suspicion and to the venting of every kind of prejudice (ethnic,
duties. court,” he said July 12, according and physically unwell nun is behind sexual, religious and other),” Francis wrote in the letter published
Police were tipped off to the to the Hindustan Times. “During bars,” he said. “We are pained that Jan. 24. This creates a digital environment that nourishes “unbridled
possible sale when a couple the 10 minutes interaction that the an aged innocent nun remains in jail individualism which sometimes ends up fomenting spirals of
complained to the CWC in Ranchi advocate could have with her, she when murderers and other hardcore hatred,” he explained. (Courtney Grogan/CNA)
that they had paid for a baby boy who said she was forced by the police to criminals get bail.” (CNA/EWTN
was then taken away from them. give her statement.” News)
CBCP Monitor February 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 03 NEWS FEATURES A3

Popes in the Middle East: Highlights of

papal outreach in the region
VATICAN— Pope Francis celebrated
the first papal Mass on the Arabian
Peninsula during his Feb. 3-5 visit
to Abu Dhabi, capital of the United
Arab Emirates.
The pope’s Mass at the Zayed
sports stadium on Feb. 5 drew
at least 135,000 people. Many in
attendance were migrant workers
from Asia residing in the UAE, a
country in which 89 percent of the
population are not citizens. It was
not only the first papal Mass on the
peninsula, but the first public Mass
in the country.
Since the Second Vatican
Council there have been significant
milestones in Muslim-Catholic
relations in the region. Here is a
look at some of the highlights:
First pope on a plane
The first time a pope ever traveled
on a plane was on a trip to the
Middle East. Saint Paul VI flew
from Italy to Jordan in January
1964, making history as the first
pope to leave Europe. Paul VI
met with King Hussein in Amman
before continuing his journey to
Jerusalem.
The following year, Paul VI issued
Nostra aetate, the Second Vatican
Council’s declaration on the relation
of the Church to non-Christian
religions, which stated that “the
Church looks upon Muslims with
respect” as worshipers of the one
God.
First pope in a mosque
Saint John Paul II made history
as the first pope to enter a mosque
during his visit to Syria in May 2001.
John Paul II went to Damascus’
Umayyad Mosque, which had been
built in 715 on top of a fourth-
century Christian cathedral said
to contain the head of John the
Baptist.
In March 2003, days before
US President George W. Bush
announced the official start of the
Iraq war, St. John Paul II called for
a worldwide fast for peace in the
Middle East.
The Polish pontiff, known for his
extensive papal travels during his
27-year pontificate, was also the
first pope to visit several Middle
Eastern nations, including Egypt,
Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.
First synod for the Middle East
Benedict XVI called for the first
special Synod of Bishops focused
on the Middle East over two weeks
in October 2010. His post-synodal
apostolic exhortation, Ecclesia in
Medio Oriente, focused on the role
of Christians living in the Middle
East, predicting before the Arab Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 5, 2019. VATICAN MEDIA
Spring that many Christians would
face a decision to emigrate due to papal trip to the Arabian Peninsula. al-Azhar for the fifth time and will On the way to World Youth Day
the changing political situation in The focus of the pope’s two-day also visited the great mosque of in January, Pope Francis expressed
their countries or to remain as a visit was interreligious dialogue, Abu Dhabi. his desire to visit Iraq, but noted
witness to the faith. particularly with Islam. However, The UAE trip continues Pope that the local bishops have made it
Benedict XVI also added Arabic as the papal Mass also made history Francis’ emphasis on a culture clear the country is not yet secure
one of the official languages in his as the first public outdoor Mass on of encounter and interreligious enough for a papal visit.
weekly General Audience addresses the peninsula, where each country dialogue. Pope Francis previously In Bahrain, construction is
in St. Peter’s Square. His final papal has restrictions on the freedom of visited Egypt in 2017 and plans also underway for the biggest Catholic
trip was to Lebanon in 2012, the first worship. to visit Morocco March 30-31. cathedral in the region, due to be
papal trip to the region following the Pope Francis earlier said that he completed in January 2021. The
outbreak of the Arab Spring. hopes his trip to Abu Dhabi will be History still to be made mother church of the Vicariate
“a new page in the history of the The Middle Eastern countries of Apostolic of Northern Arabia will be
First papal Mass in Arabia relations between the religions” Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the first consecrated under the title
Pope Francis’ trip to the United in the region. During the journey Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain have yet Our Lady of Arabia. (Courtney
Arab Emirates Feb. 3-5 was the first Francis met the Great Imam of to receive a papal visit. Grogan/CNA)

Rebuilding broken hearts: A Syrian sister’s prayer for her country
ALEPPO, Syria— As the
people of Syria work to
rebuild the cities, hospitals,
homes, and schools that were
destroyed through years of
conflict, they also face a more
difficult task, according to
one Syrian Catholic sister:
repairing broken hearts.
“It is easy to rebuild a
house, but it is difficult to
rebuild a broken soul,” said
Sister Annie Demerjian, of
the Community of Jesus and
Mary.
The Syrian sister, who
has remained in Aleppo
throughout the nearly 8-year
Syrian Civil War, told CNA
that there is a great need for
psychological healing from
the trauma and anguish her
people have suffered during
the conflict.
“It is very hard to lose
someone, harder when the
death [is] not in a normal
way -- either by killing or
by bombs or persecution,”
Demerjian said.
Many Syrians are coping
with such a loss. In addition
to violence at the hands of
ISIS, more than 400,000
people have died since the
Syrian Civil War broke out
in March 2011, according to
estimates. At least 28,226
of these casualties were
children, according to the
Syrian Network for Human
Rights.
“The war has robbed
children of their childhood
and innocence and killed
the brightness in their eyes;
they have been spectators
and unwilling actors in a hell
they did not create,” Sister
Demerjian shared at a prayer
vigil sponsored to Aid to the
Church in Need last fall.
Demerjian cited a statistic
from UNICEF that an
estimated 3.7 million Syrian
children have been born since
the Syrian Civil War began.
“Born and raised during
this time, they know only
of destruction, violence and
death,” she said.
She particularly noted the
pain of children who have lost
one or both parents.
“It is very hard to keep this
great wound, you know. I ask
the Lord to heal the wounds
in their hearts and to make
them accept with a heart of
forgiveness.”
Children have been
impacted in other ways as
well. Syria has the lowest
school attendance rates in the
world after tens of thousands
of teachers fled the country
and one in three schools
closed due to damage.
Hospitals have also become
military targets during the
civil war. More than 300
healthcare facilities in
Syria have been attacked
and at least 768 medical
professionals killed in
the conflict, according to
Physicians for Human Rights.
“For years, priests and
sisters have lived this
nightmare alongside our
people...There were
many long nights without
electricity, which meant
working and praying by
candlelight, often under
heavy shelling. It meant
hearing of all the deaths,
and waiting and wondering
who would be next,” Sister
Demerjian said.
While the Islamic State’s
territorial caliphate has
collapsed, an estimated
20,000 to 30,000 ISIS
fighters still remain in Iraq
and Syria today, according
to a recently released report
by the Center for Strategic
and International Studies.
And with government forces
focusing on the few remaining
rebel-held territories in the
Major Japanese convenience
country, the civil war in Syria
may be winding down, but it
stores ban pornography
is unclear whether the nation TOKYO, Japan—
will find peace in the postwar T h o u s a n d s o f
era. convenience stores in
Sister Demerjian requested Japan will stop selling
prayers for those directly pornographic magazines,
involved with the conflict. “I a move they say will help
want to pray for every person create an environment
who carries arms, who has more conducive to
killed other people, that the families.
Lord will enlighten their Both Lawson Inc.
mind and their hearts to see and 7-Eleven Japan
the truth, to see that life is a Co. announced earlier
gift from the Lord and only this week that the retail
He has the right to take it,” companies plan to stop
she said. selling pornography in their
Many Christians are stores, which combined
coping with a sense of loss, included nearly 34,000
not only from those who locations in Japan.
have died, but also from Campaigners praised the
the loss of community due change on Wednesday,
to emigration, she said. saying that the development
According to the U.N., more could help to prevent the
than 11 million Syrians have sexual exploitation of
fled their homes. women.
“Many Christians Kanae Doi, the director
emigrated to the West, while of Japan’s Human Rights
those without means and Watch, told Reuters that
connections fled to Lebanon, “this is certainly a welcome
Jordan, and Turkey. The move.”
Christian population in Syria “It has been very
has fallen from 1.4 million shameful ... you can see
in 2011 to an estimated pornography everywhere
450,000,” Demerjian said. in Japan. Women are still
However, the sister said seen as sex objects and not
that she is encouraged by the treated equally,” she added.
great faith she finds in the The 7-Eleven stores
Catholics who have chosen will phase out the explicit
to remain. material by August. The
“Anytime we ask the transition will take place
faithful how they are coping ahead of the 2019 Rugby
their answer is: ‘Thanks be World Cup and the 2020
to God.’ This is a sure sign Tokyo Olympics.
of the hope and trust they A spokesperson for
have in the Lord Jesus, who 7-Eleven Japan Co. told
is crucified with us and who Reuters that the stores,
will not leave our side.” previously patronized
(Courtney Grogan/ mostly by men, have
CNA) developed in recent years
to become more family
oriented.
“As the role and usage of
7-Eleven stores has changed
in recent years, 7-Eleven
became an important
shopping destination for
families, children and
elder people as well,” the
spokesperson said.
“In order to create
a proper shopping
environment for all our
customers, we decided to
stop handling sales of adult
magazines.”
The distribution of
pornography is common
in Japan’s convenience
stores, including the sales
of comic books containing
sexualized cartoons.
Many such magazines are
displayed openly on sales
racks.
Japanese activists have
said that pornography is
a contributor to gender
inequality and rising sexual
violence against women in
the country.
Caroline Norma, a senior
research fellow at RMIT
University, told Reuters
that the accessibility of
pornography in Japan
annually pushes an
estimated 500 women into
the sex industry.
“Any measure to
suppress the products and
activities of the sex industry
in Japanese society will
ease an environment of
sexual objectification and
exploitation that is mostly
unregulated and culturally
celebrated.” (CNA)

Diminished crowds at World Youth Day in Panama

PANAMA CITY, Panama— The
15th international World Youth
Day ended Sunday with a Mass
celebrated by Pope Francis attended
by hundreds of thousands of young
people from around the world.
At the end of the Jan. 27 Mass, it
was announced that the next World
Youth Day will be held in Lisbon,
Portugal in 2022. Portuguese
president Marcelo Rebelo de
Sousa was in attendance, as well as
several other political leaders from
throughout Central America.
The official count for the
attendance at the final Mass has
not yet been released, but the park
had an official capacity of 700,000.
Despite the large crowds, the
Mass had far fewer people attending
than previous World Youth Days. In
2016’s Krakow gathering, the final
Mass attendance was estimated at
2.5 million. Even more Catholics
showed up for the final Mass on
Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro
- about 3 million.
Ola, a pilgrim from Poland, told
CNA after the final Mass in Panama
that she didn’t feel as though this
World Youth Day was “smaller”
than the one held in her home
country, and that she enjoyed the
difference in the cultures of Panama
and Poland.
“In Krakow it was totally different
because I was a volunteer, and now
I get to experience it as a pilgrim,”
she told CNA.
“There are a lot of different
people here...I don’t think [it feels
smaller].”
Raphael Volcof, 27, echoed Ola’s
sentiments, saying it didn’t feel all
that different than previous years
despite the smaller numbers.
“I enjoyed WYD in Rio de Janeiro;
in Krakow, Poland; and now I’m
here in Panama, and I will go to the
next one, to Portugal,” he told CNA.
“Brazil had more people, but
here it’s almost the same. Very
organized, the food is good, the
language is not a problem for me,
I think everyone is enjoying this...
In Poland, it was almost the same.
I think it’s because the people here
have the same ideas.”
Pope Francis led Eucharistic
adoration with the young people
Saturday night, and later the
pilgrims prayed the joyful mysteries
of the rosary before settling in for an
all-night, festive campout. A total
of 600,000 people packed the park
for the all-night vigil, according to
official figures.
The young people were awoken
around 6 am with loud music and
shouts of “Buenos dias!” Mass
began around 8 am.
The best attended World Youth
Day was held in Manila in 1995; 5
million are estimated to have attend
the closing Mass with St. John
Paul II. At the last World Youth
Day celebrated by Benedict XVI, in
Madrid in 2011, between 1.4 and 2
million were in attendance. (Jonah
McKeown/CNA)
A4 OPINION February 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 03 CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

Bigger than bombs

THE Cathedral of Our Lady of Mr. Carmel has been a
punching bag of about 8 or so bombings already, not to
mention the killing of its 4th bishop Benjamin de Jesus, OMI,
in 1997. Since its first Ordinary, Francis Joseph McSorley,
OMI, who took possession of the Vicariate of Jolo in 1954, the
Oblates could easily be the poster boy of the Catholic Church’s
resilience in mission. Not a day have they abandoned their
post despite the constant and persistent threat of violence.
The latest and the most devastating bombs that tore through
the Cathedral on January 27 while Sunday mass was in
progress and killed at least 23 Church-goers and wounded
about a hundred, will not set off-track the quest for peace.
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said that the
peace process must continue to pursue the end of decades of
rebellion in the country’s restive south. “We hope that the
incident will not sidetrack us to lasting peace,” said Ledesma.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called
on Filipinos, “not to abandon our commitment to peace.” In
a statement, he said, “Only good can combat evil. Instead of
being discouraged, let us strengthen our resolve to work for
peace based on justice, truth, love and respect for human life

ILLUSTRATION BY BLADIMER USI

and dignity. Let us multiply good and honorable thoughts,
sentiments, word and actions. Let us not abandon our efforts
to dialogue with people who differ from us.”
Few days before the conduct of the plebiscite on the
Bangsamoro Organic Law several bishops of Mindanao issued
a statement that prayed for “a lasting peace in Mindanao—a
gift and a task—that respect cultural and religious diversity…”
For sure, people’s faith which is the very foundation of their
quest for lasting peace will neither be deterred nor annihilated
by bombs.
Hearing the voice Living Mission
God and the digital age of the young Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

THE final report of the Synod of Bishops on young people,

faith and vocational discernment that concluded last October
has an interesting observation regarding the digital culture
that is now pervasive in the world. It talks about the great
benefits and the dangers that the digital world is giving us.
It is intriguing to note that the good and bad things in this
world are becoming more and more blended. They do not
come to us anymore in some clear-cut ways, but rather in a
united way, so subtle that we now hardly can distinguish which
is which. Our new technologies are like Trojan horses that can
appear to us as a great gift to humanity, but actually they
contain a lot of concealed dangers. They are very treacherous.
Whatever benefit and sense of success and accomplishment
they bring are akin to a Pyrrhic victory when the good things
are somehow nullified by the bad things they also cause.
The new technologies and the digital culture have
significantly changed the way people understand things in
general and as a consequence, their behavior also. They create
an “approach to reality that privileges images over listening
and over reading that influences the way people learn and the
development of their critical faculty.” It’s like we are having
a new ball game.
It’s true that these new technologies give a lot of benefits.
They provide “an extraordinary opportunity for dialogue,
encounter and exchange between persons, as well as access to
information and knowledge.” It can “facilitate the circulation
of independent information that can provide effective
protection for the most vulnerable, etc.”
As to its dark side, the report says that the “digital
environment is also one of loneliness, manipulation,
exploitation and violence…Digital media can expose people to
the risk of dependency, isolation and gradual loss of contact
with concrete reality, blocking
the development of authentic interpersonal relationships.”
Besides, the report noted that “there are huge economic
interests operating in the digital world, capable of exercising
forms of control as subtle as they are invasive, creating
mechanisms of manipulation of consciences and of the
democratic process.
“The way many platforms work often ends up favoring
encounter between person who think alike, shielding them
from debate. These closed circuits facilitate the spread of
fake news and false information, fomenting prejudice and
hate…” We don’t have to look far to validate these very
serious observations and they definitely have to be addressed
accordingly. The only way to handle this predicament is to
teach everyone to actively look for God every time they get
into the digital world.
There is no other way. Either one is strongly with God to be
with the right footing in that very treacherous world or he is
simply lost and carried away from the strong and irresistible
forms of self-seeking that can only lead us nowhere. I would
say that the real challenge of the digital age is not so much on
how to handle these technologies with technical competence
and some norms of prudence to keep us safe and maintain
a semblance of sanity and fairness. It is a serious call for
everyone to be more authentic in their need and relation with
God. It is for everyone to be truly holy and apostolic.
It is a call to know more about God who in fact is the very
foundation of reality, of what is truly good, beautiful and fair
in this world. Our main problem is that God is not properly
known, much less, loved by many, and so he is somehow
regarded as irrelevant in dealing with this challenge of the
digital age. We need to wake up from our spiritual and
religious stupor to properly handle this tremendous challenge
of the digital age.
POPE Francis has frequently noted that
the Church desires to hear the ideas of
young people. In his 2017 letter to youth,
one step in the Church’s preparation for
the Synod on Youth held on Oct. 3 - 28,
2018, he wrote: “The Church wishes to
listen to your voice, your sensitivities
and your faith; even your doubts and
your criticism. Make your voice heard,
let it resonate in communities and let it
be heard by your shepherds of souls.”
These inviting words were translated
into deeds. Francis convoked a “pre-
synod meeting,” held in Rome on March
19-24, 2018, seven months prior to the
Synod. Young people (both Christians
and the followers of other faiths) came
“to express their expectations and
desires as well as their uncertainties
and concerns in the complex affairs of
today’s world.” Similar events will be
unfolding throughout the Philippines
during the 2019 Year of the Youth.
To dream and to Hope. In his homily
Another Angle
Fr. Emmanuel Mijares
IN his annual message, during the 52nd
year of Peace, Pope Francis dedicated
his theme on good politics at the service
of peace.
This has a significant importance
in our country. A political analyst on
President Duterte, Amado Picardal
wrote: “What has become obvious is
that Duterte is waging a war against the
Church.” . . . . “the extrajudicial killings
that has reached more than 27,000
victims, [and counting] the unchecked
entry of tons of drugs into the country .
. . the collapse of the peace process with
the NDF” and, we could include, that
since the bulk of the national budget is
not on education or health but on the
military, the beating of the drums for
war, certainly goes away from peace. He
opines that “Duterte’s war on the Church
may (also) be traced to a mixture of fear
and anger vis-a-vis the Church which
he believes has the capacity to resist
him and bring him down.” This mental
framework of the present leadership is
not for peace but on a dialectics of war
Charity purifies and
sanctifies our powers
for the opening Mass of the Synod of
Bishops on the Youth on Oct. 3, 2018,
Pope Francis invoked the assistance of
the Holy Spirit to “rekindle and renew”
in the Church “the capacity to dream and
to hope.” This demands an “attitude of
docile listening to the voice of the Spirit”
on the part of all the bishops “gathered
from all parts of the world.”
Such dreaming and hoping “can
broaden our horizons, expand our hearts,
and transform those frames of mind that
today paralyze, separate, and alienate us
from young people, leaving them exposed
to stormy seas, orphans without a faith
community that should sustain them.”
For Pope Francis, “hope asks us to
get up and look directly into the eyes of
young people and see their situations.”
Today’s youth “ask us and demand of
us a creative dedication, a dynamism
which is intelligent, enthusiastic, and
full of hope.” For Francis, the Synod is a
unique gift of the Spirit; he also entrusts
Good politics at the
service of peace
even if so far it remains a “war of words”.
If this kind of dialectics underlines our
political environment, then it would
rather serve war rather that peace. This
is a very dangerous trend especially that
Filipinos seem to be apathetic to what
is happening.
This theme “good politics at the
service of peace is a challenge” for all
Filipinos. “In sending his disciples forth
on mission, Jesus told them: “Whatever
house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to
this house!’ And if a son of peace is there,
your peace shall rest upon him; but if
not, it shall return to you” (Lk 10:5-6).
Pope Francis explains that: “the
“house” of which Jesus speaks is
every family, community, country and
continent, in all their diversity and
history. It is first and foremost each
individual person, without distinction
or discrimination. But it is also our
“common home”: the world in which
God has placed us and which we are
called to care for and cultivate.
We know that the thirst for power at
Candidly Speaking
Fr. Roy Cimagala
it to Mother Mary so that the Church’s
“dreams and hopes” for young people
will be concretized and achieved.
Need to listen intensely. At the closing
Mass of the Synod on the Youth, Pope
Francis noted that there are three pivotal
steps in the journey of faith: listening,
being neighbor, and bearing witness.
Francis notes that listening begins the
journey of faith. “It is the apostolate of
the ear: listening before speaking.”
Francis asserts that careful listening
is central for the success of the Synod.
“May we too ask for the grace of a heart
that listens. I would like to say to the
young people, in the name of all of us
adults: forgive us if often we have not
listened to you…. As Christ’s Church,
we want to listen to you with love….
Your lives are precious in our eyes.”
We pray that our local Church here
in the Philippines will become a truly
“listening community” during this Year
of the Youth!
any price leads to abuses and injustice.
Politics is an essential means of building
human community and institutions,
but when political life is not seen as a
form of service to society as a whole,
it can become a means of oppression,
marginalization and even destruction.
So the Pope reminds that “political
office and political responsibility (thus)
constantly challenge those called to the
service of their country to make every
effort to protect those who live there and
to create the conditions for a worthy and
just future.”
He continues, “if exercised with basic
respect for the life, freedom and dignity
of persons, political life can indeed
become an outstanding form of charity.”
This is not only for politicians however
but for all vocations. Pope Benedict
XVI noted that “every Christian is
called to practice charity in a manner
corresponding to his vocation and
according to the degree of influence he
wields in the pólis… When animated
Another Angle / A7

Monitor
CBCP
WE have to accept the fact that all of it. The secret, of course, is to be vitally would be misusing these divine gifts.
us are notorious for abusing the many united with God. That is to say, to make Also, we need to realize that if true
good things we receive from God, our the constant effort to be with him, which charity is to inspire the use of our human
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE Creator and Father. Our intelligence, means that we should be full of love, powers, then we would use them to serve
talents, health and whatever privileged since God is love, “Deus caritas est.” (1 everyone, and not just some people.
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Editor-in-Chief gifted us, are often used to simply And this love has been shown to us in those who oppose us or do not like us.
pursue our own interest and personal full by Christ who reminded us to love This is what charity is! (cfr. Lk 6,27-36)
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This is, of course, a grave anomaly that that we love one another as he himself by Christ and commanded on us by
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CBCP Monitor February 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 03 OPINION A5

Pitik-Bulag
Where is your mercy?
Commentary
Craig Blewett
Fr. Wilfredo Samson, SJ

The global decline

ANOTHER moral disaster and grave
injustice in our society. This time, the
It intends to please our President and
gain favor in his eyes. They could have
you know what you are talking about? In
our complex world, the mind of a nine- in fertility is
children are the innocent victims.
On Jan. 21, the Justice Committee in
Congress approved the bill criminalizing
made a bill instructing all stakeholders
to help the government in finding a more
humane and more pro-children solution
year old is incapable of making sound
discernment.
I am begging for mercy from the rest
“simply astonishing”
minors in conflict with the law. Nine out to this problem. The Church is aware of our congressmen and senators to WILL the world’s population really reach 11.2 billion in
of ten voted in favor of the bill. There of the problem of our children today in speak out and stop this senseless bill. 2100? This week The Guardian provides a good summary
is something gravely wrong here! I can conflict with the law, but criminalizing This is your opportunity to show your of alternate world population projections which challenge
smell a wolf hiding in sheep’s skin. Is them is not and will not be the best love for our children and for our future. this United Nations figure, and casts doubt on whether the
it really for the benefit of the children solution. Mercy must be in our hearts Be merciful. Be selfless. Think of our world’s population will really continue to grow until the end
in conflict with the law, or is it for your and minds when we think of these children. Please be the servants of the of this century.
own benefit? children in conflict with the law, and not people, and not the servants of “other The United Nations bases its population projections on a range
I’m so sad this justice committee think simply punishment. They should have gods.” Seek God’s approval and not of of uncertain assumptions about fertility and mortality. Its most
they know everything about children’s consulted all stakeholders, including mere mortals. They are not always in likely current estimate is that world population will reach 11.2
formative correction. Other stakeholders the Church and NGOs involved in power. Know what counts most in this billion by 2100, and then stabilize and slightly decline.
like the church and other NGOs were not helping the children. To Presidential life. It’s mercy and compassion. The UN is not the only international body to project world
consulted. The committee insisted this Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, please Dear Lord, population, and the various demographers are certainly not in
is neither anti-poor nor anti-children. never say “bringing the minimum age have mercy on our lawmakers. agreement. A key question is whether Africa’s fertility will remain
But try to check the juveniles in conflict of criminal liability down to nine is I believe they are intelligent. at current rates, or will drop to follow Western low fertility trends.
with the law in our jails and DSWD now, ‘fine’ for they can already discern.” They know what they ought to do, The Guardian discusses some of the alternate projections:
all of them are coming from the poorest How could you say this? Where are you yet they choose to close their hearts. Jørgen Randers, a Norwegian academic who decades
of the poor! This bill is an easy way out. coming from? Where is your data? Do Have mercy on them. Amen. ago warned of a potential global catastrophe caused by
overpopulation, has changed his mind. “The world population
Listen to our shepherds Duc in Altum
will never reach nine billion people,” he now believes. “It will
peak at 8 billion in 2040, and then decline.”
Similarly, Prof Wolfgang Lutz and his fellow demographers
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago at Vienna’s International Institute for Applied Systems
Analysis predict the human population will stabilize by mid-
century and then start to go down
DURING the Plenary But “freedom of expression our prophetic role, especially “Be merciful, just as [also] A Deutsche Bank report has the planetary population
Assembly of the Catholic does not include a license that of giving voice to the your Father is merciful.” peaking at 8.7 billion in 2055 and then declining to 8 billion
Bishops’ Conference of the to insult other people’s voiceless. As Paul once said, Conquering Evil With by century’s end.
Philippines (“CBCP”), our faith, especially our core “Woe to me if I don’t preach Good is the challenge of our Since 1970, a sharp global decline in fertility has occurred.
bishops deliberated on issues beliefs. We know that this the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16)” Shepherds. Our strength lies In the United States, all of Europe, and much of the rest of
affecting the Church and cuts deeply into the souls God’s Image And in keeping our communities of the West, fertility is now actually below the replacement level
the State in order to come of our people—especially Likeness—The bishops faith intact. The faithful must of 2.1 children and will eventually lead to population decline,
up with the much awaited the poor, because faith is reiterated the right to life even “use conscience in the choice unless those countries can attract enough immigrants to
Pastoral Statement which the only thing they have to of the unborn because human of leaders, in the exercise of sustain current population levels. In fact, many European
will serve as guide and hold on to… It sustains them beings are created by God their vocation as citizens, countries may almost cease to exist by 2300 if low fertility
encouragement to the flock. when they feel alone and in His image and likeness. in the raising of families, persists and migration does not intervene, according to the
Entitled Conquering Evil defenseless in foreign lands They stressed that those in their work and chosen most recent United Nations long-term population projections.
With Good, it was inspired where they work.” Admitting who are brutally murdered professions, in the efforts According to The Guardian:
by Romans 12:21 “Do not Our Shortcomings—“We bow by mere suspicion that they to care for the environment, Already, almost two dozen countries are getting smaller every
be conquered by evil, but in shame when we hear of are opponents of government etc. Let conscience speaks its year, from Poland to Cuba to Japan, which lost almost 450,000
conquer evil with good.” Fr. abuses committed by some had the right to life; so are wisdom consistently in every people in 2018. In these countries, women have fewer than the
Tim Ofrasio, SJ translated of (us)... we hold ourselves those who are summarily aspect of our life.” 2.1 babies that they must produce, on average, for a population
in Pilipino the Pastoral accountable for their actions, executed by armed groups. “The battles that we fight to remain stable. The population decline would be even steeper
Statement and, although and accept our duty to correct Even those who may have are spiritual.” (Ephesians were it not for steadily increasing life expectancy.
unofficial, has been posted in them.” committed criminal offenses 6:10-17). St. Peter The fertility rate in the UK is 1.7. Most population growth
social media and had reached Not Against Fighting Illegal should also be treated in a admonishes us to “be sober in the UK today is the result of international immigration,
not only Catholics but every Drugs—The bishops are not humane way, even as justice and alert” especially when according to the Office of National Statistics. Without
citizens of the world. It was against the government’s demands that they be held the enemy attacks “like a immigrants, Great Britain would eventually enter an era of
read in all Sunday Masses efforts to fight illegal drugs, accountable for their actions. roaring lion, looking for population decline.
so that many people would it means maintaining law Save The Children—The someone to devour.” (1 Peter More old people and fewer young people place an increased
better understand what our and order, and protecting bishops appealed to the 5:8) As members of God’s strain on society’s ability to generate the wealth and taxes
Shepherds say and what they the citizens from lawless lawmakers the harm that may flock, we must learn to be needed to fund, among other things, healthcare for the old.
want us to know. elements. They know that be caused on the children (in brave, to stick together, The really big news, however, is found in the large
It discussed different illegal drugs are a menace to conflict with the law) by the and look after one another. countries of the developing world, where the great majority
topics: Responding With society and their victims are bills making them criminally Let this moment be a time of people live. There, declines in birth rates have been simply
Silence. Our bishops are the poor people. However, liable. Most of those children to pray, to be strong, wise, astonishing. China, the world’s largest country, has a fertility
aware of the culture of when they heard that mostly “come from very poor and committed. Let this rate of 1.5, lower than Britain’s. India, soon to overtake China
violence in the country that poor people “are brutally families and were born and be also a teaching moment as the world’s most populous nation, is at the replacement
destroys “the moral fabric of murdered on mere suspicion raised in an environment of for us all - a moment for rate of 2.1 and falling. Brazil, the fifth most populous country,
our country.” The President of being small-time drug abuse.” They do not deserve relearning the core beliefs, has a fertility rate of 1.8.
of the Philippines himself users and peddlers while to be treated as criminals, principles and values of our One cause of the accelerating decline in fertility is
hurled cruel words against the big-time smugglers and they should be rescued. They faith, and what it means to urbanization. In 2007, for the first time in human history, the
our faith and our shepherds, drug lords went scot-free, encouraged that Bahay-Pag- be a Catholic Christian at majority of people in the world lived in cities. Today it is 55%
even telling the “tambays” they started wondering about asa shelters, for the care of this time.” Thus, in this very and, in three decades, it is expected to reach 66%.
(street goon) to rob and kill the direction this “drug war” children in conflict with the trying time in the Catholic Currently, Africa has the highest fertility rates in the world
the bishops, and decapitate was taking.” They said that law, should be improved. Church history, we need and the majority of the world’s population growth is coming
them. Our bishops said they they do not want to interfere The Perspective Of Mercy to defend, encourage and from that continent. Yet, sub-Saharan Africa is also the fastest
noted all of them in silence in State affairs. “But neither - Being civilized is “being inspire our shepherds when urbanizing part of the world, with annual urban population
and it is piecing “into the soul do we intend to abdicate more humane to the poor, they themselves are the increases of 4%, twice the global average. This is a factor in
of the Catholic Church like our sacred mandate as the weak, the disadvantaged, persecuted in our country. the expectation by many demographers that African fertility
sharp daggers”. They follow shepherds to whom the Lord the elderly, the children, rates will continue to decline.
instead Pope Francis who has entrusted his flock. We those with special needs and *** According to The Guardian, “Population decline is not a
says: “the best response is have a solemn duty to defend all those who tend to be left Allow me to greet good thing or a bad thing. But it is a big thing. It’s time to
silence and prayer.” our flock, especially when out in society… The law of the February Birthday look it in the eye.”
Faith: Our People’s Source they are attacked by wolves(!) retaliation “an eye for an celebrators in our family: my Over the past few decades world leaders have compelled
Of Strength—Our bishops We do not fight with arms. eye and a tooth for a tooth” nephew Romarico Santiago, people to have fewer children, often in the euphemistic name
said they respect the freedom We fight only with the truth. has long been repudiated my niece and new doctor of reproductive and sexual health. The United Nations itself
of conscience and religion of Therefore, no amount of in Christian tradition. As in the family Ria Edeliza gave its first population award to both the Chinese minister
people of other faiths and intimidation or even threat to Christians, we have to learn Imperial, and my sister-in- for population and the Prime Minister of India for their work
the freedom of expression. our lives will make us give up the way of Jesus who says, law Leonisa Santiago. initiating family planning and sterilization programmes, forced
abortions and sterilizations and all. Vincenzina Santoro points
out that the Guttmacher Institute jointly accepted the most

Faith and Culture
Cristina Montes
AS Valentine’s Day approaches and
advertisers exploit it for marketing
gimmicks, it is so easy to scoff at the
occasion. It is, indeed, lamentable that
Valentine’s Day has degenerated into a
commercial gimmick, or worse, nothing
more than the celebration of Eros even
in its illicit forms.
We forget that Valentine’s Day is
a saint’s feast day, and that noble,
pure human love—even romantic
love—is a reflection of God’s love for
us, and of how we should respond
to that love.
One person who understood the
relationship between romantic love and
the love of God for us was the famous
fantasy writer, J.R.R. Tolkien. In a
letter to his son, he wrote: “Out of the
darkness of my life, so much frustrated,
I put before you the one great thing to
love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament…
There you will find romance, glory,
honor, fidelity, and the true way of all
your loves on earth”.
Human love and divine
love in fantasy
This quote is very significant, coming
from someone who understood romance
well enough to include touching
romantic sub-plots in his fantasy trilogy,
The Lord of the Rings.
The main romantic sub-plot in
The Lord of the Rings was the love
between Aragorn, a mortal man of royal
lineage who was heir to the throne of
Gondor, and Arwen, an elf. The elves,
in Tolkien’s imaginary universe, were
powerful, immortal beings who did not
die unless they were killed. In the story,
Arwen faced a choice between her love
for Aragorn and her immortality: if she
were to wed a mortal, she would have to
become mortal as well. In the end, she
chose mortality.
Aragorn was no less noble. He knew of
the choice Arwen had to make and was
willing to let her go, although it made
him suffer. Then, he had to leave her as
he went on several quests to help save
Middle Earth. All throughout, however,
he remained true to Arwen. In the book
version of the story, after Aragorn had
defeated his enemies in battle and
claimed his throne, he received a sign
that Arwen was destined to be his bride.
In the movie version, Arwen’s death was
hastened and only Aragorn’s victory in
battle could prolong her life. In any case,
after the evil Sauron was defeated and
Middle Earth was saved, Aragorn and
Arwen were married.
It was the same writer of this love
story who wrote to his son, “...in the
Blessed Sacrament…you will find
romance.” Indeed, in the Blessed
Sacrament, we find a God Who
hides behind the appearances of
perishable bread and wine and suffers
maltreatment and profanation out of
His desire to stay with us. We find a
God who does not force us to love Him
but woos us, respecting our freedom
while pining for our company.
It is a more compelling love story
than the romance between Aragorn and
Arwen, and it is a true story.
recent annual Population Prize of the United Nations last June.
As more people seemingly begin to realize that the world
does not have a population spiraling out of control, but instead
a soon to be declining one, let’s look the forced taking of life,
the abuse of women, and the thousands of dollars of aid and
public “health” money spent in the name of population control
in the eye too.
Candidly Speaking / A4
serve everyone.
That is why we really need to continually rectify our
intentions and to see to it that our actions would truly conform
to the requirements of charity. In this regard, we have to forget
ourselves and our self-interest, and to think simply of God
and the others, always ready to follow Christ all the way to
facing and bearing all kinds of suffering and eventual death.
We should not be afraid to do all this, because we have been
assured that “if God is with us, who can be against us?” (Rom
8,31) It is charity that will disarm our enemies, that will melt
away our weaknesses, that will heal the sin-inflicted wounds
of our human condition in this world.
It is not enough that we be smart, clever, practical, etc.
We need to live charity. Without charity, our smartness and
cleverness can even pose as a grave danger to us. They can
deceive us with the thought that we are doing well in our life
when, in fact, we are heading through a sweet slide toward
perdition.
We need to make many acts of charity before, during and
after doing our tasks, using all our God-given human faculties
and powers. And these acts of charity should be our vital
contact with Christ!
A6 LOCAL NEWS February 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 03 CBCP Monitor

CBCP to lawmakers: Reconsider Bishop: ‘Even atheists

are seeking God’
move to lower criminal age
THE Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines
on Jan. 28 appealed
to legislators to do some
“serious rethinking” on the
proposal to lower the age
of criminal liability in the
country.
In a pastoral statement
issued shortly after their
plenary assembly in Manila,
the bishops warned that
the move could harm than
protect the children.
“There is no way we can call Novaliches Bishop Antonio R. Tobias, DD explained how everyone is “seeking God,”
ourselves a civilized society if during the send-off Mass for the diocese’s World Youth Day (WYD) 2019 Panama
we hold children in conflict delegates, Jan. 6, 2019. PHOTO COURTESY MINNIE AGDEPPA
with the law criminally
liable,” they said. “ALL of us are seeking God God are like the first type
According to them, — including non-believers.” of seekers.
children who get involved This was the message “There are those who say
in crimes are “victims that Novaliches Bishop Antonio things that destroy what we
need to be rescued” instead R. Tobias, D.D. gave to believe in, that our people
of treating them as ordinary World Youth Day (WYD) have long been holding onto.
criminals. 2019 delegates during their [They say,]’There is no God,
The bishops noted that CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles (center) answers questions from the media during a press conference after send-off Mass held at the that’s fiction…but those
the bishops’ plenary assembly in Mania, Jan. 28. ROY LAGARDE
children who get involve in Cathedral Shrine and Parish priests, they are sinners,’
crimes come from “very poor The House of as young as 12 liable for minimum age of criminal of the Good Shepherd on so they do not really hear
families and were born and Representatives on Jan. 28 crimes. responsibility from 15 to Jan. 6, 2019. the calling of the Lord,” he
raised in an environment of approved a measure which The lawmakers earlier nine, and then revised it to Explaining the Feast of the emphasized.
abuse”. seeks to make child offenders sought to reduce the 12. (CBCPNews) Epiphany, the prelate said
the feast is a celebration of Two types
“ordinary people seeking Tobias said even church

Pope assures support for Filipino bishops God–of seeking a prosperous

life.” Tobias noted: “All of us
are seeking God” and “God is
people have a tendency to
fall into the first category.
“I do not exclude bishops,
POPE Francis assured his support for part of that prosperous life”. priests, seminarians, and our
the Filipino bishops as they gathered He exhorted the diocesan Church leaders here. They
Jan. 26 to discuss matters that affect delegates to the WYD in know, but some they do not
the Church and the country. Panama to resist people who do anything about what they
In a message to the bishops, the say God does not exist. know,” he explained.
pope encouraged them to continue On the other hand, the
in their efforts “to shepherd in truth ‘God-seekers’ second type of seekers, who
and love those entrusted to your “Do not believe anyone are represented by the Magi,
pastoral care”. who tell you that there is no are those who ask questions
He particularly lauded local initiatives God. Do not believe them!” and seek God with the intent
“to advance the mission of the Church Tobias stressed. “Because of encountering God and
in the Philippines”. if you believe them, you too acting on this reality.
The pope’s letter was relayed to the will go nuts and all of us will Meanwhile, young
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the fall together.” people cannot find Jesus in
Philippines by Vatican Secretary of State According to the bishop, their homes, said Tobias,
Cardinal Pietro Parolin. there are actually two because their parents
More than 80 members of the CBCP types of “God-seekers” as are either separated or
are gathered at the Pope Pius XII shown in the Gospel. The are too busy with work.
Catholic Center for their 118th plenary CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles greets Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio in first one is the one who According to him, they
assembly. the Philippines, at the start of the bishops’ plenary assembly in Manila, Jan. 26. ROY LAGARDE knows all the answers but end up searching for Jesus
The meeting was opened with a who is content in simply elsewhere like in Church,
Mass presided over by Papal Nuncio by Archbishop Romulo Valles being the of a president, vice president, an ten knowing. Tobias said these among their peers, or
Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia. president of the bishops’ collegial body. regional representatives— four for are like the priests and the among their neighbors.
The pontiff also sent his blessings The plenary assembly meets in regular Luzon, two for Visayas, three for learned men of the Old Tobias praised the young
to the CBCP, wishing their meeting session twice a year— in January and in Mindanao. Testament who knew where people attending the WYD
bear much fruit in the service of the July. When they are not in session, the During the three-day meeting, the the Messiah will be born in Panama, saying, they
faithful, helping them to grow in faith Permanent Council acts and in behalf of bishops are also expected to discuss but never actually went are “getting near God…”
and charity. the conference. reports from various commissions of there to verify it. He said (Minnie Ageppa/
The three-day meeting was presided The Permanent Council is composed the CBCP. (CBCPNews) those who say there is no CBCPNews)

Next World Youth Day to be held in Portugal Blasts / A1

personal friends. Sulo at about 8:30am as “This is the action of evil

Pope Francis leads the World Youth Day prayer vigil at St. John Paul II Field in Panama City Jan. 26, 2019. PAUL HARING/CNS
PANAMA City—Lisbon,
Portugal, will open its doors
to the world’s young people
in 2022 for the next World
Youth Day.
The announcement
of Portugal was made by
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head
of the Vatican’s Dicastery for
Laity, the Family and Life, at
the final Mass of World Youth
Day Jan. 27. World Youth
Day officials confirmed the
year and city.
Upon hearing the location
of the next celebration,
Portuguese erupted in cheers,
waving their country’s flag
and chanting “We are the
pope’s youth!”
Pope Francis then greeted
Portuguese President
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,
who attended the Mass.
In the early morning hours,
pilgrims were awakened by
sounds of upbeat music as
the hot Panamanian sun
rose. Despite the heat, the
pilgrims danced and sang
along, awaiting Pope Francis’
arrival.
In his homily, Pope Francis
encouraged young Catholics
to be engaged in the world
today to ensure a better
tomorrow.
“You, dear young people,
are not the future but the now
of God. He invites you and
calls you in your communities
and cities to go out and find
your grandparents, your
elders; to stand up and with
them to speak out and realize
the dream that the Lord has
dreamed for you,” he said.
The pope reflected on
the Sunday Gospel reading
from St. Luke in which Jesus
begins his public ministry by
proclaiming in the synagogue
that “this Scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing.”
Proclaiming the Good
News of God’s promise to free
captives and the oppressed
was an important moment
in Jesus’ life, the pope said.
Nevertheless, he continued,
many of those in the
synagogue were incredulous
and not prepared “to believe
in someone they knew and
had seen grow up.”
“The same thing can also
happen with us. We do not
always believe that God
can be that concrete and
commonplace, that close
and real, and much less that
he can become so present
and work through somebody
like a neighbor, a friend, a
relative,” the pope said.
Young people, he warned,
risk looking at their mission,
vocation and even their
lives as something far off
in the future and “having
nothing to do with the
present” while adults can
fall into the trap of inventing
a “hygienically sealed future
without consequence where
everything is safe, secure and
‘well insured.’”
“The Lord and his mission
are not a ‘meantime’ in our
life, something temporary.
They are our life,” Pope
Francis said. “Do you want
to live out your love in a
practical way? May your ‘yes’
continue to be the gateway
for the Holy Spirit to give us
a new Pentecost for the world
and for the church.” (Junno
Arocho Esteves/CNS)
“They bravely stayed in
Jolo in spite of the threats
and insecurities. I believe
they have died for their
Christian faith,” said Saniel.
“No words can describe
the sorrow and pain that we
feel these days. May they be
given justice in God’s time,”
he said.
Saniel was attending the
bishops’ plenary assembly
in Manila when the “tragic”
incident happened. He cut
short his attendance to
return to Jolo on the day of
the attack.
“I know that the friends of
the victims, both Muslims
and Christians, are mourning
and in deep sorrow today,”
he added.
Saniel also called for
prayers for the families of
the soldiers who died while
securing the cathedral.
‘Act of terrorism’
The Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the
Philippines also condemned
what it called as an “act of
terrorism”.
The bishops also prayed
for the victims and their
relatives and asked God to
bring an end to violence
during the second day of
their meeting when the
attacks occurred.
“We condole with the
families of the several soldiers
and civilians who were killed
by the explosions,” said
Archbishop Romulo Valles,
CBCP President.
A bomb exploded inside
the Our Lady of Mount
Carmel Cathedral in Jolo,
worshippers were gathered
for mass.
Few minutes later, another
explosion hit the parking lot
of the cathedral.
The incident came a
week after Muslims voted
for the creation of the new
autonomous region in
Mindanao.
Sulu, on the other hand,
voted against the ratification
of the Bangsamoro Organic
Law (BOL).
As the region begins a
new phase in the peace
process, the bishops asked
the Christians to “join
hands with all peace-loving
Muslim and indigenous
people communities in the
advocacy against violent
extremism”.
“May all our religions of
peace guide us in our quest
for a brighter future for the
peoples of Mindanao,” they
said.
‘Most heinous
desecration’
The deadly blasts at the
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Cathedral have also been
described by two bishops
as the “most heinous
desecration” of a sacred
place.
Cardinal Orlando Quevedo
and Archbishop Angelito
Lampon deplored the attacks
made “on a sacred day,
and at a sacred moment of
worship”.
“It is truly a satanic act
that all sacred religions
must condemn,” said the
two former religious leaders
of Jolo.
people with utter disregard
for the sacredness of human
life and of human dignity,”
they said.
Quevedo served as parish
priest of Jolo while Lampon
is the vicariate’s erstwhile
bishop.
Lampon succeeded
Quevedo as archbishop of
Cotabato after the cardinal
resigned from the post in
November last year.
The church leaders also
appealed to authorities “to
flush out the perpetrators of
this barbaric crime and bring
them to justice”.
“We entrust the innocent
victims to the Lord’s
compassion and pray for
their grieving families,” they
said.
Peace process
Meanwhile, Jesuit
Archbishop Antonio
Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro
said that the search for peace
in Mindanao should not be
derailed by the deadly blasts.
Ledesma said the peace
process must continue to
pursue the end of decades
of rebellion in the country’s
restive south.
“We hope that the incident
will not sidetrack us to
lasting peace,” Ledesma
said in a press conference
after the bishops’ plenary
assembly on Jan. 28.
The attack came despite
a martial law in effect since
2017 after Islamic State
militants seized Marawi,
considered the Muslim
capital of the largely Catholic
Philippines.
CBCP Monitor
Christians, Muslims hold ‘unity Davao churches ban
bags, backpacks
walks’ in wake of attacks after Jolo blasts
Christians and Muslims, together with Msgr. Albert Songco of the Military Ordinate of the Philippines and Aleem Said Ahmad Basher of the Imam Council of the Philippines,
exchange a Bible and Qur’an as symbolic gesture for peace during a “solidarity walk” at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Feb. 3. The interreligious gathering also deplored the
deadly blasts that rocked the Jolo catheral last Jan. 27. MARIA TAN
CAGAYAN DE ORO City—
Christians and Muslims in
the Philippines held “unity
walks” to call for peace
following deadly blasts that
rocked the south of the
country last week.
In Manila, hundreds of
people gathered for a prayer
rally on Feb. 3 to show “the
world that Filipino Muslims
and Christians are one.”
They condemned the
bombing of a Catholic
cathedral in Jolo province
that killed at least 22 people
on Jan. 27 and a grenade
explosion in a mosque in
Zamboanga City that killed
two on Jan. 30.
In Mindanao, an interfaith
prayer rally was also held
Drug users in Mindanao parish
get new lease of life
TACURONG City—Jonathan
Padrones has been hooked on illegal
narcotics for years but is trying to
“redeem” himself with the help of
his parish church, he says.
Padrones, 44, said he first tried
hydrochloride, a methamphetamine
commonly known by its street name
“shabu” in the Philippines, out of
curiosity when he was in his 20s.
“I ended up getting hooked,” he
said, adding this soon made him
“public enemy number one” in his
community.
Padrones said he would spend
up to US$20 a day buying shabu.
Eventually, he began peddling
illegal drugs to sustain his addiction.
When President Rodrigo Duterte
launched his “war against drugs”
in 2016, Padrones was placed on a
police watch-list.
Instead of mending his ways,
he went into hiding. This changed
when he heard of a Catholic Church-
run program for drug addicts called
“Help Care for Change, Hope and
Learning.”
Father Salvador Robles, the
parish priest of Tacurong City in
the southern Philippines, said
that when Duterte launched his
campaign against narcotics, at least
100 people availed themselves of
the program.
The government’s war on drugs
has claimed over 20,000 lives,
according to human rights groups.
In August 2017, Duterte vowed to
press on with the campaign even
though soldiers have described it
as “an unwinnable war.”
Father Robles said the church
project employs “a holistic approach
that includes spiritual nourishment,
behavioral change, skills training
and livelihood opportunity.”
Both Christian and Muslim
experts in this field manage the
program, which the priest said
“aims to help drug victims get a new
lease on life.”
He described it as promoting a
“therapeutic community approach”
that encourages families and
Polls / A1
far that is holding out as the country
is inching towards “total control”.
“It is very crucial therefore that
we elect public officials who are
principled, courageous and who
have the common good as their
main concern and not their own
political interests,” they said.
As a concrete step, the bishops
encouraged lay groups to engage in
“discernment circles” to know the
February 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 03 DIOCESAN NEWS A7
San Jose Cathedral in Davao City. PHOTO FROM DAVAO CATHOLIC HERALD
in Cagayan de Oro City on entire nation in a divisive of goodness, justice, love, and
Feb. 2 to mark the start of effort to further widen the peace in our communities.” DAVAO City—The “current threat of violence”
the observance of “World gap between Muslims and On Feb. 3, prayer intentions Archdiocese of Davao has in the region.
Interfaith Harmony Week.” Christians.” during Sunday Masses in released a list of prohibited He also said that the
Monsignor Rey Monsanto Alec Mohammad, a Muslim Manila Archdiocese included items inside churches archdiocese have to take up
admitted that there was “a religious leader in Cagayan the victims of the bombings following the bombings of security measures upon the
sense of fear” among Catholic de Oro, however, said the in Jolo and Zamboanga. Jolo cathedral. advice of law enforcement
clergy in Mindanao and that violence “will not break the Meanwhile, the Minor Bags and boxes are among agencies.
the bomb explosions in Jolo spirit of the long-standing Basilica of the Black Nazarene the many items included on The death toll in the twin
and Zamboanga could spark relationship” among in Manila, has beefed up the list. blasts that rocked the Jolo
further violence. Mindanao’s peoples. security following the Jolo Knapsacks, backpacks, cathedral in Sulu has climbed
“We are worried that In Zamboanga City, Muslim incident. cartons, and the likes are to 22 and a scores of wounded
Christians and Muslims will religious leaders appealed for Sniffer dogs and security also banned inside parish remain in hospitals.
begin blaming each other,” calm, saying any attack on a personnel have been deployed churches and chapels. Pope Francis has earlier
said the priest, adding that place of worship “can never be to patrol the church, also “Only small purses and the condemned the violence that
they might use religion as an justified by rhyme or reason.” known as Quiapo Church, like are allowed,” Archbishop “causes more mourning in
excuse to wage war. In Manila, Monsignor and the surrounding area. Romulo Valles of Davao said the Christian community”.
Abdulnasser Masorong, Albert Songco, vicar-general The Archdiocese of Davao in a circular issued on Jan. “Let us pray for the victims
director of the National of the Military Ordinariate earlier prohibited backpacks 29. of the terrorist attack on
Commission on Muslim of the Philippines, urged and boxes inside churches as The archbishop said the the cathedral of Jolo, in the
Filipinos, said the violence people during the “unity a security measure. (Jigger directive will be in effect Philippines,” he said. (CBCP
“has caused harm to the walk” to “activate the forces Jerusalem/UCAN) until further notice due to News)
Another Angle / A4
by charity, commitment status of objects and to of human beings. But it message:
to the common good
has greater worth than
a merely secular and
deny their dignity.” Pope
Francis’ words are clear
against the tendency to
is also a challenge that
demands to be taken up
ever anew. It entails a
Blessed be the politician
with a lofty sense and
deep understanding of
community members to support political stand would sow fear: “We state once conversion of heart and his role.
drug abusers by forgiving and have… Man’s earthly more that an escalation soul; it is both interior Blessed be the
accepting them after they have activity, when inspired of intimidation, and and communal; and it has politician who personally
completed the program. and sustained by charity, the uncontrolled three inseparable aspects, exemplifies credibility.
Many of those who signed up for contributes to the building proliferation of arms, is which the Pope himself Blessed be the politician
the program surrendered to the of the universal city of contrary to morality and enumerated: who works for the
police as part of the government’s God, which is the goal of the search for true peace. – peace with oneself, common good and not
controversial Oplan Tokhang policy. the history of the human Terror exerted over those rejecting inflexibility, his or her own interest.
Tokhang is a portmanteau that family”. (Encyclical Letter who are most vulnerable anger and impatience; in Blessed be the politician
loosely translates as “knock appeal,” Caritas in Veritate (29 contributes to the exile of the words of Saint Francis who remains consistent.
referring to how officers visit the June 2009), 7). entire populations who de Sales, showing “a bit Blessed be the politician
homes of suspected drug users and In our country “This is seek a place of peace.” of sweetness towards who works for unity.
peddlers and try to convince them to a programme on which “There is a need to oneself” in order to offer Blessed be the politician
give up their illegal activities. all politicians, whatever reaffirm that peace is “a bit of sweetness to who works to accomplish
Father Robles said four groups their culture or religion, based on respect for each others”; radical change.
have finished the church program, can agree, if they wish person, whatever his – peace with others: Blessed be the politician
which has become a special to work together for or her background, on family members, friends, who is capable of listening.
ministry of Cotabato Archdiocese the good of the human respect for the law and the strangers, the poor and Blessed be the politician
in Mindanao. It involves a five- family and to practice common good, on respect the suffering, being who is without fear.
day seminar on spirituality and those human virtues that for the environment unafraid to encounter The coming election
the importance of nourishing key sustain all sound political entrusted to our care and them and listen to what in our country and
values. activity: justice, equality, for the richness of the they have to say; those who wished for
After completing this, participants mutual respect, sincerity, moral tradition inherited – peace with all re-election, in every
undergo a six-month “community- honesty, fidelity” Pope from past generations.” creation, rediscovering stage of public life, “is
based rehabilitation program” Francis suggested. Our thoughts also turn the grandeur of God’s gift an opportunity to return
that includes a weekly assessment One could readily in a particular way to all and our individual and to the original points of
meeting at the parish. see that this is a good those orphaned children shared responsibility as reference that inspire
At the end of the rehabilitation framework for those who currently living in areas of inhabitants of this world, justice and law. One
period, the beneficiaries, who are wanted to run and serve the infamous war against citizens and builders of thing is certain: good
known as “empowered brethren,” the common good. drugs, and to all those the future.” politics is at the service
are given starter kits of their choice On the other hand, in who work to defend their We end with the so- of peace. It respects and
by government agencies to help this war against drugs, for rights and take care of called “Beatitudes of the promotes fundamental
them establish new livelihoods. example, the Pope gave them. Politician”, proposed human rights, which are
Padrones asked for a “cosmetic us an insight that: “peace Peace is a high ideal by Vietnamese Cardinal at the same time mutual
beauty parlor kit.” His notoriety in can never be reduced but attainable. It “is the François-Xavier Nguyễn obligations, enabling
the community has now become a solely to a balance fruit of a great political Vãn Thuận, a faithful a bond of trust and
thing of the past, he said. between power and fear. project grounded in the witness to the Gospel gratitude to be forged
Mayor Lina Montilla of Tacurong To threaten others is mutual responsibility who died in 2002 which between present and
in Sultan Kudarat Province has to lower them to the and interdependence Pope Francis wrote in His future generations.”
even praised Padrones for his
transformation.
“When you have the will, you can
become productive members of
society,” Montilla said during the
graduation rites of the fourth batch
of “empowered brethren” on Jan. 11.
Apart from helping to organize
community activities, Padrones has
begun soliciting donations for poor
school children.
“Through these social
engagements, I hope to erase the
negative stigma caused by my
[former] addiction,” he said. (Bong
Sarmiento/UCAN)
candidates well.
They also urged lay people to
participate actively in politics and
work for the renewal of the country’s
political system.
“Christians are also encouraged
to engage in principled partisan
politics. This means that they can
campaign for good candidates as an
exercise of their Christian faith,” the
bishop said. (CBCPNews)
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES February 4 - 17, 2019, Vol 23, No. 03 CBCP Monitor

New Cotabato archbishop installed amid tight security

THE new archbishop of Cotabato in
southern Philippines was installed
on Jan. 30 under heightened
security, just three days after twin
explosions rocked Jolo cathedral.
Churchgoers had to go through
tight security put up around the
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
to welcome Archbishop Angelito
Lampon as their new shepherd.
A number of policemen and
soldiers have been deployed in
the area and its perimeter to make
sure it is safe from any threats.
Some of the visitors were
around 25 bishops from different
dioceses including Papal Nuncio
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia and
Archbishop Romulo Valles of
Davao, president of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines.
Lampon replaced retired Cardinal
Orlando Quevedo who served the
archdiocese for two decades.
In his homily, the first cardinal
of Mindanao, which has endured
one of the world’s longest-running
Muslim insurgencies, said that
one must be “spirit-filled and
spirit-driven” to be an effective
bishop.
“No more, no less,” Quevedo
said.
“Only when he is in communion
with the Holy Spirit, only when
the Spirit dwells in him, will he be
a prophet with courage, without
fear, in season and out of season,”
he said. 
 were killed and injured dozens
In a region marred by tension
and insecurity, he said that a
shepherd must bring hope to
people “who look for light in a
cultural darkness and mutual
biases and prejudices”.
“He must lead his flock and
those who are not of his flock to
peace and harmony,” the cardinal
added.
Archbishop Angelito Lampon was installed as the new head of the Cotabato archdiocese on Jan. 30.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In his message, the papal nuncio
conveyed Pope Francis’ spiritual
closeness and support for Lampon
and his new pastoral ministry.
“You are not alone. We are with
you, all of us,” Caccia said.
At one point of his speech, he
also thanked Quevedo for his great
service to the universal Church. 

“He (Quevedo) has been very
much appreciated by the Holy
Father and the other cardinals all
over the world,” added Caccia. 

Lampon was the apostolic vicar
of Jolo since 1997 until November
2018 when Pope Francis appointed
him as Cotabato archbishop. 

Last Jan. 27, at least 22 people
more when two bombs exploded
at the Jolo cathedral where a mass
was being held. 

Both Quevedo, who once served
as parish priest of Jolo cathedral,
and Lampon deplored the incident
as being the “action of evil people
with utter disre gard for the
sacredness of human life”. (Roy
Lagarde/CBCP News)

Catholic rite elevates Badoc shrine to basilica

IT wasn’t the breathtaking
beaches that attracted the
visitors and locals to Badoc
town in Ilocos Norte on Feb.
5.
Rather, they flocked to the
St. John the Baptist Parish
Church, also known as the
Shrine of La Virgen Milagrosa
de Badoc, for a ceremony
elevating the shrine to minor
basilica status.
Thousands of people
filled the pews and queued
around the centuries-old
baroque style church, where
the “La Virgen Milagrosa”
is currently enshrined, to
witness the historic occasion
in the Diocese of Laoag.
On behalf of Pope Francis,
the declaration was made
by Archbishop Gabriele
Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio in
the Philippines, in a Mass
presided over by Archbishop
Romulo Valles of Davao and
president of the Philippine
bishops’ conference.
The decree declaring this
Vatican concession, issued by
the Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline
of the Sacraments, was read
in its original Latin text by
Laoag’s Chancellor, Fr. Rey
Respicio and the English
Translation by the Rector
of the Basilica, Fr. Freddie
Astudillo.
In his homily, Cardinal
Orlando Quevedo,
Archbishop Emeritus of
Cotabato, said that Francis’
decision to elevate the shrine’s
status is a recognition of its
role in the diocese and the
whole church.
“Becoming a minor basilica
is a strong call to the people
of Badoc and Ilocos Norte, as
well as a call to all pilgrims…
to strive daily to walk in the
spirit of integrity,” Quevedo
said.
The Ilocos Norte-born
cardinal also explained the
connection of Japan and
the Philippines through
Apo Badoc, the cause of the
elevation of the church to
basilica.
He said that there is no
minor basilica without “La
Virgen Milagrosa,” and there
is no “Virgen Milagrosa”
without the persecuted
Christians of Japan who
shipped out at sea the image,
together with the black
crucified Christ of Sinait, to
avoid being destroyed by the
Japanese persecutors. The
local fishermen fished off the
box that contained them from
the sea.
This is the reason of the
presence of Cardinal Thomas
Aquinas Manyo Maeda of
Osaka during the historic
declaration of the Badoc
basilica.
Cardinal Maeda said that
the “Virgen Milagrosa”
looks like the Our Lady of
the Hidden Christians, the
image which the persecuted
Christians of Japan prayed
to during the more than two
centuries of hiding from
persecution.
He further spoke of a
coincidental connection,
the date of the Solemn
Declaration of the Badoc
Basilica is the Feast of the
26 Martyrs of Japan, a great
fiesta to Japanese Catholics.
The Mass ended with
the Apostolic Blessing
with Plenary Indulgence
especially granted by Pope
Francis to the occasion and
was imparted by Archbishop
Valles.
A thanksgiving Mass
and installation of the first
basilica rector followed in the
afternoon and was presided
over by Bishop Renato Thousands of faithful attend the solemn declaration of the St. John the Baptist Parish
Church, also known as the Shrine of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, as a minor basilica
Mayugba of Laoag. on Feb. 5, 2019. PHOTO COURTESY OF ATTY. NESTIE CORPUZ
A solemn procession of
“La Virgen Milagrosa” was of plenary indulgence to Solemnity of Saints Peter
also held around the town whoever visits the church and Paul, on the anniversary
of Badoc participated in by under the necessary of the granting of the title
thousands of pilgrims. conditions of sacramental of basilica, once a year on a
Built in the 17th century, confession, Eucharistic day to be determined by the
the Badoc Church is among communion and prayer for bishop and once a year on a
the eleven Filipino-Hispanic the pope’s intention. day freely chosen by the each
baroque churches in Ilocos These concessions of the faithful.
Norte. are received during the The said concession also
As minor basilica, following celebrations: on the grants to the church the use
according to the decree anniversary of the dedication of “the papal symbol, that is,
of concession, the church of the same basilica, on “crossed keys,” which may
enjoys “all the attached rights the day of the liturgical be exhibited on banners,
and liturgical concessions” celebration of St. John on furnishings, and on the
pertaining to the privilege. the Baptist and La Virgen official seal of the basilica.
These include the granting Milagrosa de Badoc, on the (CBCPNews)
CBCP Monitor February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3
Catholic bishops gather for their 118th plenary assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center, Jan. 26. ROY LAGARDE
Conquering evil with good
“Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
OUR dear People of God,
Peace be with you. We are aware that many of
you have been wondering why your bishops
have kept a collective silence over many
disturbing issues, about which you may have
felt you urgently needed our spiritual and
pastoral guidance. Forgive us for the length
of time that it took us to find our collective
voice. We too needed to be guided properly
in prayer and discernment before we could
guide you.
Responding with silence
For the past few months now, we have
observed how the culture of violence has
gradually prevailed in our land. The recent
bombing of the cathedral of Jolo where scores
of people were killed and several more were
injured is a further evidence to the cycle of
hate that is destroying the moral fabric of
our country. Lately, we have also been on the
receiving end of cruel words that pierce into
the soul of the Catholic Church like sharp
daggers. From deep within, the body of Christ
is crying out in anguish as he did to Saul of
Tarsus on his way to Damascus. (Acts 9:4) We
have silently noted these painful instances
with deep sorrow and prayed over them. We
have taken our cue from Pope Francis who
tells us that in some instances, “…the best
response is silence and prayer.”
Faith: Our people’s source of strength
We respect the freedom of conscience and
religion of people of other faiths, including
former Catholic Christians who may have
already renounced their faith. We also
respect the freedom of expression of our
fellow citizens in this country, including
their personal opinions about faith and
religion. But as far as we know, the freedom
of expression does not include a license to
insult other people’s faith, especially our core
beliefs. We know that this cuts deeply into
the souls of our people—especially the poor,
because faith is the only thing they have to
hold on to. It gives them hope and strength
to continue living and working despite all
the odds that come their way. It sustains
them when they feel alone and defenseless
in foreign lands where they work.
When people do not understand our
essential doctrines as Roman Catholic
Christians, we have also ourselves to blame.
CBCP Pastoral Statement
It could also mean we have failed in our
preaching. Perhaps we have not been effective
enough in our catechesis about the faith?
Perhaps we should find better and more
appropriate ways of communicating the faith.
Our preparation for the celebration of the
500th year of Christianity in the Philippines
could serve as a perfect opportunity to
embark on a renewed integral evangelization
in word and witness.
Admitting our shortcomings
Like the leaders and members of any
other human institution, no doubt, we, your
bishops and priests have our own share of
failures and shortcomings as well. We have
already mentioned in our previous statement
that “we bow in shame when we hear of abuses
committed by some of (us)…”, that “we hold
ourselves accountable for their actions, and
accept our duty to correct them…”
Not against fighting illegal drugs
There are people who, perhaps out of
concern for us, have warned us about being
critical of the government’s fight against
illegal drugs. Perhaps we need to make
ourselves clear about this issue. We are not
against the government’s efforts to fight
illegal drugs. We do respect the fact that it is
the government’s duty to maintain law and
order and to protect its citizens from lawless
elements. We have long acknowledged that
illegal drugs are a menace to society and that
their easier victims are the poor. Like most
other Filipinos we had high hopes that the
government would truly flex some political
will to be able to use the full force of the law
in working against this terrible menace. It
was when we started hearing of mostly poor
people being brutally murdered on mere
suspicion of being small-time drug users and
peddlers while the big-time smugglers and
drug lords went scot-free, that we started
wondering about the direction this “drug
war” was taking.
As bishops, we have no intention of
interfering in the conduct of State affairs. But
neither do we intend to abdicate our sacred
mandate as shepherds to whom the Lord has
entrusted his flock. We have a solemn duty
to defend our flock, especially when they are
attacked by wolves(!) We do not fight with
arms. We fight only with the truth. Therefore,
no amount of intimidation or even threat to
our lives will make us give up our prophetic
role, especially that of giving voice to the
voiceless. As Paul once said, “Woe to me if I
don’t preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16)
God’s image and likeness
Our faith informs us that no human
being in this world deserves to be treated
as a “non-human”, not even the mentally
ill, or those born with disabilities. This is
consistent with our defense of the right to
life even of the unborn, because we believe
that all human beings are creatures in God’s
image and likeness, imbued with an innate
dignity. We also must consider the right to
life of people who are brutally murdered
just because they are suspected of being
opponents of government, as well as those
who are summarily executed by armed
groups. Everyone in the civilized community
of nations would agree that even those who
may have committed criminal offenses should
be treated in a humane way, even as justice
demands that they be held accountable for
their actions.
Save the children
There is no way we can call ourselves a
civilized society if we hold children in conflict
with the law criminally liable. Children who
get involved in crimes, such as those who
are used as runners by adult drug pushers,
do not deserve to be treated as criminals;
they are victims that need to be rescued. It
is obvious that most children in conflict with
the law come from very poor families and
were born and raised in an environment of
abuse. We beg our country’s legislators to
give the bills they are drafting some serious
rethinking and consider the greater harm that
such a move can cause on the young people
of our country. We commend the initiatives
to improve the Bahay-Pag-asa shelters for
the care of children in conflict with the law.
The perspective of mercy
Being civilized is not just about more
advanced technology and infrastructure
but about being more humane to the poor,
the weak, the disadvantaged, the elderly,
the children, those with special needs and
all those who tend to be left out in society.
We are not just creatures endowed with
intelligence and guided by the evolutionary
instincts of “survival of the fittest”. What
PASTORAL CONCERNS B1
makes us more superior as creatures is not
our impulse to dominate each other but our
innate sensitivity and capacity to love, to
respect, to care for one another, to be both
just and merciful, to be compassionate,
to build community and to be genuinely
concerned about the common good. The law
of retaliation that demands “an eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24) has
long been repudiated in Christian tradition.
As Christians, we have to learn the way of
Jesus who says, “Be merciful, just as [also]
your Father is merciful.”(Luke 6:36)
Conquering evil with good
More than ever, as members of the Church,
we must realize that our strength lies in
keeping our communities of faith intact. We
must educate the faithful in the application of
their conscience to the complex and myriad
problems of life—in the choice of leaders,
in the exercise of their vocation as citizens,
in the raising of families, in their work and
chosen professions, in the efforts to care for
the environment, etc. Our faith must try to
hold these different aspects of life together
into an integral whole—letting conscience
speak its wisdom consistently in every aspect
of our life.
Finally, we reiterate what we said in the
previous statement that “the battles that
we fight are spiritual.” (Ephesians 6:10-
17). In the midst of spiritual warfare, St.
Peter admonishes us to “be sober and alert”
especially when the enemy attacks “like a
roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
(1 Peter 5:8) As members of God’s flock, we
must learn to be brave, to stick together,
and look after one another. Let this moment
be a time to pray, to be strong, wise, and
committed. Let this be also a teaching
moment for us all—a moment for relearning
the core beliefs, principles and values of our
faith, and what it means to be a Catholic
Christian at this time.
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines:
+ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao
President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines
January 28, 2019
B2 FEATURE February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3 CBCP Monitor

Confronting the specter of a Philippine Divorce Law (II)

Defective consent as ground for the declaration of marriage nullity
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.

AS most people know, a house bill for divorce

had already been passed. What may have
escaped most Catholics is that a similar bill
has now been filed in the Senate. If that bill
should pass, we would be just a step short
of having divorce finally instituted in our
country, the last remaining state (aside
from the Vatican) that has no divorce law.
Rather than fight that bill—which has a valid
pretension (to find a solution for the situation
of people trapped in an irreparably broken
marriage)—we might instead convince
the Senate to introduce reforms in the
present Family Code in order to facilitate
the declaration of nullity of most of those
irreparably broken marriages, rather
than making all marriages dissoluble by
instituting divorce. In other words, since the
urgent problem motivating our legislators—
and all the pro-divorce forces—to craft a
divorce law seems to be the extreme case of
irreparably broken marriages, if a way can
be found to declare the non-existence of most
of those marriages, perhaps there would be
no need to legislate divorce. As a Spanish
saying goes: “Muerto el perro, se acabó la
rabia” (With the dog dead, that’s the end of
its rabies). In the first part of this long article,
we tackled the first cause of marriage nullity:
lack of capacity in either or both of the
spouses to validly contract marriage. Now
we shall tackle the second cause of marriage
nullity: lack of valid consent.
Matrimonial consent
Provided the first constitutive element of
marriage is present—i.e., the capacity of both
parties to contract marriage—the second
and most important constitutive element
of marriage is the consent of both parties
to contract marriage. As the classic formula
states: Consent brings about marriage. This
principle is enunciated by the Code of Canon
Law as follows:
Can. 1057 — §1. Marriage is brought
about through the consent of the parties,
legitimately manifested between persons
who are capable according to law of giving
consent; no human power can replace this
consent.
§2. Matrimonial consent is an act of the
will by which a man and a woman, through
an irrevocable covenant, mutually give
and accept each other in order to establish
marriage.
No human power can replace this consent—
continues the canon. Thus, if subsequent to
the wedding—even many years afterwards—
it can be proven in court that the consent
(expressed at the time of the wedding) was
defective to the point of invalidity, then the
competent Church tribunal can declare that
the marriage was null and void from the
beginning.
What can vitiate consent to the point of
making it invalid, such that the marriage
contracted is null and void from the start?
Simply stated, valid matrimonial consent is
a human act that needs the intervention of
both intellect and will—the intellect to know
the true nature of the marriage institution
and its sacramentality, with the discretion
to know what this person and marriage to
this person means; and the free will to want
to contract marriage with this person here and
now. Canon Law has further broken down this
constitutive element into different aspects,
A groom and bride hold hands on their wedding day. JON L. HENDRICKS/CNS
reflecting the reality that the human act of
consenting implies several things.
The intellectual component of
matrimonial consent
While the act of consenting is one—i.e., it
is the whole person who consents—one can
analyze that act and identify predominantly
intellectual components in the one hand, and
a predominantly volitive (pertaining to the will
or voluntas in Latin) component in the other.
Such a division is even pedagogically helpful.
Canon Law has established the following
factors that can vitiate the intellectual
components of consent to the point of
invalidating them:
Lack of sufficient use of reason—either
habitual (e.g., intellectual retardation) or
temporary (e.g., influence of drugs or alcohol
at the moment of giving consent)—invalidates
consent (c.1095, 1°).
Grave lack of discretion of judgment
concerning the essential matrimonial rights
and duties, which are to be mutually given
and accepted in marriage, invalidates consent
(c.1095, 2°). Lack of due discretion (LDD) is
one of the most common grounds of marriage
nullity, and together with the so-called
psychological incapacity is the most abused
as well.
Incapacity to assume the essential
obligations of marriage, due to causes of
a psychic nature, invalidates the consent
(c.1095, 3°). This has been erroneously
labeled—especially in the civil courts—
as psychological incapacity, causing a
misunderstanding of the real ground of nullity
and the object of proof. Simply put, one
cannot validly assume an obligation which he
is incapable of fulfilling. Since marriage is a
natural institution (in fact all normal human
beings even have a right to contract marriage),
what c.1095, 3° simply states is that such
incapacity to assume the essential obligations
of marriage can only be due to reasons of a
psychic nature. But not all psychic disorders
cause such incapacity. What constitutes the
ground for consensual invalidity—and what
needs to be proven in court—is not so much
the existence of a psychic abnormality but
rather the incapacity to assume the essential
obligations of marriage.
Ignorance of the procreative and sexual
aspects of marriage—i.e., that marriage is
a permanent consortium between a man
and a woman, which is ordered toward the
procreation of offspring by means of some
sexual cooperation—invalidates consent
(c.1096, §1). Such ignorance is not presumed
after puberty (c.1096, §2).
Error concerning the person—i.e., his or
her identity—invalidates consent (c.1097, §1).
One can’t get married to the wrong person.
However, error concerning a quality of the
person, even if such an error is the cause of
consenting to marriage, does not invalidate
the marriage, unless such quality was directly
and principally intended (c.1097, §2). A
woman who married a man, because she
erroneously thought he was very rich, cannot
sue for nullity afterwards; unless she married
him precisely and principally for that.
Error concerning the essential properties
of marriage—i.e., unity, indissolubility
and sacramental dignity—does not vitiate
matrimonial consent, provided it does not
determine the will (c.1098). Such error is
similar to the error regarding a quality of
the person: it does not really invalidate the
consent unless it was determinant of the
will—i.e., one would not have consented to
marriage had he/she known of such quality
of the person or of marriage.
Fraud concerning some quality of the other
party which of its nature can seriously disturb
the partnership of conjugal life, perpetrated
to obtain consent, invalidates such consent
(c.1098). Examples of such qualities which
of their nature can seriously disturb conjugal
life are drug addiction, homosexuality or a
peculiar professional lifestyle.
A condition concerning the future—e.g., “I
marry you provided you pass your medical
board exams by the time I give birth to our
first child”—invalidates consent (c.1102, §1).
The reason is that the condition on which the
reality of the marriage rests is not yet there,
so the marriage cannot come about either. On
the other hand, a marriage based on condition
concerning the past or the present is valid or
invalid insofar as the subject matter of the
condition exists or not (c.1102, §2)—i.e., “I
marry you provided you really are a virgin as
you claim”. However, the Law also states that
it is not licit to put such condition of the past
or present without the written permission of
the local Ordinary (c.1102, §3).
Volitive component of consent
Can. 1103 — A marriage is invalid if it is
entered into due to force or grave fear
inflicted from outside the person, even when
inflicted unintentionally, which is of such
type that the person is compelled to choose
marriage in order to be freed from it.
There must be free will in
consenting to marriage. There is no free will
when there is external force (violence), or
grave fear inflicted (even unintentionally)
from outside the person—i.e., the trepidation
of the mind in the presence of an impending
evil (physical or moral) that compels the
person to consent to a marriage in order to
escape such evil.
Examples of such perceived impending evils
that can cause fear are a threat of bodily harm
(e.g., shotgun marriage), threat of shame
(e.g., pregnancy due to a premarital sexual
relation), or even the threat of displeasing
a person or persons that one holds in high
esteem (the so-called reverential fear), as
when parents have arranged a marriage. If
it is proven in court that such threats caused
such trepidation of mind so as to consent
to a marriage that otherwise wouldn’t have
been consented to, the court can declare the
marriage invalid for lack of consent. (To be
concluded.)

Extraordinary ministers nearing the altar

(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)

Q: I am updating our liturgical
minister guidelines and have run
into a question regarding our
extraordinary ministers of Holy
Communion: When they approach
the sanctuary after the priest’s
communion, do they make a bow
toward the altar, or a genuflection
(as the Blessed Sacrament is now
present on the altar), before they
enter the sanctuary? — J.H., Colbert,
Washington
A: The General Instruction of the
Roman Missal (GIRM) says:
“162. In the distribution of
Communion, the Priest may be
assisted by other Priests who
happen to be present. If such Priests
are not present and there is a truly
large number of communicants, the
Priest may call upon extraordinary
ministers to assist him, that is, duly
instituted acolytes or even other
faithful who have been duly deputed
for this purpose. In case of necessity,
the Priest may depute suitable
faithful for this single occasion.
“These ministers should not
approach the altar before the Priest
has received Communion, and they
are always to receive from the hands
of the Priest Celebrant the vessel
containing the species of the Most
Holy Eucharist for distribution to
the faithful.”
The instruction Redemptionis
Sacramentum states:
“88. The faithful should normally
receive sacramental Communion
of the Eucharist during Mass
itself, at the moment laid down
by the rite of celebration, that
is to say, just after the Priest
celebrant’s Communion. It is the
Priest celebrant’s responsibility
to minister Communion, perhaps
assisted by other Priests or Deacons;
and he should not resume the
Mass until after the Communion
of the faithful is concluded. Only
when there is a necessity may
extraordinary ministers assist the
Priest celebrant in accordance with
the norm of law.”
Both of these documents are
silent on the gesture used by
extraordinary ministers before
approaching the altar. There are,
however, some indications which
might help us with regard to the
gesture of genuflection or bows. The
GIRM indicates:
“274. A genuflection, made by
bending the right knee to the ground,
signifies adoration, and therefore it
is reserved for the Most Blessed
Sacrament, as well as for the Holy
Cross from the solemn adoration
during the liturgical celebration on
Good Friday until the beginning of
the Easter Vigil.
“During Mass, three genuflections
are made by the Priest Celebrant:
namely, after the elevation of the
host, after the elevation of the
chalice, and before Communion.
Certain specific features to be
observed in a concelebrated Mass
are noted in their proper place (cf.
nos. 210-251).
“If, however, the tabernacle with
the Most Blessed Sacrament is
situated in the sanctuary, the Priest,
the Deacon, and the other ministers
genuflect when they approach the
altar and when they depart from
it, but not during the celebration of
Mass itself.
“Otherwise, all who pass before
the Most Blessed Sacrament
genuflect, unless they are moving
in procession. Ministers carrying the
processional cross or candles bow
their heads instead of genuflecting.”
The following norm will suffice
for the general practice for
concelebrating priests although
the missal contemplates several
variations:
“242. Once the prayer for
Communion has been said, the
principal celebrant genuflects and
steps back a little. Then one after
another the concelebrants come to
the middle of the altar, genuflect,
and reverently take the Body of
Christ from the altar. Then holding
it in their right hand, with the left
hand placed underneath, they
return to their places. However, the
concelebrants may remain in their
places and take the Body of Christ
from the paten held for them by
the principal celebrant or held by
one or more of the concelebrants
passing in front of them, or they
may do so by handing the paten
one to another, and so to the last
of them.”
It is also general practice for
the thurifer, boat bearer and
torchbearers to genuflect to the
Eucharist upon the altar before
retiring during solemn Mass after
the doxology at the end of the
Eucharistic Prayer.
The above norms give us some
hints, but they do not give us any
definitive answer to our reader’s
question.
Personally, I think that the
general silence of the liturgical
books on this topic would suggest
that nothing should be done that
would draw undue attention to this
moment of extraordinary ministers
approaching the altar by converting
it into a special ceremony.
With this in mind, I would
say that since, in most cases, the
extraordinary ministers will first
receive Holy communion from the
priest and afterward receive the
sacred vessels, then they should
make whatever gesture is common
in the region before receiving
Communion but make no special
gesture on receiving the sacred
vessel.
However, if it happens that
extraordinary ministers receive
the sacred vessels before they take
Communion, then a genuflection
could be an appropriate gesture
made before or just after they enter
the sanctuary, but they should not
genuflect near the altar as would
concelebrants.
Likewise, if there are numerous
extraordinary ministers, or they
are already in the sanctuary area
during Mass, then I suggest that the
least complicated solution should
be adopted.
CBCP Monitor
Excerpts of Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference
from Abu Dhabi to Rome on February 5, 2019
Pope Francis: First of all, hello,
thank you for the company. It was
too short of a trip, but for me it
was a great experience. It’s that I
think that every trip is historic, also
each of our days, to write the story
of every day... no story is small,
every story is big and worthy even
if [judged to be] bad, the dignity is
hidden, can always come up. Thank
you so much for your collaboration.
Sargon Hurmez Barham, Sky
News Arabia: Holiness, what
will be the outcome of this trip
and what were your impressions
of the country, of the United Arab
Emirates?
Pope Francis: I saw a modern
country. The city struck me, even
the cleanliness of the city, also
small curiosities like how do they
water the flowers in this desert?
But also a modern country... also
welcoming of so many peoples that
come here, but also a country that
looks to the future. The example:
the education of children. They
educate them looking to the future,
always. So they have told me. Then
a thing that struck me, the problem
of water... they are considering in
the near future to take water from
the sea, to make it potable and even
the water of the humidity to make
it drinkable... always searching for
new things. And I even heard from
someone, “one day the petroleum
will be gone. We are preparing
ourselves for that day, now, to have
something to do.” This is a country
that looks to the future.
Then it seemed to me [to be] an
open country, not closed, even
the religiosity of Islamism, it is
an open Islamism, not closed, of
dialogue, a fraternal and peaceful
Islamism. On this [point], they
emphasize education to peace, that
is felt to be a duty, although there
are some problems of some wars in
the area, but this I have not heard...
Pope Francis boarding his plane to return to Rome from Abu Dhabi after a trip to the Middle East, February 5. VATICAN MEDIA
Then for me the meeting with
the elders was very touching. The
elders of Islamism, it is a profound
thing, they were a little from
everywhere, of various cultures.
This shows, however, the openness
of this country to a certain regional,
universal, religious dialogue. Then I
was struck also by the interreligious
convention, this is a strong cultural
event. And also I mentioned in my
speech what they did here, last year,
[a conference] on the protection
of children, but in media, on the
internet... in these things... because
child pornography today is an
industry with a lot of money, and
they profit from children and this
country realized it and did that.
Positive things. Surely there are
problems, negative things, but in
a trip of less than three days these
things are not seen and if you see
one, a person looks the other way.
Thank you for the hospitality.
Nour Salman, Emirates News
Agency: Holy Father, thank you
very much for your activity. The
question I would like to ask you:
now that the declaration of Abu
Dhabi on fraternity has been signed,
how will this document be applied
in the future and what are your
thoughts on Prince Mohammed’s
February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3
announcement on building a church
of St. Francis next to a mosque of the
Imam el-Tayeb?
Pope Francis: The document
was prepared with much reflection
and also praying; the Grand Imam
and his team and me with mine.
We prayed a lot to be able to make
this document because for me
there is one single great danger
in this moment: destruction, war
and hatred between us. And, if we
believers are not capable of giving
each other a hand, embracing each
other and even praying, our faith
will be defeated. This document
is born from faith in God, who is
the Father of all and the father
of peace, and condemns every
destruction, every terrorism. The
first terrorism in history is that
of Cain. It is a document that was
developed over almost a year, back
and forth, prayer. It remained a little
confidential so as to mature, to not
give birth to the child before the
time, that it might be mature.
Jörg Herbert Seisselberg,
ARD Radio: Holy Father, this
trip has been full of encounters,
impressions, and images. The
images of your arrival, the honorary
military welcome, and the military
planes that made the design in
the sky with the Vatican colors
remained in my mind. I ask myself:
What does this have to do with Pope
Francis, with the Pope that comes
with a message of peace? What do
you think of this? What did you
feel, what do you think in these
moments?
Again on this theme of your appeal
for peace in Yemen: what reactions
did you receive in your meetings that
create hope that this message was
received, that steps towards peace
will be taken in Yemen?
Pope Francis: Thank you. I
interpret all of the gestures of
welcome as gestures of goodwill;
everyone does them according
to their own cultures. What did I
find here? Such a great welcome
that they wanted to do everything,
small things and big things, because
they felt that the Pope’s visit was
something good. Someone also
said a blessing...God knows…But
they wanted me to feel that I was
welcome.
About the problem of wars. You
mentioned one. I know it’s difficult
to give an opinion after two days
and having spoken about the issue,
but with few people. I will say that
I found goodwill in initiating peace
processes. This I found. A common
denominator with those I have
spoken with about war situations.
you mentioned Yemen: I found
goodwill to initiate peace processes.
Domenico Agasso, La Stampa:
Holy Father, after the historic
signing of the document on fraternity
yesterday, in your perspective
what do you think could be the
consequences in the Islamic world?
Thinking especially of the conflicts
in Yemen and Syria... And what the
outcomes will there be even among
Catholics, considering the fact that
there is a part of Catholics that
accuse you of allowing yourself to
Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to Rome Feb. 5, 2019. Also pictured are Msgr. Mauricio
Rueda, papal trip planner, and Alessandro Gisotti, interim Vatican spokesman. PAUL HARING/CNS
be used by Muslims.
Pope Francis: But not only
the Muslims... they accuse me
of allowing myself to be used by
everyone, even by journalists, it is
part of the job. But I want to say
one thing. This I emphasize clearly.
From the Catholic point of view,
the document does not pull away
one millimeter from Vatican II,
which is even cited a few times. The
document was made in the spirit of
Vatican II. I wanted, before making
the decision, to say it good that
way and let’s sign it, at least on my
side, I had some theologians read
[the document] and even [had it
read] officially by the theologian of
the Pontifical Household, that is a
Dominican, and with the beautiful
tradition of the Dominicans not to go
on a witch-hunt, but to see where is
the right thing... and he approved it.
If anyone feels bad, I understand it,
it is not an everyday thing... not a
step back. It is a step forward. But,
step forward that comes after 50
years, from the Council, that must be
developed. The historians say that a
council takes 100 years to take root
in the Church. We are halfway. And
this draws even my attention. I will
tell you that I saw a phrase, but this
phrase I do not know if it is sure, but
it is a phrase from the Council... It
has surprised even me... Also in the
Islamic world there are different
opinions, there are some more
radical than others. Yesterday in the
council of the elders there was also at
least one Shiite, and that gave a very
great universality, and he spoke well.
There will be - I don’t know well - but
there will be discrepancies, but it is
a process and processes mature like
flowers, like fruit.
Mathilde Imberty (Radio
France): Good afternoon, Holy
Father. You’ve just concluded a visit
to the Emirates and in a very short
time you’ll go to Morocco. We seem
to understand that you chose to
speak with very precise interlocutors
of Islam. Is it a conscious choice? The
historic document signed yesterday
is very ambitious for education.
In your perspective, can this truly
touch the Muslim faithful? Thanks.
Pope Francis: I know and I’ve
heard from some Muslims that it
needs to be studied in universities,
at least in Al-Azhar for sure, and
in schools. It must be studied, not
imposed… studied! This to begin
from the end of your question.
It’s a bit by chance the proximity
of the two trips because I wanted
to go to Marrakesh but there were
protocol issues and I couldn’t go to
an international encounter without
first making a visit to the country
but I didn’t have time. And for
this we postponed the visit and
it’s in coincidence with this. And
it was the Secretary of State to go
to Marrakesh. It’s a question of
diplomacy and of education, as well,
but it wasn’t a planned thing. In
Morocco, I follow in the footsteps
of St. John Paul II who went there.
He was the first to go. It will be a
nice trip. Then, invitations have
arrived from other Muslim countries
but there’s not time this year. We’ll
see next year. I or the other Peter,
someone will go.
Maria Sagrario Ruiz (Radio
Nacional Espana): Good evening,
I have a question in Spanish. Vatican
diplomacy has a great history and
practices this diplomacy of small
steps in areas of conflict, and how can
we not recall concretely 1978, when
John Paul II, with his mediation
averted a war between your country,
Argentina, and Chile. We know from
yesterday that Nicolas Maduro –
and we arrive at Venezuela – has
sent a letter asking for help to restart
the dialogue. There is Secretary of
State Parolin who knows the country
perfectly, all eyes are on you, on
Pope Francis and the Vatican. What
is the Vatican doing or what do you
think? Are you willing to mediate, if
asked, at what point, at what time?
Pope Francis: Thank you. The
mediation between Argentina and
Chile was truly a courageous act
of Saint John Paul II that averted
a war, which was at the point [of
happening]. But there are little
steps, the last is mediation. There
are little initial or facilitating steps,
but not only in the Vatican, in all
diplomacy; closeness to one another
to start the possibility for dialogue.
This is done in diplomacy. I believe
that from the Secretariat of State,
they will be able to explain well all
of the different steps that can be
made. I knew before the trip that a
letter from Maduro arrived in the
diplomatic pouch. This letter I have
not read it yet, this one that arrived.
We will see what can be done. But
in order for us to take the last step,
mediation, it takes the will of both
parties. If both parties ask...this was
the case for Argentina and Chile.
The Holy See in Venezuela was
present in the time of dialogue
with your compatriot Rodriguez
Zapatero, a first meeting with
Monsignor Tscherrig initially, and
then continued with Monsignor Celli
… and there gave birth to a mouse,
nothing … smoke!
Now, I do not know, I will look at
FEATURE B3
that letter and I will see what can be
done. But the initial conditions are
that both parties ask. We are always
willing. The same when people go
to the parish priest because there
is a problem between the husband
and wife... one goes and the other
comes or does not come? He wants
or does not want to go? Both parties
are always needed. This is the secret.
And [for] the countries [this] is
a condition that that they must
do, think before asking -- [for a] a
facilitation or presence of a savior
or mediation. Both parties always.
Thank you! And I’ll go to Spain, eh?
Nicole Winfield, AP: Holy Father,
last week the women’s magazine of
L’Osservatore Romano published an
article denouncing sexual abuse of
consecrated women in the Church.
Adult women, sisters, by clergy.
Some months ago, the Union of
Superiors General, UISG, also
made a public denouncement of
this problem. We know that the
coming meeting in the Vatican will
be on the abuse of minors, but can
we think that the Holy See might do
something to confront this problem,
maybe with a document, guidelines,
etc?
Pope Francis: I will respond to
this question, but I prefer to finish
with the [questions about the] trip
and then first thing I will respond to
yours. Is it okay like that?
Angelina Condé (Rome
Reports): Good evening Holy
Father, on behalf of the Spanish
group I’ll ask you the question in
Spanish, I think that’s okay for you.
You had a meeting with the Council
of Elders. From what you can tell
us, what issues did you touch upon
and did you return to Rome with the
impression that your message was
received by their representatives?
Pope Francis: The elderly are
truly wise. The Grande Imam spoke
first, then each one of them spoke
starting with the eldest, who yes,
spoke Spanish because he was from
Mauritania and learned it there.
Elderly, eh, 80 years old, up to the
youngest, who is the secretary of the
Council of Elders. He spoke a little
bit but said everything in a video: the
unique thing about him is that he is
a communicator. I liked this, it was
a beautiful thing.
They spoke...they started...The
keyword is “wisdom.” Then “loyalty.”
Then they emphasized a way of life
in which this wisdom grows and
the fidelity becomes strong and
from there the friendship between
people is born. They were different,
I don’t know how to explain it. One
was Shia Islam, others of different
nuances...Then wisdom and fidelity
is the important path to building
peace because peace is a work of
wisdom and fidelity; Human fidelity
between people and all of this. I have
been left with the impression of
being in the midst of true wise men
and this is a guarantee for the Grand
Imam to have this advice. You are
satisfied, I suppose?
Condé: Yes. Very satisfied. Thank
you.
Excerpts / B7
B4 STATEMENTS
EVERY election period is a promise
of better times or a foreboding of
what is worse to come. The choice is
in our hands. It is as if God is telling
us “I have set before you life and
death, the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then, that you and your
descendants may live.” (Deut 30:19).
The year 2019 is not just
an ordinary election year. The
midterm election on May 13 is in
itself already crucial. In our country
today the checks and balances in the
government are being undermined.
So far the Senate is the institution in
the government that is holding out as
our country is inching towards total
control. It is very crucial therefore
that we elect public officials who
are principled, courageous and who
have the common good as their main
concern and not their own political
interests. We encourage voters to be
very discerning in their votes. Let the
lay groups engage in discernment
circles to help one another know
the candidates well and choose the
candidates  with the common
good of the whole country
in mind and not according to
what the candidates promise, much
less according to what voters have
received from these candidates.
Participation in politics for Christian
lay people is not just to be limited
to non-partisan involvement.
Christians are also encouraged
to engage in principled partisan
politics. This means that they can
campaign for good candidates as an
exercise of their Christian faith.
However, more than the elections,
another serious, and perhaps more
insidious, matter that we should
pay attention to is the threat
the version of constitutional
change and federalism approved
by the Lower House and now being
dangled to the senators. It takes
away the term limits of most of the
elected officials and allows political
Protect our children, no to lowering of minimum age of criminal responsibility
“Let the little children come to
me and do not hinder them, for
kingdom of God belongs to such as
these.” (Mark 10:13)
THE Philippine Interfaith
Movement Against Human
Trafficking (PIMAHT) strongly
condemns the approval of the bill
to lower the age of Minimum Age
of Criminal Responsibility (MACR)
by the House of Representatives.
As an alliance which works for the
protection of victims of human
trafficking, we also advocate for
a safe, peaceful, and nurturing
environment for children.
While contrary to common
knowledge, children represents a low
percentage of the total population in
conflict with the law despite many
reports that the juvenile crime rate
is increasing and that children under
15 are committing crimes under the
control of crime groups. Statistics
shows that in 2013, a mere 2.4%
of crime is committed by children
compared to adult and most of
these are petty crimes. (Source:
Position statement of the Sangguniang Laiko ng
Pilipinas on the proposed House Bill No. 8858
“If anyone causes one of these little
ones to stumble, it would be better
for them to have a large millstone
hung around their neck and to be
drowned in the depths of the sea.”  Facility to be established, maintained,
(Matthew 18:6)
THE House of Representatives
under the Speakership of Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo, is now rushing
for the approval of the act amending
and expanding the RA 9344 “The
Juvenile Justice and Welfare
Act of 2006” which will LOWER
DOWN THE MINIMUM AGE OF
CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY OF
CHILDREN FROM 15 YEARS OLD
TO 12 YEARS OLD.
The proposed bill was introduced
with the following objectives:
• To protect minors from being
exploited by syndicates and
unscrupulous persons that
use minors to escape liability
for crimes and other illegal
activities.
• T o p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e
intervention and diversion
measures for children in
Seek the common good
Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss.” (Ps 85:10)
Bishops gather in plenary assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila, Jan. 26. ROY LAGARDE
dynasties to continue. It opens
the national resources to foreign
ownership and eventual control. Its
version of federalism is vague and it
will do away with the 2019 elections.
We denounce any attempt to
avoid the 2019 elections. This
right of the people to vote should
not be shelved. We reiterate what
we have taught before: “If the
Constitution is to be revised at
all, the process should lead to a
greater defense and promotion of
the moral values of human dignity
and human rights, integrity and
truth, participation and solidarity,
and the common good.” (CBCP
PASTORAL GUIDELINES FOR
DISCERNING THE MORAL
DIMENSION OF THE PRESENT-
Situation Analysis of children in
the Philippines, Unicef Philippines,
pp.312-324). Poverty and lack of
opportunities to the majority of
Filipino families in our country are
the very same drivers that breed
vulnerability to children to be in
conflict with the law. They become
an easy prey to criminal syndicates,
and thus, only exacerbates their
situation to be more exposed to
more risks and dangers, as their
basic needs are being neglected.
Data states that 45% of the offenses
attributed to children are petty theft,
robbery and other offenses against
property, while 65% of children
offenders come from poor families.
We strongly encourage our
government to focus its attention
on the promotion of the rights and
welfare of children, and address
the roots of social problems
driving children to commit crimes.
Government should deliver
programs that cater to children’s
needs, creating conditions that will
develop and nurture and mold them
to be responsible members of our
conflict with the law.
• To increase the penalties for
the exploitation of children
for the commission of crimes.
Granting that these objectives
are reasonable and most ideal in
the current situation, the MAIN
ISSUE remains: Will lowering
down the age of criminal
responsibility address the
causes why children commit
crimes?
The Sangguniang Laiko ng
Pilipinas firmly believes, together
with other organizations concerned
with the welfare of children, that the
root causes are:
1. Poverty and lack of access
to opportunities and
government services
2. P o o r P a r e n t i n g a n d
Supervision
3. Peer Pressure
4. Prevalence of and unabating
criminality resulting to
unhealthy social environment
 
A secondary objection and
DAY MOVES FOR CHARTER
CHANGE issued on January 29,
2018) We do not see the proposed
revised constitution approved by
the Lower House as an improvement
of the 1987 constitution but is a
self-serving attempt of present
politicians to remain in power.
We stand by what we have stated
in the aforementioned letter: “As
servant leaders, we have listened
to many others who believe that
the solution to our problems is
not a revision of the Constitution,
but a full implementation of
the 1987 Constitution (e.g., on
political dynasties & on freedom of
information), and a revision of the
Local Government Code, originally
designed to devolve power from
communities. What our children
need from duty bearers are support,
care, and policies that will protect
their rights and that will hone and
encourage them to be productive
members of our society. To protect
their rights, and ensure their safety
is our utmost concern. A violent
and punitive environment is not
the answer.
As Child Rights Advocates, the
recent statement by the Office of
the President, backing the law that
will lower the minimum age to 9
or 12 years old is unacceptable to
us. Instead, we demand that the
government implements fully the
provision of the Juvenile Justice Law
and institute measures to strengthen
the Filipino families and the network
of care, including churches, schools
and various stakeholders, for at-risk
and vulnerable children among our
midst.
We call on our all churches,
communities of faith and other
children’s welfare organizations to
join us in opposing the House Bill
No. 002, or the Minimum Age of
question which remains to be
answered with certainty is:
“Can the Bahay Pag-asa and the
Agricultural Camps and Training
supervised and controlled by DSWD
in PARTNERSHIP the BUCOR
(Bureau of Corrections) and TESDA,
provide and deliver its mandate
“to design and implement the
rehabilitation and intervention
programs in these specialized
facilities in order to prepare the
residents therein for successful
reintegration into their families and
communities upon discharge and
release?”
Pending conclusive proof of
the viability and success of these
programs in these very expensive
“SPECIALIZED FACILITIES”, of
which our government has no model
to show, we simply cannot abandon
the future of these “children in
conflict with the law” to chance.
Each life is invaluable. Bawat
isang buhay at kinabukasan ay
mahalaga.
Lastly, a very dangerous section
February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3
central authority.”
Our dear People of God, we are
in a crucial moment of our history.
In our hands is the direction of our
country. Let us be vigilant in what
is happening. Let us not just be on-
lookers but let us be involved.
Pope Benedict said: “A big part of
the vocation of Christian lay people
is their participation in politics
in order to bring justice, honesty
and defense of true and authentic
values, and to contribute to the
real human and spiritual good of
society. The role of the laity in the
temporal order, and especially in
politics, is key for the evangelization
of society.” (Pope Benedict XVI on
receiving the Bishops of Paraguay
in September 2008) Pope Francis
Criminal Responsibility Act, and
other acts that hinder our children
to be an integral member of our
community, fulfilling their God-
given potentials to the fullest.
Children are not criminals. This
bill, if implemented, would be our
greatest sin to children, and to the
next generations to come.
BISHOP RUPERTO SANTOS, D.D.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines
(Section 43-A) was inserted which
in effect will prevent any appeal
or reconsideration or correction in
the judgments given to these young
offenders, to wit:
SEC 43-A. PENALTY
FOR VIOLATION OF
CONFIDENTIALITY OF
RECORDS- ANY PERSON WHO
HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY
OF DIVULGING, WILFULLY
OR THROUGH GROSS
INEXCUSABLE NEGLIGENCE,
THE RECORDS OR ANY
INFORMATION RELATION
TO THE PROCEEDINGS
INVOLVING CHILDREN
IN CONFLICT WITH THE
LAW, SHALL SUFFER THE
PENALTIES IMPOSED IN
TITLE VII, CHAPTER 3 OF
THIS ACT.”
Simply put, once a child has
been arrested, the court, within
72 hours, has to make a decision
for the petition for an involuntary
commitment to these specialized
facilities. The initial period of the
placement of the child shall not be
CBCP Monitor
taught: “‘A good Catholic doesn’t
meddle in politics.’ That’s not true.
That is not a good path. A good
Catholic meddles in politics, offering
the best of himself, so that those
who govern can govern…. None
of us can say, ‘I have nothing to
do with this, how they govern.’ …
No, no, I am responsible for their
governance, and I have to do the
best so that they govern well, and I
have to do my best by participating
in politics according to my ability.”
(Pope Francis September 16, 2013)
Furthermore, we heed the appeal of
Pope Francis in his message on the
World Day of Prayer for Peace of
this year that good politics is at the
service of peace.
No one can say in this age of the
social media that she/he cannot
participate in politics. Each of us can
let our voice be heard and be a part
of national conversation by posting
our views in the social media, but
with great respect for others and
with the end of advancing the truth.
We especially encourage the youth
whose future is very much at stake
to participate in the electoral process
especially by using their skills
and knowledge of the social
media to advance what is true,
what is just, and what is for the
common good.
Let the common good be the aim of
our politicians and let the common
good be the basis of our choice for
our next set of public officials, then
truly, “love and truth will meet;
justice and peace will kiss” (Ps 85:11)
in our land.
For the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines,
+ ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao
President, Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines
January 28, 2019
BISHOP REX R.B. REYES
National Council of Churches in the
Philippines
BISHOP NOEL PANTOJA
Philippine Council of Evangelical
Churches
MS. FE FORONDA
Philippine Children’s Ministries
Network
SR. VIVIAN FERNANDO, HFB
Talitha Kum-Philippines
less than one year. After that 72
hours, no person can have access
to the records or any information
in relation to the proceedings.
Therefore, No DSWD, NGO or
Charitable Institution can help
these children because NO ONE
WILL GIVE OUT ANY RECORD
OR INFORMATION UNDER THE
PAIN OF STIFF PENALTIES.
We also propose the following to
our Legislators:
1. Give priority to the effective
implementation of   RA 9344.
2. Increase the penalties against
the exploiters of children.
 
With all the foregoing, the
SANGGUNIANG LAIKO NG
PILIPINAS calls upon our
citizenry to OPPOSE AND
MAKE A STAND AGAINST
THIS HOUSE BILL 8858.
 
For the LAIKO Board of Directors,
JULIETA F. WASAN, Ph.D.
President
January 24, 2019
CBCP Monitor February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3 STATEMENTS B5

CBCP statement on the Message of Cardinal

Jolo Cathedral bombings Filoni for Jolo
WE, Catholic Bishops gathered in our Plenary
Assembly in Manila, received today the sad
news from Fr. Romeo S. Saniel, OMI, Apostolic
Administrator of Jolo, of the bombing of the Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo during the
Sunday Mass.
We condole with the families of the several
soldiers and civilians who were killed by the
explosions. We also express our sympathies
with those who were wounded and extend our
solidarity with the rest of the church-goers
inside the Cathedral and the rest of the church
community in the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo.
At the same time, we condemn this act of
terrorism that has taken place only a few days
after the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic
Law.
As we begin a new phase in the peace process
with the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM), we ask
our Christian brethren to join hands with all
peace-loving Muslim and Indigenous People
communities in the advocacy against violent
extremism.
May all our religions of peace guide us in our
quest for a brighter future for the peoples of
Mindanao.
From the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines
+ ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao
President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines
January 27, 2019

Statement of Antonio Cardinal Tagle

on the Jolo Cathedral bombing

Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. ROBERT
DUNCAN/CNS

TO THE REV. FR. ROMEO S.
SANIEL, O.M.I.
Apostolic Administrator of Jolo
WITH a deeply saddened heart, on
behalf of the Congregation for the
Evangelization fo Peoples, I wish
to express my sincere condolences
to all those affected by the terrorist
attacks, which took place at the Ca-
thedral and have caused numerous
deaths, injuries and damages.
We pray to Almighty God for all
those affected by this tragedy and we
especially offer our prayers to all the
victims, their families, and all of the
Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo.
At this time of deep sorrow, we
join also with all the people of the
Philippines in praying for hope,
encouragement, and guidance in
the coming days, so that peace may
be restored permanently by the help
of God and through the good will of
all concerned.
+FERNANDO CARDINAL FILONI
Prefect
+PROTASE RUGAMBWA
Archbishop Secretary

A most heinous
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila. FILE PHOTO

THE bombing in the Cathedral
of Jolo and in the parking area is
senseless because it is inhuman.
That it happened during the
Eucharistic celebration on a
Sunday, the commemoration of
Jesus’s triumph over death, makes
it abominable because it violates
the sense of God present in every
human heart. Shock, anger and
sadness envelope our hearts. What
has happened to humanity? Is there
no more room for decency and
conscience?
We in the Archdiocese of Manila
unite ourselves with the civilians
and military personnel who died.
You are in our prayer. Be assured
that you will be given divine justice.
We are one with the families of the
dead and the wounded and the
community of Jolo. You have a
family in us. We are ready to assist
you in your needs.
We urged those who planned
and executed this brutal act to ask
forgiveness of God and humanity,
to leave behind their destructive
ways and to start a new life of
truthfulness, justice and love
befitting true human beings. We
call on all Filipinos, especially
Catholics and Christians not to
abandon our commitment to
peace. Only good can combat evil.
Instead of being discouraged, let
us strengthen our resolve to work
for peace based on justice, truth,
love and respect for human life and
dignity. Let us multiply good and
honorable thoughts, sentiments,
word and actions. Let us not
abandon our efforts to dialogue
with people who differ from us.
Bridges are more useful than walls.
We affirm our faith in Jesus who
is our peace and reconciliation. As
Jesus accepted death with and for
us, so will the dead, the wounded
and our people rise again with and
for Jesus. Mary, Mother of hope,
walk with us.
+LUIS ANTONIO G. CARDINAL
TAGLE
Archbishops of Manila
January 27,2019.
desecration of a
sacred place
AS former religious leaders of Jolo
we totally condemn the criminal
bombing of the Jolo Cathedral. It
is the most heinous desecration of
a sacred place, on a sacred day, and
at a sacred moment of worship. It
is truly a satanic act that all sacred
religions must condemn. This is
the action of evil people with utter
disregard for the sacredness of
human life and of human dignity.
We entrust the innocent victims to
the Lord’s compassion and pray for
their grieving families. We strongly
appeal to our security and military
forces to flush out the perpetrators
of this barbaric crime and bring
them to justice. May the One God
of all preserve us from evil and lead
us to the way of peace.
+ANGELITO R. LAMPON, OMI
Bishop Emeritus of Jolo
ORLANDO B. CARDINAL
QUEVEDO, OMI
Former Parish Priest of Jolo

Statement of concern and solidarity

“Through the holy prophets, God
promised of old to save us from our
enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us;
to show mercy to our forebears and to
remember the holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our
father Abraham
to set us free from the hands of our
enemies, free to worship without fear,
holy and righteous in the Lord’s sight,
all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:70-75)
THE Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas
joins the entire Catholic Faithful and
all men of goodwill in praying for the
victims of the Jolo Cathedral bombing.
We mourn with and express our deep
concern for the families of those who
perished and those who were injured
in this terroristic act. We also stand in
solidarity with them and encourage all
groups and communities who can extend
help, to send them through trustworthy
channels and organizations.
Let us not be afraid and together
declare with confidence that our God is
in control and that He will “set us free
from the hands of our enemies, free to
worship Him without fear.”
Though we strongly condemn this
senseless act of violence done towards
innocent and praying people, we also
entrust the perpetrators of this bombing
to the sacred heart of Jesus and His
divine mercy.
Lastly, we appeal to our national
leadership to avoid fostering an
atmosphere of hatred and encourages
the citizens to go against our Church
pastors and instead call for sobriety,
solidarity and mutual respect.
Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in you!
For the LAIKO Board of Directors,
MA. JULIETA F. WASAN, Ph.D.
President
January 29, 2019
B6 REFLECTIONS
The preacher of God’s Word- Called to be God’s
sinful, but touched by the Lord partners
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 5:1-11)
February 10, 2019
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
WHAT qualifies an evangelist?
If we go by popular standard, we
would think that only those who
are clean of heart deserve to be
called ministers. If this is the way
we think, it is because, when we
are in the realm of religion, we
seem to approach the problem
of ministry by considering who
God is, and once we are able to
identify him, we start talking
about the person who is fit to
serve him. For many, God is
all-powerful, without sin, and
incapable of error. We attribute
to him almost all the qualities
that are exactly the opposite of
ours. And so, we believe that the
stronger, the less sinless and the
more correct a person is, the more
he deserves to be God’s minister.
So true is this that when we know
of someone’s skeleton in the
closet, we immediately question
his qualification to preach the
Gospel. Typical of this line of
thinking is the assertion of a
former ambassador, made at an
interview on a TV channel, that the
Church has no business speaking
about morality in politics, unless
it first cleans its own backyard.
Today’s readings, however, give
the lie to that impression. In the
1st Reading , Isaiah describes
himself as a man of unclean lips
(Isa 6:5). In the 2nd Reading,
Paul tells us that he was formerly
a persecutor of the Church, and
hardly deserves the name apostle
(1 Cor 15:9). Finally, in the Gospel,
Peter, who denied Jesus thrice, is
described as telling Jesus to stay
away from him because he was a
sinful man (Luke 5:8). And yet,
these three men were proclaimers
of the Lord’s Word. In light of
this, it would be wrong to say that
only those who are good deserve
to be preachers, for in these three
we have almost the exact opposite
of goodness. This point is worth
emphasizing because many of
us think that, because the Church
is holy, it does not have a place
for sinful people. How often we
distance ourselves from those we
perceive to be sinful members! We
do not accept them as members
of religious organizations or faith
communities in the parish! Yet,
Isaiah was chosen by God to be a
prophet to Israel for many years;
despite his betrayal, Peter became
the first head of the Church;
and Paul became an unrivalled
missionary to the known world at
that time.
What gives? If we go back to
the readings, we will notice that
there is one thing common among
the three: they experienced the
Lord. The Lord touched their
lives. Isaiah was probably an
aristocrat, because he could get
near to the King. One time he
went to the Temple , and there
he was overwhelmed by a vision
of God. He saw him, and that
experience touched his life. From
then on, he became a proclaimer
of God’s Word. Paul had a vision
of Jesus, while he was on the way
to Damascus. Before he entered
the city, he was struck by a vision,
and from then on, he became a
different man. In the Gospel, Peter
encountered God not in a place like
the Temple, but in an event. He
experienced the presence of the
Lord in the abundant catch of fish.
The point of all these is that we will
truly become spokesmen of the
Lord only if we have an experience
of him. (No wonder that, because
of this lack of experience of his
presence, many of us look for him
in astrology, feng sui, born-again
sects, transcendental meditation,
and new age movements, and we
consult all kinds of charlatans just
to encounter him.)
But how do we know we had
an experience of the Lord? The
authenticity of our experience, at
least from the standpoint of the
readings today, is verified in two
acts. First is the consciousness
that we are sinful, and therefore
ability to accept the sinfulness of
others. ”Leave me, Lord, I am a
sinful man,” said Peter (Luke 5:8).
“Of these [sinners],” confessed
Paul, “I myself am the worst” (1
Tim 1:15). Indeed, it would seem
that only a person who is able to see
the depth of his sinfulness can say
that he has truly experienced the
presence of God. The opposite is
completely true. If a person comes
parading that he is very good, and
criticizes others for their need
of conversion from sin, and sets
himself apart from sinners, he has
hardly any credentials to a claim
of a personal encounter with God.
And second: having experienced
the Lord and having gone into the
depth of his sinfulness, one begins
to proclaim the Word of God, and
nothing can stop him from doing
it. He may even leave everything
that made him secure. Isaiah left
the comfort of wealth and the
company of powerful men. On
the contrary, he even experienced
persecution because of the Word
he proclaimed. Having seen the
vision on the road, Paul became a
Christian and nothing could stop
his missionary activity. “Woe to
me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1
Cor 9:16). He left the comfortable
life of a Pharisee, and in his
ministry as missionary, he was
often flogged, stoned, and placed
in dangerous situation.
The vocation to be a minister
of the Word requires more than
a vast reserve of accumulated
knowledge about the Scriptures.
It would seem that if few of us
persevere in proclaiming the good
news and have the zeal in doing the
mission, despite our initial interest
and training, it is because the Lord
has not yet touched us. That is
why, no amount of seminars and
lectures can motivate us to be
zealous ministers, unless we are
first given this initial push, this
divine touch. What matters, in
the end, is not really who we are.
It does not matter whether we are
persecutors of the Church and
public sinners, or whether we are
equipped for the ministry or not.
What matters is the finger of God,
the touch by the Holy Spirit. Of
course, there are people for whom
this is not acceptable. They are
even afraid to commit mistakes;
they want to be like God so that
nothing bad could be said of them.
But such a life misses the whole
point of what life is all about. We
cannot be like God through our own
effort in the first place. What is
ultimately decisive is that we allow
the Spirit to move us. And after
that, nothing in us really matters,
not even ourselves. Besides that is
probably hypocrisy.
February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 5:1-11)
February 10, 2019
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
IT must have been quite a shocking
experience for seasoned fishermen
like Simon (Peter) and his associates
to haul in that extraordinary catch
of fish. They had been toiling the
whole night but in vain. Then, when
the sun was already high, at a time
when no fisherman would have
hoped to get even small fry, that big
catch had come which left everybody
astonished! And this happened just
because that wandering preacher
from Nazareth had invited Simon
to lower the nets at such an unlikely
hour . . . .
There was something unusual
in that young preacher—some
extraordinary, or even divine
power. Simon was the first to
sense it. And at the same time,
he experienced what all honest
souls feel in the presence of the
supernatural: a deep awareness of
one’s sinfulness and unworthiness.
Hence the plea: “Leave me, Lord.
I am a sinful man!” (Lk 5:8).
Almost eight centuries earlier,
Isaiah had experienced the
same feeling during the theophany
he witnessed in the Temple (Is 6:5).
Utter terror grips an honest person
at the prospect of what an all-holy
Being can do to a sinful creature.
But Jesus doesn’t enjoy terrifying
people. He immediately reassured
the poor Simon who was trembling
at his feet. And he did more than that.
The miracle he had just performed
was only a beginning. It was a
symbol of something far greater
that would keep happening until
the end of time. That miraculous
Called to share the
values of Christ
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 6:17, 20-26)
February 17, 2019
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
IF some of the Beatitudes in the
Gospel of Matthew surprise us, all
those in the Gospel of Luke shock
us. In fact, they sound not only
blunt, but alienating, as they project
into a vague, unrealistic future the
straightening up of situations that
are definitely against our most
natural aspirations. A superficial
reading of these four Beatitudes
would easily lead us to conclude
that Karl Marx was right when he
stated that “religion is the opiate of
the people.”
But a more attentive reading
of both “Beatitudes” and “Woes”
enables us to realize that they are
not a sort of consuelo de bobo,
but a striking restatement,
within the perspective of the
Kingdom of God, of the ancient
saying of the “two ways,” the
one that leads to life and the
other that leads to death.
Behind those four shocking
statements which call “Blest” people
who suffer in one way or another,
there lies the unstated reason
for such “blessedness”: their
trust in the Lord and their
choice to build their life on
Him. This is their “fundamental
option,” rooted in humble faith.
This is what brings them to rely fully
on God’s love, faithfulness, wisdom,
and justice, even in situations of
poverty, hunger, pain, persecution,
and any other form of suffering
human beings can experience
on earth. What makes them
blessed is not their condition of
deprivation or rejection, but their
basic attitude of trust in the
Lord, while doing their best
to cope with such arduous and
challenging situations.
For those who build on such a
solid foundation, even conditions of
poverty, hunger, pain, persecution
and rejection—and any other form
of suffering—will not be frightening
or hopeless, for they do not last for
ever. In the faith perspective of
eternal life, what lasts for ever is
the fulfillment of God’s plan and
the reward which He has in store
for those who have entrusted
themselves to Him and have done
CBCP Monitor
catch of fish was a prophecy: Simon
and his partners and their
successors would share in
Christ’s mission of “catching
men” (see Lk 5:10), i.e. rescuing
them from the deadly power
of the forces of evil symbolized
by the sea.
That miracle, then, was not
just Jesus’ way of expressing his
gratitude to Simon for allowing him
to preach from his boat. (See Lk
5:13.) It was part of a well thought-
out plan: the plan to bring God’s
salvation to mankind through
the cooperation of frail and
sinful creatures like Simon Peter
and his associates; people like the
Pope and the Bishops; people like
you and me.
The miraculous “catch,” i.e.,
the salvation of men, goes on
throughout the world, century after
century, in spite of the inadequacy of
the fishermen. It goes on because
it is the work of God’s power;
the work of God’s love and
trust. In spite of His omnipotence
and holiness, He does not disdain to
avail Himself of our cooperation, no
matter how feeble and inadequate it
may occasionally be.
We are all in the saving boat
of the Church. We all share
in the salvation wrought by
Christ. But we also share in
the mission of helping Jesus to
save others, for, thanks to him, we
too have become “life-savers,” under
the guidance of Simon Peter, the
master of the fleet of God’s rescue
team.
their best to do His will. It is this
type of believers and doers, tested
in the most adverse circumstances,
whom Jesus calls “blessed,” for
God will welcome them into His
Kingdom. He will fully satisfy all
their needs; He will amply make
up for their past sufferings, and
give them the reward of the saints.
This is what the four Beatitudes of
the Gospel of Luke are all about.
The four “woes” that
follow focus on an opposite
orientation in life. They speak
about those who walk the road
that leads to eternal death.
They are the people for whom,
apparently, things go well but who
have committed the tragic mistake
of trusting excessively in themselves
and other creatures, giving to them
the total priority which should be
given to God alone. Their wrong
choice has brought them to pin
their expectation and hopes in
something or someone that, in
the end, will prove incapable of
fulfilling them. Their situation
is that of one who is building on
the clouds or has entrusted one’s
money to a bank that is doomed
to go bankrupt.
Those who have made such a
choice, may—for a time—feel rich,
have all their cravings satisfied,
enjoy life and popularity . . . . But
that condition won’t last, for nothing
lasts for ever in this life. And for as
long as they make these enjoyments
their highest aspirations—their
gods!—their life orientation will
remain a perversion, and its final
outcome a complete failure. The
road that seems so attractive and
easy, in reality turns out to be
deceptive and treacherous for it
leads to irreparable disaster.
With his stern “woes” Jesus
today warns all those who are
walking “the road of death”
to realize the danger of their
present situation and make
an about-face before it is too late.
And to those who are on “the
road of life” Jesus offers his
encouragement to persevere
in it, for that is the road of the
Kingdom.
CBCP Monitor February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3
Children are treated as criminals
By Fr. Shay Cullen, MSSC
THE lower chamber of the Philippine
Congress is going to approve the
lowering of the minimum age of
criminal liability of a child from
the present 15 years-of-age to
12-years-of-age. They really want
to reduce it to 9 but public outcry
forced the politicians to change.
Yet, 12-year-old is too young to
impute criminal liability. What
knowledge and discernment do
uneducated, impoverished hungry
street children at 12 years old know
and understand?
The Juvenile Justice and Welfare
Act is a good law if it were to be
implemented. But it is not. Out
of more than a hundred highly-
urbanized cities and provinces that
are supposed to build homes for
the children, only 40 have done
it. Unfortunately, some of these
supposedly homes for children
called Bahay Pag-asa are in reality
jails for children where thousands
now languish hungry, underfed and
abused.
At present, these are cruel
detention centers where the children
are mostly treated as criminals
held for weeks and months behind
steel bars. Practically no activities,
exercise, entertainment or education
is provided in most places. Many of
the children suffer bullying, sexual
and physical abuse by the older
detainees. If the minimum age of
criminal liability is lowered to nine
or 12, even more will be added to
these numbers.
This we know since our work at
the Preda Foundation for the past
45 years has been to rescue them
and give them a happy home in an
open center without guards, gates
or fences. We give the freedom of
choice to decide to stay and get
educated and 95 percent choose
to stay. They are not criminals in
the power of criminal syndicates as
congress people assert.
This is the present reality of child
detention centers with only a few
encouraging exceptions. Thousands
of small children are in fact behind
bars in sub-human conditions, their
rights violated day and night. It is
a horrific disgrace for the proud
Filipino people.
This law is not being implemented
to this day. The small children, some
as young as ten, are in fact locked
up in these overcrowded cells in
stinking, sub-human conditions.
The Philippine Congress, in its lack
of understanding and knowledge
about this reality, will condemn
many children as young as 12 to rot
in jails where they will be sexually
and physically abused. That will be
on their conscience.
They should make it mandatory
for each local government to build
a real home for children under the
direction of the Juvenile Justice
Excerpts / B3
Sofia Barbarani, The National:
Good evening! The question we
wanted to ask you on behalf of the
group of newspapers from Abu
Dhabi was: today a little girl brought
you a letter, she ran to you when you
were in the car. We would like to
know if you have read the letter yet
and if you knew what…
Pope Francis: Not yet. The letters
are there, they’re organizing them
for me to read afterwards.
Barbarani: Can you tell us what
impression that made on you when
you saw this little girl coming
towards you, this little girl who
escaped from the crowd?
Pope Francis: She’s a brave girl!
But she was stopped... Let her come,
but that little girl has a future. She
has a future and I dare say, poor
husband. She has a future, but is
brave, I liked it! It takes courage
to do that, and then another one
followed her, there were two, she
saw that one and she took courage.
Franca Giansoldati, Il
Messaggero: Your Holiness, Imam
el-Tayeb denounced Islamophobia,
emphasized Islamophobia, the
fear of Islam… Why didn’t we hear
anything about Christianophobia or
about the persecution of Christians?
Pope Francis: Indeed, I spoke
about the persecution of Christians,
not in that moment, but I’m also
talking about it frequently, also
Children behind bars in the Philippines where the country’s lawmakers are planning to lower the minimum age of criminal liability from 15 years old to nine. PHOTO COURTESY OF PREDA FOUNDATION
and Welfare Council (JJWC) and
to mandatorily fund its operation
every year. Local governments must
not put children behind bars. The
congressmen and senators will not
call child victims of these horrid
cells to testify before them. They
might hear the truth. They have
never visited the child detention
centers and they know nothing
about human suffering.
These child detention centers have
a small cell with a dozen teenagers
and small children crammed inside
in some of them. There is a dirty
stinky toilet clogged with human
waste. They sleep on the concrete
floor in most of these child detention
centers.
It is untrue and a wild fantasy
of congress people to think the
children will have recovery, therapy,
values formation, medical care,
education in nice children’s homes
run by a caring, benevolent local
government. It is the opposite: the
children are treated as criminals
and suffered hardship, hunger and
are devastated as human beings that
do not even have hope of anything
during this trip I spoke about it, I
don’t remember where, but I spoke
about it. I don’t know, I think that
the document was more about unity
and friendship and I underscored
that… but now it comes to mind,
also the document condemns
violence and some groups that
call themselves Islamic (the elders
say it’s not Islamism) persecuting
Christians. I remember that father,
on Lesbos, with three children who
was 30 years old and he cried: “I’m
Islamic, my wife was Christian. The
ISIS terrorists came, they saw the
cross and they said to her, convert,
and then they cut her throat in
front of me.” This is our daily
bread of terrorist groups, not only
of Christians, also the destruction
of the person. The document was
strongly condemnatory in this sense.
Inés San Martín, Crux: Holy
Father. One question related to
what my colleague has just asked,
since we didn’t have the time to
arrange it. As I told you in the
last trip, I interviewed the new
Archbishop of Mosul in Iraq. He
always says that they are waiting for
you. He also denies that the bishops
are arguing about it, they are just
waiting for you. You have spoken
about religious liberty, saying that
it goes beyond freedom of worship.
Can you explain this subject? We are
coming back from a country that it
is known for its tolerance but many
Catholic people that were today in
the stadium have the opportunity,
just today since they first arrived to
better.
Millions of pesos have been
provided to the Juvenile Justice
Welfare Council established to
oversee the implementation of the
Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile
Justice and Welfare Act but much of
the money has gone unused. Local
mayors do not listen or follow the
advice of the Council. The JJWC
has no power to compel compliance
with the law.
The local government officials
are not interested in building a
nice, clean well-managed home for
abandoned children at risk or in dire
circumstance or in conflict with the
law. The politicians consider the
ragged, hungry, homeless abused
street children, not as children
in need of help, but as vermin,
pests, undeserving poor, throwaway
creatures, useless and not even
human. “They have criminal minds,”
one top official said about street
children.
If a nation is judged in its
reputation as a moral upright
dignified nation by the way it treats
its poor and its neglected children,
the UAE, to demonstrate their faith
and belief. So, is there anything that
has actually changed beyond today?
Pope Francis: Processes have a
beginning, right? You can prepare
something and you make it and that’s
it. There’s something before and
something after it. I think religious
liberty is in process, always more,
always forward. I was impressed by
a conversation I had with a 13 year
old kid in Rome, before leaving. (...)
He told me: “Holiness, I want to say
that I am an atheist. What should I
do as an atheist to become a man of
peace?” I told him: “Do that which
you feel,” then I spoke to him a little
bit more, but I liked the courage
of this boy. He is an atheist but he
searches for the good.
That path is also a process, a
process that we should respect
and accompany. To accompany all
processes for good, all, whatever
color they are, of any color. I think
these are the steps forward.
Pope Francis: It’s true, it’s a
problem. The mistreatment of
women is a problem. I would dare
to say that humanity still hasn’t
matured. The woman is [considered]
“second class.” Let’s begin here: it’s a
cultural problem. Then one arrives
up to femicide. There are countries
in which the mistreatment of women
reaches [the point of] femicide and
before arriving to your concrete
question, a curiosity that they have
told me, but you do the investigation
to know if it’s true or not: I’ve been
then the Philippines is getting a very
low score if any at all. The national
pride of the Philippine nation is
absent when it comes to the plight
of its neglected street children.
National dignity is sullied and it is
nowhere to be found.
The officials and politicians, all
uncaring rich elite having never
been deprived of anything, unjustly
and wrongly call the thousands
of hungry children criminals and
accuse them of working for crime
syndicates and drug delivery boys
and girls. But there is no sound,
proven information or evidence to
back up that unrehearsed assertion
and false accusation.
Child detention in the Philippines
today is a horrific, unjust,
undeserved punishment that is
detrimental and destructive of the
child. Look at the facts: Out of all
recorded crimes, 98 percent are
done by adults and only 2 percent
by minors.
Out of all alleged wrongdoing
done by minors themselves, only
2 percent are allegedly committed
by children less than nine years of
told that the beginning of the history
of women’s jewelry came about in
an ancient country, I do not know,
of the East, where there was the
law of chasing away, repudiating,
the woman. If the husband - I don’t
know if it’s true or not - said to her,
“go away,” in that moment with
what she was wearing she had to
go without taking anything. And
there, they began to make jewels of
gold and precious stones, to have
something to survive. I don’t know
if it’s true or not, but it is interesting.
Do the investigation.
It’s true, within the Church there
have been clerics who have done
this. In some civilizations a little
stronger than in others. It is not
a thing that all have done. There
have been priests and also bishops
who have done that. And I believe
that it may still be being done.
It’s not a thing that from the
moment in which you realize it,
it’s over. The thing goes forward
like this. We’ve been working
on this for a long time. We’ve
suspended some clerics, sent them
away for this, and also - I don’t
know if the process is finished -
dissolved some women’s religious
congregations that were very tied
up in this, a corruption. I cannot
say: at my home... It’s true! Must
something more be done? Yes. Do
we have the will? Yes.
But it is a path that has come from
afar. Pope Benedict had the courage
to dissolve a women’s congregation
that had a certain level because this
slavery of women had entered, even
SOCIAL CONCERNS B7
age. Children nine to 11 years of age
are responsible for 7 percent of all
wrongdoing by minors. Then minors
12 to 15 years of age are responsible
for 43 percent of wrong doing by
minors whereas youth 15 to 18 years
of age are responsible for 48 percent
of alleged wrong doing committed
by minors.
It is clear that the 2 percent of
crimes committed by minors is
miniscule and does not deserve
harsh treatment and punishment.
The children see that some of
the rich politicians get away with
massive crimes of plunder and
wallow in putrid corruption creating
poverty and homeless children. The
children struggle to survive and eat
one scant meal a day.
Preda Foundation was founded 45
years ago to help children at risk and
in conflict with the law and those
falsely accused and abused and
jailed without evidence. The many
children rescued have the given
testimony of what they suffered.
They were saved and started a new
happier life at the Preda open center
of freedom and dignity.
sexual slavery, by clerics or by the
founder. Sometimes the founder
takes the freedom, empties the
freedom of the sisters, it can arrive
to this.
About Pope Benedict I would like to
underscore that he is a man that had
the courage to do many things on this
theme. There’s an anecdote: he had
all the papers, all the documents, on
a religious organization that had
within it even sexual and economic
corruption. He went there, there
were filters, he couldn’t arrive. In
the end, the Pope, with the will to
see the truth, called a meeting and
Joseph Ratzinger left there with
the folder and all of his papers.
When he came back, he said to his
secretary: put it in the archive, the
other party won. We mustn’t be
scandalized by this. They are steps
in a process. But when he became
Pope, the first thing [he said was]:
bring me this from the archives
and he began. The folklore about
Pope Benedict makes him seem so
good -- he is good, a piece of bread
is worse than him -- but weak, but
there’s nothing weak [in him].
He’s a strong man, a consistent
man... and he started, and there
in that congregation there was this
problem that you say. Pray so that
we can move forward. I want to go
forward. There are cases, yes. But
everywhere, but in some preferably
new congregations, some, and in
some regions more than others.
Yes. And this... We are working.
(A transcription of Catholic News
Service)
B8 ENTERTAINMENT February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3 CBCP Monitor

Buhay San Miguel Brothers Matias

Otlum TERIBOL OG Bladimer Usi

DIRECTOR: Jovenor Tan
STARRING: Ricci Romero, Jerome
Ponce, John Estrada, Kiray Celis,
Irma Adlawan, Pen Medina, Buboy
Villar, Michelle Vito, Vitto Marquez
and Danzel Fernandez.
SCREENPLAY BY: Mike Tan,
Jovenor Tan
GENRE: Horror
PRODUCTION COMPANY:
Horseshoe Studios
COUNTRY: Philippines
LANGUAGE: Filipino
RUNNING TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes

Technical assessment: 1.5

Moral assessment: 1.5
CINEMA rating: PG13
MTRCB rating: PG
at kataka-taka naman talaga

Nais mabapilang ni Fred
(Buboy Villar) sa barkadahang
pinamumunuan ni Allan
(Jerome Ponce). Subalit sa
simula pa lang ay pawang
ayaw na nila dito sa paniniwala
nilang hindi ito nababagay sa
kanilang grupo. Magpupumilit
pa rin si Fred at sa kabila
ng maraming insidente na
siya ay pinahiya at pinaasa,
papayag pa rin siya sa mga
ipapagawa sa kanyang
pagsubok. Pinakamatinding
pagsubok na ipapagawa
sa kanya ng grupo ay ang
manatili nang magdamag sa
isang abandonadong bahay-
ampunan na pinaniniwalaang
pinamamahayan ng mga
multo dahil sa madilim
nitong nakaraan. Makayanan
kaya ni Fred ang huling
pagsubok na ito? Anong
misteryo ang nagtatago sa
loob ng abandonadong bahay-
ampunan?
Isang payak at masasabing
hindi gaanong pinag-isipan
ang pelikulang Otlum. Mula
sa pamagat nito na tila wala
nang maisip talaga — Otlum
ay millennial speak kuno na
“multo” na binaligtad tulad ng
lodi para sa idol — hanggang
sa kakatwang mga kuwento
at mga karakter na malabo
ang pinanggagalingan.
Maging ang mga dayalogo at
linyahan ay pawang katawa-
tawa bagama’t katatakutan
ang genre ng pelikula.
Luma na rin halos lahat ng
ginawa nilang pakulo upang
manakot. Dismayado tuloy
ang maraming manonood
na umaasang sila ay
makakaranas ng katatakutan.
Nasayang ang husay ng mga
aktor na karamihan naman
ay may ibubuga sa pag-arte
tulad nila Villar, Ponce, Kiray
Celis , mga beteranang sila
Irma Adlawan, Pen Medina at
John Estrada, at maging ang
baguhan na si Ricci Rivero. Sa
kabuuan ay walang sentro ang
pelikula — hindi nila malaman
kung saan at kaninong
kuwento ang kanilang
susundan. Isang malaking
kapabayaan ang ginawa nila
sa pelikula na kung tutuusin
ay maraming pwedeng
nagawa kung pinagbuhusan
lamang ito ng panahon at
pag-iisip. Halatang minadali
na lamang ang lahat upang
makaabot sa taunang MMFF
(Metro Manila Film Festival)
Buhay Parokya
na ito ay nakapasok dito
bilang kalahok. FIND 3 MISSING THINGS:
Malabo rin ang nais 1. HOLY CHALICE
ipahiwatig ng pelikula kung 2. ST. LORENZO RUIZ
usaping moral ang pag- 3. HOLY WATER FONT
uusapan. Nariyang may
isang batang hindi malaman
kung bakit niya kailangang
ipagpilitan ang kanyang sarili
sa isang barkadahang pang-
aalipusta lamang ang inaabot
niya. Hindi malinaw kung
bakit mababa ang kanyang
pagtingin sa sarili  —   b ukod
sa pasaring na hindi siya
tanggap ng kanyang ina
(na hindi rin malinaw kung
bakit) at lumaki rin siyang
walang kaibigan (na hindi
rin alam ng manonood kung
bakit) — wala nang mapiga pa
sa kanyang motibasyon. Sa
katagalan ay labis na sasama
ang loob niya nang malaman
ang katotohanang wala siyang
pag-asang mapabilang sa
barkadahan nila Allan (isang
barkadahan ng mga walang
kuwentang mga nilalang
bukod sa may mga itsura silang
lahat) — at dahil dito’y kikitilin
niya ang kanyang buhay sa
hangaring maghiganti bilang
multo? Katawa-tawa sa halip
na nakakatakot. Kataka-
taka din na pawang hindi
naman siya ang naghihiganti
kundi mga ibang multo pa
sa bahay-ampunan. Ano
kaya yun? Sa mga multo siya
nakatagpo ng barkada? At
talaga bang magsisilbing aral
sa mga taong matapobre at
mapagmataas ang sila ay
multuhin at patayin? Walang
katanggap-tanggap alin man
sa mga ito. Nariyan din ang
anggulo ng pang-aabuso at
pang-momolestiya sa mga
bata ng isang pari sa dating
bahay-ampunan. Wala ring
naging kaparusahan sa kanya.
Siya pa ang nagpakamatay
at sa bandang huli’y galit na
naghihiganti. Bakit siya pa ang
galit? Katawa-tawa rin talaga.
Bagama’t ipinakitang sa huli’y
nanaig ang kapangyarihan
ng krus upang masugpo ang
pagmumulto ng pari, wala
pa rin itong saysay dahil
hindi katanggap-tanggap ang
kuwentong pinanggalingan.
Isang malaking insulto
ang Otlum sa mga
manonood — usaping teknikal
man o moral. Maging ang
mga taong walang magawa
sa buhay ay mababagot sa
pelikulang ito.

Rainbow’s Sunset
Director: Joel Lamangan
Lead Cast: Eddie Garcia, Tony
Mabesa, Gloria Romero, Aiko
Melendez, Sunshine Dizon,
Tirso Cruz III
Screenwriters: Ferdinand
Lapuz, Joel Lamangan, Eric
Ramos
Producer: Dennis Evangelista
Editor: Mail Calapardo
Musical Director: Emerzon
Tecson
Genre: Drama
Cinematographer: Rain Yamzon
Distributor: Heaven’s Best
Productions
Location: Bulacan, Philippines
Running Time: 1 hr 51 mins
Technical assessment: 3.0
Moral assessment: 2.5
CINEMA rating: V13
MTRCB rating: PG13
Nang mabalitaan ni Ramon
Estrella (Garcia) na pinili ni
Fredo (Mabesa) na sa bahay na
gugulin ang nalalabing araw,
dali-dali siyang nagdesisyon na
iwan ang pamilya at alagaan ang
kababata. Madaling pumayag
ang asawang si Sylvia (Romero)
subalit hindi ang mga anak na
sina Mayor George (Melendez),
Emman (Cruz) at Fe (Dizon).
Lalo na nang aminin ni Ramon na
mahal niya ang kanilang ninong
Fredo katulad ng pagmamahal
niya sa kanilang ina. Ang
paghantad ni Ramon ng kanyang
kasarian ay naging kontrobersyal
na usapin. Nangingibabaw
dito si Mabesa sa kanyang
mahinahong pagbalanse sa hirap
ng cancer at sa diskriminasyon
sa bawal na relasyon. Hindi rin
maitatanggi ang makatotohanang
damdaming ibinigay ni Melendez
bilang Mayora. Isang malaking
tagumpay ang masusing pagbuo
ng disenyo ng nakaraang limang
dekada habang sinusundan ang
kabataan ni Ramon at Fredo. Sa
unang pagkakataon din ay may
pagkakahawig ang mga mukha
ng mga batang bersyon at ng kani-
kanilang mga supling. Maganda
naman sa kabuuan ang pelikula
at nakuha ang damdamin ng mga
manunuod sa biglang pagkabig ng
kwento sa huli. Kung bubusisiin
nga lang ay masisilip ang mga
kahinaan nito, tulad ng hindi
makatotohanang pagpili ng mga
salita, ang malabnaw na pagbuo
sa motibasyon ng mga tauhan,
at ang sala-salabat na alitan
ng mga pangalawang tauhan
sa halip na ituon ang pagdaloy
ng kwento sa masalimuot na
relasyon nina Ramon, Sylvia at
Fredo. Marami tuloy ang naiwang
nakabinbin. Ano ang nangyari sa
kasintahan ni Fe? Hindi ba nahuli
si Emman sa kanyang iligal na
transaksyon? Anong klase ang
asawa ni Mayora na may mga
lihim na iligal na gawain? Hindi
mahigpit ang pagkakatahi ng
kwento bagama’t nasalba ito ng
kahusayang teknikal at ng drama
sa dulo.
Ang unang mapapansing tema
ng pelikula ay ang homosekswal
na relasyon nina Ramon at
Fredo. Pinili nitong tahakin
ang matamis na pag usbong
ng inosenteng pag-ibig na
lumalim at tumibay hanggang sa
katandaan. Sa mga konserbatibo,
hindi katanggap-tanggap ang
relasyong ito. Sa kabilang
dako, ang mga naturingang
“liberated” at mga kapatid na
LGBT ay magdiriwang sa walang
takot na pagsulong ng pelikula
sa relasyong homosekswal
bilang tunay na pag-ibig.
Masasabi rin namang malinis
ang pagkakagawa rito kung
tutukuyin ang homosekswalidad
bilang te ma. M atagu mpay
namang ipinakita nito na may
iba’t ibang mukha ang pag-ibig
at walang dapat humusga sa
kabusilakan ng nag-iibigan.
Malinaw ding ipinahatid ang
halaga at suporta ng pamilya
at ng kabutihang laging
sinusuklian ng kabutihan. Ang
problema ay hindi dahil sa pag-
iibigang homosekswal, kungdi
ang tahasang pangangaliwa ni
Ramon. Papaanong magiging
katanggap-tangap sa isang babae
(o lalaki man) na may ibang
mahal ang kanyang asawa?
Pambayad-utang ba ang isang
asawa? Sukli ba ang pang-
unawa ni babae sa pagsuporta
ni Fredo sa mga pinansyal
nilang pangangailangan? Hindi
naging malinaw kung nagtuloy
ang sekswal na relasyon nina
Ramon at Fredo habang kasal
ang una kay Sylvia. Ipagpalagay
na nating hindi at naging matalik
na magkaibigan lamang ang
dalawang magkababata. Hindi
pa rin naging makatwiran ang
desisyon ni Ramon na basta na
lamang iwan ang asawa upang
tumira sa bahay ni Fredo at
lantarang ipakita ang kanyang
damdamin. Hindi para lang
walang masabi ang ibang tao
pero para pangalagaan naman
ang damdamin ng mga mahal
niya sa buhay. Maaaring
marangal ang intensiyon ni
Ramon na makapiling si Fredo sa
mga huling sandali ng kanyang
buhay, pero ito ay desisyon ng
isang makasariling bata. May
sinumpaang pagmamahal at
legal na obligasyon ang kasal.
Kung mahal niya si Sylvia, dapat
niyang kinalimutan si Fredo.
Kung mahal niya si Fredo, hindi
siya dapat bumuo ng pamilya kay
Sylvia. Hindi isyu ang LGBT…
ang isyu ay ang katapatan sa
taong minamahal.
 Ugnayan
THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST
CBCP Monitor Vol. 23 No. 3 February 4 - 17, 2019 C1

CFC Light in the Lord Weekend Retreat:

Allowing the Light of Christ to Shine Through CFC
By CFC Global Comm
THE COLD Baguio weather did
not dampen the high spirits of
Couples for Christ Mission Core
members as they made their
way to the CAP John Hay for
the Light in the Lord Retreat.
Having come from the CFC
Leaders’ Conference two weeks
prior, and the Mission Core
Teaching Night the previous
week, CFC leaders were enthusi-
astic to listen to the third of the
“trilogy” of inspirational, pas-
toral and directional activities
that opened the year for CFC.
The retreat, which took place from
January 25 to 27, was a seeking of
grace for the light of the Lord to
shine within and through each one.

This present darkness

The opening session by ANCOP
Chairman Lito Tayag was about
“Darkness in the Home”.
He said, “The home is the primary
place where we hope to experience
fully the love of God. It is the do-
mestic church where we can find our
true identity as children of God.”
Stressing that there are no perfect
families, Tayag noted the many
threats confronting the family—
busy-ness, indifference, secularism,
relativism, consumerism and the
throw-away culture.
However, Tayag reminded every-
one that being CFC families, they
are bearers of God’s light.
“Our way forward to counter the
darkness of the world is to lead
each member of our families to a
relationship with Christ. How? By
proclaiming and witnessing to them
personally through love,” Tayag
shared. He added, “We must remem-
ber, Jesus is LIGHT IN THE LORD, C2

MC TEACHING NIGHT
Bishop Pabillo to CFC: ‘Live as children of light!’
(The following are ex-
cerpts from Bishop Brod-
erick Pabillo’s talk dur-
ing the January 15, 2019
Mission Core Teaching
Night held at the Christ
the King Parish.)
You (CFC) have taken
this topic from the letter
of Paul to the Ephesians
(to be your anchor verse
for the 2019 theme), and
I would like to take the
whole context of that
letter.
“For you were once
darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord;
live as children of Light.
For light produces ev-
ery kind of goodness
and righteousness and
truth. Try to learn what
is pleasing to the Lord;
take no part in the fruit-
less works of darkness;
rather expose them, for
it is shameful even to
mention the things done
by them in secret; but ev-
erything exposed by the
light becomes visible, for
everything that becomes
visible is light. There-
fore, it says: “Awake, O
sleeper, and arise from
the dead, and Christ will
give you light.” (Ephe-
sians 5:8-11)
The verses in bold font
speak about light, mak-
ing evident the contrast
between light and dark-
ness.
…you are light in the
Lord.
First, there is the state-
ment, “You are light in
the Lord…”, and there is
the imperative, “…live as
children of Light.” What
would be the result of
living in the Light? The
verse says, “For light
produces every kind of
goodness and righteous-
ness and truth.” So we
know that if we live as
children of Light, we
will produce goodness,
righteousness and truth.
This is something
complete, and this would
mean that if we produce
goodness, righteousness
and truth, we learn to be
pleasing to the Lord.
At the baptism of the
Lord, a voice was heard
from on high, “This is My
beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased.” When
we were baptized, God
also said the same—He
was pleased with us. But
the question now is, is
He still pleased with us?
To please God then is
to respond to His call,
for us to “take no part
in the fruitless works
of darkness”. When we
are in the light, we must
expose darkness, because
it is “shameful even to
mention the things done
by them in secret”.
Man does not commit
sin openly, rather he
hides the sins he com-
mits. However, every-
thing exposed to the
light becomes seen, be-
comes visible.
Other biblical texts on
the light
The passage above is
quite a beautiful passage
to reflect on. There are
also other biblical texts
that talk about the light,
such as the one from
John 8:12: Jesus spoke to
them again, saying, "I am
the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will
not walk in darkness,
but will have the light
of life." This verse talks
about how one can come
to the light—by follow-
ing Jesus who is the light.
In doing so, one will not
walk in darkness nor live
in secret.
Another text comes
from John 12:35: Jesus
said to them, "The light
will be among you only
a little while. Walk while
you have the light, so
that darkness may not
overcome you. Whoever
walks in the dark does
not know where he is
going.”
Jesus said this towards
the end of His ministry.
It was a premonition of
His death and rising up
to heaven. Jesus is saying
that while we have the
light, while we have the
truth, walk according
to the light so that we
will not be covered by
darkness.
The world nowadays
is characterized by dark-
ness, confusion and vio-
MCT, C3
Awake. Arise. Fulfill: The CFC Leaders Conference 2019
THE ANNUAL Couples for
Christ Leaders Conference gath-
ered 15,000 leaders from the
Metro Manila, Philippine and
International Missions, as well
as the CFC Family Ministries, at
the SM MOA Arena on January
12, 2019. The CFC Leaders Confer-
ence is a much-anticipated event
where top leaders receive pastoral
direction from the International
Council for the year, based on the
community’s theme.
This year, the theme “Rekindle the
Gift, Fulfill your Ministry; Live as
Children of Light” is a continuation
of the 2018 theme from 2 Timothy,
with an additional message taken from
Ephesians 5: 8-9, 14.
CFC Pastoral Formation Office
Director Rouquel Ponte, in the first
session titled “Awake! Arise!”, took the
meaning of “rekindling” and “fulfill-
ing” to a higher level this year, urging
the brethren to put into action Paul’s
teaching to the Ephesians in living as
children of light.
Awake, O sleeper!
Ponte expounded on the question,
“What does it mean to be a Christian?”
In the general sense, this means to look
to the light, to continue to practice the
profession of faith in the light, even
when the world is wrapped in night
and darkness.
According to Ponte, Pope Francis
has given us the way toward the light
when he said “And this is our Christian
hope. The light of Jesus, the salvation
that brings us Jesus with his light that
saves us from the darkness”.
In the ancient Church as in the
modern world, there are customs and
symbols that present the light and how
the faithful come into the light. Thus
everyone should heed the call of St.
Paul: Awake, O sleeper, and arise from
the dead, and Christ will give you light.
(Ephesians 5:14)
“Now is the time to be awake, to
arise from our sleep, and to combat
evil with goodness, righteousness and
truth through the light of Christ,”
Ponte exhorted
How have we rekindled?
CFC is about to complete its 38
years. Over the years, particularly
recently, CFC has had to grapple with
questions such as: What is CFC’s role
in today’s generation? Are we gaining
more Timothy’s or are we losing them?
Are our methods still effective? And
are we still at the forefront in the battle
against evil?
Ponte said, “The Lord challenges us
to rekindle, to use our gifts as CFC to
be light to the world by truly living as
children of light.”
How can CFC then live as children of
light? According to Ponte, each person
must choose to eschew the lifestyle of
his old fallen human nature and to put
on the way of life of the new humanity,
that is, to live in union with Christ.
CFC is called to do two things: to be
with Christ, and to imitate and follow
Him. And since CFC is God’s people—
a chosen race, a royal priesthood—all
are therefore compelled to wake up
from slumber, arise from sleep, and
to combat evil with righteousness and
goodness through the light of Christ.
“Therefore, Couples for Christ, Arise!
Awake! Fulfill!”, Ponte exhorted.
“There are no magical answers to the
how. But we are called to a “pastoral
conversion” in our lives as a Church,
not only in our language but in our
lifestyle if we are to connect with the
youth who will inherit our community
and the world.”
The challenge then, according to
Ponte, is the question: “Are we Couples
for Christ? Or are we merely members
of Couples for Christ?”
‛CFC is sacred space’
On a directional note, Evangeliza-
tion and Missions Director Arnel
Santos talked about Couples for Christ
as ‘God-enlightened space’. The term
was first used by Pope John Paul II, to
describe a place in which “we experi-
ence the hid- LEADERS CONFERENCE, C3
C2 February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3 CBCP Monitor

FROM A PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE

Rouquel Ponte

LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT

(“Rekindle the Gift. Fulfill Your Min-
istry!” was the community’s theme
for 2018, repeated in 2019 with the
addition of the admonition to “Live
as Children of Light.” This was in
response to the pervasive reality of
darkness in the world and to God’s
direction that the community should
work harder, pray harder and live
exemplary Christian lives so that
the darkness may be dispelled. This
article will focus on this new admo-
nition “Live as Children of Light!”).
The additional anchor verse for the
2019 theme is taken from Ephesians
5:8-9 - “For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light, for light
produces every kind of goodness and
righteousness and truth. For every-
thing that becomes visible is light.”
The verse is, in effect, telling all of
us to truly be Christian in everything
that we say and do.
What does it mean to be Christian?
It means to look to the light, to
continue to practice the profession
of faith in the light, even when the
world is wrapped in night and dark-
ness. And this is our Christian hope.
It is, as Pope Francis tells us, “The
light of Jesus, the salvation that
brings us Jesus with his light that
saves us from the darkness.”
Pope Francis, in one of his homi-
lies, explained that there was a time
when church buildings faced toward
the east, such that when a person en-
tered the doors from the west, he or
she walked eastward toward the altar.
This building trend has fallen out
of custom but it’s still an important
symbol. Why?
Pope Francis explains: “We men of
modern times, much less accustomed
to grasping the great signs of the cos-
mos, we almost never notice such a
thing,” he said, noting that the west is
the direction of the sunset, “where the
light dies.” In the east, on the other
hand, is where we see the first light of
the dawn, casting away the darkness.
The Pope explained that in the
ancient Church, during the rite of
Baptism, the catechumens would
make the first part of their profes-
sion of faith facing the west. When
questioned, “Do you renounce Satan,
his favors, and all his works?”, they
would respond “I renounce!” They
would then turn to face the east, the
direction of the Orient, where the sun
begins to shine, for the question: “Do
you believe in God the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit?” this time
responding, “I believe!”
In our own Baptisms today there is
the beautiful sign of the lit baptismal
candle, showing the importance of
light. The Pope said: “the life of the
Church is contamination of light.”
And he also asked “I would like to ask
you: how many of you remember the
date of your Baptism?” “Think, and
if you do not remember it, today you
have homework: go to your mom,
your dad, your aunt, your uncle, your
grandmother, grandpa and ask them,
‘What is my Baptism date?’”
He instructed them not to forget
it, adding that our date of baptism,
“which is the date of rebirth, is the
date of light, it is the date in which…
we have been contaminated by the
light of Christ.”
Paul’s instruction about Christian
conduct still holds true.
The same attitudes of humility,
gentleness, patience and forbearance
are key to preserving the Spirit’s gift
of unity in families, parishes and
religious communities.
We must choose to put off the
lifestyle of the old fallen human
nature and to put on the way of life
of the new humanity, that is, to live
in union with Christ. We must be
acutely aware of our true identity in
Christ and be a shining witness in a
world that seems to grow darker by
the day.
Goodness
“Charity at the core. We need to
keep reminding ourselves that there
is a hierarchy of virtues that bids us
to seek what is essential”. In other
words, “amid the thicket of precepts
and prescriptions, Jesus clears a way
to seeing two faces, that of the Father
and that of our brother”.
This is the great criterion which we
will be judged on. Pope Francis recalls
Jesus’ words about feeding the hungry
and welcoming foreigners, presenting
them as “a rule of behavior by which
we will be judged. If I encounter a
person sleeping outdoors on a cold
night, I can view him or her as an
annoyance, an idler, an obstacle in
my path, a troubling sight, a problem
for politicians to sort out … Or I can
respond with faith and charity, and
see in this person a human being
with a dignity identical to my own,
a creature infinitely loved by the
Father, an image of God, a brother or
sister redeemed by Jesus Christ. That
is what it is to be a Christian!”
Righteousness
“Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they will
be filled”. (Matthew 5:6)
Pope Francis further explains that
“Jesus offers a justice other than that
of the world, so often marred by petty
interests and manipulated in various
ways. Experience shows how easy it
is to become mired in corruption,
ensnared in the daily politics of quid
pro quo, where everything becomes
business. This has nothing to do with
the hunger and thirst for justice that
Jesus praises”.
The Pope warns: “Unless we wish
to sink into an obscure mediocrity,
let us not long for an easy life, for
‘whoever would save his life will lose
it’”. “In living the Gospel, we cannot
expect that everything will be easy”.
But Pope Francis also explains
that “The saints are not odd and
aloof, unbearable because of their
vanity, negativity and bitterness.
The Apostles of Christ were not like
that”. The apostles enjoyed favor
“with all the people.” ”Persecutions
are not a reality of the past, for today
too we experience them, whether by
the shedding of blood, as is the case
with so many contemporary martyrs,
or by more subtle means, by slander
and lies”.
Truth
“What is the truth?” That was
Pilate’s question as he judged Jesus.
(John18:37). Through the witness
of his passion and death, Jesus gave
witness to the truth.
“The truth finds its full realization
in the person of Jesus himself (Cf.
John 14:6), in His way of living and
dying, the fruit of His relationship
with the Father,” the Holy Father
explained. “This existence as children
of God, He, risen, gives it also to us by
sending the Holy Spirit who is Spirit
of truth, who attests to our heart that
God is our Father (Cf. Romans 8:16).
The Holy Father explained that
being truthful is much more than
simply being precise, exact or sincere.
It is about communications, for the
Catechism says the eighth command-
ment “forbids misrepresenting the
truth in our relations with others”
(n. 2464).
“To live in inauthentic commu-
nication is grave because it impedes
relationships and, therefore, impedes
love,” the Pope continued. “Where
there is a lie there is no love, love
can’t be exercised. And when we
speak of communication between
persons, we mean not only words
but also gestures, attitudes, even si-
lences, and absences. A person speaks
with all that he is and does. We are
all in communication always. We
all live communicating and we are
continually poised between the truth
and lies.”
The truth is so much more than
presenting facts, in the Holy Father’s
view. Actually, selecting certain facts
in an effort to defame another person
is what a gossip does – and Pope Fran-
cis has little good to say about gossips.
“Beware! A gossiper is a terrorist
because with his tongue he hurls the
bomb and leaves calmly and that
hurled bomb destroys others’ reputa-
tion,” the Pope warned. “Don’t forget:
to gossip is to kill.”
Pope Francis challenges us to live
the truth in all aspects of life: Let us
ask ourselves: what truths attest to
our works, our words or our choices
as Christians? Each one can ask
himself: am I a witness of truth, or
am I more or less a liar disguised as
a truthful person?
The Pope continues: “Not to bear
false witness means to live as a child
of God, who never, never denies him-
self, never tells lies; live as children of
God, letting emerge in every act the
great truth: that God is Father and we
can trust in Him.”
This letter of St. Paul to the Ephe-
sians is a masterpiece and one of the
greatest treasures that compel us to
wake up from our slumber. Now is
the time to be awake, to arise from
our sleep, and to combat evil with
goodness, righteousness and truth
through the light of Christ.
Reflection Questions:
What is an area of darkness I am
experiencing in my life now? How
will I let the Light of Christ overcome
this darkness?
How can I be an instrument of
the Light of Christ that others may
see goodness and righteousness
and truth?

LIGHT IN THE LORD, C1

AQUILA AND PRISCILLA

Living as children of light

Our community’s theme this year is taken from Ephe- Creator, man is the creature. He is teaching that God
sians 5:8-9,14: For you are once darkness, but now you created man not just “good” but “very good” – because
are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light man is created in God’s own image. He is teaching the
produces every kind of goodness and righteousness truth that the world has been organized by God and
and truth. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and man is to be sovereign over the created world.
arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” We must not allow the author’s idea of the
In these three verses, “light” is mentioned four cosmos to distract us from his religious in-
times, indicating its importance. sight. Imagine a man who says to his beloved,
These verses call to mind the story of creation in “As the sun always rises in the east and sets in
the Book of Genesis: Then God said, “Let there be the west, I will always love you.” If the woman
light,” and there was light. God saw how good the responds, “Since the earth is round and rotat-
light was. God then separated the light from dark- ing in space, the sun is not actually rising and
ness. God called the light “day” and the darkness he setting,” it would be ridiculous and totally still the answer to the chal- these is none other than Jesus requires striving to live in
called “night.” Thus evening came, and morning fol- off the point. The man in love is not talking lenges to the family.” Christ,” Yamamoto said. holiness, and being commit-
lowed—the first day. (Genesis 1:3-5). In these three about science. He is expressing his profound Countering darkness in CFC may have been trans- ted to the Church and the
verses, “light” is mentioned five times. love. If we miss the expression of love because the family entails practical formed to be followers of community of CFC.
During a recent prayer meeting of our household, we focus on the extraneous details, we miss and doable actions such as Jesus, to be men and women Yamamoto explained, “As
our members expressed the view that one of the the point entirely. When we read the creation heeding God’s leading at of the light, to live in the full- children of light, we must
practices that we need to rekindle in the commu- story, we should keep in mind that the author all times; having complete ness of life in Christ. But the refuse to yield our ground
nity is Bible study. We need to know and live the is not teaching science but explaining a real- trust and faith in God’s love reality is that in the journey to the wiles of evil. We must
Scriptures if we are to be children of light. ity. And since it is the truth, we believe that and providence; surrender- as a people of God, everyone not allow apathy and indif-
We all already understand that the Bible is not the story is divinely inspired. ing everything to the Lord is confronted with challenges ference to creep into our work
a history book. It is rather a collection of books of The second creation story is concerned with the and spending time in silence of faith, and there are tempta- of evangelization and family
different literary forms. Some are history, others human’s relationship with the soil, with the relation- with Him; opening lines of tions because of the pervasive renewal. We must stand defi-
are legend, or letter, or poem, or debate, or parable, ship between man and woman, and with the reason communication in the fam- evil in the world. ant and resist the assault on
or fiction, or other forms. Narrative is the primary for human suffering. ily; being patient with others The truth, however, is that our Christian identity by the
literary form in Genesis. And the dominant form It is evident that the story is drawn from the au- and with ourselves; accepting light overcomes darkness, false promises of the world.”
of narrative in Genesis is the saga or story that has thor’s experience in an agricultural society. The story each other’s limitations; lean- goodness prevails over evil, And if CFC would take all
basis in fact but expanded and enhanced by non- presents man as coming from the ground, dependent ing on each other more than and Jesus is the light. these to heart, the community
factual elements. upon the ground for life, and in death will return to usual; talking to each other “To live as children of the will reap the fruits of living in
Genesis has two versions of the creation story—the the ground. It teaches that woman is the only suitable respectfully and listening to light, we must be equipped the light: God’s goodness that
first or Priestly Creation Account (1:1-2:4a) and the partner for man, since she is formed from human each other’s concerns; mend- with the full armor of God, be leads to repentance; a life of
second or Yahwist Creation Account (2:4b-3:24). The flesh. The attraction of the sexes and the institution of ing relationships; and enrich- on guard against the dangers righteousness or being always
literary form of these stories may be called myth marriage are described as the natural destiny of man ing family life with time. of evil, and be role models as justifiable in Jesus; and living
defined as an imaginative story which uses symbols and woman, flowing from the way they were created. The acronym HOME makes disciples of Christ,” Yama- in truth.
to speak about reality, but a reality which is beyond a And finally, the story explores the reality of suffering all these easier to remember: moto exhorted. “The light of Christ must
person’s comprehension. and asks, “Why do human beings suffer?” H - heed God’s leading at Donning the full armor of illumine our journey from
What are the realities or truths dealt with in In this story, the tree of knowledge of good and evil all times; O - open lines of God requires bathing oneself pain to purpose, being able
these two creation accounts? is not a physical tree. It is a symbol for the au- communication; M - mend in prayer and being immersed to put up with hardships,
The first creation account deals with the mystery of thor’s belief that there is a spiritual order in the relationships; and E - enrich in the Word of God. Partaking traversing from success to
our origins, the reality of our existence. We know that universe. And if there is a spiritual order, then family life with time. of the sacraments is also a way significance, blooming where
we exist. But how did all that exist come to exist? The there is the possibility of acting contrary to that Joe Yamamoto, in the sec- to wear this armor. one is planted, and doing ev-
author answers this by using an imaginative story. His order. People may act in accordance with God’s ond session, talked about To stand guard against evil erything for the glory of the
answer – it is God’s work. God creates the world solely order and prosper, or they may act contrary to belonging to God and con- is to be wise in recognizing Lord,” Yamamoto concluded.
by the power of the Divine Word. To express this truth, God’s order and suffer and eventually die. Sin is ducting oneself in goodness, evil and the dangers that lurk
the author draws from his own experience as one who committed when a person knows the spiritual or- righteousness and truth. in the darkness. Another is The aroma of Christ
comes from an organized society that has a six-day der and chooses to act contrary to it. The author “Everyone struggles with by exposing darkness and The smell of freshly brewed
work week and one day Sabbath rest, and uses this as dramatizes sin creatively. Sin is something we pain; everyone longs for evil into the light. Being coffee or bread baking in the
the structure of his creation story. choose to do. Eating is something we also choose success. And the answer to role models of discipleship LIGHT IN THE LORD, C3
The author uses these six days to divide up the to do. Thus eating is a good symbol for sin. What
reality which he knows from experience. Thus he we eat becomes part of us. When we sin, it also
allocates three days to divide and three days to becomes part of us, sin becomes part of who we
populate what has been divided. On the first day God
divided light from darkness. On the second day he
are. Through sin we grow in our knotwledge of
evil. When we sin, we figuratively do eat of the Ugnayan
divided the waters above the vault from the water tree of knowledge of good and evil. THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST

under the vault. And on the third day he divided
the water from the dry land. On the fourth day God
populated the vault of heaven with the sun, the
moon, and the stars. On the fifth day he populated
the waters with fish and put birds under the vault.
And on the sixth day he populated the dry land with
every kind of vegetation and with human beings.
Then God rested on the Sabbath, just as the author’s
society keeps the Sabbath.
The author is not teaching science. He is teaching
the relationship between God and man – God is the
The second creation story does not describe Michael C. Ariola
historical chronology. Rather the story is born IC Oversight
from the experience of living in a world where
people suffer. The author is aware of suffering Zenaida A. Gimenez Alma M. Alvarez
and asks, “Why?” He then composes an inspired Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor
story through which he expresses his belief – God Deomar P. Oliveria Evangeline C. Mecedilla
is loving. Man’s rightful partner is a woman. Man
suffers because man sins. Suffering is the natural Layout Artist Circulation Staff
result of acting contrary to the spiritual order set The Ugnayan News Supplement is published by the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc., with editorial offices at 156 20th
Avenue, 1109 Cubao, Quezon City. Editorial trunk line: (+63 2) 709-4868 local 31 Direct line : (+63 2) 709-4856
by God from the beginning. When we sin, we do www.couplesforchristglobal.org cfcglobalcommunications@gmail.com
not live as children of light.
CBCP Monitor February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3 C3

BRIDGING THE GAP DAWNINGS

Joe Tale Michael “Shok” Ariola

Marriage is Beautiful JUST DAWNED ON ME

THIS episode, I begin to write
stories on ordinary people
who are doing extraordinary
examples on putting their
faith in action.
Gerry and Carol Fetalvero
are leaders of Couples for
Christ based in Batangas
City. Presently, Gerry also
serve as Provincial Area Head
of CFC Mindoro Occiden-
tal, and goes to Mamburao
once a month to serve the
community there. They also
previously served in the CFC
Family Ministries and Kids
for Christ.
When they celebrated
their 25th Wedding An-
niversary on May 14, 2012,
they thought of celebrating
it in a special way. Since
Gerry was also President of
their Parish Pastoral Coun-
cil in the Basilica of the
Immaculate Conception,
the couple were familiar
with the situation of the
lay faithful in their parish,
specifically that of couples
living together without the
LIGHT IN THE LORD, C2
benefit of the sacrament of
matrimony. So they decid-
ed that instead of throwing
a big party on their 25th
anniversary as many are
wont to do, they decided
to sponsor the church wed-
ding of 25 couples. CFC
and the other volunteers in
their parish helped prepare
the documentation needed
for the weddings. Of course,
the silver celebrants served
as Ninong and Ninang to
the 25 couples who were
being married.
It did not end there. Three
more couples were added
to the number, and such
weddings became an annual
event. All told, since they
started, they have sponsored
a total of 92 weddings!
And one good move de-
serves another. Since they
continued to monitor the
situation in the families, they
also sponsored the baptism of
some of the children of their
sponsored couples.
Gerry and Carol believe
that indeed Marriage is Beau-
tiful and that Family is a Gift,
and would like many more to
experience it with the bless-
ing of a wonderful God.
So, while our so-called
people's representatives are
busy with legislation that will
formally allow the breakup
of marriages, and with it the
break up of families, here is
one couple who are silently
working, doing their part, in
preserving and even advanc-
ing this gift of the Lord.
And they have been
blessed. Their children are
just about to turn profession-
als - a doctor, a dentist, and an
architect. How cool is that?
And we wish the best for
Gerry and Carol and their
children. They put their
faith in action on what is
basic - the strengthening
of marriage and family.
Strong marriages leads to
strong families which leads
to strong societies!
Gerry and Carol, we honor
you and your family!
2019 remains to be a year for rekindling and
fulfilling the ministry. To ensure such a jour-
ney, the Lord “re-calls” Couples for Christ to
“Live as children of light.” “For you were once
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,…” (Eph 5:8-9)
Simply put, if we want to rekindle and fulfill
our ministry, then we need to live as children
of light.
---
To “live as children of light” is a call that is
special to CFC. Note the use of the plural form
“children”, instead of the singular “child”. The
Lord knows that the journey to light cannot be
done alone. There must be “an-other”. There
must be community. There must always be
God. Precisely, the very gift to Couples for
Christ!
Couples for Christ never journey alone.
There is always the spouse. There is always
the family. There is always the service team.
There is always the community. There is
always the Church. There is always history.
In each, there is light. In all, Light is there.
---
“Light”. What a beautiful word. And power-
ful too.
In one household meeting, we sang the wor-
ship songs “Behold” and “You alone are Holy”.
I took a keen and renewed interest in the use
of the words “splendor” and “glory”.
“Splendor” and “glory”, by definition,
have actually something to do with “light”.
Yes, splendor means “great and impressive
beauty”, but it also means “great brightness”,
“magnificent light”. “Glory” means “praise,
honor and distinction”, but it also means
“something marked by resplendence.”
The Thesaurus even goes on to assert that
“glory” and “splendor” are synonymous to
each other.
In this sense, we can now see the power in
“light” and the power in the call to “Live as
children of light”. The call to light is actually
a call to victory! And, to “live as children of
light” actually means to “Live as children of
Glory” or “Live as Children of Splendor”!
---
Now, look at our song “You alone are holy”.
You alone are holy
You alone are Lord
You alone are worthy
Lamb of God
We behold your splendor
Seated on the throne
Robed and crowned with glory
Evermore,
Mighty Lord!
Mighty Lord!
In the CFC year of “Behold and Ponder”
(CFC theme for 2014), we dared to define “be-
hold” as “to hold in view”, “to gaze, study, and
analyze, and in the process, be astonished”. In
the words of the contemplatives and mystics,
to behold is “to see reality as it is” and “to
experience an event fully”.
Now, go back to the line “We behold Your
Splendor”
How can we possibly behold splendor?
How can we hold in view or gaze at such
great brightness, such magnificent light, such
glory, such resplendence, such refulgence?
(Refulgence by the way also means “to shine
brightly.”) It will be like us looking directly
at the midday sun with our naked eyes! Defi-
nitely, it will be beyond our capacity to do so.
---
This is why we start with little. We start
anew at “rekindling”.
We re-acknowledge that our light is one that
needs constant renewal, one with permanent
need of nurturing and a vigilant blowing to
remove the ashes covering the firewood or
smoldering the wick.
We even recognize that we are not the light.
We can only look at the light, and be recipient
of its illumination and shine. We can only
journey to become light in the Lord.
And so, we re-start at dawn. It is grace
enough to be illumined by the light of dawn.
We expect to be awed by daybreak and we
anticipate with much excitement, even trem-
bling, the moment when everything comes
to light.
But for now, we content ourselves for mat-
ters to “dawn on us”.
---
To dawn on us, like the foregoing insights
– if one may call them as such – have dawned
on me. By grace, they have just dawned on
us. As we now pray for more and share more.
Let us rekindle the journey to a Light-filled
life. May God bless us all!

LEADERS CONFERENCE, C1

den presence of the Risen Lord,” “family life renewal” these questions that since last
citing Matthew 18:20: “For Quoting Fr. Francisco fur- year the community has been
oven are aromas that attract many, causing the temporary fragrance of wealth or power where two or three are gathered ther, Santos noted that from its exhorted: Rekindle the Gift…
people to “follow their noses” to get to the or fame. together in my name, there am inception, CFC has been envi- Fulfill your Ministry! It is God’s
source of the scent. It is the same with Jesus. “Our divine nature in Christ allows us to I in the midst of them.” sioned as a worldwide network way of reminding us of the need
He exuded such a powerful “aroma” that love intimately, forgive unconditionally, The God-enlightened space, of committed Christian couples for constant renewal, a constant
people couldn’t help but be attracted to Him. radiate the aroma of Christ wonderfully, and or sacred space according to and families: What God started rekindling, a constant prayer to
James Solano, in his session titled “Radiate fulfill the demands of our ministry sacrifi- scientists, architects and histo- in the Philippines was not desire gifts and charisms and
Christ’s Fragrance and Aroma” spoke about cially,” Solano exhorted. rians, does not only talk about meant to be just for Filipinos, a firm longing to take part in
how CFC, as disciples of the Lord Jesus, could Allowing Christ’s aroma to exude through the physical, but also mental— or just for Asia, but was to be fulfilling our ministry.”
exude the aroma of Christ, and get people to one’s life is allowing Christ to be perfected how the space reflects and rein- an instrument of renewal for “God wants us to grow. There
be attracted to Him. in one’s weakness. And recognizing that forces man’s understanding of the whole world” must be, in the words of Nina
CFC members’ attraction to Christ caused one’s weakness means Christ’s strength, one sanctity, divinity and himself. Santos added, “In other words, Ponte speaking in a prophecy
them to join the Christian Life Program and is able to allow the Lord to use him or her to Santos quoted Fr. Mario for him, anywhere where CFC last year: Expansion of the
to strive to live as He instructs, to fulfill the accompany others in their spiritual weakness Francisco, S.J., former President is may be marked as “created Spirit! Explosion of Blessings!
mission He has tasked the community with. as well. of Loyola School of Theology in sacred space”—a worldwide net- Enlargement of the heart!”
To equip each one, the Lord gave gifts, gifts “Jesus told us to ‘Do as He did’, ‘Walk as 2010, who, in his study of CFC, work of committed Christian Santos exhorted.
which enable each person to perform the mis- He walked’, ‘Think as He thought’. God said, wrote in his scholarly article couples and families.” Enlightened Hearts, Mar-
sion given to him. Solano posed this question ‘Be holy as I am holy’. This is true Christian- titled Mapping Religious and He also spoke of CFC trans- riage, Homes, and the World
to CFC: What gifts will you rekindle this 2019 ity—to emit fragrance that is pleasing to Civil Spaces in Traditional and forming civil spaces, even the Santos also cited Fr. Raine-
in order to fulfill your ministry? God,” Solano exhorted. Charismatic Christian Commu- peripheries into “scared spaces”. rio Cantalemessa who spoke
Jesus is the greatest gift. However, people “Remember, the best representatives of God nities in the Philippines: “Hav- This, Santos emphasized, is of “rekindling” this way: “To
nowadays are hesitant to receive this gift of are not the most intelligent, the most elo- ing defined its place within the what CFC calls ANCOP and the rekindle (anazopurein) literally
Christ’s divinity. Solano said, “Most of our quent, or the most gifted. The best representa- church’s governance structure Social Development Programs. means ‘to blow on the flame’,
failure in meeting the demand of God to tives of God are the kindest and most humble based on territorial jurisdic- ‘to remove the ashes in order
“Fulfill our Ministry” springs from our failure people. Those who know they’re not perfect. tion and its relations with its “The questions, however are: to revive the fire again’.
to live our identity, to share Christ’s gift to Those who deeply respect people, no matter corresponding authorities, the Are the “lights” in these spaces Santos said, “Today, let us
us. We fail to live and accept the divine in us what they have done in the past,” he added. CFC has been able to construct still lit now? Are they brightly try to seek the action of the
because we focus more on our humanity—our Solano concluded, “God’s fragrance will be religious space beyond paro- shining or wavering, even dim- Holy Spirit to blow on the
sinfulness and limitations.” manifested by our kindness. God’s aroma will chial boundaries and move ming? Have they been spread- flame and remove the ashes
There is the danger of being attracted to be radiated by our goodness and holiness. And into directions linked to the ing? Are they being passed on?”, in us. We shall start to do two
the temporary aroma of leadership, leaving the world will know Jesus by our love.” two other areas of its mission— Santos asked. basic steps: by remembering
leaders unable to let go of self-entitlement, or LIGHT IN THE LORD, C4
“global evangelization” and He added, “It was because of and re- LEADERS CONFERENCE, C4

MCT, C1

lence. We do not know where we are
heading. Many of you are afraid for
your children: what kind of world
will your children find themselves in?
Part of the darkness and confusion
is the issue of truth. What is truth?
There is a cacophony of voices ped-
dling truth. What before was false is
now presented as truth.
The prophet Isaiah wrote one of his
oracles of lament, “Ah! Those who call
evil good, and good evil, who change
darkness to light, and light into dark-
ness, who change bitter to sweet, and
sweet into bitter!” (Is. 5:20) An example
of falsehood masked as truth is abor-
tion, which is presented as a right for
women. Then there is gender orienta-
tion and extrajudicial killings.
Truth is important in any society,
because without it, there cannot be
justice. Without truth there cannot
be peace. The reason why negotia-
tions fail is because one or both par-
ties hide the truth from the other.
Without truth there cannot be love.
Truth, justice, peace and love are the
four virtues that make any coming to-
gether of people, any society, function
well. When people come together—in
the family, in the community, in the
country, in the world—they need
truth, justice, peace, and love. Ephe-
sians 5: 9 reiterates this: for light
produces every kind of goodness and
righteousness and truth.
'We are not creators of light'
In creation, the first thing that
came about was the light. Then God
said: Let there be light, and there was
light. God saw that the light was good.
God then separated the light from the
darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4)
Man did not create the light. The
word of God brought forth the light,
so God is the only creator. But we par-
ticipate in it as co-creators, when we
separate light from darkness, when
we subject ourselves to the truth.
Attacks on truth
Truth is being attacked especially
in our time. First, there is the phe-
nomenon of relativism, where “Truth
is what I believe to be true.” People do
not believe in objective truth, instead
they live by the slogan: Do what you
feel is good.
People do not bother to seek the
truth, much less subject themselves
to the truth, but they seek what they
want, and what they want becomes
truth for them. They make the truth!
In this way, there is no cohesion
in society. Each one is on his own in
pursuit of his truth.
In the family setting, this becomes
apparent when there are no agreed
rules that each member abides by.
Instead, each one pursues his own
version of truth.
Another attack on the truth and
on light is fake news—the deliberate
propagation of falsehood in order to
pursue one’s agenda. The spread and
the power of social media is being uti-
lized for this. With fake news, what
is important is not the objective truth
but the perception of the people. This
perception can be then turned to
seem like “what the majority wants”.
What also prevents us from seeing
the light of the truth are prejudices
and biases. Biases are created by at-
tacking the credibility of the mes-
sengers rather than engaging with the
message. Connected with this is the
creation of personality cults. People
believe whatever a person says or does.
This has become idol worship. The
words of Socrates, a Greek philoso-
pher who lived some 500 years before
Christ, still ring true: “Strong minds
discuss ideas, average minds discuss
events, weak minds discuss people.”
How do we live as children of light
in these situations?
1. Develop self-honesty. Know our-
selves and our biases, and constantly
examine ourselves. Everyone has
his or her personal biases, but what
is important is that we are aware
of these biases. It is then impor-
tant to constantly do not only an
examination of conscience, but an
examination of consciousness in
order to know oneself. 1 John 3:19-
21 supports this.
2. Pray for Divine guidance. God is
a revealing God. Jesus has come
for the truth. (Psalm 18:29; Psalm
36:10) When one is in darkness,
divine guidance will reveal the
truth. Even when Jesus Himself
stood before Pilate, He revealed the
reason for which He existed, to bear
witness to the truth. Commitment
to the truth is commitment to Jesus.
When one is ashamed to reveal the
truth, he is ashamed of Jesus. Be-
cause Jesus said, “I am the way, the
truth and the life.”
3. Seek the truth. Make use of the
internet not to be blinded by bi-
ases but as a means to search for
the truth. Make your households
as discernment groups. Do not be
afraid of divergent opinions. All
the divergent opinions will ulti-
mately converge to the truth if all
have the basic aim and the humil-
ity to seek the truth. Tolerance just
because one is afraid that the truth
might divide people is not seeking
the truth at all.
4. Share the truth. Do not argue. Just
present your ideas with gentleness.
(1Peter 3:15-16 ) We must be like
John the Baptist, pointing to Jesus
who is the light. (John 1:6-9)
5. Do not be offended if people do
not seek the truth. Trust that God
also loves them and has his own
way with them. Darkness will not
overcome the light! (John 1:4-5)
6. Accept the fact that accepting the
truth, being in the light, is not only
a matter of intellectual capability.
A deep moral state has something
to do with it. That is why enlight-
enment is also another word for
conversion. (1 John 2:8-11)
What do we do to be enlightened
by Christ, to walk in the light, to do
the truth?
1. Be humble. Accept the Lordship
of Jesus. Be like little children in
trusting God as Father and in Jesus
as Teacher. (Luke 18:17)
2. Form your conscience in prayer
and allow it to be guided by the
authority of the Church (Magis-
terium, Sacred scripture, sacred
tradition).
3. D o the truth. Share it and live
it. The truth is to be lived and
not only to be believed. (2 Cor-
inthians 13:8)
C4 February 4 - 17, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 3 CBCP Monitor

CFC ANCOP Now Recommended for ISO 9001:2015

CFC ANCOP Global Founda-
tion, Inc. (CAGFI) has been suc-
cessfully recommended for ISO
9001:2015 Quality Management
System (QMS) Certification by its
certifying body, TÜV Rheinland
Philippines, Inc.
After the extensive preparations
that started in May 2018, CFC ANCOP
has finally passed the two stages of cer-
tification audit, the first in December
13, 2018 and the second on January
28-29, 2019.
On the official report, which reflects
the recommendation of awarding the
certificate and with zero non-confor-
mity, the certifying body commended
the efforts of CFC ANCOP to standard-
ize the systems and procedures of all
its programs and departments.
The auditors included the following
positive findings in their report:
The current accreditations (PCNC,
BIR Tax Exemption as Donee Institu-
tion, DSWD, etc.) of CFC ANCOP are
noteworthy.
The establishment of Research and
Development Department’s initiatives
for sustainable community develop-
ment program is commendable.
The utilization of technology in
the system, such as social media. FB
Messenger chat groups (total of 100 in-
ternational, provinces, and Metro Ma-
nila sectors) and online cloud storage
service (OneDrive) is commendable.
The methodology used in Customer
Satisfaction Survey is commendable and;
The general Documentation struc-
ture is properly organized.
The TÜV Audit team stated that,
overall, CFC ANCOP has established
and maintains an effective system to
ensure compliance with its policy and
objectives, and that the organization’s
management system complies with,
adequately maintains and implements
the requirements of the standard.
This is the first time the auditors
handled a non-profit organization
applying for ISO Certification, making
CFC ANCOP the only non-government/
non-profit organization recommended
for ISO 9001:2015 Quality Manage-
ment System (QMS) - Certification.
CAGFI President Rudy Gaspillo,
together with the CAGFI Team and
auditor, visited one of the ANCOP
project sites in Cavinti, Laguna, where
the auditor noted that the shelter
construction is of high quality. The
TÜV Auditor likewise gave recom-
mendations and opportunities for
improvement intended to contribute
to the continuous improvement of the
site’s system.
In a statement, Gaspillo said, “This
is a new beginning for us to be able
to implement the tremendous work/
programs ahead in a more efficient
way that will benefit our brethren in
need—for the glory of our Lord!”
CFC ANCOP is grateful to all the
people who made this dream possible—
the CAGFI staff and CFC Laguna,
who dedicated their time and effort
to process everything needed for the Aquino, for their excellent insights largest standards organization in the
certification; CFC-Global Mission and services; and to everyone who world that has a network of standard
Center staff for supporting ANCOP; fervently prayed for the fulfillment institutes in 159 countries with a
the brethren from Couples for Christ of the certification. central office in Geneva, Switzerland.
who actively share their relevant With this milestone, CFC ANCOP as- Moreover, ISO 9001:2015 Quality
experience and support; PJ Mungcal, sures its excellent services to brethren in Management System (QMS) is the ISO
the ISO consultant, for sharing his need, and to improve and strive for ex- standard that helps companies meet
expertise, time and treasure; the audi- cellence in answering the cry of the poor. their customers’ requirements for the
tors from TÜV Rheinland Philippines, ISO or the International Organi- products/ services they offer. (CFC
Inc., Mr. JF Faustorilla, Jr. and Mr. J. zation for Standardization is the ANCOP Communications)

ANCOP Canada Celebrates God’s Love
with a Philippine Celebration Tour
ANCOP Canada gathered Couples for Christ
from all around Canada for its first-ever ANCOP
Canada Celebration Tour. The tour’s purpose
and highlight was the visit to several ANCOP
Canada-sponsored sites in the Philippines. The
visits allowed the “tourists” to see for themselves
the fruits of their donations and volunteering
activities for CFC ANCOP Global Foundation.
The tour started on January 22, and ended with
the group taking part at the CFC Mission Core
Retreat at Baguio City from January 25-27.
Thirty-five participants, composed of CFC
couples and HOLD members from different
provinces in Canada, visited sites in Moonwalk
Parañaque (PAR 2 Homes); Tala, Caloocan (Fr.
Hofstee-PCCF Community); Malabon City (San
Miguel Ville Homes), Bulacan (Starville-Tony
Vickar Homes); Paniqui, Tarlac (ANCOP Van-
couver Homes); and Bayambang, Pangasinan
(ANCOP Canada-Calgary-Mojares-KKSBF-Bay-
CFC Co-ops Fed Forge New partnerships
ambang Community). They attended several
activities such as groundbreaking and turnover
ceremonies, immersion with home partners in
Paniqui, Tarlac, and a fellowship night in Mala-
siqui, Pangasinan.
Ricky Cuenca, ANCOP Canada President,
acknowledging that ANCOP home partners are
grateful for the assistance they have received,
told them that ANCOP Canada is also grateful
for being part of the lives of the families.
Cuenca reminded the home partners to take
care of the gifts they have received, as these are
also fruits of the hard work of brethren in CFC
Canada who consider their ANCOP work as part
of their service to God.
As for the participants, they are now much
more eager to help poor brothers and sisters,
as they have experienced being in fellowship
with the families in the ANCOP sites. (CFC
ANCOP Communications)

The CFC Co-operatives Federation forged two new partnerships to further the services of the Federation to its member primaries. The
first partnership, with NationLink PayAll, a diigital payment gateway, aims to improve transactional activities such as remittances,
payment in conferences, purchases, loading of mobile phones, point of sales transactions, bills payment, among others. Mr. Jesus dela
Cruz (top photo, second from left) and Victor Hizon (3rd from left) seal the deal with the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement.
The CCF likewise signed a MOA with Fortune General Insurance Corporation for the Online Compulsary Third Party Liability Insurance
(CPTL) application. This offers car owners in the CFC community a hassle-free vehicle registration process, at the same time a reliable
insurance provider. Mr. Manuel Maloles, (bottom photo, second from left) represented Fortune General in signing the partnership.

Couples for Christ Joins ISAO CONFERENCE

LEADERS CONFERENCE, C3
calling how in the first place
God has ignited and re-ignited
His light upon us all; and by
“understanding” how God
wants us to fan the flame so
that it can serve its purpose.”
Paraphrasing Pope Francis,
Santos explained that the Lord
wants man’s encounter with
Him to begin “today” and con-
tinue tomorrow, in the home,
since that is where Jesus wants
to meet each one thenceforth.
“The Lord doesn’t want to
remain only in cherished
memories. He wants to enter
every home, to dwell in His
beloved children’s daily lives,
their work, their friendships
and affections, their hopes
and dreams.”
Santos exhorted, “Now let us
try to “understand” God’s gifts
to CFC and in the process, let
us allow ourselves to admire
in gratitude, see with clarity,
to taste, to possess that we are
here not talking just about pro-
grams, or activities, or events—
but moments and ways of living
as children of light!”
And these moments include
CFC’s “womb to tomb” teach-
ing and formation, financial
stewardship, a life of mission
and evangelization.
Rekindled and Enlightened
to Fulfill
Having brought the gifts and
the ministry of CFC to light,
Santos reminded the congrega-
tion that it is time to talk about
how best CFC can heed God’s
call to “Fulfill your ministry”.
According to Santos, it is this:
“Live as Children of Light!”
Individually, “Fulfill your
ministry” means living and
upholding one’s life and mis-
sion in CFC through Prayer,
Scripture, Service, Fellowship,
Sacrament. These are basically
the ways CFC can “Live as Chil-
dren of Light!”
Santos shared, “As a couple
and as families, take heed of
this message from Pope Fran-
cis in Amoris Laetitia 317: If
a family is centered on Christ,
he will unify and illumine its
entire life …Married couples
shape with different daily ges-
tures a “God-enlightened space
in which to experience the hid-
den presence of the risen Lord.”
He added, “We go back to the
CFC identity, as per Vatican
description, and realize that
ever since, CFC has been called
to live as children of light: CFC
is made up of families who
have taken up Christ’s exhorta-
tion to be leaven and light in
the world, and to spread the
Good News of the liberation
of humanity. Through their
commitment to the Church’s
evangelizing work, promoting
peace and justice, defending
the poor and the oppressed,
and promoting the unity of
Christians, they cooperate with
the work of the Holy Spirit who
gives life to a new humanity.
Thus we continue to evange-
lize! CFC is in a “permanent
state of mission”.”
“Finally, since our communi-
ty is composed of families and
is about marriage and family,
we need to ensure that our very
own families are themselves
God-enlightened spaces. Our
families must be living a life
of prayer, scripture, service,
fellowship and sacrament,”
Santos added. (CFC Global
Communications)
COUPLES for Christ was part of the Phil- Padilla, Apostolic Nuncio of Gulf Countries;
ippine delegation to the 4th ICCRS-ISAO H.E. Bishop Camillo Ballin MCCJ, Apostolic
Vicar of Northern Arabia; H.G. Archbishop Jose
CONFERENCE 2018. Serofia Palma, DD, Archbishop of Cebu, Philip-
The conference, held in St. Anthony of Padua pines; H.E. Bishop Francis Kalist, Member of
Church, Ras Al Khaimah-UAE from Novem- ICCRS Council from India; Rev. Fr. Ani Xavier
ber 30 until December 2, 2018, had as theme OFM Cap Spiritual Director, NCST-UAE; Rev.
“One Body, One Spirit, One Mission in Christ”. Fr. Varghese Chempoly OFM Cap Ex-Spiritual
(Ephesians 4:4) CFC members in the area also Director, NCST-UAE; Jim Murphy, President
attended the event. The conference was filled of ICCRS from USA; Cyril John, Chairman of
with praise and worship, Eucharistic celebra- ISAO from India; and Ann Brereton, Member
tions, inspiring teachings, workshops, anointing of ICCRS Council from Australia.
sessions, healing service, and a cultural and ICCRS- ISAO stands for International Catholic
musical evening. Charismatic Renewal Services Sub-Committee
The clergy delegates were led by H.E. Bishop for Asia-Oceania.
Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern A total of 19 countries were represented in
Arabia; H.G. Archbishop Francisco Montecillo the event. (Text & photos: Victor G. Abarquez)
LIGHT IN THE LORD, C3
Be the light gins who were vigi- a “business-as-usual” us not be sleeping
Reggie Ragojos lant and ready with attitude, from self- giants! It is time to
delivered the final oils in their lamps, entitlement. It is im- shine, especially in
session, encouraging eager to meet the portant to shine once the dark places.”
CFC to be beacons bridegroom when he again, by empower- “Be excited! Be
of light and power- comes. They must ing the young, wit- vibrant!,” Ragojos
ful witnesses of Jesus not be like the other nessing as a family, added. “Just like Je-
Christ, and despite five who fell asleep accompanying others sus who humbled
challenges, ready and and missed the bride- who need minister- himself, and came
brave to keep Christ’s groom’s coming. ing to, and by inten- down to be with us,
light radiant. In CFC, members sifying the mission to let us go out of our
Ragojos exhorted and leaders can fall the poor. comfort zones. Let
CFC to be not only into the same trap of Ragojos exhorted, us go to the periph-
recipients of grace falling asleep, of ne- “CFC is blessed to eries! As long as we
and light, but bearers glecting their tasks. be one of the biggest have the strength
and vessels of light There is therefore Catholic groups be- and capacity to
as well. CFC must be a need to rise from cause of our world- serve, let us use our
like the five wise vir- complacency, from wide presence. Let gifts to the full!”