Tuesday, July 12, 2022

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Filipino Catholic bishops vow renewed mission

Posted: 11 Jul 2022 06:55 AM PDT

The Philippines' Catholic bishops have vowed a renewed mission as they ended their National Synodal Consultation last week.With humility, the bishops admitted that they "do not have all the answers to the many questions of our time, while we recognize the goodness and giftedness of our people and those who do not share our faith.""We open doors for us all to go out and set forth once again for mission – to seek out those who are far, different, excluded; to encounter, listen and dialogue with our brothers and sisters of different denominations and faith; to explore possibilities for positive engagement in the areas of ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, politics and social media," the bishops said.The high-ranking bishops then urged for unity among its workers and members, particularly those in peripheries, as they embarked on a "new mission.""We hear Pope Francis constantly calling for a Church whose members strive to live in unity and harmony (communion), participate (participation) in the life of the Church, and do not tire of seeking out the least, the lost and the last (mission). This is a call to a Synodal Church – a Church that journeys together," read the statement of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)."We responded to his call by starting in our dioceses, prelatures and apostolic vicariates Synodal experiences of listening to one another, from different sectors down to the barangay level, especially those at the peripheries and those excluded from our church communities," it added.After consultations of the bishops, representative lay leaders, consecrated persons and clergy from July 4 to 7 in Tagaytay City, the CBCP said they now "commit ourselves to Synodality – looking, listening and loving as our way of proceeding, that we may grow into a humble, welcoming and inclusive Church in the Philippines.""It brought us joy to see the persevering faith of our people; the dedication of our ministers, the increasing dialogue of action within and with others. We saw lights," it said."We heard strong voices calling us, our clergy, consecrated persons and lay collaborators to heed the call to conversion, to go out of our comfort zones, to be welcoming, to be transparent and accountable, to be more compassionate," the CBCP added.CBCP President and Bishop of Kalookan Diocese Pablo Virgilio David said they "moved to 'open doors', especially the door of personal, parish, and institutional conversion.""This means, for us, opening wide the doors of encounter, listening and dialogue; the door of renewal of ourselves and the clergy; the door to greater witnessing of simplicity and humility; the doors of stewardship, good governance and care for creation; doors towards strengthening the faith formation and empowerment of the laity, and building up of our communities; the door of renewing our structures and ministries, – leaving behind those that do not help and embracing those that make us a community; doors that lead to building bridges, closing the gaps and promoting equality," Bishop David said.Despite being known as a bastion of Catholicism in Asia, the Catholic Church in the Philippines is facing the grim reality of declining church membership, particularly among the youth.The Philippine Jesuits earlier identified the "three great hungers of the Filipino youth." These are the hunger for food, hunger for dignity, and hunger for God.Citing a 2000 study by a CBCP commission, Filipino theologian Father Catalino Arevalo said that only six percent of all Filipino youth received "significant religious instruction.""The youth are not leaving the Church, they are simply not being reached!" said Father Arevalo.In the March 2017 Social Weather Stations survey alone, it was revealed that the Catholic Church has the lowest rate of weekly church attendance, at 41 percent only, while Iglesia ni Cristo got 90 percent, Muslims at 81 percent, and other Christians at 71 percent."According to the same CBCP study cited by Fr. Catalino Arevalo in 2000, at the rate the Church was losing members, the Philippines would no longer be a Catholic country in 40 years," the Philippine Jesuits said in a report.In the May 2022 elections, the Catholic Church was also criticized for losing its moral and spiritual leadership after the victory of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Catholic Church leaders, priests warned against lording over parishioners

Posted: 11 Jul 2022 06:55 AM PDT

BISHOP Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), admonished the priests, bishops and other church leaders to take heart their role in the Church as representatives of the "Synodal God in the Body of Christ" and not only as "ordained ministerial priesthood" who are lording it over the church members."While bishops are indeed successors of the apostles, this title might make us forget that we succeed the apostles precisely to lead the Church to grow into a community of missionary disciples, meaning, an apostolic community," said David in his homily during the closing of this year's National Synodal Consultation.The meeting, which ran from July 4 to 7, 2022, was an occasion for the church officials, church worker and laity to discuss the various issues affecting the Catholic Church in the current times.As the Catholic Church concluded its celebration of the 500th Year of Christianity in the Philippines with the "Year of Mission," David reminded the church leaders that the mission "is not a mandate only of missionary congregations; it is the business of the whole Church, both local and universal.""In fact, we can dare say a Church that is not in mission is not a Church," David added.The CBCP official said that "a Church that practically reduces the priesthood to the ordained ministerial priesthood will never grow into a missionary Church.""In that mode of thinking that has practically revived the clericalization of the temple priesthood of the old dispensation, the laity will never imagine themselves as part of what Vatican II calls common priesthood of the faithful," David said in his homily."They will tend to remain as followers of the clerics whom they will expect to play the role of 'Alter Christus,' as if they had been ordained to substitute for Christ," he added.According to David, it would be "most tragic" for the Church if the bishops and priests neglect "the role of nurturing the rest of the Church to grow in the common priesthood of the faithful.""We, the ordained, are supposed to be facilitators of that communion that alone can empower the whole body of the faithful, ordained and lay, for participation in the life of the corporate Christ, and represent him in our shared mission to witness to the liberating good news of the kingdom of God," he said."This will never be realized if our laity are conditioned to think of themselves permanently as followers, or worse, as onlookers," David added.David also warned church leaders and priests that if they continue to define themselves as "shepherds" and the laity as "flock," the latter "will never take part in the Church's corporate mission of shepherding the last, least and lost in this world.""In that kind of a paradigm, they will clericalize us, put us on pedestals and expect us to evangelize them, to lead them, to bless them, to tell them what to do, because we call ourselves their Christ substitutes," said the bishop of Kalookan.The CBCP head emphasized that this kind of thinking can bring disillusionment to the laity, particularly when "they hear of clerical administrative and sexual abuses, when they get to realize that we are as human as they are.""In a clericalistic Church, the laity will never think of themselves as part of a Church that evangelizes, saves, and leads, a Church that is gifted to give, blessed to be a blessing, a community of disciples in mission, like 'salt of the earth and light of the world,' or like a little yeast in a mass of dough," he said.Despite being predominantly Catholic, political observers have seen how the Catholic Church seemed to lose its "political clout," as shown in the victory of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, whom the Catholic Church helped overthrow in 1986 through the EDSA People Power Revolution.Dr. Jayeel Cornelio, an Ateneo de Manila University associate professor, said the Catholic Church is "still behaving very old school.""I think their influence lies somewhere other than the national stage," said Cornelio in a report from Bloomberg."History can teach a lesson. Maybe the national stage isn't where they should be concentrating now and should return to the community level. A big majority of Filipinos, most of whom are Catholic, voted for Bongbong. All the pontification fell on deaf ears," added the professor.

Marcos talks about ‘shared goal’ as Filipino Muslims observe Eid'l Adha

Posted: 11 Jul 2022 06:55 AM PDT

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has enjoined Filipino Muslims to "transcend our differences, break the chains of divisiveness, and emerge strong and united as one nation" as they celebrated this year's Eid'l Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice."As we commemorate how Ibrahim offered his son in obedience of Allah (SWT), let us likewise believe that in entrusting ourselves and surrendering our worries to the Supreme Authority, all our hearts' desires for the greater good will be heard and granted," said Marcos on Saturday, July 9, 2022."The solemn narrative that punctuates this occasion tells us that, at the onset of this administration, we must prepare ourselves to go beyond our comfort zones as we walk the path we have willingly chosen," he added.Marcos maintained that "the journey ahead of us will not be easy, but if we fight for what is right and predicate our every action on our love for our fellowmen and women, our people will surely benefit from the results of our individual choices.""Let us therefore offer ourselves for the sake of others and take to heart the lessons we learn so that we may be rewarded spiritually and become worthy recipients of Allah's manifold blessings and protection," said Marcos.Meanwhile, in Basilan, Mindanao, Congressman Mujiv Hataman announced the filing of his four priority local bills, which are "intended to ensure the development and welfare of his constituents by promoting the areas of healthcare, education and livelihood."The lawmaker also formally filed the resolution that seeks congressional review of the Hajj coordination program of the national government in view of the delays and drawbacks suffered by Filipino Muslim pilgrims this year."Nakabangon na mula sa masamang imahe ng terorismo ang Basilan. At nagsimula nang mabuhay muli ang ekonomiya at turismo ng aming lalawigan. Kailangan lang nating sabayan ang pag-unlad ng mga mamamayan ng mga karampatang panukala na susuporta sa kanilang pag-angat," the influential Moro official added.Hataman, who is the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said it may be time to look into how Congress can aid, through legislation, in making the Hajj a great experience for Filipino Muslim pilgrims."Gusto sana nating malaman kung may problema ba tayo sa proseso ng koordinasyon, kung kailangang amyendahan ang batas para solusyunan ang mga ito, o kung panahon na ba para tingnan natin at gayahin ang modelo ng ibang bansa pagdating sa Hajj," the solon said."We do not wish to lay blame, we only want to avoid a repeat of this mishap. Hangad natin ang ikagaganda ng karanasan ng mga kapatid nating Muslim sa kanilang pilgrimage sa Hajj,"he added.The Hajj, one of the five pillars of the Muslim faith, involves a pilgrimage to their holy place of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The National Commission for Muslim Filipinos is tasked to coordinate the Hajj for pilgrims.However, close to a thousand Filipino pilgrims were reportedly stranded in Metro Manila due to flight cancellations and visa problems.During the Martial Law period, under Marcos' father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, violent war pervaded the southern Philippines amid the Muslim separatist movement.It was estimated that 120,000 people were killed in the ferocious war, which also displaced over 100,000 Filipino Muslims, with some of them moving to Malaysia.As the national government continues its reunification efforts, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru), under the administration of then-president Rodrigo Duterte, announced in April 2022 that about 11,000 certified members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have been preparing for the qualifying exams that will allow them to join the country's police force.Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, attorney-general of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) government, said the recruitment process is a "historical one in the Barmm."National Police Commission-Barmm Regional Director lawyer Randy Babao also described the integration of the MILF and MNLF members into the government's police force as "a big leap in achieving a long-lasting peace in Mindanao.""After three years of the transition period, we are happy that we are finally taking the first step into making this provision a reality," said Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said in a statement.
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