“The Truth Will Set You Free” (John 8:32) CBCP PASTORAL LETTER ON EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION

Here's the Pastoral Letters from the Catholic Bishops'Conference of the Philippines in this following languages:

English 

Filipino 

Cebuano

MUSINGS: Priests & Partisan Politics

MUSINGS: Priests & Partisan Politics

(This post is just an excerpt of a non-published article I made last year. This is my opinion. You may disagree with me. But I will defend my position in a respectful dialogue.)

1. “Priests should be non-partisan” - The injunction is not as absolute as others present it to be. Magisterial pronouncements regarding the matter are not as rigid as some people think. 

2. The Church has the obligation to give some moral principles or issue guidelines concerning political matters. The Church as an institution does not endorse a certain candidate or party. She guides. She is non-partisan. However, it seems to me that passing moral judgements on issues related to political affairs is unavoidably partisan. And the Church somehow admits this one (Second Plenary Council of the Philippines #344).

3. A priest may publicly express his support to a particular candidate as long as such is a product of a prayerful discernment, based on facts, for the common good, and not done in the pulpit. In good and informed conscience, when a priest expresses support to a particular candidate and persuades others to do so, I don’t think he is being condescending or that he engages in “clericalism.” His action is still in accord with Church teaching. He is neither violating any ecclesiastical law nor committing impropriety. A prophet is neither mute nor deaf. A prophet knows how and when to speak. 

4. One big objection against such act is unity. The CBCP says that “the Church prohibits Clergy and Religious from involvement in partisan politics because they are considered the symbols of unity in the Church community” (Catechism on Church and Politics, Part III, #2). This is correct. But such unity or harmony should be based on justice (Can. 287 § 1). What is it that unites us? What is unity when injustices and other social evils abound and we remain silent? Should one remain indifferent when justice is violated? When corruption proliferates? When extrajudicial killings become prevalent and supported? Should a priest remain silent when convicts run for public office? Should a priest remain in his cold neutrality when Gospel values and the common good are at stake? Should a priest remain silent in the face of all these? Is that the kind of priest Jesus wants for His Church? Is that the kind of priest the lay faithful want — silent because he does not hold the same view that they have?

5. Politics is good and vital but it isn’t a perfect science. So, when the fundamental rights of people are in peril or violated, when political malaise exacerbates, should a priest remain neutral and silent? He needs to side with the common good, truth, justice, and other Gospel values. Making a stand is not easy and it requires patience and discernment. In doing so, pastoral prudence is to be exercised. 

Thank you. God bless.🙏🌸

MUSINGS: A NOTE ON THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

By: Rev. Fr. Fran D. Villegas, Ph. L., M.A.

Since the issue on the separation of Church and State resurfaces, let us clarify this matter once again. Let this be my little contribution to a reasoned public discourse. 

It is commonly believed that there is an impervious wall separating the Church and the State. And when church people (bishops, priests, & nuns; by the way, the Church is bigger than this triumvirate. The laity — you — forms the biggest part of the Church) say something against a bill or policy or misdeeds done by the government, some would mindlessly parrot, “Separation of Church and State! Huwag makialam ang Simbahan sa politika!”

The Constitution says that the "separation of the Church and the State shall be inviolable"(Section 6, Art. II). This provision is more of a restriction on the powers of the State than on the Church. This is actually an injunction imposed by the State upon itself. This section also must be taken in conjunction with Section 5, Article III of the Constitution, which also provides that "no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free expression thereof." 

According to the highly respected Constitutionalist, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J., Section 5 of the Bill of Rights contains two essential parts — (1) the non-establishment of a religion clause, and (2) the free exercise of religion clause. The first one (1) is a negative command of the Constitution directed to the State that it cannot establish a state religion. Then the second one (2) is the pertinent part of that constitutional provision for church people for it commands and guarantees the free exercise of religion. 

However, this does not automatically mean that the State cannot intervene in church matters. This rather means that when a certain religious belief becomes an act destructive to the society and goes against the laws of the State, for example: polygamy, human sacrifice, and other crimes, then that falls within the police powers or regulation of the government. Let me give a concrete example: in 2015 the Iglesia ni Cristo (1914) protested and questioned the authority of the Department of Justice, then headed by Sec Leila De Lima. Its members shouted, “Separation of Church and State!” However, it must be recalled that there were allegations of crimes and charges were filled before the Department of Justice. This department is mandated by law to investigate and determine probable cause. The trial is a secular matter, not a religious one. Therefore, the “Separation of Church and State” cannot be applied. 

In the same manner, there is nothing in this constitutional provision that bars or prohibits church people, most especially the clergy and nuns, from voicing out objections and criticisms on matters considered “political.” It is utterly non-sensical for one to deny the Church its right of freedom of speech and opinion. Just because the Church is a religious group that it cannot voice its concerns or criticize wrongdoings. To argue on this ground is wrong. And let us be reminded that these same church people are citizens of this county who have constitutionally guaranteed rights like anyone else.

They say, “Huwag makialam ang Simbahan sa politika!” Is this correct? Do you want a church silent in the face of crimes and injustices? Then the Catholic Church is not for you. She refuses to suit your cheap taste. Ang isang mabuting Katoliko dapat may alam; dapat makialam. Patay lang po ang walang pakialam. Or as I say in Cebuano, “Ang Simbahan wala manghilabot, kundili nangilabot.” A church that just keeps silent before all evils is a traitor. She is betraying her Master. Just read the Gospels and know Jesus and His works. Those who keep on silencing the Church are not on the side of Jesus, for sure.

It is preposterous, therefore, to use this “Separation of Church and State” against the Church. And when this provision is not correctly understood by Filipinos, then it can be used to marginalized the Church from public discourse. When conscientious Catholics allow this falsity to foster, then it can be a powerful weapon to further silence the Church. These we should not allow to happen. For those who persist in their misinterpretation, let the light of truth extinguish that darkness of ignorance in you. 

I will end this discourse with a quotation from the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines which says, “the more basic principle which governs the area of politics and binds all Christians, whether cleric or lay, at all times. And the principle is simply that politics, like all human activities, must be exercised always in the light of the faith of the Gospel; and the requirements of the Gospel in regard to human dignity, justice, charity, the common good, cannot be sacrificed on the flimsy pretext that ‘the Church does not engage in politics’. Concretely, this means that both clergy and laity must be involved in the area of politics when moral and Gospel values are at stake” (PCP II, 344). The love of Christ urges us. The Gospel values impel us. This is one of the duties of the Church — to speak the truth in love “in season and out of season.” After all, only love can break the impervious wall of separation. 

~Fr. @Fran Villegas, CFD National Spiritual Director

'MOST WANTED': APOLLO QUIBOLOY

'MOST WANTED'

"Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of a Philippines-based church, is wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders. Members who proved successful at soliciting for the church allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round.

Furthermore, it is alleged that females were recruited to work as personal assistants, or “pastorals,” for Quiboloy and that victims prepared his meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called “night duty.”

Quiboloy was indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling, and on November 10, 2021, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest."

SOURCE:

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/human-trafficking/apollo-carreon-quiboloy