JUNE-JULY 2017
JJCICSI Papers Presented at the 15th CBCP Plenary Assembly
ICSI Associate Director Dr Anna Marie A. Karaos had the privilege to speak at the 115th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on July 9, 2017 at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center, Manila. Her presentation, “Lights and Shadows: Ethical Perspectives on the Current Political Climate”, focused on the “ethical dimension of our people’s engagement in the politics of the nation, or how the ruled conduct themselves in the nation’s political life.” Using the lens of Catholic social principles, Dr Karaos reflected on current political issues such as the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs”, redistributive reforms, and peace with belligerent groups. The text of her presentation can be accessed from our website. A printable version can also be downloaded here.
A paper titled “An Agenda for the Church in the Current Political Climate,” written by Eleanor R. Dionisio, head of the Church and Society Program of ICSI, was also given to the bishops. It suggests how the Catholic Church can accompany the nation in meeting the challenges posed by the Duterte administration, and how the Church can use those challenges as opportunities for promoting Catholic social principles. Visit our website to read the full paper or download it via this link.
Jing Karaos (left) with CBCP President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas and Atty. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)
COMMENTARY
Rice importation and food security
by Gemma Rita R. Marin
“While the concerned executive agencies have ironed out their issues and differences particularly on rice importation for the meantime, we count on our lawmakers to do their part in helping address food security by passing the necessary laws. Among these are the proposed national land use act and priority bills related to agrarian reform and agriculture that lawmakers promised to pass last May, such as a bill prohibiting the conversion of irrigated lands and another that seeks to provide free irrigation services.”
