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Month: July 2022

“The 2nd National Priests’ Encounter affirms a renewed Cursillo Movement: a help in the renewal of the local church.”

“The 2nd National Priests’ Encounter affirms a renewed Cursillo Movement: a help in the renewal of the local church.”

RATIONALE

The Cursillos in Christianity Movement has been in its existence for 59 years in the Philippines which for times was phenomenal among movements and organization in the Church.

The Cursillistas adopts the lay, apostolate concept but sad to say no common understanding in different Arch/Dioceses.

Through the years, the experience of the Cursillo in the different Arch/Dioceses had led to different practices and such led to missing the purpose and essence of the movement.

MAIN OBJECTIVE

Re-introduction of the Cursillo Movement.

In response to the current situation in the Cursillo Movement in the Philippines, the Philippine National Cursillo Secretariat (PNCS) organized an encounter for priest, the Cursillos de Cristiandad 2nd National Priests’ Encounter, attended by 3 Bishops and 53 priests held at St. Francis Seraph Convent, Talisay City, Cebu on June 6-10, 2022, the clergy represented 25 Arch/Dioceses in the country.

His Excellency Jose S. Palma, D.D., Archbishop of Cebu celebrated the Opening Mass and Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus of Cebu, Emilio L. Bataclan, former Spiritual Director of Cursillo in Cebu attended sessions during the Encounter.

The Archbishop of Durango, Mexico, Most Rev. Faustino Armendariz Jimenez was one of the speakers in the encounter. He is the Spiritual Advisor of the World Organization of the Cursillo Movement, the Organismo Mundial de Cursillos de Cristiandad (OMCC) in 4 years now. Another speaker was Juan Adolfo Moguel Ortiz, President of OMCC and Juan Ruiz, former President of OMCC and USA National Hispanic Coordinator.

From left, PNCS VP Jose “Pepe” Hilario, OMCC Pres. Juan Adolfo Ortiz, OMCC Spiritual Advisor Abp. Faustino Armendariz Jimenez, APG Pres. Margaret Morris, Former OMCC Pres. Juan Ruiz, APG VP Peter McMahon, PNCS Pres. Conrado “Boy” Dizon and PNCS Spiritual Advisor Msgr. Roberto Espenilla.

The topics in the encounter focused on the History, Charism, Purpose, Method and Structure of the Cursillo Movement. Margaret J. Morris, President of one of the international groups of Cursillo Movement, the Asia Pacific Group (APG) presented the scope and updates of the Movement and the Philippine Cursillo’s involvement. Margaret was joined in gracing and observing the encounter along with Peter McMahon, Vice-President of the APG; both from Australia.

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A Statement On BBM’s 1st SONA

Religious Discernment Group

If BBM’s inaugural speech was any indication, then we may expect more of the same from his first SONA.

In terms of delivery, BBM’s inaugural speech was not bad at all.  Marcos Junior was smart enough (or, perhaps, was instructed) to stick to a text shrewdly tailored to his personality.  That stance allowed his trollers and some critics to agree that his inaugural speech was well-delivered.  Diehard trollers even quipped: “ang galing mag-ingles!” (He speaks English quite well!)  It was finely calibrated to encourage his support base.  He is apparently more disciplined than his predecessor who was famously wont to set aside a meticulously prepared speech (by his ghost writers) and go ad lib employing vulgar ad hominems with glee and peppered with gutter language.

The content of the speech, however, was another story.  It was a sad mix of false claims and lies, with motherhood statements and subtle revisionist flashbacks to his father’s golden age, as loose binders.  BBM’s victory was not the biggest electoral mandate in the history of Philippine democracy; the Bangui Bay Wind Farm was not his project; a lot of Filipinos went hungry because there was no food security during his father’s dictatorship.  And what can you do with his call for a unity that he claimed echoed the people’s yearnings and expressed their hopes for a better future?  Considering its content from a soberly critical perspective, BBM’s inaugural speech doesn’t augur well.  And if it’s any indication of what his first SONA would be, then expect that he’d be fine-tuning the persona his handlers have meticulously crafted for him: a popularly elected leader who is fair and benevolent, even if not so intelligent or competent, an administrator who knows how to listen, at times bumbling, but always well-meaning.  BBM seems not to have the face of a liar, but it’s certainly not easy to believe he is not aware that he’s not telling the truth.  A gift or an acquired skill, whatever!  He’s using it to full political advantage. If there’s such a thing as a presidential tiktok, then that’s what we’re getting on July 25.

What Can Be Done, What Can We Do?

First, let us pray and hold on to the belief that lies have a limited shelf-life.  Afterwards, let us pray some more, and join hands with Orthodox priest Vitalii Holoskevych who declared that “evil cannot win” while weeping at the funeral of Liza Dmytrieva, a 4-year-old killed by a Russian missile strike.  There is a need for believers to realize that the issues and the problems we are facing together with other democracies are not merely political or economic, but social, religious, moral, even theological.  The forces of evil operate globally, not only locally in the Philippines. The theologian Jean Daniélou pointed out already years ago that prayer must be approached as a political problem.  It is by praying the way Jesus prayed to the Source of all being, that we are led to discover how prayer can be wielded to disarm the powers and principalities of the world.

The clamor for transparency, accountability, good governance and respect for human rights must ring louder via fora, public statements and demonstrations.  All the while there is also the urgent need to organize awareness-raising activities for the public to wake up to the reality that so many convicted plunderers have infiltrated the ranks of both elected government officials and bureaucrats, not including those suspected of graft and corruption.  Christian churches and citizens of other religious traditions must join forces to demand that our leaders be held accountable to the provisions of the Philippine Constitutions.  We must continue to protest the wanton use of disinformation and the criminal red-tagging of poor and innocent citizens. 

There is much that can be done. Yes, there is only so much that we can do.  But to say that there is nothing we can do is a lie.  Only liars say that, only godless people claim that evil shall prevail.

W.T. DULAY, MDJ
Convenor
Religious Discernment Group

PMPI Statement on the First State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

22 July 2022

In the recently concluded elections in the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., the namesake of the former Philippine dictator, won the presidential race with over 31 million votes, ending the decades-long campaign of their family to bring another Marcos in Malacañang and rewrite history from their perspective.

As we enter the administration of President Marcos Jr., the country is confronted with a myriad of political, environmental, and economic problems which require the immediate attention of the government. The soaring fuel prices, devaluation of the Philippine peso, and continuous degradation of the environment among others are just but a few issues that pose an alarming difficulty to many Filipinos across the country.

For PMPI, the environmental or ecological crisis brought about by climate change and the continuing biodiversity loss should be a paramount concern for this administration. Data published by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), for instance, revealed that environmental challenges have created disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities, particularly women and the poor. Moreover, it was highlighted by USAID that compared to other countries, the Philippines ranked as one of the most vulnerable nations to the consequences of environmental disasters, hence leading to a high number of fatalities every year.1

We call on President Marcos to be true to his promises. In the middle of the electoral campaign, he declared in a press release that the environment will be his priority. He even said that “nature has its rights that should be protected. It should be allowed to flourish, reproduce and attain its abundance side by side with human civilization in perfect balance and harmony with our growing communities.”2

Given that the Rights of Nature (RoN) is one of the primary advocacies of our network, we are hoping that the President will take concrete steps to institutionalize the RoN concept in various levels of governance. Foremost is to enshrine in our legal system the recognition of nature’s rights. We believe that by giving legal rights to the environment similar to that of human beings and corporations, we are a step closer to securing the highest degree of protection under which an ecosystem can flourish, thrive, and naturally evolve.3

In our efforts to protect our planet earth, our common home, we urge the Marcos administration to address the following issues:

Certify as urgent the Rights of Nature (RoN) Bill filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros;

Reverse the lifting of the moratorium on large-scale mining which Former President Rodrigo Duterte spearheaded;

Uphold the Hague ruling on the Sovereign Rights of the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea

Strengthen the implementation of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process for all development projects in IP communities;

Establish mechanisms to ensure stricter implementation of laws against environmental crimes;

Implement programs that advocate for renewable sources of energy and fuels; and

Address the issue of importation of agricultural products that continues to be detrimental to local farmers.

We are deeply convinced that despite differences in political ideology, the President will fulfill his duties to the nation and prioritize every Filipino’s welfare.

On a similar note, the network remains hopeful that President Marcos will be open to discussion with civil society organizations (CSOs), specifically groups involved in environmental protection work. In this regard, we hope that the forthcoming State of the Nation Address will not only focus on restoring their family name but serve as a platform for the President to convey a detailed plan on how he will concretize the promises that he made during the campaign.

REFERENCES:

https://www.usaid.gov/philippines/energy-and-environment

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172214

The Rights of Nature — Can an Ecosystem Bear Legal Rights?

Cardinal Advincula’s homily during Mass for Nat’l Synodal Consultation

Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila celebrates Mass at the National Synodal Consultation in Tagaytay City on July 4, 2022.

CBCP NEWS
TAGAYTAY City— Here’s the full text of Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula’s homily during Mass on the first day of the National Synodal Consultation at the Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality on July 4, 2022:

His Excellency Most Reverend Pablo Virgilio David, President of the CBCP; my dear brother bishops; my brother priests, dear consecrated persons, brothers and sisters in Christ, mga minámahál kong kamánlalakbáy:

Let us thank the Lord for gathering us all today, to journey together as one Church. It is very touching to see all of you. I am particularly happy to be with my brother-bishops again, after more than two years of us holding plenary sessions via Zoom. I missed our common prayers, bonding sessions, and moments of fraternal candor with each other. I am happy to see you again.

It is also refreshing to see bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters, and lay persons mingling together and freely interacting with each other. It is inspiring to see that we have already formed a sense of belongingness and community, despite the very rich diversity of contexts that we represent. We are men and women, young and old, city dwellers and rural villagers, veteran servants and young ministers; and yet we can all feel that we belong to one Church, one family of faith.  Indeed, we are a synodal Church!

My dear brothers and sisters: In the Gospel reading today, Jesus rebuked the onlooking crowd, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” A world that sees only death is a world that only seeks death. Jesus however sees life, and so he gives life. And the life that Jesus gives to the world is his own.

I am sure that many of you resonate with our experience in the Archdiocese of Manila and in the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila, wherein the synodal consultations in our respective local Churches have surfaced various painful stories in our Church. Our people have narrated their experiences, and they have voiced their hurts and frustrations about sins, abuses, and failures in the Church, especially among us her ministers and leaders. It is indeed difficult and disturbing to come face-to-face with the reality of a wounded and imperfect Church. In the midst of these, it is sometimes very tempting to think that the Church is dying, if not dead.

However, I am also sure that, in our respective local Churches, we did not fall into such temptation, because the Holy Spirit has also opened our eyes to see that the Church is alive! She may appear to be sleeping or having some difficulty waking up, but definitely, she is not dead. The Church is very much alive!

The Church is alive in our dear lay faithful, who selflessly and joyfully offer themselves to the service of God and neighbor. They generously share their capacities and resources for the mission of the Church, and they inspire us all by their commitment to lead holy lives.

The Church is alive in her servant-leaders—lay, consecrated, and ordained—who are imbued with the spirit of synodality: intimately close to God and pastorally close to the people. We blessed with ministers in our Church who boldly proclaim God’s Word and compassionately listen to God’s people. Their prayers sanctify us; their words enlighten us; their witnessing encourages us; their shepherding guides us; and their virtues give us hope.

The Church is alive in every Christian family that loves and cares for the young and the elderly, and strives to be faithful to the Gospel amid challenges and temptations in today’s world.

The Church is especially alive in our beloved poor people and in those who are in the peripheries. They touch us and challenge us, by their simple faith, by their keen sensitivity to the presence of God, and by their profound confidence in the providence of God.

Most importantly, the Church is alive not because we are able to keep it alive. Rather, the Church is alive because God is merciful and faithful to us, accompanying us, healing us, renewing us. By God’s grace, the Church is not merely surviving, but growing and ever-renewing.

Buháy ang Simbáhan dahil buháy si Hesus sa átin. Binubúhay táyo ni Hesús! Nag-álay si Hesus ng saríli nyang búhay úpang ang kanyáng káwan ay makátamásà ng ‘kaganápan ng búhay’ (cf. Jn 10:10). Áyaw ni Hesus ng Simbáhang papátay-pátay. Gustó nya ng Simbáhang buháy na buháy! Áyaw ni Hesus ng Simbáhang nag-aágaw-búhay. Gustó nya ng Simbáhang nagbíbigáy-búhay. Salámat kay Hesús, buháy na buháy ang Simbáhan díto sa Pilipinas, at sa buóng mundó.

Dear brothers and sisters: as we continue to journey together on the path of synodality, let us invoke the help of the Holy Spirit, who is our Lord and Giver of Life. May the Holy Spirit build our communion, encourage our participation, and empower us for mission. May Our Lady, so beloved by our nation that is pueblo amante de Maria, guide us, accompany us, and pray for us all. Amen.

Govt aims to end overcrowding in Philippine prisons

Inmates are crowded into the courtyard of Quezon City Jail in Manila on March 27, 2020. Guards and inmates at the notoriously overcrowded jail tested positive for Covid-19, sparking urgent calls for the release of some prisoners. (Photo: AFP)

Inmates are packed in cells like sardines, says Catholic prison care group

LICAS News

By Joseph Peter Calleja
July 22, 2022

Authorities in the Philippines have announced long-overdue reforms seeking to end the suffering of inmates in the country’s overcrowded prisons by acquiring more land to build additional facilities.

Jesus Crispin Remulla, the new Justice Secretary, announced on July 21 that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s new administration would not be “blind to the cries of the persons deprived of liberty.”

“The administration is not deaf and blind to what’s happening inside our prisons. And it is one of the priorities of the Department of Justice, that is, to make our prison facilities more humane, more dignified,” Remulla told reporters.

He said the new administration would prioritize and tackle overcrowding in prisons by building new ones around the country.

“The new [Marcos, Jr.’s] administration is aware of the problems in the Philippine prison system. We will do our best to decongest jails because of their overcapacity,” Remulla added.

A Catholic group that advocates for the rights of prisoners welcomed the planned move.

“Prisoners are packed like sardines inside prison cells”

In a statement sent to UCA News, Saint Paul Prison Care, Inc. said reforms are needed to offer a solution to overcrowding and other problems faced by Filipino prisoners.

Prisoners are packed like sardines inside prison cells, the group said.

More than 500 inmates are presently squeezed into a space meant for 170 resulting in poor air ventilation, leading to health problems, the group said.

“More than 60 percent of our prisoners in the Philippines have or have experienced respiratory problems because of poor air ventilation which makes the air thick and putrid because of the over-population,” the group said.

It added it has received reports stating that inmates sleep with their legs and arms overlapping with those of their fellow inmates.

“Comfort has been an issue. Our inmate population grew because of the drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Many became drug suspects, others were killed because of Duterte’s war on drugs,” the group said.

“There are about a thousand prisons running in the Philippines yet they are mismanaged”

Rights groups have also documented overcrowding and a lack of basic facilities for prisoners.

In 2019, Amnesty International reported that the Philippines had more than 215,000 prisoners.

“The Philippines has an incarceration rate of about 200 per 100,000 citizens. There are about a thousand prisons running in the Philippines yet they are mismanaged and overcrowded,” the Amnesty report noted.

As of May, 2021, the total number of people in prisons across the Philippines reached roughly 117,300, according to Philippine National Police.

The majority of these prisoners are incarcerated in jails in the National Capital Region.

Remulla, however, said the government has allotted more than 6.7 billion pesos (US$134 million) to buy land for the construction of new prisons.

“Now we see every person deprived of liberty is not just a number but a real human being that has dignity,” Remulla told reporters.

The Catholic bishops’ Commission on Prison Pastoral Care earlier called for an end to overcrowding due to the high infection risk of Covid-19. “With the terrible congestion in our penal institutions, transmission to other inmates is very high and it will be very catastrophic,” the bishops’ said in a statement in 2020.

Filipino environmentalists slam ‘illegal’ giant clam deals

Unregulated poaching and trading threaten survival of giant clams and endanger ecosystem, activist says

An official looks at a large cache of giant clams allegedly harvested and traded illegally in the Philippines. (Photo: The Philippines Coast Guard)  

UCANews
By Joseph Peter Calleja
July 19, 2022

A Catholic environmental group in the Philippines has blasted a business nexus for alleged shady deals that allow the poaching and import of giant clams in the coastal province of Pangasinan.

The Saint Francis Group for Greener Environment, formed after Pope Francis published his famed environmental encyclical, Laudato Si’, has called for an investigation into poaching and imports of giant clams in the province north of the capital Manila.

An official from the group said on July 18 that a corporation purportedly violated the law by engaging in poaching and the import of giant clams without securing permits.

The group’s spokesman Jonathan De Guia said they would file a formal complaint with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on behalf of the people of the province to kickstart an investigation into the illegal sale and import of giant clams.

“We have received reports that a certain group goes to Pangasinan province to get clams harvested by locals without permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. We reiterate our position that we cannot tolerate poaching and trade of marine resources without valid permits from the government,” De Guia told UCA News.

“We might lose some species dependent on the clams or we could lose the clams themselves”

De Guia said the absence of any permit would mean that poachers could be “excessively” harvesting clams, thus destroying the ecosystem of marine life in the province.

“We had called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to look into these activities before it’s too late. We might lose some species dependent on the clams or we could lose the clams themselves if their harvest is not regulated,” De Guia added.

Giant clams are the largest mollusks on Earth, living in the bottom of the oceans. They are capable of reaching 1.2 meters in length and weighing more than 227 kilograms, according to the National Geographic website. Giant clams mostly live in the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Researchers have found 13 different species of giant clams. The adductor muscle of the giant clam is considered a delicacy. Overharvesting of the species for food, shells, and the aquarium trade has prompted marine groups to list giant clams as a “vulnerable” species, National Geographic noted.

In the Philippines, giant clams are harvested as an ivory substitute and for ornamental purposes, particularly in China and Japan.

The concern about endangered giant clams surfaced in April last year, when the authorities in Palawan province confiscated stockpiles of giant claims weighing 200 metric tons amounting to 1.2 billion pesos (US$23.6 million).

“For us, it is clear there is an organized crime group behind this”

In the past five years, police and naval authorities have reportedly made 13 similar seizures and arrested violators though there were no reports of any violator being permanently put to jail.

De Guia said he fears that organized crime syndicates connected with the government are involved in the illegal trade

“Our authorities have been conducting arrests and seizures of giant clams but still the industry has not stopped. More so, no one has been punished. For us, it is clear there is an organized crime group behind this,” he told UCA News.

He noted that Philippine law prohibits 12 known giant clam species, but their research found that poachers did not discriminate species that were endangered from those that may be caught.

“But even so, they need to have permits to make sure their activity is regulated. Otherwise, it becomes illegal,” De Guia added.

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