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Month: February 2023

Pope Francis in video message: Human trafficking ‘disfigures’ human dignity

The Holy Father encouraged young people to “care for dignity, yours and that of every person you meet”

Catholic News Agency
February 10, 2023

In a video message released on the ninth World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking, Pope Francis said human trafficking “disfigures” human dignity. The annual day of prayer takes place on Feb. 8, the day the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita.

The Holy Father began his message by addressing this year’s theme — Journeying in Dignity — and specifically encouraged young people to “care for dignity, yours and that of every person you meet.”

“I understand that it was you who chose ‘Journeying in Dignity’ as your theme,” he said. “This is very important: It points to a great horizon for your anti-trafficking efforts: human dignity.”

“Human trafficking disfigures dignity,” he continued. “Exploitation and subjugation limit freedom and turn people into objects to use and discard. And the system of trafficking profits from the injustice and wickedness that oblige millions of people to live in conditions of vulnerability.”

The pope acknowledged the rise in human trafficking and the targeting of women, children, migrants, and those “impoverished by economic crisis, wars, climate change, and so much instability.”

He added: “We know we live in a difficult time, but it is precisely in this reality that all of us, especially young people, are called to join forces to weave networks of good, to spread the light that comes from Christ and his Gospel.”

Pope Francis urged young people to be “missionaries of human dignity, against trafficking in persons and all forms of exploitation” and to “never tire of seeking ways to transform our societies and prevent this shameful scourge that is trafficking in persons.”

“I hope that many will accept your invitation to walk together against trafficking: to walk together with those who are destroyed by the violence of sexual and labor exploitation; to walk together with migrants, displaced persons, and those who are looking for a place to live in peace and family. Together with you young people, to courageously reaffirm the value of human dignity.”

The World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking has taken place every year on Feb. 8 since Pope Francis first introduced it in 2015. The day holds significance as it is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese nun who was kidnapped and enslaved as a child and who is the patron saint of human trafficking.

This day of awareness is promoted by the International Unions of Superiors and Superiors General (UISG) and is coordinated by Talitha Kum, the international network founded by the UISG and committed to fighting human trafficking.

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Why persecuted Nicaragua bishop turned down the chance to leave the country

Bishop Rolando Álvarez | Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua. | Credit: Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CC BY-SA 4.0)

By Walter Sanchez Silva
ACI Prensa Staff, Feb 10, 2023 / 14:45 pm

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of the Diocese of Matagalpa refused to leave Nicaragua along with the 222 political prisoners — including several priests and seminarians — who were deported by the Daniel Ortega dictatorship on Feb. 9.

The prisoners arrived in Washington, D.C., following a ruling by the Managua Court of Appeals, which stated that “those sentenced who, for different crimes, violated the legal and constitutional order, attacking the State of Nicaragua and Nicaraguan society, harming the supreme interest of the nation” are deported.

The court explained that the deportation was carried out “to protect peace, national security, public order, health, public morals, [and] the rights and freedoms of third parties.”

In a speech yesterday, accompanied by his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, and other government officials, Ortega explained what happened with Álvarez, whom he called “that character.”

“This is not bartering,” the dictator said. “It’s a matter of principles, of dignity. And what it does is confirm that [the political prisoners] are returning to a country that, its ruler, not the American people, has used them to sow terror, death, and destruction here in Nicaragua.”

Ortega said that Álvarez was taken to the airport and before reaching the plane, “he starts saying that he’s not leaving, that he would first have to talk to the bishops, meet with the bishops, and he demands a meeting with the bishops. Which is absurd.”

Ortega said that what this means then is that the ruling by the Court of Appeals, is a “decision of the Nicaraguan State that he (Álvarez) does not abide by.”

According to the dictator, the bishop of Matagalpa asked that they call “all the priests, because he would have to talk to them. For them to get off the plane so they could talk to him. And for the bishops to also come to speak with him.”

Given the refusal of the prelate to get on the plane, Ortega said that they couldn’t force him.

“We couldn’t, because they didn’t allow that. In the agreement the U.S. authorities did not allow using force on anyone who didn’t want to go to the United States. They could not be forced to get on,” the dictator said.

Álvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa since April 2011, was arrested in the middle of the night by the Ortega dictatorship in August 2022 and held under house arrest in Managua shortly thereafter.

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Walk for Life 2023

January 24, 2023

TO:  ALL LAIKO MEMBERS: NATIONAL LAY ORGANIZATIONS &
        ARCH/DIOCESAN COUNCILS OF THE LAITY

Re: WALK FOR LIFE 2023

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

“Human life must always be defended from its beginning in the womb and  must be recognized as a gift of God that guarantees the future of humanity”

Pope Francis

Our spirit of upholding life has never wavered even during the pandemic. We have even more become deeply aware of the sacredness of life and sincerely prayed and work tremendously together to preserve and keep it safe.

This year, as we return to normalcy, let us thank the Lord for the continuous blessings and graces especially the gift of life through a face-to-face WALK FOR LIFE.  The “Walk for Life 2023” with the theme ”Clergy and Lay Faithful Called to Walk Together for Life” will be held on February 18, 2023, 4:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. The Walk will start at the Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City going to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Grandstand in España, Manila, where a program and Eucharistic Celebration will be held.

We are pleased to invite our esteemed Clergy and all Religious and Lay Organizations to actively support and participate.  We earnestly appeal to everyone to campaign for this event to your respective networks. These composite teams from your groups will be a huge support as we celebrate life. In our modern society, the varying issues on life are urgent and we need to constantly express to everyone our uncompromising stand on the importance & sacredness of life.

To help us in our preparation, may we request that you send us the name of your Delegation Head and his/her contact numbers as well as expected number of participants on or before February 13, 2023. For inquiries, please contact the LAIKO Secretariat c/o Mr. Joseph Jesalva or Ms. Catherine Buenconsejo at tel. nos: 8251-9657,8527-5388;09674025652,09082496512;email: laiko_phils@yahoo.com.ph.

We are really counting on your usual active participation and your fervent prayers and support for the success of this noble endeavor.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours in the service of the Lord,

(Sgd.)RAYMOND DANIEL H. CRUZ, JR.
President

Noted by:

(Sgd.)+MOST REV. ENRIQUE V. MACARAEG, D.D.
Chairman
CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity

Caritas network joins opposition against mining in Sibuyan

Residents block a mining company truck during a protest in Sibuyan Island on February 1. ALYANSA TIGIL MINA

By CBCP News
February 8, 2023
Manila, Philippines

The country’s social action network has joined the growing chorus of opposition to the large-scale mining operation in Sibuyan Island.

The network in a statement with Caritas Philippines said they stand behind the people who are determined to protect their island, dubbed the “Galapagos of Asia”.

“We feel a moral duty to safeguard and uphold the well-being of our shared environment,” part of the statement read.

“Therefore, we believe that the project would not serve the overall interests of the province and would pose a threat, particularly to the lives and lands of the communities on the island, and the rich biodiversity in the area,” they said.

The operations of nickel miner Altai Philippines Mining Corp. was earlier put on hold until all issues and concerns are addressed after more than a week of resistance from many residents.

At least two protesters were hurt when local police dispersed a human barricade against APMC’s alleged illegal operations due to supposed lack of necessary permits.

“We urge the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as all government offices, to prioritize protecting people and nature before vested socio-economic and political interests,” they also said.

“We know what is the right thing to do. Stop mining in Sibuyan. Stop mining in the Philippines,” they added.

NO TO THE REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

Posted by Anisa
Feb 2, 2023
Food Sovereignty and Agroecology

Joint Statement of Agri stakeholders and Trade Justice Advocates: NO TO RCEP! DON’T MAKE PHL AN “UKAY-UKAY” REPUBLIC!

Broad coalition of agriculture stakeholders and trade justice advocates held a pressconference this morning to urge the Senate to reject RCEP! 1 February 2023, Quezon City. Photo by Joseph Purugganan.

Last November 2021, during the 18th Congress, various farmers, fishers, workers, civil society and private sector organizations expressed their opposition to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement. At that time, we urged the Senate to withhold its concurrence with the treaty until the necessary policies, strategies and programs are emplaced so that the RCEP benefits, and does not harm, the agricultural sector and the economy as a whole.

We pointed out that agriculture provides 25% of all jobs. Together with agribusiness, it accounts for 35% of our Gross Domestic Product. At least 50% of Filipinos depend directly or indirectly on the sector. Also, most poor Filipinos are in rural areas.

Clearly, the promised gains from trade liberalization — following our membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 and subsequent regional and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) — have not materialized. Our trade performance has actually deteriorated. Our agricultural trade deficit has ballooned to nearly nine billion US dollars annually. Exports have not significantly expanded beyond traditional items like banana, pineapple and coconut-based products. Meanwhile, our capacity to supply foreign markets with competitive products has paled in comparison to our neighbors. In turn, we have become a dumping ground for imports of practically all agricultural commodities – rice, corn, pork, chicken, fish, salt, onions, garlic, mung bean, peanuts, etc.

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Marian flower festival returns in the Philippines

Baguio’s Panagbenga floral fest, which thanks Mary for the past year’s harvest, is back after a three-year Covid-19 hiatus

The annual Panagbenga festival procession in Baguio on Feb. 1.(Photo: supplied )

By UCA News Reporter
Published: February 03, 2023 06:26 AM GMT

Imposing hillsides teeming with gigantic pine trees, the city of Baguio in the northern Philippines saw Catholics dressed in traditional attire kick off their annual Marian flower festival on Feb. 1.

The Panagbenga festival thanks Virgin Mary for the past year’s harvest with cultural shows that feature the history of the mountainous province of Benguet.

This time there was more enthusiasm as the event was being held after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We want to honor Mother Mary through our floats because of our prayers, we believed, she interceded for our people, especially when our farmers had difficulty selling their crops due to pandemic-related restrictions,” Carol Vivar, a Marian devotee in Baguio, told UCA News.

The civic administration is also part of the festival, which ends on March 5, with the theme, “A Renaissance of Wonder and Beauty.”

The Panagbenga festival began in 1995 after five years after an earthquake devastated Luzon, the most populous island in the Philippines.

Representatives of other religious denominations and Baguio mayor Benjamin Magalong and lawmaker Mark Go attended the ecumenical prayer meeting at Panagbenga Park.

The city government is banking on the flower festival to revive Baguio’s economy.

Bishop Victor Bendico of Baguio reminded participants how prayers to the Virgin Mary during the pandemic helped them.

“I express my solidarity and blessing to all the participants. The Virgin Mary has always had a special role in our hearts,” Bishop Bendico told UCA News.

Marian devotees made more than 50 floats with flowers to honor the Virgin Mary during the opening parade attended by hundreds of people.

Catholics walked behind each float, reciting the Rosary and scattering flowers along the streets to mark the season of bloom in Baguio — known as the country’s summer capital.

One float was decorated with white tulips and roses, depicting Our Lady of Lourdes, whose feast is on Feb. 11.

During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Our Lady of Lourdes’ image was paraded in the city for healing.

“Our Lady of Lourdes is known for her healing powers,” Marian devotee Pia Halaen told UCA News.

“We were praying the Rosary while the parade stopped at the cathedral’s entrance. It was a beautiful moment … the air was filled with the smell of flowers,” Baguio parish priest Father Ronald Vistan told UCA News.

Farmers in the region attributed to the Virgin Mary the success in disposing of their harvest when there were pandemic-related curbs in the city.

In August 2020, tons of vegetables perished due to a lack of buyers, especially in the capital Manila where restaurants were closed.

Farmers opted not to harvest to save on labor and cost.

“It was so painful because we were just letting our harvest rot. We did not have the market. if we harvested it would have entailed costs on our side also,” a vegetable farmer in Baguio, Louie Magansa, told UCA News.

However, Catholic foundations stepped in and bought their vegetables in bulk to sell them in big cities.

“The Jesuit Tanging Yaman Foundation bought our harvest so we have the capital to plant more,” Magansa added.

Baguio is called the “City of Pines” and is known for its green park spaces. Locals claim the city got its name from a green flowering plant called “bag-iw” which is found here.

Americans during the occupation pronounced it as “bág-ee-yow” and Baguio got its name.