Category: Documents

“Being homosexual is not a crime. It’s not a crime. Yes, but it’s a sin. Fine, but first let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime,” the pope told the AP

Catholic News Agency
January 26, 2023

Pope Francis has reiterated that homosexuality is “not a crime” in a new interview published on Wednesday, January 25.

The interview with the Associated Press covered a wide range of topics, including laws that criminalize homosexuality and sodomy.

“Being homosexual is not a crime. It’s not a crime. Yes, but it’s a sin. Fine, but first let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime,” the pope told the AP.

The remark promises to be a point of controversy. On the one hand, the Catholic Church has condemned the unjust discrimination of those with same-sex attraction. On the other hand, the Church does not teach that same-sex attraction is sinful in itself but that it is “intrinsically disordered.”

In the interview conducted at Pope Francis’ residence in Vatican City on Jan. 24, the pope reiterated the Holy See’s position that laws that criminalize homosexuality outright are “unjust” and that the Church must work to put an end to them.

Under Benedict XVI, the Vatican issued a statement in 2008 urging that “every sign of unjust discrimination toward homosexual persons should be avoided” and that countries should “do away with criminal penalties against them.”

“We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity,” Pope Francis said.

The pope told AP that bishops who support laws that criminalize homosexuality “have to have a process of conversion” and should apply “tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us.”

Pope Francis attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds and said bishops in particular need to undergo a process of change to recognize the dignity of everyone.

“Every man and every woman must have a window in their lives where they can pour out their hope and where they can see the dignity of God. And being homosexual is not a crime. It is a human condition,” he said.

In the interview, which lasted more than one hour, Pope Francis also decried the German Synodal Way as unhelpful, revealed that the intestinal problem that he had surgery for in 2021 has returned, and denied that he had any role in the handling of the alleged abuse by Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik.

The AP first published the pope’s comments about distinguishing between a crime and a sin with regard to homosexuality before publishing the full transcript of the interview in Spanish.

The Catholic Church does not teach that homosexuality, that is having same-sex attraction, is a sin.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered” and “under no circumstances can they be approved.”

“The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided,” it says.

“These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.”

The pope formally instituted the ministry of catechist in 2021 following his decision to open the ministries of lector and acolyte to women

CBCP News
January 25, 2023

Who are the two Filipinos installed by Pope Francis early this week to the ministry of the catechists?

They are Leon Asuncion and Norma Ramos of the Catechetical Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila (CFAM).

Asuncion, 55, is from St. John the Baptist Parish in San Juan City, where he had been serving as Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Communion.

Blessed with four children, he and his wife, Juliefer, are also members of the Couples for Christ since 2008.

Asuncion’s involvement with CFAM started in 1992, when he served as catechist until 2000.

He also served through the years as CFAM’s area coordinator, ministry assistant for research and development, and human resource development officer.

Since 2019, Asuncion has been serving as CFAM’s catechetical coordinator.

Ramos, meanwhile, is a catechist from St. John Bosco Parish in Manila’s Tondo district and a volunteer servant of the The Lord’s Flock Catholic Charismatic Community.

She has been head catechist of CFAM since 2009.

The 57-year old also anchors Radio Veritas’ “Katekesis Like Ko To” program.

Pope Francis celebrated the fourth annual “Sunday of the Word of God” on January 22 and conferred the ministries of lector and catechist on ten lay people, including the two Filipinos.

The celebration took place in St. Peter’s Basilica, where the pope installed new catechists — four men and six women — from the Philippines, Italy, Congo, Mexico and the UK.

The pope formally instituted the ministry of catechist in 2021 following his decision to open the ministries of lector and acolyte to women.

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Dear fellow labor rights defenders,

Greetings of peace and solidarity!

The long-awaited International Labor Organization (ILO) High-Level Tripartite Mission (ILO-HLTM) to the Philippines is finally happening this January 2023. Representatives of governments, employers and workers from the ILO will visit PH this coming January 23 -26, 2023 to investigate the reported alarming state of freedom of association in the country. 

The Philippines has consistently ranked poorly in the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index, listing it as one of the 10 Worst Countries for workers, in the past six (6) years citing that trade unionists and labor rights advocates are being killed to silence them, preventing them from organizing and pushing for the welfare of the workers.

Meanwhile, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) has documented 56 victims of killings among workers, unionists and labor rights defenders. 27 unionists and labor organizers also remain in detention for trumped-up cases and planted evidence. Thousands of unionists fear for their safety due to continuous red-tagging, harassment and intimidation perpetrated by the NTF-ELCAC. Unionists, organizers and rights defenders are continuously being hounded in their homes and workplaces to force them to disaffiliate from their unions/organizations.

Various policies have been used against the people and led to further shrinking of our democratic space such as the Martial Law in Mindanao, Executive Order 70 that led to the creation of the NTF-ELCAC, the Joint Industrial Peace Concerns Office (JIPCO) and the Anti-Terrorism Law.

In this regard, the Church People Workers Solidarity (CWS), United Labor, Citizens Rights Watch Network (CRWN) and the Labor Rights Defenders Network (LARD-Net) join unionists, workers and rights defenders in its efforts in intensifying our campaign against violations of labor and human rights in the Philippines and in calling for justice and accountability.

We invite you to join us in an Ecumenical Solidarity Gathering for the Victims of Trade Union Repression on January 20, 2023 at Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Conference Hall (Taft, Manila), 3:00 in the afternoon.  Together, let us pray that this mission be successful and instrumental in achieving justice for all victims of workers’ and human rights violations and in forging a more democratic space for Filipinos to be able to fully enjoy their rights and realize dignity at work.  

Yours truly,

(Sgd)

Kalikasan urged the Department of Environment and National Resources to immediately stop and review megadam projects

LiCAS News
January 17, 2023

Environmental activists and a tribal people’s group called on the government to pull out soldiers who were reported to have been deployed in indigenous people’s communities in the past weeks.

“We call on the [police] and the [military] to pull out their troops immediately in the Tumandok areas,” said read a statement by Beverly Longid, national convener of Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas.

Longid said police and military operations in the ancestral lands of the Tumandok indigenous tribe in Calinog, Iloilo, and Tapaz, Capiz, “are causing alarm and fear for the Tumandok.”

In 2020, state forces simultaneously raided two Tumandok communities in Iloilo and Capiz, killing nine community leaders and arresting 17 others.

The Jalaur megadam in the island of Panay has faced controversy in recent years due to alleged human rights violations.

Just last week 300 soldiers again conducted military operations in the Tumandok communities, causing widespread fear there that a repeat of the 2020 massacre would occur.

“Civil-military ops like this often lead to human rights violations, intimidation, and disunity in the IP communities,” said Longid, adding that it causes fear and confusion among the people.

 “Like in the past, this might lead to dispossession and displacement,” she said.

Kalikasan People PNE, an environmental group, also expressed alarm over the recent deployment of military troops in the ancestral lands.

The group said the soldiers are not there to “keep the peace,” but instead have been sent there to “quell the resistance” of the Tumandok people against the controversial Jalaur megadam project.

“On top of violating Indigenous peoples’ rights, these megadams cause large-scale environmental destruction in the long run,” said the group in a statement.

Aside from the Jalaur megadam, other dam projects across the country have also been met with community resistance in recent years.

“Tandaan ninyo ito: kapag hindi kayo nagbago at tumulad sa mga bata, hinding-hindi kayo mabibilang sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos!”

Homily ni Bishop Broderick Pabillo para sa January 15, 2023; Feast of Sto Nino / Holy Childhood Day

Bishop Broderick Pabillo
January 15, 2023

“Sino ang pinakadakila sa kaharian ng langit?” Ang tanong na ito kay Jesus ng mga alagad ay siya ring tanong natin. Palagi tayong naghahanap tayo ng daan tungo sa kadakilaan pati na sa langit! Nakakabigla ang sagot ni Jesus. Ang dakila ay ang maliit. Less is more. Ang bata ay hindi lang ang dakila. Kailangan tayong tumulad sa mga bata upang makapasok sa kaharian ng langit.

Mabigat ang salita ni Jesus: “Tandaan ninyo ito: kapag hindi kayo nagbago at tumulad sa mga bata, hinding-hindi kayo mabibilang sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos!” Mas lalong matularan natin ang bata, mas dumadakila tayo sa mata ng Diyos.

Ano ba ang katangian ng pagkabata na mahalaga sa Diyos? Ang bata ay hindi nagmamalaki, hindi nagmamayabang, at siya ay mapagtiwala. Wala siyang tinatago kaya hindi siya mapagkunwari. Kailangan natin ang mga katangiang ito sa ating pakikitungo sa Diyos. Malakas ba ang ating tiwala sa Diyos? Umaasa ba tayo sa kanya? Sumusunod ba tayo sa kanya? Ang kasalanan ay pagmamayabang na mali ang Diyos at hindi tayo magiging maligaya kung susunod tayo sa kanya.

Ang pagiging maliit at mapagtiwala ang kadakilaan ng mga bata at iyan din ang kahinaan niya. Dahil sa mahina sila, maliit at mapagtiwala madali silang linlangin, utuin at abusuhin. Kaya sinasabi din ni Jesus na huwag nating hamakin ang mga ito. Ganoon kasama ang pag-aabuso sa mga bata na sabi niya na mas mabuti pang itapon sa dagat na may nakataling malaking bato sa kanyang liig ang gumagawa ng masama at nagbibigay ng masamang halimbawa sa isang bata. Marupok ang mga bata. Pagkaingatan natin sila. Ang sugat at ang lamat na natatanggap nila sa murang edad ay dala-dala nila sa kanilang buhay. Sinasabi ng mga psychiatrist na maraming mga issue natin sa buhay ay nanggaling sa pagtrato sa atin noong tayo ay bata pa.

Malakas ang debosyon nating mga Pilipino kay Jesus na niño, kay Jesus na bata. Kaya ngayong araw ang daming fiesta ng Sto Niño sa buong bansa at kahit na sa ibang bansa kung nasaan ang mga Pilipino. Marahil dahil din ito sa katangian nating mga Pilipino na malambot ang ating puso sa mga bata. Naaakit tayo sa kanila. Naaakit tayo sa Panginoong Jesus bilang bata. Hindi tayo natatakot sa kanya.

Pero tandaan natin na dahil si Jesus ay bata huwag lang natin siyang pag-laru-laruan. Huwag natin siyang utu-utuin. Bata nga siya ngunit siya ay ang ating Panginoon. Kaya malahari ang kanyang damit. May korona siya at hawak niya ang setro, isang baston na nagpapahiwatig ng kanyang kapangyarihan. Hawak niya ang daigdig sa kanyang kamay. Bata siya pero hari siya. Ang kanyang paghahari ay hindi nakakasindak. Hindi siya nakakatakot. Nagdadala siya ng katarungan at katwiran hindi sa pamamagitan ng pananakot kundi ng pang-aakit at ng pagmamahal. Kaya nga kahit na bata si Jesus, sundin at tularan natin siya. Iyan din ang hamon sa atin ng Sto Niño.

Kailangan natin ang hamong ito kasi kahit na katangian nating mga Pilipino na maging malapit sa mga bata, dito sa ating bayan mayroon ding nangyayari ng pang-aabuso sa kanila. Isang madalas na pang-aabuso sa mga bata ay ang pagsisigaw at pagmumura sa kanila. Dahil sa kanilang murang edad nakatatak sa kanila ang tinatawag natin sa kanila. Naaapektuhan ang kanilang paningin sa kanilang sarili kung tinatawag natin silang tanga, tamad, walang pakinabang, pasaway o pini-PI pa. Nandiyan din ang physical abuse. Oo kailangan ng disiplina ang mga bata pero hindi sa paraang violente o madahas, lalo na kung walang paliwanag bakit sila pinapalo o kinukurot. Huwag natin ibunton ang ating galit o hinanakit sa mga bata.

Sinabi ni Jesus: “Ang sinumang tumatanggap sa isang bata dahil sa akin, ako ang tinatanggap.” Isipin natin sa ating pag-aalaga ng mga bata na si Jesus ang inaalagaan natin. Kaya ang mga nag-aalaga ng mga bata – mga magulang, mga lola at lolo, mga ate at kuya at mga yaya – palagi kayong tumawag sa Santa Maria at kay San Jose na tulungan kayo paano mag-alaga sa mga maliliit tulad ng pag-alaga nila kay Nino Jesus.

Mabuti ang pagpalaki ng Banal na Mag-asawa kay Jesus. May disiplina si Jesus sa sarili at matiisin siya dahil sa kanyang mga magulang. Bata pa si Jesus gusto na niyang mapalalim ang kanyang kaalaman sa Bibliya kaya nagpaiwan siya sa templo. Saan nanggaling ito? Sa kanyang mga magulang. Ang pagiging matulungin niya sa mga mahihirap ay nanggaling din sa kanila. Oo, si Jesus ay Diyos pero siya ay tunay ding tao at ang pagkatao niya ay hinubog ng kanyang mga magulang. Humingi tayo ng tulong kay Maria at Jose paano palakihin ang mga anak natin tulad ng pagpalaki nila kay Santo Niño.

LICAS News Photo

Filipino Catholics across the country celebrate the “feast” of the Child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño, every January.

In the village of Bago Bantay in Quezon City in the Philippine capital, devotees perform street dances similar to the traditional Dinagyang, Ati-Atihan, and Sinulog festivals on Jan. 14, 2023, in honor of the Child Jesus.

The devotion of Filipinos, especially people from the central province of Cebu, to the Child Jesus has deep historical roots.

The image of the Santo Niño was brought to the country by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on April 14, 1521, as a gift to Queen Juana of Cebu. She and her husband, Rajah Humabon, and about 800 natives, were baptized, thus establishing Christianity in the country.

In 1565, when Spanish conqueror Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in Cebu, a Spanish soldier found the image inside a burned house of a native. Legazpi then named Cebu as the “City of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.”

Today, the image now known as Santo Nino de Cebu, is considered the oldest Christian relic in the country. (Photos by Jire Carreon)

Jire Carreon
LICAS News Photos
January 15, 2023

Devotees of the image of the Child Jesus, popularly known in the Philippines as the “Santo Niño de Cebu,” would cry on top of their voices “Pit Senyor!”“Pit Senyor!” is supposed to be short of the Cebuano “Sangpit sa Senyor!” or “Call on the Lord!”

Devotees of the image of the Child Jesus, popularly known in the Philippines as the “Santo Niño de Cebu,” would cry on top of their voices “Pit Senyor!” as they dance in honor of the Child Jesus during its “feast every third Sunday of January.

In the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in the village of Diliman in Quezon City, women wearing traditional Philippine dresses dance to the church with images of the Child Jesus before the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Jan. 15, 2023.

The devotion of Filipinos, especially people from the central province of Cebu, to the Child Jesus has deep historical roots. The image of the Santo Niño was brought to the country by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on April 14, 1521, as a gift to Queen Juana of Cebu. She and her husband, Rajah Humabon, and about 800 natives, were baptized, thus establishing Christianity in the country.