Category: News

By Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, CM

1. Should the Church get involved in politics?

We have heard this for the longest time: the Church should never get involved in politics because it is a violation of the “separation of the Church and State”. We need to settle this once and for all. There is no such prohibition in the Church. Such prohibition is a Constitutional injunction for the State, not for the Church. First, it states that the State shall not pass laws establishing any religion (Art. III, Sec. 5). Second, the State shall not pass laws prohibiting the free exercise of any religion (Art III, Sec. 5). These are called the “non-establishment clause” and the “free exercise” clause. In short, only the State can violate it, not the Church or any church personnel. When Duterte and his government criticize the Church for violating the separation of Church and State, they are “barking at the wrong tree”.

On the contrary, it is the role of all citizens—Churches and their members included—to call out the State authorities when they favor one religious group over another or prohibit some religions the free exercise of their beliefs.

In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis writes: Politics is “one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good” (FT 180). “A good Catholic meddles in politics so that those who govern can govern well.” This is not new; he was just quoting Pope Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi (1106) and earlier popes on the notion of political charity.

But because of the strong influence of the dualistic view of Christian spirituality with regard politics, I observe several kinds of Christians in our times: (a) apolitical Christians — those who think that their home is in “heaven” and what happens in this “world” is of little or no value at all; (b) neutral Christians — those who follow the minimum requirements of political duties like the elections but consider it a “private affair”; when it is a question of injustice, they are neutral; (c) non-neutral but non-partisan — those who call out society on human rights violations as against Christian principles but refuse to name names or promote partisan candidates; (d) non-neutral and partisan — those who engage in social and political issues and get involved in partisan politics.

Based on the majority of church documents, the third type (non-neutral but non-partisan) is the place for the religious and clergy. The fourth type (non-neutral and partisan) should be the responsibility of the laity.

2. Does the proper “religious mission” of the Church prohibit the clergy from engaging in politics?

Vatican II documents and Canon Law are used by many writers to prove that the clergy cannot engage in politics because the Church’s proper mission is “religious”.  Based on these quotations (and their parallels in other church documents), the conclusion is that bishops and priests cannot engage in partisan politics. Doing otherwise would be “crossing the line”, as one author suggests.

“Christ, to be sure, gave his Church no proper mission in the political, economic, or social order. The purpose which He set before her is a religious one.” (GS, 42)

Archbishop-Emeritus Antonio Ledesma, SJ

 “Non-partisan, but not neutral…” has been the stance of many church leaders during this electoral period.  Non-partisan because bishops and priests, as institutional leaders of the church, are pastors of a community that is open to all, sinners and saints, and should not be divided by political affiliations.  On the other hand, religious leaders cannot be neutral when the issues involve a moral dimension. 

During this election campaign period, many voices have been heard over social media and in political rallies.  Candidates focus on their strong points, promises are made, while questions about the moral conduct of past and present activities are glossed over.  It is in this light that the prophetic role of church leaders must be heard.  The candidacy of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for President, in particular, has raised a number of moral issues.  The reports and comments of several knowledgeable observers articulate these concerns.

I  PLUNDER AND CORRUPTION CHARGES

1)  “$683 Million (or ₱34 billion) worth of Marcos assets in various Swiss banks were declared as ill-gotten wealth, based on a July 2003 Supreme Court decision.”(newsinfo.inquirer.net)

2)  “Marcos Jr. is aware of major judicial rulings in three countries (the Philippines, the United States and Switzerland) over the years that prove the existence of ill-gotten wealth. But he has decided to look the other way.” (Prof. Ed Garcia, ConCon delegate, 1987)

3)  “In 1991, the BIR assessed the amount of ₱23.3 billion in estate taxes on the estate left by the dictator Marcos.  Bongbong is the administrator of the estate of his father.  Bongbong ignored the collection notices since then.  The total now due of the estate taxes and the interest and surcharges thereon is ₱203.8 billion….Bongbong was implicated in the Janet Napoles pork barrel scam.  He placed several million pesos in 2011 and 2012 in nine short projects in four Napoles bogus NGOs.” (Ret. Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.)

4)  “The World Bank and UN Office on Drugs and Crimes said Marcos, having the longest reign as a dictator, stole between $5 billion and $10 billion from the country’s coffers. The corruption was so outrageous that it earned the distinction of being “The Greatest Robbery of a Government” from the Guinness Book of World Records.” (Kurt dela Peña, in World Mission)

II  TAX EVASION AND MORAL TURPITUDE

5)  “I find that the Respondent’s repeated and persistent non-filing of income tax returns in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985, which resulted in his conviction, constitutes an offense involving moral turpitude;… the fact that these omissions were repeated, persistent and consistent is reflective already of a conscious design and intent to avoid a positive duty under the law and intent to evade the taxes due…. Significantly, at the time when Respondent chose not to comply with the duty to society, not only was he a high-ranking government official, he was also the son of the President of the Philippines.” (Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon)

6)  “He has been found guilty by a Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals of tax evasion for the billions of pesos in unpaid taxes racked up by the Marcos estate.” (Prof. E. Garcia)

Circular No. 22-06

17 March 2022

RE: Joining Pope Francis in Consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Blessed Mother

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It has been more than four weeks now since Russia declared a war of occupation against Ukraine. We have seen in the daily news reports how the Russian military forces have bombarded one Ukrainian city after another, destroying private residences, business establishments and public infrastructures, killing hundreds of civilians and forcing millions of people to flee as refugees to other European countries.

 Each day that this war lingers on increases its potentials of escalating into a bigger and  more serious conflict between Russia and its allies on the one hand, and the United  States and its NATO allies in Europe and other nations of the world, on the other hand.

 It can lead to the fearful scenario of a Third World War.

 Because it has been 77 years since our last experience of a World War, we have tended  to take global peace for granted. The past three quarters of a century of peace have  brought prosperity to the world precisely because the military defense budgets of  nations have radically decreased. The average in Europe has gone down to only 3% of  the national budgets and made it possible for governments to appropriate more  substantial funds to the more fundamental necessities of their citizens.

Suddenly, this war in Ukraine is making nations worried again for their security. Germany has already doubled its military budget and most other European countries are following the trend. We therefore need to pray very hard for peace.

In our own context in the Asia Pacific region, we can only hope that Russia’s sudden shift to an expansionistic geopolitical policy does not motivate any of its allies from doing the same thing on their neighboring countries.

Even if Europe is relatively far from the Philippines, we have every reason to be apprehensive about these global developments. We are conscious of the fact that, in just the past few years, the peace and security of some of our own national territories have been among our major domestic concerns, especially in the West Philippine Sea, where an ally of Russia has already set up its own military installations, despite all our protestations. This is now turning out to be the more important global context that should determine the way we will choose a new set of leaders for our country in the coming elections. This too we must pray very hard for.

In view of this, we your bishops have decided to join the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 2022, Friday, Solemnity of the Annunciation.

The Holy Father has made this decision in response to a letter earlier sent to him by the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops on March 2, 2022. In that letter, they said, “In these hours of immeasurable pain and terrible ordeal for our people, we, the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Ukraine, are spokesmen for the unceasing and heartfelt prayer, supported by our priests and consecrated persons, which comes to us from all Christian people to dedicate, Your Holiness, our Motherland and Russia.”

“Responding to this prayer,” they wrote, “we humbly ask Your Holiness to publicly perform the act of consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as requested by the Blessed Virgin in Fatima. May the Mother of God, Queen of Peace, accept our prayer: Regina Pacis, ora pro nobis!”

On March 15 oil companies will again implement another round of one-timebig-time oil price increase: 12.00/liter for diesel and P7.00/liter for gasoline. This amounts to a total of P18.00/liter of diesel in just two weeks. This is by far the biggest oil price hike in Philippine history and the biggest since the Oil Deregulation Law was implemented 24 years ago. As usual, transport and agricultural sectors will be hit hard by these series of OPH.

CWS reiterates its previous statement that the series of OPH is unjust and antipoor. In the world market, these price increases are driven by mere speculation brought about by the war in Ukraine. In the Philippines, the current inventory of the big oil companies was purchased at a much lower price yet are sold at a much higher price. In fact, Petro Gazz was able to implement a P5.00/liter rollback in its prices. CWS calls on the government to:

1. Act decisively on this issue especially that this will adversely affect the poorest of the poor. In the first place, government should be blamed for these unreasonable increases in fuel prices. In a deregulated oil industry, government control over oil companies is removed or reduced giving oil industries superfluous power to operate more freely, including price adjustments.
2. Suspend Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise tax on oil. This will automatically and significantly decrease fuel prices by P50.00 which will provide some sort of relief for consumers already battered by the economic hardship brought about by the pandemic.
3. Urge Congress to convene a special session to pass a law suspending VAT and excise tax on oil and junking the 24-year old Oil Deregulation Law.
4. Provide immediate relief for jeepney drivers, farmers and fisherfolks, workers, and urban poor communities.
5. Implement a nationwide increase in minimum wage.

We call on church-people to stand with the workers, farmers, fisherfolks and jeepney drivers in asserting these demands. Church-people can show their support by actively participating in protest actions such as noise barrage, and posting in various social media platforms. We can flood social media with calls such as “No to Oil Price Hike!”, “Suspend taxes on fuel!”, “Junk Oil Deregulation Law!” “Wage Increase Now!”, “Economic Relief Now!”. We invite church-people to join in a nationwide protest against OPH on March 18. These mounting protests are aimed to pressure the government to act on this pressing issue.

No to Oil Price Hike!
Suspend taxes on fuel!
Junk Oil Deregulation Law!
Wage Increase Now!
Economic Relief to Transport and Agricultural Sectors Now!

Signed: