Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the pope noted that the “throwaway culture” is predominant in more affluent societies
Catholic News Agency January 30, 2023
In his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis decried a culture that “throws away” unborn children, the elderly, and the poor if they are not useful.
“The throwaway culture says, ‘I use you as much as I need you. When I am not interested in you anymore, or you are in my way, I throw you out.’ It is especially the weakest who are treated this way — unborn children, the elderly, the needy, and the disadvantaged,” Pope Francis said on Jan. 29.
“But people are never to be thrown out. The disadvantaged cannot be thrown away. Every person is a sacred and unique gift, no matter what their age or condition is. Let us always respect and promote life! Let us not throw life away.”
Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the pope noted that the “throwaway culture” is predominant in more affluent societies.
“It is a fact that about one-third of total food production goes to waste in the world each year, while so many die of hunger,” he said.
“Nature’s resources cannot be used like this. Goods should be taken care of and shared in such a way that no one lacks what is necessary. Rather than waste what we have, let us disseminate an ecology of justice and charity, of sharing.”
Pope Francis underlined that Jesus’ call in the beatitudes to be “poor in spirit” includes the “desire that no gift should go to waste.” He said that this includes not wasting “the gift that we are.”
“Each one of us is a good, independent of the gifts we have. Every woman, every man, is rich not only in talents but in dignity. He or she is loved by God, is valuable, is precious,” he said.
“Jesus reminds us that we are blessed not for what we have, but for who we are.”
A small stage was set up in St. Peter’s Square ahead of the pope’s Angelus address where young people gathered with balloons and banners singing hymns as part of Catholic Action’s “Caravan of Peace.”
At the end of the Angelus, a young boy and girl in blue sweatshirts joined Pope Francis in the window of the Apostolic Palace and read aloud a letter sharing their commitment to peace.
A young boy and girl in blue sweatshirts joined Pope Francis in the window of the Apostolic Palace and read aloud a letter sharing their efforts as part of Catholic Action’s “Caravan of Peace.” (Vatican Media)
“We don’t want our sea to be uninhabitable to marine life, resulting in the disruption of our ecosystem”
LiCAS News January 17, 2023
Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Morong, Bataan. FILE PHOTO
The Catholice Diocese of Balanga vowed to continue its fight against plans to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).
“We don’t want to put life on the brink of danger, in the shadow of impending death, and in a future with no certainty of goodness, safety, and beauty,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos in a pastoral letter.
“We acted then and will continue to act today. We are against it. Stop it. Enough. We do not agree. We are against any ideas or plans for the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant,” added the prelate.
“The Diocese of Balanga objects and it cannot be changed. Life is more important to us than profit or money from low-cost electricity or just to satisfy someone’s personal selfish motives,” he said.
The House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy has begun talks on the development of nuclear power, including the possible revival of the Bataan plant, to fix power shortage.
The diocese maintains that nuclear energy remains a high-risk technology, will be harmful to the environment, and the amount of waste it will produce “will be tremendous and so does the cost to dispose it.”
“We don’t want to put life on the brink of danger, in the shadow of impending death, and in a future with no certainty of goodness, safety, and beauty,” Bishop Santos said.
“We don’t want our sea to be uninhabitable to marine life, resulting in the disruption of our ecosystem. We don’t want our soil to be poisoned and no longer viable to be cultivated. We don’t want our livelihoods to be destroyed,” he said.
The late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr ordered construction of the 620-megawatt nuclear facility in the 1970s.
Beset with safety concerns and corruption allegations, the project was mothballed after Marcos was ousted in 1986 and in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
“The government should provide financial incentives or subsidies to help our farmers grow more onions and lower the cost of production”
CBCP News January 17, 2023
A group of women farmers and their supporters under the Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women stage a demonstration outside the main office of the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City, Philippines, on Jan. 16, 2023, to demand an immediate solution to the rising prices of food in the country. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
The Catholic Church’s social action and advocacy arm urged the government to provide farmers with needed assistance amid the soaring prices of onions in the market.
Caritas Philippines issued a statement on Monday, January 16, calling on the Department of Agriculture to help farmers increase onion production at less costs in a bid to lower prices in the market.
“The government should provide financial incentives or subsidies to help our farmers grow more onions and lower the cost of production,” said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Caritas Philippines.
“This will make them more competitive with producers from other countries, who are already receiving large subsidies and other forms of support from their government,” he said.
Aside from the financial support, the bishop also urged the Department of Agriculture to improve onion farming infrastructures in the country.
“Another thing that can be looked into is infrastructural investments that would improve the productivity and efficiency of onion farms,” Bishop Bagaforo said.
“More cold storage facilities should be established to lessen the cost surplus of our farmers and meet the rising demand for agricultural products in the market,” he added.
Caritas Philippines issued the statement as prices of local red onions are now between PhP500 to PhP720 per kilogram, while local white onions are priced at PhP600.
The amount is far from prices in 2021, when the prevailing price of locally produced onions
We are infinitely grateful for the High Magisterium of Benedict XVI, and for his precious testimony of faith and Christian life
Dicastery of Laity, Family and Life
On the occasion of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life want to express their gratitude to the Lord for the gift of “this faithful servant of the Gospel and of the Church”, as Father Francis called him. We are infinitely grateful for the High Magisterium of Benedict XVI, and for his precious testimony of faith and Christian life. In his memory, we propose some extracts of speeches/homilies concerning: Ecclesial Movements and New Communities, the World Youth Days, and the Family.
The Ecclesial Movements and New Communities are one of the most important innovations inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Church for the implementation of the Second Vatican Council. They spread in the wake of the Council sessions, especially in the years that immediately followed it, in a period full of exciting promises but also marked by difficult trials. Paul VI and John Paul II were able to welcome and discern, to encourage and promote the unexpected explosion of the new lay realities which in various and surprising forms have restored vitality, faith and hope to the whole church. Indeed, even then they were already bearing witness to the joy, reasonableness and beauty of being Christian, showing that they were grateful for belonging to the mystery of communion which is the Church. We have witnessed the awakening of a vigorous missionary impetus, motivated by the desire to communicate to all the precious experience of the encounter with Christ, felt and lived as the only adequate response to the human heart’s profound thirst for truth and happiness.
An image of the Santo Niño on display at a shopping mall in Manila ahead of the celebration of its ‘feast.’ (Photo by Jire Carreon)
Ang tumatanggap ng kanyang kaliitan sa harapan ng Diyos ay mas madaling makaunawa at magmalasakit sa mga “maliliit” sa lipunan
Homiliya para sa Pistang Santo Niño, Mt 18:1-5,10
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David January 15, 2023
Niregalo ni Magellan ang orihinal na Santo Niño de Cebu sa pamilya ni Rajah Humabon noong 1521. Tinambangan siya at pinatay ng mga kawal ni Lapu-lapu sa Mactan. Muling natuklasan ang imahen ng mga sundalo ni Legazpi noong 1565. Pumatay daw siya ng mahigit sa limandaang mamamayan ng Sugbu (Cebu) at nanunog ng mahigit limang libong kabahayan dahil ayaw daw magpasakop sa kanya ng mga katutubo. Gusto ba ito ng Santo Niño?!!
Isang sundalo daw ang nakatuklas ng imahen matapos ang paglusob. Natagpuan daw ang isang baul sa isa sa mga bahay na sinunog. Naroon sa loob ang imahen ng Santo Niño! Nang makita raw ito ni Legazpi naghahagulgol daw siya. Tinuring daw niyang isang palatandaan ito. Palatandaan ng ano?
Iba ang interpretasyon ko sa hagulgol ni Legazpi. Palagay ko ang mensaheng nakuha niya sa maliit na imahen ng Santo Niño ay: “Hoy, Señor Legazpi, hindi porke’t malaki ka ay may karapatan kang apihin ang mga maliliit. Kung gusto mong magtagumpay, huwag kang maging marahas. Makipag-usap ka, magpakumbaba ka, huwag magmamalaki.” (Siyempre, interpretasyon ko lang naman iyon. Iba ang interpretasyon ng kanyang mga chroniclers.)
Kapag piyesta ng Santo Niño, binabasbasan natin ang mga bata. Ibig bang sabihin nito na ang Santo Niño ay para lang sa mga bata? Oo. Pero higit sa lahat, ito’y para sa matatanda rin, lalo na iyong mga nawawalan na ng pagkabata. Ito’y tungkol sa ating lahat, dahil lahat tayo ay “tumatanda.”
Ang katawan ng tao kapag nagkakaedad ay unti-unting nanghihina sa ayaw natin at sa gusto, nagkakasakit, hanggang sa mamatay. Kapag sumabay ang kaluluwa sa pagtanda ng katawan, sasabay din ito sa pagkamatay ng katawan. Puwede bang hindi? Oo naman; ito nga ang isa sa mga misteryong ating pinanghahawakan bilang mga Kristiyano. Tayong naniniwala na nabubuhay tayo sa katawan ng muling nabuhay na Kristo na hindi tumatanda.
Ang landas ng pagiging alagad ni Kristo ay landas ng ispiritwal na pagkabata; ang pagpapanatili sa pagkabata ng kaluluwa habang tumatanda ang katawan. Naniniwala tayo na habang tumatanda ang katawan natin, dapat unti-unting bumabata ang kaluluwa, upang ang ating pisikal na pagkamatay ay maging okasyon ng ating ispiritwal na pagsilang. Ito ang tinutukoy sa atin ng ikalawang pagbasa mula na sulat ni San Pablo sa mga taga-Efeso na isa sa mga “biyayang ispiritwal” na kaloob sa atin ng Ama sa pamamagitan ni Hesukristong Anak niya — na tayo ay mahirang na maging banal at musmos sa kanyang paningin.
Isang malalim na palaisipan at landas ng kabanalan ang Santo Niño. Isang debosyon na pinaunlad ng mga Carmelites at pinalaganap bilang isang ispiritwalidad ni Santa Teresita ng Lisieux, kaya siya tinatawag na “Santa Teresita ng Niño Hesus.” Isa sa mga inspirasyon nito ay ang huling bahagi ng ating narinig na ebanghelyo ngayon Mat 18:3 “Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang totoo, kung hindi kayo magbago at maging tulad ng maliliit na bata, hindi kayo mapapabilang sa kaharian ng Dios.”
Ibig sabihin, ang kaharian ng Diyos ay hindi maaaring manahin ng kaluluwang hinayaang “tumanda;” ito ay para lamang sa mga yumayakap sa landas ng ispiritwal na pagkabata.
Palaisipan ito. Sa Santo Niño, ibig ng Simbahan na ating maaninag ang larawan ng ating kaluluwa. Larawan ng ating mismong sarili, bilang kabahagi ni Kristo. Kapag tayo’y sumunod kay Hesus, susunod din tayo sa kanyang landas, ang tinutukoy ni Santa Teresita na “landas ng kaliitan.” Ang landas na ito ang nagpapabata sa kaluluwa habang tumatanda ang katawan.
Kailan mo alam na tumatanda na ang tao, hindi lang sa katawan kundi pati na rin sa kaluluwa? Kapag natututo na tayong magtanim ng galit, mainggit, at makipagpaligsahan katulad ng maraming nakatatanda.
Kapag istorbo na ang tingin natin sa mga bata. Kailan ba natin tinatawag na “pangmatanda lamang” ang mga ginagawa natin? Kailan natin sinasabing “hindi kasali ang mga bata” sa gagawin natin? Anong mga gawain ang “for adults only?” Lahat ng may kinalaman sa kalaswaan, karahasan, kalupitan, atbp. Kailan tayo biglang nagiging maamo at bumubuti ang asal? Kapag tayo’y nasa piling ng mga bata!
Minsan tinanong ako ng isang matandang biyudo: Father, dalawang beses po akong nag-asawa at dalawang beses din nabiyudo. Pagkamatay ko, sino sa dalawang naging asawa ko ang magiging asawa ko? Hindi kaya sila mag-away at magsabunutan sa langit? Nakakatawa ang ganyang klaseng tanong, pero aminin natin, sumasagi din sa ating isipan ang ganyan. Ano ang magiging itsura natin sa langit?
Ang sabi ko sa matanda, wala naman pong matanda sa langit. Dahil ang langit ay nagpapabata, ang lahat ng papasok dito ay magiging mga mistulang “bata.” Kung magkikita kayo nga mga napangasawa ninyo sa langit, hindi ninyo sila makikita bilang asawa, kundi bilang kapwa bata; magiging mga musmos tayong lahat sa piling ng Diyos.
Ang “Santo Niño” ay “landas ng kaliitan.” Bukod tanging ang mga marunong magpakumbaba sa harap ng Diyos ang tatanggap ng kanyang awa at patawad. Ang marunong magpakumbaba ay mas madaling makaunawa sa mga nasa mababang kalagayan. Ang tumatanggap ng kanyang kaliitan sa harapan ng Diyos ay mas madaling makaunawa at magmalasakit sa mga “maliliit” sa lipunan.
Ang mga nagmamalaki, ang mga masyadong malaki ang pagtingin sa sarili ang natututong yumapak at mang-alipusta sa mga maliliit. Ang marunong magpakumbaba ay hindi pagkatakot at paglayo ang mararamdaman sa piling ng Diyos. Tulad ng bata, lulundag siya na walang takot sa kamay ng tatay nya, dahil alam nyang sasaluhin siya Nito.
Human rights activists welcome a court decision in Manila on Jan. 9, 2023, that dismissed perjury charges filed against leaders of a religious organization and human rights advocates. PHOTO BY MARK SALUDES/LICAS News
By LiCAS News
January 11, 2023 Manila, Philippines
A court in the Philippines cleared a Catholic missionary nun and several human rights activists of perjury charges that were filed by the country’s former national security adviser in 2019.
A Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court in the capital Manila acquitted the activists after the prosecution failed to establish “beyond reasonable doubt” that the accused “made a willful and deliberate assertion of a falsehood.”
Among those found not guilty were Sister Elenita Belardo, national coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP); women rights activists Gertrudes Libang and Joan Salvador; and human rights advocates Cristina Palabay, Elisa Lubi, Roneo Clamor, Edita Burgos, Wilfredo Ruazol, Gabriela Krista Dalena, and Jose Mari Callueng.
The case stems from a complaint filed by former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon who claimed that leaders of the RMP, human rights group Karapatan, and women’s group Gabriela lied in their petition for a “writ of amparo” before the Supreme Court.
Esperon — who was a respondent in the amparo petition — accused the activists of calling RMP a “registered non-stock, non-profit organization” even as the Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly revoked the organization’s certificate of registration in 2003.
The Quezon City prosecutor’s office initially indicted the 80-year-ol Belardo, a member of the Religious of the Good Shepherd congregation. Esperon later appealed and included the other activists in the charge.
In a statement, Karapatan welcomed the dismissal of the case, calling it “a victory of truth and justice, against lies.”
The human rights group maintained that the case was “aimed at disrupting our work … in helping victims (of human rights violations) seek justice, in defending the rights of people.”
“We will continue to explore all options under domestic and international human rights mechanisms to hold the perpetrators of this form of judicial harassment accountable,” read the Karapatan statement.
Women’s group Gabriela expressed hope that “this positive decision augurs well for the calls to stop the attacks against human rights defenders in the country.”
The ecumenical group Promotion of Church People’s Response said the acquittal of the activists was “a much hoped for result.”
“However, the very struggle to overcome this charge pushed by [Esperon] underscores the great dangers in defending human rights in the Philippines.”
The group said the threats, harrassment, and other abuses faced by human rights defenders “are clear and present dangers.”
Ecumenical youth group Student Christian Movement of the Philippines also welcomed the dismissal of the case, saying “Our God is truly a God of justice and reason.”
“Through our faith and struggle, we can win against fabricated cases against human rights defenders and expose those who attempt to use the law for the defence of the selfish powerful,” said Kej Andres, the group’s national spokesperson.
“This victory is a joint effort not only by the legal teams of organizations, but also by the wide support of Filipino masses and Filipino religious who stand by the defense of human rights and defense of our faith to serve the marginalized,” he added.
The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines is a religious organization, which is inter-congregational and inter-diocesan in character, of religious women and men, priests, and lay people that was founded on Aug. 15, 1969.
It is a “mission partner” of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, now known as the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines. The faith-based group is currently under scrutiny of the Philippine government for alleged terrorism financing and for allegedly being an aboveground communist organization.
By CBCP News November 18, 2022 Manila, Philippines
The Parents for Education Foundation, Inc. (PAREF), a network of 16 schools based in the Philippines, is holding the 3rd Jesus-Centered Life (JCL) International Conference this coming December 8.
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, whose “ultimate purpose” according to St. Pope Paul VI is the universal call to holiness, the conference theme is “Holy and heroic: The courage to be Catholic”.
With over 30 years in his ministry, international speaker John Beaulieu from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in the US will speak on how Catholics can be heroically holy in their daily struggles.
An expert in youth evangelization, Beaulieu has worked in the Christian Outreach Office of the Franciscan University, and presently is its Director for Evangelization and Engagement.
In a recent press conference with Beaulieu, Dr. Raul Nidoy, and Danny Moran, the panel talked about how we can grow stronger and more courageous as we move on to the post-pandemic era.
“We are slowly going back to how our lives used to be, but it’s not as simple as we thought,” said PAREF Chair and President Danny Moran.
According to him, many changes and new challenges have occurred whether it be in the business sector or one’s own spiritual life.
Moran said it’s important to ask ourselves, “What are these difficulties, and how do we cope with all of these things? There has to be a lot of adjustments, but the bigger challenge is how we can be holy and heroic in this era.”
He suggested “beginning wherever we are– at home, in our daily lives, facing the situations that we encounter daily, whether it’s academic, athletic, or even professional, there has to be a lot of adjustments.”
Beaulieu stressed that despite the challenges and hardships presented by the post-pandemic era, people have to entrust their fears to the Lord, quoting Joseph Piper who once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
To do this, the conference speaker heavily encouraged the need to pray, read the Bible and frequent the Sacraments “to put us in contact with the living Word of God” as a means of entering Him.
“This is so important: receive the sacraments. They give grace to us and draw us closer to Christ,” Beaulieu said.
To all Laiko Members: National Lay Organizations & Diocesan Councils of the Laity
Dear Brothers & Sisters:
The peace & love of the Lord!
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ this Christmas, we are pleased to invite you to an online Advent Recollection on Saturday, December 3, 2022, 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
We have invited Fr. Jason Laguerta, Director of the Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Manila to facilitate the event with the theme: “Journeying Together as a People during the Advent Season”. Together let us prepare ourselves spiritually as we welcome His coming into our midst.
Kindly encourage all your members, family and friends to join this moment of grace, hope and thanksgiving.
Kindly register to join the Zoom room & be acknowledged. Please email: laiko_phils@yahoo.com.ph, messenger: Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas or Text: 0967- 4025652. The event is also live at the Facebook page of Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas.
