Pahayag Ng Pagkondena Sa Pagpatay Kay Ka Elmer Rama, Lider Magsasaka Mula Sa Sariaya, Quezon

July 10, 2017

Mariing kinokondena ng Focus on the Global South ang walang habas na pagpaslang kay Gaudencio “Ka Elmer” Rama, lider magsasaka mula sa Sariaya, Quezon noong nakaraang Martes, ika-apat ng Hulyo, 2017. Si Ka Elmer ang pangulo ng Samahan ng Malayang Pamumuhay (SAMAPA), isang organisasyon ng maliliit na magsasakang lumalaban para maipaisara ang RNT Poultry Farm sa Sariaya dahil sa panganib na idinudulot ng operasyon nito sa kalusugan ng mga residente at pinsala nito sa kapaligiran. Noon pa man ay nakatatanggap na ng banta sa buhay si Ka Elmer at iba pang mga lider ng SAMAPA mula sa mga di-kilalang tao, para i-atras ang mga reklamo nila laban sa RNT.

Si Ka Elmer ay binaril ng mga di kilalang lalaki habang nakasakay sa kaniyang motorsiklo sa pagitan ng 8:30-9:00am sa Sariaya. Tig-isang tama ng bala sa ulo at sa dibdib ang kaniyang ikinamatay.

Si Ka Elmer ang pinakabagong biktima ng mga pagpatay sa kanayunan. Isa itong malinaw na paghahasik ng takot upang patahimikin ang mga magsasakang patuloy na nakikipaglaban para sa kanilang karapatang linangin ang kanilang mga sakahan, para sa repormang agraryo at upang makapamuhay ng matiwasay. Sumasalamin din ito sa kakulangan ng kapasidad ng pamahalaan na proteksiyunan ang mga maliliit na magsasaka laban sa iba’t ibang uri ng karahasan, sa patuloy na paglabag sa kanilang karapatang pantao at sa kawalan ng hustisya para sa mga mahihirap.

Kaisa kami ng mga organisasyon at grupong nanawagan ng katarungan para kay Ka Elmer at sa kanyang mga naulila. Nanawagan kami sa pamahalaan- lokal at nasyunal, sa kapulisan, sa Commission on Human Rights at sa mga kinauukalan upang agarang imbestigahan ang pagpaslang kay Ka Elmer at panagutin ang mga may sala at nasa likod ng karumal-dumal na krimen na ito.

Panahon na para itigil ang karahasan at walang habas na pagpaslang sa mga magsasaka at mahihirap!

Lubos din kaming nakikiramay sa kaniyang mga naiwang mahal sa buhay.#

The Philippines Is Not Really a Catholic Nation

Posted by The Society of Honor on July 7, 2017 · 240 Comments

By Joe America

Does it praise Jesus when notables pray for a Duterte/Marcos win? (Photo source: zeibiz.com)

Occasionally, I write an article that is intended mainly to provoke discussion. Why? Usually because I am confused and the discussion that follows the article helps me sort out my ideas.

This is one of those articles.

About 86% of the Philippine population belongs to the Catholic Church (Center for Global Education). The Catholic Church promotes the teachings of Jesus and the compassion of Mary. It is a ritualistic Church that has a well-structured worship, kneeling, chanting and singing, communion, holy rituals, holidays celebrating the birth or death of Jesus (his rising, actually), and others. Churches can be a simple hollowblock room or a cathedral, but all are elegant for the statues, candles, linens, and quiet holiness found within. Priests are for the most part pious. Women play a subordinate roll. Some of the Church doctrines go against modern social conventions: the Catholic Church objects to family planning, gay marriage, and equality for women.

It is a church of discipline, and yet a forgiving church. This is awkward because the forgiving makes a lot of the discipline meaningless. We’ve published articles here in the past about the dangers of forgiveness and the restraints imposed by doctrine: (“Does Catholicism make us more tolerant of corruption?“, by Andrew Lim). But I’ll go even further than that for what has developed this past year.

I have come to the conclusion that the Philippines is not really a Catholic nation after all. I’ve learned from a whole lot of Bible study in my lifetime that neither Jesus nor Mary would allow followers to engage in the wanton killing of one human being, much less 10,000.

But death is out of control in the Philippines in 2017. And the Catholic Church, it’s congregation, and its priests, are largely quiet about it. I’m not sure any tears have been shed, except among the families and priests of the dead, up close.

I can’t help but think that a REAL Catholic nation would be weeping for each child left fatherless, each woman widowed, each innocent sent to heaven or hell without last rites, and each drug addict not granted the possibility of forgiveness and resurrection, or a chance to find a constructive place in Philippine society.

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Decisions And Resolutions Made During The 115th CBCP Plenary Assembly

July 8-10, 2017

  1. The election of the new officers of the CBCP had the following results:

NEWLY ELECTED CBCP OFFICERS

01 December 2017 – 30 November 2019

President                                  :          Abp. Romulo G. Valles

Vice President                          :          Bp. Pablo Virgilio S. David

Treasurer                                 :          Abp. John F. Du

Secretary General                     :          Rev. Fr. Marvin S. Mejia

Regional Representatives

Luzon:

North               :           Abp. Marlo M. Peralta

Central             :           Bp. Ruperto C. Santos

South               :           Bp. Jose R. Rojas

Southeast         :           Bp. Victor C. Ocampo

Southwest         :           Bp. Reynaldo G. Evangelista

Visayas:

East                 :           Bp. Isabelo C. Abarquez

West                :           Abp. Jose F. Advincula

Mindanao:

North               :           Abp. Martin S. Jumoad

South               :           Abp. Romulo T. dela Cruz

Chairmen of the Episcopal Commissions, Committees and Offices:

Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities  Bp. Jose A. Cabantan

Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate  Bp. Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS

Episcopal Office on Bioethics  Bp. Ricardo L. Baccay

Episcopal Commission on Canon Law  Bp. Jacinto A. Jose

Episcopal Com. on Catechesis and Catholic Education  Bp. Roberto C. Mallari

Episcopal Commission on Clergy  Bp. Buenaventura M. Famadico

Episcopal Commission on Cultural Heritage of the Church Bp. Julito B. Cortes

Episcopal Commission on Culture  Bp. Elenito D. Galido

Episcopal Commission on Doctrine of the Faith  Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo, OMI

Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs   Bp. Angelito R. Lampon, OMI

Episcopal Commission on Family and Life  Bp. Gilbert A. Garcera

Episcopal Commission on Health Care  Bp. Patricio A. Buzon, SDB

Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples  Bp. Prudencio P. Andaya, CICM

Permanent Committee on Intern’l. Eucharistic Congresses Abp. Jose S. Palma

Episcopal Com. on Inter-religious Dialogue  Bp. Emmanuel T. Cabajar, CSsR

Episcopal Commission on the Laity  Bp. Broderick S. Pabillo

Episcopal Commission on Liturgy  Bp. Victor B. Bendico

Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People   Bp. Ruperto C. Santos

Episcopal Commission on Mission   Bp. Arturo M. Bastes, SVD

Episcopal Commission on Mutual Relations  Abp. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ

Episcopal Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino  Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle

Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care  Bp. Joel Z. Baylon

Permanent Committee on Public Affairs   Bp. Reynaldo G. Evangelista

Episcopal Commission on Seminaries  Bp. Gerardo A. Alminaza

Episcopal Com. on Social Action, Justice and Peace  Abp. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD

Episcopal Commission on Social Communications  Bp. Mylo Hubert C. Vergara

Episcopal Commission on Vocations   Bp. David William V. Antonio

Episcopal Office on Women  Abp. Jose F. Advincula, Jr.

Episcopal Commission on Youth  Bp. Leopoldo C. Jaucian, SVD

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