A3 • A7 B1 B8

CBCP launches Individual registration Disturbing trends in CINEMA

online news for Youth Day opens latest statistics Reviews
service

Bossi returns to his www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Cruz: “good intentions

flock, expressed no
bitterness for abductors
TEARS of joy are expected on Wednesday as
Italian missionary Giancarlo Bossi returns to
his flock at St. Paul the Apostle parish after 40
days in the boondocks of Lanao del Norte. His
parishioners said they are in the thick of prepa-
ration for a meaningful celebration.
Bossi said he longs to return to his parish, “to
be with my people whom I love.” He has been
parish priest to Payao residents for the past six
Bossi / A6
are not enough”
LINGAYEN-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar V.
Cruz said there will always be good intentions
from people in government and no one would
oppose efforts to promote common good.
Interviewed over Catholic-run Veritas 846,
Archbishop Cruz said no one would oppose
moves for a more peaceful and terrorist-free
society.
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace He however said “the government appears
to be less worthy of public trust for good in-
July 23 - August 5, 2007 Vol. 11 No. 15 Php 20.00 tentions will never be enough.”
Cruz / A6

By Roy Lagarde
A CATHOLIC bishop rejected a
plan to allow oil exploration in a
marine protected area off Bohol.
The opposition could face a
major setback for the govern-
Church rejects
survey and its short and long
term impact to human and ma-
rine life, the local communities
and their officials as well as other
groups who have a stake in the
area were not duly consulted be-
fore the survey had been under-

oil drilling plan

ment, which had insisted that oil
exploration would help safe-
guard supply of energy.
Australia-based NorAsian En-
ergy Ltd. (NAEL) is reportedly
keen to start oil exploration in
the area next year, in order to re-
duce the country’s dependence on
fuel imports.
The Church and various envi-
ronmental groups, however, ar-
gued that the Bohol blue sea
should be left untouched.
But despite the resistance of
Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo
Medroso and the clergy of his
diocese, a seismic survey was
done in the seas of Bohol that
paved the way for allowing drill-
ing to commence next year.
Medroso criticized the survey
conducted by the government
and the firm in the seawaters of
Panglao, Dauis, and Maribojoc
for failing to consult the local
residents about it.
“We are appalled to learn that,
given the nature of the seismic
taken,” he said in a statement.
He said the survey, in search
of natural gas and oil, was con-
ducted with the go signal of both
the Department of Energy (DOE)
and the Department of Environ-
ment and Natural Resources
(DENR).
The bishop then urged the
faithful to reject the oil drilling
project unless the government
revealed to the public the details
of the service contract and other
agreements.
He also called on the public of-
ficials concerned to apply “cou-
rageously” the environmental
laws to the oil exploration.
And there’s more to that, said
Medroso. The survey was initi-
ated on an exploration site that
had been officially declared as a
“Marine Protected Area” (MPA)
by the national and local govern-
ments.
“Needless to say, the explora-
tion site boasts of numerous ma-
Church / A6

PGMA’S SONA draws mixed

reactions from Bishops
AMID the glamour and glitter
that accompanied President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s de-
livery of her State of the Nation
Address at the joint session of
Congress, Monday afternoon,
Catholic bishops and officials
intently listened and observed
the proceedings and took note
of the significance of her state-
ments.
President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo’s 7th State of the Nation
Address from 2001 drew mixed
reactions from Catholic bish-
ops and lay leaders. Randomly
interviewed late Monday after-
noon and midday Tuesday,
most of the respondents said
they were not surprised at all
with the accomplishment re-
port of sorts.
Bacolod Bishop Vicente
Navarra said he partly watched
the proceedings on television.
Asked how he would describe
this year’s SONA, he said “it was
promising, sort of making
people feel good and every-
thing is okay in the country.”
The prelate added “I think that
remains to be seen and what I
want is some teeth into what
the president said.”
He said the government
should be ready for some moni-
toring (of activities) from con- “Filipino children: Reflecting love, Representing joy, Renewing the Church." Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales with other bishops are swamped by children during the 2nd National
cerned citizens Congress of the Holy Childhood at the Manila Cathedral, July 12, 2007; the event is part of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Pontifical Mission Societies Philippines.
Lingayen-Dagupan Arch-
bishop Oscar V. Cruz, a former
CBCP President said this year’s
SONA “is as usual, an extremely
hopeful and super positive in
spirit.” He added “it would be
not only physically but also
CBCP initiates Second National Rural Congress
CATHOLIC Bishops’ Conference of the Phil- of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) and (NASSA) and the CBCP Offices for BECs and
morally impossible for her ad- ippines (CBCP) President and Jaro (Iloilo) church-based rural development programs. Indigenous Peoples.
ministration to achieve those Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo said the The congress will also review the impact The CBCP president appealed to diocesan
predictions.” He further said he CBCP will convene the Second National Ru- of key social legislation and engage gov- social action centers, schools and research
is wary of her salvo statements ral Congress early next year to commemo- ernment agencies in the implementation of centers, farmers’ organizations, NGOs and
that the Philippines would be rate the 40th anniversary of the first national widely-publicized social reform programs government agencies to actively participate
some kind of a first world coun- rural congress and review the continuing is- under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform in the activities relative to the National Ru-
PGMA / A6
sues confronting the country’s poor in the Law and the Indigenous People’s Rights Act, ral Congress.
rural areas. among others. He said the Second National Rural Con-
In a statement released to the CBCPNews, He added the congress hopes to come up gress’ success lies on the participation of ev-

Vatican official challenges RP Archbishop Lagdameo said the Congress will

provide the venue for the affected sectors,
with a fuller description of the rural pov-
erty situation and do a deeper analysis of
ery diocese and its BECs.
Sub-regional consultations on rural poor

youth to work for peace

farmers, fisherfolks, rural women and youth
to “speak by themselves, the discerning, the
proposing of their own ideas, the planning
of how we must as a people come together to
work for the common good of our country.”
Adopting the widely accepted See-Judge-
Act methodology, Lagdameo said the par-
ticipants will describe the current situation
of various sectors of the rural poor, the role
© JP Acuña / CBCP Media
the situation in the light of the Social Teach-
ings of the Church and formulate concrete
proposals for action addressed to the rural
sectors, local churches, government agen-
cies, NGOs and other concerned agencies.
Diocesan consultations on the BEC level
have begun early this month and will go on
until November with the assistance of the
National Secretariat for Social Action
sectors and rural issues will be conducted
by the Philippine-Misereor Partnership, the
Association of Major Religious Superiors of
the Philippines and the Rural Poor Solidar-
ity coalition of non-government and
people’s organizations.
Archbishop Lagdameo said Cagayan de
Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J. is
CBCP initiates / A6

Fr. Madhu’s case made CBCP: “Hope it will

IN a country marred by vio-
lence and prejudice, the Filipino
youth must take a proactive
stance in pursuing the path to
peace and justice, a Vatican of-
ficial said.
Pontifical Mission Societies
(PMS) Secretary-General Fr.
Patrick Byrne made the candid
call for more young people to
get deeply involved in the
Church and its search for peace.
“There is so much war and
so much crime in our society
that we need to change,” Byrne
told his young audience ac-
tively participating in the 2nd
National Congress of the Holy
Childhood held in Intramuros,
Manila.
He invited the youth to
bravely follow the light of
Christ in their lives and in their
search for peace in ways “op-
posed to violence and discrimi-
nation”.
“And always return to Jesus
Christ so that you have the
spiritual help in this quest for “little progress,” says SVD not happen again”
freedom,” said Byrne, who at-
tended the event representing AFTER more than 100 days of the he was murdered. THE Catholic Church has
Pope Benedict XVI. killing of Indonesian missionary, There have been a lot of talks, lauded the release of Fr
The gathering is also the cul- Fr Fransiskus Madhu, in the a lot of promises, a lot of press Giancarlo Bossi, but said what
minating activity of the 75th an- northern Philippines; the case has releases regarding the solution he had been through should not
niversary of the foundation of made “a little progress,” said his of his murder, but up to now, they happen again.
the PMS in the Philippines with superiors. are just talks.” Pope Benedict XVI ex-
the theme “Filipino children: Fr Jerome Adriatico, SVD, pro- “We are still praying, hoping pressed “great joy”
Reflecting love, Representing vincial superior of SVD northern and working for justice. Or shall now that life of the
joy, Renewing the Church”. Province, to which Fr. Madhu, 30, we, as many do in our country, Italian priest Fr.
PMS-Philippine national di- belonged, said in a statement that ‘just make this’ while the leaders Giancarlo Bossi is
rector and newly installed Daet the investigation case of slain of our government continue talk- back to normal, a
(Camarines Norte) Bishop Gil- priest has not made much head- ing and talking?” he added. Vatican official
bert Garcera said the occasion way after three months. According to police, a farmer said. Bossi.
is aimed at giving more impor- Madhu, SVD, a native of Ende from the northern province of Fr Federico Lombardi, direc- “My thoughts turn each day
tance to the value of mission in on Indonesia’s predominantly Kalinga, Nestor Wailan, alias tor of the Holy See Press Office, to Father Bossi,” the Pope said
the country especially for the Catholic Flores Island, was Sukman, and other three men said the liberation of the 57-year prior to Bossi’s release as he af-
youth. gunned down on April 1 while shot him five times with an M-16 old missionary from the Pon- firmed that he had been updated
“Let us give the youth a preparing for Palm Sunday Mass Armalite rifle. tifical Institute for Foreign Mis- with the progress of the inves-
chance to be missionaries too at Mabongtot Elementary School They have been held as sus- sions (PIME) “brings great joy tigation into the case.
so that they could reach out to in Lubuagan, Kalinga province. pects. The case is still under in- to the entire Church and also for In a separate statement, the
other people,” he said. Another SVD priest Fr. Agerico vestigation and the motive of the the Holy Father”. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
“It’s good to see children help- Orbos, mission secretary of SVD killing has not yet been estab- Upon arriving at the Italian the Philippines (CBCP) also ex-
ing other children.” Around central province said, “I just came lished. alpine region of Lorenzago di pressed appreciation to those
900 young Catholic faithful at- from Tabuk, Kalinga, the place On account of this, SVD priests Cadore early this month for a who facilitated his release.
tended this year’s occasion that where Madhu walked the earth have been expressing serious short vacation, the Pope said “We welcome with joy and
ended on July 14. (Roy Lagarde) for the Lord prior to his death. It concern about the case of Madhu. he’s praying daily for the im- gratitude the release of the mis-
has been three months now since Fr. Madhu’s / A6 mediate and safe release of CBCP / A6

A2
Pope joyful at release of kidnapped priest
Los Angeles Cardinal Mahony apologizes Holy See hopes China
to sex abuse victims as Archdiocese
reaches a settlement
LOS ANGELES, USA, July 16,
2007—Cardinal Roger Mahony
of Los Angeles apologized Sun-
day to the hundreds of the plain-
tiffs involved in the recent settle-
ment over allegations of sex
abuse.
“There really is no way to go
back and give them that inno-
cence that was taken from them.
The one thing I wish I could give
the victims ... I cannot,” he said.
“Once again, I apologize to
anyone who has been offended,
who has been abused. It should
not have happened, and it will
not happen again.”
More than 500 alleged victims
of clergy sexual abuse will get a
share of a $660-million settlement
reached late Saturday, reported
The Associated Press. This is by
far the largest payout since the
nationwide clergy abuse scandal
emerged in 2002 in Boston.
The amount would average a
little more than $1.3 million per
plaintiff, although individual
payouts will vary according to the
severity and duration of the
abuse.
Nuncio says Catholic Church’s cases of clerical sex
abuse rank among the lowest
MADRID, Spain, July 19, 2007—
The Apostolic Nuncio in Spain,
Archbishop Manuel Monteiro,
said this week data from interna-
tional organizations shows that
priests are responsible for the
smallest percentage of sexual
abuse.
Claretians promoting program of collaboration, development
MANILA, July 21, 2007—The
Claretian missionaries in the
Philippines in cooperation with
the government and other agen-
cies have launched a new pro-
gram for peace and development
in Mindanao.
Its basic thrusts are health ser-
vices, livelihood enterprise assis-
tance, good governance and ca-
pacity-building at the commu-
nity level, peace advocacy, envi-
ronment enhancement and sus-
tainable agriculture, said
Claretian Fr Angel Calvo, chair-
man of the Peace Advocates
Polish leaders urge restraint on Italian bishops concerned by
radio priest terms of religious-freedom law
KRAKOW, Poland, July 20,
2007—Several hundred promi-
nent Polish figures have joined
in public call for disciplinary ac-
tion against the priest who heads
the controversial Radio Maryja.
Former Prime Minister
Tadeusz Mazowiecki and former
foreign minister Wladyslaw
Bartoszewski led a group of over
700 people who signed an open
letter released through the Cen-
ter for Culture and Dialogue in
Krakow, complaining that pub-
lic statements by Father Tadeusz
Rydzyk have “revealed his con-
tempt” for Jews and his intoler-
© JP Acuña / CBCP Media
seeks approval of bishop
The deal settles all 508 cases
that remained against the arch-
diocese, which also paid $60 mil-
lion in December to settle 45 cases
that weren’t covered by the in-
surance companies.
Under the latest deal, the arch-
diocese will pay $250 million,
insurance carriers will pay a
combined $227 million and sev-
eral religious orders will pay $60
million. The remaining $123 mil-
lion will come from litigation
with religious orders that chose
not to participate in the deal, re-
ported the AP.
The settlement will not affect
the archdiocese’s core ministry,
Cardinal Mahony said, but the
church will have to sell buildings,
use some of its invested funds and
borrow money. The archdiocese
will not sell any parish property,
he said.
Cardinal Mahony met with
dozens of people alleging sex
abuse in the past 14 months,
which he said helped him under-
stand the importance of a quick
settlement.
The settlement also calls for
In a reference to the accusations
of clerical abuse, in both real and
fabricated cases, the archbishop
said, “Why should the Church pay
and other entities not?” He de-
cried that news of clerical abuse
appears “every day on the front
pages of certain media,” which
Zamboanga project.
The program includes micro-
lending to community livelihood
groups, particularly the urban
and rural poor, water systems,
mangrove replanting, supply of
health services, organizational
development trainings initia-
tives, non-formal education and
others.
The coalition of groups behind
the program is called the
Zambanga City-Basilan Inte-
grated Development Alliance
(ZABIDA) and its goal is to pro-
mote co-operation as part of a
ance toward political opponents.
Describing the priest’s public
statements as “contemptible,”
and saying that his influence has
become steadily more divisive,
the signatories asked Church
leaders to take action to curtail
the public influence of the
Redemptorist priest.
Earlier this week Father Joseph
Tobin, the superior general of the
Redemptorist order, said that he
has investigated reports about Fa-
ther Rydzyk’s public statements,
and said that a statement about the
controversial priest will be re-
leased shortly. (CWNews)
World News
Father Bossi returns after 39-day captivity
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, July
20, 2007—Benedict XVI ex-
pressed great joy over the release
of a kidnapped missionary
priest, Italian Father Giancarlo
Bossi, who was missing for 39
days in the Philippines.
The Pope commented on vari-
ous occasions that he was fol-
lowing the case of the Pontifical
Institute for Foreign Missions
priest, who was kidnapped from
his parish on June 10.
The Holy Father was imme-
diately informed Thursday of
Father Bossi’s release Thursday.
“The Pope,” said Vatican
spokesman Father Federico
Lombardi, “prayed each and ev-
Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles
the release of priests’ confiden-
tial personnel files after review
by a judge.
Cardinal Mahony and all par-
ties are expected before a Los
Angeles Superior Court judge
today to enter the settlement into
the court record. A judge must
sign off on the agreement.
“I think for those of us who
have been involved in this for
more than five years, it’s a huge
he called a form of “discrimina-
tion” against the Church “with
evil intentions.”
“Read the newspapers, and
you will find the same cases ev-
ery day, sometimes a whole page
long, and that is where you can
see the evil intentions,” he con-
“growing network of multi-
sectoral and multilateral move-
ments in Mindanao aimed at
fighting poverty and strengthen-
ing peace and security,” Fr. Calvo
said.
Manos Unidas, an interna-
tional Spanish foundation based
in Madrid (Spain) is among the par-
ticipating organizations; it also en-
joys the support of the Spanish
government.
Mindanao, which includes the
provinces of Zamboanga and
Basilan, is a southern island re-
gion that has a Muslim majority.
ROME, July 18, 2007—The Ital-
ian bishops’ conference (CEI) is
opposing a legislative measure
that purports to broaden reli-
gious freedom in the country.
Bishop Giuseppe Betori, the
general secretary of the CEI, ex-
plained that the bishops object
to the bill—which is currently
pending before a parliamen-
tary commission on constitu-
tional matters—because it
would put the Catholic Church
on the same level as religious
sects.
The proposal would recog-
nize marriages performed by
ery day for the release of Fa- Bossi was freed Thursday
ther Giancarlo Bossi. The news evening in the city of
of his release brings great joy Karumatan, Asia News re-
to the entire Church and also to ported.
the Holy Father.” Although it is not yet clear who
“It seems,” continued Father is responsible for the kidnapping,
Lombardi, “that our prayers have the police chief described nego-
been answered. We now hope that tiations for the release of Father
Father Bossi may tranquilly re- Bossi as “frenetic.”
turn to his missionary duties and “Father Bossi was released
that there be no further abduc- without any payment of any
tions or other episodes of vio- ransom. What the Church in
lence in the region.” the Philippines did was pray
for a positive outcome,” said
The release Monsignor Pedro Quitorio,
spokesman for the Filipino
According to Jaime bishops’ conference.
Caringal, who says he medi- Speaking about his captivity,
ated with the abductors, Father Father Bossi said: “During the
PIEVE DI CADORE, Italy, July 19,
2007—The Holy See is favorable
toward the bishop chosen to lead
the Diocese of Beijing, and is “op-
timistic” that the official Church
will seek Vatican approval, said
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
During a press conference
Wednesday in Pieve di Cadore,
close to where Benedict XVI is
vacationing, the Vatican secre-
tary of state commented on the
election of 43-year-old Bishop
© Gene Blevins/LA Daily News/Corbis
Joseph Li Shan by the commu-
nity—priests, religious and la-
ity—of the Beijing Diocese.
The elected Bishop Li stands to
succeed Archbishop Michele Fu
Tieshan who died in April and
received a state funeral from the
Communist Party. The election
is the first to take place in the
country since Benedict XVI sent a
letter to the faithful of China last
relief,” said Michael Hennigan, month.
archdiocese attorney, told the AP. The “Council of Bishops” is
“But it’s a disappointment too expected to accept his nomina-
that we didn’t get it done much tion. In the past, the Pope has ap-
earlier than this.” proved certain bishops elected
According to the AP, these this way.
settlements push the total
amount paid out by the U.S.
church since 1950 to more than
$2 billion, with about a quar-
ter of that from Los Angeles.
Pope John Paul opposed easy
(CNA)
annulments, tribunal judge says
VATICAN, July 19, 2007—The late
Pope John Paul II was staunchly
opposed to easing the standards
for obtaining marriage annul-
ments, the dean of the Roman Rota
has said.
In an interview with the KAI
tinued, “and that is called dis- news agency, Bishop Antoni
crimination, no matter how sin- Stankiewicz said that Pope John
cere they are trying be.” Paul always stressed the indissolu-
The Nuncio made his com- bility of marriage in his messages
ments in the city of Aranjuez, to the Vatican tribunal, and in-
where he was participating in a sisted that Church jurists should
conference at the King Juan
Carlos University. (CNA)
Suspended bishop maintains lead
in Paraguay’s presidential race
It has been marked by a long
standing conflict between the Fili-
pino army and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF).
In 1996 a Bishops-Ulama Fo-
rum was set up. It includes Catho-
lic, other Christian and Muslim
religious leaders in Mindanao
who advocate inter-religious
dialogue.
The Claretian missionaries’
initiative is a further sign of their
commitment to achieve shared
welfare and concrete support for
the local population. (Santosh
Digal / AsiaNews)
ASUNCION, Paraguay, July 17,
2007—A suspended Catholic
bishop has a comfortable lead in
Paraguay’s presidential race, ac-
cording to the latest poll figures.
Fernando Lugo Mendez is
drawing support from 40% of the
any sect as equivalent to Catho- voters surveyed, according to a
lic marriages; to date these report in the International Herald
unions where have been treated Tribune. His closest rival lags 10%
in Italian law as civil marriages. behind that level of support.
The bishops’ conference notes Running as a populist candi-
that the government’s treat- date, Lugo has been the consis-
ment of Catholic marriages is tent front-runner in the campaign
regulated by the concordat be- leading up to presidential elec-
tween Italy and the Holy See. tions in May 2008.
The Italian bishops are con- Despite his popularity, how-
cerned that approval of the new ever, the 58-year-old cleric still
legislation could give rise to faces an important obstacle: a pro-
social problems—for example, vision of Paraguay’s constitution
in cases involving religions that bars priests from serving in
such as Islam, which allow a the presidency.
man to marry more than one At the start of his campaign,
wife. (CWNews) Lugo said that he wished to re-
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007
39 days, I was constantly
moved from place to place. I
prayed for my captors every
evening.”
“I used to smoke a lot prior
to the abduction,” confessed the
57-year-old missionary. “Then
one day when I was climbing a
mountain together with the ab-
ductors I felt very weak, so I
said to myself, if I want to sur-
vive I should not smoke any-
more, and so I didn’t!”
Archbishop Romulo Valles of
Zamboanga said the abduction
of Father Bossi had been a mat-
ter of great concern, adding
that his release had “overjoyed
the whole Church.” (Zenit)
The Patriotic Association has
chosen “a very good, well-
suited” person, Cardinal Bertone
said. This is “a positive sign,” and
now “we hope that they seek the
Holy See’s approval. We are wait-
ing.”
He added that “the election took
place according to canons of the
official Church. Normally, they
enter into contact with the Holy
See and ask approval. We are wait-
ing and we are optimistic.”
Regarding the letter recently
sent to Chinese Catholics by
Benedict XVI, Cardinal Bertone
said: “There are no official reac-
tions at this time; we believe the
government is prudently reflect-
ing on it and this is a positive
development.”
The letter, he added, “initiated
dialogue between the official
Church and the underground one.
In the last few days, I have re-
ceived a message from an offi-
cial bishop who wrote me that
the letter is very nice and now
‘we are studying it in-depth.’”
(Zenit)
make that principle the most im-
portant criterion for their judg-
ments.
Bishop Stankiewicz told KAI
that he fully agreed with the de-
ceased Pontiff in supporting the
permanence of marriage.
The Polish bishop said that it is
dangerous to adopting lax stan-
dards in issuing decrees of nul-
lity, since easy annulments sug-
gest bad will and a lack of com-
mitment to marriage. (CWNews)
© www.selvas.org
sign from the priesthood. But
Church officials pointed out that
the priesthood cannot be re-
signed. Incumbent President
Nicanor Duarte has announced
plans to invoke the constitutional
provision to block Lugo from the
presidential ballot.
In February the Vatican an-
nounced that Lugo had been sus-
pended a divinis because he re-
fused to curtail his partisan po-
litical campaign. Sources in the
Paraguayan bishops’ conference
have suggested that the conflict
could eventually lead to Lugo’s
excommunication.
Bishop Lugo was appointed in
1994 to head the San Pedro dio-
cese. He resigned in January 2005,
claiming uncertain health—a
claim that has been undermined
by his subsequent political activ-
ity. (CWNews)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007
CBCP launches online news service
THE Media Office of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP)
launched its online news ser-
vice at the press room of CBCP
Media Office July 5.
With a specific mission of help-
ing “spread the Gospel through
contemporary technologies of
communication by re-telling in
news reports and features how it
is witnessed in the daily events
and lives of people”, CBCPNews
is the first local online Catholic
news service in the country.
Present during the launching
which was attended by members
of the CBCP press corps, were
CBCP President, Archbishop An-
gel Lagdameo, DD; CBCP Me-
dia Director, Msgr. Pedro
Quitorio; and staff of CBCP Me-
dia Office.
Korean bishop issues caution
on alleged Marian revelation
A group of Filipino pilgrims pose before the Naju Shrine where the statue of the
Blessed Mother is said to be weeping.
Pope Benedict uses older ritual
for his private Mass
VATICAN, July 16, 2007—Pope
Benedict XVI, who recently is-
sued a motu proprio allowing all
Catholic priests to celebrate the
old Latin Mass, uses the older
ritual himself for his private
Mass, CWN has learned.
Informed sources at the
Vatican have confirmed reports
that the Holy Father regularly
celebrates Mass using the 1962
Roman Missal.
In his motu proprio Summorum
Pontificum the Pope says that the
older form—the form in univer-
First deaf-mute priest ordained in Asia
SEOUL, South Korea, July 20,
2007—On July 6 Cardinal
Cheong Jin-Suk of Seoul, South
Korea, ordained the first deaf-
mute priest in Asia, Father
Benedict Park Min-Seo, after 22
years of vocational discernment
and study.
Father Park, who was born in
1965, lost his hearing at the age
of two after he was prescribed the
wrong medicine. He felt the call-
ing to the priesthood at a very
young age but because of his
South Korea Gives Vatican
Digital Technology
ROME, July 20, 2007—South Ko-
rea gave the Vatican a digital
multimedia broadcasting system
to transmit programs offered by
Vatican Radio and the Vatican
Television Center.
The vice minister of informa-
tion and communications of
South Korea, Younghwan Yoo,
was received in audience Thurs-
day by Vatican Secretary of State
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, in or-
der to present the apparatus that
will enable the Holy See to broad-
cast with new digital technology
called T-DMB (terrestrial digital
multimedia broadcasting).
Also present for the event was
Pier Carlo Cuscianna, director of
telecommunications for the
governatorate of Vatican City,
and Jesuit Father Federico
Lombardi, director of Vatican
Radio and the Vatican Television
News Features
Explaining the objectives of
CBCPNews before the press,
Lagdameo said that the online
news service provides a “more
organized thrust in evangeliza-
tion, conscientization and forma-
tion of public opinion according
to the Gospel values that can be
attained.” (PCP-II, 102-105).
With evangelization as its pri-
mary objective, CBCPNews is an
excellent means of spreading the
Gospel in the fastest way pos-
sible.
Quitorio said reports posted in
the news service can be down-
loaded free of charge.
“It will be circulated to the glo-
bal community free-of-charge
through its online facility
(www.cbcpnews.com), email
subscriptions, RSS (Really Simple
Syndication) or through the
sal use before the liturgical
changes that followed Vatican
II—was never abrogated.
Since becoming Roman Pon-
tiff, Benedict XVI has always
used the new ritual—which he
identifies in Summorum
Pontificum as the “ordinary
form” of the Roman rite—for
public celebrations of the Eucha-
ristic liturgy. However few
people have witnessed the Pope
celebrating his private daily
Mass.
Unlike his predecessor John
handicap he decided to become a
painter.
At the school for the deaf he
met Father Michael Cheong-
Soon-o, to whom he revealed his
desire to become a priest, but
because of the lack of courses for
the deaf in Korean seminaries he
was sent to the United States.
In 1994 he entered the Univer-
sity of Gallaudet to study philoso-
phy and mathematics, and there
he met Father Thomas Coughlin,
the first deaf priest in the US, who
Center.
The technology,
pioneered by
South Korea, is a
digital radio trans-
mission system for
sending multime-
dia broadcasts to
mobile devices,
such as cellular
phones, that are
equipped with
digital multimedia
broadcasting
(DMB) receivers.
DMB is used
mainly in South
Korea, but is being
tested in several countries, such
as Italy. The technology is cur-
rently unavailable in North
America.
The Vatican will soon broad-
cast both television and radio
CBCP Monitor,” said Quitorio.
CBCPNews sources its news pri-
marily from the statements com-
ing from the CBCP President and
the Permanent Council. Other
sources include the various Epis-
copal Commissions and the bish-
ops in their respective dioceses.
The online news service was
conceptualized as “an indepen-
dent news organization to be
staffed by Catholic journalists
dedicated to providing accurate
news written from a distinctively
Catholic perspective.”
Though the project was ap-
proved by CBCP Permanent
Council as early as 1997, various
constraints such as personnel and
logistics, kept the news service
to become fully operationalized
until this year. (Pinky Barrientos,
FSP)
SEOUL, Korea, July 19, 2007—A
bishop in South Korea has re-
newed his caution to the faithful
about a group led by a woman
who has claimed special mes-
sages from the Virgin Mary.
Bishop Boniface Choi Ki-san of
Inchon has instructed Catholics
of his diocese not to participate
in activities at the Naju shrine,
founded by the alleged seer Julia
Kim Young Hong-sun. He issued
his order after several hundred
people gathered at the shrine for
liturgical services led a Korean-
born priest now living in the US.
Julia Kim Young Hong-sun
Paul II, who regularly invited
visitors to attend the Mass that
he celebrated each morning in
his private chapel, Benedict XVI
has made it his regular practice
to celebrate Mass with only a
few aides. The Pope’s closest as-
sociates have established a repu-
tation for preserving confi-
dences.
Pope Benedict has long been
known as an ardent defender of
the Catholic liturgical tradition.
In the early 1990s he raised eye-
brows in Rome by writing a lau-
became his spiritual director.
After graduating, he studied the-
ology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in
New York and then attended the
University of St. John, where he
received a degree in 2004. He
returned to Seoul where he con-
tinued his studies at the seminary
and was ordained a deacon in
July of 2006.
“First of all I want to thank
God for accepting me as a priest,”
Father Park said after his first
Mass. “As the first Catholic priest
programs digitally, and Romans
with DMB receivers will be able
to receive them.
The South Korean official also
gave the Vatican about 100 small
DMB receivers. (Zenit)
began making claims about a
weeping statue of the Virgin in
1985. She later added the claim
that she receives private revela-
tions, and has reported Eucharis-
tic miracles at the shrine she es-
tablished in Naju.
A Church investigation into
the claims ended in 1998 when
Archbishop Victorinus Youn
Kong-hi of nearby Kwangju an-
nounced that there was no evi-
dence of supernatural phenom-
ena at the Naju shrine. Church
officials rejected the reports of
miracles in a second statement
issued in 2005. (CWNews)
datory preface to the book The
Reform of the Roman Liturgy, in
which Msgr. Klaus Gamber de-
cried many of the liturgical
changes of the past few decades.
Then Cardinal Ratzinger also
traveled to Wigratzbad, in Ba-
varia, to ordain priests for the
Fraternity of St. Peter, a group
devoted to the use of the tradi-
tional liturgy. He performed
those ordinations, as well as
Mass on Easter Sunday in 1990,
using the 1962 Roman Missal.
(CWNews)
with a handicap, I was given a lot
of media attention even before
my ordination, but I am not a
star, I’m an ordinary priest,” he
said, asking the faithful to “pray
for me to be a humble and hon-
est priest.”
Father Michael Cheong Soon-o
said, “The ordination of Father
Mark shows God’s love for people
who cannot hear or speak.” “We
need to pray for him that he may
be light and salt for handicapped
persons,” he added. (CNA)
Hosting
program
launched to
care for World
Youth Day
pilgrims
SYDNEY, Australia, July 16,
2007—Organizers of World
Youth Day (WYD) 2008, to be
held in Sydney, Australia, have
launched a program called
HomeStay to provide housing
for the thousands of young
people set to attend the event.
The hosting program asks
Sydney homeowners to host
two or more visiting pilgrims
from overseas or outside
Sydney.
The approaching World
Youth Day, scheduled for July
15th-20th 2008, is expected to
involve 500,000 people includ-
ing 125,000 overseas visitors
and up to 175,000 from other
parts of Australia.
“World Youth Day will bring
the biggest ever contingent of
young people to Sydney,”
WYD08 Coordinator Bishop An-
thony Fisher OP said.
“Most will be accommodated
in schools and parish halls, but
we’ll need up to 50,000 to be
hosted in homes across Sydney.
“Sydneysiders are a friendly
and generous bunch, and we be-
lieve many will open their
hearts and their homes to young
pilgrims from out of town.”
Sydney residents Cheryl
Fernandez and her brother Carl
stayed with two separate fami-
lies in Cologne, Germany dur-
ing World Youth Day 2005, and
their family is planning to host
pilgrims next year.
“HomeStay is a fantastic way
for Sydneysiders to play a very
important role in an historic in-
ternational event,” said Cheryl.
“This is an opportunity to
promote Australia’s hospitality
A3
and community spirit. It’s not
just for Catholics, but the wider
Sydney community.
“When I was in Cologne I was
treated like a member of the
family, and that’s something
that I will cherish forever. Now
the event is here in Sydney, I
want to return the favour and
show our overseas visitors the
great Australian hospitality
that we are renowned for.
“Families that speak a lan-
guage other than English in par-
ticular should get involved and
host non-English speaking pil-
grims,” she said.
Communities all around
Sydney are preparing to take in
pilgrims next year. The
Fernandez family are part of the
Maroubra community which is
preparing to take in as many
pilgrims as they can house.
HomeStay providers will be
asked to supply sleeping spaces
and breakfast for two or more
pilgrims.
Applications to participate in
HomeStay and further details of
the program are available now
at www.wyd2008.org/
homestay or you can find out
details through local schools
and Catholic parishes. (CNA)
 CBCP Monitor
A4 Opinion Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007

EDITORIAL

Putting the Lamp on the

Lamp Stand
THE Second National Congress of the Holy Childhood was held
second week of July, right after the bishops’ bi-annual meeting.
It was organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies Philippines
now under the baton of Daet Bishop Gilbert Garcera.
By the looks of it, the event was well participated by children
coming from all parts of the country. They gathered at the Pope
Pius XII Catholic Center, at the Manila Cathedral, and at the Clam
Shell in Intramuros. It was the whole country in potentia. These
children could be the crowd of congressmen, militants and
bystanders around the SONA in 2030—the GMA timeframe
when the country will be closer to paradise. Or they could be the
Layout by Denz Dayao

crowd in the nth national gathering of priests and religious with

one of them standing tall as the CBCP President. But they could
be, too, the jueteng lords (Archbishop Cruz will be out by then and
jueteng should be painting every town red!), the COMELEC
officials and government spinners—and by then PAGCOR should
have bought more congressmen and senators for another franchise
extension to last a lifetime.
But the event did not hit the pages. It was no match against the
gigantic issues of the day: the Human Security Act, the Summit
on Extra-judicial killings and disappearances, the lost and finding
of Fr. Bossi, and the hush-hush of the upcoming SONA (State of
the Nation Address).
By reason of consequence, and even dignity, the 2nd Nation
Congress of the Holy Childhood was more significant than all the
prevailing issues. In fact, it is not an overstatement to declare that
the talks given to these docile children were 3 times better and
more realistic than all the past 6 or 7 SONAS combined. After
listening to the talks given to the children, one comes out with
more faith and commitment; after listening to the sound and fury
of the SONA nobody comes out with anything—well, it’s like
going to sleep to dream and dream for more.
Abp. Angel N. Lagdameo, DD
Publicity gives a bad connotation. But to organize a church even
without others knowing it, is a very literal exegesis of not letting
Prophetic Role of
the right hand know what the left hand is doing. In the Church it
is normal for one office not to know what’s happening with the In and Out of Season Priests
other.
And we talk about proclaiming the Good News from housetops
and disdain about lighting a lamp only to be hidden under a tub. (This is lifted from the talk of Archbishop Angel isterial (servant) community. to the sick and disabled in the community, the poor
Lagdameo to Theology Seminarians of the Visayas The role of the priest is precisely to help and the victimized in society. Recognizing the
Basically, our difficulty really is proactively putting the lamp on Region on the occasion of their 6th Gathering on
“operationalize,” “realize,” “fulfill” these plight of the poor and deprived who are so often
the lamp stand. July 23, 2007—Ed)
characteristics of the Christian community. neglected by the rich and the mighty, the servant-
DEAR Students of Theology from the Visayas He is in their midst foremost as priest, min- leader encourages the Christian community (es-
Region: I am pleased to welcome you to Jaro ister and prophet. He develops his spiritual- pecially the better-off among them) to reach out
for your 6th Gathering with the theme “The ity through his personal encounter with with compassion to the weak. He makes real to the
In search of good persons Role of Priest as Prophets.” Christ, priest, servant-leader (king) and
prophet.
Christian community Christ’s love of preference
for the poor.” (cf. PCP-II, #526 & 527).
As anointed by the Holy Spirit to be a con-
IN its Pastoral Statement on the 2007 National Elections dated 8 temporary representative (Alter Christus), the Let me remind you what the PCP-II teaches My dear Seminarians: your formation is
July 2007, the CBCP made a collective pronouncement on the ordained minister fulfills his threefold office about the prophetic community and thus getting closer and closer to what you and God
lights and shadows that accompanied the said democratic of priest, prophet and minister (king). If you about the priest’s prophetic role: “Evangeli- envision you to become. According to God’s
exercises. In rather clear and relatively few words, the Episcopal go back to PCP-II (Workers of Renewal: Clergy) zation means bringing the Good News to all condi- promise, the Lord’s Spirit who will anoint
you will read there that the community over tions and status of human life; its specific attitudes you on your ordination day, through you will
Conference pointed out both the admirable as well as the censurable
which the priest presides is a community and values, styles of life that go against the Word of renew the hearts of people, engrave the law
factors that accompanied the political event as far as their ethical formed by the Word of God, a Eucharistic God and His loving plan to save all. Like the com- in them and create them into a community of
elements and moral dimensions were concerned. Community, a prophetic community, a min- passionate Good Shepherd, the priest reaches out priests, prophets and servant-leaders.
As an appropriate ending of the statement, the CBCP made seven
specific recommendations in the spirit of good will and in sincere
service to the people. The bishops began by recommending the Oscar V. Cruz, DD
full revamp of the COMELEC and ended by proposing the
cleansing of the voters’ list. It further urged the prosecution of
those responsible for electoral anomalies and continued by
SONA Warning Views and Points
endorsing a systematic and continued political voters’ education.
Finally, the Episcopal Conference saw the need of modernizing
the electoral system (automation), reforming the electoral laws
THERE is a known saying that being fore- was not a joke when someone supposed and gether with all conceivable agenda in Luzon,
(legislation), and giving special vigilance to the elections held in warned is being forearmed. The 2007 is a good expected to end governing by 2010, is in fact the Visayas and Mindanao, there were too
ARMM. warning of ominous things to come. What poised to run again for another office, an- many incumbent politicos from all over the
Without formally and explicitly saying it, it is quite obvious that the SONA expressly and implicitly said are other tenure. land were meticulously named one by one—
the CBCP sees one over-all imperative behind all of its seven enough for those concerned to heed well— Then there was the explicit and earnest plea with proper admiration and gratitude—to-
categorical recommendations. It is clearly the fundamental need lest they be caught unaware and unprepared. for both houses of congress to reform the tax gether with due applause for their self-ela-
There are some three distinct eventualities law! It would be the height of idiocy to pre- tion.
of good persons—upright, credible and honorable individuals—
that the SONA surreptitiously forwarded and sume that such an endorsed reformed tax law It was in effect a roll call of many key po-
who should be behind all its proposed agenda. Without the that should be even now already much noted. would be in order to lower direct and/or in- litical personalities from all the Philippine
presence and service of such good people behind the CBCP The opening salvo that the Philippines will direct taxes. The assumption akin to certitude regions for the purpose of getting their de-
recommendations, the country would simply again experience be a first world country in 2030 is signal and is that sometimes soon, taxes will be in fact sired support when already needed—such as
the shame of the 2004 Elections and the fraud in this 2007 crystal in its implications. There are so many raised in any way, by all means, come what in the event of a proposed charter change, in
Elections on the occasion of the projected crucial 2010 National projects to finish and to start. There are so may. time of another campaign for leadership po-
Elections. many plans to accomplish, so many programs So many airports to build, so many roads sition come 2010. They are useful for getting
to actualize. All these cannot be done in there to make, so much infrastructure to put up, so votes.
In other words, a constitutional body like the COMELEC manned
years up to 2010. If they were not achieved much development to attend to. In fact, even What a SONA! By merely listening to it,
by unscrupulous officials urges even well meaning people to before in some six long years since 2001, how guarding—protecting, defending—the one is transported to wonderland and be-
adopt unconstitutional means for redress. Good counting machines could they be done in but three years from Malacañang occupant is becoming more and yond. But when thereafter thinking about it,
become the worst vote counters in the hands of unscrupulous 2007! more expensive. Who is targeted to pay for one is brought back to the sad national reali-
operators. Electoral laws no matter how good are no match for The implication is obvious. The lead plan- all these? Who else but the entire Filipino ties—continuous killings, abductions and
deceitful officials tasked to implement them. A sound electoral ner and head programmer should thus have people—the rich and the poor, the children corruption, endemic lying, cheating and steal-
system is always receptive of distortion by corrupt executives. many more years in office—up to 2030 if at and the adults, the hungry and the sick in- ing, poverty, hunger and sickness (to men-
all possible. Otherwise, the first world vi- cluded. tion a few)—brought about by none other
That is why without well chosen honest and just public servants sion for the country would be just that—a Lastly, there was that strong and continu- than the visionary of a first world Philip-
placed as heads and helpers behind all the seven CBCP quixotic vision. The conclusion is obvious: it ous political undertones in the SONA. To- pines.
recommendations, such would be simply another futile and vain
exercise. In general, it can be even rightfully said that manned by
lying, cheating and stealing personnel, even the legislative,
Nicolo F. Bernardo
Harry Potter and the
executive and judicial branches of government become a
composite curse of the governed.

Lifeguard Latin Mass

ISSN 1908-2940

CBCP Monitor
Protagonist of Tr u t h , Promoter of Peace
WHEN the seventh and final book of J.K.
Rowling’s Harry Potter series hit the stores,
fanatics and critics alike sighed, “it’s finally
over.” So goes Potter’s bastardized Latin
spell, “expelliarmus!”
Roman Mass) as “an extraordinary form” of
celebrating the Holy Eucharist. This Mass can
serve not only traditional Catholics’ nostal-
gia but the youth who want a spice of code-
rich religiosity and profundity. Instead of
The Latin Mass can be a catechetical break
as many Catholic classics were Latin ab origine.
Recurrence of the past and understanding of
new languages are after all today’s trends:
the fad for revivals here and there and for
Pedro C. Quitorio I leave it to reviewers to comment on this hearing kids mutter pseudo-Latin Potter award-winning foreign flicks with subtitles.
Editor-in-Chief fantasy novel’s (de)merits. Yet what would spells such as “expecto patronum,” “wingardium Just a year ago, there was a debate on UST’s
seem to stay is young people’s enchantment leviosa,” and “levicorpus,” they better pray in philosophy yahoo group pro et contra
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Kris P. Bayos for things esoteric, exotic and enigmatic. real Latin. Latin would not be hard mnemon- Tridentine Mass. Surprisingly, there were stu-
Associate Editor Feature Editor Fascinations for antique and medieval mar- ics, with all the “imperio” (to command), dents who favored it because of perceived
vels such as the Da Vinci Code, New Age spiri- “tergeo” (to wipe off), “reparo” (to restore), abuses on the way the New Mass has been
Melo M. Acuña Rowena T. Dalanon tuality, the new-wave Gregorian chant, Free- “protego” (to protect), “oppugno” (to attack), adapted to be more and more pop, accom-
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor masonry, Grail legends, Cabbalism, Gnosti- “nox” (night), and “furunculus” (boil) kids modating and conventional. But Benedict XVI
Dennis B. Dayao cism, Order of Hermetics, Wizardry, and have already learned from Potter. issued a less compartmentalized answer: not
Ernani M. Ramos
On-Line Editor Circulation Manager other witchologies are probably symptoms The Tridentine Mass may be old but it is an either/or but both/and. The normative New
of a deeper desire for more mystery, sym- new to young Catholics (like me) who have Mass stays as the ordinary form of celebrat-
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez bolic expressions, communion with the su- never attended one. Many youngsters have ing the Eucharist that can suit the charismatic,
News Editor Comptroller pernatural and extraordinary forms of spiri- heard of it only from their grannies or from but there’s also the X.O. version. The two
tuality. Maybe Umberto Eco is right, people Mel Gibson who keeps a private chapel where complement each other, one is not higher
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP are pining for “a new Middle Ages,” for al- Latin masses are celebrated per diem. Much as than the other, and they only differ in ex-
Communications Development Foundation, Inc., with
editorial and business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St.,
ternative old-style flavors, with the crisis of New Age deviations are old superstitions ab pressions of the same faith. The Church has
Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. modernism. absurdo recast anew, so is the Tridentine Mass diverse Eucharistic rites, including Eastern
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612. What could work as a timely response to an old liturgy whose revived rite and lan- versions in Oriental patriarchies.
Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net this explosion of “extraordinary mysticism” guage can spark interest into the Church’s The Tridentine Mass codified during the
Website: www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor is Pope Benedict XVI’s green light for the long tradition and its mysterium fidei like a Council of Trent (1570) has a rich liturgy
Tridentine Mass (a.k.a. Traditional/Latin/ “chamber of secrets” to sanctity. Lifeguard / A6
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
Love Life
I GREW up looking forward to Mother’s Day
in May. My father would remind me and
my brothers and sisters to make a greeting
card for our mom. But there was no celebra-
tion of Father’s Day in June then. It has only
been these past two decades that the second
Sunday of June is being celebrated as
Father’s Day, especially by commercial es-
tablishments and the media. Very often, in-
stead of making people more aware of the
importance of fatherhood, the responsibili-
ties of fathers, and the ways by which chil-
dren can show appreciation for their fathers,
the day is spent in much unnecessary spend-
ing due to advertising.
With so many conflicting messages on
what and how a father should be, it is a won-
der how men nowadays can carry on this
role without too much anxiety and stress.
The campaign for women empowerment, if
not clarified and worked out by both men
and women in communities, tend to leave
the men out of the picture and wondering
what is there for them now.
Convergence for
Human Development
THE key word to highlight the 31st National
Assembly of the Bishop Businessmen’s Con-
ference held last July 6 at the AIM Confer-
ence Hall is CONVERGENCE. Henceforth
the organization will be named Bishop
Businessmen’s Convergence. The rationale
for the change was very well explained by
Senator Vicente Paterno. He explained that
it is not enough for businessmen to share
funds for developmental projects of the
Church but more importantly with the
present state of poverty in the Philippines,
businessmen need to share resources of their
hearts, talents and skills.
The theme chosen for this year’s assem-
bly was “The Business of Building Peace:
Addressing the Issues of Rural & Urban Pov-
erty” Archbishop Angel Lagdameo in his
welcome remarks, recalled the phrase
“Peace is synonymous to human development”
according to the encyclical Populorum
Progressio of Pope Paul VI which celebrates
its 40 th anniversary this year. The Arch-
bishop also identified 5 priorities for hu-
man development, namely. 1) Food, 2) Shel-
Bp. Guillermo V. Afable, DD
DADITAMA
ALLOW me to go back to the issue of restor-
ing moral values. Earlier, I pointed out the
potential for personal and social transforma-
tion of the 5,800 or more BECs in Daditama as
a grassroot level approach to transforming
our political culture to one that is imbued by
moral values and one that institutionalizes
responsive and accountable governance.
Without wanting to preempt the results of
the upcoming MSPC XIII (Mindanao-Sulu
Pastoral Conference) on this issue, let me put
forward some points for consideration.
1. The BEC is not just another pastoral pro-
gram but becomes the locus and focus of evan-
gelization for personal and social transfor-
mation. To organize and form BECs as cen-
ters of moral restoration, imbuing society
with values of the Gospel, requires no less
than the concerted, unified, integrated and
coordinated efforts of all ministries and
apostolates in the diocesan and parish level.
2. Restoring moral values through BECs
starts in the home. The family is the most
natural locus for learning moral values and
correcting bad ones that are passed on from
one generation to the next. The value of the
genuine family must, therefore, be upheld
and protected vigorously. Integrated family
and life programs take prominence in this
over-all pastoral plan.
3. In order for the families and BECs to
fulfill their role in society, it must be con-
tinuously evangelized. This is the most vital
activity of the BEC that cannot be disre-
Mary, Eucharist,
Incarnation
ONE “strange” day the Angelus kept repeat-
ing itself in my head at odd hours. Although
I noticed it I ignored it until it dawned on me
that what this beautiful prayer says is but the
beginning of an incarnation that continues to
this day! And we ordinary mortals conceived
in sin do have a part in it!
The imitation of Mary is our springboard,
leading us to experience our own “Angelus”
in the Eucharist.
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary…
Mary ’s reason could not grasp how she could
have a baby when she knew no man, and yet
she accepted it as God’s will. Be it done to me
according to Thy word… We do not know
how long the Angel waited until Mary said
“Okay, go ahead.” But we can surmise that a
few apprehensions at first must have ran
Opinion
Padre de Familia
Dr. Keith Krull, a psychologist, writes,
“Men who are striving to be more than
breadwinners tend to become “second moth-
ers”. What’s needed is for men to find their
distinctive role.” I like what he says about
the distinctive role of fathers—that they
should be “a bridge to the community” with
“one foot at home and one in the commu-
nity”. In this way, the father introduces his
children to the larger world outside the fam-
ily. While we are not here to go against the
tide of feminism, as that ideology has some
good points, such as the campaign to stop-
ping the use, abuse and subjugation of
women, we are certainly not for reversal of
roles of fathers and mothers in the home.
Because many families are now changing
structure, the father is expected to give more
“emotional output”. Sometimes, the father
is more present at home with the children
than the mother who works till late at night
or is even out-of-town or out of the coun-
try. It is the father who has to attend to the
day-to-day needs of the children, listen to
Jose B. Lugay
ter, 3) Employment, 4) Education, and 5)
Health.
The assembly was convincingly enlight-
ened by the statistical reality of hunger, the
measure of extreme poverty by no less than
SWS Chairman Mahar Mangahas. The results
of their surveys of hunger covered the years
1998 to 2007. How could one determine the
accuracy of a sample size of 1200 persons to
represent the total population of 70 to 80
million Filipinos? This question was antici-
pated by Mr. Mangahas and his ready an-
swer was: “A larger sample size will be ex-
pensive but the trends shown in the SWS re-
sults had been validated by an independent
survey of the government.” The Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics of the Department of
Agriculture was conducted in 2003 by then
DA Secretary D. Panganiban using a sample
size of 8600 households. The conclusion is
the same. The occurrence of hunger (not be-
ing able to eat 3 meals a day or no meal at
all) was on an increasing trend for the years
2003 to 2007 despite the Arroyo
Administration’s claim of improvement of
Restoring Moral Values
through BECs - II
garded. The people must continually hear
the Word in order to acquire the values of
God’s Kingdom. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
must be preached relentlessly and deepened
by continuing catechesis. They learn, by break-
ing together the Word of God, cascading into
becoming the Word of life. They learn to
think, to see, and move, and act in the light
of Faith. This is why, the Biblical apostolate and
Catechetical apostolate is given utmost atten-
tion and consideration.
4. It is only from hearing the Word that
genuine conversion to Jesus Christ is effected
and the consequent journey of true faith be-
gins in prayer and worship, constant listen-
ing to the Word, and the moral life. Disciple-
ship, more than just sacramentalization of the
faithful, is the thrust.
5. The call of discipleship and moral res-
toration is not an individual effort. The jour-
ney of faith is mediated by, through, and with
a community, starting from the small
nucleus, that is the family, and on to the small
Christian community. The Word of God builds
up the family and the community. Though
small and oftentimes, marginalized, the
power of BECs is not in the tyranny of their
numbers. Its power, rather, is moral power
from above, convinced of one’s weakness,
but confident of God’s faithfulness and the
triumph of good over evil.
6. Maturing BECs, powerful through its
moral authority, will engender and will ef-
fect the emergence of servant-leaders in the
Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
through her mind for some time. “How can I
explain my bulging tummy to my parents?
What will my friends say when the whole
village starts talking about me?”
Many times in our life—especially when
we tend to be too rational—we need to be
inspired by and to imitate Mary’s docility to
the Father’s will. Many Catholics can not un-
derstand or completely believe how the host
can be the body and blood of Jesus Christ yet
they go ahead and receive Communion any-
way. If in total humility we follow the ex-
ample of Mary and in total trust in God’s love
for us we accept what we cannot yet know or
understand about the Eucharist, who can say
what God has in store for us?
And the Word became flesh… All it needed
was Mary’s “Yes”, and the greatest miracle in
their stories about school, friends, and
things they see on television. With the exo-
dus of female overseas workers, the fathers
are suddenly left to taking care of the home
without much preparation.
Where do the fathers learn how to give
emotional support which seems to be more
natural to women? This is when the Church
could play a significant role. Yes, the par-
ishes have Family and Life Ministries offer-
ing pre-marriage counseling, marriage en-
richment seminars and individual counsel-
ing. But what per cent of the parishioners is
reached out by these programs if surveys
show that only 15% of Catholics go to
church.
Every now and then, Archbishop Paciano
Aniceto, Chair of the Episcopal Commis-
sion on Family and Life, call us to a meet-
ing at the CBCP office. There I meet the
heads of marriage and family life organiza-
tions—very committed and well-informed
leaders of the Church. We listen to each oth-
Love / A6
Laiko Lampstand
the economy.
The ARMM in Mindanao topped the list
as No. 1 in occurrence of hunger of all the 17
regions surveyed. The National Capital Re-
gion ranked No. 2. The two regions repre-
sent the rural and the urban poor. The help
given them by different donor institutions
was also surveyed. What is surprising was
that the poorest of the poor received less of
the donated products than the not so poor.
This means the distribution of food to the
needy must be improved.
Two dioceses represented by their social
action directors presented to the assembly,
probable areas of future cooperation and
convergence between the Dioceses and BBC.
Sister Eden Orlino of the Diocese of
Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya presented the
agricultural products of their region: 1)
Yacon tuber and 2) Table Oranges. The yacon
tuber is sweet without the sugar which dia-
betics are prohibited to ingest. The farmer’s
yield is 2800 kilos yacon per hectare. How
can the businessmen give them help in mar-
Laiko / A6
family, the small Christian community, and
also for the larger community. These lead-
ers stand out not for their monetary and so-
cial standing but for their uprightness and
genuine love and concern for peoples in the
likeness of Jesus the Servant-Leader par ex-
cellence. Recognizing and encouraging the
laity’s proper role and function in the Church
and society, the lay leadership formation pro-
grams are given much attention.
7. Finally, the BEC must be a praying and
worshipping community imbued with the
clear sense of God’s abiding presence, in all
the mysteries of their history, journeying
with them in their struggles for fullness of
life. Their sacramental life, especially the
Eucharist, builds up their community of faith.
It makes them a faithful, hopeful, loving and
caring people, “doing what is just, to show con-
stant love, and to live in humble fellowship with
our God” (Mic.6:8)
From the foregoing considerations, it is
clear that the process of restoring moral val-
ues through the BECs would be a long
drawn-out process. It is the approach from
and with the little people, with whatever
little they have, wherever they are. Struc-
tural and systems change may be effected
more easily, but without the corresponding
values change in people, these will not per-
sist in the long run. To take this path of re-
newal requires boldness, patience, persever-
ance, and commitment.
My email: daditama_now@yahoo.com
…and that’s the truth!
the science of human reproduction took place.
Through Mary’s acceptance of the Angel’s
declaration, God became man—of flesh and
blood, like us—without assistance from any
human male, thank you. The divine was in-
carnated in the human, growing in Mary’s
womb and after nine months came out into
the world like any other human being born
of human parents. Isn’t that just marvelous?
If you have seen photographs of a fetus in
various stages of growth inside the womb, you
can now imagine that Jesus, like any of us,
didn’t have ears and eyes until six weeks after
Mary said “Yes” to the angel Gabriel. Jesus
would also develop limbs after eight weeks in
the womb, and at 12 weeks make reflex move-
ments like bending the arms, pursing the lips,
clenching and opening the fists, etc. At 16 weeks
A5
An Open Letter to the
Honorable Members of the 14th
Congress on Climate Change
and the Unique Role of
Indigenous Peoples
“When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are
created;And thou renewest the face of the
earth.” (Ps 40:30)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Climate change is fast becoming a major concern, not only
among governments and international scientists, but also
among ordinary citizens who bear the brunt of nature’s in-
creasingly unpredictable behavior.
Environmental disasters due to climate change have pro-
duced another breed of refugees: environmental or climate
refugees, estimated to be at least 10 million worldwide. The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) under
the UN, predicts the figures to balloon to 150 million by the
year 2050 due mainly to the effects of coastal flooding, shore-
line erosion and agricultural disruption.
The Philippines, being an archipelago and situated in the
typhoon belt, is no stranger to climate-related devastations
which have more than doubled in intensity and frequency
these past decade due to global warming. Those who are di-
rectly affected are rural families, particularly farmers, fisher-
men, and indigenous peoples, who depend directly from the
environment for livelihood and food. This translates to a sharp
rise in the number of poor and displaced people desperately
finding refuge in cities, particularly in Metro Manila, or seek-
ing jobs abroad.
Our pursuit of development gains without regard for envi-
ronmental impact is a major contributor to this situation. The
excessive use of fossil fuels in industry and transport leads to unac-
ceptable amounts of carbon emissions that contribute to global warm-
ing while massive deforestation deprives us of forest areas which
serve as storehouses of carbon. This is further aggravated by the
present Administration’s promotion of mining which is be-
ing flaunted all over the papers these days, overshadowing
whatever measures are made to mitigate the effects of global
warming.
On the contrary, our indigenous peoples, who live in the
country’s remaining forests, have constantly kept their stand
in giving voice to our Mother Earth’s silent pleas, and have
been trying to live out a sustainable and viable existence
within these areas. With the threats of global warming and
climate change at the backdrop, our indigenous peoples’
struggle to protect and preserve our environment particu-
larly their ancestral domain is no longer a stranger of the so-
called minority, but a struggle for survival of the nation and
the whole human race.
Development experts and environmental advocates recog-
nize the unique responsibility and special role of indigenous
peoples in mitigating global warming. Indigenous
worldview, on which indigenous knowledge, systems and
practices are rooted, consider Mother Earth sacred, thus IP
community practices are geared to protect our ecosystems
for the present and future generations. The value of IP com-
munities, their lifeways and practices was recognized through
the legislation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.
And yet, after almost ten years of IPRA, the struggles of our
IP brothers and sisters continue. The eviction of the Subanon
community from their ancestral domain in Canatuan, Siocon,
Zamboanga del Norte in favor of a Canadian mining com-
pany two years after President Gloria Arroyo awarded their
Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title is one among the many
grim examples of the government’s lack of political will be-
cause of conflicting interests. The slow response of the gov-
ernment on the Ati’s claim over their ancestral domain in
Boracay reflects the disregard for IPs even as their rights are
specified in the law.
It is with great urgency that indigenous people’s rights
over their ancestral domains and to self-determination be
respected and recognized by our government so that IP com-
munities can contribute to and probably even spearhead the
restoration of our country’s ecosystem, thereby responding
to the issue of climate change.
We, therefore, urge and implore all the honorable mem-
bers of the 14th Congress to:
1. Come up with policies/legislation to: a) immediately
declare a moratorium on mining and logging operations in
ancestral domains and in the whole country; b) fast-track de-
lineations, awarding, registration and recognition of ances-
tral lands/domains.
2. Investigate human rights violations committed by armed
men against our indigenous peoples;
3. Work for the ratification of ILO 169 or the Indigenous
and Tribal Peoples convention which is the only legally-
binding international instrument for the protection of indig-
enous people’s rights; and
4. Implement seriously and sincerely the IPRA of 1997.
With you, our beloved representatives in both Houses of
Congress, giving due importance to our requests, and rely-
ing on the Providence of Almighty God, we dare to see a
bright future for our country and our people.
For the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines,
+SERGIO I. UTLEG, DD
Bishop of Laoag and ECIP Chairperson
Jesus the fetus would get hiccups—isn’t that cute?—still, he would hardly
be a unique creature until 23 weeks, when his fingerprints would begin
to form. At 29 weeks his hearing would be more acute and he could
distinguish sounds and voices—yes, he would hear Joseph hammering
away at his shop while Mary would be humming in her kitchen. If he
heard music from cymbals and trumpets then he would also remember
that after birth.
At last Jesus was born, and dwelt among us… Skeptics, unbelievers,
cynics and atheists would regard the Incarnation as pure pap, but we
believers who are wedded to mystery do not set limits to what God can do
in our lives. If God could come down to live among us through the
cooperation of a simple village girl from Nazareth, what would stop Him
from causing another kind of incarnation through our cooperation?
With the Eucharist, we give our “Yes” to God as well. When the priest
holds the consecrated host before us as he says “Body of Christ”, and we
say “Amen” and consume the Eucharist, are we not, like Mary, allowing
Jesus to be incarnated anew in us? Impervious to ridicule from our
critics and touched by the self-forgetfulness of Mary, we faithfully let
Him into our body, literally, Sunday after Sunday, day after day, and in
love desire to be one with Him. Who can claim that none of miracles
occurring in our midst has been caused by this union and communion?
Who can say that this is not some kind of an ongoing incarnation that
has the power to purify and transform us until it is no longer we but
Jesus who lives in us?
Just a thought—for next time you say the Angelus. It may be a wild
one, but it’s coming from the heart. And that’s the truth.

A6
Bishop hopeful on summit vs. killings
THE Supreme Court’s summit on
extra-judicial killings has raised
optimism of a Catholic Church
leader that the problem can fi-
nally be addressed.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias
Iñiguez said the meeting may
“turn into a veritable effort” to
confront the problem of human
rights violations.
“It can turn into a veritable
effort to comfort the area of hu-
man rights crisis objectively,” he
said.
Iñiguez, an outspoken critic of
the Arroyo administration, was
one of the delegates named by
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP) to the
summit held at the Manila Hotel
last July 16 to 17.
Attending the summit were
government officials, academe,
civil society, other religions and
RP bishops address poverty,
social development issue
THE Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines (CBCP)
will hold the second National
Rural Congress (NRC-II) in early
2008 to address country’s poverty
issue and strengthen sustainable
social development in the light
of Church’s social teachings.
“The dignity of the rural poor
is a gospel concern and the
Church must go to the villages,”
CBCP vice-president Archbishop
Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de
Oro said.
The NRC-II to be held in two
phases is to commemorate the
40th anniversary of the National
Rural Congress held in 1967 in
the light of Church’s social teach-
ings, the prelate said in a press
conference held at CBCP Media
office, July 9.
The bishops’ plenary assembly
decided to hold NRC-II in order
to “To describe the current situa-
tion of various sectors of the ru-
ral poor, small farmers, indig-
PGMA / A1
try in 2030.” He surmised “the im-
plication is that she may not stop
ruling in 2010 that she feels she has
to go on and on and on.”
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias
Iniguez, Jr. said he listened partly to
the SONA while on his way to his
annual clergy retreat outside Metro
Manila and said “it sounded like
looking for sympathy and praise.”
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes
said “at least she is telling us what
she accomplished.” He however
added “the picture of the Philip-
pines is not just as good as what
she told us because we (still) expe-
rience real poverty and extra-judi-
cial killings.”
He further said he is “glad be-
cause she did not mention mining
activities which is a very destruc-
tive way of earning money.”
National Secretariat of Social
Action, Justice and Peace executive
director, Sister Roseanne Malillin,
SPC said while she share President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
dreams for a brighter future for the
country, “I am still very much con-
cerned about the present plight of
our struggling poor and I would
perhaps work and cooperate with
her in the immediate uplift of our
people’s condition from poverty.”
Asked whether she shares the
same view that hunger in the coun-
tryside has been significantly re-
duced, Sr. Roseanne said “it is rela-
tive to the region and the sources
of data” as there are still isolated
cases and instances which are not
quite known. (Melo Acuna)
Lifeguard / A4
traced to the fourth century. The
priest and the congregation in the
old Mass would face the Taber-
nacle much as Old Testament He-
brews would face the Holy of
Holies in offering sacrifices, or
as Jesus and the Apostles were
supposed to have sat around a
table facing the Temple of Jerusa-
lem during the Passover meal (as
portrayed in Da Vinci’s painting).
There was stress on the Mass’ sac-
rificial nature, communion with
angels, souls, and saints, and
Christ’s presence in the Taber-
nacle (which unfortunately, some
Catholics now think to be a store
box).
I watched an EWTN News say-
ing that some churches in the US
have started celebrating the
Tridentine Mass. The faithful are
reportedly open. The move heals
divisions between traditionalist
and Vatican II Catholics, and
bonds the old and the young as
stakeholders who are seeking
ways to end the extra-judicial kill-
ings in the country.
CBCP president Archbishop
Angel Lagdameo named Iñiguez,
Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueb-
los, CBCP secretary general
Msgr. Juanito Figura and media
director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III
to attend the two-day summit.
Participants of the summit
were one in pushing a law that
would criminalize violence
against political dissenters and
journalists.
The 12 groups of panelists also
approved the proposal of Armed
Forces chief General
Hermogenes Esperon Jr. for the
resumption of peace talks with
communist rebels.
They believed that the failure
of government and the insurgents
to forge a truce is the cause of the
enous people, fishermen and ru-
ral women.”
Archbishop Ledesma was
speaking at the CBCP headquar-
ters after a two-day of delibera-
tions in the 95th bishops’ semi-
annual plenary assembly, Manila,
July 8-9.
Last January the bishops had
said, “But this time, our farmers
must do the speaking by them-
selves, the discerning, the propos-
ing of their own ideas, and the
planning of how we must as a
people come together to work for
the common good of the country.”
The first phase of the forth-
coming Congress would be done
at diocesan level in the context of
the Basic Ecclesial Communities
(BECs) followed by sub-regional
level gatherings.
The second phase would con-
sist in collating inputs emerging
from the first phase.
Philippine government’s data
say 30 percent of Filipinos live
Fr. Madhu’s / A1
Last month, SVD superior del-
egate in the Philippines, Fr.
Dante Venus, urged SVD foreign
missionaries and associates to be
“careful” in the country in the
backdrop of recent abductions
and extra-judicial killings.
Venus said there is no need to
get frightened being missionar-
ies in the country, rather go on to
spread the Gospel of Jesus. He was
addressing local and foreign mis-
sionaries at a meeting held at
Christ the King Mission Semi-
nary, June 17.
It is good to be cautious in the
wake of recent abduction of the
Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi, (57)
a Pontifical Institute for Foreign
Missions (PIME) missionary, Fr.
Venus said.
Media reports say a group of
Indonesian Catholics staged a
demonstration before the Philip-
pine Embassy in Jakarta on July
10, exactly 100 days after of kill-
ing of Madhu.
A statement read by a protester
during the two-hour rally asserts,
“To uphold human rights, we
demand the Philippine govern-
ment expedite the murder case of
Madhu.”
About 150 Catholics, including
one priest and two Religious sis-
ters, from a group called
Solidaritas Kemanusiaan (human
solidarity), joined the protest ini-
tiated by Advocacy Service for
Justice and Peace in Indonesia
(PADMA, Indonesian acronym).
(Santosh Digal)
the former teach the latter of the
meaning of the rituals. On Sep-
tember 14, the feast of the Tri-
umph of the Cross, many
churches will celebrate the “ex-
traordinary form” of the Mass for
the extraordinary occasion. The
use of readings or multimedia
projectors for the translations and
for the community’s Latin re-
sponses is suggested.
Let us recall 2,000 years ago,
when Christ was crucified and a
plate saying “Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews” in Hebrew,
Greek, and Latin was posted atop
his head. Hebrew is still in use in
Israel. So is Greek in Greece. So
is Latin in use (again) in the
Church. It is a marvel that the
original languages used on
Christ still endure. Perhaps they
spell his mysteries right saecula
saeculorum. No final releases, non
finis. Just superior magic that
never ends.
Local News
violence.
The small discussion groups,
each headed by an associate jus-
tice, also urged for a dialogue
between government and vari-
ous sectors of society to solve the
insurgency, saying that it’s not
just a military problem but a po-
litical one.
The participants also con-
demned the alarming number of
summary and arbitrary execu-
tions, adding that extra-judicial
killings and abductions are un-
lawful and have no place in a
democratic society.
Also present were Parish Pas-
toral Council for Responsible
Voting (PPCRV) national chair-
man Henrietta De Villa, Fr
Joaquin Bernas, SJ, members of
the diplomatic corps and inter-
national human rights organiza-
tions. (CBCPNews)
under the poverty line in 2003.
But latest statistics released by
the government last 6 June 2006
indicates that approximately 24
out of 100 Filipino families did
not earn enough in 2003 to sat-
isfy their basic food and non-food
requirements.
Another objective of the NRC-
II is to stress the role of BECs and
Church-based programs in rural
development.
The NRC central Committee
would be composed of Arch-
bishop Ledesma as executive
chairperson, Archbishop Angel
N Lagdameo, CBCP president as
honorary chairperson, and mem-
bers: Bishops Socrates Villegas of
Balanga and Sergio Utleg of
Laoag, Auxiliary Bishop
Broderick Pabillo of Manila and
Sister Rosanne Mallillin, a St.
Paul de Chartres nun, who is the
executive secretary of the bish-
ops’ national secretariat for so-
cial action. (Santosh Digal)
CBCP / A1
sionary, Fr Giancarlo Bossi, by
his abductors,” said Jaro Arch-
bishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP
president.
Foreign missionaries, he said,
are giving a great service to the
people especially in Mindanao
amid sacrifices and dangers.
“We hope that what had hap-
pened to Fr Bossi will not hap-
pen again,” said Lagdameo.
Prior to the Italian priest’s re-
lease, 14 soldiers were killed in
a “barbaric” encounter with sus-
pected Moro rebels in Basilan
while searching for Bossi.
The CBCP, Lagdameo said,
condemned such heinous act,
and join the appeal for justice in
the restoration of peace.
“Let the same not happen again
in our society of already precari-
ous peace,” the CBCP head said.
Zamboanga Archbishop
Romulo Valles, meanwhile,
thanked the faithful who prayed
for the safe release of Bossi, af-
ter over a month in captivity.
“They have accomplished a
truly arduous mission,” he said.
“Let us continue to pray and
work for peace, harmony and au-
thentic human development for
all, and for a situation where in-
cidents like this will no longer
happen,” he added. (Roy
Lagarde)
Love / A5
ers’ dreams and plans, frustra-
tions and struggles, on how to
truly reach out to those who need
most our services.
The challenge seems to be so
vast. We are sometimes stuck
with identifying what to priori-
tize. Is it marriage preparation?
That means educating our youth
who often confuse love and sex
and who are captivated by wrong
values from media and peers.
Laiko / A5
keting this? Another crop is the
table citrus of different varieties
abundant in Nueva Viscaya. The
farmgate price is P 20 to P 30 per
kilo while this sells at P 100 per
kilo in Manila. The businessmen
can help in the area of market-
ing, post harvest facilities and
product development. Mr.
Vicente Paterno who operates
the 7-11 stores immediately re-
sponded that he can help the
group in the area of cold storage
facilities.
Ms. Myrna Sion of the Archdio-
cese of Cagayan de Oro also pre-
CHURCH JOINS SC-SPONSORED SUMMIT ON EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS. Photo shows Atty. Jo Aurea Imbong, CBCP Legal
Office Executive Secretary (foreground), former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Henrietta T. De Villa (extreme left) and Fr. Joe
Dizon (extreme right) listen intently to the discussions at the Manila Hotel. Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, Jr. was appointed head
of delegation. Not in photo are CBCP Secretary General Msgr. Juanito Figura and CBCP Media Director Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio III.
Church / A1
rine sanctuaries and coastal based
resource management pro-
grams,” the prelate said.
Medroso also said the project’s
location is a home to a growing
and world-famous eco-tourism
industry that provides livelihood
to hundreds of his flocks.
The government is pursuing oil
exploration as one of its programs
to make the country energy-inde-
pendent and lessen fuel importation.
The Visayan Sea, especially the
Tañon Strait (between western
Cebu and Negros), the Cebu-Bohol
Strait and the Cebu-Leyte Strait
were reported to have an abun-
dance of untapped oil or gas re-
sources.
Government programs meant to
improve the economy, he pointed
out, should not be left to the judg-
ment of those who possess too
much economic power, or of the
political community alone.
“In this light, and in view of the
greater risks to both human and
marine life, it is a serious moral
obligation for those who will de-
prive profit from the natural re-
source to set up a mechanism of
just compensation before the oil
drilling begins and with the par-
ticipation and approval of those
who may bear the possible harm
of loss because of human error or
accidents,” said Medroso.
The bishop added that the his-
tory of oil exploration is “replete
with examples of individual and
corporate greed and insensitivity
to the people in the locality.”
Bossi / A1
years. Being a parish priest he
said is comparable with a head
of a family “who ought to be with
his children.”
The jolly missionary who was
a common figure in his parish, a
part of the Prelature of Ipil, said
he has no bitterness despite the
hardships he had for 40 days.
He admitted he doesn’t know
if his abductors learned anything
from him during the 40 days he
was held captive. He has consid-
ered his captors his brothers and
prayed for them at night.
He, however, added, “if they
kidnap me again, I would still
pray for them as there’s no bit-
terness in my heart whatsoever.”
He said, “when we pray the
‘Lord’s Prayer,’ we are all His
sons and we are all brothers and
sisters.”
He managed to laugh about an
incident last June 10 when he was
abducted while on board a mo-
torcycle. “I was told by my cap-
tors to move fast, ‘dali, dali’ (lit-
erally translated: faster, faster),”
Bossi said.
Should we put more attention
to the newly married that they
learn the skills in responsible
and effective parenting and
avoid child neglect and abuse?
Or should we concentrate now
on the older married couples to
encourage them to be active in
Church and be the new leaders?
What about the solo parents who
are increasing in number? And
above all, what about the fathers
sented the opportunity for project
cooperation between the Diocese
and the BBC. This is in the area
of product development of the
abundant harvest of castor oil
beans and organic rice. These are
just two examples of probable
areas of cooperation between the
BBC and the Diocese or in an-
other perspective between the
laity and the local Church. The
Laity represented by BBC indi-
cated the areas of convergence.
With the businessmen’s exposure
and knowledge in dealing with
the national and local govern-
CBCP initiates / A1
the NRC Central Committee’s
executive chairman and Manila
Auxiliary Bishop Broderick
Pabillo as Vice Chairman, with
Balanga (Bataan) Bishops Socrates
Villegas, Laoag (Ilocos Norte)
Sergio Utleg and NASSA Execu-
tive Director Sister Roseanne
Malillin, SPC as members.
The Episcopal Advisory coun-
cil is composed of Manila Arch-
bishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal
Rosales, (Luzon), Cebu Arch-
bishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
(Visayas), Cotabato Archbishop
Orlando Quevedo, OMI
(Mindanao) and Jaro Archbishop
Angel N. Lagdameo (CBCP).
NASSA Executive Director Sr.
Rosanne Malillin, SPC was ap-
pointed coordinator for the ad
intra secretariat for diocesan con-
Cruz / A1
He said positive action
would be greater than all the
intentions and words from the
country’s leaders.
He further said the govern-
ment appears to be the first ter-
rorist as it sows fear among the
people, the media and civil so-
ciety.
He compared the country’s
leadership to a dog running af-
ter its tail as “we go circles with
the same and unsolved prob-
lems such as floods when the
rains come, lack of basic ser-
vices which the people deserve,
‘missing’ firemen whenever
conflagrations occur.”
Convinced he was abducted
for ransom, Fr. Bossi said he had
difficulties adjusting to the new
and forced routines. “I began my
day with prayers and spent time
sitting on a hammock or rock,”
the 57-year old missionary said.
He had a lot of time to think
and reflect on the harsh realities
of living in the jungles of south-
ern Philippines. He said he never
saw policemen and military
troopers nor his abductors imme-
diate families and children in the
hinterlands.
His congregation, the Pontifi-
cal Institute for Foreign Missions
will have its general assembly in
Manila with their Superior Gen-
eral in attendance, early next
month.
Asked whether his kidnapping
and that of Fr. Luciano Benedetti
in 1998 would result in a para-
digm shift in missionary work,
the over six feet missionary said
he personally believes their pro-
gram thrusts would remain the
same.
“I think if we abandon certain
who can hardly be reached and
who refuse to attend meetings
and education sessions?
I hope that soon, our people
will see the Church as a haven
that they can run to when they
have problems—that family help
desks are set up and there are
well-trained volunteer counse-
lors as well as parish staff who
know how and where to refer
whoever comes to the parish for
ments, the NGO’s, the financial
institutions, the technical groups
both in the private and public sec-
tors, the cluster of priorities may
be acted upon at once. These pri-
orities for intervention according
to Engr. Meneleo Carlos, Co-
chairman of Labor & Employ-
ment are the following: 1) Lack
of know-how and skills; 2) Ca-
pacity building—access to infor-
mation and the ability to use this;
3) Innovation and the need to
pursue this; 4) Access to credit
through cooperatives; 5) Institu-
tional change—remove barriers,
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
sultations on BECs with Msgr.
Elmer Abacahin of the CBCP-
BEC Office and a representative
from the Episcopal Commission
on Indigenous Peoples as mem-
bers.
The ad extra secretariat for
Sub-regional consultations in
rural issues includes Philip-
pines-Misereor Partnership Of-
fice Lourdes Cipriano as coordi-
nator, Bro. Hansel Mapayo of
AMRSP and Belinda Formanes
of Rural Poor Solidarity.
The members of auxiliary arm
of the National Rural Congress
is composed of CBCP Offices for
Research under Archbishop
Ledesma, Media directly under
Msgr. Pedro Quitorio and the
CBCP Secretariat under Msgr.
Juanito Figura. (Melo Acuna)
Cruz said all the problems in
2001 appears to be the same to-
day with no end in sight.
He said the coming State of
the Nation Address on Monday
would be listened to by people.
However, Archbishop Cruz
asked, “Who among those who
would listen would believe in
what President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo would
say?”
Quoting media reports prior
to the midterm elections, Arch-
bishop Cruz said “they said the
country’s budget was alright
but today they say it’s short.”
(Melo Acuña)
places in the frontiers for safer
places, we all better go back home
(to Italy) where we also lack
priests,” Fr. Bossi said.
Still the same gregarious per-
son his fellow missionaries knew
before the June 10 kidnapping, Fr.
Bossi said he never feared for his
life, because of his personality,
“having high spirits and (being)
a jolly person.”
He said this experience deep-
ened his faith for “when one is held
captive, he has all the time to re-
flect, meditate and ask questions.”
Bossi admitted his abductors
had an ustadz at their side dur-
ing the early days of his captiv-
ity. “This ustadz was very strict
in prayer as my abductors prayed
five times a day,” Fr. Bossi said.
Such an experience led him to
ask himself if indeed they were
praying to the same God. “Faith
and life are one,” Bossi explained.
He added his abductors believed
a gap exists between faith and life,
“that it is alright to hold one hos-
tage and pray and thank God at
the same time.” (Melo Acuña)
their emotional, marital, or
spiritual needs.
Pro-life Philippines offers
training workshops for those
who wish to set up Help Desks.
This is in coordination with the
CBCP Office on Women, tasked
with setting up Diocesan
Women’s Desks. Call our Pro-
life office at 911-2911 or text me
at 0920-945-5494 for more infor-
mation or to refer cases.
that is, access to finance and to
education, development of skills
and sustaining cooperatives
The proposals of the business-
men need to be addressed imme-
diately. It can start with a dia-
logue between the Social Action
Directors of the Dioceses and the
BBC representatives and the or-
ganized laity of the 17 regions
where hunger and poverty pre-
vail. The opportunity may be the
convening of the second Na-
tional Rural Congress to cel-
ebrate the 40 th anniversary of
Populorum Progressio.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007
Adultery charge against
prelate who criticized
regime in Zimbabwe
HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 16,
2007—Government officials in
Zimbabwe have announced
adultery charges against Arch-
bishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo,
in a move that the archbishop’s
lawyer described to reporters as
an “orchestrated attempt” to em-
barrass the prelate, a leading
critic of President Robert
Mugabe.
A state-controlled television
network announced on July 16
that Archbishop Ncube was be-
ing accused of conducting an af-
fair with a secretary who worked
KC’s Vocations Films
Earn Awards
NEW HAVEN, USA, July 19,
2007—Documentaries produced
and distributed by the Knights of
Columbus on vocations in the
Catholic Church have won an
unusually high number of indus-
try awards.
John M. Capobianco, the films’
executive producer and president
of Lumen Catechetical Consult-
ants Inc., said the K of C shows
are competing against “thousands
of productions with secular
themes, being judged by industry
experts” and earning top awards
in film competitions. Capobianco
is a member of Father Rosensteel
Council 2169 in Silver Spring, Md.
The most recent show, The Vo-
cation to the Religious Life for Women,
has won six awards including a
Vatican City State opens
new portal
VATICAN CITY, July 19, 2007—
The Governorate of Vatican City
State today opened a new Internet
portal (www.vaticanstate.va) in
order to meet the needs of the
ever increasing numbers of pil-
grims and tourists in the Vatican,
and to respond to the continuous
requests for information reach-
ing the various offices of Vatican
State though the traditional chan-
nels.
A communique made public
yesterday afternoon explains that
the new website, which will run
alongside the official Holy See
website (www.vatican.va), has
been implemented in five lan-
guages (Italian, English, French,
Spanish and German) with Por-
tuguese soon to be added.
Through its five sections (State
and Government, Services, Other
Bertone: clergy sex abuse
attacks identity, mission
of the Church
LORENZAGO DI CADORE,
Italy, July 20, 2007—The Vatican
Secretary of State, Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, said this week
cases of alleged sexual abuse by
members of the clergy are an
“attack on the identity and mis-
sion” of priests and should not
overshadow the work of the vast
majority of priests.
In a press conference at
Lorenzago di Cadore, near
where the Pope is vacationing,
Cardinal Bertone responded to
questions about the news that
the Los Angeles Archdiocese
will pay out over $600 million
in settlement payments for cleri-
cal sex abuse cases.
According to Vatican Radio,
Cardinal Bertone underscored
“the overwhelming vastness of
the problem” and that “the
Catholic priests implicated in
this crime” are attacking “the
great mission of the Church her-
in his office. The woman’s hus-
band reportedly named the arch-
bishop in a lawsuit filed today.
The archbishop is the most
prominent member of
Zimbabwe’s Catholic hierarchy,
which has condemned the cor-
ruption of the Mugabe regime
and called for change toward de-
mocracy in the impoverished
African country.
Archbishop Ncube recently
announced that he was prepared
to risk his life in the effort to
change the government.
(CWNews)
gold winner in the Aurora Awards
and an award of excellence in the
Videographer Awards competi-
tions.
Other award-winning titles in-
clude The Vocation to the Priesthood
and The Vocation to Marriage. A new
film entitled The Vocation of the La-
ity will be released soon. All titles
are English only.
The documentaries have aired
on the Eternal Word Television
Network (EWTN), Canada’s Salt
and Light Television network and
on dozens of local cable access
channels.
Each film runs approximately
30 minutes and are free to Knights
and their families; a small ship-
ping and handling charge is ap-
plied to each order.
Institutions, Monuments and
Shop) the portal “presents the
State’s bodies, the key monu-
ments with descriptions and im-
ages, and useful time schedules
for the public” reads the English-
language communique.
The site also offers a photo tour
of the Vatican Gardens, as well
as giving real time access via five
webcams to some of the most fa-
mous sights: the dome of St.
Peter’s, St. Peter’s Square, a pan-
oramic view of Rome, the tomb
of John Paul II and the palace of
the Governorate.
Via the new portal, the commu-
nique concludes, “visitors will
soon be able to purchase Vatican
coins, stamps and other articles
available from the Vatican
Museum’s publications and repro-
ductions sales office.” (VIS)
self.” “Certainly this is a prob-
lem that is painful for everyone.
In the Church and outside,” he
added.
At the same time, he contin-
ued, the Church receives expres-
sions of gratitude from all over
the world for the work she does
to help humanity. “We receive
thanks from presidents and min-
isters of Muslim countries as
well for the works of the Church
in so many sectors,” the cardi-
nal stated, especially in the area
of health care, the fight against
hunger and education.
“The vastness of the painful
phenomenon in the Archdiocese
of Los Angeles is overwhelming.
And, although we’re talking
about a minority in comparison
with the percentage of social
workers who commit these
crimes, it is an attack on the iden-
tity and the mission that we have
to develop,” he said. (CNA)
Features
Vacation should nourish
prayer life, Pope says
Individual registration for Youth Day opens
SYDNEY, Australia, July 20,
2007—Individual registration
for World Youth Day is now
available.
Previously, registration had
been open only to groups. Now
individuals can register and
purchase accommodation and
meal packages for the six-day
event, July 15-20, 2008.
Today marks one year until
Benedict XVI celebrates the fi-
nal Mass of the international
youth event for an expected
500,000 people at Randwick
Vatican to assess growing needs of elderly
Pontifical Council to host International Congress
VATICAN CITY, July 19, 2007—
As the number of elderly people
grows around the world, experts
at the Vatican will examine the
pastoral care specifically suited
to their needs.
The 22nd International Con-
gress of the Pontifical Council for
Health Care Ministry will be held
this November to discuss three
elements of pastoral care of the
elderly: “The Situation,” “What
to Think” and “What to Do.”
Cardinal Javier Lozano
Holy See Calls for Study of Global Poverty
Encourages Redirection of Foreign Aid
GENEVA, July 15, 2007—The
Holy See says that the eradica-
tion of poverty is a priority, for
the benefit of rich and poor coun-
tries alike.
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi
said this recently at a session of
the U.N. Economic and Social
Council in Geneva.
In his July 4 address, the arch-
bishop called for a re-examina-
tion of the reasons why develop-
ing countries are unable to rise
above poverty, noting that the
number of people living on less
that $2 a day continues to rise.
“Poverty elimination demands
an integration between the
mechanisms that produce wealth
and the mechanisms for the dis-
tribution of its benefits at the in-
ternational, regional and na-
tional levels,” he said. “In a con-
text of globally increasing wealth
and availability of goods, a more
systematic and comprehensive
LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy,
July 16, 2007—Pope Benedict XVI
held a public audience in the Ital-
ian Alps on July 15, speaking to
the public from the Castle of
Mirabello, near the town of
Lorenzago di Cadore where he
is vacationing.
Before leading the Angelus
prayer, the Pope began his mid-
day audience by remarking on
the beauty of the surroundings,
with the “panorama of fields,
woods, and peaks towering up to
© Osservatore Romano/Pool/Immaginazione/Corbis
the sky.” In many vacation sites,
he said, appreciated for the glo-
ries of nature can be “easily trans-
formed into prayer.”
“Each good Christian knows
that vacations are an appropriate
time for physical relaxation, as
well as for nourishing the soul
by allowing more time for
prayer and meditation,” the Pope
said.
In a short reflection on the day’s
Gospel reading, which told the
familiar story of the Good Sa-
Racecourse.
Danny Casey, the event’s chief
operating officer, said: “These
events will be open to the pub-
lic, but registered pilgrims will
have priority seating wherever
places are limited.
“So those who want to get the
best view possible should com-
plete their registrations early.”
Casey said 125,000 interna-
tional pilgrims are expected to
attend the event, with the United
States and Italy expected to send
the largest contingents. (Zenit)
Barragán, president of the Antonio Golini, from the fac-
dicastery, will inaugurate the con- ulty of statistics at La Sapienza
ference. University in Rome, will illus-
Doctor An Verlinde, a mem- trate the demographics of the
ber of the pontifical council, will world’s elderly population.
moderate the first part on “The Part two, “What to think,” will
Situation.” study what Revelation, sacred
During that part, Peter Crome, Scripture, the Fathers of the
professor of geriatrics at the Uni- Church and writings from Church
versity of Keele in Great Britain history say about the care of the
and president of the English So- elderly and the infirm.
ciety of Geriatrics, will trace the The theologian of the Pontifi-
history of assistance give to the cal Household, Dominican Father
aged and infirm. Wojciech Giertych, will speak on
structure of communities that is
assured not only by governments
but also by community-based
organizations and institutions,
including those sponsored by
faith-groups, such as schools, hos-
pitals and clinics, community
centers, and youth training and
recreation programs.
© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media
Education
Archbishop Tomasi highlighted
the special importance of educa-
tion as a tool to fight poverty.
“An educated person can be
fully aware of his/her worth and
dignity and that of every human
being and can act accordingly,”
analysis is needed to understand he said. “Consider the most im-
how existing methods of trade portant feature of the person: be-
and mechanisms of production ing relational with others. Edu-
should be modified in order to cated people can establish among
lift people out of poverty.” themselves social relations not
Archbishop Tomasi noted that based on force and abuse but on
foreign aid has not ended na- respect and friendship.”
tional poverty in some countries The Holy See representative
and encouraged the directing of also noted the need for techno-
aid to community-based organi- logical development in poor na-
zations, including those spon- tions.
sored by religious groups. He said: “In order to promote
“Perhaps it is necessary to di- development at the macroeco-
rect aid to more targeted and less nomic level it seems necessary
generic projects that can bring to reinforce the productive capac-
about tangible, measurable and ity of the poorer countries by
empowering change in the daily means of investment in technical
life experience of individuals and formation; this allows for com-
families and in the social fabric petition in today’s knowledge-
of the community,” he affirmed. based economy and gives sup-
“Directing aid to the creation of port to enterprises that create new
jobs would fall within this ap- jobs and decent work.
proach. “In this regard, transnational
“Such effective aid requires corporations carry a particular
multiple channels of distribution responsibility to facilitate the
and should reach the basic infra- transfer of technology, sponsor
A7
maritan, the Pope said that Jesus
is ‘the Good Samaritan par excel-
lence because he lowered himself
to man’s estate in order to save
us. Imitation of Christ’s love, he
said, is the heart of Christian life.
Love, “aroused in us by the
Holy Spirit, makes us witnesses
of Christ,” the Pope continued.
He said that this would be the
theme of his message for the 23rd
World Youth Day, which will be
released next week. Pope
Benedict concluded his remarks
by asking the faithful to pray for
the success of the World Youth
Day celebrations in Sydney, Aus-
tralia, which will take place one
year from now.
On Saturday, July 14, the Pope
held one of the few private audi-
ences that will take place during
his vacation, greeting a delega-
tion of 50 local officials includ-
ing the mayor of Lorenzago di
Cadore and the head of the local
Treviso diocese, Bishop Andrea
Bruno Mazzocatto. (CWNews)
“Faith, Charity and the Elderly
and Infirm.”
Pastoral care of the elderly
who are sick will be studied from
the religious, biomedical,
sociopolitical and familial points
of view in part three, “What to
Do.”
Other themes that will be dis-
cussed include catechesis and
faith education, the sacramental
life and pastoral aspects linked
to psychology. (Zenit)
capacity building in manage-
ment, and enable local partners
to provide more employment
opportunities.
“Foreign investors need to
contribute to the overall devel-
opment of the country in which
they establish operations; this is
particularly relevant for those
engaged in the extraction indus-
try and other short-term com-
mercial enterprises.”
Ethical investment
Archbishop Tomasi also noted
the responsibility of govern-
ments to “assure conditions that
are favorable to ethical invest-
ment, including a well function-
ing juridical system, a stable sys-
tem of taxation, protection of the
right to property, and an infra-
structure that allows access by
local producers to regional and
global markets.”
The 66-year-old prelate af-
firmed that the eradication of
poverty is the work not just of
poor nations, but of the interna-
tional community.
“Concrete persons are the mo-
tor of development,” he said.
“Eradication of poverty is a
moral engagement. The various
religions and cultures see its
achievement as a most important
task that frees people from much
suffering and marginalization,
that helps them to live peacefully
together, and that provides indi-
viduals and communities the
freedom to protect their dignity
and actively contribute to the
common good.” (Zenit)
 CBCP Monitor
A8 People, Facts & Places Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007

CBCP Commission Markings

on Prison to Attend CELEBRATED. FR. BER-
NARD VAN SPAANDONK,
CELEBRATED. FR. WILLIAM
“BILL” MCAVOY, MHM, of the

Congress in Rome
THE Episcopal Commission on
Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) Ex-
ecutive Secretary Rudy Diamante
is set to attend the 12th Interna-
tional Catholic Commission on
Prison Pastoral Care (ICCPPC)
Congress in Rome this Septem-
ber.
“On behalf of the CBCP, I will
attend with seven chaplains and
convenors to represent the Phil-
ippine delegation to this con-
MHM, 63, of the Congrega- Congregation of St. Joseph’s
tion of Mill Hill Missionaries; Missionary Society, otherwise
25th anniversary of sacerdo- known as Mill Hill Missionaries;
tal ordination, at Western 50th year of sacerdotal ordina-
Visayas Sanitarium, Sta. Bar- tion, July 7, 2007. A native of
bara, Iloilo, on June 26, 2007. Scotland, Fr. McAvoy was
A native of the Netherlands, sent first to Uganda in 1957
Fr. Spaandonk had been as- where he worked in the Minor
action that will include moves to signed in Malaysia Sarawak Seminary of the Diocese of Tororo for 18 years. His
compel nations under UN to as a Brother for many years. second appointment was to Kenya where he helped
Following his ordination to the
comply with the ICCPPC resolu- priesthood in 1982, he was
in the formation program in the Minor Seminary of the
tions on death penalty and juve- Diocese of Kisii. In 1994 he came to the Philippines. He
sent to the Philippines and was assigned in the fol- is currently the Chaplain to the Mensa Domini Sisters
nile detention cases,” he said. lowing places: Patnongon, Antique in 1983; Bugasong/ and helps out in their Formation House. The Golden
During the congress, Diamante Guisijan, Antique from 1983-1985; and Dao, Antique, Jubilee Mass was celebrated at the Mensa Domini
from 1985-1986. He was Chaplain to Western Visayas
will be accompanied by Fr. Tony Sanitarium at Sta. Barbara, Iloilo in 1983; and from
Motherhouse.
Saniel, Fr. Angelo Durana, Fr. 1986-2002, after which he took a year of sabbatical in CELEBRATED.
Burton Villarmente, Juanito Wales. He is currently assigned as Chaplain to the STA. RITA ACAD-
Sieras, Gerald Bernabe, and Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Phil- EMY (SRA), in
ippines at their Mother House in Molo, Iloilo City.
Walen Ponce. Sibalom, Antique,
Moreover, Diamante said the 40 th anniversary

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

gress,” Diamante said.
To deliver a talk on the Death
Penalty situation in the Philip-
pines, Diamante is also set to con-
duct a workshop on children in
conflict with the law.
“Aside from reporting on the
status of the campaign against
death penalty in our country, I
will likewise give the congress a
view of how children in deten-
tion are treated in different na-
tions,” he said.
Diamante likewise said his lec-
tures are all in relation to UN’s
concrete plan of action that will
resolve issues on international
conflicting laws on death penalty
and juvenile detention cases.
“At the end of the convention,
the congress will draft a plan of
ECPPC will spearhead an appre-
ciation day celebration of the
“Justice that Heals” fund-raising
campaign on October 22, and lead
the celebration of the 20th Prison
Awareness Week on October 23
to 29. It will likewise conduct the
seventh General Assembly of
Chaplains and VIPs on Novem-
ber 27 to 30 at Maryhill Renewal
Center in Taytay, Rizal.
Apart from these endeavors,
the ECPPC also targets to com-
plete a number of its plans for
the remainder of the year. Its tar-
gets include the conduct of Re-
storative Justice Seminars among
policy makers, the advocacy for
the signing of the Second Op-
tional Protocol to the Interna-
tional Covenant on Civil and
CELEBRATED. MSGR.
THADDEUS F. MERCADO, PA,
SThD, of the archdiocese of
Nueva Segovia; 40th anniver-
sary of presbyteral ordination
and solemn investiture as
Protonotary Apostolic Super-
numerary of His Holiness Pope
Benedict XVI, at St. Paul Met-
ropolitan Cathedral, Vigan City,
ECPPC Exec Sec. Rodolfo Diamante July 2, 2007. Msgr. Mercado
was ordained in 1967 at the
Political Rights, the publication Pontificio Collegio Filipino
of the second edition of Chapel in Rome by Bishop Francis Reh. He obtained
his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical
Sourcebook on Restorative Jus- Gregorian University in 1967, and Doctorate from the
tice, and the lobby for the pas-
Angelicum University in 1981. He also took up Gradu-
sage of bills pertaining to Pre- ate Studies in Ecumenism at the Angelicum in Rome,
Trial Release Program, Correc- and Aquinas School of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa,
USA in 1969. His previous pastoral assignments were:
tional Act of 2007, and grant of Vice Rector and Rector of San Pablo Seminary in
Executive Clemency. Baguio, Archdiocesan Administrator, and Vicar Gen-
Diamante said the commission eral and Chancellor of Nueva Segovia. He was parish
doesn’t see any problem imple- priest of St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in Vigan from
2000-2006, and administrator of Sacred Heart Parish,
menting their remaining Na’alehu, and Holy Rosary Parish, Pahala, Hawaii, USA
projects. (Kris Bayos) from 2006 up to present.
of foundation;
July 10, 2007. Sta
Rita Academy
(Assumption-An-
tique) was
founded on July
10, 1967 upon the request of Rev. Father John
Nepomuceno Pamer, MHM. The first group of Sisters
were Sr. Ma. Carmela (Superior), Sr. Marie Leonie, Sr.
Maxima Eugenia, Sr. Estefania and Sr. Agueda Maria
of the Religious of the Assumption. Sta. Rita Academy
is the only Catholic Elementary School in Sibalom
owned by the Religious of the Assumption. SRA has
served families of different religious denominations
who value a holistic Christian Education for their chil-
dren. It is engaged in various out-reach programs in
the locality: Medical-Dental Mission in the barangays,
Gift giving, ‘Twinning’ with a diocesan school in San
Remigio, ‘Buruyloganay’ festivities of the municipality
and the liturgical and stewardship programs of the
Parish.
PASSED TO ETERNAL REWARD: S. Ma. Lolita Legaspi,
RVM, June 17, 2007; S. Ma. Petra Cabactulan, RVM,
June 13, 2007; S. Ma. Consolata Narvacan, RVM, June
10, 2007.

CFA trains diocesan workers

on web design
A 5-day training-workshop on
Web Design and Development
(Diocesan Media Directors
Training Series) was held at
Communication Foundation
for Asia (CFA), Sta. Mesa, Ma-
nila last July 9-13.
The 22 participants who at-
tended the training represented
18 dioceses from various parts
of the country.
The five-day workshop was
facilitated by Rev. Fr. Stephen
Cuyos, MSC. Fr. Cuyos has
been designing websites since
2001. In his lectures and dem-
onstrations he made use of free
and Open Source Softwares
(FOSS).
The training aimed “to teach
participants how to plan, de-
sign, test and promote websites
that have the perfect balance of
user performance, ease of navi-
gation and visual appeal.”
Knowledge on web-
authoring tools acquired from
the workshop will help partici-
pants “to create attractive and
professional-looking websites”
which will be of great help to
their respective dioceses.
The training-workshop was
conducted with the help of Aid
to the Church in Need Founda-
tion. (Emma Bauan)

Participants to the training-workshop conducted by CFA for Diocesan Media Directors last July 9-13.

ECY opens WYD ’08 registration

THE sub-group registration of delegates for the
upcoming World Youth 2008 in Sydney began last
July 16 and will go on until October 15 this year,
said Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) Ex-
ecutive Secretary Fr. Cunegondo Garganta.
A sub-group is composed of 5 or more interested
persons coming from the parishes, diocese, national
youth organization, school or socio-civic group.
The number of sub group for each diocese will de-
pend on how many applicants there are.
“The sub-group should be endorsed by their
bishop,” said Garganta.
A primer containing guidelines and principles
to follow for registration and other steps necessary
for application was distributed by ECY to different
dioceses to guide Filipino youth and youth minis-
ters interested to join the WYD ‘08 through ECY-
Philippines.
There are three types of participants for WYD
according to Garganta: youth pilgrims, 16-35 years
old, and minors, 16-under 18 years of age who must
be accompanied by a chaperon and carry authori-
zation from parents or legal guardian; youth min-
isters, 20-60 years of age; and adult pilgrims, 36-60
years old.
Garganta said delegates will undergo prepara-
tory session that both include spiritual and practi-
cal aspects, to make them fully prepared for the
activities that will happen in Sydney.
“This will enable the members of the sub group
to make their participation in WYD more fruitful,”
said Garganta.
The celebration of WYD on July 15-20, 2008 is
preceded by 5 days of spiritual gathering and cul-
tural activities in an Australian diocese. However,
participants may choose not to join the 5-days in
the diocese event, and concentrate only on the main
events of WYD.
Emphasizing that WYD is a journey of faith,
Garganta reiterated the importance for delegates
to fully understand the responsibility of being a
participant to WYD. The person should be fully
conscious of his motives and primary objectives in
joining the event, he said.
“Maturity in faith is also very important. Those
who want to participate should be aware of this,”
repeated Garganta.
“WYD should be a means to enrich us spiritu-
ally. As co-pilgrims we should be able to bring and
share Christ to people,” said Garganta. “In coming
back, we should be able to share to our own young
people what we have experienced there,” he added.
The upcoming 23rd WYD08 in Sydney has the
theme “You will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my wit-
nesses” (Acts 1:8).
In 1995, the Philippine Church hosted the Tenth
World Youth Day. The ecclesial event left such a
great impact on the Filipino youth, that “many
dreamt of continuing the pilgrimage, to encounter
Christ and experience a bigger community of the
faithful through this ecclesial event.”
The World Youth Day was instituted by Pope
John Paul II in 1985. Since then, it has been cel-
ebrated internationally every two or three years,
while a National Youth Day is celebrated annually
in local churches. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15 • July 23 - August 5, 2007
B1

Pastoral Concerns
B2 Updates
Priests in Public Office

B3 Diocese
Diocese of Catarman
B4
B7 Social Concern Commission:
The Tragedy of Mining in Youthful in
Rapu-Rapu Island tending the
Young

Families under pressure

Disturbing trends in
latest statistics
By Father John Flynn, L.C.
MARRIAGE and family life continue to suffer the inroads of contem-
porary society. From England came the recent news that the number
of women giving birth outside of marriage rose by 22% in the last 5
years.
According to a were born out of wedlock, that the tax and benefits system
June 29 report pub- 59,000 more than in 2001. In “brutally discriminate,” against
lished by the Daily terms of a proportion of over- two-parent families, reported
Mail newspaper, all births, in 2006 no less than the Times newspaper, June
in 2006 a total 43.7% of babies had unmar- 14.
of 327,000 ried mothers. Currently a single mother
chil- The Daily Mail quoted Pa- working 16 hours a week,
dren tricia Morgan, author of a after tax credits, gains a total
number of studies on the income of 487 pounds a week,
family, who accused the Brit- explained Field. By contrast, a
ish tax system favoring single two-parent family earning the
parenthood. “Two out of three minimum wage has to work
of the babies outside marriage 116 hours to gain the same in-
will have been born to couples come, as the tax credits system
with one eye on the benefit au- does not make allowance for
thorities,” she told the news- the second adult.
paper. Her remarks were con- The negative effects on
firmed by a former Labour families of such a system, was
Party minister for confirmed by data published
welfare reform, earlier this year by the British
Frank Field. Office for National Statistics
He ar- (ONS). According to an April
gued 11 report by the Independent
newspaper 24% of children in
Great Britain lived with just one
parent in 2006. This compares
with 22% in 2001.
These children are more
likely to live in rented housing
and in “non-decent” homes,
according to the ONS.
The report by the ONS also
found that since 1971 the pro-
portion of all people living in
traditional family households
of couples with dependent
children has fallen from 52%
to 37% of the population. In
addition, the proportion of
people living in couples with
no children rose from 19% to
25%.
www.dailymail.co.uk
Bishop endorses movie
of neophyte filmmaker
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
EPISCOPAL Commission on Youth Chairman and
Masbate Bishop Joel Z. Baylon has endorsed the highly
commendable film entitled “IDOL: Pag-asa ng Bayan”
slated to be shown commercially in several SM theaters
in the country in late July and early August.
In a letter sent to all diocesan youth directors and lead-
ers of the Federation of National Youth Organizations
(FNYO), Baylon asked youth leaders to invite friends and
fellow youth ministers to view the film.
“I am highly recommending it, and I would like to ask
you to encourage your young people and fellow youth
ministers to watch it,” said Baylon in his letter.
Baylon, who saw the movie with some bishops on July
6, said IDOL “does not mean just to entertain, but to make
us pause and think.”
“It is about honesty and truthfulness, about making
decisions on certain issues and knowing how such deci-
sions affect and change our lives—issues that are very
relevant and challenging not only to the young, but to
everyone,” explained Baylon.
Baylon cited the film as powerful in terms of its impact
on the Filipino value system.
“It hits us all to the core because the values and issues
it tackles are realities and concerns that we face today…at
home, at school, in the streets, in society…” he said.
He added that these values and issues are what we get
confronted with everyday but so often take for granted, if
not disregard completely: honesty, integrity and honor.
More than merely viewing the movie, Baylon encour-
aged the youth to go deeper and discuss among them-
selves the merits of the film.
“Watching the film, my dear young people, must make
you ask questions like, ‘Would I have done the same?’”
Baylon said. “And more importantly, I hope you also
have the right answers,” he added.
‘A wake-up call’
Fr. Nick Cruz, SJ, Ateneo Film professor and member
of MTCRB, also lauded the film, saying it is a “must-see
especially for today’s youth.”
“IDOL promises to be a ‘wake-up call’,” he said. “I
highly recommend this film not only for students but
also for teachers and parents,” he added.
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philip-
pines (CEAP) has also spearheaded a campaign among
its member schools to watch the film.
The movie in fact, had just finished its campus tour on
selected schools, some of which were Ateneo High School,
Miriam High School, Philippine Christian University, UP
Integrated School, POVEDA, XAVIER, ICA and La Salle
Greenhills. Students described the film not only as enter-
taining, but thought-provoking and touching as well.
Written and directed by Cesar Buendia, a neophyte

filmmaker; the movie depicts an unsettling analysis of the

culture of corruption in Philippine society. The film was
Lower marriage rates a project in a film workshop organized by The Garage,
Data on the numbers of Jesuit Communications Creative Technologies.
Disturbing / B2

cial concerns, on July 1, 2007, we began another two years. threat of materialism that creeps
another pastoral concern ––our year of In the report of my vocation director, into our lifestyle due to globaliza-

7
the family. This particular year is to be
led by our family and life apostolate
workers.
For this year, 2007-2008, we would
like to specifically put a premium on
coming up with better and more re-
sponsive FLA programs for our Chris-
QUESTIONS tian families.
I would like to anticipate that in the
coming twelve months, our ministry
for families would go beyond its usual
an area that still needs to be improved is
the entry and coordination of vocation
promoters from religious congrega-
tions. While I believe that vocation
to diocesan priesthood is essentially
distinct from vocation to religious life,
it does not sit well with me to find out
that a number of religious vocation pro-
moters “trespass” into our territory.
How is the continuing formation pro-
tion?
I have a different wording for
globalization-induced materialism
that you refer to. I call it cultural
shifts. I do not completely condemn
the phenomenon of globalization;
but, of course, I take a critical stand
against elite globalization that is
characterized by an unquenchable
corporate greed as exemplified by
the trans-national mining corpora-

Bishop Antonio
services—pre-Cana seminars, marriage gram of your clergy? tions fixing their eye of interest unto
validation orientation seminars, etc. In consonance with the CBCP and our mineral-rich country or are
I would like also to see that hon- region-initiated formation program actually already raping our nation’s

P. Palang, SVD,
est-to-goodness discussions on other for the clergy, the AVSJ implements natural resources.
equally crucial issues relative to fam- its own formation for clergy. I have an As we become one global village,
ily—such as reproductive health, episcopal vicar for this. it’s part of an ensuing process that

APPOINTED Apostolic Administrator
of the Vicariate on June 26, 2000, Most
Rev. Antonio P. Palang, SVD, DD, was
ordained bishop on May 31, 2002. On
the same day, he was installed as Vicar
Apostolic of the Apostolic Vicariate of
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. In this
issue of CBCP Monitor, Bishop Palang
talks about the different programs in the
apostolic vicariate: the implementation
of social concerns agenda, the family life
apostolate, pastoral work on vocations,
the continuing formation of the clergy
and his relationship with them, and the
effects of globalization and consumerism
in our lifestyle and values.
How are the social concern agenda
of the Church being implemented
in your diocese?
We launched the year of social
concerns in the Apostolic Vicariate
of San Jose (AVSJ) on July 1, 2006,
which coincided with the anniver-
sary of the canonical establishment
of the vicariate. We closed our year
of social concerns last June 30, 2007.
At present, we are going around
the local Church assessing and
documenting the interventions that
every parish and vicars forane have
DD
children’s rights, family catechesis—are Geography is the primary obstacle to weaker cultures are being eaten up
done down to the level of the BEC’s or a frequent clergy and religious gather- by stronger ways of life. As it were,
grassroots to awaken in our people a ing; yet we manage to regularly meet at we are led to a journey that seems
critical stand and lead them to a kind of least four times a year. It is during these to end with the most dominant
life that bears witness to the teachings meetings that we collectively have our culture imposed on the entire global
planned and implemented relative to of the Church. human and spiritual formation, do our population.
this year of particular ministry. rest and recreation, and seriously talk I see the role of the Church along
By and large, about our pas- this line as: to ensure that Gospel
our year of so-
cial concerns
I do not completely condemn the phenomenon of toral plans. values unendingly permeate the ex-
isting and yet-to-exist life patterns
is about advo- globalization; but, of course, I take a critical stand against How would of people, and to advocate for glo-
cacies—e.g., you generally calization (emphasis on the local) in
against mining, elite globalization that is characterized by an unquenchable describe your lieu of brazen globalization.
small town lot- corporate greed as exemplifi ed by the trans-national mining relationship
Would you say that consumerism
tery, charter with your
change, etc. corporations fi xing their eye of interest unto our mineral- clergy? has affected our sense of values?
Parallel to my view on globaliza-
These advoca-
cies have been
rich country or are actually already raping our nation’s Prior to my
appointment tion-caused materialism, my thoughts
AVSJ’s priori- natural resources. as Vicar Apos- on consumerism is practically on
ties already for tolic of AVSJ, cultural perspective. Consumerism is
quite a long time now. Thankfully, on How is the pastoral work on vocations I worked as seminary formator in the a mind system determining how we
this year of social concerns, these have in your diocese? island of Mindoro. Majority of our di- live. As in a contest, it presents itself
been taken up and appropriated by our I am glad to say that if the number of ocesan priests were my students. That’s as an alternative to Church-preached
parishes—and, in the process, have be- our seminarians were to be the gauge, an advantage for me! life ways.
come broader in scope and quality. I could claim that our vocation pro- Admittedly, I am more at ease with In this view, the Church is being
Having closed our year of social motions in Occidental Mindoro have the role of a father to my priests. I am challenged never to be complacent
concerns, I look forward to the start of already improved. less inclined to act as an administrator as may be occasioned by its being an
institutionalization of social projects For the last five years, our average to them. institution of a long history. In these
or initiatives in our every parish. I am enrollment of new seminarians is This preference is not always a guar- times, our prospect requires us to be
confident that we are ready for this ven- seven to nine. Such is already a mod- antee for a smooth bishop-and-priests more seriously creative and enter-
ture, given our maturity in this pastoral est number, considering that annually relationship. But I see no reason to dis- prising in our evangelization efforts.
enterprise. our seminary receives more than one continue it, for I knew that any model The Gospel of the Lord needs to be
hundred applications from interested of relationship will always be found relevantly preached. More convinc-
How is the family and life apostolate secondary education seniors. wanting. ingly, the Gospel truth must reach our
in your diocese? For this year, we shall have an ordi- people as THE way of life to freedom,
Actually, as we closed the year of so- nation. And God willing, two more, in What is your take on the perceived happiness and salvation.

vol11-n15 B.indd 1 7/24/2007 5:32:29 PM

 CBCP Monitor
B2 Updates Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007

Priests in public office

IN two recent issues, we had dedicated this col-
umn to the question of Catholic Associations and
Partisan Politics and Priest and Politics. The two
articles had taken for granted that even if priests
could be tempted to get involved in partisan
politics, they would never run for public office
themselves and much less assume public office.
Now it appears that this criterion is not very ob-
vious to everyone. From the start, let me clarify
that here we shall be examining the issue from
the canonical standpoint—i.e., without getting
into the inner motives of the persons, which are
more properly something for the internal forum
of Confession or spiritual direction.
The Role of the Priest in Political Life in
General
The Directory on the Ministry and Life of
Priests, issued by the Congregation for the Clergy
on 31.I.1994, summarized the underlying prin-
ciples for the canonical dispositions that we shall
shortly take up.
• “The priest, as
servant of the univer-
sal Church, cannot tie
himself to any histori-
cal contingency, and
therefore must be above
any political party. He
cannot take an active
role in political parties
or labor unions, unless
according to the judg-
ment of the ecclesiasti-
cal authority, the rights
of the Church and the
defense of common good require it.”
• “In fact, even if these [political parties and
labor unions] are good things in themselves, they
are nevertheless foreign to the clerical state, since
they can constitute a grave danger of division in
the ecclesial communion.”
• “Like Jesus (cf. Jn 6, 15 ff.), the priest ought to
refrain from actively engaging himself in politics,
as it often happens, in order to be a central point
of spiritual fraternity. All the faithful, therefore,
must be able to approach the priest without feel-
ing inhibited for any reason.”
• “The Priest will remember that it does not
fall on the shoulders of the Pastors of the Church
to intervene directly in political activities and in
social organizations. This task, in fact, forms part
of the lay faithful’s vocation, in which they work
by their own initiative together with their fellow
citizens. Nevertheless, he will not be absent in the
effort to form in them an upright conscience.”
Canon Law categorically prohibits Clerics as-
suming Public Office
Can. 285, §3 of the Code of Canon Law cat-
egorically states: Clerics are forbidden to assume
public offices which entail a participation in the
exercise of civil power.
As mentioned earlier, this norm finds its
doctrinal justification in the very nature of the
ministerial priesthood and—consequently—in
the proper mission of the sacred ministers. Clerics
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
In the recently held Philippine elections, several priests ran for public office. One, in fact, was elected
governor of his province. It caused quite a furor in ecclesiastical circles, but thankfully the scandal
seems to be waning. The problem now is how to explain the affair to concerned faithful, who continue
to ask the following questions: Was the priest right to run for public office? Is it correct to say that
it is alright for him to assume public office, since he is on leave from his priestly ministries? After
his term of public office, can he return to active ministry as a priest?
are consecrated by a particular sacrament (Holy
Orders) and sent (through a canonical mission) in
order to be dispensers of the mysteries of God (1
Cor 4, 1), or in words of Vatican II, to preach the
Gospel, to shepherd the faithful and to celebrate
divine worship, as true priests of the New Testa-
ment (Lumen Gentium, 28).
Four things need to be emphasized regarding
c.285, §3:
1st. It is a norm of Universal Law—thus oblig-
ing all priests of the Roman Catholic Church:
whether secular or religious, and whatever the
personal and social circumstances in which they
may be exercising their ministry.
2nd. The prohibition extends to the exercise
of all civil power—in all its forms: executive,
legislative or judicial.
3rd. It is an imperative norm—going much
further than a mere counsel or recommendation.
This is clear not only from the categorical tenor
of the canon—Clerics are forbidden—but also
from the absence of any provision or consider-
ation of the possibility of obtaining permission
to act to the contrary, as in the cases of the other
prohibitions, e.g.:
• Without the permission of their Ordinary,
clerics are neither to become agents for goods
belonging to laypersons nor assume secular
In the case of San Fernando, the priest-turned-provincial
governor has been suspended from his priestly functions
and duties. It is quite incorrect to portray the whole matter
as if he were on leave from his priestly ministry; in the same
way that it would be wrong for someone to claim he were on
vacation from his job when in fact he has been suspended
from exercising it further because of something he has done
in violation of company policy.
offices which entail an obligation to render ac-
counts… (c.285, §4).
• Clerics are forbidden to conduct, person-
ally or through others, business or trade either
for their own or that of others, without the
permission of legitimate ecclesiastical authority
(c.286).
• Clerics are not to have an active role in politi-
cal parties and in the direction of labor unions,
unless the need to protect the rights of the Church
or to promote the common good requires it in
the judgment of the competent ecclesiastical
authority (c.287, §2).
4th. But it is not a penal norm—i.e., there is
no law specifically typifying the violation of the
prohibition (a priest taking public office with
public power) as an ecclesiastical crime and
specifying the punishment attached to it. This is
indeed curious, since other prohibitions stated
less taxatively are in fact typified as crimes—e.g.,
clerics or religious who practice trade or business
against the prescriptions of the canons are to be
punished in accord with the seriousness of the
offense (c.1392).
Violation of this Prohibition can be Punished
by Ecclesiastical Authority
Notwithstanding the absence of a specific
penal law—typifying the violation of the prohibi-
tion for clerics to assume public office as a crime,
and attaching a penalty—the violation of this
prohibition can be punished by singular precept
or by judicial or administrative decree according
to c.1399 which states: Besides the cases stated
here or in other laws, an external violation of a
divine or ecclesiastical law can be punished by a
just penalty only when the particular seriousness
of the violation demands punishment and there
is an urgent need to preclude or repair scandal.
Can.1399 is the ultimate recourse of the eccle-
siastical authority in order to exercise—with
due cause—the ius poenandi (right to inflict
penal sanctions) which is part of the power of
jurisdiction of the Church. For the salus ani-
marum—which does not exclude the good of
the faithful who is guilty of an action which is
harmful both to himself and to the ecclesiastical
community—the Ordinary can impose a penalty
on whoever persists to violate an ecclesiastical
law in a serious way, despite due warning. As
c.1311 declares: The Church has an innate and
proper right to coerce offending members of the
Christian faithful by means of penal sanctions.
The Case of San Fernando
In the recent notorious case of a priest running
for—and subsequently winning and assum-
ing—public office in the diocese of San Fernando
(Pampanga), the canonical data are quite clear as
follows:
First, the priest ran
for public office, despite
stern and repeated warn-
ings from his archbishop
not to do so. It is not cor-
rect to say that he was on
leave from his priestly
ministry, and therefore
could assume public of-
fice, since the Universal
Law precludes such a
possibility.
Second, the archbish-
op of San Fernando, ex-
ercising his ius poenandi under c.1399, in fact
proceeded to inflict a penalty on the erring priest:
a suspension.
Third, according to c.1333, §1, a suspension
is a form of censure, imposed only on clerics,
which forbids him from carrying out: (1) either
all or some acts of the power of Orders (i.e., from
carrying out priestly functions); (2) either all or
some acts of the power of governance (e.g., from
carrying out pastoral or administrative functions
as parish priest); (3) the exercise of either all or
some rights or functions which are attached to
an office.
In the case of San Fernando, the priest-turned-
provincial governor has been suspended from his
priestly functions and duties. It is quite incorrect
to portray the whole matter as if he were on
leave from his priestly ministry; in the same way
that it would be wrong for someone to claim he
were on vacation from his job when in fact he
has been suspended from exercising it further
because of something he has done in violation
of company policy.
Only the same ecclesiastical authority (the
archbishop in this case) who imposed the sus-
pension has the power to lift it, and it would be
up to him to do so and when to do so. In other
words, it wouldn’t be up to the priest to return
to ecclesial ministry at his pleasure, but rather up
to the ecclesiastical authority to give him back his
ministry or otherwise.
Perpetual exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament
SHOULD perpetual adoration or exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament take place in parishes?
RESPONSE: The Roman Ritual: Holy Communion and
Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass (HCWEOM),
no. 90, states that, according to their constitutions and
regulations, some religious communities and other pi-
ous groups have the practice of perpetual eucharistic
adoration or adoration over extended periods of time.
If by “perpetual eucharistic adoration” is meant prayer
before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle, this in-
volves no special permission. However, if by “perpetual
eucharistic adoration” is meant adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament exposed in the ciborium or monstrance, the
permission of the local Ordinary is required.
Perpetual exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is
a devotion and practice which is permitted to those
religious communities that have it as an integral part
of their communal life and to pious associations of the
laity which have received official recognition.
If a pious association of the laity, which has perpetual
exposition as a part of its constitution, is established
within a parish, the activity of that association should
be seen as separate from that of the parish, although all
members of the parish are free to participate in it.
May perpetual exposition take place in the parish
church?
RESPONSE: Because perpetual exposition is a de-
votional practice of a religious community or a pious
association, it should normally take place in a chapel
of that religious community or association. If for some
good reason perpetual exposition must take place in
a parish church, it should be in a chapel distinct from
the body of the church so as not to interfere with the
normal activities of the parish or its daily liturgical
celebrations.
When Mass is celebrated in a chapel where the Blessed
Sacrament is exposed, the Eucharist must be replaced in
the tabernacle before the celebration of Mass begins.
May perpetual exposition take place twenty-four
hours a day, 365 days a year?
RESPONSE: Groups authorized to have perpetual
exposition are bound to follow all the liturgical norms
given in Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucha-
rist outside Mass, nos. 82-100. Under no circumstances
may perpetual exposition take place during the Easter
Triduum. There should always be a sufficient number
of people present for Eucharistic adoration before the
Blessed Sacrament exposed (see HCWEOM, no. 88).
Every effort should be made to ensure that there should
be at least two people present. There must absolutely
never be periods when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed
and there is no one present for adoration. It may prove
necessary to expose the Blessed Sacrament for adora-
tion only at stated times when members of the faithful
are present.
Who is responsible for overseeing perpetual exposi-
tion?
RESPONSE: The local Ordinary has the responsi-
bility for the regulation of perpetual exposition. He
determines when it is permissible and establishes the
regulations to be followed in regard to perpetual expo-
sition of the Blessed Sacrament. He normally entrusts
the superior or chaplain of religious communities or the
local pastor or chaplain, in the case of pious associa-
tions, with the responsibility of seeing that the liturgical
norms and his regulations are followed.
Must the local bishop permit perpetual exposition?
RESPONSE: The bishop is responsible for all matters
pertaining to the right ordering of the celebration of the
Eucharist and adoration and devotion to the Eucharist
outside Mass. It is his duty to promote and guide the
liturgical life of the diocese. Consequently, he alone
determines the pastoral appropriateness of perpetual
exposition in his diocese and accordingly may permit
it or not and may limit the number of places where it
takes place.
(Source: Committee on the Liturgy, USCCB)

Disturbing / B1
marriages had family groups warning that divorce, although not all couples that regis- remain together, those who see their mar-

The CBCPWorld Network

the institution was under serious threats,
reported the Telegraph newspaper, Feb. 22.
Figures from the ONS for 2005 revealed that
the number of people choosing to marry fell
A network of Dioceses, Parishes, in 2005 by 10%, leading to the lowest mar-
riage rates since they were first calculated
Catholic Schools and religious in 1862. There were 244,710 marriages in
groups. Today, over a hundred of England and Wales in 2005, down from
273,070 in 2004.
them nationwide. Pursuing one
www.cbcpworld.com | training@cbcpworld.net | +632 4041612, 4042182
ter their separation then go on to divorce.
One of the few bits of comforting infor-
mation on the family came from the United
States, where the divorce rate is continuing
to decline, reported the Associated Press
on May 10. The divorce rate peaked at 5.3
divorces per 1,000 people in 1981. It has
continued to drop and is now at 3.6 per
thousand, the lowest rate since 1970.
riage breakup are at increased risk of mental
health problems, in particular depression.
Financial difficulties often follow marital
dissolution, added the report. This is espe-
cially the case for women, who according to
data from a 10-year study from 1994/1995
to 2004/2005 in Canada, are nearly three
times as likely as their men to experience
a major decline in household income fol-

Families in Ireland are also declining, lowing divorce.

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according to statistics recently published
by the Central Statistics Office. Information
released from the 2006 census showed that
the traditional family unit has declined in
all of the nation’s main cities since 2002,
reported the Irish Times on June 1.
Moreover, unmarried cohabiting couples
are the fastest growing type of family unit in
Ireland. In 2002, the total number of cohabit-
ing couples was 77,600. By 2006 this rose to
121,000, an increase from 8.4% of all family
units in 2002 to 11.6% by last year. Lone
parents, the vast majority of them women,
accounted for 152,542 Irish households.
Commenting on the figures for the Iona
Institute, John P. Byrne, author of a recent
paper on tax and the family, said that the
current tax regime penalizes single income
married couples to the tune of up to €6,240
per annum.
“As a society, we need to examine how to
make the economy more family-friendly,”
he added in the June 28 press statement
released by the institute.
Meanwhile, data published by Italy’s
Central Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), re-
vealed that from 1995 to 2005 the number
of divorces sharply increased. According to
a report by the Repubblica newspaper June
26, over the 10-year period divorces grew
by 74%, reaching 47,036 in 2005.
The number of separations increased by
57.3% in the 10-year period, reaching 82,291
in 2005. Under Italian law separation is the
preliminary stage in being able to obtain a
Divorce data
Nevertheless, an analysis in the May
21 edition of the Wall Street Journal of the
report published by the Associated Press
showed that interpreting the data is not
that simple. For a start the statistics deal
with divorces as a proportion of the total
population, but don’t reveal what percent-
age of marriages end in divorce.
In addition, while divorces have de-
clined, so too has the marriage rate per 1,000
people, by some 30% in the past 25 years.
Therefore, with more couples cohabitat-
ing a part of the decline in divorce could
be due to people living together so that
the eventual separations are not counted
as divorces. The matter is complicated by
the fact that a decade ago the government
stopped collecting more detailed statistics
on marriage and divorce that would allow
a clearer analysis of the situation.
Further data on divorce came from Cana-
da, in the May edition of “Health Reports,”
published by the government body, Statis-
tics Canada. The agency calculated that in
Canada, an estimated 4 marriages in 10 will
end before the couple celebrates their 30th
wedding anniversary. The most recent data
available from the Divorce Registry is for
the year 2003. It showed that nearly 71,000
married couples divorced in 2003.
The report then went on to detail some of
the deleterious effects of divorce. Detailed
studies from the United States and Europe
suggest that, compared with people who
The Canada study also confirmed the
overseas experience that shows a link
between divorce and depression. This as-
sociation is present even when other events
that often accompany a break-up, such as
a drop in income and a decline in social
support are taken into account. The study
showed that it was men who were more at
risk of experiencing depression following
divorce than were women.
Hearth of life
Family life continues to be a frequent
theme in Benedict XVI’s speeches. “The
family was and is the school of faith, the
training-ground for human and civil val-
ues, the hearth in which human life is
born and is generously and responsibly
welcomed,” he noted in his May 13
speech opening the 5th General Confer-
ence of the Episcopate of Latin America
and the Caribbean.
The Pope also observed that the
family is suffering adversity due to the
forces of secularism, ethical relativism,
poverty and legislation weakening
marriage. It is indispensable, he urged,
for the Church to engage in vigorous
pastoral care of families.
Moreover, the Pontiff continued, it
is indispensable to promote family life
through adequate public policies. “The
family,” he said, “constitutes part of the
good of peoples and of the whole of hu-
manity.” (Rome, July 16, 2007, Zenit)

vol11-n15 B.indd 2 7/24/2007 5:33:04 PM

 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007
The Diocese of Catarman
IF you take a look at the map of the
Philippines, at the eastern edge you will
notice a contour of a dragged footstep—
this is the island of Samar. The Diocese
of Catarman comprises the whole
province of Northern Samar. Catarman
being the capital of the province and the
seat of the Diocese; is the front sole of
the foot. When this writer asked Sen.
Mar Roxas during his dialogue with
the clergy on August 28, 2006, why
Northern Samar had been neglected
by the Government, his reply was to
ask for something that could speak of
Northern Samar. In fact, some see the
whole island as a place with nothing to
boast of, no identity to flaunt at, and no
name to brag of, except the occasional
mention of PAGASA locating the po-
sition of a coming typhoon, which is
usually east of the island of Samar. The
reason why Samar is almost ignored
by the top leaders of our government
is contained in what my late father de-
scribed in his History of Laoang, “The
main livelihood of the Samareños is
fishing, farming, and politics.”
A Place with a Glorious Past
Yet, the Diocese of Catarman sits on
a place which was the sight of a glori-
ous past, of being one of anchorages of
Spanish trades, of being the cradle of
Christianity in Eastern Visayas, and of
being a gate to the Visayas and Mind-
anao in the present time.
The coasts of Northern Samar became
important ports of Spanish international
trade and the evangelization of eastern
Visayas for two hundred years after the
discovery of the Philippine archipelago
in 1521. The sea that divided the south-
ern tip of Luzon and the northern tip
of Samar was an important route of
Spanish ships (naos as the Spaniards
would call them) that would cross the
Pacific Ocean.
The island of Samar had no resources
sufficient to support its inhabitants till
the coming of the Spaniards. Northern
Samar, unlike Central Luzon, was not
blessed with large plains which allowed
large scale of monoculture of rice. Only
the plains of Palapag through the Catubig
valley and some parts of Catarman were
the major lowland areas available for the
cultivation of rice. Moreover, infestation of
rats and locusts and the occasional ravages
of typhoons and floods would sometimes
seriously reduce rice harvests, which led
the people to rely on camote and gabi (taro).
Thus, the inhabitants had to turn to the sea
for food. With the coming of the Spaniards
and the consequent entry of Samar into
world market, the Samareños found new
resources: beeswax and abaca, the two
articles of high value in international trade.
Without the rope made of abaca, sailing
ships in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries was extremely difficult. Without
the beeswax from Samar, the households
of the upper classes of Spain, Mexico, and
Peru would be engulfed in night darkness.
Palapag was the Pacific terminus while
Capul was the stop-over of the galleons
which plied to and from Manila and
Mexico once a year. It was in Palapag
that these precious articles were loaded
into the Spanish ships. Capul, being a
major stop-over, perhaps got its name
from the word “Acapulco.”
The Christianization of Samar Is-
land
The seed of the Gospel was brought
to the island of Samar by the Jesuit
missionaries. The pioneering task of
evangelization began on October 15,
1596, with the establishment of a mis-
sion station in a large village called
Tinagon, today known as Dapdap,
the former site of the poblacion now at
Tarangnan, Western Samar. The first
evangelizers were Fathers Francisco
Ortazo, Bartolome Martes, and Brother
Domingo Alonzo. The first cabecera to
assume the responsibility for the vast
region of northern and eastern Samar
was Catubig located in Northern Samar.
But since the missionaries felt that the
place was too far removed and too deep
in the interior, the center was moved to
a place near the eastern shoulder of the
island sometime in 1605 and 1606. This
was Palapag (which in later years became
also the springboard of rebellion against
the Spanish Government). Eleven years
later, Catbalogan was established as an-
other center replacing Tinagon which was
often the object of Moro plunders. Thus,
Palapag in the North and Catbalogan in
the West became the centers of mission in
the whole island of Samar, except the towns
from Basey to Guiuan which belonged to
the Augustinian mission of Dagami. The
Palapag mission covered the north and
eastern parts of the island (from Biri to
Borongan) while the Catbalogan mission
covered the western section including the
island of Capul which now belongs to the
province of Northern Samar.
The Sheep in the midst of Wolves
The missionaries who brought the
Christian Faith to the island of Samar were
not spared from the stalking martyrdom
in the hands of Moro pirates and blood-
thirsty natives. The worst Moro plunder
happened sometime in 1774 or 1775 when
vol11-n15 B.indd 3
the Moros razed to the ground the village
of Catubig. Catubig used to be where
Las Navas is now situated but moved
to its present location after the Moros
burned it. Fr. Vicente Lopez, a Franciscan
friar, became the protector of the lives and
properties of the Samareños. Toward the
end of the eighteenth century, he arrived
in Catarman where he taught himself how
to handle war implements and strategies.
Historian Fr. Juan Duarez y Santa Cruz
said: “The reason Samar is not part of the
Muslim kingdom is due to the zeal, valor
and endurance of the priests who are the
captains, who defend in all ways the law
and flock of Jesus Christ.”
The Franciscan Missionaries
After King Charles III expelled the Jesu-
its from the Spanish colonies in 1768, the
Franciscans took over the vacated missions
in Samar. They arrived in the provincial
capital of Catbalogan on September 25,
1768, and immediately took over the mis-
sion centers of Catbalogan and Palapag.
The Augustinians who had also held Gui-
uan, Balangiga and Basey had to cede these
pueblos to the Franciscans due to the short-
age of priests. The last Jesuit rector of the
Palapag mission was Fr. Roque Corbinos
who was at the same time the Vice-Provin-
cial for the whole Visayan Jesuit mission.
The Franciscans continued to administer
some parishes in Samar until 1941 when
they decided to turn over the parishes to
the care and services of the secular and
native clergy. In 1952, the Franciscans of
the Province of the Assumption (USA)
took over the pastoral care of Balicuatro
areas, the towns along the western coast of
Northern Samar. They left this mission in
1992 with the last parish of San Isidro.
Creation of Parishes and Mission Cen-
ters
For three centuries the mission of Pala-
pag was a great influence in the Christian-
ization of the whole of Samar island. From
this mission center a pastorship was placed
in Bobon in 1697 while Catarman became
dependent on it. In 1768 Laoang was al-
ready a pueblo when the Franciscans took
over the administration from the Jesuits. In
the 1800’s there was a birth of new
parishes and mission centers.
In 1864 Capul became
an independent parish,
freeing from Calbayog
in ecclesiastical mat-
ters. Other pueblos
which got their own
pastors were Catu-
big, Allen, and Cat-
arman. In 1901, San
Antonio celebrated
its first fiesta, finally
changing the name
Manoglaya to the Pa-
tron’s name. In 1903,
Lavezares got a
permanent
pastor
Bishop Emmanuel C. Trance, DD and the Diocesan Catholic Center
in the name of a Samareño native, Fr. Wenc-
eslao Singzon. In 1949, Gamay became a
parish but got its permanent pastor only
in 1950. Two new municipalities became
parishes in the 1950’s: San Jose, formerly
Carangián, and San Isidro, a former barrio
of Allen. When the Diocese of Borongan
was created in 1962, Gamay, Lapinig, and
Mapanas were annexed to the new diocese
while the new municipality of San Roque
was created a parish a year after.
The Birth of the Diocese
Since 1596 the whole island of Samar
was part of the Diocese of Cebu which was
erected a diocese by Pope Clement VIII, on
August 14, 1596. Pope Pius X separated
the islands of Samar and Leyte from the
Diocese of Cebu by creating the Diocese of
Calbayog on April 10, 1910. On November
28, 1937, the island of Leyte became inde-
pendent from the Diocese of Calbayog
through the creation of the Diocese of
Palo. On October 22, 1960, Pope John XXIII
decreed the division of the island of Samar
into two dioceses by erecting the Diocese
of Borongan. In the civil side, Republic
Act 4221, divided the island of Samar into
three provinces: Eastern Samar, Samar,
which comprised the western portion of
the island, and the Province of Northern
Diocese
By Msgr. Gaspar D. Balerite, H.P., S.Th.D.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation at Catarman, Northern Samar
Samar. On January 1, 1968, the Province
of Northern Samar was fully organized.
Three years later, the Provincial Board
of the new province unanimously ap-
proved Resolution 62-H requesting Pope
Paul VI through his Nuncio to the
Philippines, Archbishop Camine
Rocco, to make Northern Samar
a separate diocese with See in
Catarman. Pope Paul VI is-
sued a Bull “Quae Ampliores
Exspectantur” on December
5, 1974, creat-
ing a diocese comprising the Province
of Northern Samar with the See in Cat-
arman. On March 11, 1975, Archbishop
Bruno Torpigliani, Papal Nuncio to the
Philippines; formally installed the Most
Rev. Angel T. Hobayan, D.D., as the
first Residential Bishop of the new dio-
cese. Most Rev. Emmanuel C. Trance,
D.D. was installed as Auxiliary Bishop
of the diocese on August 12, 2004. He
succeeded as Bishop of the diocese
on March 11, 2005 upon retirement of
Bishop Hobayan.
The Diocese Lived its Prophetic
Role
The Diocese of Catarman was born
during the dark period of Martial
Law. Faithful to the prophetic role of
the Church, the new diocese had to
respond to the call of the time. Killings,
massacres, mass evacuations, tortures,
illegal detentions ruled this period. The
Martial Law of President Ferdinand E.
Marcos wrought havoc not only on the
political stability of the country but on the
seemingly unperturbed institution of the
Catholic Church. Owing to the massive
opposition to the martial rule the entire
country became a favorable environment
for the growth of the communist New
B3
People’s Army. After the rebels staged suc- were almost always out under suspicion
cessful ambushes on government troops in by the military. The suspicion did not re-
different areas of the island of Samar, five main a suspicion. On December 20, 1979,
battalions of Philippine Constabulary were Fr. Restituto Cardenas, Jr., the Diocesan
sent to the entire island. Northern Samar Social Actions Director, was arrested and
got the infamous 60th Battalion, and a Bri- incarcerated without Arrest, Search and
gade camp of Philippine Army was set up Seizure Order (ASSO). To dramatize and
in Catarman. Violations of human rights stage the effect on the people when a priest
in the form of outright arrests, summary would be unjustly incarcerated, the Bishop,
executions of suspected enemies of the in consultation with the presbyterium sus-
regime, and other military abuses created pended the celebrations of Christmas and
fear among the Nortehanons. The whole New Year midnight Masses. There were
province experienced massive evacua- mixed emotions among the people but
tions of barrio folks from their understanding of the situation prevailed.
farms to the populated The bishop and his clergy wrote letters of
towns. All through appeal to the leaders of the Church and
government. Finally, Fr. Cardenas was
released on January 11, 1980.
On September 15, 1981, the in-
habitants of the village of Sag-od
in the municipality of Las Navas
were massacred by Integrated
Civilian Home Defense Forces
and military deserters acting
as mercenaries in the security
force belonging to the log-
ging concession owned by
the family of then Secretary
of National Defense, Juan
Ponce Enrile. These men first
herded the male and strafed
them to the ground, and
when the women protested,
they too together with chil-
dren and toddlers received
volleys of fire. The event was
in retaliation to the burning
of heavy equipments owned
by the company. The male
population of Sag-od was
IMPORTANT FACTS: suspected as NPA. When
Bishop 1 the Diocesan Office of Social
Priests: Action documented and protested the
Diocesan 59 unjust and genocidal act, a reply came in
Religious 2 the form of calumny in the newspaper. In
Sisters:
the front page of a government sequestered
national daily the Diocese of Catarman
Filipino 45
was the headline. A certain Cecilio Arillo,
Seminarians: a native of Catarman but a Manila writer
Theology 20 allied to Enrile, authored an article alleging
Philosophy 30 that Bishop Hobayan confided to a certain
Doing Pastoral work 1 Australian writer, Peter Hastings, that eight
Pre-College 19 of his clergy had jumped off to the fold of
Minor 4 the NPA’s. In a visit to the Brigade camp
Seminary 1 in Catarman by Sec. Enrile, the priests of
Diocesan Divisions:
the diocese were also invited to what an
army officer had called a dialogue with the
Vicariates 4
Secretary. This writer acting in his capacity
Parishes 21
as Mass Media Director of the diocese in-
Mission Centers 5 formed Enrile that the newspaper account
Chaplaincy 1 was false and baseless. But the Secretary
Educational Centers: retorted with a chilling quip: “A priest who
Kindergartens 7 crosses the line between politics and reli-
Primary/elementary 1 gion should be dealt with RUTHLESSLY.”
High Schools 6 Until now the perpetrators of the infamous
College 1 massacre have never been brought to jus-
Population 500,639 tice. Meanwhile, the license of the logging
concession was halted in 1989, when the
Catholics 365,967
Catubig River which was a tributary of the
Area 3,498 sq. kms. big falls in the logging area swelled and a
hundred people perished.
these sufferings the diocese stood with the
people, provided the refugees with relief, Pastoral Concerns
documented human rights violations, and Since 1985, Catarman has been nurtur-
protested the injustices inflicted upon the ing the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC)
people. as the apostolic thrust of the diocese. As a
But such involvement put the young result, a BEC secretariat was formed and a
diocese under attack. Bishop Hobayan felt year after, the Religious of the Sacred Heart
that any effort aimed at helping the refu- (RSCJ) came to Catarman in response to
gees and protests against the militarization Catarman / B6
7/24/2007 5:33:05 PM
 CBCP Monitor
B4 Commissions Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007

CBCP Youth Ministry:

Youthful in tending the young

By Kris Bayos

AFTER successfully launching a Father to the Youth of the World on

number of activities for the youth
apostolate, the CBCP Episcopal Com-
mission on Youth (ECY) proves to
be extra motivated in launching yet
another smorgasbord of activities bent
on nourishing the youth ministry.
In its report during the 95th CBCP
Plenary Meeting last July 7 to 8, the
ECY laid out its upcoming youth min-
istry events, inspired by the successful
launch of Unang Hakbang and other
projects pertaining to it.
This November, ECY will be gather-
ing some 400 youth ministers around
the country in the Archdiocese of Jaro
for a kickoff National Conference of
Youth Ministers. A convention of the
national youth coordinating council
will then follow.
Come December, ECY will spear-
head the Youth Ministry Awareness
Week. Celebrated a week prior to the
National Youth Day, this celebration
hopes to become an opportunity for
the local Churches, through their di-
ocesan youth ministries, to promote
awareness and understanding of the
importance of the youth ministry.
With the National Youth Day cel-
ebration on December 16, the ECY
will prepare and distribute a module
that deepens the message of the Holy
the occasion of the 22nd World Youth
Day.
Just as preparations are made for the
World Youth Day 2008 at Sydney, Aus-
tralia on July 15 to 20, 2008, the ECY
has also laid down its plans for the Fili-
pino delegation, including organizing
the ECY-Philippines, a group that will
work in close coordination with the
Australian Organizers for settlement
of travel and accommodation concerns
of the delegates. The ECY-Philippines
will be implementing similar policies
and principles as it has done for the
past WYD celebrations.
After the WYD, another pilgrimage
is set to take place under ECY. In co-
operation with the Taizé Community
from France, ECY will sponsor the Pil-
grimage of Trust in Manila within the
first quarter of 2009. It is expected that
Brothers from the Taizé Community
will frequent the country to visit the
dioceses and youth organizations.
Finally, ECY will host the fifth
Asian Youth Day (AYD) in response
to the invitation of the Federation of
Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).
Although the ECY accepted the post of
hosting the AYD, the organizers have
yet to decide on the date and program
of this event. Filipino delegation to the 4th Asian Youth Day held in Hongkong last August 2006. Photo courtesy of ECY

Liturgy and Ecumenism:

How to apply
Participants in the National Convention of Catechetical Directors, Coordinators and ACCCRE Officers held at St.
Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City last July 9-11, 2007. Photo courtesy of ECCCE

Vatican Council II
by Sandro Magister

JUST a few months ago, the French bish-
ops were extremely concerned about the
news that Benedict XVI was preparing
to liberalize the celebration of the Mass
labeled as that of Pius V. “Such a deci-
sion endangers the Church’s unity,”
wrote the most alarmed of them.
Benedict XVI shot straight from the
hip, with the “motu proprio” released
on July 7. But there was no reaction
of rejection from the French bishops.
Nor was there from the bishops of the
touchiest countries: Switzerland, Ger-
many, Great Britain. On the contrary,
their most authoritative leaders hailed
the pope’s decision with positive com-
ments: from the German cardinal Karl
Lehmann to the English cardinal Cor-
mac Murphy O’Connor, both ranked
among the progressives.
my life as a bishop and as a man. This
is a day of mourning not only for me,
but for the many who have lived and
worked for Vatican Council II. What
has been negated is a reform for which
many worked at the cost of great sacri-
fices, motivated solely by the desire to
renew the Church.”
Among the theorists of Vatican II as a
“rupture” and a “new beginning,” the
most explicit against the papal provi-
sions were the founder and prior of the
monastery of Bose, Enzo Bianchi, and
the historian of Christianity Alberto
Melloni, coauthor of the most widely
read “History of Vatican Council II”
in the world. For Melloni, the objective
of pope Ratzinger is nothing less than
that of “deriding” and “demolishing”
Vatican Council II.

ECCCE holds convention for diocesan

The same happened with the docu- But instead it is known that Benedict
ment released on July 10 by the con- XVI’s clear objective—plainly enunci-
gregation for the doctrine of the faith, ated and argued in the memorable

catechetical directors which nails down some firm points of

By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
THE Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic
Education (ECCCE) hosted a national meeting of all Di-
ocesan Catechetical Directors, Coordinators and ACCCRE
(Association of Catechetical Centers and Colleges with
Religious Education) Officers on July 9 to 11, at St. Michael
Retreat House in Antipolo City.
More than a hundred participants representing various
dioceses attended the seminar-workshop aimed to help
personnel in the Catechetical ministry by improving and
upgrading the formation programs for catechists through a
established network of collaboration and communion.
The 3-day meeting hoped to strengthen linkages among
diocesan catechetical directors and coordinators and ECC-
CE; to present the New National Catechetical Directory for
the Philippines; to present the Compendium on the Social
Doctrine of the Church and Compendium of the Catechism
of the Catholic Church; to provide updates on ACCCRE;
to formulate a 3-year diocesan catechetical strategic plan
for 2007-2010; and to provide a forum with the Bishops on
catechetical issues and concerns.
The convention also tackled recent developments in
the ministry of catechesis like the Compendium of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church and the New National
Catechetical Directory of the Philippines (NNCDP).
The New National Catechetical Directory of the Philip-
pines
In its report of activities in the recent bishops plenary
assembly held at Pope Pius XII, the commission reported
the granting of approval by Vatican for the New National
Catechetical Directory of the Philippines (NCDP) and its
subsequent publication.
The original NCDP, entitled Maturing in Christian
Faith, was published in 1982. The book served as the “of-
ficial guide for the catechetical work of the Church in the
Philippines.”
Since NCDP was published, various initiatives have come
up, such as the publications of Catholic Catechism for Fili-
pino Catholics and PCP II Acts and Decrees, which consider-
ably affected the catechetical ministry in the Church.
The revised edition of NNCDP, which took three years to
finish; presents principles and guidelines for an “updated,
integrated and inculturated catechetical ministry in the
Philippines.” It contextualizes “the universal catechetical
guidelines provided by the Magisterium within our specific
Filipino context”, cultural and otherwise.
The updated version of NNCDP is published by CBCP-
ECCCE. The subsidized edition for bishops costs only
P50.00.
doctrine about the Church. There was
no comparison with the criticisms that in
the summer of 2000 were hurled—even
by high-ranking churchmen—against
the declaration “Dominus Iesus,”
signed by then-cardinal Joseph Ratz-
inger, which to a great extent dealt with
the same points of doctrine. Cardinal
Walter Kasper, one of the critics back
then, decisively supported the Vatican
document this time: “Clearly stating
one’s own positions does not limit ecu-
menical dialogue, but fosters it.” And
from Moscow, metropolitan Kirill of
Smolensk, president of the department
for external relations at the Russian
Orthodox patriarchate, described the
text as “an honest declaration, because
sincere dialogue requires a clear vision
of the respective positions.”
Criticisms did arrive, naturally,
against both of these promulgations,
from within and outside of the Church,
and especially from Protestants and
Jews. But in the Catholic camp the
protests were limited to confined sec-
tors, mostly Italian: the sectors of the
liturgists and of the intellectuals who
interpret Vatican Council II as a “rup-
ture” and a “new beginning.”
discourse to the Roman curia on De-
cember 22, 2005—is that of freeing the
Council from a particular interpretation:
precisely the interpretation of “rupture”
and “new beginning” dear to Bianchi
and Melloni.
“The hermeneutic of discontinuity,”
the pope said in this address, “risks
ending in a split between the pre-con-
ciliar Church and the post-conciliar
Church”.
While instead the correct interpreta-
tion of Vatican Council II, in the view
of Benedict XVI, is this:
“... the hermeneutic of reform, of
renewal in the continuity of the one
subject-Church which the Lord has
given to us. She is a subject which in-
creases in time and develops, yet always
remaining the same, the one subject of
the journeying People of God.”
The “motu proprio” that liberalizes
the ancient rite of the Mass and the suc-
cessive document from the congrega-
tion for the doctrine of the faith are both
applications of this stated aim.
The pope explained this in the letter
to the bishops that accompanied the
“motu proprio.” But he also had the
foresight to expound and discuss his
reasons on June 27, ten days before the

ECMI strengthens formation program for children of OFWs
By Edmund H. Ruga
THE Episcopal Commission for the
Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant
People (ECMI) is strengthening the for-
mation program of children of overseas
Filipino workers (OFW), called Sons
and Daughters of OFWs Formation
Program (SDOFP).
SDOFP is one of ECMI’s strategies to
accomplish the mission of strengthen-
ing the families of OFWs. The program
is done in partnership with the different
Diocesan Migrants Desks/Commis-
sions and coursed through the paro-
chial schools for implementation.
This school year, ECMI assisted
two dioceses, Bayombong and Lipa;
in facilitating the institutionalization
of SDOFP.
Last June 22, the Diocese of Bayom-
bong conducted a seminar and assembly
of its SDOFP animators at Saint Louis
School in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. Thirty
participants, mostly guidance counselors
from 8 parochial and 11 public schools
attended the seminar.
SDOFP Diocesan Coordinator, Ms.
Jannette Calata, acknowledged the impor-
tance of the program because most of the
students being assisted by the guidance
counselors are OFW kids.
The activity concluded with the elec-
tion of 13 schools as members of the core
council. Elected lead school and center
of coordination is Saint Louis School of
Solano.
Meanwhile, Lipa archdiocese also held
the SDOFP seminar and assembly of its
animators last June 29 at the MBL Center
in Lipa City. Around 35 participants
attended the activity representing 22
schools from 15 parochial/private and
7 public schools. Most of the schools
present were elevated into the core
council with Canossa Academy of
Lipa as the lead school and center of
coordination.
Lipa SDOFP is in its 3rd year of
implementation and has localized
the OFW Kids Group into ANAK
Batangueño or Anak ng mga Nangin-
gibang Bansang Batangueño.
The ECMI’s SDOFP is already on its
5th year. More dioceses are now avail-
ing of the program.
The next phase of the program for
these two arch/dioceses is the SDO
Diocesan Election and Congress.
Among the liturgists, the one most
pained in contesting the papal “motu
proprio” was Luca Brandolini, bishop
publication of the “motu proprio,” with
a select group of bishops from vari-
ous countries, including the cardinals
of Sora, Aquino, and Pontecorvo, and Lehmann, Murphy O’Connor, and
a member of the liturgical commission Jean-Pierre Ricard, Philippe Barbarin,
of the Italian bishops’ conference, in and André Vingt-Trois of France. This
an interview with the newspaper “la preliminary meeting with the pope con-
Repubblica”: tributed to the later positive welcome of
“I cannot hold back my tears; I am the provision on the part of all of these.
living through the saddest moment of (Roma, July 16, 2007, www.chiesa)
CBCPNews is online
www.cbcpnews.com
CBCPNews is an independent news organization
staffed by Catholic journalists dedicated to pro-
viding accurate news written from a distinctively
Catholic perspective.
Subscribe to CBCPNews. Email to: cbcpnews@cbcpworld.net

vol11-n15 B.indd 4 7/24/2007 5:33:08 PM

 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007 Statements B5
Press statement on the CIRCULAR LETTER Diocese of San Jose de Antique
“Tridentine” Mass To the Reverend Fathers, Religious Padua Parish in Barbaza, Fr.
Sisters and Brothers, Seminarians and Walter “Janjan” Tamboong
WE fully welcome with respect and appreciation the recent Apostolic Let-
Lay Friends: as Parochial Vicar of San
ter of Pope Benedict XVI on the “Tridentine” Mass. It clarifies for us the
Peace be with you! I pray you are all Nicolas de Tolentino Parish
status of the Tridentine Mass in the Latin Language.
okay and raring to do more for the Lord in Tobias Fornier; Fr. Gre-
In accordance with the Apostolic Letter (“Motu proprio”) entitled
in your respective responsibilities. gorio “Boygreg” Soldevilla
“Summorum Pontificum” of Pope Benedict XVI, the celebration of the
as Parochial Vicar of Sta.
so-called Tridentine Mass, which is in the Latin language, as approved
RA Foundress Canonization Monica Parish in Hamtic;
by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962 continues to be fully permissible as an
It was a great privilege for me and Fr. Cornelio “Lius” Ysulat,
extraordinary form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass was never forbid-
Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo of Kalibo to Jr. as Superintendent of
den or abrogated.
be among the few bishops of the Philip- Diocesan Schools (start-
The so-called “New Mass” which was introduced after the Second
pines to be invited to the Canonization ing in September 2007); Fr.
Vatican Council and approved by Pope Paul VI in 1970 has become more
Rites for St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus on Servillano “Gongon” Carro,
popular among the people because it allowed the use of some approved
3 June 2007 at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Jr. as Rector of St. Peter’s
adaptations, including the use of the popular languages and dialects. It
Vatican. The canonization of Marie Seminary (SPS); Fr. Gerald
became the ordinary form of the Mass, widely celebrated in the parish
Eugenie and three priests took place Lacson as SPS Dean of Stud-
churches.
under pouring rain before, during and ies; and Fr. Edwin Rubido
When may the Tridentine (Latin) Mass be celebrated? According to the
after the Rites. I saw Pope Benedict XVI as SPS Spiritual Director.
letter of Pope Benedict XVI, it may be celebrated by Catholic priests of the
(my first personal view of the new Pope) We are most grateful to
Latin Rite: a) in private masses, b) in conventual or community mass in
from some 20 feet away for I was with Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo
accordance with the specific statutes of the Congregation, c) in parishes
the group of Archbishops and Bishops and the Diocese of Kalibo
upon request of the faithful and under the guidance of the bishop (in ac-
in full regalia behind the Cardinals. We for lending us a priest—Fr.
cordance with Canon 392). In such Masses, however, the readings may
all got wet! By and large, the downpour Ike Temporasa as Parochial
be given in the vernacular.
did not dampen the enthusiasm of the Vicar of St. Vincent Ferrer
This permission given by Pope Benedict XVI means that the Mass in
crowd that stayed on with umbrellas and Parish in Pandan.
Latin and in accordance with the formula of the Council of Trent, hence
raincoats till the end of the ceremony.
Tridentine, with the celebrant’s back to the faithful may be celebrated,
We congratulate our local Assumption Where are the Rest?
as it was never forbidden or abrogated. For new priests, this will require
Sisters and their students and friends for From the North to the
formation in the Latin Mass.
this great honor. South here they are: Fr.
Now, we are instructed that in the liturgy of the Mass, there is the ordi-
Segundo “Ikis” Auxilian,
nary form which is that approved by Pope Paul VI in 1970 after the Vatican
Prayers for Fr. Bossi Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas Par-
II; and there is the extraordinary form—the Tridentine (Latin) Mass which
We are one with our PIME Fathers ish in Libertad; Fr. Joaquin
is that approved by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962. The two forms will
Fernando Milani and Luciano Benedetti “Kin” Dioso, Jr. – St. Vincent
have their way of leading the faithful to the true worship of God in prayer
in hoping and praying for the safety and Ferrer Parish in Pandan;
and liturgy; and may even be a factor for unity in the Church.
release of their kidnapped confrere Fr. Fr. Reynaldo “Dodoy Rey”
Giancarlo Bossi, PIME. He was kid- Cazeñas – St. Blaise Par-
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO
napped on 10 June 2007 in Zamboanga ish in Sebaste; Fr. Danny
Archbishop of Jaro
Sibugay, Mindanao. Please ask your “Bobong” Tabuyan – St.
CBCP President
parishioners and constituents to pray for Michael the Archangel Par-
July 9, 2007
his well-being. ish in Culasi; Fr. Arnel “Bo- St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus

Towards a second National

bet” Zamora – San Nicolas
Poor Clare Monastery Blessing de Tolentino Parish in Tibiao; Fr. Mark gatherings after July will take place on
The last building required of a com- Anthony “Mark” Matillano – St. Isidore the third Tuesday and Wednesday as

Rural Congress
plete Poor Clare Monastery was blessed
by yours truly on 12 June 2007 at 9:00
a.m. in the presence of Mother Abbess
Trinitas, OSC from Basilan; priests,
FORTY years ago, the Church in the Philippines convened a National Rural Poor Clare Nuns, Mr. Victor Consunji
Congress highlighting the call that “the Church must go to the barrios.” The and his nephews and a few others. Mr.
involvement of the Church in rural issues was concretized in the formation of Consunji, his family and Semirara Min-
diocesan social action centers, rural cooperatives, advocacy groups for agrarian ing Corporation donated this whole
reform, and others. building which includes the Professed
To commemorate that event held in 1967, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference Dormitory, Library, Kitchen and Dining
of the Philippines issued early this year the pastoral statement, “The Dignity Room. I am truly grateful to Mr. Victor
of the Rural Poor – A Gospel Concern”. We made a call for a Second National Consunji and family. To Engr. Ronilo
Rural Congress (NRC II) to review the continuing issues confronting the ma- Castillon and the workers, thank you and
jority of our people living in rural areas. “But this time,” we said, “our farmers congratulations for a splendid job. May
must do the speaking by themselves, the discerning, the proposing of their own we and our people appreciate the value
ideas, the planning of how we must as a people come together to work for the of monasticism and pray for vocations to
common good of the country…” this special life.
In this light, we are adopting a SEE-JUDGE-ACT methodology in convening
this Second National Rural Congress. There are five objectives: Clergy Retreat
1. To describe the current situation of various sectors of the rural poor—e.g., The Annual Retreat of the
small farmers, landless workers, indigenous people, small fishermen, rural Antique Diocesan Clergy
women and youth, etc.; was held on 18-21 June at
2. To describe the role of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) and church- the Holy Rosary Retreat
based programs in rural development; House in Calumpang, Iloilo
3. To review the impact of key social legislation and to engage government City. It was facilitated by
agencies in the implementation of ongoing social reform programs under the Fr. Edgar Javier, SVD, an
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), the Indigenous People’s Rights expert in Missiology con-
Act (IPRA), etc.; nected with the Faculties of
4. To apply the Social Teachings of the Church to the concrete problems of UST and ICLA (Institute of
Philippine rural society and to arrive at recommendations and action plans; Consecrated Life in Asia).
and The Retreat was followed by
5. To collate and disseminate research findings through media channels, and a one-day BEC Seminar fa-
to promote continuing dialogue among local churches, NGOs and academe in cilitated by Bukal ng Tipan’s
the social transformation of rural—as well as urban poor—communities. Fr. Martin, CICM, Stella and
Epie. Both the Retreat and
The timetable comprises two phases Seminar were much appre-
Phase I: (July-November 2007) in two parallel tracks: ciated by the Fathers. Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, PIME
A. Diocesan consultations on BECs in rural development (to be conducted
by the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA), and the Offices for BECs Installations, Anyone?
and Indigenous People); While not a must, installations are good – Bishop’s House in San Jose; Fr. Casper
B. Sub-regional consultations on rural poor sectors and rural issues (to be for the person being installed and good
conducted by the Philippine-Misereor Partnership (PMP), the Association of for his constituents. Thus, we installed Fr. ish in Egaña, Sibalom; Fr. Agustin Fre-
Major Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), and the Rural Poor Solidarity Gladwin Rios as Pastor of the St. Antho-
(RPS) coalition of non-government and people’s organizations. ny de Padua Parish in Caluya during its
Phase II: (First Quarter of 2008) – convening of NRC II to discuss the collated Fiesta Mass on 13 June 2007. On 14 June,
inputs from the diocesan and sub-regional consultations. The Congress itself we installed Fr. Jose “Joban” Bantolo as
may take two-to-three days. President of St. Anthony’s College dur-
Overseeing the entire process under the CBCP Plenary Assembly is the NRC ing the school’s Holy Spirit Mass. Then,
Central Committee with Archbishop Antonio Ledesma (Executive Chairman), on 17 June we installed Fr. Victor “Vic”
Bishop Broderick Pabillo (Vice Chairman), Bishop Socrates Villegas, Bishop Baguna as Pastor of Sto. Niño Parish, in
Sergio Utleg and Sr. Rosanne Mallillin, SPC (members). Bugasong. On the Solemnity of the Birth
The Central Committee is to be assisted by the Episcopal Advisory Council, of St. John the Baptist on 24 June, we in-
which is composed of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (Luzon), Ricardo Cardinal stalled Fr. Jose Glicerio “Gigi” Geremia
Vidal (Visayas), Archbishop Orlando Quevedo (Mindanao), and Archbishop as Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral. His
Angel Lagdameo (CBCP). appointment as Vicar General was also
The ad intra secretariat for the diocesan consultations on BECs includes: Sr. affirmed. Five other parish priests have
Rosanne Mallilin of CBCP-NASSA (Coordinator), Msgr. Elmer Abacahin of yet to be installed if they so wish. They
the CBCP-BEC Office, and a representative of the Episcoal Commission on are Fr. Ramon
Indigenous Peoples. The ad extra secretariat for Sub-regional consultations on “Monching”
rural issues includes: Ms. Lourdes Cipriano of PMP (Coordinator), Bro. Hansel Navallasca of
Mapayo of AMRSP, and Ms. Belinda Formanes of RPS. the Immacu-
An auxiliary arm of the NRC Central Committee will be composed of the late Concep-
CBCP Offices of Research (under Abp. Antonio Ledesma), Media (under Msgr. tion Parish in
Pedro Quitorio), and Secretariat (under Msgr. Juanito Figura). Guisijan, Laua-
Moreover, from time to time, there will be periodic consultations of notable an; Fr. Pedro
lay advisers, research centers, and other Episcopal commissions. (cf. the orga- “Nedy” Silava,
nizational flow of NRC II in the Appendix.) Jr. of San Nico-
It is in this light that we make an appeal to all our diocesan social action las de Tolen-
centers, schools, and research centers as well as farmers’ organizations, NGOs, tino Parish in
and government agencies to participate actively in a spirit of solidarity in the Tobias Fornier
various activities outlined for the NRC II process. (Dao); Fr. Per-
The expected outcome of this NRC process, including Phases I and II, are: egrino “Gene”
1. SEE: a fuller description, both quantitative and qualitative, of the rural Alar of Sta.
poverty situation; Monica Par-
2. JUDGE: a deeper analysis of the situation in the light of the Social Teach- Fr. William “Bill” McAvoy, MHM
ish in Hamtic;
ings of the Church; and Fr. Segundino
3. ACT: concrete proposals for action addressed to the rural sectors, local “Gunding” Laude of St. Augustine
churches, government agencies, NGOs, and others. Parish in Patnongon; and Fr. Anrunico
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Truth, Justice, and “Ronnie” Elemento, Pastor of St. Francis
Love—and through the intercession of Our Lady of the Immaculate Concep- Xavier Parish in Patria, Pandan (finishing
tion, may we carry out these proposed activities in solidarity with our brothers his one-year mission by the end of Au-
and sisters in the countryside. gust this year in the Apostolic Vicariate
of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro).
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines;
Other Assignments
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, D.D. While the rest of the Fathers have
Archbishop of Jaro retained their previous assignments,
President, CBCP the following Fathers got new ones: Fr.
16 July 2007 Lorenzo “Lorenz” Fernandez as Paro-
chial Administrator of St. Anthony de
Parish in Laua-an; Fr. Ireneo “Neong”
Abong – St. Luke the Evangelist Parish
in Valderrama; Fr. James “Koos” Spruit,
MHM – Our Lady of Candles Parish in
Belison; Fr. Jose “Boyet” Tubianosa – St.
Vincent Ferrer Parish in San Remigio;
Fr. Edione Febrero, Pastor, and Fr.
Joselito “Joey” Escote, Parochial Vicar
– Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish in Sibalom;
Fr. Fernando Milani, PIME, Pastor, and
Fr. Luciano Benedetti, PIME, Parochial
Vicar – San Pedro Parish in San Pedro,
San Jose; Fr. Ersal Tortal, Parochial Vicar in Theology at St. Joseph Regional Semi-
– St. Joseph Cathedral in San Jose; Fr.
Sergio “Serge” Maniba, Christian Forma-
tion Officer – SAC; Fr. Fortunato “Bobit”
Abiera, Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator,
and Fr. William “Bill” McAvoy, MHM
Rietbergen, MHM – Sacred Heart Par-
nademez, MHM – Sto. Niño Parish in
Guinsang-an; Fr. John Ambrose, MHM
– St. John Nepomucene Parish in Anini-
y; and Fr. Michael Peter “Mike” O’Brien,
MHM – Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish in
Casay, Anini-y.
Last but not the Least, Fr. Edgar Alan
“Ega” Pacete – Pasig Diocese, Metro Ma-
nila; Fr. Rogelio “Boboy” Pon-an – Cu-
bao Diocese, M.M.; Fr. Eulogio “Eling”
Estaris – Calgary Diocese, Canada; Fr.
Pablito “Pabs” Maghari – Staten Island,
Archdiocese of New York, U.S.A.; and Fr.
Dominic “Minic” Regoniel – Canada.
Fr. Rex to Study in
Spain
We wish Fr. Rex
Marfil the best in his
2-year Dogmatic Theol-
ogy Licentiate (master’s
degree) course at the
University of Navarre
in Pamplona, Spain. He
took a 2-week course in
Spanish language as a
preparation.
Semirara Now under
SVD
Thanks to the gen-
erosity of the SVD
Fathers, Philippine
Central Province, the
Semirara Chaplaincy for 3 years (2007-
2010) will be in the hands of the SVD
Fathers who also manage the Divine
Word Semirara School. Fr. Alex Vitualla,
SVD is the present Chaplain.
Presbyteral Gathering
The next gathering of priests will take
place on Monday, 9 July 2007 at the Bish-
op’s House. The gathering will include a
recollection, a lot of bonding and some
business or updating. The Commission
on Clergy chaired by Fr. Vic Baguna is
in-charge of this activity. The monthly
recommended during a meeting at the
June ’07 annual retreat.
Future Priests, Future Laborers
We are happy to announce that the
Diocese has two pre-deacons: Sem.
John Jauod from Valderrama and Sem.
Raymund Orfelia from Hamtic. They
are assigned to the parishes of Hamtic
and Barbaza respectively. God willing,
they will be ordained as deacons in mid
October this year. Eight seminarians are
nary in Jaro, Iloilo: 3 in Theo. 4; 2 in Theo.
3; 2 in SPFY and 1 in Theo. 2. Several SPS
graduates are now on guided regency
and hope to enter or go back to the Major
Seminary in the coming school
year. The St. Peter’s Seminary
this year has 46 college semi-
narians: 5th Year – 10; 4th Year
– 8; 3rd Year – 9; 2nd Year – 11
and 1st Year – 8. May the Lord
who has begun the good work
in you bring it to fulfillment.
Courage!
6 New Members for SSJW
It is a joy to see the Sisters of
St. Joseph the Worker (SSJW),
a group of women dedicated
to the poor, the handicapped
and orphans grow in number.
Sr. Concordia Villaram, SSJW,
Foundress and Superior of the
community is very happy to
be joined these past two years
by 6 aspirants and postulants
namely: Sr. Rosabella Gatila of San Jose,
Antique; Sr. Cheryl Lungay of Surigao;
Sr, Mae Alvero of San Jose, Antique;
Sr. Jenky Elanga of Egaña, Sibalom,
Antique; Sr. Rhea Joy Lunasco of San
Remigio, Antique; and Sr. Mary Jean
Nicor of Sibalom, Antique. We wish you
the best, Sisters.
MHM Golden Jubilarians
We offer our sincerest congratulations
to Fr. James “Koos”Spruit, MHM who
will celebrate his Golden Anniversary of
Presbyteral Ordination on 7 July at 8:00
a.m. at the Our Lady of Candles Parish
Church in Belison, Antique. On the same
day at 4:30 p.m., Fr. William “Bill” McA-
voy, MHM will preside at his Golden
Jubilee Mass at the Mensa Domini
Chapel in San Jose, Antique. For many
years now, Fr. Bill has been a formator,
Chaplain, Spiritual Director and Confes-
sor of the Mensa Domini Sisters (MSLT).
Another Golden Jubilarian, Fr. Pio Craz-
zolara, MHM, now retired, will have
his celebration with confreres in Brixen,
Italy. Fr. Bernard Spandoonk, MHM cel-
ebrated on 25 June his Silver Anniversary
at the Iloilo Sanitarium (Leprosarium) in
Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. Until about 3 years
ago, Fr. Bernard was the much-loved
Chaplain of the Leprosarium where he
also built a simple house for himself. He
is today the Chaplain of the Dominican
Sisters of Molo.
RA in Antique
We wish to warmly welcome Sr. Rose
Peter Infante, RA to the Diocese. She
is the new Superior of the RA Sibalom
Community replacing Sr. Giselle Valder-
rama who is now assigned in Cagayan de
Oro. She was a junior Sister here during
Bishop Cornelio De Wit’s time. Then she
was appointed Superior when Bishop
Raul Martirez was Bishop. She hails from
Iloilo and has two sisters who are also
RAs. Kruhay, Sister! On July 10 at 10:00
a.m. in Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish Church,
the RA Sisters and Sta. Rita Academy
along with the alumnae/alumni of San
Circular / B7

vol11-n15 B.indd 5 7/24/2007 5:33:10 PM

 CBCP Monitor
B6 Reflections Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007

There is more to life Bo Sanchez

God answers
than material riches 18TH Sunday in Ordinary Time (Lk. 12:13-21)
prayers His way
WHEN my wife announced to me that she was pregnant, we
embraced each other for the longest time I can remember.
August 5, 2007 We acted like lunatics. We sang. We danced. We cried. So
this was how it felt.
I was going to be a father. This can’t be real, I told myself.
But it was true! Spontaneously, I straightened my back,
expanded my chest, and beamed a brand-new-Daddy’s
smile.
So each day, we prayed for our little miracle, laying our
hands on her tummy. Every night, I spoke to our child,
whispering gently, “Baby, do you know that I love you very
much? Mommy loves you a lot, too. And God loves you even
more.” Each night, I’d say these lines over and over again.
And each night, I’d read aloud the Gospel of the day, and
added my own homily. Stuff like, “You see, baby, the Greek
word ‘Logos’ in John 1:1 is epistemologically rooted in a very
rich hermeneutic context…”
I imagined my little baby nodding her head. I also won-
dered if she’d become a preacher one day. Or, perhaps a
writer. But it didn’t matter, really. Because my daily prayer
was, “Lord, make her a happy child, and she can be anything
You want her to be!”

Two days later, at 6:00 AM, I found my

Bp. Joel Z. Baylon, DD was motivated by selfishness. As he would and again, and again for all eternity. This is wife sobbing and shaking uncontrollably
later tell his audience (and us as well), “Take not our lot on this earth. We are not doomed
“IN 1923, a big business meeting in Chicago, care to guard against all greed, for though to a life of useless efforts and empty dreams. in the bathroom. She pointed to the mass
USA, brought together nine of the most success-
ful money-makers in the world—the president
one may be rich, one’s life does not consist
of possessions”.
The Second Reading reminds us that “we
have been raised up in Christ”—we are a
of blood in the toilet bowl, and I quickly
of the largest independent steel company; the To further explain his point Jesus relates new creation. While we may feel at times grabbed my trembling wife in my arms.
president of the largest utility company; the to them the parable of the rich fool. This that our efforts are indeed useless and fruit-
president of the largest gas company; the greatest man had a bumper harvest and built big- less, still life has meaning if we entrust it to God took that prayer seriously and answered it one day
wheat speculator; the president of the New York ger barns for his crops. Having done so, the Christ. He will show us the way. In fact the after Christmas.
Stock Exchange; a member of the US President’s man felt secure and went on to congratulate Second Reading goes on to say that since we We were spending the holidays with the poor, the elderly,
cabinet; the greatest investor on Wall Street; himself. But God sternly reminded him that have been raised up in Christ, our ultimate and the orphans in ANAWIM. That afternoon, my wife saw
the head of the world’s greatest mo- destination is not this earth. a small drop of dried blood on her undergarments. Was this
nopoly; and the president of the Bank We belong “somewhere” else. something to worry about? We didn’t think so.
of International Settlements. For the Christian, life is neither a hedonistic, Thus we are asked to “seek We were wrong.
What happened since then to these
nine wealthy men? The first died
selfish search for meaning and happiness nor what is above and not what is
on earth”.
Two days later, at 6:00 AM, I found my wife sobbing and
shaking uncontrollably in the bathroom. She pointed to the
bankrupt; the second left the US a spiritualized form of existence that refuses This does not mean a denial mass of blood in the toilet bowl, and I quickly grabbed my
and died penniless; the third went of earthly labor and human trembling wife in my arms.
insane; the fourth died abroad loaded involvement in worldly affairs and concerns. goals, either! For the Christian, We lost our baby.
with debts; the fifth served a long jail
sentence; the sixth was released from
While we are asked to look forward to the life life is neither a hedonistic,
selfish search for meaning and
“Angel shall be your name,” I managed to say, my voice
failing me, “and I baptize you in the name of the Father, and
prison so he could die at home; the that only heaven can fulfill, we are also asked happiness nor a spiritualized of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
seventh, eighth, and ninth all com- form of existence that refuses
mitted suicide.” to responsibly work for the betterment of this involvement in worldly af-
Yes, Baby Angel is your name.
Not once did we feel what it was like to cradle you in our arms.
This strange statistics from earth by working for justice, harmony and fairs and concerns. While we Not once did we feel the thrill of watching you make your first
Msgr. Arthur Tonne, a famous are asked to look forward to tiny steps.
American writer and homilist, peace among men. the life that only heaven can Not once did we feel the inner pleasure of hearing you say,
is a stark proof of what today’s fulfill, we are also asked to “Mama” and “Papa”.
Readings speak about, that there is more to his life was about to end and his wealth and responsibly work for the betterment of this But you see, that doesn’t change the fact that you are our
life than material riches and personal gain, security was of no use to him. earth by working for justice, harmony and child.
and anyone who puts his/her hopes on “Vanity of vanities!”, Qoheleth tells us peace among men. And Angel is your name.
them is bound to fail. in the First Reading. If we only rely on our “If today you hear His voice, harden not God did answer our prayer. You are a happy child today, far
One may wonder why Jesus appeared own efforts or even in the abundant fruits your hearts.” (Responsorial Psalm) Every more than we can ever imagine. And He made you what He wanted
rather harsh and intolerant to the man in the that those efforts produce, in the end we time we celebrate the Eucharist we encoun- you to be.
Gospel who came to him for help regarding end up with nothing. For everything in this ter God in His Word. He tells us how to live For God so determined that it is you Angel who now cradles us
an inheritance problem. It seems that his world has its limit, and nothing on this earth the right way. In Him we learn the ways of in your arms of prayer. And it’s you Angel who thrills in watch-
concern was after all a legitimate one. But lasts forever. love and sharing, and how to avoid selfish- ing our every step, our every move, our every breath. And it’s
Jesus was not against seeking after what But this is not the final statement. In Greek ness and greed. He teaches us how to keep you who have not stopped saying “Mama” or “Papa” since you
one rightfully owns or what is justly due mythology there is the story of Sisyphus, a our sight fixed on heaven, and how not to be entered the portals of Heaven, for you mention our names before
to someone. He reproached the man who man who was condemned by the gods to lured by the illusions of this earth. We also God everyday.
sought his help because it was not righteous roll a stone up the hill. As soon as the stone encounter Him in the species of bread and You were never with us, and yet will always be with us.
concern for justice that the man was after, gets to the top, it rolls down the hill; and wine, which becomes food for us along the And no one can take you away from us anymore.
but a desire for wealth and possessions that Sisyphus must push it to the top once again, journey. It is our foretaste of heaven! For Angel is your name.

Catarman / B3
Fr. Roy Cimagala
the invitation of the Bishop to head the sec- Episcopal anniversary.

Governance retariat. Through some foreign assistance

THE word is out and we have to
actively spread it around. Now that
the elections are over and the public
officials have been sworn in, we have
to focus on the delicate and demand-
ing task of governance.
This is a serious matter that needs
to be studied thoroughly and pur-
sued relentlessly by all of us.
We cannot allow the running of
towns, cities and provinces, let alone,
the whole country to go to the dogs
of mere popularity, alleged charisma,
strong connections, clever publicists,
pressure groups, lobbyists, and the
like.
We cannot allow the governance of
our government units to be spoiled
by useless politicking, shameless
maneuvers to wrest
power for oneself, etc. While it’s true that the public offi cials
I hope we can outgrow
this, or at least, that we are given the mandate to lead, the beauty
have enough people
who have the weight
of a democratic state is that everyone is
to correct things when encouraged to participate in any way one
they tend to go the poli-
ticians’ crazy ways.
can in the governance of state affairs in the
Thanks to our prog-
ress in communications
technology, more and more people
can now have their voices heard, and
a greater and quicker consensus on
issues, can be achieved.
We have to go beyond feudalism,
improvisations, amateurism and
knee-jerk reactions to problems and
challenges. In this, we have to under-
stand that everyone is involved: the
officials and the citizens in general,
as well.
We have to retrieve the idea of
governance from being an exclusive
concern of some people alone. At this
time, governance has to be a concern
of everyone. Not, of course, in the
sense of an anarchic free-for-all.
While it’s true that the public
officials are given the mandate to
lead, the beauty of a democratic
state is that everyone is encouraged
to participate in any way one can in
the governance of state affairs in the
different levels.
In short, while leaders and officials
have to improve on their governing
skills, there should also be effort to
involve more and more people in the
task of governance.
Everyone should support this.
Surely, a lot of due education and for-
mation is needed here. And it’s truly
welcome to have a mushrooming of
institutions developing in a scientific
way this craft of governance.
Even the remotest “barangay”
cannot afford to be marginalized in
different levels.
the global march for development
in all its aspects. We have to get our
act together. Failure in this, given
the present context, can constitute a
grave criminal act.
The institutions promoting this art
have devised ways of how leaders
can develop a vision for their respec-
tive unit, translating it into workable
plans, with clearly specified means,
resources and timeline.
Standards are made, developments
and improvements are monitored,
accomplishments are certified. This
may look like an elementary exercise
in the beginning, but then once the
take-off point is reached, things can
really become different and exciting.
It obviously will be a growing art,
subject to the vagaries of trials and
errors, and so we also have to learn
to be patient and to coordinate. But
the objective need is there. We can-
not wait until things get irremedi-
ably bad.
In this regard, it should be noted
that on the leaders and officials is
invested a sacred trust they should
try their best to carry. Their personal
qualities and dispositions play a
crucial part in determining the
kind of leadership they are going
to make.
They should try their best to
sharpen their talents, develop those
where they find themselves lagging
in, always conscious that a continu-
ing improvement of
their own selves is at
the beginning of any
good transformation in
society.
The virtue of prudence
is especially crucial.
Leaders and officials
should sharpen their
prudential skills—con-
sulting, dialoguing with
different parties, studying, making
decisions, reviewing, adapting, etc.
Besides, the Compendium of the
Social Doctrine of the Church re-
minds us that the first thing everyone
should do to effect a change in soci-
ety is “to renew oneself interiorly.”
(552)
We are persons, not machines, and
therefore not ruled by impersonal
determinism but by the right use of
freedom.
This, to me, is indispensable. Re-
gardless of how savvy one may be in
the technical part of governing, if he
fails in this first requirement, things
won’t go very far. Power and its co-
horts can easily spoil persons.
the Bishop was able to put up a diocesan
pastoral center where pastoral offices were
moved from the Diocesan Catholic Center.
During the quadricentennial celebration of
the Christianization of Samar, the diocese
conceived a year-long celebration which
commenced on April 18, 1985. The Parish
Pastoral Assemblies (PPA), which preceded
the First Diocesan Assembly, was held at
this time. The PPA’s were participated in
by 2,074 participants in twenty-one parishes
and one chaplaincy. The whole number of
the participants represented the 1.14% of
the voting population of Northern Samar,
based on 1995 census. The First Diocesan
Assembly was held on April 16-17, 1996,
participated in by the Bishop, thirty-two
priests and one deacon, seven female reli-
gious, and forty-six lay persons. The body
came up with documents containing the
Vision, Mission, Goals and Priorities of the
diocese. Based on the proceedings and the
results of the PPA’s the Bishop mandated
that the pastoral structure of the diocese
should be composed of commissions on
Worship, Education, Service, Temporalities,
and Youth (WESTY), and he enshrined it
in a decree which was promulgated on
June 15, 1996, the Feast of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary.
A New Apostolic Perspective
Bishop Trance took over the adminis-
tration of the diocese on March 11, 2005,
the 30th anniversary of the diocese. After
familiarizing with the ropes of the job, he
embarked on tracing back the benefits of
what his predecessor had done. He called
for an evaluation of the decrees of the
First Diocesan Pastoral Assembly held in
1996. Since last October, the parishes and
mission centers have been conducting the
evaluations which was consolidated on
May 26, 2007, the Eve of the Pentecost,
in the Parish of Allen. This is hoped to
guide what the Diocese should face and
accomplish in the future.
The transition of the administration of
the diocese in 2005 was only a change of
shepherd but not of the staff. In fact, Bishop
Trance symbolically accomplishes this by
using the same crosier which the clergy
of Catarman had given as a gift to Bishop
Hobayan when he celebrated his 25th
The birth of the new millennium ushered
in a new perspective in the apostolate of the
local Church. From looking into the Chris-
tian ethics of politics in the past twenty-five
years, the Diocese now has entered into
the apostolate that considers the preserva-
tion of God’s creation. From influencing
the pro-life program of the Province, the
Diocese has also ventured into aggressive
apostolate against the destructive exploita-
tion of natural resources. Bishop Trance
pursued his predecessor’s crusade against
mining and wide scale commercial log-
ging. In November of 2005, together with
Bishops Medroso of Borongan, Palma of
Calbayog, and Hobayan, his predecessor,
he appealed to President Arroyo to restore
the logging moratorium in Samar. These
bishops accused the Department of Natural
Resources, through Secretary Mike Defen-
sor, of hastily issuing a timber license agree-
ment (TLA) to San Jose Timber Corporation
(SJTC), a firm owned by the family of Sen.
Juan Ponce Enrile. The license allowed the
SJTC to log in 95,770 hectares that fell within
the Samar Integrated Forest Reserve (SIFR)
and the Samar Natural Park (SINP). Samar
is one of the world’s 200 ecologically richest
regions and SJTC wanted to claim a vast
area in Las Navas, Northern Samar, a place
owned by the Samareños but not a heritage
of the owners of the logging firm.
The Future Spells Hope
From twenty-one priests and one
deacon when the Diocese was erected
in 1975, there are now fifty-nine priests
and three deacons working in different
apostolates and parish duties: forty-nine
in active duty in the diocese, three in
USA, one in Cebu, four in Manila, and
two in Rome for post graduate studies.
The place cannot totally remove the scars
of the wounds inflicted by Martial Law
and is in constant suffering due to the
onslaughts of typhoons and occasional
floods. But the diocese still stands firm
with the people, bearing the role of a local
Church, and staunch in protecting God’s
creation in obedience to the mandate of
the Blessed Lord: “Go into the world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved; whoever does not believe will be
condemned” (Mk. 16:15-16).

vol11-n15 B.indd 6 7/24/2007 5:33:11 PM

 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007
THE mining industry in the Phil-
ippines has always been a boom
economy. It provides livelihood
in terms of labor especially in
remote areas where majority
of the people lacks the neces-
sary skills and knowledge to be
employed in more challenging
jobs. Thus, the influx of migrant
workers creates short-term busi-
ness opportunities for the local
economy.
The trade-offs however are
deforestation, pollution of land
and water bodies, fish-kills and
other associated impacts. Yet,
mining small islands surrounded
by corals reefs is a graver crime to
humanity. Islands are fragile eco-
systems because their survival
hangs on maintaining a critical
balance of ecological sustainabil-
ity. They are also the last frontiers
of sustainable fishery because of
their distance from the mainland
that are already suffering from
siltation and pollution from hu-
Social Concern
that pushed the surface waves opportunity to do mining if La-
from Rapu-Rapu to Sorsogon. fayette leaves— since 1976, no
Thus, it is more likely that the one in the island tried to mine
fishes died at sea, floated with the abandoned Hixbar mine
the waves towards Sorsogon and because people are afraid of the
along the way, the cyanide-laced acidic water due to its obnoxious
silt (probably also contaminated smell, the red river’s water is
with heavy metals) continue to “itchy and seems to eat their foot”
kill fishes. The northeast mon- (interview by INECAR, 2000); 2)
soon and rainy season are major All solutions are concerned only
factors that affected Sorsogon with structural stability of their
and will always affect the same infrastructure; 3) No solution was
areas while mining continue to given to what will happen to the
operate for years to come and heavy metals that will remain
beyond. in the various ponds. Metals do
Nevertheless, after several not disappear even if the acid
months of test run, the mining water has been neutralized; 4)
company was allowed to resume the monitoring of the evalua-
operation by the Department of tion made by the DENR and the
Environment and Natural Re- Multipartite Monitoring Team
sources (DENR). The bases for (MMT) were only concerned
this decision were the reports about water testing and leaks,
from the DENR and the MGB, and does not include heavy metal
the latter was backed by a report contamination of soil/sediments
from the Dr. Carlos Primo Da- and biota that adsorb/absorb the
vid and Rustica Romero (2006). contaminants, thus, the assess-
Those reports however, were ments is very much inadequate
ment agencies were forewarned
since year 2000, after a first study
of the Institute for Environmen-
tal Conservation and Research
(INECAR) of Ateneo de Naga
University. The study recom-
mended a “No mining in rapu-
rapu”. It was conducted because
the former Bishop of Legazpi,
Most Rev. Jose Sorra, DD and
current Auxiliary Bishop, Most
Rev. Lucilo Quiambao, requested
for assistance from the Ateneo
de Naga University President,
Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ. The good
Bishops and the priests of Sta.
Florentina Parish of Rapu-Rapu,
wanted to be clarified about the
impacts of a mining project in
the said island. The results of the
study showed elevated levels of
arsenic, cadmium and lead in the
soil and water affected by past
mining activities. Several reasons
to support the “no mining” stand
were also generated from the
study. These are:
communities describe the experi-
ence as “eating their foot”. One
can imagine a bleeding island
where blood, laden with toxic
heavy metals such as arsenic,
cadmium, chromium, copper,
lead, zinc, including gold, silver,
and others, flows out to other
water bodies and surrounding
land and sea.
Economic reasons - mining
destroyed the major sources of
livelihood (fishing and agricul-
ture) of the local communities. It
has brought economic difficulties
to the people of Rapu-Rapu and
Sorsogon. Based on published lit-
erature, the effects of cyanide, silt
and heavy metals are devastating.
Cyanide immediately kills fishes
and other aquatic organisms. Silt
injures the gills of fishes, eventu-
ally suffocating them and finally
killing them. Heavy metals in
turn are toxic to fishes and other
marine life. Elevated levels of
copper for instance also cause
B7
starch in the chloroplasts inside
the leaves. Examples are the grass
bioindicator, Cyperus kyllingia
and Digitaria ciliaris. Thus, no
food is produced consequently
affecting health and growth of
dependent animals in the process
of eating and being eaten along
the food chain. Some plants ac-
cumulate heavy metals in their
bodies, yet the effects are not
manifested externally. This is the
danger of heavy metal pollution.
Without warning, their levels in
the body of living organisms can
increase dramatically.
Health reasons - In humans, the
damaging effects of heavy metals
are all forms of cancer, growth
reduction, mental retardation,
damage to the nervous system,
hearing impairment, muscular
instability, adverse effects on the
digestive, excretory, reproduc-
tive, immune and cardiovascular
(heart-blood) systems, lung prob-
lems, that eventually would also

The tragedy of mining in Rapu-Rapu

Island Ecosystem, Albay Province
man activities.
On July 2005, Lafayette Phil-
ippines, Inc. started mining
in Rapu-Rapu, a small island
facing the Pacific at the eastern
boundary of the province of Al-
bay, Philippines. It is a domestic
subsidiary of Lafayette Mining
Ltd. of Australia, the true own-
ers of the mine in Rapu-Rapu.
Within barely four months of
operation, Lafayette however
caused cyanide spill and fish-
kills in October 11 and 31, 2005.
The result was devastating. For
months, it paralyzed the liveli-
hood of predominantly poor
local communities in Rapu-Rapu
and Sorsogon in fishing and
tourism. Protests were launched
by affected groups and those
sympathetic to the communities
of Rapu-Rapu and Sorsogon,
especially because of the multi-
plier effects that also impacted
other communities dependent
on fishing.
Lafayette denied the fish-kill.
Mines and Geosciences Bureau
(MGB) supported it with a report
that only 2-15 kilos of dead fish
were collected at the outfall of
the river/creeks, further exoner-
ating Lafayette from the blame.
By Emelina G. Regis lead to death. But before death
occurs, the person suffers disabil-
ity, unable to live a productive
life, burdening the family, and
causing poverty.
Biodiversity reasons - Rapu-
Rapu is within the marine con-
servation priority areas, and clas-
sified as extremely high priority
(Ong et al.2002). There are still
undiscovered species of plants
and animals unique to island eco-
systems like Rapu-Rapu includ-
ing marine species. Their genetic
wealth are important to medicine,
industry and improvement of
crops to sustain the developing
economy of our country. We are
responsible for taking care of
these natural resources and en-
sure that they continue to survive
for generations to come.
Currently, Bishop Arturo Bastes
of Sorsogon is at the forefront of
the advocacy against mining in
Rapu-Rapu. This was a response
to the environmental problems
that was experienced and prob-
ably is presently happening, and
could be repeated in the coastal
areas of Sorsogon, while mining
in Rapu-Rapu continue operat-
ing. As in Rapu-Rapu, Sorsogon
is also a primary impact area
© www.infomine.com

The report of the Pollution Ad-
judication Board (PAB) in 2005
however showed cyanide levels
in water of the affected creeks
and siltation ponds, exceeding
the standard of 0.05 parts per
million (ppm) up to 36,000 times.
In fact, this was the reason why
PAB slapped more than P10 mil-
lion fine to Lafayette for violating
the Clean Water Act.
Opposing forces of denial on
one side and accusations from
the other, prompted Most Rev-
erend Arturo Bastes, SVD, DD,
Bishop of the Diocese of Sor-
sogon, Southern Luzon, to bring
the matter to President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo. Hence, the
Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Com-
mission (RRFFC) was created
with His Grace as chair. Vari-
ous investigations made by the
commission, especially on the
engineers and workers of Lafay-
ette, and residents who actually
witnessed the incident, including
the reports of the Environmental
Management Bureau (EMB)
and the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau (MGB), revealed the fol-
lowing: the two incidents of tail-
ings spill caused the health and
environmental hazards in Rapu-
Rapu and coastal communities of
Sorsogon (RRFFC 2006).
In the case of Sorsogon, this
province is only 12 kilometers
from the mining site in Rapu-
rapu and during the time of the
spill, the northeast monsoon (or
amihan) was the prevailing wind
A bird’s eye view of the Lafayette mining site in the island of Rapu-Rapu, Albay.
insufficient as bases for lifting the
suspension order to the mining
operation of Lafayette.
For instance, aside from the ad-
mission on the part of the DENR,
“of serious lapses in their judg-
ments”, most remedial measures
focused only on the physical and
economic solutions such as, 1)
preventing polluted water from
affecting the processing plant
and creeks by using sandbags to
hold back the silt and water; 2) fi-
nancial compensation and tax in-
centives to solve economic losses
by fishermen and as solution to
the environmental problems re-
sulting from the destruction of an
island; 3) self monitoring which
is the most ridiculous require-
ment of the DENR since mining
projects are proven to create quite
a number of environmental prob-
lems. In this requirement, the
mining company simply informs
the concerned government agen-
cies of leaks, broken pipes and
the like during their operations,
after which, the same agencies
can now respond.
On the “MGB Evaluation Re-
port on the Rapu-Rapu Polyme-
tallic project under the test run
conditions”, these are: 1) That
small-scale miners will take
to guarantee “safe” mining tech-
nology; 5) with regards to dead
marine organisms found along
the shore during test run the
solution was only “to moni-
tor heavy metals in water until
the condition became normal”.
Nonetheless, “normal condition
of pH” by DENR standard was
achieved by lime dosing (David
& Romero, 2006). Lime dosing of
water however only neutralizes
the acidity but heavy metals do
not disappear.
It is in this regard that the kind
Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon
organized two important gather-
ings of church groups, NGOs,
POs, LGUs, former members
of the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding
Commission (RRFFC), provincial
officers and academe on May 10
and June 6, 2007. The latter was
attended by foreign nationals,
delegates of the “Development
and Peace”, a Catholic Organiza-
tion of Canada. The purpose of
the gathering was to discuss ur-
gent concerns specifically on the
Permanent Lifting Order (PLO)
granted to Lafayette.
The current problem of Lafay-
ette mining can never be blamed
on the weather because this
company and concerned govern-
The geophysico-chemical na-
ture of the island of Rapu-Rapu
- 1) island ecosystem with steep
slopes that cause water and soil
to easily move down to the sea
and coral reefs; 2) Type II cli-
mate described by the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Admin-
istration (PAGASA) as having
no dry season, and rainy most
times of the year, a condition that
hastens movement of materials
to the sea; 3) Typhoon path that
disperses material to a wider area,
and 4) the more problematic iron
sulfide rocks that contain the pre-
cious ores, yet naturally generates
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) that
dissolves toxic metals from the
ores.
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is
naturally occurring phenomenon
whereby as soon as iron sulfide
rocks are exposed to oxygen in
the air, and water from humid
environment, a chemical reaction
follows producing sulfuric acid
and red iron precipitate that coats
rocks and sediments. It is almost
as if, a crystal clear, sparkling,
river suddenly turns into a red
river that emits foul smell with
acidic water that is itchy to touch,
where many people in mining
immediate deaths. It may also
accumulate to a critical concen-
tration before death of the organ-
ism follows. All heavy metals
are toxic, at chronic level (small
amount accumulating from long
time exposure), are teratogenic
(cause birth defects), mutagenic
(mutation of some parts of the
body), and carcinogenic (causes
cancer of various parts of the
organism’s body).
In a recent study made by Re-
gis and Alto (2006) of INECAR,
just after the Lafayette mine spill
incidents, evidences of pollution
on land through the high levels
of arsenic (23.2 to35 mg/kg) and
cadmium (6.3 to 10.9 mg/kg),
and very high levels of copper
(400 to 990 mg/kg) were mea-
sured in the soil/sediments col-
lected from the river banks of the
two river/creek that pass by the
mining site. The maximum toler-
able contents are only 20 mg/kg,
3 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg respec-
tively. Copper also increases
towards the shore while arsenic
and cadmium tend to concentrate
more at the outlet.
Heavy metals also impacted
marine and terrestrial plants
through the destruction of their
cells or the disappearance of
due to the fact that cyanide, con-
taminated silt and heavy metals
come directly from the spill of the
Lafayette mining operation in the
Island of Rapu-Rapu.
It is sad that in the midst of
unsolved problems of mining
in Rapu-Rapu, the government
continue to invite foreign mining
companies to mine many areas in
the Philippines. What is further
heartbreaking, is the fact that
these foreign companies, such
as Lafayette Mining Ltd. of Aus-
tralia, come from rich countries,
yet their own government would
tolerate their mining, causing
destruction of large areas of pro-
ductive land and sea in a poor
country and results to further
destruction and poverty.
Mining is not only a political
issue in the Philippines because
it causes the destruction of the
major economic base of a poor
country. People depend on ag-
riculture and fisheries that are
sustainable and could sustain
generations of people from all
walks of life in spite of typhoons,
earthquakes, including human-
induced disasters. In the end, the
issue is moral, which is greed.
Its perpetuation is ultimately an
issue on justice for peace loving
people living in separate islands
but linked with a simple trust to
a loving God.
(Emelina G. Regis, PH.D., is the
Director of INECAR, Ateneo de
Naga University)

Circular / B5

Jose Academy will celebrate a Thanksgiv-

ing Mass for the 3 June 2007 Canonization
of St. Marie Eugenie. The Mass will also be
a thanksgiving for the 40 years of Sta. Rita
Academy in Sibalom. Ad multos annos!
Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS)
To mark the 75th Anniversary of the
Pontifical Missionary Societies in the Phil-
ippines, a Mission Pastoral Reflection and
General Assembly of Bishops, Mission
Directors and Guests will be held on July
10-11 at the Bukal ng Tipan Center in An-
tipolo. This will be capped by the Closing
Mass on July 12 at the Manila Cathedral.
On July 12-14, the National Congress
of the Holy Childhood will be held at
Intramuros and will close at the Cuneta
Astrodome in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
Fr. Bobit Abiera, our Diocesan Mission
Director will attend both Congresses and
celebrations. Please know that the present
PMS National Director, Msgr. Gilbert
Garcera was appointed Bishop of the
Diocese of Daet in the Bicol Region and
will be ordained Bishop on June 29th at
CBCPMonitor Name _________________________________________________
(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Naga.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Fr. Bobit will represent the Diocese of San Mailing Address ________________________________________
Jose de Antique in this event. Welcome to
the “Bishops’ Club”, Msgr. Gilbert. ________________________________________________________
Finally, I wish to thank you who of- The CBCP Monitor is published Phone No.: _________ Fax No.: ________ E-mail: ___________
fered Masses and prayers for me on my fortnightly by the CBCP Media
60th Birthday on 24 June 2007. Special Mode of Payment
Office, with editorial and busi-
thanks to the texters whose messages Check/PMO enclosed Cash Payment
were most kind, generous and loving.
ness offices at 470 Gen. Luna St.,
To the SPS community that serenaded Intramuros, Manila. PO Box 3601, (Payable to: CBCP Communications Development Foundation Inc.)
me at midmorning, duro gid nga 1076 MCPO
salamat. To those who sent cards and • Domestic ________________________
other gifts, God reward you. May God 1 Year Php 500.00
bless you all. 2 Years Php 900.00 Signature
• Foreign: Asia
Signed: PLEASE SEND TO:
+ Most Rev. Romulo T. De La
1 Year US$ 55.00
CBCP Monitor, P.O. Box 3601, Manila, Philippines
Cruz, D.D. • All Other US$ 80.00 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines | Tel (632) 404-2182 • Telefax (632) 404-1612
Bishop of San Jose de Antique Or e-mail this at cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.com
27 June 2007

vol11-n15 B.indd 7 7/24/2007 5:33:15 PM

 CBCP Monitor
B8 Entertainment Vol. 11 No. 15
July 23 - August 5, 2007

Moral Assessment

Abhorrent
Disturbing
Acceptable
Wholesome
Exemplary

Technical Assessment

Poor
Below Average
Average
Above average
Excellent

CINEMA Rating Guide

VA - For viewers of all ages

V13 - For viewers age 13
and below with parental
guidance
V14 - For viewers 14 and
above
V18 - For mature viewers 18
and above
NP - Not for public viewing

Title: HARRY POTTER and the Order of the Phoenix

POTTERMANIA reaches its zenith this
month because of the convergence of two
important events as regards the Harry
Potter saga. We have the world premier
of the film Harry Potter and the Order of
the Phoenix based on J.K. Rowling’s fifth
book of the series and the launching of
the last and seventh book Harry Potter
and the Deadly Hollows, a few days later.
CINEMA shares the interest of the view-
ers, especially as regards the film which it
reviews as a matter of commitment to its
own vision and mission.
While on summer vacation from the
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wiz-
ardry, seventeen year old Harry Potter
(Daniel Redcliffe) is attacked by demen-
tors (tormentors at the infamous prison
of Azhkaban). To protect himself and his
cousin, Harry uses his wand to produce
the patronus charm that repels the demen-
tors. Soon he is informed that he is being
expelled from Hogwarts because he has
violated an important rule: not to use a
magical spell in the presence of muggles
(non-witches or non-wizards) and outside
of the school parameters. He is subjected
to an inquisition-like trial but is defended
by Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon)
headmaster of Hogwarts on the premise
that the spell had to be used due to the
extreme danger facing Harry. Harry is
Running Time: 138 min.
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Maggie Smith,
Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Imelda Saunton, Helena
Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman,
Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs
Director: David Yates
Producers: David Barron, David Heyman
Screenwriter: Michael Goldenberg
Author: J.K. Rowling
Music: Nicholas Hooper
Editor: Mark Day
Genre:Fantasy/Adventure/Drama
Cinematography: Slawomir Idziak
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Location: England
Technical Assessment: ● ● ● ½
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below, With parental
guidance
cleared of the charges but some officials Voldemort’s return. Dolores’ reforms
at the Ministry of Magic claim that Harry establishes an atmosphere of repression,
lies when he claims that the dreaded evil gloom and dissatisfaction. Moreover,
one Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has been she does not teach students the spells and
resurrected and has assumed human form. strategies needed to defend themselves
Though some doubt Harry’s word, there against attack. As a result, Harry and his
are those who feel that they have to be pre- close friends Hermione Granger (Emma
pared for the imminent attacks Voldemort Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint)
will unleash on the wizard populace who recruit friends to join a group whom Harry
do not wish to follow his evil schemes. will teach magical spells and techniques
An organization called the Order of the for their defense. They call themselves
Phoenix is formed to fight Voldemort and “Dumbledore’s Army”. As the screws
his followers, the Deatheaters. Phoenix are tightened by Dolores, things head
members meet secretly in their headquar- towards a showdown, especially between
ters, the ancestral home of Sirius Black Voldemort with this Deatheaters and the
(Gary Oldman), Harry’s godfather wanted Order of the Phoenix.
by the authorities for a crime he did not All the previous films on Harry Potter
commit. Harry finds Sirius, the Weasley were well received and became phenom-
family and other close friends committed enal box office hits. Though megged
to their cause. by different directors, they were all well
When Harry returns to Hogwarts for crafted. The same can be said of the present
his fifth year, he finds many changes. film. Director DavidYates has consistently
There is a new professor on the Defense portrayed the dark and grim events of the
Against the Dark Arts by the name of story with dark and grim images. The
Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton). scenes are practically all done in darkness
Dolores was sent by the Ministry of Magic and shadows. One never sees the Hog-
to supposedly upgrade the educational warts impressive buildings and beautifully
system at Hogwarts through “reforms” but serene surroundings in the light of day.
actually she is there to keep Dumbledore Just as one sees the characters including
and Harry in check. This is due to the Harry always looking pensive and serious
paranoia of the head of the ministry that as if they carry the world’s problems on
Dumbledore is interested in taking over their shoulders. The production design
his position and therefore Dumbledore exudes an atmosphere of gloom and sets
and Harry are spreading “lies” about the stage for the coming of darker events.
This film engrosses and engages the view-
ers’ interest, though it does not enthrall
as Harry and his friends shed off their
childhood innocence and Harry himself
courageously confronts the dangers of his
destiny. There are few “fun” moments
but the young viewers will most probably
be entertained by the superbly choreo-
graphed fight scenes especially that at the
ministry building towards the climax of the
story. The very good special effects (CGIs)
have also much to do with the successful
execution of the fight scenes. The same is
true of the crackling caper of the Weasley
brothers that successfully rattles the hated
Dolores Umbriddge on exam day. Expert
cinematography expands the Hogwarts
landscape as Harry and his group flies over
London following the Thames River and
picking out landmarks like the Big Ben.
Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix is J.K. Rowling’s longest book
with more than 800 pages, yet this film
is the shortest in the series so far, at two
hours and 18 minutes. The director has
compressed the narrative, omitting what
he probably thinks is not consistent with
his interpretation of the story. There are
no exciting quidditch matches, something
that young viewers always enjoyed and
looked forward to. The game has to be
played in broad daylight and does not
seem to fit into such a somber story. There
are also no cutesy ghosts and practically no
elves. Though very much shortened, the
“labyrinthine” plot is still richly textured.
There are few scenes depicting personal
interrelationships like that between Harry
and his best friends Harmione and Ron.
Yet the numerous characters of previous
films in the series are retained with new
ones added like the loony Luna Lovegood
(Evanna Lynch) and the villainess Dolores
Umbridge (Imelda Staunton). Dolores
with her eternal fake smile and signature
pink dress is well cast and her excellent
performance is one of the pleasures of the
film. The teenage actors have upgraded
their acting skills especially Harry Potter
who has matured and does very well
tackling even difficult scenes like the
“possession” part. Bravo for the excellent
performance of the rest of the support
cast which includes Maggie Smith (as the
inimitable Minerva McGonagal), Helena
Bonham Carter (as the deranged Bellatrix
Lestrange) Alan Rickman (as the Professor
Severus Snape), Michael Gambon (as the
self assured Dumbledore), Robbie Colfran
(as the giant Hagrid). All had just one or
two brief shining moments but they deliv-
ered with gusto.
Contrary to expectations because of the
first four films in the Harry Potter series,
this film Harry Potter and the Order of
the Phoenix is not a children’s film. For
one thing, Harry is no longer a child,
wide-eyed with a sense of wonder and
the expectation of exploring a new world.
Now at seventeen and on the threshold
of adulthood, he is confronted with prob-
lems and difficulties that involve not only
himself but the community to which he
belongs. Most of these have to do with
the imminent confrontation with the dark
forces, as personified by Voldemort who
sees in Harry an obstacle to his total control
of his world. So this serious film is actu-
ally another setting of the constant battle
between good and evil, where the good
triumphs. The movie is fantasy and even if
it involves magic, witchcraft and the like, it
focuses on positive values. Stripped of the
magic and fantasy, characters could still be
real and relatable as the conflicts, struggles
and issues are true and the fight for the
good is sincere and determined.
Harry is the personification of courage,
dedication to a cause often at the risk of
his life. Tested by Voldemort who wishes
to control his mind, Harry reacts with fear
and anger but resists with all his might the
incursions of evil into his person. He listens
to his godfather who advises him to control
his feelings and use his mind to overcome
evil. He shows that a person has the ca-
pacity to do good or evil and he chose to
remain good. Other values extolled by the
film are friendship, compassion, concern
for the welfare of others, the willingness
to sacrifice for the right cause. This picture
presents good discussion points for older
children and teenagers. In this film rated
V-13, adults need to guide young viewers
regarding sequences of fantasy violence
and frightening images.

Title: VACANCY
Running Time: 85 min.
Cast: Kate Beckinsale,
Luke Wilson, Frank
Whaley, Ethan Embry
Director: Nimrod Antal
Producer: Hal Lieberman
Screenwriter: Mark L.
Smith
Music: Paul Hasluger
Editor: Armen Minasian
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Cinematography: Andrzej
Secula
Distributor: Columbia
pictures
Location: New Mexico,
USA
Technical Assessment:
●●●
Moral Assessment: ANSWER TO THE LAST ISSUE: QUOTES IN QUIZ BOOKLETS
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CINEMA Rating: For THE CEMETERY OF THE VICTIMS OF HUMAN CRUELTY IN OUR CENTURY IS SM, ROBINSONS AND SELECTED MALLS IN
viewers 14 and above EXTENDED TO INCLUDE YET ANOTHER VAST CEMETERY, THAT OF THE UNBORN. MANILA. FOR MAIL ORDER TEXT 0919
POPE JOHN PAUL II 2803036.

A bickering couple on the verge
of divorce, David and Amy
(Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale)
find themselves stranded on an
empty and dark country road.
They are lost, tired and their car
has broken down. They have
no choice but to check into the
only accommodation available, a
run-down motel with an appar-
ently amiable manager (Frank
Whaley) in charge. Unable to
relax or sleep because of the
sudden disturbances from the
other rooms and around, like
loud distressful cries, banging
of walls and slamming of doors,
and with no way to have these
irritating noises stop, they turn
to the television for some diver-
sion. The TV could only show
some available video tapes
placed by the set. In horror
they see on screen sequences
and episodes of violence being
perpetrated on some men and
women until their death. Amy
and David become more fright-
ened when they realize that they
are watching home-made films,
a bloody reality show and that
these are made in the very same
room they are occupying. Real-
izing that they would become
the next victims of the video-
making gang, husband and wife
search for ways to escape with
their life.
Rather than a film focusing
on violence, Vacancy is a tight
story that plays up a forbid-
ding atmosphere that increases
the feeling of suspense as the
movie unfolds. It will not be
easy to guess what is going to
happen to David and Amy, and
whether they could make their
escape. The acting of the cast,
especially that of the gutsy Luke
Wilson and Kate Beckinsale, and
the pacing of events maintain
viewers’ interest. Violent acts
and sequences are portrayed
in long shots and shaded light
lessening somewhat the impact
of the violence shown. This is
however, not done in all brutal
acts depicted.
Although such a story as Va-
cancy could be taken as a fiction-
horror film, still it could serve as
a reminder not to drive in lonely
and unfamiliar places, especially
in the dark. For David and Amy
on the verge of splitting up, the
shock and terror brought them
back together, for they needed
each other to escape their im-
pending death. Their combined
courage and daring helped, even
to the extent of realizing their
mistakes, leading to repentance,
forgiveness and reconciliation
with each other. No matter how
horrible and painful the ordeal,
the good people eventually
prevail. This is rated for 14 and
above viewers because of the na-
ture of the story, which requires
some maturity to understand.

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