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Thousands of demonstrators rally along Commonwealth Avenue -- the road leading to the House of Representatives in Quezon City -- as President Rodrigo Duterte’s delivers his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23. MARTINA SUMMER DAGAL
‘ILLOGICAL’
Bishop hits Duterte’s SONA remark on human rights
By Roy Lagarde
said, “your concern is human
rights, mine is human lives”.
A CATHOLIC bishop has The bishop lamented that such
blasted President Rodrigo statement implies that the victims
Duterte’s supposed of drug-related killings are not
human lives, something that “the
concern for human life Church can never agree with”.
but not for human rights, “The statement is illogical but
branding his reasoning not really surprising because it
as “illogical”. has been stated plainly on several
As Duterte refused to backdown occasions,” David said.
his bloody war on drugs, Bishop “Addicts, for us, are sick people;
Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan drug use is not a crime that deserves
said this means that killings will death. What people with substance-
continue and more lives will be lost use disorder need is rehabilitation
along the way. and we in the Church are willing to
“His warning was scary. It means help out in this endeavor.”
we have to brace ourselves for more “Yes, use the full force of the law,
killings,” he said. file charges against violators, jail
Duterte, in his third State of the the pushers and the suppliers, but
Nation Address (SONA) on July 23, save the users; do not kill them!
said that his administration’s fight Besides, we cannot rehabilitate
against the illegal drugs trade is far dead people anymore, can we?” he
from over. added.
Instead, according to him, it will David said they would have long
be as “relentless” and chilling” as agreed with Duterte’s campaign
the day it started two years ago. against illegal drugs if only it
Hitting back at his critics, Duterte Illogical / A7 Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan celebrates Mass at the Philippine Conference on New Evangelization at UST in Manila, July 19, 2018. ROY LAGARDE
EDITORIAL
Monitor
CBCP Fr. Roy Cimagala
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE THESE past months, I have been desperation, the one good thing that even in our worst possible scenario, we
attending family and class reunions he did, the last straw he managed to can always count on God’s ever-ready
Pedro Quitorio and these always gave me very happy, clutch, was to decide to come home mercy as long as we decide to come
Editor-in-Chief
moving and memorable experiences. even if he was willing not anymore to home to him.
Nirva’ana Delacruz Ron Ramos There is a sensation of being at home, be considered as a son. We should always strengthen our faith
Associate Editor Design Artist of being part of a family or class We know what happened. The father in God’s mercy and compassion. Of course.
where the process of growing up, of was all the time waiting for him. And We should also try not to abuse God’s
Roy Lagarde Mercedita Juanite learning and discovering, and of being when he saw a glimpse of the returning goodness, even if we know that despite
Circulation Manager
News Editor unconditionally understood and loved prodigal son, he could not help but ran our best efforts we may end up abusing
Marcelita Dominguez as one is, took place. to him, very happy to have him back. He it just the same. But whatever happens,
Christine Paguirigan
Managing Editor Comptroller All of these somehow reminded me ordered a feast and let go of what the son we should come home. Just come home.
of the parable of the prodigal son. (cfr. did. He knew his son was sorry. That’s what matters in the end.
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all of it in loose living until he suffered our idea of what is good can actually who is all willing to do anything for us
its inevitable dire consequences. In his be bad. We just have to remember that Candidly Speaking / A7
CBCP Monitor July 23 - August 5, 2018, Vol 22, No. 15 OPINION A5
was directed against God’s commandments “Is it not obvious ng Pilipinas, also called
disappearance marked the correct individuals,
specifically the big time
amidst continued killings
in the country. that addicts on Filipinos to stand up
against the continued
drug suppliers. He emphasized that and small-time killings.
TACLOBAN City— Members of the “How come the supply people, especially the “Nananatiling
Redemptorist community marked of illegal drugs remains government leaders, peddlers and madilim ang panahon,
in a special way July 11, the same steady in spite of all the tend to neglect the basic pushers are not ang kasalukuyan nating
killings?” he said. “Is it commandments of God. pamahalaan ay naghahari
day Fr. Rudy Romano disappeared
35 years ago. not obvious that addicts “Dapat iniisa-isa
the root cause of hindi dahil sa batas
Romano, a native of Villareal, and small-time peddlers natin ang utos ng the drug problem? ang batayan bagkus ay
and pushers are not the Diyos. Huwag kang pananakot at karahasan,”
Samar was abducted by armed men
on July 11, 1983 in Brgy.Tisa, Cebu root cause of the drug magnanakaw. Ngayon,
Isn’t it obvious she said.
City and since then, has no longer problem? Isn’t it obvious hindi lang pagnanakaw, that they are also “Tayong lahat, bilang
that they are also victims, nandiyan din huwag Pilipino ay may tungkulin
been seen and remains missing to
and that they also need to kang magsinungaling.
victims, and that sa isa’t isa. Ang ating
date.
Our Mother of Perpetual Help be saved, not killed?” Nandiyan din na huwag they also need to liwanag ay pamamaraan
parish priest Fr. Leo Armada, “The fight against kang papatay kasi be saved, para magising ang
CssR., officiated a Mass Wednesday illegal drugs must indeed pinapatay na ang mga ating pamayanan sa
afternoon in honor of the be relentless, but the tao na wala sa proseso,” not killed?” paniniil na labis-labis na
disappearance of Romano. killings—either by the Pabillo said in his homily. nararamdaman na,” said
“The Church is not about the police or by masked “[A]t nandiyan din, Wasan.
bishops, the priests and the vigilantes—must be igalang ang pangalan ng “Si Hesus ang Benedictine nun Mary
religious, we are the Church and we stopped! This will remain Diyos, hanggang ngayon pinapahalagahan natin sa John Mananzanan
are always for the challenge to speak as our stubborn and ay hindi naduduwag, ating pananampalataya. lamented that in two
for the truth and fight for justice relentless plea,” said gamitin ang unang utos, Kaya manalig tayo years of the Duterte
and the oppressed,” said the priest. David. isa lang ang Diyos na ating sa kaniya. Namatay si administration, the
Armada said Romano is “Our challenge nowadays is sasambahin. Bakit may Hesus para sa atin, hindi country has “gone down
remembered for working and to be vigilant and be aware on 10 Commandments nagsasabing iba ang Diyos Niya tayo pababayaan. so low into barbarism and
helping the poor of Cebu. what’s happening today, not At a Mass held at the mo sa Diyos ko? Ilang Higit pa siya kaysa anong uncivility”.
He said 35 years since the to be mute and deaf and quiet St. Peter Church along Diyos ba? Isa lang ang pamahalaan, kaysa “It’s incredible!” she
disappearance of Romano, nothing but speak and stand out for Commonwealth Avenue Diyos,” he added. pamahalaang ito,” he said. said. “Tinututulan natin
has changed and many priests and the truth and spread the Good in Quezon City few hours The bishop also ang kultura ng karahasan
religious continue to get killed and News for the kingdom of God,” before Duterte’s SONA, reminded the faithful to ‘Restless, barbaric at pagpatay na parang
oppressed till today, but the Church stressed Armada. (Nestor L. Manila Auxiliary Bishop not be afraid to fight for the Philippines’ ang pagpatay lamang
will not be cowed. Abrematea/CBCPNews) Broderick Pabillo urged right for Jesus is greater Julieta Wasan, president ang solusyon sa lahat ng
Filipinos to go back to than any governments. of the Sangguniang Laiko problema.”
Duc in Altum / A5
safe and very secure, who can get to your flock and tell them to grow
a good sleep in his warm bed while from lambs to fellow shepherds. consciously or unconsciously fall and the actualization of life comes “Life in man is the glory of God;
his sheep are being slaughtered.” Never shepherd my flock alone. in the ambit of the bishop’s graces, from participation in God, while the life of man is the vision of
Bishop Ambo continued that Only by uniting yourself with your at the expense of other brother participation in God is to see God”. Some would translate this
in his prayers, he heard the Good flock that you can grow together priests. This becomes worst if it God and enjoy his goodness.” phrase as: the glory of God is man
Shepherd whispering: “You are into the Church, which is my body, motivated by careerism and love Why are some of us do not enjoy fully alive. In the face of death
right, Ambo. You are not the Good the Body of the Shepherd. Only then of financial gains. On some cases, or experience the true joy? Why and the threats of death towards
Shepherd. I AM. YOU ARE NOT can you truly say, I AM THE GOOD there is the element of secrecy and is it that among the priests and priests, it seems that the reality
THE GOOD SHEPHERD. I only SHEPHERD.” the seeming knowledge of these religious there is “in-groups and which our saint wishes us to live
entrusted the flock to you; they The Diocese of Kalookan is in secrets appear to be the key to out-groups”? Priests who are in the is the best antidote in our present
are mine, please continue to look deep gratitude to the bishops, salvific joy. graces of the bishop and outside times where even those of our
after them. If you love me, feed the clergy and the consecrated Of course, as was noted, this the circle of the the bishop’s circle brothers are killed twice by more
my lambs; if you love me, tend my persons who donated a total of is only the least manifestation of love? Why is it that even among deadly malignant propaganda.
sheep; if you love me, be ready to P300,474.30 during the special of neo-Gnosticism. Other forms priests there is a glaring dis- The words of the former bishop
give up your life for my sheep. Do collection at the Mass on Day 2 of could be more dangerous like the equality even in terms of standard of Antioch reechoes even to his
it for no other reason than for love PCNE 5. The amount will be the theoritical ones: the pharisaical allowances? How could we ignore brother bishops of today: “The
of me. You do not have to substitute seed fund for the two children of resort to extreme traditionalism “questions of our people, [also our glory of God gives life; those
for me; you are not the Messiah, I Jennifer who are now complete that freezes the gospel from being priests or consecrated persons], who see God receive life. For
am; you do not take my place. I only orphans. Thank you for your creative and active in today’s time. their suffering, their struggles, this reason God, who cannot
asked you to represent me. Speak compassion and mercy. The Pope says: “when somebody their dreams, their trials, and their be grasped, comprehended or
has an answer for every question, worries?” seen, allows himself to be seen,
Candidly Speaking / A4 it is a sign that they are not on the Actualization of our lives comes comprehended and grasped by
right road.” Indeed, “someone from the participation in God. men, that he may give life to those
just to get us back to him. to say, many people are succumbing who wants everything to be clear This participation could not but be who see and receive him.”
This point, I believe, is worth to this trick of the devil. That’s and sure presumes to control presbyterial and communal. The We are all invited to live as
reiterating. It is what truly grounds why many now fall into some deep God’s transcendence.” He insists, first and original community is the shepherds and encourage our own
us to the foundation of our life despair when misfortune comes that “doctrine, or better, our community of the divine persons in shepherds to discover if we are
and nature, giving us the meaning their way. They feel there’s no one understanding and expression of it, the Holy Trinity which is the true all giving this life to one another;
and purpose of our existence. It’s else to run to anymore. is not a closed system, devoid of the model of any authentic community others wise, we allow the spirit of
a source of joy, confidence and God’s ever-ready mercy and dynamic capacity to pose questions, and local churches. Participation death to conquer the local church
serenity. It tells us what our filial compassion cannot be doubted at doubts, inquiries… The questions in God is participation inside this from the center through petty
rights and duties are. all. In spite of all our sins, he in of our people, their suffering, Trinitarian life: a life of equal intrigues, malicious slander and
More importantly, it tells us who Christ is willing to die for us, to their struggles, their dreams, their dignity if freedom and joy. This sometimes even through the sin
we are and gives us an abiding sense assume all our sins for us, and to trials, and their worries, all possess process of actualization in the life of detraction.
that we are never alone, or worse, render death to our sins with his an interpretational value that we of the presbyterium based in the True unity in our local churches
just on our own. It fills us with the own death and conquering them cannot ignore if we want to take life of God, is the process towards depends so much on the true
conviction that we are children of with his resurrection. the principle of the incarnation equality in dignity, not so much in unity of the bishop and its
God, that no matter what happens This divine mercy should never seriously.” authority (for authority is service), presbyters where they could
God will always be with us and for be lost in our mind. We however This is not the unity which St. but a working out together—priests together participate in the life of
us unless we reject him. should try to avoid being spoiled by Ireneaus of Antioch is talking and bishops alike—in humility the Trinitarian God and enjoy His
We have to be wary of our it. Rather, the assurance of divine about. In the local church, his and mutual respect towards true goodness. In this, we could be glad
tendency to think that we are just on mercy should prod us all the more words are normative even to equality in dignity that eliminates and be joyful and even death in
our own. That would be an attitude to be more generous, more fruitful, the bishops, priests and the “clicks” and a tendency towards all its forms could not separate us
that can be suggested only by the more faithful in our love for him and consecrated persons: “It is neo-Gnosticism or at least its from Him who continuously gives
devil who will always tell lies. Sad for everybody else. impossible to live without life, manifestation. us true unity and life.
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES July 23 - August 5, 2018, Vol 22, No. 15 CBCP Monitor