The Lord's Prayer

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 11:1-4.

He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test."

Bounty-Driven Crime Solution

The headlines are saying that there is now a P1.2-M reward fund for information leading to the solution of last month’s grenade bombing just outside De Ls Salle University while the law fraternities and sororities were making merry to boost the morale of their friends.

The bounty pot was started by a P200-K offer from the UTOPIA law fraternity of Ateneo (which reportedly counts no less than Chief Justice Fenato Corona as its most prominent ‘brod’).

The additional P1,000,000 has now been pledged anonymously.

CJ Corona has rightly denounced the bombers as “criminals without souls” and DLSU says it will no longer host the bar exams.

There are calls for the fiesta-like and violence-prone to be banned while UST and UP Diliman are being considered to host the bar exams.

The NBI is working with the Manila Police District, following the cue of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to carelessly narrow its roster of suspects to members of warring brotherhoods.

Filipinos have only but admiration for law student Raissa Laurel who lost both her legs barbarous attack but is determined to pursue her studies, drawing power from her faith in the Lord.

Indeed the resolution of the incident will bring justice not only to Raissa by the 43 others wounded in the bombing.

However, what worries your Midfielder is that is has seemingly become de rigueur for police sleuthing work to be prodded on with bounties.

What happens to the unpublicized suffering of ordinary folk whose loved ones
brutalized or even murdered by the ‘haves’ with no sympathizers putting up bounties or to not have ‘connections in high places’???
The news media do help considerably as in the case of the sensational but still dragging Maguindanao massacre and recent gang rapes.

But on a massive scale the families of countless destitute victims feel, and know, that police drag their feet or even withhold evidence unless their hands are greased and pockets are lined with offers of material reward.

In my book this is called crime solution for sale if not outright ‘extortional justice’.

The Bishops Bite Their Tongue, For Now

There’s a truce in our local version of the global ‘condom wars’.

From the CBCP comes this story:

An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said they are withdrawing from giving “unnecessary statements” until a formal dialogue is finally held.
“We respect the request of Malacañang for a ceasefire to calm everybody… and as we wait for a face-to-face dialogue with the bishops and the president,” said Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Commission on Family and Life.
He said the “ceasefire” will be a good opportunity for both parties and the public as well to take time and carefully study the matter.
Castro said they are already preparing for a “bigger” dialogue between the prelates and the Aquino administration.
Castro also stressed that their silence does not mean that they are already foregoing their strong position on the RH bill.
“It does not mean that the Church is compromising (its position). It simply means that it is good there’s this lull moment to pause, to assess things and to pray and hope for a genuine dialogue,” he said. (CBCPNews).

It’s good that the Catholic prelates are tempering what Filipinos feel is their ‘friar-like’ hubris in asserting ‘moral’ control over the free choice of Filipino couple to use either the ‘rhythm method’ of limiting the number of their progeny and the use of condoms by virile men and intra-uterine-devices (IUDs) by women of child-bearing age.

The bishops must know all-too-well that opinion surveys are lopsidedly against their ‘in-the-box’ doctrine.

The negative public sentiment has been stoked even further by the clumsy if not irresponsible use of the E-threat (excommunication) against a hugely popular president who understands that poverty, which he aims to cut by 50-percent by 2015 (as committed by RP in the UN Millennium Development Goals , is aggravated by our ballooning population (project to reach 120-M in two decades if not earlier).

The CBCP cannot credibly assert that its faithful are obey the edict “pigilin ang panggigigil’ (control the sex urge) nor does it have a responsive program to ease poverty given its rich coffers that swell from tax-free donations and business earnings.

Let the Condom Summit preparations move forward in earnest!

CBCP To Question Condom Plans' Constitutionality?

The battle for the hearts and minds of Catholic Filipino couples over the free choice of using state-provided artificial birth control tools like condoms is heating up as the week begins.
Now the Catholic Church says its civil disobedience push will include mobilizing it’s laity groups like the Couples for Christ and even Parish-based organizations while hinting at a formal legal challenge to the constitutionality of the government’s espousal of the U.S.-supported “responsible parenthood” program.

Here’s what’s now on the web site of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (emphasis mine):

Church leaders say ‘civil disobedience a possibility’
MANILA, Oct. 3, 2010—Catholic leaders said civil disobedience is an option that can be considered by the Church should President Benigno Aquino make good of his promise to hand out artificial birth control devices.
Church leaders, in separate interviews said bishops and priests have the moral authority to teach and lead the faithful based on Church teachings.
Aquino has earlier said during a small town meeting in the United States that he may consider contraceptive methods to curb population even though it runs counter to the natural methods being promoted by the Catholic Church.
Artificial contraception is a moral issue and Church leaders said civil disobedience is an important option that maybe considered to bring the Church’s message to the current leaders.
“The Catholic Church in the Philippines can do that if it decides to do that because for one thing, civil disobedience is a moral option, one of the moral options,” said CBCP Secretary General Msgr. Juanito Figura in an interview with CBCP News.
He explained civil allegiance is the respect given by the people to the state and the laws of the state “and according to Church principles, we should do that but according to the same Church principles, if a law or a state policy is against Christian teachings, persons, Christians, Catholics are not bound by conscience to obey that.”
He said this is the very foundation of civil disobedience.
“When a law or state policy or state program is not in consonance with what the faith teaches so from that perspective, if the local church in the Philippines or the hierarchy in the Philippines decide to call for disobedience because of this possibility of enacting the controversial Reproductive Health bill and the distribution of artificial contraceptives the bishops would have a moral reason to do that,” he further added.
Figura said they have not received any call or letter from the Office of the President for a dialogue on the controversial issue although it was published in the papers that an audience with the Catholic bishops is being prepared.
“We have not received any communication so far,” the secretary general said, adding that it may be a good idea for Aquino to seek a dialogue with the Catholic bishops.
The previous administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had a liaison officer who was in constant touch with the CBCP secretariat.
But Figura said he is not sure if the present government “would appoint somebody to the position.”
CBCP Media Director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio said only once it happened in the history of CBCP that the Church called for civil disobedience.
“Since the CBCP was established in 1945 until today there was just a single event that called for civil disobedience and this was after the February 7, 1986 snap elections,” Quitorio said.
But the actual civil disobedience did not take place because it was “overtaken” by events.
He emphasized that the CBCP has not called for any mass action so far.
Quitorio said he doesn’t know of any forthcoming meeting with President Aquino and the archbishops and bishops to discuss the controversial issue.
On his part, San Fernando de Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, expressed alarm on the statement President Aquino’s made while in the United States.
“Alam kaya ni Presidente Noy na marami sa artificial methods na iyan ay abortifacients na ang ibig sabihin ay they were designed not only to prevent conception but terminate a conceived child because once you already have a fertilized embryo you already have a human being,” the prelate explained.
The prelate said the 1987 Constitution guarantees the protection of the unborn as it is the duty of the state from the moment of conception.
“It is therefore unconstitutional to promote methods that terminate conception,” he explained. He said the country’s leadership seems bent on following the templates from highly developed countries which already backfired and failed.
“These countries have already taken a new approach to population management because they have already experienced a demographic winter,” the 51 year-old prelate added.
He said these developed countries should not force developing countries to suffer from their earlier experience.
“These countries are threatened by issues concerning geopolitics or an issue of power that their population may be overtaken by developing countries,” he further explained.
The prelate added the developed countries may become totally dependent on migrant workers.
Lingayen-Dagupan Auxiliary Bishop Renato Mayugba said the bishops may not anchor their statements on faith but on the country’s existing Constitution which calls for the protection of the unborn child from the time of conception.
“If the government will pursue programs that run counter to the provisions of the Constitution, it would simply mean violating the country’s constitution,” the 54-year old prelate said.
Meanwhile, Lipa Archbishop Ramon V. Arguelles called on the faithful of his ecclesial province to prepare to mobilize the laity for mass actions against the movement of the Aquino government to push for the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health bill and all population control measures.
In a text message to his flock from Italy, the archbishop said they are in solidarity with the lay faithful of Cebu in its opposition to the planned introduction of artificial methods to the Filipino families. (Melo M. Acuna)
http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/13320

ATENEO LEGAL EAGLES OFFER 200K REWARD FOR INFO IN BAR EXAM BOMBING CULPRITS

A leading group of alumni of the Ateneo College of Law is offering a P200,000 rewards for "anyone who can provide information that will lead to the early resolution, and apprehension of the suspect/s in, the bombing incident during last Sunday's Bar Exams."

Here is UTOPIA's press statement in full:

"The Fraternal Order of Utopia, a fraternity based in the Ateneo Law School, is offering a reward of P200,000 to anyone who can provide information that will lead to the early resolution, and apprehension of the suspect/s in, the bombing incident during last Sunday's Bar Exams.
Tony Bernardo, former Customs commissioner. Utopia condemns in the strongest terms the irresponsible act of the perpetrators which caused injuries and sufferings to many young people, whose aspirations to become lawyers have been adversely affected by this dastardly and cowardly act. Utopia hopes that those responsible for this unforgivable crime will soon be apprehended and brought to justice. Utopia commits its all out support to the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Supreme Court."


Refer to Tony Bernardo, (09178446887)
Chairman, Fraternal Order of Utopia Alumni Asoc.

Statement of the Clergy of Manila on Action of Mr. Celdran at Manila Cathedral

We, the clergy of the Archdiocese of Manila, express our disapproval and condemnation of the protest action done by a Mr. Carlos Celdran at the Manila Cathedral in the midst of the Ecumenical Prayer Service and the Eucharistic Celebration to mark the second anniversary of the May They Be One Program of the Episcopal Commission on Bible Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on September 30, 2010.

Mr. Celdran willfully and with premeditation executed his protest inside the Manila Cathedral the church of the Archbishop and the seat of the Archdiocese of the Manila. The church is the Mother Church in the Archdiocese and is the central place for worship of the entire flock of the Archdiocese. This is the church where the past Archbishops of Manila are buried (in its crypt). This is where the Cathedra (seat) and the seal (coat of arms) of the Archbishop of Manila are displayed to symbolize his office, an appointment that comes directly from the Holy See.

We condemn in particular the blatant disrespect he displayed towards His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and the bishops and priests and representatives of other religions present during the worship service. He disrupted the religious proceedings which included reading from the Sacred Scriptures, and preened in front of the altar with his offensive poster. Unstopped (because no one was prepared for such brazen action) he repeatedly pointed his poster towards the religious leaders and at the sacred altar, and at one time even shouted. When he was being peaceably led out of the Cathedral he shouted invectives.

These actions cannot by any means be considered within the purview of freedom of expression. Instead they were malicious acts directed towards a Faith, a Religion that was represented by its leaders and the faithful gathered. It was desecrating a consecrated place, as every Catholic church or chapel is consecrated by sacred rites. His right to protest in this manner ended after he entered the doors of the Manila Cathedral. May we point out too that he likewise disrespected our National Hero, Jose Rizal, by assuming the hero’s looks to perpetuate his shameful deed.

We demand that the Intramuros Administration make him account for his actions since Mr. Celdran is a tour guide who operates within its confines. We pray for him that he may receive enlightenment and have remorse for what he has done.

Source:
http://www.rcam.org/Homilies/2010/statement_of_the_clergy_of_Manila.html

Coming Soon: The Condom Summit?

The Catholic Church, long held as THE DOMINANT (if not domineering)influence in the life of Philippine society which is variously estimated as 90-98% Christian, has tempered somewhat its widely reported threat to excommunicate Pres. Aquino, and by implication, other Catholics who will subscribe to the governments "freedom of choice" program making condoms and other contraceptive options to Filipinos.

No less than CBCP president, Bishop Nereo Odchimar, 'clarified' at week's end that his excommunication remark was "misreported" by the usual whipping boy - the news media.

Responding to the 'clarification, Malacanang is restating its readiness "to dialogue with the Church."

We do not know yet what form the 'dialogue' will take but we think there won't necessarily be 'Condom Summit' but a more politically correct packaging.

One party who is not changing his tune is tourist guide and Twitter activist Carlos Celdran whose Padre Damaso-dressed-as-Jose-Rizal stunt gave face to many Filipinos sentiment over the Church's seeming violation of the constitutionally-enshrined separation of State and Church.

Of course not everyone praised Celran with not a few saying he not just disrupted the religious service at Manila Cathedral.

"Celdran insulted us and disrespected our faith," quite several dear friends told your Midfielder.

They may actually be correct in trashing the disrespectful stunt Carlos used to deliver his message... but I think the message itself warning against what I'd call the dangerous return of the 'friar mentality'cannot be blithely ignored.

So Celran was allowed to post a P6,000 bail for his temporary freedom in relation to the charge filed by a security guard of the Manila Cathedral.

Given the upcoming Condom Summit (pardon the pun), I foresee the case's withdrawal to finally clear the air.

To its credit, the Aquino administration is marking its 100th day in office by preventing a full blown public quarrel with the Catholic Church.

A footnote: CBCP knows obly too well that quite other influential Christian denominations have seen their flock swell in recent years if not decades, not least among them the Iglesia Ni Kristo and the so-called Born Again congregations of El Shaddai and Jesus Is Lord whose "Servant Leaders" continue to nurture presidential dreams.