Monitor

CBCP

APRIL 16 - 29, 2018 VOL. 22 NO. 8 CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

THE CROSS A3: NEWS A6: LOCAL NEWS B1: PASTORAL CONCERNS
A SUPPLEMENT PUBLICATION Filipinos throng St. John Paul II relic Put Bataan nuke plant to ‘eternal rest’ – bishop Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 2018
OF KCFAPI AND THE ORDER OF
Word Day of Prayer for Vocations
THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Australian nun freed after

arrest for ‘political activity’
By Roy Lagarde

A 71-YEAR-OLD
Australian nun has been
released by the Philippine
authorities after being
held for 22 hours.
Sr. Patricia Anne Fox, a
missionary of Our Lady of Sion,
was released at around 3:30pm on
April 17 and was brought back to
their convent in Quezon City.
She was arrested April 16 by
six operatives of the Bureau of
Immigration because she was
deemed an “undesirable alien” for
joining “political activities and anti-
government rallies”.
“Actually, I thought I was coming
only to answer questions,” Fox told
the media shortly after her release.
“I have been here for 27 years and
this happened only now.”
The nun was freed after it was
established that she holds a valid
missionary visa making her a
“properly documented alien”.
The BI said that Fox is not covered
by inquest proceedings as the latter
will only apply to aliens arrested
after being caught in flagrante
violating immigration laws.
But the missionary will still be
under investigation to determine if
deportation charges should be filed
against her.
Under the immigration law,
foreigners are barred from joining
mass actions or political activity
as the act amounts to violating the
Activity / A7 Sr. Patricia Anne Fox walks free from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) office in Manila where she was held for almost a day, April 17, 2018. ROY LAGARDE

Bishop tells Duterte: Prove

Duterte admits ordering probe against Sr. Fox
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has
claimed “full responsibility” for the
temporary detention of Sr. Patricia
Anne Fox and did not mince words in
criticizing the 71-year-old nun.
Speaking at the Armed Forces of
the Philippines change of command
ceremony on April 18, he admitted
ordering the Bureau of Immigration to
investigate the Australian missionary.
But the president clarified that he
only ordered the BI to invite the nun
for questioning, and not to detain her.
“I ordered her to be investigated,
not deported at once, not arrested,
but invite her to an investigation for
a disorderly conduct,” he said.
A fuming Duterte accused the
nun of attacking his administration
in protest rallies, an action that
is tantamount to “violation of
sovereignty”.
As a politician, Duterte said he had
endured attacks for almost 40 years.
He said, however, that only Filipinos
are entitled to criticize him.
“But if I will be insulted, in the
cloak of being just a Catholic priest
[nun] and you are a foreigner, who
are you?” he said.
As the president, Duterte boasted
his power to order the deportation
of any alien violating the country’s
immigration law.
“Don’t let her in because that nun
has no shame! You do not have the
right to criticize us,” Duterte said.
Instead of hitting the government,
he advised her to attend to the
Church’s own problems and criticize
Australia government’s own failures,
including how it rejected refugees.
sincerity on Rohingya refugees
“You are too presumptuous about
looking at the Philippines. You have
human rights violations there and
it’s worse. At least here I only kill
criminals,” he said.
“Who are you? Just because you are
a nun? You go back to your country
and try to ponder the enormity of
your problems,” added Duterte.
The missionary of Sisters of Sion
was released on April 17 after she was
held for 22 hours under the custody
of the BI.
According to Duterte, the only
reason for Fox’s release is because
she was not caught berating the
government.
“If you begin to try to malign the
government in any of those rallies
there, I will order your arrest,” he Rohingya refugees take a bath at the makeshift Katupalong refugee camp in
said. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews) Bangladesh on Dec. 4, 2017. JOE TORRES/COURTESY OF UCANEWS

AS President Rodrigo international community,

Police data will shed light on drug
killings – ecumenical group
Families of victims of extrajudicial killings join the Walk for Life in Manila, Feb. 24,
2018. CBCP EWS
AN ecumenical rights group
welcomed the Supreme
Court’s order demanding
the release of police records
on the thousands of deaths
Data / A6
St. Mary’s Cathedral in Marawi to be demolished
Bishop Edwin dela Peña of Marawi and other bishops pray inside the St. Mary’s
Cathedral on April 14. DUYOG MARAWI
TIME is running out for
St. Mary’s Cathedral in the
war-ravaged southern city
of Marawi.
Bishop Edwin dela Peña
of Marawi had seen the
church for the second time
on Saturday after the siege, in
what could be his last before
the structure is reduced to
rubble.
Marawi / A7
Duterte offered Rohingya
Muslim refugees a home in
the Philippines, a Catholic
bishop has warned against a
publicity stunt.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop
Broderick Pabillo said the
refugees continue to suffer
in dire situation and don’t
deserve to be put through
political stunts.
“If it’s a charity it should
be unconditional, not tied
up to what others should do,”
Pabillo said. “We have to be
careful because it may just
be another publicity stunt of
Duterte.”
Duterte on April 5 said
“genocide” was taking place
in Myanmar and he was
willing to accept refugees to
the country.
He also attacked the
which has been critical of his
drug war, for its inability to
resolve the Rohingya crisis.
The bishop said that if
Duterte is concerned about
the refugees, he should exert
his influence on Myanmar to
be accountable to its army’s
crackdown on the Rohingya.
Duterte should also tell
other member countries of
the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations to “pressure”
Myanmar to act on the crisis.
“But of course he will not
do that. Accountability is not
his cup of tea,” Pabillo said.
Duterte in January said
he advised Myanmar leader
Aung San Suu Kyi to ignore
criticisms from human
rights organizations for her
perceived silence on the
problem. (CBCPNews)
A2 WORLD NEWS
Kenyan bishops urge compensation
for victims of post-election violence
Bishop Philip Anyolo, second from left, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaks at an April 13 news conference in Nairobi. Also pictured are Nairobi
Cardinal John Njue, left; Bishop John Oballa Owaa of Ngong; and the conference vice chairman, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri, far right. FREDRICK NZWILI/CNS
NAIROBI, Kenya— Kenya’s Catholic
bishops urged compensation for deaths,
injuries and loss of property in last year’s
extended election season, which divided
the nation and harmed its economy.
Disputed elections led to the deaths
of about 100 people. Kenya’s Supreme
Court nullified an Aug. 8 poll, citing
procedural irregularities, and President
Uhuru Kenyatta won a repeat vote in
October that opposition leader Raila
Odinga boycotted.
Many people in the East African country
“are still traumatized by what they went
through and remain bitter, and hence are
in need of healing and reconciliation,”
Bishop Philip Anyolo of Homa Bay,
chairman of the Kenya Conference of
Catholic Bishops, said at an April 13 news
conference in the capital, Nairobi.
“For those who lost their property and
those undergoing medical treatment ...
there must be a way of compensation
and some assistance” to enable them
to “recover their lives and livelihoods,”
he said.
London council sets up buffer zone around abortion clinic
YORK, England— A London
council has become the first
local authority in the UK to
approve a buffer zone around
an abortion clinic.
Members of Ealing Council,
in the west of the capital,
voted April 10 to establish
a public space protection
order, which would ban
public prayer and offers of
assistance to women within
100 meters of a clinic run by
Marie Stopes UK.
The decision means Britain
will become the second
Western democracy to ban
pro-life activities in the
vicinity of abortion clinics.
It follows Canada, where in
February 50-meter exclusion
zones were enforced around
eight Ontario facilities.
Marie Stopes UK sought
the ruling because it claimed
that members of the Good
Counsel Network, a largely
Catholic group, were
harassing its clients, a charge
Bishops freeze funding as Canadian Catholic charity comes under fire
TORONTO, Canada— The Archdiocese
of Toronto is joining other Canadian
dioceses withholding funds from the
international development agency
sponsored by the Canadian bishops’
conference.
The Canadian Catholic Organization
for Development and Peace (CCODP)
is an overseas development agency
sponsored by the Canadian Catholic
Conference of Bishops. A recent
investigation found that the agency
has partnered with organizations
upholding policies contradictory to
Catholic Church teaching, particularly
on matters of abortion, contraception
and gender theory.
“A recent review of CCODP partners,
conducted by representatives of the
Canadian Conference of Catholic
Bishops has produced alarming
concerns about dozens of overseas
organizations,” said Cardinal Thomas
Collins of Toronto in an April 11
statement, according to the Canadian
Catholic News.
“It is critical to ensure that it allocates
no funds to projects or groups that
April 16 - 29, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 8 CBCP Monitor
Vatican Briefing
Church needs prophets, not critics, pope says
The church needs true prophets who not only
speak the truth fearlessly, but also empathize with
the suffering of their people, Pope Francis said. A
prophet must always be person who not only “is able
to cry for his people, but also capable of taking risks
to speak the truth,” the pope said in his homily April
17 at morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
The church “needs us to be prophets. Not critics,
that’s another thing. “One thing is to be the critical
judge who likes nothing, who doesn’t like anything,”
he said. “That is not a prophet.” (Junno Arocho
Esteves/CNS)
Violent extremists tarnish image of their own
faith, cardinal says
Meeting with a top Muslim leader in Saudi Arabia,
the Vatican’s chief interreligious dialogue official
called for the equal treatment of people of all religions,
saying discrimination and double standards based
on religious affiliation only increase Islamophobia
and Christianophobia. And, religious leaders “have a
duty to keep religions from being at the service of an
ideology” and to know how “to recognize that some
of our fellow believers, like the terrorists, are not
behaving properly,” said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran,
president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue. “Terrorism is a constant threat, and for that
reason we must be clear and never justify it,” he said
during a meeting April 14 with the secretary-general
of the Muslim World League, Sheik Mohammed bin
The country’s bishops welcomed meeting, addressed a range of concerns, Abdul Karim al-Issa. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
March talks between Kenyatta and including corruption, poverty, education
Odinga, Bishop Anyolo said, noting and the family. Catholic universities must prepare students
that “their coming together was and will High levels of corruption, extreme for dialogue, pope says
continue to be good for the country.” poverty, an unprofessional police force Catholic universities are “called to be workshops of
Odinga lost in a 2007 election, which and poor service delivery are severe dialogue and encounter in the service of truth, justice
was followed by violence fueled by problems in Kenya, Bishop Anyolo said. and the defense of human dignity at every level,”
ethnic tensions that killed more than Unless the gap between the poor and Pope Francis told a delegation from Pennsylvania’s
1,000 people. the rich is bridged, tensions and conflict Villanova University. “It is my hope that in every
Bishop Anyolo said the bishops hope will persist, he said. aspect of its life and mission, Villanova University
dialogue between the political leaders “We have to tackle poverty, which in will persevere in its efforts to communicate the
will bring a new era of peace, stability most cases is a byproduct of corruption intellectual, spiritual and moral values that will enable
and prosperity. and looting of resources,” he said, noting young people to participate wisely and responsibly in
“We call on them to speed up the that corruption has permeated all sectors the great debates shaping the future of society,” the
process of real, meaningful and lasting of society and become a way of life. pope said. Administrators, top officials and members
reconciliation,” he said. Police need to shun all forms of of the board of trustees from the Augustinian-run
“We have been praying for a united corruption, including bribe-taking, Villanova met the pope April 14 at the Vatican. (Wyatt
country, where every person’s dignity Bishop John O. Owaa of Ngong, vice Noble/CNS)
is respected and where all have equal chairman of the bishops’ conference,
opportunities,” he said. said at the news conference. Pope advances sainthood cause of Canadian
In a statement, the bishops called for a The bishops strongly oppose attempts nun
national conference that brings together to legalize “gay unions and promote Pope Francis advanced the sainthood cause of a
all stakeholders to discuss contentious polygamy” in Kenya, Bishop Owaa said, Canadian nun who founded Ottawa’s first hospital
issues that emerged during last year’s noting that this “is against the will of and dedicated her life to abandoned children and the
elections. God.” (Fredrick Nzwili/Catholic elderly. At a meeting April 14 with Cardinal Angelo
Their statement, released at the News Service) Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes,
the pope signed a decree recognizing that Canadian
Sister Elisabeth Bruyere, founder of the Sisters of
Charity of Ottawa, lived the Christian virtues in a
the pavement counselors “Ealing Council has sent the years have accepted this special way. He also signed decrees recognizing the
have strongly denied. a clear message that this help and are grateful for the heroic virtues of four other women and three men.
Richard Bentley, managing kind of behavior should not chance to keep their babies,” They could be beatified once a miracle attributed to
director at Marie Stopes be tolerated, and that these she said. “This decision will their intercession is recognized. A second miracle is
UK, said approval for the groups have no justification harm vulnerable women who needed for canonization. (Junno Arocho Esteves/
buffer zone was “a landmark for trying to involve need our assistance. These CNS)
decision for women.” themselves in one of the most are women who can’t get
“We are incredibly personal decisions a woman support anywhere else.” Vatican announces consistory to approve
grateful to Ealing Council can make for herself,” he Clare McCullough of Good canonizations
for recognizing the emotional continued. Counsel said more than Pope Francis will preside over a consistory to approve
distress that these groups Other local authorities in 1,000 women in the past several canonizations, the Vatican announced. The
create, and for taking the U.K., Bentley added, six years have changed their May 19 consistory, which the Vatican announced April
proportionate action to were now “exploring similar minds and decided to keep 11, will most likely confirm the canonization dates of
protect the privacy and measures to increase their babies after they were Blesseds Paul VI and Oscar Romero. The meeting of
dignity of women accessing protection outside clinics in approached by counselors cardinals and promoters of the sainthood causes, also
our clinic in the borough,” he their areas.” praying outside the clinic. known as an “ordinary public consistory,” formally
said in a statement published However, Elizabeth The buffer zone will take ends the process of approving a new saint. While no
on the charity’s website April Howard of the Good Counsel effect April 23, and anyone date has been formally announced, Cardinal Pietro
11. Network said Ealing Council who breaches the order would Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, has said that Blessed
“This was never about had taken a “profoundly be committing a criminal Paul’s canonization will take place at the end of the
protest—it was about small regressive step.” offense and could be fined or Synod of Bishops on youth and discernment, scheduled
groups of strangers choosing “I am dismayed, but not prosecuted under the law, the for Oct. 3-28. (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
to gather by our entrance surprised, by Ealing Council’s statement said.
gates where they could harass decision to ban offers of help Pro-life activists will take Pontifical Commission for Latin America
and intimidate women and outside the abortion center legal advice about mounting proposes synod on women
try to prevent them from here,” she said in a statement a possible challenge to the The Catholic Church in Latin America must
accessing health care to which emailed April 11 to Catholic decision of the council. recognize and appreciate the role of women and
they are legally entitled,” he News Service. (Simon Caldwell end the practice of using them solely as submissive
said. “Hundreds of women over Catholic News Service) laborers in the parish, said members of a pontifical
commission. In addition, at the end of their plenary
meeting March 6-9 at the Vatican, members of the
Pontifical Commission for Latin America proposed
operate contrary to the moral and policies “not in compliance with Catholic that the church hold a Synod of Bishops “on the theme
social teachings of the Church,” Collins teachings.” of the woman in the life and mission of the church.”
continued. Archbishop J. Michael Miller of “There still exist ‘macho,’ bossy clerics who try to
Seven other dioceses have withdrawn Vancouver said that his diocese would use women as servants within their parish, almost
financial support from CCODP, be pulling funding from CCODP like submissive clients of worship and manual labor
including St. Catharine, Edmonton, “temporarily” until they receive “clear for what is needed. All of this has to end,” said the
St. Paul, Nelson, and Whitehorse. The assurance” that the group is complying final document from the meeting. (Junno Arocho
Archdiocese of Toronto said that it with Church values. Esteves/CNS)
would freeze around $800,000 CAD CCODP, which was founded in 1967
earmarked for CCODP until the matter by the bishops of Canada, is cooperating Vatican jails former diplomat accused of child
is settled. with the ongoing investigation. The pornography
Archbishop Richard Smith organization’s deputy director, Romain After months of investigation, Vatican police
of Edmonton said April 4 that Duguay, said his staff will comply fully arrested Msgr. Carlo Alberto Capella, a former staff
approximately 40 CCODP partners with the “joint research project.” member at the Vatican nunciature in Washington,
have shown “evidence of conflict with “We are confident that this process on charges related to the possession and distribution
Catholic moral and social teaching” will strengthen the relationship with the of child pornography. The Vatican said April 9 that
which does not “demonstrate full bishops, and they will see that we are Msgr. Capella was taken into custody that morning
respect for the sanctity of human life.” actually very strong about the position by the Vatican gendarmes at the request of Vatican
Smith noted that the probe was of the Church and all the values that the City State’s promoter of justice, who serves as chief
initiated after concerns were raised in Church wants to promote,” Duguay said. prosecutor and directs criminal investigations. “The
a February meeting with the Assembly Funds earmarked for CCODP are accused is being detained in a cell in the barracks of the
of Western and Northern Canadian typically raised during Lenten diocesan gendarmerie corps,” the Vatican said in a statement.
Catholic Bishops. campaigns. Several bishops have said The Italian monsignor was recalled to the Vatican
Other Canadian bishops, including that if they are not convinced that from Washington after the U.S. State Department
Bishop Hector Vila of Whitehorse and CCODP is fully aligned with Catholic notified the Holy See Aug. 21 of his possible violation
Bishop William McGrattan of Calgary teaching, they will use their reserved of laws relating to child pornography images. (Cindy
have said that partners of the CCODP funds for other charitable organizations. Wooden/CNS)
have endorsed practices which advocate (CNA/EWTN News)
CBCP Monitor
Benedict XVI celebrates 91st
birthday with his brother
Pope Benedict XVI, May 11, 2010. MAZUR/WWW.THEPAPALVISIT.ORG.UK
ROME— Benedict XVI turned 91
on Monday, celebrating “with his
brother Georg in a calm and familiar
climate,” according to a Vatican
statement.
This evening, members of the
Swiss Guard band are scheduled
to perform in the Mater Ecclesiae
monastery in honor of the pope
emeritus.
Pope Francis offered Mass in
the morning for Benedict XVI, and
sent him a greeting afterward, the
Vatican said.
Benedict XVI was pope from 2005
to 2013. He shocked the world when
he announced his resignation Feb.
11, 2013, citing advanced age and
declining strength. On Feb. 28, he
stepped down from the papacy. A
conclave was called to name his
successor, and on March 13, 2013,
They were going to get married.
Now he’s a priest and she’s a sister
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina— Before
discovering their vocations, Fr. Javier
Olivera and Sister Marie de la Sagesse
were engaged and planning their
wedding. God had other plans.
Speaking to ACI Prensa, CNA’s
Spanish language sister agency, Fr.
Olivera said that they both grew up
in Catholic families and that “our
parents knew each other when they
were young.” They saw each other
frequently when they were children.
“I had really left the practice of
religion. When I was 19, I came back
from a back-packing trip to Peru and
I met her. I asked her if she believed
in virginity until marriage, because
for me this was kind of an invention
by the Church. She laid out the
principles so well about purity, from
faith and reason, that it impacted
me. I met a woman who knew how
to defend what she believed and who
was at the same time very intelligent,”
Olivera commented.
Soon after that conversation, they
began dating. At that time both of
them were studying law. He was at
the National University at Buenos
Aires and she was at the National
University at La Plata.
Fr. Olivera said that “it was like any
other courtship but we tried to take
advantage of cultural life through
music, literature and philosophy.
We read books together, we’d go out
for coffee.
We had a group of friends with
whom we attended conferences of
Argentine Catholic authors.”
“I started to practice the faith, to
pray, to go to Mass on Sundays. All
in large part thanks to her, to God
mainly, but to her as an instrument,”
said the priest. He added that they
also prayed the rosary together.
For her part, Sister Marie de la
Sagesse, whose baptismal name
is Trinidad Maria Guiomar, told
ACI Prensa that what she most
appreciated about her then-boyfriend
was “his sincere search for the truth
without fearing the consequences.”
The couple got engaged when they
were 21 and decided to get married
after college, two and a half years
away.
The discovery of a vocation
One day Trinidad Maria’s older
brother broke the news that he would
be entering the seminary, and she
remembered, “we were reeling from
it because we weren’t expecting that.”
“I had a car and with my fiancée we
decided to take him to the seminary,
which was in San Rafael, Mendoza
Province,” she said. They both
decided to stay in the area a few days
so Javier could visit some friends who
were in the seminary, and Trinidad
Maria could visit some friends in the
convent.
April 16 - 29, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 8 NEWS FEATURES A3
Filipinos throng St. John
Paul II blood relic
Pope Francis was elected.
Rumors regarding the retired
pontiff’s health have arisen
numerous times since he stepped
down from the papacy, with
reports that his death is imminent
repeatedly denied by those close to
him over the past five years.
Last year, Benedict’s personal
secretary, Archbishop Georg
Gänswein, said in an interview
with EWTN that despite some
Thousands of Catholics line up to venerate the blood relic of Saint John Paul II after a Mass with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the Manila Cathedral on
physical ailments, the former pope Saturday, April 7, 2018. ROY LAGARDE
was “in good spirits, very clear in
his head and still has a good sense MARIA Adia Alonzo saw to venerate the first-class II, who himself endured Saint John Paul II, let us
of humor.” Pope John Paul II twice relic after a Mass with courageously his sickness, be witnesses of Jesus to
In a letter published Feb. 7 this before, when he visited Cardinal Luis Antonio be the companion and the ends of the earth.”
year in Italian daily Corriere della Manila in 1981 to beatify Tagle as the homilist on intercessor in their The liturgical service
Sera, Benedict said, “I can only say the first Filipino martyr, April 7. journey,” he said. ended with the song “Tell
that at the end of a slow decline in Lorenzo Ruiz, and during With sick family In his homily, the the world of His love”
physical strength, inwardly I am on World Youth Day 23 years members, financial woes cardinal said that saints which was originally sang
pilgrimage home.” (CNA) ago. and other concerns on are examples of Christian during the World Youth
The 85-year-old their mind, devotees life. Day in Manila.
woman saw him again,
in a way, on Saturday
queued to venerate the
relic.
With John Paul II, he
said it was openness to do
John Paul II was born
in Wadowice, Poland, in
when a vial of blood
drawn from the saint
Thousands more did
the same as the cathedral
God’s will, and it was the
zeal to go “to the ends of
1920, and died in 2005
in Vatican City at the age
“When we got back, we talked pope was exposed for allowed public veneration the earth” to spread the of 84.
about how crazy all that was, that public veneration at the from 6am to 8pm on Gospel. He was pope for 27
her brother had left everything, the Manila Cathedral. Sunday, April 8. He then recalled how years, making him the
possibility of having a family, an “I’m already old and I “This precious gift the pope “opened his second longest serving
important career. We began to ask came here to pray for a is truly a source of heart” to the Philippines, pontiff after Pope Piux IX
ourselves, ‘What would happen if happy and peaceful death. consolation and help telling people “not to be who held the office for 31
God called us to the religious life?’ I also prayed for my four especially for those who afraid of Jesus and of the years.
The first thing we said was ‘no’ and children,” she said. suffering physical illness,” life He offers”. John Paul II was
that that was crazy because we were Alonzo was one of the said Fr. Regie Malicdem, “Now, we welcome canonized as a saint on
having a really beautiful engagement more than more than rector of Manila Cathedral. him again, the relic of his April 27, 2014. (Roy
and we were already buying things to 2,000 people who lined up “Let Saint John Paul blood,” Tagle said. “With Lagarde/CBCPNews)
get married,” Fr. Olivera recounted.
Weeks went by “there was this
constant thought in my soul about Cardinal Tagle shares tips on how to be
effective God’s witness
what would happen if God called me,
if I had to leave everything, why not be
a priest? How to know if the best way
to get to heaven for me is the priestly
life or the married life? Where can I
do the most good?”
After so many doubts he decided
to tell his fiancée about his vocational
concerns, who confessed to him
that she “was thinking the same
thing” after her brother entered the
seminary.
However, neither one of them
made a decision. “Since we still had
two years before finishing law school,
that was a great excuse to not yet
enter the seminary or the convent,”
Fr. Olivera said.
They had “a very prudent monk”
as a spiritual adviser, who told them:
“Look, that is an issue between each
one of you and God. No one can
interfere with souls.”
For her part, Sister Marie de la
Sagesse told ACI Prensa that “it was
a long period of discernment, at least
two years, until God clearly showed
me the consecrated life, and I could
not doubt that he was asking of me
this total surrender.”
After finishing their studies, both
embraced their vocations. In 2008,
when they were 31, he was ordained
a priest in the Diocese of San Rafael, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle admits seven theology seminarians for the Manila archdiocese to the Candidacy for Holy Orders during Mass to mark the 55th
and she made her final vows in the World Day of Prayer for Vocations at the Manila Cathedral, April 15, 2018. CBCPNEWS
congregation of the Sisters of the
Merciful Jesus. READ the Bible and keep God’s The cardinal said many people through His love, then hopefully we
Fr. Olivera is currently a university commandment of love. doesn’t know what a life of faith is can be the witnesses that He could
professor and has a blog called “Que These are among the pieces of all about because they don’t know sent to all the ends of the earth,”
no te la cuenten” (Find out for advice told by Cardinal Luis Antonio who Jesus really is. he said.
yourself). He has written a book on Tagle of Manila on Sunday, April To know Jesus, he encouraged This year’s World Day of Prayer
vocational doubts entitled “¿Alguna 15, as part of his recipe to be real the faithful to go back to the Bible for Vocations falls on April 22, Good
vez pensaste? El llamado de Cristo” Christian witnesses. and spend more time reading the Shepherd Sunday and the fourth
(Have you ever thought about it? The Speaking at a Mass to mark Scripture. Sunday of Easter.
Call of Christ). in advance the 55th World Day “The Bible is not for decoration,” During the liturgical service,
Sister Marie de la Sagesse lives of Prayer for Vocations, he said he said. “The Word of God helps us seven theology seminarians for the
in southern France and has an that all Christians are called to be to understand who Jesus is.” Manila archdiocese were admitted
apostolate in Saint Laurent Parish in witnesses in the world to Christ, And the second way to know to the Candidacy for Holy Orders.
the Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon. proclaiming in word and deed the Jesus, he added, is through love. Instituted by Pope Paul VI in 1963
Regarding their story, she said Gospel message. One reason why many people during the Second Vatican Council,
that “I consider it a special grace that But the challenge is how to be don’t know Jesus, according to it is meant to promote vocations
both of us were called almost at the an effective witness for the Gospel, him, is because they don’t love as to the priesthood and religious life
same time. So kind and thoughtful he said. He does. with prayers.
of Divine Providence, who doesn’t “Get to know Jesus through “Love your enemy, the hungry and Cardinal Tagle said this year’s
miss a detail. Scriptures and active love,” Tagle and the thirsty and you will understand celebration “is all the more
And what I really appreciate is that said in his homily at the Manila Jesus. Learn how to forgive and you will significant” as the local Church
we’re still friends and not just us, Cathedral. “The Word of Jesus is know Jesus,” Tagle said. observes the Year of the Clergy
but our families too.” (CNA/ACI there, love is there. Learn about “And if we know Jesus and Consecrated Persons. (Roy
Prensa) Jesus from them.” continuously through His Word, Lagarde/CBCPNews)
A4 OPINION April 16 - 29, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 8 CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

Why the Church speaks on

a social and political issues
WHY does the church speak on social and political matters?
This question betrays the belief that the spiritual has nothing
to do with the mundane, with the worldly. The church’s sphere
is the spiritual, so they claimed, so it should keep silent and
be aloft over such worldly matters as politics, business and
society in general. This way of thinking, however, is foreign to
the mission of Jesus, because he has come to save the world—
to renew everything, including social realities! In fact the end
game of the plan of salvation is “the New Heavens and the
New Earth”.
The Holy Book tells us: “According to his promise we await
new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
(2 Pet 3:13) All things came from God and all things have to be
brought back to him. So all reality, including the temporal order
or the order of this world, will have to be permeated with the
Spirit of God. “Our redemption has a social dimension because
‘God, in Christ, redeems not only the individual person, but
also the social relations existing between men’. To believe that
the Holy Spirit is at work in everyone means realizing that he
seeks to penetrate every human situation and all social bonds.”
(Pope Francis’ EvangeliiGaudium, 178)

ILLUSTRATION BY BLADIMER USI

Therefore the Holy Father clearly teaches: “No one can
demand that religion should be relegated to the inner sanctum
of personal life, without influence on societal and national life,
without concern for the soundness of civil institutions, without
a right to offer an opinion on events affecting society.” (Pope
Francis’ EvangeliiGaudium, 183)
There are values that are needed in social life. These are
truth, justice, peace and love. We need these in order to have
a human society, that is, a society that is worthy of human
beings. These virtues are to be implanted in all institutions
in order that people can live and work together in harmony. Quo vadis Panaghoy
These virtues are needed not only in the church and in families.
They are also needed in politics and in business. Woe to us if
there is no truth in politics. No business will prosper if there
Supreme Court? Bp. Broderick Pabillo
is no justice. There will not be peace if there is no justice. Love
makes people at home not only in their homes but also in their
workplaces. Not only are these virtues or values needed but
they cannot exist alone. They all come together. The absence I AM not a lawyer, but it does not mean they were overstepping their bounds, Why the circus then?
of one will not make the others effective. There can be no love that I do not care about the legal issues but five justices did. They lowered It is crystal clear that the justices in
if people are not truthful to each other. There is no justice if in our country right now. I may not be themselves to accuse the Chief Justice the present Supreme Court are allowing
there is no love and vice versa. able to discourse on legal matters, but it of their petty gripes and hurts before a themselves to be used—and also perhaps
These values—truth, justice, peace and love—are all kingdom does not mean that I do not know what is body that has no business to meddle in bought?—by Duterte.
values, that is, values of the kingdom of God that Jesus has right and what is wrong. I hope lawyers, the affairs of the judiciary. Now these If CJ Sereno is removed Duterte
come to bring about. All institutions therefore, including the
judges and justices in our judicial same justices—De Castro, Jardeleza, will appoint the new chief justice. His
Church have to strive to operate according these values.
In the light of this, we have the marching orders of Pope system, even up to the Supreme Court, Peralta, Tijam and Bersamin—do not capture of the judiciary will then be
Francis: “The Church’s pastors, taking into account the are not in the illusion that they can even inhibit themselves from discussing complete. He would now be able to do
contributions of the different sciences, have the right to offer deceive simple people with their legal the Quo Warranto petition when they what he wants—pass any law, change
opinions on all that affects people’s lives, since the task of jumbo mumbo, and that we the people have shown that they are clearly biased the constitution, declare Martial Law all
evangelization implies and demands the integral promotion will just accept their own definitions of against the Chief Justice. They have over the country—without any fear that
of each human being.” (Pope Francis’ EvangeliiGaudium, 182) what is right and what is wrong, of what axes to grinds against her! They had his actions would be opposed or nullified
Religion has a role in political debate, not in providing is legal and what is illegal. already accused her in the congressional by the Court.
concrete political solutions, which lies outside the competence The circus of the present trial of Chief hearings and now they are going to judge Duterte will completely control
of religion, but to recall to society the objective moral norms Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno on the Quo her! Shame on them! What justice can judicial appointments to Supreme
as the basis of justice, truth, peace and love. Warranto by the Supreme Court is a case come out when the accusers are the Court and all courts and thus pack the
in point. It is becoming clear that the judges at the same time? judiciary with his own people.
How our freedom should be three branches of government, which This Quo Warranto petition is itself a The chief justice is the head of the
are meant to be independent of each farce. Why has the once august Supreme Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET)
WE often ask these questions. How should our freedom other for proper check and balance, are Court lowered itself to hear this petition? which currently hears the complaint
be?What law governs it? Where can we find a model or pattern presently conniving to oust CJ Sereno. The Quo Warranto is a petition to filed by Marcos against VP Leni. With
for it? No less than Duterte himself has several remove a public official from her/his Duterte’s own appointed CJ, the PET
Many people, of course, have their own ideas of freedom.But times declared that he wants Sereno office because of a defect on his/her can easily be manipulated to favor his
if we really want to know what it is, where it can be found, howit out. He even has ordered congress to appointment. It has been ruled by the pet, Marcos!
should be exercised, etc., we have nothing to do other than to impeach her. The present Solicitor same Supreme Court several times that It is imperative for Duterte to
lookat God who is the source and end of freedom—and God in
General of the Office of the President an impeachable official can be removed remove Sereno. He thus unleashes
relation to us.Without referring to God, our idea of freedom
is the one behind the Quo Warranto from office only by impeachment. The his presidential offices, the weak
can be anything but theright one.
And what can we see in God with respect to freedom? petition. The Lower House of Congress chief justice is an impeachable official, congress people who are at his beck
Thedirect answer is that God did everything for us completely is manipulating the impeachment ergo… Furthermore the Quo Warranto and call, and now the justices who are
free,without any special reason, without any pressure. We process and speeding it up. can only be invoked within one year of willing to stake the independence of
can say that hedid all those wonderful things for us because It even has the nerve to summon the the appointment and taking office of the the judiciary for their petty dislikes
he just wants to. Chief Justice herself and other justices said official. Chief Justice Sereno has and ambitions.
What he did and continues to do to us can only becharacterized to stand before them. CJ Sereno did been in office as chief justice for already Justices of the Supreme Court, where
as being completely free. It was pure grace,unadulterated not accede, knowing full well that five years! will you bring justice and democracy?
gratuitousness. That in the end is what freedom is all about.He
created us freely. There was no necessity on his partto create
Lost in fake news
us. But he did it just the same.
And even if we spoiled his original design for us byfalling And That’s The Truth
into sin, by going against his will which can only be good forus,
he did not leave us and, instead, promised to redeem us. He Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
wouldhave lost nothing nor gained anything if he would have
just allowed usto get lost. But, no, he preferred to save us. There
was no necessity for him to send his son who becameman to
redeem us. But he did it—completely freely. QUESTION 1: Why would Learner’s Dictionary & entity, or person, and/or specific goals, influence
He is willing to assume all our sins without committingsin. people—often brilliant ones— Thesaurus defines “fake gain financially or politically, political decisions, and serve
He offers us boundless mercy for the taking. He did all create fake news? news” as “false stories that often using sensationalist, economic interests.”
thesecompletely freely, completely gratuitously. He actually Question 2: Why would appear to be news, spread dishonest, or outright That’s pretty clear—fake
gains nothing,but we gain everything if we follow him in living supposedly intelligent and on the internet or using other fabricated headlines…” And news generators aim to gain
that kind offreedom. educated people believe and media, usually created to from Pope Francis’ Message power by influencing public
We cannot deny that this freedom as shown by God is noteasy spread fake news? influence political views or (for World Communications opinion. Plus, they make
to learn. But we have to reassure ourselves that God actually Question 3: If someone as a joke.” Wikipedia adds: Day 2018): “…fake news money twice—from the client
hasalso given us all the graces and means for us to learn and spreads fake news in social “Fake news is a type of yellow refers to the spreading of who hires them to do the
live it. Wejust have to be humble enough to defer to this kind
media with the intention of journalism or propaganda disinformation on line or in job, and from the so-called
of freedom, theonly true freedom, rather than subscribing to
“informing everybody”—does that consists of deliberate the traditional media. It has internet click revenue. Fake
our own ideas of it.This is the freedom of the children of God,
not the freedom of thechildren of the world. it mean he or she may be misinformation or hoaxes to do with false information news fabricators use websites
This is the freedom that leads us to the truth and to straying from The Truth? spread via traditional print based on non-existent or to run fake news, and these
oureternal destination and heaven. It knows how to cope with Answer 1: People create and broadcast news media distorted data meant to websites accept advertisers.
all thesituations of our earthly life. It does not give us false fake news to gain power or online social media… deceive and manipulate Each time a reader clicks on
hopes norlead us to fantasies. and to make money. The with the intent to mislead in the reader. Spreading fake an ad, money comes in for
Cambridge Advanced order to damage an agency, news can serve to advance And That’s the Truth / A5

Monitor
CBCP
Saints also Candidly Speaking
committed sins Fr. Roy Cimagala
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

Pedro Quitorio
Editor-in-Chief THAT is one thing for sure. Never again, never allowing himself to get him after we fall. This is what we can
think that to be a saint, one has to be discouraged by his defects and sins, conclude from those very consoling
Nirva’ana E. Delacruz Ron Ramos spotlessly clean from beginning to end. always quick to go back to God asking parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin
Design Artist
Associate Editor We need to disabuse ourselves from for forgiveness and for more grace, and and the prodigal son.
this false idea of holiness. also fast to learn precious Pope Francis, in his latest Apostolic
Roy Lagarde Mercedita Juanite In fact, the opposite is quite true. To lessons from his mistakes and sins. Exhortation, Gaudete et exsultate,
News Editor Circulation Manager
be a saint, one has to be prepared to In fact, in a certain way, his defects, echoed the same truth. “Not everything
Christine Paguirigan Marcelita Dominguez be hounded by all sorts of temptations the temptations around, and the sins a saint says is completely faithful to
Managing Editor Comptroller and to be buffeted by all kinds of he may commit would constitute as a the Gospel,” he said. “Not everything
weaknesses. And yes, from time to strong urge to go back to God as quickly he or she does is authentic or perfect.
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the time, he might fall and commit even as possible. He does not allow them to What we need to contemplate is the
CBCP - Media Office with editorial and business offices
at 3rd Floor, CBCP Compound, 470 General Luna a grave sin. But he also knows how to separate him from his Father God. totality of their life, their entire journey
Street, Intramuros, Manila. Email Address: cbcpmonitor@ bounce back. And on the part of God, we can of growth in holiness, the reflection
areopaguscommunications.com, Business: (632) 404 - 1612.
ISSN 1908-2940. This is the real secret of becoming a be sure that he would be filled with of Jesus Christ that emerges when we
saint—his capacity to begin and begin tremendous joy when we come back to Candidly Speaking / A5
CBCP Monitor April 16 - 29, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 8 OPINION A5

Christ-centered Shepherds
Living Mission of God’s People By the Roadside
Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM
Fr. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ Belizar, Jr. SThD

POPE Francis, known as
the “people’s pope,” has
entered the sixth year of
his pontificate (March 13,
2013-2018). He has often
spoken insightfully on
priests and religious. In his
first apostolic exhortation,
Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy
of the Gospel), Francis invites
everyone to daily engagement
with Jesus. “I invite all
Christians, everywhere,
at this very moment, to a
renewed personal encounter
with Jesus Christ…. I ask all
of you to do this unfailingly
each day. No one should
think that this invitation is
not meant for him or her”
[EG 3].
Pope Francis continues:
“Each of us is very dear to
God, who loves us, chooses
us and calls us to serve….
We would do well each day
to pray … to grow more like
him who ‘no longer calls us
servants but friends’ (Jn
15:15)” [May 29, 2016]. This
is a clear challenge for clergy
and religious: to be “close to
God in prayer and close to the
people” [January 9, 2018].
Everyone must daily ask:
“Is Jesus Christ at the center
of my life? And, what is
my relationship with Jesus
Christ?” [January 9, 2017].
Expressed simply, every
vocation must be anchored in
one’s friendship with Jesus.
Authentic Shepherding.
Pope Francis boldly states:
“People love their priests;
they want and need their
shepherds! The faithful never
leave us without something
to do…. There is a good and
healthy tiredness. It is the
exhaustion of the priest who
wears the smell of the sheep,
but also smiles the smile
of a father rejoicing in his
children or grandchildren….
The smell of the sheep and
the smile of a father!” [April
2, 2015].
Speaking of the “priest-
shepherd in his parish or
in the mission entrusted to
him,” Francis noted that
this mission “brings him joy
whenever he is faithful to it,
whenever he does all that
he has to do and lets go of
everything that he has to let
go of, as long as he stands
firm amid the flock which the
Lord has entrusted to him:
Feed my sheep (cf. Jn 21:16-
17)” [April 17, 2014].
“Have always in mind
the example of the Good
Shepherd, who came not to
be served but to serve; to
seek and save that which
was lost” [April 17, 2016].
“Every ordained minister is
called to follow the example
of the Good Shepherd, who
gave His life for His sheep”
[November 16, 2017].
Sharing People’s Lives.
For Pope Francis, the work of
priests and religious does not
consist of “purely mechanical
jobs, like running an office,
building a parish hall…. For
us priests, what happens in
the lives of our people is not
like a news bulletin: we know
our people, we sense what is
going on in their hearts. Our
own heart, sharing in their
suffering, feels ‘com-passion,’
is exhausted, broken into a
thousand pieces” [April 2,
2015].
Pope Francis frequently
reiterates: “I ask you in
the name of Christ and the
Church: never tire of being
merciful” [April 21, 2013].
When he ordained thirteen
priests on May 11, 2014,
Francis said: “And here I
want to pause to ask you:
for the love of Jesus Christ,
never tire of being merciful!
Please!”
At the 2016 Chrism
Mass, Francis noted: “As
priests, we are witnesses to
and ministers of the ever-
increasing abundance of the
Father’s mercy; we have the
rewarding and consoling
task of incarnating mercy,
as Jesus did” [March 24,
2016]. In Evangelii
Gaudium, Francis quotes
Thomas Aquinas, asserting
that “mercy is the greatest of
all virtues” and “it is proper to
God to have mercy” [EG 37].
Hearts for the Poor.
Pope Francis challenges
his fellow priests and the
religious to examine their
authenticity in living spiritual
poverty. Thus, in Evangelii
Gaudium, Francis has a major
section on the inclusion of
the poor in the Church and
society [EG 186-216]; he
strongly reiterates his desire:
“I want a Church which is
poor and for the poor” [EG
198]. Our Church needs
priests and religious, living
a simple life-style, who are
Christ-centered shepherds of
God’s holy people.
Hurrah for
Sister Patricia!
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted”
(Mt 5:5).
PARI: Ngayong Year of Priests and Consecrated Persons,
kung makakita ka ng pari o relihiyoso, ano’ng gagawin mo?
(Priest: Now that we are celebrating the Year of Priests and
Consecrated Persons, what will you do if you meet a priest
or religious person?)
Estudyante: Magmamano po ako, at magtatanong:
‘Father/Sister. Saan po kayong detention center o jail
nanggaling o dadalhin?’ (Student: Father/Sister, I’ll pay
my respects and ask: Which detention center or jail are you
from or will be brought?)
As I write an Australian nun named Sr. Patricia Fox, the
Superior of a religious congregation named Notre Dame
de Sion (Our Lady of Sion), after 27 years of missionary
work among the Philippines’ indigenous peoples and
lumad in relative anonimity, is being held in detention by
NBI and Bureau of Immigration agents. Curiously she is
being charged for “undesirable alien” activities. Her lawyer
characterizes her arrest as a mis-labeling of her missionary
work with and for poor minorities as “political” or even as
“partisan political activity”.
Governments usually find suspicious any priests’ or
religious’ involvement in poor people’s struggle for justice,
human dignity and human rights. Perhaps this is due, at
least in part, to an intentional or unintentional ignorance
by politicians of the teaching of Vatican II and of the 1971

Gaudete et Exsultate! Synod of Bishops that the work for justice is constitutive
of the proclamation of the Gospel. If Sr. Patricia is being
Duc in Altum detained for her involvement in this type of activity, the
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago government is hard put to explain it as making her “an
undesirable alien”. Since when efforts by a Filipino or an
alien priest or religious to help our poor and indigenous
peoples achieve justice and a humanly dignified life an
undesirable action? In fact, isn’t this the whole end of
DATELINE: Los Angeles, California lives with love and by bearing witness Accept daily the path of the Gospel, even any and every political activity? Why would priests and
On March 19, 2018, the Feast of St. in everything we do, wherever we find though it may cause us problems: that religious, citizens or aliens, who prod government to do
Joseph, on the 6th of his Pontificate, the ourselves.” He also enjoined everyone is holiness.” what is basically its job, be considered enemies of the state
Holy Father, Pope Francis, signed his to be holy by loving and caring for the 4. Signs Of Holiness In Today’s World instead of its collaborators to whom it owes a huge debt of
latest Apostolic Exhortation “Gaudete et husband or wife. Be holy by working in – Pope Francis enumerated 5 great gratitude?
Exsultate” (Rejoice and Be Glad) with a his workplace with integrity and skill. expressions of love for God and neighbor This brings us to the unsaid but implicitly acknowledged
sub-title “On the Call to Holiness in the If a parent or grandparent, be holy which are “of particular importance bottomline: suppression/persecution of persons and
Contemporary World”. The object of patiently teaching the little ones how to in the light of certain dangers and aggrupations perceived as opposing or critical of the current
the exhortation is sanctity and vocation, follow Jesus. If a person in authority, be limitations present in today’s culture.” dispensation. Official statements from seats of power
the call to holiness for all baptized lay holy by working for the common good These are (1) Perseverance, patience almost always deny any political persecution by government
faithful. It is a call to become saints and renouncing personal gain. Holiness and meekness; (2) Joy and a sense of of elements of the opposition or of government’s critics.
by witnessing evangelical joy in the is an encounter between one’s weakness humor; (3) Boldness and passion; (4) On the other hand, acts of government’s agents, such as in
everyday life of a person. and the power of God’s grace. In community; (5) In constant prayer. the case of Sr Patricia and the EU socialist party delegate
This is the 3rd Apostolic Exhortation 2. Two Subtle Enemies Of Holiness 5. Spiritual Combat, Vigilance And whose entry was recently blocked at the airport, contradict
of the Pope since his papacy. The – Gnosticism and Pelagianism are two Discernment – Pope Francis cautioned such denials.
first, “Evangelii Gaudium” (Joy of the false forms of holiness. Gnosticism that Christian life is a constant battle. As Church we need to take seriously the words and actions
Gospel), was released on November fails to realize that without God and “We need strength and courage to issued from government and opposition sources with plenty
24, 2013, and was addressed to “the without flesh, it is incapable of touching withstand the temptations of the devil of discernment. This is not only to determine truth or
bishops, the clergy, consecrated persons Christ’s suffering flesh in others. Even and to proclaim the Gospel. This battle falsity but also to identify and seize opportunities to give
and the lay faithful” on the proclamation when someone’s life appears completely is sweet, for it allows us to rejoice witness to Jesus Christ while facing up to the challenges
of the Gospel in the world today. It wrecked, God is present there; we can each time the Lord triumphs in our confronting the Church in our country at this time. We need
touches, among others, the obligations and must try to find the Lord in every lives.” He further said that “the path to consolidate our spiritual resources and respond “with
of the Christians to the poor. The human life. Pelagianism trust only in of holiness is a source of peace and one heart and one mind”, that of the Risen Christ.
second, “Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of their own powers and feel superior to joy, given to us by the Spirit. How can In the likes of Sr Patricia we see the image of this Risen
Love), was released on March 19, 2016, others because they observe certain we know if something comes from the Christ again, with the wounds in his hands and side, but in
again addressed to “bishops, priests and rules or remain intransigently faithful Holy Spirit, not from the spirit of the “real flesh blood”, eating with us in our poverty, challenging
deacons, consecrated persons, Christian to a particular Catholic style. “They world or the devil? The only way is our Herods with the truth and proclaiming it with a love
married couples and all the lay faithful,” fail to realize that in this life human through discernment, which calls for that does not refuse to suffer for “the least of the brethren”.
and is focused on love in the family. weaknesses are not healed completely something more than intelligence or Her witness could certainly heighten the animosity of
As in the first two apostolic and once for all by grace. God commands common sense. The gift of discernment pro-administration trolls and support groups. But it could
exhortation, Pope Francis again focus you to do what you can and to ask for is all the more necessary today because also bring people of faith to a greater appreciation of their
on the clergy, the consecrated persons what you cannot, and indeed to pray to contemporary life proclaims so many baptismal commitment to proclaim Christ Jesus, especially
and the lay faithful; he calls them to him humbly.” distractions as equally valid and good.” now that it has become fashionable to badmouth his Church
holiness, which is not a prerogative of 3. In The Light of the Master – Let us, therefore, pray to the Holy and his Gospel by holders of the highest powers.
the few but a gift offered to all. Everyone “Nothing is more enlightening than Spirit to give us the strength, courage, Unlike the disciples on the way to Emmaus, may we
is called to sainthood, regardless of turning to Jesus’ Words and seeing the right discernment to inspire and recognize his presence as he walks among us and with us.
status in life. his way of teaching the truth. Jesus encourage one another to become holy. Hurrah for Sr Patricia because she is pointing him out to
explained with great simplicity what it us in the breaking of the bread that is his Body at the tables
Gaudete et Exsultate consists of means to be holy when he gave us the *** of our teeming rural and urban poor.
five chapters: Beatitudes. Pope Francis said: “What Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary
1. The Call to Holiness – Pope Francis must one do to be a good Christian?’, to my brother and sister-in-law Dr. Candidly Speaking / A4
declares that being holy “does not the answer is clear. We have to do what Andres and Jinky Santiago, and special
require being a bishop, a priest or a Jesus told us in the Sermon on the greetings to their sons Rome and Ella. grasp their overall meaning have their role to play.
religious or a life dedicated to prayer. Mount. The word “happy” or “blessed” Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law as a person.” (22) Let us remember that God
We are all called to be holy by living our thus becomes a synonym for “holy”. Roberto Imperial. On our part, we should try wants all men to be saved.
our best to be very faithful. But (cfr. 1 Tim 2,4) He created
it is also understood that our us for that purpose, to be
And That’s the Truth / A4
best efforts can sometimes fail like him and to be with him
the website creator. Fake faith, but also forward them claims repeated, no matter of disinformation is that it us. We can still commit errors for all eternity. And even
news creators are experts at without verification. Classic how ridiculous or illogical discredits others, presenting and even grave ones. But if we spoiled the original
making sensational headlines examples of these are fake they sound.” Remember them as enemies, to the point there’s always hope. God does design God had for us, he has
or “clickbaits”—for example, news that either praise or that law of propaganda of demonizing them and not abandon us. He is willing repaired so well that we can
“Pope endorses Trump”—to lambast political candidates, attributed to the Nazi Joseph fomenting conflict. Fake to go through the complicated say that we are better off this
attract readers “who want to dignitaries. and celebrities. Goebbels: “Repeat a lie often news is a sign of intolerant process of becoming man time after sin than before sin.
know the truth”. Lies are big What is called the “illusory enough and it becomes the and hypersensitive attitudes, and dying for us on the cross That’s because with our sin,
business, you see? truth effect” also plays a huge truth.” A piece of fake news and leads only to the spread and remaining with us for all God became man and gave us
Answer 2: Even part in the propagation of is a lie, so….? of arrogance and hatred. time in the Church and with a better deal of how to be with
supposedly intelligent and fake news. Recent research Answer 3: Yes, someone That is the end result of the sacraments just to bring him in spite of our tendency
educated people like some in psychology reveals that who spreads fake news in untruth.” us back to him. to go against him. Somehow
lawyers and doctors and exposure to fake stories social media, even with the If you’ve been dragged This truth of faith our dignity as children of
university professors believe leaves a subtle impression intention of “informing into participating in this should fill us with joy and God enjoys a greater status
may unwittingly become each time. Experiments everybody”, may be straying fake news thing, is there an confidence, and instead of since by becoming man God
purveyors of fake news. prove that each time we from The Truth because he/ easy fix to the problem? It is mainly worrying about how shares our nature so we can
People have a conscious receive a forwarded false she has become so anxious, correct to see it as a problem to avoid sin, we should be more intimately share with
desire for true information, story on Facebook, and then contemptuous, angry, and because one who is lost more interested in doing his divine nature.
but due to carelessness receive the same multiple emotionally fired up that he/ in the world of fake news what is good, what God wants It goes without saying that
or personal bias, they are times from more friends and she loses sight of what is good has a divided heart. There us to do and to accomplish we should not trivialize our
prone to consume—and friends of friends, the story and doesn’t bother anymore is a sure fix but it may not in this world. True sanctity tendency to sin. We should
spread—false information. grows more familiar and that to discern the data received be that easy: abstain from is not so much a matter of fight it as much as we can.
Messages may appeal to familiarity, according to the in the light of Christ’s social media and reconnect being too concerned about But that reality should not
people because they respond experts, casts the illusion teachings. (That’s what you with The Truth “I am the sin as of doing the will of undermine God’s will that
to their own desires or of truth: “The illusory truth get for squandering your truth…” (John 12:6) until God. Sanctity is more joy he is bent on saving us—of
prejudices, thus they not effect comes to play when hours on social media). Pope He makes you whole again. than worry, more action than course, with our cooperation
only accept such messages on we hear or read fake news Francis says “The tragedy And that’s the truth. caution, although the latter also.
A6 LOCAL NEWS
Put Bataan nuke plant to
‘eternal rest’ – bishop
Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Morong, Bataan. FILE PHOTO
BISHOP Ruperto Santos
of Balanga urged the
government to permanently
abandon its plan of operating
the country’s only nuclear
power plant by putting it to
“eternal rest”.
Reacting to the Russian
envoy to the Philippines’
statement that Bataan
Nuclear Power Plant is
beyond revival, the prelate
said it is about time the
government stops discussing
its reopening.
“Let us stop discussing
CBCP head falls victim to fake news
THE head of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) dismissed a report about him
supposedly warning church people
against interacting with politicians.
CBCP President and Davao
Archbishop Romulo Valles never made
such statement and it’s not his opinion,
said Fr. Marvin Mejia, the bishops’
secretary general.
“There is no truth to the post because
Archbishop Valles issued the latest statements
about Lent and Easter Sunday,” he said.
An article titled “CBCP President
Romulo Valles warns bishops, priests,
nuns not to interact with politicians”
first appeared on www.newspaperph.
com/ on April 2 triggering mixed
reactions from netizens.
It was also reposted on www.
goodnewstoday.d30.club/ featuring
images of the prelate and Vice President
Leni Robredo.
The article attacks some clergymen
and nuns for supporting Robredo amidst
an electoral protest filed by former Sen.
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., after
losing the vice presidential election.
Couples told: ‘Marital crisis is an opportunity to grow in love’
MEYCAUAYAN, Bulacan—
This year’s marriage encounter
weekend seminar (MEWS)
presenting priest, Fr. Ricardo
“Bobby” Sta. Cruz of St. Therese
of the Child Jesus Parish in
Aborlan, Palawan, told couples
to “see the moment of crisis
[in marriage] as a moment of
grace.”
“When you and your
spouse are facing a very tough
situation, consider this ‘crisis’
as God’s way of making your
relationship stronger,” added
the priest. “Pray and discern
as you get reconnected to
each other and put God at the
center of your lives.”
Love, a decision
Sta. Cruz said that
problems in marriage are
normal, but couples should
understand that divorce
is “never an answer.” He
stressed, “Remember this:
what’s important is not
what’s lost but what’s left.
Let the hands of God do the
about the rehabilitation of
BNPP. Let the issue of its
revival be put to eternal rest,”
Santos said.
Russian Ambassador
to the Philippines Igor
Khovaev earlier said the
mothballed 620-megawatt
nuclear plant’s technology is
“absolutely outdated”.
This after Russia’s Rosatom
State Atomic Energy Corp.
conducted an assessment of
the facility last year.
“That is the truth. That
is the reality. Ambassador
The CBCP warns against this fake news article from www.newspaperph.com/ and www.goodnewstoday.d30.club/.
SCREEN GRAB OF FAKE ARTICLE FROM NEWSPAPER PH
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila
earlier lamented the continued spread of
fake news as “manipulative strategy” to
serve some people’s political interests.
“Manipulation thrives in the context
Pastoral team, Fr. Bobby Sta. Cruz as well as one of the presenting couples, Belar and Cynthia Cruz, gave sessions on marriage and
family at this year’s marriage encounter weekend seminar, held in Meycauayan City, Bulacan from April 13 to 15. RAINIER POLICARPIO
work for you.”
He also reiterated that
what the world needs now are
“God-centered marriages and
prayerful couples”. “Always
find time to pray together as
a family and as a couple,” said
Sta. Cruz.
The priest also shared
insights about understanding
oneself, one’s spouse,
marriage and family, as well
as the importance of putting
Khovaev validates our
position, our stand. We are
right since then about BNPP.
There is no point and no
reason to rehabilitate it,”
Santos said.
Costing more than US$2
billion, the plant was built
four decades ago under
the dictatorship of former
President Ferdinand Marcos
in response to an energy crisis.
The facility, however,
never operated amid
corruption allegations and
safety issues because it sits
of disrespect. That’s why fake news
proliferates … deliberately deceiving
people,” Tagle said during Chrism Mass
at the Manila Cathedral on March 29.
(Melo M. Acuña/CBCPNews)
God at the “center of their
relationship.”
Every marriage is sacred
The event also emphasized
the divine nature of marriage.
“Each union is blessed
by God and every couple
must value the sanctity of
marriage,” said one of the
presenting couples, Belar
and Cynthia Cruz. “It entails
huge responsibility, deepens
on a major earthquake fault
line.
“[It was] built during
the Martial Law so truth is
suppressed and people were
threatened. The BNPP is just
a colossal monument of man’s
greed, model of graft and
corruption,” the bishop added.
“BNPP is a waste of
money, and never will it
benefit our country. To call
for its rehabilitation will
only be used for money and
means for corruption,” he
said. (CBCPNews)
genuine love, and requires
absolute understanding.”
The said MEWS for Class
17, organized by the Marriage
Encounter Prayer Community
of the Parish of the National
Shrine of the Divine Mercy
in Marilao, Bulacan, was
held at St. Joseph House
of Serenity in Meycauayan,
Bulacan, from April 13 to 15,
2018. (Myraine Carluen-
Policarpio/CBCPNews)
April 16 - 29, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 8 CBCP Monitor
Bishops hail move
to revive peace talks
with Reds
Militant groups call for government reform and continuation of peace talks during a
rally in Manila. FILE PHOTO
CATHOLIC bishops in and the National Democratic
southern Philippines hailed Front of the Philippines
the government’s move to (NDFP).
revive peace talks with the Peace Secretary Jesus
communist rebels. Dureza said the directive
Archbishop Martin Jumoad include forging a “ceasefire
of Ozamis said there is no agreement” to stop fighting
other way to achieve peace while talks are underway.
but through negotiation and Suspected rebels torched
dialogue. construction heavy
Echoing soon to be equipment in three different
saint Pope Paul VI’s social villages of Davao City,
encyclical Populorum Duterte’s home town, on
progressio, the prelate said March 31.
that with peace there is The insurgents ended
development. its unilateral ceasefire in
“When it is about peace February 2017 and launched
it is always appreciated,” attacks on government
said Jumoad, who is also forces after the Duterte
a member of CBCP’s’ administration failed to
permanent council. release all political prisoners.
For his part, Bishop Edwin This prompted the
dela Peña of war-torn Marawi government to immediately
said that the revival of peace terminate the peace talks
negotiations is a step forward. with the rebels.
“Dialogue is the way to Jose Maria Sison, chief
resolve our problems,” he political consultant of
said. the NDFP, welcomed the
President Rodrigo Duterte government’s move to
on April 4 ordered the return to the peace table but
resumption of the stalled talks opposed “preconditions” on
between his administration talks. (CBCPNews)
Bishops welcome DOJ
chief’s resignation
SOME church leaders lords Kerwin Espinosa and
welcomed Justice Secretary Peter Lim.
Vitaliatio Aguirre II’s move Duterte then appointed
to stand down, following the Senior Deputy Executive
dismissal of criminal charges Secretary Menardo Guevarra
against alleged drug lords. to take over the vacated post.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop “I don’t know him
Broderick Pabillo said (Guevarra) but I really hope
resigning was the right thing he serves the cause of justice,”
to do for the top defender added Pabillo.
of the government’s brutal Bishop Arturo Bastes of
crackdown against illegal Sorsogon said he was “happy”
drugs that continues to claim for Aguirre’s departure
thousands of lives. because “he is not doing his
“He is so erratic as job well”.
secretary in his sense of “His act encourages drug
justice. The decision is good lords to continue their
for him and the country,” criminal activities and the
said the prelate. proliferation of extra judicial
President Rodrigo Duterte killings and murders,” he
on April 5 announced his said.
acceptance of the resignation Bastes also expressed hope
of Aguirre, who had been that the new DOJ chief “will
under fire over the dismissal do better” than Aguirre.
of cases against alleged drug (CBCPNews)
Data / A1
linked to the government’s deconstructing the fear that
drug operations. currently grips many poor
Carmelite Fr. Gilbert communities,” he stressed.
Billena, spokesperson of Rise The High Court on April 3
Up for Life and for Rights, said ordered the government to
access to such information submit relevant documents,
will give “proper perspective” including the lists of “deaths
to the controversial drug war. under investigation” within
“Even more, deaths 15 days so it can proceed with
under investigation deserve hearing petitions against the
attention and such reports drug war.
can lay bare possible suspects Solicitor General Jose
and patterns,” said the priest. Calida initially contested
For human rights advocates the court’s order, saying
and families affected by the the records’ release might
drug-related killings, he affect national security but
said, such data may contain the SC denied his motion.
“crucial information” for The priest urged the SC
them and their communities. to remain firm in obtaining
With urban poor these records, adding that
communities’ perception of allowing state forces to
police “authoritarian rule,” engage in such extra-judicial
he said many families are actions “only complicates
feeling hopeless in their an already difficult social
search for justice for killings problem”.
related to drugs. “The strength of democracy
“Police operatives who in our nation requires that
conduct themselves in checks and balances between
accordance with the rule of branches of government
law have nothing to fear,” promote the welfare of all
Billena said. Filipinos, but especially the
“However, access to poor citizens of our country,”
information is essential for he said.
CBCP Monitor
Parish promotes market,
prison Masses
The St. Martin of Tours Parish in Bocaue holds Masses at the Bocaue Public Market
every first Sunday of the month. PHOTO FROM ST. MARTIN OF TOURS PARISH
BOCAUE, Bulacan— St.
Martin of Tours Parish –
Diocesan Shrine of Mahal
na Poon ng Krus sa Wawa
(SMTP) in this town is heeding
Pope Francis’ call to go to “the
peripheries” by launching a
program for spiritual needs
of parishioners in challenging
settings.
Since September of last
year, SMTP’s pastoral council
launched “Sambayanan,
Magsimba tayo sa Palengke”
(People, let us attend Church
in the Market). These Masses
are held every early morning
on first Sundays of the month
at the Bocaue Public Market.
According to SMTP
parochial vicar Fr. Daniel
Coronel, “We conducted
these Masses in the market to
let the people there to know
that they are important to the
Church. We know that they
are unable to go to Masses
in the parish every Sunday
because they need to be in
their workplaces to have a
living.”
Prison Masses
He added: “Indeed, it
was really difficult at first.
Preparations were needed
and a proper space in the
venue was set for the Masses.
Yet with the efforts of the
market vendors themselves,
they are now the ones finding
people to come and even
serve during the Masses.”
Also held by the parish
every first Monday of the
month are prison Masses
held at Bocaue Municipal
Jail.
“This program was held in
previous years by the parish
Marawi / A1
With the bishop’s
consent, the cathedral
and his residence will be
among the structures that
will be demolished by the
government because they’re
no longer structurally sound.
The church is located
right inside ground zero of
last year’s fighting between
the government troops and
militants backed by Islamic
State that has lasted nearly
four months.
The levelling of damaged
structures and clearing of
debris is expected to start this
June— a process that may
take up to 10 months.
From the debris will rise
a simple church that aims
to symbolize the prelature’s
mission of reconciling
presence in Marawi.
“We will rebuild the
cathedral but only after they
have rebuilt their city and their
Masjids,” Dela Peña said.
“For the meantime,
we focus our energies on
rebuilding communities,”
he said.
It was a quick visit that
lasted only for about 20
minutes wherein Dela
Peña and six other prelates
prayed inside the 84-year-old
cathedral.
The original plan was to
offer Mass but the military
did not allow them to stay
longer for security reasons.
Rey Barnido, executive
director of Duyog Marawi,
said the bishops also prayed
for those who are working for
peace in the region.
“It was both a symbol
of solidarity of the whole
Mindanao Church with the
Marawi prelature and at
the same time a symbolic
April 16 - 29, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 8
priests. However, we opted
to really intensify it by means
of encouraging the prison
warden and the inmates
themselves to be one with
God through the celebration
of the Holy Eucharist,”
explained the priest.
According to him, the
parish also wanted to assure
the imprisoned that they are
“not left behind among the
sons and daughters of God.”
“Above everything else,
we are there to let them feel
that they hold on the Jesus,
not the prison bars they are
in; that it is Jesus who will
truly set them free,” added
Coronel.
Bringing others closer to
Christ
These Mass programs
for the less fortunate are
a blessing for the parish
community, according
to the priest, since “it
is an opportunity for the
parishioners themselves to
give importance to people
who have less.”
He noted that it is in this
realization that the parish
community in Bocaue is
striving to “bring other people
closer to Jesus through the
efforts being done to get
them more involved in the
Church.”
Despite the difficulties
of conducting the Masses,
he said, “We do hope and
pray that the faithful will
truly appreciate the need
to help their less fortunate
brothers and sisters to feel
Christ’s presence in their
lives.” (Kendrick Ivan B.
Panganiban/CBCPNews)
blessing and prayer for
peace,” he said.
Duyog Marawi is a
rehabilitation program
of the prelature and the
Redemptorist missionaries
that focuses on healing and
peace-building efforts. It is
supported by Caritas, faith-
based organizations, and other
humanitarian aid groups.
Last month, the Aid to
the Church in Need (ACN)
Philippines launched a
fund raising campaign to
also support the Church’s
rebuilding efforts.
The other bishops
were Severo Caermare of
Dipolog, Angelito Lampon
of Jolo, Julius Tonel of
Ipil, Emmanuel Cabajar of
Pagadian, and archbishops
Martin Jumoad of Ozamiz
and Antonio Ledesma of
Cagayan de Oro. Fr. Jose Roel
Casas, the administrator of
Isabela prelature, was also
present.
The Marawi siege erupted
last May 23 wherein the
Maute terrorists set the
cathedral on fire and took
Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob
and some church workers
and worshipers hostage.
The same day, gunmen
also stormed the bishop’s
residence and several other
buildings.
The siege, which ended in
October last year, claimed
more than a thousand lives,
mostly terrorist fighters and
displaced about half a million
people.
According to government
estimates, at least P51.6
billion is needed to rebuild
Marawi and adjacent
areas. (Roy Lagarde/
CBCPNews)
DIOCESAN NEWS A7
Papal nuncio to young priests:
Seek advice from older priests
LANANG, Davao City— and accomplished
“Each one of you must also sacramentally in priestly
foster deep prayer life and ordination, in view of a
seek counsel from older and pastoral service that causes
wiser priests.” it to mature over time”
This was the message of (81).
Apostolic Nuncio to the
Philippines, Archbishop 142 delegates
Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Caccia, together with
during the National CBCP president and Davao
Convention of the Episcopal Archbishop Romulo Valles
Vicars for the Clergy held at and the CBCP Episcopal
the Waterfront Insular Hotel Commission on Clergy
city from April 9 to 13. headed by San Pablo Bishop
The prelate stressed Buenaventura Famadico,
the importance of staying graced the five-day
“connected to God.” convention.
Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, during his talk at the National
Caccia also noted the Convention of the Episcopal Vicars held in Davao City, April 9-13. PHOTO COURTESY OF Among the 142 delegates
importance of priests’ FR. RITZ RESUELLO were six members of the
personal integrity. “Young Commission on Clergy of the
priests must find their own need for priests’ ongoing “ongoing formation Malolos diocese: Msgr. Albert
way of being a priest while formation, the “sacramental is intended to ensure Suatengco, the Episcopal
keeping personal harmony fraternity” that must be fidelity to the priestly Vicar for the Clergy, and
– harmony in the mind that fostered among the clergy, ministry in a continuing Commission on Clergy
thinks well, in the heart feels and the total dedication to journey of conversion, in members, namely: Fr. Jose
well, and in the hands that one’s ministry that every order to rekindle the gift Rodel Ponce, Fr. Ruel Arcega,
do well.” priest must have. received at ordination. Fr. Rainnielle Pineda, Fr.
According to The Gift This journey is the natural Joshua Panganiban, and
Lifetime commitment of the Priestly Vocation: continuation of the process Fr. Ritz Darwin Resuello.
The said convention mainly Ratio Fundamentalis of building up priestly (Myraine Carluen-
focused on the pressing Intitutionis Sacerdotalis, identity begun in Seminary Policarpio/CBCPNews)
Couples told: ‘Have courage to fight divorce bill’
SPEAKING at a recently-concluded of church organizations to strengthen most of the faithful are “silent” about
enhancement seminar for Pre-Cana their understanding of family and life their stand on the divorce bill.
facilitators in the Diocese of Malolos, as this could be the best way to start “I am even more saddened to see
Mae Amorante called on husbands and healing the wounds of “dysfunctional how some people have kept their
wives to deepen their understanding of marriages” and broken families. mouth shut and not expressing outrage
marriage and to take a stand against the “Let start it in our own homes, then against divorce,” he said. “The thing
proposed divorce bill. we continue inspiring other people to is, these people haven’t realized it yet
“One of the challenges the society faces value relationships and make a firm that divorce could destroy not just
nowadays is the number of dysfunctional stand against divorce,” said Amorante. marital relationships and the families
marriages and families,” she said in an According to the lay speaker, couples concerned, but also could affect the
interview with CBCP News. “And with who understand “sacramental marriage” entire society.”
this, all of us must find the courage to can live “as one in accordance to God’s The priest also presented and explained
speak our minds about divorce.” plan and glory.” By living in the God’s the components of the newly-proposed
“Let us remember that right is right will, she said, married couples develop module for pre-Cana facilitators. He
even if nobody’s doing it; thus, wrong a new level of oneness and intimacy. reiterated that pre-cana seminars should
is wrong even if everybody’s doing it,” really be a “four-Saturday course” just
added Amorante. Promoting family and life so all the key components of having “a
Meanwhile, Fr. Dars Cabral, director happy and God-centered marriage” can
Healing wounds in the family of the Commission on Family and Life, be discussed thoroughly. (Myraine
In her talk, she encouraged members expressed how “disturbing” it is that Carluen – Policarpio/CBCPNews)
Episcopal vicars gather for clergy confab in Davao
CLOSE to 200 delegates that priests should take their
from different parts of the roles seriously as proclaimers
Philippines have converged of the Good News in the
on this city for the National Christian community.
Convention of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of ‘Sense of sacrifice’
the Philippines (CBCP) He added that a priest
Episcopal Vicars for the must, first of all, “be
Clergy. convinced about God” and
CBCP president and draw attention to the Lord
Archbishop of Davao Romulo and not to himself.
G. Valles presided over a Valles told the priests to
Eucharistic celebration held rediscover their sense of
today, April, 9 at the San sacrifice saying, “This is the
Pedro Cathedral to open the will of Lord, to bear the pain
five-day convention. and sacrifice to do the will of
In his homily, the prelate the Church, the will of God.”
said he is thankful for the The convention will run
vicars for the clergy as Close to 200 delegates from different parts of the Philippines joined the CBCP National until April 13, and will have
they make the work of the
Convention of the Episcopal Vicars for the Clergy, April 9 to 13 in Davao City. JOHN
talks and different workshops
archbishop easier.
FRANCES FUENTES
to be held at the Waterfront
“Thank you so much Treasure the gift gift.” Insular Hotel in Lanang,
for being with us, for the Davao City.
He said priests must take “We come to this Eucharist
doing the important task The event reflected
good care of their priesthood, because in the end it is He
of caring for our priests,” on the theme: “Renewed
which is “their gift.” who calls us,” he said, adding
Valles said, adding it is the Servant-Leaders for the
The archbishop told the that he hopes each priest
primary responsibility of New Evangelization.”
delegates that they are gifted will love and appreciate the
the bishop to care for his (John Frances Fuentes/
with their priestly vocation, priesthood.
priests. CBCPNews)
calling it “so wonderful a The archbishop also noted
Activity / A1
conditions of their stay in the country. joining anti-government demonstrations government rallies,” he said.
in the cities of Davao and Tagum, both
Human rights in Mindanao. Crackdown against critics?
Fox admitted joining demonstrations The nun, however, said the one image Fox has worked in the Philippines for
in solidarity with peasants groups pertain to her visit of “powerless” 27 years helping farmers and indigenous
and labor unions but “never in anti- farmers and political prisoners who peoples.
government rallies”. were detained at the Tagum city jail. She recently joined an international
“I would call it religious because we The other photo, she added, was fact-finding and solidarity mission
are called to stand beside the poor,” she a protest of workers who were fired that investigated alleged rights abuses
said. “I haven’t joined partisan political by a beverage company for trying to against farmers and lumad in Mindanao.
rallies but I have been active in human unionize. Human rights advocates and church
rights issues.” “We work with organized groups who people including Manila Auxiliary
The BI legal division recommended are working for social justice. Often, Bishop Broderick Pabillo raised alarm
Fox’s release on Monday evening groups working for justice are labeled over the arrest of Fox.
provided that she surrenders her left,” Fox said in an interview over ANC’s The prelate said the nun’s arrest
passport, pending further probe. April 18 episode of “Matters of Fact”. may be part of a crackdown against
At that time, however, her passport “Like if you want, land rights, you’re government’s critics.
was with a travel agency arranging her Left. But to me it’s just basic human social “There’s no martial law yet but they
trip back to Australia next month. justice issue... It’s very consistent with the are already going after people who
teaching of the church,” she said. oppose them,” Pabillo said.
‘No sufficient basis’ Pahilga said that the nun was released In December last year, a retired priest
Atty. Jobert Pahilga, Fox’s counsel, because there is no sufficient basis to and known human rights advocate was
said the complaint come from the hold her in continuous detention. killed in Jaen, Nueva Ecija province.
National Intelligence Coordinating “The case is not yet dismissed. We Fr. Marcelito Paez, 72, was gunned
Agency’s regional office in Davao City. are required to file our counter affidavit down by still unidentified men after
The lawyer said that based on some in 10 days from today to answer the he facilitated the release of a political
photos, the agency is accusing Fox of allegations that she participated in anti- prisoner.
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES April 16 - 29, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 8 CBCP Monitor

Tagum diocese gets new bishop POPE Francis has appointed a US-
based Filipino priest as the new
bishop of the Diocese of Tagum in
Davao del Norte province on April 7.
Father Medel Aseo, 63, of the
clergy of the same diocese will be the
fourth bishop of Tagum, replacing
retired Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz,
who just turned 77 years old on the
same day.
The bishop-elect is currently on
mission at the Saint Mary Parish
which is under the Greensburg diocese
in Pennsylvania, USA since 2017.
In the meantime, the pope
named Manlapaz as the apostolic
administrator “sede vacante” of the
diocese until Aseo takes canonical
possession.
The new bishop’s appointment
came as he also marked his 39th
Bishop-elect Medel Aseo of Tagum. PHOTO FROM SFC SOUTHEASTERN MINDANAO FACEBOOK PAGE priesthood anniversary on Saturday.
Aseo was born in Kapaong town,
also in Davao del Norte. After
his minor and major seminary
formations at St. Francis Xavier
College Seminary, he studied
theology at St. Francis Xavier
Regional major seminary, both in
Davao City.
Immediately after his ordination
in 1979, he served as parish vicar
at the Santo Niño parish in Panabo
and, between 1980 and 1983, parish
priest first in Manay and then Cateel
in Davao Oriental.
He then became vice-rector and
procurator at the Seminary College
of Tagum between 1983 and 1985
and from 1986 to 1988, he was
parish priest in Maragusan, in the
Davao del Norte.
Subsequently, between 1988
and 1991, he did his postgraduate
studies at the Center for Family
Ministries (CEFAM) at the Loyola
School of Theology of the Ateneo
de Manila University.
Other posts he held include
diocesan director of the Apostolate
for the Family, vicar forane and
member of the College of Consultors
from 1991-1996 and chaplain for
Filipino sailors in the archdiocese
of Liverpool, Great Britain from
2003 to 2006.
He was also assigned as pastor of
the St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Parish in Nabuturun, Compostela
Valley in Davao (2006-2007);
member of the Galilee Centre for
priests in Tagatay City (2008-2015);
and vice-administrator of the parish
of Saint Michael the Archangel in
Tagum City (2016-2017). (Roy
Lagarde/CBCPNews)

Confab on fake news set
IN response to Pope Francis’
message for the 52nd World
Communications Day, the
Daughters of Saint Paul and
the Society of Saint Paul are
inviting the public to a whole
day symposium on the theme
“Fake News and the Pope:
Informing=Forming.”
The symposium will be
held on May 5, 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. at the Daughters of
St. Paul, 2650 FB. Harrison
St., Pasay City.
“We are all aware how
crucial the pope’s message
is considering the prevalence
of conflicting messages and
fake news that are being
disseminated in the media
at present. Today, anybody
can become a victim of
fake news!” said Sr. Pinky
Barrientos, FSP, Daughters
of St. Paul Provincial
Councilor on Apostolate, in
the event invitation.
The congregation
invited the following
media practitioners and
communicators to give the
talks:
• Fr. Norman Peña,
SSP, Dean of Studies of
Saint Paul Seminary and
executive secretary of the
Episcopal Commission on
Culture, who will speak
about “Good News in Fake
News-Towards a Journalism
of Peace”;
• Ilsa Reyes, co-host of
Salitang Buhay, DZMM
Teleradio, who will discuss
about “Fake News and Social
Media Journalism”; and
• John Nery, editor and
columnist of Philippine Daily
Inquirer, who will speak
about “The Pope and the
Protectors of News”
Barrientos noted the
extensive experience and
knowledge of the guest
speakers to expound on the
theme. “[The speakers’] ideas
and experiences will surely
liven up discussion and help
participants to come up with
practical guidelines in line
with the pope’s message on
how to deal effectively with
the problem of fake news,
and elevate the use of social
media as a forum for critical
and uplifting discourse, and
most especially, as a platform
for evangelization.”
Interested parties may
visit the organizer’s World
Communications Day 2018
Facebook page and the FB
event.
To confirm attendance
and for other inquiries,
participants may contact:
Sr. Pinpin at tablantej@
gmail.com, 0943- 5563-
667 or Novice Almir at
almir.bagabaldo@gmail.
com, 0977-0826-990.
(CBCPNews)
One more public veneration set for
St. John Paul II relic
FOLLOWING the huge
turnout of devotees, the
Manila Cathedral is planning
to hold another public
veneration of the blood relic of
St. John Paul II next month.
A long queue of people was
witnessed inside the cathedral
on April 7 and 8; and, to
accommodate more devotees,
the relic will be exposed for
veneration again on May 13.
Cathedral’s rector Fr. Regie
Malicdem said the veneration
will mark the 37th anniversary
of the assassination attempt
against the pope, who was
shot in St. Peter’s Square in
1981, on the feast of Our Lady
of Fatima.
“So the plan is to have a
longer schedule for public
veneration,” he said. “We just
need to give chance to those
who were not able to venerate
last weekend.”
More than 20,000 people
flocked to the cathedral,
attended Masses, and venerated
the relic of the pope who visited
the Philippines twice.
In his February 1981 visit,
his first trip to the country,
John Paul II celebrated Mass
at the Manila Cathedral. Two
months later, he declared the
cathedral a minor basilica.
The rector said he was glad
at the orderly flow of the
exposition and said people
from different provinces have
given generally good feedback
about the manner in which
the veneration was held.
“The veneration was
orderly,” Malicdem said.
“No untoward incident
happened.” (CBCPNews) A boy prays in front of the blood relic of St. John Paul II, April 7, 2018. CBCPNEWS

Book series features Jesuit

historian’s life, works
THE written works of Fr.
Horacio de la Costa, a
renowned historian and
the first Filipino provincial
superior of the Society of
Jesus, are now enshrined in
the well-documented four-
volume book set The Selected
Writings of Horacio de la
Costa, S.J.
Compiled and edited by
Roberto M. Paterno and
published by the 2B3C
Foundation, the book set is
“a must-have for followers
of Jesuit scholarship and
thought, as well as for history
buffs,” reads a press release
by Jesuit Communications
(JesCom).
The first volume, Selected
Writings of His Youth, 1927-
1945, revisit the early days
of Horacio Villamayor de
la Costa: from his humble
beginnings in the town of
Mauban, Quezon Province to
his enrollment at the Ateneo
de Manila at 11. The book also
details the soon-to-be priest’s
journey into manhood, where
he displayed his academic
brilliance, graduating summa
cum laude with a Bachelor of
Arts degree in 1935.
Priest at 30
Readers can explore the
humble spirituality and faith
of de la Costa in the second
volume Selected Homilies
and Religious Reflections.
The book also outlines
his spiritual journey from
entering the Sacred Heart
Novitiate after graduating
from the Ateneo. Twenty-five
years after, after ordination
as a full-fledged Jesuit at age
Join the Father Michael McGivney Guild for free!
30, de la Costa eventually
served in Rome as General
Assistant and Consultor to
Jesuit General, Fr. Pedro
Arrupe.
Looking at PH history
In the third volume, Selected
Studies in Philippine Colonial
History, the communicator,
writer, teacher, and
servant of the Lord, looks
at Philippine history as
one of the founders of the
International Association
of Historians of Asia, and a
member of the Philippine
Historical Association and
the National Historical
Society. According to the
press release, de la Costa’s
extensive accounts provide
a “holistic understanding of
Philippine history.”
In the fourth volume,
Selected Essays on the
Filipino and His Problems
Today, his writings also shed
light “on the challenging
social conditions and
polarizing issues.”
The Selected Writings of
Horacio de la Costa, S.J.
is available at the Tanging
Yaman stores located at the
ground floor of the Sonolux
Building in the Ateneo de
Manila campus, and at the
5th floor Atrium of SM
Megamall. For inquiries,
interested parties may call
tel. (632) 426-5971 local 113.
(CBCPNews)
THE Knights of Columbus today’s world. He was then
established the Father and would be today an eager
McGivney Guild to promote apostle for the Gospel of
the Cause for canonization life, and active in building a
of our founder, Venerable civilization of love.
Michael J. McGivney (1852- Membership in the Guild
1890). The goal of the Guild is open to anyone who wishes
is to spread the good word to share in this mission of
about his holiness of life, to making known the life and
encourage devotion to his work of Father McGivney
memory, and to seek his and of encouraging devotion
intercession before the throne to his memory. To join, fill
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clearinghouse for information and mail it to the address
about Father McGivney, his given. There is no charge to
life and works, and any favors enroll, and you need not be
attributed to his intercession. a member of the Knights of
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model today for both Catholic The Guild is anxious to and receive the Guild newsletter,
laymen and priests because receive reports of favors please complete the form below
of his attention to the social received through Father and return to: Father McGivney
ills and injustices of his day McGivney’s intercession. It Office - Philippines, Knights of
and his collaboration with the is not only miracles that are Columbus Fraternal Association
people of his parish. He was required to move the cause of the Philippines, Inc. Center,
zealous for the life of union forward, but witnesses to the Gen. Luna cor. Sta. Potenciana
with God through prayer and power of the servant of God’s Sts., Intramuros, Manila 1004,
Philippines
the sacraments, and would prayers before the throne of
have been right at home in God.
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