CBCP Monitor Vol. 19 No. 19

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MonitorVOLUME 19NUMBER 19PHP20.00

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE 

September 14 - 27, 2015

CBCPMONITOR.COM [email protected]

CBCP

SUPPLEMENT ISSUE UGNAYAN: THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST

Redemptorists pushprobe on 68 ‘extra-

 judicial killings’

under PNoy

HE Congregation of theMost Holy Redeemer (C.Ss.R.)in Baclaran, Parañaque Cityhas recently joined the grow-ing multi-sectoral clamor toend what it decries as themilitary-backed harassmentand extrajudicial killing ofIndigenous Peoples (IP) inMindanao, demanding that anindependent and transparentprobe on all alleged 68 cases

of extrajudicial killings underthe Aquino administration bemade.

WHAT’S INSIDE

Redemptorists, A6

Marriage - between a man

and a woman -

is under attack,

Pope Francis says, A3

CBCP backs reforms on marital nullity cases HE Philippine Catholic bishopsagreed with Pope Francis about theneed to reform Church law in maritalnullity trials.

he Pope announced reformsyesterday streamlining church’sprocedure for marital nullity whileaffirming the longstanding Catholicteaching on marriage indissolubility.

“Te process has been simplifiedand dramatically shortened,” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCPpresident.

‘Christ the Judge’ According to him, Francis, already

regarded by many as the “Pope ofMercy”, wants to “reach out tenderly”to those who suffer from invalidmarriages.

Villegas said matrimonial tribu-nals must be brought “closer” to thepeople.

In fact, he said, each diocese ismandated to have marriage courts

 with the bishop “as the symbol ofChrist the Lawgiver and Judge.”

“Te services of the Church mustbe more accessible to the people;the process to receive those blessingsof new peace for those who havesuffered long, must be simplified,”he said.

“Indeed, this is another proof ofthe old adage in Church pastoralministry—the salvation of souls isthe supreme law,” added Villegas.

‘Fresh air’Te CBCP head said the recent

move by Pope Francis is a clearmanifestation of the all-embracingvision of his papacy: mercy andcompassion.

he 78-year old pontiff in his words, gestures, and teachings showus the face of the “clement judge whois Jesus Christ Himself,” said Villegas.

“Tere is a lot of fresh air enteringthe windows of the Church. Moredoors are being opened in welcome,”he said.

Filipinos in Europe

urged to join Popein helping refugees

CAHOLIC bishops calledon Filipinos in Europe to

 join Pope Francis in provid-ing concrete help to refugeesfrom countries in conflictlike Syria.

Cardinal Luis Antonioagle, president of CaritasInternationalis, said it ishigh time for people to be insolidarity with refugees whoare “fleeing death” from warand hunger.

“After seeing the horren-dous images of the ongoingrefugee migrant problem in

Europe… it is lamentablethat many continue to beblind, deaf, and mute,” aglesaid.

Children deadTe Manila archbishop la-

mented that it took childrento die and get washed ashorein urkey for the refugeecrisis to catch the world’sattention.

“Emotions of the world were stirred by the pictureof the boy that came out…It is regrettable but we haveto thank that picture since itmoved many people,” saidagle.

Te head of the Philippinebishops’ migrant ministry

also called on overseas Fili-pino workers in Europe to

 join the Church in showingmercy to the refugees.

Bishop Ruperto Santos ofBalanga said this is anotherchance for Filipinos to showhow much they care, espe-cially for those who needhelp by making donations.

He said even the parishesand the dioceses in the Phil-ippines can do the samething.

“Tis is for us to show thatFilipinos are caring people

and in solidarity with those who are suf fer ing and inneed. Let’s help in our ownlittle way,” he said.

Help from the PhilippinesSantos chairs the migrants

ministry of the CatholicBishops’ Conference of thePhilippines (CBCP).

 As former rector of Ponti-ficio Collegio Filippino forseveral years in Rome, he alsoheaded the Italian Confer-ence on Philippine Migrants.

He said as OFWs, they,too, were welcomed by theirhost countries.

“So we reciprocate. We

return the favor. We open

Cardinal Tagle meets, prays with

top presidentiablesCARDINAL Luis Anto-nio agle has met privately

 with the countr y’s leadingpresidentiables on Mondayevening.

Te unprecedented meet-ing, organized by ParishPastoral Council for Re-sponsible Voting (PPCRV),took place at the cardinal’sresidence in Intramuros,Manila.

But PPCRV chair Henri-etta de Villa insisted it waspurely an “ordinary eveningprayer” gathering and there

 were no talks about politics.

Fighting crime is everybody’s

responsibility— CBCP head 

CRIME is everybody’s prob-lem and until the public getsconcerned and involved,little progress will be made,a ranking church official said.

“Fighting crime is not just

the duty of one sector of soci-ety. Fighting crime is the dutyof every human being,” CBCPpresident Archbishop SocratesVillegas told reporters recently.

he archbishop pointedout that, while the police havea duty to prevent crime, thepublic should also play theirpart to reduce crime rates.

“I think it would be un-fair to attribute the duty ofmaintaining peace and orderto only one sector of society.Because if you do that, it isbound to fail,” he said.

Te CBCP head made thestatement as he expressed alarmover the surge in crime such as

theft, rape, and killings in thecountry in recent months.

Data from the Philip-pine National Police (PNP)showed a total of 885,445crime were reported from

 January to June.he figure was higher

compared to the 603, 085incidents during the sameperiod last year.

“Who would not beconcerned about the risingcrimes? A crime is an offenseversus human dignity. So weshould always be concernedabout it,” Villegas said.

 Asked about the pos si-bilities that crime rate willfurther rise as the May 2016elections approaches, what isimportant, he answered, “isto attend to the criminalityof today.”

“If you project about ris-ing criminality, you mightmiss attending to the crimi-

nality now,” Villegas said. (R.Lagarde/CBCPNews)

Online missionaries’ confab ups 4 timesHE much-awaited gathering ofonline missionaries in the countrypromises to be four times as bigand fun as it explores new waysof bringing the Good News tounchurched netizens with monthsof preparation, relevant topics, andan impressive lineup of speakers.

“Te fourth installment of theCatholic Social Media Summit[CSMSv4] is one event you shouldnot miss! It is four times bigger andbetter,” boasted Chrixy Paguirigan,CSMSv4 program team head, in an

interview.

Filipino pilgrims attend the blessing of the mosaic of St. Pedro Calungsodin St. Peter’s Basilica on Nov. 21, 2013. CNA

Refugees, A7Confab, A6

Presidentiables, A6

Nullity, A6

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. FILE PHOTO

CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas. CBCP NEWS

Church condemnsLumad killingsBy Roy Lagarde

THE Catholic Church saysthe government needs to getto the bottom of the allegedmilitary harassment and kill-ings of indigenous peoples inMindanao— mining.

Te Diocese of andag pointed outonly communities of Lumads who arefighting against mining were the ones“being hounded and intimidated” by aparamilitary militia group operating inSurigao del Sur.

In a pastoral statement released to themedia on Sept. 15, the diocese firmlybelieves the violence against Lumads issomething “that has been extensivelyplanned.”

 After all, it said, there are strong allega-tions that the military “are in collusion” with big mining companies that would

like to expand their operations in Surigaodel Sur.

  “Our indigenous peoples who, eversince, have been one with nature, havelived in and survived out of their land ofheritage, are now victims of those who arehungry and greedy for power and wealth,”part of the statement read.

he diocese lamented that Lumads who are the “heroes” in protecting theenvironment are now the ones in need “ofour combined and continuing support.”

Church officials reiterated their call onthe government to stop prioritizing sup- CBCP President and Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socra tes Villegas delivers a homily at a Mass to formally elevate the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Padre Pio to the

status of national shrine in Sto. Tomas, Batangas on Sept. 14. In a CBCP decree issued last month, the bishops hope the shrine will further foster a spirit of prayerand repentance among the devotees. FR. LEONIDO C. DOLOR/ARCHDIOCESE OF LIPALumad, A6

On the killing of

voiceless and defenseless

Lumads, B1

Catholic Social

Media Summit

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A2 CBCP MonitorSeptember 14 - 27, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 19WORLD NEWS

Vatican Briefing US bishops ready to welcomerefugees from Syrian civil war

 WASH INGO N D.C. , Sept embe r 11 ,2015—As Europe’s migrant crisis worsens,fuelled in part by Syria’s lengthy civil war, thehead of the U.S. bishops’ conference has called

on the country to welcome a larger number ofrefugees in a spirit of solidarity.“I urge all Catholics in the United States

and others of good will to express opennessand welcome to these refugees, who are escap-ing desperate situations in order to survive,”

 Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville said ina Sept. 10 statement.

“Regardless of their religious affiliation ornational origin, these refugees are all humanpersons—made in the image of God, bearinginherent dignity, and deserving our respect andcare and protection by law from persecution.”

Te archbishop’s comments come as Euro-pean nations grapple with how to cope with thelarge number of migrants, including refugeesand asylum seekers, who have entered thecontinent—more than 432,000 so far this year,according to the International Organization

for Migration.Since the Syrian civil war broke out inMarch, 2011, more than 4 million of thecountry’s inhabitants have fled. Te majorityof them have gone to urkey and Lebanon,but their ability to take in more refugees isconstrained, and more and more of the dis-placed are seeking asylum in Europe and theUnited States.

 Archbischop Kurtz reflected that “In recentdays, we have seen reports about and picturesof thousands of refugees from the MiddleEast, primarily Syrians fleeing the conflict intheir nation, fleeing into Europe in search ofprotection … Pope Francis, has asked Catholics

in Europe to respond to the needs of the refu-gees streaming into Europe and, throughouthis papacy, has consistently called upon the

 world to protect refugees and other persons

on the move.” Archbishop Kurtz said, “I express my solidar-ity with the Holy Father, the bishops of Syria,the Middle East, and Europe, and all people

 who have responded to this humanitarian crisis with charity and compassion. I also encouragethe U.S. government to assist more robustlythe nations of Europe and the Middle East inprotecting and supporting these refugees and inhelping to end this horrific conflict, so refugeesmay return home in safety.”

Te same day that the archbishop wrote,president Barack Obama announced that overthe next year, the United States will take in10,000 Syrian refugees.

“he Catholic Church in the UnitedStates—with nearly 100 Catholic Charitiesagencies and hundreds of parishes assistingrefugees to this country each year, and with

Catholic Relief Services providing humani-tarian aid to refugees in the Middle East andEurope – stands ready to help in this effort,”the archbishop said.

“In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph flee the terror of Herod. Tey are thearchetype of every refugee family,” ArchbishopKurtz reflected. “Let us pray that the HolyFamily watches over the thousands of refugeefamilies in Europe and beyond at this time.”

Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas also wroteabout the refugee crisis on hursday, say-ing that the refugees fleeing Iraq, Syria, andother Middle Eastern nations “must leavetheir homes due to political instability, war,

religious persecution, hunger, rape and murder… children, who should be living in a stablehome environment, playing with their friends,getting an education, live in fear and wonder

 where they will sleep and find food.”He asserted that the Islamic State is the“chief cause of this human suffering … Peopleof all faiths, even Muslims, suffer under theirtyranny.”

Bishop Farrell called Pope Francis’ call foreach European parish to shelter a migrantfamily, and his decision that the Vatican’stwo parishes would each take in a refugeefamily “concrete examples of our BlessedLord’s Gospel message that when we clothethe naked, give shelter to the homeless, feedthe hungry and welcome the stranger, wedo it for him and we will be called into thekingdom of heaven.”

“We simply cannot ignore the suffering ofthese brothers and sisters,” he said. “Evil hashappened in history because good people didnot stand up in time to stop it. Sometimes we

must all raise our voices in solidarity.”Bishop Farrell also urged prayer for refugees,and noted the work that Catholic Relief Ser-vices and Caritas have already done for them.

“In the past, parishes in our diocese showedtrue Christian spirit and welcomed familiesfrom South Vietnam after the war and morerecently, those who fled Hurricane Katrina,” heconcluded. “May we all show that same spirit in

 whatever way we can for those suffering todayin the Middle East.”

“May we include a daily a petition to OurLady, Help of Christians, that she take intoher loving embrace our brothers and sistersundergoing such suffering today.” (CNA)

English bishops urge greater care for the dying LONDON, England, September11, 2015—A measure that wouldhave legalized assisted suicide inEngland and Wales failed in theBritish Parliament Friday by a voteof 330-118, much to the relief ofboth Catholic and Anglican lead-ers in the nation.

“I welcome Parliament’s rec-ognition of the grave risks thatthis bill posed to the lives of oursociety’s most vulnerable people,”said Archbishop Peter Smith ofSouthwark in a Sept. 11 statementon behalf of the Catholic bishopsof England and Wales.

Te measure would have al-lowed doctors to prescribe alethal dose of drugs to patients

 with six months or less to live.Te lethal drugs would be self-administered, and each case

 would ne ed ap prov al by twophysicians and a judge.

Proponents argued the measurereflected a shift in public opinionon end-of-life care.

“Social attitudes have changed,”the bill’s sponsor said, according tothe BBC. “Tis bill would providemore protection for the living andmore choice for the dying.”

Even the former Anglican Arch-

bishop of Canterbury GeorgeCarey voiced his support for themeasure in the weeks leading upto Friday’s debate, despite theChurch of England’s otherwiseunanimous opposition to the bill.

In contrast, the current Angli-can Archbishop of Canterbury,

 Justin Welby, described assistedsuicide as “mistaken and danger-ous.”

Opponents in the Parliamenton Friday had similar sentiments.

“Te right to die can so easily

become the duty to die,” said onemember, according to the BBC.“[Te bill] changes the relation-ship between the doctor andtheir patients, it would not justlegitimize suicide, but promotethe participation of others in it.”

 Ano ther mem be r def end edEngland’s current ban on assistedsuicide.

“We are here to protect the mostvulnerable in our society, not tolegislate to kill them,” she argued.

Sick and elderly persons at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes. ELISE HARRIS/CNA.

Seven years after deadly anti-Christian attacks

in India, a call for justiceBHUBANESWAR, India, September 12,2015—Victims say that they are still waitingfor justice, seven years after some of the mostviolent anti-Christian attacks in India’s recenthistory.

“Justice has alluded us,” Fr. Ajay Singh of theKandhamal Committee for Peace and Justicesaid, Reuters Foundation reported.

“After knocking on every door within thestate government, we found no one willing tocome forward to secure justice for the victimsof Kandhamal.”

Following the August 2008 murder of SwamiLakshmanananda, leader of the right-wingHindu nationalist organization Vishna HinduParishad, Hindu fundamentalists attacked theChristian minority in Kandhamal district of

Odisha, whom they blamed for the murder.In the months that followed, nearly 100Christians were killed for refusing to convert toHinduism and 56,000 people were displaced,

 while 6,500 houses and 395 churches weredestroyed. About 10,000 people have still notreturned due to fear of reprisals.

Fr. Singh’s group said that although morethan 3,000 complaints have been submitted,only 827 of them were registered by the police,

 with 237 having been dismissed for a lack ofevidence because many witnesses are still afraidto come forward with their stories.

Of those complaints, only 33 have been givena judgement.

On the anniversary of the attack last year,Fr. Tomas Chellan, a survivor of the violence,recounted to the charity Aid to the Church inNeed his narrow escape from a mob of hundreds

that descended on his parish pastoral center in August 2008.

“Tis bill is not merely flawed,it is legally and ethically totallyincompatible.”

Catholic and Anglican leadersurged faithful to contact theirMPs to oppose the bill ahead ofFriday’s vote.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster said he believes thisgrassroots opposition played a rolein the measure’s defeat.

“I thank all Catholics in ourparishes who took the time to

 writ e to or visit their Memberof Parliament to express theirconcern about the Bill,” he said.“It was an important moment of

 witness to our Christian faith andthe value it places on each and

every human life.” Wit h the mea sur e’s def eat ,

 Archbishop Smith said he hopeslawmakers will turn their atten-tion to expanding palliative carefor terminal patients.

“Tere is much excellent prac-tice in palliative care which weneed to celebrate and promote,and I hope now the debate on as-sisted suicide is behind us, that this

 will become a focus for politicalaction,” he said. (CNA)

“We could see our home going up in flames.Te mob broke open all the doors and win-dows, thinking we were hiding inside,” he said.

He and a religious sister were able to hidein the home of a Hindu man who took themin despite the huge threat he faced from theradicals seeking out Christians.

Te mob came and searched the man’s house

and found the sister and Fr. Chellan in a shedin the backyard. Te priest said he was beaten

 with sticks and iron rods while the religioussister was brutally raped. When the priest triedto intervene, the mob doused him in gasolineand threatened to set him on fire.

Te two eventually escaped and found ref-uge at a local police station.Local government official Yamini Sarangidenies any neglect of the victims, telling theTomson Reuters Foundation that “Every-

body had returned back home” and victimshave been justly compensated. (CNA)

Christian families displaced by the violence in India’s Odisha state in 2008. AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED

You need to work toward an honest economy,Pope tells bankers

Pope Francis on Sept. 12 met with members of Italy’s larg-est credit union, encouraging them to promote an economythat is rooted in honesty, and to promote a “globalization ofsolidarity.” “Concern yourself with the relationship betweeneconomy and social justice, keeping the dignity and value ofthe person at the center,” the pontiff said to representatives ofthe Banca di Credito Cooperativo (BCC) of Rome. “Increasethe economy of honesty. You are asked not only to be hon-est—this is normal—but to diffuse honesty,” and help it takeroot in all areas. (CNA)

Pope Francis warns of ‘grave consequences’ if climatechange is ignored

Te environment is facing serious threats such as climatechange and global warming, Pope Francis has said—addingthat finding solutions is a matter of justice since it’s oftenthe poor who are most affected. “We must not forget thegrave social consequences of climate change. It is the poorest

 who suffer the worst consequences,” the Pope said Sept. 11.Terefore the issue of climate change “is a matter of justice; itis also a question of solidarity, which must never be separatedfrom justice,” he said, adding that the dignity of each person,“as peoples, communities, men and women, is at risk.” PopeFrancis directed his address to the 300 participants in a meet-ing organized by the Foundation for Sustainable Developmenttitled: “Environmental justice and climate change.” (CNA)

Marriage – between a man and a woman – is under attack,Pope Francis says

Pope Francis told couples to defend God’s design for the familyas the union of a man and woman for the procreation of chil-dren, and urged them to be merciful to those whose marriageshave failed. oday “the family—as God wants it, composed ofa man and a woman for the good of the spouses and also thegeneration and education of children—is deformed by power-ful contrary projects supported by ideological colonization,”the Pope said Sept. 10. Te Pope asked couples to commit toactivities aimed at welcoming, forming and accompanyingyoung couples both before and after marriage. Francis’ address

 was directed to members of the Equipes Notre Dame (eams ofOur Lady, END), who are present in Rome for an internationalmeeting titled: “Here I am Lord, send me.” (CNA)

Churches, families must be places of welcome, Pope saysPope Francis Wednesday spoke of the bond which must existbetween families and the Christian community, stressing thatthe Church, in following the Gospel, must always keep itsdoors open. “Churches, parishes, and institutions whose doorsare closed should not call themselves churches,” the Pope said.“Tey should call themselves museums!” Te Church, in liv-ing out the Gospel, must welcome people “with doors open,always,” he said. Te Pope’s remarks on the family at his Sept. 9General Audience are the latest in a series of weekly catecheses,beginning last year as part of the lead-up to the World Day ofFamilies in September, as well as October’s Synod of Bishopson the Family. (CNA)

Was the last synod ‘rigged’? Tell-all book lets thereader decide

 A new book about the 2014 Extraordinary Synod on the Fam-ily alleges evidence of a hidden agenda pushed by a handfulof bishops in positions of influence. “I felt it was importantto investigate what happened, because I’d heard—and manypeople had heard—about these accusations and allegations ofmanipulation during the last synod,” said Edward Pentin, au-thor of “Te Rigging of a Vatican Synod?” “And as a journalist,I felt that our task is to search for the truth, uncover the truthin the name of justice,” he told CNA in a recent interview.

 A long-time freelance reporter in Rome, Pentin covered the2014 Synod on the Family and afterward spoke with numer-ous sources—some anonymous, some who are named—who

 were connected with the synod and who alleged that a hiddenagenda was at work. Pentin is the new Rome correspondentfor the National Catholic Register, which like CNA is ownedand operated by EWN. (CNA)

Is this the miracle that could canonize Mother Teresa?

Te Vatican is studying the case of a Brazilian man inexplicablycured of brain abscesses—which could be the miracle that leadsto the canonization of Blessed Mother eresa of Calcutta. PopeFrancis voiced his desire to c anonize Mother eresa during the

 Jubilee Year of Mercy which will begin on Dec. 8, the Feast ofthe Immaculate Conception, as a ̈ sign of mercy for the world¨in service to the poor. Father Caetano Rizzi, who works inthe Vatican’s congregation for saints, told CNA that the Pope“wants to beatify and canonize men and women that were asign of mercy for the world in this Jubilee (Year), and Mothereresa is a model, because of that there’s a certain urgencyin her process.” Te possible miracle that would bring aboutMother eresa’s canonization occurred in 2008. A man fromSantos, Brazil, whose identity has not been divulged in order tomaintain the discretion needed to conclude the investigation,

 was unexpectedly cured from eight abscesses in hi s brain thatrequired an operation. (CNA)

Faith leads to freedom, pope tells prisoners, others inAngelus address

Te Christian journey is not a pursuit of earthly success,but of obeying God’s will, knowing that at the end of timeone will be w ith God, Pope Francis said. Before reciting the

 Angelus prayer Sept. 14, Pope Francis told people in St. Pe-ter’s Square—and a group of about 50 inmates from Rome’sRebibbia prison—that the Christian journey leads “to realfreedom, freedom from selfishness and sin.” Te inmates

 were trea ted to a special morning at the Vatican, touring theVatican Gardens and museums, arriving in the Sistine Chapelto listen to the pope’s Angelus address. Antonio Paolucci,director of the Vatican Museums, led the tour. One of theinmates, identified only as Carmine, told Vatican Radio,“We were welcomed so beautifully, which usually does nothappen in society.” At the Vatican, he said, “we were treatedlike important guests. Tis was moving for all of us. It wassomething indescribable.”

 (CNS)

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Marriage – between a man and a woman –is under attack, Pope Francis saysVAICAN, Sept. 10, 2015—PopeFrancis told couples to defendGod’s design for the family as the

union of a man and woman forthe procreation of children, andurged them to be merciful to those whose marriages have failed.

oday “the family—as God wants it, composed of a man and a woman for the good of the spousesand also the generation and edu-cation of children—is deformedby powerful contrary projectssupported by ideological coloniza-tion,” the Pope said Sept. 10.

 A family which is filled with thepresence of God, he said, “speaksfor itself of God’s love for all men.”

Te Pope asked couples to com-mit to activities aimed at welcom-ing, forming and accompanyingyoung couples both before and

after marriage.Francis’ address was direct-

ed to members of the EquipesNotre Dame (eams of Our Lady,END), who are present in Romefor an international meeting titled:“Here I am Lord, send me.”

Founded in France in 1938,END is a lay movement which fo-cuses on married spirituality, usingits own methods to help coupleslive the sacrament of marriagefully amid the various challengesmarried couples face

In his speech, the Pope said thatChristian couples and families are“in the best position” to announce Jesus to other famil ies, and to

support, strengthen and encour-age them.

Te unique joy that the Lordenables families and couples toexperience in the intimacy of do-mestic life, both in moments of joyand suffering, “must be witnessedto, announced and communicatedexternally, so that others, in turn,

take the same path,” he said.Te Pope encouraged couples

to live the movement’s spiritual-ity and commitments in a deep

 way, saying these allow couples tolive their married life confidently,following the path of the Gospel.

Prayer within couples and fami-lies is especially important, he said,

explaining that it is “a beautifuland necessary tradition that hasalways supported the faith andhope of Christians, and unfortu-nately abandoned in many regionsof the world.”

Monthly dialogue betweenspouses is also needed, Franciscontinued, noting that the “need

to sit down” often goes against thecurrent of a busy, individualistic world.

He also encouraged the couplesto draw close to the increasingnumber of wounded families whosuffer due to either a lack of work,concern for a child, the distance oran absence of a family member or

a violent environment.“We must have the courage to

enter into contact with these fami-

lies,” he said, adding that it mustbe done “in a discreet but gener-ous way, materially, humanly orspiritually, in those circumstances

 where they are vulnerable.”Pope Francis closed by encourag-

ing couples to instruments of Christ’smercy toward those whose marriageshave failed, and stressed that marriedfidelity is a gift from God.

Mercy has been shown to “everyone of us,” Francis said. He addedthat couples who are united andhappy can better understand the painand the suffering caused by betrayal,abandonment and a lack of love.

“It is necessary, therefore, thatyou bring your witness and yourexperience to help Christian

communities to discern the realsituations in which these peoplefind themselves, to welcome them

 with their wounds, and to helpthem to journey in faith and intruth,” he said.

“Nor must you forget the un-speakable suffering of the children

 who exp eri enc e the se pai nfulfamily situations: you can give alot to them.”

Pope Francis asked those pres-ent to pray for the upcomingSynod on the Family, and for alltheir reflections on the “vital cell ofour societies” within the difficultcurrent cultural context. (EliseHarris/CNA/EWTN News)

 Vatican City - August 5, 2015. Pope Francis blesses a newly married couple during the Wednesday general audience in Paul VI Audience Hall on August 5, 2015. CNA

How might the new annulment process

affect the Synod on the Family?VAICAN, Sept. 10, 2015—By reform-ing the process for discovering the nullityof marriage on uesday, mere weeks beforethe beginning of October’s Synod on theFamily, Pope Francis has taken that issueout of the hands of the synod fathers.

Te decision could impact the Synodof Bishops, however, by reducing theperceived need for a quick solution tothe issue of granting the divorced-and-remarried access to Communion – sincethe reformed process may make it easierfor many of them to verify the nullity oftheir first marriage.

Pope Francis had in fact already shownhis will to remove the discussion of decla-rations of nullity from the synod hall: hisspecial commission to study a reform ofthe matrimonial process was announcedSept. 20, 2014, but had been establisheda month earlier, on Aug. 27, well beforethe beginning of October 2014 Synodon the Family.

In any case, the issue was among thosediscussed at the synod, and CardinalFrancesco Coccopalmerio, president ofthe Pontifical Council for Legislative extsand one of the members of the commis-sion, addressed the issue in an Oct. 8,2014 media briefing.

He noted there that the commission’saim was that of “drafting a proposal ofreform of the process on marriage, tryingto speed up the procedure, by streamlin-ing it and at the same time safeguardingthe principle of the indissolubility ofmarriage,” while distinguishing between adeclaration of nullity and the dissolutionof a marriage, clarifying that no marriagethat is “ratum et consummatum” can bedissolved.

 As the upcoming synod will now nothave to discuss the issue of declarationsof nullity, it is possible that Pope Francis’decision may also temper the push for anew praxis on admission to Communionfor the divorced-and-remarried. At the

same time, the motu proprios could alterthe terms of the synod’s discussion.

Te discussion will probably be refo-cused on other issues, which could behelped by the new rules for the Synodof Bishops.

 A source invo lved in the Synod ofBishops told CNA Sept. 7 that there willbe no midterm report, and each week will be dedicated to the discussion of oneof the three parts of the synod’s workingdocument.

 After a short general introduction, par-ticipants of the Synod will split into smalllinguistic groups, so that there are manysmall group discussions, but no generaldiscussion among all of the synod fathers.Te small groups will then bring theirconclusions to the General Secretariat ofthe Synod and to the general relator, who would give a final report at the end of thesynod, which will be concluded with aspeech from the Pope.

Meanwhile, the number of requests fordeclarations of nullity may increase.

Msgr. Pio Pinto, dean of the RomanRota and chairman of the commission,addressed this issue in the article he wroteSept. 8 for L’Osservatore Romano: “TusFrancis, with this fundamental law gives atrue start to his reform: putting the poorat the center, that is, the divorced-and-remarried, held or treated as far away,and asking of the bishops a true andproper metanoia. Tat is, a ‘conversion’,a change of mentality that convinces andundergirds them to follow the invitationof Christ, presented to them in theirbrother, the Bishop of Rome, to pass fromthe restricted number of a few thousanddeclarations of nullity to the huge numberof unhappy people who might obtain thedeclaration of nullity—for the evidentlack of faith … but who are left outsidethe existing system.” (Andrea Gagliar-ducci/CNA/EWTN News)

Vatican officially confirms Pope

Francis’ visit to Africa in November 

VAICAN, Sept. 10, 2015—heVatican today officially announced thatPope Francis will travel to Kenya, Ugan-da and the Central African Republic inNovember, a plan informally revealed bythe Pope himself this summer.

 After accepting “the invit ation issuedby the respective Heads of State and theBishops,” Pope Francis is scheduled tovisit the African continent from Nov.25-30, a Sept. 10 communiqué fromthe Vatican announced.

He will set foot in Kenya first, wherehe will stay from Nov. 25-27, before

moving on to Uganda Nov. 27-29. Hislast stop will be the Central AfricanRepublic, from Nov. 29-30.

Francis first announced his intentionto travel to Africa—specifically theCentral African Republic and Ugan-da—during a news conference whilereturning from a trip to Sri Lanka andthe Philippines in January.

He confirmed the plans in a June12 meeting with hundreds of priestsfrom around the world participating inthe Tird World Priests Retreat in theBasilica of St. John Lateran when heanswered a question from an Africanpriest about when he planned to visit.

“God willing, I will be in Africa in No-vember. In the Central African Republicfirst and then Uganda,” he responded.

Te Pope also noted that the trip willcome “before the presidential transitionin the Central African Republic, andUganda after the 50th anniversary ofthe martyrs, though a little late.”

Te 22 Ugandan Martyrs were killedby the king in the 1880s for refusing torecant their faith. Tey were canon izedOct. 18, 1964 by Pope Paul VI in St.Peter’s Basilica. Te Church of Ugandahas already begun preparations for thecelebration of the Golden Anniversaryof the canonization with a diocesanconference on the 22 saints.

 Although Pope Francis has previouslyspoken about visiting the African con-tinent, today’s confirmation from theVatican makes it official.

In the June meeting with priests, Pope

Francis also addressed pastoral concernsin Africa, noting that while there might

be a shortage of priests, the presence oflay catechists is strong.

 As f ar as the Church in Africa goes,“the backbone are the catechists. I thinkthat the formation of lay catechists isfundamental in Africa. Tey are theones who carry the Church forward,”the Pope said.

Besides the catechists, there are twoother institutions which stand out incaring for the people, which are theschools and the hospitals, Francis ob-served.

“he tenderness, the care. Many

religious sisters, many laity spend yearsand years and years caring for the sick with great tragedies. How many laitygo there to serve as doctors in the trag-edies!” he said.

Francis also praised the creative spiritpresent in the African liturgy, saying thatbehind it lay “a great spiritual experience.”

However, he also touched on variouschallenges Africans face such as terror-ism and the exploitation of the land,

 which he spoke of in his recent encycli-cal on the enviro nment, “Laudato Si.”

Right now in Africa there is “a seriousproblem of the ideological wars” led bygroups such as Boko Haram that needsto be addressed, he said, noting that thecontinent has also become “a place ofdespoilment.”

“I say this with all respect and with alot of love: Africa is an attractive place todespoil… (there is) the ability to go therein search of wood, gold or metals, andravage and leave,” the Pope explained.

Pope Francis stressed the need to solvesocial and developmental problems sothat people no longer need to travel toEurope in search of a better life.

“Tis is an emergency. What is neededis that Europe goes there to Africa not totake things out of Africa, but to invest in

 Africa so that Afri ca has industry, work,and the people don’t need to come here.Tis is the more social work,” he said.

“Europe has been very generous with Africa in te rms o f what’s Catholi c. o-day the world i sn’t generous with Africabecause they exploit it. Tey treat it as

a land of exploitation.” (Elise Harris/ CNA/EWTN News)

New bishop told: Love your priests, poorPALO, Leyte, Sept. 7, 2015—“Love the priests, the poor, thechildren and youth”

Tis was the advice CBCPpresident and Lingayen-Da-gupan Archbishop SocratesVillegas gave to newly-or-dained Bishop Oscar JaimeFlorencio.

Speaking publicly duringFlorencio’s episcopal ordina-tion on Sept. 4 at the PaloCathedral, he said, “Alwayslove your priests because if you will not love your priests, theymight have another one.”

‘Face of mercy’He further urged the new

bishop to care for the priestseven those who have fallenand stumbled along their waybecause “your face is a face ofmercy.”

He also urged the prelate togive utmost attention to thepoor and marginalized.

“Don’t make the poor dis-tance (themselves) from you,”he said, adding that “at thesunset of our lives, the poor

 will judge us.”“hey must be able to

understand your works andrecognize your voice,” theprelate said before a throng of

churchgoers who witnessedFlorencio’s ordination.

Te ordination, led by Papalnuncio Archbishop GiuseppePinto and Palo Archbishop John Du, was atte nded bymany other prelates and priestsfrom across the country.

First in 30 yearsIt was last July when Pope

Francis named Florencio along with also newly-ordained prel-ate Dennis Villarojo as auxil-iary bishops of Cebu.

Villarojo is from Cebu whileFlorencio is the first bishopto be appointed from thePalo archdiocese and its five

suffragan dioceses in almostthirty years.

 Also pre sen t dur ing theordination was Cebu Arch-bishop Jose Palma, a formerCBCP head and who also onceserved as archbishop of Palofrom 2006 to 2010.

Palma recalled how supertyphoon Yolanda tested thefaith of the people, but wasrewarded by the visit of PopeFrancis who opted to be withthe survivors in January.

“We were tested but we were blessed (with the Pope’svisit) and now we have anotherbeautiful blessing,” he saidreferring to Florencio’s ordi-

nation. (Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros / CBCP News)

Pilgrims with the flag of Angola, Africa at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square with PopeFrancis on June 10, 2015. CNA

 A bishop reads a newspaper in the Vatican’s Synod Hall before the Friday session of the Synod on theFamily, Oct. 10, 2014. CNA

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NO many of us are familiar with or even heard of the “Veilof Manoppello”, a piece of “seasilk” that bears what is believedto be the Holy Face of theRisen Christ. Perhaps a visit toBagumbayan,aguig City oneof these days could introduce usto it. A replica of the “Holy Faceof Manoppello” was enshrinedat the Sagrada Familia Parish inBagumbayan, aguig City lastSept. 14, Feast of the Exaltationof the Holy Cross. Te replica,housed in its own chapel, is aspecial gift from the Rector ofthe Basilica of Volto Santo inManoppello and Mrs. DaisyNeves of Seattle, USA, to thePhilippines and the Christiancommunity of Bagumbayan, “a

gift from the Risen Lord in orderto help us persevere in believing”,says Fr. Danny Flores, SagradaFamilia parish priest who is “onloan” from Rome.

 Allow us to lend this spaceto the story told of the Veil ofManoppello and handed downto this column by Fr. Flores: Teaccount of the resurrection of theLord (Jn. 20: 1-9) narrates thatinside the empty tomb where

 Jesus was laid down, several burialclothes were found including thecloth that covered Jesus’ head.

 John entered the tomb after Peter;the former firmly fixed his eyes onthe cloth. “He saw and believed”that indeed Jesus is Risen from thedead.

 According to the Jewish

tradition, several cloths wereused in the burial customs of the Jews. Insofar as Jesus was regardedas Rabbi whose teaching camefrom above, the most solemn ofall the burial cloths were used tobury His body. Tese cloths thatcovered the dead body of Jesus were the ‘sindonmunda of Joseph of Arimathea’ , ‘sudarium of Aachen’,‘shroud of Turin’ , ‘coif of Cahors’ ,‘sudarium of Oviedo’  and the ‘veilof Manoppello’. Famous amongthese burial cloths are the four-meter linen cloth used to wrapthe whole body of the dead Jesus,commonly known as the ‘shroudof Turin’, the towel used to absorbthe blood and water coming outfrom the nose and mouth of Jesus while being brought down from

the cross, known as the ‘sudariumof Oviedo’ and the marine byssusthat was placed over the head of

 Jesus as the last homage to thedivine King, or the so-called ‘veilof Jerusalem’,  otherwise knownas the ‘Veil of Veronica’   enshrinedtoday in the Basilica del VoltoSanto a Manoppello in Italy.

St. John found the ‘veil of Jerusalem’ , which covered the faceof Jesus while in the tomb; he sawon it the ‘imprinted image of the

 face of the Risen Lord’   and afterobserving it, he believed that, infact, the Lord Jesus Christ is alive.

Te tradition says that duringthe apostolic times, all the burialcloths, already considered relicsof the ‘Suffering, Dead and Risen

EDITORIAL

I cannot be maintained that empirical science provides a completeexplanation of life, the interplay o f all creatures and the whole of reality.Tis would be to breach the limits imposed by its own methodology. If we reason only within the confines of the latter, little room would beleft for aesthetic sensibility, poetry, or even reason’s ability to grasp theultimate meaning and purpose of things. I would add that “religiousclassics can prove meaningful in every age; they have an enduring powerto open new horizons… Is it reasonable and enlightened to dismisscertain writings simply because they arose in the context of religiousbelief?” It would be quite simplistic to think that ethical principles pres-ent themselves purely in the abstract, detached from any context. Nordoes the fact that they may be couched in religious language detractfrom their value in public debate. Te ethical principles capable of be-

ing apprehended by reason can always reappear in different guise andfind expression in a variety of languages, including religious language.

 Any technical solution which science claims to offer will be powerlessto solve the serious problems of our world if humanity loses its compass,if we lose sight of the great motivations which make it possible for usto live in harmony, to make sacrifices and to treat others well. Believersthemselves must constantly feel challenged to live in a way consonant with their faith and not to contradict it by their actions. Tey need tobe encouraged to be ever open to God’s grace and to draw constantlyfrom their deepest convictions about love, justice and peace. If a mis-taken understanding of our own pr inciples has at times led us to justifymistreating nature, to exercise tyranny over creation, to engage in war,injustice and acts of violence, we believers should acknowledge that byso doing we were not faithful to the treasures of wisdom which we havebeen called to protect and preserve. Cultural limitations in different erasoften affected the perception of these ethical and spiritual treasures, yetby constantly returning to their sources, religions will be better equippedto respond to today’s needs.

Te majority of people living on our planet profess to be believers.Tis should spur religions to dialogue among themselves for the sake ofprotecting nature, defending the poor, and building networks of respectand fraternity. Dialogue among the various sciences is likewise needed,since each can tend to become enclosed in its own language, while spe-cialization leads to a certain isolation and the absolutization of i ts ownfield of knowledge. Tis prevents us from confronting environmentalproblems effectively. An open and respectful dialogue is also neededbetween the various ecological movements, among which ideologicalconflicts are not infrequently encountered. Te gravity of the ecologicalcrisis demands that we all look to the common good, embarking on apath of dialogue which demands patience, self-discipline and generosity,always keeping in mind that “realities are greater than ideas”.

-- Laudato Si’ , 199-143

NO the government, for sure. Because, to follow the logic of PresidentBenigno Aquino III in a forum last September 9, the government has “nocampaign to kill anybody.” Disputably, though, this maybe the same logicthat can be applied to the massacre of Chinese tourists at the QuirinoGrandstand in August 2010 when the new Malacañang boys were runningthe show. Tat was why, the leadership did not see the need to apologize,despite foreign pressure. And, by some stretch of imagination, the same

logic maybe used in the Zamboanga siege in September of 2013 whenthe president with his boys encamped “to watch” the war games with theMNLF. Well, perhaps at the Mamasapano, too, where some sectors arereportedly now looking for an “alternative truth”.

 According to human rights groups, it appeared that the President wastrying to exonerate whoever are behind the summary killings of the Lumadsin Surigao del Sur. Te CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas callsthis “disturbing.” In a statement released September 11, the Archbishopsaid, “We are disturbed profoundly by reports that national leaders havebeen quick to exonerate the militia group of wrong-doing. Tis alarmingeagerness to deny culpability does not augur well for truth and justice.Such declarations inspire credence only after a reliable and trustworthyinvestigation by impartial and competent persons shall have taken place.If made before any such investigation, they disturbingly suggest a refusalto hold accountable those to whom the Administration so eagerly extendsits mantle of protection.”

But while the national leadership seems to be somewhere else, local leadersand advocacy groups are very much aware who are harassing and killingthe Lumads. In fact, on January 30, 2015, a “Peace Dialogue” was held in

Surigao del Sur attended by the PNP, AFP, the Provincial Government, theLGU of Lianga, Religious groups, and Lumad leaders. In that dialogue, theperpetrators were identified. Tey are members of the Magahat/Bagani, aparamilitary group headed by Datu Calpito Egua, Marcos Bocales, Mar-cial Belandres and Bobby ejero. Tis gathering agreed to immediatelydismantle and disarm this paramilitary group and file criminal charges.Of course, nothing happened after that except more harassment and morekillings of the Lumads.

Te priests of the Diocese of andag in a pastoral statement issued onSeptember 8, believes that there are powerful hands that maneuver behindthe paramilitary group Magahat/Bagani. Otherwise, these killings wouldhave already ceased and court cases filed months ago. Te priests say in theirstatement, “One can see and understand that only those community ofLumads who firmly stand to protect the forest and reject mining activitiesand anything that destroys nature were obviously the ones being houndedand intimidated supposedly by the aforementioned notorious group.Gathering all these, we can say that all this could be a work that has beenextensively planned. Our indigenous people who, ever since, have been one with Nature, have lived in and survived out of their land of heritage, are

now victims of those who are hungry and greedy for power and wealth.” Again, who are behind the killings the Lumads? Sadly, it’s not so easy totake President Aquino’s word for it.

Religions in dialogue with science

Who’s killing the Lumads?

OPINION

Empowering the family

 Fr. Roy Cimagala

Candidly Speaking

MonitorPROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE CBCP

Pedro C. QuitorioEditor-in-Chief 

Nirva’ana E. DelacruzAssociate Editor

Roy Q. LagardeNews Editor

Kris BayosFeatures Editor

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Care for Our CommonHome: Cagayan de Oro

Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

And That’s The TruthThe Veil of Manoppello

And That’s the Truth , A7

 Abp. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ 

Pastoral Companion

POPE Francis’ recent encyclical, LaudatoSi’ , enjoins all of us to care for our commonhome, the earth. More directly, we are alsochallenged to care for our common home, thecity of Cagayan de Oro. During fiesta time, wecelebrate the gift of family, renew friendships,and strengthen the bonds of community.

During the time of yphoon Sendong, af-

fecting the entire city, we showed how we couldall work together to help dislocated families

 who lost their houses and loved ones. Ahome  isnot only a house where a family lives; a home isbuilt by the love that is shared by all membersof the family. So, too, with our community;our “City of Golden Friendship” is built by thespirit of solidarity and concern for the com-mon good. It is in this light that we can lookat three challenges confronting our “commonhome” mentioned in Pope Francis’ encyclical.

Lately, a People’s Council of concernedcitizens, including residents of affected sub-

divisions, have voiced their concerns on theproblem of pollution coming from the city’sbasurahan . Te garbage dumpsite poses animmediate threat to the health of people liv-ing in nearby housing areas. Tere has been apersistent clamor for a sanitary land fill and forsolid waste management practices. Te goals ofzero waste can be achieved through reducing,

recycling, and reusing waste materials.Last week, together with several ministry

 workers of the Archdiocese, I visited the J.R.Borja City Hospital upon the invitation byits administrator, Dr. Ramon M. Nery. We

 were glad to see the marked improvementsnot only in the physical structures, but moreso in the hospital management’s policies ofaccommodating the needs of all   indigentfamilies. However, we were told that the foulodor from the basurahan could be noticed inthe afternoons whenever the wind directionchanges towards the hospital.

Clearly, the city’s garbage issue can be solvedif the city’s executive and legislative officials can

 work together and go beyond partisan politicsfor the sake of the common good. But it isalso a challenge for all of us, to do our part inmaking sure that our surroundings are cleanand hospitable.

 A second challenge mentioned in Pope Fran-

cis’ encyclical is the issue of water. Tere are anumber of housing areas, including yphoonSendong relocation sites, that still do not haveregular access to clean drinking water. nd yet,as Pope Francis remarks, “access to safe drink-able water is a basic and universal human right,since it is a condition for the exercise of otherhuman rights.” (LS, 30)

 Water scarcity may be a constant problemin some areas of the city. On the other hand,too much water in times of heavy rains canseverely threaten the city, as what happened

 YES, we need to empower the family, espe-cially the parents, so it can fulfill all its dutiesand responsibilities, especially the most basicones that are related, more than anythingelse, to the spiritual life of all members inthe family.

Te family is not just some collection ofparents and children whose main concern ismeeting the material or emotional needs of allits members, or some generic human needs.

Te family is a human family, not just ananimal family, and as such it has a naturethat corresponds to the dignity of our humannature, that gives primary importance to thespiritual dimension which essentially distin-guishes us from the other animals. Tus, ourCatechism defines it as:

“A man and a woman united in marriageform a family together with their children.God instituted the family and endowed it

 with its fundamental constitution . Marriageand the family are ordered to the good of thespouses and to the procreation and educationof children.

“Members of the same family establishamong themselves personal relationships and

primary responsibilities. In Christ the familybecomes the domestic church because it is acommunity of faith, of hope, and of charity.”(Compendium 456)

 We have to make everyone more aware ofthis distinguishing character of the family.

It’s its spiritual dimension that defines andseparates the human family from other formsof family in the natural world.

Because of that, the family cannot but be“a community of faith, hope, and charity”

 which is what it ultimately is and what wouldproperly nourish and develop it.

It’s not just some object of the natural world, no matter how brilliant or practicalthese objects are, since these do not give usthe original basis of what is to be human.

 At best, these natura l objects of our spiri-tual faculties of intelligence and will are meremanifestations of our humanity, and also themeans and occasions to affirm the real sourceand basis of our humani ty, which is God, ourCreator, in whose image and likeness we havebeen created.

 We need to make this fundamental truth

about ourselves more known and appreci-ated, so we can correspond and act on it

 with greater consistency. We have to get toa level higher than the status quo insofar asour understanding of the family is concerned.

Especially these days when we all are prac-tically faced with delicate and complicatedissues, when a lot of ideologies are sowing

error and confusion, mixing true and validpoints with false and distorted values, we needto equip the family properly because it servesas the primary defense of any individual, evenbefore schools, churches, and other institu-tions can help.

Tis, of course, is not going to be an easy job. We are aware of the many inadequaciesthat families now have as well as the increasingdangerous influences and conditionings thatthey are exposed to. But that’s the challenge

 we just have to f ace and learn to resolve.Obviously parents, especially the young

ones and those whose formation may not havebeen good, need a lot of help. Catechesis forthem is necessary, but a lot more are needed.It’s good that there are groups organized bythe churches and some private institutionsthat try to meet this need, but more groups

are needed.

Pastoral Companion, A7

Candidly Speaking, A7

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 Atty. Aurora A. Santiago

Duc In Altum

The Poor: Vision of thePhilippine Church

Never Forget…

Never Again

Mercy and Compassion in the

Sacrament of Reconciliation

 Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM 

Living Mission

“Year of the Poor” Reections

P.O.G.I. (Presence Of God Inside) Rev. Fr. Alan Gozo Bondoc, SVD

 Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, SThD

Along the Way

Protect Them,They are Our Brothers!

HE Church in the Philippines seriouslyattempted to take the wisdom of the SecondVatican Council (1962-1965) and integrateit into the vision and life of the local Churchthrough the month-long Second PlenaryCouncil of the Philippines (1991). Te

PCP-II document contains pivotal insightson what it means to be “the Church of thePoor,” insights as relevant today as when they were fir st spoken.

PCP-II noted: “In the Philippines today,God calls us most urgently to serve the poorand the needy. Te poverty of at least halfof the population is a clear sign that sin haspenetrated our social structures. Poverty inthe sense of destitution is not God’s will foranyone” (122).

PCP-II struggled to define what “Churchof the Poor” means. “Te ‘Church of thePoor’ is one whose members and leadershave a special love for the poor…. It is notan exclusive or excluding love in such a waythat there is no room in a Christian’s heartfor those who are not poor. For always, theChristian must love all persons…. Christ

 was ab le to lov e well-to-do people like Zac-cheus and the family of Martha, Mary andLazarus” (126-127).

“Te ‘Church of the Poor’ is one where,

at the very least, the poor are not discrimi-nated against because of their poverty, andthey will not be deprived of their ‘right toreceive in abundance the help of the spiritualgoods of the Church, especially that of the

 Word of God and the sacrament s from the

pastors’” (128).Te comprehensive document of PCP-II

observes: “Te ‘Church of the Poor’ is onethat will be in solidarity with the poor. It

 will collaborate with the poor themselves and with others to lift up the poor from theirpoverty” (130).

 As the Secon d Vatican Counc il taugh t:“Te Church encompasses with her love allthose who are afflicted by human miseryand she recognizes in those who are poorand who suffer the image of her poor andsuffering founder. She does all in her powerto relieve their need and in them she stri vesto serve Christ” (LG 8).

“Te ‘Church of the Poor’ means, in the words of Pope John Paul II, that: ‘Beforetoday’s forms of exploitation of the poor,the Church cannot remain silent. She also

reminds the rich of their precise duties.Strong with the Word of God, she condemnsthe many injustices which unfortunately,even today, are committed to the detriment

of the poor’” (131).“Pastors and members of the Church wi ll

courageously defend and vindicate the rightsof the poor and the oppressed, even whendoing so will mean alienation or persecution

 from th e rich and powerful ” (131).

Continuing the insightful catechesisof PCP-II, we read: “Te ‘Church of thePoor’ will also mean that the Church willnot only evangelize the poor, but that thepoor in the Church will themselves becomeevangelizers. Pastors and leaders will learnto be with, work with, and learn from thepoor. A ‘Church of the Poor’ will not onlyrender preferential service to the poor but

 will practice preferential reliance on the poorin the work of evangelization” (132).

“Te ‘Church of the Poor’ is one where theentire community of disciples … will havesuch a love of preference for the poor as toorient and tilt the center of gravity of the en-tire community in favor of the needy” (134).

“When the Church in the Philippines be-comes truly this Church of the Poor, the poor

 will fee l at home in her, and wil l parti cipate

actively, as equal to others, in her life andmission. Te Church will then become trulya communion, a sign and instrument, for theunity of the whole Filipino nation” (136).

HE plight of the refugees fromSyria, Iraq, and Afghanistanneeds our prompt attention andaction. Tey are our brothers, re-gardless of difference in religion,color, or race. Te refugees are

an international concern. Ac-cording to the United Nations,220,000 people have been killedand 11 million have been dis-placed since 2011. No less thanPope Francis announced thathe will give temporary housingin the Vatican to at least tworefugee families. He asked everyEuropean parish, monastery, andshrine to do the same.

Te picture of the lifeless bodyof a 3-year old Syrian boy lyingdead on the seashore becameviral in social media. It causedpublic outcry and touched theheart of every individual. Hisfamily took the boat, braved therough seas, fleeing war, death,

and hunger. Reports said thatalmost 350,000 refugees arrivedat the European borders between January and Augus t this year.

His Eminence Luis AntonioCardinal agle requested ev-eryone to give assistance to therefugees, both financially andspiritually. Tey left their coun-try and crossed borders to reachthe safest place where they canlive peacefully.

It will be remembered thatat the peak of Vietnam Warin 1969, more than 12 mil-lion refugees (2 million diedand 3 million wounded), theso-called “boat people”, leftVietnam to avoid persecution

by the Communists. Some ofthe “boat people” found their way to the Phil ipp ines , wherethe government accepted themand housed them in Bataan andPalawan. Te Philippines vol-unteered to process the papers

of the refugees until they wereflown to the United States andother countries determined bythe United Nations.

Tis time, we can do it again,by giving financial assistance

through the CBCP’s CaritasPhilippines. Let us also pray forthe safety of the refugees. Let uspray that the countries in Europe will accept them, especia lly theold and the young, the womenand the disabled. Let us pray thatthey process the refugees untilthey are flown to the countriesselected by the United Nations.

***

he Sangguniang Laiko ngPilipinas (“Laiko”) will lead thecelebration of the National La-ity Week on Sept. 27 – Octo.3, 2015 to honor the patronsaints of the laity San Lorenzo

Ruiz, whose feast we celebrateon Sept. 28, and Saint PedroCalungsod, who was canonizedon Oct. 21, 2012. Tis themeis ““Pamayanan ng mga Aba,Bayang Pinagpala”.

Opening Program is on Sept.27, 7:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., atIbalong Centrum for Recre-ation, Legazpi City to be ledby Council of the Laity Presi-dent Bro. Glenn Barcelon. TeLaiko Board, led by its NationalPresident Dr. Amelita Dayrit-Go, will join the celebrationand meet the presidents of thecouncils of the laity in the re-gion. Hon. Noel Rosal, LegazpiCity Mayor, will also grace the

occasion. Most Rev. Jesse Mer-cado, outgoing Chairman ofthe Episcopal Commission onthe Laity (ECLA), will deliverthe keynote address while MostRev. Joel Baylon, Bishop of Le-gazpi, will preside at the 10 a.m.

concelebrated Mass. At 3 p.m., asimultaneous Diocesan Coastal/River Clean-up in all 47 parishes

 will be conducted in response toPope Francis’ Encyclical “Lau-dato Si”. Teme: “ Solidarity

with the Poor, Care for theCommon Home”.Te Closing Program will be

on Oct. 3, 2015 at the MariaGoretti Parish Church, PopePius XII Center, U.N. Avenue,Paco, Manila, 7:00 a.m. - 11a.m. Ms. Grace Padilla of Catho-lic Women’s League will talkabout environment while Bishop

 Jess e Merca do and Most Rev.Broderick Pabillo, IncomingECLA Chairman, will celebratethe Mass at 11am. Tere is noregistration fee.

In the Diocese of Kalookan,the Council of the Laity Presi-dent Mrs. Monina Lucas, re-quests all Parish Pastoral Coun-

cils and Diocesan organizations/ministries to sponsor Tanksgiv-ing Mass, either together or sepa-rately, in their respective parisheson Sept. 27, 2015 to give thanksto the Lord for the gift of Em-powerment of Servant Leaders,as mandated by Saint Pope JohnPaul II in his Apostolic Exhorta-tion Christifideles Laici. MostRev. Francis de Leon, Apostolic

 Administ rator, issued a circula rto have second collections duringthe anticipated Mass on Sept. 26,2015 and for all Masses on Sept.27, 2015, Sunday, to support theactivities of the Council of theLaity of Kalookan. Let us cel-ebrate the empowerment of the

laity, especially the poor and theneedy, in this Year of the Poor.

***

he Bureau of Customs mustrespect our OFWs (Overseas

Filipino Workers). he balik-bayan boxes they sent to theirfamilies are their sacred gifts,the fruits of their love andhard-earned money. Openingthe balikbayan boxes is like

opening the gifts which belongto someone else. Be sensitive tothe feelings of our OFWs, ourmodern-day heroes who contin-uously help uplift our country’seconomy. Without them, mostof you at the Bureau of Customs

 will not be livi ng a wonderfu llife, or probably, some of youmight be even be unemployed.

 You ar e lu ck ie r an d bl es se dbecause you go home to yourfamilies after work, while ourOFWs go back to their l iv-ing quarters, away from theirfamilies, nursing homesickness,

 which is the worst experi encethat could happen to a person.Be merciful.

***

 We would like to greet the Ka-lookan Diocese clergy SeptemberBirthday celebrators—Fr. Al-berto Cahilig,OMI, Fr. AlfredoFernandez,OP, Fr. Elpidio “Jun”Erlano, Fr. Nestor Fajardo, Fr.

 Jeronimo “Jerome” Cruz—andthose celebrating their sacerdotalanniversary—Fr. Rufino “Gigi”

 Yabut, Fr. Medardo Ong, Fr.Oscar Lucas,OMI, Fr. ElpidioErlano.

Happy Birthday also to thebirthday celebrators in ourfamily – my sisters VioletaSantiago-Rosales and Flordeliza

Santiago-Imperial, my neph-ews Marc Glenn Rosales, Ro-berto Enrico Imperial, andPaulo Roberto Santiago; alsohappy birthday to Rona Marie

 Apell anes o f the Curia off ice o fKalookan Diocese.

I AM a religious Missionary priest and Ilove this vocation. God chose and calledme to this kind of life for Him to use me

to show His mercy and compassion in theSacraments. Aside from the celebration ofthe Sacrament of the Eucharist, I love cel-ebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation.For me, it is a “celebration” because it isa Sacrament of going back home to God

 who wel come s and e mbraces a l ost soul .his Sacrament is a Sacrament of grace.

Grace is given by God to those who areundeserving, to those who have given uphope on themselves, to those who have losttheir faith, and to those shamed by theirsins. Whenever I encounter a person whorequests to receive the Sacrament of Recon-ciliation, I am happy to comply with his orher request because I see a weary soul whois in need of redemption, a lost soul thatseeks home and a restless soul that longsfor God. If I’m happy to receive a peni tent,

I believe that God is even happier for thissinner who wants to go back to Him and

change his/her sinful life. I always imaginethat heaven rejoices over every sinner whoavails of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I can feel joy abounding as heaven makesa celebration for the welcoming of therepentant sinner.

 Whenever I minis ter through the Sacra-ment of Reconciliation, I hav e the Emmausencounter image in me wherein two sin nersmeet and journey together and by God’sunexpected grace allows His Risen Son

 Jesus to meet them o n the road a nd rev ealsHimself in the breaking of the bread. heyencounter and feel the presence of Godin them. he words of Jesus inflame theirhearts once again. hey feel alive. hey aregiven a new lease on life, filled with hopeand joy.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation,sinners are made saints, broken hearts aremended, weary souls are restored, and de-spairing spirits are made whole again. Among

the Sacraments, it is only in this Sacramentthat I, being a priest, is led to enter the souls

of sinners. I realize I do not only representChrist but more so, I become Christ to thesinners. It is Jesus that they should encounter

in this Sacrament. Terefore they shouldexperience Him, His mercy, and uncondi-tional love.

I always tell the penitent that the love ofGod is bigger than his or her sins. His mercyis immeasurable; His love is indescribable.Te only thing He asks us to do is to cometo Him as He said, “Come to me those whoare burdened and I will give you rest.”

My mission is to seek the lost and leadthem back to God’s loving arms.

Tis is what the the Sacrament of Recon-ciliation means... Tat those who lost their

 way will be led back home. And God willprepare a feast, a grand party, a joyful wel-come for them, as He said, “Tese childrenof mine were dead, now they have comeback to life. Tey were lost and now theyhave been found.”

It is a great experience of God’s mercy andcompassion.

FORY three years ago President Ferdinand Marcos declared MartialLaw. He abolished congress, suppressed press freedom and other civilliberties and violated the rights of the people. Tousands of oppositionleaders and student activists were imprisoned. Suspected subversives andcriminals were subsequently arrested or executed (salvaged) without dueprocess. His justification for his dictatorial rule: to save the republic,reform society and build a new society—ang Bagong Lipunan . Heemphasized discipline and one of the slogans was: “sa ikakaunlad ngbayan, disiplina ang kailangan.”

Trough farcical referendum and plebiscite, Marcos enacted a newconstitution which provided a legal basis for his dictatorial rule, with asubservient judiciary and parliament. He tried to replace the oligarchy with his cronies who controlled all sectors of the economy. Tus, hemonopolized political and economic power. He was a ruthless, repres-sive and corrupt dictator, who enriched himself while majority of hispeople wallowed in poverty. Many of those in the military and the policebecame corrupt as well and engaged in torture, extrajudicial killings andforced disappearances.

I was one of the victims of the Marcos dictatorial rule. In 1973, on

the first anniversary of Martial Law, I was arrested, tortured and impris-oned for seven months. My crime: producing and distributing leafletsthat denounced the dictatorial rule. I was just an 18-year old collegeseminarian studying at a University in Cebu and involved in studentactivism. After I was released from prison and continued my priestlyformation, I was constantly haunted by a recurring nightmare remind-ing me of the terror and pain I experienced. During that dark period,priests that I personally knew were among the victims: Fr. Godofredo Alingal, SJ the parish priest of Kibawe assassinated for his propheticdenunciation of military abuses and Fr. Rudy Romano, CSsR, a fellowRedemptorist who was abducted and made to disappear by militaryintelligence agents. Tere were BEC leaders and pastoral workers who were arrested or killed by military and paramilitary units. A few monthsbefore the end of the Marcos era, my mother was murdered and robbedby a gang composed of members of the Philippine Constabulary (PC -now known as PNP-SAF) who were later killed in a shootout with thepolice after another robbery attempt. Everything seemed so hopelessat that time until the miraculous EDSA People Power which was forme a manifestation of God’s liberating action in history.

It seemed a long time ago and many have forgotten or areignorant about the dark period of the history of our country. Nowadays,there are many who believe that Marcos was the greatest president ofthe Philippines and who question the heroism of Ninoy Aquino whosedeath later became the inspiration of the People Power. Tese are thepeople who are too young and ignorant to know what really happenedor old enough to be instruments or collaborators of the Marcos dictatorand who benefited from his rule. Tese are the same people who areclamoring for his son to run for the highest office. Some are support-ing the candidacy of a politician who has the reputation of being ascorrupt as the former dictator and is being investigated for plunder.Others who are fed up with the judicial system and rule of law areclamoring for a strong man—another dictator—who will instilldiscipline, rule with an iron hand, abolish congress, ignore humanrights and civil liberties and unleash the death squads all over thecountry to stamp out criminality. Tey want history to repeat itself.Tis is our fatal flaw. Our collective memory as a nation is as shortas our noses. Ferdinand Marcos is long dead but his legacy lives on.Graft and corruption is imbedded in our political, economic and

 judicial sy stems. Tere a re government officials as well a s tho se inthe military and police who think and act as if they are above thelaw, who use their positions to enrich themselves, and who violatehuman rights. Forced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial kill-ings continue.

Tose of us who witnessed, who suffered and who survived that darkperiod have an obligation to remind the nation and the new genera-tion of the evil of the Marcos dictatorial rule and its persistence in ourtime. We will continue to cry out: “We will never forget. Never again.”

Here’s a poem I wrote which sums up what I and many went throughunder detention:

 A Prisoner’s Psalm

From this dark and damp cellI cry out to you --Lord, can your hear my groan-ing?I cry to you all day long,

I call out to you in the nightBut you are so distant orabsent.My throat is sore, I cannotscream anymoreDay and night they ask me allsorts of questions,they strike, punch and kick me

 when I do not answer.My fingers are swollen, I can-not clench my fistMy ribs are broken, I cannotstand erectMy whole body is enflamed, itis getting numb.I was thirsty and they forcedme to drink rum.to loosen my tongue and re-veal to them the truth.

  hey stripped me off myclothes and my dignity.Tey are preparing the ma-chine that will electrify mybody.

 And now I dread the soundof footsteps and the openingof the door.I prefer this darkness than facethe glaring light.Tey said only I can end mysuffering if I confess to them everythingand betray those

 who oppose this dictato rialregime.How much longer, do I haveto suffer?How much longer can I hold

on?How much longer can I main-

tain my sanity? Will I ever see again the skyand the sun? Will I ever see again the facesof those I love and serve?Or will they make me disap-pear forever?

Lord, do not abandon me?Deliver me from these kidnap-pers and murderers who are trying to maintainpeace and order.Deliver me from these merce-naries in uniform whose obsession is to defendnational security the security of this blood-thirsty and power hungerdictatorthe security of his cronies andtheir big business intereststhe security of his alien lordsand their bases and invest-ments.

O, Lord my God,

I know you are neither blindnor deaf. Your mercy and compassionendure forever. You have always been a sub-versive God -you depose the mighty fromtheir thrones and raise thelowly.I cry out now to you: subvertthis dictatorial regime!Let your Spirit fill the heartsof those who are strugglingto build a kingdom of justice,peace and freedom.From this dark and damp cellI cry out to you, Lord can youhear me?Into your hands I commend

my broken body and my wavering spirit.

8/20/2019 CBCP Monitor Vol. 19 No. 19

6/20

A6 CBCP MonitorSeptember 14 - 27, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 19LOCAL NEWS

Churches urge Quezon LGUto scrap coal-plant supportHUNDREDS took to thestreets of Quezon’s capitalyesterday for the secondChurch-led protest this yeardemanding the withdrawal of

the provincial government’ssupport for coal-fired powerplants in the province.

Frustration with the ap-proval of another coal projecthas grown, and more than athousand rallied outside theQuezon Capitol in Atimonantown on Monday, after similarprotest last June.

Some protesters were seen

praying the rosary and recit-ing ecumenical prayers for thecare of the environment whileothers wore masks to protestagainst pollution caused by

coal-fired power plants.Chanting “No to Coal, Yes

to God,” the demonstratorsrequested an audience with theBoard members who report-edly adjourned their session“to evade the crowd.”

Emotions ran high whenthe officials “sneaked out” ofthe session hall through theback door but failed to do so

as throngs of people blockedthe drive way.

Tey were then forced todialogue with the rallyists andreceived a petition for the pro-

vincial board to stop the 1,200megawatt power plant expan-sion project in Atimonan andthe two existing coal plants inMauban and Pagbilao.

From the capitol, the rallyistsmarched to the Sacred HeartCollege where a Mass washeld in thanksgiving for PopeFrancis’ encyclical Laudato Si.

Fr. Raul Enriquez, one of

the convenors of the QuezonLaban sa Coal, said it is every-one’s duty as responsible stew-ards to defend God’s creation.

“o stay neutral—not to

take a stand—in the face ofdestruction of our naturalresources—is not a Christianoption,” he said.

“Tat is why our participants were asked to wear white shirts with black ribbons: it meansyou are either for or against[coal plants], there’s no middleground,” Enriquez added. (R.Lagarde / CBCPNews)

Cops consecrate selves to Mama Mary

MAMA’S boys—and girls—in uniform,anyone?

Members of the country’s police forceended today a two-day seminar on Marianconsecration at St. Joseph Church, Philip-pine National Police (PNP) Headquarters,Camp Rafael C. Crame, Quezon City.

SUGOStarting on uesday, Sept. 8, the Feast

of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin,some 60 policemen and women from thevarious units and districts of the PNP hadtaken a time off their usual public serviceduties in order to offer themselves volun-tarily to Mary.

Tis forms part of the commitmentof the institution to transform its per-sonnel from inside out through soundmoral and spiritual values in line with thePNP’s LO 17/10 “SUGO” (SpiritualUpliftment and Growth of the Orga-nization).

Held four times a year since 2010,the Marian seminar is the initiative ofthe PNP Chaplain Service headed byits director, Fr Deody Barrett, with thesupport of Fr. Jason Ortizo of the St. Joseph Church in Camp Crame, among

other priests.

Becoming better CatholicsEach seminar, the police-participants

are taught how to start and cultivate adeeper relationship with the Mother ofGod.

In this regard, they consecrate them-selves to the Immaculate Heart, areencouraged to say the Holy Rosary, andto avail of the Sacraments of the Church,particularly Confession and the Eucharist.

Present to facilitate the talk entitled“Advance Marian Seminar” was no lessthan Fr. Romerico Prieto of the Dioceseof Cubao, who is an active promoterof the Consecration to the ImmaculateHeart of Mary.

1,200 consecrations and counting After the seminar, the police-par tic-

ipants took turns having their rosariesblessed by the priest.

Since it began in 2010, as many as1,200 PNP members have already con-secrated themselves to Mary under theprogram.

One of the previous participants whorequested anonymity shared she hasbecome a daily Massgoer because of theMarian seminar. (Raymond A. Sebastián

/ CBCP News)

Priest talks about ‘love truths’ from AlDubI’S top rating on V and white hot onsocial media, but a priest said the AlDublove team can teach the Filipino faithfula thing or two about real love.

“Whatever Lola Nidora’s challengemay be, even if it’s seems like a death

 wish, Alden does it for Yaya Dub. Whenyou love, you don’t measure. Te truemeasure of love is love without mea-sure,” said Fr. Joel Jason in Filipinoduring a Mass at the most recent CFC– Young Couples Assembly held at theBayanihan Center.

Te newly-installed parish priest ofparish priest of Mary Mirror of Justiceparish in Makati added: “When youbecome legalistic, you become mini-malistic (in loving). But when you love,you’re ready to do more than what isrequired…like Alden.”

‘Maximalistic’“You don’t ask, ‘How far can I hurt my

spouse until she leaves me?’ or ‘How far canI cheat you?’”, stressed the former Dean

of Teology of the San Carlos Seminary.“We should be maximalistic.. he

motto (of CFC) ‘Love More’ is good. Itshouldn’t be ‘less’. Te question should be,how can I add to the love I give?”, Jasonstressed in Filipino.

 According to the priest, Filipinos some-times apply this thinking to their loverelationship with God, explaining howpeople often ask him about the “latest”time they can go to Mass without sinning.

“’Oh, so as long as I make it to the Gos-pel it’s ok’…But that is not the attitude ofsomeone who loves,” said Jason in aglish.

Similarly, people who love and areloved, he explained, should not fear laws,especially God’s laws.

“Let us not be afraid of the law. Whenyou love something you surround it withlaws. When you love someone you sur-round it with laws in order to protectit… Tat is also what happened to Israel.Tey were the beloved of Yaweh. Andthat is the reason why Yaweh surroundedthem with laws,” Jason said, referring to

the 613 commandments in the orah, the Jews’ holy book.Laws + love

“Every relationship has to have a law. When you love something you surroundit with laws. Why? Because you’re protect-ing your covenant (with each other),” said

 Jason in Filipino.“We feel as if [we are] being confined by

this fence by God’s commands. Don’t lookat it as a fence. Look at it as a guard rail,something that protects us against danger,”explained the priest, a leading Teology ofthe Body advocate in the country.

 According to Jason, people believe thattrusting in God completely means becom-ing His slave and losing all freedom.

“Tere’s nothing farther from the truth.Everything God does is not for Him, butfor us. Without those commandments weare nothing,” he stressed.

Some 500 young husbands and wivesattended the 4th YCs’ assembly which fo-cused on the topic “10 o Do’s after ‘I Do’”. (Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz / CBCP News)

New heightsFrom their website down to the smallest

details in the program agenda, Paguiriganexpressed pride over how CSMSv4 orga-nizers are striving to bring the event tonew heights, ensuring all aspects of theevent are being attended to.

“Te focuses of the summit are also astimely and important as they can get,” shesaid, adding that in forming their agenda,they have considered only what will be forthe best of every person online.

From gaming, online marketing,crowdsourcing, content management, andmobile technology, Paguirigan explained

CSMSv4 strives to cover all the cyberspaceskills and know-hows needed to transformone into an effective online evangelizer.

Ultimate Power SourceMoreover, the CSMSv4 program team

head only had words of praises for thepeople invited to speak at the event, not-ing the diversity of their backgrounds andfields of expertise, coming from differentsectors and industries.

“he best and most awaited part Ipersonally am giddy about is the keynote,

“Connecting to the Ultimate PowerSource,” to be given no less than by anofficial of the Vatican Radio, Sean Lovett.

Given the need to heed the call of on-line evangelization, she pointed out thatthe forthcoming summit will give specialattention to the various ways available tothe baptized which they can use to con-nect themselves and others to Jesus Christ,the “Unending and Unbounded Source.”

One voiceTemed “Plugged In,” CSMSv4 seeks

to spread the message of Romans 15:16that all may be one voice in glorifying

God, and the homily of Pope Francis atthe Manila Cathedral in January where heurged the creation of circles of integrityand networks of solidarity in society.

CSMSv4 is set to be held from Oct.10 to Oct. 11 at the Sta. Rosa City Hall Auditorium, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

For registration information and otherconcerns, interested parties are advisedto visithttp://catholicsocialmediasum-mit.com/v4/index.php/registration-guidelines/.   (Raymond A. Sebastián /CBCPNews)

Confab, A1

“Tere was no sharing of plat-forms. It was just plain momentof providing them some kindof spiritual rest,” De Villa said.

“We prayed together. Te one who led us in prayer was the dea-con, not the cardinal. Cardinal wasone reading with us,” she disclosed.

In attendance were VicePresident Jejomar Binay, Inte-rior Secretary Mar Roxas andSenator Grace Poe.

Servant leadershipIn his reflection, agle talk-

ed about John 13, a Bibleverse that demonstrated Jesus’leadership styles and practices.

“o be a servant, you mustserve first,” De Villa quotedagle as saying.

It was actually the samereflection made by agle at aservant leadership in publicservice forum in Ortigas Citylast July.

In that occasion, the cardi-nal said leaders are expected

to serve others first instead ofbeing served by the people.

 Atmosphere of friendship While waiting for agle who

came from a Mass in MakatiCity, the three officials had thechance to talk to each otherabout many things exceptpolitics.

“Tey talked about trafficthat it’s getting better–thingslike that. Tere was nothingearth-shaking or anythingabout politics,” according toDe Villa.

“It was very friendly,” sheadded. ”It was very touching

for me that it was an atmo-sphere of friendship.”

De Villa also said that aglereminded the three will notlose their friendship especially

 when the electoral race heatsup.

“Te cardinal asked themto raise the bar and integrityof the political campaign,”she said.

Of the three, only Poehas yet to declare her plans

for 2016.(R. Lagarde/CB-CPNews)

Presidentiables, A6

Not divorceVillegas, however, clarified

that recent reforms in thetrial of marriage cases do notchange the Church’s teachingon indissolubility and unityof marriage.

He said while the Pope hasopted to simplify and speedup the process for the decla-ration of marriages null andvoid from the beginning, thedoctrine about the sacrednessof marriage and family life

remains “unchanged”.“he teaching about the

indissolubility and unity ofmarriage remains,” Villegassaid. “he declaration ofnullity of marriages is notdivorce.”

More cases With the said reforms, r e-

tired Archbishop Oscar Cruz,for his part expects the num-ber of people who would seekmarriage nullity to increase.

If before the number ofmarriage nullity cases reach-ing the CBCP National Ap-pellate Matrimonial ribunal, which Cruz chairs, is averag-ing between 50 to 60 per year,he said he expects the numberto be more than that.

“I will predict that if therequirements are lesser there

 will be more who wi ll try toreally seek a mar