The declaration of the CBCP for a Year of Social Concerns in the Philippines is well-timed as the country is presently plunged in a political turmoil stemming up from a dubious presidential mandate that has been the bone of contention and the cause of disunity among our political leaders for almost a year. It is my ardent hope that the Social Concern catechesis would deal with the very issue of why the Catholic Church sets foot into the domain of politics. Explanations should be made in words that are palatable to the “masa” who comprise majority of our people. There were previous publications by CBCP such as the “Pastoral Exhortation of Philippine Politics” (1997) and the “Catechism on the Church and Politics” (1998), but they were too highly-worded for the masa and were not widely circulated to reach the grassroots.
The issue on the Church’s involvement in politics has been debated upon and rehashed for ages. Those who have been admonished by the Church would cry out that it is an intrusion, a violation of the separation of Church and State. On the other hand, for those who seem to have benefited from the Church’s pronouncements, the Church has the right to deal with the morality of politics.
Aside from declarations and exhortations, the Bishops must also put their acts together. It is disgusting to note that there were instances (quite a lot) wherein the CBCP issues its Pastoral Statement on a certain socio-political issue and on the very next day there are a handful of bishops who would tend to speak or do things contrary to such pronouncements. Such actuations send confusing signals to the laity. Dissenting opinions by individual bishops should be confined to their plenary assembly and not addressed through what seems to be self-aggrandizement through the media.
G.C. UANAN
13 May 2006
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3 comments:
Ouchhhhhh!!!! I think i know those pasaway bishops :). Bishops T, B, I, L. Yes it is irritating whenever they go against the CBCP official stand on issues.
I thought so... GCU is right. How can the people follow if they notice the disunity among our prelates. Character din naman kase yang ibang mga bishop na alluded by pundit. One is hoping to regain lost glory, one seem to be aspiring some higher pedestal (he is surprisingly active now that he is in the metropolis), one is silent but ultra anti-GMA, one is retired but not yet ready to lower the flags of his activism. Tsk tsk tsk....
Some Bishops seem not to know the social doctrine of the Church so much that they do not like to speak about rogue politicans. Some are overly invoking it and would risk being water cannoned for the sake of their political biases.... Count these extremes as a social concern too.
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