“They have made it a mournful, desolate place, desolate before me. The whole land has been devastated and no one takes it to heart.” (Jer.12:11-12) Considering present situations that are happening in the Philippines today because of acute discords as regards the RH Bills, it seems to be at the root of many problems, as we know that some big nations and pharmaceutical companies are offering monetary bribes just to sway people’s minds and control the Philippine population.
Check following data for example, and evaluate in conscience what is true for you. After all “truth will out”. One way or another, in spite of all efforts to conceal it, the truth will come to be known. As the above text from Prophet Jeremiah suggests to us – let’s “take it to heart”, that is, be serious about the present happenings, in connection with RH Bills.
A) In 2004, Joseph Chamie, Director of the U.N. Population Division, reported that 60 countries have TFRs (total fertility rates) below 2.1 which means that they will eventually
experience decline and aging. He asserted that the efforts of these countries to raise fertility rates will not be enough to bring them back to replacement levels. Many of these countries are now asking their people to have more children. Why then are our legislators thinking of cutting down our best asset, our people?
B) The Church in the official stand expressed in the Encyclical of Pope Paul VI Humanae Vitae, (on Human Life, dated 1968) has expressed its official stand versus abortion and the abortifacient contraceptives that definitely contribute to the decline of population.
C) The Church defends that since marriage is for love and family institution, sexual relations must be kept for transmission of new life. And then, they must not hide the following truth –
D) Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group 1 carcinogenics (cancer inducing).
E) The Church’s mind is that the table of life must be open to guests as good citizens of the earthly country because of facilities of food, work and education and then become future citizens of the kingdom of heaven, which is our eternal and final destiny as a reward of the good works we may have done.
While legislators are still presently deliberating and debating on the merits or pros and cons of the RH Bill, one important angle is to tackle the issue on the Church’s position banning contraceptives and abortion as immoral and anti-life because it tends towards an aging population that eventually will self-extinct . God’s word has spoken on this in Genesis 1:28, the very first book of the Bible: “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’.“ Are they going to legislate on what is evil and immoral, anti-life and anti-Filipino? The Catholic position expressed at the Vatican Ecumenical Council spoke then: “The judgment concerning the interval of time between births, and that regarding the number of children, belongs to the spouses alone. This is one of their inalienable rights, to be exercised before God with due consideration of their obligations towards themselves, their children already born, the family and society.” (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2368).
I believe it unnecessary for legislators to threaten with sanctions in the RH Bill, v.g. 6 months imprisonment or a fine of P50,000 “to maliciously engage in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.” First of all we have to resolve the question whether it is moral to enforce contraception and abortion that may tend towards an aging population and eventual self-extinction.
If we know these plus other facts why are there so many monetary bribes to propagate what is harmful to the people. We ought to respect the future of life, not just look on these realities under the aspect of scot-free pleasures, forgetting that for all our actions we are answerable to God. “What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with the angels, and, when He does, He will reward each one according to his behavior.” (Mt.16:26-27).
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
When Will the Killings End ?
This title appeared in one of the feature articles of the Davao Catholic Herald published in the October 2011 month. The question is really vital and actual. It is good to delve deeper into that query. It is true we cannot right a wrong with another wrong. St. Paul attests to that in his letter to the Romans 3:8. Actually we must all do something, being the one Body of Christ, to spread the positive ideas instead of the ideas of hatred, envy, greed, and materialism that are at the base of those harmful and violent reactions. Such people are only harming themselves since Jesus had warned us ‘the measure of what you give or do towards others will be the same measure to be turned back to you’ (Lk. 6:36). The Latin proverb (ideae regunt mundum.- translated: it is ideas that rule the world) has really a lot of import and momentousness in the subject we are dealing right now. It is so important we spread ideas that are true and based of justice. In the scuffle at the garden of olives Jesus told his followers who got swords to defend Him, “Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Mt. 26:52).
As members of the one body of Christ we, each one of us, have an important task to do. That is, by word, deed, sacrifice and prayer to be instruments spreading the positive ideas which Christ brought to our world: the ideas of love, joy, peace, harmony, patience, understanding, and concern for the fellowman or woman. Pope Paul VI in his encyclical Populorum Progressio mentions ‘development is the new name for peace’. Each of us therefore has to do our part, like St. Francis who prayed, ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred let me bring your love.. For it is in giving that we receive and in dying that we’re born to eternal life’. Also one Spanish proverb asserts thus: Quien da pan, da paz (He who gives bread, gives peace). Jesus Himself tells us. “It is more blessed to give than to receive”(Acts 20:35). Let’s do our part, each of us, to spread ideas that are positive rather than negative, developmental rather than destructive, understanding rather than judgmental. It’s basic in the teachings of Jesus: ‘Judge not and you shall not be judged for with what judgments you judge, you shall likewise be judged” (Mt. 7:1).
Let’s follow the Prince of peace, the truly victorious one who assured us in the end, whose life showed no trace of violence but only love and sacrifice—“In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33).
As members of the one body of Christ we, each one of us, have an important task to do. That is, by word, deed, sacrifice and prayer to be instruments spreading the positive ideas which Christ brought to our world: the ideas of love, joy, peace, harmony, patience, understanding, and concern for the fellowman or woman. Pope Paul VI in his encyclical Populorum Progressio mentions ‘development is the new name for peace’. Each of us therefore has to do our part, like St. Francis who prayed, ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred let me bring your love.. For it is in giving that we receive and in dying that we’re born to eternal life’. Also one Spanish proverb asserts thus: Quien da pan, da paz (He who gives bread, gives peace). Jesus Himself tells us. “It is more blessed to give than to receive”(Acts 20:35). Let’s do our part, each of us, to spread ideas that are positive rather than negative, developmental rather than destructive, understanding rather than judgmental. It’s basic in the teachings of Jesus: ‘Judge not and you shall not be judged for with what judgments you judge, you shall likewise be judged” (Mt. 7:1).
Let’s follow the Prince of peace, the truly victorious one who assured us in the end, whose life showed no trace of violence but only love and sacrifice—“In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33).
Thursday, November 10, 2011
What's wrong?
(RH Bills)
So much controversy now about the present issue. Certainly if we are open to infallible biblical terms we must be open to search and welcome truth. Isn’t that what God’s word tells us: “The one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him” (Mt. 7:8-9). So in all these discussions between various groups concerned in the matter at hand we better ask the down-to-earth question: what is wrong and where is it?
Are we not supposed to respect couples in their inviolable right to privacy and freedom with regards to the number and education of their children? Are we not to respect God’s voice speaking through biblical lore and the constituted Church which tells us right from the first book of the Bible, Genesis: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it?” (Gen. 1:28). The basic problems come when the lure of money enters from the sale of contraceptive devices or the temptation of pleasures in undisciplined or illicit sex, in the varying circumstances of man. Truly as we hear of hidden agendas and under-the-table monetary transactions, there’s corruption in the issue at hand.
So truly has God’s word spoken: “The love of money is the root of all evils and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds” (1 Tim. 6:10). The mind of the Church in its quest for respect for life is rather we endeavor to improve the food and facilities in the table of life rather than limit the number of guests to the table of life. ‘Live and let live,’ is an age-old axiom that urges us to respect life. Since therefore sexuality is designed and connected with generation of new life, no wonder many official pronouncements of the Catholic Church, such as those for example of Pope John Paul II to the U.S. Bishops have opposed divorce, homosexuality and masturbation.
So much controversy now about the present issue. Certainly if we are open to infallible biblical terms we must be open to search and welcome truth. Isn’t that what God’s word tells us: “The one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him” (Mt. 7:8-9). So in all these discussions between various groups concerned in the matter at hand we better ask the down-to-earth question: what is wrong and where is it?
Are we not supposed to respect couples in their inviolable right to privacy and freedom with regards to the number and education of their children? Are we not to respect God’s voice speaking through biblical lore and the constituted Church which tells us right from the first book of the Bible, Genesis: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it?” (Gen. 1:28). The basic problems come when the lure of money enters from the sale of contraceptive devices or the temptation of pleasures in undisciplined or illicit sex, in the varying circumstances of man. Truly as we hear of hidden agendas and under-the-table monetary transactions, there’s corruption in the issue at hand.
So truly has God’s word spoken: “The love of money is the root of all evils and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds” (1 Tim. 6:10). The mind of the Church in its quest for respect for life is rather we endeavor to improve the food and facilities in the table of life rather than limit the number of guests to the table of life. ‘Live and let live,’ is an age-old axiom that urges us to respect life. Since therefore sexuality is designed and connected with generation of new life, no wonder many official pronouncements of the Catholic Church, such as those for example of Pope John Paul II to the U.S. Bishops have opposed divorce, homosexuality and masturbation.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
RH BILL FLAWS
Since the Bill wishes to openly press for the contraceptive methods of controlling births and population, this will be going against Catholic conscience as expressed clearly by Blessed Pope John Paul II in an address to the Bishops of the U.S.: “Exalting the beauty of marriage, you have rightly taken a position against both the theory of contraception and contraceptive practice, as did the encyclical letter Humanae Vitae. I myself, today, with the same conviction as Paul VI, ratify the teaching of that encyclical issued by my Predecessor “in virtue of the mandate confided us by Christ.” Even the propaganda for a two-child policy does seem an encroachment on couples’ privacy and inalienable rights.
You may read therefore from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, paragraphs 233 and 234.
“ 233. Concerning the “methods” for practicing responsible procreation, the first to be rejected as morally illicit are sterilization and abortion. The latter in particular is a horrendous crime and constitutes a particularly serious moral disorder; far from being a right, it is a sad phenomenon that contributes seriously to spreading a mentality against life, representing a dangerous threat to a just and democratic social coexistence.
Also to be rejected is recourse to contraceptive methods in their different forms: this rejection is based on a correct and integral understanding of the person and human sexuality and represents a moral call to defend the true development of peoples. On the other hand, the same reasons of an anthropological order justify recourse to periodic abstinence during times of the woman’s fertility. Rejecting contraception and using natural methods for regulating births means choosing to base interpersonal relations between the spouses on mutual respect and total acceptance, with positive consequences also for bringing about a more human order in society.
234. The judgment concerning the interval of time between births, and that regarding the number of children, belongs to the spouses alone. This is one of their inalienable rights, to be exercised before God with due consideration of their obligations towards themselves, their children already born, the family and society. The intervention of public authorities within the limits of their competence to provide information and enact suitable measures in the area of demographics must be made in a way that fully respects the persons and the freedom of the couple. Such intervention may never become a substitute for their decisions. All the more must various organizations active in the area refrain from doing the same.
All programmes of economic assistance aimed at financing campaigns of sterilization and contraception, as well as the subordination of economic assistance to such campaigns, are to be morally condemned as affronts to the dignity of the person and the family. The answer to questions connected with population growth must instead be sought in simultaneous respect both of sexual morals and of social ethics, promoting greater justice and authentic solidarity so that dignity is given to life in all circumstances, starting with economic, social and cultural conditions.”
The mind of the Church is we ought rather increase the food and provision in the table of life rather than limit the usual guests to life’s table. In addition, Blessed John Paul II talks on homosexuality and masturbation: “Describing the sexual union between husband and wife as a special expression of their covenant of love, you have correctly said: “The sexual relationship is a human and moral good only within the sphere of marriage: outside marriage it is immoral”. As men who speak with “words of truth and the power of God” (2 Cor. 6:7), as authentic teachers of the law of God and as compassionate pastors, you have correctly said: “Homosexual practice (which is to be distinguished from homosexual orientation) is morally deceitful”.”
“Both the Church’s teaching, according to its constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have stated without any hesitation that masturbation is a practice grievously and intrinsically disordered ” (Declaration of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith concerning certain questions of sexual ethics, December 29, 1975, No. 9).
You may read therefore from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, paragraphs 233 and 234.
“ 233. Concerning the “methods” for practicing responsible procreation, the first to be rejected as morally illicit are sterilization and abortion. The latter in particular is a horrendous crime and constitutes a particularly serious moral disorder; far from being a right, it is a sad phenomenon that contributes seriously to spreading a mentality against life, representing a dangerous threat to a just and democratic social coexistence.
Also to be rejected is recourse to contraceptive methods in their different forms: this rejection is based on a correct and integral understanding of the person and human sexuality and represents a moral call to defend the true development of peoples. On the other hand, the same reasons of an anthropological order justify recourse to periodic abstinence during times of the woman’s fertility. Rejecting contraception and using natural methods for regulating births means choosing to base interpersonal relations between the spouses on mutual respect and total acceptance, with positive consequences also for bringing about a more human order in society.
234. The judgment concerning the interval of time between births, and that regarding the number of children, belongs to the spouses alone. This is one of their inalienable rights, to be exercised before God with due consideration of their obligations towards themselves, their children already born, the family and society. The intervention of public authorities within the limits of their competence to provide information and enact suitable measures in the area of demographics must be made in a way that fully respects the persons and the freedom of the couple. Such intervention may never become a substitute for their decisions. All the more must various organizations active in the area refrain from doing the same.
All programmes of economic assistance aimed at financing campaigns of sterilization and contraception, as well as the subordination of economic assistance to such campaigns, are to be morally condemned as affronts to the dignity of the person and the family. The answer to questions connected with population growth must instead be sought in simultaneous respect both of sexual morals and of social ethics, promoting greater justice and authentic solidarity so that dignity is given to life in all circumstances, starting with economic, social and cultural conditions.”
The mind of the Church is we ought rather increase the food and provision in the table of life rather than limit the usual guests to life’s table. In addition, Blessed John Paul II talks on homosexuality and masturbation: “Describing the sexual union between husband and wife as a special expression of their covenant of love, you have correctly said: “The sexual relationship is a human and moral good only within the sphere of marriage: outside marriage it is immoral”. As men who speak with “words of truth and the power of God” (2 Cor. 6:7), as authentic teachers of the law of God and as compassionate pastors, you have correctly said: “Homosexual practice (which is to be distinguished from homosexual orientation) is morally deceitful”.”
“Both the Church’s teaching, according to its constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have stated without any hesitation that masturbation is a practice grievously and intrinsically disordered ” (Declaration of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith concerning certain questions of sexual ethics, December 29, 1975, No. 9).
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Weakness of Man
Seeing what’s happening in the world inside and around us we cannot deny that there is such a thing as human weakness or corruption. No wonder we need to humble ourselves, considering our frailty and weakness. Jesus repeatedly reminds us: “Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt. 23:12).
If that’s the case of weakness in man and he gets to humble himself, the next step for man or woman to make is to have recourse to sources of strength and grace. He or she needs to call upon God Almighty to come to his or her aid. That is, to first acknowledge in all humility his dependence on God. He must show understanding of others and not be quick to condemn and blame others. No wonder Jesus explains the kind of person we are to be when He says: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:1-5).
Let us learn from history the many people’s and leaders’ mistakes who were too proud and judgmental of others yet their lives themselves were paragons of iniquity. In all things God helps us find the solution. St. Paul advised as follows: “Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help” (Heb. 4:14-16).
If that’s the case of weakness in man and he gets to humble himself, the next step for man or woman to make is to have recourse to sources of strength and grace. He or she needs to call upon God Almighty to come to his or her aid. That is, to first acknowledge in all humility his dependence on God. He must show understanding of others and not be quick to condemn and blame others. No wonder Jesus explains the kind of person we are to be when He says: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:1-5).
Let us learn from history the many people’s and leaders’ mistakes who were too proud and judgmental of others yet their lives themselves were paragons of iniquity. In all things God helps us find the solution. St. Paul advised as follows: “Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help” (Heb. 4:14-16).
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Truth Brings Peace
A Latin proverb somehow meant the equivalent of the above title. Robur pacis veritas (translated: True peace is stable when founded on truth). Reproductive Health bills are presently stirring hot controversies. Why so? Let’s face the barrage of questions relevant thereto.
Is it pro or against life? Well, if it is open to abortifacients and abortion, it will lead to a decline in population. Why is it that well funded international agencies lend support to controlling Philippine population? Is that not an inalienable private right of concerned couples regarding the number of children they are to have? Is it really promoting the health of mothers? We must keep in mind God’s law that says: “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 7:12). How come therefore the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization has stated the following: “IARC Monographs Programme Finds Combined Estrogen-Progestogen Contraceptives and Menopausal Therapy are Carcinogenic (cancer inducing) to Humans” (quoted in the book Bishops-Legislators Caucus of the Philippines, page 107, under the sub-title—‘The Truth and Half-Truths About Reproductive Health’. The foreword of the book, dated September 8, 2008, is signed by Catholic Bishops representing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, to wit: Most Rev. Angel N. Lagdameo, D.D., Archbishop of Jaro and President, CBCP; Most Rev. Paciano Aniceto, D.D., Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga and Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life; Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal, D.D., Archbishop of Cebu; Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rasales, D.D., Archbishop of Manila.
Finally, in conscience we ought to ask ourselves: What is to love our Filipino people? Should we not rather follow the infallible truth of God’s word that beckons us: “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’ (Gen. 1:28).” Let’s be pro-life! Yes, it’s true, there’s so much pride, confusion, self-interest in our world. But in our quest for the truth we have to keep on. Jesus has assured us without fail: “The one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him” (Mt. 7:7). We can have success in our quest for truth in the present discussion, if we persevere and have faith, love, humility and openness to accept whatever is really true..
Is it pro or against life? Well, if it is open to abortifacients and abortion, it will lead to a decline in population. Why is it that well funded international agencies lend support to controlling Philippine population? Is that not an inalienable private right of concerned couples regarding the number of children they are to have? Is it really promoting the health of mothers? We must keep in mind God’s law that says: “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 7:12). How come therefore the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization has stated the following: “IARC Monographs Programme Finds Combined Estrogen-Progestogen Contraceptives and Menopausal Therapy are Carcinogenic (cancer inducing) to Humans” (quoted in the book Bishops-Legislators Caucus of the Philippines, page 107, under the sub-title—‘The Truth and Half-Truths About Reproductive Health’. The foreword of the book, dated September 8, 2008, is signed by Catholic Bishops representing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, to wit: Most Rev. Angel N. Lagdameo, D.D., Archbishop of Jaro and President, CBCP; Most Rev. Paciano Aniceto, D.D., Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga and Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life; Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal, D.D., Archbishop of Cebu; Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rasales, D.D., Archbishop of Manila.
Finally, in conscience we ought to ask ourselves: What is to love our Filipino people? Should we not rather follow the infallible truth of God’s word that beckons us: “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’ (Gen. 1:28).” Let’s be pro-life! Yes, it’s true, there’s so much pride, confusion, self-interest in our world. But in our quest for the truth we have to keep on. Jesus has assured us without fail: “The one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him” (Mt. 7:7). We can have success in our quest for truth in the present discussion, if we persevere and have faith, love, humility and openness to accept whatever is really true..
Friday, September 16, 2011
Robur Pacis Veritas
The Latin proverb above, translates thus: “The strength of peace derives from the truth.” For example, if the gospel of Jesus Christ is called the gospel of peace (cf. Eph. 6:15) it must certainly contain basic teachings that are a source of strength inside and outside our persons. To us, our relationship of love and prayer to Jesus Christ becomes a source of peace, if only we follow His ways.
Now the ways of Jesus (cf. Jn. 4:34) basically follow God’s will, in a life of love, consideration, respect for the neighbor’s rights, obedience to the Church, following the commandments and a life of truthfulness, that is, a transparency able to face the world. “On these grounds is sentence pronounced: that though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God” (Jn. 3:19-21). Though, of course, human as we are, God’s voice keeps calling us to conversion and a change of heart.
That is the desire of the heart of Jesus as reflected in those three parables of Divine Mercy in Luke chapter 15—(the lost sheep, the lost drachma, the prodigal and the dutiful son). His message is: “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance” (Lk. 15:7). Jesus even implored God’s forgiveness on those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34).
Now the ways of Jesus (cf. Jn. 4:34) basically follow God’s will, in a life of love, consideration, respect for the neighbor’s rights, obedience to the Church, following the commandments and a life of truthfulness, that is, a transparency able to face the world. “On these grounds is sentence pronounced: that though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God” (Jn. 3:19-21). Though, of course, human as we are, God’s voice keeps calling us to conversion and a change of heart.
That is the desire of the heart of Jesus as reflected in those three parables of Divine Mercy in Luke chapter 15—(the lost sheep, the lost drachma, the prodigal and the dutiful son). His message is: “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance” (Lk. 15:7). Jesus even implored God’s forgiveness on those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34).
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Bible Does Not Lie
(cf. Jn. 5:39)
One of the important campaigns that we have is for a Bible in every home. It is because the Bible or Holy Scripture basically contains God’s word as officially approved by the Church. Jesus had clearly said this: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4). Many versions of the complete Bible have already translations in the vernacular or local dialects. And the prices have been put as low as fifty (50) pesos. So it’s really possible to obtain a copy if we sincerely desire so. Maybe contacting our Bible apostolate group in the Diocese or the priest in the Parish. Remember there is truth in the proverb that states: “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” This is based on God’s infallible word in the Bible that states the following: “To those who believe everything is possible” (Mk. 9:24).
We quote the Bible verse because many are already interested in God’s word and where to find it in the Bible in order to refer to it and be inspired or motivated thereby. Maybe this other text can also encourage you: “Whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you will receive it and it shall come” (Mk. 11:24). It shall come if you really believe and if it really is for your own good or humanity’s good, and you do your part to deserve it. Jesus really emphasized the importance of faith. When Jesus chided Peter who was drowning because he began to doubt upon seeing the strong winds and the waves of the sea, He told Peter, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt. 14:31. You can see therefore why it is so important to obtain a Bible for our guidance and spiritual growth. It is God’s inspired word. Or have we forgotten that simple text in the Bible that means so much to us all and refers to effective prayer---“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Mt. 7:7). It’s just a simple text from the Bible, God’s own word that can’t lie or ever be mistaken.
One of the important campaigns that we have is for a Bible in every home. It is because the Bible or Holy Scripture basically contains God’s word as officially approved by the Church. Jesus had clearly said this: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4). Many versions of the complete Bible have already translations in the vernacular or local dialects. And the prices have been put as low as fifty (50) pesos. So it’s really possible to obtain a copy if we sincerely desire so. Maybe contacting our Bible apostolate group in the Diocese or the priest in the Parish. Remember there is truth in the proverb that states: “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” This is based on God’s infallible word in the Bible that states the following: “To those who believe everything is possible” (Mk. 9:24).
We quote the Bible verse because many are already interested in God’s word and where to find it in the Bible in order to refer to it and be inspired or motivated thereby. Maybe this other text can also encourage you: “Whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you will receive it and it shall come” (Mk. 11:24). It shall come if you really believe and if it really is for your own good or humanity’s good, and you do your part to deserve it. Jesus really emphasized the importance of faith. When Jesus chided Peter who was drowning because he began to doubt upon seeing the strong winds and the waves of the sea, He told Peter, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt. 14:31. You can see therefore why it is so important to obtain a Bible for our guidance and spiritual growth. It is God’s inspired word. Or have we forgotten that simple text in the Bible that means so much to us all and refers to effective prayer---“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Mt. 7:7). It’s just a simple text from the Bible, God’s own word that can’t lie or ever be mistaken.
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Sex Education Issues
We see how the RH Bill issue is also being joined by the sex education issue, I guess, to add more flames or support to the present controversies. But it would be good to be on the right track by referring to reputed and recognized leaders of people and nations as Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi, India’s “Great Soul,” often spoke on sexual morality, and frequently emphasized the importance of sex education. He defined the fundamental difference between comprehensive sex education and chastity education as follows:
“Sexual science is of two kinds, that which is used for controlling or over-coming the sexual passion, and that which is used to stimulate and feed it. Instruction in the former is as necessary a part of a child’s education, as the latter is harmful and dangerous, and fit, therefore, only to be shunned. The sex education that I stand for must have for its object the conquest and sublimation of the sex passion. Such education should automatically serve to bring home to children the essential distinction between man and brute, to make them realize that it is man’s special privilege and pride to be gifted with the faculties of head and heart both, that he is a thinking no less than feeling animal, and to renounce the sovereignty of reason over the blind instincts is, therefore, to renounce a man’s estate. In man, reason quickens and guides the feeling; in brutes, the soul lies ever dormant.” (from A.S. Antonisamy. Wisdom for All Times: Mahatma Gandhi and Pope Paul VI on Birth Regulation. Family Life Service Center, Archbishop’s House, Pondicherry 605001 India, June 1978.)
So let’s be true to ourselves and one another. We must respect the life of the unborn, not just veer away and make use of sex education issues to distract us from the main issue of respect for life.
Mahatma Gandhi, India’s “Great Soul,” often spoke on sexual morality, and frequently emphasized the importance of sex education. He defined the fundamental difference between comprehensive sex education and chastity education as follows:
“Sexual science is of two kinds, that which is used for controlling or over-coming the sexual passion, and that which is used to stimulate and feed it. Instruction in the former is as necessary a part of a child’s education, as the latter is harmful and dangerous, and fit, therefore, only to be shunned. The sex education that I stand for must have for its object the conquest and sublimation of the sex passion. Such education should automatically serve to bring home to children the essential distinction between man and brute, to make them realize that it is man’s special privilege and pride to be gifted with the faculties of head and heart both, that he is a thinking no less than feeling animal, and to renounce the sovereignty of reason over the blind instincts is, therefore, to renounce a man’s estate. In man, reason quickens and guides the feeling; in brutes, the soul lies ever dormant.” (from A.S. Antonisamy. Wisdom for All Times: Mahatma Gandhi and Pope Paul VI on Birth Regulation. Family Life Service Center, Archbishop’s House, Pondicherry 605001 India, June 1978.)
So let’s be true to ourselves and one another. We must respect the life of the unborn, not just veer away and make use of sex education issues to distract us from the main issue of respect for life.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Why Not ?
(RH Bill )
The answer could be argued both ways, positive or negative, regarding the controversial RH Bill which some legislators desire to be promulgated and approved. The question is why is the Church against it? We must therefore in all sincerity and conscience seek always where truth really is.
Since it intends to facilitate the sale of artificial means of controlling the birth rate, most of which contraceptives are abortifacients, i.e. destructive of life, that’s the major reason for the Church’s opposition. The teaching of the Church has not changed. On November 12, 1988, Pope John Paul II addressed the final session of a three-day meeting of 300 Catholic moral theologians at the Pontifical Lateran University to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Humanae Vitae (1968) encyclical. There, he summarized the Church’s teaching against birth control in a single sentence: “No personal or social circumstances have ever or can ever justify such an [contraceptive] act.”
Even the world-famous leader and great thinker from India, Mahatma Gandhi, whose country has been a population control battleground for decades, struck at the heart of the matter when he pointed out to Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger: “If it is contended that birth control is necessary for the nation because of over population, I dispute the proposition. It has never been proved. In my opinion, by a proper land system, better agriculture, and a supplementary industry, this country [India] is capable of supporting twice as many people as there are in it today.”
“I am totally opposed to artificial means of controlling the birthrate, and it is not possible for me to congratulate you [Sanger] or your co-workers on having brought into being a league whose activities, if successful, can only do great moral injury to the people. I wish I could convince you and your co-workers to disband the league and devote your energy to a better purpose. You will pardon me for giving my opinion in a decisive manner.”
In the very first book and chapter of the Bible which is God’s revealed word you can read the infallible voice of God: “God blessed them [the first man and woman] saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’” (Gen. 1:28). During that Nov. 12, 1988 address to 300 Catholic moral theologians, the Pope firmly stated that the ban on contraceptives “cannot be questioned by the Catholic theologian,” much to the consternation of dissenting theologians in the Western world.
The answer could be argued both ways, positive or negative, regarding the controversial RH Bill which some legislators desire to be promulgated and approved. The question is why is the Church against it? We must therefore in all sincerity and conscience seek always where truth really is.
Since it intends to facilitate the sale of artificial means of controlling the birth rate, most of which contraceptives are abortifacients, i.e. destructive of life, that’s the major reason for the Church’s opposition. The teaching of the Church has not changed. On November 12, 1988, Pope John Paul II addressed the final session of a three-day meeting of 300 Catholic moral theologians at the Pontifical Lateran University to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Humanae Vitae (1968) encyclical. There, he summarized the Church’s teaching against birth control in a single sentence: “No personal or social circumstances have ever or can ever justify such an [contraceptive] act.”
Even the world-famous leader and great thinker from India, Mahatma Gandhi, whose country has been a population control battleground for decades, struck at the heart of the matter when he pointed out to Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger: “If it is contended that birth control is necessary for the nation because of over population, I dispute the proposition. It has never been proved. In my opinion, by a proper land system, better agriculture, and a supplementary industry, this country [India] is capable of supporting twice as many people as there are in it today.”
“I am totally opposed to artificial means of controlling the birthrate, and it is not possible for me to congratulate you [Sanger] or your co-workers on having brought into being a league whose activities, if successful, can only do great moral injury to the people. I wish I could convince you and your co-workers to disband the league and devote your energy to a better purpose. You will pardon me for giving my opinion in a decisive manner.”
In the very first book and chapter of the Bible which is God’s revealed word you can read the infallible voice of God: “God blessed them [the first man and woman] saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’” (Gen. 1:28). During that Nov. 12, 1988 address to 300 Catholic moral theologians, the Pope firmly stated that the ban on contraceptives “cannot be questioned by the Catholic theologian,” much to the consternation of dissenting theologians in the Western world.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Ban on Contraceptives
The RH Bill contains provisions that allow or encourage use of contraceptives for purposes of population control. However, the Catholic Church considers that contrary to the prime end of marriage which is a union designed for the preservation of the human race through the procreation and education of children.
Since for Christians the voice of the Holy Father is crucial because it guides towards truth and right, let us listen to some official words of the Holy Father because, being successor of the first Pope, he enjoys the support from heaven above. To St. Peter, the first Pope, Jesus said: “Simon, son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16:17-20).
Since the Popes have succeeded Peter, they also enjoy the assistance of the Holy Spirit in official pronouncements since this is what Jesus promised. Pope Pius XI in the encyclical Casti Connubii [VII] states: “Any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with guilt of a grave sin.”
The teaching of the Church has not changed. On 12 November 1988, Pope John Paul II (already now beatified as Blessed John Paul II) addressed the final session of a three-day meeting of 300 Catholic moral theologians at the Pontifical Lateran University to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. There, he summarized the Church’s teaching against birth control in a single sentence: “No personal or social circumstances have ever or can ever justify such an [contraceptive] act.” During this talk, the Pope also firmly stated that the ban on contraception “cannot be questioned by the Catholic theologian,” much to the consternation of dissenting theologians in the Western world. I dare ask therefore to anyone who dares: Who are you to dare dissent from the official stand of the Popes when this alone enjoys the assistance of heaven above and the guarantee of truth. Presupposing our human weakness and limitations, let us at least be open in the quest for the truth. After all, Jesus had assured us—“everyone who seeks always finds” (Mt. 7:8).
At least, be sincere to God, yourself and others in the laborious and honest quest for the truth.
Since for Christians the voice of the Holy Father is crucial because it guides towards truth and right, let us listen to some official words of the Holy Father because, being successor of the first Pope, he enjoys the support from heaven above. To St. Peter, the first Pope, Jesus said: “Simon, son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16:17-20).
Since the Popes have succeeded Peter, they also enjoy the assistance of the Holy Spirit in official pronouncements since this is what Jesus promised. Pope Pius XI in the encyclical Casti Connubii [VII] states: “Any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with guilt of a grave sin.”
The teaching of the Church has not changed. On 12 November 1988, Pope John Paul II (already now beatified as Blessed John Paul II) addressed the final session of a three-day meeting of 300 Catholic moral theologians at the Pontifical Lateran University to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. There, he summarized the Church’s teaching against birth control in a single sentence: “No personal or social circumstances have ever or can ever justify such an [contraceptive] act.” During this talk, the Pope also firmly stated that the ban on contraception “cannot be questioned by the Catholic theologian,” much to the consternation of dissenting theologians in the Western world. I dare ask therefore to anyone who dares: Who are you to dare dissent from the official stand of the Popes when this alone enjoys the assistance of heaven above and the guarantee of truth. Presupposing our human weakness and limitations, let us at least be open in the quest for the truth. After all, Jesus had assured us—“everyone who seeks always finds” (Mt. 7:8).
At least, be sincere to God, yourself and others in the laborious and honest quest for the truth.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The Holy Bible
(Guide to Life)
There’s a popular proverb of some great writers of the past, namely: “I fear the man of one book” (in Latin writes thus: Timeo hominem unius libri). Why so? Because you gain mastery when you concentrate on a topic or book, instead of shifting from here and there. As the popular proverb runs: “a rolling stone gathers no moss.” Sometimes people who read all the books that get in their hands turn out confused and mixed up.
It’s the reason why the Church campaigns for a ‘Bible in every home’. It’s the Word of God, a guide for everyone seeking the secrets of everlasting life, or even success in our transitory life on earth. The world tends towards selfish thoughts while the Bible tells us of Jesus’ ways—“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back” (Lk. 6:38).
Such simple words of the Bible, but ask yourself— Isn’t that the secret to success even in simple business deals? People will flock to your store when they know the goods you sell are truly to their satisfaction and gratification. And what more can we ask for? After the trials of this life, the Bible promises eternal life and happiness if only we follow God’s laws and decrees.
There’s a popular proverb of some great writers of the past, namely: “I fear the man of one book” (in Latin writes thus: Timeo hominem unius libri). Why so? Because you gain mastery when you concentrate on a topic or book, instead of shifting from here and there. As the popular proverb runs: “a rolling stone gathers no moss.” Sometimes people who read all the books that get in their hands turn out confused and mixed up.
It’s the reason why the Church campaigns for a ‘Bible in every home’. It’s the Word of God, a guide for everyone seeking the secrets of everlasting life, or even success in our transitory life on earth. The world tends towards selfish thoughts while the Bible tells us of Jesus’ ways—“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back” (Lk. 6:38).
Such simple words of the Bible, but ask yourself— Isn’t that the secret to success even in simple business deals? People will flock to your store when they know the goods you sell are truly to their satisfaction and gratification. And what more can we ask for? After the trials of this life, the Bible promises eternal life and happiness if only we follow God’s laws and decrees.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sad Farewells and Goodbyes
When we look back at our life’s history and the caring people who crossed our lives, it somehow brings a recollection of sad goodbyes and farewells, more so when they have already gone back to the Creator in the after-life. Of course, it’s no use lamenting over what’s already gone or past but we must have more faith in God’s assistance for future things to be done for His kingdom. After all, that’s what is supposed to be for all of us. We are just passing guests of this passing life – Naturally, a last kiss or embrace of anyone close to us is ever etched in our emotional memory. But let’s look at it positively. Consider that even God’s Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, did die for our sakes. All the saints underwent such experience of death as all peoples that ever lived before our times. It’s an occurrence that happens to everybody.
If there were loved ones and friends who cared for us and ever since our childhood days, they have become close to us like our own parents, brothers and sisters. Yes, those kind of people somehow leave an imprint in our memory and emotions. After all we just live a passing life in this world and God keeps on reminding us we were made for an eternal bliss with God in heaven. “What will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? “…For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behavior” (Mt. 16:26). Let us pray for all the people that crossed our lives because after all, if they already passed away, they are part of God’s loving providential hand to care and guide us towards the heavenly kingdom where we all desire to be with all those we love and pray for. We are God’s creation and are destined to serve God in this life and be with him in the next. God desires our final attachment to be only for him. So regarding the people we esteem and love as our own parents, brothers, sisters, and children, God’s infallible word teaches this: “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 10:37-38).
In all circumstances, therefore, let our lives and prayers be to the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us thank the Lord for all the wonderful people that ever came across our lives.
If there were loved ones and friends who cared for us and ever since our childhood days, they have become close to us like our own parents, brothers and sisters. Yes, those kind of people somehow leave an imprint in our memory and emotions. After all we just live a passing life in this world and God keeps on reminding us we were made for an eternal bliss with God in heaven. “What will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? “…For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behavior” (Mt. 16:26). Let us pray for all the people that crossed our lives because after all, if they already passed away, they are part of God’s loving providential hand to care and guide us towards the heavenly kingdom where we all desire to be with all those we love and pray for. We are God’s creation and are destined to serve God in this life and be with him in the next. God desires our final attachment to be only for him. So regarding the people we esteem and love as our own parents, brothers, sisters, and children, God’s infallible word teaches this: “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 10:37-38).
In all circumstances, therefore, let our lives and prayers be to the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us thank the Lord for all the wonderful people that ever came across our lives.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Against Conscience
It would be good for our legislators to reconsider their efforts in pushing for laws or bills that run counter to conscience, more specifically in the case of the Reproductive Health Bill. Since it runs contrary to the Catholic conscience of which the Filipinos are the majority, surely some resistance will be oncoming.
Then, too, it is appropriate to consider the reasons alluded to by the Catholic Church, which are primarily for the defense of life, in the privacy of family and home, which is the prerogative right of private families, as regards matters of size of the family and sexual relations between husband and wife. Hence, the Church only wishes to remind couples of God’s original decrees on the propagation of life. “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’” (Gen. 1:28). That’s in the first book and chapter of the Bible. There are instances of God’s punishment on those who dare violate God’s laws concerning family, marriage, and sexual morality. Read chapters 18 and 19 of this very first book of the Bible: GENESIS, in those chapters they tell the true of what happened to two cities Sodom and Gomorrah that disappeared from the earth by fire and brimstone that rained from the heavens, because of their sin against God’s laws regarding sexual morality.. Do not forget the warning words of St. Paul: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
Then, too, it is appropriate to consider the reasons alluded to by the Catholic Church, which are primarily for the defense of life, in the privacy of family and home, which is the prerogative right of private families, as regards matters of size of the family and sexual relations between husband and wife. Hence, the Church only wishes to remind couples of God’s original decrees on the propagation of life. “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’” (Gen. 1:28). That’s in the first book and chapter of the Bible. There are instances of God’s punishment on those who dare violate God’s laws concerning family, marriage, and sexual morality. Read chapters 18 and 19 of this very first book of the Bible: GENESIS, in those chapters they tell the true of what happened to two cities Sodom and Gomorrah that disappeared from the earth by fire and brimstone that rained from the heavens, because of their sin against God’s laws regarding sexual morality.. Do not forget the warning words of St. Paul: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Humility that Saves
Many saints (St. Therese, for example), following the theme of Our Lord Jesus Christ, have often said: Humility is Truth. Jesus has repeated several times: “The person who humbles himself shall be exalted, the person who exalts himself shall be humbled” (Mt. 12:11; Lk. 18:14). Yes, Jesus humbled himself, preferring to work His miracles without much propaganda (see Mk. 9:9, and Lk.9:21)).
We too should follow that system of doing good works for the sincere love of God and the neighbor, not for show-off and propaganda, nor for the prospect of money and power, which become temptations for corruption.. After all, this is the more successful way as God Himself has promised. “Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing; your almsgiving must be in secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you” (Mt. 6:1-4). Remember that the only true reward comes from God above. Naturally genuine humility must always be based on truth and discipline, not on false ambitions and laxity or insubordination.
We too should follow that system of doing good works for the sincere love of God and the neighbor, not for show-off and propaganda, nor for the prospect of money and power, which become temptations for corruption.. After all, this is the more successful way as God Himself has promised. “Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing; your almsgiving must be in secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you” (Mt. 6:1-4). Remember that the only true reward comes from God above. Naturally genuine humility must always be based on truth and discipline, not on false ambitions and laxity or insubordination.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Poverty Issue
It seems putting the blame on poverty for most of the nation’s woes is out of place. Why did that expression of benediction come out? “Blessed are you poor; the reign of God is yours” (Lk. 6:20).
Actually the poverty issue reverts to oneself or one’s inmost honest efforts. If only we did what we should or could do to think, to study, to do some honest service to humanity, somehow the result would be what Jesus aptly described, saying: “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back” (Lk. 6:38). You can see and observe closely how true these words of Jesus are. Most successful businesses are those that deep in the heart tend to sincerely give good quality products and services to the customer, while those that just think of making money from the customers are usually left out or losing in the business rat race.
Jesus does not want us to worry too much about material things (read this in Mt. 6:25-34). “That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it….Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life?” Jesus says the same thing about thoughts on clothing and drinking needs. It is those who lack faith that worry too much on those things. His solution is: “Set your hearts on his kingdom first and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:25-34). To verify for yourself how true are the words of Jesus concerning our quest to do God’s will always and ever trust in His loving care for each of us, let us ask and observe people who sincerely believe and put to practice Jesus’ words. God can’t tell a lie nor be mistaken. And His words come to us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
Actually the poverty issue reverts to oneself or one’s inmost honest efforts. If only we did what we should or could do to think, to study, to do some honest service to humanity, somehow the result would be what Jesus aptly described, saying: “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back” (Lk. 6:38). You can see and observe closely how true these words of Jesus are. Most successful businesses are those that deep in the heart tend to sincerely give good quality products and services to the customer, while those that just think of making money from the customers are usually left out or losing in the business rat race.
Jesus does not want us to worry too much about material things (read this in Mt. 6:25-34). “That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it….Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life?” Jesus says the same thing about thoughts on clothing and drinking needs. It is those who lack faith that worry too much on those things. His solution is: “Set your hearts on his kingdom first and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:25-34). To verify for yourself how true are the words of Jesus concerning our quest to do God’s will always and ever trust in His loving care for each of us, let us ask and observe people who sincerely believe and put to practice Jesus’ words. God can’t tell a lie nor be mistaken. And His words come to us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Armed Conflicts
Certainly we cannot deny there are some armed conflicts in the Philippines or in the whole wide world. However, the question is: should there really be reason for such? We know at times, in isolated or extreme cases there is need or a call to arms, for the purpose of self-defense. Considering all the confusion, evacuations, chaos and suffering and loss of lives that result as side-effects of these armed conflicts, it is really much better to avoid them. Think it over: Can you pay for the value of one life? Jesus had already warned us through His instruction to Peter. “One of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it, he struck out at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus then said, ‘Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Mt. 26:52).
It’s a fact really. Many people die, not just accidentally because of accidental misfiring but also since the proliferation and escalation of firearms is a big temptation to violence. Just think it over. Life is the first right of man. And when people make a call to armed conflict or the use of deadly firearms, there are so many more casualties that could have been avoided. May we always remember God’s infallible word that can’t be mistaken nor lie. “Never repay evil with evil but let everyone see that you are interested only in the highest ideals. Do all you can to live at peace with everyone. Do not avenge yourselves, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay’ says the Lord.” “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink….Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good” (Rom. 12:18-21). Yes indeed. Remember the lessons of past history, the irreparable loss of so many lives. No wonder Benjamin Franklin had truly said: “There never was a good war or a bad peace.” Let’s follow the ideal described by St. Paul: “Love is humble, love is patient, love is forgiving” (1 Cor. 13:4-13).
It’s a fact really. Many people die, not just accidentally because of accidental misfiring but also since the proliferation and escalation of firearms is a big temptation to violence. Just think it over. Life is the first right of man. And when people make a call to armed conflict or the use of deadly firearms, there are so many more casualties that could have been avoided. May we always remember God’s infallible word that can’t be mistaken nor lie. “Never repay evil with evil but let everyone see that you are interested only in the highest ideals. Do all you can to live at peace with everyone. Do not avenge yourselves, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay’ says the Lord.” “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink….Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good” (Rom. 12:18-21). Yes indeed. Remember the lessons of past history, the irreparable loss of so many lives. No wonder Benjamin Franklin had truly said: “There never was a good war or a bad peace.” Let’s follow the ideal described by St. Paul: “Love is humble, love is patient, love is forgiving” (1 Cor. 13:4-13).
Thursday, July 21, 2011
RH Confusions (why?)
First of all we have to place the RH Bill in light of Church prohibitions versus contraceptives’ use and abortion. Church authority from the Lord Jesus comes from that text in Matthew’s 16-18, which we quote: “Simon, son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16:18).
The Church has guided the world towards a morality that respects the fundamental rights of man. If contraceptives were given free rein, being abortifacients, that’s tantamount to decimating the human race. Hence, there are rules governing sexual morality, since from Biblical times in the Old Testament, sexuality has links to human life, which is the first right of man. What worsens the panoramic picture or situation is that the bigger nations or even pharmaceuticals corrupt the matter with money offers that serve to dim the minds of people from right thinking.
Let’s sincerely seek for the true answer in the question at hand, knowing that, since life is but transitory, we must above all seek God’s will and glory. Otherwise we have to keep in mind what St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Hebrews: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, and again: The Lord will judge his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:30-31).
The Church aspires to a society that is young, active, vigorous, serviceable, constructive, and loving.
The Church has guided the world towards a morality that respects the fundamental rights of man. If contraceptives were given free rein, being abortifacients, that’s tantamount to decimating the human race. Hence, there are rules governing sexual morality, since from Biblical times in the Old Testament, sexuality has links to human life, which is the first right of man. What worsens the panoramic picture or situation is that the bigger nations or even pharmaceuticals corrupt the matter with money offers that serve to dim the minds of people from right thinking.
Let’s sincerely seek for the true answer in the question at hand, knowing that, since life is but transitory, we must above all seek God’s will and glory. Otherwise we have to keep in mind what St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Hebrews: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, and again: The Lord will judge his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:30-31).
The Church aspires to a society that is young, active, vigorous, serviceable, constructive, and loving.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Pitfalls of the RH Bill
The discussions on the controversial Reproductive Health bill keep on hitting the headlines. What is really the issue? Well, for one the issue is population control as the Egyptians tried to control the growing population of the Hebrews and King Herod wanted to kill the baby Jesus (see Exodus chapter 1 and Matthew chapter 2). Behind that is the corruption of money and power. The Church teaches as immoral the use of the abortifacient contraceptives. It’s because she wants us to fulfill God’s designs from the very beginning: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:20). That’s at the very first book of the Bible, God’s infallible word. God also punished gravely sins against normal sexuality, as narrated in the Sodom and Gomorrah story (Genesis . chapters 18 and 19) and the masturbating sin of Onan (read in Genesis chapter 38).
If the Church asks for the legitimate and normal use of sexuality between man and woman, it is for the preservation of the human race. It’s just because of people being enslaved to money and pleasure that we encounter the sexual abnormalities that run counter to God’s laws and invite God’s wrath and punishment. We must remember history and think of the past happenings that came to the world because of man’s sins and impenitence. The Virgin Mary had mentioned in Fatima that many souls are condemned to hell because of sins against purity. It is true human nature is weak and modern life gives so many tempting occasions of sin, but the Lord amply provides His grace by His word, His sacraments and our own recourse to prayer. At the Mount of Olives Jesus gave the advice to His disciples” “Pray not to be put to the test” (Lk. 22:39). Ask yourself, after getting to know the contents of the RH Bill, is it really for the health of mother and child? How can it be when it is for population control and aiming at the decline of population? In line with God’ design, we desire a society that is young, vibrant and active, not an aging society that tends towards self-extinction.
If the Church asks for the legitimate and normal use of sexuality between man and woman, it is for the preservation of the human race. It’s just because of people being enslaved to money and pleasure that we encounter the sexual abnormalities that run counter to God’s laws and invite God’s wrath and punishment. We must remember history and think of the past happenings that came to the world because of man’s sins and impenitence. The Virgin Mary had mentioned in Fatima that many souls are condemned to hell because of sins against purity. It is true human nature is weak and modern life gives so many tempting occasions of sin, but the Lord amply provides His grace by His word, His sacraments and our own recourse to prayer. At the Mount of Olives Jesus gave the advice to His disciples” “Pray not to be put to the test” (Lk. 22:39). Ask yourself, after getting to know the contents of the RH Bill, is it really for the health of mother and child? How can it be when it is for population control and aiming at the decline of population? In line with God’ design, we desire a society that is young, vibrant and active, not an aging society that tends towards self-extinction.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Control of Population
Projects to control population many times turn out to be money-making schemes. Such for example as the birth control devices and injectibles that are being peddled for a price; so too with pornographic materials that serve to incite human sexuality, even when not called to appropriately, or outside legitimate wedlock. Here is where the divine teaching guides us that we are not to be motivated by monetary gain which will only multiply our troubles and problems. It’s an inversion of principles as if the cart were put before the horse, instead of the normal way of putting the horse before the cart. Just observe how bad the results even when applying that to your own life and relationships or even in the quest for successful business. The Bible tells us the truth.
“The love of money is the root of all evils and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds” (1 Tim. 6:10).
“The love of money is the root of all evils and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds” (1 Tim. 6:10).
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Greatest Conquest, Conquest of Self
The many sages of the past have said so. For this we need God’s help and grace (see Mt. 19:26). We might think fulfillment is in making money, winning in games, or politics and getting a famous name, but what can bring us to peace inside and in the final eventuality is really the conquest of self in the direction of fulfilling God’s will every time, anywhere. The saints were always happy even when they were left unattended, unknown or neglected, for their trust was always in God.
So Jesus had reminded us—“What will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?” The very finalities of man can be reduced to four last things, as taught in Christian catechesis: Death, Judgment, Hell or Heaven. At the very last you either end in Heaven or in Hell. Jesus clearly talks about this as He discussed on the narrow and hard road to Heaven and the spacious and wide road to Hell in Mt. 7:11-12, and about the decisive question that will be required of you for entrance to eternal bliss in Paradise or eternal damnation with the devils in Hell. Read that in Mt. 25:31-48. “Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me” (Mt. 25:40-46). On that will depend your ultimate destiny. Don’t be too late on reading such important reminder in that short but important chapter. It asks to be not so selfish and greedy but always considerate on others’ needs, rights and feelings. Why did the Lord God Almighty in sharing man’s lot by taking up our humanity in His Son, Jesus, chose always the line of humility in word and the example of His life? “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted (Lk. 14:11, Lk. 18:14, Mt. 23:12). “I honor my Father but you want to dishonor me. Not that I care for my own glory, there is someone who takes care of that and is the judge of it” (Jn. 8:50). For all our efforts to reach salvation we must remember how much we are in need of God’s grace. But God’s infallible word will not fail in His promises. “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him”: (Mt. 7:7).
So Jesus had reminded us—“What will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?” The very finalities of man can be reduced to four last things, as taught in Christian catechesis: Death, Judgment, Hell or Heaven. At the very last you either end in Heaven or in Hell. Jesus clearly talks about this as He discussed on the narrow and hard road to Heaven and the spacious and wide road to Hell in Mt. 7:11-12, and about the decisive question that will be required of you for entrance to eternal bliss in Paradise or eternal damnation with the devils in Hell. Read that in Mt. 25:31-48. “Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me” (Mt. 25:40-46). On that will depend your ultimate destiny. Don’t be too late on reading such important reminder in that short but important chapter. It asks to be not so selfish and greedy but always considerate on others’ needs, rights and feelings. Why did the Lord God Almighty in sharing man’s lot by taking up our humanity in His Son, Jesus, chose always the line of humility in word and the example of His life? “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted (Lk. 14:11, Lk. 18:14, Mt. 23:12). “I honor my Father but you want to dishonor me. Not that I care for my own glory, there is someone who takes care of that and is the judge of it” (Jn. 8:50). For all our efforts to reach salvation we must remember how much we are in need of God’s grace. But God’s infallible word will not fail in His promises. “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him”: (Mt. 7:7).
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Honesty is Best Policy
Whether in pharmaceuticals, politics or any category of business or enterprise, the principle still holds. Like the defective missile that plummets to its own self-destruction so does any corrupt institution that operates on deception, hidden agenda and insincerity. They do not really operate based on transparency and openness but a way of doing things that leads to doom and failures.
"On these grounds is sentence pronounced that though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions would be exposed, but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen what he does is done in God" (Jn.3:19-21).
The devil which is the source of evil in the world, together with the cooperation of corrupt people, is described by Jesus as "a murderer and the father of lies" (Jn.8:44). How important then we follow the ways of truth and sincerity so as not to fall into the clutches of the devil, the father of lies. Even Shakespeare had quoted that in other words in his work Hamlet: "To thine own self be true and it will follow as night follows day you will be true to every man". (Hamlet Act 1, sc.3) "People who long to be rich are a prey to temptation; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge them into ruin and destruction. The love of money is the root of all evils and there are some who pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds" (1Tim.6:10). People get enticed by money offers just as a fish is caught by a bait. The solution is that you never be motivated by the love of money but by the desire to be of service to God and humanity. And you must give the best you can since "the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you" (Lk.6:38).
"On these grounds is sentence pronounced that though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions would be exposed, but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen what he does is done in God" (Jn.3:19-21).
The devil which is the source of evil in the world, together with the cooperation of corrupt people, is described by Jesus as "a murderer and the father of lies" (Jn.8:44). How important then we follow the ways of truth and sincerity so as not to fall into the clutches of the devil, the father of lies. Even Shakespeare had quoted that in other words in his work Hamlet: "To thine own self be true and it will follow as night follows day you will be true to every man". (Hamlet Act 1, sc.3) "People who long to be rich are a prey to temptation; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge them into ruin and destruction. The love of money is the root of all evils and there are some who pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds" (1Tim.6:10). People get enticed by money offers just as a fish is caught by a bait. The solution is that you never be motivated by the love of money but by the desire to be of service to God and humanity. And you must give the best you can since "the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you" (Lk.6:38).
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Obedience to God Comes Before Obedience to Man
(cf. Acts 5:29)
Amid the entire controversy on the Reproductive Health bill, the main consideration of the Church is that we respect God’s laws as regards respect for the life of human beings, which as you all know is the very first right of man. Of course, it’s not just respecting the life that is existing but it implies also that we respect the normal outcome of life as result of the male and female sexual relationships. If we block nature’s normal trend through artificial devices we go in a direction that brings us close to self-destruction or extinction.
That is the reason why the Church opposes the artificial methods of birth control as being opposed to God’s will and design. “God blessed them, saying to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it.” (taken from the first book and first chapter of the Holy Bible – Gen. 1:28). We must endeavor to follow God’s laws and decrees faithfully, otherwise we risk falling under God’s anger and punishment. St. Paul describes it this way: “it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). Remember history and consider how God has punished those who dared to violate His laws and decrees.
Amid the entire controversy on the Reproductive Health bill, the main consideration of the Church is that we respect God’s laws as regards respect for the life of human beings, which as you all know is the very first right of man. Of course, it’s not just respecting the life that is existing but it implies also that we respect the normal outcome of life as result of the male and female sexual relationships. If we block nature’s normal trend through artificial devices we go in a direction that brings us close to self-destruction or extinction.
That is the reason why the Church opposes the artificial methods of birth control as being opposed to God’s will and design. “God blessed them, saying to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it.” (taken from the first book and first chapter of the Holy Bible – Gen. 1:28). We must endeavor to follow God’s laws and decrees faithfully, otherwise we risk falling under God’s anger and punishment. St. Paul describes it this way: “it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). Remember history and consider how God has punished those who dared to violate His laws and decrees.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
An Alarm Cry
(versus prostitution)
An anonymous person wrote me and some other bishops asking if we could do something to help the plight of girls being victimized into prostitution at the big cities here and elsewhere. The complexity of the problem is worsened when the dangers of the HIV AIDS virus are being spread this way (in sexual contacts) plus the other sexually transmitted diseases. One problem is at present there is yet no clear medicine for HIV as this is still being researched scientifically, and expenses too may be mounting.
Its true prostitution is an age-old profession, not because it’s moral or legal, but because of human weakness and sinfulness. The person who wrote me told about some big popular cities being punished by God with various calamities: earthquakes, tsunamis and floods because of syndicates and persons of influence that beguile young girls into forced prostitution, under threats, holding their airline tickets, pressuring them into disreputable ways of livelihood just because of their indigent situation. Some of these prostitution joints are being handled or owned by DOM (dirty old men), from ages 40, 50, 60 and above who come from some big nations of the world around us to indulge in their immoralities. These were his exact words of caution which I quote in part below to make our people aware of such problems, especially for the girls of the third world who may seek employment in the big cities:
“As a Christian in America connected with Filipina women groups I wrote yourBishops several years ago on hundreds of young foreign degenerate, ugly old men 50s-60s in the country to sexually target young Filipina whores for money while your Bishops are blind and deaf to this and one day GOD will severely judge your souls for cowardice and negligence. GOD hit Japan with two disasters because it’s a major country where many foreign young women from Asia and Eastern Europe are tricked into Japan by fake jobs and given “free” one-way tickets then outside the airport taken to rented bldgs owned by dangerous criminals and subjected to violent threats, beatings and raped over days and those who still refuse get death threats against family members to force them to “cooperate.” From material I’ve seen many are either infected with aids and others become insane and likely murdered and their bodies cremated. As I wrote prostitution brings crime, violence, drugs, corruption, and the deadly aids and still your Bishops do very little but very tough to condemn condom use in Philippine high schools…”
This situation is supposedly an open secret that comes out in the news because of the problems encountered by those victimized. It might as well be exposed (Jn. 3:19-20) for the sake of saving young lives and putting a stop to the evils in our midst. If it came as an appeal through an anonymous letter, yet because most know of its existence by some sad news of the victims or many off-hand information we get from people, from the Internet, it’s an open secret and God asks us to be concerned, from the conclusive words of the last judgment of each and everyone of us to determine our very final destiny of either everlasting happiness in Heaven or the eternal punishment in Hell. “What you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me.” (see Mt. 25:31-46).
An anonymous person wrote me and some other bishops asking if we could do something to help the plight of girls being victimized into prostitution at the big cities here and elsewhere. The complexity of the problem is worsened when the dangers of the HIV AIDS virus are being spread this way (in sexual contacts) plus the other sexually transmitted diseases. One problem is at present there is yet no clear medicine for HIV as this is still being researched scientifically, and expenses too may be mounting.
Its true prostitution is an age-old profession, not because it’s moral or legal, but because of human weakness and sinfulness. The person who wrote me told about some big popular cities being punished by God with various calamities: earthquakes, tsunamis and floods because of syndicates and persons of influence that beguile young girls into forced prostitution, under threats, holding their airline tickets, pressuring them into disreputable ways of livelihood just because of their indigent situation. Some of these prostitution joints are being handled or owned by DOM (dirty old men), from ages 40, 50, 60 and above who come from some big nations of the world around us to indulge in their immoralities. These were his exact words of caution which I quote in part below to make our people aware of such problems, especially for the girls of the third world who may seek employment in the big cities:
“As a Christian in America connected with Filipina women groups I wrote yourBishops several years ago on hundreds of young foreign degenerate, ugly old men 50s-60s in the country to sexually target young Filipina whores for money while your Bishops are blind and deaf to this and one day GOD will severely judge your souls for cowardice and negligence. GOD hit Japan with two disasters because it’s a major country where many foreign young women from Asia and Eastern Europe are tricked into Japan by fake jobs and given “free” one-way tickets then outside the airport taken to rented bldgs owned by dangerous criminals and subjected to violent threats, beatings and raped over days and those who still refuse get death threats against family members to force them to “cooperate.” From material I’ve seen many are either infected with aids and others become insane and likely murdered and their bodies cremated. As I wrote prostitution brings crime, violence, drugs, corruption, and the deadly aids and still your Bishops do very little but very tough to condemn condom use in Philippine high schools…”
This situation is supposedly an open secret that comes out in the news because of the problems encountered by those victimized. It might as well be exposed (Jn. 3:19-20) for the sake of saving young lives and putting a stop to the evils in our midst. If it came as an appeal through an anonymous letter, yet because most know of its existence by some sad news of the victims or many off-hand information we get from people, from the Internet, it’s an open secret and God asks us to be concerned, from the conclusive words of the last judgment of each and everyone of us to determine our very final destiny of either everlasting happiness in Heaven or the eternal punishment in Hell. “What you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me.” (see Mt. 25:31-46).
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Live and Let Live
(contra RH Bill)
This is a proverb that means we should be free to live and allow others to do the same. This expression precisely comes into play in our present controversies regarding human life. Powerful nations and legislators want to make laws to control and limit human life, for some vested interests presumably. The Church’s position is ever to respect human life, whether born or unborn. Now come into play the contraceptive devices designed to prevent fertilization and implantation, resulting in the decline of population. It will be causing or tend towards extinction of population, leaving mostly the elderly. An ageing lot indeed!
The voice of the Church, following the will of the Creator, wants rather that we improve world situation, facilities and conveniences in the table of life rather than limit the guests to such table. God has said in the very first book and chapter of the Bible – Genesis: “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’” (Gen. 1:28).
This is a proverb that means we should be free to live and allow others to do the same. This expression precisely comes into play in our present controversies regarding human life. Powerful nations and legislators want to make laws to control and limit human life, for some vested interests presumably. The Church’s position is ever to respect human life, whether born or unborn. Now come into play the contraceptive devices designed to prevent fertilization and implantation, resulting in the decline of population. It will be causing or tend towards extinction of population, leaving mostly the elderly. An ageing lot indeed!
The voice of the Church, following the will of the Creator, wants rather that we improve world situation, facilities and conveniences in the table of life rather than limit the guests to such table. God has said in the very first book and chapter of the Bible – Genesis: “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’” (Gen. 1:28).
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Truly Risen!
Contra factum non valet argumentum (You cannot argue against facts). The fact of the Resurrection of Jesus is incontrovertible. You read the various narrations about the Risen Jesus in the Bible, the four gospels and letters of the Apostles, they tell of actual witnesses of the fact of the Resurrection. St. Paul speaks of more than 500 people seeing the Risen Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 15:1-5). Most of those saints who attested on the truth of the Resurrection sere supported by God’s assistance by the proof of many signs and miracles that served to prove the truth of what they proclaimed.
That’s the history of the belief of billions of people, in past and present history. We may just enunciate one usual expression which has already become proverbial, applying this to the fact of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God and Our Savior. You can fool some of the people all the time, all the people some time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. All those billions of believers could not be wrong in their belief of the Resurrection.
That’s the history of the belief of billions of people, in past and present history. We may just enunciate one usual expression which has already become proverbial, applying this to the fact of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God and Our Savior. You can fool some of the people all the time, all the people some time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. All those billions of believers could not be wrong in their belief of the Resurrection.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
RH Bill is Flawed
(Statement by U.P. faculty, students, and alumni)
The RH Bill is envisaging the control of our population, not realizing the negative experience of many nations that are aging and declining, tending towards extinction. The encouragement to use condoms for health protection is also based on false assumptions, because the model in Asia for condom use is Thailand, which has the highest incidence of the HIV AIDS virus, which so far, unfortunately, has no clear medication available to all sectors. The oral-contraceptive pills (OCPs) have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group I Carcinogens.
From the U.P. statement and position paper you read the following: “Our main argument boils down to this: that it is the State’s duty to order society by promoting the well-being of its citizens. Thus it is a disservice to legislate what constitutes harm to its people… While it is true that the State cannot stop people from using contraception, since they may personally choose to expose themselves to its risks, it is not the State’s job to facilitate access to what is harmful…. We urge the legislators to dump the contentious and flawed Reproductive Health bill and to pass more bills strengthening the Filipino family, protecting its citizens against the risks of contraception, defending the scientific fact that conception begins at fertilization, providing essential medicines for the main causes of death, making quality education more accessible to Filipinos, and providing more jobs.”
The RH Bill is envisaging the control of our population, not realizing the negative experience of many nations that are aging and declining, tending towards extinction. The encouragement to use condoms for health protection is also based on false assumptions, because the model in Asia for condom use is Thailand, which has the highest incidence of the HIV AIDS virus, which so far, unfortunately, has no clear medication available to all sectors. The oral-contraceptive pills (OCPs) have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group I Carcinogens.
From the U.P. statement and position paper you read the following: “Our main argument boils down to this: that it is the State’s duty to order society by promoting the well-being of its citizens. Thus it is a disservice to legislate what constitutes harm to its people… While it is true that the State cannot stop people from using contraception, since they may personally choose to expose themselves to its risks, it is not the State’s job to facilitate access to what is harmful…. We urge the legislators to dump the contentious and flawed Reproductive Health bill and to pass more bills strengthening the Filipino family, protecting its citizens against the risks of contraception, defending the scientific fact that conception begins at fertilization, providing essential medicines for the main causes of death, making quality education more accessible to Filipinos, and providing more jobs.”
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah
What happened to Sodom and Gomorrrah (cf. Gen. 19:23-26) is a lesson for all of us. Even in the matter of sexuality God has asked us to follow definite rules of conduct as contained in the sixth and ninth commandments. In short, the sexual faculty may be used within legitimate marriage between one man and one woman for purposes of procreation and mutual support and satisfaction of concupiscence. Thus the Church made it clear that the sexual activity has to be ever open to the normal transmission of new life. You look at the meaning of Sodomy in the dictionary; it means an abnormal employment or use of the sexual faculty, contrary to the purpose God designed it for.
This means, if you read the first book of the Bible in Chapters 18, 19, and 38, there are sections talking about God’s decrees as regards the right use of sex. Let us just remember the happening in Sodom and Gomorrah that relates about God’s punishment for the abuse of sex and keep in mind that relevant quotation from St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
Remember history so you may avoid repeating past sins and mistakes.
This means, if you read the first book of the Bible in Chapters 18, 19, and 38, there are sections talking about God’s decrees as regards the right use of sex. Let us just remember the happening in Sodom and Gomorrah that relates about God’s punishment for the abuse of sex and keep in mind that relevant quotation from St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
Remember history so you may avoid repeating past sins and mistakes.
Friday, April 8, 2011
U.P. Position Paper on RH Bill
(the burning and brave exposé)
The above-mentioned position paper recently publicized this year (2011) has been signed by faculty, students and alumni of the University of the Philippines. For Internet access to signatories and references go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/upiansonrhbill/
What’s the exposé? First, it concluded saying: “We urge the legislators to dump the contentious and flawed Reproductive Health bill and to pass more bills strengthening the Filipino family, protecting its citizens against the risks of contraception, defending the scientific fact that conception begins at fertilization, providing essential medicines for the main causes of death, making quality education more accessible to Filipinos, and providing more jobs.” Quoting from the 1966 Nobel Prize winner Simon Kuznets’ research which argued that a more rapid population growth, if properly managed, will promote economic development through a positive impact on the society’s state of knowledge. And deducing from an Asian Development Bank report: “Two factors were reported to drive the creation and sustenance of a middle class a) stable, secure, well-paid jobs with good benefits and b) higher education. And so, why not create more bills that will strengthen these two factors instead of channeling out limited funds to contraception and sex education?”
In the nation of Thailand which has been hailed as the model for condom promotion, the result has been the highest incidence of the HIV AIDS cases. Moreover, the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, by far the most common STD (sexually transmitted disease) and a risk factor for cervical cancer among other diseases, is not prevented by condoms because HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, unlike AIDS, and condoms cannot cover all possible infected skin – a fact that is not commonly known. Why spend millions to buy condoms when they are shown to increase incidences of STDs? Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group 1 Carcinogens.
Conclusion by the Position Paper: “Our main argument boils down to this: that it is the State’s duty to order society by promoting the well-being of its citizens. Thus, it is a disservice to legislate what constitutes harm to its people.”
The above-mentioned position paper recently publicized this year (2011) has been signed by faculty, students and alumni of the University of the Philippines. For Internet access to signatories and references go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/upiansonrhbill/
What’s the exposé? First, it concluded saying: “We urge the legislators to dump the contentious and flawed Reproductive Health bill and to pass more bills strengthening the Filipino family, protecting its citizens against the risks of contraception, defending the scientific fact that conception begins at fertilization, providing essential medicines for the main causes of death, making quality education more accessible to Filipinos, and providing more jobs.” Quoting from the 1966 Nobel Prize winner Simon Kuznets’ research which argued that a more rapid population growth, if properly managed, will promote economic development through a positive impact on the society’s state of knowledge. And deducing from an Asian Development Bank report: “Two factors were reported to drive the creation and sustenance of a middle class a) stable, secure, well-paid jobs with good benefits and b) higher education. And so, why not create more bills that will strengthen these two factors instead of channeling out limited funds to contraception and sex education?”
In the nation of Thailand which has been hailed as the model for condom promotion, the result has been the highest incidence of the HIV AIDS cases. Moreover, the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, by far the most common STD (sexually transmitted disease) and a risk factor for cervical cancer among other diseases, is not prevented by condoms because HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, unlike AIDS, and condoms cannot cover all possible infected skin – a fact that is not commonly known. Why spend millions to buy condoms when they are shown to increase incidences of STDs? Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group 1 Carcinogens.
Conclusion by the Position Paper: “Our main argument boils down to this: that it is the State’s duty to order society by promoting the well-being of its citizens. Thus, it is a disservice to legislate what constitutes harm to its people.”
Monday, April 4, 2011
Culture of Life vs. Culture of Death
Statements from the Church opposing the RH Bill are certainly in connection with a culture of life. The concept of Christian marriage is in itself ordered to the procreation and education of children. Thus it goes against contraception and abortion. Can you imagine the scenario where everyone is making use of contraceptives? That will result to a sin against life and humanity because no children will be born anymore. It will be an aging, decaying society on its way to extinction.
Some want to question why the Church is interfering in legislations of this sort. It is because the morality of sex is not just purely for physical satisfaction but also connected to family unity and procreation and education of the children, as the normal fruit of marriage. If you read the Bible, like in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 8 and 9, Ephesians chapter 5, Galatians chapter 5, you can see his thoughts on sexual morality and purity. Check that. Such sections of the Bible, including the sections in Genesis chapter 19, on the plight and punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah, contain advices against abnormal uses and exploitation of the sex faculty contrary to the purposes decreed by God originally (e.g. fornication, masturbation, abortion). Let’s remember that there are punishments God inflicts on those who violate His laws. A warning that St. Paul echoes in his letter to the Hebrews: “it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). As to why sexual ethics (in thought, word and deed) is of importance brings us to a reminder from the Virgin Mary’s apparitions in Fatima where she asked for penance and reparation for the sins of impurity because “many souls are falling into Hell’s eternal fires because of the sins against purity.”
Precisely, for the sake of man’s eternal salvation, Jesus left this last instruction to his disciples: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time” (Mt. 28:19).
Some want to question why the Church is interfering in legislations of this sort. It is because the morality of sex is not just purely for physical satisfaction but also connected to family unity and procreation and education of the children, as the normal fruit of marriage. If you read the Bible, like in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 8 and 9, Ephesians chapter 5, Galatians chapter 5, you can see his thoughts on sexual morality and purity. Check that. Such sections of the Bible, including the sections in Genesis chapter 19, on the plight and punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah, contain advices against abnormal uses and exploitation of the sex faculty contrary to the purposes decreed by God originally (e.g. fornication, masturbation, abortion). Let’s remember that there are punishments God inflicts on those who violate His laws. A warning that St. Paul echoes in his letter to the Hebrews: “it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). As to why sexual ethics (in thought, word and deed) is of importance brings us to a reminder from the Virgin Mary’s apparitions in Fatima where she asked for penance and reparation for the sins of impurity because “many souls are falling into Hell’s eternal fires because of the sins against purity.”
Precisely, for the sake of man’s eternal salvation, Jesus left this last instruction to his disciples: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time” (Mt. 28:19).
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Life's Constant Battle
The Bible tells us that there is an ongoing battle between Heaven and Hell, God and the Devil, Mary and her Son and those who follow them, versus followers of Satan, Truth and Error, Light and Darkness, a culture of life vs. a culture of death, (remember the lessons of Sodom and Gomorrah, after considering the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because of violating God’s design in legitimate and normal sexual relationships or concerning the legitimate and normal use of sex), conflicts between good and evil, love and hate, greed and generosity. In the first book of the Bible is written: “I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heal” (Gen. 3:15). Naturally since ideas enter into minds and hearts, this battle implies also the response in the very heart of creatures. When the followers of Jesus asked him regarding foods that can make a man unclean, He answered thus: “Do even you not understand? Can you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes through the stomach and is discharged into the sewer? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is these that make a man unclean. For from the heart come evil intentions: murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that make a man unclean. But to eat with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean” (Mt. 15:16-20).
Jesus talks often about the enemy within as pride, for example, “anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt. 23:12). That’s a constant tone in the Bible. “A man’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Mt. 10:36). A Spanish saying is quite descriptive when it intones: “Tu enemigo peor eres tu” (You are your own worst enemy). Biblical lore keeps warning: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Precisely the seven capital sins destroy man from within, namely, pride covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth. (see St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians 5:16-26). Better check and think it over. We always tend to blame others. But the enemy is within. So God’s word ever warns us: “Judge not and you shall not be judged. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own?...Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:2-5).
There are temptations from the Devil and evil men, but man is free in his consent to this or that. We need to pray because we need God’s grace in this fight versus evil. Hence it is rightly said: “Prayer will make us leave off sinning or sinning will make us leave off prayer.” It’s always either one or the other to rule our lives.
In the last book of the Bible is described the Devil’s anger: “Then the dragon was enraged with the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, that is, all who obey God’s commandments and bear witness for Jesus” (Rev. 12:17). “War broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven” (Rev. 12:7). In the first book of the Bible the Devil tempted our first parents Adam and Eve to violate God’s command not to eat the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, a word in the Bible which means that God is the supreme arbiter of what is good and what is evil, and finite and created man is not to usurp such a divine privilege. (see Gen. 3, or the Fall of man.)
Jesus talks often about the enemy within as pride, for example, “anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt. 23:12). That’s a constant tone in the Bible. “A man’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Mt. 10:36). A Spanish saying is quite descriptive when it intones: “Tu enemigo peor eres tu” (You are your own worst enemy). Biblical lore keeps warning: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Precisely the seven capital sins destroy man from within, namely, pride covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth. (see St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians 5:16-26). Better check and think it over. We always tend to blame others. But the enemy is within. So God’s word ever warns us: “Judge not and you shall not be judged. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own?...Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:2-5).
There are temptations from the Devil and evil men, but man is free in his consent to this or that. We need to pray because we need God’s grace in this fight versus evil. Hence it is rightly said: “Prayer will make us leave off sinning or sinning will make us leave off prayer.” It’s always either one or the other to rule our lives.
In the last book of the Bible is described the Devil’s anger: “Then the dragon was enraged with the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, that is, all who obey God’s commandments and bear witness for Jesus” (Rev. 12:17). “War broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven” (Rev. 12:7). In the first book of the Bible the Devil tempted our first parents Adam and Eve to violate God’s command not to eat the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, a word in the Bible which means that God is the supreme arbiter of what is good and what is evil, and finite and created man is not to usurp such a divine privilege. (see Gen. 3, or the Fall of man.)
Saturday, March 12, 2011
True Concern for Our People
When the RH Bill seeks to open the doors to abortifacient contraceptives and abortion on demand under the guise of women’s reproductive health, is that a sign of true care and concern for women’s health? What about the other aspects of trauma involved, or the side effects, not to mention the moral consequences involved? Such a [RH] Bill therefore is questionable as regards its sincere concern for our people’s good, here or in the hereafter.
Consider too the offers being made by interested agencies in the pharmaceutical or medicinal field that may somehow be involved in the issue of reproductive sexuality. Then comes in therefore the corrupting factor of money which is being flaunted shamefully without any qualms of conscience, as if God were blind to these hidden agenda. Is that true concern for womanhood? We desire a bright future for a population that is young, alive, peaceful, productive, and hopeful.
That Bill therefore hides its face because, under the guise of population control; in reality it schemes to terminate life by allowing abortifacients, and abortion is in actuality an integral part of the culture of death that will not favor the Philippine growth and population but lead to its decimation and extinction. Imagine those great populations of the world that may be fast disappearing and self-destructing, because of disregard for God’s original decree: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:28). We will miss the children’s cries and laughter, when it’s the coughing elderly folk that we may generally get to hear.
Consider too the offers being made by interested agencies in the pharmaceutical or medicinal field that may somehow be involved in the issue of reproductive sexuality. Then comes in therefore the corrupting factor of money which is being flaunted shamefully without any qualms of conscience, as if God were blind to these hidden agenda. Is that true concern for womanhood? We desire a bright future for a population that is young, alive, peaceful, productive, and hopeful.
That Bill therefore hides its face because, under the guise of population control; in reality it schemes to terminate life by allowing abortifacients, and abortion is in actuality an integral part of the culture of death that will not favor the Philippine growth and population but lead to its decimation and extinction. Imagine those great populations of the world that may be fast disappearing and self-destructing, because of disregard for God’s original decree: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:28). We will miss the children’s cries and laughter, when it’s the coughing elderly folk that we may generally get to hear.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Stand of the Church
(What is good for Filipinos?)
The hotly contested issue of the RH Bill being discussed in Congress is actually intent on seeking what really is for our own good. Which stand: that of the Church or of certain legislators?
There are many money offers from all sides that make the whole point cloudy from the very start. Money, you know, is corrupting. Look back into history. People sold, betrayed, back downed because of disreputable money offers or its equivalent in other worldly advantages.
We are seeking the good of the Philippines with concepts open to the transmission of life so as to have a future of society alive through the cooperation and contribution of the young, duly formed and educated to assume leadership roles in the midst of a vibrant society facing diverse challenges in a world undergoing the normal pains of growth and change. As the saints have expressed: “The glory of God is man fully alive but the life of man comes from God.”
That depends now upon your understanding and respect for life, as God truly intends. “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:28). We want a moving and young society, truly alive and obedient to God’s designs, in a love that will reach the eternity of bliss in heaven, after being true to God, to oneself and to one another.
The hotly contested issue of the RH Bill being discussed in Congress is actually intent on seeking what really is for our own good. Which stand: that of the Church or of certain legislators?
There are many money offers from all sides that make the whole point cloudy from the very start. Money, you know, is corrupting. Look back into history. People sold, betrayed, back downed because of disreputable money offers or its equivalent in other worldly advantages.
We are seeking the good of the Philippines with concepts open to the transmission of life so as to have a future of society alive through the cooperation and contribution of the young, duly formed and educated to assume leadership roles in the midst of a vibrant society facing diverse challenges in a world undergoing the normal pains of growth and change. As the saints have expressed: “The glory of God is man fully alive but the life of man comes from God.”
That depends now upon your understanding and respect for life, as God truly intends. “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:28). We want a moving and young society, truly alive and obedient to God’s designs, in a love that will reach the eternity of bliss in heaven, after being true to God, to oneself and to one another.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Voice of the People
(Democracy)
In a democracy the government is supposed to represent the voice of the people, because it must follow its own definition as a government of the people, for the people and by the people. Such is therefore the turbulent confrontation in the Philippines today as regards the Reproductive Health Bill that includes use of artificial contraceptives and abortifacients contrary to the Catholic stand. Well, if we are to respect the majority Catholics of our people or even the Muslim population, the government ought to respect Catholic thought and Islamic policies, at least to be true to its name as a true democracy.
After all, the Church is only fostering what is truly the first right of our people, which is LIFE. You cannot promote the other subsequent rights of liberty and property, unless we admit the very first of the rights of man – LIFE. It would be a false and distorted democracy that says it is for people’s welfare, whereas they intend population control by terminating or obstructing life in various ways and methods. In the very first chapter of the Bible God’s word speaks: “God blessed them, saying to them, Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:28). Are we going to allow our minds to be obscured and deviated from the right track just because of the money offers or even the temptations of the world, the devil and the flesh.
In a democracy the government is supposed to represent the voice of the people, because it must follow its own definition as a government of the people, for the people and by the people. Such is therefore the turbulent confrontation in the Philippines today as regards the Reproductive Health Bill that includes use of artificial contraceptives and abortifacients contrary to the Catholic stand. Well, if we are to respect the majority Catholics of our people or even the Muslim population, the government ought to respect Catholic thought and Islamic policies, at least to be true to its name as a true democracy.
After all, the Church is only fostering what is truly the first right of our people, which is LIFE. You cannot promote the other subsequent rights of liberty and property, unless we admit the very first of the rights of man – LIFE. It would be a false and distorted democracy that says it is for people’s welfare, whereas they intend population control by terminating or obstructing life in various ways and methods. In the very first chapter of the Bible God’s word speaks: “God blessed them, saying to them, Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:28). Are we going to allow our minds to be obscured and deviated from the right track just because of the money offers or even the temptations of the world, the devil and the flesh.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Clear Stand
Last 30th January 2011, the Catholic Church in the Philippines gave its clear stand rejecting the RH bill as contrary to people’s conscience and contrary to the best interest of lives of our people, in the sense that it violates life by terminating its initial phase in the fertilized ovum or by preventing the normal union of sperm and ovum towards the act of fertilization; this being done through artificial contraceptives that are abortifacients and by abortion. The Church position as explained in the Humanae Vitae encyclical is that the union of the male and female in sexual activity must always remain open to the transmission of new life.
The title of the document Choosing Life, Rejecting the RH Bill asks our people to respect always the sacredness of life in all its stages according to the biblical tenet: “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 7:12). Live and let live. Can you imagine that if the lives of millions of young keep on getting aborted through the various abortifacients and contraceptives, life will be as desolate and lonely as an arid desert. The ironical thing is that some powerful and big nations want to oppress the developing nations and have power over their natural resources, especially through the manipulation of birth and population control. The wombs of mothers will become like a war zone of slaughter of the innocents.
The Christians’ celebration of Christmas is a celebration of life, as Mary and Joseph brought into our world God’s only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, conceived in Mary’s virginal womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even the Muslim book of the Koran talks of the birth of Jesus from the immaculate womb of Mary in Chapter (Surah) 3 verses 45 to 47.
The title of the document Choosing Life, Rejecting the RH Bill asks our people to respect always the sacredness of life in all its stages according to the biblical tenet: “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 7:12). Live and let live. Can you imagine that if the lives of millions of young keep on getting aborted through the various abortifacients and contraceptives, life will be as desolate and lonely as an arid desert. The ironical thing is that some powerful and big nations want to oppress the developing nations and have power over their natural resources, especially through the manipulation of birth and population control. The wombs of mothers will become like a war zone of slaughter of the innocents.
The Christians’ celebration of Christmas is a celebration of life, as Mary and Joseph brought into our world God’s only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, conceived in Mary’s virginal womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even the Muslim book of the Koran talks of the birth of Jesus from the immaculate womb of Mary in Chapter (Surah) 3 verses 45 to 47.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
4 Last Things
(Forewarned is forearmed)
When a man puts things under consideration he ought always to consider where it eventually leads to. A Latin adage has a point to guide us to when it states: Finis est super omnia (the aim and objective is always foremost in consideration).
Should it be money, as the world does? Of course not! God’s word warns us: “The love of money is the root of all evils” (1 Tim. 6:10). That is what happens many times when people aimlessly move in our world, not for the good of humanity, but just because they want to make more money. They don’t care whether their pursuits are right or wrong, because what’s important for them is their ambition for more and more money. Jesus already warned us: “No one can be the slave of two masters…You cannot be the slave of both God and of money” (Mt. 6:24). St. James in his letter to the Christian people had this to say: “Don’t you realize that making the world your friend is making God your enemy? Anyone who chooses the world for his friend turns himself into God’s enemy.”(Jas.4:4). When your structure is enslaved to money, that will tend towards its own nemesis, i.e. self-destruction.
You look at world reality. The four last things no man can escape: Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven. The last two to which Jesus refers as the very last you can find in the gospel of Matthew chapter 25, verses 31 to 46. Jesus tells us they refer to man’s eternal punishment in Hell or eternal bliss in Heaven, depending on his behavior here on earth. This is what Jesus talks about when He gives a word of warning to people who tirelessly enslave themselves to the passing world. “What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? What has a man to offer in exchange for his life?” (Mt. 16:26). “The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behavior” (Mt. 6:27).
Consider what one business analyst once said, Robert Townsend, a follower of Peter Drucker, who wrote the bestseller: “Up the Organization.” He has some practical angles, even if he speaks in the purely business field. “Money, like prestige, if sought directly, is almost never gained. It must come as a byproduct of a worthwhile objective or result which is sought and achieved for its own sake.” If that principle is essential in the monetary world, how much more in the matter of the eternal salvation of our souls. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His justice and all other things will be given you as well” (Mt. 6:33).
Why did Jesus have to suffer so much? Answer: to save us from everlasting death: the eternal fires of hell, and to bring us new life by His grace and enjoy everlasting happiness because of a life of true conversion and humility. To the proud and unrepentant, St. Paul who was once a Church persecutor but converted and became an ardent apostle of Jesus Christ has this rigid warning in his epistle to the Hebrews: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
When a man puts things under consideration he ought always to consider where it eventually leads to. A Latin adage has a point to guide us to when it states: Finis est super omnia (the aim and objective is always foremost in consideration).
Should it be money, as the world does? Of course not! God’s word warns us: “The love of money is the root of all evils” (1 Tim. 6:10). That is what happens many times when people aimlessly move in our world, not for the good of humanity, but just because they want to make more money. They don’t care whether their pursuits are right or wrong, because what’s important for them is their ambition for more and more money. Jesus already warned us: “No one can be the slave of two masters…You cannot be the slave of both God and of money” (Mt. 6:24). St. James in his letter to the Christian people had this to say: “Don’t you realize that making the world your friend is making God your enemy? Anyone who chooses the world for his friend turns himself into God’s enemy.”(Jas.4:4). When your structure is enslaved to money, that will tend towards its own nemesis, i.e. self-destruction.
You look at world reality. The four last things no man can escape: Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven. The last two to which Jesus refers as the very last you can find in the gospel of Matthew chapter 25, verses 31 to 46. Jesus tells us they refer to man’s eternal punishment in Hell or eternal bliss in Heaven, depending on his behavior here on earth. This is what Jesus talks about when He gives a word of warning to people who tirelessly enslave themselves to the passing world. “What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? What has a man to offer in exchange for his life?” (Mt. 16:26). “The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behavior” (Mt. 6:27).
Consider what one business analyst once said, Robert Townsend, a follower of Peter Drucker, who wrote the bestseller: “Up the Organization.” He has some practical angles, even if he speaks in the purely business field. “Money, like prestige, if sought directly, is almost never gained. It must come as a byproduct of a worthwhile objective or result which is sought and achieved for its own sake.” If that principle is essential in the monetary world, how much more in the matter of the eternal salvation of our souls. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His justice and all other things will be given you as well” (Mt. 6:33).
Why did Jesus have to suffer so much? Answer: to save us from everlasting death: the eternal fires of hell, and to bring us new life by His grace and enjoy everlasting happiness because of a life of true conversion and humility. To the proud and unrepentant, St. Paul who was once a Church persecutor but converted and became an ardent apostle of Jesus Christ has this rigid warning in his epistle to the Hebrews: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Live and let live
(Golden Rule)
The above title is a common English proverb that signifies a respect, not only for our own, but also our neighbor’s life and rights. It somehow agrees with what the Lord Jesus indicates as the meaning of the prophetic messages and substance of the divine Law. Thus Jesus considers the following a golden rule: “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 7:12).
Presumably respect for life implies also not obstructing the oncoming life that is the normal result of sexual union of man and woman. Hence God’s word is the first book of the Bible. Gen. 1:28 expresses it this way: “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it.’” What happens in our world is the desire for pleasure, power, money or other forms of greed that make people resort to the use of artificial methods to limit the birth rate.
So too the Catholic position is consistent in its respect for life and the rights of human beings, from infancy till adulthood, even till death itself. The Church stands against the abortifacient pills or injections, and against abortion. Also in its morality, as derived from the very traditions and earliest teachings, the Church stands against fornication and masturbation, following the 6th commandment – “Thou shall not commit adultery.” (See also Bible texts in Ex. 20:12-16, Deut. 5:16-20).
The concomitant moral rules are intended to build up a faithful, solid and loving family where the child can grow to maturity, both physically and spiritually. Thus stable, God-fearing families make also a strong society.
The above title is a common English proverb that signifies a respect, not only for our own, but also our neighbor’s life and rights. It somehow agrees with what the Lord Jesus indicates as the meaning of the prophetic messages and substance of the divine Law. Thus Jesus considers the following a golden rule: “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 7:12).
Presumably respect for life implies also not obstructing the oncoming life that is the normal result of sexual union of man and woman. Hence God’s word is the first book of the Bible. Gen. 1:28 expresses it this way: “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it.’” What happens in our world is the desire for pleasure, power, money or other forms of greed that make people resort to the use of artificial methods to limit the birth rate.
So too the Catholic position is consistent in its respect for life and the rights of human beings, from infancy till adulthood, even till death itself. The Church stands against the abortifacient pills or injections, and against abortion. Also in its morality, as derived from the very traditions and earliest teachings, the Church stands against fornication and masturbation, following the 6th commandment – “Thou shall not commit adultery.” (See also Bible texts in Ex. 20:12-16, Deut. 5:16-20).
The concomitant moral rules are intended to build up a faithful, solid and loving family where the child can grow to maturity, both physically and spiritually. Thus stable, God-fearing families make also a strong society.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Great Battle
A long time ago this had been predicted by God. You read this in the Bible. All of us, like it or not, get involved, one way or another. It’s the everlasting fight between good and evil, God and the Devil.
Now the battle is to protect the first right of man: human life. As God had decreed in the first chapter of the Bible: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:25). While agents of darkness campaign to diminish life by abortifacients and abortion, the Church’s voice asks to consider the sacredness of life and the family and to improve rather the resources for a better quality of life and education so as to form future citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Not to limit life’s guests but rather increase the food for the partakers of the table of life.
The Bible describes that continuing battle this way: “Yahweh God said to the serpent, Since you have done that, be cursed among all the cattle and wild beasts! You will crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will make you enemies, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel” (Gen. 3:14-15). “When the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. Then the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly into the desert where she would be looked after for three and a half years. The serpent poured water out of his mouth after the woman, to carry her away in the flood, but the earth came to her rescue: it opened its mouth and swallowed the flood which the dragon had poured from its mouth. Then the dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus” (Rev. 12:13-17).
Now the battle is to protect the first right of man: human life. As God had decreed in the first chapter of the Bible: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:25). While agents of darkness campaign to diminish life by abortifacients and abortion, the Church’s voice asks to consider the sacredness of life and the family and to improve rather the resources for a better quality of life and education so as to form future citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Not to limit life’s guests but rather increase the food for the partakers of the table of life.
The Bible describes that continuing battle this way: “Yahweh God said to the serpent, Since you have done that, be cursed among all the cattle and wild beasts! You will crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will make you enemies, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel” (Gen. 3:14-15). “When the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. Then the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly into the desert where she would be looked after for three and a half years. The serpent poured water out of his mouth after the woman, to carry her away in the flood, but the earth came to her rescue: it opened its mouth and swallowed the flood which the dragon had poured from its mouth. Then the dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus” (Rev. 12:13-17).
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Culture of Life
We look back to the times of Jesus, Mary and Joseph….yes, Christmas time when they cared lovingly for the baby Jesus. So Christmas is a celebration of life, as Mary and Joseph endeavored to save the Christ child from the clutches of King Herod who wanted to end the life of the child. What for? For political reasons, power, greed, and dominance.
Let us reminisce how history can repeat itself, those days of genocide since the very days of Moses, when the Egyptian king wanted to eliminate all male children (see Ex. 1:22), then the murder of the Holy Innocents by King Herod, then the Holocaust of millions of Jews by Hitler’s Nazi regime, the 40 million communistic purges by Stalin in Russia and neighboring countries, and in our very day the continuing holocaust and murders by the millions of abortions throughout the world. Let’s not forget that murder (including abortion) is part of the 4 sins crying to heaven for vengeance. They are, namely: willful murder (including abortion), the sin of Sodom, oppression of the poor, defrauding laborers of their wages.
Probably the sin of Sodom could be at the background and bottom line for many delusory efforts of today to make use of abortion and contraceptives to conceal and hide immoral practices including sodomist practices. The Webster dictionary describes Sodomy as follows: a) copulation with a member of the same sex or with an animal b) noncoital and esp. anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex.
The Catholic Church issues guidelines on sexual practices, because such faculty has been instituted by God for the perpetuation of the human race, not specifically for pleasure. So the Church considers masturbation as a practice that is grievously and intrinsically disordered (see document – Declaration of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith concerning certain questions of sexual ethics, December 29, 1975, no. 9). Several texts from St. Paul show us how sexual immoralities may impede us from entrance to heaven. “When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-22; see also 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:1-20). Remember that when God punished Sodom and Gomorrah the two towns disappeared from the map (see Gen. 19). As St. Paul says in Heb. 10:31, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” If we look for victory in our world, it is because we endeavor to be on the side of truth, while the “devil is a murderer and the father of lies and deception” (see Jn. 8:44).
Let us reminisce how history can repeat itself, those days of genocide since the very days of Moses, when the Egyptian king wanted to eliminate all male children (see Ex. 1:22), then the murder of the Holy Innocents by King Herod, then the Holocaust of millions of Jews by Hitler’s Nazi regime, the 40 million communistic purges by Stalin in Russia and neighboring countries, and in our very day the continuing holocaust and murders by the millions of abortions throughout the world. Let’s not forget that murder (including abortion) is part of the 4 sins crying to heaven for vengeance. They are, namely: willful murder (including abortion), the sin of Sodom, oppression of the poor, defrauding laborers of their wages.
Probably the sin of Sodom could be at the background and bottom line for many delusory efforts of today to make use of abortion and contraceptives to conceal and hide immoral practices including sodomist practices. The Webster dictionary describes Sodomy as follows: a) copulation with a member of the same sex or with an animal b) noncoital and esp. anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex.
The Catholic Church issues guidelines on sexual practices, because such faculty has been instituted by God for the perpetuation of the human race, not specifically for pleasure. So the Church considers masturbation as a practice that is grievously and intrinsically disordered (see document – Declaration of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith concerning certain questions of sexual ethics, December 29, 1975, no. 9). Several texts from St. Paul show us how sexual immoralities may impede us from entrance to heaven. “When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-22; see also 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:1-20). Remember that when God punished Sodom and Gomorrah the two towns disappeared from the map (see Gen. 19). As St. Paul says in Heb. 10:31, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” If we look for victory in our world, it is because we endeavor to be on the side of truth, while the “devil is a murderer and the father of lies and deception” (see Jn. 8:44).
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