When people give more importance to the means rather than to the end or goal, we might call that twisted thinking or a form of twisted values. When legislators make laws to exterminate human life (by way of contraceptives and abortion), it’s also a form of twisted thinking. Why? Because human life is the very first right of man, to which all other rights are subordinated.
This is why the RH Bill is creating so much reaction in society because it tends to pressure towards actions that are contrary to a well-formed conscience, specifically one that respects man’s first right: life. You cannot force people to act against their conscience, especially in relation to moral good or evil. We might just simply remind people what God’s infallible truth reminds us of—“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; Prov. 3:27). Laws that run contrary to divine truth won’t oblige us since they are not conducive to the ultimate good of man.
Since we must endeavor to avoid being enslaved to money lest it become our cruel master, we can quote here a word of one business analyst, Robert Townsend, whose book ‘Up the Organization’ came out once in the bestseller list. “Money, like prestige, if sought directly, is almost never gained. It must come as a byproduct of some worthwhile objective or result which is sought and achieved for its own sake.”
Let’s look at the nation today. When the leaders try to make a name for themselves by picking on others’ faults and defects to build up their own ego prestige, or making money promoting pornographic education or birth control devices, that’s not a positive way of service to society nor even a successful venture but one tending towards downfall and self-destruction. In all our policies of love and service to God and country let’s always take the positive side in line of the Gospel: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgements you give are the judgements 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). Jesus says it clear in the gospel: “Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their life and deeds as you know a tree by its fruits” (Mt. 7:15).
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Sex Education Woes
Whether the sex education projects in our schools is beneficial or not is being controverted actually. But if we truly seek the future and the good of our young or the common good, we must be honest with ourselves in the process of the evaluation. Are we really seeking the moral good and formation of our younger generations or just being beguiled by the attraction of the money offers from interested parties who won’t care less for the future of the young students? That was indeed the revelation of Dr. Judith A. Reisman, PhD, when she lectured to the Philippine Bishops towards the end of January 2012 regarding the sexual sabotage unleashed by one man, Alfred C. Kinsey, which has caused a plague of corruption and contagion in America. His book publications Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953) have been source of false and distorted ideas which have corrupted our youth and people, not only in the U.S. but likewise in our country, the Philippines, since we do have a close culture with the U.S., having been once under the Commonwealth, and also because of close relationship of trade, cultural exchange and defense pacts.
But we should realize that in our relationship with others, however close, we cannot in the likes of a fish, just swallow all kinds of ideas as if they were ‘hook, line, and sinker’, and then get entangled in those problems that ensue as a consequence of erroneous premises. Amid the varying opinions on the sex education topic, Mahatma Gandhi simply put it this way: “Sexual science is of two kinds, that which is used for controlling or overcoming 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.” (quoted in the book FACTS OF LIFE by Dr. Brian Clowes, PhD, page 266). Since we are beginning to observe and see the immoral and disastrous results of this vaunted ‘sex education’ movement we must wake up and do something about it. After all, the problems that will result will only backfire on us, our families and society.
“The conclusion that can be drawn from the sex education situation is crystal clear. If parents do not take the time to carefully review the sex education material that their children are exposed to (whether in public or Catholic schools), and aggressively shield them from it if necessary, they will certainly experience deep and unceasing heartbreak later in life. Their children will fornicate, become pregnant, abort, ‘shack up,’ suffer from venereal diseases and severe guilt, will give up the Faith, and will be far more likely to divorce and be unhappy later in life.” (quoted from FACTS of LIFE by Dr Brian Clowes in page 273).
But we should realize that in our relationship with others, however close, we cannot in the likes of a fish, just swallow all kinds of ideas as if they were ‘hook, line, and sinker’, and then get entangled in those problems that ensue as a consequence of erroneous premises. Amid the varying opinions on the sex education topic, Mahatma Gandhi simply put it this way: “Sexual science is of two kinds, that which is used for controlling or overcoming 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.” (quoted in the book FACTS OF LIFE by Dr. Brian Clowes, PhD, page 266). Since we are beginning to observe and see the immoral and disastrous results of this vaunted ‘sex education’ movement we must wake up and do something about it. After all, the problems that will result will only backfire on us, our families and society.
“The conclusion that can be drawn from the sex education situation is crystal clear. If parents do not take the time to carefully review the sex education material that their children are exposed to (whether in public or Catholic schools), and aggressively shield them from it if necessary, they will certainly experience deep and unceasing heartbreak later in life. Their children will fornicate, become pregnant, abort, ‘shack up,’ suffer from venereal diseases and severe guilt, will give up the Faith, and will be far more likely to divorce and be unhappy later in life.” (quoted from FACTS of LIFE by Dr Brian Clowes in page 273).
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Freedom of Religion
We know from past World History how religion came to be an excuse for misguided fanatics causing tensions, disturbances and upheavals. But such is a far cry from what true religion should be. If that was in the past, it is up to us to correct the mistakes of the past. As St. Paul advised in his first letter to the Corinthians—“As for prophets, let two or three of them speak, and the others attend to them. If one of the listeners receives a revelation, then the man who is already speaking should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn, so that everybody will learn something and everybody will be encouraged. Prophets can always control their prophetic spirits, since God is not a God of disorder but of peace “ (1 Cor. 14: 29-33). Jesus Himself showed respect for human freedom. When in the 6th chapter of St. John’s gospel Jesus spoke about Himself being food and drink for humanity and the bread of life, the gospel relates in Jn. 6:65-69: “After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’” (Jn. 6:65-69).
In matters of religion we do have and enjoy an air of freedom because none is supposed to be forced into any religion against his or her own free will. Nevertheless since religion is supposed to be instrumental in providing us important truths connected to our eternal destiny of happiness versus an eternal destiny of woe and pain, and punishment, surely we are all obliged to seek for the clear and simple truths that can bring us to our true destiny of happiness as reward for our good works. “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 (his works)” (Mt. 16:27).
In matters of religion we do have and enjoy an air of freedom because none is supposed to be forced into any religion against his or her own free will. Nevertheless since religion is supposed to be instrumental in providing us important truths connected to our eternal destiny of happiness versus an eternal destiny of woe and pain, and punishment, surely we are all obliged to seek for the clear and simple truths that can bring us to our true destiny of happiness as reward for our good works. “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 (his works)” (Mt. 16:27).
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Face the Situation Fearlessly
When Jesus or His followers or His angels came to console and encourage people, He used to allay all fears by saying those words which the late Blessed Pope John Paul II quoted upon the beginning of his term as pope in 1978: “Be not afraid.” Actually the more mature we become the less fears we have, since we put more trust in God Almighty, while of course doing the best we can from our own efforts.
That is what one writer, Dr. Alexander Cannon, implied when he wrote the book titled “Powers That Be” in 1935. “Therefore, I say to you: Dream of a great future and that future will come to you! For ‘all things are possible to him that believeth’ (Mk. 9:23). Fear will vanish when you walk up to it and face it like a man. The lion takes its fierceness from your fear: walk up to him and he will run from you; run away from him and he will run after you. Banish fear and you also banish evil. Love one another and hate will be no more. Face a situation fearlessly and there is no situation to be faced.
Never despise the day of small things! Don’t be a spiritual snob! Cast your whole enrgy into loving the little things as well as the big ones, for the little things presage greater ones ahead. You will get signs of the Promised Land long before you see it. Before Christopher Columbus reached the great continent of America, he saw birds in the air, and twigs in the water which told him that his great day was near. So it is with your life!”
That is what one writer, Dr. Alexander Cannon, implied when he wrote the book titled “Powers That Be” in 1935. “Therefore, I say to you: Dream of a great future and that future will come to you! For ‘all things are possible to him that believeth’ (Mk. 9:23). Fear will vanish when you walk up to it and face it like a man. The lion takes its fierceness from your fear: walk up to him and he will run from you; run away from him and he will run after you. Banish fear and you also banish evil. Love one another and hate will be no more. Face a situation fearlessly and there is no situation to be faced.
Never despise the day of small things! Don’t be a spiritual snob! Cast your whole enrgy into loving the little things as well as the big ones, for the little things presage greater ones ahead. You will get signs of the Promised Land long before you see it. Before Christopher Columbus reached the great continent of America, he saw birds in the air, and twigs in the water which told him that his great day was near. So it is with your life!”
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Grave harm to the environment
(cannot pay for many lives lost)
The consequences of indiscriminate mining and logging have just shown how many lives were lost during the storm that hit Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City specifically) last Dec. 16-17, 2011, including other parts of the Philippines, like Dumaguete City, etc. This is of course one wake up call for us all to be reminded of
God’s word that warns us: “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). People just have not been educated in the right and successful way of making money, as expressed by the organization and business expert Robert Townsend, author of the bestseller “Up the Organization” (1970). We quote some of his words here: “Money, like prestige, if sought directly, is almost never gained. It must come as a byproduct of some worthwhile objective or result which is sought and achieved for its own sake.” The idea is to give good service to the people, money will just naturally follow from our honest and quality service. Money is part of human transactions but should not be the prime motive.
Since those disastrous storms and floods more than a thousand lives were lost, which are of greater value than money. It’s time we Filipinos evaluate our principles. We need to think it over and remember past incidents and occurrences. Perhaps we may recall a proverb that may incite us to greater depth in our actuations or reactions to situations—“the thinking man is always striking out something new.” Yes, by thinking or reflective thought we may find better ways to meet the daily challenges, instead of just talking or being good at criticizing. Yes, remember history so you won’t repeat the mistakes of history. Otherwise when people are just thoughtless or enslaved to money, power and material things, the following question mark will crop up in people’s minds: “When will they ever learn” as is echoed in a favorite song after World War II, “Where have all the flowers gone,” when millions of people died and lost their lives. So it is good that we be active in spreading good ideas of truth and love and justice, yes proclaiming the Good News Jesus Christ. Otherwise the opposite might prevail, the thoughts of hatred, darkness, deception, and materialism. Psalm no. 1 advices us: “He who meditates on the Law of the Lord day and night shall bear fruit in due season as a tree that is planted beside water streams.” We must wake up and do our part to avoid the dangers ensuing from ecological or environmental devastation. God’s word tells us that: “A stubborn heart will come to a bad end at last, and whoever loves danger will perish in it” (Sir. 3:27), in Bisaya—“Ang kagahig ulo sa katapusan magdala kanimo ngadto sa kagubot. Ang magpaduol sa peligro, sa peligro usab madaut” (Sir. 3:27).
The consequences of indiscriminate mining and logging have just shown how many lives were lost during the storm that hit Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City specifically) last Dec. 16-17, 2011, including other parts of the Philippines, like Dumaguete City, etc. This is of course one wake up call for us all to be reminded of
God’s word that warns us: “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). People just have not been educated in the right and successful way of making money, as expressed by the organization and business expert Robert Townsend, author of the bestseller “Up the Organization” (1970). We quote some of his words here: “Money, like prestige, if sought directly, is almost never gained. It must come as a byproduct of some worthwhile objective or result which is sought and achieved for its own sake.” The idea is to give good service to the people, money will just naturally follow from our honest and quality service. Money is part of human transactions but should not be the prime motive.
Since those disastrous storms and floods more than a thousand lives were lost, which are of greater value than money. It’s time we Filipinos evaluate our principles. We need to think it over and remember past incidents and occurrences. Perhaps we may recall a proverb that may incite us to greater depth in our actuations or reactions to situations—“the thinking man is always striking out something new.” Yes, by thinking or reflective thought we may find better ways to meet the daily challenges, instead of just talking or being good at criticizing. Yes, remember history so you won’t repeat the mistakes of history. Otherwise when people are just thoughtless or enslaved to money, power and material things, the following question mark will crop up in people’s minds: “When will they ever learn” as is echoed in a favorite song after World War II, “Where have all the flowers gone,” when millions of people died and lost their lives. So it is good that we be active in spreading good ideas of truth and love and justice, yes proclaiming the Good News Jesus Christ. Otherwise the opposite might prevail, the thoughts of hatred, darkness, deception, and materialism. Psalm no. 1 advices us: “He who meditates on the Law of the Lord day and night shall bear fruit in due season as a tree that is planted beside water streams.” We must wake up and do our part to avoid the dangers ensuing from ecological or environmental devastation. God’s word tells us that: “A stubborn heart will come to a bad end at last, and whoever loves danger will perish in it” (Sir. 3:27), in Bisaya—“Ang kagahig ulo sa katapusan magdala kanimo ngadto sa kagubot. Ang magpaduol sa peligro, sa peligro usab madaut” (Sir. 3:27).
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