Do you?
Let me hear you say, "AVE!"
The blog of a group of Filipino Catholics and their frank commentary on anything that affects their lives as a citizen of the Philippines and as a Roman Catholics.
Friday, January 15, 2010
More proof of Ven. Pius XII's work to save the Jews
Bloomberg and Zenit posted these reports. But I will post Zenit's here since it is more detailed.
***
ROME, JAN. 14, 2010 (Zenit.org).- An Italian priest who helped Jews escape Nazi persecution during World War II is attesting that Pope Pius XII was a big player in this effort.
Father Giancarlo Centioni, 97, who served as a military chaplain for the National Security Volunteer Militia in Rome from 1940 to 1945, affirmed this in an interview with H2oNews today.
The militia, also called the Blackshirts, was organized by Benito Mussolini as a fascist paramilitary group in support of his movement.
Father Centioni affirmed, "Given that I was a chaplain for the fascists, it was easier for me to help the Jews."
While in Rome, he lived in the house of a group of German priests known as Pallottines.
These priests had instituted a group to aid the Jews called St. Raphael's Society.
The society, Father Centioni said, helped Jews to escape from Germany into Italy, and then later to Switzerland and Portugal.
In Germany the society was led by Pallottine Father Josef Kentenich, who is known for founding the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt. He was later sent to the Dachau concentration camp for his opposition to Adolf Hitler's regime.
Father Centioni said that in Rome, the society's activity was based on 57 Pettinari Street under the direction of another priest, Father Anton Weber. Father Weber coordinated the action with Pope Pius XII and his secretary.
Money and passports were given to Jewish families for their escape, explained Father Centioni. These resources were provided by Father Weber who "received them directly from His Holiness' Secretary of State, in the name of and paid by Pius XII," Farther Centioni said.
He continued, "I often brought money to Jewish homes. At least 12 German priests in Rome were allowed to help me." [Did the Jewish community say one big thank you to the Pallotines?]
Father Centioni stated that this network "began prior to the War" and "kept going" until after 1945, "because Father Weber had an intense relationship with the Vatican, with the Jews, and with a lot of people it was very strong."
He noted that two Jews who they helped hide later aided the society in return: Melchiorre Gioia, an author, and Erwin Frimm Kozab, a composer from Vienna who wrote songs and operas.
The priest recalled: "One we hid on Giuseppe Street, near Bari, and the other on 57 Pettinari Street. Later they assisted us quite a lot, giving us very explicit information."
Father Centioni affirmed that he helped hundreds of people, and they all knew who was behind the operation. "Pius XII helped them," he said, "through us and other priests, by means of St. Raphael's Society as well as the German Verbiti Society in Rome."
He described one incident in which he helped a man named Ivan Basilius, who turned out to be a Russian spy. "No one knew he was Russian or a spy," the priest said, only "that he was a Jew."
Trouble
Father Centioni recalled: "Unfortunately, the SS arrested him and he had my name written in his notebook.
"Therefore -- oh my -- the Holy See called me; His Excellency Bishop Hudal said to me, 'Tell me, why are the SS here to arrest you?
"'What did I do?'
"'You assisted a Russian spy.'
"'Me? How should I know? Who is he?' Then I fled.'"
The priest said that he had known Herbert Kappler, police chief of the Gestapo in Rome, who instigated the Fosse Ardeatine massacre, in which 335 Italians were murdered, including many civilians and Jews.
He said, "After the massacre was carried out in March [1944], I said to Kappler, whom I saw frequently, 'Why were the military chaplains not called to be present at the Fosse Ardeatine?'
"He replied, 'Because they would have been killed -- and they would have killed you as well.'"
Building evidence
Father Centioni and his testimony was discovered and analyzed, along with other testimonies, by the Pave the Way Foundation, which was founded by Gary Krupp, himself a Jew from New York. [God bless Gary Krupp! This is one objective Jew who see Pius XII more of as the Righteous Gentile. They petitioned the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial to give that title to Pius. Through the foundation's efforts, 3,000 new original documents and photos were presented as proof on the life of Pius XII and his work to save Jews during World War II]
An Italian lawyer, Daniele Costi, president of the foundation in her country, attested to the veracity of the interview.
The priest's narrative is further confirmed by the documentation accompanying an award given to him by the Polish government. As further corroboration of his testimony, Father Centioni cited expressions of gratitude he received from several Jews he aided, including some who were able to reach the United States with passports from the Vatican.
***
Now there's another proof for you!
In an irritating report, a rabbi says that he won't be attending the Pope's planned visit of the synagogue in Rome, following the example set by John Paul II.
I don't intend to post the report here but if you want to read it, click here. The Chief Rabbi has his hands full with those who were whining about the visit of the Pope who set Pius XII on the road to beatification. Since when is it the Jews' business to say who gets beatified or not?
I want to post though the brilliant answer of a reader to the news report:
***
Peter Roach wrote:
From sources I have read, Pius XII saved over 250,000 Jews within Vatican City alone. He faced a situation where it appears for time, that Nazis would totally control Europe for a long, indefinite time. What was required was principled pragmatism. The Concordat was an attempt to provide a diplomatic harbor to enable the Church to fulfill humanitarian needs. The 1930s was a time of political cowardice for most, with Neville Chamberlain proclaiming peace in our times, a abject submission to Hitler. What could a Churchman do in the midst of this? Words are cheap and actions are dear. The actions of Pius XII speak louder than the apparent failure of mere words.
For more proof of Pius XII's work of saving Jewish lives, click here and here and here
***
ROME, JAN. 14, 2010 (Zenit.org).- An Italian priest who helped Jews escape Nazi persecution during World War II is attesting that Pope Pius XII was a big player in this effort.
Father Giancarlo Centioni, 97, who served as a military chaplain for the National Security Volunteer Militia in Rome from 1940 to 1945, affirmed this in an interview with H2oNews today.
The militia, also called the Blackshirts, was organized by Benito Mussolini as a fascist paramilitary group in support of his movement.
Father Centioni affirmed, "Given that I was a chaplain for the fascists, it was easier for me to help the Jews."
While in Rome, he lived in the house of a group of German priests known as Pallottines.
These priests had instituted a group to aid the Jews called St. Raphael's Society.
The society, Father Centioni said, helped Jews to escape from Germany into Italy, and then later to Switzerland and Portugal.
In Germany the society was led by Pallottine Father Josef Kentenich, who is known for founding the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt. He was later sent to the Dachau concentration camp for his opposition to Adolf Hitler's regime.
Father Centioni said that in Rome, the society's activity was based on 57 Pettinari Street under the direction of another priest, Father Anton Weber. Father Weber coordinated the action with Pope Pius XII and his secretary.
Money and passports were given to Jewish families for their escape, explained Father Centioni. These resources were provided by Father Weber who "received them directly from His Holiness' Secretary of State, in the name of and paid by Pius XII," Farther Centioni said.
He continued, "I often brought money to Jewish homes. At least 12 German priests in Rome were allowed to help me." [Did the Jewish community say one big thank you to the Pallotines?]
Father Centioni stated that this network "began prior to the War" and "kept going" until after 1945, "because Father Weber had an intense relationship with the Vatican, with the Jews, and with a lot of people it was very strong."
He noted that two Jews who they helped hide later aided the society in return: Melchiorre Gioia, an author, and Erwin Frimm Kozab, a composer from Vienna who wrote songs and operas.
The priest recalled: "One we hid on Giuseppe Street, near Bari, and the other on 57 Pettinari Street. Later they assisted us quite a lot, giving us very explicit information."
Father Centioni affirmed that he helped hundreds of people, and they all knew who was behind the operation. "Pius XII helped them," he said, "through us and other priests, by means of St. Raphael's Society as well as the German Verbiti Society in Rome."
He described one incident in which he helped a man named Ivan Basilius, who turned out to be a Russian spy. "No one knew he was Russian or a spy," the priest said, only "that he was a Jew."
Trouble
Father Centioni recalled: "Unfortunately, the SS arrested him and he had my name written in his notebook.
"Therefore -- oh my -- the Holy See called me; His Excellency Bishop Hudal said to me, 'Tell me, why are the SS here to arrest you?
"'What did I do?'
"'You assisted a Russian spy.'
"'Me? How should I know? Who is he?' Then I fled.'"
The priest said that he had known Herbert Kappler, police chief of the Gestapo in Rome, who instigated the Fosse Ardeatine massacre, in which 335 Italians were murdered, including many civilians and Jews.
He said, "After the massacre was carried out in March [1944], I said to Kappler, whom I saw frequently, 'Why were the military chaplains not called to be present at the Fosse Ardeatine?'
"He replied, 'Because they would have been killed -- and they would have killed you as well.'"
Building evidence
Father Centioni and his testimony was discovered and analyzed, along with other testimonies, by the Pave the Way Foundation, which was founded by Gary Krupp, himself a Jew from New York. [God bless Gary Krupp! This is one objective Jew who see Pius XII more of as the Righteous Gentile. They petitioned the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial to give that title to Pius. Through the foundation's efforts, 3,000 new original documents and photos were presented as proof on the life of Pius XII and his work to save Jews during World War II]
An Italian lawyer, Daniele Costi, president of the foundation in her country, attested to the veracity of the interview.
The priest's narrative is further confirmed by the documentation accompanying an award given to him by the Polish government. As further corroboration of his testimony, Father Centioni cited expressions of gratitude he received from several Jews he aided, including some who were able to reach the United States with passports from the Vatican.
***
Now there's another proof for you!
In an irritating report, a rabbi says that he won't be attending the Pope's planned visit of the synagogue in Rome, following the example set by John Paul II.
I don't intend to post the report here but if you want to read it, click here. The Chief Rabbi has his hands full with those who were whining about the visit of the Pope who set Pius XII on the road to beatification. Since when is it the Jews' business to say who gets beatified or not?
I want to post though the brilliant answer of a reader to the news report:
***
Peter Roach wrote:
From sources I have read, Pius XII saved over 250,000 Jews within Vatican City alone. He faced a situation where it appears for time, that Nazis would totally control Europe for a long, indefinite time. What was required was principled pragmatism. The Concordat was an attempt to provide a diplomatic harbor to enable the Church to fulfill humanitarian needs. The 1930s was a time of political cowardice for most, with Neville Chamberlain proclaiming peace in our times, a abject submission to Hitler. What could a Churchman do in the midst of this? Words are cheap and actions are dear. The actions of Pius XII speak louder than the apparent failure of mere words.
For more proof of Pius XII's work of saving Jewish lives, click here and here and here
Request for Prayer: Haitian Cathedral in Ruins
Please include in your prayers the people of Haiti.
Pray for the repose of the soul of the those who died, among them the archbishop (pictured below with Papa Benny), the seminary staff and seminarians...
Pray that the international community keep the aid coming...
Pray...pray...pray
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A proud Catholic defends her faith
This is how to defend your faith against those who attack our beliefs.
Excellent on how devout Catholic Laura Ingraham of Fox defended her Faith and keeps it even if she is part of the mainstream media!
Kudos to Laura!
Excellent on how devout Catholic Laura Ingraham of Fox defended her Faith and keeps it even if she is part of the mainstream media!
Kudos to Laura!
Peter calls!
Speaking at his weekly general audience, the pope also appealed to the international community and individuals to be quick and generous in their aid.
"The Catholic Church will immediately activate (its aid) through its charity institutions in order to respond to the most urgent needs of the population," he said. [Forward my brother knights!]
A major earthquake struck the capital of impoverished Haiti on Tuesday, flattening buildings and burying hundreds, possibly thousands, of people under the rubble, witnesses said.
The Catholic Church has one of the world's largest and most capillary charity networks. [It IS the largest charitable institution in the world!]
"I appeal to everyone's generosity, so that these brothers and sisters of ours who are living through a time of need and pain receive our concrete solidarity and the effective help of the international community," he said.
Around 80 percent of Haiti's 10 million-strong population is Catholic and 16 percent Protestant. However, most Haitians also practice voodoo, a mixture of Christian and African beliefs.
Courtesy of Yahoo News.
Another for Dan Brown
ROME, JAN. 13, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The man who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981 is set to be released Monday from a Turkish prison after serving almost 29 years. He said he has contacted the author of "The Da Vinci Code" for help in writing a book. [Ugh! I read a report once that Agca has converted to Catholicism but no one can verify this. I was hopeful that he would be converted. I hope he is and still is. But to work with Dan Brown on a book! Just imagine...the would be assassin of one of the most celebrated figures of the century and the man who makes a living out of pseudo-archaeology and Looney Tunes history joining forces for a book project?! I can't imagine what that partnership would bring about. Imagine the dollar signs on the eyes of Dan Brown, Ron Howard and Tom Hanks, all at the for blasphemy and lies!]
News of the release of Mehmet Ali Agca, 52, was confirmed by his lawyer, Haci Ali Ozhan.
Agca has said once he is free he wants to do two things: visit John Paul II's tomb [which can be worked out I guess, maybe to say thanks to the man he wants dead but forgave him] and write two books, including one about his life. For help with this second task, Agca reported that he has contacted Dan Brown, author of the bestselling science fiction work "The Da Vinci Code." [Belch!]
"I will proclaim the perfect Christianity that Vatican [sic] has never understood," Agca announced in a handwritten letter sent to The Sunday Times newspaper. [Hmmm.. perfect Christianity? Is he with the Iglesia ni Cristo, Dating Daan or what?]
Agca's 29 years in prison resulted not only from his attempted assassination of the Pope, but also from having killed Abdi Ipekci, director of the Turkish newspaper Milliyet, in 1979.
For the complete article, click here
***
UPDATE!!!
SOMEONE FOUND ANOTHER CLUE IN LEONARDO DA VINCI'S WORK!!!
News of the release of Mehmet Ali Agca, 52, was confirmed by his lawyer, Haci Ali Ozhan.
Agca has said once he is free he wants to do two things: visit John Paul II's tomb [which can be worked out I guess, maybe to say thanks to the man he wants dead but forgave him] and write two books, including one about his life. For help with this second task, Agca reported that he has contacted Dan Brown, author of the bestselling science fiction work "The Da Vinci Code." [Belch!]
"I will proclaim the perfect Christianity that Vatican [sic] has never understood," Agca announced in a handwritten letter sent to The Sunday Times newspaper. [Hmmm.. perfect Christianity? Is he with the Iglesia ni Cristo, Dating Daan or what?]
Agca's 29 years in prison resulted not only from his attempted assassination of the Pope, but also from having killed Abdi Ipekci, director of the Turkish newspaper Milliyet, in 1979.
For the complete article, click here
***
UPDATE!!!
SOMEONE FOUND ANOTHER CLUE IN LEONARDO DA VINCI'S WORK!!!
Attacks on the Church in the Philippines intensifying!
This article is rather long so I thought of posting some excerpts. The article contains so much anti-Church so the post ended up still long.
Thanks to Josemaria Lazaro Paulo Jeronimo Martin Carvalho-von verster for sending the link and for the patience for waiting.
The article was posted at the Manila Times website.
The posting is for commentary and no copyright infringement intended.
***
He is history—nothing more than a school requirement for school children and a forlorn white washed bust at town squares. That is the man that most people know of today as Jose Rizal. Few people know him as he truly was: a dangerous subversive executed by the state and a heretical rationalist excommunicated by the Church. [Jose Rizal was excommunicated because he is a Mason. And masons up to now are prohibited from receiving the sacraments as directed by Canon Law! Get the facts straight.]
Rizal’s ideas were a threat so viral that, not only was the man condemned and executed, [okay let’s get things strait. Rizal was executed because of the crimes of sedition and rebellion. Get it straight okay and not because he is a heretic, or was. More of this later] his books The Social Cancer (Noli Me Tangere) and The Reign of Greed (El Filibusterismo) were banned, his love denied the sanctity of marriage [he chose not to be married only later when he was about to be executed!] and his grave purposefully left unmarked and unhallowed. [because the colonial government would not want to! Geez, do I smell Dan Brown around the corner here? He was hurriedly buried in an unmarked grave in the outer circle, reserved for convicts and non Spanish residents of the catholic cemetery in Paco, Manila. But the ground is still catholic ground.] Church and state spited him even in death. [Oh boy, he renounced Masonry. The Wikipedia entry about his retraction supports this. Historians and handwriting experts support the claim that Rizal indeed renounced anything against the Church that he wrote.] But what had earned their enduring ire also won his people’s eternal reverence. Rizal’s ideas have birthed movements for national independence and social equality that, though arguably unresolved to this day, have nonetheless shaped the nation for the better.
Revisionists have co-opted and exploited the man’s message, reinterpreting his incendiary work into an exemplar of traditional values and his controversial life into a role model for docility. And yet all that Rizal stood for is evidenced by his own words. His dauntless audacity is proven by the ire he incurred. Despite an alleged retraction unearthed in 1935 by Father Manuel Garcia, Rizal evidently died unforgiven. Many of these same perils that befell him still await those who dare follow the life he led. [He was forgiven! Eyewitness accounts of his final moments before he was executed by a volley of gunshots say that a priest presented him with a crucifix which he reverently kissed. He was buried on a Catholic cemetery but on a section where non-Spaniards are buried. The grave was unmarked to prevent those sympathetic to him will not find his remains and take it as a relic for revolutionaries!]
Today, there are young people living up to Rizal’s ideals. And they are every bit as subversive, heretical and misunderstood as the national hero. Just like he, they dare threaten the status quo. They call themselves Rational Heroes. [More like Irrational Degenerates for all I care!] While the failed generations of yesteryears can only pay trite platitudes on December 30, the hero’s death anniversary, these young Rational Heroes honor Rizal by taking his fight into the 21st century.
On its website, [I omitted the link so you won't visit the site] the group states:
One hundred thirteen years ago, our national hero Jose “Pepe” Rizal wrote about Padre Damaso, a priest who abused his power to oppress the Filipinos. Padre Damaso then validated his hypocrisy through his religion.
Labeled a heretic, Jose Rizal was shot in Luneta for his beliefs. [Belch!]
Today, Padre Damaso continues to live in our priests as the Church continues to wield its influence in legislation. [See that. Generalized all priest as if all of them are like the villanous Padre Damaso. To all practicing Catholics, this is a direct assault on our Church! Catholic Knights, defend Mother Church!]
A number of Catholics [where? Maybe the same kind of Catholics Obama trumpets around. Pro-choice Catholics? Pro-abortion Catholics? Nominal Catholics? There’s no such thing! God will not force you to Heaven if you insist on going to Hell!] and a new generation of freethinkers, tired of being silenced and expected to blindly follow the teachings, are speaking up about their disappointment and disillusionment. [The Church does not encourage blind follow her teachings! But the Church will not stop in convincing you to follow the truth! You are free to choose if you do not want to follow! We call them heretics!]
Now, they speak up, continuing what Pepe Rizal did then. They are the new Pepe . . .
The founding members of the group—celebrated historical walking tour guide Carlos Celdran; [I saw this guy walking around the streets of Manila handing out condoms. He belongs to that sexual preference. Got it? So you know why he hates the Church.] relationship columnist and journalist for The Manila Times Ana Santos; feminist and national chairman for the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines Beth Angsioco; and writer, designer and rationalist Ryan Tani—reveal personal experiences, insights and convictions that parallel those of Rizal. [Belch!] Their forum sparks rational discussion on issues.
[I omitted some paragraphs.]
Despite these challenges, Santos finds guidance in Rizal’s writing, especially with the character Maria Clara—not as a role model—but as a warning on the pitfalls of docility. “She died in a convent. Her real father was Padre Damaso,” Celedran notes, adding that the naiveté and blind faith of Kapitan Tiago—the husband of Maria Clara’s mother Doña Pia Albas—made him a cuckold. Kapitan Tiago would later form an addiction to opium, made possible by his confessor, Padre Irene. Juli, another young woman in Rizal’s tale (Basilio’s beau and Kabesang Tales’ daughter), jumps to her death to escape the rapacious Padre Camorra. [He is building his case based on a fictitious novel which some Rizal experts say were based on actual characters but the events cannot be verified as factual. Ok? Got it.]
[I omitted some paragraphs.]
To Angsioco, Celdran, Tani and the members of Rational Heroes, no institution—religious or otherwise—should be exempt from reason or the rule of law. [And where does Separation of Church and State come in? It’s in the Constitution. So the law exempts the Church, so they are questioning the Constitution? Huh?] Their struggle mirrors that of Rizal who opposed a colonial system of government that was run in large part by friars who operated with impunity. [Nice work Dan Brown. As if the Philippines during Spanish colonial times were like the Vatican with the bishop as the supreme authority. When the fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were garroted, the Spanish authorities want them stripped of their clerical garb. The Archbishop of Manila insisted that they keep them on while they are executed for the crime of treason. Was it the Church that had them executed? Why was it that their dignity as priest was upheld by the archbishop? See the point? Twisted history.]
According to Rational Heroes, their advocacy includes the application without exemption of laws such as Magna Carta for Women (Republic Act 9710) and the passage without meddling or delay of the Reproductive Health bill (House Bill 4110). The Catholic Church opposes both. [Why? Read below.]
The Magna Carta for Women—besides protecting women from violence, domestic or otherwise;
guaranteeing equal right under the law; ensuring equal access to health services and education; and providing protection against discrimination in media—also assures equal career advancement opportunities for women. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has alleged that the law violates women’s “natural calling to marriage, family life and motherhood.”
Tani notes, “In the Magna Carta, unwed mothers cannot be discriminated against. They cannot be fired for being unwed. They cannot be kicked out of school if they are students. They can’t be discriminated when they’re hired based on being unwed mothers. The CEAP [Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines] wants schools that are Catholic to be exempted from that provision.”
Currently, the Catholic Church is one of the few remaining institutions where women cannot advance to the same positions as men, whereas other Christian denominations now allow for female priests and bishops. [See that? They see Christ’s non-ordination of women as an issue of gender equality. If they want gender equality, let’s have men entering the RVM convent! Let’s see that. Joking. Nature itself is discriminatory. My good friend, The Monk’s Hobbit, posted a great article about the separation of the roles of the genders. This can never be a social issue. It is an issue that Christ Himself will be able to answer because He Himself did not ordain women.]
One of the laws where the Church enjoys exemption is the Family Code of the Philippines (Executive Order 209) that requires all couples applying for marriage to undergo counseling by qualified government personnel where all family planning options are discussed. However, those applying for Catholic weddings are provided with the Church’s own counselors who discuss only rhythm method. Moreover, these Church counselors discourage couples from practicing any sort of family planning method—natural or otherwise—for the first two years of marriage. [Will the Church contradict Herself? Stoopid!]
The Reproductive Health bill aims to provide reproductive healthcare and informed choices for all Filipinos and aims to curb the high mortality rate among expectant mothers. According to the World health Organization (WHO), at least 10 Filipino women die daily because of pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. [mostly those from poor villages, not because they are Catholics who follow their Faith! Stoopid.] About 90 percent of these deaths are preventable. The Department of Health has stated that family planning can reduce maternal mortality by about 32 percent.
However, the Church opposes the bill in its entirety. First proposed in 2004, the Reproductive Health bill has since been effectively filibustered by lawmakers allied to the Church. [Really? They are talking about the same lawmakers that legalized gambling in the country? BTW, the Church is against gambling!] Angsioco muses, “If somebody was born when the first bill was filed, perhaps that girl already has a child of her own at this point.” [Perhaps if the bill was passed long ago, people will such mentality would not have been born!]
Santos notes, “While it’s true that if you want family planning you can go the stores and buy contraceptives, it is only good for those who have money to buy. The problem here is access, information and service, especially Manila.” [But there are NGOs who give free contraceptives even in remote villages. It is not against the law to hand-our free contraceptives. Yet, proponents of the RH Bill want it institutionalized as if legalizing the government's purchase of contraceptives. Where is freedom of choice there?]
Tani enumerates the fears raised against the Reproductive Health bill, countering each one rationally: [read on to see the “rationality” of it all.]
“First, they say that the RH bill will make abortion legal. One, if you go through RH bill, it’s very complete in the bill that it’s saying that nothing changes in the legal status of abortion in the Philippines,” notes Tani. [If the contraceptive fails and there was conception, what does the mother who does not want to get pregnant do? Huh? Tell me.]
The 1987 Constitution states, “The State shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.”
“Secondly, they say that contraceptives are abortifacients. But Contraceptives are against conception. There is no pregnancy. It prevents pregnancy,” cites Tani. [Stooooo.... Old music. Dead song. What if the contraceptive failed and the mother conceived. The pregnancy is unplanned. What do you do about the baby?]
The Catholic Church argues that intrauterine devices (IUDs) and “morning-after pills” are abortifacients since it defines the moment of conception at fertilization and these techniques prevent implantation of the fertilized embryo to the uterus wall. However, bodies such as the American Medical Association and the British Medical Association define the start of life at implantation, not fertilization. [So you expect us Catholics to follow the AMA and BMA than the Church? The Church sees this argument within the spectrum of sex as a means to pro-creation, not recreation! Sex is a means to produce life. If we do not agree on that, then there is nothing to talk about.] The Catholic Church opposes all artificial means of contraception including those that prevent fertilization such as condoms. Today, “morning after” pills are available over the counter without prescription in democratic countries such as Spain—the nation that Christianized the Philippines four centuries ago at the height of the repressive Spanish Inquisition. [Because the one that Christianized is sooo liberal, why can’t we? Is that it? Here’s the logic: Because the priest that gave me the absolution is sinful, then I have every right to be sinful as well! And that the absolution given is not effective. Heresy to me.]
“Another argument that the Catholic Church has against is that employers might go to jail for not providing contraceptives to my employees. Actually that’s not true. We already have in our labor code the provision saying that those employers with 200 employees above, it is the responsibility of the employers to actually provide reproductive health services. It’s already in the law. It’s already in our Labor Code.”
Article 134 of the Labor Code of the Philippines titled Family Planning Services: Incentives For Family Planning states: “(a) Establishments which are required by law to maintain a clinic or infirmary shall provide free family planning services to their employees which shall include, but not be limited to, the application or use of contraceptive pills and intrauterine devices. (b) In coordination with other agencies of the government engaged in the promotion of family planning, the Department of Labor and Employment shall develop and prescribe incentive bonus schemes to encourage family planning among female workers in any establishment or enterprise.” [So it is in the present law! Then why is it not being implemented? You need another law to implement the current law? Stoooo…]
“Yet another argument is, ‘If I’m a doctor and I don’t provide contraceptives to my patient, am I going go to jail?’ That’s not also true. According to the bill, health providers need to provide services but there is an exemption there. The right to conscientious objection is protected.” [how about those who are poorly educated? How about those who cannot choose for their own like those living in the mountains of Mindanao? I had gone to those places and whenever someone from the city tells them that “this is good.” they take it as bible truth. Can we expect government health workers to do that? Do all Filipinos know their rights?]
Celdran elucidates, “If you really ask us what we’re fighting for, it is basically an informed choice. [Oh really? Do you try to fight for women's rights in the Sharia Law? Have you ever been to a Muslim village in Mindanao and actually knew how it was like to live there? Go throw your informed choice brouhaha there and let's see.] We’re tired of being treated as idiots. [Who treats you that way? The Church did not treat me that way. Maybe you feel that way. By the way, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. We don't want you!] I feel that we are being so misled. You have priests giving PowerPoint presentations during homilies saying that contraceptives are cancerous and everybody who supports the RH law is a minion of the devil. Give us a little bit of credit. We can decide. We can think for ourselves.” [Where is the parish of this guy if he still goes to Mass. I have to see that presentation! By the way, this Catholic Church hater makes a living as a tour guide of Manila which includes the old walled city of Manila, which includes....(drum roll) the Manila Cathedral Basilica and San Agustin Church. Wow... someone who hates and despises the Church and Her priests are making a quick buck out of Her. Now there's some credibility for you there.]
Despite strong opposition from the Church—Catholics comprise 81 percent of the total population—a Pulse Asia Inc. survey conducted October this year finds that 63 percent are in favor of the Reproductive Health bill. Citizens can adjudge for themselves the Reproductive Health bill by reading its entirety at http://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/population/documents/HB4110.pdf.
[So if majority of the people surveyed want stealing legalized, are we going to go ahead and legalize it? The sickening Obamanation numbers game. If they are the minority, they call out "discrimination". If they have the numbers they say, "Hey, the majority has spoken!" You'll never win over these lot.]
Another forefront where Rational Heroes espouses compliance without exemption is taxation. Angsioco says, “We’re also fighting for accountability—paying taxes. The Philippines needs money. Just like any other citizen of the Philippines, if you’re really want to be that influential, then you have to pay the piper just like any of us do. These 400 years of being sort of like untouchable and precious has got to end, seriously.”
Santos opines, “I wouldn’t have a problem with the Church meddling with politics if they pay taxes, because that’s the right of a private organization. But they are a public, nonprofit, religious organization that cannot be involved. A say is fine. Physical meddling is not. It says in the constitution that the tax-exempt status that they have is based on their purposes—religious, charitable, benevolent, educational, cultural and literary. But there’s nothing there that says political. Because if you form a political body, you will be subject to taxes.” [So poor people who do not pay taxes, they don’t have the right to be involved in politics such as to vote? Maybe someone ought to send this article to the poor people of Tondo and Payatas.]
According to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, “The Constitution expressly grants tax exemption on certain entities/institutions such as: 1. Charitable institutions, churches, parsonages or convents appurtenant thereto, mosques, and nonprofit cemeteries and all lands, buildings and improvements actually, directly and exclusively used for religious, charitable or educational purposes (Article VI, Section 28, paragraph 3); 2. Non-stock non-profit educational institutions used actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes. (Article XVI, Section 4).”
Rational Heroes adheres to the democratic principle of separation of church and state, says Tani, explaining, “Mainly, I’m fighting for secularism. [clearly you are! IN A GODLESS SOCIETY!] If we have to share a common ground, a common country, [sounds Masonic, eh?] then we also have common beliefs. [we do! and you are polluting it! This is a Catholic country for cryin out loud. Live with it!] It’s easy to check on our history [yeah we saw you made a great job on that!] and even today, what’s happening in the Middle east that where government and religion become tied up, [the situation in the Middle East is different in how the Church shaped Western Civilization as we know it now!] it leads to wars and conflicts and divisions.” [HUH?! So what is it that you want? You want separation of Church and State yet you want to tax the Church?]
“Secularism grants people equal rights and freedom regardless of what they believe. This freedom, this equality, is being threatened when the majority religion of a certain place tries to combine their Cannon [kaboom!] Law with the shared Constitution. The Constitution should be shared by everybody. Cannon [kaboom!] Law should only be applied to people who believe in a Cannon [kaboom!] Law,” he expounds.
Tani notes, “The sin and the crime—they are two different things. That difference is what I’m fighting for.”
Despite the stigma they face, the members of Rational Heroes take inspiration from national hero/heretic Rizal. [stooo.... Rizal was a Mason and not a declared heretic!]
Ironically, the Church owes much to the likes of Rizal—as much as it does other famous excommunicates such as Galileo Galilei [wrong! Galileo was never classified a heretic. He was under interdict. You know where Galileo is buried? At the Basilica of Santa Croce! A heretic is not buried in a basilica! Just read Wikipedia to get the facts straight.] and Martin Luther [good riddance]. Without Galileo, the Church would still erroneously insist that Sun revolves around the Earth. [It did not insist! Copernicus who was the first one to say that the earth revolved around the sun is a clergyman! Galileo was challenging the scientific authority of the Bible which the Bible is not!] Without Luther, the Church would still be selling indulgences. [True but he even challenged the authority of the pope. He should have stopped at the selling of indulgences yet he INSISTED on questioning the authority of the Successor of Peter!] And without Rizal, the Church would still be an instrument of foreign oppression and racist policy. [Thanks but no thanks. Some principles of Rizal against the Church became the rallying cry of Masons against the Church and anybody against the Church for that matter!] Each excommunicate has diminished Church power, be it as a factual authority or a political, economic and military power. But as Lord Acton famously quipped in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 1887, [Mister Creighton is a "bishop" of the Anglican Church] “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” [And some people trumpet this to everyone, as if everyone in power, be it in a religious or civil position, is corrupt!]
As Beth Angsioco, Carlos Celdran, Ryan Tani, Ana Santos and the members of Rational Heroes dare speak their mind, assert their rights and live up to the ideals of Jose Rizal, they might inadvertently save Church and state. [You don’t! And you'll never! Period!]
***
Another reason why strong Catechism is needed so that we become informed and equipped against the attacks against Holy Mother Church.
Know your history.
Know your Faith.
The devil is working overtime. Protect your loved ones from the filth that is so pervasive in mass media and even in our Catholic schools. Our priests, though some may be guilty of the sin of commission or omission, cannot monitor what happens inside our Catholic classrooms. We parents have that duty and responsibility to pass the Faith to our children to keep them in the right path and not be drifters of a society that worships whatever comes out of the media and out of perverted or twisted history.
That is our vocation as parents...
That is our vocation as Catholics!
Thanks to Josemaria Lazaro Paulo Jeronimo Martin Carvalho-von verster for sending the link and for the patience for waiting.
The article was posted at the Manila Times website.
The posting is for commentary and no copyright infringement intended.
***
He is history—nothing more than a school requirement for school children and a forlorn white washed bust at town squares. That is the man that most people know of today as Jose Rizal. Few people know him as he truly was: a dangerous subversive executed by the state and a heretical rationalist excommunicated by the Church. [Jose Rizal was excommunicated because he is a Mason. And masons up to now are prohibited from receiving the sacraments as directed by Canon Law! Get the facts straight.]
Rizal’s ideas were a threat so viral that, not only was the man condemned and executed, [okay let’s get things strait. Rizal was executed because of the crimes of sedition and rebellion. Get it straight okay and not because he is a heretic, or was. More of this later] his books The Social Cancer (Noli Me Tangere) and The Reign of Greed (El Filibusterismo) were banned, his love denied the sanctity of marriage [he chose not to be married only later when he was about to be executed!] and his grave purposefully left unmarked and unhallowed. [because the colonial government would not want to! Geez, do I smell Dan Brown around the corner here? He was hurriedly buried in an unmarked grave in the outer circle, reserved for convicts and non Spanish residents of the catholic cemetery in Paco, Manila. But the ground is still catholic ground.] Church and state spited him even in death. [Oh boy, he renounced Masonry. The Wikipedia entry about his retraction supports this. Historians and handwriting experts support the claim that Rizal indeed renounced anything against the Church that he wrote.] But what had earned their enduring ire also won his people’s eternal reverence. Rizal’s ideas have birthed movements for national independence and social equality that, though arguably unresolved to this day, have nonetheless shaped the nation for the better.
Revisionists have co-opted and exploited the man’s message, reinterpreting his incendiary work into an exemplar of traditional values and his controversial life into a role model for docility. And yet all that Rizal stood for is evidenced by his own words. His dauntless audacity is proven by the ire he incurred. Despite an alleged retraction unearthed in 1935 by Father Manuel Garcia, Rizal evidently died unforgiven. Many of these same perils that befell him still await those who dare follow the life he led. [He was forgiven! Eyewitness accounts of his final moments before he was executed by a volley of gunshots say that a priest presented him with a crucifix which he reverently kissed. He was buried on a Catholic cemetery but on a section where non-Spaniards are buried. The grave was unmarked to prevent those sympathetic to him will not find his remains and take it as a relic for revolutionaries!]
Today, there are young people living up to Rizal’s ideals. And they are every bit as subversive, heretical and misunderstood as the national hero. Just like he, they dare threaten the status quo. They call themselves Rational Heroes. [More like Irrational Degenerates for all I care!] While the failed generations of yesteryears can only pay trite platitudes on December 30, the hero’s death anniversary, these young Rational Heroes honor Rizal by taking his fight into the 21st century.
On its website, [I omitted the link so you won't visit the site] the group states:
One hundred thirteen years ago, our national hero Jose “Pepe” Rizal wrote about Padre Damaso, a priest who abused his power to oppress the Filipinos. Padre Damaso then validated his hypocrisy through his religion.
Labeled a heretic, Jose Rizal was shot in Luneta for his beliefs. [Belch!]
Today, Padre Damaso continues to live in our priests as the Church continues to wield its influence in legislation. [See that. Generalized all priest as if all of them are like the villanous Padre Damaso. To all practicing Catholics, this is a direct assault on our Church! Catholic Knights, defend Mother Church!]
A number of Catholics [where? Maybe the same kind of Catholics Obama trumpets around. Pro-choice Catholics? Pro-abortion Catholics? Nominal Catholics? There’s no such thing! God will not force you to Heaven if you insist on going to Hell!] and a new generation of freethinkers, tired of being silenced and expected to blindly follow the teachings, are speaking up about their disappointment and disillusionment. [The Church does not encourage blind follow her teachings! But the Church will not stop in convincing you to follow the truth! You are free to choose if you do not want to follow! We call them heretics!]
Now, they speak up, continuing what Pepe Rizal did then. They are the new Pepe . . .
The founding members of the group—celebrated historical walking tour guide Carlos Celdran; [I saw this guy walking around the streets of Manila handing out condoms. He belongs to that sexual preference. Got it? So you know why he hates the Church.] relationship columnist and journalist for The Manila Times Ana Santos; feminist and national chairman for the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines Beth Angsioco; and writer, designer and rationalist Ryan Tani—reveal personal experiences, insights and convictions that parallel those of Rizal. [Belch!] Their forum sparks rational discussion on issues.
[I omitted some paragraphs.]
Despite these challenges, Santos finds guidance in Rizal’s writing, especially with the character Maria Clara—not as a role model—but as a warning on the pitfalls of docility. “She died in a convent. Her real father was Padre Damaso,” Celedran notes, adding that the naiveté and blind faith of Kapitan Tiago—the husband of Maria Clara’s mother Doña Pia Albas—made him a cuckold. Kapitan Tiago would later form an addiction to opium, made possible by his confessor, Padre Irene. Juli, another young woman in Rizal’s tale (Basilio’s beau and Kabesang Tales’ daughter), jumps to her death to escape the rapacious Padre Camorra. [He is building his case based on a fictitious novel which some Rizal experts say were based on actual characters but the events cannot be verified as factual. Ok? Got it.]
[I omitted some paragraphs.]
To Angsioco, Celdran, Tani and the members of Rational Heroes, no institution—religious or otherwise—should be exempt from reason or the rule of law. [And where does Separation of Church and State come in? It’s in the Constitution. So the law exempts the Church, so they are questioning the Constitution? Huh?] Their struggle mirrors that of Rizal who opposed a colonial system of government that was run in large part by friars who operated with impunity. [Nice work Dan Brown. As if the Philippines during Spanish colonial times were like the Vatican with the bishop as the supreme authority. When the fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were garroted, the Spanish authorities want them stripped of their clerical garb. The Archbishop of Manila insisted that they keep them on while they are executed for the crime of treason. Was it the Church that had them executed? Why was it that their dignity as priest was upheld by the archbishop? See the point? Twisted history.]
According to Rational Heroes, their advocacy includes the application without exemption of laws such as Magna Carta for Women (Republic Act 9710) and the passage without meddling or delay of the Reproductive Health bill (House Bill 4110). The Catholic Church opposes both. [Why? Read below.]
The Magna Carta for Women—besides protecting women from violence, domestic or otherwise;
guaranteeing equal right under the law; ensuring equal access to health services and education; and providing protection against discrimination in media—also assures equal career advancement opportunities for women. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has alleged that the law violates women’s “natural calling to marriage, family life and motherhood.”
Tani notes, “In the Magna Carta, unwed mothers cannot be discriminated against. They cannot be fired for being unwed. They cannot be kicked out of school if they are students. They can’t be discriminated when they’re hired based on being unwed mothers. The CEAP [Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines] wants schools that are Catholic to be exempted from that provision.”
Currently, the Catholic Church is one of the few remaining institutions where women cannot advance to the same positions as men, whereas other Christian denominations now allow for female priests and bishops. [See that? They see Christ’s non-ordination of women as an issue of gender equality. If they want gender equality, let’s have men entering the RVM convent! Let’s see that. Joking. Nature itself is discriminatory. My good friend, The Monk’s Hobbit, posted a great article about the separation of the roles of the genders. This can never be a social issue. It is an issue that Christ Himself will be able to answer because He Himself did not ordain women.]
One of the laws where the Church enjoys exemption is the Family Code of the Philippines (Executive Order 209) that requires all couples applying for marriage to undergo counseling by qualified government personnel where all family planning options are discussed. However, those applying for Catholic weddings are provided with the Church’s own counselors who discuss only rhythm method. Moreover, these Church counselors discourage couples from practicing any sort of family planning method—natural or otherwise—for the first two years of marriage. [Will the Church contradict Herself? Stoopid!]
The Reproductive Health bill aims to provide reproductive healthcare and informed choices for all Filipinos and aims to curb the high mortality rate among expectant mothers. According to the World health Organization (WHO), at least 10 Filipino women die daily because of pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. [mostly those from poor villages, not because they are Catholics who follow their Faith! Stoopid.] About 90 percent of these deaths are preventable. The Department of Health has stated that family planning can reduce maternal mortality by about 32 percent.
However, the Church opposes the bill in its entirety. First proposed in 2004, the Reproductive Health bill has since been effectively filibustered by lawmakers allied to the Church. [Really? They are talking about the same lawmakers that legalized gambling in the country? BTW, the Church is against gambling!] Angsioco muses, “If somebody was born when the first bill was filed, perhaps that girl already has a child of her own at this point.” [Perhaps if the bill was passed long ago, people will such mentality would not have been born!]
Santos notes, “While it’s true that if you want family planning you can go the stores and buy contraceptives, it is only good for those who have money to buy. The problem here is access, information and service, especially Manila.” [But there are NGOs who give free contraceptives even in remote villages. It is not against the law to hand-our free contraceptives. Yet, proponents of the RH Bill want it institutionalized as if legalizing the government's purchase of contraceptives. Where is freedom of choice there?]
Tani enumerates the fears raised against the Reproductive Health bill, countering each one rationally: [read on to see the “rationality” of it all.]
“First, they say that the RH bill will make abortion legal. One, if you go through RH bill, it’s very complete in the bill that it’s saying that nothing changes in the legal status of abortion in the Philippines,” notes Tani. [If the contraceptive fails and there was conception, what does the mother who does not want to get pregnant do? Huh? Tell me.]
The 1987 Constitution states, “The State shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.”
“Secondly, they say that contraceptives are abortifacients. But Contraceptives are against conception. There is no pregnancy. It prevents pregnancy,” cites Tani. [Stooooo.... Old music. Dead song. What if the contraceptive failed and the mother conceived. The pregnancy is unplanned. What do you do about the baby?]
The Catholic Church argues that intrauterine devices (IUDs) and “morning-after pills” are abortifacients since it defines the moment of conception at fertilization and these techniques prevent implantation of the fertilized embryo to the uterus wall. However, bodies such as the American Medical Association and the British Medical Association define the start of life at implantation, not fertilization. [So you expect us Catholics to follow the AMA and BMA than the Church? The Church sees this argument within the spectrum of sex as a means to pro-creation, not recreation! Sex is a means to produce life. If we do not agree on that, then there is nothing to talk about.] The Catholic Church opposes all artificial means of contraception including those that prevent fertilization such as condoms. Today, “morning after” pills are available over the counter without prescription in democratic countries such as Spain—the nation that Christianized the Philippines four centuries ago at the height of the repressive Spanish Inquisition. [Because the one that Christianized is sooo liberal, why can’t we? Is that it? Here’s the logic: Because the priest that gave me the absolution is sinful, then I have every right to be sinful as well! And that the absolution given is not effective. Heresy to me.]
“Another argument that the Catholic Church has against is that employers might go to jail for not providing contraceptives to my employees. Actually that’s not true. We already have in our labor code the provision saying that those employers with 200 employees above, it is the responsibility of the employers to actually provide reproductive health services. It’s already in the law. It’s already in our Labor Code.”
Article 134 of the Labor Code of the Philippines titled Family Planning Services: Incentives For Family Planning states: “(a) Establishments which are required by law to maintain a clinic or infirmary shall provide free family planning services to their employees which shall include, but not be limited to, the application or use of contraceptive pills and intrauterine devices. (b) In coordination with other agencies of the government engaged in the promotion of family planning, the Department of Labor and Employment shall develop and prescribe incentive bonus schemes to encourage family planning among female workers in any establishment or enterprise.” [So it is in the present law! Then why is it not being implemented? You need another law to implement the current law? Stoooo…]
“Yet another argument is, ‘If I’m a doctor and I don’t provide contraceptives to my patient, am I going go to jail?’ That’s not also true. According to the bill, health providers need to provide services but there is an exemption there. The right to conscientious objection is protected.” [how about those who are poorly educated? How about those who cannot choose for their own like those living in the mountains of Mindanao? I had gone to those places and whenever someone from the city tells them that “this is good.” they take it as bible truth. Can we expect government health workers to do that? Do all Filipinos know their rights?]
Celdran elucidates, “If you really ask us what we’re fighting for, it is basically an informed choice. [Oh really? Do you try to fight for women's rights in the Sharia Law? Have you ever been to a Muslim village in Mindanao and actually knew how it was like to live there? Go throw your informed choice brouhaha there and let's see.] We’re tired of being treated as idiots. [Who treats you that way? The Church did not treat me that way. Maybe you feel that way. By the way, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. We don't want you!] I feel that we are being so misled. You have priests giving PowerPoint presentations during homilies saying that contraceptives are cancerous and everybody who supports the RH law is a minion of the devil. Give us a little bit of credit. We can decide. We can think for ourselves.” [Where is the parish of this guy if he still goes to Mass. I have to see that presentation! By the way, this Catholic Church hater makes a living as a tour guide of Manila which includes the old walled city of Manila, which includes....(drum roll) the Manila Cathedral Basilica and San Agustin Church. Wow... someone who hates and despises the Church and Her priests are making a quick buck out of Her. Now there's some credibility for you there.]
Despite strong opposition from the Church—Catholics comprise 81 percent of the total population—a Pulse Asia Inc. survey conducted October this year finds that 63 percent are in favor of the Reproductive Health bill. Citizens can adjudge for themselves the Reproductive Health bill by reading its entirety at http://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/population/documents/HB4110.pdf.
[So if majority of the people surveyed want stealing legalized, are we going to go ahead and legalize it? The sickening Obamanation numbers game. If they are the minority, they call out "discrimination". If they have the numbers they say, "Hey, the majority has spoken!" You'll never win over these lot.]
Another forefront where Rational Heroes espouses compliance without exemption is taxation. Angsioco says, “We’re also fighting for accountability—paying taxes. The Philippines needs money. Just like any other citizen of the Philippines, if you’re really want to be that influential, then you have to pay the piper just like any of us do. These 400 years of being sort of like untouchable and precious has got to end, seriously.”
Santos opines, “I wouldn’t have a problem with the Church meddling with politics if they pay taxes, because that’s the right of a private organization. But they are a public, nonprofit, religious organization that cannot be involved. A say is fine. Physical meddling is not. It says in the constitution that the tax-exempt status that they have is based on their purposes—religious, charitable, benevolent, educational, cultural and literary. But there’s nothing there that says political. Because if you form a political body, you will be subject to taxes.” [So poor people who do not pay taxes, they don’t have the right to be involved in politics such as to vote? Maybe someone ought to send this article to the poor people of Tondo and Payatas.]
According to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, “The Constitution expressly grants tax exemption on certain entities/institutions such as: 1. Charitable institutions, churches, parsonages or convents appurtenant thereto, mosques, and nonprofit cemeteries and all lands, buildings and improvements actually, directly and exclusively used for religious, charitable or educational purposes (Article VI, Section 28, paragraph 3); 2. Non-stock non-profit educational institutions used actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes. (Article XVI, Section 4).”
Rational Heroes adheres to the democratic principle of separation of church and state, says Tani, explaining, “Mainly, I’m fighting for secularism. [clearly you are! IN A GODLESS SOCIETY!] If we have to share a common ground, a common country, [sounds Masonic, eh?] then we also have common beliefs. [we do! and you are polluting it! This is a Catholic country for cryin out loud. Live with it!] It’s easy to check on our history [yeah we saw you made a great job on that!] and even today, what’s happening in the Middle east that where government and religion become tied up, [the situation in the Middle East is different in how the Church shaped Western Civilization as we know it now!] it leads to wars and conflicts and divisions.” [HUH?! So what is it that you want? You want separation of Church and State yet you want to tax the Church?]
“Secularism grants people equal rights and freedom regardless of what they believe. This freedom, this equality, is being threatened when the majority religion of a certain place tries to combine their Cannon [kaboom!] Law with the shared Constitution. The Constitution should be shared by everybody. Cannon [kaboom!] Law should only be applied to people who believe in a Cannon [kaboom!] Law,” he expounds.
Tani notes, “The sin and the crime—they are two different things. That difference is what I’m fighting for.”
Despite the stigma they face, the members of Rational Heroes take inspiration from national hero/heretic Rizal. [stooo.... Rizal was a Mason and not a declared heretic!]
Ironically, the Church owes much to the likes of Rizal—as much as it does other famous excommunicates such as Galileo Galilei [wrong! Galileo was never classified a heretic. He was under interdict. You know where Galileo is buried? At the Basilica of Santa Croce! A heretic is not buried in a basilica! Just read Wikipedia to get the facts straight.] and Martin Luther [good riddance]. Without Galileo, the Church would still erroneously insist that Sun revolves around the Earth. [It did not insist! Copernicus who was the first one to say that the earth revolved around the sun is a clergyman! Galileo was challenging the scientific authority of the Bible which the Bible is not!] Without Luther, the Church would still be selling indulgences. [True but he even challenged the authority of the pope. He should have stopped at the selling of indulgences yet he INSISTED on questioning the authority of the Successor of Peter!] And without Rizal, the Church would still be an instrument of foreign oppression and racist policy. [Thanks but no thanks. Some principles of Rizal against the Church became the rallying cry of Masons against the Church and anybody against the Church for that matter!] Each excommunicate has diminished Church power, be it as a factual authority or a political, economic and military power. But as Lord Acton famously quipped in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 1887, [Mister Creighton is a "bishop" of the Anglican Church] “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” [And some people trumpet this to everyone, as if everyone in power, be it in a religious or civil position, is corrupt!]
As Beth Angsioco, Carlos Celdran, Ryan Tani, Ana Santos and the members of Rational Heroes dare speak their mind, assert their rights and live up to the ideals of Jose Rizal, they might inadvertently save Church and state. [You don’t! And you'll never! Period!]
***
Another reason why strong Catechism is needed so that we become informed and equipped against the attacks against Holy Mother Church.
Know your history.
Know your Faith.
The devil is working overtime. Protect your loved ones from the filth that is so pervasive in mass media and even in our Catholic schools. Our priests, though some may be guilty of the sin of commission or omission, cannot monitor what happens inside our Catholic classrooms. We parents have that duty and responsibility to pass the Faith to our children to keep them in the right path and not be drifters of a society that worships whatever comes out of the media and out of perverted or twisted history.
That is our vocation as parents...
That is our vocation as Catholics!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Fatima Shrine vandalized!
Soon-to-be Saint Andre' Bessette
I have posted here this nice article written by Gail Besse of the NCR about the Miracle Man from Canada who will soon be beatified.
***
MONTREAL — An unassuming religious brother known as the “miracle man of Mount Royal” will soon be called St. André, thanks to a decree by Pope Benedict XVI.The Dec. 19 papal decree attributed a miraculous healing to the intercession of Blessed Brother André Bessette (1845-1937).
Details of the miracle are being kept private at the request of the family involved. But the healing “occurred extremely rapidly,” revealed Holy Cross Father Mario Lachapelle, vice postulator of the cause. “The fact that the person survived and made an inexplicable recovery added to the unusual nature of this healing,” he said in an oratory release.
Brother André was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. The miracle cited then occurred in 1958, when Giuseppe Carlo Audino was healed of cancer.
No date has yet been set for Blessed André’s canonization, which will make him the second native-born Canadian saint and the first for the Congregation of the Holy Cross.
The congregation’s superior general in Rome, Father Hugh Cleary, called the news “a grace for our religious family.”
Nearly half a million physical cures and spiritual healings are said to have occurred through the prayers of this humble Holy Cross brother who was devoted to St. Joseph, according to Mark Miravalle, theology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Although Brother André could barely read and suffered poor health, his faith and determination led him to found St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal. It welcomes 2 million visitors yearly and is the world’s largest pilgrimage site dedicated to St. Joseph, patron of families, workers and the universal Church.
Blessed André’s impending canonization means renewed interest in both his spirituality and in St. Joseph, said Holy Cross Father Claude Grou, oratory rector.
“Today in a society where the traditional family is faced with different trends, the figure of Joseph — a faithful man devoting his life to his wife, Mary, and his son, Jesus — inspires more and more Christians,” Father Grou said. “Joseph is considered a model of presence, confidence, protection and perseverance.”
Family molded Blessed André. He was born Alfred Bessette, the eighth of 12 children, in Saint-Gregoire d’Iberville, Quebec.
“He learned to pray at the feet of his mother,” said Father Grou. “In her prayers to St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary, he understood how the saints manifest in a tangible way God’s love for all humans.”
Orphaned at age 12, Bessette worked at various manual jobs and in the mills of New England before returning home.
When he came to the Holy Cross Brothers in 1870, he carried a note from his pastor saying, “I am sending you a saint,” according to numerous biographical accounts. [How often do you get that kind of note?]
But his frail health prompted the congregation to reject him until Archbishop Ignace Bourget of Montreal intervened. Brother André made his final vows in 1874.
For 40 years he worked as a porter at Montreal’s College of Notre Dame, a school for boys. He later joked, “At the end of my novitiate, my superiors showed me the door, and I stayed there for 40 years.” [Gotta love bosses and superiors!]
He welcomed visitors, did custodial work, ran errands and tended to students who were ill. He saved nickels he earned by cutting the boys’ hair to someday build a shrine to St. Joseph, Canada’s patron saint.
Guests sought his counsel and prayers. He visited the sick, gave them blessed oil, then advised them to pray a novena to St. Joseph and have faith.
In 1904, on Mount Royal, he built a small wooden chapel by hand in honor of his patron. He became the oratory’s custodian in 1909, and in 1924 construction on the basilica began.
Accounts tell of more than 435 cures and conversions reported by 1916 and thousands more before and after his death. When people recovered, he credited God and St. Joseph. “I am ignorant,” he said. “If there were anyone more ignorant, the good God would choose him in my place.”
“Brother André spoke of God as a being of love. He saw the passion and death of Jesus on the cross as the most brilliant expression of love and compassion of God,” said Father Grou. He showed “unconditional acceptance of others and compassion for the suffering.”
Upon his death at age 91, an estimated 1 million people paid tribute to him. The oratory continued to draw pilgrims, prompting the archdiocese to turn it into a minor basilica; it was completed in 1967 and can seat 2,200 people.
His followers see the timing of Blessed André’s impending canonization as providential.
“The message is trust. There’s such a need now for Brother André to encourage us to trust in St. Joseph as a provider,” said one priest who counts them both as patrons.
“People are afraid,” said Father Michael McNamara of Scituate, Mass. “They’re afraid of the stock market, afraid to trust in having large families. St. Joseph was a refugee in a foreign country. He shows us by example: ‘Don’t worry, the Lord will provide.’”
Added Stonehill College’s president, Father Mark Cregan, a Holy Cross priest, “Brother André stands as an example of fidelity to the mission of the Church: to teach, to heal, to evangelize.”
“In a world that continues to find individuals struggling in health and faith, his simple desire to serve and grow in his imitation of St. Joseph is most definitely relevant,” said Father James Gallagher, vocations director for the Holy Cross Indiana Province. “Blessed André provides a great example to young people searching for meaning and purpose in their lives.”
***
For more of the life of this humble brother, click here.
Because of Brother Andre', I find my devotion to St. Joseph being revitalized.
Ora pro nobis, Brother!
***
Details of the miracle are being kept private at the request of the family involved. But the healing “occurred extremely rapidly,” revealed Holy Cross Father Mario Lachapelle, vice postulator of the cause. “The fact that the person survived and made an inexplicable recovery added to the unusual nature of this healing,” he said in an oratory release.
Brother André was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. The miracle cited then occurred in 1958, when Giuseppe Carlo Audino was healed of cancer.
No date has yet been set for Blessed André’s canonization, which will make him the second native-born Canadian saint and the first for the Congregation of the Holy Cross.
The congregation’s superior general in Rome, Father Hugh Cleary, called the news “a grace for our religious family.”
Nearly half a million physical cures and spiritual healings are said to have occurred through the prayers of this humble Holy Cross brother who was devoted to St. Joseph, according to Mark Miravalle, theology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Although Brother André could barely read and suffered poor health, his faith and determination led him to found St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal. It welcomes 2 million visitors yearly and is the world’s largest pilgrimage site dedicated to St. Joseph, patron of families, workers and the universal Church.
Blessed André’s impending canonization means renewed interest in both his spirituality and in St. Joseph, said Holy Cross Father Claude Grou, oratory rector.
“Today in a society where the traditional family is faced with different trends, the figure of Joseph — a faithful man devoting his life to his wife, Mary, and his son, Jesus — inspires more and more Christians,” Father Grou said. “Joseph is considered a model of presence, confidence, protection and perseverance.”
Family molded Blessed André. He was born Alfred Bessette, the eighth of 12 children, in Saint-Gregoire d’Iberville, Quebec.
“He learned to pray at the feet of his mother,” said Father Grou. “In her prayers to St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary, he understood how the saints manifest in a tangible way God’s love for all humans.”
Orphaned at age 12, Bessette worked at various manual jobs and in the mills of New England before returning home.
When he came to the Holy Cross Brothers in 1870, he carried a note from his pastor saying, “I am sending you a saint,” according to numerous biographical accounts. [How often do you get that kind of note?]
But his frail health prompted the congregation to reject him until Archbishop Ignace Bourget of Montreal intervened. Brother André made his final vows in 1874.
For 40 years he worked as a porter at Montreal’s College of Notre Dame, a school for boys. He later joked, “At the end of my novitiate, my superiors showed me the door, and I stayed there for 40 years.” [Gotta love bosses and superiors!]
He welcomed visitors, did custodial work, ran errands and tended to students who were ill. He saved nickels he earned by cutting the boys’ hair to someday build a shrine to St. Joseph, Canada’s patron saint.
Guests sought his counsel and prayers. He visited the sick, gave them blessed oil, then advised them to pray a novena to St. Joseph and have faith.
In 1904, on Mount Royal, he built a small wooden chapel by hand in honor of his patron. He became the oratory’s custodian in 1909, and in 1924 construction on the basilica began.
Accounts tell of more than 435 cures and conversions reported by 1916 and thousands more before and after his death. When people recovered, he credited God and St. Joseph. “I am ignorant,” he said. “If there were anyone more ignorant, the good God would choose him in my place.”
“Brother André spoke of God as a being of love. He saw the passion and death of Jesus on the cross as the most brilliant expression of love and compassion of God,” said Father Grou. He showed “unconditional acceptance of others and compassion for the suffering.”
Upon his death at age 91, an estimated 1 million people paid tribute to him. The oratory continued to draw pilgrims, prompting the archdiocese to turn it into a minor basilica; it was completed in 1967 and can seat 2,200 people.
His followers see the timing of Blessed André’s impending canonization as providential.
“The message is trust. There’s such a need now for Brother André to encourage us to trust in St. Joseph as a provider,” said one priest who counts them both as patrons.
“People are afraid,” said Father Michael McNamara of Scituate, Mass. “They’re afraid of the stock market, afraid to trust in having large families. St. Joseph was a refugee in a foreign country. He shows us by example: ‘Don’t worry, the Lord will provide.’”
Added Stonehill College’s president, Father Mark Cregan, a Holy Cross priest, “Brother André stands as an example of fidelity to the mission of the Church: to teach, to heal, to evangelize.”
“In a world that continues to find individuals struggling in health and faith, his simple desire to serve and grow in his imitation of St. Joseph is most definitely relevant,” said Father James Gallagher, vocations director for the Holy Cross Indiana Province. “Blessed André provides a great example to young people searching for meaning and purpose in their lives.”
***
For more of the life of this humble brother, click here.
Because of Brother Andre', I find my devotion to St. Joseph being revitalized.
Ora pro nobis, Brother!
Interesting exchange...
My post on the call of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Soc Villegas for liturgical discipline elicited quite an interesting exchange between me and some readers.
Here is an excerpt from the interesting reaction from Novus Catholicus:
Pinoycatholic said, "Some priests are too stingy when it comes to linens and vestments used for the liturgy..."
And you said, "The Tridentine panoply is not an absolute requirement for the OF. It could be sacredly simple Some parishes I don't think can afford all those traditional vestments that EF advocates want..."
I don't think you get the point of pinoycatholic. He was advocating for dignified vestments worthy of the sacred... I don't see anything in his comments about linens and vestments that are of the "Tridentine panoply." Or do you just mean that wearing beautiful vestments would automatically mean "Tridentine panoply"? Just curious...
You say not all parishes can't afford beautiful vestments? Oh come on, a beautiful vestment does not automatically mean it is expensive... I know of a priest who wears very dignified vestment with rich and very Catholic symbolism which costed him for not a so big amount.
I for my part am somewhat saddened when I see parishes spending a lot for outings, picnics, and "creativities for liturgy" that devoid the mass of sacredness and yet would not mind how ugly and unworthy of the sacredness of the liturgy the linens, the vessels, and vestments being used at church.
***
Thanks for reading TPC Novus Catholicus and for posting.
Other dear TPC readers, what do you think?
Here is an excerpt from the interesting reaction from Novus Catholicus:
Pinoycatholic said, "Some priests are too stingy when it comes to linens and vestments used for the liturgy..."
And you said, "The Tridentine panoply is not an absolute requirement for the OF. It could be sacredly simple Some parishes I don't think can afford all those traditional vestments that EF advocates want..."
I don't think you get the point of pinoycatholic. He was advocating for dignified vestments worthy of the sacred... I don't see anything in his comments about linens and vestments that are of the "Tridentine panoply." Or do you just mean that wearing beautiful vestments would automatically mean "Tridentine panoply"? Just curious...
You say not all parishes can't afford beautiful vestments? Oh come on, a beautiful vestment does not automatically mean it is expensive... I know of a priest who wears very dignified vestment with rich and very Catholic symbolism which costed him for not a so big amount.
I for my part am somewhat saddened when I see parishes spending a lot for outings, picnics, and "creativities for liturgy" that devoid the mass of sacredness and yet would not mind how ugly and unworthy of the sacredness of the liturgy the linens, the vessels, and vestments being used at church.
***
Thanks for reading TPC Novus Catholicus and for posting.
Other dear TPC readers, what do you think?
Bishop: Don’t vote overspending candidates
Courtesy again of CBCPNews.
***
MANILA, Jan. 12, 2010—A Catholic bishop has warned the voting public against politicians who are overspending on their campaign.
Bishop Joel Baylon of Legazpi said candidates who are spending so much to ensure electoral victory are not worthy of any trust to serve in the government.
According to him, one of the obvious culprits in the misapplication of the democratic exercise is the penchant for electoral overspending.
He said politicians have this “negative mindset” to fuel their campaign through the sheer force and persuasion of money for the better chances to win.
“As sure as the break of dawn, the winning candidates will surely recover their massive campaign expenses from the public funds or other corrupt means,” Baylon said. [Hell yeah! The president of the Philippines is receiving P60,000 monthly. How in the world will he get back his investment?]
To avert the dreaded vicious cycle of campaign overspending and corruption, the bishop called on the people to stop and arrest the foul tradition.
The voters, he said, must not to sell their votes and support candidates according to their platforms of government.
“Platform is really very important. That’s where politics should stand on,” Baylon also said. [Hmm. But some of those who spend so much have a not-so-bad platform. I think campaign spending is still a good yardstick on who is highly probable to be corrupt in government. This guy who overspends did some mumbo-jumbo in a road project. Have you tried passing that road? My golly, it's not a short cut! It's more like an open house trip to a newly opened housing project. That's what it is!]
Several candidates already started spending on their political advertisements on TV, radio, and print media as early as July 2009.
While the law specifically states that candidates are only allowed to spend P5 per registered voter for the national elective post, many are already spent too much since last year.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), however, admitted that they are powerless and cannot do anything about it.
The reason, Comelec chairman Jose Melo earlier said, is because they cannot determine that the candidates overspend on the basis of the statement of contributions and expenditures that they are required to submit after the elections.
Assuming that a candidate exceeded the required amount, he also said, “they can cover that up by saying it was paid for by somebody or that it is donated by someone."
***
I had a chat about this topic with an officemate and she made valid points.
1. Where in the world is this candidate getting all the money? One candidate has 10 advertisement spots a day in ABS-CBN for 30 seconds each spot. A 30 seconder costs P250,000. So that's P2.5M a day for just one network. Not to mention spots in other TV stations, radio stations, and Internet sites! Do the math.
2. Does he expect us to believe that these are campaign contributions? Let's give him some benefit of a doubt here.
3. If indeed he gets it from campaign contributions, why not declare it?
4. If he wins, do we expect that his friends would not use the position he won to get back their investment? True enough. As one shrewd politician once said "What are we in power for?"
The morality of those running for public office is now put into fore with the amount of money they specd just to be in power. Is the spending worth the stress of public service? Probably, if the price is right...So...
Come on down!
I work in mass media and PR and I know how these things work. The moment I saw his advertisements and made a rough estimate, I know he does not mean well for seeking the highest office of the land.
I struck him out of my list for May 2010 months ago.
***
MANILA, Jan. 12, 2010—A Catholic bishop has warned the voting public against politicians who are overspending on their campaign.
Bishop Joel Baylon of Legazpi said candidates who are spending so much to ensure electoral victory are not worthy of any trust to serve in the government.
According to him, one of the obvious culprits in the misapplication of the democratic exercise is the penchant for electoral overspending.
He said politicians have this “negative mindset” to fuel their campaign through the sheer force and persuasion of money for the better chances to win.
“As sure as the break of dawn, the winning candidates will surely recover their massive campaign expenses from the public funds or other corrupt means,” Baylon said. [Hell yeah! The president of the Philippines is receiving P60,000 monthly. How in the world will he get back his investment?]
To avert the dreaded vicious cycle of campaign overspending and corruption, the bishop called on the people to stop and arrest the foul tradition.
The voters, he said, must not to sell their votes and support candidates according to their platforms of government.
“Platform is really very important. That’s where politics should stand on,” Baylon also said. [Hmm. But some of those who spend so much have a not-so-bad platform. I think campaign spending is still a good yardstick on who is highly probable to be corrupt in government. This guy who overspends did some mumbo-jumbo in a road project. Have you tried passing that road? My golly, it's not a short cut! It's more like an open house trip to a newly opened housing project. That's what it is!]
Several candidates already started spending on their political advertisements on TV, radio, and print media as early as July 2009.
While the law specifically states that candidates are only allowed to spend P5 per registered voter for the national elective post, many are already spent too much since last year.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), however, admitted that they are powerless and cannot do anything about it.
The reason, Comelec chairman Jose Melo earlier said, is because they cannot determine that the candidates overspend on the basis of the statement of contributions and expenditures that they are required to submit after the elections.
Assuming that a candidate exceeded the required amount, he also said, “they can cover that up by saying it was paid for by somebody or that it is donated by someone."
***
I had a chat about this topic with an officemate and she made valid points.
1. Where in the world is this candidate getting all the money? One candidate has 10 advertisement spots a day in ABS-CBN for 30 seconds each spot. A 30 seconder costs P250,000. So that's P2.5M a day for just one network. Not to mention spots in other TV stations, radio stations, and Internet sites! Do the math.
2. Does he expect us to believe that these are campaign contributions? Let's give him some benefit of a doubt here.
3. If indeed he gets it from campaign contributions, why not declare it?
4. If he wins, do we expect that his friends would not use the position he won to get back their investment? True enough. As one shrewd politician once said "What are we in power for?"
The morality of those running for public office is now put into fore with the amount of money they specd just to be in power. Is the spending worth the stress of public service? Probably, if the price is right...So...
Come on down!
I work in mass media and PR and I know how these things work. The moment I saw his advertisements and made a rough estimate, I know he does not mean well for seeking the highest office of the land.
I struck him out of my list for May 2010 months ago.
Reactions to the Marriage License Renewal proposal
A follow-up from my recent post, here are some reactions courtesy of CBCPNews. You can read some interesting reactions by clicking the comments like found below the post.
***
MANILA, January 12, 2010—Filipino Catholic leaders have stood their ground against the proposal of a party-list group to legislate an expiration date to marriages.
The proponents were reported to have said “a 10-year expiration on marriages would give couples the opportunity to review their relationship, and decide whether to continue or not with the union.” [I can imagine this. One day, husband and wife, after waking up, takes out their clipboard and runs through a checklist if they are keeping up with the marriage. "Hon, you are not measuring up to the marriage!" No pun intended there.]
CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo P. Odchimar, a respected Canon lawyer said “Unity and indissolubility of marriage are values rooted in the bible and Christian tradition." [AMEN! Can I hear yours?]
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar V. Cruz, another expert in Canon Law and Chairman of the CBCP’s National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal said the proposal is “some kind of desperate approach to right a wrong by something wrong.”
“It is wrong for couples to separate and here comes a proposal for them to precisely separate,” he said.
Interviewed by CBCPNews, the 75-year old prelate said “if those who propose temporary marriage are really serious about their proposal, they should think of its consequences.”
He identified the most serious concerns is the emotional trauma on the children whose parents separate. Besides, “this will produce a lot more children and result into population explosion,” he quipped.
He added a man who gets married at age 20 and decides not to renew his marriage with his wife can go on and on until he marries his sixth wife at age 70. [which is probable!]
Prelature of Isabela (de Basilan) Bishop Martin S. Jumoad said he’s definitely against putting an expiration date on marriages. He said commitment, fidelity and respect are vital for one to have a strong family. [Another AMEN!]
He urged on Filipino couples to “stick to one.” He added putting an expiration date on solemnized marriages will “open more problems among their children.”
If this happens, he foresees “Philippine society will become chaotic, more street children and more social problems.”
As far as Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta, who concurrently sits as Civil Registrar General, [ahh let's hear from a civil servant who actually sees the number of annulments being allowed.] the proposal to put expiration on marriages in the Philippines is “contrary to the aspirations of the Filipino people as espoused in the 1987 Constitution, the family being the building block of society.”
In an interview with CBCPNews, such measure would deprive children of stable family life.
“Ang tinitinginan ng mga nagsusulong ng panukalang iyan ay convenience ng mag-asawa,” she explained.
She added there are about 500,000 marriages solemnized annually with less than 10% getting annulled and reported to the National Statistics Office. (Melo M. Acuña) [See that?! Only 10% which is 50 marriages. Proponents of this measure say those who do not have money cannot afford an annulment so they are left stuck with the troublesome relationship. So your solution is to create more problems to solve the problem. Brilliant! We need more iodine in our diet for this one!]
***
MANILA, January 12, 2010—Filipino Catholic leaders have stood their ground against the proposal of a party-list group to legislate an expiration date to marriages.
The proponents were reported to have said “a 10-year expiration on marriages would give couples the opportunity to review their relationship, and decide whether to continue or not with the union.” [I can imagine this. One day, husband and wife, after waking up, takes out their clipboard and runs through a checklist if they are keeping up with the marriage. "Hon, you are not measuring up to the marriage!" No pun intended there.]
CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo P. Odchimar, a respected Canon lawyer said “Unity and indissolubility of marriage are values rooted in the bible and Christian tradition." [AMEN! Can I hear yours?]
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar V. Cruz, another expert in Canon Law and Chairman of the CBCP’s National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal said the proposal is “some kind of desperate approach to right a wrong by something wrong.”
“It is wrong for couples to separate and here comes a proposal for them to precisely separate,” he said.
Interviewed by CBCPNews, the 75-year old prelate said “if those who propose temporary marriage are really serious about their proposal, they should think of its consequences.”
He identified the most serious concerns is the emotional trauma on the children whose parents separate. Besides, “this will produce a lot more children and result into population explosion,” he quipped.
He added a man who gets married at age 20 and decides not to renew his marriage with his wife can go on and on until he marries his sixth wife at age 70. [which is probable!]
Prelature of Isabela (de Basilan) Bishop Martin S. Jumoad said he’s definitely against putting an expiration date on marriages. He said commitment, fidelity and respect are vital for one to have a strong family. [Another AMEN!]
He urged on Filipino couples to “stick to one.” He added putting an expiration date on solemnized marriages will “open more problems among their children.”
If this happens, he foresees “Philippine society will become chaotic, more street children and more social problems.”
As far as Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta, who concurrently sits as Civil Registrar General, [ahh let's hear from a civil servant who actually sees the number of annulments being allowed.] the proposal to put expiration on marriages in the Philippines is “contrary to the aspirations of the Filipino people as espoused in the 1987 Constitution, the family being the building block of society.”
In an interview with CBCPNews, such measure would deprive children of stable family life.
“Ang tinitinginan ng mga nagsusulong ng panukalang iyan ay convenience ng mag-asawa,” she explained.
She added there are about 500,000 marriages solemnized annually with less than 10% getting annulled and reported to the National Statistics Office. (Melo M. Acuña) [See that?! Only 10% which is 50 marriages. Proponents of this measure say those who do not have money cannot afford an annulment so they are left stuck with the troublesome relationship. So your solution is to create more problems to solve the problem. Brilliant! We need more iodine in our diet for this one!]
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