Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2012

from the Vatican Information Service 


General Prayer Intention: "That the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives" 


Mission-Intention: "That the dedication of Christians to peace may bear witness to the name of Christ before all men and women of good will"

Ranting Bloggers

I admit, I rant whenever I write a blog. Remember Alter Ego? I was told by a friend of mine to watch what I'm writing. He said, though it's good, some people would be offended that they'll run after my neck. But anyway, that's not the point.

The point is when you rant, you're more egoistic than you could ever imagine. Of course it is an opinion, a violent reaction, perhaps. But sometimes, there are some bloggers out there who, for the love of God, the sanctity of life, the Church, Tradition, and of the Pope, will scrutinize EVERY SINGLE MOVE the local Churches do (and I mean, the Dioceses and Archdioceses here in the Philippines as well as other Ecclesial hotspots over the world).

As a fellow ranter, here's my unsolicited advice:

I once was told by a media practitioner about watching TV: "If you don't like what you see, change the channel." Now, if you don't want the shepherding style of a Bishop, transfer to another diocese. If you don't see the beauty of the Church here in the Philippines, why not reside in Rome? I guess you'll realize how beautiful our faith is through its structures. Or better yet, tell the Bishops what YOU feel before leaving. Tell them everything you know until they understand what you mean.

EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG PART II

by Atty. Marwil Llasos, O.P.

EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG PART II

EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG

PART II

Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.

(See Part I at: http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2011/11/exposing-lies-and-deceptions-of-armando.html)

ARMANDO ANG opens his anti-Catholic book “The Dark Side of Catholicism” with a letter to his “friends in Christ” – his intended readers, i.e., Catholics. With a seeming friendly gesture, Ang started by begging the “indulgence of all Catholics who feel offended by the title or its content.”[1]

The Dark Side of Catholicism: Armando Ang's anti-Catholic bestseller

What else is new? The allegations, attacks and accusations of Armando Ang are nothing new. Ang simply lifted from anti-Catholic polemicists and repackaged them with additional lies and absurd conclusions. What is more appalling in Ang’s version of anti-Catholicism is that it is laden with sheer ignorance and plain hypocrisy. In the succeeding articles, I will debunk Ang point by point, especially the first two chapters of his book which viciously attack Catholic teachings on the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Armando Ang justifies the title of his book that it “seems appropriate because very few know the dark side of their Church history to arrive at an informed decision.”[2] But what is Ang’s basis in concluding thusly? Does he have any statistics showing how “few” are these Catholics who do not know the “dark side” of their Church history? None. In short, Ang’s claims are utterly baseless and founded purely on guesswork.

Catholics are free to consult the history of their Church from readily available sources. Scholarly sources like The New Catholic Encyclopedia are available on-line (see:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/). Books, publications and journals on the history of the Church are extant. Catholics can read for themselves the history of the Church straight from primary sources.

Armando Ang says that it “is incumbent on every believer to know the truth and the truth shall make us free”[3] (citing Jn. 8:32). I fully concur with Ang in this regard. However, it seems that truth is the farthest consideration of Armando Ang in writing his magnum opus The Dark Side of Catholicism. The book is not concerned with the truth at all. It is replete with falsehood from cover to cover. To look for error in Ang’s book is like looking for sand on the beach.

Most of Armando Ang’s references cannot be verified. Ang heavily relies on anti-Catholic sources. He seldom, if at all, allows the Catholic Church to speak for itself. If ever Ang quotes a Church document, he does so by taking it out of context or twists its meaning and interprets it with prejudiced anti-Catholic mindset. In the succeeding articles, I will document how Armando Ang stifles the truth, covers it up and substitutes it with downright lies.

When Ang claims that he is after the truth, well, he does not walk the talk.

Armando Ang packages himself as a Bible Christian. But nothing can be farther from the truth. For instance, Ang holds that “[i]n seeking the truth there is no substitute for reading the Bible.”[4] This statement definitely lumps Ang with the Reformation “sola-scriptura”promoters. However, gauged against this man-made sola scripturabelief, Armando Ang would not be able to cite a single verse that says precisely “in seeking the truth there is no substitute for reading the Bible.”

Another scriptural blunder that Armando Ang makes is his statement that “[t]he Bible is the foundation of Christianity and it alone holds everything necessary for salvation”[5] – a teaching nowhere claimed by Scripture. Noteworthy is the fact that Ang does not even bother to support his statement with verses from the Bible.

Truth to tell, the Bible never says that “the Bible is the foundation of Christianity.” That is an Ang-made dogma not supported by a single shred of scripture. Ang’s statement would seem that Christianity originates from the Bible and not the other way around. I wonder what happened to Ang’s history. What Armando Ang conveniently forgets is that the Church already existed long before there was a complete Bible!

(Source: http://lectionarypowerpoints.com/lectionaryPowerPoints.asp?theDate=2/15/1987)

To repeat, Ang’s teaching that “the Bible is the foundation of Christianity” is unscriptural and anti-Biblical. Nowhere in Sacred Scripture can we find that assertion. If Ang made his homework on the Bible, he would have easily ascertained that the word “foundation” is never - ever – applied to the Bible. To whom (or what) does the Bible apply the word “foundation”? First, of course, is Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:11 that “For other foundationcan no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”[6] How dare Armando Ang rob Christ of that honor!

The Lord Jesus Christ founded His Church on the rock that is Peter: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).

The Lord Jesus Christ gives the keys to the apostle Peter

And to what else does the Bible ascribe the word “foundation”? To the apostles and prophets as categorically stated in Ephesians 2:20: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles andprophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

Finally, Armando Ang must have also forgotten that the Bible itself calls the Church as “foundation.” According to the apostle Paul,“if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15, NIV).

The Church: The Pillar and Foundation of Truth (1 Tim. 3:15)

Let me ask Armando Ang anew: where in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the foundation of Christianity? Chapter and verse, please, Mr. Ang.

If Armando Ang cannot give me a verse, then he is guilty as charged for teaching an un-biblical doctrine. What credibility does Ang still have to preach about the Bible when his teaching has been demonstrated to be anti-Biblical?

Armando Ang lies through his teeth when he says that“[n]othing in the book [The Dark Side of Catholicism] is written against the Catholics.”[7] If Ang’s book is not written against Catholics, then against whom? Muslims? Buddhists? Mormons? Atheists? Protestants? Baptists? Evangelicals?

What do you take us for, Mr. Ang? Your book is written againstus Catholics – and no other. What makes it even more offensive to us is that it caricatures us and attacks the caricature it makes of us. Armando Ang passes off the caricature as though it is one and the same with the Catholic Church. Anent this, the words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen is apropos –

The Servant of God Archbishop Fulton Sheen

“There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church – which is, of course, quite a different thing. These millions can hardly be blamed for hating Catholics because Catholics “adore statues;” because they “put the Blessed Mother on the same level with God;” because they “say indulgence is a permission to commit sin;” because the Pope “is a Fascist;” because the Church “is the defender of Capitalism.” If the Church taught or believed any one of these things, it should be hated, but the fact is that the Church does not believe nor teach any one of them. It follows then that the hatred of the millions is directed against error and not against truth. As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do.”[8]

Armando Ang pathetically claims that his book “is meant to enlighten them.”[9] No, Mr. Ang, your book is meant to deceive Catholics, especially the unwary. The Dark Side of Catholicism is nothing but a pack of brazen lies, heaped with fabrications and laced with innuendoes, speculations and accusations that are expertly woven so as to appear factual and veracious. And for how much do you sell your book?

A frustrated historian, Armando Ang unabashedly claims that “[u]nder the present circumstances, there is a shortage of reading materials regarding the evolution of the Catholic Church that each Catholic should know.”[10] What is Ang’s basis in saying so? None, as he does not even cite a single shred of evidence to prove it. Given his limited bibliography, Ang is unaware of the cornucopia of materials on Church History starting from St. Luke’s The Acts of Apostles, down to Eusebius’ Church History and so on to modern authors and historians, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The Internet provides a limitless resource for Church History that is readily available to anyone. If there’s anyone who is ignorant about Church history, it is Armando Ang.

Armando Ang self-righteously claims that he “would be remiss as a Christian to keep the truth away from the faithful.”[11] The reality is that Ang does not only keep the truth away from the faithful; he distorts it. He is thus not only remiss; he is culpable. Thus, for Ang to use James 4:17[12] as a pretext for his falsehood is an abominable sacrilege – a gross abuse of God’s holy word.

"The Spirit of Truth ... will guide you into all the truth" (Jn. 16:13)

Armando Ang likewise asserts that there “are many teachings of early Catholic Church that have been contaminated by new doctrines that serve no salvation value.” But such an assertion can easily be made.What precisely are these teachings of the early Catholic Church that have been contaminated by new doctrines? Ang does not say. How were these teachings contaminated by new doctrines? Ang keeps us guessing. And what are these new doctrines that serve no salvation value? Ang does not point them our. Bottomline: you have to buy his book. What an effective sales pitch! I feel sorry for those who will buy and be deceived by Ang’s book.

Armando Ang states that the purpose of his book is to separate the truth from the myth. Well, he seems to have succeeded in doing so. He keeps the truth away and retains the myth against Catholicism and passes it off as Gospel truth – and sells it to the public. Ang’s book is a masterpiece of distortion of truth; a magnum opus of bearing false witness against one’s Catholic neighbor.

Jesus Christ remains with His Mystical Body, the Church

Armando Ang avers that the Church has enough saving grace to save Catholics.[13] But the appropriate statement is, the Church has the plenitude of grace from Christ Our Lord to save Catholics. It, too, has the fullness of truth – whether Armando Ang realizes or not. The Church has the promise from Christ that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Mt. 16:18). All hell and Armando Ang may try everything in their venal power to destroy the Church but they will never succeed. Jesus Christ promised us that that He will be with us always until the end of time (Mt. 28:20).

Hell and its cohorts attacking the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church

Finally, Armando Ang claims that his own children are devoted Catholics and ne has never tried to convince them to join another Church.[14] I have no way of verifying the veracity of this claim. But it is certain that Armando Ang does not have credibility even to his children. Otherwise, Ang’s children will join him in his new-found church if they see the quality of their father’s witness. Obviously, they don’t. And here is where Ang’s hypocrisy and inconsistency are painted in bold relief. Earlier he claimed that he would be remiss as a Christian to keep the truth away from the faithful and furthermore said that it is a sin not to do what you know is the right thing to do.[15] If Ang really believes that his devoted Catholic children are on the way to perdition because of their religion, why doesn’t he, as a good father, do the right thing to do to persuade his children by precept and example to leave the Catholic Church? Only Armando Ang can tell.

---

[1] Armando Ang, The Dark Side of Catholicism (Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) flyleaf (the first page after the cover).

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture citations are from the King James Version, Protestant translation of the Bible, which is the favorite translation of Armando Ang.

[7] Armando Ang, The Dark Side of Catholicism (Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) flyleaf.

[8] Fulton Sheen, What is the Catholic Church, available at:

(http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/)

[9] Armando Ang, The Dark Side of Catholicism (Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) flyleaf.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

[13] Armando Ang, The Dark Side of Catholicism (Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) flyleaf.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid.

Grassroots: Sa Wakas! AXIOS!

Naalala n'yo ba ang ginawa ng UST noong Ash Wednesday mga ilang buwan na ang nakakalipas?

Nai-post ko rin yun dito.

Yup... humatol na ang Guinness...

...

...

...

...

at sa wakas...

AT SA WAKAS! NASA GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS NA ANG UST! WOOOO!

SOLI DEO GLORIA: PATRIS, ET FILII, ET SPIRITUS SANCTI!

Axios, mga Tomasino! ¡Levante!

At dahil ito ang ika-99 na post sa MSAG, gagawin kong espesyal ang aking ika-100 post dito. ABANGAN.

Stood and Guided: An Exhortation by Bro. Weldann Panganiban

Original post HERE.

We stand unshaken on one rock!

We are guided on one teaching!

We have no fear, we continue our journey,

As One Church: Holy, Catholic and Apostolic!

Never would we stumble upon the devil’s snare,

Nor do the darkness reign over us.

Always does the Lord love us,

Through his blood, he saves us!

To Peter the Fisherman he entrusts the Church,

Giving him the Keys of the everlasting Kingdom.

Hades will never triumph over it;

Death would never prevail in its ports!

Paul stands bearing Christ the Light,

Guide to the gentiles and stronghold of nations.

Once did he persecute the community of believers,

But he died defending the faith sealed on the Cross.

Peter and Paul! Your blood strengthens the faith!

Your life is holy simplicity, your martyrdom great victory!

You led the flock to the knowledge of the Divine;

You left an example through a life of love and sacrifice.

Blessed would always be the Ecclesia!

Blessed forever is the believer in Christ the Lord!

Trials would always come along our way,

But we will always stand, strong and pure!

Blessed be Peter, the leader and key-holder!

Blessed be Paul, the eminent teacher!

Two great Apostles and Fishers of men,

Two great Pillars, Inspiration and Witness!

Pray for the Church, the Pope and Bishops,

Pray for the Clergy, Laity and Religious.

Pray for the continuous propagation of the Faith

Amongst peoples, tongues, race and nations.

We stand unshaken on one rock!

We are guided on one teaching!

Christ leads us to Eternal Life,

At the end of days, with Him we live!

-------------------------------------------

Bro. Weldann Panganiban is an administrator of 100% Katolikong Pinoy Ministry since the Easter Season this year; and he is among the six current admins, including our Founder, Bro. Francis Raymund Gonzales.. He also maintains two blogs here at Blogspot.

I hope His Holiness will wear this...

Saint

Editorial of The Varsitarian, May 16, 2011.

TENS of thousands of Catholics from all over the world flocked at St. Peter’s Square to witness and rejoice in the beatification of Pope John Paul II last May 1, a showcase of the people’s love and appreciation for the Supreme Pontiff who led the Church for 26 years until his death in 2005. Tens of millions more did the witnessing and rejoicing through the electronic media if not vicariously, at least spiritually. And they weren’t all Catholics. They were people from other denominations and other religions who did not hide the affection and high regard they hold for the new beato.

To the Roman Catholic Church and beyond, the Blessed John Paul II was an example of sheer faith, and love amid strife and the many adversities of life. His successor, Benedict XVI, called him “an immense grace which embraced Rome and the whole world: a grace which was in some way the fruit of my beloved predecessor’s entire life, and especially of his witness in suffering.”

The miracle that qualified the late Pope for beatification was the healing of a similar suffering in Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, a nun who asked for his intercession when Parkinson’s disease was already getting in the way of her duties as a faithful.

The man of humble and tragic beginnings was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland in 1920. At a young age, he faced many loses with “death hovering over the family”—an infant daughter had died before his birth, his mother Emilia passed away a month before he turned nine years old, and his brother Edmund followed three years later. In the midst of the Nazi occupation in 1941, his father Karol had a heart attack and died, leaving the younger Karol completely orphaned.

“At twenty, I had already lost all the people I loved, and even those I might have loved,” the Pope would say in an interview nearly forty years later.

But the man turned to his faith and the Church, even when he was fully capable of taking on other paths given his intellectual talents and charm. His ordination as priest when he was 26 years old would be the start of his swift and surprising climb up the Church’s hierarchy, becoming one of the youngest cardinals in 1967.

The biggest surprise would come on October 16, 1978, when the Sacred College of Cardinals elected him as the 264th pontiff and the first non-Italian one in more than 400 years—a role that he reportedly accepted “before the cardinals with tears in his eyes.”

Speaking on the balcony overlooking the crowd that patiently waited, the reluctant new Pope said that he received the event “in the spirit of obedience to Our Lord and in the total confidence in his Mother, the most holy Madonna.”

From then on, he would be known as John Paul II and would spend the rest of his life with an even bigger family and more responsibilities. As head of one of the biggest sectors of faith in the world, the Supreme Pontiff embraced his newfound kin by traveling to be with them—making him “one of the most-travelled world leaders in history,” reaching more than a hundred countries and visiting the Philippines twice.

His pilgrimages, however, went beyond the Catholic circle. A peacemaker whose charm and sincerity seeped through negotiations, the Pope had touched the hearts and reestablished links with other religious groups like Judaism and Islam. He also met with many political leaders, appealing for peace and better relations.

He would be known by many names and advocacies, one of which is his love and encouragement for the youth. It was in 1985 when he initiated the first World Youth Day (WYD) and it has been held and anticipated since.

His second and last sojourn to the Philippines was for the 1995 World Youth Day in Manila, with its closing Mass at Luneta considered to be the largest Catholic gathering in history. During this visit, the Pope also visited again the University of Santo Tomas, which was hosting the International Youth Forum, the Catholic youth leaders’ forum of WYD. The Pope’s address before the mammoth crowd at the UST Grandstand put in proper perspective while UST enjoys special papal regard historically: “As a pontifical university, Santo Tomás has a special right to the Pope’s attention,” the Pope said. “In fact, this is the third visit of a Pope to the oldest university in Asia: Pope Paul VI came here in 1970; I came in 1981 and now God gives me the grace of being here again to meet the ‘university world’ of the Philippines.” Blessed John Paul added: “As a former university student and professor myself, I feel a special affinity with you. I wish to encourage you to live the University experience with dedication and commitment, in the pursuit of human and academic excellence, with a great sense of responsibility toward your families and society, toward your future and the future of your country.” Years later, when Philippine bishops and clergy visited him in Rome and reminded him about UST and Filipino Catholics, the Pope said he remembered those days “very well [because of] how warmly you received me during the World Youth Day.”

John Paul II dedicated himself to the service of God and the Church amid his long, hard struggle with Parkinson’s disease and the many controversies that he faced during his pontificate. But much like his fond remembrance of the University, John Paul II’s papacy is still regarded not for its shortfalls but its achievements.

Now, only six years after his passing, he has been beatified, which formally declares him among the elect in heaven and worthy of veneration. Even beyond his earthly life, the well-loved Pope is showing us that little miracles can lie in what we decide “to do with the time that is given us.”

Sinner

On the other side of the spectrum is another—but different—kind of remembrance.

Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the only son and namesake of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, has revived the clamor to bury his father’s remains in the Libingan ng mga Bayani—the “hallowed place reserved for heroes,” including former presidents and government dignitaries, Filipino veterans, national artists, and military personnel who died in the line of duty.

The issue, which has been dragging on for decades, has dug up old wounds once again. President Benigno Aquino III, whose father was allegedly killed upon the older Marcos’ orders, may have opened his heart to co-existing with the Marcoses peacefully, but he was not ready to take on this huge decision and tossed it over to Vice President Jejomar Binay to prevent his bias from getting in the way.

The plea would bellow in many sectors, even in Congress, where a resolution was signed by more than 200 congressmen, “urging [Aquino] to allow the burial of Marcos at the Libingan.”

The survey outfit Social Weather Stations found that Filipinos have a “virtually exact split opinion” on the matter after their March 4-7 survey, while the StratPOLLS Inc. saw that 71.6 percent—or seven out of 10—of 250 residents in Metro Manila favor the controversial burial.

Marcos’ remains are in a refrigerated crypt in an “ill-maintained and dilapidated” mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Marcos kin and supporters keep on citing how his mausoleum is unfit for a former president. But it was the megalomania of the Marcos family and supporters that set up the ghastly mausoleum in the first place. As far as the requirements of Christian charity and human respect are concerned, the former strongman had been accorded that when, after dying in Hawaii where he had fled during the Edsa revolution of 1986, his remains were allowed to be brought home. Many countries that have kicked out dictators haven’t allowed their remains to be brought home.

A Catholic country, the Philippines has rewritten the rules on ousted despots and presidents in the interest of charity. But the Marcos family and their minions still insist on burying him at the Libingan because his mausoleum is “dilapidated” and apparently cannot be properly maintained by the billions he had plundered. Apparently the snootiness of his family and followers cannot be backstopped by the billions they had pillaged: since they cannot put their money where their mouth is, they want the people to foot the bill for their superciliousness. Despite the mercy accorded the strongman, his family, and cohorts by the people who allowed them to come home in the first place, they still want to push the envelope; they’re merciless and irredeemable.

It’s an insult to the Edsa revolution and the tens of thousands of human rights abuses under Marcos, as well as those who have worked for the restoration and the nurturance of our democracy that the Marcoses and their sycophants could demand state burial for the ousted despot. It’s an insult to the many men and women—journalists, politicians, and civilians alike—whose rights and lives were put to disdain by the stronghold of the dictator, his thugs, and his kleptocrats.

That the Marcos kin and minions have had the gall to demand a state burial for the strongman—and the fact that the public at large seems willing to go along with them—should indicate that the battle for historical memory is slipping. More and more, Filipinos feel a little kinder toward Marcos not really because his successors haven’t been any better (although that’s part of the reason), but because Filipinos continue to be infected by short memory and shallow thinking: they can’t seem to understand that many of the ills affecting the nation now owes to martial law and Marcos’ scornful decision in 1972 to destroy the rules of the democratic game so as to perpetuate himself in power by corrupting the military and the body politic. The Filipino people should not disgrace themselves further: they should say No to burying Marcos at the Libingan and say Yes to charity with, above all, truth and justice.

The Polish Pope and the Filipino People

What does Blessed Pope John Paul II have in common with Juan dela Cruz?

The names of their countries both start with the letter P.

Their capital cities (Warsaw and Manila, respectively) were both heavily devastated during World War II.

Their countries are predominantly Catholic.

Majority of Pole and Filipino Catholics are both Marian in devotion.

Both countries recite the Three-O'-Clock Prayer and have a devotion to the Lord's Divine Mercy (which is anyway celebrated today, always in the Second Sunday of Easter).

They both fought for social justice (the Polish people more successful than the Filipinos).

And most of all...

THEIR PEOPLES ARE HAPPY THAT THIS YOUTH-LOVING, LIFE-ADVOCATING PONTIFF WILL BE BEATIFIED TODAY!

Blessed John Paul II, PRAY FOR US! 

PAHALAGAHAN ANG BUHAY

(Homily delivered by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales during the Mass at the Prayer Rally “Filipinos! Unite Under God” at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, on March 25,2011, Feast of the Annunciation and Day of the Unborn Child, at 7 p.m.) Nagsalita ang Panginoong Diyos kay Moises at sa mga sumasampalataya sa kanya nang ganito: “Tatawagin ko ang langit at lupa na sumaksi laban sa inyo. ‘Ihahain ko sa inyo ay buhay o kamatayan, ang pagpapala o ang sumpa. Piliin na ninyo ang buhay, nang sa gayo’y kayo at ang inyong salin-lahi ay mabuhay sa pagibig ng Panginoong inyong Diyos, tumatalima at nananatili sa Kanya.” (Deuteronomio 30:19).                Simulan natin ang pagninilay sa prinsipyo na ang buhay ay ang pinakamahalagang biyaya na kaloob ng Panginoong Diyos sa sinumang tao. Ito ang matinding paniniwala at turo ng Simbahang Katoliko na ang buhay ng tao, kahima’t mahina or nagdurusa ay palaging isang pinakamalaking biyaya ng kabutihan ng Diyos (Familiaris Consortio, n. 30). Kapag hindi ninyo pinahalagahan ang buhay na iyan sa alinman o saan mang yugto ng buhay ng tao (sanggol, foetus, matanda, malakas o mahina), hinding-hindi igagalang ang buhay ng sinuman --- at diyan kapag wala ng halaga o walang pagpapahalaga, wala ng magtatanggol sa buhay, dadayain ang buhay na yan, aapihin, kikidnapin na, pagsisinungalingan na, pagnanakawan na ang buhay na ‘yan ng tao! Kanya napaka-ganda ang pagtuturo ng Simbahan --- alagaan, ipagtanggol at itaguyod ang buhay. Huwag hahadlangan ng anuman sandata o anumang artipisyal na paraan ang buhay. Ang paglalapastangan sa buhay na iyan, malakas man o mahina, na ating laging, pinapahalagahan ay labag sa kulturang Pilipino tungkol sa buhay ng tao. (Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 January 2011). Ang kahirapan ng tao o kaya’y ang pagdami ng tao ay likas na merong solusyon at ang kasagutan dito ay aral na rin ng Panginoong Hesukristo. Una, ang yaman ng daigdig or kaya’y ang pinagsikapan ng tao ay sapa’t na at sobra pa upang pagsaluhan ng lahat. “Magmahalan kayo” at magdamayan sa ngalan ng pagibig. Ikalawa, mayroong paraan na inilagay ang Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng katawan ng lalaki at babae, na ito ay marapat alamin o pag-aralan upang matiyak ang mga araw kung kalian maaaring madulot ng panibagong buhay sa pagtatalik ang binhi ng lalaki at babae. Sa bawa’t pagtatalik ang mag-asawa ay maaaring maging katuwang ng Panginoong Diyos sa paglikha ng panibagong buhay. (Humanae Vitae, n. 11). Banal ang buhay ng magasawa at sapagkat ito ay banal ito ay ginagantihan ng Panginoong Diyos ng tuwa at ligaya ang bawa’t pagsasama ng sinuman magasawa, sapagka’t habang buhay nilang ipag-papatuloy ang masidhing pangangalaga hanggang sa ang mga anak ay akayin sa kabutihang asal, banal ring pamumuhay na mayroong pagdamay at paggalang sa kapwa hanggang sa katandaan. Mayroon naming natural na paraan sa paghahanda sa mahalagang buhay na iyan. At iyan ang tinatawag na NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING. At ito ay kaloob ng Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng bawat tao, lalaki or babae. Alam ng makapangyarihang Panginoong Diyos na darating ang araw na dapat lalung pag-aralan at may pananagutang balakin ang dakilang paghahanda sa buhay na iyan. Kung kaya’t inilagay ng Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng katawan ng tao—lalaki at babae—ang wasto at tiyak na paraan at panahon ng hinog na binhi (ng buhay) para magsilang ng bagong buhay ng tao, lalang, at sa kawangis at kalarawan ng Diyos. (Henesis 1:27). Sa pag-aaral ng paraan para tiyakin ang mahalaga at banal na mga sandaling ng nahihinog na binhi ng buhay, malalaman ng sinuman ang mga banal na sandaling iyan—at kailangan naman sa mga tiyak na sandal at araw na iyan ang pagtitimpi, pagpigil sa sarili (pagpigil sa pang-gigigil). Yan ang sakripisyo ng tao. Alalaon baga ay kailangan ang mga sandal ng disiplina. Kapag may disiplina sa kama, tiyak na magkakaroon ng disiplina sa kalsada, maging sa pitaka (karta moneda). Dito mapapahalagahan natin ang “values” na itinuturo ng Simbahan. Banal po mga kapatid ang Gawain ng mag-asawa, kaya naman ginagantihan ng Butihing Diyos ng ligaya at tuwa ang mag-asawa hindi lamang sa pagtatalik, kung hindi hanggang sa mapalaki sa kabutihang asal, kabaitan at akayin sa kabanalan ang kanilang mga anak. Kasama diyan ng magasawa ang Panginoong Diyos. At ang tapat na magasawa ay hindi pinababayaan ng Panginoon. Banal ang pag-aasawa; banal ang pagtatalik sapagka’t ito ay kalakip ng pagbibigay ng buhay na galling sa Panginoong Diyos. Hindi ito laru-laruan na ituturo sa mga bata sa paggamit ng goma, lobo o condom, para iwasan daw ang sakit? Bakit mga bata ang tuturuan ng ganitong laro? Hindi po ba ang tamang ituro sa kabataan ay ang magandang halimbawa ng matatanda at ang kahalagahan ng buhay, ang kabanalan ng pagpipigil sa sarili na ang tawag ay disiplina? Ang awag po noong una ay kapag may pagpipigil, mayroong disiplina at paggalang at magkakaroon din ng Karakter ang tao. Ngayon ang gusting ipamulat sa kabataan ay ito: gamitin ang goma, maglaro kayo! Ganyan kabarato ang buhay ng tao ngayon. Salamat at mayroong Simbahan at salamat at mayroong Pananampalataya na nagpapaalaala pa (kahit mayroong ilang mga mambabatas o matatanda na kakaiba ang isip na hindi na mabuting makapangaral, hindi na kayang magpagturo ng magandang asal at batas na magpapabalik pa sa dahan-dahang nawawala at nanghihinang magandang hiyas na ating kabihasnang Pilipino. At bakit bata pa ay tinuturuan na ang mga anak ng ilang mga matatanda at mambabatas sa pag-iwas sa responsibilidad at ang pagwawalang bahala sa katuwiran at kalinisan? (Sa pangalan daw ng sanidad at kalusugan). Puro maalawang palusot ang gustong ituro sa kabataan ng ilang mambabatas—kanya ganiyan ang magiging bukas ng Pilipinas—mga mamayan na puro palusot, lahat ng padulas ang alam. May peligrong mawawala ang halag (value) ng kristiyano at tunay na Filipino. Ang dapat ituro sa kabataan ay kalinisan ng budhi, kalinisan ng puso, disiplina at pagpipigil sa sarili at paggalang sa hindi sariling pera. Anong klaseng panukalang batas itong RH Bill na kung maging batas na, at ang itinuro o ipaliwanag ng Simbahan at mga naglilingkod dito ay ang katwiran ng galing sa Bibliya, Pananampalataya at konsensiya ng Kristiyano tungkol sa Buhay at Kalinisan, sa halip na ang turo ay ang RH law, ay maaaring papag-multahin o ibilanggo ang mga ito? Paparusahan pa ang sumusunod sa konsensiya at Pananampalataya. Hindi ito ang Pilipinas! Hindi na tayo babanggit ng anumang bansa, pero hindi ito ang Pilipinas na minahal at pinag-alayan ng buhay ng mga bayani, sampo ng tatlong Pari --- Padre Mariano Gomez, Padre Jose Burgos, at Padre Jacinto Zamora. Sa El Filibusterismo, ang unang pahina ay inihandog ni Jose Rizal sa tatlong pari na iyan. (At ang gusto pang alalahanin ng ilan ay si DAMASO na ito naman ay hindi Pilipino!)                 Ito ang paninindigan ng Simbahan: 1. Ang pagmamalasakit sa katatayuan ng maraming mahihirap, lalo na ang mga nagdurusang kababaihan na nagsusumikap upang gumanda ang buhay at kailangan pang mangibang bayan upang kamtin ito o kailangan pang pumasok sa isang hindi disenteng paghahanap-buhay. Nababagabag ang Simbahan diyan. 2. Ang Simbahang Katoliko ay para sa buhay at dapat ipagsanggalang ang buhay ng tao mula sa sandal na ito ay ipaglihi o mabuo hanggang sa natural ng katapusan nito. 3. Naniniwala ang Simbahan sa mapanagutang (responsible) pagsasaayos ng bilang at panahon ng pagsisilang sa pamamagitan ng Natural Family Planning. Dito kailangan ang pagbuo ng matatag na kalooban (character building) na nagtataglay ng sakripisyo, disiplina at paggalang sa dangal ng asawa. Kung wala kang sakripisyo, hindi ka makakabuo ng karakter. 4. Ang sinumang tao ay tagapangasiwa lamang ng kanyang katawan. Ang pananagutan sa ating katawan ay dapat umalinsunod sa kalooban ng Diyos na nangungusap sa atin sa pamamagitan ng konsensiya (budhi). Kapag hindi pinakinggan at iginalang ang tinig na ‘yan ng Diyos (sa konsensiya), yayanigin at lilindulin, hindi ang bundok at dagat, kung hindi ang budhing ‘yan ng sinumang tao. 5. Aming paninindigan na sa mga pagpili kaugnay ng RH Bill, ang budhi (konsensiya) ay hindi lamang sapat na kabatiran kung hindi higit sa lahat ay ginagabayan ng mga itinuturo ng kanyang pananampalataya. 6. Naniniwala kami sa kalayaan sa relihiyon at sa karapatan ng pagtutol ayon sa budhi (konsensiya) sa mga bagay na labag sa sariling pananampalataya. Ang nakapataw at parusa sa napapaloob sa minumungkahing RH Bill ay dahilan para sa aming pagtutol dito. (Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 January 2011). May panahon pa upang maiwasan ang trahedya moral na idudulot ng RH Bill. Baguhin ang mga panukalang ‘yan, o ibagsak ang kayang kabuuan ng siyang pugad ng walang paggalang sa buhay, pagkawala ng responsibilidad at disiplina na siyang tunay na kailangan ngayon ng tao at bayan. Kung ang mga bata ay natuturuan pa ng Simbahan, ang mambabatas ay amin rin pinapaalalahan. Lahat kayo, ngayon at bukas, ay kasama sa aming dalangin. Pagpalain kayong lahat at ang Bayan ng Poong Maykapal! Mahal tayo ng Diyos at alaga ng Ina ni Hesus! +G.B.ROSALES Prayer Rally Feast of the Annunciation 25 March 2011