SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON DURING THESE CONFUSING TIMES

Dear friends,

As a priest, pastor, counselor, teacher, and preacher, I uphold the passionate search for truth in justice and charity. As a teacher of moral theology, when faced with moral dilemmas, such as what the nation is confronted with now, I counsel and uphold the process of moral discernment, especially if what we are tempted to do is another action that has enormous consequences on our total well-being as a nation and people, on issues that pertain to the common good, and on our basic sense of trust and mistrust on institutions, including the Church. Whilst I am sympathetic to calls for moral reform, I am wary of knee-jerk reactions that may come, not from a careful, prudent, and objective reading of events, but from a carefully calibrated and orchestrated media blitz that may stand in the way of due process. I don't ask you to believe all that is contained in what is enclosed. All I ask for, as I always say, is sobriety.

As a moral theology professor, I often speak of the need for all of us to be media prosumers, at the very least ( and not just consumers), if we cannot be media purveyors. In this age marked and marred by so many tempting and seemingly cogent calls of the so-called "media moment" - full of memorable sound bytes and quotable slogans, that end up reducing basically complex events and realities to "one liners" and simplistic issues of "right versus wrong," where media can tend, not only to report events, but also, to create events; where individuals can be made or unmade, reduced to being despiccable non-entities, or catapulted to near divine status, one would be well-advised to pause, and perhaps choose to follow the beat of a different drummer.

I am one with you all in condemning corruption in the strongest possible terms. My personal suspicions resonate with much of what is being noisily touted over the air lanes and the world of print. I am one with you in my desire to get to the bottom of things, uphold moral truth, and I cry passionately for justice, on behalf of the voiceless and countless poor who only stand to lose the most if things go on as before, if the same elitist, exploitative political system goes on its merry way.

But my passionate dedication to truth is not the only value I uphold. I also value the common good. Faced with a moral dilemma as I personally am, given the tempting calls before me of what we have, unfortunately, gotten a bit too much used to doing, that is, mount another people power, no doubt with very valid and legitimate concerns, I am led to weigh "goods" and weigh "consequences." I want the truth alright. I want justice too. But when faced with the far ranging consequences that another people power would most likely cause, I am held back. I want truth, but not at all costs. I want justice, but whilst we all should work together for it, in the spirit of performative hope, I am not too sure, another people power would guarantee both. For last thing I heard is, those issues are as old as Adam and Eve - with their hemming and hawing, with their denials and deflection tactics, with their basically gross act of disobedience to God. That I am sure, you are willing to concede, is also what is basically at stake, and at the bottom of all this brouhaha.

I am not a politician. I am, as our Bishops say, not supposed to tell government and civil leaders what to do. But I am not about to pass off my right, privilege and moral duty to enlighten the people of God, (or at the very least, those whom I encounter somehow in both the physical and cyber world). So, one with our pastors, I offer what I feel is our line of expertise - moral guidance to assist us in the process of discernment. And I would like to echo what the Bishops taught last 26 February. They defined the basic moral issue at stake - the culture of corruption on all levels of our sick society. They called everyone to task: the President, the Senate, the so called "opposition," the Media, and all of us individually and collectively. We are all in this together.

I support the passionate pleas for truth of all sectors in our society, yes ... including all those who happen to ride on the issue because they really are after something else. As a psychotherapist, I know -as everyone else does- what immense damage ulterior motives that are sugar-coated with seemingly innocuous and even valid intentions and concerns, can do to oneself and others. Declared intentions are always good. But the underlying motives beneath those declared intentions that we ourselves may not be aware of, are ultimately more damaging in the long run. I support truth. The Church supports truth. Right now, with too many declared and undeclared intentions and motives from both sides, with both sides guilty of doing so called dirty tactics, with ultimate goals as many as there are groups in the rainbow coalition of forces asking for change, I know I would be well advised, not to jump with the bandwagon of powerful forces, who have already decided on what truth to uphold and to claim, or whose truth to side with.

This is the reason why I call for sobriety. The media frenzy does not support sobriety. They can tend to be inflammatory, like the fiery speeches of those who have stuck their necks out a bit too prematurely with one side or the other. I see lurking dangers. I sense danger in the rapid erosion of trust in institutions. The Senate does not trust the Supreme Court. The legislative department does not trust the Executive. The list can go on. In such an unfolding scenario, given the fractious disunited, and even wrangling picture projected by the only institution that ought to remain trustworthy - the Church, then, precious little shred of human - lesser - hope, remains for us. We might as well throw the rule of law out the proverbial window forever! And then people power becomes the end all and be all of our political lives. It becomes the supreme arbiter of all our political immaturity and a testament, perhaps to what we have for so long been maligned with - a damaged culture.

Thanks for bearing up with this lengthy piece. You owe it to your children and grandchildren to be committed towards helping make this country rise up to the challenges of our mostly self-inflicted problems. We all are part of the problem. We all can be part of the solution

ANOTHER MODEST CONTRIBUTION TO OUR ONGOING SAGA FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE

N.B. I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE MY CALL FOR SOBRIETY AND LEVEL-HEADEDNESS IN THE FACE OF ALL THE CONFUSION THAT LEADS THIS COUNTRY TO THE BRINK OF CHAOS. I AM REMINDED OF A LINE THAT IS SO CLEAR IN THE CURRENTLY SHOWING FILM "THE FLOCK." ONE WHO TRIES TO DO BATTLE WITH MONSTERS MUST TAKE CARE, IT SAYS, THAT HE DOES NOT BECOME A MONSTER HIMSELF.

TOGETHER WITH ALL THOSE WHO CRY FOR TRUTH, I ALSO BEG FOR THE TRUTH. I ALSO CRY OUT AGAINST CORRUPTION ESPECIALLY THE KIND PERPETRATED SHAMELESSLY BY PEOPLE ON TOP. BUT MY CONCERN FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY IS GREATER THAN MY DESIRE, NO MATTER HOW PASSIONATE AND INTENSE, THAT THIS COUNTRY IS RID OF ALL THESE HIGH PROFILE THIEVES IN OUR SOCIETY AT THE SOONEST POSSIBLE TIME AND AT ALL COSTS.

WE WANT THE TRUTH. ACTUALLY WE ALREADY KNOW THE TRUTH, EXCEPT THOSE WHO ARE BUSY TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND THE CLOAK OF LEGALITY TO DENY THE TRUTH. WE KNOW THE EVEN MORE GLARING TRUTH THAT WE AS A PEOPLE ARE A SINFUL AND CORRUPT NATION, STARTING FROM THE HIGH PROFILE CROOKS WHO RUN THIS COUNTRY, YES, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE SO VOCIFEROUS IN INVESTIGATING THE SO-CALLED TRUTH. CORRUPTION PLAGUES OUR CULTURE MUCH WORSE THAN DENGUE IS ENDEMIC EVERYWHERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. BUT THIS BATTLE IS BIGGER THAN GMA, BIGGER THAN ALL OF US PUT TOGETHER, NAY MORE, BIGGER THAN LIFE ITSELF.

WE HAVE TO BE LEVEL HEADED BEFORE WE ALLOW THIS MEDIA FRENZY AND THE GROWING THIRST FOR BLOOD TO TAKE THE BETTER OF US, BEFORE WE PLUNGE IRREVERSIBLY TO CHAOS, THANKS TO THE HIDDEN AGENDAS OF THE POWER PLAYERS BEHIND ALL THIS, WHO JUST WANT TO HOLD THE REINS OF POWER. WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK, AND DISCERN WHETHER OUR DESIRE TO BUILD THE FENCE OF TRUTH-TELLING REALLY BOILS DOWN TO DESTROYING THE WALL OF OUR COMMON WEAL, AND A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL OF US AND THE PEOPLE COMING AFTER US.

I SEE ESPECIALLY THE DANGER BEHIND THIS MEDIA MOMENT, CAPITALIZED MOST ESPECIALLY BY THE HERO OF THE DAY, J LO, AND HIS RABID HANDLERS AND SUPPORTERS. NOT THAT I DON'T BELIEVE IN WHAT HE SAYS. IT IS JUST THAT BY SAYING TOO MUCH, BY ENGAGING IN SO MANY "PA CUTE ANTICS," WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM NUNS AND SEMINARIANS, WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM MEDIA HOOPLA GONE WILD, WE MAY BE DOING A GREAT DISSERVICE, NOT TO THE TRUTH PER SE (VERACITY), BUT TO THE PROCESS OF TRUTH-TELLING ITSELF (VERIDICITY).

WE ARE FIGHTING A BIG AND HORRIBLE MONSTER. LET US NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF BECOMING MONSTERS OURSELVES!

I WOULD LIKE TO APPEND AN ARTICLE THAT IS WORTH REFLECTING ON. WHILST I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE SAYS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT OUGHT TO MERIT OUR CLOSE SCRUTINY.

MEN & EVENTS
By Alito L. Malinao
The role the Church must play

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has been pilloried for refusing to join the mob calling for the resignation of President Arroyo.

Among the most disappointed by the CBCP action, or inaction, were the civil society groups, political opposition, militant organizations and a giant television network whose greatest passion is to work for the downfall of the Arroyo administration.

The insidious plot of the triumvirate in the CBCP, composed of Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Yniquez, Jr. and Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, was obviously trounced by the bishops from Mindanao who maintained that allegations of corruption in the Arroyo administration have not been proven in court and, therefore, the call for a "brand-new people power" against Mrs. Arroyo is unjustified.

As a result, Butuan City Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos is spearheading a move to oust Lagdameo as CBCP president for allegedly allowing himself to be influenced by Cruz and other radical bishops.

Hidden agenda

Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD, is a long-time friend of media and is himself a media person writing a column at the Manila Bulletin. I have heard the mild-mannered Father Bel several times because he is always invited to say mass at the National Press Club whenever an NPC member dies or when there are religious functions at the club.

In his latest column, Father Bel said today there is no longer any distinction between prayer rallies and political rallies, and holy or unholy masses.

The good father said that many prayer rallies and masses have become "forums and launching pads for political attacks under the guise of religious activities." And the best example could be the so-called interfaith rally held last Friday in Makati City .

Then he asked: "How can they be religious when their hidden agenda is motivated by hatred and mob rule aimed at ousting the President and destabi­lizing the country?"

Indeed, it is high time for the Roman Catholic Church to reexamine its priorities and motives. Is the Church still the voice of reason and moderation? Or is it now engaged in sowing hatred among its flocks? What happened to the basic Christian values of love and compassion for others?

Moratorium on politics

We still believe in the huge influence of the Catholic Church in our lives. But while it is correct to condemn the "continuing culture of corruption" in our country as it had done in its latest pastoral letter, the Church could have done more.

And since its main function is to provide moral and spiritual guidance to the faithful, the Church could have:

1. Called for a moratorium on all political activities for at least one year. This would definitely ease tension and help bring stability and progress to our country.

2. Started the process of true national reconciliation by initiating a dialogue among the warring political factions and groups, thus preventing the deterioration of the already-precarious situation.

3. Urged the Senate to stop all its investigations on alleged irregularities in government and let the courts decide on the charges so that the "august chamber" can attend to its legislative functions.

4. Persuaded former President Cory Aquino to calm down and not exacerbate the people's restiveness. After all, Aquino herself has been the subject of several resignation calls during her term, some even made through the bloodiest coup attempts in our history. But

did she resign?

5. Reminded former President Joseph Estrada that it was President Arroyo who saved him from life imprisonment. Estrada is now calling Mrs. Arroyo an illegitimate president, forgetting that as an illegitimate president, her act of granting him pardon is null and void from the start.

6. Stopped the "canonization" of Jun Lozada by some religious factotums now that he is unmasked not just as corrupt as the people he has accused of corruption but is also morally-flawed having admitted that he has another family.

7. Told the Makati business leaders to concentrate on making money instead of joining the chorus for Mrs. Arroyo's ouster. After all, despite the "sins" of the Arroyo administration, they are now raking in huge profits as a result of the improved economic conditions in the country.

8. And purged the CBCP of the Pharisees whose actions betray their ingrained hatred for President Arroyo and thus do not have the moral ascendancy to preach reconciliation and Christian love.

It is not too late. The Catholic Church can still redeem itself. And if it will do this, then it can be a true vehicle for peace and reconciliation among our people. And the epiphany that we have sought in our hearts for so long can be ours finally.