2006 is the
Year of Social Concerns
HIGHLIGHTING THE YEAR OF SOCIAL CONCERNS
Homily of Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo
on the Occasion of the
Celebration of the Year of Social Concerns
May 11, 2006
Cathedral of Manila
The Gospel just proclaimed to our hearing is both consoling and frightening. Jesus Christ is warning us that we will be judged by our love. We will be judged at the end of our life by our response to the social concerns of the least of the members of God’s family. The Lord Jesus reminds us of the warning that he had given us, whether we go to our reward or go to our punishment: “Whatever you did or did not do to the least of my brethren, you did or did not do to me.”
More than just to remind us of this Gospel message, the CBCP in its January Pastoral Statement “Renewing Our Public Life Through Moral Values,” has declared this year 2006 as a “Social Concerns Year,” a year to remind ourselves that we can renew our nation, we can transform our country as well us our social relationships through the concerns we show to the least of our brethren.
At the same time, we would like to celebrate the 40th year of the end of the Second Vatican Council and the 40th anniversary of the foundation of our National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA), the CBCP’s arm in the social action ministry. Down through the years, since its beginning in 1945 as Catholic Welfare Organization, the CBCP has issued more than 200 pastoral letters, statements, and exhortations, some 80% of which have been responding to social issues, questions and concerns. This was the way the CBCP as a conference has guided the Filipino People. This year is likewise the 15th anniversary of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP-II), that historic event which has helped the bishops in the pastoral plans. The PCP-II was our official way of accepting the Second Vatican Council.
The Church offers moral and spiritual guidance in the development of social consciousness and social conscience. The social doctrine that we declared in PCP-II are as urgent and necessary today as then, probably even more urgent and necessary. That is why in this Year of Social Concerns, I would like to recommend that we return to the social doctrine that we have outlined there, if only to get some ideas or inspiration for particular social action in our respective Christian Communities or organizations.
What I humbly intend to do is to recall in an outline form the Social Doctrine of the Church which we have already declared in PCP-II, the basis and foundation of our social concern.
On the subject of human dignity and solidarity, we said at the PCP-II that “Each person no matter how poor and uneducated is endowed with an inalienable dignity as an image of God, a child of God, redeemed by God and entrusted with an eternal destiny..” How can this principle be violated? We said: “The concentration of economic wealth and political power in the hands of the few is an affront to human dignity and solidarity.” Human dignity and solidarity are fundamental values from which our development as a people must proceed” (cf. PCP-II, 296).
On the universal purpose of earthly goods and private property, we at PCP-II declared, with St. Ambrose: “You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to him what is his. For what has been given in common for the use of all, you have arrogated to yourself. The world is given to all, and not only to the rich.” Private property is therefore subordinated to the universal destination of goods. “This would dictate, for instance, not the hoarding of capital nor its flight (in another country), but its use to create jobs for the unemployed” (cf. 301; 303).
On social justice and love, we declared that justice rejects such situations as dishonesty in the market place, graft and corruption in private and public life, and unjust wages for employees. “Nationalist desires, ecological concerns, issues of integrity and transparency in public and private life, rampant gambling with its attendant evils affecting the family, the youth and public authorities, conflicts created by favoring short term benefits for the few which can only bring long term disaster for the many are issues that involve social justice” (304). While the demand of justice is implied by love, still justice “attains its inner fullness only in love.”
On active non-violence, the PCP-II declared: “Peaceful but persuasive rallies, assemblies, marches, demonstrations, strikes and acts of ‘passive resistance’ to unjust laws can be very effective even if non-violent. A strategy of non-violence requires solidarity of spirit as well as of action…. The move towards a ‘gunless society’ advocated by many concerned Filipinos is illustrative of the strategy and of the spirit of active non-violence” (309).
The love of preference for the poor “is a basic attitude that must pervade all plans and legislation for development, long skewed to favor the better sectors of our society. In the Scriptures, the prophets were known for their denunciations of injustices against the poor. … It urges us to be more concerned about the substantive issues concerning street children, the unemployed, poor fishermen, farmers and workers, exploited women, slum dwellers, sidewalk vendors and beggars, Tribal Filipinos and others at the margins of human and social life” (314).
On the value of human work. “The twin principles of the dignity of human work and the priority of labor over capital need to be urgently applied to our situation where workers’ rights are too often sacrificed for profit and workers discarded as chattels according to the demands of capital” (319). Likewise necessary is just legislation to ensure the entire range of workers’ rights. Without such assistance, a just development in the world of work will not take place.
On the integrity of creation: “a true and just development must fundamentally be concerned with a passionate care for our earth and our environment. Fishing, mining, and logging contribute enormously to the national coffers, but when done with inadequate safeguards for ecological integrity, moral issues are involved. Our natural resources are not to be exploited as though they were inexhaustible. Destruction can be irreparable and irreversible.” This is what the bishops with mining concerns in their respective diocese have been saying.
On “People Power” as People Empowerment. No social transformation is genuine and lasting where people themselves do not actively participate in the process. No integral development of people is possible without their corresponding empowerment. ”Today we understand ‘people power’ to subsume basic ideas that go beyond the mere gathering of people in support of a cause. We understand ‘people power’ to include greater involvement in decision-making, greater equality in both political and economic matters, more democracy, more participation” (326). We need to encourage the emergence of people’s organizations, sectoral associations and the like, inspired by the principle of solidarity and empowered by the principle of subsidiarity.
“The possibilities of people power are enormous in the economic and political fields, such as in determining the directions of change, deciding policies, implementing projects and monitoring them so that the common good may be truly served” (328). Empowering people is thus a prerequisite in the renewal of our country. Without it, our destiny as a people would remain in the hands of the few.
In this year of Social Concerns, I encourage a return or a review of what the Church has been teaching when it held the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines.
Homily of Most Rev. Mylo Hubert C. Vergara on
the occasion of the
Launching of the Year of Social Concerns in the
Dioceses of Cabanatuan and San Jose, Nueva Ecija
Freedom Park, Cabanatuan City
August 5, 2006
"MAKINIG KAY HESUS NA LUBOS NA KINALULUGDAN NG AMA"
Lubhang Kagalang-galang Sofronio Bancud, Obispo ng Diyosesis ng Cabanatuan. Ang Kaparian, relihiyoso at relihiyosa, mga seminarista, mga layko ng Diyosesis ng Cabanatuan at Diyosesis ng San Jose sa ating lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija. Mga minamahal na kapatid kay Kristo. Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat!
Tinatapos po natin ang matagumpay na “prayer rally” na ito sa pamamagitan ng banal na misa na natataon sa pagdiriwang natin ng Kapistahan ng Pagbabagong-anyo ng Panginoon. Mapalad tayo dahil may hamong ipinababaon sa atin ang kapistahang ito para lubusang maisakatuparan ang kalooban ng Diyos para sa kanyang sambayanan.
Sa pagbabagong-anyo ng Panginoong Hesus sa harap nina Pedro, Santiago at Juan, isang tinig ang nagsabi: "Ito ang minamahal kong Anak. Pakinggan ninyo siya!" Ito ang tinig ng Ama sa langit na naghamon sa mga apostol na pakinggan si Hesus na lubos niyang kinalulugdan.
Sa buong hapong ito, tayo’y natitipon bilang sambayanan ng Diyos, bilang Katawan ni Kristo, upang ipahayag ang hinaing ni Kristo, ang mga hinaing ng isang sambayanang ang tanging pagnanasa ay matupad ang kalooban ng Ama. Ito ang hinaing di lamang ng mga taga-Nueva Ecija kundi ng bawat tao sa balat ng lupa: ang hinaing na matapos na ang karukhaan, karahasan, ang paglapastangan sa karapatang pantao, at higit sa lahat ang kawalan ng pakialam sa mga nagaganap na kasamaan at katiwalian sa ating kapaligiran na sumisira sa buhay ng bawat tao at pamilya.
Pinakikinggan ba natin si Hesus? Pinakikinggan ba natin ang nagdurusang Katawan ni Kristo? Sinusunod ba natin ang utos ng ating Ama sa langit na pakinggan ang kanyang Anak?
Isang sakit ng tao ay magbingi-bingihan. Mabuti sana kung tayo ay talagang bingi at walang marinig. Pero mabuti pa ang bingi dahil ginagamit ang kanyang mata upang maging batayan ng kanyang pagkilos. Kapag may nakita siya na hindi maganda at sisira sa kanyang pagkatao o kanyang kapwa, agad siyang kumikilos upang protektahan ang kanyang sarili at ibang kasama.
Mga minamahal na kapatid, tayo'y may mata at tainga. Mas lamang tayo sa bingi. Bukod sa marami tayong naririnig, may nakikita pa tayo. Hinahamon tayo ng Panginoong Diyos na makinig sa mga hinaing na ating nasasaksihan at tumugon! Tayong lahat ay may responsibilidad na magtulungan upang mapanatili ang kaayusan, kapayapaan at katarungan sa ating mundong ginagalawan. Sa ating konteksto, bawat mamamayan ng Nueva Ecija, kasama ang mga pinunong lokal, mga pulis at sundalo at tayong naglilingkod sa simbahan ay hinahamong gawin ang nararapat ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos.
Alam nating likas sa Pilipino na mainis at magalit sa inaapi at inaalipusta. Ayaw nating may nadedehado at natatalo ng walang kalaban-laban. Lalong likas sa atin ang matuwa kapag kabutihan ang nanaig at nagtatagumpay. Halimbawa, kapag nanood tayo ng teleseryeng "Bituing Walang Ningning," naiinis tao kay Lavinia at kanyang inang si Barbara na gustong hadlangan ang pag-angat at tagumpay ni Dorina. Natutuwa tayo kapag natatalo at nagagapi ni “Captain Barbel” ang masasamang loob at makapangyarihang kalaban katulad nina Boris, Erotica, Vaporo, at Cyborg 55-66.
Kung likas sa atin ang mapoot sa kasamaan at magalak sa kabutihan, sana huwag na tayong magbingi-bingihan. Maging instrumento tayo ng kaayusan, kapayapaan at katarungan sa bawat isa.
Ang tanong ay paano? Isang matingkad na doktrinang panlipunan ng simbahan ang dapat nating unawain at pangalagaan. Ano ito? ANG SAGRADONG DIGNIDAD NG TAO.
Sinasabi ng doktrinang panlipunan ng simbahan: "A just society can become a reality only when it is based on the respect of the transcendent dignity of the human person. The person represents the ultimate end of society, by which it is ordered to the person... In no case therefore, is the human person to be manipulated for ends that are foreign to his own development..." (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church ## 132-333)
Ibig sabihin: kapag may gawain na sisira o sumumisira na sa dignidad ng tao, ito ay hindi makatarungan. Kapag ang isang gawain ay ipinipilit sa isang tao at yumuyurak sa kanyang pagkatao, sinisira ang kanyang pamumuhay, pinaghihiwalay ang kanyang pamilya, negatibong umaapekto sa kanyang buhay moral at espritwal, at nagiging sanhi upang matakot siyang gumalaw ng malaya sa mundo niyang ginagalawan, ito'y hindi makatarungan at makatao. Halimbawa, kung ang isang miyembro ng New People's Army (NPA) ay mananakot at kukuha ng tinatawag na "revolutionary tax" sa isang mamamayan ng Nueva Ecija, labag ito sa pagrespeto sa dignidad ng tao at hindi ito makatarungan. Kaya nga sinasabi rin ng doktrinang panlipunan ng simbahan: "The person cannot be a means for carrying out economic, social or political projects imposed by some authority, even in the name of the alleged progress of the civil community as a whole or of other persons, either in the present or the future." (Compendium #133) Ang isang ideyolohiyang ipinipilit ng isang tao o grupo sa ngalan daw ng pangkalahatang kabutihan na walang paggalang sa kalayaan ng tao ay hayagang kawalang paggalang sa kanyang dignidad.
Ganun din, kung may isang sundalo o pulis na basta na lamang dadampot ng isang mamamayan ng Nueva Ecija, bubugbugin at paaminin na kasabwat o miyembro ng NPA, labag ito sa pagrespeto sa dignidad ng tao at hindi ito makatarungan. Mas malala kung ito'y mauuwi pa sa pagpatay ng mga inosenteng sibilyan na nanahimik sa kanilang tahanan. Maliwanag na sinasabi ng simbahan: "The right to use force for purposes of legitimate defence is associated with the duty to protect and help innocent victims who are not able to defend themselves from acts of aggression." (Compendium # 504) Hindi dahilan na sa pagsupil sa masasamang elemento ng NPA, di maiiwasan ang "collateral damage" na tinatawag. Tungkulin ng bawat pulis at sundalo na protektahan at pangalagaan ang buhay ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino na ipinagkakatiwala sa kanya.
At kung nasasasaksihan natin, halimbawa, ang mga bagay na ito, at wala tayong ginagawa upang ipagtanggol ang inaapi at inaalipusta ang mga walang kalaban-laban, labag ito sa responsibilidad nating lahat na pangalagaan ang sagradong dignidad ng bawat tao. Mariing itinuturo ng simbahan: "It is the task of everyone, and in a special way of those who hold various forms of political, juridical or professional responsibility with regard to others, to be the watchful conscience of society and the first to bear witness to civil social conditions that are worthy of human beings." (Compendium # 134) Hindi tayo puwedeng tumahimik o manahimik. Madaling idahilan na mas mabuti pang huwag makialam at wala naman tayong ginagawang masama. Pero kung di tayo kikilos, wala rin tayong ginagawang mabuti.
Sinasabi rin sa doktrinang sosyal ng simbahan: “A society that wishes and intends to remain at the service of the human being at every level is a society that has the common good – the good of all people and of the whole person – as its primary goal.” (Compendium # 165) Nangangahulugan lamang na ang lahat ng bumubuo ng lipunan, kasama ang pamahalaan ay dapat magpatupad ng mga programang tutugon para sa pangkalahatang kabutihan at kabutihan ng tao. Kung may mga programa o gawaing sisira sa buhay ng tao at kanyang pamilya, ito’y hindi dapat pahintulutan. Kaya nga seryoso at mariing tinutulan at tinututulan pa rin ng simbahan ang jueteng at kahit anong sugal na sumisira sa buhay moral ng tao at lipunan.
Sa aming sulat pastoral na kalalabas lamang, aming ipinaliwanag: “Yet gambling in general is an affront to the moral values of the people. Attended by greed and the insatiable desire for money and power, it has the evil force of altering a person’s lifestyle and corrupting the community’s positive values. Human experience confirms that gambling is addictive and can be personally detrimental to the gambler and his family…. Therefore, by reason of motive and circumstances, and considering the corrupt and manipulative system wherein it operates, we can say that gambling is immoral and sinful.” (Live as Children of the Light, Joint pastoral Letter of the Dioceses of Cabanatuan and San Jose)
Ibig ding sabihin: hindi lahat ng minumungkahi o ipinapatupad na programa ng pamahalaang lokal para sa progreso ng isang pamayanan para sa taong bayan ay basta na lamang tatanggapin. Tinutukoy ko rito ang Small Town Lottery (STL) na paraan para gawing ligal ang jueteng na alam din nating sisira sa buhay ng tao at kanyang pamilya.
Nasabi din namin sa sulat pastoral: “In the Philippines, jueteng and its legalized form, the STL or small ton lottery, are the most organized manifestations of social cancer we call gambling. In spite of the many rational arguments and opposition to these games of chance, some government officials seem to be hell-bent in resurrecting these vices in all our parishes and communities. They seem to have already forgotten the government’s moral recovery program which is an important key to nation building. Thus, caught in the glittering web of profit and power, they seem to have become numb and oblivious of gambling’s evil moral consequences, both personally and socially.” (Live as Children of the Light, Joint pastoral Letter of the Dioceses of Cabanatuan and San Jose)
Bagamat gusto nating iangat ang buhay ng maraming Pilipino mula sa karukhaan, hindi lahat ng ipinipilit gawing ligal ng pamahalaan ay masasabing moral. Di po ba sa maraming bansa ngayon, ligal ang diborsyo, ligal ang aborsyon, ligal ang “euthanaisia”o “mercy killing”, ligal and “physician assisted suicide” at ligal ang “same-sex” marriages. Ano na ang sitwasyong moral ng mga bansang ligal ang lahat ng ito? Nakalulungkot sabihin, pero di nalalayo ang Pilipinas sa pagbaba ng nibel ng moralidad kung may mga kongresista at senador tayong ipipilit gawing batas at ligal, at tuluyang ipatutupad ng pamahalang lokal, ang mga gawaing sisira sa sagradong dignidad ng tao at pamilya.
Kaisa tayo ng buong simbahan ng Pilipinas sa pagdiriwang ng “Year of Social Concerns”. Huwag nating sayangin ang pagbubukas nito sa ating dalawang diyosesis na nasa lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija. Upang mamayani ang kabutihan laban sa kasamaan, isa lamang ang kailangan: pag-ibig. Kaya nga pangaral din ng simbahan: “Love must be present in and permeate every social relationship.” (Compendium # 581) At idinudugtong pa niya: “Only love can completely transform the human person.” (Compendium # 583)
Nilagom nga ng Panginoong Hesus ang mga utos ng Diyos sa dalawa at sinabi niya: “Ito ang una: Makinig nawa, O Israel! At mamahalin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buo mong puso, nang buo mong kaluluwa, ng buo mong pag-iisip at ng buo mong lakas. At ang pangalawa naman ay ito: Mamahalin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili. Wala ng utos na mas mahalaga pa kaysa dito.” (Marcos 12:29-31)
Makinig na tayo kay Hesus na lubos na kinalulugdan ng Ama. May responsibilidad tayo sa Diyos at ating kapwa.
Nawa’y sa pamamagitan ng pag-ibig natin sa Diyos at ating kapwa, pagbabago at pagpapanibago ang matamo nating lahat tungo sa pagbubuo ng isang sibilisayon ng pag-ibig! AMEN.