CBCP Urges National Prayer for Peace in Mindanao
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A3 Pope to close Year B1 FABC: From C1 The CROSS • for Priests in Rome • Daejeon to Manila • A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI with huge meeting and Beyond and the Order of the Knights of Columbus Bishop Jumoad: ‘No Bishop appeals for flood dialogue’ with Abu Sayyaf relief in Zambales TROUBLED over the latest violence in Basi- THE storm-hit Diocese of Iba in Zambales has lan, a Catholic bishop has issued his severest launched an appeal for aid to help hundreds statement yet denouncing the bloody clash people displaced by floods. between military forces and al-Qaeda-linked Floods caused by Typhoon “Kiko” has left Abu Sayyaf. some 1,1936 residents of Botolan town home- In radio interview, Bishop Martin Jumoad less after the flood control dike in Bancao River called on authorities to pursue the bandits, say- collapsed from continuous heavy rains. ing that there is no room for negotiation with a Iba Bishop Florentino Lavarias said flood group like the Abu Sayyaf. waters came from Mt. Pinatubo where five He said the government must unleash more persons, including three French tourists, died troops with a mission to finish off the militant group because of landslides. in the southern provinces of Basilan and Sulu. According to Zambales’ Regional Disaster 00 Abu Sayyaf / A6 August 17 - 30, 2009 Vol. 13 No. 17 Php 20. Zambales / A6 © Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media © Roy Lagarde / CBCP Papal envoy Francis Cardinal Arinze, (center) holding staff, and other prelates from across Asia line up for a group photo outside Manila Cathedral after a Eucharist celebration to formally start the 9th plenary assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences in Manila, August 11, 2009. Eucharist must ‘transform’ Catholics—Asian bishops By Roy Lagarde Bicol bishops THE Asian bishops’ meeting in Manila ended Aug. 16 with a call to the clergy for an effec- all out vs coal tive proclamation of the Word of God. mine project Greater duty, they said in a statement, ROMAN Catholic bishops in Bicol re- starts from the clergy in ensuring that gion are all out against the planned coal the proclamation of the Scripture is at mining project in the region alleging the heart of each of the reformed litur- that it would destroy ecology. gical rites. Despite strong opposition from In a continent where Christianity is a church leaders and residents of Catand- very small minority, the celebration of uanes province to Monte Oro Resources the Eucharist is the most effective mis- and Energy Inc., the mine still obtained sionary act that the Ecclesial community green light from the Department of can perform for its flocks, they said. Energy. From delivering sermons to other Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said parts of the Mass, the Asian prel- mining has “ripped apart” the ecologi- ates said, its main purpose should be cal, cultural and social fabric of many underscored—the transformation of communities in Bicol where there is those who receive it in authentic com- mining. munion. He criticized the government for “We remind all those who are en- adhering to business interests over trusted with the ministry of animating the welfare of the people who suffer the Eucharistic communities, especially much from the “ill effects” of mining priests, that they have a great respon- operations. © Noli Yamsuan / RCAM Yamsuan © Noli sibility to make the Eucharist a trans- During a Mass formally closing the FABC 9th Plenary Assembly on August 16 at the Pius XII auditorium, Francis Cardinal Arinze told the bishops to “Once you engage in mining, you Eucharist / A6 rediscover the centrality of Eucharist and inculcate among the faithful the significance of devout listening to the Word. Coal mine / A6 CBCP urges national prayer for peace in Mindanao AMID the growing tension in Southern Philippines, the Catholic country lessens the peace in other parts because we are all ‘broth- Archbishop Angel Lagdameo bishops’ leadership urged the clergy and the faithful to offer prayers ers,’” he added. for peace there. The number of killed soldiers angered President Gloria Maca- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) pagal-Arroyo and called for “annihilation” on Saturday of the is encouraging a national prayer in Mindanao, said its president renegade group. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo August 17. But the CBCP head said the move will never solve the problem. Intense fighting between the government troopers and Abu Sayyaf Much worse, it could even fuel more turmoil and jeopardize the bandits in Basilan since Wednesday have claimed 54 lives and left peace process,” he added. at least 22 others wounded. “In the context of war, no one wins,” he said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said 31 bandits were killed “Violence, retaliation and annihilation create more anger while the military suffered 23 fatalities. in both parties and destroy the seeds of past peace processes. “For peace in Basilan and other parts of Mindanao, the CBCP ap- Peace cannot result from violence and retaliation,” the church peals for prayer for all the victims and their bereft families. We ask leader said. for prayers and Masses for them,” Lagdameo said. “The victims of such violence and retaliation are innocent lives of “In a certain sense, the situation of “unpeace” in one part of the victims,” Lagdameo also said. (CBCPNews) CBCP to ‘monitor’ Bishop wants to ban ‘Banana’ A CHURCH official wants to ban some pop songs "That will affect their thinking and their concept from radio stations, including the latest hit “Ba- of morality regarding those matters," he said. CARPer implementation nana” song. He also called on music composers to think first CATHOLIC bishops said they will keep watchful Malacañang said the signing of Republic “The song has a meaning that is sexual,” of the negative effects of the lyrics to the eyes on the implementation of a law extending Act 9700 or CARP extension with reform is the said Kalookan Bishop Deogracias young listeners. the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program government’s response to the plea of farmers to Iñiguez over Church-run Radyo "I think those composers should with reforms. extend the program, which expired last year. Veritas. have social responsibilities," Iñiguez Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of The CARPer law has a P100-billion allocation Songs like that, he said, in- added. (CBCPNews) the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philip- for land acquisition and distribution, support ser- cluding another hit “Nag- pines, said “guarding” the program is necessary vices, agrarian justice delivery and other funding mamahal Ako ng Bakla (I’m to ensure the allotted budget goes to intended requirements during the extension period. Loving Gay Men)” has a beneficiaries. Mrs. Arroyo signed the bill into law at the Don double meaning. “Its implementation must be guarded in favor Cesario San Diego Gym in Plaridel, Bulacan. “They should be banned of the farmers. The money allotted for it must be Lagdameo said they are “pleased” with the because of its sexual- used with accountability and justice,” he said. approval of the law, adding that it would cause ly explicit lyrics,” said Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said they are a “better quality of life of the rural poor.” Bishop Iñiguez who also hoping that the concerned government agencies “Thank God, CARP extension plus reform is heads the Committee will work to implement the law. approved and signed,” he said. on Public Affairs of “There are no sacred cows to be spared, be- CBCP Public Affairs Committee Chairman the Catholic Bishops’ cause as we know the lands belong to many and Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, for his Conference of the powerful politicians,” he said. part, said it’s a victory for the farmers particu- Philippines. “We will closely monitor the implementation larly those without their own lands to till. The bishop of this CARP law,” added Jumoad. “We are thankful that President Arroyo fi- feared that the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Aug. nally signed the CARPer because this has been songs could lure 7 signed the consolidated version of the bill ex- the farmers’ long-time dream. This is really for most teenagers to tending CARP for another five years. them,” he said. (CBCPNews) engage in casual sex. Illustration by Bladimer Usi CBCP Monitor A2 Vol. 13 No. 17 World News August 17 - 30, 2009 Vatican newspaper says Allied gov’ts did little to stop Holocaust VATICAN CITY, August 14, 2009—In a lengthy article, the credited with saving tens of thousands of Jewish lives. But for 18 Vatican newspaper said the U.S. and British governments months before then, despite increasingly alarming reports, U.S. had detailed information about the Nazi plan to exterminate officials “dodged their grim responsibility, procrastinated when European Jews during World War II, but failed to act for many concrete rescue schemes were placed before them, and even sup- months and even suppressed reports about the extent of the pressed information about atrocities,” Morgenthau wrote. Holocaust. The Vatican newspaper article also cited a series of State The newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, contrasted Allied in- Department orders apparently aimed at preventing reports on action with the quiet efforts undertaken by Pope Pius XII to save Nazi atrocities from reaching the public, which would have as many Jews as possible through clandestine assistance. increased pressure on the administration for action. The article, published Aug. 13, reviewed historical informa- When the U.S. government was finally convinced to begin tion in support of an argument frequently made by Vatican some efforts to rescue and relocate European Jews, the British experts: While critics have focused on Pope Pius’ supposed government stalled, the article said. It cited a British Foreign “silence” on the Holocaust, little attention has been given to Office cable that warned of “the difficulties of disposing of documented evidence that the U.S.