Senate OK to Postpone ARMM Polls Upsets Bishops
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Crisis of ‘indifference’ A3 B1 ‘Promote the Good of C1 The Cross shows need for New Every Man and of the A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI and Evangelization, Pope says Whole Man’ the Order of the Knights of Columbus Demolition of fish cages in Taal Lake sought FOLLOWING the massive fish kill incident, a Catholic archbishop has called for the disman- tling of fish cages in Taal Lake. Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said that aside from being an eyesore, the fish cage opera- tions are killing the lake, declared a protected area. Since May 26, some 800 metric tons of dead milk fish (bangus) and tilapia were seen floating on Taal Lake in Talisay. “I’m thankful that the tawilis and maliputo Taal / A6 June 6 - 19, 2011 Vol. 15 No. 12 Php 20.00 By Roy Lagarde THE continuing apathy Church summit to towards the poor has spurred the Catholic Church’s social action arm to hold a nationwide summit on poverty in an attempt to tackle plight of poor come out with concrete actions to improve the life of the underprivileged. The National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (Nassa) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said it is another effort to understand poverty from the perspec- tive of the poor themselves. Nassa executive secretary Fr. Edu Gariguez hopes that the summit will bring them to know the real causes of poverty and decide “which way to take.” Gariguez claimed that the current economic policies are going towards a direction “no different” from the past administration. “If we look at the Philippine De- velopment Plan, for example, it’s like only a few are going to benefit from it again,” Gariguez said. It is also evident, he said, in the allocations of the national budget for 2011 which, according to him, has lopsided priorities. “All in all, it seems like there’s noth- ing new really,” he said. “Let’s discontinue the lapses of the past administration,” the priest said. “Current economic policies which do not really benefit the people should be improved.” Multi-sectoral participation Organized by Nassa, the upcom- ing summit on July 3-5 is convened together with other government agencies on agriculture, agrarian reform, health, labor, education and social welfare, in conjunction with basic sectors and non-government The Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace chairman and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo (extreme right) joins other environmental advocates as they run over a streamer organizations. of Mining Act of 1995 during celebration of World Environment Day, June 6. The advocates bike around the Quezon City Circle as they called for a reform in the government’s “flawed” mining policy. He said around 300 participants Photo courtesy of CBCP-NASSA Summit / A6 Senate OK to postpone Prelates ARMM polls upsets bishops CATHOLIC bishops in Southern Philippines oppose moves expressed disappointment over a decision to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The bishops described the Senate’s ap- to introduce proval of the bill delaying the ARMM polls set on August 8 as an apparent example of “Manila imperialism.” divorce in PHL “The law is not respected and, we, here in Mindanao are not given the opportunity SOME prelates voiced out the Filipino Catholic faithful to choose our own leaders,” Basilan Bishop their strong opposition to yet not to follow the bad ex- Martin Jumoad said. another controversial mea- amples of ‘de-Christianizing’ “We want the elections and not the imposi- sure that touches on the core countries. tion of (national) leaders,” he said. of Filipino culture which the “[Instead] they (other coun- Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin House Committee on Revi- tries) should follow our ex- Bishop Martin Jumoad Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo ARMM / A6 FILE PHOTO FILE PHOTO sion of Laws in Congress has ample of Catholic fidelity,” began discussing last June 1. the 66-year-old prelate added. Butuan Bishop Juan De For his part, Puerto Princ- Dios Pueblos said the pro- esa Bishop Pedro V. Arigo, posed divorce measure also looks at the scheduled hear- More funds for RH Bill mean less known as House Bill 1799, is ings and deliberations as a leading towards immorality “waste of time and taxpayers’ in a society which begins at money.” for basic services―solon home. “There are more important ALLOCATING millions of pesos ticians, come election time, drum kahirapan.” helped uplift the plight of the Pro-divorce advocates is issues to address,” he said. for House Bill 4244 means slash- up the need to help the poor and “We can even see that the bud- impoverished if these were pushing for the measure, The introduction of the ing the budget that would have get them out of poverty. gets for education, for tertiary provided with funding, the leg- saying only the Philippines is divorce bill may be part of otherwise been spent on educa- “Pero kapag titingnan na- educational scholarships, skills islator said. left without a divorce law as the government’s psycho- tion and other basic services, man po ‘yung legislation na- training, livelihood projects, She expressed feeling some- Malta, also a Catholic coun- logical strategy against the said a member of the House of min through the budget, hindi assistance for farmers, agrarian what ashamed, that government try, has recently passed its Catholic Church because of Representatives in a recent press naman po lalagyan ng pondo reform beneficiaries, are being policy sometimes ends up priori- own divorce law. the recent criticisms leveled conference. ang mga ahensiya na talagang cut,” she added. tizing the wrong things. But Lipa Archbishop Ra- by various Catholic leaders Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros makakatulong para maiahon These are the good pieces “Sabi ho ng kabilang partido, mon C. Arguelles called on Divorce / A6 Magsaysay pointed out that poli- ang mga mahihirap sa kanilang of legislation that would have RH Bill / A6 Bishop urges calm over Spratly dispute No divorce, a A CATHOLIC bishop has called for ways to resolve the matter. We owe it to cused China of behaving like a bully in calm and restraint on all parties in- our people and to the world to advocate the South China Sea. distinction for volved in the disputed Spratly Islands and work for peace,” said Iñiguez. The Communist giant, however, al- in the South China Sea. “Always go for dialogue and not layed fears that China would use its PHL―CBCP Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez conflicts,” he said. growing economic and military power BEING the only country in the world said intimidation should be avoided The bishop made the statement amid to threaten its Asian neighbors. that has no divorce law is an honor that over an island claimed by China and the recent flaring up of tension between Chinese Defense Minister Liang every Filipino should be proud of, a several of its Southeast Asian neighbors, the six countries claiming the island Guanglie said that “democracy in inter- former president of the Catholic Bish- including Vietnam and the Philippines. chain in the South China Sea. national relations” and respect for “each ops Conference of the Philippines said. “We should always look for peaceful Smaller neighbors have earlier ac- Spratly / A6 Illustration by Bladimer Usi Distinction / A6 Listen to the CBCP Online Radio at: www.cbcponlineradio.com CBCP Monitor A2 Vol. 15 No. 12 World News June 6 - 19, 2011 U.S. Bishops to issue Document onWASHINGTON, D.C.,Assisted June 3, 2011― Suicide cian-assisted suicide does not promote The U.S. bishops will debate and vote compassion because its focus is not on on a document on physician-assisted eliminating suffering, but on elimi- suicide at their spring general assembly, nating the patient. True compassion, which will be held June 15-17 in Seattle. it states, dedicates itself to meeting The document, “To Live Each Day patients’ needs and presupposes a com- with Dignity,” will be the first statement mitment to their equal worth. on assisted suicide by the full body of The statement says that “compas- the United States Conference of Catholic sion” that is not rooted in such respect Bishops (USCCB). inevitably finds more and more people “After years of relative inaction whose suffering is considered serious following legalization of physician- enough for assisted death, such as assisted suicide in Oregon in 1994, the those with chronic illness and dis- assisted suicide movement has shown abilities. a strong resurgence in activity,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston- Human Dignity Houston, chairman of the USCCB Com- Patients with terminal illness de- mittee on Pro-Life Activities. serve life-affirming palliative care “This renewed effort has led to the that respects their dignity and worth. passage of an Oregon-style law in “Assisted suicide is not an addition to Washington by popular referendum palliative care,” the release said, “but in November 2008, a state supreme a poor substitute that can ultimately court decision essentially declaring that become an excuse for denying better assisted suicide is not against public medical care to seriously ill people, policy in Montana, and concerted ef- including those who never considered forts to pass legislation in several New suicide an option.” England and Western states,” Cardinal Citing the example of the Nether- DiNardo continued in a press statement lands, the statement points out that issued by the bishops’ conference. voluntary assisted suicide has led to “The Church needs to respond in a case of involuntary euthanasia. timely and visible way to this renewed www.2.bp.blogspot.com Also, the statement explains, the challenge, which will surely be pursued practice undermines patients’ freedom in a number of states in the years to of love and true mercy” that John Paul The issues the bishops will discuss rights and the ethical principles of the by putting pressure on them, once come,” he added.