VERITAS Final Vol1n2
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please call 329-1100 for Subsriptions “Reform Yourselves and Believe in the Gospel”- Mark 1:15 Beloved People of God: Our Holy are reported in the newspapers, Father in his most recent letter we begin to believe that they are to us reminds us of the gift of faith true. and hope: that when we believe, In such a pastoral situation we we hope; and that when we hope, are being asked again for we live differently (see Benedict guidance on various specific XVI, Spe Salvi, November 30, problems currently bothering 2007, no. 2). These convictions us. The following have been on faith and hope set the tone of brought to our attention: Lenten Message our own letter to you in the present pastoral situation. (a) the perception that WE enter the 2008 Season of corruption in government is at The Darkness of Our Situation— Lent again to be reminded that its worst, fraudulent projects the Common Good Subordinated Jesus Christ brought us going on unchecked despite the salvation by accepting our For we live today as a people bad publicity given them in the humanity which is capable of almost without hope, it would media, investigations into the suffering with us and for us. seem. We look at our landscape truth of allegations of bribery The season of lent is a call to and see darkness everywhere. often stymied or their results compassion and consolation. Many of us are more than aware unreported; that many problems are simply We are challenged to share in (b) the suspicion that martial law rumors, fears, suspicions, This season is the appropriate beginning for profound reform and conversion. the suffering of our neighbors will be imposed as a response to imagined wrongs. Because these It is the time for a spiritual combat against the enemy within, our pride and through communion of goods. greed, our lust for power and wealth, etc. In lent we are reminded that we are not owners but rather - 2 Cor 8, 9 stewards and administrators First Diocesan of the goods we possess. Rural Congress “Christ made Himself poor for you” As we said in our CBCP Statement “ Reform yourselves “This year 2007 is the fortieth and believe in the Gospel” Dear Brothers and Sisters! Each process of interior renewal: these must be not to make of them an anniversary of the National (Mk.1/15), we must work for year, Lent offers us a are prayer, fasting and idol, Jesus confirms in a resolute Rural Congress of 1967. It was personal and communal providential opportunity to almsgiving. For this year’s way: “You cannot serve God and at this Congress that the conversion towards a social deepen the meaning and value Lenten Message, I wish to spend mammon” (Lk 16,13). participants, most of them conscience, which put the of our Christian lives, and it some time reflecting on the Almsgiving helps us to overcome Diocesan and parish social action common good above personal, stimulates us to rediscover the practice of almsgiving, which this constant temptation, workers, came to the crucial family and group interests. Lent mercy of God so that we, in turn, represents a specific way to assist teaching us to respond to our conclusion that the Church must is a call to conversion to the become more merciful toward those in need and, at the same neighbor’s needs and to share go to the barrios. common good. our brothers and sisters. In the time, an exercise in self-denial to with others whatever we possess Lenten period, the Church makes free us from attachment to through divine goodness. This is The reason was the heavy Social conscience for the it her duty to propose some worldly goods. The force of the aim of the special collections realization that the rural parts of common good: As we said in specific tasks that accompany attraction to material riches and in favor of the poor, which are the country were the most our CBCP Statement: “ we ask the faithful concretely in this just how categorical our decision neglected by both the this of all citizens who have a government’s development concern for the national good, programs and the Church’s especially those who hold the pastoral care. To commemorate reins of power, from Ma- that crucial event in our life as a lacañang on to Congress, A New Brand Of People Power! Church---and to make us meet in provincial and municipal true Gospel fidelity our present governments, all the way February 22-24, 1986 were prayed together, reflected decisive People Power have social concerns---we propose down to barangay councils. historic and momentous days. together, decided together and already died. Those who are still that we revive the memory of People in government – as They ushered in the end of 14 acted together”. They knew what around are 22 years or almost a that Congress by holding one well as all other civic and years of Martial Rule and they wanted. Cardinal Sin and the quarter of century older. Age is again this year” (The Dignity of business groupings – can they Dictatorship and the beginning of CBCP articulated their an important factor that comes the Rural Poor-A Gospel too reflect together in all a new democracy. communal sentiment or with the cynicism, apathy and Concern: A pastoral Statement, manner of associations and collective discernment through indifference for “another People by the CBCP, 28 January 2007 ). It was a peaceful and non-violent look into themselves to see if, Radio Veritas and their Pastoral Power.” Besides, are there “teach revolution by People Power, a A call for the celebration of the in all their actuations, the Letter respectively. ins” for young people today on movement “of the people, by the II National Rural Congress, to demand of common good are current political issues? in fact captive to merely people and for the people” “who Many of the participants in that review the continuing issues personal and selfish confronting the majority of our interests?” Lent is the time to people living in rural areas, led do something about it. to the celebration of the first ever Diocesan Rural Congress Fighting graft and corruption? in our Archdiocese last 19 Responding to the need for No To Coal-Fired Power Plant November 2007. We call it the moral revolution and first because we hope that renewal? The challenge of Lent Dear colleagues in the health environment, I am deeply coal-fired power plant is based there will be a second Diocesan is “Reform your lives and profession and concerned concerned and saddened about on the following: Rural Congress. believe in the Gospel” (Mk.1/ Ilonggos/Illonggas, the proposed setting up of the 1. Emissions from coal-fired “This time our farmers must do 15). Lent is the time to journey Greetings! said coal-fired power plant. power plants are composed of together toward social the speaking by themselves, Two weeks ago, it was It is a general knowledge that pollutants such as oxides of the discerning, the proposing transformation. V brought to my attention that coal-fired power plants have sulfur, mainly sulfur dioxide; there is a plan to set up a coal- been the major source of the nitrogen oxides; polynuclear of their own ideas, the planning fired power plant in the City air pollution all over the world. hydrocarbons; total gaseous of how we must as a people Church Calls of Iloilo. This news came as a In fact, their emissions have hydrocarbons; solid par- come together to work for the For ‘New Brand surprise to me since I have been major contributors to the ticulates, especially PM 10; common good of the country the belief that this source of global warming phenomenon formaldehyde; carbon mon- and of ourselves” (The Dignity Of People Power’ electrical power was no longer we are currently experiencing. oxide, metals such as of the Rural Poor …). an option considering that a Although there have been mercury and arsenic. Indeed, the rural poor did MANILA, February 18, 2008— few years back, similar attempts in addressing the proposals were resisted and toxic discharges with 2. The above substances the talking and the clergy The Catholic Church is calling for carry with them intrinsic simply LISTENED. another people power to end rejected by the Municipalities introduction of new toxic effects. In of Banate and Concepcion. technologies, we are still in Using the SEE-JUDGE-ACT alleged rampant corruption in the stage of merely reducing combination, these effects the national leadership, but a As an Ilongga who remains to these emissions and have no can be magnified because method-ology, we listened as the different ‘brand’ this time. be appreciative and proud of methods of totally of chemical-chemical rural poor told us their “joys and the City and as a physician- eliminating them. inter-actions that hopes, their griefs and anxieties” Jaro Archbishop Angel toxicologist who understands produce syn-ergistic but most especially we listened Lagdameo, Catholic Bishops’ the impact of hazardous My concern and apprehension effects. For instance, to their very sad stories. chemicals on health and with the establishment of the 2 VERITAS FEBRUARY 15, 2008 End the Trust soap opera! CBCP ews DO you remember the live can only be broadcast with a broadcast of the Pacquaio- “warning” about their side Barrerra Boxing event? It was effects, just like in cigarettes. viewed nationwide by all ages _________________ and audiences. But a different knock-out might had happened Let me present too the position on teenagers watching, with the paper that I gave as pro-life advertisement of Trust youth representative and first “Premier” condom featuring a speaker in the press conference “KingKong” look-alike and a held on January 21, 2008 at seductive female along.