Showing posts with label Catholic church. Show all posts

Any Church on Earth is Like a Nation

By Apolinario Villalobos

There is an adage that says, ”do not judge so that you will not be judged”. What I am doing is not judging but exposing what I see, observe and gather from researches. I have no right to judge, as I too, am a sinner but in other ways, and definitely not regarding exploitation of others. As I cannot just afford to be blind to what are happening around me, I have to let out what I feel. If it happens that some people will agree with me…fine. If the others do not…still fine, as each human who thinks sanely has all the rights to his or her opinion.

The sensitive issue on the Roman Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines has been put forward because of what for me are the unbecoming acts of her leaders, particularly, in dipping their fingers into politics which is no different from what their forerunners, the friars, did during the Spanish period during which they ran the show despite the presence of the town heads. Perhaps, they were afraid that if they showed weakness, their holdings would be taken away from them.

In general, however, the commonality between any Church on Earth and a Nation is their having human leaders, hence, with human weaknesses. That fact alone does not need any further argument as to the question on churches having corrupt leaders. Church leaders are not sons of Gods born in heaven! The frocks, whatever is the style and colors, that the leaders of the various churches wear as a a symbol of “spiritual authority” does not exempt them from committing “sins”. It is even viewed as worse, if despite their vows, they still commit unbecoming acts toward their fellowmen, because they do not only offend the latter but their God, to whom they promise their allegiance and made various vows.

One does not need to study in seminaries to know what is bad, nor in colleges and universities to know what a corrupt act is. The glaring truth is that since the conception of a new life in a woman’s womb, innate bad characteristics are already ingrained in his/her DNA, and are just waiting to be nurtured. In other words, any president, senator, congressman, mayor, priest, bishop, nun, and anybody else for that matter is born sinner and “candidate” to becoming corrupt. In this regard, if one nurtures his bad characters…. that becomes the big problem. Further to this, it must not be assumed then, that the Roman Catholic bishops who are viewed as leaders of their church, are always right in what they are doing!

The problem with these Filipino bishops today, is that they are only leaning on one side – that of the criminals who, for them should not be killed….but what about their victims that they raped, robbed, or killed! If these criminals are allowed to roam the streets, will these bishops guarantee that they will not rape more children, even senior women, rob more innocent commuters, or kill more hardworking neighbors?

These bishops are leaders of the Roman Catholic Church….but what have they done to alleviate poverty and ignorance among their flocks? Why did they allow them to become addicts? If they reply that it is not their “duty” to teach them with “earthly lessons” as they are only concerned about “spiritualities” then they must stop harassing President Duterte with unfounded accusations that are clearly tainted with politics! 

Ang Simbahang Katoliko, Pastoral Letter Nito,

Ang Mga “Pinatay” Na Kriminal, at “Biktima” Nila

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

BINABATIKOS SA PASTORAL LETTER NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO ANG MGA “PAGPATAY” SA MGA DRUG ADDICT, DRUG PUSHER, DRUG LORD AT IBA PANG KRIMINAL DAHIL WALANG KARAPATAN KUNO ANG SINO MANG PUMATAY NA ANG TINUTUKOY AY SI DUTERTE…MAY PRUWEBA BA SILA? KUNG MATINO ANG SIMBAHANG ITO, DAPAT AY HINDI ITO NANGLILIHIS O NANLILITO NG MGA TAO SA PAGBIGAY NG NAKAKALITONG MGA “UTOS” SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PASTORAL LETTER. ANG TANONG…SIGURADO BA ANG MGA LIDER NG SIMBAHANG ITO NA SILA AY MALINIS, NI KATITING AY WALANG INIISIP NA MASAMA? PAANO ANG WALANG HUMPAY NA PANGLILIKOM NG MGA “OFFERING” KUNO TUWING MISA NA DATING ISANG BESES LANG, PERO NGAYON AY DALAWA NA – IDINADAAN SA SOBRE PAGPASOK PA LANG NG MAGSISIMBA SA SIMBAHAN, AT SA BASKET SA BAHAGI NG OFFERTORY?...YAN ANG MATATAWAG KONG PANGHUHUTHOT TO THE MAX!

BAKIT HINDI ISINAMA SA PASTORAL LETTER NA YAN ANG MGA “BIKTIMA” NG MGA KRIMINAL?….MGA BIKTIMANG NAGTATRABAHO NG MAAYOS PARA SA KANILANG PAMILYA?…MGA BIKTIMANG ESTUDYANTE NA NAGING ADIK KAYA NASIRA ANG KINABUKASAN?…MGA BIKTIMANG NAWALAN NG KATINUAN KAYA NAGPAKAMATAY?….MGA BIKTIMANG PASLIT NA HINDI LANG GINAHASA KUNDI BINABOY PA ANG KATAWAN DAHIL PINASAKAN NG KUNG ANONG BAGAY ANG PUKE, O DI KAYA AY PINUGUTAN PA NG ULO???!!!

ANO BA TALAGA ANG GUMAGABAY SA MGA PARI NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO…DIYOS BA NILA NA DAPAT AY MABAIT O DEMONYO?....BAKIT HINDI NITO I-QUALIFY O BIGYAN NG TAMANG KAHULUGAN ANG SALITANG “PAGKAMATAY” O “PAGPATAY”?....SINO AT KUNG ANO ANG DAHILAN?....HINDI BA NILA NAIISIP NA IBA ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG “PINATAY NA KRIMINAL” KUNG IHAMBING SA “BIKTIMA NG KRIMINAL”? GUSTO BA NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO NA DUMAMI PA ANG NAGLILIPANANG MGA KRIMINAL SA PILIPINAS? MAY KABULUHAN PA BANG MABUHAY ANG KRIMINAL NA SUMISIRA SA KINABUKASAN NG BAYAN????!!!!

SA GINAGAWA NG MGA LIDER NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO, PARA SILANG PILOSOPO NA NAGSASABING, “GO TO THE WORLD AND MULTIPLY” NA PINUTOL NILA AT HINDI IDINUGTONG ANG IBA PANG MGA KATAGA UPANG MAGING KUMPLETO SANA ANG “UTOS” NA YAN NG DIYOS NILA. SA MGA HINDI PA NAKAKAALAM, ANG UTOS NA YAN AY IBINIGAY KAY NOAH PAGKATAPOS NG MALAWAKANG BAHA SA BUONG MUNDO, UPANG DUMAMI ULI ANG MGA TAO….NOON YAN. NGAYON AY HINDI NA PWEDENG GAMITIN NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO AT MGA PILOSOPO LABAN SA FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM.

NGAYON, ANG MGA SALITANG “HUWAG PUMATAY” NAMAN ANG GINAGAMIT NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO SA PAGLITO SA MGA MIYEMBRO NILA. WALA SANA ITONG PROBLEMA, SUBALIT ANG GINAGAWA NG SIMBAHANG YAN AY NAKAKAAPEKTA SA BUONG BANSA!!!

Catholic Churches in Big PH Cities Should Provide

Free Gruel (Lugaw) and Toilet Facilities to the Street Dwellers

By Apolinario Villalobos

During the ongoing Filipino Catholic Bishops’ conference, the hierarchy should come up with a uniform compassion-founded program such as the putting up of free gruel and toilet for the poor. There are parish churches which are already and somehow, trying to cope with these basic needs, but they are “wanting” in this purpose. To mention, Quiapo cathedral has public toilets but they are open when there are services only. There is no question about their “feeding program” as this project is consistently being carried on by the religious groups. The neighboring church, Sta. Cruz, charges 5pesos per urinal use, and double for the other call of nature, and I do not think, they have a feeding program. When I passed by the vicinity of San Sebastian, I saw a few street dwellers who were sort of queueing outside the fence of the church’s convent, and I was told by one that they were waiting for a free gruel, but only for those who bring their own bowl. Mentioned projects, if there are, vary according to the parish church, perhaps, based on their financial capability. But, can’t churches call on their rich parishioners to donate at least a 25-kilo bag of rice every month, or pledge money for the purchase of ingredients for the gruel, and extra money for the construction of toilets? And to think that during fiestas, there is a shameful display of affluence!

As regards the toilets, it is a general knowledge that this facility is among the most-needed in cities, especially, for the street dwellers. One time, I saw a woman squatting in a street corner oblivious of the few passers-by. From the corner of my eye, I later saw that she nonchalantly went back to the pushcart where there was a child and a dog. Within the vicinity, there was no restaurant or small carinderia, but even if there was one, I didn’t think the owner will allow her to use their toilet which is reserved for paying customers. Several times, I saw children who take the risk of defecating on the Pasig River bank. In this regard, the burger joints like Jolibee and Macdonalds allow non-customers to use their toilets, but they have to be decently dressed, as obvious street dwellers are shooed away by their guards!

Instead of being very much concerned with the cussing of Duterte, these Catholic “patriarchs” MUST change their direction in consonance with that of the current pope. They should focus on the immediate needs of their flock not to mention the spiritual, instead of the political issues. They should allow Duterte do his thing in ridding the streets of drug addicts, while on their part, they should exert an effort in making a follow through by providing whatever material succor they could provide – food and decency when answering the call of nature for those who try to survive by scavenging for recyclable trash and living on pushcarts and sidewalks.

Ang “Pari” sa Cebu

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Isang Fr. Romeo Obach, Redemptorist priest ng Cebu ang namamayagpag sa internet hindi dahil may ginawa siyang maka-Diyos, kundi may ginawa siyang mala-demonyo. Sa harap ng mga tao sa loob ng simbahan, sa pagsalita niya sa mikropono pagkatapos niyang binyagan ang anak ng isang menor de edad na single mom, inalipusta niya ito sa pagsabing nakakahiya ang ginawa niyang pagpapabinyag sa anak, dahil hindi naman daw ito kasal. Hindi na natakot ang paring ito sa may kayabangan niyang pagsalita habang nasa likod niya ang altar na sambahan. Hindi malaman kung siya ay may hang-over sa bahal na tuba o bangag.

Unang-una, nilabag niya ang kautusan ng Diyos tungkol sa paghusga ng kapwa. Ang dapat na ginawa niya ay kinausap ng maayos na parang “ama” ang dalagang ina pagkatapos ng binyag at pinangaralan. Murahin pa niya kung gusto niya, basta walang makarinig na iba – para bang nagkukumpisalan lang. (May narinig na akong pari na nagmura, pero bihira daw niyang ginagawaito – kung sobra na ang galit niya at gusto niyang lumuwag ang dibdib niya….yan ang paring tunay!...umaaming tao din siya.) Kung nakausap ng pari  ang magulang ng dalagang ina, sana nalaman niya na muntik nang magpakamatay ito dahil hindi rin niya gusto ang nangyari sa kanya, subali’t dahil may madadamay na ibang buhay – ang nasa sinapupunan niya, minabuti niyang magpakatatag, hanggang mailuwal niya ito nang maayos.

Wala sigurong internet sa kumbento ng paring si Obach, kaya hindi niya nakita ang pagbinyag ng santo papa sa anak ng mag-asawa sa Vatican…at ang mag-asawa ay hindi kasal. Kung sinasalungat niya ang mga halimbawa ng mismong namumuno ng simbahang Katoliko, demonyo nga siya.  Ang mga katulad niyang nagbibigay ng kahihiyan sa simbahang Katoliko, kaya tuloy marami ang tumitiwalag at lumilipat sa ibang relihiyon o sekta, ang dapat itiwalag!

Hindi mabubura sa isipan ng mga tao ang ginawa niya, ilang beses man siyang mag-apologize, na halata naman sa mukha niyang hindi bukal sa kalooban.

May alam din akong pari na nag-alipusta ng mga batang kumanta ng praise song para kay Virgin Mary habang nagpuprusisyon. Dahil biglaan ang pagturo sa mga bata ng nasabing kanta, hindi masyadong nakuha ang tono, lalo na at mga bata nga sila. Ang pag-alipusta ay ginawa ng pari sa harap ng mga maninimba nang magdaos siya ng Misa. Wala man lang pumalag ni isa sa mga miyembro ng isang religious organization na malapit daw sa kanya. Dahil wala ngang pumuna, akala ng nasabing pari, ay tama siya sa ginawa niyang pag-alipusta! Kaya hanggang ngayon ay nandiyan pa rin at naghahasik ng kaaliwaswasan sa mga Katolikong patuloy na nakikinig sa kanya sa Misa, maski alam nilang may dapat baguhin sa ugali niya! Damay-damay na…dahil yong iba sa mga “tupa” niya, nagsasabi tuloy na kung siyang pari ay ganoon ang ugali,  bakit sila oobligahing magbago ganoong “ordinaryong” Kristiyano lang sila? …tama nga naman, di ba? Kaya tuloy ang “maganda” nilang samahan!

Ito ang nakakabahala, dahil hindi lang sa gobyerno naglipana ang mga corrupt na maitim ang kaluluwa, kundi sa hanay din ng mga dapat sana ay taga-akay natin tungo sa maka-Diyos na daan! Sayang at hindi nila nagagamit ang kung ilang taong pinag-aralan sa seminaryo….