Homily for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 13, 2020 24th Sunday Year A 

Sirac 27:33-28:9 Rom 14:7-9 Mt 18:21-35 

Malupit ang mundo natin. Puno ng galit at puno ng paghihiganti. Ganoon na lang ang galit ng tao na handa silang magpasabog ng kanilang sarili at mandamay sa ibang mga inosenteng tao. Ganoon na lang ang galit na nasa tao na handa silang pumatay at magpasakit ng milyong mga tao – nangyari iyan sa Europa noong sa pag-exterminate ng mga Armenians sa World War I at ng mga Hudyo noong World War II, nangyari iyan sa Afrika sa patayan ng mga Tutsi at Hutu sa Rwanda, nangyari iyan sa Cambodia sa pagpapatay ng mga Khmer Rouge, nangyayari iyan ngayon sa Tsina sa pagpapatay at pagsira ng kultura at relihiyon ng mga Tibetans at ng mga Uighurs, nangyayari iyan sa Middle East sa pagpapatayan ng mga Shiites at ng mga Sunnis, nangyayari iyan Pilipinas sa mga rido at sa pagpapatay sa mga drug addicts at mga tinaguriang rebelde, without any judicial process. Puno ng galit at paghihiganti ang mundo. 

Kaya nga sa panahon na ito ang mensahe ng Diyos ay MERCY, HABAG. Hence in the Church there are the devotions to the Sacred Heart and to the Divine Mercy. Hence the calls of the Popes John Paul II, Benedict and Francis on Mercy and Compassion. This is what we need now. God’s response to human sinfulness is mercy. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (Jn. 3:17 NAB) There is enough reason for God to punish the world, but no! He does not punish. Instead, Jesus, the Son of God “was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, all following our own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.” (Is. 53:5-6 NAB) God is indeed merciful. 

Sa ating Gospel napatawad ng hari ang servant na may utang sa kanya ng 10 Million pesos. Imagine 10 Million pesos! Hindi lang siya binigyan ng panahon ayon sa kanyang hiningi – pinatawad, wala na siyang utang! Pinatawad ang 10 milyon dahil sa naawa sa kanya ang hari. Kaya galit na galit ang hari sa kanya na wala siyang awa sa kanyang kapwa alipin. Sabi sa kanya: “Napakasama mo! Pinatawad kita sa utang mo sapagkat nagmakaawa ka sa akin. Nahabag ako sa iyo; hindi ba dapat ka ring mahabag sa kapwa mo?” Ang pinatawad ng 10 milyon ay hindi makapagpatawad ng 500! Talagang napakasama niya. Ganyan din ang pagpapatawad ng Diyos sa atin. Malalaki ang kasalanan natin at paulit-ulit pa ang kasamaan natin, pero dahil sa awa ng Diyos pinatatawad tayo palagi. Ito ang dahilan bakit palagi din tayong magpatawad.

Ang tanong ng Pedro, ilang beses ko ba patatawarin ang kapatid ko na paulit-ulit na nagkakasala sa akin? Akala niya generous na siya kapag nagpatawad siya ng pitong beses. Hindi lang pito – 70 times pa dito – ibig sabihin walang sawa. Kasi ganyan din tayo pinatatawad ng Diyos, at higit pa! 

Sa panahon ng pandemic na ito maraming mga religious services ang hindi natin nagawa sa loob na ng 6 months. Isa sa mga ito ay ang pagkukumpisal. Kaya hinihikayat uli ang lahat na bumalik na sa pagkukumpisal. Mahalaga ang pagkukumpisal kasi dito natin nararanasan na pinatawad tayo ng Diyos. This is the sacrament of our encounter with the mercy of God. Hopefully because we have experienced God’s mercy we can also become more patient and more merciful to others. Dahil sa mahabang pagkakulong sa bahay at sa kawalang kasiguraduhan sa kinabukasan, marami sa atin ay madaling mawalan ng pasiyensiya. Nagiging magagalitin at bugnutin sa iba. We need to be more merciful to one another. The sacrament of confession helps in being merciful after we ourselves experience the mercy of God. Hindi ba gumagaan ang loob natin kapag tayo ay nakapagkumpisal? Dahil sa magaan na ang loob natin, madali na pasanin ang mga pabigat sa buhay natin. 

Dahil sa napatawad tayo, madali na rin magpatawad sa iba. At kung tayo ay nagpapatawad sa iba, madali rin tayong pagbibigyan ng patawad ng Diyos. Ito naman ang narinig natin kay Ben Sirac sa ating unang pagbasa: “Patawarin mo ang kapwa sa kanyang pagkukulang, at pag ikaw ay dumalangin sa Diyos, patatawarin ka rin naman. Ang nagtatanim ng galit sa kapwa, pag tumawag sa Diyos, walang kakamtang awa.” When we pray the Our Father we say: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Of all the 7 petitions of the Our Father, only this has a commentary from the Lord. He said: “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Mt. 6:14-15 NAB) 

Kaya makikita natin na may mahigpit na kaugnayan ang habag ng Diyos sa atin at ang habag natin sa kapwa. Dahil mahabagin tayo sa kapwa, kahahabagan tayo ng Diyos. Dahil sa malaki ang awa sa atin ng Diyos, kaya maging maawain din tayo sa ating kapwa. Ito nga ang message ng devotion to the Sacred Heart and Devotion to the Divine Mercy. God is so merciful. Let us also be merciful. “Be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate,” ika nga ng Panginoong Jesus. 

Sa ating panahon maraming tao ang nanawagan ng katarungan. We call for justice. Pero maging maingat tayo, para sa marami ang panawagan ng katarungan ay sa totoo lang, panawagan ng paghihiganti! Katarungan – pasakitan siya, kasi pinasakitan niya kami. Patayin siya kasi pinahirapan kami. Is this real justice? Then we go back to the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, a practice that the Lord Jesus has rejected. Kaya kung naniniwala pa tayo sa paghihiganti – hindi tayo kristiyano, hindi tayo tagasunod ni Kristo. Hindi maka-kristiyano ang manawagan ng death penalty. Kapag pinatay mo na, hindi mo na siya binigyan ng pagkakataon na magbago. For a follower of Christ, justice is always tempered by mercy. Hindi nawawala ang awa sa katarungan. 

Noong May 13, 1981 binaril ni Mehmet Ali Agca si John Paul II sa St. Peter’s Square. Malapit nang mamatay ang Santo Papa. Noong December 27, 1983 (two and half years later) binisita ni John Paul II si Mehmet Ali Agca sa bilangguan at doon pinakita ang kanyang habag sa kanya. Nilapitan ng Santo Papa ang nagtangkang pumatay sa kanya at pinadama ang kanyang pagmamahal. Pero hindi pinalaya si Mehmet Ali Agca. Binuo niya ang kanyang pagkabilanggo sa Italy at sa Turkey. Nakalaya siya sa bilangguan ng 2010 – halos 30 years siyang nabilanggo. Pumunta siya sa libingan ni John Paul II noong 2014 at nagdasal doon. Noong buhay pa si John Paul II napalapit siya sa pamilya ni Agca. Nakatagpo niya ang kanyang nanay at ang kanyang kapatid. Iyan ang halimbawa ng restorative justice, justice that restores relationships and brings harmony. 

Sa ating panahon ngayon pinag-uusapan ang absolute pardon na binigay ng Presidente kay Joseph Scott Pemberton, ang pumatay kay Jenifer Laude. Maraming pag-uusap kung tama ba ang pagpapatawad kay Pemberton. May nagsasabi na hindi pa nga niya nabuo ang 6 to 10 years na sentence sa kanya noong 2015 at special pa ang kulungan sa kanya sa Camp Aguinaldo at hindi sa Bilibid. Ang Presidente ng bansa ay mayroon ngang karapatan at kapangyarihan na magbigay ng absolute pardon. He exercised this power to Pemberton and also to other prisoners. Pero, ang daming mga Pilipino sa mga bilangguan natin na natutulog ang mga kaso nila. Bakit hindi gamitin ang prerogative na ito na magpatawad para magbigyan ng pag-asa ang mga nabilanggo at ma-decongest din ang mga bilangguan natin? Maraming napapabayaan sa mga bilangguan na matatanda na at mga may sakit pa. Should not pity by shown to them? If really there is such a virtue as forgiveness in our government, why not exercise this for so many who are languishing in our jails? So as we can see, ang usapin ng pagpapatawad ay hindi lang usapin ng relasyon natin sa Diyos at ng relasyon natin sa kapwa. Ito ay usapin din sa kalagayan sa lipunan. Forgiveness comes out of pity and compassion. May we never lose the sense of pity in our society. We Christians who claim to have experienced God’s mercy, may we also be merciful in our dealings with each other in society. Let us pray for this grace in this Holy Mass.

Homily September 6, 2020

23rd Sunday   Year A

Ezekiel 33: 7-9     Rom 13:8-10     Mt 18:15-20

May mga taong naguguluhan. Bakit ba nagsasalita ang simbahan sa mga issues ng panahon ngayon? May iba pa nga na parang nanunumbat: Bakit nakikialam ang simbahan sa usapin ng lipunan?

Ang misyon ng simbahan ay ipagpatuloy ang misyon ni Jesukristo. Si Jesus, ang Anak ng Diyos, ay pinadala ng Ama upang ipadama ang pag-ibig ng Diyos at upang manawagan sa lahat na ibigin ang Diyos at ibigin ang kapwa. Love is the core of the message of Jesus. But love is not just a sweet feeling, an emotion. Jesus is very clear: if we love God we keep his commandments. So there is a clear relationship between love and the law. The commandments have been given to us not to limit our freedom but to show us the way to love. And laws are given to be fulfilled!

Maganda ang sinulat ni San Pablo na narinig natin sa ating ikalawang pagbasa : huwag tayong magkaroon ng anumang sagutin maliban sa magmahal sa isa’t-isa. You should have no obligation, no debt, except to love one another. This tells us that love is an obligation that we have to do. It is not something optional. In fact the whole of the Bible is summarized by Jesus into two commands to love – love of God and love of neighbor. When we love our neighbor we fulfill the other commandments of God. If we truly love we do not steal, we do not lie, we do not say bad words, we do not kill, we do not commit adultery. Ika nga, ang pag-ibig ang kabuuan ng kautusan.

Our gospel reading today tells us another manifestation of love: If we love we correct our neighbor. We cannot just stand by and see our neighbor doing wrong, thus harming himself and harming the community. May mga grupo na mga bata na naglalaro, nagsisigawan, at nagmumurahan. Napadaan ang isang nanay at noong makita na ang anak niya ay naroon, kinuha ang anak niya ay pinagalitan. Sabi ng bata: Nanay, bakit ako lang ang iyong pinagagalitan?  Tignan mo ang mga kasama ko, sila rin ay nagmumura at malulutong pa nga ang mga salita nila. Paliwanag ng nanay. Pinagagalitan kita kasi anak kita! Tinutuwid natin ang mga mahal natin. Mahirap ito na aspeto ng pag-ibig. Correcting is not easy.

Tayong mga Pilipino may likas na kaugalian; na nasanay tayo sa SIR – Smooth Interpersonal Relationship. Ayaw nating magusot ang ating relationship, ayaw natin na magkasamaan ng loob. Iniiiwasan ang anumang conflict. We do not confront. Dahil dito, pikit mata na lang tayo kapag may nakita tayong masamang ginagawa ang iba. Baka magalit pa kapag pansinin. Baka sabihin na pakialamero ako. Tatahimik na lang tayo. Hayaan na lang ang kasamaan. Dahil dito lumalaganap ang kasamaan – hindi dahil sa marami ang masama. Sa totoo lang marami ang mga taong matuwid. Illan lang naman ang masasama, pero ang karamihan na matutuwid ay hinahayaan na lang ang masasama. Mas matapang ang masasama na gumawa ng masama kaysa mga mabuti na ituwid ang masasama. Evil spreads because the majority who are good do nothing to stop the few who are bad. Kaya mahalaga ang pagtutuwid.

May proseso si Jesus paano gawin ang pagtutuwid. Una, personal na pagsabihan ang gumagawa ng masama. Pangalawa, kumuha ng dalawa o tatlong tao para may patunay na tama ang puna sa kanya. Kung hindi pa makuha, isumbong na sa kapulungan ng simbahan, at kung ayaw pa talaga – i-deadma na siya.  Iyan iyong ibig sabihin na ituring na siyang Gentil or makasalanan. Have nothing to do with him anymore. Mahirap sa atin na mga Pilipino ang prosesong ito. Dahil nga sa ayaw natin magusot ang ating relasyon – SIR – ayaw natin na konfrontahin ang kapwa. Iniiwasan natin ang one-on-one na pag-uusap. Kaya mas madali sa atin na iwasan na agad ang gumawa ng masama. Kaya madalas nagtataka nalang ang tao na iniiwasan na siya. O kaya i-tsismis na natin sa iba. Marami na ang pinagsabihan, at malalaman na lang ng tao ang bintang sa kanya mula sa iba o mula sa facebook.

Last week we heard Jesus said that we have to die to ourselves if we want to follow him. If we truly love, we are ready to face the wrong doer at the risk of losing face. In the first place, he may not be a wrong doer after all. He may have not done what is imputed to him, or there may be an aggravating circumstance why he did it. Kailangan natin ng pagtutuwid upang maging maayos ang ating samahan – anumang samahan iyan – barkada man kaya, o pamilya, o isang grupo sa simbahan, o simbahan, o pamahalaan. Kailangan natin ng correction because no one of us is perfect. We all make mistakes, so we help one another to overcome our shortcomings. We help one another grow.

Correcting is a manifestation of love. Ganoon din sa lipunan. Kaya ang tanong natin sa simula, bakit nagsasalita ang simbahan? Bakit pumupuna ang simbahan? Ito ay dahil sa pagmamahal. Mahal natin ang bayan. Ayaw natin na ito ay malugmok sa kasamaan, kaya pinupuna natin ang mga katiwalian na nakakasama sa bayan.

Pero may isa pang dahilan. Sa unang pagbasa, si Propeta Ezekiel ay binigyan ng Diyos ng tungkulin na maging bantay ng bayan. As a watchman, he should sound the alarm to the wicked, not to condemn the wicked, but to warn him that he may change his ways. Sabihin sa masama na siya ang mamamatay, not to wish him dead but to warn him to change. If he does not listen he will indeed die, but you will save yourself. Pero kung ikaw ay natakot o nagwalang kibo, at hindi mo sinabi na siya ay mamamatay. Talagang mamamatay siya dahil sa kanyang kasamaan, pero mananagot ka sa kanyang kamatayan. As church we have to speak out – and to speak out loud and clear – in order to bring people to repentance. If we keep silence, pananagutin tayo ng Diyos sa kapahamakan ng masasama at sa kapahamakan ng bayan.

Huwag lang sana masamain ng mga tinatamaan ng puna. Dapat huwag magpersonalan. Listen to reason and look for the common good. And those in public office should not be onion skinned. Sila ay public figures and they should serve the people; and because they are in office because of the vote and the money of the people, the people have the right, and the duty, to make their views known to those who represent them. The people, more than those who govern them, know what is good for them. Kaya huwag maging balat sibuyas kung may mga puna laban sa kanila at sa kanilang ginagawa.

Ngayong buwan ay nasa Season of Creation tayo. Hinihikayat tayo na alagaan at bantayan ang ating kaisa-isahang tahanan – ang mundong ito. Kaya obligasyon natin na magsalita kung ito ay sinisira. Obligasyon din natin ito sa ating mga anak at mga inapo. Should we not speak when there are short-sighted projects that are done just for the sake of money and short-term solutions to current problems that would have long term consequences to the Earth, our Common Home? Maari ba tayong manahimik sa mga coal powered plants na bumubuga ng Carbon Dioxide na nagdadala ng Global Warming. All these talks about clean coal energy is a big lie! Mananahimik ba tayo sa paggawa ng Kaliwa Dam sa Quezon province na papatay sa ilang daang hektaryang gubat, sisira sa biodiversity ng Sierra Madre, lalamunin ang ancestral domain ng mga katutubo doon, na may mga alternative water sources naman na hindi gaano magastos at hindi destructive? Do we keep silent when our mountains are being stripped because of large scale mining? The promise of prosperity due to mining is a myth. Look at the places that have been heavily mined, like Benguet, Rapu-Rapu of Bicol, Marinduque, Surigao, just to name a few. Where is development there? They are made the poorer because of mining.

Tayo ay bantay ng bayan. Alamin natin ang nangyayari sa bayan at punahin natin ang mga katiwalian na nangyayari dito. Silence is not an option. This is true for the Church, and this is true for every one who loves – loves nature, loves the country, loves the poor and the next generation.

My Covid Experience

LAST July 27, a good soul offered to give Rapid Antibody Test for Covid to the staff and personnel of Sto Nino Parish in Tondo. I got myself tested even though I was in the pink of health since the quarantine period. I exercised regularly, took my fruits and vitamins, did shibashi exercise under the sun almost every day, and slept 7 to 8 hours every night. The result was unexpected. I tested IGG positive. I already have the anti-bodies. So I am, or was, infected with the covid virus. I called up the priest in charge of the Health Care Ministry of the Archdiocese of Manila as our protocol dictates. He said that if the result were true, I am beyond the stage of infecting others, but just to be sure if I still have the covid virus I should get the PCR test. I did, and the result was that I was still Covid positive. As per protocol, I should isolate myself. I already did that when the first indication came from the Rapid Test and even while waiting for the result of the swab test. All the while, though, I did not feel any symptom at all.

With my position as the temporary head of the archdiocese and with my visibility in public, I consulted the board of consultors what we should do. It was decided that to avoid any speculation I should make a public statement  declaring the state of my health to the priests, which surely will seep through to the general public. Thus it became public that I was infected with Covid 19 and I was in isolation.

What was the experience for me? Honestly, except for the fact that the tests say that I was Covid positive, I had no indication about being sick. I checked my temperature every day and it was normal. My appetite was normal, and I had no symptoms at all.  I thank the Lord God for this. I was deluged with messages of sympathy and promises of prayer. I truly believe that these prayers really helped. They did not only boost my spirit, but I am sure God heard them.

Fortunately, there is a seemingly good internet connection in my room so I was able to continue to do many zoom meetings and able to follow up the activities in the archdiocese by email, viber communication and online meetings. I also had more time to pray. So I took time to pray and celebrate my daily private mass in my room. The period also gave me time to read and to reflect. I confess that I never felt bored at all. I did not even have the time to watch TV or to see movies. (Anyway I had no TV connection in my room nor did I ever subscribe to Netflix). I was able to prepare some talks and even write down my homilies. The time was well spent.

In my reflection, I stumbled on the idea of the similarity of being infected with Covid 19 and leprosy at the time of Jesus. Both are infectious diseases; although,  while leprosy can be easily seen externally, the covid virus is invisible to the human eye.    However, they both have the same effect on people. Both keep the infected away from other people. They are avoided by others, even by people close to them. There is the strong fear of infection in both cases, largely because of the unknown nature of the disease. At the time of Jesus, people did not know then what caused leprosy; and in our time, in spite of the advances of medicine and of science, even experts are in the dark about the corona virus. Unable to fully understand the nature of the disease, in both leprosy and the Corona virus,  the blame falls on  the infected person. People in biblical times looked at the leper as a sinner because they saw illness as a punishment from God. So the question in the minds of the people was: who sinned, he or his parents? With the corona infection there is also the blame – pasaway kasi o pabaya o pagala-gala kasi. You got this because of your carelessness. So in both diseases there is a stigma attached.

What did Jesus do to the lepers? He did not shy away from them. In fact, in healing some of them he touched them. He helped the lepers; he healed them and he respected the protocols of his time. He asked those whom he healed to present themselves to the priests to be examined by them and to offer the required sacrifices before they are integrated back to the community. Should not this also be the way we deal with those sick with the corona virus? Yes, we follow the medical protocols but we should not shy away from those infected, but in creative ways make them feel that they are not stigmatized by the church community.  This can be done by texting them and sending them messages that we care for them and pray for them. Sending them food, vitamins and reading materials would also be concrete signs that they are not forgotten.

In a way, I am thankful to the Lord for this experience. For me it was very mild but I can better identify now with people who are infected and those who are healed. It also makes me more cognizant of the reality of the virus. It can come to anyone. So while we follow the necessary protocols, we should also build up our natural immune system so that our body can ward off this infection, and if it does come, the body can fight it off. We also should not discount the proper moral outlook and the spiritual help that our faith gives us.  In all this, God loves us and our life is in his hands.

Broderick Pabillo

August 15, 2020

Again, the issue on the Separation of Church and State

THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) came out with A Pastoral Letter and A Call to Prayer on July 16 appealing to the Filipinos to pray for the country because of the threat of abuses to freedom due to the signing of the Anti-Terrorism Law on July 3. This letter was read in the churches on July 19. Immediately,  Chief Presidential Legal Adviser Salvador Panelo alleged that this is a breach of separation of church and state.  That such comments should come from a presidential legal adviser at that, is beyond belief! Or is it just another empty threat and harassment that the minions of this government are wont to use?

Whenever church leaders criticize government programs and practices, people  use the argument of separation of church and state to discredit them. What really is this separation of church and state provision in the constitution?

The mother provision is found in Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution, which states - - “The separation of Church & State shall be inviolable.”

This principle is given eight specific provisions in the constitution:

The government is prohibited from establishing its own religion (Art III, Sec 5)

The government is prohibited from prohibiting the free exercise of any religion (Art III, Sec 5)

The government is prohibited from giving or showing any preference to or discrimination against any religion (Art III, Sec 5)

The government is prohibited from using any “religious test” for the exercise of any civil or political rights (Art III, Sec 5)

Churches, convents, mosques, and all their lands, buildings, improvements that are actually, directly and exclusively used for religious purposes are exempt from taxation (Art VI, Sec 28, par 3)

The government is prohibited from appropriating and using any public money or property for the direct or indirect use, benefit or support of any religion, church, priest, pastor or imam (Art VI, Sec 29, par 2)

The government is prohibited from registering as political party any religious denominations or sects (Art IX, Part C, Section 2[5])

The government is prohibited from teaching religion as mandatory in public schools. Religion shall be only allowed to be taught in public schools if the parents give their consent in writing (Art XIV, Sec 3[3])

All of the prohibitions are directed to the government.  It is the government that is prohibited from meddling with religious activities.  Since congress has not passed any law to further give other provisions, these are the only instances for the provision of the separation of church and state.  As we can see, all the provisions are addressed to the state and not to the church.  Never does the constitution prohibit church people, especially if they are citizens of the land, to participate in the life of the government nor to speak for or against the government. Church people too, as citizens, have the inviolable right to freedom of speech.

In the Catholic Church, though, we also follow another law which we call Canon Law. Here the lay faithful are enjoined to actively participate in politics and are mandated to bring Gospel values to all aspects of life, including politics. The clergy, being shepherds of all the faithful who may belong to opposing political parties, are enjoined not to be partisan in political affairs in the sense of belonging to one particular political party. Canon Law, however, does not prevent the clergy to educate the faithful by speaking the truth and pointing out what is evil. Pope Francis clearly wrote: “The Church’s pastors, taking into account the contributions of the different sciences, have the right to offer opinions on all that affects people’s lives, since the task of evangelization implies and demands the integral promotion of each human being.” (Evangelii Gaudium #182)

As pastors of the people of God, bishops and priests cannot be remiss in guiding the flock, even in the socio-political spheres. This is why we have the Catholic Social Teachings, which is an essential part of the Christian message, because it tells us the social implications of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Hagia Sophia

(https://www.hagiasophia.com)

MANY in the Philippines do not know, and consequently do not care, about the Hagia Sophia. It is a very important church for the Christians in the East. It is found in present-day Istanbul, which formerly was known as Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. What Rome was to the West among the Christians for the first 1500 years of Christianity, so Constantinople was to the East.

Hagia Sophia, Greek for Holy Wisdom, is the cathedral of the Patriarch of Constantinople since AD 537. When the Muslims conquered Constantinople in 1453, it was converted into a mosque.  However,  in 1934 the President of Turkey then, Mr. Mustafa Kemal, as a sign of openness, decreed that it be made into a museum so that people of all religions can go there and appreciate the sacred arts in the cathedral and so that all religions can use it as a place of prayer and reflection. It was regarded as a positive step for inter-religious dialogue.

Unfortunately the secularist government of Turkey is being undermined by Muslim religious fundamentalism under the present strongman Recep Tayyip  Erdogan. On July 19 he declared that the Hagia Sophia will again be used as a Muslim mosque starting on July 24.

Many church leaders view this as moving backward in inter-religious dialogue; this is decided in spite of the gains that have been done in openness and understanding among religions. On February 4, 2019 a landmark document was signed in Abu Dhabi between Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the most reputable Muslim institute of learning. This is known as Document of Human Fraternity. It serves as a basis of dialogue not only between Christians and Muslims but also among other religions. It was a great step forward. But this development on Hagia Sophia is a big setback. It is so expressed by the Near East Council of Churches (NECC), a body representing many Christian religious traditions in the Middle East. Other churches in other parts of the world (the US, Great Britain, Europe) express their dismay at this step taken by the Turkish government. Even the Holy Father Pope Francis is saddened by it.

Here in the Philippines, we are celebrating and promoting this year as the Year of Ecumenism, and Dialogue among religions and the indigenous Peoples. We should also feel hurt by this development about Hagia Sophia even if it happened so far away. Unity and goodwill in any part of the world affect everyone, and so also its opposite. Hagia Sophia is a structure that has rich historical and religious significance. It should be opened to all peoples and not just be exclusive only to one group. Although the Turkish government has announced that tourists can still visit the place, yet people of other faiths will no longer be welcome to pray and hold services there. It is very sad that in this moment of global crisis unnecessary moves are being taken that divide peoples rather than unite them.

Broderick Pabillo

July 18, 2020

We shall overcome

THESE past few weeks, we have been mercilessly punched by adversaries.  The Covid infection has been rising in the country.  Joblessness continues to hit the people.  More and more businesses are closing down or downsizing.  The economic situation of the country is bleak.

But added to this, the power of authoritarianism is rising.  Maria Ressa was convicted, guilty of cyber libel by the Manila Regional Trial Court on June 15, a decision that is very much contested by lawyers and press people alike.  It was a way to curtail press freedom. On July 3, President Duterte signed the Anti-Terrorism Bill into law. Many dub it as TERROR LAW because it is seen by not a few as a way of terrorizing the opposition than really fighting terrorists. Then on July 10, the lower house committee killed the bid for franchise renewal of media outlet ABS-CBN. It is viewed by many as a political vendetta of the present administration, no matter the consequences – the thousands of people who will lose their jobs precisely in this trying time and the millions of viewers among the poor who will be deprived of an important source of information and entertainment. Parang bugbog na ang tao. Bugbog ng gobyerno sa kanyang kapalpakan sa pagtugon sa corona virus pandemic, at mas lalong nakakagalit, bugbog ng makinarya ng gobyerno na ipakita na siya ay makapangyarihan.

In moments of gloom, I turn to the Bible for guidance and I read Psalm 37. I was admonished by the psalm and at the same time very much consoled. I just quote the first 10 verses and let them speak for themselves.

1 Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.

2 Like grass they wither quickly; like green plants they wilt away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good that you may dwell in the land and live secure.

4 Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart's desire.

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will act.

6 And make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like noonday.

7 Be still before the LORD; wait for him. Do not be provoked by the prosperous, nor by malicious schemers.

8 Refrain from anger; abandon wrath; do not be provoked; it brings only harm.

9 Those who do evil will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD will inherit the earth.

10 Wait a little, and the wicked will be no more; look for them and they will not be there. (Ps. 37:1-10)

The wicked will not last. God will not allow them. They may win some battles and skirmishes but they will lose the war. Let us not be sad nor be provoked at this bad turn of events.  Goodness, truth, and justice will prevail!

Broderick Pabillo

July 11, 2020

Dangerous slope to authoritarian rule

WE have heard the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher- writer Rey Santos Jr. by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa under the Cybercrime Law. This may simply be one case, but seen in the Philippine context in the last few months, this is scary. It is a slide to the dangerous slop of authoritarian rule!    

The case itself is very dubious. I am no lawyer but I try to understand with common sense. How can Maria Ressa and Rey Santos be convicted of an article that was written on May 29, 2012 based on the Cybercrime Law that was passed only on September 12, 2012? If this is the jurisprudence now, then it is truly scary. Anybody of us can be convicted of anything we wrote in the past! Besides, the prescription period for filing a case against this article has already lapsed. Under the Revised Penal Code, as revised by Republic Act 4661, libel prescribes in one year, meaning you can only be sued for libel within a year of publication. Wilfredo Keng filed his complaint in 2017, or 5 years after the article was published in 2012. The Department of Justice (DOJ) used an obscure law – Republic Act 3326 – as basis to extend libel's prescription period from one year to 12 years.

Although Rappler was exonerated in this case, yet there is a series of cases (still seven cases!) filed against Rappler and its head Maria Ressa. This is outright persecution to bring down the institution because of its critical stance against the policies of this government. This persecution is done using the law, with its twisted and unjust applications, to give it a semblance of legality.

We have the closing down of ABS-CBN on May 4 when its franchise expired. It expired because Congress did not act on it. From the investigations done it is clear the loopholes are being sought to deny the franchise. To us ordinary people the end is clear: to harass ABS-CBN. Congress and the DOJ are just looking for laws how to do it “legally.”  At the time that people need information and encouragement because of the pandemic, a dominant voice of the media is threatened to be shut down.

The passing of the Terror Bill (I call it for what it is, because it is intended not to fight the terrorists but to terrorize any opposition) adds another push to this slippery slope. The main problem of the people now is not terrorism but lack of job, empty stomachs, health concerns because of COVID 19, but the ever-pliant Congress speedily passed the Terror Bill without appropriate discussions and consultations – because it is a priority bill. (by the way, priority to whom?) They did not even pass the Bayanihan II which is meant to address the economic plight of the people affected by the lockdown. When this bill becomes a law, the government can easily put critics to jail as it now easily tags them to be reds or terrorists.

These developments are very disconcerting, to say the least. We are being pushed to the slope of authoritarian rule – all using the semblance of law, which is not meant to serve the common good but to entrench the ruling power. Any voice of protest is being shut up. Independent thought is being muffled. And fear is being instilled in many. Will we allow it to happen?

"I've been the cautionary tale: be quiet or you're next. It's a chilling effect not just to me and to Rappler, but to journalists and to anyone who asks critical questions," said Ressa.

Broderick Pabillo

June 15, 2020