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Just my opinion

By Raïssa Robles

This is not the best way to spend Christmas – at odds with the Church clergy and told by a Cardinal that supporting a Reproductive Health Law is “unfortunate and tragic.”

I can imagine what priests all over the country will be saying at their pulpits this Sunday. They will castigate the proponents  of RH in Congress and lambast supporters. Some will probably consign all of them – I guess that includes me and even Jesuit priest-lawyer Joaquin Bernas – to hell.

These are not happy thoughts for what should be a happy occasion – the commemoration of the birth of Jesus.

And yet, and yet, this time I need to stand my ground. I believe priests are not always right in every way. Sometimes they are wrong. Very wrong.

From our own history, we cannot just gloss over the fact that for centuries the Philippines was held in theocratic thrall through the power of friars. The Philippine Revolution was betrayed by a woman confessing to a priest, who broke the silence of confession and divulged the plot. The oppressive theocracy was one factor that triggered the Revolution, and it was the Spanish friars who worked hard to see Jose Rizal executed. .

We cannot forget the fact that the Church hierarchy supported Marcos’ Martial Law for a while, and later suppressed the Basic Christian Communities. Several prominent bishops propped up the questionable administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for five years, all because she promised to block the approval of an RH Law and she courted clergy’s support like mad.

How can I reconcile my own Catholic faith with my stand on RH?

Church---Mary-RacelisI stumbled on the answer today in a piece written by social anthropologist Mary Racelis entitled “Vatican II at 50: Laity speak out on RH”.

I decided to read it because her name rang a bell. Mary Racelis (formerly Hollnsteiner) was one of the scholars always writing about the poor and social justice for publications of Ateneo de Manila University during the Marcos dictatorship. She was director of Ateneo’s Institute of Philippine Culture from 1971 to 1977.  Her scholarship was recognized by both the Ateneo and De La Salle University with honorary doctorates in Humanities and Social Sciences, respectively.

Racelis noted that the Vatican Council (1962-1965) had issued a “Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity” which stated that lay Catholics’ “expert attention and study” were  crucial in reforming the Church.

The Decree recognized for the first time that priests might not always have the expertise and that lay people had to fill the gap. The Vatican Decree stated:

“With a constantly increasing population, continual progress in science and technology, and closer interpersonal relationships, the areas for the lay apostolate have been immensely widened particularly in fields that have been for the most part open to the laity alone. These factors have also occasioned new problems which demand their expert attention and study… Besides, in many places where priests are very few…the Church could scarcely exist and function without the activity of the laity.”

I am one with Racelis when she wrote that given this Vatican Decree, she found the reaction of the  Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to RH “devastating”.

She claimed that:

“Moving forcefully into areas of lay expertise, like economics, demography, behavioral sciences, medicine, sexuality, gender, law, governance and politics, the CBCP’s pronouncements on these subjects have progressively undermined its credibility as moral arbiter in the domain of reproductive health.”

She added that “not since the Philippine Revolution of 1896  has the Filipino laity challenged the bishops’ authority so openly and overwhelmingly.”

Racelis said, among the criticisms that lay experts have against the CBCP (which consists of 71 bishops) were the following:

The CBCP is out of step with the times;
It clings to outmoded understanding of sex, marriage and family life;
It creates a situation where many poor women find themselves pregnant yet again, feeling they have no option other than abortion to terminate the unwanted pregnancy;
It contributes to the rise in teenage pregnancies by preventing adolescents from obtaining age-appropriate sex education in school;
It violates the separation of church and state by attacking the RH bill in sermons and threatening pro-RH lawmakers with a Catholic backlash in the 2013 elections, and even excommunication.

Contrary to some of the bishops’ pronouncements that supporting RH is a mortal sin, Racelis asserted otherwise, saying:

“…in clear conscience…we must support the RH bill…Our lawmakers can stand confidently with us and the vast majority of the Filipino people by voting “yes.”

The Church “illusion”

church

The CBCP’s intense lobbying against RH and its lawmaker-backers has effectively divided the House of Representatives.

The bishops, backed by anti-RH Catholic groups, have warned they intend to make pro-RH lawmakers pay on election day.

Should lawmakers buckle because of their warning?

The answer may be found in a paper written much earlier by a senior Catholic scholar – a colleague of Racelis in the same Ateneo university.

José Mario C. Francisco, S.J. said the prelates’ political clout was just an “illusion.”

The priest-scholar, who is now president of Ateneo’s Loyola School of Theology, wrote in his paper entitled “The Dynamics between Catholicism and Philippine Society”:

“First, we need to distinguish between the influence of the Catholic Church and that of Christian stories and symbols. As has been mentioned, Catholicism in terms of the Catholic Church still retains an overwhelming majority, though only thirty percent of Catholics have any regular contact with the Church. Nevertheless, the reach of Christian stories and symbols is far greater, because they have historically shaped Philippine culture to a great extent and politics to a lesser.”

“Because of this wider reach of Christian stories and symbols, the Catholic Church often forgets the limits of its own actual influence. It always points to the 1986 EDSA Revolution as witness. This is of course true in part; but this dramatic social moment came about also in part due to the fact that the Catholic Church provided a relatively safe umbrella for social critique against the Marcos dictatorship, and in part due to the imaginative power of Christian stories and symbols long part of Philippine culture.”

Fr. Francisco claimed there are times when the Church suffers a “memory lapse” during which it wrongly thinks there exists “a practical union of Church and State”:

“Of course, it will not declare this openly, but actions on the part of certain leaders of the Catholic Church speak louder than words; for example, the much publicized visits of presidential candidates to the Archbishop of Manila before elections. This temptation will continue to be strong as long as membership in the Catholic Church constitutes the overwhelming majority.”

He therefore cautioned church leaders:

“But there are reality checks to this illusion on the part of the Catholic Church. There have been three instances when the leaders of the Catholic Church were rebuffed by many in Philippine society—the election of President Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada (though the Church veiled its opposition); the execution of prisoner Leo Echagaray (the first after the reinstatement of the death penalty); and the ratification of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States. These indicate that Philippine Society is increasingly becoming ‘freed’ from the grip of the Catholic Church, largely as a result of globalization and the pluralism it brings.”

Ummm. No wonder some senior clerics brand Jesuits “renegades”.

 It was after I read Racelis and Fr. Francisco that I realized that you and I cannot abandon the Church just because some bishops openly condemn the passage of an RH Law. We need to stay inside the Church in order to help reform it.

___________________________________________

Related Stories

RH bill was killed by Pres. Gloria Arroyo in exchange for Church political support

Fr. Bernas’ latest controversial piece: BISHOPS AT WAR

If RH Law passes, “D.E.A.T.H.S. bills” are next, warns Catholic Church official

Jesuit priest-lawyer Bernas strikes again on side of the Reproductive Health bill

 

Father Bernas gives Catholics wiggle room to support controversial RH bill

Rizal’s novels would be banned today if Catholic Church succeeded in 1956 

 

Comments

    • A vindictive bunch of watchamacallit indeed! I thought Jesus said, “Love thine enemies”. Is this not addressed to the bishops? And they are dragging the church to political vindictiveness. What a shame.

  2. PSSSSTT…

    @ Raissa, Buddy Gomez:

    Could it be Belinda OIivarez Cunanan , a former PDI columnist that Sandy Prieto was referring to about “someone you’ve tried your best to support and whose independence you’ve nurtured breaks that trust by selling valuable editorial real estate.”

    I quote from Cunanan’s blog, Political Tidbits:

    “Kindly tell your friends about my blog as I need more exposure, after I was terminated from the Inquirer for political reasons.”

    “Since I was summarily terminated by the Inquirer for political reasons right after the May 2010 elections I turned to online writing, but it needs more exposure.”

    Her late husband was a diplomat and corporate exeutive with impressive connections in the Arroyo and Cory administrations.

    What exactly did she do? Related to the 2010 elections?

        • Andrew
          we posted comments on BOC in many Raissa blogs before as far back as 2011.
          You should have known the identity immediately.

          Not worth reading her writings until she returns GOCC shares worth millions rightfully belonging to SS according to PNoy govt

    • An earlier comment from one of our cyber associates did mention her. For Sandy Prieto Romualdez to have spoken of that someone in a rare but major statement can only mean that “malalim ang sugat.” Bel seems to be admitting that she is Sandy’s subject.
      Raissa is being sensible…..why advertise and propagate a distraction. I hesitate to categorize Bel as a competitor. What apparently Ms. Cunanan misses is the attention and clout she used tonenjoy while still with PDI. Not to worry, really. She is “made” financially.

  3. At the Senate, sass is disallowed in the past…until the advent of the RH Bill when SASS was already allowed by a vote of 11-6.

    —–
    sass – impudent speech

    SASS – safe and satisfying sex

    • http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/319077/senates-rh-bill-retains-clause-on-safe-satisfying-sex

      “In fact, it has no business to be telling us to do that,” Enrile said, defending his amendment deleting “safe and satisfying sex” from the bill.

      “Precisely, Mr. President. My response is, it simply defines that reproductive health includes a safe and satisfying sex life for the couple; precisely giving them that privilege and that right,” Cayetano countered.

      Those who voted against Enrile’s amendment were Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Santiago, Escudero, Franklin Drilon, Teofisto Guingona III, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Sergio Osmeña III and Francis Pangilinan.

      Those who voted in favor of Enrile’s amendment were Jinggoy Estrada, Gregorio Honasan II, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla Jr., Vicente Sotto III and Enrile.

  4. A the Senate, sass is disallowed in the past…until the advent of RH Bill when SASS was already allowed by a vote of 11-6.

    —–
    Sass – impudent speech

    SASS – safe and satisfying sex

  6. this really happened. we got married by a judge in the province, we were in our 30’s then. after the marriage, of course we were living as husband and wife. we agreed that we will get a proper wedding in a church afterwards. after six months, and with my wife’s tummy bulging with a child we decided to get married in church. before the marriage, we were given a marriage seminar by a priest (ours is an old italian priest beloved in the parish), who said that we were living in sin, and we should separate and return to our parents house before we get married in church. what the…..as a husband and would be father, it was and is my duty to be by my wife’s side and take care of her and the baby

    • …how “old” was the Italian priest at the time you say…maybe 94 years?, he couldn’t remember he was priest anymore! Too obsolete and behind all times! You and wife already lived together for months and a coming child is on hand…it is only a venial sin! …mitigated by: the conception of a child and the love expressed… The veniality disappeared. Ergo: No sin whatsoever.

    • To me, this is the place where the logic of compassion gets lost for the inflexibility of priestly perceptions of God’s rules. Jesus would have done differently than this priest, I am confident. Seems to me there is a faith warp between Catholic doctrine and human heart.

    • @mainman

      Not unusual for foreign clergies then, too strict!

      Now, with a Filipino priest, advice would be:

      Get married after the child is born, then you can have baptism and wedding on same day, one party, same visitors, less expenses, two separate gifts.

    • At the rate he is going, Senator Sotto could vey well be the next Filipino candidate for sainthood. Such a brave and courageous defender of his faith ! Going through all lengths to prevent the perversion of the young, resorting to such a noble and commendable act of plagiarism that the youth can emulate, not once.. but over and over again.

      Aah, who else would have been willing to endure the pain and humiliation of being exposed as a lying thief? Who else would have fought so valiantly a horde of fact checking cyberbullies? Who else would have thought to unsheath the sword of cyberlibel and wield it against those who dare malign the reputation of all saintly politicians like him?

      There are many things he will long be remembered for, among them his solid defense of his no vote to the RH Bill- why do we want to give out free condoms when other countries are banning the use of plastic? The angels in Quiapo Church must have been applauding thinking business as usual when the No vote wins.

      I wonder what the CBCP is waiting for. Sotto for sainthood, now na! Let’s hear it for Santa SenTito, Patron Saint of PLASTICS !

      • People and VOTERS should just remember that this guy should not and be NEVER voted again for senator in the next elections and thereafter!

        REMOVE TITO SOTTO from the SENATE!

      • Patron Saint of comedians and plagiarists. St. Vicente, Santo Tito, Santito, Titosan… I like the ring of it.

      • alalahanin natin si sotto ay artista, magaling sa script at magaling magpaAWA sa mga TANGA-HANGA nya. mga BOBO lang ang naniniwala sa kanya. sa isip ni sotto ganito ” ANUMAN ANG SABIHIN NYO ANG TAONG BAYAN NA TANGA AY NANINIWALA SA AKIN. MAGPA UNDERDOG LANG AKO KUHA KO NA ANG SIMPATIYA NILA” yan po ang nasa isip ni sotto. lokohin nya ang lelang nya PERO HINDI AKO!!

      • …Sotto – the more worsts he does the more he remains only a candidate and will never be that! He’ll end up hellboy!

        • magdilang anghel ka sana, leona. maya-maya lang, baka vice-president na yan. tingnan mo na lang si marcos, wala tayong kamalay-malay, biglang naging senador. ngayon, pumapapel na naman. alam niyang karamihan ang boboto ng yes sa RH Bill, after a few days, biglang bumaligtad from No to Yes. Ayaw kasi niyang mamarkahan kahit na nga ba’y markado na siya. Knock on wood na lang tayo.

  8. This is the word of God (or not) :

    First to speak after the final approval of the RH Bill last night was Bishop Reyes, posted by ABS-CBN at 11:21 pm, Dec 17:

    “What is very sad also is that Malacañang has pressured our congressmen to vote yes. Had Malacañang not pressured our congressmen in second reading, we would have won, majority is for the truth.”

    “Maraming nagbaliktaran nung tinawag ng Liberal Party ang mga members… pati yung hindi Liberal Party. Ang malungkot ay mismong executive department nagiging corruptor ng ating congressmen by promising government projects, political favors… and that pork barrel funds will not be given if they don’t vote for the RH bill.”

    A voice of reason then comes out of Quiapo Church, Monsignor Clemente Ignacio, who asked those against the measure to be magnanimous in defeat. (from the same ABS-CBN posting, Dec 17 pm)

    “Let us not judge those who have voted for the RH bill. They have their own convictions [and] own views on the issue. We do not know where they are coming from. It only shows that there are many things the Church has to do with regards to this. They are our brothers and sisters even if they are on the other side.”

    Today, Bishop Soc Villegas follows through with the conciliatory tone. (Well. at least in part: (posted by PDI, 2:38 pm, Dec 18)

    “Let us move on!”‘ he said.

    “This is a time for peacemaking. We might not see eye to eye but we can work hand in hand for the real progress that your people so richly deserve.”

    Then the swipe,

    “They might have won through the tyranny of numbers but it does not mean that they are right. It is only a matter of time and then we will see more violations of `Thou shall not kill’ and `Thou shall not commit adultery’ among our families, our youth and children.”

    However, just a few minutes earlier Bishop Arguelles has already come out fighting : (posted by GMA 7, 2:21 pm, Dec 18)

    The Bishop said the next move of the Catholic Church would be to campaign against those who voted in favor of the RH bill and those who are planning to implement the same measure.

    “Ang kampanya namin ay huwag nang iboto pati ‘yung mga kakandidato na ang kanilang ipapairal na mga batas ay makasisira sa humanity at makasisira sa pananampalataya.”

    “Overdue na, dapat hindi maging leader ang maging masamang halimbawa. It is high time that we should vote according to what kind of society we want to have.”

    And so the fight is definitely not over yet as the Bishops set their sights on the Supreme Court as the next battlefield. A re-energised Bishop Reyes once again speaks : (posted by Rappler, 4:41 pm, Dec 18)

    Bishop Reyes said a group of Catholic lawyers was preparing to challenge the legality of the bill in the Supreme Court as soon as it is signed into law.

    “We will support that petition… in the Supreme Court against the RH bill,” said Reyes, head of the commission on family issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

    Furthermore, Reyes lays the blame on President Aquino for their defeat: (from the same Rappler posting)

    He laid the blame for the bill’s passage at the feet of President Benigno Aquino, who he accused of using pressure and government funds to get the necessary votes in parliament.

    “The struggle between the pro-RH and the anti-RH… was really the struggle of Malacanang (the presidential palace),” he said, warning that Aquino could become a “threat to democracy” with his domination of Congress.

    Anyone out there able to utter the words “Praise be to God!” in response to their holiness?

    • A wonderful recap of the bizarre priestly political rants. I wonder what the legal foundation for a Supreme Court challenge would be. I have not read that anywhere. I also wonder how much they will spend on the protest. That is, when the case fails, how much that could have gone to the poor will have been pissed away to attorneys.

    • …these bad bishops have ever since and now openly flouting violations of the Separate of the Church and the State! How unconstitutional!

      It becomes appropriate for all I mean ALL courts of the land to issue ex parte Orders to order all of them to stop such unconstitutional conduct with contempt of all courts if they refuse to obey!

      Time to put ’em in jail!

    • Adding to this recap:

      Bishop Gabriel Reyes, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said Roxas was one of the administration officials who went to the House of Representatives to ensure that the RH bill was passed.

      “The Church is not after political power but it has much influence. We use that influence for the growth of the country (but) Malcañang really fought the Church,” Reyes said at a Church forum in Intramuros, Manila.

      “As for Mar, I think it will affect (his presidential ambition) … The Church has much moral influence on our people. Many still believe in the Church. In surveys, the Church has the highest credibility [than] the executive, legislature and judiciary,” Reyes added.

      newsinfodotinquirerdotnet/326609/bishop-warns-roxas-church-will-make-him-pay-in-2016

      • @ Gene,

        As I said before that the church, especially the C.B.C.P. should observe and respect the separation of church & state pero binaliwala nila masunod lamang ang kanilang Pansariling Interest at ngayon tapos na ang nasabing usapin R.H. Bill ay gumaganti pa itong si gabriel reyes kay mar roxas na magbabayad ito sa 2016, magkano kaya ibabayad ni mar dito sa taong ito? ito ba yong nagpa KAPAL MUKS at Humingi nang S.U.V. noong time ni G.M.A.. kaya pala wala silang ginawa noong time ni G.M.A. kahit sandamukal ang ANOMALYAnonn dahil natakpan nang S.U.V. at Monthly Allowances na mahigit 200,000.-.. Nakakahiya ito at Nakakadiri dahil para sana sa mahihirap natin mamamayan ang perang ginamit mula sa P.C.S.O. (sugal) pero hindi inalintala nang mga Pari daw at Obispo daw para masunod lamang ang kanilang Kapritso at KASAKIMAN….WOW…..

  9. Latest News Huffington Posts

    40 Cleanest cities in the world

    #40 is Mumbai India
    #2 is Singapore
    #1 is Tokyo

    Seoul, Hongkong, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hanoi all in top 40.
    Bishops, Sotto and Enrile have another weapon dissing RH bill, more discarded condoms adding to the dirty streets.

    Manila is not in the list.
    Our politicians should be proud of Philippines new distinction, aside from the worst airport.

    It’s always fun in the Philippines!

    He he he

    • @Johnny Lin…..I noted this last night at HuffPost and I wondered if it will be noticed back home. Thanks for raising this talking point. Let me re-express a thought I had mentioned sometime ago. ……Something like this:

      If indeed, cleanliness is next to Godliness, our MetroManila RC parishes must be so far away from God! Before meddling with the affairs of State, the CBCP is better advised to tend to physical cleanliness, sanitation and health within each bishop’s area of concern. Magwaliswalis muna kayo bago kayo maki-alam sa buhay ng isang babae at ng kanyang angkan!

      Garbology first…..Theology can take a hike!

      • Buddy

        Very simple
        Friends or visitors peasantly keep returning to the home when it is clean and presentable.

        How could the Philippines attract lots of tourists like our successful Asian neighbors when just before landing, on the plane they see the filth in theair and smell it assoon as they see the airport?

        Much more the congested dirty streets on tgeircway to their hotels.

        You are right, the priests should have the moral integrity to lead their parishes to clean up their surroundings instead of meddling in government affairs. Maybe they will be more effetive in preaching their anti RH standwith people upon workinf with them sideby side on a daily basis in their homes and neighborhoods promoting cleanliness.

    • Uncleanliness, Worst Airport, Dirty streets are results of Corruption, Apathy and Corruption by many and many of our public officials, elected, appointed and Employed in the public Service!

      IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE PUBLIC OFFICIALS!

  10. Raissa – please take a bow on the passage of the RH Bill in both House and Senate. To my mind, you were instrumental in educating everybody on the pros and cons of the Bill.

  11. Read somewhere:

    The acronym of the 8 senators who voted against the RHBill is HERPES TV, a new brand of idiot box; Honasan, Enrile, Revilla, Pimentel, Estrada, Sotto, Trillanes, Villar.

    How appropriate is that? LOL!

    • Honasan
      Enrile
      Revilla
      Pimentel
      EStrada

      Sotto

      Villar

      Trillanes

      =

      HERPES Simplex Two (Herpes simplex type 2)

      Help prevent sexually transmitted infections.

        • the idea came from you. thanks.

          the anti-RHs forgot about STDs. CSEP takes care of the information drive in STD prevention.

          with proper education sexual promiscuity may also be minimized.

          a lot of people doesn’t know that STDs may not always produce symptoms. that’s why they are prevalent, and thus, dangerous…especially to couples who want to have babies.

      • To my eyes, the above named Senators (HERPES VT) are “churchmen” (who think of the “unborn” generation), and not “statesmen” (who think of the next living generation), Hillary Clinton’s quote modified.

    • Brilliant acronym nene and baycas :)

      I believe that we can use your acronym in every board exams for healthcare professionals.

      For example ill take cong. lagmans words from this article and use it to a multiple choice quesions:

      http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/18/12/sotto-pia-clash-over-bicameral-panel-members

      Question:

      1.”Who is the person who would like to have hazardous and unpleasant sex?”

      Honasan
      Enrile
      Revilla
      Pimentel
      EStrada

      Sotto

      Villar

      Trillanes

    • HUWAG IBOTO ANG MGA ITO SA SUSUNOD NA ELECTION. gusto ng maraming anak para sa POLITICAL DYNASTY nila (estrada, revilla) pero sa iba iba namang babae(ito ba ang ituturo sa mga kabataan?) maraming anak pero iba iba ang ina? kaya tutol sila sa RH BILL.trillanes akala ko para sa bayan ka HINDI PALA. bawas na ang boto mo mula sa pamilya ko.

    • “HERPES TV” … by the acronym, for Ignorance, Abuse, Lying, Unfit, Unworthy, Dynasty, Plagiarizing, Arrogance and Too Wealthy Unconcerned, should all be DE-VOTED in the next 2013 ELECTIONS and THEREAFTER! Change all of them.

      Let us all make a mark to remember THIS.

  12. @Rene-Ipil and the rest here,

    Re: Question at Comment No. 7.2

    Sorry for the puzzlement.

    How does one make the bishops disappear?

    There is no way.

    Except, the Bishop Way.

    No. 20

    I’ll just as happy to see to the RCC and its cabal of senile old pharisees fade into irrelevance, as the…reasonable voice abandon ship…

    – Antonio Yang III, 12.16.12 at 8:45 am

    No. 18.4

    Thus, the Catholic Church seems intent upon arriving itself to irrelevance.

    – Joe America, 12.16.12 at 5:33 pm

    The bishops themselves will make their lot vanish into obscurity…

    Especially if the Bishop Logic will prevail.

    (Link to this Bishop Logic is posted immediately below after moderation.)

  13. In a preceding article by Ms Raissa (“If RH Law passes, “D.E.A.T.H.S. bills” are next, warns Catholic Church official), newly installed Cardinal Tagle said: “The Church must be a humble Church, modeling herself more on Jesus and being less preoccupied by her power, prestige and position in society.”
    I take this as a hint from him that mankind, including those within the Christian world, have strayed far from what He wanted his people to become.
    I don’t find this strange. According to my favorite Senator (Miriam Defensor Santiago), the Catholic Church, like all Churches, “is only human.” We humans have inherited from Adam and Eve the tendency to experiment things and become a deviant in the process. To use another analogy, we become “isotopes” of the real Christian element.
    Life is like a navigational journey (whether by air or by sea) from point of origin (on being born) and point of destination (the afterlife). During the journey, ourselves as “plane” or “ship” are put on an auto pilot for steering the course. Regularly, the pilot (of the plane) or the master (of the ship) checks the course, and if he finds it in error, he switches the “auto pilot”, puts on a new steering course to compensate for the effects of weather and cross air and ocean currents, and then switches back the “auto pilot” to auto mode.
    In our 4G and Windows 8 world today, which course shall we steer to avoid damnation of our soul?
    I was in college at the height of the student unrest in the late 1960s shortly before Pres. Marcos declared Martial Law (1972). In one of the placards carried by students demonstrating in front of the CBCP building in Intramuros was: “Christ did not live in palaces!” We all know that most Catholic priests are living a good life in well-furnished convents with, perhaps, 4G celphones and Windows 8 computers. I find this kind of life a stark contrast to how Jesus Christ lived during His time when He had to travel (there were no Pajeros then) mountains upon mountains in order to preach.
    Because our Living God loves us very much, He finds it appropriate to introduce a “correction” in our life’s “steering course”. In 1982, a nurse turned amateur archaeologist (Ron Wyatt) was divinely inspired to discover the hiding place of the Ark of the Covenant which mysteriously disappeared in Jerusalem during King Solomon’s time in 586 BC when the Babylonian army of King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Holy City. Ron Wyatt discovered the Ark hidden by Jeremiah in a chamber directly beneath Christ’s true crucifixion site (not the place we know of today) in Mt. Moriah. In the Old Testament, Mt. Moriah was the mountain where Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac to God.

    Here’s the link where Ron Wyatt detailed his discovery of the Ark:

    http://www.wyattmuseum.com/arkofthecovenant.htm

    Why is the discovery of the Ark not spreading like bush fire in the Christian world? Michael
    Rood, a retired U.S. Marine and a messianic Jew, best explains the answer here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpFZL2rSqeY

    • CORRECTION IN UPPER CASE…..”Regularly, the pilot (of the plane) or the master (of the ship) checks the course, and if he finds it in error, he switches OFF the “auto pilot”, INTRODUCE A NEW COURSE TO STEER to compensate for the effects of weather and cross air and ocean currents, and then switches back the “auto pilot” to auto mode.

  14. nakakatawa ang mga explainations ng mga pulitikong NoToRHbill. Lalo na dun sa mga Artista.
    Buti na lang walang trahedya
    o bagyong sumabay sa
    botohan.. baka masisi na
    naman ang Diyos..
    Ng mga religious fanatics.

  15. Ano kaya ang masasabi ng mga kaparian tungkol sa ipinagmamalaki nilang “Catholic Vote”? Hinid ba nakakahiya na malaman “tambak ang score” sa botohan?

    Bakit kasi ipinipilit nila ang bagay na mas dapat ang sabihin, ituro, o ipaalala ay bumoto ayun sa iyung konsensya at para sa kabutihan ng mas nakararami. Nagbabago na ang panahon, dapat ay sumabay din tayo sa pagbabago na ito.

    Hindi yung dahil tayo ay konserbatibo na bansa ay mananatili tayo sarado ang isip sa mga pagbabago na ito.

    • The ‘Pinas RCC is one great source of LITANY OF SUFFERINGS in this country since 1521 up to now!

      Imagine three (3) Priests of their own, Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, were all GARROTED because of what?

      Dr. Jose P. Rizal was EXECUTED, because of what? His dear MOTHER was not exempted!

      And many of our country men, Filipinos and Filipinas, suffered in many Spanish jails throughout the country for reasons of what?

      The victims only wanted not to BOW DOWN to the Church but exercise free conscience only!

      Yet, sufferings were imposed on them. A Church! Bent on imposing sufferings. physical sufferings! Their unholy acts continues.

      This century and all others to come, they will be unheard of forever! God will blame these bad prelates of the Church and not the people who only gave many support and their own money, blood and sweat, atbpa to the Church who is and will be always UNGRATEFUL!

      Time to cut and cut clean [Laxalt] until no more dirt is seen. Awaken! Filipinos!