By Raïssa Robles
It takes a Pope to deliver the message to our Catholic bishops to live more simply.
This time, Pope Francis zeroed in on the trappings of influence and power that some of our bishops are fond of.
Yesterday, he told novice priests and nuns:
“It hurts me when I see a priest or a nun with the latest model car, you can’t do this.”
“A car is necessary to do a lot of work, but please, choose a more humble one. If you like the fancy one, just think about how many children are dying of hunger in the world.”
UPDATE: as of 5 PM, July 7, 2013
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has just announced that Archbishop Socrates Villegas is the new CBCP President.
Monsignor Villagas is the prelate who stated during the heated debates against the Reproductive Health bill that “contraception is corruption”.
See my story by clicking on this link.
I expect him to be very eloquent on the issue as the Church and its supporters try to stop the RH Law from taking effect.
Pope Francis’ sermon on simple living was quickly picked up by Reuters news agency.
It was a very oblique way of telling priests the world over, including our very own bishops, to be true to their calling and live simple lives. ANSA news agency said the Pope himself was driven around in a Ford Compact car – which is half the price of the Mitsubishi Montero that one Philippine bishop asked of the former Philippine president to give him for his birthday three years ago.
Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos even wrote then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo:
“I hope you will never fail to give a brand new car which would serve as your birthday gift to me.”
“For your information, I have with me a seven-year-old car which is not anymore in good running condition. Therefore, this needs to be replaced very soon.”
His choice of car was a Mitsubishi Montero worth P1.7 million.
Six other bishops were given cash with which to buy new cars.
Bishop Pueblos found nothing wrong about asking a head of state for a brand new car and choosing a luxury car that’s a gas guzzler.
It is actions like these that make Catholics frown on their faith.
UPDATE as of 3:35 PM, July 7, 2013 : What would Pope Francis say?
A restaurant that serves the favorite fatty foods of prelates? How humble is that.
I wonder how Pope Francis would react to the restaurant that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines allowed to be put up in its own building in Intramuros, Manila. While tourists and food lovers would probably find it quaint to see the various dishes in the menu tagged as the favorite of this or that Cardinal or Bishop, I found it slightly revolting.
Perhaps because we were taught early on in the Catholic school that I attended in my formative years that sacrifice was the heart of my religion. We were made to read the lives of various saints who even secretly wore hair shirts, deprived themselves of luxuries and fasted and prayed as often as they could.
But the menu of Ristorante delle Mitre – photos of which you can view below – appear to show that the leaders of the Philippine Catholic Church indulge in good food – food that the poor majority whom they were bound to serve by their priestly vows coud least afford. The resto apparently has the blessings of the Catholic Church hierarchy here.
I really think the menu below gives the wrong impression of the Church of the poor. All the photos were taken by my hubby Alan when he happened to go to Intramuros to tour some foreign friends:
Menu of Ristorante delle Mitre at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines building in Intramuros, Manila – PHOTOS by Alan Robles
What would Pope Francis say if he were served this desert at the restaurant that features the Philippine cardinals’ and bishops’ favorite food – PHOTO by Alan Robles
The poor cannot afford Cardinal Ricardo Vidal’s alleged favorite dishes – PHOTO by Alan Robles
Even Cardinal Rosales’ favorite dishes, though more modestly priced, are still not affordable to the poor – PHOTO BY Alan Robles
The seafood selection at the restaurant inside the CBCP are a food lover’s delight but out of reach of the poor, maybe, except for those who are fishermen – PHOTO by Alan Robles
I don’t know why, but the menu selections really remind me of Padre Damaso in Jose Rizal’s scathing satirical novel, Noli me Tangere – PHOTO BY Alan Robles
santiagokatumbal says
OFF topic na parang hindi: just munch it…
#LookWho’sTalking
Mel says
OFF TOPIC
The CPMers did comment on this (check back post titles of RR) earlier this year.
Check RR’s blog titles on the Representatives’ and Senators’ pork barrels allocations using middle firms or entities as intermediaries.
NBI probes P10-B scam
Pork, gov’t funds used in ghost projects By Nancy C. Carvajal. Philippine Daily Inquirer
Excerpt
andrew lim says
Could be dangerous work, but I’d like to see investigative journalists bust the lawmakers involved in this. Impossible that they are not involved in it.
moonie says
. . . and instead of looking into past actions done by erring lawmakers some are currently sitting in the senate, same lawmakers are now going to scrutinize the proposed budget of PNoy’s admin, the CCT, DILG, and the agency headed by dinky soliman. tit for tat yata.
Mel says
@Andrew, @moonie, et al
Some exposé came to light during the resignation of JPE’s chief of staff – Gigi Reyes.
Once hint came after another.
Halimbawa.
@Vander,..?.bakit daw magandang maging senador dito RP?– #79.1 Victin Luz
There are many other threads and comments exposing some bits of the scam.
Mel says
typo
OnceOne hint came after another.jorge bernas says
@ Mel,
Ph. 10 Billions na anomalya nang JLN corp. Bakit napakabagal nang N.B.I. imbestigasyon at ang B.I.R. napakabagal din? Dahil kaya sa napakalaking billiones na PERA ni juan de la cruz….nandiyan na ang BOGUS N.G.Os., Nagsalita na mga witnesses bakit wala pa rin napakulong? Nagpakita na nang marangyang pamumuhay mga KURRAPT bakit wala pa rin Nahuli? Ano nangyari sa kidnapping case against kay janet lim napores et. al.?
Noong nag session ang lower house ay nakita ko nagsumite nang panukalang batas si GMA kasama ang anak at parang ok naman pala eh bakit kailangan pa ang Hospital Arrest lang dahil ba sa maimplowensiya at napakayaman.. Lantarang niloloko na tayo nang HOKUMAN sa ganitong pagkakataon na dapat ay pantay pantay ang bawat isa…Nagbigay nang TRO ang supreme court noon sa pangunguna ni convicted thief justice nato corona dahil dying condition daw at kailangan madala sa abbroad pero heto malakas pa yata kay superman at ang mga sinungaling na doctors sa st. luke hospital ay nagpagamit naman at nagpapaka kapal mukha dahil sa SUHOL at PERA o bayad utang… ha ha ha ha….Ang buhay nga naman basta mapera laging nakakalusot kahit mahirap magpalusot…
Martial Bonifacio says
Off-topic: Illegal black sand mining sa babuyan channel:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/317101/news/specialreports/the-murky-world-of-black-sand-mining-in-the-babuyan-islands
Talagang sinusubukan ng mga intsik ang determinasyon ng mga Philippine authority or ni Pnoy. Sa sitwasyon ito okay lang kung ang gawin ng coast guard ay shoot to kill or sink the ship, sasaluduhan ko pa sila for protecting our countries territory and natural resources.
Nakakasama lang ng loob sa balitang ito yung local citizens nakapagsumbong na sa otoridad pero yung mga namamahala wala na namang ginagawa.
Victin Luz says
@martial …..although onshore blacksand mining is difficult to undertake and not the USUAL engineering or mining practice on extracting the said IRON ORE , it can be done. But not on that picture you had posted, operation cost will be too expensive on that method and the most they were doing were SAMPLING ..
Be as it may @martial …..you can now differentiate why a coast guard was shooting on illegal poachers and not SHOOTING the illegal ONSHORE miners ? Do our COAST GUARDS treated differently an illegal poachers with the illegal miners? It ONLY SHOWs , how very wrong our Coast Guards were discharging their duties and responsibilities …. O….. Dili kaya ….KWARTA KWARTA …padin ang labanan……. Hindi kaya ang Taiwanese poachers was about to escape the coast guard kaya BINARIL ( awan ti maala da mga DATUNG pag nakatakbo ) and here on your new posting/pictures the ships were STAGNANT and doing some mining works ay madaling kusapin at puntahan sa BAY?
Martial Bonifacio says
You have a point and i read that multiple times also in the comment section of Taiwans news. And yes i agree our government should also investigate the allegation na ginagawang business ng coast guard ang panghuhuli sa mga illegal poachers. Ang tanong ko naman jan is bakit ayaw magsampa ng mga Taiwanese fishermen ng bribery against our CG sa korte natin to prove their claim?
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/regions/07/08/13/black-sand-mining-rampant-ilocos-despite-ban
What irritates me more is that, one DENR did not give permit, In the 2nd link the MGB issued a cease and desist order. Both link though different areas in the Philippines have one glaring similarity, that the LGU’s are the ones disregarding the order of DENR/MGB.
The senate and congress should also make a inquiry about this incidents kasi in my opinion ginagamit ang “small scale mining act” to circumvent our laws. Tulad ng link sa taas small boat muna ang kumukuha tapos ipapasa sa mas malaking barko na malapit sa shore.
I refer you to watch Howie Severino’s i-witness entitled “Bayan Sa Gitna Ng Sangandaan”. Same incident as the two pero sa masinloc zambales naman.
In my opinion even if the ship is stagnant or it is trying to escape, as long as it is doing something illegal and entered our countries territory illegally, they should be apprehended and face our justice system. Hindi dapat tinotolerate ang mga ganyang gawain kasi at the end of the day mga pilipino ang maapektuhan.
Victin Luz says
Iyan din ang pinagtataka KO @sir martial….ang DENR assigned on that area,,, who gave them the ECC …kasi before the permit was given ,Kung Mayroon man ay ECC- economic compliance certificate muna ang gagawin nila o a PRE requisites before ang mining permit will be granted…..if we are to investigate that area you had posted was the same area of jurisdiction of a well known national officials where offshore minings is an OFF and ON activities . May binaril na din ata na DENR DYAN a year ago…..
Victin Luz says
GARAPAL ang mga tao dyan @martial…….. just remember the PORT IRENE casinos, smuggling ang the STA. ANA, CAGAYAN , offshore ” black sand-iron ore ” mining activities…..it could be interconnected with a powerful syndicate on that area…… It was like the FAMOUS SUSUKI BOYs of the ANTONIO family during the Marcos ERA in an island adjacent to your island you had just POSTED…SMUGGLINS…..it’s like the CHOP-CHOP motorcycles smuggling at ILOCOS SUR in an small islets joined to the mainland province at LOW TIDE but disconnected during HIGH TIDE….
Martial Bonifacio says
6 Chinese nabbed for illegal mining in Agusan del Sur
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/80749/6-chinese-nabbed-for-illegal-mining-in-agusan-del-sur
Na expose na dati ito sa Failon Ngayon pero iisa lang yang minahan na yan sa dami ng mga site na meroong mga illegal na chinese miners. Sa sobrang late ng reaction ng government ay nasira na pala yung patubig para sa mga magsasaka because yung mga instik ay gumagamit ng illegal chemicals just to separate the gold then it would end up washed into the river.
Dapat hulihin lahat yang mga illegal chinese miners na expose na sa balita yung mga site, reaction na lang ng LGU, DENR at PNP ang inaantay:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/12/4500-chinese-leave-ghana-after-illegal-mining-crackdown/
Parang sa Ghana how they steal natural resources and polutte the area.
filipino_mom says
ang mas malaking pinagtataka ko eh kung bakit walang “nakakakita” sa mga activities na to.
leona says
Sen. Pia Cayetano’s news quoted remarks –
“Cayetano said these statements from RH critics are nothing new to her.
“I’ve heard [the argument by anti-RH advocates] that for a man to masturbate is ‘murder,’ and so to say that it is ‘genocide,’ then it tells us what kind of discussion we have,” Cayetano said.”
Question to critics: What sex was killed, female or male? Murder? All humanity will go to Hell for that!
Martial Bonifacio says
I’ll adapt Tatad’s and the anti-RH way of thinking. Kung ang masturbate is considered a “murder” or “genocide”. Papaano kung “wet dreams”? Involuntary manslaughter?
rallie f. cruz says
What would be the best thing then? Is not masturbation a less expensive way to prevent unwanted pregnancy? There is no abortion to feel guilty of, it is just a sperm that has not reached any egg yet so what life is killed there? With that, if the wife is not in the mood, then there will be no rape to happen and the husband may save money from going out to pay for a joy giver or even look for a paramour.
Was there really a Written Law in the Bible that says it is forbidden? What I have read is about a brother who did not want to have sex with his brother’s wife because he did not want her to get pregnant and have a child who will not be his child but his brother’s. He wasted his sperm on the ground and he was stricken. Was it really the idea of masturbation that he was killed or was it, that his refusal to have a child whom he cannot own was the issue?
tristanism says
“Papaano kung “wet dreams”? Involuntary manslaughter?”
LOL! Nice one.
moonie says
stop masturbating, you anti-RH critics or you go blind and your balls would fall off!
to mastrubate, I think, they mean it as means to give release and in so doiing ‘murder’ current sexual urge. their vocabulary is just limited.
anti-RH critic should know that sexual needs is normal, and like belonging needs, it appear in one of maslowe’s heirarchy of human needs. its in psychosocial studies.
leona says
…when does “life” begins? This issue is so slippery no one can catch it and hold on to it. In a court of law, evidence is very important. ‘Opinions or beliefs’ as advance by those Anti-RH law is not evidence. No experts’ testimonies so far on this have been conclusively accepted by our courts. Even the US case of Roe vs. Wade, the ponente of that case regretted in later years before his death in having made such a majority opinion for the Federal US Sup. Court “When life begins.”
…now, the same issue is before our own high Court. Is there evidence? Or there are only empty opinions and/or belief? These cannot be admissible for purposes of deciding that the RH law is unconstitutional.
…But definitely there is the problem in our over-population of people in chaos in this country! And the Catholic Church wants to ignore this big problem with beliefs and/or opinions at that! Can the Church prove that there is ‘death’ of a person when It believes there is ‘Life after death?”
…who of all rational and intelligent beings knows when “Life” begins and when ‘Death’ is the end? ONLY GOD.
But the issue is not about death. It is about ‘life’ because of over-population that is the essential problem to be faced on, otherwise more deaths takes place because of it as a consequence.
…The high Court, we hope, should dismiss the petition on grounds of no evidence or proof given.
leona says
On website Catholic ONLINE, it goes to state about Justice Blackmun’s remarks on his decision in Roe vs. Wade, [ 1973 decision] where there was legal abortions that their high Court allowed against States’ laws on it. The Justice says –
“”We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins,” Justice Blackmun wrote in Roe v. Wade? What? Shakespeare’s Hamlet who never set eyes on the United States Constitution had a better grasp of the issue than “Ol’ Number Three.” “To be or not to be,” Mr. Justice Blackmun, “that is the question.”
But, our RH law does not speak of allowing abortion. On the contrary, it is still prohibited under the RH law. But in Justice Blackmun’s majority opinion, killing was legal via allowed abortions in its first tri-mester stage.
leona says
To read the whole article the link is
http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=49384
Rene-Ipil says
[email protected]
In Roe vs. Wade Justice Blackmun mentioned the official belief of the catholic church on the existence of life from the moment of conception. But Justice Backmun pointed out that new embryological data indicate that conception is a process that evolves over time instead of a single event. Justice Blackmun elaborated on the said official belief of the Catholic Church.
” Substantial problems for precise definition of this view are posed, however, by new embryological data that purport to indicate that conception is a “process” over time rather than an event, and by new medical techniques such as menstrual extraction, the “morning-after” pill implantation of embryos, artificial insemination, and even artificial wombs.”
Pertinent portion of the text in Roe vs. Wade is seen in this link:
http://old.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/roevwade/sclifebegins.shtml
leona says
Tama ka @Rene Ipil…even those justice of the US high court, finally realized much later that “they did not understand the whole decision of ROE.” As you quoted “” Substantial problems for precise definition of this view are posed” the problems persists until now in USA!
Actually, both sides on that case Roe, equally balanced experts were presented, and the balance remains balanced in the middle…no tiltling so far to either sides. In short, no evidence when does life begins.
It’s only our Cath. Church arguments that ‘begins to add more mud to the muddled issue.”
filipino_mom says
@leona: …who of all rational and intelligent beings knows when “Life” begins and when ‘Death’ is the end? ONLY GOD.
but then again, that would open a whole new can of worms and would derail any discussions because:
1. is there, inded, a god?
2. which god is the true god?
3. what about those who believe in multiple gods?
leona says
@filipino_mom…
for No. 1…indeed, there is no god…then we don’t exist!
for No. 2, many gods…again, we don’t exist!
for No. 3, believes in multiple gods…we exists in multiples or cease to exists multiply!
There are only for sure WORMS, not in cans, but everywhere. Right you are…derail [like a train] any discussions on this!
Rene-Ipil says
[email protected]
The question we often hear or read is “When does fertilization occur?” As if somebody, including the bishops, knew the answer.
The question should rather be “When do we know or learn that fertilization has in fact occurred and where?” Or “How do we know or learn that fertilization has in fact occurred somewhere?” That fertilization occurred will be known ONLY when and if the purported fertilized ovum or zygote had attached or embedded in the uterus and became viable enough for the doctor to detect life.
Indeed, fertilization in human beings is yet a theory derived from the actual or in vivo experiment of other mammals such as the mouse. So it is entirely possible that the terms fertilization and implantation are misnomer insofar as humans are concerned. In that case only the concept of conception remains, which event could really be supported clinically and scientifically by observable or empirical evidence of pregnancy.
Conception would then comprise of the formation and development of the embryo in the uterus. It is also possible that the meeting of the sperm and egg occurs in the uterus – not in the Fallopian tube – which may result to the creation of a viable zygote that may grow under a favorable environment.
BTW even the Nazi experiments by Josef Mengele on thousands of Jews failed to produce any data on the fertilization process in human beings. Indeed, the story on the fertility experiments at Auzchwitz merely portrays the life of the victims and perpetrators before and after.
http://www.amazon.com/Fertility-Experiments-Auschwitz-Birkenau-Jolanda-Weinberger/dp/3838102479