This is in reaction to Raul C. Pangalangan?s Sept. 18 column titled ?Stand fast against friars? friendly fire.?

First and foremost, reason distinguishes man from animals. In philosophy, man is a rational being, animals are irrational. Animals are ruled by instinct and feelings, man is ruled by reason; and as a Christian, man is ruled by faith, hope and love.

The object of instinct and feelings is anything perceivable by the senses; the object of reason is natural truth; and the object of faith is supernaturally revealed truth. Truth is the conformity of the thing with the intellect. In Latin, veritas est conformitas rei cum intellectu (truth is the conformity of the thing with the intellect). Hence being wrong is being irrational or unreasonable.

There is only one Catholicism which is universal ever since. The one, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ, now headed by His vicar on Earth, Pope Benedict XVI. The Church upholds the teachings of Christ the God-man, and cannot go against or change His teachings. The teachings of Christ and his Church are pro-life.

Each and every Catholic, from the Pope to any simple lay man, is bound to abide by the teachings being taught by the Church. Any believer who does not abide with the teachings 100 percent is not a genuine Catholic. He is a Catholic only in name. There is no traditional or modern Catholic. What I know is, one is either a Catholic or a non-Catholic.

Noynoy Aquino has the right to explain his side. But the explanation he gave is not right. The Reproductive Health bill has anti-life provisions. Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is right in describing Noynoy as one with a tendency to be anti-life. The intention might be plausible, but the end or intention does not justify the means.

A person who cannot stand firm, and with conviction, on his faith cannot be trusted. A person who is not afraid of offending God, Who will ultimately judge him on the basis of his actions, will certainly, 100 percent, offend the rights and feelings of human beings who cannot see everything.

?REV. FR. ROBERT S. EMBILE, JCL,
Sto. Niño Parish Shrine,
Bukidnon Street, Bago Bantay, Quezon City