In six weeks, we will know if Filipino voters will repudiate the election of members of political dynasties to senatorial and congressional offices and more than 17,000 provincial and municipal posts all over the country.
The bishop of Bacolod accuses the Commission on Elections of violating his freedoms of speech and religion when it ordered the removal of his 6×10-feet “Team Patay” tarpaulins from the San Sebastian Cathedral facade. These violate the 2×3-feet size limit in the Fair Election Act of 2001, one already reviewed by the Supreme Court in the Adiong case that the bishop cited in his own petition for a temporary restraining order. Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” The good bishop, however, wants both Caesar’s and God’s shares.
Once again, for the first time since the 1986 snap election, the Roman Catholic Church has thrown the full weight of its political influence to challenge the power of a sitting administration seeking a fresh vote of confidence in the May midterm election. In a pastoral letter issued on Tuesday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference [...]
Smarting from losing the reproductive-health vote in Congress, the bishops and their anti-RH allies lashed at Sonny Belmonte last week for suggesting divorce was next in line. What actually happened was that the Speaker was asked in an interview if divorce was in the offing, and he answered that it would have to wait till the next Congress. But, he added, better if even now it was already being discussed, “mabuti na rin ’yung pinag-uusapan.” The anti-RH camp was pissed.
The pro-RH people shouldn’t rejoice, say the bishops. It ain’t over till it’s over. Or till the fat lady sings, and there’s actually one opposing RH in the House.
Are Catholics who disagree with the Philippine bishops’ condemnation of the reproductive health bill bad Catholics? The bishops’ statements would have the public believe so. Yet Vatican II documents will affirm that in advocating passage of the RH bill, the laity are indeed playing their proper roles in Church reform.
The front pages of British newspapers have all been discussing the decision of the Church of England’s General Synod last Tuesday not to allow women to become bishops. The decision was hailed worldwide by religious conservatives, who see it as a triumph of tradition and an affirmation of “divine order.” On the other hand, it was seen by liberals as a betrayal of women, and of Christianity.
WHO MADE Barack Obama win a second term, what many called a “second chance,” as US President? A wire report attributed his victory to a coalition of “Hispanic, African-American and young voters.” But Nancy K. Kaufman, a blogger for “Politics Daily,” wrote a day before the elections that the “deciding demographic of this year’s election” was women.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has no moral authority to impose Roman Catholic doctrines on Congress and the whole nation.
Contrary to the claim of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas that “contraception is corruption” (Inquirer, 8/5/12), the Reproductive Health bill is clearly allowed in the Bible; therefore, it is not corruption.
We may spend much of every afternoon glued to our TV sets following the Corona impeachment trial. And the habit may indeed impair our productivity, or at least the productivity of people who have time to spare on workday afternoons. I’m confident that in most business concerns, work goes on as usual, that despite the legal and political drama unfolding in the Senate, money is being made, services are being dispensed, children are being educated, lives are being saved, and the life of the nation moves on.
The Aug. 12, 2011 issue of the Inquirer carried only two letters to the editor, but both were spot on. It seemed that “jack-in-the-box” Rigoberto Tiglao once more popped into the scene and was very well-refuted by Jacklord C. Alba of Digos City. I feel unworthy to add a single word. For his part, Stephen [...]
