Church cannot be silent on social evils

I read with interest the letter “Amid violence and injustice, Church and media are no longer game changers” (06/17/21).

I agree that “the Catholic Church since the passing of the Cardinal Sin era has been reduced to a whimper in a vast howling wilderness of violence and injustice with only a few prophetic voices that are hardly heard or even disregarded by its very own constituency.”

The Catholic Church must strongly speak out. Those who think the Church should not get involved against the social evils in our country have missed the Church’s teaching of prophetic criticism. The Church is the conscience of the state. When the state leads a wicked societal life, the Church, its conscience, cannot

afford to become cowed and silent. The Church is the state’s “best” critic.

The Church is not just called to issue a reflection of the evils in society, but also to instruct the faithful on what to do when confronted with such in light of the Gospel values and teachings of the Church. The Church is called to share the Gospel values to all and to shape society when it is not following the path consistent with these values. The Church is never called to popularity, but to faithfulness.

The Church can never be silent about social evils. When it is or chooses to be, it ceases to be the real Church.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO
Marikina City
[email protected]