The cardinal should also weep for the Catholic Church

Last Aug. 13, tears welled up in Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s eyes as he lamented the so-called “pork scam” (“Scam moves Tagle to tears,” Front Page). That a cardinal of the Church would weep because of what he claims is the criminal neglect of the poor by some politicians is laudable. But Cardinal Tagle is old enough to know that even if he drowns the archdiocese of Manila in his tears, “the evil that men do will (continue to) live after them,” to paraphrase Shakespeare.

I therefore suggest that instead of weeping for the incorrigible and the recidivists, he weep for the Church, particularly for neglecting the poor and failing to share its vast financial resources in instituting meaningful and sustainable community organization programs that will teach them independence, give them self-respect and pride in themselves and empower them to reject the machinations of politicians. He should also weep for the many priests who have abandoned the life of the spirit in favor of the mammon of iniquity such as greed for money, popularity, expensive cars, fat bank accounts and mansions registered in the names of relatives. The words of our Lord are instructive: “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own?” (Mat. 7:3-4)

Yes, Cardinal Tagle, during my community organizing days, I’ve walked the slums of Isla Puting Bato and Baseco. I’ve also supped many times with the poor who lived along railroad tracks. And I saw in their eyes not only hunger but also anger, frustration and a deep sense of hopelessness. Unfortunately, for the thousands I’ve met in these areas, the Church was absent. Bishops and priests did not walk with them. And during Sunday Masses, they got a blurred vision of what the Church is through innocuous and condescending sermons. They asked questions about the “Church of the poor” and wondered where did all those millions of pesos that rich churches collect, like Quiapo Church, go.

As a former Catholic priest, I used to hear confessions at the Quiapo Church especially during Fridays and the Holy Week. And I’ve seen “up close and personal” the horrendous amount of money the church collects from the rich and poor alike. I’ve also seen how the thousands of collected coins were shoveled into big containers and wondered where all that money went. There are a lot of rich Catholic churches in Metro Manila alone. But the poor continue to grovel in poverty and dependency on government largesse.

This situation should really make Cardinal Tagle weep!

—CARLOS ISLES,

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