Notwithstanding the belief and stance that most of the Filipinos are constituent members of the Catholic Church, that the Country has a good number of Catholic priest assigned to Parishes, Schools and other Church agencies, and that Filipino Catholics are wherefore regularly attended to and usually served by Priest particularly in conjunction with their sacramental requirements and pious needs, there are nevertheless certain ground realities in the Church that are either ignored, misunderstood or enigmatic to the catholic lay people in general. There are a hundred and one questions particularly about the Clergy and their pursuant clerical discipline that seek even though but simple and practical answers. Hopefully, the admittedly few pointers given below could be of help in the matter – although they are rather plain yet forthright.
What is the Priesthood? What are Priests for? What happens when a priest proves to be exceptionally compliant with his obligations, acts with habitual dedication, with prudence and wisdom in the exercise of his ministry? And what takes place when a Priest commits gross immorality and causes grave scandal among the people – irrespective of the latter’s race and creed? These are some of the more common and practical questions asked by Catholics and non-Catholics as well that deserve direct and truthful answers.
In simple and general terms, the Priesthood is a calling or a vocation to respond specially to the spiritual and pastoral needs of people who subscribe to and live by Catholic faith and morals, respectively. The Priest are meant to teach, to sanctify and to serve particularly the constituent members of the Catholic Church. When Priests are righteous, judicious and devoted to their commitments, they are usually given more responsible assignments, such that some of them even become Bishops in and for the Church.
But when this or that Priest however in fact lives a vicious and scandalous life – this sad phenomenon is what calls for some pointers for a better understanding of the discipline imposed by the Church on all her Priest. It is this unfortunate predicament of the Church in conjunction with the serious wrong doings of some Members of her Clergy that demand rightful attention and proper response from the Church herself. Otherwise, more than merely losing her good name and sacred standing before the people and the world in general, the Church might find herself immersed in some kind of a moral quagmire as some kind of a curse. And the truth stands that in certain Countries where the Catholic Church is firmly implanted, there are a relatively good number of Priest who constitute a detestable reality therein on account of the immoral lives they live.
OVCRUZ, JCD
07 FEBRUARY 2011
Monday, February 07, 2011
Friday, February 04, 2011
UNIVERSAL DESTINATION OF GOODS
Whereas absolutely no human person ever brought to existence anything found in any place of this big wide world, whereas categorically no human agent existence and/or life to any being found anywhere in the globe as a whole, and whereas the moment any member of humanity is born in the sphere of realities, he or she finds earthly goods and temporal resources already existent all over the land - - this standing truth and objective reality require neither profound study nor complex research to come up with the following basic conclusions: There are no individuals or families that may legitimately own everything. For that matter, there are neither families nor individuals who may be rightfully denied all earthly goods and/or temporal resources they legitimately require to live decently according to their human dignity.
No. this is not exactly an argument against communism where everybody is said to own everything, and therefore actually owns nothing. This is neither an objection to the right of private which individuals and corporate persons have and exercise in accordance with law. The phrase “in accordance with law” is one strict requirement not only by the pertinent norms of Ethical Philosophy but also by the relevant principles of Moral Theology. This is why there are certain legitimate questions not only about absolute monopolies but also against aggressive globalization. While the former has the motive and intent to exclude everybody else not therewith affiliated business, the latter on the other hand, has reference to few wealthy Countries with the intention and decision to further impoverish already poor people under different exploitative plans, programs and projects.
When some identified individuals and certain well known families practically divide and own the wealth of a nation among themselves with insatiable drive, theirs is the vice of greed that in effect generates other vicious conduct such as avarice and covetousness, inclusive of cheating and selfishness, inhumanity and injustice included. These are the individuals and families who think and behave like petty gods or goddesses destined to claim and own and enjoy everything – to the exclusion of everybody else. This reality is not alien to the socio-economic situation of the Country. While already distinctly wealthy or amazing rich, they even want much more to have, to own and to hold. They conveniently forget the infallible truth that they came into the world empty handed, and empty handed too they will leave it behind.
The universal destination of goods – this is the sound and solid truth under the following grave penalties: Social dissent and resentment. National dissatisfaction and disunity. And these spell social struggle.
OVCRUZ, JCD
04 FEBRUARY 2011
No. this is not exactly an argument against communism where everybody is said to own everything, and therefore actually owns nothing. This is neither an objection to the right of private which individuals and corporate persons have and exercise in accordance with law. The phrase “in accordance with law” is one strict requirement not only by the pertinent norms of Ethical Philosophy but also by the relevant principles of Moral Theology. This is why there are certain legitimate questions not only about absolute monopolies but also against aggressive globalization. While the former has the motive and intent to exclude everybody else not therewith affiliated business, the latter on the other hand, has reference to few wealthy Countries with the intention and decision to further impoverish already poor people under different exploitative plans, programs and projects.
When some identified individuals and certain well known families practically divide and own the wealth of a nation among themselves with insatiable drive, theirs is the vice of greed that in effect generates other vicious conduct such as avarice and covetousness, inclusive of cheating and selfishness, inhumanity and injustice included. These are the individuals and families who think and behave like petty gods or goddesses destined to claim and own and enjoy everything – to the exclusion of everybody else. This reality is not alien to the socio-economic situation of the Country. While already distinctly wealthy or amazing rich, they even want much more to have, to own and to hold. They conveniently forget the infallible truth that they came into the world empty handed, and empty handed too they will leave it behind.
The universal destination of goods – this is the sound and solid truth under the following grave penalties: Social dissent and resentment. National dissatisfaction and disunity. And these spell social struggle.
OVCRUZ, JCD
04 FEBRUARY 2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
POVERTY AND DEMOCRACY
On one hand, there is factual and living poverty in the Country, viz., a negative socio-economic condition whereby the people concerned either barely have enough to buy their basic necessities, to finance their simple and bare living, to sincerely look forward for a better future. In the plain understanding of poverty specifically in the context of the Philippine garbage dumps, taking shelter under bridges, sleeping in cartoons laid down on streets. Most of their children are practically naked. This is not to mention those engaged in mendicancy as a matter of course – using either newly born babies or small children to beg for some coins from pedestrians, braving even the danger of following one car after another, just to get some centavos every now and then – if ever.
The over-all result of such serious socio-economic condition is not hard to say and understand. The poor people are shackled to earning if not smooching some things in kind and/or cash with the over-all primary intention of being able to live for the day - - with the hope of somehow getting through the uncertain days ahead with such an overall situation, the poor in this Country can be anything but free – free to get an education for themselves, free to know the attributes and liabilities of the Country free to make the right and proper choice of the local and national political leaders who have the integrity and competence to govern their Country. The living contrary reality is that their votes are for sale, their allegiance has a cost, their understanding of national realities is usually below par.
On the other hand, there are the few elite – the wealthy and influential – Filipino dynasties that aspire for public offices, specially in the Legislative and Executive Department. They have the needed money to stage big and expensive political campaigns. They have the proper connections for the support their political ambitions. More than anything else, they know too well the practically limitless funds; use fringe benefits that political positions in this Country give back to their winners. This is why it is practically an impossibility to find poor individuals among the so called “Public Servants” in the Philippines. Much they spent for their political campaigns. But very much more do they spent for their triumphant electoral drive.
The fundamental law of the land – text and context – among other sublime and inspiring proclamations affirm the following in so many words and phrases: The Filipino people are not only independent but also sovereign. They have in possession and exercise their freedom. Theirs is a democratic form of government that is of the people and for the people. Really? Precisely: POVERTY and DEMOCRACY make a ridiculous pairing!
OVCRUZ, JCD
2 FEBRUARY 2011
The over-all result of such serious socio-economic condition is not hard to say and understand. The poor people are shackled to earning if not smooching some things in kind and/or cash with the over-all primary intention of being able to live for the day - - with the hope of somehow getting through the uncertain days ahead with such an overall situation, the poor in this Country can be anything but free – free to get an education for themselves, free to know the attributes and liabilities of the Country free to make the right and proper choice of the local and national political leaders who have the integrity and competence to govern their Country. The living contrary reality is that their votes are for sale, their allegiance has a cost, their understanding of national realities is usually below par.
On the other hand, there are the few elite – the wealthy and influential – Filipino dynasties that aspire for public offices, specially in the Legislative and Executive Department. They have the needed money to stage big and expensive political campaigns. They have the proper connections for the support their political ambitions. More than anything else, they know too well the practically limitless funds; use fringe benefits that political positions in this Country give back to their winners. This is why it is practically an impossibility to find poor individuals among the so called “Public Servants” in the Philippines. Much they spent for their political campaigns. But very much more do they spent for their triumphant electoral drive.
The fundamental law of the land – text and context – among other sublime and inspiring proclamations affirm the following in so many words and phrases: The Filipino people are not only independent but also sovereign. They have in possession and exercise their freedom. Theirs is a democratic form of government that is of the people and for the people. Really? Precisely: POVERTY and DEMOCRACY make a ridiculous pairing!
OVCRUZ, JCD
2 FEBRUARY 2011
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