Public Opinion in theChurch

This writer definitely subscribe such urgent and timely suggestion from many quarters.  In fact that idea has long been past overdue.

 We’re already living post  Vatican II breathing fresh air since 1964. We have also even outgrown George Orwell’s concept of big Corporation managed by Big Brother since 1984 living  with excitement ever past test-tube babies in the 90’s and now found ourselves surviving in an era of  highly competitive but exciting  digital world of 21^st century putting and connecting   people in different parts of the globe  through the power of communication technology in seconds! Great.  Simply amazing, you might say.

Yet despite all these advancement in science and  technology our spirituality hardly register any innovation. This is naturally so because of the full trust we give to the Church.  Various schism from the Church giving birth to Protestantism lead by Martin Luther in the early Church Reformation might have split  the Church into Greek Orthodox and  different denominations alright but the same message of liberation still remains the same. Hardly we were intimidated by the challenges of the times. Coping mechanisms in various forms, social scientist would quick to defend just did that. Survival instinct of Pinoy is definitely never suspect. Where did we draw our strength short of miracle from different problems and calamities in the first place anyway if  not from our faith to God giving us strength within propelling us in reaching great heights what with our nerve and will to live.  Otherwise we would have been relegated to dustbin of history probably adding us to the statistics of faceless humanity.  And in fact, the more problems there are  staring before us, the more were drawn to the Church, Msgr. Quitorio,CBCP spokesperson once observed learning how the Church was filled to the brim when crisis hit at the highest the years past. The people are simply spiritual, American Lutrell, younger  brother of a fine guitarist who mentored great guitar player Jimi Hindrix now living in Cagayan de Oro exclaimed observing how  cohesive we are and at peace unlike in  US where money matters most.

Much is yet to be desired though if we are to truly live our billing as practicing Christian whether you are a Catholic or Protestant in ecumenical sense.

Six Bishops have already lately shun away from  tradition breaking the long silence of the Church in its participation in Philippine politics. I know such initiative will hardly alter political landscape of the country as my colleague Kairos Columnist Arnold Van Vugt  also wrote in this paper given the deficiency of  JC delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran Party and or NGO supported Nick Perlas. . But the Church should never let their guards down or the more we’ll be consigned in the dustbin of history.

 I similarly agree with other colleague Frank Malilong, regular columnist of SunStar Cebu the almost celebrity status enjoyed by Preachers and Clergy vis a vis to other professions in that they have the gullible members at their mercy  enjoying handsome benefits through mere rhetoric in the pulpit  far from what they are earning as professionals. But they should make things happen based on what perception best they arrived  at  for the nation’s good based on the collective agreement among the members comprising the Church at large. Here’s the time to redeem themselves from the bad impression they got.  And I hope it’s real and for good.

That development I hope would bear great result as in sum the Chairman of the Board in the Government is no less than God Himself and that people and leaders given the mandate by the people through election are merely stewards of his  people and nature in the planet earth.

Incidentally and this is for record  I’m happy that Fr. Jong Sabuga, SSJV in Malitbog has gone long way setting the tone of politics  in this municipality notwithstanding his choice. This is understandable as he lobby and rally for a friend Fr. Tabios throwing his hat in political arena as gubernatorial candidate for Bukidnon against Alex Calingasan. It’s just unfortunate that he veered his way towards presidential candidacy of Manny Villar, a good choice actually as part of  whatever arrangement he had for Fr. Tabios.  That on top of  openly campaigning for  Willy Guiahan for Vice Mayor and three other natives from Impahanong as Mun. Kagawads to secure genuine  voices of Lumads in the SB Council ruled by the incumbent’s slate for many terms. Malitbog is known to be bailiwick of the incumbent and it’s crucial as well for those running in higher office like  Congressman as then Cong. Edui Pancrudo salvaged  his win from this municipality. Let’s just see if the Church through Fr. Jong would turn the result of election the other way around.

It’s just  unfortunate that there are no middle and non-paratisan party that take the initiative of conducting political forum.  This is lamentable specially in local areas controlled by the incumbent and thus has the arrogance of fielding more related candidates to secure they could clip the voices of the opposition in the Council. Here the COMELEC should have come to the rescue to secure wide distribution of officials later in the legislative. Unfortunately, they are the first one held hostage by politics.

 I suggest why not have the media - both broadcast and print – fill up this need  in coordination with the Barangay after all they have these places as their service area.  Why not conduct such important forum to have reality check on the platforms pushed by the candidates to give best alternative choice among voting population  that votes are really counted specially that we would be using full automation. Unfortunately, this is probably easier said than done as such exercise requires budget.  Hence, the  Church  should come to the rescue  after all such activity has been enjoined and practiced by  PPCRV having done holding  different political forums in many different parts of the country.

And why not local Pastoral Council or through other denomination take the lead in  holding such ecumenical political forum  Never mind  for the Clergy who don’t  give damn on such important  exercise. Better for them exerting extra effort doing  their homework to come out decent and relevant homily. At least they’ll not  led us to sleep  when they stand on the pulpit while we’re still in Lent.