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In times of injustice, structural tyranny and overwhelming
corruption, everybody longs for strong, outspoken prophetic
leadership in word and action. That’s what committed Christians
look for in their pastors, bishops and priests and lay leaders. The
pastoral letter of Palm Sunday signed by 16 Catholic bishops led by
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales denounced corruption in government.
It was read in all churches and it said that
Philippine politics is a moneymaking industry and not public
service. It is a path to wealth, power and influence for elitist
groups in trade and business. It is immoral and unjust, facilitated
by bribery and covered up by lies. The bishops said that graft and
the abuse of power is stealing and an act of treason, the same as
betraying one’s country. Corruption is a cancer in the nation, the
letter said, and that the people, sadly, fight, deceive and kill for
money. “Thou shall not steal” covers exam cheating, overpricing,
fraud and exploitation in business, and all kinds of dishonest
trading, smuggling, drug trafficking and tax evasion.
The teaching of personal integrity from
elementary school to university is at the heart of all education
that leads to the fullness of life, it said. The cancer of
corruption started generations ago with large-scale corrupt
government deals, the Westinghouse Bataan Power Plant deal being the
biggest ever done under Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies in the
1970’s.
The poison of corruption has gone down to the
barangay level and to individuals, the letter stated. What we see in
others is what we can see in ourselves. They courageously admitted
that corruption has tainted the church, too. The bishops warn
against trying to restore truth and justice by resorting to violence
and hatred. Social change has to go beyond street protest to
personal and community renewal at all levels of society, from the
highest leaders and their families to the poorest. Liberation and
freedom starts with repentance and conversion within the heart of
every individual.
The government officials put the best spin they
could on the pastoral letter by claiming that it is critical of the
opponents of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s government and
denies them comfort and support in their attempt to prove her
administration the most corrupt ever and to have her impeached. The
Philippine bishops did not support a call for her impeachment last
July 2007 and allegations appeared in the media and some bishops
confirmed that palace officials gave them money as “donations”
during their annual meeting where the issue was on the agenda. This
might be what the pastoral letter is referring to when it says the
corruption seen in others is what we see in ourselves.
The statement wisely advises social reformers to
leave violence and hatred behind. Instead, it says that educating
people in family values and personal integrity is more important
than street protests to bring about national renewal and political
change. That kind of action where people were inspired and empowered
by the faith in taking a stand in public for justice that deceased
Cardinal Jaime Sin was so famous for is not encouraged, nonviolent
as it may be.
This part of the statement and the fact that so
few bishops signed the pastoral letter has prompted critics to claim
the bishops, as a whole, have disengaged themselves from this
generation of socially active Catholics. The great social
encyclicals of the church are overlooked and the church leadership
is being challenged to take a stand and speak out more forcibly as a
whole body on human rights violations and environmental destruction
by mining corporations and trafficking of women and children.
The Philippine version of Playboy magazine hit
the streets recently as government officials looked the other way or
snapped up copies as the clergy remained silent. One bishop, Oscar
Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan, has spoken out. He said that both church
and parents have failed to inculcate the moral values and system
among our people.
preda@info.com.ph
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