Begin with the Church, Monsignor
The head of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who earlier cried publicly following the revelation of the extent of corruption in government, has urged his flock to start the campaign against graft in every Filipino home.
In an interview with the Catholic Church owned Radio Veritas, Cardinal Tagle was heard urging even the Filipino children to keep an eye on their parents and ask questions, including why the father has three mobile phones.
A Philippine Daily Inquirer report written by Jocelyn R. Uy quoted Cardinal Tagle as saying that the massive corruption in the government would need not only political fixes but also cultural solutions that must start at home.
Here are excerpts from the PDI report:
“If corruption exists in homes up to the higher level of government, it must be cultural. So how can we provide a cultural response?” said Tagle, who earlier denounced the massive corruption of the pork barrel system by lawmakers.
“Parents should be good models to their children at home … but for instance, if you see your parents owning three cell phones, maybe you can ask them why they have three when one is enough and where they get the money to buy them and sustain all three,” he said.
“That is a question that will change culture and will make parents alert. It’s not only the elderly who shall look after the children but children should also look after their parents,” he said.
“Tagle offered these reminders amid the investigation of the P10-billion pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. The controversy also turned the spotlight on her youngest daughter, Jeane, for her lavish lifestyle in the United States.
“He said that moral formation and behavioral change must start at home and that the Catholic Church must continue to persevere in its mission to teach the Gospel and form consciences to help curb corruption in the country.”
Cardinal Tagle’s meaningful and thoughtful message, however, is in itself corrupted by the fact that the very Church which he heads in the country is also a party to the promotion of the culture of corruption.
He might have missed, intentionally or not, the fact that in the abduction case filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against pork barrel scammer Janet Lim Napoles, at least five priests stood as witnesses to defend her.
Add to that the ugly picture of a priest saying a mass and offering prayers to the woman accused of stealing P10-B in pork barrel funds in her posh Forbes Park mansion.
It would be preposterous for these priests to claim that they have no knowledge on the source of money that she was showering on the men in white robes.
That would just be as ridiculous as the claim of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla that they had no idea that they were dealing with bogus non-government organizations.
Did the good Cardinal issue a statement against this behavior? Were sanctions imposed against these priests?
I have not heard of any.
Does the Church really desire to cultivate a culture of no-corruption?
Then, it should do its share.
Do away with the special masses and special religious rites for the moneyed and the rich.
Stop accepting money and contributions from drug dealers, illegal gamblers, corrupt politicians and known thieves.
Denounce an earlier statement made by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin that the Church does not care where the contributions come from, “even from the Devil himself,” for as long as it helps spread the Gospel.
Divest Church ownership and interests in companies and corporations, including hospitals and banks, which earn income and profit from poor Filipinos.
Most of all, the Catholic Church in the Philippines must not be a poor copycat to the Iglesia Ni Cristo by getting involved in the endorsement of political candidates during the elections.
In the last elections, the Catholic Church, including the Bishop of the Diocese of Kidapawan where I am a member of the flock, endorsed and openly campaigned for certain politicians.
Even in the thick of allegations of massive cheating, Bishop Romulo dela Cruz brushed aside all sense of decency and delicadeza by celebrating mass during the inauguration of candidates who were accused of terrorizing people and buying votes just to win the elections.
When the Church blesses the grafters and offers mass for cheaters, it sends a wrong message to the Filipino Catholics, worse than the implication of a father owning three mobile phones.
Does my Church really want to end the culture of corruption in the Philippines?
Then, it should lead the way.
In fact, it should excommunicate those found guilty of corruption, especially those involved in the pork barrel scam and the theft of public funds.
If the Church could wage a campaign against politicians supporting the Reproductive Health bill because it is tantamount to killing an unborn child, all the more should it fight corruption in government because it causes the death of the living.
When the Church shows the faithful how to live simply, honestly and frugally, the Filipino homes will follow.
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