Standing up for our faith
THE public statements of some members of a committee constituted recently to dialog with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and other religious leaders put in question the sincerity behind the gesture, supposedly made to “lessen the rift between the government and the Church.”
A committee member was quick to insist that no apology was forthcoming for the barrage of provocative statements directed at the Catholic Church and its teachings. These statements, he said, were made in exercise of freedom of expression. Church leaders were even advised not to be “onion-skinned,” since it too issued “hurtful words” against the President two years ago that were ignored.
Another member, in several interviews, linked some leaders of the Church to an alleged plot to remove the President. The involvement of these Church leaders may have prompted the outburst, he said. The CBCP denied the allegation, calling it a “fabrication.”
These actuations beg the question: Will the dialog serve any purpose at all, considering the insincerity and contempt being openly displayed by some of its members? It is apparent thay they do not intend to be honest emmissaries during the dialogs but rabid partisans.
Verbal assaults on the Church and its teachings are not new. Catholic doctrines have been fodder for street corner philosophers, unbelievers, and anyone intent on picking a quarrel with the religious. During martial law, the religious sector suffered from harassment and persecution for practicing the social teachings of the Church. And for the past two years, the Church and its flock have been subjected to a constant barrage of insults, to which our response has been to shake our heads and offer silent prayers.
And yes, such anti-religious utterances are protected by the Constitution. But it is also an accepted principle that freedoms are to be exercised responsibly, especially when statements are made with the effect, conscious or unintended, of insulting religious beliefs or instigating hatred for certain religious groups.
It needs to be restated, even if it seems futile, that personalities who wield political power are expected to wield their power responsibly, to heal and unite rather than hurt and divide. Their public pronouncements cannot be simply ignored or taken lightly, since these enter the public realm and dictate the nation’s mood. They have the effect of either moving us forward or holding us down.
There is a crying need to restore decency and tolerance in the national discourse, and in how we deal with each other. Yet there are times when one needs to take a stand. To remain silent or indifferent in the face of persecution, harrasment and social injustice is to surrender the very essence of our faith. Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa reminds us: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Perhaps it is time for us to regain our voice. Last Sunday, Catholics were asked to reflect on Psalm 74, a community plea for relief from oppressors who have desecrated God’s sanctuary. It is a most relevant passage for reflection.
It is difficult to predict how this episode will end. But if the objective, as some observers propose, is to undermine the credibility and moral authority of the Church, it has achieved the opposite effect.
What I see is a revitalized Church. The episode has energized not only the Catholic Church leadership but the flock as well. Rather than hang their heads in shame, Catholics are loudly proclaiming their faith. In several churches last Sunday, some churchgoers held silent protests, holding placards that read “My God is not stupid” and “I’m a Catholic and proud of it!” This is the first time, if I recall correctly, that ordinary Catholics have taken the initiative to express their sentiments openly. Actions such as these should be encouraged.
It is a great time to be a Catholic and profess our faith in God. The time may have come for us to take a more active stand to defend our faith.