When clerics become false prophets

THAT’S

when clerics get into partisan politics. They clearly would not be following the teaching and example of Christ who, even if he knew the shenanigans in the political world of his time, did not make any definitive stand on a specific political issue.

That’s because, I suppose, Christ that parable, to uproot the weeds at the knew he would be adding unnecessary moment since the wheat may also be division among the people if he would uprooted. We just have to wait for the get into partisan politics. Politics is harvest, the final reckoning, when the such a complicated area where things due separation can be made. can never be black and white, totally In the meantime, we just have to right or totally wrong. It’s always grey, be patient, even as we also should since the issues involved are matters of try to purify and clarify things, but opinion and preferences that can give done always in a Christian spirit, that rise to a variety of different and even is, with charity and cordiality, with conflicting positions of the people. willingness to suffer the consequences

The mixture of good and evil in of evil, without bitterness, anger and politics, benefits and dangers are the impulse for revenge. Evil should so intertwined that to separate one always be countered by good, and from the other would practically be never by another evil dressed up as impossible and most likely be more something good. harmful than helpful. I don’t know if those clerics involved

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons in partisan politics realize this. It’s why Christ talked about the parable very unsettling to see them abuse of the wheat and the weeds. (cfr. Mt the power of their office, the charms 13, 24-30) It would not be wise and of whatever God-given talents they prudent, according to the lesson of have, to twist, distort, undermine and violate the teachings and example of Christ to rationalize their interference in partisan politics. To me, it would constitute as an act of treachery at its worst.

It’s spine-chilling to hear them rationalize their position by saying that they are exercising their prophetic office. The prophets of old may have been sent by God to warn kings, emperors and other civil leaders and politicians of their time. There was good reason for that, given how things were at that time.

But we are now in the Christian era. We have to follow the teaching and example of Christ that purifies and perfects how things were done in the pre-Christian era. Of course, everyone, including clerics, can have and can freely express his personal opinions regarding a specific political issue, but this should always be done with cordiality and with due respect to the other views and positions of other people.

We can disagree in many issues. We are not expected to agree in all of them. What is important is that whether we agree or disagree, charity is always maintained and even strengthened. That is the beauty of these differences and conflicts among ourselves — they can provoke a more meaningful charity and sense of unity. It’s also spine-chilling to hear clerics

THE UNDERPINNING/14

ACCORDING

to the Feb. 24 Bloomberg data, some 213 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have already been administered across 95 countries. And with an average inoculation rate of 6.1 million a day, it was estimated that it will take 5.1 years before global herd immunity — where at least 75 percent of the world’s population is vaccinated — will be achieved.

Attaining this herd immunity By and large however, low-income to finally end the pandemic entails countries will still need to fight tooth surmounting the greatest logistical and nail to purchase the doses they challenge humanity has ever faced need, or attract donations from other in modern history. It also involves countries. Having fallen behind, navigating some of the deepest they will still be hard- pressed to inequalities between and within scrounge up the resources, hasten nations. the procurement process, and

At a recent virtual meeting of the ensure the unhampered delivery United Nations (UN) Security Council, and distribution of vaccines. UN Secretary- General Antonio The National COVID- 1 9 Guterres decried current COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act — which vaccination trends to be “wildly we recently sponsored, and which uneven and unfair.” He pointed out both Houses of Congress passed upon that while only 10 countries account certification by the President — aims for as much as three-fourths of all to provide some solutions to this the vaccines that have already been problem. administered, more than a hundred For one, it provides legal cover for other countries, like the Philippines, our Local Government Units (LGUs) have yet to receive a single dose. and private entities to procure and

In late January this year, the even make advance payments for Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) vaccines and ancillary supplies and reported that of the 12.5 billion doses services, subject to certain conditions. that the main vaccine producers have By enabling LGUs and private pledged for 2021, 6.4 billion were entities this way, we free up even pre-ordered mostly by high-income more resources to purchase vaccines. countries. Having purchased such While there is roughly P82.5 billion high volumes, richer countries like that has been appropriated in 2021 for Canada and the United Kingdom our national COVID-19 immunization could reportedly inoculate their program, we are adding more to this entire populations many times over. fund by allowing LGUs and companies

One article in the South China to use whatever resources they have Morning Post put it succinctly: “If to purchase vaccines and the related the big problem of 2020 was the supplies. coronavirus, the big one of 2021 is In fact, based on a survey and shaping up to be vaccine inequality.” study conducted by the League of Leaving this issue unaddressed will Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), surely prolong the pandemic and the 70 LGUs are prepared to spend a little economic recovery. In fact, a study more than P13 billion to purchase and commissioned by the International administer vaccines — P4.392 billion Chamber of Commerce Research from 32 provinces and P8.72 billion Foundation even estimated that from 38 cities and municipalities. vaccine inequality could cost the Then as of December last year, global economy up to US$9.2 trillion. hundreds of Filipino companies

Of course, this is where the pooled their resources and were Covax facility of the World Health able to secure pledges of up to 17 Organization (WHO) comes in, as million doses. With revenues down, it aims to provide every country we will need as much cash as we can — especially the ones with limited to procure and administer vaccines resources — with doses to inoculate at expeditiously. least 20 percent of their populations. The measure also responds to the issue of indemnification that some vaccine manufacturers have required for their supply agreements. Under the measure, a COVID- 19 national indemnity fund — worth P500 million to be administered by PhilHealth — will be established for the compensation of any inoculated person who subsequently experiences severe adverse effects or even death. We believe that by putting such terms in black and white, we remove a significant barrier to the signing of a vaccine supply agreement.

We’ve also exempted purchases, importations and donations of COVID- 19 vaccines from customs duties, VAT, excise tax, donor’s tax and other fees and charges. In doing so, we hope to encourage more parties to donate vaccines for the benefit of the public.

With the assistance of our Senate colleagues, counterparts in the House, and friends in the academe and the private sector, we were able to pass such an important measure in a short amount of time. And as we await the President’s signature, we hope that we’ve come up with will facilitate the speedy procurement and administration of life- saving vaccines.

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