Church attendance in the Philippines is declining

The unhospitable Catholic Church of the Philippines

Carlos Celdran is an activist who shouted at Manila Cathedral calling the Catholic priests as Damaso. (The main antagonist friar in Dr. Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere who symbolizes the majority of friars during the time of Rizal who likes to interfere on the affairs of other people. Today Catholic clergy likes to interfere in politics and the famous of this which Mr. Celdran protested by calling them Damasos is they dont like the reproductive health bill to be passed into a law. this bill is all about population control where couples will be taught to control their sexual urges to prevent unwanted pregnancies by artificial or natural method)

Really, these priests are nothing but hypocrites who professed themselves as one of apostles' successors but they don't follow the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ to do good to an enemy. (read Matthew 5:44)

Really, They are not setting aside their anger on him for the sake of Carlos' guests who will be wet by the rain.

Carlos wanted to enter the San Agustin Church because he wanted his guests to be protected from the rain as one of his sacred duty as one of the tour guides in Intramuros.

but the clergy still insists to ban Carlos in the church. they dont want to set aside they anger on him just for a while for the sake of the protection of Carlos' guests from the rain.

Really the Catholic Church is founded by a false prophet and not of the Lord Jesus Christ it is because we can see on the fruits the fallacy of the false prophets as Christ said in the Holy Bible (read Matthew 7:15-20)

Inglorious gifts to Philippine Catholic bishops

 
It used to be that crimes were done in the name of God. Hand it to the inglorious Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to hit rock bottom and commit malfeasance for bishops’ birthdays. Yes, that’s birthday-plus-s because the Mitsubishi Montero gift was not a lone event. On March 9, 2006, Arroyo made a much bigger offering to mark the birthday of Pampanga Archbishop Paciano “Apu Ceto” Aniceto—policies on women and the Filipino family that, in her words, “would be the best birthday gift” she could give. Unconcerned about displaying the power of Catholic bishops during Arroyo’s rule, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) released the following account:

[Arroyo:] “It must be providential that the birthday of Apu Ceto (her important adviser) falls within International Women’s Week when I have to make policy statements on women’s concerns and issues relating to them.”

After the concelebrated mass held in the Bishop’s honor at the Mother of Good Counsel seminary in this city, the President would attend a meeting of all female members of her cabinet in which women’s issues would be discussed.

After this, the President said she would make a declaration that “a strong family makes a strong republic”, and follow up with measures designed to further strengthen the Filipino family.

“This I think would be the best birthday gift I could give to Apu Ceto”, the President said amidst loud applause from the audience composed mostly of the bishop’s religious congregation in the province.

Strange but true. Our highest public official openly gifted someone who is not a woman and does not claim to have a wife or kids with policies on women and families. Can this be just one of those quirkiness that makes our great nation so, well… quirky? To answer this, we have to go further into the Archbishop’s background and the context when this event occurred.

Arroyo’s Gifts

Luckily, the regime then was truly indifferent about revealing Catholic church influence over governance. The same PIA piece stated that the Archbishop was the President’s adviser on “issues concerning population, family, women welfare and health” and was consulted on March 2001, just two months into Arroyo’s term, prior to her making a statement on these issues; that the President “consults with him when making a choice for a new Secretary of Health”; and that at an Interfaith Summit and the UN General Assembly in 2005, the President “brought much of the Bishop’s inputs into the statements she made in front of these prestigious international bodies”.

Dr. Manuel Dayrit—a member of Couples for Christ—became the Archbishop-and-President’s Secretary of Health in 2001. In the next few years, Dr. Dayrit created the legal basis and structures for overly expanding natural family planning (NFP) and entwining it with Catholic doctrine. He set an ambitious “mainstreaming” target—unmet up to now—to raise NFP use to 20%; created a National Natural Family Planning Committee with a Couples for Christ doctor as Chairperson and with a representative of the CBCP Family Life specified as a member; and separated NFP from the national family planning program to let the government “work more closely with groups and partners that want to promote NFP exclusively”. He even tried to ban the IUD for being an “abortifacient” but was foiled by protests done by women’s and doctors’ groups.

And what was the Archbishop’s inputs to Arroyo’s statement at the UN? The full speech was 10 paragraphs long, but these two about funding NFP exclusively in the name of Catholicism, and belittling the value of artificial contraceptives are proclamations the Archbishop would surely be proud of:

… We expect the United Nations to be sensitive to the deep Catholicism of the vast majority of the Filipino people. The funding given by the United Nations to our national Government for reproductive health will be dedicated to training married couples in a natural family planning technology which the World Health Organization has found effective compared with artificial contraceptives.

The Population Council of New York has found that artificial contraception contributes only 2 per cent to the decline of birth rates, while the combination of improving the economic condition of the family, urbanization and breastfeeding contributes 98 per cent. Thus we ask the United Nations and donor countries to direct their assistance towards the improvement of family productivity and income.

Both are based on lies, or lapses in judgment if your prefer the colorful language of the powerful who when caught are always absolutely sorry about absolutely nothing prosecutable.

The World Health Organization (WHO) rates most artificial methods as more effective than fertility awareness methods. Moreover, limiting people to a method not of their own choosing—whether pills, NFP or whatever—will do nothing but cut sharply its effectiveness and violate fundamental human rights which the WHO promotes.

As for the Population Council, here’s what they said in an article entitled Family Planning Programs Remarkably Successful: “Decades of research show that comprehensive family planning and reproductive health services lead to sharp rises in contraceptive use that help women avoid unintended pregnancies. Over a 30-year period (1960–90), fertility declined in the developing world from more than six to fewer than four births per woman, and almost half of that decline—43 percent—is attributable to family planning programs.”

What’s the Catch?

The Population Council’s 43% became 2% at the UN speech, a remarkable manipulation of numbers to suit one’s needs. Audacious but nothing new. Just a few months earlier, Arroyo was heard in a wiretapped conversation with Comelec Commissioner Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano asking for a lead of one million votes while counting was still going on for the presidential election of 2004.
The Garci scandal and Arroyo’s no holds barred battle to cling to power set the stage for the Archbishop’s birthday gift in March 2006. The scandal erupted nine months earlier in June 2005.

Despite widespread protests and calls for Arroyo to resign, the CBCP merely asked for an independent “Truth Commission”. The protests continued and on February 24, 2006, two weeks before the Archbishop’s birthday, Arroyo declared a State of Emergency to quell a supposed coup attempt against her.

The tottering Arroyo needed the bishops to survive. She bought them with various currencies, from religion-inspired policies to the glittering currency of legal gambling. To their historic ignominy, majority of Catholic bishops granted her wish.

Something died during those trying times of Arroyo’s decadent rule. Some may call it the moral authority of Church leaders. Or the principle that the end never justifies the means. Or maybe just plain honesty, fair play and decency. Whatever you call it, something is dead and rotting. And the stench is inevitably escaping.

THIS IS WHERE I GOT THIS SOURCE

The Catholic Taliban (Philippine Catholic Church)

A picture depicting Father Damaso (Dr. Rizal's symbolism of the friars mostly of his time in his Noli Me Tangere novel who are arrogant, anti Filipino and immoral)

I GOT THIS SOURCE FROM THIS LINK

I first heard this term used by Carlos Celdran, who has become quite famous for his interesting walking tours of Intramuros. In just over two hours, he gives an enthralling summary of Philippine history, from pre-Spanish colonial times to the American occupation, complete with his unique brand of theatrics, period costumes, and music. However, Carlos also deftly explains the psyche of the Filipino nation and the historical factors that led to its formation.

In particular, Carlos explains how the Church was able to exert a tremendous amount of influence during the Spanish era, how its power oftentimes superseded that of the Spanish governor-general, and how this religious-political arrangement continues to this day. His tours are a crash course in Philippine culture for foreigners seeking to understand this country’s soul and a definite eye-opener for many Filipinos.

Carlos has also gained notoriety—and popular following—for his recent public antics. A few months ago, he spent a night in jail after interrupting a mass at the Manila Cathedral by walking in dressed in a 19th century outfit and denouncing at the top of his voice the Church’s opposition to the Reproductive Health Bill. If passed, the RH Bill would, among others, educate Filipinos on modern family-planning methods, make available condoms and contraceptives, and improve pre- and post-natal care for women. Some praised Carlos for his stunt, comparing the diminutive tour guide to national hero Jose Rizal who also criticized the Church’s meddling in the country’s affairs and was executed upon the behest of the friars. Others castigated him for being a trouble-maker and rabble-rouser.

While I didn’t agree with his Manila Cathedral caper (the wrong execution of the right ideal), I fully support Carlos’ stand on the RH Bill and the complete separation of Church and State.

The Philippines is a secular country, as enshrined in Article 2, section 6 of the 1987 constitution, which states that the separation of Church and State is inviolable. This means that the government should not make any laws that aid or give preference to a certain religion, nor should any religious group or denomination interfere in government affairs and policies. However, even under the most ideal circumstances, the Church can be expected to try to sway state policies by alluding to issues in homilies or employing back-channel approaches to quietly influence politicians. Unfortunately, the Church has just gone too far.

For instance, emblazoned on the façade of the Manila Cathedral are two very big signs that read “Do we need the RH Bill? No!”. I have traveled extensively all over the Catholic world and this is the first time I have ever seen such a direct and barefaced manifestation of the Church’s interference in state affairs. What is even more shocking and alarming is that thousands of people pass in front of the Manila Cathedral everyday, yet no one seems to have noticed this or complained about it.

Just a few days ago, sources said retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and four other bishops hosted a dinner in Wack-Wack village for the 35 lawmakers who had committed to blocking the passage of the RH Bill being debated in Congress. The meeting was reportedly set to cement the pro-Church voting bloc in the Lower House and to discuss other ways to derail the passage of the RH Bill.

As I write this column, the Church, through its minions, is trying to pass a barangay (community) ordinance to ban the sale of condoms and contraceptives in the Ayala Alabang area. Barangay Ordinance 01-2011, 1, entitled “An Ordinance Providing for the Safety and Protection of the Unborn Child,” deems it illegal to sell, advertise, or even purchase contraceptives within the territory of Ayala Alabang unless the buyer presents a doctor’s prescription. This is an unconstitutional infringement on our rights as citizen’s of the Republic, not to mention our private lives.

I am not against the Church preaching its beliefs to its followers, as long as this is done in their places of worship or Catholic-run schools. What I am against is the Church’s blatant interference in secular matters. There are 16.1 million Filipinos who are not Catholics and the government is obligated to look after their welfare. Furthermore, surveys say that 70% of Catholics want family planning advice and be able to use contraceptives. The issue here is education and free choice.

The Catholic Church hierarchy had better wake up and smell the coffee. The arrogance of these men of the cloth and their stooges and their blatant disregard of their place in our modern, secular state, not to mention their open contempt for those who disagree with their religious views, behoove me. Like the Taliban hiding in their caves in the mountains of Afghanistan, they have absolutely no place in a free, democratic society.

Shameless Philippine Catholic bishops

 Let us see the continuance of Catholic's influence here in the Philippines. Not only priests does have "CONTROVERSIES" that are now being exposed in diff. parts of the world , but also "BISHOPS" and "ARCHBISHOPS"!

Conclusion: They are SHAMELESS!

Here is the news that a bishop wrote a letter asking for a BRAND NEW CAR to the former President of the Philippines:

Lawyer Aleta Tolentino, a PCSO director, provided the Inquirer with a copy of the February 2009 letter of Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos to Arroyo, which was coursed through then PCSO director Maria Fatima Valdez.

Attached to the letter was a March 9, 2009, memorandum transmittal from “The President” to “The Chairman” of the PCSO, with the note “for appropriate action, please.”
“This document (Pueblos’ letter) really shocked us. It pains us to divulge it but this will be included in the investigation,” she said.

Bishop’s letter

Pueblos’ letter to Arroyo reads:

“I will be celebrating my 66th birthday on March 8, 2009. I know this will be a precious day and timely occasion to thank the Lord for giving me another year … After a prayerful discernment and due considerations to the existing crisis phenomenon today, I have decided not to hold a birthday party. Instead, I prefer to make use of my birthday as a day with and for myself, and with God.

“Having (been) declared, awarded and honored from your good office as ‘Peace Champion of Caraga,’ I am grateful to God that He has made me an instrument of His peace, especially here in Mindanao. I know I can do more to promote and work for peace.
“It is in this view that I am asking a favor from your Excellency. At present, I really need a brand-new car, possibly a 4 x 4, which I can use to reach the far-flung areas of Caraga. I hope you will never fail to give a brand new car which would serve as your birthday gift to me. For your information, I have with me a 7-year-old car which is not anymore in good running condition. Therefore, this needs to be replaced very soon.
Pueblos’ call for Aquino to quit

“I am anticipating your favorable response on this regard. Thank you very much. Be assured of my constant support and sincerest prayers to your Excellency.”
Last month, Pueblos called on President Aquino to resign over alleged irregularities committed by his party mates, classmates and shooting buddies.
Pueblos’ diocese was one of the six Catholic dioceses and one organization that received sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and cash donations amounting to P8.3 million from the PCSO during the Arroyo administration.
Besides the Diocese of Butuan, the recipients of the illegal donations for the purchase of 4 x 4 vehicles were the Zamboanga Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate, Archdiocese of Cotabato, Diocese of Bangued (Abra), Prelature of Isabela (Basilan) and Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc and Caritas Nueva Segovia, which covers Ilocos Sur, received financial assistance.

Using name of poor

Tolentino wondered whether the vehicle Pueblos had requested was for the poor. “This (letter) is a camouflage of using the name of the poor for self-interest,” she said.
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

I almost laugh about this, see the letter of the bishop, in the 1st and second paragraph he pretended to be humble but then his true colors showed off in the 3rd paragraph, the first two was just an "ACTING" so the President would approve his favor (inshort, PAAWA EPEK!^^)
I agree to Att. Tolentino when she said:

“This (letter) is a camouflage of using the name of the poor for self-interest,”

Ive got this comment pertaining to the video above and i am 100% agree!

WTF!! These bishops are calling for civil disobedience and telling people not to pay taxes to Phil. govt? It should be the other way around. People must go out in the street and condemn these Bishops for their bad immoral activities. They even collect jueteng money. They don't even pay taxes yet the accept donations from the government. Church should focus on their role in this society - moral and spiritual guidance! Or simply abolish CBCP! They're bunch of immoral religious leaders!

jeansforjustice 1 week ago

Another is what Edcel Lagman, i am also 100% agree he said:

HOUSE Minority Leader Edcel Lagman yesterday described as morally offensive the acceptance of some Catholic Bishops of vehicles or cash gifts from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Lagman said the Catholic Church has enough resources to fund its own charitable institutions or foundations.

“The Catholic Church is way too rich to be a charity case and has more than sufficient resources to finance its charitable work without competing with countless indigent patients and legitimate charity beneficiaries,” Lagman said.

source: journal.com

And their solution for this very big controversy is.... (GUESS WHAT?)

MANILA, Philippines - Catholic bishops who received money from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to buy sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are willing to return the cars to the government, a church-run news agency said Thursday.

Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, who bought a P1.629-million Mitsubishi Montero from money given by the PCSO in 2009, is among the prelates willing to hand over the SUVs, according to CBCP News.

Pueblos, who is perceived to be close to then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had personally asked for a new vehicle from the Palace as a "birthday gift."
"I don't see any problem. I am riding a very old vehicle within the diocese itself. I could even ride yung mga small vehicle if it is necessary. It will not really be a problem," he said in an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas.

He added that he is willing to face an ongoing Senate investigation into the alleged misuse of funds in the state lottery agency during the Arroyo administration.
He also accused the present administration of going after critics.

"Yes, I would even like to make a privilege speech in Senate," he said. "It's a character assassination what they did to me and because of this I have also in sort of to defend myself."

Another Church official, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, said he is willing to return a P1.225-million worth Mitsubishi Estrada his diocese bought using PCSO funds in 2009.
"If they want to get it, it's ready. We can return it to them," Jumoad said, as quoted by CBCP News.

Bishops Deogracias Iñiguez of Calookan and Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon said handing over the vehicles to the PCSO may finally end the controversy.
"Just return the vehicles to put an end to this issue. Not doing so will only fuel speculations," Iñiguez said.

"Return all these vehicles to PNoy (President Aquino). They’ll make it appear that the bishops personally used those vehicles when the bishops didn't," Bastes said.
Archbishops Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Romulo Valles of Zamboanga, Ernesto Salgado ofNueva Segovia, Bishops Rodolfo Beltran of Bontoc-Lagawe, and Leopoldo Jaucian of Abra have yet to say if they will return their PCSO-funded vehicles.
source: abscbnnews.com

This is their solution, to "give back" luxury vehicles so that it would not appear that they are indeed greedy and that they use it for the "poor(?)". What else are their tactics? (Any guess?)

While citing Article 6, Section 29 (2) of the constitution that bars government from giving public funds to support a specific religious sect or group, Bernas said ruling on previous legal cases depend on the purpose and uses of the government "gift."

He mentioned the case of Aglipay vs. Ruiz on use of government funds for the issuance of postage stamps commemorating the 33rd International Eucharistic Congress of the Catholic Church, as well as the expropriation of the birthplace of Felix Y. Manalo, the founder of the Iglesia ni Kristo, for the purpose of preserving it as a historical landmark.

         source: abscbnnews.com

To INVOLVE some that is not connected with the issue, so that they can be "resolved" in the eyes of the public! That is from a bias, Fr. Joaquin Bernas. Its funny to see how these priests and bishops helping each other to cover the truth, like Catholic defenders are doing, so now i believe the saying "By their fruits you will know them", because it is same as what the corrupt catholic officials are doing, they all do the same as what their Church did!

And their last step?

Philippine bishops yesterday apologized for their role in the fund controversy at the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), where donations of luxury cars have put Catholic leaders on the spot.

Their pastoral letter “A Time of Pain, a Time of Grace” was read at the close of a national plenary assembly in Manila of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“We assure you that the bishops concerned are ready to accept responsibility for their action and to face the consequences if it would be proven unlawful, anomalous and unconstitutional,” said Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, CBCP president.

The bishops asked their followers to be “slow in judgment” and to “seek the truth always in charity.”

“Our Mother Church has been deeply wounded by the controversies in the [PCSO] that have erupted in the past two weeks … As shepherds struggling to love you like Jesus the Good Shepherd, we are sorry for the pain and sadness that these events have brought upon you,” said Odchimar.

The PCSO alleged that the vehicles were used by the past administration for political patronage at the time when calls for resignation had been hounding former President Gloria Arroyo.

Seven bishops were earlier identified as receiving donations of sports utility vehicles (SUV) from the state-owned lottery. Six are expected to attend a Senate hearing about PCSO funds tomorrow.

No mention was made in the pastoral statement about returning the brand-new vehicles, which cost at least P1 million each.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Yes, 7 bishops received money from PCSO funds to buy luxury cars, here it is:

• Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos- P 1.704 million

• Archbishop Romulo Valles- P1.54 million

• Quevedo- P1.44 million

• Jaucian- P1.129 million

• Bishop Martin Jumoad- P1.125 million

• Bishop Rodolfo Beltran- P600,000

• Archbishop Ernesto Antolin Salgado- P720,000

Saying sorry and saying "they are ready to take responsibility on their action" means they are indeed GUILTY! They even use the name of Jesus(their God) in this controversy

"...As shepherds struggling to love you like Jesus the Good Shepherd, we are sorry for the pain and sadness that these events have brought upon you,” said Odchimar."

This is a sin plus sin, why?
They violate their 3rd commandment!

• Do not take the name of the Lord in vain

Tsk. Tsk. Well, this is how Catholics plays the game, they are not contented on using the "poor" in their reason but then they even use Jesus' name (their God), WHAT THE???

FACTS:

• Catholic Church does receive money from gamblings legal or illegal, every now and then. Even nowadays, they are adviced not to.

• They accept money from the government for the activities of CHURCH.

• They involve some for the controversy's sake.

• They are too rich for them to ask for funds in the government for their CHARITIES. and lastly,

They are all SHAMELESS! After they condemned the government on different issues, they are the one's who are benefiting of government's money or should i say, FILIPINO'S

CBCP bishops can be criminals too

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in this photo

If there’s anything we’ve learned from this recent Pajero scandal, it’s that bishops are just ordinary people — nothing more, nothing less. There’s no holy force field protecting these religious men from making mistakes and, sometimes, even breaking the law.
But some people think that religious leaders are somehow special. One of them is Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile:

“We will give them the benefit of the doubt…” Enrile said it would be rash to accuse the bishops of wrongdoing, saying they’re not politicians or businessmen.

So if a politician or businessman were accused of accepting bribes, it would not be rash to accuse them? And it gets worse. Not only does Enrile think bishops are inherently more moral, he believes that thinking otherwise puts society at risk:

“I don’t think that we should be cynical and suspicious about the conduct of religious people. Let us try to be objective about it and preserve our institutions. Otherwise, we will break up as a society.”

Although he asks for objectivity, I think what he wants is the opposite. Objectivity requires that we follow where the investigation leads regardless of who’s being investigated. Enrile’s statements imply that he wants the investigators to be careful about the implications of investigating bishops and potentially finding them guilty.

But it’s this special standing that allows bishops to continue covering up their crimes. If Enrile really wants to “be objective about it,” “preserve our institutions,” ” and keep society together,” the Senate Blue Ribbon committee needs to do its job without bias — even if it means putting some bishops behind bars. THIS IS WHERE I GOT THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

The CBCP as a body is guilty

The CBCP as a body did not have any part in that… it also stands pat on its statement issued six years ago,” Quitorio said.
– Msgr. Pedro Quitorio

“We categorically deny that the CBCP as a body has ever solicited or knowingly received from illegal gamblers.”
– 2005 CBCP Statement on Gambling

 “The CBCP as a body did not have any part in that.” When I first heard this excuse, I suspected it was an implicit admission of guilt. And I was right.
In anticipation of some bishops getting caught, the CBCP distanced the group from its guilty members in advance. They further distanced themselves by explaining that “while there is a conference of Filipino prelates, all bishops and their dioceses are independent of one another and are directly responsible to Pope Benedict XVI.”
This is quite interesting. Because abroad, Vatican lawyers protect the pope from implication in child abuse cases by asserting that bishops are not directly responsible to the Pope.

Aside from contradicting the Vatican, the CBCP also contradicts itself. The CBCP cannot say that its bishops are independent (not part of a group) and then say that it does not receive bribes “as a body.” Either the CBCP takes responsibility for its members “as a body,” or they avoid making statements “as a body” at all.

And consider what would happen if a Catholic bishop were to do something truly independent — say, support the RH Bill. Would they say that the dissenting bishop is free to be pro-RH independently? Of course not. The CBCP wouldn’t waste a second censuring the pro-RH bishop for ignoring his obligation to be consistent with the CBCP “as a body.”

Because as long as the CBCP exists, they will continue to act as an organization. After all, this is where their perceived power comes from. Flock follows priest, priest follows bishop, bishop follows archbishop, and so on — this ideal hierarchy perpetuates the illusion that the CBCP speaks for 80% of the population. It’s why despite their unpopular, unscientific, and irrational opinions, some people — politicians in particular — listen to them at all.


If the allegations are true, it’s why then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) bribed at least 7 bishops. When the election scandal broke, several bishops, including ex-CBCP President Oscar Cruz, asked GMA to step down. But after the CBCP declared its “collective decision … to not demand her resignation,” none of the bishops, not even Oscar, called for Gloria to step down. By buying at least 7 bishops, GMA bought the entire CBCP. This clearly shows that the CBCP acts as a body.
And if the CBCP knew about these bribes or illegal donations — as their statements and actions imply — why did they remain silent? They could have told the authorities, and the “standard practice” would have stopped. By keeping quiet, they allowed the illegal donations to continue. They may not have directly committed the crime, but the silent bishops are guilty of aiding and abetting. So although the CBCP did not officially declare it, condoning bribery practically made it an organizational policy. And for this, the CBCP as a body is definitely guilty.

In a way, this excuse is meaningless. Of course the CBCP “as a body” cannot accept a bribe. Each bribed bishop received a PCSO check individually. And only individuals, not organizations, go to jail for a crime.

The inanity of this excuse becomes more obvious when you apply it to another scandal. Recently, a 17-year-old girl in Agusan del Norte accused a Catholic priest of rape. Do you think they’ll try to use “the CBCP as a body did not rape the girl” as an excuse? THIS IS WHERE I GOT THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Ex CBCP President implicitly admits bribery allegations

Archbishop Oscar Cruz

“I believe the allegations that bishops got Pajeros and other bribes are all true.” Ex-CBCP President Oscar Cruz did not say this, but he should have just as well. Because although Oscar did not explicitly say it, his response to the bribery allegations was almost as good as an admission of guilt.


First, he never denied the allegations. Like Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, Oscar could have simply said that there is no truth behind the allegations. But neither of them did.

Nor did Bishop Bacani. It seems that he already knows that bribery went on. Because the only “if” in Bacani’s mind is whether the bribery would be proven true:

“If proven true that some bishops are on take, it could dent the credibility of the Church,” said retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani.

Oscar Cruz seems to agree. He is so sure that there are indeed bishops accepting bribes that he addresses them directly, and there is nothing implicit about this:

“I think those concerned should speak up… otherwise the whole hierarchy will be affected,” said Cruz, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“Whether this is proven by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) or not, they should come out. The truth will set you free,” he said.

Again, by saying that the bribed bishops should come out “whether this is proven by the PCSO or not,” Oscar is clearly saying that regardless of the outcome of PCSO’s investigation, there is no doubt in his mind that some bishops were bribed.

If the ex-President of the CBCP himself is sure that there was bribery, then that’s probably the case. Oscar should work with Father Robert Reyes and expose the corruption within their ranks. Oscar would only be consistent. And he’d be hitting two birds with one stone — isn’t Oscar against both gambling and corruption? Otherwise, he would be just another CBCP hypocrite.

Catholic priest says CBCP bishops got more than Pajeros

Father Robert Reyes said that Catholic bishops got a lot more than the Pajeros allegedly given to them by ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA).

According to Fr. Reyes, GMA “constructed houses (for priests), convents, cathedrals, and gave away cars” so that bishops would not criticize GMA’s presidency or ask her to step down during “crisis points” such as the election scandal in 2005.

Fr. Reyes said that the Presidential Advisers on Ecclesiastical Affairs was used by GMA to find out which bishops needed to be bribed with vehicles or church buildings.
He said that as an insider, he was “not speaking from the outside (of the Church’s institution).” He even had an idea of who these bishops were.

I hope that Fr. Reyes gives insider information such as this to the authorities. Unfortunately, I think he is expecting that the bishops themselves confess their sins. He urged the corrupt bishops to come clean and return the gifts to the government, telling them that “they don’t have to make it public or announce it.”

I agree that the CBCP and its corrupt bishops must come clean, but I don’t agree that anyone should be quiet about this. The CBCP should make a public apology and reveal the identities of those involved in this scandal. Only by doing this can they show the public that they are serious about reform. Anything less would perpetuate the culture of secrecy that allows corruption like this to thrive.

This is where I got the original source

7 CBCP bishops bribed with Pajeros as part of “standard practice”

7 Catholic bishops each received a Pajero from ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA). This allegation was made by Margarita Juico, chair of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Juico told the Inquirer that GMA “moved to divide the bishops by getting some of them on her side to ensure that the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) would not have a unified stand on her.” According to the Inquirer report, “Juico said that she was told by some of the agency’s old-timers that these ‘donations’ to the Church leaders had become standard practice since Arroyo faced a real threat of removal from office with the ‘Hello Garci’ election cheating scandal six years ago.
The CBCP replied by saying it didn’t accept bribes “as a group.” But it did not deny the allegations that 7 bishops were bribed with Pajeros (emphasis mine):

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, media director of the CBCP, said the Church hierarchy as a group did not avail itself of the supposed extravagant gifts from PCSO during Arroyo’s term.
“The CBCP as a body did not have any part in that…” Quitorio said.

How easy would it have been for Msgr. Quitorio to say that none of the CBCP bishops received a Pajero? To me this is almost as good as admitting that there were indeed some bishops who were bribed by GMA.

And according to Juico, these Pajeros were given a few months before GMA stepped down. What other expensive gifts were given as part of GMA’s “standard practice” of “donating” to the CBCP?
It is not enough for Quitorio and the CBCP to disassociate themselves with the individual bishops who accepted bribes in spite of the official position of their organization. If Juico’s allegations are true, it was the dissent of these bribed bishops that ensured the CBCP would not go against GMA’s administration. This silence amidst obvious corruption was an organizational action, and the CBCP as a whole is guilty for it.

I hope the PCSO continues its investigation into this scandal. Juico’s allegations are serious, and needs to be backed by evidence. At the same time, the CBCP should do its own investigation and expose corruption within its own ranks. Otherwise, with all their crusades against gambling and corruption and immorality, they will be nothing more than hypocrites.

This is where I got the original source

PCSO reveals 5 of 7 bribed CBCP bishops

After throwing allegations left and right, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) finally began to back it up. They’ve revealed the recipients of the 7 Pajeros:

PCSO board director, Atty. Aleta Tolentino, said a 2009 Commission on Audit report showed there were several checks representing the amount that were taken from the charity fund. She said P1.44 million was given to the Archdiocese of Cotabato for the purchase of a service vehicle, P1.5 million went to the Zamboanga Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate, P720,000 was given to Caritas Nueva Segovia, P1.125 million to the Roman Catholic Prelate of Isabela, Basilan and P1.7 million to the Diocese of Butuan.

So that’s

1. Archdiocese of Cotabato
2. Zamboanga Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate
3. Caritas Nueva Segovia
4. Roman Catholic Prelate of Isabela
5. Diocese of Butuan

Wait. There’s only 5 in that list. Maybe some of those people received more than one Pajero. Or maybe 2 bishops got away. Anyway, it’s either PCSO is still looking for evidence against the 2 bishops (or got the initial allegations wrong), or these 2 bishops are too high up in the hierarchy to go after. I sure hope it’s not the latter.
Whatever the case, Atty. Tolentino said that the ones revealed and the officials involved will be investigated by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. TG. Guingona:

“Based on the COA report, may violation ng Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act). Siguro kung may kasalanan ang bishops, dapat parusahan sila. We should be God-fearing, not bishop-fearing,” she said.

I applaud the PCSO for following through, and for knowing that bishops should not be feared. But it’s not really necessary that people be God-fearing to follow the law. As these corrupt CBCP bishops will soon realize, the harsh criticism of society and the punitive power of the state are scary enough.

This is where I got the source

Albay Bishop blasts science, secularism, women and children

The picture of the cross which symbolizes the Catholic faith

THIS IS WHERE I GOT THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

LEGAZPI CITY, June 20, 2009—Bishop Administrator Lucilo B. Quiambao has challenged all the priests to restrain from secularism, worldly sciences and preserve virtues most relevant to them during the high mass held yesterday at St. Gregory the Great Cathedral, here.
I think priests should at least engage in secularism and “worldly” science (what other science is there?) if they are to be of any worth to society.

Mentioning virtues of meekness, prudence, respect and decorum must be observed and practiced in an effort to win the sinners and weak souls especially the children and women.

Wow, unbelievable! The church can’t seem to shed their misogynist tendancies. How can we take seriously the leaders of the church if they continue to view women as sinners (seductresses like Eve) and/or have weak souls (easily manipulated by talking snakes). And the children, those little ones who seduce pedophile priests with their charming innocence!
(Cross-posted from Verbal Razors)

The Philippine Catholic Church is a rich religious organization

The picture of Manila Cathedral

SOURCE: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideOpinion.htm?f=2011%2Fmay%2F28%2Felizabethangsioco.isx&d=2011%2Fmay%2F28

This is something that only few of us know: the Philippine Roman Catholic Church is a multi-billionaire religious and business organization. Yes, the Church is mega-rich.

We have always known that the Church, to which at least 80 per cent of Filipinos belong, is rich. Its properties like cathedrals and other big churches, expensive private Catholic colleges and universities all over the country, private hospitals, big buildings and huge tracts of land for their seminaries, etc. are there for people to see. We have always thought this as a given, normal. After all, the Church has been here longer than any of us.

No one really cared to approximate how rich the bishops really are and what the church can do if it really wanted to help poor Catholics.

We know that Catholic schools are the most expensive that only children of the rich can attend. And, yes, Catholic schools are among the best in the country. In effect, children belonging to rich families generally receive better quality education than those of poor Catholic families.

We also know that Catholic hospitals are good. Though they are not the most expensive, still, these are private hospitals that ordinary Catholics can hardly afford. Thus, these hospitals care more for those who are better off than the millions mired in poverty.

Quality education and healthcare are two of the most urgent needs of the people, and we are, as the Church claims, mostly Catholic. Yet, we never question why the Church mostly serves those who are, in the first place, able to fend for themselves.

On top of these properties and service-oriented institutions that earn by themselves are the business holdings of the various Catholic organizations in the country’s biggest business corporations. This, I think, is something that people do not know about. After all, churches are not expected to be business corporations at the same time.

Very recently, news organizations have bannered Catholic Church holdings in at least two big corporations —Philex Mining Corporation and the Bank of the Philippine Islands.
Chamber of Mines head Jerry Brimo said that as of March 31, Catholic entities owned a substantial number of shares in Philex. The Archbishop of Manila owned 3,221,135 shares; the Religious of the Virgin Mary-B with a total of 4,216,804 shares; and the Archbishop in Zamboanga owned 1,116,147 shares.

According to the Philippine Stock Exchange, as of 27 May 2011, each Philex share is valued at P20.45. This means that the Catholic Church’s holdings in the company are valued at P65,872,210.75; P86,233,641.80; and P22,825,206.15 respectively, or a total of P174,931,058.70.

In BPI’s list of its top 100 stockholders as of 31 March 2011, at least eleven were obviously Catholic entities. The worth of these stocks amounts to many billions of pesos (computed at P57.05 per share according to the 27 May PSE Market Information). These were (according to ranking and number of stocks owned):

• 4 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila with 222,843,681 shares worth P12,713,232,001;

• 8 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila (Real Casa de Misericordia) with 41,408,841 shares worth P2,362,374,379;

• 13 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila (Hospital de San Juan de Dios) with 22,072,182 shares worth P1,259,217,983;

• 15 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila (Hospicio de San Jose) with 6,016,624 shares worth P343,248,399;

• 17 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila (Hosp de San Juan de Dios) with 4,285,572 shares worth P244,491,882;
• 21 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila (Mayordomia dela Catedral) with 2,664,266 shares worth P151,996,375;

• 26 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila (St. Paul’s Hospital) with 1,772,418 shares worth P101,116,447;

• 49 Carmel of the Divine Infant Jesus of Prague, Inc (Filipino) with 726,819 shares worth P41,465,024;

• 60 Superior dela Corporacion Filipina de Padres Agustinos Recoletos, Inc. with 551,382 shares worth P31,456,343;

• 64 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jaro with 491,385 shares worth P28,033,514; and
• 74 Corporacion de Padres Dominicos with 380,307 shares worth P21,696,514.

The staggering amount of RCC money in BPI alone totals P17.3 billion pesos. Add its Philex holdings and the total is 17.5 BILLION PESOS. This huge amount in only two corporations! It will not be surprising if the Catholic Church has a lot more money in other big corporations.

With this alone, the Roman Catholic Church already becomes the 9th richest in the country dislodging Emilio Yap, Manila Hotel and Manila Bulletin owner and Oscar Lopez of Benpres Holdings Corporation.
Let’s imagine what this kind of money can do.

P17.5 billion pesos is more than half of the total budget of the Department of Health which is P31.8 billion. The department’s budget is supposed to serve more than 90 million Filipinos. We can only guess how many hospitals can be better equipped, how many doctors and nurses can be hired, and eventually, how many lives can be saved if only the Church decides to put this money in people’s health —even only in Catholic people’s health.

The National Statistical Coordination Board estimates that there are about four million families living in poverty and each needs P7,017.00 monthly to stay out of poverty. Instantly, the Catholic church is in a very good position to remove about 2.5 million families from poverty!

The Church positions itself as the vanguard of morality. Yet, while it sits on at least P17.5 billion, it continues to solicit donations from the poor instead of helping them have a better life. The Church proclaims itself as the protector of life. Yet it doesn’t use its billions to save the Catholic poor from hunger, sickness, and death.

Why don’t we see anything wrong with the bishop in all his finery standing beside the Catholic beggar? Is it really acceptable that cathedrals are in the same community of Catholic slum dwellers?
When will the Roman Catholic Church realize that as the multi-billionaire church of the millions of poor Filipino Catholics, it is its moral responsibility to substantially help its flock?

eangsioco@yahoo.com

Philippine Catholic Church condemns mining but owns shares in Philex

SOURCE: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2011/may/24/news1.isx&d=2011/may/24

Church condemns mining but owns shares in Philex

by Rey T. Salita

THE Chamber of Mines on Monday slammed the Catholic Church for condemning all mining activities in Palawan when some of its members own shares in a mining firm.

Chamber head Jerry Brimo produced before a breakfast forum in Makati a report of Philex Mining Corp. listing the shares in the company owned by the Archbishop of Manila, the Religious of the Virgin-B, and the Archbishop of Zamboanga.

The report for the quarter to March 31, 2011, listed the Archbishop of Manila as owning 3,221,135 shares in the copper and gold mining firm, the Religious of the Virgin-B with 3,125,777 shares plus another 1,091,027, and the Archbishop in Zamboanga with 1,116,147 shares.

“How can the Catholic Church give its moral backing to environmental advocates in Palawan protesting against mining in general?” said Brimo, head of Nickel Asia Corp. in the province.

is this another hypocrisy?

you the one to judge.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phils. calls for civil disobedience

The picture of CBCP Residence in Intramuros, Manila

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/03/11/bishops-call-anew-‘civil-disobedience’-vs-rh-bill

MANILA, Philippines - Bishops renewed their call for a “civil disobedience” should Congress insist on the reproductive health (RH) bill.

“We will have a civil disobedience! Those laws that are immoral, we will tell the people not to obey,” Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes told Radyo Veritas.

“Let’s make it clear that we are not against any person. We are not against the government. We are not subversives,” Archbishop Ramon Arguelles added, noting that the call is not meant to topple the government.

Bastes added the members of the Church will not be afraid of being imprisoned because of this.

“We bishops, are willing to be imprisoned, together with our priests, and protest the immoral things [in the RH Bill]. To be firm with our teachings, let them imprison us,” he stressed.

“We are just saying what is right! We are going to proclaim whatever it is,” Arguelles also said.

The House committee on population and family relations earlier endorsed for plenary approval the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, which aggressively advances the use of condoms and other modern contraceptive devices.

MY COMMENT: 

The Catholic bishops who claimed to be apostles of Christ are ready to rebel against the government even the apostles themselves did not rebel against Roman Empire and to Herod even my early Christian brethen are being killed. Really this will happen when their being greedy of money is applied to themselves. they will become wild beasts. oops no, they are devils.

Remember this teaching from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
 

Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire....

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

If these are the fruits of the Catholic Church, REBELLIOUS BISHOPS, It is clear that the Catholic Church is not of God and also not the continuation of the 1st Century Christian Church.