Any Church on Earth is Like a Nation

Any Church on Earth is Like a Nation

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

There is an adage that says, ”do not judge so that you will not be judged”. What I am doing is not judging but exposing what I see, observe and gather from researches. I have no right to judge, as I too, am a sinner but in other ways, and definitely not regarding exploitation of others. As I cannot just afford to be blind to what are happening around me, I have to let out what I feel. If it happens that some people will agree with me…fine. If the others do not…still fine, as each human who thinks sanely has all the rights to his or her opinion.

 

The sensitive issue on the Roman Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines has been put forward because of what for me are the unbecoming acts of her leaders, particularly, in dipping their fingers into politics which is no different from what their forerunners, the friars, did during the Spanish period during which they ran the show despite the presence of the town heads. Perhaps, they were afraid that if they showed weakness, their holdings would be taken away from them.

 

In general, however, the commonality between any Church on Earth and a Nation is their having human leaders, hence, with human weaknesses. That fact alone does not need any further argument as to the question on churches having corrupt leaders. Church leaders are not sons of Gods born in heaven! The frocks, whatever is the style and colors, that the leaders of the various churches wear as a a symbol of “spiritual authority” does not exempt them from committing “sins”. It is even viewed as worse, if despite their vows, they still commit unbecoming acts toward their fellowmen, because they do not only offend the latter but their God, to whom they promise their allegiance and made various vows.

 

One does not need to study in seminaries to know what is bad, nor in colleges and universities to know what a corrupt act is. The glaring truth is that since the conception of a new life in a woman’s womb, innate bad characteristics are already ingrained in his/her DNA, and are just waiting to be nurtured. In other words, any president, senator, congressman, mayor, priest, bishop, nun, and anybody else for that matter is born sinner and “candidate” to becoming corrupt. In this regard, if one nurtures his bad characters…. that becomes the big problem. Further to this, it must not be assumed then, that the Roman Catholic bishops who are viewed as leaders of their church, are always right in what they are doing!

 

The problem with these Filipino bishops today, is that they are only leaning on one side – that of the criminals who, for them should not be killed….but what about their victims that they raped, robbed, or killed! If these criminals are allowed to roam the streets, will these bishops guarantee that they will not rape more children, even senior women, rob more innocent commuters, or kill more hardworking neighbors?

 

These bishops are leaders of the Roman Catholic Church….but what have they done to alleviate poverty and ignorance among their flocks? Why did they allow them to become addicts? If they reply that it is not their “duty” to teach them with “earthly lessons” as they are only concerned about “spiritualities” then they must stop harassing President Duterte with unfounded accusations that are clearly tainted with politics!

Ang Simbahang Katoliko, Pastoral Letter Nito, Ang Mga “Pinatay” na Kriminal, at Mga “Biktima” Nila

Ang Simbahang Katoliko, Pastoral Letter Nito,

Ang Mga “Pinatay” Na Kriminal, at “Biktima” Nila

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

BINABATIKOS SA PASTORAL LETTER NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO ANG MGA “PAGPATAY” SA MGA DRUG ADDICT, DRUG PUSHER, DRUG LORD AT IBA PANG KRIMINAL DAHIL WALANG KARAPATAN KUNO ANG SINO MANG PUMATAY NA ANG TINUTUKOY AY SI DUTERTE…MAY PRUWEBA BA SILA? KUNG MATINO ANG SIMBAHANG ITO, DAPAT AY HINDI ITO NANGLILIHIS O NANLILITO NG MGA TAO SA PAGBIGAY NG NAKAKALITONG MGA “UTOS” SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PASTORAL LETTER. ANG TANONG…SIGURADO BA ANG MGA LIDER NG SIMBAHANG ITO NA SILA AY MALINIS, NI KATITING AY WALANG INIISIP NA MASAMA? PAANO ANG WALANG HUMPAY NA PANGLILIKOM NG MGA “OFFERING” KUNO TUWING MISA NA DATING ISANG BESES LANG, PERO NGAYON AY DALAWA NA – IDINADAAN SA SOBRE PAGPASOK PA LANG NG MAGSISIMBA SA SIMBAHAN, AT SA BASKET SA BAHAGI NG OFFERTORY?…YAN ANG MATATAWAG KONG PANGHUHUTHOT TO THE MAX!

 

BAKIT HINDI ISINAMA SA PASTORAL LETTER NA YAN ANG MGA “BIKTIMA” NG MGA KRIMINAL?….MGA BIKTIMANG NAGTATRABAHO NG MAAYOS PARA SA KANILANG PAMILYA?…MGA BIKTIMANG ESTUDYANTE NA NAGING ADIK KAYA NASIRA ANG KINABUKASAN?…MGA BIKTIMANG NAWALAN NG KATINUAN KAYA NAGPAKAMATAY?….MGA BIKTIMANG PASLIT NA HINDI LANG GINAHASA KUNDI BINABOY PA ANG KATAWAN DAHIL PINASAKAN NG KUNG ANONG BAGAY ANG PUKE, O DI KAYA AY PINUGUTAN PA NG ULO???!!!

 

ANO BA TALAGA ANG GUMAGABAY SA MGA PARI NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO…DIYOS BA NILA NA DAPAT AY MABAIT O DEMONYO?….BAKIT HINDI NITO I-QUALIFY O BIGYAN NG TAMANG KAHULUGAN ANG SALITANG “PAGKAMATAY” O “PAGPATAY”?….SINO AT KUNG ANO ANG DAHILAN?….HINDI BA NILA NAIISIP NA IBA ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG “PINATAY NA KRIMINAL” KUNG IHAMBING SA “BIKTIMA NG KRIMINAL”? GUSTO BA NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO NA DUMAMI PA ANG NAGLILIPANANG MGA KRIMINAL SA PILIPINAS? MAY KABULUHAN PA BANG MABUHAY ANG KRIMINAL NA SUMISIRA SA KINABUKASAN NG BAYAN????!!!!

 

SA GINAGAWA NG MGA LIDER NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO, PARA SILANG PILOSOPO NA NAGSASABING, “GO TO THE WORLD AND MULTIPLY” NA PINUTOL NILA AT HINDI IDINUGTONG ANG IBA PANG MGA KATAGA UPANG MAGING KUMPLETO SANA ANG “UTOS” NA YAN NG DIYOS NILA. SA MGA HINDI PA NAKAKAALAM, ANG UTOS NA YAN AY IBINIGAY KAY NOAH PAGKATAPOS NG MALAWAKANG BAHA SA BUONG MUNDO, UPANG DUMAMI ULI ANG MGA TAO….NOON YAN. NGAYON AY HINDI NA PWEDENG GAMITIN NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO AT MGA PILOSOPO LABAN SA FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM.

 

NGAYON, ANG MGA SALITANG “HUWAG PUMATAY” NAMAN ANG GINAGAMIT NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO SA PAGLITO SA MGA MIYEMBRO NILA. WALA SANA ITONG PROBLEMA, SUBALIT ANG GINAGAWA NG SIMBAHANG YAN AY NAKAKAAPEKTA SA BUONG BANSA!!!

Why Not Simplify the Belief?

Why Not Simplify the Belief?        

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

(Caution: read this with an open mind.)

 

A basic knowledge about God is that He has no image, no face and all-knowing. The Islamic faith ardently maintains this which firmly supports its monotheistic belief. Other religions have so many gods, in contrast to Christianity that also maintains this fealty. The only problem with Christianity, particularly the Roman Catholic Church is the many “titles” or names of the venerated Mother and Jesus. There is no problem with God, because what are attributed to Him are one word definitions such as Benevolent, Omnipotent, Merciful, etc.

 

With Jesus, even his misrepresented image as a child is venerated – the Sto. Niῆo. This prompted my niece one time to ask me if Jesus has not grown old. What will I answer to that?

As a grown- up, Jesus is also tagged with so many aliases or a.k.a’s…Black Nazarene, Holy Face, etc. The same is true with the Virgin Mother who is also tagged with so many titles…Our Lady of Guadalupe, Immaculate Conception, etc…with each title assuming a different image. When I asked a friend about this, he told me that the title depends on where the Mother manifested herself. I asked him what title will the church give the Mother if she appeared on the door of a toilet. I asked this, because people claim appearances on leaves, walls, tree trunks, etc. I was honest in my question. There is the Our Lady of Guadalupe because she appeared in that place, somewhere in Mexico, there is the Our Lady of Lourdes because, she appeared in a cave somewhere in France. I was just honestly curious. He just ignored my question and left me…he never talked to me afterwards. I lost a friend because of one question.      

 

For the prayers, there is a long prayer for the dead which even mentions a “tower”. The Holy Rosary is alright, because it is supposed to be a sacrificial prayer. The Mass is most appropriate because it is supposed to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus, His last act of salvation for mankind. What is wrong is its commercialization and use as a venue for political utterings of some revolutionary priests. Why can’t the holy ritual be confined to its real purpose, and for the revolutionary priests to go out of the church after the Mass, so that they can shout out to their hearts’ content, their political slogans and slurs against the government?

 

The laymen are confused as to the real mission of the Christian Church. While there are people around who are waiting for their share of spiritual grace, those with responsibilities are out in the streets joining hands with rallyists shouting invectives against the government. Some Christian groups condoned by the Catholic church, preach about blessings that will rain on the faithful so they must invert their open umbrellas, the better way to catch them….that when they get home, they should open wide their windows and doors to welcome hordes of blessings!

 

Why not just simplify the faith, the belief, and the way it is taught?…that there is an All-Knowing, Merciful, Benevolent God…period! Since the good acts of Jesus can enhance the evangelism, He should be included in the effort, and the faithful should be reminded that it is best to emulate Him. The simple choice, then, would just be between the good and the bad.

 

As for the shrines, those who raise funds for them, love to build most of these structures on top of a hill or a mountain. In the Bible, these are called “high places” where pagan rituals are held. They say that the taking of the hundreds of steps to reach them is a good “sacrifice”. People today have more than enough sacrifice, what with the soaring prices of prime commodities, deaf government leaders, and natural calamities. Why spend money for fares in going to shrines when such financial commodity is scarce nowadays? Living on a day to day basis is a sacrifice that can be offered to the Lord. In promoting shrines, the people behind them should be honest enough to admit that they are actually “religious tourism”, an endeavor that actually promotes the town or province where they are built, an industry…and, with that, no more questions will be asked. Why not trek to the nearest Church during worship days, if one would really want to sacrifice?

 

Anything concentrated is better in texture, stronger. If the faith can have this characteristics, it can withstand the onslaught of distraction…and that is what God wants to happen – undiluted Faith in Him, nothing else!

 

 

Huwag Lahatin

Huwag Lahatin…

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

…ang mga pulis na kotong daw –

dahil ang iba naman ay mabait

matitikas na, hindi pa masungit.

…ang mga senador na corrupt daw –

dahil mayroon pang isa o dalawa

maaari pa nating bigyan ng tiwala.

 

…ang mga kongresman, corrupt daw –

dahil meron pa namang mga bago

wala pang sungay, di pa demonyo.

 

…ang mga empleyado ng gobyerno –

dahil kung may nasusuhulan man

ang iba, napapanatili ang kalinisan.

 

…ang mga ahente ng pekeng NGO

dahil may ilan namang nakipagtulungan

mapasingaw lang ang baho ng pamahalaan!

 

…ang mga pari na lumilihis sa sinumpaan

dahil karamihan naman talaga ay banal pa

maigting at matatag ang pananampalataya.

 

…ang mga abogadong ubod ng sinungaling

dahil may mangilan-ngilan pa namang tapat

di tulad ng iba, sa dirty money ay nabubundat.

 

…ang mga huwes na takam sa kinang ng salapi

dahil marami pang honest, simple lang ang buhay

‘din pansin, tukso ng lagay na sa kanila’y kumakaway!

 

 

 

God’s Omnipotence

God’s Omnipotence

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Instead of being negative to the realities about man’s fallibility such that he keeps on sinning after the almost regular repentance, we should look deeper and seek the reason or reasons for it. There are two issues about man’s existence – whether his fate is pre-destined or dependent on his free will. But first we have to accept that the cycle of sinning and repenting is happening. We cannot just play blind, dumb or worse, be hypocrites.

 

God’s omnipotence is such that He deemed it necessary for man to work hard for his existence.  That is why life is floating on temptations – a reality from which we can never escape. So what is wrong with the truth that indeed, we commit sins again and again but we try our best to show our intention to repent, also, again and again?

 

The activities or the things that go with life such as the businesses that flourish during religious festivals are part of the phenomenon of existence. God knows that we have to work and earn in order for us to live. So what is wrong with the tons of candles being sold to the faithful to be lighted during processions and vigils? What is wrong with the t-shirts sold to be worn by the faithful to identify themselves as members of certain religious groups?

 

What I am driving at in my observations (blogged: The Vicious Cycle of Repenting and Erring), is the hypocrisy of some “religious” who swear to heavens that they are sure of salvation and even go to the extent of despising others who cannot join religious activities. Also, the gull of those who visit churches in the guise of fulfilling a vow but in reality would like to brag to others through selfies that they have indeed, “been there”. And, for those who flog themselves, well, I have plenty of friends who do such penance, and after a week, they “celebrate” their “redemption from sin” by going into drinking binges for days…one of them even go back to his sideline of selling illegal drugs, and still another one continue with his habit of beating his wife. Most especially, I am not alone in these observations because even the Catholic Church keeps on reminding the faithful about their behavior, even radio commentators and TV anchors are one in their reminders about the excessive practices.

 

I just want to emphasize that nobody is free from sin. Whatever righteousness we do and show to others can help us lighten our load, but not totally free us from such. Hypocrites of today should take the cue from the new pope himself, Francis, who confessed to a priest. The pope has been humble enough to accept his sins, but did not confess directly to God as expected of him, instead, he whispered all his misdoings to a priest. Is the pope’s gesture not enough to open our eyes so that we can accept the realities of man’s vulnerability? The ultimate show of humility is Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet. He bowed to them as He did it, to show that there is nothing wrong with being humble in anything that we do, including the acceptance of our shortcomings as man. This could be all part of God’s omnipotent plan for mankind – that by the time we die, He will know who among us are consistent enough in repenting and really mean it, until our time of reckoning finally comes, so He allows the vicious cycle of sinning and repenting to happen. I am not being judgmental because I, too, am a sinner. I am just being observant and loud about it, because I cannot stand hypocrisy.