Thousands of devotees join the

Grand Procession of the Our Lady

of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de
Manila in Quezon City, October 9,
2016. MARIA TAN

Monitor
CBCP

OCTOBER 17 - 30, 2016 VOL. 20 NO. 27

CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

AMID
KILLINGS
Church network seeks justice system overhaul
The network composed of diocesan
social action centers organized in 86
dioceses expressed concern over the quick
succession of drug-related killings in the
light of the Duterte administrations antidrug campaign.
More than 3,500 have been killed in
the countrys war on drugs since the new
administration took office in June.

By Roy Lagarde

THE social action network of

the Catholic bishops has called
for an overhaul of the judicial
system to deliver speedy
justice to victims, particularly
in the light of an intensive
government crackdown on Lip service
They said summary killings of suspected
illegal activities.
criminals are morally unacceptable and
The lay, religious, and clergy members
of the Social Action Network (SAN),
in a statement issued October 13, said
there may be factors that are causing
dysfunctions in the fight against crime in
the country.
They said the very alarming spate
of summary executions could be an
expression of mistrust in our corrupted
criminal justice system.
Impunity encourages disgruntled
citizens to resort to criminality. Let there
be overhaul of the Philippine criminal
justice system to ensure the right of every
Filipino to fair trial and security, they
said. (Full text of Statement in B4)

will only deliver neither justice nor the

security people seek and is a violation of
human rights and of the rule of law.
More so, according to them, if the
killings include innocent civilians.
We cannot achieve a just and peaceful
society through illegal, immoral, and
fundamentally evil means, they stressed.
What the country needs, they said, are
efforts that would enhance investigations,
ensure suspects are prosecuted in fair
trials, and protect victims and witnesses
from threats and intimidations.
The social action workers lauded
President Rodrigo Dutertes political will
Killings / A6

Cardinal Tagle calls for

change sans violence
LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME. Children beneficiaries
of the Pope Francis House of Mercy, a nourishment center for
malnourished kids in Davao City, ask for Davao Archbishop Romulo
Valles blessing during the opening of the center, September 30, 2016.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDA P. MILAN
Related story on page A7.

Nuns of the Missionaries of Charity venerate the relics of Saint Teresa of Calcutta after a thanksgiving Mass for her canonization
presided over Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the Manila Cathedral, Oct. 7, 2016. ROY LAGARDE

THE head of Manilas

Roman Catholic Church has
called for societal change
that rejects violence.
Cardinal Luis Antonio
Tagle said peaceful efforts
for the transformation of
society must be made as

essential demands of faith

and the Gospel.
Let us show the so-called
revolution of love not the
revolution through weapons
and violence but a revolution
for change caused by love,
said the prelate.

The cardinal made the

statement in his homily
during a thanksgiving Mass
for the recent canonization
of Mother Teresa of Calcutta
at the Manila Cathedral
Oct. 7.
Violence / A7

Duterte urged to free old, sick prisoners

CATHOLIC bishops are calling on President
Rodrigo Duterte to grant clemency to old
and sick prisoners.
In a letter sent to Duterte Monday,
the bishops prison ministry said many
prisoners are longing to be free and have
sought the Churchs help. (See full text of
letter in B4)
Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, who chairs
the Episcopal Commission on Prison
Pastoral Care, said elderly inmates and their
families have been enduring the effect of

incarceration for several years, especially

the sick ones.
Therefore, we would like to appeal to His
Excellency to grant their plea for executive
clemency, said the prelate.
The appeal for compassionate release
of deserving prisoners was made ahead
of the Churchs Prison Awareness Week,
which coincides with National Correctional
Consciousness Week on Oct. 24 to 30.
The Church will also celebrate the Jubilee
Prisoners / A6

Church official
Stop false hope
over death penalty, calls for mercy in
communication
Duterte told
THE Catholic Churchs prison ministry urged
President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies in
Congress to stop giving Filipinos false hope
that death penalty will solve crimes.
Rodolfo Diamante, executive secretary
of the bishops Episcopal Commission on
Prison Pastoral Care, said the move to
reinstate death penalty will never be an
effective deterrent to crime.
He said the reimposition of capital
punishment will be an affront to human
dignity and called the government to avoid
quick fix solution to crimes.
We appeal to the President and our
lawmakers not to resort to a quick fix solution
to the problem of criminality and stop giving
us false hope that we will be safe and secure
by putting people to death, he said.
The prison ministry on Monday marked
the annual observance of the World Day
Penalty / A6

CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila

called on journalists and media practitioners
to communicate in the spirit of mercy
that reflects the Christian reality of peoples
connectedness to God.
Speaking at the 38th Catholic Mass
Media Awards Wednesday night, he drew
attention to a need for sensitivity towards the
understanding of compassion, particularly in
the world of media.
We hope every act of communication is
mercifully done. This is the only way that
could evoke change, said the prelate during
the awards night held at the Philippine
International Convention Center.
At the same time, mercy should be
communicated, he said.
Echoing Pope Francis message for this
years World Communications Day, the
cardinal said amid the many merciless

Mercy / A6

A2 WORLD NEWS
t

Vatican Briefing
Pope Francis grieves over death of Thailands king

Pope Francis expressed his sorrow to learn of the death of

the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died Oct. 13 at
a hospital in Bangkok. I was deeply saddened to learn of the
death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and I extend
my heartfelt condolences to the Members of the Royal Family
and to all the people of the Kingdom at this sorrowful time, the
Popes letter to the Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chano-cha read. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88, reigned over the
Kingdom of Thailand since 1946 and was the longest-reigning
living monarch in the world at the time of his death. He is
also the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. (Hannah
Brockhaus/CNA)

Pope Francis donates $100,000 to Haiti for hurricane relief

Pope Francis has decided to send an initial contribution
of $100,000 to Haiti to help with emergency recovery in the
wake of Hurricane Matthew, the Vatican announced Friday.
Donated through the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the money
will be used to support flood victims, and is intended as a
first and immediate concrete expression of the feelings of
paternal spiritual closeness and encouragement of the Holy
Father toward the people and territories affected, an Oct. 14
communiqu from the Vatican read. Hurricane Matthew hit
Haiti on Oct. 4. A category four storm with winds racing at
145mph, it is the most powerful Caribbean storm in a decade,
devastating Haiti. (Hannah Brockhaus/CNA)

Venezuelan Fr. Arturo Sosa is new head of Jesuit order

After several weeks of discussion and discernment, the Jesuit

order has elected Fr. Arturo Sosa as their new Superior General,
who will be taking over after the resignation of their former
leader, Fr. Adolfo Nicols. Former head of the Venezuelan
Jesuit province, Fr. Sosa entered the Society of Jesus in 1966
and was ordained a priest in 1977.Fr. Sosas election as the 31st
General Superior of the Jesuits marks the first time a Latin
American has led the Society, and he takes the helm under
the Catholic Churchs first Jesuit and Latin American Pope.
(Elise Harris/CNA)

Pope pleads for ceasefire amid inhuman conflict in Syria

Pope Francis begged for an end to the terrible conflict in

Syria, asking for an immediate ceasefire to allow the evacuation
of civilians, especially children.I want to emphasize and
reiterate my closeness to all victims of the inhuman conflict
in Syria. With a sense of urgency I renew my appeal, pleading,
with all my strength, the Pope said at the end of his general
audience Oct. 12.The Popes comments come amid the
backdrop of intensified fighting in Aleppo, with hundreds
of children having been killed in airstrikes in recent weeks.
(Hannah Brockhaus/CNA)

Sistine Chapel Choir releases new album for Jubilee

of Mercy

For the second year in a row the Sistine Chapel Choir has
recorded an album inside the chapel of its namesake, this
year selecting pieces by Palestrina that focus on mercy in
honor of the Jubilee.Created in partnership with the classical
music label Deutsche Grammophon, the second album was
released Oct. 7 and is titled Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli/
Motets.Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, who lived from
1525-1594, is an Italian Renaissance sacred music composer,
and is perhaps one of the most well-known composers of
sacred polyphony. The CD was presented Oct. 7 inside the
Vaticans Press Office by the Prefect of the Pontifical Household
Archbishop Georg Ganswein, as well as Clemens Trautmann,
president of Deutsche Grammophon. (Elise Harris/CNA)

Christians who reject all refugees are hypocrites,

pope says
Meeting a pilgrimage of Catholics and Lutherans from
Germany, Pope Francis said he does not like the contradiction
of those who want to defend Christianity in the West, and, on
the other hand, are against refugees and other religions. This
is not something Ive read in books, but I see in the newspapers
and on television every day, Pope Francis said. Answering
questions from young people in the group Oct. 13, the pope
said, the sickness or, you can say the sin, that Jesus condemns
most is hypocrisy, which is precisely what is happening when
someone claims to be a Christian but does not live according to
the teaching of Christ.You cannot be a Christian without living
like a Christian, he said. (Cindy Wooden/CNS)

October 17 - 30, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 27

CBCP Monitor

After Catholic Spring email leak, US

bishops warn American ideals at risk
WASHINGTON D.C., Oct 14, 2016
Following a leaked email from
prominent political actors about a
possible Catholic Spring movement
to plant seeds of the revolution
within the Church, the U.S. bishops
conference has rebuked interference
in the Church and a political discourse
that marginalizes the faithful and
demeans women.
There have been recent reports
that some may have sought to
interfere in the internal life of the
Church for short-term political
gain, said Archbishop Joseph
Kurtz of Louisville, the U.S. bishops
conference president. If true, this is
troubling both for the well-being of
faith communities and the good of
our country.
In our faith and our Church,
Christ has given us a precious gift.
As Catholics, we hold onto our
beliefs because they come to us from
Jesus, not a consensus forged by
contemporary norms, he said Oct. 13.
We also expect public officials to
respect the rights of people to live
their faith without interference from
the state, the archbishop continued.
When faith communities lose this
right, the very idea of what it means
to be an American is lost.
Archbishop Kurtz did not directly
mention the controversy over a leaked
email exchange from Feb. 10-11, 2012
between Democratic presidential
candidate Hillary Clintons current
campaign manager, John Podesta,
and Sandy Newman, president of the
progressive organization Voices for
Progress.
Newman appears to have initiated
the email exchange, titled Opening
for a Catholic Spring? Just musing.
He cited the controversy over Catholic
objections to mandatory coverage of
contraception in employers insurance
plans, which would force Catholics
to provide drugs, including some
abortion-causing drugs, the use of
which they recognize as sinful and
unethical.
There needs to be a Catholic Spring,
in which Catholics themselves demand
the end of a middle ages dictatorship
and the beginning of a little democracy
and respect for gender equality in
the Catholic church, Newman
said, asking whether contraception
coverage could be a rally point for such
a movement.

Newman told Podesta he has a total

lack of understanding of the Catholic
Church, adding, Even if the idea isnt
crazy, I dont qualify to be involved
and I have not thought at all about
how one would plant the seeds of the
revolution, or who would plant them.
Just wondering
Podestas email suggested that two
political organizations were intended
for such advocacy.
We created Catholics in Alliance
for the Common Good to organize for
a moment like this. But I think it lacks
the leadership to do so now, he said.
Likewise Catholics United. Like most
Spring movements, I think this one
will have to be bottom up.
Podesta suggested consultation
with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend,
former Lt. Governor of Maryland
and daughter of Robert F. Kennedy.
Townsend has served on the board of
the National Catholic Reporter and
gave a 2008 keynote address to the
national conference of Call to Action,
which dissents from Church teaching
on issues of sexuality and womens
ordination.
The emails were released by the
anti-secrecy site Wikileaks as part of
an ongoing leak of emails reputedly
hacked from Podestas email account.
Podesta has echoed rumors that
Russian intelligence officials were
responsible for the hack. He has
further alleged that some of the emails
may not be authentic.
For Archbishop Kurtz, the
controversy was a time to reflect on
the state of political life.
Politicians, their staffs and
volunteers should reflect our best
aspirations as citizens. Too much of
our current political discourse has
demeaned women and marginalized
people of faith, he said. This must
change. True to the best hopes of our
founding fathers, we are confident
that we can and will do better as a
nation.
He encouraged Catholics and
all people of good will to be good
stewards of the rights of Americans.
The Gospel is offered for all people
for all times. It invites us to love our
neighbor and live in peace with one
another, the archbishop continued.
For this reason, the truth of Christ is
never outdated or inaccessible. The
Gospel serves the common good, not
political agendas.

The political players involved in

the email exchange have had great
influence. Newman, the originator of
the Catholic Spring suggestion, once
hired a young Barack Obama to run a
voter registration project in Illinois
in 1993.
Podesta is past president of the
Center for American Progress think
tank and served as chief of staff for
President Bill Clinton.
In recent years, the Center for
American Progress has taken
hundreds of thousands of dollars in
grants from the Arcus Foundation
to reclaim religious freedom as a
progressive value that includes LGBT
equality and womens reproductive
health and rights. The Center
for American Progress also hosts
Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson
as a senior fellow. The first openly gay
bishops 2003 election as Bishop of
New Hampshire caused massive rifts
within the Episcopal Church and the
Anglican Communion.
Christopher Hale, the current
executive director of Catholics in
Alliance for the Common Good,
told CNA Oct. 12 that the emails
do not reflect the mission of the
organization.
Ive think weve proven during
my time here that we are a strong
messenger for the full social
magisterium of the Catholic Church,
he said. We fought against the HHS
mandate, we fought against Planned
Parenthood when the tapes were
released in 2015. We fought time and
again for the dignity of the unborn
child.
If our job is to be a front group
for the Democratic Party, then were
doing a pretty terrible job at it, Hale
said.
Hale acknowledged that in the past,
the organization has received funding
from philanthropist and liberal activist
George Soros. He claimed that the
organization has not received a grant
from Soros in 10 years.
Catholics in Alliances associated
group Catholics United, however,
has taken funds from wealthy LGBT
activists such as the Gill Foundation,
founded by the wealthy businessman
Tim Gill, and billionaire heir Jon
Strykers Arcus Foundation. Grant
listings and annual reports from the
foundations show grants from 2012
through 2015. (CNA)

Angolan Bishops concerned about the economy,

forced evictions and crime
for citizens in the face of
growing criminality. There
has been a surge in gangrelated crime and rape cases
in Angola.
In July, this year, Reuters
quoted commander of the
National Police, Paulo de
Almeida, as telling the stateowned Jornal de Angola
that he too was worried by
the violent nature of crimes.
What has worried us is that
lately crimes have become
repulsive, violent. We are
investigating how these
criminals act, said the Police
Chief. (Vatican Radio)

The theme for the 2018 Synod of Bishops has been released,
and will focus on how to best teach the faith to young people
and help them to discern Gods will for their lives. Set to take
place in October 2018, the 50th General Assembly of the
Synod of Bishops will discuss Young People, the Faith and
the Discernment of Vocation, an Oct. 6 Vatican communique
said. The theme, it explained, is in continuity with topics
that emerged from the 2014-2015 Synod on the Family, as
well as with the contents of Francis Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, which was written largely on
the basis of the synods concluding document. (Hannah
Brockhaus/CNA)

Vatican Museums install defibrillators in case of

heart attacks

Bishops support students #FeesMustFall campaign

Youth, discernment Popes pick for next synod theme

The Vatican Museums has installed 18 automated external

defibrillators (AEDs) and trained 300 staff in their use to
become the first museum in Italy to be Heart Friendly, in
order to provide greater protection to the 6 million people who
visit the Museums every year. The programmeexplained on
Oct. 5was created in collaboration with the Vatican-owned
Bambino Ges Paediatric Hospital and the Department
of Health and Welfare of the Governorate of Vatican City
State, with training supervised by the American Heart
Association.For us, it is an honor and a duty to make available
to the Vatican Museums our years of expertise to help protect
the lives of the thousands of people who each day admire the
masterpieces preserved in this place, said Mariella Enoc, the
President of the Bambino Ges. (Vatican Radio)

Mary imitated God through service, Pope says

During a special Jubilee weekend dedicated to Mary,

Pope Francis said Mary was not only Christs mother, but
also his obedient disciple and a model of concrete service to
others.Throughout her life, Mary did everything that the
Church is asked to do in perennial memory of Christ, the Pope
said Oct. 8.With her faith, we learn to open our hearts to obey
God; in her self-denial, we see the importance of tending to the
needs of others; in her tears, we find the strength to console
those experiencing pain.In each of these moments, Mary
expresses the wealth of divine mercy that reaches out to all in
their daily need.Pope Francis spoke to thousands of pilgrims
gathered in St. Peters Square to celebrate a special Oct. 7-9
Marian Jubilee, which is part of the Popes larger Jubilee of
Mercy. (Elise Harris/CNS)

World Health Organization.

The Bishops raised the
concern during the opening
of their second plenary
meeting which started on
12 October and will end
on 19 October. President
of CEAST, Filomeno do
Nascimento Vieira Dias,
who is the Archbishop of
Luanda spoke of the very
low purchasing power of
many households in Angola.
Another concern of the
Angolan Bishops relates to
the issue of demolition of
homes and forced evictions
in the capital city, Luanda.

The Bishops say that in the

space of a few months, more
than two thousand houses
have been demolished by
the authorities in the Zango
area without the slightest
respect for human rights.
The media in Luanda has
reported of military police
helping in the demolition
of homes to pave the way
for a commercial project
in the Walale, Zango II
neighborhood. The Bishops
have called for political
tolerance in the country;
respect of human rights and
improvement of security

LUANDA, Oct. 13, 2016

The Bishops of the Episcopal
Conference of Angola and
Sao Tome (CEAST) have
expressed concern with the
current economic scenario
in the country. The fall in
the price of crude oil, on
the international market,
has plunged Africas
second largest crude
producer into dire straits.
Notwithstanding its oil and
the fact that Angola has vast
mineral wealth, the country
has the highest under-five
mortality rate in the world.
This is according to the

CAPE TOWN, Oct. 13, 2016The

Southern African Catholic Bishops
Conference (SACBC) says that
students engaged in a nationwide
protest which has plunged higher
education into a crisis have valid
reasons for the demonstrations.
The Bishops, however, condemn
the violence and the vandalism
perpetrated by students.
The Catholic Church agrees that
the student protest has foundation.
We are aware as a Church, of the
inequality of opportunity for poor
and competent students to access
third level education. As Bishops
spread throughout the country, we
have assisted students with our
limited resources. But the majority
of the deserving students we have not
been able to help. What the students
desire is more equality in access to
good education at university level.
We support this request. But we dont
condone the violence, looting, and
vandalizing of property by students
and the use of force by police [and
the] army, says the Archbishop of

South Africa students protest tuition fee hikes. ARCHDIOCESE OF CAPE TOWN

Pretoria and Bishop-in-charge of

SACBCs communication and media
commission, William Slattery, OFM.
The Bishops have called on students
to call off their protest saying they
have made their point.
The whole society, other students,
universities, and the government are
very aware of the students protest. It
is time now for the disturbances to end
and for the academic year to continue

and for exams to be written.

The Bishops are urging students
and the government to an agreement.
Government and students must
now iron out their difficulties. A
compromise must be considered
as the huge financial demands of
university free education cannot
be found instantaneously, said
Archbishop Slattery. (Vatican
Radio)

CBCP Monitor

NEWS FEATURES A3

October 17 - 30, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 27

Marriage-oriented group recognizes big, active families

MANILA Contrary to the
conventional belief that big
families are bound to remain
poor, the Marriage Encounter
Foundation of the Philippines
discovered the exact opposite.
During their search for
the countrys outstanding
families, it turned out that
many happen to have broods
of more than five.
MEFP President Robert
Aventajado said he and
his group were pleasantly
surprised to know of families
with up to eleven children
doing well and being active in
the life of the Church through
various activities.
The former cabinet
secretary said the Martin
family from Baguio City, for
example, is composed of Paul,
an electrician and Delia, a
public school teacher, and 10
children.
They have a priest and a
nun as part of their big family
with three others working
either as teachers or office
staff, he said, adding five
others are still in senior high
school and elementary grades.
Part of the MEFPs
requirements for the nominees
include that the family should
spend substantial time
involved in parish activities.
It is interesting to note Paul is
with the Knights of Columbus,
into the burial ministry, and
does repairs and maintenance

Paul is an electrician and an active member of the Knights of Columbus, while Delia teaches at Tublay School of Home Industries. Their ten children include Fr. Dexter, currently
administrator of Sacred Heart (Bakun) Parish and Sr. Marie Christine who now belongs to the Sisters of Mary School Boys town community in Silang, Cavite. Two others are
teachers, while another works as office staff of St. Louis University. Five others are students. MEFP FILE PHOTO

of electrical installations at
the Immaculate Conception
Parish in Tublay, Benguet.
Delia is a lector and helps
in the floral arrangements
and cleaning of the church.
Fr. Dexter works as parish
administrator, while Sr.
Marie Christine teaches and
leads the music ministry in
Silang, Cavite. Younger family
members are into the youth
ministry, parish choir and
are active altar servers and
cleaners.
Meanwhile, the Rivera

couple from Pasig City have

6 children. Baldemor, the
head of the family works
as ambulant vendor selling
bananacue, fishballs,
squidballs, and other
streetfood, while Mary Jane
works as massage therapist.
What is remarkable in the
Rivera family is the fact all
the children attend school,
while they spend weekends at
the Sto. Tomas De Villanueva
parish in Manggahan, Pasig
City, shared Aventajado.
While Baldemor and

Mary Jane are both active

in the family life ministry,
their children serve either
as members of the choir,
collectors or lectors.
Baldemor is a lay minister.
From the Diocese of Legazpi is
the Cardano Family, composed
of Higino, an electric repairman
and Lani, a self-employed
mother of 6 daughters, who all
attend school.
Coming from a modest
home in Barangay Bacolod,
Tabaco City, the family
is involved in the Neo-

Priest who escaped ISIS: Our world needs

a revolution against violence
HOMS, SyriaFather Jacques
Mourad was prior of the Mar Elian
monastery, a pilgrimage centre
near Al Quaryatayn, about 65 miles
southeast of Homs, until he was
abducted by Islamic State militants
in May 2015. He managed to escape
after nearly five months of captivity,
yet that August the Islamic State
had captured Al Quaryatayn and
destroyed the monastery. The city
was later liberated by Syrian forces,
in April 2016.
Now based in Europe, Father
Mourad spoke Oct. 17 with
international Catholic charity Aid
to the Church in Need about the
situation in Syria.
In early April 2016, Al Quaryatayn
was finally freed from ISIS. How is
the situation there now?
The city may have been liberated,
but normal, everyday life is not yet
possible. Most houses have been
destroyed. But at least electricity
and water have in the meantime
been restored. However, most
people have not yet returned to Al
Quaryatayn. The fear that ISIS will
come back is great.
The war in Syria continues
unabated. Peace negotiations have
repeatedly failed. Many people are
fleeing, including Christians. How
great is the danger that Christianity
will be obliterated in the Middle
East?
This obliteration has already

doing business with Saudi Arabia.

Because that is where the funding
and weapons for ISIS are coming
from. Bombing achieves nothing.
The US has been bombing Syria and
Iraq for years, and now the Russians
are doing so, too. And what have they
achieved? Have they stopped the
terrorist violence? Absolutely not!

Fr. Jacques Mourad, who was held captive by the

Islamic State for nearly five months in 2015. PHOTO
COURTESY OF AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED

become reality. There are regions

in Iraq and Syria that no longer
have any Christian inhabitants. But
the people are not fleeing willingly.
They have no other choice. This is
especially true for the Christians
in Syria, because we are a small
minority. The violence that reigns
in Syria is unbearable. I do not
understand why other countries
refuse to see this reality and take
action. The world must finally react!
What actions are needed?
If the world is really serious about
putting an end to the ravages of the
fanatics, then it will have to stop

What is the solution?

The solution cannot be simply
eliminating those who persecute
us. The only way of stopping
the extremists is to enter into a
dialogue with Islam. That has been
my personal experience. Weall
the Christians of my old parish
decided not to resort to violence,
even despite the danger. That is why
we are still alive. An ISIS leader told
us exactly that: You People of the
Book, [the term used for Jews and
Christians in the Koran] do not even
use violence against us.
Thus, non-violence and dialogue
are what Christians can and should
contribute?
Last spring, I had the following
inspiration during Mass: our world
needs a revolution against violence.
Only then will it be able to find
peace. We want to be instruments of
peace. This is how we did it in Mar
Elianwe provided aid to the local
people without considering any
distinctions of religion. (Berthold
Pelster/CNA)

Cardinals up in arms over new McVatican proposal

VATICAN The decision to open a McDonalds
restaurant inside a Vatican property just around the
corner from St. Peters Square has been met harsh
criticism from cardinals who live in the building.
But the man in charge of rolling out the project says
the plan is moving forward despite disagreement.
Dubbed by some as McVatican, the new restaurant
will be located in a Vatican property on the intersection
of Romes Via del Mascherino and Via Borgo Pio,
literally around the corner from the Vatican and St.
Peters Basilica.
After having received numerous requests from
different companies to move into the empty space, the
Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
(APSA), which oversees the Vaticans assets, decided
to rent it to McDonalds for 30,000 euros a month.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Reppublica,
Italian Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, president emeritus
of the Pontifical Academy for Life, called the deal a
controversial, perverse decision to say the least.
The presence of the fast-food chain so close to
the Vatican, he said, is not at all respectful of the
architectural and urban traditions of one of the most
characteristic squares overlooking the colonnade of
St. Peter visited every day by thousands of pilgrims
and tourists.
Cardinal Sgreccia called the deal a business decision
that, moreover, ignores the culinary traditions of the
Roman restaurant.
The mega sandwiches on the McDonalds menu are
a hazard to peoples health, he said, adding that because
of this, the questionable activity shouldnt even be a

consideration for Vatican property.

In addition to Cardinal Sgreccia, who rumored to
have written a letter of protest to the Pope, other
cardinals living in the building have also voiced their
discontent. Concern has arisen over what will become of
the homeless who have been living outside the building,
some of them for years, but who will be forced to leave
once the restaurant is constructed.
Cardinal Sgraccia told La Reppublica that in addition
to being a disgrace, the McDonalds would have been
better used as a space used for activities in defense of
the needy in the area, hospitable areas of welcome and
help for those who suffer, as the Holy Father teaches.
However, despite the aggravation of cardinals living
inside the building, Cardinal Domenico Calcagno,
president of APSA, has been unsympathetic, and said
he doesnt see what the problem is.
Also speaking to La Reppublica Oct. 15, Cardinal
Calcagno responded to criticism surrounding the
McDonalds by saying that everything was done in
respect of the law and that there will be nothing done
which will go against the current rules, tradition and
interests of the Holy See.
Above all there is respect for the law. Then the rest
comes, he said, explaining that APSA is not prepared
to make any step backward because everything is in
order.
Cardinal Calcagno said he is unaware of any letters
supposedly written to the Pope. While he is aware of
how his brother cardinals feel, we are free people and
everyone has the right to express their own views, he
said. (Elise Harris/CNA)

Catechumenal Way. A PPCRV

volunteer, Lani is also vicechairperson of the Barangay
Pastoral Council.
Their daughters form
part of the parish youth
commission, ministry of
lectors and commentators,
and the childrens choir.
Aventajado said the Peligro
family from the Diocese of
Tagbilaran provides another
inspiring example because
Ruben, now 39-years old,
act as an all-around utility
man, while his wife, Rhoda,

is a full-fledged homemaker
attending to the needs of
their 7 children who all attend
school.
Ruben shares his
time as cluster leader
of the parish-based Basic
Ecclesial Community, PreCana lecturer, Marriage
Enrichment leader. He is
also part of the Family and
Life staff. Their children are
into the youth ministry and
Student Catholic Action.
These families will be
recognized and awarded
plaques of appreciation
for being model families
despite the fact they are not
as prominent as the more
affluent families, they were
able to maintain their dignity
and dedication to each other
and keep their faith in God.
Other winners come from
the archdioceses of Davao,
Cotabato, and dioceses of San
Jose de Antique, Calbayog,
Malaybalay, and Tagbilaran.
He added the project
would not have been possible
without the help of the CBCPs
Episcopal Commission on
Family and Life and bishops
throughout the country.
The awarding ceremonies
for the countrys ten
outstanding families will be
held on Sunday, Oct. 23,2016
at the SMX Center, Mall of
Asia Complex. (Melo M.
Acua/CBCPNews)

How should Catholic educators

respond to gender ideology?
BIRMINGHAM, EnglandA
rising push for gender ideology
will have deep consequences,
but Catholics can respond in
the right way, an English bishop
has told education leaders in his
diocese.
We must always show genuine
love and understanding to those
who are swayed or fall victim to
the errors of our times, Bishop
Mark Davies of Shrewsbury said.
However, we can never
compromise the truth of our faith
nor allow the truth about the
human person to be obscured,
for that would be a false charity.
The letter, released Oct. 6,
is dated Sept. 29, the Feast
of the Holy Archangels. It is
addressed to head teachers,
school governors and heads of
religious education in his diocese
in western England.
There are now many
questions arising in the world
of education concerning the
ideology of gender which
underlies transgenderism, he
said, distinguishing the ideology
from caring for those who are
confused or suffering.
Bishop Davies said Catholics
have a duty to welcome people
who may experience difficulty
identifying with their biological
sex.
Our Christian approach to
persons in any kind of confusion
and suffering must always be
one of respect, compassion
and understanding, together
with a commitment to seeking
appropriate help, he said.
The bishop warned schools
against accepting and promoting
gender ideology, saying the
mindset is beginning to
permeate social consciousness
with far-reaching consequences.
Among gender ideologys
claims, the bishop indicated,
is the claim that physical
characteristics do not determine
who a person is as a man or a
woman; the claim that gender is
merely a social construct; and
the claim that personal choice is
sufficient to determine a persons
gender.
And yet we know that sex
is determined by physical
characteristics which start to
develop from conception, he
countered.
Today, the Church is being
called to defend this very truth
of the human person, Bishop
Davies said. We find ourselves
at a moment when we must
ponder more deeply Gods love

for us revealed in the human

nature he gives us in creationit
is the same human nature which,
in the mystery of the Incarnation,
God the Son took to himself in
becoming flesh.
Bishop Davies said the
Scriptures, like the Book of
Genesis, describe sexual
difference as something willed
by God from the beginning.
These differences come into
existence when we are conceived,
as science universally affirms.
The bishop said the
complementarity of the sexes is
ordered to procreation in which
father and mother collaborate
with God in the coming to be of
a new person.
Bishop Davies cited the writings
of Pope Francis, Pope Benedict
XVI and St. John Paul II, as well
as the Catechism of the Catholic
Church and a March 2016
statement by the U.S. bishops on
federal education rules.
In Pope Francis 2015 encyclical
Laudato Si, for instance, the
Pope said learning to accept
ones body and to respect its
fullest meaning is an essential
element of any genuine human
ecology. This includes valuing
ones body in its femininity or
masculinity. He criticized the
attitude that would cancel out
sexual difference because it no
longer knows how to confront it.
In the Popes exhortation
Amoris Laetitia, the pontiff
criticized education programs
and legislation that promote a
personal identity and emotional
intimacy radically separated
from the biological difference
between male and female.
Bishop Davies said the diocese
hoped to organize opportunities
for reflection on the implications
of this radical, ideological
challenge.
His letter was released days
after Pope Francis criticized
gender theory as a great enemy
of marriage. During his visit
to the country of Georgia, he
advocated the countering of
ideological colonization.
At an Oct. 2 in-fight press
conference en route to Rome,
the Pope stressed the need to
accompany those who struggle
with their sexuality or sexual
identity. He also rebuked
wickedness which today is done
in the indoctrination of gender
theory, citing a story of a man
who believed his 10-year-old son
was being taught gender theory
in school. (CNA/EWTN News)

Read the latest issue of

CBCP Monitor!

Subscribe now and receive a digital copy

straight to your inbox.
To know more about the rates and
subscription plans, email:

info@areopaguscommunications.com