SEEKING THE TRUTH AND RESTORING INTEGRITY
Those who expected a forceful denunciation of the political issues at hand, the
pastoral letter dated February 26, 2008 calling for
moral reforms met with disappointment.
As a result, the CBCP has been subject to a lot of critism and downright accusation for being weak and partisan.
The Filipino has failed to grasp the message of the previous People Power. Since up to the present, Philippine society has remained uncured of its ills despite the massive political revamps.
The success of the peoples protest in changing two past administrations have been attributed various factors. We have failed to realize that were it not for the grace of God, we would have shared the same fate of the protestesters of Tiananmen Square. Where the massive political demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in 1989, which were brutally put down by Chinese military troops.
We deliberately misconstrue the bishops’ statement for collective moral reform preferring to focus on the moral agenda.
The term communal
actions are interpreted wrongly as taking to the streets in protests and
mass actions to effect a
change in leadership.
Our piety lies in gathering well known personalities to hear mass. The Mass is held not to offer sacrifice to the Lord but to convince the citizens to join the political bandwagon.
Convince that the success of the pass is owing the different personalities, we attempt to stage yet another people power, we try to duplicate the same scenario and by harping on the sympathies of the citizens. We try to squeeze a successful event dry until it loses its effectiveness.
The search for truth has taken a political coloring. Witness has been summoned, rallies are staged calling on all and every sector of society and masses are held as a rallying point to further serve their agenda.
We act as tyrants, demanding of God, the things we would like for ourselves. While we gather for the supreme sacrifice of the Mass, we interrupt it by injecting our political troubles in the middle of a homily.
We fail to realize that the fruits of these actions are disunity and chaos.That from such disorder we will not achieve our well being as a nation
It is obvious that not a single revolution will bring a less oppressive society as long as people are not transformed. Our troubles result from a flaw in our moral values and attitudes. In fact we have deteriorated further.
Corruption is in fact our greatest shame. We are now being labeled by the international community as being among the most corrupt of governments.
We must pass beyond the spheres of politics; from a political perspective the ardor for reforms and the search for truth will remain a vain exercise in appearance as those who seek them are most likely to do so for their personal interests.
Change of heart is a must if we are to purge our country of its evil. Morality cannot be divorced from our midst if we desire change.Only we have the right moral values can we restore our country.
The search for truth must be made with the eyes of FAITH. Jesus is the Truth, if we follow HIS ways and adhere to HIS teachings we will restore integrity as well.
Truth lies deep within our hearts. It is in the silence of our hearts and not through noisy rallies and protests and noise barrage that we can arrive at the truth.
We must pass beyond the spheres of politics; for from a political perspective the ardor for reforms and the search for truth remains a vain exercise in appearance as those who seek them are most likely to do so for their personal interests.
Order must be placed into our lives. That order can be achieve if we make JESUS the center of our lives.
As we change our focus on the ETERNAL TRUTH instead of on each others faults. We will achieve our own resurrection as a nation.
More reviews about the CBCP Pastoral Letter