The Jesuits have a reputation of being Church renegades. We recall, for example, the defining leadership of Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J.— he who irritated
the Vatican because of his critical independent views.
Such reputation has made some expect that the Jesuits of the Philippine province would veer away from the timid and equivocal position of the bishops regarding the crisis.
Unlike the bishops’ neutered statement, the statement of the Jesuits’ Commission on the Social Apostolate is opposed to the Gloria Arroyo (GMA) administration.
But like the bishops’ statement, the Commission wants to rein in the actions of a broad section of the public calling for GMA’s resignation. Its view about
GMA’s resignation and people power is in fact condescending. On the one hand, it says that GMA’s resignation is one of “principled moral conviction” but in the same breath, it “ceases to be a real political option” because GMA will not sign
voluntarily. On the one hand, it recognizes that people power is a “precious legacy.” But in the same breath, it says that people power “in its current
usage… is problematic because it is often equated with popular insurrection and takeover as a method of regime change.”  Be first to comment this article
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Communal Action Must Target Gloria |
In “Guidelines for Communal Discernment and Action to Address the National Crisis,” prepared by the Jesuit Philippine Province’ s Commission on the Social
Apostolate, my Jesuit mentors put forth a coherent and well-argued position on the national situation.
It deserves to be commended for being a call to arms for citizens to engage in national politics. Truly, many privileged members of society have found it
pointless to address issues of national governance, promoting instead a form of nation-building that is only concerned with building houses and providing
disaster relief.
Despite this, I find myself taking issue with some of the opinions forwarded in the statement. What follows is a critique of the Jesuit guidelines. I write this
not because I wish to question the moral legitimacy of the statement, but because I wish to present an alternative framework for communal action. In a sense,
I write this because my Jesuit education has formed me in a way that makes me respectfully question authority when the need arises.Be first to comment this article |
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The NBN-ZTE Controversy; A Primer |
(This is a faithful reproduction, in Microsoft Word, of the document distributed by Fr. Archie Intengan SJ to students of his Sexual Ethics class at the Ateneo College of Theology in late March 2008. This is the white paper distributed by Cerge Remonde to Cardinal Vidal of Cebu)
In sifting through the cacophony of accusations, countercharges, claims, denials, news and commentary regarding the NBN-ZTE controversy, it is essential to keep in mind certain facts and issues, to find truth amid conflicting allegations and hidden agenda.
DOWNLOAD DOCUMENT. CLICK HERE.Be first to comment this article |
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Below are excerpts from the same guidelines contained in the Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial of 04/07/2008, titled "Non-negotiables," which became the online edition's "Most Read" opinion story.
MANILA, Philippines - How should engaged catholics respond to the ongoing political crisis? Joining others who have offered their own reading of the national situation, the Jesuits released a set of “guidelines” for political action on Easter Sunday. A condensed version appeared in yesterday’s Talk of the Town; the full document can be downloaded from Inquirer.net (at http://www.inquirer.net/verbatim/ SJ_Guidelines.pdf). In either format, the guidelines are a must-read.
There is much to recommend in the paper, including its attempt to paint
the colors of the political spectrum: it offers a look at the range of
political responses to President Macapagal-Arroyo's continuing crisis of
legitimacy, with the National Broadband Network scandal only "the most
recent manifestation of a worrisome pattern of behavior in government,
of anomaly and cover-up, leading to the weakening of democratic
institutions for the sake of short-term political survival."
It is its review of "non-negotiable principles," however, that most
recommends the paper to engaged Catholics considering a political
response. This is a healthy antidote to the poison of at-all-costs
thinking; those who want to survive politically at all costs, and those
who want to change the administration, now, at all costs-forgetting or
choosing to ignore that some costs are simply too high for our democracy
to bear.Be first to comment this article |
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Why Gawad Kalinga May Not Be Enough |
In one of my interviews with ABS-CBN, the news reporter asked me, despite all the scandals and corruption (Hello Garci, 1 Billion Peso Fertilizer Scam, Irrigation Scam and 6 Billion Peso NBN-ZTE Broadband Scam) that have hounded this present administration, why do you think do majority of young Filipinos choose not to do anything about it. She further added that there seems to be no uproar from the Filipino youth and young professionals from all over the country, does that mean that we are okay with all these scandals that are mushrooming almost on a weekly basis? I asked these same questions to my students and friends and here are their answers (summarized already):
Student A: Sir Harvey, Naiinis naman talaga kami sa nangyayari pero wala naman kaming magagawa eh, estudyante lang kami at kahit sino namang ilagay sa gobyerno natin, pareho pa rin silang lahat na magnanakaw. They will only protect their own self-interests.
Student B: Sir, I'm not happy with how our country is being led by our government leaders but I think the best way I can contribute to this country is by becoming a good student, study hard, find a good job and be a good citizen in our country.Be first to comment this article |
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