MANILA — “THE ISSUE of corruption plaguing our nation cannot be ignored anymore. The catastrophe it has caused is shaking the soul of our country and has awakened the seemingly lethargic resolve of many Filipinos to make a stand against corrupt practices and to demand accountability from the guilty.”
Thus, Manila archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula wrote in his pastoral statement issued on Sept. 15, highlighting the breadth and depth of corruption that has caused the nation immeasurable devastation.
The cardinal minced no word in his condemnation: “Corruption is more than just a manifestation of greed. It is a concrete form of evil. If left unchecked, society will be ruined by it, including the core of our humanity, that is, our dignity.”
Expressing his support to the organized protests against corruption and demands of accountability from the government, His Eminence said: “The many organized rallies denouncing corruption and demanding accountability are not merely pockets of political resistance.
They are not just expressions of disgust and anger directed at the perpetrators of one of the vilest scams in the history of our nation.
They are actually manifestations of the people’s collective moral conviction and an exercise of their rightful obligation to suppress the proliferation of evil in our midst.”
Articulating further, the prelate noted: “In a healthy democracy, the people’s fiscalizing participation in governance is not confined to the election season.
Rather, it continues between elections, by holding leaders accountable through acts of vigilance, discernment, and – when necessary – protest.”
This, even as he asserted that the Church at all times should remain as a non-partisan organization: “She must ensure that the political squabbles resulting from this mess will not make corruption merely another political and partisan concern.
There should be impartiality and objectivity in understanding these issues, coupled with our duty to promote the common good,”
Grounded in its enduring social teachings and backed by its moral obligation, the Church must stand to provide guidance and to inspire the people rather than to divide and disrupt peace in the society, thus: “One with my brother bishops in the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, I, therefore, enjoin all parishes, shrines, chaplaincies, mission stations, and religious communities to conduct prayerful reflections, circles of discernment, and concrete but peaceful and non-violent actions against corruption.”
“Bilang mga Kristiyano, tayo ay maka-Diyos kaya makabayan. Ang totoong maka-Diyos ay makabayan, dahil kabayanihan ang dulot ng kabanalan; at sa totoong kabanalan, kasama ang paglilingkod para sa katarungan,” His Eminence wrote.
