Category Archives: Personal Views

The Lethal Bomb in CMO 9 s. 2013

Posted on May 4, 2013 by

I have worked with the poor for many years. I have learned: if you want them to pay their debts, which are usually many, the debts they owe you must be among their top priorities. That is certainly the case … Continue reading →

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The Lost Sheep: Rescue or Deny?

Posted on April 14, 2013 by

[Re: SWS Survey: 9% of Catholics in PH thinking of leaving the Church] When the State under Bismarck confiscated Church property in Germany during its secularization drive at the end of the 19th century, the State undertook to collect a … Continue reading →

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The Oil of Gladness, Morality and Mining

Posted on April 10, 2013 by

Yesterday, I had the privilege of facilitating a spiritual recollection for the clergy of the Diocese of Marbel, South Cotabato; some sixty priests, including Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, were in attendance. I broke it down into two parts: the first on … Continue reading →

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The Scent of Silence at St. Joseph’s Sanctuary

Posted on April 6, 2013 by

I had been here before, once for a quick tour when the sanctuary was still being constructed, then again for a family gathering. So I knew of the extraordinary beauty of this garden, and of the ten “cells” that were … Continue reading →

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Conscience and “Vote Conscience”

Posted on March 7, 2013 by

Bishops and priests have the right to free speech. Even in a political context, as citizens, they can publicly explain and advocate their political positions as they will. Their reasons may be inspired, or ridiculous. They may be rational, or … Continue reading →

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Urgent: Not a TRO but Self-Restraint

Posted on March 5, 2013 by

The Bishop of Bacolod has won the Supreme Court order restraining the Comelec from coercing the Diocese to take down its contentious poster on Team Buhay and Team Patay based on the Fair Election Act (RA 9066). The Bishop claims … Continue reading →

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On Valentine’s Day: Give Love

Posted on February 13, 2013 by

Whether you associate this day with an early Christian celebration of St. Valentinus who, popular tradition says, was imprisoned for performing weddings forbidden to soldiers, or to customs of courtly love in England in the high middle ages – when … Continue reading →

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Pope Benedict XVI, Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day

Posted on February 12, 2013 by

The news was breathtaking. It did not respect the Bavarian celebration of Fasching, nor did it regard Ash Wednesday. It certainly did not consider Valentine’s Day. On the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes, when Catholics concurrently observed the Day … Continue reading →

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The Catholic Church: Between the Sublime and the Ridiculous

Posted on February 7, 2013 by

To my blog, “Under the RH Law (RA 10354) the Catholic Must Choose” there was quite amount of no-holds-barred response. Some were printed, other texted. Some were thoughtful, others emotional. Some expressed agreement, others admonition. For all, I am grateful, … Continue reading →

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Under the RH Law (RA 10354), the Catholic Must Choose

Posted on February 5, 2013 by

My thesis has been: there is nothing in “The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RA 10354)” which prevents a good Catholic from being a good Catholic. Therefore, for any informed discussion on this topic a reading of … Continue reading →

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