June 26, 2018
The Philippine Daily Inquirer ran an article last Sunday, June 24, entitled: Duterte on God, Catholics and Adam’s apple. It contained excerpts on the various attacks that the President has viciously spoken against the Catholic Church and its hierarchy.
CFC-FFL is a Catholic community of the lay faithful. We take serious offense on these irresponsible and cuss languages by the highest authority of our government. There is a correlation between the language of a person and his core values and his concepts of life. As a community of missionary families, how should we respond to such an affront against our core values1?
- Study the Pastoral Statement on “God is Love” by Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, on this issue;
- We need to have a passionate desire to set things right in the face of Evil. But in our desire to set things right, we must go about protecting the good of the Catholic community, the wider community of God’s people and even the good of the President, who in this case, inflicted the injury. Virtuous anger seeks the rehabilitation of evildoers; ( CCC 2302 )
- It should lead us to reflect on the depth of our mission, to win souls for Christ;
- We cannot just be cursing in the dark but purposefully seek the lost and lead them to Christ;
- We must intensify our prayers. We must set fixed intercessory days of fasting and prayers for Our Mother Church, and our community;
- Pass/blast copies of the Statement of Archbishop Soc Villegas, as attached on our social media accounts and spheres of influences, (places of work, parishioners, etc.) for their guidance;
- Discuss the above in our households and send prophetic words to our Area Servants, who in turn will send it over to our Servant Council for its appropriate recommendation to our Servant General.
May God bless our Mother land!
Why did the Gentiles rage and the people entertain folly? The kings of the earth took their stand and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed. …. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness.
(Acts 4:25-26,29).
