“…That You may Have Life to the Full” (John 10:10b)"(A Pastoral Letter of the Most Rev. Rodolfo F. Beltran, D.D.,
Vicar Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe)
Lent 2011
ForewordAs we enter this holy season of Lent, I enjoin the Catholic faithful of this Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe to make a special reflection on the value of life - a life which the gospel of John had clearly distinguished when it differentiated the good shepherd from the thief. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
The central theme of Lent is this self-giving redemption which the Lord has gained for us on the cross. He who suffered and died brought life to all. Every conscientious Christian, therefore, who professes to follow Christ, must embrace this life-giving stance.
The CBCP has spokenThe stand of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on the controversial RH Bill in Congress is anchored on two fundamental principles. I highly encourage everyone to read the CBCP’s Pastoral Letter. These principles enumerated there must be borne by every God-fearing human being, Catholic or non-Catholic, Christian or non-Christian. These are:
(1) Human life is the most sacred physical gift with which God, the author of life, endows a human being. Placing artificial obstacles to prevent human life from being formed and being born most certainly contradicts this fundamental truth of human life. In the light of the widespread influence of the post-modern spirit in our world, we consider this position as nothing less than prophetic. As religious leaders we must proclaim this truth fearlessly in season and out of season.
(2) It is parents, cooperating with God, who bring children into the world. It is also they who have the primary inalienable right and responsibility to nurture them, care for them, and educate them that they might grow as mature persons according to the will of the Creator. (CHOOSING LIFE, REJECTING THE RH BILL, A Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, 30 January 2011)
We have always been clear since the beginning that the RH Bill is a moral issue. It is about our basic human sensibilities. It is about our fundamental Filipino values. There is no way that the RH Bill can be made into law without hurting human sensibilities and disrespecting Filipino values.
As plain as that, thus, RH Bill MUST NOT BE PUT INTO LAW. It has been clear from all the many debates done, rallies shown, and disagreements contested that there will be groups, no matter how minor, whose moral sensibilities will be hurt by legislating the way we should act and feel. There are Filipino cultural values, like decency and responsible parenting, that will be disrespected by making this a law for all. And I, your Vicar Apostolic, stand by what the CBCP stands for: it would be morally corrupt to disregard the moral implications of the RH bill.
The crossroad is where we decideThe cross of Jesus Christ is not only a salvific symbol for us believers. It is also crucial (from its Latin root “crux”), in the sense that it is an imperative. Where this God’s gift of life is compromised, we ought to make a choice and decide: Are we for life or not?
The cross, therefore, by its shape reminds us of the crossroad where anyone who comes makes a choice of which path to take. But the same cross on which the Lord is found tortured and dead provides us an answer. Sacrifice is the way to this fulness of life.
Only the person who knows how to take pains to himself in order to give life to others does understand Christ’s redemption. And it is the only way to the salvation of mankind. A doctor to his patient, a teacher to his students, parents to their children, priests to their flock, and yes, government leaders to all people, especially those who are marginalized. Everyone needs to ask that redemptive question of love: Have I given enough? Have I suffered enough for another?
The opposite is the work of the thief: Greed, that knows only the self and Corruption, that only serves personal convenience and pleasure.
Together with our rejection of the RH Bill, therefore, is our rejection of greed and corruption. Remove graft and corruption in our government and we will solve the problem of poverty. Let those who have stolen from government return their loots and every Filipino will live in comfort.
The people, too, have spokenNow, that everything has been said, our eyes are set on Congress. The people have spoken. It is time to watch whether the Congressmen and Congresswomen we have voted into office are truly Representatives of the People. Are they truly shepherds? Or are they thieves masked in disguise in order to save themselves politically?
I wait with enthusiasm how our own congressmen will decide and vote on this matter. This is indeed a time of revelation, a time of knowing what skin they wear. I enjoin every Filipino to watch all the proceedings in the House of Representatives and the Senate. This issue will reveal who they are whom we have entrusted with our suffrage.
Elections, too, are crucialEvery election, we cry to vote for people who are trustworthy, people who are maka-kalikasan, maka-tao, maka-Diyos, and maka-buhay. At the least, what this issue, little by little, reveals to us is our power as a people to vote and put a trustworthy person into office. Now, it is being clarified to us how important elections are. Elections are not only during campaigns. The essence of this political exercise lies on how our elected officials perform when they are already in office. Does our Congressmen choose life and, thus, worthy of being called maka-tao and maka-buhay?
But such question is true to all elected officials: President, Governors, Mayors, Board Members, Councilors, and even so, Baranggay Chairpersons. The choices they make in their office and the things they do and involve in inevitably dictate their own fate in the next elections. We can only say: we will watch their every move and remember what they do. No politician in these present times can remain silent on what he/she stands for. He/She should decide, let the people know of it, stand by it, and, suffer the consequences of his choice. After all, genuine people are made of sterner stuff; good politicians as well should be.
The Call of the Catholic ChurchIn the end, I reiterate the stand of the Catholic Bishops in the Philippines. I reiterate the stand of every right-thinking Christian. I reiterate my own stand: to reject the RH agenda and to choose life.
The Lord has spoken, thus, in the Gospel of John. It has helped us clarify who the thieves are and who the good shepherds are. And his clarification should lead us to the right choice: His own choice. The example of our Lord Jesus, the true Good Shepherd, on the cross is the central message of this season of Lent: a choice of life in full for all. We can only be partakers of Him by making the first step of choosing life above all.
May the Good Lord see us in a most special way in this season of Lent.
God bless us all!
+ RODOLFO F. BELTRAN, D.D.
Vicar Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe
February 1, 2011
