Letter to PDI Editor Re: Ms. Rina Jimenez-David “The Bishops' Place”
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The Editor
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Makati City
Dear Editor,
Ms. Rina Jimenez-David (in "The Bishops' Place", PDI, March 19, 2008) describes the Catholic Church's campaign against "reproductive health and rights" as a game of intimidation.
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The Catholic Church cannot intimidate. It has no weapons like the pen that Ms. David wields, nor the sophisticated channels of media. Its only arsenal consists of truth and grace that flow from a crucifix which to mortals is a sign of defeat. But the irony is that its only weapon is really the cross, which has transfigured into a living and continuing symbol of triumph over evil. And if, as she writes, the Church intimidates, how come
she also writes that "nobody really believes the Church?"
Ms. David extols freedom of conscience by citing Mexican sociologist Roberto Blancarte's celebration of freedom, thus: "The ability of women to buy contraceptive pills at the corner pharmacy, to divorce and get remarried or to end an undesired pregnancy goes hand in hand with the existence of a lay state that guarantees that freedom of conscience and the acts that consequently derive from that freedom." Excuse me, does she thereby espouse the 'freedom' to end an undesired pregnancy?
Finally, Ms. David comments that "there are so many evils in this world [for the Church] to denounce--stealing an election, corruption of a scale that boggles the mind, and even the selling off of national patrimony"--rather than "spend so much time and energy [battling] women's autonomy, fertility and morality."
Such is the freedom of the Church. And it is a freedom that must be upheld so that what is Christ's exclusive domain remains as Christ's alone. That means that anyone of whatever political realm is not at liberty to read into the lines of a Church or Bishops' Statement a meaning which is not there, nor expostulate on what it ought to have said. Really, we know better? One can always disagree, for the Church respects
individual freedom. But to take it against the Bishops is another matter.
Then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger did say that "faith's union with political power is always paid dearly in the end, when faith is placed at the service of power and bows to its obsessive criteria." The Bishops, in their wisdom, well know that danger. The Bishops, with their grace, will see to it that such danger will not dare visit the Church. Even at the risk of their collective obloquy.
ATTY. JO IMBONG,
Executive Sec., Legal Office
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines
470 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila
Email:
Mobile No. 0917-851 7878
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