In times of injustice, structural tyranny and overwhelming a corruption, everybody longs for strong outspoken prophetic leadership in word and action. That's what committed Christians look for in their pastors, bishops and priests and lay leaders. The pastoral letter of Palm Sunday signed by 16 Catholic bishops led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales denounced corruption in government.
It was read in all churches under the 16 bishops and it said that Philippine politics is a money making industry and not public service. It is a path to wealth, power and influence for elitist groups in trade and business, it is immoral and unjust, facilitated by bribery and covered up by lies. The bishops said that graft and the abuse of power is stealing and an act of treason, the same as betraying one's country. Corruption is a cancer in the nation, the letter said, and that the people, sadly, fight, deceive and kill for money. "Thou shall not steal", covers exam cheating, over pricing, fraud and exploitation in business, and all kinds of dishonest trading, smuggling, drug trafficking and tax evasion, they said.
The teaching of personal integrity from elementary school level to university is at the heart of all education that leads to the fullness of life, it said. The cancer of corruption started generations ago with large scale corrupt government deals starting the Westinghouse Bataan Power Plant deal, being the biggest ever done under Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies in the 1970s.
The poison of corruption has gone down to the barangay level and to individuals, the letter stated. What we see in others is what we can see in ourselves, they courageously admitted, corruption has tainted the Church too, it seemed to say. The bishops warn against trying to restore truth and justice by resorting to violence and hatred. Social change has to go beyond street protest to personal and community renewal. Renewal, at all levels of society, from the highest leaders and their families to the poorest is needed. Liberation and freedom starts with repentance and conversion within the heart of every individual.
The government officials put the best spin they could on the pastoral letter by claiming that it is critical of the opponents of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's government and denies them comfort and support in their attempt to prove her administration the most corrupt ever and to have her impeached. The Philippine bishops did not support a call for her impeachment last July 2007 and allegations appeared in the media and some bishops confirmed that palace officials gave money to some bishops as "donations" during their annual meeting where the issue was on the agenda. This might be what the recent pastoral letter is referring to when it says the corruption seen in others is what we see in ourselves.
The statement wisely advises social reformers to leave violence and hatred behind. Instead, it says that educating people in family values and personal integrity is more important than street protests to bring about national renewal and political change. That kind of action where people were inspired and empowered by the faith in taking a stand in public for justice that deceased Cardinal Jaime Sin was so famous for is not encouraged, non-violent as it maybe.
This part of the statement and the fact that so few bishops signed the pastoral letter has prompted critics to claim the bishops, as a whole, have disengaged themselves from this generation of socially active Catholics. The great social encyclicals of the church are overlooked and the church leadership is being challenged to take a stand and speak-out more forcibly as a whole body on human rights violations, environmental destruction by mining corporations and trafficking of women and children with government unconcerned.
The Philippine version of Playboy magazine hit the streets recently as government officials looked the other way or snapped up copies as the clergy remained silent. One bishop, Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan, has spoken out. He said that both Church and parents have failed to inculcate the moral values and system among our people.
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