ARCHBISHOP OF Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle called Ateneans to become more aware of issues regarding poverty and asked them to continue to uphold the Catholic teaching on the “option for the poor” during Youcat Night II.
The forum was organized by the Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League’s (ACIL) in partnership with the Theology Department and was held on January 5 at the Ricardo and Dr. Rosita Leong Hall auditorium.
The Youcat, which was named after the 2011 publication Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church, aimed to “[help] the youth have a better understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church,” said ACIL member Danielle Trance.
Tagle answered questions from audience members throughout the forum about matters concerning the Catholic faith, which focused mostly on the Church’s stand on issues of wealth and social justice.
Senior Romar Chuca raised the issue of conspicuous consumption in society, citing the recent wedding of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera as an example of ostentation and extravagance amid poverty in society.
“[The wedding was] too extravagant, and knowing that they’re a public couple, [they are recognized by] millions of people who are facing poverty,” said Chuca.
Tagle responded by saying that issues like these reveal a disparity with the faith professed by the Church and the faith practiced in daily living, and called Ateneans to become sensitive to the situation of the poor.
He said, “Even with the failures in living out the faith, we should not abandon [it]. We need to grow in [becoming more conscious to situation of the poor.] Don’t give up on the option for the poor.”
He also quoted the 1991 Second Plenary Conference of the Philippines, stating that “one of the maladies of our time is the separation between faith that is professed and ordinary life.”
However, Tagle reiterated that there are “human means” of helping the poor that cannot be postponed and enjoined Ateneans in helping “enable [the poor] to instill a sense of dignity, and become active agents of their life and society.”
The role of faith
Tagle also addressed the role of faith in counseling and advising national policy in the state.
He maintained that the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines provided for the ability for religious expression in the political affairs of the country.
“The expression ‘separation of Church and State’ is quite precise. A burden is placed on the government to respect all religions, and not to stop people from exercising their religions,” he said.
He said that people were guaranteed to be able to express their faith. “If we say that we believe this [article of faith], it is not politicking. It is a right guaranteed by the separation of Church and State.”
He explained that faith is a necessary tool in shaping and directing society.
“Sometimes, faith convictions dictate that we express our opposition to some aspects of social and political life,” Tagle said.
“Religions operate beyond politics…there are some principles that [reserve a place] that could be used as a critique [of society],” he added.
If Cardinal Tagle is so overtly committed to the cause of uplifting the poor, why does he continue to oppose legislation like the RH Bill specifically designed to assist them?
Perhaps because he is the Archbishop, he will naturally have biases against contraception and the like. Like many other members of the Catholic faith, even some who aren’t, I think he believes that there are other possible means in “uplifting the poor”. I’m sure there are some promising propositions included in the RH Bill (sexual education and family planning, for instance), but the most prominent suggestion is still the dissemination of birth control (pills, condoms, etc). This is the very reason it has become so controversial. Sure, the bill has reasonable grounds but you can’t separate it from the fact that it allows birth control. I’m personally one of those people who believe that there is another way to regulate population, to address child-rearing and child-birthing in poverty-stricken families. I don’t consider myself religious — because I’m not — and I don’t consider myself siding with the Archbishop or the CBCP or any other person, party, or recognized institution with the same stand. But just because I don’t believe or support in the bill, that doesn’t make me a hypocrite. That doesn’t make me any less sensitive to the plight of the poor and that’s because it shouldn’t. That doesn’t make Cardinal Tagle a hypocrite, because let’s be fair, he’s probably done more than most of us in being physically present when helping with the poor and understanding their situation.