Tagle calls for change sans violence

THE head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church has called for societal change that rejects violence. Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said peaceful efforts for the transformation of society must be made as essential demands of faith and the Gospel.

“Let us show the so-called revolution of love…not the revolution through weapons and violence, but a revolution for change caused by love,” the prelate said.

Source of social change

The cardinal made the statement in his homily during a thanksgiving Mass for the recent canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Manila Cathedral.

He said many people today are banking on the power of money, influence and violence, forgetting “faith” as a source of social change.

To live the faith, he said, people must perform works of mercy. He emphasized that faith finds expression in concrete everyday actions meant to help others, especially the poor.

Power of faith

“Let us not dismiss our faith. Let’s take Jesus and His love seriously,” Tagle said.

“Love has the force for change. That’s what Jesus and the saints have been doing,” he added.

Tagle also called on the faithful to imitate Mother Teresa, who was canonized in September, who made faith and works of mercy the guide of her life.

“Look at this power of faith,” he said.

Bishop: Declare ‘peace zones’ in drug war

Expressing concern for the continued increase in summary executions due to the war against illegal drugs, Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, DD, appealed to President Duterte to declare dioceses or areas with ongoing drug-rehabilitation programs as “peace zones”, during the National Launching of Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Ilegal na Droga (Masa Masid) held at the SB Park, Batasan Hills, recently.

“Is it possible, Mr. President, that you declare as peace zones all dioceses or barangays with ongoing [drug]-rehabilitation programs in collaboration with the police?” the prelate said in his alarm over the reported more than 1,300 who died since the administration’s declared all-out war on drugs.

The bishop noted that the increasing number of casualties is nearing the recorded 4,000 who died during the 20 years of martial law.

“This refers to a peace zone like that in Mindanao—where no one should die in the area [related to the war on drugs]. If someone dies in the areas declared as peace zones by the president, the president and the police will call you out,” Tobias explained.

Healing, protection of life

The bishop said, if this is not possible, another option would be for the police to be transparent about who is on their list of drug dependents and pushers so the Church can help check its veracity, as well.

Tobias hopes such information could be passed to the parishes through the priests and the barangays engaged in the drug-rehabilitation program.

More important, the prelate reiterated the diocese’s thrust of healing and protection under its Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program (CBDRP) dubbed “Abot Kamay Alang-alang sa Pagbabago.”

He explained that the Catholic Church, particularly in the Diocese of Novaliches, is helping the Duterte administration in its fight against illegal drugs but only in the aspect of healing and protection through the “Principle of Double Effect.”

According to Tobias, it is because of Jesus, who is a healer, that the Church will be involved in two aspects of the drug campaign: rehabilitation and healing, and protection of life.

‘Place of refuge’

“Because we are a Church, we are a place of refuge, this is the House of God and everyone in it must be kept safe.”

The Diocese of Novaliches was one the entities that expressed solidarity with Masa Masid during its national launching. The Masa Masid program will be implemented in the Diocese of Novaliches through its Basic Ecclesial Communities under its CBDRP’s Community Care Committee.

Roy Lagarde and Minnie de Luna/CBCPNews

Image credits: Fr. Edwin Gariguez