Keep Mass out of protests
Nov 06, 2005
Rallies are to street, as Masses are to church. Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal wants to make this distinction clear to those who organize protests against the government.
(sunstar.com, October 30, 2005) CEBU CITY -- "If possible, the Mass must be separate. If they began with a Mass in the church, it's okay, but not in the streets," he said.
"Because precisely, the Mass is the highest symbol of unity, it must not be used as a way of putting persons down," the cardinal said Saturday.
He expressed his dismay over "too much politicking" while he officiated the ordination to the deaconate of Bro. Luis Jose Tamayo Oriol at the Redemptorist Church Saturday afternoon.
Cardinal Vidal said church ceremonies are sacred and making the Mass "an instrument" for political action was improper and against the teachings of God.
The cardinal said he would not allow such prayer rallies in the Cebu Archdiocese in future.
Vidal, in an earlier interview, singled out the parish priest of St. Michael's Church, beside Malacañang, which hosted a prayer service at an opposition rally last Monday calling for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), at the height of the scandal over allegations the President cheated in last year's elections, had advised Arroyo to examine her conscience, form a truth commission and even consider resigning if evidence warrants it.
Other senior church leaders have spoken out in favor of such rallies against the Arroyo administration.
Truth-seeking
Manila Bishop Tedoro Bacani earlier said the rallies meant clergy could explain the political situation to their flocks.
"Where would the people seek the truth when they can no longer talk?" Bacani said, referring to Arroyo's "no permit, no rally policy" that has led to violent confrontations between riot police and street protesters.
Outspoken bishops, including the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, played a key role in sparking the street protests that turned into general uprisings, ousting then presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada in 1986 and 2001, respectively.
Cardinal Vidal does not prohibit priests from joining rallies, but he advised them not to go overboard as to force law enforcers to disperse them through water cannons and tear gas.
Poverty
Three bishops, former vice president Teofisto Guingona and Senator Jamby Madrigal were among those who were hosed down in an earlier protest in Manila, when they tried to force their way to Mendiola Bridge, which Malacañang had declared a "no rally zone."
"The CBCP recognizes the more important and urgent problem in the country today is grinding poverty caused by excessive politicking," said Vidal.
Since deacons are not political persons, they should share as much service to the poor who have been oppressed even more with the current crisis in the country, he said in his homily.
A deacon is a cleric whose principal function is to act as close assistant to the celebrant during mass and other church services.
Other than assisting the main celebrant, the cardinal also described the deacon's job as "service, especially for charity in favor of the poor."
"In any language, a deacon is a servant. He is tasked to serve and give an example of service, with emphasis on the task of dedicating themselves to various mixtures of charities," Vidal said.
Earlier Saturday, Cardinal Vidal also officiated a mass at San Narciso, Consolacion, which celebrated its annual fiesta yesterday.
Keep Mass out of protests