Longing for the early days of Cardinal Vidal
Feb 07, 2005
Cebu archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal turns 74 years old today. It is an age that makes it difficult for us to wish him “ many many more years to come “ the way we would wish others we hold just as dear but who are of a very much younger age.
(The Freeman, February 6, 2005) Age, it seems, also takes its toll on sincerity. Therefore, in order to remain sincere in our wishes for our beloved cardinal, allow us to rephrase our greetings to “ may you have the peace and comfort that God blesses those who have served Him well. “
The milestone that Cardinal Vidal reaches today cannot but make us feel nostalgic for the early days when, with knees still perfectly able, he would rally the Cebuano faithful to a physical demonstration of the concerns and issues he held in his heart.
We remember him personally leading a blockade of movie theaters that showed what was then in vogue in the early 80s — sexy movies that left almost nothing to the imagination and which leaves today’s sexy movies like quivering cubes of jelly by comparison.
And who can forget the biggest protest march ever in Cebu? In what was a virtual sea of people filling the entire stretch of Osmeña Boulevard from the Santo Niño Basilica to Abellana, Vidal led a march to Fuente protesting against abortion and birth control.
But those were the days. The years have apparently taken a physical toll on Vidal, in much the same manner that they have on the pope, who had to be rushed to a hospital in Rome fighting for breath.
Vidal continues to espouse many causes, only that he can no longer be as aggressive in pushing them as he used to. Today he relies mainly on the pulpit. And whether he likes it or not, words often do not have as much telling effect than if delivered with a punch.
Recently Vidal once again spoke out against the vigilante killings that Mayor Tomas Osmeña admitted to have inspired. This time he directed his concern at the people, whose seeming nonchalance over the issue apparently bothers him.
The first time Vidal spoke of the matter, he used no less than the most important church activity of the year in Cebu, the feast of the Santo Niño last January 16. During the Mass he celebrated on that day, he took aim at no less than Osmeña himself.
Of course the very public admonition fell flat before the feet of the mayor. And of course Vidal is helpless to do anything about it. And it is with such realization that nostalgia kicks in.
In the early days, it would have been possible for Vidal to lead a demonstration at City Hall. How interesting it would have been to find out how Osmeña would have reacted, knowing the kind of man he is. But that is wishful thinking now. So, happy birthday na lang, Your Eminence.
Longing for the early days of Cardinal Vidal