Catholics as Pilgrims of Hope

One of the books that I read when I was a young Jesuit in formation in the early 1970s was A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, Salvation. The author was Dominican Father Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian theologian, who died October of last year at the age of 96.

Known as the “father of liberation theology,” Gutierrez’s “liberation theology” calls for a “preferential option for the poor and freedom from unjust social structures.” His Christ-like message of human liberation was embraced by progressive Catholics not only in Latin America but in many parts of the world, where authoritarian leaders were in control of the government.

At the height of martial law in the Philippines during the 1970s, Gutierrez’s liberation theology also resonated in the Philippines with seminarians, priests, and nuns eventually leaving the comfort of a cloistered life and becoming full-time activists to join the resistance against the dictatorship of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. A good number of them died in their struggle for social justice.

Four decades later after the EDSA revolution that drove the dictator Marcos into exile, corruption has remained unabated in government. At the center of the investigation today is Vice President Sara Duterte who is accused of corruption and misusing millions of pesos as a vice president and as education secretary. She even threatened to kill the president, the First Lady and the House Speaker.

In the midst of the people’s call for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, it is deeply troubling that the Catholic Church as an institution, much less the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is generally silent except for individual members of the clergy, several nuns and a couple of bishops.

Socrates Villegas, the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, said that corruption is a moral issue. He reminded the nation’s political leaders, “In the name of God, do what is right and just. In the name of God, resist the culture of corruption and graft.”

Villegas’s words parallel what St. Oscar Romero, then the Archbishop of El Salvador, said in his last homily before he was assassinated by the military on March 24, 1980. He implored the soldiers to disobey the orders of their superiors for the sake of peace and national unity.

St. Romero’s words ring loud and clear, “No one has to obey an immoral law. It is high time you recovered your consciences and obeyed your consciences rather than a sinful order. The church, the defender of the rights of God, of the law of God, of human dignity, of the person, cannot remain silent before such abomination.”

The parallel is obvious between the circumstances during the time of St. Romero when he was still alive and the challenges facing the Lower House who froze into inaction when the President Bongbong Marcos texted about the insignificance of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment.

Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr of Manila was quoted in several national dailies that he and other solons are cold to the idea of impeaching VP Duterte.

“I don’t think we should even tackle the impeachment complaints now. The fact that the election is quite near...It’s better if we defer the impeachment complaint and file it in the new Congress,” Abante explained.”

But in time of political crisis, the voice in the wilderness, so to speak, can always galvanize whatever good is left in the hearts of those who really care. During the Mass for peace and justice at the EDSA Shrine last January 6, Fr. Angelito Cortez, OFM, said during his homily that impeachment was a moral obligation. He begged the congregation, “Stay with us. Do not abandon us.”

Those who criticize the Catholic Church as engaging in politics are mistaken. The Catholic Church is not aligned with any political party. It is not engaged in bloc voting. While it gives moral guidelines and explains the social teachings of the Church, it does not coerce its members to vote for particular candidates, reminding them instead to vote according to their conscience.

The formation of the Clergy for Good Governance (CGG) late last year indicates that the Catholic Church is finally taking its mandate to live the Gospel values seriously and without fear. It stands against corruption and political dynasties.

Bishop Roberto Gaa of Novaliches stressed in his homily during the launching of CGG the need to connect with the community.

He said, “We will not sit on our high chair. We will go down and immerse ourselves with the people.”

CGG, which reportedly has an initial membership of 12 bishops (out of around 90 bishops, archbishops and cardinals, as of 2022) and more than 200 priests (out of 10,365 diocesan priests and religious combined, as of 2021), is committed to fight for the truth and for justice. It is one of the leading organizers during the January 31 rally that supports the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte and opposition to the questionable 2025 government budget.

CGG asserts, “We cannot be silent, and we refuse to be silenced when our brothers and sisters suffer, and we see our society come down and fall apart.”

Citing the current Jubilee Year of Hope declared by Pope Francis, Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila said in his Christmas message, “Let us start our journey together as pilgrims of hope...without Jesus there is no hope. His love makes us stronger to face all life’s difficulties. His hope will not disappoint us.”

Bishop Pablo ‘Ambo’ David sees his that his new appointment as a Cardinal “will give greater credibility and legitimacy to the resistance to government policies that violate human rights and trample on human dignity.” (from: Aleteia online Catholic news and website)