Tag Archives: Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines

IN THE U.S., SAINTHOOD FOR JUNIPERO SERRA; IN THE PHILIPPINES, POPE FRANCIS URGED TO CANONIZE THIRD FILIPINO SAINT

September 23, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Pope Francis in Washington, D.C. (Photo: CNN)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – Visiting Pope Francis will canonize Franciscan friar Junípero Serra in Washington, D.C. today — the first to be granted sainthood on U.S. soil.

Serra’s sainthood comes with huge controversy. The founder of California’s first mission in San Diego in 1769 is seen by many as largely responsible for the enslavement, malnutrition and introduction of diseases, resulting in the deaths of 62,000 indigenous Californians.

In letters attributed to Serra himself, the Spanish friar considered the indigenous population to be “barbarous pagans,” and that only Catholicism could save them from evil.

Across the Pacific ocean, the Philippine Catholic Church is urging Pope Francis to fast-track the canonization of their hope for a third Filipino saint, in addition to Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod.

Members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) are encouraged by the canonization of Junípero Serra and are urging the Pope to make another Spanish friar the third Filipino saint.

This friar has, for centuries, been a familiar figure in Philippine history and is largely responsible for the Christianization of Filipino natives (called Indios) back in the 1500’s. His name is Dámaso Verdolagas, more popularly known as Padre Dámaso.

Readers can learn more about the life of Padre Dámaso by reading the novel Noli Me Tangere, authored by Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero.

Religion

PHILIPPINE BISHOPS TO SECEDE FROM THE VATICAN

September 4, 2015 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Philippine bishops with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (file photo)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced today that it was seceding from The Vatican over recent pronouncements by Pope Francis.

The final straw for the Filipino bishops was the pope’s instruction allowing priests to absolve Catholics of the sin of abortion.

In a statement, CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the Church still considers abortion a mortal sin and that aborting a baby merits excommunication. Villegas said, “Choosing to terminate innocent, unborn life is not among a woman’s options, because her right to privacy and to make decisions about herself do not extend to the life in her womb, over which she enjoys no dominion at all.”

Other papal pronouncements that led to the decision of CBCP to cut ties with The Vatican include welcoming homosexuals and divorced (and remarried) Catholics into the fold of the church.

The Philippines, home to 100 Million people, about three quarters of whom are Catholics, is the only remaining country where divorce is still illegal. Homosexuality, while largely tolerated, is still frowned upon by many.

CBCP will soon convene a local Synod of Bishops to elect a titular head that will be fully independent of The Vatican. It will be held at the Philippine Arena, owned by the second largest religious group in the country, Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).

Filipino Catholics are looking forward to the white smoke that will billow out of the arena to signal the election of a Filipino pontiff.

The Adobo Chronicles® will be bringing you live coverage of the Manila Synod.

Government, International, Religion

PHILIPPINES CUTS DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH THE VATICAN!

August 6, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

ROME, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The predominantly Catholic country, the Philippines, has cut diplomatic ties with The Vatican, sources close to Pope Francis, told reporters in Rome today.

The surprise move comes after Pope Francis issued a statement Wednesday calling for the church to embrace Catholics who have divorced and remarried.

Such couples “are not excommunicated, and they absolutely must not be treated that way,” Francis told a Vatican crowd. “They always belong to the church.”

Francis asked pastors to welcome Catholics who have remarried without an annulment, even though such Catholics are currently barred in most cases from receiving the Eucharist, the central sacrament of the faith.

“The church is called to be always the open house of the father … no closed doors! No closed doors,” Francis told the crowd at his weekly public audience, which resumed after a month-long summer break.

President Aquino, a devout Catholic (and a bachelor) confirmed the news with the Malacañang press corps. He said that the decision was reached after consulation with the ultra conservative Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The Philippines prides itself as the only remaining country in the world, outside of The Vatican, in which divorce is not legal. This, despite common knowledge that many Filipino men, especially rich politicians, are known to be philanderers and openly practice polygamy.

“By his statement, Pope Francis undermines the Philippines’ stubborn resolve to cling to centuries-old church dogma regarding the Sacrament of Marriage,” Aquino said. “We can’t allow The Vatican to take away the Philippines’ world record on divorce law,” he added.