Tag Archives: politicians

PHILIPPINE CATHOLIC BISHOP: ‘GAYS CAN BECOME SAINTS, BUT NOT CORRUPT POLITICIANS’

Villegas
Villegas

CEBU CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® )  – A ranking Catholic bishop in the Philippines issued a challenge to gay men and women to aspire to be holy and to become saints.

The challenge was posed by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas during a convention on family and life by Catholic leaders in the country. Villegas is the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“That first thing we should call to mind is Jesus died for all. At the cross, there were only seven words attributed to Jesus, and at the cross, He did not ask ‘Are you a homosexual? If you are, I’m not dying for you. No. There was no such thing,” he said.

Asked by a reporter if philandering and corrupt public officials — which abound in the Philippines — could also become saints, Villegas answered:

“Well, that’s a different case altogether. These politicians who cheat on their wives and steal money from the people are committing a grave sin not only to themselves but to many people who suffer as a result of the misdeeds. And that would disqualify them from sainthood.”

Villegas urged corrupt politicians to repent, reform their lives and to return every single centavo that they stole from taxpayers. “That, he said, is the only way for them to become holy and qualify for sainthood.”

 

 

POPE FRANCIS’ PHILIPPINES VISIT : VATICAN DEMANDS THAT PEPSI TAKE DOWN ADVERTISING OR PAY UP

imageTHE VATICAN, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Big corporations, small businesses and politicians usually pay big bucks to feature celebrities in their advertising campaigns, or to have famous people endorse their products or services.

The visit to the Philippines next week is no exception to the mad rush among companies to promote their products. In the last month or so, billboards, tarpaulin signs and posters have sprung all over Manila’s crowded streets, lining the paths that will be traversed by the Pope’s motorcade.

But there is one tarp sign that The Vatican is not happy about. It is a sign welcoming the Pope featuring Francis’ image alongside the commercial logo of Pepsi Cola. In addition, the sign also bears the name of a local public official, the chairman of a local Barangay (political district).

The Adobo Chronicles has learned that The Vatican has sent a letter to the Manila headquarters of Pepsi to pay One Million Pesos for every single one of these tarp signs. The money, according to a Vatican official, will be donated by Pope Francis to the victims of last year’s typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). The Pontiff is scheduled to visit Tacloban to spend time with the victims and their families.

In addition, citing the separation of church and state, asked Pepsi to remove the name of the local official from thhe advertising.

“If Pepsi refuses to pay up, we demand that all the signs be taken down immediately,” The Vatican said.

PHILIPPINES: MOVE OVER PORK BARREL, HERE COMES MISTRESSGATE

imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – There’s a new scandal brewing in the Philippines. It’s called Mistressgate (you know, like Watergate). The pork barrel scandal was so yesterday!

The scandal revolves around a dating service site on the Internet involving married people. It’s called Ashley Madison, described on its website as “the world’s leading married dating service for discreet encounters.”

Justice Secretary  Leila De Lima, with full backing from the Catholic Church in the Philippines, is considering blocking the site from the Internet in the Philippines, arguing that extra-marital affairs could lead to divorce.

Both extra-marital affairs and divorce are illegal in the country, and is against the Catholic Church’s teachings.

Enter Vice President Jenomar Binay, with the backing of an overwhelming number of male politicians, from senators and congressmen to governors and mayors. “We have to protect freedom of speech and the integrity of the Internet,” Binay said, as he and his fellow politicians vowed to block any move by the Justice Department to ban the married dating site.

Observers say that this is looming as the greatest political and religious comfrontation the Philippines has ever seen because it cuts right through the country’s pervasive yet hush-hush machismo culture.

Most of the politicians backing Binay are known to have mistresses, publicly or privately. Including Binay.