Protecting Life in the Constitution of our Souls

A lot of bright minds have poured their brilliance into the Reproductive Health (RH) debate in the Philippines.  These minds are way beyond my league. I'm just a guy working for a living. My wife and I are raising two kids aged 9 and 4 as of this writing.

How else do we interpret this provision?

Tonight however, I found myself tapping the keyboard to search the Constitution of the Philippines. Thanks to technology, a simple search for the word "family" would bring you to Section 12 in less than a second.

The RH Bill and the Gospel Today: Do you also want to leave?

Endorsement of the RH Bill by ADMU professors still reverberates in the news today. A fellow Ateneo alumni defended such act simply as a reflection of the academic exercise in Jesuit education. He said, we consider all sides of the story.

I can certainly relate with everything he said. I have vivid memories of classroom discussions in my days under Jesuit instruction that drew from each one of us what we were thinking, rather than what we were perceiving, without necessarily being constrained by any perspective. Opposing opinions were welcome because it was part of refining our understanding of the subject and the lines that mark the difference between Church teaching and what the world teaches.

In a sense, academic freedom applies to the present debates about the RH Bill. But in a bigger sense, it does not. Let me tell you why.

Did the Catholic Church "Suddenly" Embrace Condoms?

Pope Benedict XVI said something about condoms that has been taken totally out of context in many articles, including the column from esteemed William Esposo in Philippine Star today.

The 1st sentence of his 3rd paragraph says,

"... Pope Benedict XVI had reversed the position of the Catholic Church on the use of condoms and said that condom use is allowed if it is to protect life?" ("Beware the God of the Old Testament", As I Wreck This Chair, The Philippine Star, Aug 19, 2012)

First of all, the Pope's statement was made SPECIFICALLY in the context of AIDS and it was a personal remark, not a statement made ex-Cathedra. Certainly, it did not mean that the Catholic Church is employing the use of condoms in its work against AIDS. Neither did it mean that the Catholic Church is now endorsing the use of condoms for everything else.

That is clear to everyone except to those who want to use the Pope's statement to grab the remotest moral justification for their stance on the RH Bill.

The RH Bill: Aren't we shooting ourselves in the Foot?

The debates about the RH Bill in the Philippines do not sound nice. Just look at the web pages and the posts in social media. Catholics have even pitted themselves against Catholics. That stumps me right there. If opposing sides in the debate become a few notches more passionate about their positions, the picture won't be pretty. I believe God Himself won't allow it.

Anti-RH Rally Amidst Rains. Image from Inquirer.net

I'm clearly with the position of the Catholic bishops and priests about the RH Bill. The moral, ethical and scientific aspects of this bill have been debated left and right.

But let me just share with you my own thoughts about the matter.

The Waves that Jesus Made (A Lenten Reflection)

The waves that Jesus made 2,000 years ago continue to land in the shores of at least 2 billion people in the world today. These waves are aimed at one thing - to strengthen the bond between God and man.

Photo: "waves" by esther**

As you grow in faith you begin to see the significance of the Lenten Season in its fuller color. This is the season when we celebrate the divinity and Kingship of Jesus through his suffering and resurrection.

The passion of the Christ defies human logic. Fortunately, outside of technology and lifestyle, people of today have something else that the people 2,000 years didn't have - a historical perspective that affirms further the words of Jesus. You see, 2,000 years ago, Jesus made the choice to suffer and die on the cross. On the third day, Jesus rose up. Who else could create ripples of waves like that through time?

They paid him thirty pieces of silver

FROM THE GOSPEL TODAY
Wednesday of the Holy Week

“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:15 NAB

P.S. #1 Help spread the gospel to your family, friends and acquaintances. Simply click the "Like" button at the Cool Catholics - Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations Facebook Page.

P.S. #2 Do you have a testimony of God's grace today? I welcome sharings from brothers and sisters around the world in this blog. Send it to me at marvin.macatol [at] gmail [dot] com

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But before going on I'd like to share with you the verse I got from the gospel reading that would be read in all the Holy Mass celebrations around the world tomorrow, the 5th Sunday of Lent. It's in the image above. Great reminder, isn't it?

Gospel Today - When the Son of Man comes in his glory ... all the nations will be assembled before him

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." Mt 25:1-2

February 27, 2012 - Monday of the First Week of Lent

• 1st Reading -- Lv 19:1-2, 11-18
• Responsorial -- Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15
  R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life
• Gospel Today -- Mt 25:31-46

Gospel Today - Repent, and believe in the gospel

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15 NAB

February 26, 2012 - First Sunday of Lent

• 1st Reading -- Genesis 9:8-15
• Responsorial -- Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
  R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant
• 2nd Reading -- 1 Peter 3:18-22
• Gospel Today -- Mark 1:12-15

Gospel Today - I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners

Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” Luke 5:31-32 NAB

February 25, 2012 - Saturday after Ash Wednesday

• 1st Reading -- Isaiah 58:9b-14
• Responsorial -- Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
  R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth
• Gospel Today -- Luke 5:27-32

Gospel Today - Days will come when the bridegroom is taken away, then they will fast

Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. Matthew 9:15 NAB

February 24, 2012 - Friday after Ash Wednesday

• 1st Reading -- Isaiah 58:1-9a
• Responsorial -- Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19
  R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn
• Gospel Today -- Matthew 9:14-15

Gospel Today - Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Luke 9:23-24 NAB

February 23, 2012 - Thursday after Ash Wednesday

• 1st Reading -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20
• Responsorial -- Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
  R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord
• Gospel Today -- Luke 9:22-25

Gospel Today - Your Father who sees in secret will repay you

But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Matthew 6:3-4 NAB

February 22, 2012 - Ash Wednesday

• 1st Reading -- Joel 2:12-18
• Responsorial -- Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
  R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned
• 2nd Reading -- 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
• Gospel Today -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel Today - Whoever receives one child in my name, receives me

Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37 NAB

February 21, 2012 - Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

• 1st Reading -- James 4:1-10
• Responsorial -- Psalm 55:7-8, 9-10a, 10b-11a, 23
  R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you
• Gospel Today -- Mark 9:30-37

Gospel Today - Everything is possible to one who has faith

It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Mark 9:22-23 NAB

February 20, 2012 - Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

• 1st Reading -- James 3:13-18
• Responsorial -- Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15
  R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart
• Gospel Today -- Mark 9:14-29

Gospel Today - Child, your sins are forgiven

They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:3-5 NAB

February 19, 2012 - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

• 1st Reading -- Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
• Responsorial -- Psalm 41:2-3, 4-5, 13-14
  R. Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you
• 2nd Reading -- 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
• Gospel Today -- Mark 2:1-12

Gospel Today - The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. Luke 2:20 NAB

January 1, 2012 - The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

• 1st Reading -- Numbers 6:22-27
• Responsorial -- Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
  R. May God bless us in his mercy
• 2nd Reading -- Galatians 4:4-7
• Gospel Today -- Luke 2:16-21