The constant newsfeed on mass and social media makes us vicarious victims of terror. Swamped by a spate of news-borne violence, I recently reached for a lifeline from a buoyant era of the Catholic Church: a document titled “Joy and Hope.” “Gaudium et Spes” (GS) was issued by the Second…
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Along with other contentious contemporary issues tackled in the landmark three-week XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and the Contemporary World in October 2015, the topic of poverty and how it impacts families were high on…
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CALUMPIT, Bulacan, is one of the first places outside Manila that I came to know because it is my father’s hometown. I remember visiting Calumpit at least twice during the year when I was young: June 24 to celebrate the town fiesta and Nov. 1 to visit my grandfather’s grave.…
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These policy briefs prepared by JJCICSI for the Campaign for Land Use Policy (CLUP) Now! explain the urgency of passing a law that will ensure proper use of land for protection and rehabilitation of life-support systems, food security, safe settlements, and more efficient infrastructure systems. The NLUA Benefits All: A Policy Brief on…
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The Fast Food Theory of Homosexuality is a thesis popular among credulous segments of the Filipino population. Like most urban legends and conspiracy theories, it is built on at least one fact: that livestock and poultry used in fast foods are often fattened by feeding or injection with female hormones.…
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The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are deciding where to go on vacation. The choice is made; the Holy Spirit gushes: “Rome! I have never been there!” Secure Roman Catholics can enjoy the joke and still trust that the Holy Spirit has been to Rome. But even to those who…
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The Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who is accused of a nonbailable crime, on humanitarian considerations, has brought attention to the disagreement between two of the Court’s justices. Disagreement can be a good thing. Far from eroding my respect for the Supreme Court, Justice Marvic…
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Homily from the Mass on the First Anniversary of the Death of Fr. John J. Carroll, SJ by Fr. Chester Yacub, SJ 16 July 2015 Walter Hogan Conference Hall I do not know if you are aware of the movie The Fault in Our Stars, or if you have watched the movie, or…
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Rain is something many of us anticipate and dread at the same time. Commuting on a hot, sunny morning makes us sweaty all over, leading us to crave the coolness that rain can bring. In the afternoon the temperature drops, clouds form, and rain does fall. But with the anticipated coolness…
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A Catholic family feud
For two years now, the Roman Catholic Church has been having an internal but well-publicized conversation about Church teaching and pastoral practice for the family. Formalized in two meetings of the synod of bishops—one in October 2014, the other in October 2015—that conversation has exposed a bitter family feud within…