Sabado, Abril 14, 2012

San Pedro Church, Davao Controversy

Sagdi lang:
To better understand what really transpired last Good Friday (the San Pedro Church Davao Controversy as posted and shared in 100% Katolikong Pinoys facebook page), first  we have to consider  the Catholic  Church' teachings and discipline as will us the practices of  its members. Actually, there are common practices of Catholic members which are not in consonance with the church' teachings (doctrine). Those were traditional practices that Filipinos follow even before Philippines became a Catholic country. Case in point will be the practice of most of the Filipinos (Catholics) with regards not taking a bath until their dead relatives' funeral service.  Imagine if the Marcoses are practicing this belief and so they would have to avoid bathing for several years cause it took ages for the former president Marco's body to be buried.  Another example will be the practice of Filipinos (mostly Catholics) of placing  different round fruits in the table during new year's eve as well as wearing polka dotted clothes on new year as a symbol of good will and wealth for the whole year to come. These are some of Filipinos'  traditional  practices which I believe we inherited from our ancestors. Because of these practices we (Catholics) are said to be following the pagan practice, which is true. But the church kept on prompting  us (Catholics) not to continue this pagan practices  and instead have faith in  Lord Jesus Christ.

Church rules and discipline:
Obviously, all churches have their own laws, rules and discipline which are being used as  guide in performing or exercising religious practices  and worship.

(1) Law:  (e.g. Exodus 20: 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ) This law was given to Moses for the Israelites only. This law then is exclusive to Israelites at that point of time and is not applicable to other races and other generation even to Pharaoh (King of Egypt) and his people ( please refer Exo.31 : 12-14, 17 / Psalm 147 : 19- 20 / Ephesians 2 : 12,15 ). That while the Jews had their sabbath as symbol of their liberty and independence from slavery of  Egypt, the King of Egypt is in mourn .  Here, the law had clearly stated that remembering Sabbath day is not enough, but the observance of holiness on sabbath day is what the law is emphasizing.

Obstruction of law and its punishment : If there are laws, there are punishments.The rule says to
keep it holy. If you abide by the rules and keep it holy then you will not be punished but if you will not then of course you will be punished. The question shall be how to keep it holy and what the punishments are.

How to keep it holy: Please refer to Exo. 31:12-15 /Exo. 35: 1-3 . The Lord had clearly instructed the Israelite how to observe Sabbath.

Punishment: The punishment was being stoned to death. ( Exo. 31:15 / Exo.35: 3 ).Let's read Num. 15:32-36,  " 32.  And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a  man  that gathered  sticks upon the sabbath day. 33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.34 And they put him in ward,because it was not declared what should be done to him.35 And the Lord said unto Moses,The man shall be surely put to death:all congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.36 And all the congregation 
brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses. Logic tells you that if there is law then it has an equivalent punishment for the absence of punishment makes the law ineffective. You cannot have laws without sanctions. Meaning if you observe their sabbath, then you are to kill. I am referring to God's laws and the human established laws. Of course natural laws are exempted here.

Other laws and corresponding punishment: (e.g. Deut. 25: 11-12 ) . When there will be two men fighting with  one  another and the wife of the other man will come near to rescue  her husband from the one who is beating him and using her hands seizes his private parts, then it was commanded that "you (read: law enforcers/people of God) shall cut off her ( referring to the wife who is trying to rescue her husband) hand; your eye shall have no pity". So to the wives out there, do not help your husband if he has a  fight with another man through squeezing the balls of his opponent for your hand shall be cut off  he...he...he....

Church disciplinary action :  Matt 18: 15-17 ,   If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church,let him be to you as a Gentile and as a tax collector.

Catholic Church' loophole : I am a Catholic, but as I said , for me what is wrong is wrong. Justifying things  which  are wrong doesn't make it anymore right nor correct any mistake.The church had already stated that the work of Jesus as a sacrificial lamb is already finished. That his ( read: Jesus ) sacrifice and death in the cross could never be duplicated. But there are Catholic who use to made vows that in every Good Friday, they will do penitence and others let themselves hung also in the cross believing that they take part in Jesus' sacrifices which for me is wrong.
It seems that they were showing that they can do also what Jesus did. Imagine, they also placed 'thorn crowns' in their head and yet they removed the thorns that may come in contact with their flesh, leaving only those long and sharp thorns to be seen outside. It's silly. Why not let their self die also in the cross to complete the imitation of Jesus' death? The problem is the church do nothing to stop this practice. To the point that there were places in the Philippines which has become famous and a tourist attraction every Good Friday because of these practices. As I said it is wrong. The Church should not tolerate this .The church in this case may have lapses in exercising proper discipline and restriction but not in the giving of the doctrine as well as the infallibility of the Pope.

San Pedro Church,Davao City Controversy : Probably what happened here is that the man (who entered the Church half naked) had a vow to make (e.g. penitence, promise) such as walking barefoot from his place to the church and then end the penitence with a prayer inside the Church.

Things to be considered:

1. The church (i.e. authorities) reminds us always to be in decent attire whenever entering the church.
2. He (read: the half naked man in the controversy) could have had his clothes on before praying inside the church as to fullfil his promise or penitence.
3. The priest (who should have been the one responsible)was not present during the time this occurred.
4. Security Guard's wrong approach.
5. The Security Guard's discretion on matters concerning the church goers safety since it is within his responsibility.

All I can say is that everyone including the man, the church, and the security guard on duty all had lapses.
We all are human and one thing that makes us perfect are our mistakes, lapses and imperfections.










Linggo, Abril 8, 2012



Taken from 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY!
Sagdi lang:
I was flabbergasted upon reading more than thousands of comments of none Catholics and Catholics' response with regards this picture and its comment posted in 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY facebook page as seen above.Actually  Francis Gonzales the admin of 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY is the Vice President of  CFD  ( Catholic Faith Defenders ) Dipolog City Chapter while I am the President. This picture inflamed those who were none believers ( e.g.  Protestant, Atheist) in there siege against the norm and prestige value of Catholic teachings and practices. Well, it is not because I am a Catholic that I will be arguing in favor of the Catholic Church  just to cover up something which is wrong. If we are wrong then we are wrong, what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. For me you cannot justify your mistake by giving reasons and excuses.  As I said our perfection is different compared  to God's perfection, (please refer to my first post "test message" ). Our perfection includes human error.

Remember that Judas is with Jesus,  abiding in his teachings for three years, but still he committed mistake in betraying him ( Jesus ). Peter denied Jesus three times. And also  Paul apprehended Peter that what he did is wrong , that as  a preacher he must stand as a good example ( Gal. 2 :11-14 ). I am going to discuss few matters regarding Catholic Church'  practice and discipline as well as Catholic religious practices which will be posted soonest.