CARDINAL TAGLE: BE CALM

LINGAYEN-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas told children in the archdiocese to “Conquer evil with good” in response to President Duterte’s recent remark that described God as “stupid.”

In his June 25 message titled “God Is Love” to the youth in his archdiocese. Villegas described the president as someone who “must have received so much rejection and hurts in the past that he blurts out so much hatred and angst now.”

He said that if the President had been loved much, he would be giving so much of that love too and surmised that the president could be a victim of his scarred past and his wounded background.

“We are in a spiritual warfare against error and sin. Shield yourselves from error and guide your fellow youth in godliness. Read more about the faith. Study the true teaching of the Church,” he said.

He exhorted them not to “bash back at those who bash you in social media” but instead urged them “fill social media with kindness and truth”.

Villegas explained that he wrote his message to defend the youth from the gross errors that they have been hearing.

He said that if he keeps quiet, they might be misled. “God gave you to us, your priests in Lingayen Dagupan, as our children. It is our duty to teach you,” he said.

He added, “Some of you might ignore me or even rebuke me; but that will not stop me from teaching those among you who sincerely ask for guidance. I cannot stop serving you the truth,” he said.

“Pray for him with compassion. We pray for his healing and for God’s forgiveness on him but we must rebuke his errors about our Christian faith,” he said.

He urged the children in the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan to pray the rosary, go to confession and receive Holy Communion frequently.

“Take courage but be loving all the time. Be firm in the faith. Bawal ang duwag pero huwag makipag-away. Conquer evil with good,” he said.

In sharp contrast, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle chose not to dwell on President Duterte but mainly called for peace and calm amid outrage over President Duterte’s latest tirade.

“Be at peace. Be calm. Don’t let things disturb your inner peace. Let us read the situation with the eyes of the faith,” the cardinal said in a letter addressed to priests from the Archdiocese of Manila even as he reminded the faithful that questioning God and God’s way is not new.

“It is as old as humanity and religions,” Tagle said. “In the history of the Church, they have become moments for study, reflection, and clarification of doctrine.”

The archbishop added that while discussions on faith and morality are important, these should not distract people from addressing other pressing concerns such as the rise in prices of goods, job security, terrorism, corruption, and other social issues.

“We cannot address these problems by just blaming someone. Those who believe in God must serve out of human decency, generosity and concern for neighbors,” the prelate added. (Eva Visperas with report from the Archdiocese of Manila)

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