“We cannot remain on the sidelines” (Pope Francis)

In last week’s Shalom. I said, in reference to some groups reacting to the present political crisis created by president BS Aquino III, that, “We have to keep our eyes and ears open, and get as much reliable information as we can, and make our decision”.

Following Pope Francis in “Evangelii Gaudium” and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in “Deus Caritas Est” (Latin titles of papal exhortations, Joy of the Gospel and God Is Love, respectively), “we cannot remain on the sidelines” when grave issues of injustice and oppression are affecting the poor and the vulnerable. They recommend we join other Church(faith) Communities in the relentless pursuit of justice and human rights.
“Sidelines” is the line or attitude or behavior of those who are ignorant, timid, silent, unconcerned, uncomplained and uncritical.

It is very clear, as earlier declared by the Supreme Court, that the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is a colossal injustice created against the people and a grave violation of the Constitution. In reaction to the shameful pork barrel  scams by the officials in the Executive and legislative Departments of Government, several groups have already begun to take different positions, most of whom are anti-BS P-noy Aquino..

These  groups are either  from the Left, Right or Center. Some of the ideological Leftists and Rightists are inside government, others are outside, either underground or above ground. The Centrists are mostly outside government. Lately several Pro-Pnoy supporters have jumped out of the yellow bandwagon and joined the Centrist.

Among the Centrist, nuanced as Left-of-Center, are those who are advocating for regime change. not through change of leaders, but through what is known as the National Transformation Council which advocates  change of system of government. This group, which seems to be the real but silent opposition, includes the so-called faith communities which compose the interfaith sector of the National Transformation Council who will provide the moral and spiritual dimensions of the social, economic, political and cultural foundation of Filipino democratic society.. Responsible governance will be in the hands of the lay sector  composed of responsible individuals among the senior citizens, professionals, women, youth, and indigenous peoples. In the interfaith sector you find Catholic bishop, priests and religious, Muslim ulama and imams, Protestant bishops and pastors, religious leaders of Iglesia ni Cristo, local and internationally known Filipino televangelists, and tribal shamans or baylans.

Getting to know the entire political spectrum of reactive groups is what I mean by “keeping our eyes and ears open, and getting as much information as we can.” We must find where the truth is in the present realities. And then we have to follow the advice of the two popes: Get Actively Involved! Do Not Remain in the Sidelines! But Be Guided by the Holy Spirit and Accompanied by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the “Revolution of Tenderness” (Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium).

In the next Shalom I will share what Pope Francis mean by “revolution of tenderness” which he calls in Spanish, “revolucion de la sincillez”. This is part of his philosophy of inclusion which has multifaith and multicultural implications.