The CBCP President on United Nations World Day of Remembrance for Road

ROADS and highways have figured prominently in the growth of civilizations. Distant hamlets and settlements, far-off native kingdoms and tribes, came under one rule, particularly in Roman times. The Romans had two powerful weapons by which to forge first a Republic, then, an empire: an immensely recondite legal system that continues to live on in its progeny of different legal systems, and the roads they build that continue to amaze and dazzle with their sophistication and the engineering acumen that went into their construction. These roads are neither just confined to Rome nor to Italy lone, but through out a large expanse of the globe over which they exercised dominion. Roads connected and united; they created a nation; they marked out an empire.

The Opening Words of the presider at the Blessing of “Means of Transportation” establishes the theological link:

“Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to gather those were scattered. Whatever contributes to bring us closer together therefore is in accord with God’s plan. Thus those who are separated from each other by mountains, oceans or great distances are brought nearer to each other whenever new highways are built or other means of transportation are developed.”

Road Traffic Victims

Road-traffic victims—whether these are motorists, unwary pedestrians or just bystanders who happen to be where the reckless and thoughtless also happen to be—are often referred to as accident victims. But “accident” suggests an unfortunate confluence of events about which we are generally helpless. The truth of the matter though, is that most of the time, road-traffic victims suffer because of lack of prudence and a failure of simple providence, the egregious violation of traffic rules (such as those that limit driving speeds) and conduct that is not only criminally actionable but morally reprehensible, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Government Action

But we must also ask of officials of government about their implication in road accidents. Is it not a fact that many road-traffic victims lose life or limb because of ill-constructed roads and highways, the pathetic handiwork of corrupt workmanship? Have not many drivers fallen off cliffs, ridges and road shoulders because of inadequate road signs, ill-lighted highways and the criminal absence of assistance that should come from government functionaries tasked with road safety? There seem, especially in the Philippines, to be more enforcers on the lookout for traffic violators than those on lonely stretches of high way, mountain passes and dangerous road turns ready to render assistance to motorists in trouble!

Prayer and Blessing

So World-Remembrance Day for Road-Traffic Victims should not only be a time of sentimental remembrance of all who perished on our high ways, who have borne tremendous loss and who continue to suffer. We take inspiration from the Blessing of a Highway:
“O God, of boundless mercy and majesty,
neither distance nor time separates you from those you watch over,
In every place stay close to your servants who trust in you
and wherever they go
be their leader and their companion….
Let no adversity harm them
nor any obstacle hinder them on their way.
Make all things work their well-being and true benefit,
so that whatever they rightly desire
they may successfully achieve.”
If we ask God to make all things work for the well-being of those who use our highways, we also ask God to instil responsibility, prudence and above-all charity on our all motorists, because motorists are, in fact, the biggest threat on the highways. But this is a prayer not only for motorists but for pedestrians as well, for pedestrians do use highways as well and we implore God’s protection on them.

Commitment

This day of remembrance must also be a be a day of FIRM RESOLVE
– that GOVERNMENT construct safe and reliable highways, rid of the wages of corruption, and that maintenance be regular, thorough and continuous;
– that MOTORISTS drive with that charity by which Christ’s disciples are to be distinguished in their regard especially for other motorists and for pedestrians, placing on the highway only roadworthy vehicles and recognizing traffic-rules for what they are: recognition of the rights of others;
– that PEDESTRIANS be prudent when they traverse our highways or stroll through them, and especially when the elderly and the mentally impaired take to our highways, help should be available to them.
If this be our resolve on this day of remembrance then the words of the rite of blessing will indeed come true: “In every place stay close to your servants who trust in you, and wherever they go, be their leader and their companion.”

From the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, November 16, 2014

+ SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, D.D.
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
President, CBCP