Latin to the rescue

ONE lesson I learned early in life is that when there’s a typhoon
outside, one should better stay at home and do something productive.

At the moment, we have a terrible, ugly typhoon in the political
arena, made more vicious by the participation of some bishops.

We are told these clerics are not interfering in politics but are
simply exercising their pastoral duty of upholding and defending morality
involved in these crucial big issues in our political life.

This is something new to me. So, if one is not for the impeachment of
the President, or is for charter change, or is for some amount of mining in
the country, or is for legalization of some games of chance, etc., he is
acting immorally? Give me a break!

No wonder the Church is sometimes held in ridicule by some sectors
because of clerics’ views like these. I don’t think these clerics are acting
like fools for Christ. They are simply fools, period, of their own accord.

If there’s an effective way to harm the Church, it is when Church
leaders interfere in politics. They will be foolishly and unnecessarily
dividing the flock.

The issues involved are matters of opinion. We should allow people to
take any position their conscience would tell them. Or are these bishops
claiming their position in political issues is the only moral position?

One position may be better than another, but as long as one position,
no matter how inferior, does not go against faith and morals, or basic
human rights, it has to be respected. It’s part of the autonomy temporal
affairs enjoy.

In these matters, no one has the exclusive possession of truth or
justice or prudence, etc. That’s why it’s so repulsive to hear clerics speak on
socio-political issues as if they have that exclusive right to wisdom
and morality.

The Christian way to resolve these issues is already spelled out in
the Church’s social doctrine. That way is always marked by dialogue, norms
of prudence, charity, understanding, mercy, etc. It does not talk much
about coming up with specific positions, much less a partisan one at that.

Everyone is supposed and should be encouraged to be responsible in
coming up with his opinions. Everyone is supposed to respect others who may
not agree with his position. And everyone should refrain from involving the
Church in what are clearly human and temporal conflicts.

In pursuing socio-political issues, the lay people have to take active
and direct role. The clerics, because of the nature of our vocation, better
be more discreet, keep quiet, or just give out reminders for justice,
fairness, requirements of common good, etc.

Everyone would be happy with that. And that behavior of the clergy is
not fence-sitting, because the issues involved are not matters of faith and
morals, or human rights.

We have to be careful with those clever, plotting groups who want
their position to be strengthened by clerical endorsement. That would be a
clear case of an unhealthy clerical mentality among some politicians and
ideologues.

I keep on thinking about what is happening lately among our Church
leaders. I have concluded that there is indeed a typhoon outside, reason, even
common sense are suspended.

There is no use battling it out. We just have to wait until those
stupid cats and dogs run out of energy—and mischief. In the meantime, it may
be good to do something else.

Like reviewing Latin. Not only does it engage your mind more than
crossword puzzles and sodukus. It also gives us a sense of being grounded, of
being a part of a well-thought out system and culture.