Omnia in bonum

THE Latin phrase means “all unto good.” It’s a paraphrase of what St. Paul said in his letter to the Romans, “To them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints.” (8,28)

It’s a relevant expression to describe what is happening in the issue of the so-called “Pajero bishops.” The demolition job has been exposed for what it truly is—a very malicious move of some government people to besmirch the reputation of some bishops and weaken the stature of the Church that has been vocal against the RH bill.

The plot demolished the authors much more than its intended victims, such that we need to pray that this government could survive the unavoidable backlash. And while we are now picking the pieces and doing some repair, we are thankful that precious lessons are also learned.

Indeed the whole thing reminds me of the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers who sold him to some traders out of envy. Joseph ended up becoming a big man in Egypt, and when people had to go to him for food during a long period of drought, his brothers also went to him without knowing it was Joseph they went to.

The meeting is so dramatic I always shed a tear while reading it. When finally Joseph could not contain himself, he identified himself to his brothers.

“I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you…You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Gen 45ff)

So this ugly and painful Pajero episode has occasioned also many good things. For one, people are now more aware of the heavy and thankless job bishops carry out, such that many are now offering help to them, like donating cars and giving money to help them run dioceses whose only source of income are the alms given to them.

Many Catholics only see the externals and think that bishops must be having a good time always because they are given deferential treatment by the people wherever they go. They also have nice residences and cars, etc., which actually have been built up through the years of Episcopal successions.

What people don’t see is that they have to finance the running of the many churches and offices of the whole diocese, take care of the priests, do a lot of charity work, make all sorts of trips within the diocese and other places for all kinds of meetings, etc.

And these are not his main work. He has to concentrate on prayer, study and preparing his homilies and other addresses, preaching, administering the sacraments, receiving all kinds of requests and invitations, etc.

This episode can also occasion a deeper examination on how bishops are carrying out their prophetic mission especially on politics and business and the tricky world of public opinion. I am sure some corrections are in order.

People are making suggestions for bishops to be more circumspect in their pronouncements, taking special care that their language, tone and argumentation truly reflect charity that is earnestly seeking truth and justice. They speak in the name of Christ, of the Church. They just have to reflect Christ in their words.

It cannot be denied that some of their pronouncements and actuations, especially those done individually, have caused great dismay among the faithful for being inflammatory, divisive, tendentious, simplistic, imprudent, etc. They sometimes show traces of bitter zeal.

What is clear is that they have to promptly discern the finer, often shifting shades of the distinction between their duty to evangelize politics, for example, and the disorder of falling into partisan politics already.

They also need to hone their communication skills so that the perennial teaching of the Church can be transmitted with due respect to the varying sensitivities of the people. There's so much to proclaim, explain and defend in today's Areopagus that is the media.

They have to be clear about their doctrine. It's disturbing to hear a bishop vacillating in his answer to a moral question.

There has to be a way to correct if not avoid or at least minimize the faux pas. If there is such thing as fraternal corrections, it has to be given most especially to bishops and priests to help them.