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Mediatrix controversy
Author’s note: In the last column, I wrote that the 1951 Pius XII decree that said the Mediatrix apparitions had “no supernatural character or origin” is not binding because it was never promulgated officially. Pope Francis recently appointed a new Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal-to-be Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez, SJ. Like his predecessor, Fernandez is a Jesuit and an Argentinian. He is the “theological alter ego” of Pope Francis. How will controversial Archbishop Fernandez handle the 70-year-old Mediatrix issue? Will the current Dicastery, which is vehemently anti-Mediatrix, under the helm of Archbishop Fernandez tone down its stance? As a background, there was a decree of the Dicastery but not of Pope Pius XII. The Dicastery of 1951, whose members have died, claimed Pope Pius XII directly approved its decision (not to recognize the Mediatrix apparitions), but it was never formally entered into the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the official Vatican publication, a requirement of Canon Law for it to take effect. What are the implications if the 1951 Pius XII decree is in truth non-existent? Under the domino principle, this implies that technically all subsequent declarations and orders of the Dicastery for 70 long years are also not binding, including the latest, wherein Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera was ordered by the Dicastery to ban all celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Mediatrix apparitions. However, the Dicastery never authenticated the Mediatrix apparitions, so the apparition celebrations are rightfully banned. But there is a contradiction that must be resolved — since the original 1951 Pius XII decree is in question. The members of the Dicastery in 1951 were caught in a lie because then apostolic administrator Bishop Rufino Santos stated in his decree of 12 April 1951 that he was still awaiting the Vatican decision regarding Lipa — when the Dicastery reported in its Protocol 226/1949 that a decision had been made, contradicting Bishop Santos. Archbishop Fernandez has to resolve this issue because the evangelization of Asia, which is the focus of Pope Francis, is at stake. Pope Francis looks to the Philippines, the only Christian nation in Asia, as the launch pad for the evangelization of Asia and the “conversion” of China. Conversion means stopping the persecution and massacre of Christians in China, permitting churches there to open, reuniting the Underground Church (who are the target of assassinations) and the Vatican-led Church, and finally, changing China’s belligerence to benevolence in the South China Sea to prevent a full-blown US-China confrontation. The Virgin can bring peace to Asia better than any military solutions. A well-publicized message of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace was a warning about China: “Pray hard for China’s dream is to invade the whole world. The Philippines is one of its favorites.” (17 October 1949). There is a Mediatrix shrine in a chapel in a small village near Nanjing that was built by Metropolitan Bank when it was commissioned by the Chinese government to develop two villages. This “foothold” in China is evidence the Virgin Mediatrix is fulfilling her mission of evangelization and conversion. Archbishop Fernandez and Pope Francis must be informed of the history of the Mediatrix to sharpen their perspectives on its geopolitical ramifications. The continued suppression of Mediatrix devotion and of the entire Philippine Church may hamper the Church’s efforts to evangelize Asia. In truth, Satan is scared of the Mediatrix, that is why, in his panic, he tortured Mediatrix visionary Sr. Teresing Castillo, as she wrote in her second diary that the Vatican failed to destroy but which is now available on the Internet. Is Satan behind the suppression of the Mediatrix by using Cardinals in the Vatican without them knowing it? For centuries, Satan has been penetrating the sacred halls of the Vatican and using the Cardinals without their being aware of it. That Satan works in the Vatican is nothing new. Historically, the Spanish Inquisition in the Middle Ages beheaded on mere suspicion about a thousand “heretics.” The ongoing “apostasy” (civil war) within the Vatican, which Fatima prophesied, is another sign of Satan’s works. It is thus in the interest of the Vatican to consider the Marian evangelization that it is suppressing — to have a change of heart. In the end, the Virgin will triumph over the Vatican, if need be, as revealed in the Bible. The Lord said, “I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the Woman (Mary), and between your offspring (demons) and hers (Jesus). Her offspring will crush your head and you will bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15. “A huge red dragon stood before the Woman about to give birth, to devour her Child. She gave birth to a Son destined to rule all nations. In utter rage, the serpent waged war against the rest of her offspring, those bearing witness to the Son born of Her womb.” Revelation 11:1-17 (excerpts). *** eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post Mediatrix controversy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Idolizing Danny Dolor (The man I might have been if I had at least P500 million)
Here’s sharing with you Cyber Proust’s (now Proust Redux) winning piece when he joined the 2010 Philippine Star Lifestyle Journalism Contest sponsored by Rustan Commercial Corporation and the Stores Specialists, Inc. The announcement called for feature articles, as many as one could submit, about heroes, dead or alive. Cyber Proust submitted three — one about his mother; another about a blogger who tells stories about his clan and people like them, making for a good read for people interested in Philippine upper class but not necessarily high society; and this one, about Danny Dolor, Cyber Proust’s patron and benefactor when Cyber Proust had not yet declared himself rich. Here goes: My hero, my icon, the man I’d rather be When people are asked who they want to be if they ever get the chance to live their lives all over again, they almost always say they want to be the same person. If you ask me the same question, I’d have the same answer, only because I want to keep the same set of parents. But if I could keep my Dad and Mom, and still be someone else, I’d look at you straight in the eye, and declare, I want to be Danny Dolor. I can think of a hackneyed thousand and one reasons why I prefer to breathe and eat and live like Sir Danny, but let me stick to the quintessential five. First, he is rich which we all want to be. He is an art lover which I profess to be. He is a trailblazer even if he is a Libran who prefers balance, while I am an Arian who always wants to be the first. He was a good son who took care of his mother in her old age, which every good son should do especially if he were single. I am single, but I was always away from home, too busy changing and finding writing jobs. The closest I got to emulating Sir Danny was spending endless nights conversing with my mother whenever I was home during Christmas breaks. Sir Danny, on the other hand, never travelled abroad because he wanted to be by his mother’s side every night of the year. When he visited Lipa, their hometown, he would pick up his mobile phone to check on his mother and sister Fe in their Makati home, rattling off his orders to their yaya — check their temperature, don’t forget the medicine after their merienda, and so on. Finally, Danny Dolor is a good Catholic who hears Sunday Mass, fingers his beads when in the car, and joins the procession on Good Friday beside his own Mater Dolorosa. How I wish I could give away lands on which to build churches, donate thousands of portfolio bags for priests attending their annual convention, and build a museum in honor of a townsman, Alfredo Maria Obviar, who may yet be the first Filipino bishop to be beatified and, in God’s time, canonized. First conversation I am lucky to have an icon whom I have seen up close. I have seen Danny Dolor when he goes into a trance as he describes his first conversation with National Artist Atang de la Rama, to whom he became a friend and confidante, or fits of laughter as he recalls the usually funny repartee between his friends Sylvia La Torre and Oscar Obligacion when the latter was still alive. For all the secrets and fun times we have shared, I stick to calling him Sir as I did the first time I interviewed him in his thickly-carpeted, air-conditioned and perfume-smelling den. I had known about the man before I ever met him. I knew about his Tribung Pinoy which concertized all over the country in the late 1970s all the way to the mid 1980’s. I never saw them perform in person, but I read about Danny Dolor and his gang of sopranos, tenors and baritones who rendered their harana, danza, balitaw and, of course, kundiman, in schools and churches, and quixotic venues like the Culion Leper Colony in Palawan, the mental hospital and the women’s correctional where the patients and inmates cried, sang, danced and thanked him because no one ever came to sing for them. The path-breaking Danny Dolor also produced the first ever concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines featuring an all-Filipino-traditional-music repertoire. Danny Dolor’s house, at that time when I interviewed him, was along Tamarind corner Banaba in uppity Forbes Park. In the den, paintings, sculptures, plaques, and trophies vied for the attention of first-time guests. I immediately liked a Zalameda portrait of a basketball player, but what impressed me was a plaque with Latin inscriptions which, my host explained to me, was his papal award. He next brought me to the lanai, thrice as large as the den, where beside the lacquered opium bed stood a gigantic St. Joseph. He showed me a life-size oil portrait of Charito Solis, Ramon Valera ternos worn by Gloria Romero and his sister Fe, and original drawings of Darna by Mars Ravelo. The man, who knows his art, takes pride in his penchant for everything Filipino. It is an interest that goes a long way back to his childhood during the Japanese occupation. In the family hacienda where they evacuated, he listened to the farmers sing native songs. In grade one a year or two later, the young Danny sang Bayan Ko before his classmates, to the shock of the teacher who probably expected Jack and Jill. When Sir Danny was in grade school, he watched Filipino films in the movie houses along Rizal Avenue. As a high school student, he listened to the Mabuhay singers over the radio. In college, he watched Tawag ng Tanghalan on television. Is it any wonder that he should mount a best-selling exhibit of movie ads from the golden years of Philippine cinema? Or that he has maintained, for more than ten years, a column in the Philippine Star, “Remember When?” featuring the movie stars and great musical talents of yesteryears? Danny Dolor is unique in that he straddles the worlds of show business and high society, which many find incompatible. Not with him who has produced movies, including Indie films, and concert tributes honoring luminaries of the silver screen like Director Hermogenes Ilagan and movie queen Carmen Rosales. His involvement in the upper strata, on the other hand, is never without a good reason. For example, he collaborated with the socialite businesswoman Nedy Tantoco in organizing the best-selling Ramon Valera retrospective exhibit. If he is chummy with the grand dame Imelda Cojuangco that’s because he is a loyal and trusted officer the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion, of which she is the chair. Every year, come Feast of the Immaculate Conception, they gather hundreds of children from depressed areas to receive their first holy communion. Imagine the mix For all of these, he takes a break from his duties as chairman of various companies that include a hospital, hotel, educational institution, bank and subdivisions. Imagine the mix — movies, music, church, business and high society. And he dances the Rigodon too. How can one not desire such completeness? There’s something though he’d rather not be said about him. In my times of need, he does not hide under his canopied bed, and in the milestones of my life, he gives me a thick red envelope. Once I ran out of cash to pay my rent, I called him up and told him that if only I could touch the tip of his pants, I was sure to have what I needed. Scolding me first for being such a cheap copy of the woman in the bible, he said Yes to my pleadings, while reminding me to help him prepare another souvenir program for yet another concert tribute for another forgotten gem of Philippine music. The man does not believe in outright charity. Not to me, anyway. And while he is patient with me, he insists that I “fix” my life for “all these things you delight in will soon come to pass” and “if you do not take care of yourself, who will?” and so on. From his mother, he passes on a classic gem, “Never do anything that people will notice from afar,” a rough translation of “Huwag kang gagawa ng kahit anong matatanaw mula sa malayo.” In short, don’t be a show-off. My hero and icon, Danny Dolor, is not only a model for living the successful and well-lived life that I dream about. He is also a saviour, a mentor and an angel who, despite the “professional distance” we keep between us as a “client” and as a “talent,” if the relationship must breed results, has come closest to being my “Tito” and best friend. Sir Danny will not be pleased with this article. He will think that I need to borrow money from him again. The post Idolizing Danny Dolor (The man I might have been if I had at least P500 million) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beware: God’s silence
Dear Editor, Has the Church lost its moral ascendancy to preach about righteousness and piety? It is a wonder why it has been silent about all forms and sources of evil in our society, like corruption and gambling, legal or illegal. What could be the reason why the Church is mum on important national issues involving depravity or demons, unlike during the time of Jaime Cardinal Sin three or four decades ago? Why does the Church seem to have abandoned its duty of exorcizing evil? I am referring not only to the Catholic Church but to other churches as well, including Protestants, all Christian denominations, and other religions in the country. If church leaders can corrupt the government and politicians, we can just imagine the magnitude of their corrupt acts over their church organization’s own money. These are those who entered a “life of mission,” but due to undying love for mammon and a “good life” (contrary to Christ’s life), they ended up serving themselves rather than God and their flocks. The Constitution is clear: “No public money or property shall be appropriated, applied to, or employed, directly or indirectly, for the use of, the benefit of, or support of any sect, church, or denomination.” May I add, “And no church money shall be used for personal ambitions?” Upon reading news similar to the SUV scandal in 2011 whereby a “bishop asked for a car as a birthday gift but used the welfare of the poor as an excuse,” and upon realizing the baseness of many ministers today who use gadgets as Bibles, I was led to write this piece. In the same way that we can distinguish the original from fake products by looking at the details or scrutinizing the small, minuscule parts, a church is known for its authenticity or hypocrisy. While God is also in the details of Christian living and the imperatives of faith, the Devil is in every side and corner, floor and ceiling, of religiosity and the so-called “essentials” and “fundamentals” of (sham) faith. Since when have sanctified living and/or corruption, child abuse, human trafficking, taking drugs, drinking, smoking, gambling, adultery, and the like become “non-essentials?” Why are most ministers today afraid of speaking against sin? And how dare they categorize crookedness and worldliness as just being parts of what they call “non-essentials”? They have been so focused on their essential “theology” and “religiousness” that they’ve been blinded to see piety and righteousness. Christ was not crucified to save religions but sinners, according to Matthew 7:15-20. But be equally watchful of “ministers” who preach the Bible with Bibles but are actually just preaching their man-made religions and damnable doctrines. Finally, why not make a law that would stop corrupt churches from corrupting politicians during elections by prohibiting them from endorsing any candidate via “block voting,” openly or secretly? Be courageous for the good of the motherland and do this, dear lawmakers. Country first, before yourself (or your votes), and you will have the vote of God. No worries. Reni Valenzuela renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com The post Beware: God’s silence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Render unto Ceasar
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ plenary assembly in 2022 said the Roman Catholic Church will divest from banks and projects that are involved in fossil fuels as part of its contribution to the movement for clean energy. The warning showed the financial muscle through its corporate shares that the bishops can muster to influence the realm of business. In a pastoral letter, the CBCP said it will use its shareholdings in domestic banks to demand policies and plans to “phase out their exposure to coal, fossil gas, and destructive energy in line with the 1.5°C ambition.” “Without clear commitments and policies from these banks to divest from fossil fuels, we commit to withdraw all our resources that are with them not later than 2025, and hold them accountable to their fiduciary duties and moral obligations as climate actors,” read the pastoral letter. In its latest pastoral letter about the “climate emergency” last March, however, the Church bravado has dissipated and instead has been replaced by a warning that it will enforce the “CBCP-initiated non-acceptance policy of donations of whatever kind, from owners or operators and any representative of extractive companies regardless of the scale of operation.” The new position is oceans apart from the earlier encompassing threat to divest from all dirty energy projects and their financiers. Such flip-flops have been the impediment of the Church in exerting its supposed moral guidance in what the Bible says is Caesar’s domain. The Catholic Church is heavily invested in the biggest corporations in the country. In San Miguel Corporation, for instance, the list of its top 100 shareholders shows more than P600 million in investments from Church-affiliated entities. The Archbishop of Manila is currently listed as the fifth largest shareholder in one of the biggest lenders in the country, which is a huge provider of loans to energy projects, with 62 percent of its energy portfolio comprising coal. The bank’s exposure to coal projects is estimated at $444.82 million. The archbishops of archdioceses in Jaro, Iloilo, and Zamboanga are also major stockholders of the bank. The Manila archdiocese is also among the top shareholders in a giant mining firm through shares worth more than P66 million. It also has huge capital as a supplier of construction materials. When the Catholic Church appealed for donations for the renovation of the Manila Cathedral in 2013, top corporation SMC came to its aid with P50 million while Metrobank donated P20 million. In no time at all, the P136-million project was funded. Regarding donations, in 2011, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office named a priest and several Catholic bishops who received sports utility vehicles funded through the agency’s charity fund. The PCSO revelation sparked a Senate investigation and the bishops agreed to surrender the vehicles. A Commission on Audit report said the grant of the five vehicles amounting to P7 million violated the constitutional provision that “no public money or property shall be appropriated, applied or employed directly or indirectly, for the use of, benefit or support to any sect, church, denomination… except when such priest, preacher or dignitary is assigned to the Armed Forces or any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.” During a Senate investigation on the controversy, PCSO director Aleta Tolentino revealed that a bishop asked for a car as a birthday gift but used the welfare of the poor as an excuse. During the inquiry, Tolentino said, “We are not against the Church. We are just denouncing what happened in the past — corruption of government funds, which is prohibited by the Constitution itself.” “Would the bishops rather that we keep mum or lie about it? Would they want us to just keep quiet about this?” she added. With its heavily compromised state as a result of its financial involvement, the Church has abandoned its role as a conscience of society in the pursuit of uplifting the lives of Filipinos. The post Render unto Ceasar appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump presses law and order tack vs. Biden
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Akbayan to Sara: You don’t have to be president to speak vs China
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Roque bares Duterte, China agreement to respect status quo in WPS
Roque bares Duterte, China agreement to respect status quo in WPS.....»»
7 nanlaban drug suspects dead after Baste Duterte declares drug war
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CHR alarmed by war vs drugs in Davao City
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is alarmed by Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s “war against drugs”, as seven drug users were killed from different barangays in the city over the weekend, just a few hours after his declaration......»»
Mayor Uy posts cryptic messages amid Igacos power problems
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Revisiting Uniteam (Last of 2 parts)
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Roque: Xi, Duterte agreed to keep West Philippines Sea status quo
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Companies State it Takes More Than 6 Months to Fill Cybersecurity Positions
The latest Kaspersky survey found that 48% of companies require over half a year to find a qualified cybersecurity professional. A lack of proven experience was cited as one of the biggest challenges, along with the high cost of hiring and global competition in talent acquisition. With global labor markets continuing to clamor for InfoSec […].....»»
CHR probes Davao drug war deaths
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Drug killings 95 percent lower than in previous admin
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Guv still hopes for PBBM s nod of NIR despite bishop s opposition
Guv still hopes for PBBM s nod of NIR despite bishop s opposition.....»»
Agdao Public Market vendors want variety and vegetable sections merged
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7 dead after Davao City Mayor Duterte declares war vs. drugs
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Florence: Beyond the Duomo & David
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Daily Bible Reading - March 24, 2024
Daily Bible Reading - March 24, 2024.....»»