Narrow Door

The letter of the late Cardinal Martini of Milan had been used by some to discredit the Catholic Church as no longer relevant today. Others want to make some sense of it and bring out some points to ponder on.

I don't know the late Cardinal. However, in reading his letter, I saw a man who cares for the Catholic Church and cares for people. But what he saw in his milieu was a dying church. He, himself, was old and sick. Frustrated but still caring for souls, he wanted to break open the narrow gate to let people in.

Throughout history, there were many personalities who cling to the Church but what to change the Church to accomodate people. There are many more who resort to man-made religion and organizations that will accomodate them. Understandably, it is nice to be included just the way you are. Tolerance to second marriages, gay marriages, women pastors, artificial contraception, abortion, and so on.

It is always sad when someone you care about leaves the Church. And it is a joy when others join the Church. Often, the reason why Catholics leave the Church would exactly be the same reason why non-Catholics join the Church. Such is the paradoxes of life.

However, no matter how much we want as many people to be in that road leading to fullness of life and joy; We do not own the road and the gate; Neither do the Catholic Church.

As Pope Paul VI wrote:
"Since the Church did not make either of these [natural & evangelical] laws, she cannot be their arbiter—only their guardian and interpreter. It could never be right for her to declare lawful what is in fact unlawful, since that, by its very nature, is always opposed to the true good of man." (Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI, 1968)

No matter how much we love people, we have to allow them to make their choice. Though prayer is often undermined as a passive thing, it is the best we can do for others. It is through prayers that people are moved to a spirit-guided action. Only then, can we find compassion (and not exasperation) with each other over the beautiful but difficult road we tread.

"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:24 NASB)

Cardinal Martini's letter http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=21013

Oh Father!

Oh Father! You sound so tired, exasperated, and almost cynical. You don't want to be flippant but you seem like half-heartedly forced into a dialogue or conversation with someone who isn't up to your level. I sure hope I am sensing it wrong.

You talk about freedom, but it is the RH Bill who is making it mandatory for employers and medical facilities to provide for artificial contraceptives. That is a clear imposition of the pro-artificial contraception to those who do not believe in it (whether it is base on faith, science, logic, economics, superstition). Without the RH Bill, those who believe and not believe in Artificial Contraception will equally have s freedom of choice.

The government is entrusted with the wealth (or debt) of the nation. Certainly, it can use tax money according to its discretion or indiscretion. It can use it to give free cigarettes or San Miguel Beer, but the citizens can air their protest for some may think cigarette smoking is evil and alcohol had been the culprit of many abuses against women and children. Surely, the government can capacitate the vast number of "uninstructed" poor through its subsidy but then, respectable governance must have a good criteria for doing so.

So be it, if it is the will of the government to give as freebies a wide array of artificial contraceptives to the uninstructed poor. Hopefully, Father, they won't be coerced into doing so like before as documented by BBC and PRI. I am sure you will rally behind them and fight for their constitutional right to choose.

I sure hope, father, that those who will be giving it will really inform the receivers of the many studies on it. Hopefully, Juan Tamad will really give the poor the different options and not just push for the one with least effort and least instruction.

Unfortunately, father, I can not believe that free artificial contraception will prevent abortion. Just look around, where there is a proliferation of artificial contraception, abortion proliferates as the ultimate contaception.

Everyone wants responsible parenthood, but that stems from a responsible marriage. The RH Bill would like to provide for contraception without spousal consent. Wouldn't that be isolating spouses from each other? Wouldn't the use of artificial contraception disable a woman or a girl from saying "no" to sexual proposals? Wouldn't there be more extra-marital affairs? Wouldn't a child's paternity become questionable?

And in cases of rape of minors, no parental consent is required for the rape victim to avail of reproductive health care. Wouldn't it be contrary to the responsible parenthood the bill would want to encourage. And at such crucial time.

Oh father, you say the poor are in shackles, and no freedom of choice that will make them responsible parents. What shackles could that be? Is it the shackle of being financially less? Oh father, I'm sure you know that rich or poor can equally be good and responsible parents. Is it the shackle of having to raise 2+ children? Parents who are irresponsible will be irresponsible whether with one child or more.

Could the shackle be... based on the dogma of some "enlightened elite" that it is wrong for the "benighted poor" to have children?

I know it is difficult for those living comfortably to look at the uninstructed poor and with so many children to feed. It is a typical reaction. I, myself, come from a brood of six. Four girls in one room, two boys in another room. Being a fifth child shouting, "Good night to all everybody". Haha. Fond memories. I'm sure it was difficult for my father who was the breadwinner and equally difficult for my mother cooking, teaching, and caring for six kids. But I can assure you they never made us feel unwanted. And they are wonderful and responsible parents.

With the existing laws on maternal care and child protection, I wonder why insist in RH Bill!

I'm sure even with little education, fertility is but natural and not a sickness. I think they have removed artificial contraception as essential medicine in the amended version. It is a natural law of choice and consequence (cause and effect) that having heterosexual relations can lead to pregnancy. Will that be a part of sex education? Or natural law is not the concern, but more on the unnatural contraception. I hope it is not the sexEd module of planned parenthood- "happy, healthy, and hot" that will be used. But then, we want responsible parenthood but we don't want to burden them with educating their childten about sex.

Oh, father, indeed, "thinkers" of many faith-based groups do not believe as the Catholic Church. Surely, they have the choice to be in "one mind" with USAID. The Social Acceptability Project of Family Planning surely was effective in making targetted groups and individuals to be "one mind". I almost thought you are in "one mind" with them because you sounded a bit like them and their training manual.

Oh, father, we sure want to embrace a pluralistic society. Oh, that certainly is difficult for good governance. To be without law is the
most pluralistic way of governance. Everything is licensed. Roads with no lines. Roads with no signposts. Surely, we will annihilate ourselves quick. Population control through no control. Yes, I understand, we all go through that illusion we can make heaven out of earth and pretend there is no enemy. Devil is such a superstitious nonsense anyways.

Oh father, if you were an atheist, I wouldn't bother. But anyone who trruly believes in God can not possibly accept artificial contraception as alright. God is the Creator of human life. It isn't about the intentions of conceiving or not. It is about the sexual act. It is in the sexual act and only in the sexual act of a man and a woman that God creates human life. Any unnatural intervention and degradation of the sexual act is a direct rejection of the Author of human life. I didnot think so in the past but now I am convinced that artificial contraception is evil.

God understands our fears and weaknesses and will still love us. But the law of choice and consequences will still be enforce, no matter how we think we can get away from it.

As for me, I can not be for RH Bill. I would rather look at LIFE as more than a RIGHT, but truly a GIFT. With that, I can live with the reality that this is not heaven, and be happy with the glimpse of it.

Reaction to:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/36410/conversing-with-a-bishop

The Battlefield of Life, Who's Winning?

Some people do not ever want to question God. Perhaps it is to them a manifestation of lack of trust or reverence. I do question God because I want to know - Him and His ways. However, in doing so, one must be prepared because sometimes the answer - the truth can surprise us, shock us, or amaze us.

There was one point when I did not question God but told Him point blank that "God, I think You are losing in the battle". Looking back, I am amazed at my nerve to say that. But He does answer all prayers including such irreverent accusations.

The answer: The battle between God and the Enemy had been won by God. It is me and humanity who is in the battlefield. Am I winning or losing? Are there more people winning or losing?

The battlefield is in the choices we make. Winning or losing, how do I gauge that. It depends on the destination where I want to go. There is only one road with two ends. One is the fullness of life and the other is living death. We are battling between life and death always by the choices we make. God wills and desires for each of us the fullness of life but He allows us to make that choice.

Yes, some choices are difficult to make. Sometimes, we can't see if it is life-giving or death-hugging. We are clouded by our fears, insecurities, needs, and pain. There will always be opposing voices enticing us to a particular direction. Still, if one is conscious of the battlefield; Mistakes can always be set aright with another choice.

Yet, the greatest loser in the battlefield is the one who doesn't even know he is in one. Just riding the tides and going along with the times. Just when I thought it was a battle between good and evil, God and the devil, light and darkness; I was just an onlooker getting wounded in the fight.

When we realize we are in the battlefield, we get a chance to examine our lives and where it is heading for. We can put up our armour. We can be aware of the temptations along the way. We realize we are not alone in the field.

When we know we are in the battlefield; We stop trying to win God to our side but rather strive to be on the side of God.

The Apostle of Love

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Oh St. Paul, you are so demanding. You mean angelic tongues does not necessarily mean the person has love. Well, yes, there are many people who can talk eloquently of love and beauty but would turn out to be mean and capable of doing so many bad things against others. So, we are reminded to walk the talk. Ok, love is more than great rhetorics, pep talk, and inspiring speeches. LOVE is MORE.

If I have the gift of prophecy,
Hold on, St Paul, I hear so many people say, "how blessed they are," and it would seem like they are highly favored by God. And, wow, even special gifts like prophecy may not be a manifestation of loving. Oh yes, being blessed may not necessarily make one a blessing for others. Some people may be so gifted but they can use their gifts for evil. LOVE is MORE than the gifts.

and know all mysteries and all knowledge;
St. Paul, you say knowledge isn't enough, too. So reason and intellect may not bring forth love. I can accept that, too. Children can be most loving though unreasonable and the uneducated can possess much goodness. So the saying, to know you is to love you, is but a partial manifestation of love. Knowledge like the gifts and the angelic speech may be used for the detriment of others. LOVE is MORE.

and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
Now, this is getting harder, St. Paul, you are saying faith is not enough. Luther insisted on faith alone. Alright, he just added the word "alone". But isn't believing the beginning of living. Well, alright, majority of the people of this pilgrim world are believers and yet there are wars, killings, and slander. Oh, St Paul, one can have such strong faith and still be nothing. This is hard, love is more than faith. LOVE is MORE.

And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor,
Actions like giving and feeding do not necessarily equate to love? Well, corrupt politicians can be quite giving yet stealing. But how about feeding, Jesus had taught us to feed the hungry. Still, it is not the be all and end all of love. Denouncing materialism to the point of giving up possessions and coupled with good intentions and still not love. LOVE is MORE. It is more than the actions and intentions.

and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NASB)
St. Paul, giving up something may still have an absence of love? Even giving up one's life to be burned? Some do give up their families for another person and some give up their faith for fame. Okay, not all giving up may not make love. LOVE is MORE.

Good words, good actions, good thoughts and intentions, good talents and power, good knowledge, good belief, and good actions may not by itself equate to goodness or love. Love is more than each one of these.

Then, you went on with specific things, St. Paul. You began with patience. Yes, patience can be manifested in words, actions, surrender, thought, reason, faith, and intentions. And so are the other virtues.
So, love is integrity - a wholeness of the person that bears and rejoices in truth in all that who we are. Love isn't duplicity or worst multiple personality. It is faithfulness to God who is Truth whether we are alone or with people. Whether we are at work or on vacation, in the dining room or in the bedroom. Truth in thoughts, words, and action.

In spite of, love being universally sought; It takes a lifetime to learn the ways of love. It takes a lot of grace and work to be a loving person.

Ok, St Paul, love is free but LOVE isn't CHEAP.