http://www.rcam.org/Homilies/2005/statement_bishop_honesto_ongtioco_diocese_of_cubao.htm

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CUBAO

TRUE SHEPHERDS IN TIME OF CRISIS

14 June 2005

Beloved People of God:

Grace and Peace from God our Father and the lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:3).

We speak to you once more in this moment of crisis with the hope that
all of us will be guided by the voice of the Good Shepherd. These are
moments of uncertainty and confusion. We sense our people's
frustration and fatigue over these political and national issues and
events that continuously sabotage genuine hunger and thirst for peace
and progress to the point that it renders a good number of our people
to give up on their hope and struggle on the one hand; restlessness,
anger and rage on the other. While the majority of our people clamor
and struggle to live by the truth with honor there are so many
discordant voices on different sides that will do anything to distort
and manipulate it thereby sowing confusion and division among our
people. These are challenging times for us. Our chief challenge is to
show that our Christian faith is as relevant to the lives of people in
our times as it was to the followers of Jesus in the early days of the
Church. We need to live and celebrate that faith in such a way that it
will be heard and experienced as good news, the answer to the human
questioning and the fulfillment of human hopes and desires. It is in
this light that we speak to you in this time of crisis in order to
guide and give hope, to assure and to stand by you and with you, to
establish solidarity and undivided comment to shepherd one another,
towards communal prayer, discernment, and action.

The situation surrounding us is without any doubt fragile and
emotionally charged. Any particular news can trigger an outburst of
different emotions that could result not in rational solutions and
arrival at the truth but in a further distortion of what is real and
beneficial. By utilizing faith and reason over our emotions, the
crisis we face not only remains a challenge but an opportunity by
which God can teach and direct us into arriving at a united action and
commitment towards justice and peace in our land. We must always
consider the greater good of the majority over and above personal and
political gain. To overcome this crisis we will move towards the side
of peace rather than violence and revolt. The option for a sincere and
honest humble dialogue must be among the first and surest steps to be
taken to overcome this challenge.

The Church of the Diocese of Cubao the dissatisfaction and unrest of
many of our people, the lack of trust and confidence in any or on both
sides that are fighting it without conscientiously considering the
dire effects on our country of their selfish bickering and
politicking. Our political culture has caused endless pains and
sufferings to our people. It has put this country and its people into
this endless crisis. Our people are tired of endless talks, scandals,
corruption, empty promises and selfish deeds.

We address ourselves to our politicians. When will you really deliver?
Provide us with a leadership likened to a shepherd who would protect
rather hurt; a leadership that is willing to put aside personal
welfare for the sake of people's desire to achieve human progress.

We reiterate our call for genuine reform and honest governance. The
change we call for will always be primarily a transformation of hearts
and minds.

The President of the Philippines should govern morally and
transparently is she is to lead this country out of this crisis. You
are our shepherd; we, your people are waiting. We ask you to speak to
us and clarify these issues.

We also admonish those who are in the position to take only the
instruments of dialogue, honest intentions, and moral means of
arriving at the truth.

Times of crises are times of sacrifice and selflessness. It is also a
time of renunciation of all forms of violence and self
centered-interests. This is most especially a time for deep prayer and
discernment so that the Good Lord will teach us how to shepherd one
another toward the peaceful pastures of His Kingdom. We ask for the
grace of radical conversion; we ask for the courage and strength to
forge unity among ourselves and with one another. As we celebrate the
Eucharistic and Marian Year, may we realize that we are truly One
Body. May Mary, our Mother, continue to guide and protect us.

HONESTO F. ONGTIOCO, D.D.
Bishop of Cubao

And the Clergy of the Diocese of Cubao

Copyright (c) 2003 Archdiocese of Manila. All rights reseved.