I'M A renewed Catholic. One basic reason for going back to Holy Mother Church from being a militant atheist is Catholic Social Teachings (CST). They trumped ideologies I have embraced that has proven bad for Philippine society.
I reinvented my life into becoming an environmental, human right and peacebuilding advocate based on the allure of CST. Over time, I also became a Catholic charismatic of the Light of Jesus Family and a prayer guide of the Prayer and Life Workshop.
I use social media as a tool to evangelize, integrating Catholic spirituality with environmental and human rights.
So I got amused that a Facebook "friend" whom I don't know from Eve posted a response on a Facebook post. "Kaya nga, huwag makialam ang kaparian sa gobyerno ang intindihin nila yung relihiyon. Kaya naman nasasagot at nasusupalpal dahil mahilig makialam sa pulitika."
I agreed with her. The Catholic clergy—and Catholics for that matter— should stick to their religion. That means standing up CST, even in politics.
Catholic social teaching is that body of social principles and moral teaching that is articulated in the papal, conciliar and other official documents issued since the late 19th century dealing with the economic, political and social order. This teaching is rooted in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures as well as in traditional philosophical and theological teachings of the Church.
There are certain encyclical and conciliar documents, as well as some key teaching documents, which are typically considered to be the core texts of the still ongoing development of Catholic social teaching.
As a Catholic, I take my inspiration on the care of the environment Pope Francis's Laudato Si. "Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude."
St John Paul II wrote in Centesimus Annus, "Instead of carrying out his role as a co-operator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature, which is more tyrannized than governed by him.... humanity today must be conscious of its duties and obligations toward future generations."
In Evangelium Vitae, the beloved Pope and saint emphasized the Value and Inviolability of Human Life. "The sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end, and can affirm the right of every human being to have this primary good respected to the highest degree. Upon the recognition of this right, every human community and the political community itself are founded."
As early as 1961, Pope John XXIII alluded on respect for human rights in Mater et Magistra, "First consideration must obviously be given to those values which concern man's dignity generally and the immense worth of each individual human life."
Yes, indeed. Stick to the Catholic faith? You bet, with the Popes as our shepherds. (bqsanc@yahoo.com)
