Php 70.00 Vol. 44 No. 1 • JANUARY 2010 - IMPACT Magazine Online!

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NEWS FEATURES Vietnamese Church: migrants are source of development not social problem XUAN LOC, Vietnam, Jan. 4, 2010— Drug addiction, social discrimination, high rate of abortions and children forced to grow up in unhealthy environments. Internal migrants in Vietnam are a valuable resource for the national economy. However, public opinion in the country considers them a source of social problems and youth unemployment. To facilitate integration, the Catholic Church of Vietnam has initiated programs that respond to the "great question of spirituality in life” and the need for "moments together to share experiences". The migrants have left rural areas seeking employment in urban centers. They are mainly concentrated in industrial zones in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Creation, from page 9 the all-powerful Creator and the Father of mercies, so that all men and women may take to heart the urgent appeal: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. From the Vatican, 8 December 2009 BENEDICTUS PP. XVI ENDNOTES: [1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 198. [2] Benedict XVI, Message for the 2008 World Day of Peace, 7. Clergy, from page 21 but also for the country, saying the current situation in the country needs vigilant lay people who are aware of their rights and responsibility. “CBCP dedicated this year as the year of the two hearts of Jesus and Mary. Since the election is nearing, so we should also have a renewed vision of our society. Our people should elect the right persons to join the government. If we follow always the traditional politics, nothing will happen in our country, But if we are convinced of the people we should vote for, then we will not sell our vote,” he said. The clergy retreat will culminate in the afternoon of January 29, with a huge procession of bishops and priests from World Trade Center to Cuneta Astrodome to celebrate the closing Eucharist with the laity. Around 4,200 clergy nationwide have already registered for the five-day spiritual event. The clergy congress is being organized by the Episcopal Commission on Clergy of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. (CBCPNews) in the province of Binh Duong, Bien Hoa in Dong Nai province. According to a recent survey carried out by the General Office of Statistics, each year more than 1.5 million people move from rural to urban centers. Of these, more than 800 thousand remain within the province of origin, a further 631 thousand move to other provinces. More than 90% send their earnings to their family. Brother Phi, of the Congregation of Christian Brothers of St. John Baptist de la Salle, has launched a series of meetings for students and young workers in the diocese of Xuan Loc "This is the first time that we have organized gatherings for immigrants in the Industrial Bein Hoa area—explains the religious—and it surprised us to see the participation of about 500 people. They are not seeking a solution to their material problems, but they do show a great demand for spirituality in their lives. The meeting was also attended by non-Catholics". A student from the group tells AsiaNews he wants “more time to read the Bible and moments of common prayer.” “We need,” he added, “a spiritual life and to profess our faith in God.” A second young man reports that discrimination is still on the agenda. Dung, a native of the diocese of Than Hoa, states that migrants "are looking for a job. I do not steal, do not ask for charity, but many people look at me with hostility. " Since 1987 the diocese of Xuan Loc is one of the towns most affected by the phenomenon of internal migration. To respond to the pastoral care, it promotes charitable initiatives to support the poor, the Catholics have taken a special missionary work. From August to December 2009 Father Nguyen Van Uy, director of the local Caritas, has held five training sessions for 81 people between teachers and catechists who work in more than 200 parishes. In 2009 they celebrated 1,114 baptisms. (AsiaNews) [3] Cf. No.48. [4] Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy, Paradiso, XXXIII, 145. [5] Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace, 1. [6] Apostolic Letter Octogesima Adveniens, 21. [7] Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace, 10. [8] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 32. [9] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 295. [10] Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 535 – c. 475 B.C.), Fragment 22B124, in H. Diels-W. Kranz, Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, Weidmann, Berlin,1952, 6th ed. [11] Cf. Benedict XVI,Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 48. [12] John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 37. [13] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 50. [14] Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 69. [15] Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 34. [16] Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 37. [17] Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 467; cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 17. [18] Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 30-31, 43 [19] Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 49. [20] Ibid. [21] Cf. Saint Thomas Aquinas, S. Th., II-II, q. 49, 5. [22] Cf. No. 9. [23] Cf. No. 8. [24] Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 43. [25] Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 69. [26] John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 36. [27] Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 51. [28] Cf. ibid., 15, 51. [29] Cf. ibid., 28, 51, 61; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 38, 39. [30] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 70 22 IMPACT • January 2010
Dear People of God, “Happy New Year!” This greeting may not just remain a simple wish; its realization is within reach. Now, more than ever, we hold the promise of a happier Philippines, despite the tragedies that happened in the preceding year. Institutions need change. No less than the late Holy Father, Pope John XXIII of holy memory, said when he convoked the Second Vatican Council: “Ecclesia semper reformanda est”. (The Church must always be in the process of reform). 2010 in our political life is an election year; people through the exercise of their right of suffrage will effect a power shift in the executive and legislative branches of our civil government. We must retain what is good, promote what still needs improvement and discard what is base and corrupt. However, admittedly and sadly, a number of us have remained myopic by focusing our attention only to the satisfaction of the moment, swayed by the glitter of money and promises of We represent all walks of life and communities in the coastal, low and highland areas. We come together this November 19, after reeling from the multiple crises that have been aggravated by the destructive climate risks. We believe in the indivisibility of human survival and human development, reject the thesis of “survival of the fittest” as socio-economic underpinning, and advocate for the propitious partiality towards the weaker and marginalized members of our people and society. We do not accept the conjecture that the catastrophic effects of climate change are inevitable. Nonetheless, we believe it is an issue of cooperative survival. We thus close ranks to commit ourselves STATEMENTS New Year’s Message patronage, and do not raise our eyes beyond election time to the resultant situation created by our indiscretion. Those who have allowed, much worse abetted, corruption to thrive in our midst, do not have the right to complain. If we were a part of the problem yesterday, we can also be a part of the solution today. We hold the key to a better tomorrow. We need an informed electorate enlightened through voters’ education, a vigilant citizenry who will guard against the attempts of some to frustrate the genuine will of the people, and steadfast persons who stay undaunted by intimidation of ruthless politicians, in order to put into office reliable leaders who would guide our nation in the coming years. The poor constitute the greater part of our population. They are remembered and courted by politicians during the campaign period. “Poverty alleviation”, “more jobs” and “upliftment of the masses” are some familiar refrains chanted by candidates and issues incorporated into their attractive platforms. If only there is political will, the economic situation of our people would be far better now that it was generations back. Social transformation starts within ourselves. Election is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss. Over and above the factors beyond our capacity, with our great faith in God and in ourselves, we can still make our wish for a happy new year a reality. God bless us all. +NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, DD Bishop of Tandag CBCP President December 30, 2009 Fairness in a Fragile World—Climate Change A Declaration of Convergence and Unity unequivocally to the crucial task of rebuilding our nation and communities through multi-dimensional reforms. To address the perils of climate change objectively, the primary link to asset reform must be established on solid ground. The coverage would include: (a) peace and security, (b) adequate access to essential services such as education, health care and basic amenities, (c) gainful employment or livelihood within the country, and (d) human development at the community, familial and personal levels from the short to long-term periods. All these aggregated constitute holistic social justice and the systemic enabler for the people to reasonably and vigorously address climate change directly today and for future generations. We observe that the present meteorological shifts started as a slow process of environmental degradation one millennium ago, which has started to spiral rapidly towards a tipping point at the onset of the prior century. We express serious concern for climatic phenomena, such as tsunami, extreme floods, landslides, earthquakes, hurricanes, poisoning of land and sea, rapid depletion of natural and biotic resources, melting of polar ice caps, depletion of ozone layer, among others. And we are much more seriously concerned that most of these phenomena are caused by human recklessness and greed. We therefore convey our anxiety and fear on the ability of our beloved mother earth to carry our children into the next century. It is in this light that we join in the call of the United Nations for a legally binding climate treaty among rich and developing nations on Volume 44 • Number 1 23
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