Bible campaign gains worldwide awareness through the synod

An ecumenical endeavor of ECBA and Philippine Bible Society (PBS) with the cooperation of other Christian churches, the bible campaign dubbed “May they be one” (Ps 133:1, Jn 17:21) aims to disseminate five million low cost bibles to poor Filipino families in five years.

“May they be one” (MTBO) campaign was launched last September 30, 2008 at the Manila Cathedral in a Eucharistic celebration officiated by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams. The event was concelebrated by a number of bishops led by Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD, chair of Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate and President of the Philippine Bible Society’s Board of Trustees. Bishop Bastes was the head of the Philippine delegation to the World Synod of Bishops in Rome held last October 5-26, 2008.

Based on a report made by Bishop Bastes, the project generated a worldwide interest when he presented it in three separate events during the 12th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in Rome.

He first presented the MTBO campaign to an international group during a dinner reception organized by Rev. Miller Milloy, general secretary of United Bible Societies for Catholic prelates, and representatives from United Bible Societies and the Catholic Biblical Federation and Catholic prelates attending the synod.

Bishop Bastes also cited as significant the signing of a joint statement on Partnership in the Biblical Ministry between the Catholic Biblical Federation and United Bible Societies. The signing, which took place during a press conference at the Vatican Press Office on October 14, was organized by Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Catholic Biblical Federation.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of Pontifical Council for Promotion of Christian Unity spoke of the ecumenical movement started by the Vatican Council, which developed with the collaboration of many Christian churches especially in the area of biblical pastoral ministry.

In the same press briefing, Rev. Milloy showed his appreciation on the fruitful partnership of UBS and Catholic Biblical Federation in the work of bible translation and distribution which made possible for Christians to understand and live the word of God in the tradition of their own Church.

“Therefore the Bible Societies’ services to the Catholic Church may now include the provision of Bible editions in which the books are presented in the order of the Catholic biblical canon, and in which helps for readers to gain understanding of the meaning of the text [that] reflect the Catholic Church’s teaching and tradition,” he said.

During the General Assembly, in his few minutes of intervention, Rev. Milloy again commended the MTBO “as a model of cooperation of a national bible society with the Catholic Church.”

Given the chance to speak up in a period of “free intervention” Bishop Bastes followed up Rev. Milloy’s talk with further explanation of the aim of MTBO and the collaborative effort of the Catholic Church and PBS in organizing the National Catholic Family Bible Quiz and the publication of Catholic Bible Reading Guide. The prelate also took the chance to ask churches and bible societies of richer countries to support the biblical ministry of poor countries. He likewise thanked UBS and PBS for their collaboration with Catholic Church in the common task of spreading the gospel.

During an individual photo session of Synod participants with the pope, Bishop Bastes gave the pontiff a special “papal” edition of the MTBO bible. He likewise gave another “papal” edition to Cardinal Walter Kasper. The Cardinal had written an endorsement of the MTBO project.

Bishop Bastes had given away ordinary editions of the MTBO bibles to several friends and Church dignitaries not merely as a souvenir and but also a reminder for them to help in the biblical fund-raising campaign. Recipients of the bible include Rev. Milloy, Bishop Paglia, Mr. Alexander Schweitzer (CBF General Secretary), Archbishop Ignatius Kaigma (former member of the Executive Committee of the CBF), Ms. Teresa Wilsnagh (new member of the EC-CBF), Bishop Felix Toppo, SJ, (Bishop Bastes’ neighbor at the Synod hall), all Filipino Synod participants, SVD’s in Rome, personnel at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino and some others.