CBCP head: Change has to start with oneself

SAYING that the message of peace is as relevant and urgent today as it was two thousand years ago, the president of the Catholic hierarchy urged Catholics to work for social transformation beginning “within ourselves” for peace to become a reality in the country.

“Let us ask Christ, the Prince of Peace, to heal our troubled land wounded by fraternal strife, and to touch our hearts to be open to love, justice and Christian faith,” said CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, in a Christmas message.

The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said social change can only be possible if it starts within oneself.

“[Then] we can be at peace with ourselves, with others and with God,” he said.

The bishop said “Prince of Peace” was how the Prophet Isaiah called Christ who was to come to save the world. And the angels sung “On earth peace to men of good will,” when they announced the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, he added.


Protracted war

The country which has a protracted war against insurgency in Muslim Mindanao, has recently witnessed the gruesome murder of 31 journalists and 26 supporters of a political candidate in the nation’s worst election-related violence.

Because of it, Odchimar said, “some children became orphans; a number of husbands turned into widowers while some wives became widows; and grieving parents were deprived of their children.”

State of unpeace

But the prelate was quick to add that peace is not just the “absence of war or physical violence” since various factors can contribute to a state of unpeace.

Citing a number of instances that reflect the country current state of affairs, the bishop said greed and lust for power can bring the nation in a situation of unpeace.

“Greed for wealth and material possession could drive people to engage in shady transactions, into the degradation of our forests and environment, and into the use of public funds to finance private undertakings,” he said.

He also said some people’s desire for power can lead them “to resort to the use of money, guns and goons,” especially during elections to prevent voters to elect worthy candidates into office.

“These in turn would breed situations for poor governance when officials are put into power through dubious machinations, seek replenishment of their funds unlawfully spent,” the prelate said.

Despite these gloomy realities in the social structures, Odchimar said “our faith gives us a glimmer of hope, as the bible in number of places has assured and exhorted us, and which the present Holy Father articulated in his encyclical letter “Spe Salvi Facti Sumus” (In hope we were saved).”