Filipino Catholic bishops led by the Archbishop of Manila have urged church-goers not to forget the atrocities during the martial law era. But will the people heed their advice?
The Catholic Church’s hierarchy had gone silent after the presidential election results in May. It was perhaps a painful realization for them that very few Catholics listened to their call to support opposition candidate and for-mer Vice President Leonor Robredo.
The Catholic Church had not involved itself in national politics since the Church-supported 1986 People Power Revolution, which removed Dictator Ferdinand Marcos from power.
During the presidential election, clergy-men wore pink masks and shirts — the color adopted by Robredo supporters. Pastoral letters were issued against martial law and election frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s purported effort to revise Philippine history.
Despite accusations of electioneering by conservatives, priests formed associations to support Robredo. The Canon law’s provision for the Church’s non-partisanship was stretched to the limit. But still, Robredo lost. Marcos, Jr. won by an overwhelming majority with 31 million votes.
What happened to the Catholic consci-ence? Do Catholics in the Philippines still listen to their bishops and priests? Or have they pushed them aside while they themselves decide on matters that directly affect the nation?
On the 50th anniversary of martial law, the Catholic prelates spoke.
Perceived to be a clergyman who doesn’t engage in politics, Archbishop Cardinal Jose Fuerte Advincula broke his silence on martial law. Now the stance of the Archbishop of Manila is clear. His statement should silence any critics. He’s not an archbishop sitting in an ivory tower while looking at his flock in the old walled city of Intramuros in the capital.
Cardinal Advincula is still a pastor who does not want to erase the atrocities of martial law from Philippine history, and I suppose, from the history of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.