LET’S NOT forget this: The Philippines — one of the most unequal countries in Asia, whose dominant religion tells it to do only good, love your neighbor and oppose evil — elected nine years ago a tough-talking mayor to the presidency with whoops of joy. Was that the result of true Christianity?
That mayor had pledged to kill thousands of suspected drug users if he were elected. He was, and promptly instilled horror in the nation, with law enforcers and reported death squads killing anyone suspected of crimes related to illegal drugs. The rule of law was abandoned.
An estimated 30,000 people were summarily executed as part of mayor-turned-president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. He is now detained by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity committed against Filipinos.
Apparently, so-called Philippine Catholicism has failed to inspire, educate and lay the moral foundation on a nation based on the Gospel values as taught by Jesus of Nazareth. A nation where as many as 16 million people go hungry every day, where crimes and child sexual abuse and its cover-up are widespread, even in the Church itself.
Moral fighting force
It is an institution, critics say, that has largely failed to be a strong moral fighting force in society for uncompromising action for social justice in imitation of Jesus’ example. He challenged the hypocrites in leadership roles and the ruling families, calling them white-painted sepulchers looking nice outside but rotting inside.
The Church, as an institution as distinct from the impoverished people of God, who are victimized and oppressed, apparently has lost its way by compromising way too much with evildoers and protecting child abusers, save for a few courageous bishops and priests who opposed the Duterte administration.
These true Christians — Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao and Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani of Novaliches, as well as Fr. Robert Reyes and Bro. Armin Luistro — and perhaps another 20 clergymen — opposed Duterte and his alleged crimes.
But most remained silent. These bishops, priests and laypeople who stood openly against Duterte were initially charged with incitement to sedition, cyberlibel, libel and obstruction of justice in July 2019. They were accused of attempting to overthrow Duterte. But they were only opposing evil and defending the people of God, as what Jesus did.
Prosecutors admitted on Feb. 10, 2020, that there was no evidence linking these clerics to a plot to overthrow the Duterte administration, and the Department of Justice dropped all charges against them.
Where can we find true Christianity in the Philippines today?
There are thousands of committed Filipino human rights workers, environmental defenders, social workers, children’s rights protectors, caregivers and other good people who truly live according to the values of Jesus Christ in action, fighting for justice and truth. A good number of them have been falsely accused, charged, harassed, arrested and even murdered for their commitment to defending the poor and vulnerable.
These are the true Filipino Christians doing good for the poor and vulnerable and opposing evil, risking themselves and their reputations in the belief that they will win in the end. That is true faith. That is what Jesus of Nazareth did, and he was crucified for it.
As St. James wrote in the New Testament: “Faith without action is dead.”/PN
