So where to now St. Peter
If it’s true I’m in your hands
I may not be a Christian
But I’ve done all one man can
I understand I’m on the road
Where all that was is gone
So where to now St. Peter
Show me which road I’m on…
- lyrics and music Bernie Taupin and Elton John; performed by Elton John
OF COURSE it’s Friday and as some sort of tradition we have in this column, we usually write about the arts, particularly music. Call it a break from the political and social scene.
The usual suspects i.e. the social climbers, “devotees to the cult of the yellow ribbon” and the rest of the idiots will still be there and we can always have our fun pissing them off and making them squirm in their “yellow knickers” come Monday.
Yes, we will be talking about music but along the way we’ll take a snipe at an organization that cannot seem to define itself whether it’s a religious one or a political one; certainly it cannot be both as the Constitution of the Philippines is specific on the separation of the Church and State.
I’m sure by now you’ve noticed that this particular song we are talking about has some religious connotation, which makes it perfect for us to segue in and out from music to politics and religion.
And you guessed it right. This particular religious organization is the Philippine Catholic Church, you know, the one with those meddlesome “holier than thou” bishops.
Here are excerpts from Aries C. Rufino’s book, Altar of Secrets:
While the Church dips its fingers into every aspect of Filipino life, it has resisted outside attempts to poke into its internal affairs. Like a cloistered monastery, it has kept from the public the scandals and irregularities of its members, within its sacrosanct walls. Those who do otherwise are considered enemies of the Church.
This is the double standard of the Church. It demands responsibility from the faithful and accountability from the government. Yet it shirks from the same standards when self-assessment requires it.
Yes, the book is about the church, the Philippine Catholic Church in particular, and it’s all about the juicy secrets, scandals and corruption that the padre and madre de cacaos would like to sweep under the hems of their habits and cassocks.
This book is now No.1 on President Rodrigo Duterte’s reading list and becoming a bestseller, making those “holier than thou” bishops squirm in their yellow-colored knickers.
Moi just got a copy last week from PowerBooks at Rockwell Center Power Plant Mall in Makati and it has to be there, you know. para sosyal…
I’ll just park this:
Hypocrisy is the contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations, especially with respect to religious and moral beliefs; hence in a general sense, hypocrisy may involve dissimulation, pretense, or a sham. Hypocrisy is the practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticizes another.
And moving on, we segue to the song in hand, from that free online encyclopedia a.k.a. the internet:
Where to Now St. Peter? is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the sixth track (first track on side two) of his third studio album, Tumbleweed Connection released in 1970. It addresses the subject of whether the final destination is heaven or hell told through the point of view of a dying soldier.
From www.songfacts.com:
This song is about the death of a soldier who is passing over to the other side. The conflict in which he died is not specified but in view of the theme of the album, it is likely that lyricist Bernie Taupin was thinking about the American Civil War. The song is similar to Wilfred Owen’s World War One poem Strange Meeting, in which a soldier meets the man who killed him on the battlefield.
I hope that you have seen the parallel between this song and the strange very un-spiritual behavior of some of the bishops, priests and nuns of the Philippine Catholic Church.
It’s almost like they belong to a political party that is opposing the current government of President Rodrigo Duterte and not as clergy belonging to the Philippine Catholic Church.
The song Where to Now St. Peter is basically about a dead man’s soul knocking on the pearly gates and confronted or meeting St. Peter and asking him where his destiny lies or which direction will he take to heaven or hell.
And we are asking the Philippine Catholic Church leadership what direction are they taking the faithful to: is it to spiritual salvation as what they are supposed to do or to bring President Rodrigo Duterte down as what they are not supposed to do and that is meddle in political or affairs of the state? (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
