Ang baha ba sa Pilipinas ay ang paraan ng pagpapataw ng parusa ng ating mapagmahal Diyos dahil sa napakalaking kasalanan at korapsyon sa pamahalaan, sabwatan ng mga iilang politiko at mga ganid na kontratista sa gobyerno? Isa ba itong halimbawa at kapareho ng kwento sa bibliya tungkol sa Malaking Baha noong panahon ni Noah, na … Read more
In the 2019 documentary, The Kingmaker, Imelda Marcos commented that “perception is real, truth is not.” The statement underscores the Marcos family’s active endorsement of — if not direct participation in — shaping alternative narratives about their legacy, effectively contributing to the distortion or erasure of historical truths from the nation’s collective memory. Collective memory, … Read more
On this blessed occasion, we find ourselves reflecting on two profound celebrations: the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity and Father’s Day. Each, in its own way, invites us to contemplate the mystery of love, relationship, and identity. The Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is the central mystery of our Catholic faith. It reveals to us … Read more
Clericalism is an attitude that arises from an imbalance in the understanding of the roles and functions of the clergy and the laity within the Church. It often manifests as an overemphasis on the power and importance of the clergy, leading to a hierarchical structure where the laity are undervalued or treated as subordinate. Clericalism … Read more
Sharpening the Faith: Discovering What We Truly Believe In my 53 years as a Catholic, one thing keeps surprising me: many of us still don’t fully know or understand the basic teachings of our faith. We go to Mass, pray regularly, and some of us even went to Catholic schools—yet we might still be unsure … Read more
For the People of God in the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS PASTORAL GUIDANCE? Partisan politics is not within the mission of the Church. This catechism is not about partisanship; it is about morality in politics. We, your shepherds, have the duty to teach and guide our flock because immoral and … Read more
The time when the Catholic Church had three popes simultaneously is known as the Western Schism (also called the Great Schism of the West), which lasted from 1378 to 1417. The schism was not about doctrinal issues but rather about authority and legitimacy. It began after the return of the papacy from Avignon to Rome, … Read more
What do Jesus mean when he said “”Judge not, that you be not judged” in Matthew 7:1? Can we really not judge? Jesus’s teaching to “Judge not, that you be not judged” is a call to avoid rash, condemnatory judgment, not a prohibition of all discernment [^3]. The Catholic understanding of this teaching emphasizes the … Read more
The story of the woman caught in adultery, as recorded in John 8:1-11, is a powerful and enduring passage that speaks volumes about judgment, mercy, and the human condition. Let’s reflect on the key elements: The Setup: Jesus is teaching in the temple when the scribes and Pharisees bring before him a woman caught in … Read more
“Hope for Justice” Statement of Bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza, Diocese of San Carlos In this Jubilee Year of Hope. The pursuit of justice, particularly transformative justice, has found renewed vigor among us who are advocating for peace and justice. From the harrowing era of state-sponsored killings that plagued our nation to the recent issuance of … Read more