1204 Philippines crisis: Fr Wong writes to the Salesian Family about 'politics of the Our Father'
austraLasia 1204
Philippines crisis: Fr Wong writes to the
Salesian Family about 'politics of the Our Father'
MANILA: 19 July 2005 -- "Our country is beset by another
political crisis of such magnitude that it threatens to polarize our
society....as children of Don Bosco how can we make the 'politics of
the Our Father' find its voice and impact on the economic and political
life of our nation?"
That is the question posed by Fr Andrew Wong to
members of the Salesian Family, Salesian youth leaders, Bosconians
(past pupils) and their families as the nation lurches through yet
another leadership crisis. President Gloria Arroyo has challenged
her opponents to go through with an impeachment process in the moral
certainty that it cannot succeed, that she did not knowingly or
otherwise attempt to rig votes in last year's closely contested
election.
But the Philippines' Bishops have defined this
crisis, along with others of recent times, as basically a moral one -
or one stemming from the lack of moral values in individuals, in
relationships, in social structures.
Fr Wong, in an effort to answer his own question,
quotes Bishop Patrick Buzon, former provincial of the Philippines South
province: "we are the Church amongst the Filipino youth". Fr Wong
goes on to say that this defines the Salesian's role and identity
including now in this current crisis. "Our people are groping in the
dark and they look up to us priests and religious for moral guidance",
he says. He then recognises that by far the largest group of 'the
Family' are laity. He encourages them to "courageous political
action based on genuine discernment and prayer, in keeping with the
framework of our nation's Constitution".
The thrust of Fr Wong's letter is a restatement of
the commitment that Salesians and the Salesian Family make to be at all
times educators in the faith and evangelisers of the young, but in an
active way, to form "a leaven of social transformation for our
country", these latter words taken from a recent pastoral letter from
the Bishops.
The Salesian Family, if one includes all Bosconians
and their families, is a large and influential body in the
Philippines. This forthright response to the current crisis will
be welcomed by them. It is a call to action.
_____________________
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