Political implications of Bacani scandal

It is important that we cast our eyes further afield than what is being presented to us by the Bacani Scandal. It may be about the allegedly unacceptable behavior of a bishop that is being investigated. But the bigger community would be losers, if they were to limit themselves to being curious about what really happened between Bacani and his secretary. After all, even the sexual proclivities of a bishop can be defended. There are enough materials and support for a more compassionate Church to review its celibacy rules. Therefore Bishop Bacani’s case, in that sense, is contributing to progressive thinking within the Church. Msgr. Nico Bautista has bravely taken up a position for optional celibacy. Unfortunately he has been told to shut up or else he will be defrocked.

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The [email protected] wrote: Progress will only come if the people from the top – down will let it happen. Whatever you dress it or call it federal parliament or the current system, the politicians mindset for power and enrichment for themselves and the civilian government implementators of any laws or regulations that sometimes we the public have to greased a few hands to keep the wheel turning. These things will not disappear with any systems. Filipinos still cloistered with their past that it needs to produce a new generation of leaders with unselfish civilian duty and lack of self importance. While we at it I think, it’s well overdue for us to cut that imblilical cord with the catholic church. What happen to the separation of power between the state and the church. Just a reminder the catholic Spain sold this country for 20 million silver dollars to the Americans. Just a quick analogy of the Spanish colonialism of the world with the conversion to Catholicism I cannot think of a single country that is not in dire position today.

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The outspoken Msgr. Nico Bautista is being censured for talking more than he is allowed by his superior, Cardinal Jaime Sin. The most outspoken church member on the scandal. But as he rightly says he is part of the intramurals. For secular citizens, that is not the issue. We have an extraordinary opportunity to pause and reflect on what the Roman Catholic religion is all about, how it came to the Philippines and continues it sway on millions of Filipinos. Rizal was right. The Catholic Church hierarchy in the Philippines has continued with the work of Spanish friars who suppressed the political and intellectual development of the Filipino nation. We should refer to the literature and history of the Roman Catholic Church both here and abroad to give us some tools for analysis. It will not do to just accept ecclesiastical diktat as the guiding principle of our lives and the making of our nation.

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Monsignor Nico, Shut up or else Phone interview, A thunderbolt struck me Modesto Teston, Salvador Jose, Emmanuel Sunga and Monsignor Antonio Unson" During Marcos time a priest still active in the Archdioces transmitted to me the message from Marcos crony, Nemesio Yabut for me to slow down on my conscientizing acts against the Dictator, with the threat of a blackmail. I wen on just the same and I have not talked about it stil now. It suddenly occurred to me when Bishop Vilelgas sent a delbation headed by Msgr. Unson at Mandarin, Is this an imprudence If in the media I have comeour well its my ministry to speak our for values divine and human.. …He was also told by a military man that he has been placed under surveillance during Marcos dictatorship. Ramos also told him that he also sent someone to surveill but this one was to protect him because if there was a surveillance order against him, he could be eliminated.

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The outspoken Msgr. Nicanor Bautista, known for his critical stance toward the local Catholic Church’s handling of sex scandals and a champion of ‘optional celibacy’ for the local clergy, has been sanctioned by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin for his open and public opposition to Catholic Church policies, notably priestly celibacy. In an interview with STAR, Bautista, head of the Catholic organization Mass Media Ministry said he received last Monday a third admonition from Sin Bautista described the latest admonistion as the last step to a more severe penalty of suspension or worse, defroncking. A copy of the third admonition, signed by Manila Archdiocese Chancellor Monsignor Roberto Canlas and dated June 19, was obtained by The STAR.

"At the order and by authority of the Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, the same Mosgr. Nicanor Bautista is hereby given this third amonistion tocease and desist from making public pronouncements against Church universal order and discipline..moer specifically on the matter of the law of priestly celibacy and the nature of the ecclesiastical procedula instruction on categoically Church administrative and judical concers. Failure of the same subject priest to satisfactoril heed this third admonition will make him incur canonical censure of suspension — open to the imposition of the penalty of dismissal (defrocking) from the clerical state in the event he persists in his insubordination."

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In his television interviews and newspaper articles, Bautista declared he was celibate. But that he was for optional celibacy; for local members of the clergy I hope we can get an objective view of the worl situaiton. We value celibacy but it is preventing competent men who could be good pastors servinc God;s peple but are kept away from the pastoral work either by resignation (since he wants to be authentic and get married or just refuses to enter the seminarysince he wants marriage.)

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On the Bacani scandal Bautista told ANC’s Business Morning hosted by Ricky Carangan "The house is on fire. Why do we wlk on tiptoe? Thisis an emergency. He was referring to the raging congtroversy that has enulfed the local Atholic Church and the refusal of its leadership to squarely face the proble. "We have to move fast and the Catholic Church has a serious responsibilit for moral ascendancy. You cannot buy time, you cannot kill time.

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