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.
_____________________
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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