Schools that promote indifference

Schools that promote indifference
Inquirer

I READ WITH INTEREST THE COLUMN “Catholic education” written by Michael L. Tan. He particularly cited Xavier School and St. Scholastica’s College. Indeed, both schools play an important role in making a better society by helping citizens pursue their vocations and fulfill them.

In my town Aparri, there is also this Catholic school, the Lyceum of Aparri, which is not only seriously committed to giving quality Catholic education to the youth of the north. It is also firmly involved in community-building. For instance, its school policies, mission statement, goals of its departments and even the lesson objectives on the lectures of teachers are consistent with the dogmas and teachings of the Catholic Church. A student here not only gets to be enlightened about the world, he is made to appreciate his being a Catholic.

But I know of some Catholic schools that are indifferent to social issues, thus producing students with little--if any—-sense of social involvement.

For the school, a measure of the students’ functional literacy is knowing the social issues of the day and discussing their possible solutions. Teachers and administrators see to it that the students get first-hand information about the poor and the neglected in society, the moral issues attached to jueteng, illegal fishing, graft and corruption and the like. Thus, students become aware of present-day social concerns and get to know the saving truth of the Gospel.

Catholic education has a lot to contribute to making a better society. It is most unfortunate, though, that there are some Catholic schools which remain passive or indifferent to social concerns. No wonder the graduates of these schools are also passive and indifferent. Indeed, most Catholic schools are mere learning institutions. Students who belong to affluent families are generally the ones who have access to these schools. Thus, the schools become “exclusive” in the real sense of the word, violating in the process Christ’s command for all his disciples to “preach the good news to all nations.”

The Catholic Church promotes “preferential option for the poor.” Therefore, Catholic schools should not be blind to the needs of the poor and the marginalized in society. They should defend the poor against unscrupulous leaders, and educate all in the ways of truth and the saving grace of the Gospel.

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO, member, Sangguniang Bayan, Aparri, Cagayan

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Un-Catholic Catholic politicians

Un-Catholic Catholic politicians

I lost the senatorial race but I gained a firmer faith to my God. I felt I did not campaign at all to win a senate seat but I ran to defend my church. The attacks even came from our own flock, the Catholic Church. I was a witness to a disgraceful display of Catholic politicians and even priests and religious strongly espousing the RH Bill. Worse, they even support the candidacy of Catholic politicians who champion platforms of government that are antithetical to the teachings and traditions of the church. These are scandalous and they may entice others to commit sin.

Shall the church ignore the sinful acts of these Catholic politicians? Does it not concern the church hierarchy to protect the sheep from the wolves?

A believing Catholic who loves the church should defend her at all cost and unconditionally embrace her teachings on the fundamental contents of faith and morals. It is my humble opinion that anyone who professes that he or she is a Catholic yet acts in a contrary manner is a humbug.

Ours is a pluralistic society and probably most of the Catholic politicians aver that in this situation they can make up their own minds on different social issues without being guided by any moral directives from the church. That is fine by me. Yet, the Church through some of her bishops and priests are relentlessly reminding the Catholic politicians of their moral obligations to the teachings of the church.

When shall the Catholic politicians truly behave as Catholics? Shall the bishops and priests dilly-dally or be tongue-tied on these crooked behaviors of the Catholic politicians? All of us Catholics should be awakened from our moral slumber and denounce these anti-Catholic outbreak from our own Catholic politicians.

I believe that the church is God’s living voice. I will remain to be a part of that voice and continue to evangelize politics either in or out of the senate hall.