My Faith Restored

I have been verbal about my disappointment with the actions of several bishops, priests and nuns the past few days and I finally did something to help me release my sentiments. I wrote Monsignor Pepe Quitorio of the CBCP. I was glad I did because I tend to generalize when i air my sentiments. Here is the mosnignor's reply in full:

dear rodel,

thanks for your email. i understand your sentiments. on social issues each one should be able to express his opinion--it is our inherent right. you will pehaps agree that to suppress one's opinion or individual stand on issues is not very wholesome.

perhaps it is good to correct some generalizations:

1. there are presently 7,800 plus catholic priests in the philippines. only three (2 bishops and 1 priest) were in makati. to say that "priests and bishops are modern day pharisees persecuting the president" is not very accurate. are we to condemn the remaining 7,797 priests who does nothing but celebrate the sacraments and minister to their parishes or schools?

2. bishop labayen is retired and fr robert is on leave from his diocese. only bishop tobias is active. to tag them as church leaders is not also accurate.

i hope the above figures will somehow situate your disappointment with the church which, incidentally does not belong to the priests cited above but to the composite of millions of lay people and thousands of priests, nuns and bishops.

have a nice day.

msgr quitorio

This reply has puit my views to better perspective and i have been somewhat calmed by his assurance and remark that indeed, the church does not belong to the bishops I am disappointed with, but to the "composite of millions of lay people and thousands of priests, nuns and bishops". With this caliming reassurance, My faith in the catholic religion has been restored. I only wish there are more people like Monsignor Quiterio who bother to talk to the millions of faithful who wish to express themselves fully.