Stirrings

It has been reported that in February of this year, a number of Filipino lay Catholics are coming together for the "Discernment on the Prophetic Calling of the Lay Faithful in Philippine Society." Moreover, the same news report stated that a petition letter addressed to bishops, priests and religious has been written asking them "to hold high the moral compass and provide pastoral and prophetic accompaniment for the laity during these crucial times."

These "stirrings" among the laity are promising. They indicate an ongoing process of lay self-empowerment within the Catholic Church; they are efforts needed in re-vitalizing the Church as it confronts the "crucial circumstances" identified in the letter, namely, "problems of inequality and inequity, environmental degradation, fighting and strife, and a crisis in leadership."

In the Archdiocese of Caceres, the lay faithful has been demonstrating similar stirrings. Last year, the Council of the Laity of the Archdiocese had taken to task Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo for launching "Viva Naga, Viva Bicolandia" which turned the essentially religious celebration of the Peñafrancia Fiesta into a commercial and marketing event meant to generate income for the City government through corporate sponsorships.

As a consequence of the above, the same Council of the Laity has demanded for "the passing of a City Ordinance declaring Naga City as a Pilgrim City during the month of September."   Through such an ordinance, the Council argued, "civic activities which are offensive and scandalous" to INA's pilgrims, as well as those not in congruent with the religious nature and character of Her Fiesta would be banned during the week-long celebration.

While the Naga City Legal Office responded that it believed that such an ordinance would be violative of the Constitutional provision declaring the separation of the Church and the State, the movement initiated by the lay faithful to have such an ordinance passed remains undaunted by the City Legal Office's interpretation of the pertinent provision.

It is obvious in view of the above that the lay faithful has taken important steps in responding to their "prophetic calling" despite a prevalent culture which erroneously views that one's faith must not make itself manifest in the public sphere, most notably in the political realm. Their stirrings will ultimately prove pivotal in effecting real social changes in our communities.

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