fr.jojo of admu - discerning a christian response to hr 1109

8/14/2019 Fr.jojo of ADMU - Discerning a Christian Response to HR 1109

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Discerning a Christian Response to HR 1109Context: circles of discernment .. . from CBCP 2008

"For the long term we reIterate our call to r 'cIrcles ot dIscernment' at thegrassroots level, in ou r parishes, Basic Ecclesial Communities, recognized layorgarnzations and movements , rehgious mstItutlOns, schools, semmanes anduniversities. It is through internal conversion into the maturity of Christ throughcommunal and prayerful dIscernment and actIOn that the roots ot corruptlo:J. arediscovered and destroyed. We believe that such communal action will perpetuateat the grassroots level the spmt ot People Power so bnlllantly demonstrated 10 theworld at EDSA 1. It is People Power with a difference. From the grassroots willcome out a culture of truth and integrity we so deeply seek and build."

Basic steps in discernment [corresponding to the four parts given below] Study the givens of a situation: data, experiences Deepen understanding, and reflect based on Christian principles Evaluate and look at options Act: pray over what's best, and do it

Personal disposition for a good discernment The VuestlOn: "What IS the WIll ot Uod tor our country at thIs tIme"! What IS torthe true good of our country?"

When in desolation, when at low points, it is not wise to make decisions Try to be free of "inordinate attachments," or flxedlrigid opinions

1. Studying the givens ofHRll 09 What HR 1109 is [consider the inputs from Fr Joaquin Bernas, 81] Keasons to r passmg the resolutIon

o the good of the people?o econonnc proViSions are the only concern m changmg the charter'!o is self-perpetuation ofthe congresspersons in their posts of power on theagenda'!o is there some thought about GMA going beyond 2010, either as President

or as Prime Minister (i f the shift to parliamentarism is not challenged)? Possible outcomes

1 11 the House ot Kepresentatives does not propose amendments on Its own, thenHR 1109 will have proven to be just another distraction from Elections 2010.


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'l11 the House ot KepresentatlVes proposes amendments, usmg HK 110'1, gathersthe votes necessary (3/4 of 294, which is the total number of the 2 chambers ofCongress), and demands to r a plebiscite on thelf proposed amendments, then theoutcome will be detennined by:a) whether or not the :Senate reacts, as they say they would;

b) the Supreme Court decides whether the vote regarding proposedamendments to the ConstitutIOn should be decide

II. Deepening understanding and clarifying our Christian values

Regarding charter change in general Pnnclple I: partiCipatIOn, 1D terms ot process

"changing the Constitution involving major shifts in the form of government, requiresWidespread partiCipatIon, total transparency, and relatIVe serernty that allows to r ratIOnaldiscussion and debate. This is best done through a constitutional convention." (CBCPStatement, January 2006)

Pnnclple 2: retorm, 1D terms ot content" .. . charter change can only be morally justifiable if the revisions being. proposed

Wlllleact to authentic retorms and development tor the nation. Changes must assure shillstowards: principled pOlitics, transparency and accountability, electoral and institutionalre10nn, and more etllclent delivery ot services to the people, especlauy the poorest."'(CBCP Statement, JarmaT)' 2006)

III. Evaluation\luestIOns to r retlectIOn:

Based on Principle 1:a) Does HR 1109 embody participation, transparency, calmness/serenity that

.allows for rational discussion and debate?b) 1s the present Congress the body that wIll/can propose constItutlOnal

amendments/revision? While Congress may have members who might bequall11ed to conSIder charter Change proposals more senously, what kmd 01credibility can be expected of the body as a whole ifit acts the way it did in


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passmg H.K 11u'n Can the people really expect uncompromlsed ratIOnalIty.that is not merely a promotion of self-interest or of vested interests in theperpetuationof those already in positionsof power (i.e. all the incumbents)?Jjased on Pnnciple 2:a) Does HR 1109 provide for real reform? Or is it merely a way ofperpetuatingold and bankrupt polItIcS'!b) Who really stands to benefit from HR 11 09?

1V . PossIble actIOn pOInts (thIS IS not meant to be a comprehensIve lIst, SInce dIscernmententails considering other possibilities)

General Continue engaging political leaders, bothon the national and local levels Keep communication lines open with other groupS .. . dialogue Always tr y to monitor government and continue exacting accountability :'W 1U hlections must push through, smce thIs IS a clear OPPOrtunity tor exercIsmg

democratic rights of the sovereign people Keclmffi cItlzenship .. . be a stakeholder In the tuture at our country (thIS IS aChristian responsibility) .. partlcIpate m dISCUSSIOns .. look into how to help in the parish, baranggay, community" awaken the conscIOusness at those we can reach: at home, m neighborhoOd, atwork, in church groups

Short-term on HR 1109 ArchbIShop Lagdameo, PreSidentat the CtlCP, urges CatholIcs who choose toprotest, to do so non-violently (e.g. joining non-violent mobilization, writingtonewspapers, lobbymg WIth leglslators, dlscussmg Issues WIthIn commumtles, and

other activities that uphold the principleof active non-violence) lnactlOn can lead to abuse by those In power, as they perceive taCIt approval dueto lack of effective challenge Action as a response to HR 1109 must not distract our preparations for 2010

Medium-teon on Elections 201 0: Cooperate m the contmumg e!!orts to retormour electoral system, WhICh mcludesthe automation that is being prepared for in 2010. hnsure that tIllpmos vote accordmg to conSCience, and that the core Issues are

really tackled (including chaeha, carper, corruption, ex trajudicial killings, socialservices, etc) ClaritY visions for reform in considering candidates


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Contmue the gradual study ot charter change tor possible actIOn In the tuture ...education campaign In prepanng tor electrons, one must take specIal care tor the tormatIon at ourfellow Filipinos, in values that embody our basic Christian commitment. Theprinciples involved in this are clearly specified in the CBCP pastoral statement of2005:o AccountabIlIty: "lhose who govern have the oblIgatIOn to answer to thegoverned." (CBCP 2005, n.10)o bl1ective governance: "PublIc authonty i l l order to promote the commongood . . . requires also that authority be effective in attaining that end . . . .lnettective governance may be due to a lack 01 personal rntegnty or a lackof competence." (CBCP 2005, n.13)o Constitutional response: Any political act "has to be Within the frameworkof the Constitution and the laws of the land so as to avoid social chaos, theturther weakemng ot pOlItIcal systems, and greater harm i l l the tuture."(CBCP 2005, nJI)

o Non-VIOlence: "VIOlent solutIons . . . 'produce new lDJustIces, throw moreelements out of balance, and bring on new disasters. . . Jesus the Lordtaught a Gospel oflove and non-violence." (CBCP 2005, n.12)

fr.jojo of admu - discerning a christian response to hr 1109

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