People power only first step: Church
MUMBAI:Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption has been highlighted in an editorial in the influential Catholic weekly Examiner in the context of Palm Sunday, celebrated by Christians in the city on April 17.
The editorial spoke of the crusade in the context of the ministry carried out by Jesus Christ. Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, was celebrated with the distribution of palms to the faithful, to mark the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem, accompanied by crowds carrying palms.
The editorial by Fr Anthony Charanghat said, "The entry is a gateway into the indispensable passion and death of Jesus that will lead us to the ultimate victory of his resurrection. A decisive victory over evil is possible only if the spirit symbolized by our palms pass through the Passion of Our Lord."
The Palm Sunday scene invokes images of crowds rallying around a leader of impeccable integrity, moral authority, courage, honesty and singular commitment to overcome all evil. Jesus was committee to a ministry of healing and reconciliation, uplift of the poor and marginalized and willingly gave up his life for the salvation of humankind. He drew massive crowds forging solidarity among men and women to follow his path of goodness, truth, justice and love that would liberate the masses from the yoke of corruption.''
It said that we have glimpses of similar scenes across Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and other African nations rebelling against "incorrigible administrations and corrupt rule".
The Hazare citizens' crusade against corruption made people aware of their responsibilities by rallying around him in solidarity to fight the entrenched systemic evil prevalent in the country, it said. But the euphoria of the awareness of people power is only the first step, it said, and it can easily change and be led astray by "arrogance, greed, ambition and insatiable desire to gratify one's base instincts resulting in anarchy and chaos if it is not followed by relentless passion and self sacrifice". On a more cautionary note, the editorial said that crowds were fickle and the same people can become a "very different sort of crowd".
It said, "The cheering ones can turn around and become jeering ones as they did to Jesus. The shouts of 'hosanna' changed dramatically into 'crucify him' when they saw him arrested and drawn before the court, condemned to be scourged, to carry his cross, be nailed to it and die a most ignominious death."
The archbishop of Mumbai, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, and the archbishop of Delhi, Vincent Concesso, have supported Hazare's fight against corruption. At most churches across the city, the homily delivered by priests during mass normally dwells on the piety and suffering of Veronica who wiped the face of Christ with a cloth while he was carrying his cross to Calvary. Local historian, Fr Larry Pereira, said the Veronica incident was not mentioned in any gospel but the tradition continues. "She is seen as a pious woman who steps out to help a man in need, in a society which is male-dominated, and her move is a seen as liberating.''
MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has found some allies on the issue of whether or not he should get married.
Beth Angsioco, national chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, said Aquino has every right to marry despite retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz's advice that the President remain a bachelor. "Personal na isyu ang pag aasawa para sa isang tao lalo na para kay Pangulong Noynoy Aquino," Angsioco said.
She added that the Church is resorting to personal attacks against the President for supporting the Reproductive Health Bill.
Parenting and relation expert Maribel Dionisio said age should not be a factor when it comes to the success of a marriage. "Basta't handa sa papasok na buhay may asawa ang isang tao, ordinaryo man o Pangulo, walang edad na kinakailangan," Dionisio said.
She advised Aquino to write down his qualifications of an ideal mate and what his goals are for the future "so that they can talk it out."
She said couples should work on how to strengthen their relationship even before they get married.
Archbishop Cruz earlier said the 51-year-old President should stay a bachelor. Citing statistics from church courts, the priest said those who get married after 40 may have an unstable union.
"We found out that those who get married young, and by young, 20 years old below, and those who get married old, 40 above, these are the marriages which are unstable. The younger part, it's unstable. They are movable. They change. Marriage is a continuity, it's a permanence and easily they change. It doesn't suit their age," he told ANC's "Headstart."
"But 40 above, marriage is blending. Two in one. Somebody who's 40, 50, 60 cannot blend anymore."
He, however, said there could be exceptions. "I'm just saying our statistics is yung mga bata, hindi dapat magpakasal. Yung matatanda hindi rin dapat magpakasal. Baka may exception ha," he said.
Cruz is in charge of the Catholic Church's court of marriage cases as well as the Church's court of appeals.
He said statistics on marriage are different for people who are on their second marriages after their first spouse died or if their first marriage was annulled.
Asked if the President would be a better leader if he was married, Cruz said: "I do not know...Happier or not, no more. I'm thinking more about marriage per se. The person is there. But as I said, no. 40 is old."
A spokeswoman for President Aquino, meanwhile, twitted Cruz for his comment.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said: "While everyone recognizes Archbishop Cruz's credentials as a Canon lawyer, to the best of my knowledge, he is not a marriage counselor. Neither does he have a personal relationship with the President as to make a deductive conclusion regarding his personal life. May I also note that Archbishop Cruz's comments are increasingly becoming personal, bizarre and unfair. "
Aquino, 51, has previously admitted that he has been unlucky in love. His past dates include celebrity stylist Liz Uy, Valenzuela City councilor Shalani Soledad and stockbroker Len Lopez. He has also been linked to Sabrina Chua of the Singapore-based Channel News Asia.
