CEAP to students: Read the signs of the times

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) on Monday urged the Filipino youth to seriously discern the call of some Catholic prelates to reject the moves to amend the 1987 Constitution. The message to the youth came from CEAP President Msgr. Gerardo Santos amid the call of Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for the faithful to prepare for a new government. The CBCP president's call was supported by four other bishops and was aired last month. It has also been posted on the CBCP website. In that forum, Lagdameo said the need for a new kind of government is necessary to end an administration marred by a “social and moral cancer"—that is corruption. Lagdameo said hopelessness is pervasive the public but assured them “liberators" may just be around the corner. “In response to the global economic crisis and the pitiful state of our country, the time to rebuild our country economically, socially, politically is now. The time to start radical reforms is now. The time for moral regeneration is now. The time to conquer complacency, cynicism and apathy and to prove that we have matured from our political disappointments is now. The time to prepare a new government is now," Lagdameo said. He made the remarks in a forum organized by CBCPNews and Catholic Media Network. Four others bishops - Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas, Masbate Bishop Joel Baylon and Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose Sorra - were in that forum. This even was followed by another salvo from two bishops - Bishops Antonio Tobias and Deogracias Iñiguez - on Nov 27 who expressed their disgust against government during a press conference in Quezon City. It came a day after administration members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice voted to kill an impeachment complaint filed against President Arroyo. “If we can no longer go through the legal means of seeking the truth, we will be forced to use extra-constitutional or extra-legal means," Iňiguez said. "Ipakita natin na ayaw na natin ang nangyayari (Let us show that we are sick and tired of what’s going on)," added Tobias, who argued that such action should not be misconstrued as “destabilization." The bishops also said that what needs to be done is to change the corrupt officials and not amending the Constitution is not the solution. On Monday, the CEAP president was asked if students should join protests against Charter change. To this, Santos said that students should first enter the "circle of discernment" before they decide to do this. “I call our young people, especially our students, to read the signs of times, to create once again our circle of discernment that was asked by our bishops and to be enlightened in the social teachings of the Church,"he said. "Live your passion for love, for our country, passion for creative venture, to act because the social teachings call us, not only to see, not only to judge, but to act," Santos added. His remarks were made during an interview aired over the Church-run Radio Veritas. Santos said entering the so-called circle of discernment would be crucial for the youth in understanding the specific call for action needed to advance morality in the society. “So that our students, our young people may inform themselves in terms of how they can respond the call of the time," he said. However, Santos stressed that being committed to the betterment of the country is not only for the youth alone, but even among adults. “Is this a country that we want to give our young people? Is this a country with a future that we would give to our people? I think, what is important is our commitment to give a better country to our people, not simply economics, but morally upright country," Santos said. He also maintained that amending the Constitution should be done after the 2010 elections and not before the elections. - GMANews.TV