[Philippines: the islands of evil] Altar of Secrets Sex, Politics, and Money in the Philippine Catholic Church #2/93

Accountability is not a strong suit of the Church, as Chapters 6, 7, and 8dramatically show: men of the cloth who mismanaged a bank, siphoned money from Church coffers, and were opaque—and continue to be—about how funds were spent. Yet, bishops demand accountability and transparency from public officials. After all, they are not beyond double standard and hypocrisy.

Reforms, however, are taking place and these are highly dependent on the leaders, the bishops who try to change mindsets and systems. The diocese of Novaliches is one example, as Chapter 9narrates.

The Church in politics is the theme of Part Three. Relationships of Church leaders and presidents count for much in a personalistic society like ours, as Chapter 10shows. This was most visible during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she showered her bishop-friends with largesse. Known as the “Malacañang Diocese,” these bishops, in turn, supported her despite the corruption scandals that hounded her regime.

Nowhere among Catholic countries in the world is the Church deeply involved in the shaping of policy than in the Philippines. It is anachronistic that the Church plays such a dominant role in a secular society where we supposedly draw a line between Church and State. Chapter 11takes us into the Church-State dynamics of the reproductive health law, which the Church actively campaigned against, flagrantly intruding on State affairs.

Chapter 12lays out a path forward for Church and State, where both can work together, minus the acrimony, for good government. A few dioceses have linked up with the interior and local government department to take part in a barangay-level program that would ensure delivery of basic services and full disclosure of budgets and expenses.

In Part Four (Chapter 13), we see a Church that is slow in reforming itself despite calls for renewal by the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines. For sure, pockets of change have taken place but these have yet to be the norm.

In one area, that of gender relations, the Catholic Church is still steeped in a macho culture (Chapter 14). Women are inferior to men, as illustrated in the case of a bishop who degraded a nun so badly that she left the convent. In an institution where power resides in men, the masculine mindset is rarely challenged.

ALTAR OF SECRETSis the first of its kind in the country. This is a journalist’s attempt to bring some air and light into a musty place, where there’s so little circulation and transparency. As Anne Lamott wrote in her book, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, “Light reveals us to ourselves.” And, if I may add, to others.

The author, Aries Rufo, has covered the Catholic Church extensively. For almost 20 years, he followed the comings and goings of bishops, their big plenaries and pastoral declarations, as well as their mishaps. He has broken new ground in reporting on this pillar that has an outsize influence on our country.

In raising these issues about the Church, we want to encourage an open discussion that, hopefully, will lead to a more discerning public. We want to cajole: Do take away those blinders, be vigilant. Engage the Church, ask tough questions. Demand accountability, push for transparency.

After all, the Church, like other institutions, should not be beyond public scrutiny.

We hope that the men of God welcome this and consider it part of the new normal.

As Lamott beautifully wrote, “When nothing new can get in, that’s death. When oxygen can’t find a way in, you die.”