Mabini Hall - Access to Justice

It is not another acronym for a scandal in the wings. It is not a feel-good message two weeks after Valentine’s Day. It is simply love, or rather the lack of it, that is the root cause of the country’s instability and conflicts.Let us talk about monopolies and oligarchies in business. When the elite treats their business as a means to make money, to tighten their grip on the economy and to engage in shady deals, all these ultimately affect everyone and, worst of all, the poorest of us. The high and mighty, in suits, in cars, in mansions abusing those who have no access to the necessities in life, is this not so against brotherly love?

In the halls of Congress, in the corridors of Malacañang, when government officials do not do the task of governance with a constant prayer in their hearts, the sheer enormity of the problems, the sense of helplessness among the well-intentioned ranged against a decaying system and evil power blocks will quickly overwhelm. Love of God is the foundation of good governance; it cannot be otherwise.

Knowing our laws and citing the Constitution can only get to a limited degree of real freedom. Our fundamental document is one of a kind. It is the only one which contains the word “love” found in the preamble. And yet we treat it as if it never was there. Either we amend it to delete it and not continue to fool ourselves or to make it mean something really.

Enter the rule of law regime and we hit the separation of Church and State. We are not allowed to quote the Bible or to cite the name of the Lord in vain lest it runs foul of this principle and offends sensibilities of minorities in a democracy. But are we saying that we live in a moral vacuum—that the things we do and stand for can only be gauged against the law of man and not of our Creator?

You say that this principle was put in place to prevent meddling by Father Damaso on secular affairs. Historically, the theory of separation came about at the time when the church as an institution was evolving in its role on things temporal and eternal. There was interference and there was a need to draw the lines.

Obviously, the principle applies when the state invokes it to be free from the influence of the Church. It does not apply when the bishops believe that they are acting on the basis of faith and morals like what we are witnessing today.

Underlying all these is the idea of respect—respect for the atheists, agnostics, non-believers, and people of other faith. This is easily debunked on two levels: one, there is an Almighty out there to whom we are ultimately accountable; two, even if there is none, we respect the majority and we are Christians. Aren’t we glad we are still a kind and tolerant Catholic nation?

Just because religion is out of politics does not mean we bribe or forget the seven sins of man. Better yet, we need to inject spirituality back into our daily lives in light of the times. This is plain to see in the calls for a moral revolution and a moral council.

In the end, it is not about communal action, be it people power or what not. It will be about the individuals who heed the message and turn a new leaf. It will be about husbands and wives reconciling; brothers and sisters caring; neighbors watching out for one another.

Let us talk about love; let us speak the language of L-O-V-E. Let us act in charity, with generosity. These are the truths that bind, not principles that stifle. This is what has brought us this far.

“Love God; serve the people” ought to be our rallying cry. We need to spell it out, say it and live it.