Diocese of Kalibo Opposes STL and CHA-CHA

In its pastoral statement, the Diocese of Kalibo opposes the conduct of Small Town Lottery (STL) in Aklan and Charter Change. The said pastoral statement is dated June 23, 2006. The full text of it was read in place of a homily last Sunday, June 25 during all the masses in all towns and barangays as recommended by Most Rev. Jose Romeo O. Lazo, D.D., Bishop of Kalibo.
The pastoral statement opposing the conduct of STL in Aklan and the holding of CHA CHA was signed by 55 priests of Aklan including Most Rev. Jose Romeo O. Lazo, D.D. The full text of the "Pastoral Statement of Opposition to Small Town Lottery and Charter Change Now" reads:
PASTORAL STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION TO SMALL TOWN LOTTERY AND CHARTER CHANGE NOW
The Philippine Bishops have declared the Year 2006 as "Year of Social Concerns", thus, making us more aware of our social environment and the issues that affect our life as Christian people. We cannot just be sinfully silent about what we see and judge to be morally questionable activities of government, namely: the plan to institutionalize and in a greater way expand the operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) and the deceptive design to change the fundamental law of the land. We judge these moves to be morally questionable needing more urgent attention and concerted response. "As we render account for every idle word, so we must for our idle silence," St. Ambrose of Milan reminds us. It is sinful to be silent when a stand has to be made.
On the SMALL TOWN LOTTERY (STL)
In their most recent pronouncement the CBCP reiterates their stand against systematic, organized, and widespread gambling whether legal or illegal for it reinforces "the culture of gambling that is seriously eroding the moral values of our people" (23 January 2005, CBCP Statement On Gambling). The government must curb and stop the culture of gambling instead of promoting and reinforcing it.
The eradication of all forms of gambling would give credence to the program of the government to eradicate corruption. However, failure to solve this menace would reflect on the credibility and seriousness of the government to concretely address the social and moral ills in our country. The government must create programs that are not only lasting but also value promoting. They must directly and concretely respond to the plight of the marginalized and less privileged members of society and must not resort to quick solutions that promote viciousness in the lives of our people. The government must therefore provide decent and productive lifestyle that is in keeping with the moral and spiritual values of the people. The government has the moral duty of vigorously carrying out these programs or else it would be another placating and empty political propaganda.
On CHARTER CHANGE
In its Pastoral Statement, CBCP has expressed "deep concern over the attempt of certain sectors to make hasty and substantial changes to our constitution, supposedly through the "People’s Initiative’ provision in our present charter" (CBCP Pastoral Statement on the Alleged "People’s Initiative" To Change the Constitution, 7 April 2006). We saw that the signature campaign was done with considerable haste, leaving the wider sector of our society uninformed of the issues at hand. The manner by which signatures were gathered to legitimize what would seem to appear, as "People’s Initiative" is an insult to our sovereignty. Considering the importance of the matter since it involves fundamental changes in structures of governance, together with our Bishops we see the importance for "widespread participation, total transparency, and relative serenity that allows for national discussion and debate" (Renewing Our Public Life Through Moral Values, 29 January 2006). These have not been done! Hence, we vehemently oppose such action as malicious and deceitful!
OUR POSITION AND CALL
As members of the Aklan Clergy, together with our Bishop, Most Rev. Jose Romeo O. Lazo, D.D., in solidarity with the Archdiocese of Jaro, Archdiocese of Capiz and the Diocese of San Jose Antique, we declare that:
1. We vehemently oppose the institutionalization and the eventual promotion of Small Town Lottery (STL) in every town of our province in Aklan and in any part of the country.
2. We maintain our stand against any form of gambling, illegal or otherwise proposed or now endorsed by the government.
3. We uphold the sovereign right of the people to self – determination even in deciding on the form of government we should take. We believe that real "People’s Initiative" should have the people dictating the manner by which they should be taken as basis for major changes in the governance of the land.
4. We call on those that wield power to be truly respecting of the will of their constituents and not just serve the self-serving interest of their political patrons.
5. As Church, we call on everyone to be vigilant and pro-active. And when prompted by faith, to come out in open manifestation. It is only when we put our acts together that we see ourselves strong and have our voices heard.
With Mary, we seek her intercession as dedicated this "Year of Social Concerns" to her motherly care. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com