social action apostolate
A CHRISTIAN VOTER'S CALL
- INTRODUCTION Consider the Philippines as one Barangay with 100 population. This is how it would be like:
- 37 of them will be children, 14 years old and below.
- 4 are 65 years and older.
- The Breadwinners:
- Mass Media. This has definitely played a major role. Film and TV in the past did promote human and family values, but recently, combined with liberalism have presented the widest variety of moral values, some completely opposed to Christian teachings and basic human dignity. Media has encouraged moral ambivalence on young and old alike. Role models of the young today are media personalities, and in homes where parental absenteeism is the norm, media celebrities and household helpers have taken the place of the parents as guardians of the children's values. TV and Video have also taken a toll in family life, cutting down on interaction and communication between members of the family.
- Economic pressures: Parental absenteeism, owing to job scarcity and high cost of living is weakening Filipino family life. Fathers and the increasing number of mothers try to provide for their family but end up too tired or simply not around to supervise their Children's moral and social development. Absence of spouse is a threat to marital fidelity.
- Materialism: A general atmosphere of consumerism and materialism is reshaping traditional moral values. The importance placed on social status based on material wealth and success is changing the priorities and behavior patterns of parents and children.
- Anti-life, anti-family campaigns: Many programs of government backed by powerful resources aim at the breakdown of the family. As in the world over, families here are hounded by a pervasive birth education campaign. In the name of "women's rights" and reproductive health", pregnancy is presented as a health hazard and children as economic burdens. These are simply anti-family values. Our government collaborates with this campaign. Material progress is favored above human and spiritual development and sex is promoted as an individual right: Contraception and sex are promoted. Married love is thus corrupted. Abortion is on the rise.
- Emotional Immaturity: This affects the relationship between spouses and the upbringing of children. There are extremes of permissiveness and authoritarianism in parents, thus confusing children in their values.
- Irresponsibility: This is mostly on the part of the male; the persistent double standard. Sometimes there is a reversal of roles which can lead to marital infidelity and breakup. The children are damaged emotionally and psychologically.
- Marital Quarrels: This stems from disagreements on financial matters and the proverbial interference of in-laws, The root cause is always lack of vital communication.
- Ignorance of Parental Roles: Parents, especially fathers have to be enlightened to the fact that the development of a mature and stable personality in each child necessitates the presence of both a mother and a father.
- Priests and family life workers must be untiring and univocal in preaching arid promoting family and pro-life values.
- The use of Mass Media must be maximized according to the possibility and availability of our means and the extent of our needs. A Commission on Mass Media must be made operational and as much as possible professionalized in order to gain greater efficacy in our catechesis using this agency. This would be in the printed, audio and audio-visual media.
- Without doubt, the BEC is one of the best fora for our catechesis. We must be persevering in organizing and revitalizing the BECs.
- Parish Family and Life workers must be knowledgeable and constantly updated on the Family and Life Agenda.
- The celebration of the Sacraments must be occasions to initiate or reiterate our catechesis. In baptism for instance, parents must first be given a catechesis on the sacrament, their duties and responsibilities along with the godparents, and checked on their knowledge and practice of the faith. There must be a conscientious choice of godparents There must be a clear distinction between Godparents and Sponsors.
- Confirmations must be given to persons 14 years and above, after having a modicum of knowledge and practice of the faith.
- In schools, baptism of children without their parent's presence but only under the care of parish catechists is discouraged.
- Likewise First Communion in schools without the presence and participation of the parents or Family in the Liturgy is likewise discouraged.
- Applicants for weddings must present themselves 3 months before the tentative date of their wedding. This will afford them a longer time for preparation and discernment. This will slowly lengthen to the ideal of 6 months. Special cases will be dealt with individually. Basic knowledge in Christian doctrine and practice should be required from them. The PMC and PMI should really be a practical and immediate preparation for marriage, not requirement to be passed over quickly. Fla workers should be versed on the modules for PMC and PMI.
- Understanding of the ceremonials and rites of the wedding is emphasized. From the rationale of the approved rites, those in the obvious stage of pregnancy are married without solemnities or are married outside of community schedules. Dress codes are according to the dictates of Christian modesty.
- Wedding entourages are situated and/or seated in their respective places, before the entrance of the bride. Ring bearers flower and flowers girls who alone precede the bride must be old enough to walk on their own. Witnesses are distinguished from the sponsors.
- Songs during the ceremonies are to be monitored and approved. Photographers are disciplined.
- Applicants are checked on their mass attendance on the Sundays prior to their weddings.
- There must be programs for married couples on Marital Counseling and Marriage Enrichments.
- Natural Family Planning must be continuously and intensively taught as a way of life. Government promotion of this to be noted.
- Christian Sex Education and Value Formation (Education in Chastity) must be made available to parish groups, young and old alike in seminars and in the BECs.
- Family prayers must be encouraged. The Family that prays together stays together.
A. Demographic Profile
Family Life Today in The Philippine Context.
The bulwark of Philippine society, the Filipino family is now subject to tremendous strains and stresses. Because of material and spiritual threats, the family having remained a stable, institution for so long, is severely shaken. True family values even in the countryside are now being questioned. We wonder how long the strengths of the Filipino family, namely: close family and extended ties, the strong Filipino woman, Catholicism and Marian Devotion, Faith and good Humor can withstand the adversities in these secularized times.
Threats to the Filipino Family.
Meeting the Challenges of the Times
The challenges we face today are much tougher than in the past decades starting from the 60s. But challenging times are the best of times to grow in maturity and virtue.
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Prescriptions from the FLA:
The most apparent need that arises and urgently at that, in the face of the threats that flank the family today is an intensive catechesis, sorely neglected despite the awareness of the loudness that secular values are proposed today.