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Sunday, April 24, 2005
Capillas: The new Pope and Secretary Reyes
By Stephen Capillas
The Lowdown
LAST Thursday this writer caught a glimpse of a rather frazzled looking Tori Amos, popular American singer, belting yet another ditty for the talk show "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and she was singing words like "I wanna have your daughter's baby" and how she's in love with a man's daughter, etc.
Whether the song was intended as an anthem for lesbian relationships had yet to be determined though the likelihood of that is probably in the affirmative because of Amos's penchant for writing and singing weird, but thought-provoking tunes.
I am reminded of this in light of the formal assumption of former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany as Pope Benedict XIV, Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church in simple yet grand ceremonies in Vatican City.
His rise to the Church hierarchy comes as Catholicism continues to wrest with a lot of moral and social issues within its ranks as well as without.
And that Amos song about lesbianism, homosexuality and other issues serves as a stark reminder of how far the Church had yet to accomplish in terms of establishing morality within a socially decadent, apathetic global society.
Being a Protestant, this writer can only wonder what reforms or changes the Pontiff has in line for the Catholic Church but if his statements are any indication the hard line stance on homosexuality, birth control, women priests, marriage among priests would continue.
What would be a source of curiosity is the possibility of the Church extending itself towards greater cooperation with other faiths in light of the so-called war against terror.
Also of great concern is the physical well-being of Pope Benedict XIV who appears to be frail-looking indeed.
Is he up to the arduous traveling schedule assumed by the late Pope John Paul II? He should if only to assure believers around the world about the Church's presence in their communities.
Whatever lies ahead for the Church only time will tell. Suffice it to say that the Pope will remain a powerful influence in global and religious affairs.
* * * * *
Congratulations to the newly elected officials of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) who were inducted by Interior and Local Governments Secretary Angelo Reyes at the VIP Hotel last Thursday.
As is the usual case for this event it was graced by top officials in the land and city. The new COPC President Richard Vallar paid tribute to his mother and his predecessor Jerry Orcullo who spoke about his achievements for the past two years and ended with the call that press freedom isn't "only worth dying for, but if need be worth fighting and killing for."
A rather extreme view but owing to the danger of the times not totally unwarranted. But while Secretary Reyes is open to the idea, he cautioned every media practitioner in the audience that only those deemed to be in actual danger and fit to use the firearms can be armed.
With him and the Palace in the hot seat regarding the national ID system and other tough security measures the DILG secretary tried to ease the mood of the audience by relating several personal stories which proved amusing in an R-rated sort of way.
Among the stories he recounted is one about the man who managed to escape prosecution and even got promoted due to the efforts of his wife which involved sleeping with people in power.
Reyes also put the audience at ease by suggesting that instead of a long-winded speech he would answer questions posed by the audience.
The issues ranged from the national ID system to the government's efforts of resolving murder cases of slain journalists, to coup rumors and illegal gambling.
For every question the secretary managed to answer them with the sureness of one schooled and trained in the top military schools--crisp, definite and with little or no pausing whatsoever.
This may win over some people who have been seeking a return to leadership of soldier-statesmen types, the kind that had been associated with former President Fidel V. Ramos.
But that only invites suspicions and alarm from cause groups who associate the military with the abuses of the unlamented Marcos regime.
That's why talk by Assistant DILG Secretary Serafin Benaldo, father of Councilor Jose Benjamin Benaldo, that if so willed Reyes would be president in the country can certainly stir up a lot of murmurings or worse, set up early rivalries.
Too early for election talks and besides, Senator Mar Roxas remains the top dog to beat for now.
(April 24, 2005 issue)
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