July 2, 2007VOL. 45, NO. 13Oakland, CA

Cardinal urges Filipinos in U.S.
to use culture as leaven in society

Cardinal Guadencio Rosales of Manila, Philippines, is blessed by Filipino Catholics during a June 21 reception for him in San Francisco. CNS PHOTO/ARNE FOLKEDAL

By Dan Morris-Young
Catholic News Service

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- In a homily at a San Francisco church, Cardinal Guadencio Rosales of Manila, Philippines, underscored the deep faith, generosity and hospitality of the Filipino culture and urged Filipinos living in the United States to use their cultural heritage as a leaven in U.S. society.

A Mass June 21 at St. Anne of the Sunset Church and a reception afterward were the final events of the cardinal’s three-day visit to the Bay Area.

His U.S. trip included a stop in Washington, D.C., where he presided at a June 23 Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

In a June 19 interview with Catholic San Francisco, the archdiocesan newspaper, the cardinal cautioned the United States about its social development aid in the Philippines and expressed excitement about the impact of Pondo Ng Pinoy, a foundation he helped launch to aid the poor in his homeland three years ago.

While “mutually beneficial” bilateral treaties between the Philippines and United States “should be respected,” notably security agreements, it would be prudent for U.S. federal development aid programs to “distance themselves” from “some human development programs” currently supported and become more aware of how monies are used, said Cardinal Rosales, who turns 75 Aug. 10.

It is widely acknowledged that corruption and lack of accountability have long plagued social development sectors of the Filipino government as well as some nongovernmental organizations there.

On the other hand, Cardinal Rosales said, organizations affiliated with the Catholic Church “have always been among the most credible.”

That would include Pondo Ng Pinoy, whose member organizations now include more than a dozen Filipino dioceses and apostolic vicariates.

Calling it a “true democratization of charity,” a key tenet of the Pondo Ng Pinoy philosophy, Cardinal Rosales said, is personal commitment to tangible daily support of at least 25 centavos -- less than 1 cent in U.S. currency -- for the poor and the work of the foundation.

The cardinal expanded on what he calls a “theology of crumbs” during his homily at St. Anne.

“We in the Philippines are gathering crumbs from every Filipino,” he said to the nearly 2,000 gathered at the church. “All God wants is small things. Small things put together can start up a miracle. The issue is the love for the poor. Goodness is not complicated.”

He underscored the significance of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, pointing out that no other parable reveals the name of the persons involved -- from the story of the prodigal son to the Pharisee and the publican to the good Samaritan. “This is very, very significant,” he said.

“Love is a way of life. Love is not a one-shot thing,” said the leader of the Philippines’ nearly 65 million Catholics, more than 80 percent of the nation’s population.

The Filipino culture, he emphasized, “embedded in us since we were small kids, has the ability to be friends with almost everyone. There is room for everyone in our culture. There is always room for one more in our culture.”

After describing the Filipino emphasis on personal care and concern for individuals “even if it interferes with schedules,” the cardinal drew applause when he said, “I assure you, God is not going to judge us according to schedules. He is not a God of schedules.”

Speaking about the priesthood and to the many priests present at the Mass, Cardinal Rosales said, “God is not going to judge me as a priest or a cardinal, but as a person. The first ontological and metaphysical vocation for a priest is to be a good human being.”

“To be a good man, to be a good person is your first vocation,” he said. “Be good as a man, reflect the goodness of God, and a good priesthood will follow.”

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