Category: The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

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Gossip is terrorism, The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine By Lianne Tiu

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They say women gossip more than men. Men, actually, gossip just as much except they do it better and call it “networking.” The difference is in the content of gossip.

Let’s admit it. We all enjoy the guilty pleasure of talking about others. We gossip about the latest scandals – who’s having an affair with whom, who got fired – juicy stories of celebrities and people we know. Harmless it may seem, we are actually damaging their reputation when we carelessly publicize people’s mistakes and bad deeds; more so when facts are false. Gossip becomes malicious when it is a lie or when the intention is to ruin people’s reputation.
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Pope Francis said, “Gossiping is like terrorism because the person who gossips is like a terrorist who throws a bomb and runs away, destroying: with their tongue they are destroying and not making peace.”

First of all, we should not judge anyone because “the only Judge is the Lord.” Since we do not know the intentions of the heart, we assume ignorance and human weakness instead of malice and bad faith. Even in the worst of circumstances, we try to make excuses for those who commit mistakes or do something disgraceful.
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We keep quiet if we cannot speak kindly of someone. Pope Francis advised us to bite our tongues whenever we have the urge to say things, which encourage division.

There are times when we have to warn others of danger: about a corrupt official or an unfaithful fiancé. An obligation of justice and charity may require us to reveal a mistake or fault only to the interested parties, to those who can remedy the situation, but not to the entire community.
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With the advent of the internet, gossip can bring even greater damages. Spreading rumors is not limited anymore to the immediate community for a limited period of time. Gossip spreads faster and becomes available forever, 24 hours a day, and for the entire world to know!

To be forgiven from the sin of gossip, we have an obligation to make up for the harm done to the good name of the offended person. Oftentimes, it is difficult to take back what has already circulated.
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We will always be tempted to gossip and to enjoy listening to it. We have to be reminded that, “taking pleasure in evil earns condemnation.” (Sirach 19:5) The important thing is to struggle so that we stop the cruel terrorism of gossip.

(Reference: “Pope Francis: Gossiping is like Terrorism” by Rosie Scammell (September 4, 2015 ); “The Faith Explained Today” by Fr. Joe Babendreier; Sirach 19: 5-17; “The Ultimate Guide to Internet Safety” by Victoria Roddel; “The New Word on Gossip” by Nigel Nicholson, Ph.D., professor of organizational behavior at London Business School )

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

“Abortion remains a grave and serious wrong.” The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine By Lianne Tiu

9Abortion is one of the greatest evils in the world. In fact, a Catholic is automatically excommunicated (even without the Church’s intervention) the moment he/she commits abortion. The mother who asks for the abortion, the father who pays for it, and anyone who encourages the woman to do it – besides being guilty of mortal sin – are excommunicated for deliberately and knowingly committing this sin. This includes doctors and nurses who perform the abortion. Their crime is even more heinous because they are the ones who kill the baby.
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To be excommunicated does not mean that one is banned from church or he/she is not a Catholic anymore. It means that the excommunicant is still obligated to attend Mass but is deprived of all the sacraments (except the sacrament of confession). He/she cannot receive Holy Communion or be confirmed until he goes to confession and the excommunication is lifted by a competent authority (the local bishop or priests to whom the bishop has delegated this power).
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Pope Francis recently declared Dec. 8, 2015 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) to Nov. 20, 2016 (Feast of the Sacred Heart) as the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. During this year, all priests will be allowed to absolve those who have committed abortion and who, with contrite heart, ask for forgiveness. News went viral regarding this, and some even mentioned that the Pope has shown “more understanding” regarding abortion. We have to be clear that the Pope’s gesture does not mean that abortion has become a lesser evil.
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The Pontiff wrote that because of the contraceptive mentality of our time, many people are unaware of the extreme harm of what they are doing; such as when they take contraceptive pills which are abortifacient, or when they fail to realize that life begins at the moment of fertilization. He is also aware of those women who felt that they had no other option and were pressured to undergo an abortion. The Holy Father’s compassion toward those who suffer the scar of abortion, however, does not stop him from being firm to the Church’s sacred teachings. Abortion remains a grave and serious wrong.
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(The Faith Explained Today by Fr. Joe Babendreier; “Understanding Pope Francis’ gesture rightly ” by Archbishop Socrates Villegas; Pope Francis’s Year of Mercy Letter; “Catholicism: Excommunication and Other Penalties” For Dummies)

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

Buried Alive! The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine By Lianne Tiu

11There is a story in the newspaper about a woman who was buried alive in trash, which she had accumulated for the past thirty years. When she was rescued, she explained that the trash was really her treasure. We may be somewhat like her when we avoid going to confession. The “trash” of our sins keep piling up until we are buried alive in them.

Sometimes we do not want to get rid of our sins because we are attached to those “earthly treasures.” We are afraid the priest will ask us to make changes of our sinful lives.

Moreover, many of us tend to disguise, ignore, or glamorize sins by giving them other names or interpretations. We refuse to see them for what they really are – that sins are the rejection of God and His laws. St. John Paul II said, “learn to call sin, sin. And do not call it liberation or progress, even if the whole of fashion and propaganda are against you.” He tells us “…to rediscover the sense of sin.”
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Sin weighs us down. It prevents us from soaring high to God. Sin clips our wings spiritually because it clouds our intellect, weakens our will to do good and avoid evil, and prevents us from loving God.

Many of us consider ourselves good people. When asked to go to confession, we believe that we have not committed any sins. This self-assessment is so different from that of the saints. The greatest saints actually considered themselves the greatest sinners. Their humility and love for God made them acknowledge that they were less than perfect and that they needed improvement.
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We cannot remain buried alive in sin. The first step is to acknowledge that we are sinners! It hurts to admit the truth. Next step is to be sorry for our sins (because they offend God), resolve to change our evil lifestyle, and go to the sacrament of Penance. God’s love and mercy will rescue us from the trash of sins and give us spiritual strength to seek instead heavenly treasures.

(Reference: “You can become a Saint” by Mary Ann Budnik; Pope John Paul II, General Audience, April 1981 and September 1986)

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

Be Happy! The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine By Lianne Tiu

6Everyone has his own definition of happiness. For some, it is to own a big and beautiful house; for others, it is to play great golf games. For some, it is to travel to different countries; for others, it is to have unity in the family. We all want to be happy and we are created to be such.

We’ve heard about the fall of Adam and Eve. It brought about original sin which caused us to be ignorant, to lose our self-control, and to be strongly inclined to evil. Moreover, media bombard us with false formulas for happiness. We are made to think that happiness can be bought; that all celebrities are people to imitate; that God is a “killjoy” to our fun with His Commandments.3Flaunt the latest gadgets, sign up on some online dating services even when married, be the dynamic executive and let the maids take care of the family – this generation, with its deformed outlook on life, on the family, on religion and on morality, seeks a life free from boredom, discomfort, and pain. It glorifies material riches, power, and fame. 9People, after intoxicating themselves with pleasure, soon experience boredom and emptiness – a proof that we are created for something which cannot be fulfilled on earth. Pope Paul VI pointed out that the “technological society has succeeded in multiplying the opportunities for pleasure, but has great difficulty in generating joy.” An unhappy king was told that he would find happiness by wearing the shirt of the poorest man; and he discovered that the poorest man was cheerful and had no shirt at all. Our hearts are made for something intangible.
8 St. Augustine stated, “Our heart is restless until it rests in our Lord.” However, let’s admit it. Many of us find God boring. The Mass is meaningless and the prayers are mechanical recitation of Our Father’s, Hail Mary’s and Glory Be’s. So how can we discover happiness in God?4 They say that beneath the turbulent sea is a calm and beautiful world. Christianity is similar to that. Externally, it may not attract us but as we plunge deep in our spiritual lives, we discover that there are so much beauty, goodness, and love that are beyond our imaginations. St. Thomas Aquinas, a genius, did not finish his Summa Theologiae, the best theological book ever written, because when he was looking at the crucifix, he realized that what he had written was nothing compared to what God truly is.

In this era where there are so many distractions, we need to make time for silence – to reflect and to pray more. We will learn that the secret of happiness is to recognize how much God loves EACH ONE OF US as if each one were the only child. We, in turn, fall in love with Him and forget about ourselves. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta preached: “We can find true happiness and peace when we are in love with God.” She also taught: “By forgetting yourself, you find yourself.”5 Happiness is accepting the “undeserved” sufferings, such as an incurable illness, the loss of fortune, the death or infidelity of a loved one, and trusting that our all-loving and all-wise Papa knows what is best for us.

Happiness is realizing the horror of sin and experiencing God’s mercy and compassion as He welcomes us back when we are sorry for having offended him.

And perfect happiness? We are not far from it if we struggle one step at a time in this journey of love (of doing God’s will) until our hearts rest in our Lord in heavenly paradise. 10

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

Dying Young? THE ABCs OF CATHOLIC DOCTRINE By Lianne Tiu

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If “lola”dies at the age of 95, we normally do not question her death. Rather, we are eager to know her secret for long life. However, if a young person dies, we are often “shocked” and may even experience a crisis in our faith, blaming God for the death.
4Sometimes when a person is diagnosed with an incurable illness such as cancer, aside from seeing a doctor, he goes to an albularyo (faith healer), mangtatawas (an “occult practitioner” who drips molten candle wax into a basin of water and interprets the resulting form as the cause of an illness), manghihilot(a masseuse who use incantations to invoke the help of spirits to heal a patient), or mananambal(an “occultist” who uses sorcery to treat maladies) hoping to get cured by them. According to Fr. Jose Syquia,* the devil is behind these rituals so we should not be deceived by them.
6We have to understand that although we want physical healing, Jesus never promised everyone a long life. He instituted the sacrament of anointing of the sick which gives spiritual as well as physical strength. But He did not institute it to eliminate death. He instituted this sacrament to give sick people the strength they need to face death. The Church never promises to work miracles to heal an incurable sickness.
5Anointing of the sick heals the soul, and the body if it is expedient. If the recovery is not good for the person dying, God will not grant recovery. Only God can judge. Maybe the sick person is ready for heaven. Maybe he will suffer setbacks in the spiritual life if he lives. God will cure the sick person if it is spiritually good for him. However, we should not expect a sudden miraculous recovery, as if the sick person will just rise up from bed and resume a normal life. Our Lord usually works through natural causes.
2God is more interested in our eternal salvation. We may die young or we may live long – we just have to trust His infinite wisdom.

*Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia, director of the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism

(Reference: “The Faith Explained Today” by Fr. Joe Babendreier; “Occult, Pagan Practices Ruin Faith in God, says Exorcist” inquirer news)

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

Are you suffering from sickness or old age? The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine By Lianne Tiu

11It is hard to accept physical decline and the limitations that come with ailments or with aging. One must reject the temptation to think that his life is no longer of any value or that he is no longer important to others.

In itself, illness is a trial of faith. It can destroy some and strengthen others. Some go into rebellion or plunge into night of despair. Some take it calmly because they put all their trust in the Lord.
9 A person suffering from sickness or old age still has his appointment with “tomorrow”. However, it is a “tomorrow” that is not centered on success or on public recognition of his personal merits. Rather, it consists of God’s positive judgment of him. God is pleased not so much on the results of one’s action but on the love he puts into it.

Thus, the key to the problem is to adjust, to accept one’s situation and to try to find meaning in it. In the face of pain, sickness, fatigue and old age, the only proper attitude is that of loving acceptance (after employing all human means to overcome them). These sufferings can be opportunities to express one’s love for God, to unite himself with Him, to pay for his past sins, to gain virtues, and to send graces to his friends.

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This should be the goal: to transform the suffering into an offering. When he knows how to accept it, it purifies.

(Reference: Ethical Practices in Health & Disease by Michael Monge, M.D.)

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

“An Endless Thanksgiving”, The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine By Lianne Tiu

2If at night, we toss and turn in bed and cannot sleep, we recall Jose Mari Chan’s Christmas song: “If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep; and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.” The song makes us aware of the endless gifts God has given us, thus our endless thanksgiving to Him.

We owe everything to God. We thank Him for big and small things; for what we like and what we do not like; in good times and in bad times.

When things go wrong, what do we have to be grateful for? Why do we have to thank God for the bad things in life: death of a loved one, financial loss, lingering sickness, a difficult spouse, or a problematic child? These seemingly “bad things” are actually permitted by God to produce a greater good. For example: The unexpected death of a young man caused sadness to his parents; yet God actually took him at the best time when he had just gone to a retreat and confession. Or a great financial loss caused so much discomfort and tension; yet it brought the family unity, opportunity for atonement, and growth in many virtues such as industriousness, patience and detachment.
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Moreover, we should think that the bad things could have been worse (something which we cannot accept). “Thank God, I was only robbed but not killed.” “Thank God, I have poor eyesight; at least I can still see.” “Thank God, my husband has a bad temper; at least he does not beat me up or my children.”

A grateful person is humble, while an ungrateful person is not. A humble person realizes that he is nothing and that all things come from God. A proud person, on the other hand, finds it hard to acknowledge the favors done to him because he thinks he deserves them. That is why the first element of gratitude is to recognize the favor received.

There is a story about a man who lived in a cave, where he removed a thorn from the foot of a lion. Because of this, the lion was grateful and would even share his food with the man while he was in the cave. Years later this man, having been charged with a crime, was condemned to be eaten by wild animals in the amphitheater. At the time of the execution, a lion which was
recently captured was released to eat the prisoner. Instead of eating him, the animal recognized his former benefactor. He was happy and leaped on him like a dog to his master. The judges, on hearing this story, released both man and lion. The lion then followed his master through the streets of Rome (without hurting anyone) until his death.

There are also true stories of horses shedding tears or even starving themselves to death at the death of their masters, and also stories of faithful dogs and cats. If animals, with no other guide than natural instinct, can show their love and gratitude for their masters, how can man, possessing intelligence, lack gratitude towards his benefactor?
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The second element of gratitude is to express our appreciation and thanks. We can say many short prayers of thanksgiving. They may be taken from the Bible or composed by ourselves: “Salamat sa Diyos” or simply, “Thanks, Jesus”. We say “thank you” as often as we can remember, the moment we wake up, before closing our eyes at night. We thank our Lord not only in words but also in deeds. Thus the third element of gratitude is to repay the favor according to one’s means. But we, who have nothing, can give nothing to God who has everything. What our Lord wants is that we give Him our love. We repay Him by avoiding sin (even venial sin) as it greatly offends him. We also repay Him by winning others to Christ, by being faithful to our vocation and duties in life. Holy Mass is a supreme manifestation of gratitude; thus, we prepare and live it as best as we can.

Thanking God actually adds nothing to Him; instead it does more good to us. By thanking Him, we are actually increasing our love for Him. Let us develop this attitude of thanksgiving to God at all times.

(Reference: “The Sinner’s Guide” by Venerable Louis of Granada)

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

The humanity of a preborn child: The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine by Lianne Tiu

12A preborn child is a human being even in the earliest stages of life. He or she should be treated equally and be given the same protection as we enjoy under the law. He or she deserves the right to be born.

It is, indeed, horrifying when a mother terminates the life of her own defenseless child. Abortion equals murder.

In America, a native Indian woman approached a Chinese medical doctor as she wanted to have an abortion. The doctor told her: “You can’t do that; it’s a criminal act, it is murder!”
14When the doctor saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere with this woman, who would surely go to another doctor, he had a supernatural idea: something like the judgment of Solomon.
Doctor: “How many children do you have?”
Woman: “Six”
Doctor: “And the eldest, how old is he?”
Woman: “Nine years old.”
Doctor: “Why don’t you want the one you are expecting?”
Woman: “Because I can’t feed them all.”
Doctor: “Well look, as for this one who is going to be born, no; but bring me the nine-year-old, and I’ll kill him for you.”
Woman: “No! No!” (raising her hands to her head)
Doctor: “But this is the one who eats the most! On the other hand, the one who is going to be born will hardly cost anything, because you will be giving him your breast…”
11A preborn child is just as real as you and me, created by God out of love and made in His image. Studies show that he or she can feel pain and can cry inside the womb. The child is struggling, suffering, and ‘crying out’ terribly inside the womb when he or she is dismembered, suctioned, or poisoned by abortion. When will we finally wake up to this reality?

(Reference: “Bright and Cheerful Homes” by St. JosemariaEscriva (Get-together in Valencia Nov. 19, 1972); “Abortion” from American Life League; “Study Shows Pre-Born Children Cry In The Womb” from Christian Communication Network )

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19-week-old Baby Walter Fretz (from7 images that prove the humanity of preborn children by Becky Yeh)

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

“A homosexual has the right to marry.” The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine By Lianne Tiu

7There are homosexuals who have previously been in legal (opposite sex) marriages; and there are people who have had homosexual relationships, renounce their behavior, and marry the opposite sex. Both cases show homosexuals who have exercised their right to legally marry.
11The fundamental “right to marry” is a right that rests with individuals, not with couples. Homosexuals have exactly the same “right” to marry as anybody else. There are legal restrictions, however, as to whom they can marry. A homosexual, as well as a heterosexual, cannot just marry any partner they like. To be specific, anyone of marriageable age, regardless of his sexual orientation, is legally disqualified from marrying a close-blooded relative, a child, a person who is already married, or a person of the same sex. Restrictions are intended to protect people from harm. Removing restrictions brings about countless negative consequences. For example: Children from incest have a greater risk of congenital disorders, death and disability. Girls in child marriages are more likely to suffer from domestic and sexual violence, devastating mental health consequences, and death due to complications from pregnancy and childbirth. Children from divorced parents are more likely to experience deep emotional pain, poor social skills, low self-esteem, learning problems, higher divorce rates, to name a few. Children from same sex marriage are more likely to experience sexual confusion and are deprived of a proper environment for a healthy development- psychologically, mentally, and physically.
10There is no discrimination here – the restrictions on the choice of marital partner apply equally to every individual in order to ensure the protection of everyone.
9 Yes, a homosexual is free to get married, but not just with anybody if the marriage will cause harm to an individual, to other people, or to society.
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(Reference: “What’s wrong with letting same-sex couples legally “marry”?” by Peter Sprigg; Same-Sex Marriage is Harmful to Children by Trayce Hansen: Wikipedia; )

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The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

The Church Does Not “Hate” Gay People. The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine By Lianne Tiu

4When the Church states that marriage is the union between one man and one woman, she is not teaching it out of hatred or discrimination. The Church never “hates” gay people. In fact, she has great compassion for people who are struggling with their sexuality and gender identity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “any sign of unjust discrimination” toward homosexual people is to be avoided. Jesus, who heads the Church, loves all people—especially those whom society scorns, including people who are attracted to the same sex.
3For Catholics, marriage is not only about “intimate association” and “the hope of companionship,” but it is also linked intrinsically to the procreation and education of children. Today, this concept seems foreign to many people. The “contraceptive culture” has made us believe that the main function of our reproductive systems is not for reproduction, but for the pursuit of pleasure or intimacy. Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae teaches that sex within marriage has two purposes: the unitive and procreative. If we remove one of these purposes—or both, we are left with a physical union of bodies, without any transcendent meaning. Sex and babies are so separated in the modern mind that it is difficult to explain why and how marriage is more than two people who love each other; but that it is a conjugal union that exists in part for the creation and education of children.
5 The Church cannot change the definition of marriage. She continues to teach that marriage is not for two men or two women; because such relationships do not result in the birth of children or allow a child to be raised by his/her biological mother and father. This is not at all a reflection of hatred or bigotry for gay people.
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(Reference: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com – “What the Catholic Church does (and does not) teach about same-sex marriage” by Jennifer Manning; Catechism of the Catholic Church #2358)

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