The Oxymoron of the Church's Stand on Homosexuality

Earlier this week, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced the publication of the book Homosexuality and the Catholic Church by Fr. John Harvey. Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that the entire catholic community could be benefited from the contents of this book with regards to the nature of same-sex attraction. The book reveals the Church's position on homosexuality and the basic catechism with regards to this phenomenon.

In an article posted in the CBCP website, Archbishops Paciano Ancieto and Oscar Cruz reveals the gist of the book. In the said article, the CBCP urges the the homosexuals to "come out in the open" because "there is nothing to be ashamed of". Further, the CBCP also defended same-sex attraction, saying that it does not merit condemnation at once because homosexuality is a natural disposition. Fair enough, right? But this seemingly welcoming remarks of the Church is actually superficial.

In the same article, Bishop Oscar Cruz said:

"Don't condemn those who had a different sexual orientation for one thing, they did not chose it. Second, it is possible they could redeem themselves. Third, a good number of them are just behaving that way but they are not acting on their sexual orientation"

Let us dissect this statement:

1.  The first sentence is commendable. It is true (although my opinion on this would be biased) that one cannot condemn anyone who is sexually deviant. Condemning homosexuals are as disgusting as racism. The high rate of gay teen suicides in the  past couple of months is alarming enough and the primary root of this sad events is bullying. The neanderthal comparison of the homosexual phenomenon to a certain kind of viral disease adds up to the burden of a "closeted" homosexual trying to figure our his identity. I believe though that being homosexual is a choice- a choice to enjoy the freedom of being one's self- and it is this choice that makes the person comfortable with.
2. The second sentence, however, is clearly dangerous because it implies that homosexuals are originally destined to be thrown in the fiery seas of hell. The placement of the word "redeem" suggests that gays and lesbians already committed a sin being themselves. Clearly, this sentence is contradictory to His Eminence's  previous statement. With this two sentences combine, it is like saying "Do not condemn them because they are already condemned." 
3. The last sentence of this statement further reveals the true stand of the CBCP on homosexuality. Behaving and acting are to terms with clearly different meaning, but aren't these terms in a antecedent-consequent relationship with each other. While the CBCP says the there is nothing wrong on being gay (and they also encourages the "coming-out"), the bishops instruct homosexual to not act on their being. Again, we go back to the choice of being one's self. The choice of being gay entails the assumption that after the choosing being homosexual, the freedom to act as one follows. The CBCP says that a man can be attracted to another man is a "natural sexual disposition" and does not merit any persecution from the populace. However, they also imply that a man falling in love with another man merits a commission of a sin. These arguments are hilariously preposterous! For more, while the CBCP acknowledges homosexuality as a "natural disposition", it denies the existence of "third sex". WHAT?!

Homosexuality is not a sin, it is a form of self-expression, of being one's self. The "welcoming" remarks of the CBCP towards us homosexuals are good, but I say, "No Thanks!". These affirming-but-actually-denying statements are disgusting. It doesn't do anything good to the LGBT community. The CBCP condemns us further, by the mere superficial acceptance. These statements are just compounding the persecution homosexuals undergo in their everyday lives. As per being one, I have just learned to ignore the insults and the laughs being thrown at me as I am being judged with my choice of clothes and my sexual preference. Reading these statements are actually more insulting than the petty mockery that ordinary people throws on homosexuals. This is the reason why day after day, people our being discouraged on going to the Church. In reply to these statements, let me say to the CBCP that there are worse thing rather than losing "morality" for being gay. For example, losing religion. 

Dan and Blair Finally Kissed (and a little extra on the side)

Monday's Gossip Girl gave Dan and Blair lot's of airtime. I just love how their relationship develops- a "friendship" based on fight. However, we were left hanging (again!) with Dan and Blair kissing each other to find out if there is something more into them. (Sorry I couldn't find a picture. I'll find one and post it later).

On the next episode, the spoiler said "Fate is sealed with a kiss", while we hear that Blair's revelation that she kissed someone (obviously it was Dan) is making a stir in Manhattan. Yeah, Blair and Chuck is over now and the writers should really pursue this love ship. There are plenty of us wanting this to happen! Too bad we still have to wait for a month for the next episode (ughhhh).

Love them both!

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Late night musings led me to this lipsynch video. Watch this to the end! This is hilariously creative. Plain AWESOME! Again watch til the end!

Update: I just found out that this impersonator is Ryan Robles. He joined the noontime variety show Showtime and won in a streak of episodes. Although his latter performances are not as good as this one, his talent is so obvious and totally amazing. Creative much!

The Cagas Holy Spirit Excuse

During the House Committee on Justice Impeachment Proceedings vs Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the gentleman from Davao del Sur Douglas Cagas, having raised a motion to defer the proceedings, said this following remarks:

"We must exercise fairness and be guided by the Holy Spirit"

In lieu of this. Risa Hontiveros tweeted:

"Rep Cagas: We shld b guided by d Holy Spirit. Mawalang galang Lang po, pero parang ibang espirito ang gumagabay sa inyo".

To Mr. Cagas, your attempt to delay is very futile. Can't argue that much? Hahaha. Sorry the committee will deliberate next week. Poor you! You seem like a joke in the proceedings.

Born this Way: Maria Aragon and Dave Karofsky

I know there is some serious buzz about this girl, Maria Aragon, all over the internet. Then few days after I first heard her name, she was featured in The Ellen Show. Yeah, she is the buzz now and just few hours ago, I visited her infamous video and immediately fall in love with her. Her Lady Gaga's Born This Way cover is awesome that I have raped, molested, abused the reply button several times that the music becomes "embedded in my subconscious". For more, this girl is Filipino! So after listening to the song,  I researched the chords of the song and by studying the progression she used in the video, WHOA! I can play the song in my keyboard! Yey!

More on to this song, rumor has it that our Glee Resident Bully Hottie Dave Karofsky will be singing this Lady Gaga song on his coming out scene. Checking the Glee Wikia website, there is no yet revelation on which episode will Dave be featured again (Quite honestly, I am missing him since the Thriller episode. He is just so adorable.) I, rooting for the Kurtofsky love ship, is very excited to hear Karofsky sing this song- better yet, in front of Kurt. However, the rumor is still a rumor as when Max Adler was interviewed he said that

"We are sworn to secrecy by the producers and they will have our heads if we reveal anything," 

So we are still left on the hanging. (I still hope he does sing the song).

PS. Why do I love Born This Way. It is so GAY. Hence, Lady Gaga
Here is Lady Gaga's Cover for her latest album. Isn't she great(er than Britney)?

Adding Another Meaning to EDSA

Amidst the celebration and concert along EDSA right now, Gang Badoy posted in her blog about one of her student in the death row. The post contains three snippets of a yellow, torned sheets of yellow paper-- a journal--- describing a reflection of one of the people in the death row during Echegaray's execution (5 Feb 1999). I am reposting the blog. (Click here to view the original post).
***

Death and Freedom in February

By gangcentral

I’ve been teaching Creative Writing in the Maximum Security Prison in Muntinlupa since July 2007.    Among my students are inmates of Building 1.  Building 1 used to be called the ‘death row’ until the death penalty was repealed in 2006.   Two days ago an inmate from my class came up to me and whispered that he was going to give me something at the end of the class.  I nodded at him thinking it was either a note, a small gift (for they are thoughtful like that every now and then) or maybe a request for help for medical assistance.   To my surprise, he handed me three yellowed, torn and stained sheets of paper.  He whispered that those were his notes from February 5, 1999.

The significance of what he said didn’t strike me until I realized it was his journal entry from the day someone from his building, from 5 cells down the hall, was executed.

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

-end of journal entry post-

Last October, while discussing the death penalty with my class, I decided to ask a couple of former death row inmates if they remember the day the law was repealed.  They described how they felt when they realized they will no longer be executed but their sentences changed to reclusion perpetua instead. (WATCH VIDEO HERE)

—-

Many have asked me about my stand on the death penalty and I noticed that my answer changes depending on the time I am asked.  My answer varies, too, depending on the crime and the accused involved.  But certainly this is not justice.

If you ask me today, I still don’t think it should be restored – not while our law enforcement is so wanting, our investigation and evidence-gathering so unscientific, our methods for extracting confessions questionable, our courts so flawed, we can’t afford it yet.

I am involved in some of the work of the legal communtiy who pushed against the death penalty, I have a good friend who was murdered – so if you had asked me around the time of his murder, I’d have said yes to the death penalty.  But –  I have longtime students who have murdered, raped, carjacked, dealt drugs, stole and damaged both people and property and I am witness to their sincere effort to eke out a new existence even while inside prison.  I am their teacher and I have read their writing.  So if you ask me again, my answer is no.   I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to explore this issue from many vantage points.

So if you ask me today, my answer is no.

—-

I suppose it was fitting for me to post this on the 25th anniversary of the EDSA revolution as it serves as an analogy to those days.  While we may have escaped the death of our democracy, 25 years after – we realize that we are still imprisoned and struggling still – to be free.   I suppose those days were a matter of life and death for many, also ~ from all sides.

Today, I am thinking of choices and freedom instead.

-Gang Badoy

25 Feb 2011

Rock Ed Philippines

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I was teary eyed reading the memoirs. The gravity of emotions are not based in the intricate flowery modifiers, nor within some symbolic metaphors. The sheer transparency of simple words touched my heart as I was reading this honest narrative. The piece is poetic in nature: its simplicity reveals a yet another dimension on the thin line between life and death. It is indeed a wake-up call for us who waste time  sitting in front of our computer, lambasting people here and there, and involving in some facets of corruption.


The memoir is more than a perspective on death penalty. This memoir is an expression itself-- unafraid yet all the while sincere.

This blog post adds another meaning to what happened 25 years ago along the then Highway 54. Our parents-- the precious generation-- fought for the freedom of our country from the cruel corrupting hands of a dictator, and collectively while peacefully, they have passed down to us the freedom to express ourselves without fear of having persecuted. But then again, this people behind bars, who most of them had suffered the consequences of their crimes (or in some cases, suffered the consequences of their alleged crimes), have repented and are wanting to start a clean slate to the world, struggle for their own freedom. This brings a new perspective to EDSA- we struggle for own freedom-- literally or symbolically.