Church ‘works in silence’ to reform drug addicts

CEBU, Philippines - There is no need for the government, even the president, to know the apostolic works of the local Catholic Church community on its role in helping drug personalities who have been voluntarily surrendering to authorities.

So said Fe Barino, one of the founders of the drug recovery program dubbed "SuGod" (a contraction of Surrender to God).

The Church, Barino said, has been active in addressing the drug problems but has chosen to work in silence instead.

"Wala matulog ang simbahan," she said, defending the Church from the attacks of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"You priests just keep on talking. You have done nothing. From baptism to death and on Sundays, you collect money. Where's the money of the faithful?" Duterte said in a speech he delivered during the induction of new officers of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan on Thursday evening.

Duterte has called on priests to do something to help address the drug problem and not just criticize him for his anti-drug policies.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, for his part, said efforts not shown publicly are the very actions that are done sincerely.

He even used a Biblical passage to define this, saying "you do not let your left hand know what you right hand does."

Palma said he was not surprised that the President continues to attack the Catholic bishops after they have spoken against the administration's bloody drug war and the apparent spate of killings.

"We will not stop talking about what we believe is right and what we believe is true and what we believe is for the good of the people because this is our mandate," he said.

Palma said he has forgiven the president for all the misdeeds he have done. He added that he is also praying for president.

Palma, however, clarified that the Church's drug recovery programs are not to show the government that they are doing something to satisfy the criticisms and attacks hurled against the Church for its inaction.

But rather, he said, "this is our response to the cry for help of the people who surrendered with the government's campaign against drugs."

He said there is no need to invite the president to their drug-related programs and interventions since the Church 'works in humble ways.'

"Even if we work in little ways, we believe this is a great help for the many who had been touched by the program," the prelate said.

"There is hope for them especially when they turn to God for conversion," referring to law offenders such as drug personalities.

Barino said their local charismatic community, for instance, has helped drug users to reform and reintegrate into the society since August last year.

At present, over 400 drug dependents benefited the program, she said.

She was referring to SuGod, a community-based drug recovery and renewal program spearheaded by faith-based organization Kaalam Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Barino said the program is striving even without the support of the government.

The government noted a shortage of rehabilitation centers for drug dependents in the face of hundreds of thousands who have surrendered in a police drive against users and peddlers.

The Cebu Archdiocese has been urging parishes and faith-based organizations to assist in rehabilitating the hundreds of drug dependents as the present administration intensifies its campaign against illegal drug use and trade. (FREEMAN)