Why is there Catholic apathy? Ask the Bishops!

I was browsing inside the National Book Store when I found a newspaper that I never read before dubbed The CBCP Monitor and the headline blared, “Stop Mining in our Region — Eastern Visayas Bishops.” As the report goes, six bishops coming from Region 8 expressed their concern over the “misplaced priorities of some local government leaders, accusing them of acting more as agents of the mining firms rather than agents of the people.”

In their official statement, they said, “As shepherds of our flock, it is our collective sentiments that the continuing drive for development of the Eastern Visayas region anchored on mining as well as other extractive economic pursuits only reinforce the irreversible trend of permanently damaging nature’s endowments. As a consequence, the many lines of opportunities upon which our people can draw their life sustenance will definitely be threatened immensely.”

Before I continue on this issue, I’d like to point out that in the same newspaper, under the fold is another article entitled, “Catholic Apathy Saddens Prelate” It’s the story about retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz expressing his sadness over the seeming apathy from Catholic believers in the face of direct and strong attacks against the Catholic Church. I too sympathize with Archbishop Cruz and I have felt this Catholic apathy especially when Catholics are called to fight the proposed Reproductive Health (RH) bill. Indeed, even Charismatic organizations who supposedly number by the thousands, do not attend prayer rallies when they are being called upon.

I can only reckon that Catholic apathy stems from the various positions of the clergy that often is seen by Catholics as a stumbling block to our development. In the case of the RH Bill, misguided economists insist on the old stereotype (this doesn’t work anymore) that less people in a country means more people will be well-off. But we have already explained in so many columns that places with very few people like Guam, Saipan or even in New Guinea are now populated from 10% to 35% by Filipinos because they don’t have enough people in their own countries to develop their economies.

My good friend, Fr. Greg Gaston even came up with a booklet entitled “World Population Collapse: Lessons for the Philippines” which gives a demographic picture of our population growth, which has begun declining. He uses United Nations (UN) Statistics, not the Catholic Church, yet Catholics are still full of apathy in the fight against the RH bill.

Back to the issue of mining . . . which was the subject of the front-page story in the CBCP Monitor, let me point out again that when the Bishops issue blanket statements against mining, they are discouraging foreign mining companies from investing in those areas in Region 8 that desperately need investments for the mining industry. While I do not disagree with these bishops that certain local government officials may be acting as agents in mining, I just hope that these people are not supporting those “mom & pop” mining operations which actually do more environmental damage.

But unfortunately the bishops do not realize that their blanket opposition to the mining industry in effect distances them from many Catholics, especially those who tell us that without the mining industry, where do you think our bishops and priests would get their beautiful chalices to use in the Holy Mass or the gold rings or crucifixes that our bishops proudly wear?

Like it or not, the mining industry brings a lot of development in any country. A case in point is right here in Toledo City, Cebu which played host to the Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. (ACMDC) which was then the biggest copper mine in Asia and the 3rd largest in the world at that time. When Atlas shut down for many years because of a labor problem, it resulted in an economic downturn for Toledo City. Now that it has reopened, it has brought fresh hopes for the people of Toledo. If Samar or Region 8 is one of the poorest regions of this country, it is because of the opposition by the bishops to mining in that area. 

Last October 13, the whole world rejoiced in the dramatic rescue of the 33 Chilean miners from the bowels of the San Jose Mines after being trapped for 70 days, which was shown on CNN and BBC. Even the Pope prayed and sent each miner a rosary. It taught the world that prayer leads to salvation, even here on earth. Yet the Pope did not issue any statement condemning mining. Rather, the Catholic Church wanted to tell the world that the rosaries and prayers of Catholics worldwide resulted in the rescue of the miners coincidentally on Oct. 13, the anniversary of the last apparition in Fatima. Call this a plea for the bishops to rethink their anti-mining position and perhaps Catholic apathy against the church might disappear.

* * *

For e-mail responses to this article, write to [email protected] or [email protected]. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.