R o s e

What'll affect you the most is what you didn't do instead of what you did do.

[germainelandch-blog]

Why the Church’s Involvement in State Important

Not because you feel different from the others doesn’t mean you have to change in order to belong. Just like the relationship of the Church to the state, the government, we must know that the Church has the very right to be involved in it. People like separists, atheists, or activists would say that they are a whole two different things, that the Church shouldn’t be involved in lawmaking, and that they should just stick to teaching the Bible instead. These are all wrong. Church has to be recognized that it does have a role when it comes to politics and eventually, it plays  a prophetic ministry. Based on a research, “Prophetic” here means policy, structure, or issues in the name of God and Christ, or on behalf of a particular community. ( D. O’Callaghan, October 2015).

For the record, the reason why I am in favor of the Church’s involvement in politics is not just because I am a grade 10 student from a Catholic school, and that they’ve taught a lot about this in all the years have passed. But as a Catholic and a concerned citizen at the same time, we should have the freedom in expressing what we believe in because it is the freedom of every citizen to express their opinions and be involved as they see fit.

The role of the government to the society is to shape us, and the same thing goes with the Church. It’s just that when it comes to politics, it has limitations. It does not ordain morality and righteousness. Therefore, if the Church would not speak, then who would probably be the one who will shape our morality? What do you think will happen to the future well-being and to the whole society we live in? The answer is simple. Those who are marginalized, will remain as marginalized. And those who are poor voiceless people, will be poor and voiceless forever for no one would speak for them. This proves that the Church has moral obligations as the voice of the voiceless.

The Church’s role in politics is an ethical one. It isn’t just there to teach the whole society morality and righteousness. It isn’t just there to gather and sing some hymns on a Sunday morning, but is there to contribute to the well-being of the future and of the whole society in which we live in. And just like what was said by common people that Church should just stick to teaching Bible instead of being involved, it is actually ironic. Why? It is precisely because of the Bible that we, Christians, speak out wherever and whenever we see injustice in the world. We should consider ethics as an expression of God’s desire for the best of His creation.

On the 4th of July, 2017, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed a controversial executive order that would help the Churches participate in politics easier. Many Christians cheered for him, but many disliked as well. Most of what I often hear about him is all about his people’s negative remarks about him, and him being often compared to the former President Barack Obama. The probable reason why this happens is because of the way he runs his country and make decisions in shaping the community of United States. In this issue, people who don’t fully know President Trump just like me, shouldn’t base their judgments on from what they’re simply just hearing. Despite of people’s negative remarks about him, it is actually a good thing that a politician makes a move in helping the Church of its involvement in politics just like his move that would help the Church a lot. However, these executive orders, bills of rights, laws, codes of conduct, constitutions – including the Bible, cannot guarantee transformation or even minimal change. There has to be a will to an act.

Now, even just as a student like me who doesn’t fully know everything yet, it’s still a must that we stand in what we believe in. Church doesn’t exist to only teach the Bible, and not only to teach ‘who God is’. It exists for God, and for the good of the whole community. It is an institution that speaks for a lot of people. It plays a huge and major role in politics in shaping the society as a whole. Lastly, the Church should always be involved in politics because all of us, Christians, are both citizens of God, as well of our own country. Therefore, it is just our rights to be involved in politics and help one another in shaping our moral norms for the good of our society’s well-being.

[love-personal]

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[auramystiq-blog]

[alexmagana02-blog-deactivated20]

Humanity Lost?

Murder is wrong. Ever since we were kids, we have been taught of this irrevocable truth by our parents, elders and especially the Church. Jesus Christ himself bestowed us the Decalogue in which we are called to follow his command. Taking a life is ignoring and disobeying God’s command to us on purpose. Ask yourself then, what is a capital punishment? In its simplest form it is defined as murder. We cannot twist the truth into thinking that the person deserves to die because of the excuses we can possibly think of yet it still ends up as killing a person. This form of punishment is unethical and barbaric. In a statement released by the CBCP, President Archbishop Socrates Villegas said “It is the Gospel we must preach. It is the Gospel that we must uphold. We therefore unequivocally oppose proposals and moves to return the death penalty into the Philippine legal system. Though the crime be heinous, no person is ever beyond redemption, and we have no right in giving up on any person.” The government has no power to give life like the Heavenly Father; they have no absolute right of exercising their limited authority in taking away God’s sacred gift. Only God can take that call. The philosophical and ethical basis for the death penalty, in conclusion is, shaky.

The Capital Punishment is used against the innocent. In a country wherein they have legalized this, a District Judge Jed S. Rakoff of the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan has said “In brief, the Court found that the best available evidence indicates that, on the one hand, innocent people are sentenced to death with materially greater frequency than was previously supposed and that, on the other hand, convincing proof of their innocence often doesn’t emerge after their convictions.” What certainty does the justice system ensure that the accused is not really innocent? Humans are subjected to make mistakes whether you like it or not. Senator Franklin Drilon has said, “Among the reasons that we (Liberal Party) oppose the revival of the death penalty in the country, which had been outlawed during the term of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, include the less-than-ideal justice system, which can result in the government executing a person who turns out to be innocent of the crime.”

The human race isn’t an exemption in making mistakes only God is. God forgives us even when we do the most outrageous things and yet who are we to not do as what He did. We always ask for His mercy and compassion yet when others crossed us, we cannot do the same? Violence against violence won’t solve anything. Jesus Christ gave us two love commandments which are written in the Bible. The first one: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God will all thy heart, with all thy soul and with thy entire mind. The second one: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” All of us need to wake up. This kind of punishment is government hypocrisy. People! Why do we need to kill people who killed people to show that killing is wrong? Is it because eventually they would fear for their own lives? What difference do we make when we strike fear in the hearts of men?

Senator Franklin Drilon said “We aren’t convinced that the reimposition of the death penalty is a deterrent to crime. It takes years for cases to prosper in the system.” When the Republic Act No. 7659 imposed the death penalty for heinous crimes more than 20 years ago, the crime rate – the number of crime incidents per 100,000 populations decreased from 145.7 in 1993 to 98 in 1998. However in 1999, when six of the seven executions under the Estrada administration happened, the crime rate rose to 11. The data implied can be translated into saying that it is a proven ineffective deterrent of crime versus the alternative of life imprisonment without parole. In addition the United States of America has evidences to prove. The time period between 1991 and 2011, which had states that carried out the death penalty consistently, had higher murder rates than states that didn’t.

Our country is a democratic one and naturally, in a democratic country the government is us since we, the citizens, have the power therefore if the government kills somebody then we are killing them as well. We are responsible for those actions. What kind of decent people and nation are we for allowing this barbaric form of execution to befall on to these perpetrators? Is there anything left of humanity in us? What difference does it make when we commit the same mistake? Given that an eye for an eye was applied in previous societies but today, human rights is widely propagated and strictly enforced in order to maintain stability, peace and freedom. By legalizing and agreeing with the Death Penalty, you are violating the right to life. In Deuteronomy 32:39, it says that “See now that I, I am He, And there is no God besides me, it is I who put to death and give life I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from my hand.” Life is sacred more than anything in a worldly sense. No person or any institution that upholds authority has the right to decide if one’s life is worthy of continuing to live or not. Everything about the Capital Punishment is a big contrast on our values, beliefs and our ground on a just government.

Let’s say there are as many people that are against with this as people who side with the legalization of The Capital Punishment. But, favoring this kind of execution because you sympathize with the family members whom you believe need closure that only death can suffice, then you are wrong. You are significantly pointing out to legalize an act of revenge and the right for an emotional satisfaction to which rules and regulations that are passed onto the higher officials contains only logical reasons that includes evidences to support the claims. Picture this out, if the beloved family members say that they would only gain closure if the accused is tortured until their last breaths, should we do that? Brent Tonick said, whose brother was murdered in the year 1998 “ You need that kind of feeling of some kind of justice being done, some kind of closure, though there is never any real closure.” Nothing can ever bring back the dead. No sense of relief can be felt for their pain is immeasurable. The death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent, and the appeals process would be expensive and cruel to the surviving family members.

Death Penalty is an act of unrighteousness towards our neighbors. It crosses the line that is drawn for each and every individual’s natural rights. There is no justice in this kind of punishment to the accused, the innocent, the victims’ family and especially to our nation. Sticking to the life imprisonment without parole is a safer and more inexpensive alternative. The Death Penalty doesn’t guarantee the safety of the innocent from being accused; it doesn’t effectively deter criminals from committing an act that will earn them this kind of execution, and it most certainly does not give closure to the families’ of the victim. Always remember that nothing good comes from hate and nothing good can come from death penalty. It cannot ever be accepted as a societal norm when the country claims to be a democratic government and when it’s predominantly resided by Catholic people. Death Penalty is dead straight murder and it is morally wrong on every aspect. The Death Penalty is not my issue alone but yours too. Seize this opportunity, the time is now. Make a stand. Make our future a brighter one together. If not now when? If not us who?

[marikagranaldi]

[deeplovephotography]

[bethina03-blog]

Start an End

          Today, our Catholic Church receives a lot of discrimination from the public. Not only the Catholic Church receives discrimination but also the people around the world. What do you think is the cause of this? Misunderstanding. It is because the Church and the society lack understanding.  People tend to misinterpret the intentions of the Church about certain methods they want to imply. Before we discriminate the judgment of the church, first we must understand their viewpoints so that we may grasp what they want us to see.

           They say that we, Catholics, worship statues because most of the churches in the Philippines have lots of images and paintings of saints, martyrs, and the people who contributed a lot in the Catholic Church, but the truth is Catholics do not worship images or religious articles, we venerate them.We use them as a way to help us connect our emotions to God. It feels different when you pray while seeing something and while seeing nothing. It brings us comfort and guidance to see while we pray.

           We do not uphold our tithes. This is an advantage for the people but this is a disadvantage for the church because those tithes are their funds for its expenses and for donations to charities. However, Jesus is compassionate and He does not force His people to give if it doesn’t come from their hearts. If we love God, we should give freely from our writhing heart, and because He love us, He understands us in our capabilities and shortcomings.

           Sometimes, even though we have a lot of problems that we may think that have no solutions at all and we are continuously suffering and depressed, we must keep hold of our faith and keep on praying to God. Most Catholics have strong faith in God and they keep in mind that if they pray harder and wish for it regardless of the time it takes, God will grant them bountiful blessings. In times like this, we should always pray to God because he is always there for us whenever we need him and he gives us this kind of problems because he knows that we can overcome it, just have faith in Him.

           The Catholic Church keeps on interfering in politics which they should not be. They are against family planning even though our country’s population is increasing everyday. What they do not understand is that the Catholic Church is prolife. They respect the life given to us. Some methods of family planning prevent life. The Catholic Church is really against it to be taught to families where they represent the Holy Family itself in the community. According to Pope Francis, the family, the fruitful covenant between man and woman, is the answer to the great challenge of our world. Also, the Catholic Church only allows one method in family planning which is rhythm method. It was stated that it is not highly advisable to families where the mother or the father works overseas or is far away from their families.

           Isn’t it saddening that as a lot of social issues arise, the issues our Church faces also arise? What I’ve come here to do is to show all of you that discrimination in our Church is getting worse and as a Catholic, we should pray for the people who don’t understand the Church. Let me ask you, how would you start ending the discrimination we put ourselves in; more so, our Catholic Church?

[factly]

[factly]

[gaylevillaester-blog]

Untitled.

    Have you ever felt so disgusted in yourself? Have you ever screamed for help? Have you ever felt that you’re tied up, and not able to speak out what you feel? I may not have encountered personally the sufferings of these women, child, and any other people who experienced nothing but these endless pain of sexual harassment, but surely I can hear their screams, feel their fear, and see their innocence.

    Based on my gathered facts, over 8,000 women and children are being raped for the last years. Who would have thought that we will get a massive number of rape victims by the end of the year. Imagine all of those women and children being sexualized by our own countrymen. Yet, we are still unsure if that is the exact number of people who are being sexualized. These immoral acts, can be caused by the lack of education, morals, and respect.

    I remember the day of our church’s conference, a lady standing in front of a big crowd sharing her faith and how she get through her own experience of sexual harassment. I remember clapping my hands and cheering my heart out on how brave she was to share her experience. She was sexualized by her own father. Her other sisters had the exact misery. The lost of hope, and faith is all over her. She was so scared to scream for help thinking that her own father will murder her and will do the exact thing to her siblings. Since she can’t do anything about it, she wrote letters thinking that these letters will help her cast out from her miserable life that feels like death. Without any hesitation, she placed all of these letters in their own roof. The thought of reading the letters by a stranger did not pop in her head. And that day came, the authority read her letter. Luckily she was saved by a foundation and they introduced God to her.

    I myself encountered this kind of violence. It may not be as bad as her experience but it is still an act of harassment. Just walking through the streets with decent clothes, you’ll hear all kinds of hiss from different people. Or the so called “cat-calling”, and I am certain to say this that every girl that I know also had this kind of experience. Catcalling is not compliment it is an act of violence. We should not feel obligated to satisfy their needs whether, physically, emotionally, or what ever pleasures they need for us.

   But on the other side, I am glad to tell you that we are slowly rising up from this controversy. One city in our country, particularly Quezon City, approved the law of “Anti-Catcalling Ordinance”. I hope that we can keep passing this kind of law. Not just for our country, but for the whole world. Because, everyone deserves to be respected just as we want to be respected by the others here is a passage that I want to share to you. In the letters of Paul to Thessalonians saying: ”6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:6-9

    We believe that our own church is not about just knowing God, sharing His words, and not just singing all the songs with our hearts. It’s more of encouragement, hope, and knowing their hearts personally. It’s not just reading the bible It’s more of studying it and implying it to our own lives. And if ever I’d encounter someone with the same grief, I will not hesitate to invite that person to our church, and I’ll talk to her personally about this matter. Cause this is a serious issue. We should not just let this “slip” away. We will get to know this person more, invite her to our services, give her a bible, and we will invite her to study it. First of, inviting them to our church can improve their, confidence through fellowship. Second, attending Sunday services and mid-week devotional services, can revive themselves to repent and pray again. Lastly, giving the bible and studying it can be the start of their new lives and the growth of their spiritual state.

    No. I am not. I am not just a girl. I am not just someone who wears dresses, make-up and do all these “girly things” and yes, I can do what you and all these men around can. No. I am not just a sex object. I am not just a past time. My mouth is not only meant to scream “yes, please, fast”. My breasts aren’t only for your dreams. My clunge aren’t for your pleasures, and my whole body is mine. And this is my choice. I stand for the ones who cannot get up, I speak for the ones who are silent. Yes it is me. A female that stands for Sexual Harassment.

[c-isnenegro]

[ablogofnature]

she endured bugs in her hair for these pictures, bless her soul 😂

my friend’s photography♡

my art

[imberr-rose-deactivated20220515]

so excuse us while we sing to the sky 🌄

[srrybabe]

[chxsannell]

I am no one’s property

Do you even have any sense of humanity in you? There are many social issues being discussed right now and yet here we are being ignorant of the real and bigger problem. Human Trafficking, is a modern-day slavery and every year millions of men, women and children all around the world becomes a victim of human trafficking.  I’ve seen news all over social media about how people are being forced to slavery and I stand against it because it goes against every moral values and beliefs I know as a Catholic.  

It was stated in Deuteronomy 24:7, ““If a man is found stealing one of his brothers of the people of Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” The victims of Human Trafficking have often been accused of prostitution or underage sex, in the first place did they ask to be taken away from their families and become sex slaves? No they did not ask such a horrible experience to happen in their lives, they simply we’re forced and threatened so why accuse them of something that they didn’t even want to happen to their selves? They already have been through enough. I read a story about how a woman was walking back to her house after shopping at a mall and how two men took her and sold her as a prostitute wherein she was in the business for 9 years all because the men who kidnapped her thought she would make a perfect prostitute because she showed a little skin. Woman are being depict at wanting “it” when we show a little skin which is raises another problem because of some people’s ill opinions about how a woman should not dress that way. We should never judge someone just because of the clothes they wear.

We have no right to own or forced a human being into something they do not want. God gave us all free will and said that we are all equal, one is not less than the other and one is not greater than the other we are all equal. That’s why human trafficking is something that goes against God. No one should think to that they are above others, that’s plain idiotic. No one can take away your freedom which is why we should all be aware of the dangers of human trafficking and help each other prevent this horrendous crime from blighting our world even further.

Nobody owns you and you don’t own anybody, people in power often think that just because they have the power they think the people below them are now their property. Let me tell you this, there isn’t anyone in this world powerful enough to own someone except God for we are his children. As God’s children we are equal and one is never above the other.

People argue that the victims of human trafficking were careless and therefore deserve what happened to them as they were not careful enough which is why they were taken and forced into a life they did not want. Human trafficking or any crime for the matter can happen unexpectedly one minute you’re just having fun with friends the next you’re being taken away from your family possibly never seeing them ever again. We should all realize no one deserves this kind of crime to happen to them. No one deserves to be miserable and forced into slavery this is not the medieval age, it is estimated that human traffickers earn 100 billion profit and here is the other cause of human trafficking which is greed.. Stop human trafficking, stop modern-day slavery, stop child labour, stop prostitution. We all deserve to be free.

Human Trafficking is still alive and continues today in every country in the world. Women forced into prostitution. Girls married off to older men. Children being taken away from their families and are being forced into labor.  Modern day slavery should be stopped because there is more to it than some people may think, human trafficking is connected to rape, abuse and gender inequality. There are organizations that help stop and prevent human trafficking from being more destructive than it already is, let’s all help and join in the cause of helping and stopping human trafficking. Don’t do it for yourself, do it for the future of our generations.

[juliannech]

An Eye for an Eye

  “Real eyes realize real lies.” Cliché? Of course. You hear it everywhere. Others say all you have to do is look into the eyes and you will realize. But then, what do you realize?

  William Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the window to the soul.” Now look into the eyes and tell me what you see. Do you see a goon in a man full of tattoos? Or a hooker in a lady sitting with a bunch of men? Is seeing enough for believing? If that’s the case, how can you see the good in someone if he, himself, doesn’t even know he has it? I want you to take another look. More closely, more precisely, do you see the fire burning in their eyes as emotions yearn to transpire? Because here, I ask of you, you need to see beyond a façade.

  Hiding the tears that fall like the rain and the marks made by a blade. How did he get here? Let’s start from the very beginning. While major depressive disorder’s exact cause remains unknown; sexual and emotional abuse, medical conditions, combination of genes, and stress can increase the risk of developing the condition. In fact, citing a report of the National Poison Management and Control Center (NPMCC) of the Philippine General Hospital, Filipino kids as young as 10 years old have committed suicide due to depression. It tends to become a big reason in doubting God and His ways of strengthening our faith in Him. People with depression tend to think that there is always something missing. They feel lost as they are waiting for someone who can fully understand their situation without having to look at them with judging eyes. It appears that these people seem to be always hiding. Yes, hiding their emotions to  the world and its censorious eyes. The thing here is, the emotions they keep suppressing are also the emotions that make them humans. I want you to understand that depression affects not only the person’s outlook in life, but also the people’s stance toward him. The question here shouldn’t only be how his soul can overcome the despair written in his eyes but also how the people would look underneath the illusion and see the Church in him.

  Rather than assessing the credibility of a person, why not open an opportunity for him to uncover the potentials he is hiding? Here is a passage from Romans 14:1 - “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” It states here that he, who is not well acquainted with the principles of the Church, should be welcomed. Not to be judged by the thoughts that differ from him, but to bear with his weakness.  This tells us not to see others over non-essentials things. Instead, we must accept them and see the good in them for we are all created in the image and likeness of God.

  The Church here stands as a structure. Not a building but a structure. It is a structure that is planted within us. May it be in a dark place or in a place where the sun never stops rising. Still, it is the Church. Whether in a problematic person or a person with the most positive outlook in life, the Church will remain being the Church that dwells in us.

  I assume you all know the game ‘hide and seek’. You hide and I will seek. No. Because starting today, we will change the game. WE will seek. They do not need to hide to the world because we will seek with them to find what is missing. We will seek to know the feelings that they are hiding inside. We will seek to see the true form of the Holy Spirit that lives within each and every one of us. Today is not a day to use your eyes to see, today is the day you start using your heart to really see, feel and understand.

  I want you to stay in front of a mirror while reading the title once again. This time I want you to see that the eyes aren’t just mere windows, but a connection of the mundane world to the core of humanity. A soul seeing another soul, an eye reflecting the center of a human’s core. Now, look closely at the mirror. Observe. Slowly, carefully, I want you to fathom that it takes more than what meets the eye to view your heart’s desire. Now tell me, do you still see the color of your eyes or a reflection that lies within your eyes?   

[sinkling-deactivated20140526]