Airing of Seven Last Words Controversy

I prefer Bach or Chopin instead of listening to any radio station in Vigan but during Lent, while monitoring for lectio (The sorrows of the Virgin Mary traditionally sung in a crying or wailing tempo.) one commentator has gone reckless.

Piecing the ropes together, I understand that Fr. Roque Reyes of the St. Paul Cathedral refused permission to a radio station for them to air the "Siete Palabras". If my understanding is accurate, the priest said “no” because the station has been attacking the Church and the clergy unfairly. (I stand corrected for this.)

In turn, the station informed the audience that the Seven Last Words coverage will emanate from St. Augustine’s Parish in Bantay but also negated by Fr. Magdaleno Ruelos, Jr.

The Lenten religious event is for the public and therefore, I don’t think that seeking permission to air it is necessary in the same way as permission for radio or television coverage for the feast of Christ the King is necessary.

The story does not end there.

Unenlightened remarks poisoned the minds of listeners when it was said that the job of priests is to look for sinners and lead them to conversion “instead of” not catering to their religious needs.

Did the priests ban some faithful in participating the sacraments or tell them that they should not go to Church to fulfill their obligation? I don’t think so.

For years, the seven last words of Christ have been aired on radio but I don’t buy that. Faithful should go to the Church instead of listening from the radio or watching it from TV unless there is a valid reason. To be Christian is a 24/7 business and not just during Christmas, Lent, wedding, funeral or baptism. After all, on Good Friday, how many are busy drinking or preparing food or their trip for the Sabado Gloria festivities?

Priests year in and year out and not only during Lent perform their tasks to nourish the souls of the faithful by offering Mass and performing sacraments. Priests teach moral issues such as the evil of artificial contraception, the evil of the abuse of the environment, greed, graft and corruption and others consistent with the teaching authority of the Church that attack the dignity of human life in whole.

Then the commentator asked the priests “After this life, where shall we meet? In heaven or in hell?”

How did the argument end there?

Well, these days, Philippine clergy is occasionally attacked from all directions because of its consistency in fighting for what is right and what is moral. I agree that there are some priests who are not good or even worse than an ordinary person but they are still priests, sinners like us. Bad priests are better than no priests at all. When there are no priests, there are no sacraments and when there are no sacraments, where is salvation?

Now is Eastertide, a time to rejoice and be glad for Christ has conquered death. One way to rejoice is never to be serious with childish commentaries.

Happy Easter!