May our reading of the Bible and sharing of Eucharistic life, with Mary, contribute to this transformation both in Church and in society.

1. The Word of God and the
Challenge
of Corruption in Philippine
Church and Society
Fr. Albert E. Alejo, SJ
Jesuit Ehem! Anticorruption Program

2. Personal notesPersonal notes
 Worked in government as municipal councilor for moreWorked in government as municipal councilor for more
than three years in Obando, Bulacan;than three years in Obando, Bulacan;
 Also in Archdiocese of Manila Labor Center;Also in Archdiocese of Manila Labor Center;
 Now working with Lumads and Muslims in the MindanaoNow working with Lumads and Muslims in the Mindanao
Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue;Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue;
 Leader ofLeader of Ehem!Ehem! a self-check approach to anticorruptiona self-check approach to anticorruption
movement, in partnership with the Ombudsman, andmovement, in partnership with the Ombudsman, and
other govt. agenciesother govt. agencies
 Work with Amuma Cancer Support GroupWork with Amuma Cancer Support Group

3. How do I feel?How do I feel?
 Happy--that we have space for discussing the Word of God and theHappy--that we have space for discussing the Word of God and the
Challenge of corruption, not only in society but also in the Church.Challenge of corruption, not only in society but also in the Church.
 Sad--because of what I have seen and continue to see. DailySad--because of what I have seen and continue to see. Daily
newspapers abound in scandals.newspapers abound in scandals.
 Angry--because corruption is not just a political and economicAngry--because corruption is not just a political and economic
problem; it is, according to World Bank study itself, a moral, aproblem; it is, according to World Bank study itself, a moral, a
cultural and a spiritual problem.cultural and a spiritual problem.
 A friend who wanted to be a teacher was asked by theA friend who wanted to be a teacher was asked by the
superintendent to give her first three months salaries.superintendent to give her first three months salaries.
 Php 728 million fertilizer fund scam;Php 728 million fertilizer fund scam;
 Php 25 milliion spoiled medicinePhp 25 milliion spoiled medicine
 Whistleblower Marlene Esperat was murdered in her own home inWhistleblower Marlene Esperat was murdered in her own home in
TacurongTacurong

4. What I want to sayWhat I want to say
 Many problems in Philippine society can also beMany problems in Philippine society can also be
found within the Church. The practice andfound within the Church. The practice and
tolerance of corruption is one of them.tolerance of corruption is one of them.
 The renewal of the Church involves a sincereThe renewal of the Church involves a sincere
discernment and a strong decision to workdiscernment and a strong decision to work
against corruption in all its forms.against corruption in all its forms.
 The Word of God offers us a critical vision and aThe Word of God offers us a critical vision and a
hopeful passion for a life of integrity and goodhopeful passion for a life of integrity and good
governance.governance.

5.  Corruption is violence. Corruption kills.Corruption is violence. Corruption kills.
Fighting corruption, therefore, is workingFighting corruption, therefore, is working
for peace.for peace.
 Fighting corruption movement is probablyFighting corruption movement is probably
the new name for active nonviolence!the new name for active nonviolence!

6. Seriousness ofSeriousness of
CorruptionCorruption
in the Philippinesin the Philippines
 Our country ranks 11Our country ranks 11thth
most corrupt countriesmost corrupt countries
in the world; 2in the world; 2ndnd
in Asia, where we arein Asia, where we are
considered the most Christian country.considered the most Christian country.
 Are we more corrupt now as a people thanAre we more corrupt now as a people than
before we were evangelized?before we were evangelized?

7. This feeling is widespreadThis feeling is widespread
 In both public and private spheres, thereIn both public and private spheres, there
is also a hunger for good leaders whois also a hunger for good leaders who
embody what is good in us as a peopleembody what is good in us as a people
and what we could still become if weand what we could still become if we
sincerely work for it, not leaders whosincerely work for it, not leaders who
simply personify our collective faults andsimply personify our collective faults and
magnify them on a devastating scale.magnify them on a devastating scale.

8. • The people are demoralized by the
kind of officials who show no respect
for the weight of words or for the value
of truth and public oath. After being
entrusted the power to serve, they
serve primarily the interest of the
powerful. We gave them our trust, but
now they betray us.

9. Elite DemocracyElite Democracy
 Our so-called democracy has oftenOur so-called democracy has often
favored the elite---economic and politicalfavored the elite---economic and political
elite, national and regional elite. And,elite, national and regional elite. And,
sad to admit, not a few of them havesad to admit, not a few of them have
come from our own elite educational andcome from our own elite educational and
religious institutions. The Catholicreligious institutions. The Catholic
Church, in particular, may feelChurch, in particular, may feel
embarrassed with the national scandal ofembarrassed with the national scandal of
enjoying good schools and enduring badenjoying good schools and enduring bad
governance.governance.

10. Mindanao context
• This issue gains more urgency and
sensitivity when we consider Mindanao.
Studies have shown that controlling
corruption in post-conflict countries
usually looks like fighting another war. If
the funds that will come with the signing
of the peace agreement do not land on
the proper beneficiary communities,
then we may have to face another war.

11. Church as part of the problem
• And in the midst of all this, the Church as
institution seems to suffer the same dark
night, rather than serve as a guiding light.
• “With so many churches, how come the
Philippines is still corrupt?” The head of
the Philippine Council of Evangelical
Churches yesterday posed his question as
he challenged the 20,000 churches under
the group's wing to
go through a process of self-examination.

12. Church as part of problem
• ‘There's a whole history to show that the Church,
though part of the solution, is also part of the
problem -- probably more the second than the
first. It's a Church, quite incidentally, that is itself
cleaved into rich and poor, in part involuntarily --
some parishes are poorer than others…As with
the society itself, the pocket of wealth and
opulence at the top is matched by breathtaking
deprivation below, a spectacular divide that
doesn't suggest it holds on to values conducive
to honesty, or indeed Christianity.’
—Conrado de Quiros, columnist

13. ““Let integrity flow like a stream!”Let integrity flow like a stream!”
(CBCP 2003)(CBCP 2003)
 ““Today, we once more point an accusing fingerToday, we once more point an accusing finger
at ourselves. The entire Church in theat ourselves. The entire Church in the
Philippines is suffering in great anguish as itsPhilippines is suffering in great anguish as its
integrity is raked over the coals with cases ofintegrity is raked over the coals with cases of
actual or alleged sexual misconduct of some ofactual or alleged sexual misconduct of some of
its shepherds. We are aware, too, that in otherits shepherds. We are aware, too, that in other
areas of Church life as in parish financialareas of Church life as in parish financial
management, some Church members andmanagement, some Church members and
leaders, through loose and even dishonestleaders, through loose and even dishonest
stewardship, stray from the path ofstewardship, stray from the path of
righteousness and integrity. We all suffer therighteousness and integrity. We all suffer the
pain when one part of the Body of Christ, that ispain when one part of the Body of Christ, that is
the Church, does wrong. [1 Corinthians 12:26]the Church, does wrong. [1 Corinthians 12:26]

14. National Congresss of the ClergyNational Congresss of the Clergy
 SURVEY OFSURVEY OF
SPIRITUALITYSPIRITUALITY
AND LIFESTYLEAND LIFESTYLE
OF THE CLERGYOF THE CLERGY
 Indecent lifestyleIndecent lifestyle
 Factors thatFactors that
weaken theweaken the
ChurchChurch

15. FACTORS THAT WEAKENFACTORS THAT WEAKEN
INSTITUTIONAL CHURCHINSTITUTIONAL CHURCH
 Arrogance and abuse of power (404)Arrogance and abuse of power (404)
13.9%13.9%
 Lack of transparency/honesty in theLack of transparency/honesty in the
management of Church resources (1495)management of Church resources (1495)
51.4%51.4%
 Clerical intrigues and politics that destroyClerical intrigues and politics that destroy
their presbyteral unity (934) 32.1%their presbyteral unity (934) 32.1%

16. Indecent LifestyleIndecent Lifestyle
 Material attachment and extravagance (1363)Material attachment and extravagance (1363)
46.8%46.8%
 Closeness to the rich and powerful/identificationCloseness to the rich and powerful/identification
with the ruling elite (266) 9.1%with the ruling elite (266) 9.1%
 Habitual recourse to worldly good time, drinking,Habitual recourse to worldly good time, drinking,
etc. (309) 10.6%etc. (309) 10.6%
 Sexual relations with women/Homosexual liaisonSexual relations with women/Homosexual liaison
and activities (751) 25.9%and activities (751) 25.9%
 Air of superiority, ‘bossiness’ and with circle ofAir of superiority, ‘bossiness’ and with circle of
favorites (214) 7.4%favorites (214) 7.4%

17. ‘‘Men of the Eucharist’Men of the Eucharist’
 The Philippine clergy have seenThe Philippine clergy have seen
themselves primarily as “men of thethemselves primarily as “men of the
Eucharist” and “servant leaders”. To beEucharist” and “servant leaders”. To be
authentic witness to this identity…they feelauthentic witness to this identity…they feel
that critical courses of action have to bethat critical courses of action have to be
done at various levels. (done at various levels. (History and Grace,History and Grace,
p. 200)p. 200)

18. Government initiativesGovernment initiatives
 We are grateful that government andWe are grateful that government and
private sector initiatives to combat graftprivate sector initiatives to combat graft
and corruption are picking up. Whileand corruption are picking up. While
long-term impact needs to be seenlong-term impact needs to be seen
among these initiatives, they haveamong these initiatives, they have
already effectively facilitated political andalready effectively facilitated political and
economic reforms in the public sector.economic reforms in the public sector.

19. Need for spiritualityNeed for spirituality
 What is lacking, however, is a seriousWhat is lacking, however, is a serious
connection of the political and economicconnection of the political and economic
reforms to the sphere of spirituality thatreforms to the sphere of spirituality that
looks at the basic integrity and morality oflooks at the basic integrity and morality of
every individual as a member of theevery individual as a member of the
political and economic systems.political and economic systems.

20.  The search for a spirituality of integrityThe search for a spirituality of integrity
may start from the urgency of anti-may start from the urgency of anti-
corruption movement, but it goes wellcorruption movement, but it goes well
beyond that. It aims to promote citizenshipbeyond that. It aims to promote citizenship
and good governance.and good governance.

21.  The Catholic BishopsThe Catholic Bishops
Conference of the PhilippinesConference of the Philippines
started with a very strongstarted with a very strong
indictment of the seriouslyindictment of the seriously
flawed political system in theflawed political system in the
country, with their Pastoralcountry, with their Pastoral
Exhortation on PhilippineExhortation on Philippine
Politics (1997).Politics (1997).

22. • Five years later, the CBCP highlighted
both the evil of corruption and the
demands of integrity, in their pastoral
letter on graft and corruption entitled “Let
Integrity Flow” (2003).

23.  In response to the scandal shakingIn response to the scandal shaking
the presidency and the entirethe presidency and the entire
government machinery, the CBCPgovernment machinery, the CBCP
lamented the seriousness of thelamented the seriousness of the
crisis of trust in government. Incrisis of trust in government. In
their pastoral letter (2005), thetheir pastoral letter (2005), the
bishops called for the “restorationbishops called for the “restoration
of trust” through the assertion ofof trust” through the assertion of
moral values, especiallymoral values, especially
accountability, of both the leadersaccountability, of both the leaders
and the citizens.and the citizens.

24.  Our discerned strategic response is toOur discerned strategic response is to
build up women and men of integrity,build up women and men of integrity,
equipped with appropriate expertise andequipped with appropriate expertise and
solid spirituality in the moral use of powersolid spirituality in the moral use of power
and in the technical requirements ofand in the technical requirements of
achieving good governance.achieving good governance.

25. Pastoral ChallengePastoral Challenge
 1. Strengthening those who fight corruption.1. Strengthening those who fight corruption.
 WhistleblowersWhistleblowers
 ReformersReformers
 2. Supporting those who desire conversion.2. Supporting those who desire conversion.
 Engaged in corruption but who are now bothered and at askingEngaged in corruption but who are now bothered and at asking
assistance to changeassistance to change
 The Zacchaeuses in our societyThe Zacchaeuses in our society
 3. Sustaining those who work with conviction.3. Sustaining those who work with conviction.
 Ordinary workers who are generally okay.Ordinary workers who are generally okay.
 How to sustain this to “retirement day”?How to sustain this to “retirement day”?

26. Reflections on the Eucharist
• St. Paul to the Corinthian church
(1 Corinthians 11:17-22)
• The Last Supper (Lucas 22: 21)
Kasalo ko ang magkakanulo sa akin.
• Betrayal of trust, suppression of truth
(Mateo 26: 15 Judas ‘Magkano ibibigay n’yo
sa akin?’)

27. Catholic SchoolsCatholic Schools
 ‘‘Many graduates of Catholic schools haveMany graduates of Catholic schools have
been successful economically andbeen successful economically and
politically but they have also contributed topolitically but they have also contributed to
the dismal economic and politicalthe dismal economic and political
imbalances existing in our country’ (PCPimbalances existing in our country’ (PCP
II, no. 267)II, no. 267)

28. Re-readings on the EucharistRe-readings on the Eucharist
 Conversion of ZaccheusConversion of Zaccheus
 Washing of the feetWashing of the feet
 Popular spirituality of integrityPopular spirituality of integrity
-- Pasyon (cf. Mateo 28:11-15)-- Pasyon (cf. Mateo 28:11-15)
-- Moriones festival-- Moriones festival

29. Popular spirituality: Moriones
• Ngunit yaong si Longinos
• kapitan, timtimang loob
• munti ma'y di malamuyot
• sa pangako't mga handog
• niyong mga pariseos.
•
• Ano pa tinalikdan
• ang layaw sa kalupaan
• nagbago na nga nang
asal,
• kumilala nang matibay
• sa Diyos na Poong Mahal
• Kaya nga't ang isinagot
• sa mga hunghang na loob
• aniya‘ay kahit malagot
• hininga ko ma'y matapos
• ay aking ipababantog.
•
• Aking pamamalitaan
• mga taong karamihan
• dito sa loob ng bayan
• nang totoong pagkabuhay
• nang inyong pinarusahan.

30. Popular spirituality: MorionesPopular spirituality: Moriones
 Nang ito'y maipagturingNang ito'y maipagturing
 ni Longinong masintahinni Longinong masintahin
 doo'y may isang taksil,doo'y may isang taksil,
 agad inutos na tambingagad inutos na tambing
 na taglay niyang patalimna taglay niyang patalim

 Alipala'y pinugutanAlipala'y pinugutan
 itong bayaning kapitanitong bayaning kapitan
 yaon na siyang hangganyaon na siyang hanggan
 at totoong pagpatayat totoong pagpatay
 ni Longinos na matapang ni Longinos na matapang

31. Implications for educational,Implications for educational,
pastoral and other ministriespastoral and other ministries
 We realize that we must realign our values formationWe realize that we must realign our values formation
with good citizenship and good governance. We shallwith good citizenship and good governance. We shall
teach that charity, for example, necessarily begins atteach that charity, for example, necessarily begins at
home, but it shall not be allowed to end there. Ourhome, but it shall not be allowed to end there. Our
homes, from now on, shall be a school for the kind ofhomes, from now on, shall be a school for the kind of
love that goes beyond kinship and family ties, andlove that goes beyond kinship and family ties, and
reaches out to the social sphere as well as to thereaches out to the social sphere as well as to the
environment. They shall be a training ground for hardenvironment. They shall be a training ground for hard
and honest work, for learning entrepreneurial skills, forand honest work, for learning entrepreneurial skills, for
simple lifestyle, for harmony with nature and thesimple lifestyle, for harmony with nature and the
environment, and for a profound reverence for theenvironment, and for a profound reverence for the
value of words and a deep disdain for deception andvalue of words and a deep disdain for deception and
untruth.untruth.

32. Call for ActionCall for Action
 We call on all who share this mission to also tellWe call on all who share this mission to also tell
your stories of pain and anger, as well as youryour stories of pain and anger, as well as your
dreams and energies. For this will make usdreams and energies. For this will make us
stronger in facing the painful truth of our disunitystronger in facing the painful truth of our disunity
and in embracing the nobler truth of our dignity.and in embracing the nobler truth of our dignity.
We believe that the chronic moral and culturalWe believe that the chronic moral and cultural
crisis that we endure is not in our genes. If wecrisis that we endure is not in our genes. If we
move, things will move. So let us move! Evenmove, things will move. So let us move! Even
our seemingly immovable social structure cannotour seemingly immovable social structure cannot
be our eternal destiny. If we change, things willbe our eternal destiny. If we change, things will
change. So let us change! What we now see aschange. So let us change! What we now see as
an apparent dead-end may yet turn out to be aan apparent dead-end may yet turn out to be a
new threshold of a new creation.new threshold of a new creation.

33. We live in hope!We live in hope!
 We remember with hope, through theWe remember with hope, through the
intercession of Mary, Jesus enhanced theintercession of Mary, Jesus enhanced the
wedding banquet, by turning ordinarywedding banquet, by turning ordinary
water into special wine.water into special wine.
 We move therefore, again with hope, thatWe move therefore, again with hope, that
through the intercession of Mary, the Lordthrough the intercession of Mary, the Lord
may tell us what to do in this crisismay tell us what to do in this crisis
situation, and turn our simple efforts intosituation, and turn our simple efforts into
his own work of liberation.his own work of liberation.

34. QUESTIONS FOR GROUP QUESTIONS FOR GROUP
REFLECTIONREFLECTION
1. What problems that beset Philippine society are1. What problems that beset Philippine society are
also found in the Philippine Church?also found in the Philippine Church?
2. What transformation in the Church may help in2. What transformation in the Church may help in
the transformation of our society?the transformation of our society?
3. How may our reading of the Bible and sharing of3. How may our reading of the Bible and sharing of
Eucharistic life, with Mary, contribute to thisEucharistic life, with Mary, contribute to this
transformation both in Church and in society?transformation both in Church and in society?