Catholic Apologetic Site for Filipinos

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guys, san ba puede bumili ng Know the Truth mag? kasi nagtanong ako sa St. Paul…wala daw sila…

by the way, im living here in Cebu…
 
raikou said:
Thanks guys. 🙂

Can you also give me links for the great schism (is that what it’s called) and the antipopes? Thanks. 🙂

My father, although Catholic, is heavily influenced by Protestant myths that he denies Church authority on obligations and faith and morals. Can you suggest how I can do effective apologetics with him? Please pray for him too. 🙂
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What great schism are you referring to? If it was the Eastern Schism which divided the Catholic from the Eastern Orthodox, here is the link.

On the great Western Schism of 1378-1417 where the Church had “two” or more Popes, legitimate and illegitimate(antipopes) here is the link.
 
Hi.

I felt inspired by this thread and decided to come up with a Catholic Apologetics Blog in Filipino. 🙂 I am not a Bible scholar nor a Theology major but am hoping I can get some help with this project real soon.

Could you Tagalog-speaking folks take a gander at it? I just started it this morning (just 2 posts) but I wanna know if I am going in the right direction. Would welcome your comments, suggestions and violent reactions. 🙂 Topic suggestions and references are also welcome.

Oh, I also took the liberty of linking the sites mentioned in this thread so I hope the site owners wouldn’t mind.

Is anyone interested to co-write /co-manage this with me? Can’t pay you but I did hear something about rewards in heaven …😉

Thanks. Here’s the link.
 
While it is nice that people defend their faith, Filipinos who convert to Mormonism pretty much eschew any sort of corruption after conversion. I don’t espouse Mormonism but you have to respect the RESULTS of their faith.

I am Roman Catholic and Filipino, but you have to admit that despite the overwhelming numbers of “faithful” Catholics, corruption is a way of life in the Philippines.

The Church in the Philippines (not the members, necessarily) is a part of this corruption. Very few parishes have transparency in their finances, though their is a lay movement to require it (a very, very small lay movement).

Given the reputation of the Philippines worldwide, this back patting is a bit premature since the nation as a whole is not a very good witness for the faith.
 
There’s a lot of anti-Islamic posts on this thread.

Filipinos in many ways should be shameful about the way they treat their Islamic brothers and sisters.

They asked for a law that stated all food produced in the area be marked Halal and it was soundly rejected at the urging of the local businessmen who said it would be too expensive. This is the same group of people who would make a poor waiter pay for the glass he dropped.

Forcing Islamic students to go to a public school and be subjected to ridicule because they don’t want to participate in Sto. Nino events.

This is just a small part of the intolerance that the “faithful” Filipinos practice in the country.

If people really want to defend the faith, people should really spend more time practicing it instead of studying apologetics.

Eschew corruption and graft, and report those who do. Stop oppressing Muslims and maybe they won’t be so strident in their calls for an autonomous region.

Practice the way of truth, love, and faith, instead of patting yourselves on the back for a fighter who prays, and the novenas said.

Justice is the greatest form of devotion and prayer to Jesus.
 
Teronias said:
**If people really want to defend the faith, people should really spend more time practicing it instead of studying apologetics…**Practice the way of truth, love, and faith, instead of patting yourselves on the back for a fighter who prays, and the novenas said.
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I think we can do both, don’t you? 🙂
 
I think we can do both, don’t you?
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Well until the graft, corruption, and thievery slow down to something manageable, no, I don’t think people in the Philippines can do both.

In the Philippines, they have three people working a checkout counter in a department store to prevent theft. In Germany, US, Australia, Bangkok, or Tokyo they would have only one.

What made you think that you can do both?

Is it the fact that security guards rarely find anyone carrying a weapon attempting to enter a shopping mall? Maybe when there are NO GUARDS SEARCHING PEOPLE before they enter a shopping mall can you say that you might do both.

The idea of apologetics in this instance is a joke. In a country where there is such wanton disregard for personal property, the flaunting of law at every level, and the acceptance of lies for personal gain, the Philippine nation is a stain on the cloth of the Church.

There are saints that reside in the Philippines, hoping against hope for the kingdom of God today. But for the people on this thread to speak proudly of their country as a great and shining example of Catholicism – it’s ridiculous. Just like the ridiculous amount of security guards they have running around that country.

If it is such a wonderful example of a people who profess their faith, why is it that almost every store needs an armed security guard?
 
Well, let’s see…:hmmm:

That would mean you’d have to wait for the Philippines to become a nation of saints before they could evangelize…but if they were a nation of saints, why then would they need evangelization at all? :ehh:

The whole idea of evangelization is for those who are attempting to live a life of holiness to be leaven in the dough of society. As our Lord said, “A little leaven seasons the whole lump.”
 
That would mean you’d have to wait for the Philippines to become a nation of saints before they could evangelize…but if they were a nation of saints, why then would they need evangelization at all?
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That’s not what I mean, though it is convenient apologetics to put words into my mouth and then refute them.

My initial point was, being Filipino and Catholic, that I was pretty disgusted with everybody on this forum patting themselves on the back for being Catholic Filipinos. Saying what a shining example they are to the world of faith and how devout they are.

For the most part, Filipino Catholicism starts and stops with attendance to prayers and mass. The shining example of Filipino Catholicism is ATTENDANCE. If they are to evangelize as a nation (not individual people), are they going to preach attendance?

No one has stepped forth to counter my examples of corruption, graft, and thievery. No one has doubted my example of the three store clerks being needed in a store to prevent theft. Poverty is not the reason; Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia isn’t populated by affluent people yet they only need one store clerk because they know that the clerk they employ probably won’t steal. In the Philippines, it’s EXPECTED that the clerks will steal and thus the three clerk system.

It’s EXPECTED that you bribe a government official.
It’s EXPECTED that you tip a police officer if things go your way.
It’s EXPECTED that you offer money when you get a traffic ticket.

When such things are deeply rooted in a society, it is hard to describe it as a devout Christian culture.

I don’t think that any nation is perfect, but I do think that citizens should look at their country honestly and not spout reflexive platitudes when the reality of the situation is so far – so very far – from the truth. The way people operate in the Philippines is a way that has been eating the soul of their country.

I think the people in the Philippines are essentially good like I believe all people are. But today’s Filipinos believe that making deals with the Devil is just a part of life – “what’s a little bribery and graft – everybody does it.”

The main tenet of Philippine society today is GOUGE thy neighbor.

Not a good thing to witness when you are talking about the love of God.
 
^good point…

but I’m still proud…living in a Christian nation here in the East…

anyway, Apologetics for me is defending one’s faith…justifications…and could be evangelization…

talking about changing for the good…living in accordance to God’s plan every second, every moment of our lives is a struggle and I pray and fight for it every moment of my life
 
Teronias said:
In the Philippines, they have three people working a checkout counter in a department store to prevent theft. In Germany, US, Australia, Bangkok, or Tokyo they would have only one.
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Not really–stores employ many people for the simple reason of providing jobs, and people will take on these jobs even if it pays low. And it would be strange that theft should happen at checkout when it’s already paid. Not saying it doesn’t happen, but then such reasoning would be weak IMO.
There are saints that reside in the Philippines, hoping against hope for the kingdom of God today. But for the people on this thread to speak proudly of their country as a great and shining example of Catholicism – it’s ridiculous. Just like the ridiculous amount of security guards they have running around that country.
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That’s too harsh a judgment for a nation. No country is perfect, and one trying to look for it would be dismayed at the many failures each country has at some level. That being said, the Philippines would be a shining example of the Faith at work. Of course, there are still the lying, the stealing, the corruption–like I said, no country is perfect, and each country does have its fair share of these things.
If it is such a wonderful example of a people who profess their faith, why is it that almost every store needs an armed security guard?
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Again, for employment. The stores can easily have sophisticated technology to monitor their patrons, but that would also mean laying off a great number of people. Economics play a part in it.
 
Teronias said:
There are saints that reside in the Philippines, hoping against hope for the kingdom of God today. But for the people on this thread to speak proudly of their country as a great and shining example of Catholicism – it’s ridiculous. Just like the ridiculous amount of security guards they have running around that country.
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I beg to differ. I am Filipino and I don’t have a problem saying that the Philippines a good example of Catholism. This is not out of some blindness— I know corruption, crime and immorality exists in this country in such rampant and blatant ways, it can make one grieve. I used to even think the way you do.

When I started working though in a church-based institution, doing a lot of coordinated efforts with dioceses all over the country and with many Catholic groups, I see that SO MANY Filipinos live their lives in inspiring ways and so many Catholics do change lives. Our organization recognizes too many a selfless local heroes— people who, though they live in dire poverty chose to give themselves to the service of God and the community. And though one disaster after another hits the Philippines, our people are very resilient, anchoring their hope on faith and the goodwill of their peers.

This may sound like a hallmark card but it is nevertheless true. You just have to look more closely.
 
katerivincent said:
it’s good to hear that…bec there are only few **PINOY CATHOLIC ** APOLOGETICAL WEBSITES…Here in Cebu city, we have an organization mainly for apologetics the"C.F.D or catholic faith defenders inc."which is fully registered in the securities and exchange commission(SEC).it started around 60’s.There in Manila, I guess you have also an organization(st. peter mens society),right?i hope you would post a discussion board in your website… I congratulate you…GOD BLESS!!!
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Hello! Are you an official member of CFD? Im from Iligan. Mayor Socrates Fernandez is a very known CFD. Also is Atty. Marcelo Bacalso.

Sad to note, CFD is not active here in Iligan. However, it is very progressive in Ozamiz.
 
Teronias said:
If people really want to defend the faith, people should really spend more time practicing it instead of studying apologetics…Practice the way of truth, love, and faith, instead of patting yourselves on the back for a fighter who prays, and the novenas said…
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We can, should, and it seems that there is no other way but do both.

I hope that you are not having the impression that religious practices, trying to clear out what the truth is by defending the faith through apologetics, and practicing love of neighbor are mutually exclusive things, or at least not realizing the importance of the first two. In fact, there is a close relationship among the three. Yes, I certainly agree that practice of faith is an essential part and shouldn’t be done away with, but the two may even be more crucial.

We need grace - a lot of it, if your ambition is to free a country from corruption and all these crimes. I believe that any great human ambition, in order to be successful, must be founded first on a supernatural motive. No best way to foster this than prayer and the sacraments.

There is also an urgent need to defend the teachings of the faith. These people who are corrupt and do these crimes are probably those who are ignorant or are not convinced of the truth of their Catholic faith. Perhaps they claim to be Catholics, but are actually practical atheists - they live as if there is no God, and fear him not. They scorn doctrine as if they are the supreme source of truth in the universe and indulge in the error of moral relativism. They can’t pick out the truth, probably because so many sects and ideologies exist nowadays. This blurring of truth convinces them that making themselves as the source of truth probably won’t make much difference as they try to put truth and error on the same pedestal. How can they practice truth, if they do not recognize it? Unless we can clarify the truth, we can expect people to be living duplicitous lives.
 
raikou said:
We can, should, and it seems that there is no other way but do both.

I hope that you are not having the impression that religious practices, trying to clear out what the truth is by defending the faith through apologetics, and practicing love of neighbor are mutually exclusive things, or at least not realizing the importance of the first two. In fact, there is a close relationship among the three. Yes, I certainly agree that practice of faith is an essential part and shouldn’t be done away with, but the two may even be more crucial.

We need grace - a lot of it, if your ambition is to free a country from corruption and all these crimes. I believe that any great human ambition, in order to be successful, must be founded first on a supernatural motive. No best way to foster this than prayer and the sacraments.

There is also an urgent need to defend the teachings of the faith. These people who are corrupt and do these crimes are probably those who are ignorant or are not convinced of the truth of their Catholic faith. Perhaps they claim to be Catholics, but are actually practical atheists - they live as if there is no God, and fear him not. They scorn doctrine as if they are the supreme source of truth in the universe and indulge in the error of moral relativism. They can’t pick out the truth, probably because so many sects and ideologies exist nowadays. This blurring of truth convinces them that making themselves as the source of truth probably won’t make much difference as they try to put truth and error on the same pedestal. How can they practice truth, if they do not recognize it? Unless we can clarify the truth, we can expect people to be living duplicitous lives.
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I totally agree with you. Living your life as a true Christian and being able to defend or prove your faith in Christ through both works and words coincide with each other.

How could one teach the cafeteria Catholics the proper Christian living without teaching them their faith in it’s true fullness? On the other hand, how could one convince cafeteria Catholics to live their faith truthfully when one does not live it at all?

And another thing, I know the non-Catholic Christians also pray for the freedom of the country from corruption and crime. I clearly see this in evangelicals and fundamentalists. But the most visible side of the ones praying for the country (may also be the bulk) is the Catholic side. Just check the CBCP, most if not all congregations of priests and nuns, the lay organizations, the apologists, the charismatic groups, etc.
 
w_stewart said:
Hello! Are you an official member of CFD? Im from Iligan. Mayor Socrates Fernandez is a very known CFD. Also is Atty. Marcelo Bacalso.

Sad to note, CFD is not active here in Iligan. However, it is very progressive in Ozamiz.
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:highprayer: ya brother, i’m a bonafide member of CFD- Dipolog and Cebu city chapter and also i’m one of the National Board Officers of the CFD. Bro Soc Fernandez is our honorary adviser and Atty Bacalso is our legal adviser with Atty Abas as our National president from Dipolog City. I suppose you are a CFD? right?? If not, you should always remember that even though CFD is not active anymore in your parish , every one of us, CATHOLICS, have the right and responsibility by virtue of our baptism to spread and defend our Holy Faith. So be strong in your faith, study always the teachings of the Catholic Church. Have a “KATIN-AWAN sa PAGTU-O” or any APOLOGETICAL materials like in the internet, have a good Bible version. Most important learn apologetics by heart before engaging in a discussion with our separated brethren.God loves you and Mary keep you. Godspeed:amen:

IGNORANTIA SCRIPTURAE EST, IGNORANTIA CHRISTI EST :bible1:
*** ST. JEROME***

PRO ECCLESIAE ET PONTIFICI:knight2:
 
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