Manila archbishop warns vs. indifference at start of Lent

While Filipinos observe the Lenten season, they were cautioned on the perils of being indifferent to the plight of others.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said no less than Pope Francis had expressed concern about a growing culture of indifference in the world.

"Ang sabi niya po, ang mundo ngayon parang may isang kultura na nabubuo at kumakalat. Ang kultura ng indifference. Yun bang wala akong pakialam. Ang loob ng tao hindi na naantig. Ang loob ng tao wala ng pakiramdam dahil ang loob ng tao nakabaling na lamang sa kanyang sariling interes.

"Kapag ang puso ko, ang kalooban ko wala nang ibang tinitibok kundi ang sarili kong interes; kapag ang aking kalooban pag binuksan ang makikita kakaunti lang ang laman, bakit? Kasi ang laman ako, ako, ako," Tagle said in his homily marking Ash Wednesday.

He said adopting a self-centered attitude may lead to a person having no concern for others and eventually no concern for God.

Worse, he said there are times indifference can creep into one's life until it becomes a habit.

"Mag-iingat po tayo diyan kasi minsan hindi na natin napapansin itong indifference na ito pero nagiging kalakaran ng buhay," he said.

He particularly warned against insensitivity in the saying "trabaho lang, walang personalan," where a person's emotions are disregarded.

Tagle cited as an example an employer berating a helper for three months just because the helper accidentally destroyed a flower vase.

"Dahil sa isang vase na nabasag nakakalimutan nung amo na yung puso ng tao ay nababasag din. Bakit ganoon na lang yung pagpapahalaga doon sa flower vase pero yung puso ng tao hindi man lang nakikita. Hindi bale nang magkawarak-warak yung puso basta yung flower vase ay buo," he said.

Tagle also cited his experience as a student in New York, when he saw a person collapse to the ground near the bus stop.

When he, a nurse and a nun tried to help, bystanders told them not to because they could be charged.

"Parang pati ang batas tinuturuan kang maging indifferent. May nakita kang bumagsak, wala, wala kang nakikita. Kasi baka ikaw pa ang kasuhan. Kaya kapag may nagtanong, may nakita kang bumagsak? Wala, madilim, eh. Yung ganun at nagiging kultura. Sasabihan ka pa, do not assist, do not care. Kung ganun kaya ang nangyari sa Diyos, saan tayo pupulutin?" he said.

Culture of sensitivity

Tagle called for a culture of sensitivity to God and neighbor, similar to that practiced by Jesus Christ.

He said they could start by supporting Fast2Feed - a Church program where money saved from fasting is donated for a feeding program for children - aside from prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Tagle also called for prayers and action toward true brotherhood and peace. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News