Cardinal David: Root of corruption is indifference, lack of conscience

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” Cardinal David rued that the country is not just being flooded by rainwater, but by corruption, as a result of the indifference and lack of conscience of some.

In his homily on Sunday, the bishop said, "the poor are bullied by 'law enforcers' in this country; they have no chance against the law. But those who tamper with the National Budget with insertions that deprive funds for social services—the politicians, contractors, and their partners-in-crime in government agencies, who steal billions from the treasury—they cannot be jailed. They can always afford lawyers."

David shared the story of the beggar Lazarus, whose life was restored by Jesus four days after his death.  He said people were talking about the cause of his death.

"It could have been hunger, or sickness, but according to studies, do you know the most widespread cause of death for many? Indifference. Lack of care. Lazarus did not die because there was no food. There was plenty of food—but all of it on the rich man’s table," he said.

He said the majority of the Filipinos are like today's Lazaruses, who "work like carabaos, yet because their wages are meager, they cannot afford decent housing, cannot feed or educate their children properly, cannot afford hospitalization when sickness strikes—like leptospirosis when the esteros overflow and flood their homes because of failed or ghost flood-control projects."

However, David said some live in palatial houses, who buy Rolls-Royces because they come with a free umbrella, who dine with a bill costing more than P700,000, or who wear a watch worth four years' wages for a construction worker.

David criticized politicians who pocket the people's taxes, like those who "invent ghost flood projects."

"What message does this lifestyle send in a country where the majority live from hand to mouth? The unverbalized statement is “I don't care.  Suffer if you must, as long as I enjoy myself."

"I have good news and bad news about the afterlife. First, the good news: all of us will go to heaven, for all are welcome to the Lord. But here’s the bad news: though all will enter heaven, not all will enjoy heaven. That is hell—to be in heaven yet unable to rejoice. Why? Because in heaven, to be fed you must feed others. To be happy you must make others happy. So how can you rejoice if on earth you learned to live only for yourself?" he said.

David said the people should instead embrace compassion, the opposite of indifference.

"This is what will raise our humanity and what can save our nation from sinking and drowning under the floods of corruption and indifference," he said.

David was among the Church leaders who attended the 'Trillion Peso March' at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on September 21.

He said his support for the Filipinos' march was a "moral stand." —LDF, GMA Integrated News