Charismatic Manila archbishop seen to change tone of RH debate

When the Vatican appointed Imus prelate Luis Antonio “Chito” Tagle as head of the Philippines’ most influential archdiocese, Reproductive Health (RH) bill advocate Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel immediately welcomed the announcement.   No, Baraquel doesn’t think Tagle, the new Manila archbishop, will stray from the Catholic Church’s hardline stance against the RH bill – a position based on a papal encyclical, Humanae Vitae, which bishops cannot simply bend according to their personal beliefs.   Tagle is also expected to uphold the orthodox positions of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on other controversial issues, such as same-sex marriages. He is, after all, the CBCP’s chief doctrinal guardian as head of its Commission on the Doctrine of the Faith.  

It is Tagle’s kindhearted demeanor, however, that will spell the difference once he assumes his post on Monday, Baraquel said.   For one, she says, unlike other bishops and priests, Tagle has never tagged RH bill advocates as devils or terrorists.   Like other observers who have noted his humility, she also said Tagle is a “progressive” bishop who is deeply involved in labor issues, and is known to have a sincere compassion for the poor. “I received the news of his appointment with joy talaga, and also immediately with a lot of hope that he can introduce a tone of dialogue, less combativeness, more empathy for women within the Catholic Church hierarchy,” she said in an interview with GMA News Online.   “I think the thing about him that will most make a difference, for the better, in this RH debate, is ‘yung personal disposition niya at saka ‘yung kondukta niya sa debate, ‘cause that's all we ask in any battle – a fair and honorable engagement,” she said.   Baraquel – herself a Catholic and niece of prolific Jesuit composer Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros – serves as the spokesperson of the Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party that has opposed the Catholic Church hierarchy over the RH bill.   “If he can be a sign to all Catholics, including RH advocates – a symbol of listening, of compassion, of humility, of empathy – that will do a lot, I think, to reassure Catholics who’ve been turned off or wounded by the conduct of our bishops on the RH debate so far,” Baraquel said.   Media-savvy theologian   One of Tagle’s former students, Fr. Emmanuel “Nono” Alfonso, agrees that the new Manila archbishop will not engage in the “objectionable” practices of some prelates in the RH bill debates.   Tagle, a “theologian par excellence,” is not the type who will resort to name-calling or threatening politicians with the so-called Catholic vote, said Alfonso.   “Si Bishop Chito, mahilig ‘yan sa reason, so ‘yun ang kanyang dadalhin sa discussion, sa dialogue, or even debate on the RH bill,” Alfonso said in a separate interview with GMA News Online.   Considered a papal contender, Tagle has impressive credentials that include having worked closely with then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – now Pope Benedict XVI – in the Vatican’s International Theological Commission.   Observers view Ratzinger, Tagle’s former superior in the commission, as a former progressive priest who became a conservative especially when he headed the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.   Before getting appointed to the Vatican commission in 1997, Tagle received his initial training for the priesthood at the Jesuit-run San Jose Seminary in Quezon City. He obtained his doctorate in sacred theology at the Catholic University of America.   His solid academic background, however, has not kept him out of reach of the ordinary parishioner.   Tagle’s other edge is his ability to explain the teachings of the Catholic Church in simple terms, said Alfonso, who is also the executive director of the media ministry Jesuit Communications Foundation Inc.   “It takes a lot of skills to be able to translate the doctrines of the Church, the theology of the Church, into something na madaling maintindihan, at pangalawa, something na inspiring. ‘Yun ‘yung gift niya eh,” Alfonso said.   He said Tagle does this best through media – in particular through his Sunday TV program The Word Exposed for Jesuit Communications. Another popular venue is Tagle's Facebook page that has over 81,000 fans.   Tagle considers the media his special apostolate, devoting time to mass media efforts despite his hectic schedule as bishop and seminary rector, said his colleague.   Alfonso explained, “The best na siya sa recollection, sa homily, sa retreat – well sought-after. Yet try as he might, napaka-limited no’n, kasi ‘pag magbigay ka ng retreat, for example, tatlong araw, sa isang grupo, ‘yun lang ang matutulungan mo, mapaliliwanagan mo ng Salita ng Diyos.”   “Pero ‘pag nasa media ka,” he said, “it’s really global. So kumbaga, may multiplier effect ‘yung kanyang effort.”   This charism comes in handy in preaching against the RH bill, the Jesuit priest explained.   Views on RH Bill   Tagle and Alfonso, for example, presented an eight-part series on the RH bill through The Word Exposed earlier this year. Speaking gently and engaging in light-hearted banter occasionally, Tagle laid down views that echo those of the CBCP, including the following: 

• Human life is a gift. “Bakit nasa sinapupunan pa lang ay problema na ang tingin sa kanya at magpapalala sa problema ng kahirapan?”

• The country needs children to support its aging citizens. “Kailangan ng tao na magtratrabaho para ‘yung kanilang income, ‘yung kanilang taxes, ay makasusuporta sa tumatandang population”

• The RH bill, which provides universal access to natural and modern family planning methods, could promote a culture of casual sex that could lead to higher rates of abortion. “The availability of the ‘gadgets,’ hindi ‘yun ang solusyon. Mukhang merong kailangang baguhin sa disiplina ng mga tao, pananaw tungkol sa sekswalidad.”

• The use of artificial contraceptives could pose dangers instead of protecting women’s health. “Baka ang real problem ay poor, mahina ang services sa larangan ng kalusugan, specifically ‘yung pangangalaga ng mga nagiging nanay. Hindi ‘yung pagbubuntis mismo ang problema.”

Notably, Tagle did not condemn RH bill advocates as public sinners in any part of the series. (Watch part 1 of the series below).     RH bill advocates like Baraquel have lodged their opposition to these points presented by Catholic Church officials in venues such as the GMA News TV special RH Bill: The Grand Debate. “The lines are drawn, blood has been drawn already,” Baraquel pointed out. “So medyo sa panig naman namin, sa pro-RH, ang gusto na lang namin pagbotohan na eh, sa Kongreso, kasi ang tagal na nito. Everybody knows what everybody’s position is already.”   For the poor   Despite their differences regarding the RH bill, Baraquel sees a common denominator between Tagle and other RH bill advocates within the Catholic Church: their concern for the poor.   Tagle, after all, has done community organizing in the labor sector – “nakikitira, nakikipamuhay sa kanila, kumikilos kasama nila,” Baraquel said.   Time and again, the new Manila archbishop has also emphasized the importance of poverty and simple lifestyles for bishops and priests.   Tagle himself experienced poverty as a doctoral student, Alfonso said, when the prelate was forced to work as a library janitor at the Catholic University of America after the school got embroiled in a controversy that made his sponsor end his scholarship.   “Alam ni Bishop kung paano maging mahirap. ‘Yun ang maaasahan ng mga mahirap. Alam niya kung paanong mawalan at kumalam ang sikmura and so on and so forth. So he is really one of them,” Alfonso explained.   Baraquel added, “Bishop Chito is part of that memory of ours of that time that more Church people really lived, experienced with, and worked with these people, especially the poor. So para sa akin 'yun na 'yung ubod ng pagiging progresibo.   “Kung dala pa rin niya 'yung karanasan niya dati bilang labor organizer,” she said, “then at the very least… even if disagreeing with us or even trying to correct us, I believe that he will be speaking from pastoral concern.” Baraquel also expressed confidence that Tagle will presume “goodwill and good faith on the part of everyone, including us,” referring to RH bill advocates like her.   “We may have a different position from the Catholic hierarchy,” she explained, “but we are also after the common good.” - YA, GMA News