"The Church has to clarify this controversial statement of the Pope."
Pope Francis’ radical shift in support of same-sex civil unions, while still opposing same-sex marriages, is definitely welcomed by the LGBTQ community. To my mind, however, it raises some points that need clarifications, Santa Banana!
Same-sex civil unions refer to the cohabitation of two males or two females. I am a Catholic and I agree with Pope Francis who said they were all children of God. He also asked: “Who am I to judge?”
I believe in what the Pope said that we have to create a law on civil unions for same-sex couples because they have the right to be legally protected. No doubt, as human beings and citizens of the republic, laws should protect people.
But it’s a radical shift, nonetheless. Isn’t same-sex union a perversion? Does it not refer to cohabitation of same-sex couples who may also eventually decide to adopt children? I believe that a law should be created to protect the rights not only of the same-sex couple, but the children they adopt.
I have browsed the 1987 Constitution and I am of the opinion that protection of the family as the basic institution of society refers only to the union of man and woman. Thus, there may be a need to amend the Constitution to protect the rights of same-sex civil unions. As it is now, in existing laws like the Family Code, same-sex couples do not have the same inalienable rights as straight couples when it comes to conjugal property and finances.
In a Catholic country like the Philippines, the call of Pope Francis is an opportunity for the state and Congress to render to Caesar what is due Caesar.
It is sad to note that President Duterte often vacillates in his support for same-sex unions.
In fairness to our lawmakers, there is in fact a pending bill to recognize same-sex unions. The Pope’s position must be clarified by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
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The Chinese from Mainland China have been creating a lot of problems in the Philippines. First we had the multi-billion peso scam called “pastillas.” Immigration people assigned to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport received bribes in rolled paper to allow Chinese from the mainland to enter the Philippines – and stay. They work in POGOs, taking away jobs from Filipinos. Note also that with the influx of Chinese from the mainland, there are syndicates that specialize in the extortion and kidnapping of their fellow Chinese, Santa Banana!
Now there is the exodus of Chinese working in POGOs, with some of them closing shop. Entire floors in condominium buildings are being vacated. Houses in villages once occupied by POGO workers are now being vacated. All these are creating property problems.
Now there is the problem of 35-year-old Chinese citizens coming here as retirees.
Their entry has alarmed the Senate. At their age, they can still take on jobs that could be given to Filipinos. Some of them could be security threats.
This development came about at the Philippine Retirement Authority. In fact, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, as chairperson of the PRA, has taken note of this and suspended the PRA Retirement Program, for which retirement could start at age 50.
In other countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, foreign retirees cannot be counted as such if they are also investors.
With thousands of mainland Chinese coming to the Philippines, I am moved to ask: Is this Communist China’s silent invasion of the Philippines?
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With so may health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is now news that some more activities will be allowed soon – travel, even the non-essential type, full capacities of hotels, public transportation, rest and leisure places, motorcycle taxis, religious gatherings and the like.
My wife and I think, however, that senior citizens like ourselves have been forgotten. Shall we just remain locked up in our homes?
