BELOW was the carefully worded declaration of our President Duterte
in front of an LGBT group before Christmas 2018
Thoughts below are some of my gatherings among Filipino Christian Leaders for discussion, prayer and awareness.
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FROM ATTY LYNDON CANA
FACEBOOK
To the many who stand against same-sex marriage, thank you for standing up for your faith.
To those who are for same-sex marriage and raised many points against God, religion, faith, my being a lawyer, and against my person, may I most respectfully answer as best as I can:
1. You are absolutely correct that religion has done injury and has caused so much evil in this world more than anything else. People have killed and burned and destroyed in the name of religion more than any other cause. Yes, this is absolutely correct. Many people who also claim to be followers of Christ have done atrocious things in the name of God. Yes this is very, very true, and people who are upset and angry with people of faith or with God Himself because of these atrocities, cannot be blamed because of the offense caused by people doing hurtful things in the name of God. People who call themselves Christians and who do these things, will answer to God and pay for their crimes, whether on this earth or in the next life. And so on this point my critics are correct, and I agree with them.
2. And yet, Jesus did not come to establish a religion. You will never find the word religion in the Bible,EXCEPT IN JAMES 1:27 WHERE JAMES DESCRIBES RELIGION THAT THE FATHER ACCEPTS as pure and faultless IS TAKING CARE AFTER WIDOWS AND ORPHANS IN THEIR DISTRESS. But Jesus never even used the word, nor offered anything like religion. He invited people to come to Him – in a relationship, in a fellowship. And he never directed the atrocities that people using His Name have done throughout history. Again, these people will answer to God and face His judgment in the time appointed.
3. And yet again, Jesus stood by the Scriptures. All who follow Him will stand by Scriptures. And the Scriptures is clear: NO TO SAME SEX-MARRIAGE. To stand by it is not fanaticism. It is simply faith. In the same way that an atheist insists there is no God, that a Muslim insists Allah is God, and a socialist says the state is god, and that communism proposes religion is the opiate of the people They all speak their faith. In a democracy, THEY ALL MUST BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AND BE HEARD.
4. And the truth is: EVERYONE has FAITH, because everyone BELIEVES in something. The Christian believes in Jesus. The Muslim believes in Allah and Mohammed. The Communist believes there is no God. The humanist believes that only man matters and he decides what is right and wrong for him. The pantheist believes everything is God or part of God. The socialist believes that the state is supreme, like a God. So on and so forth. Even one who does not believe in anything has faith. His faith is summed up in two words “anything goes”. The "free thinker" is also a man of faith, because he is believes whatever he thinks is what he will follow and what will rule his life. That is faith. So everyone has faith. There is no one here who does not believe in anything, or something.
5. The “separation of church and state” is not a “separation of church and faith”. The Constitution has faith, expressed in the preamble, invoking the “aid of Almighty God”, or in “Divine Providence” in the old constitution. Freedom of speech and freedom of conscience is an accommodation of the many kinds of faith in a democratic society. When I speak my faith, I do not impose the church on the state. Persuasion is not imposition. I am just sharing my faith, hoping for legislators to be persuaded by arguments of faith.
6. Even if I am not a lawyer, or even if I am a poor and unenlightened lawyer, I like the rest or all of us also believe in something, and I believe in God, in Jesus, in the Bible. And there is room for me in a democracy, as there is room for everyone else. It saddens me that people resort to name calling, cursing, insulting when they argue their point or belief. But I still thank God that He allowed me to live in a country where people are free to express their faith, and I take these all these things in the spirit of gratitude to God that I live in a free country.
7. Finally, those who worry that this debate “divides” the people, and that we must avoid division, because we must work towards unity, may I humbly say this: UNITY is NOT UNIFORMITY. DIVERSITY is NOT DIVISION. Unity does not mean we must all have uniform opinions. Unity means being able to allow and respect others to believe in what they believe in and to be able to express it freely without fear of being jailed, fined, shot, lynched or mobbed.
Finally, this may be hard for others to believe, but I truly mean this: some of the most caring and sensitive people in the world I have ever met are gays and lesbians. A gay couple was very kind to a sister of mine when she was studying theology in a foreign land. In that land, same-sex marriage was allowed. And this man-man couple looked after my sister very well.
But yet I say again, NO TO SAME SEX-MARRIAGE. I hope and pray that a day will never happen when saying this in the Philippines will become a crime for which people like me will be silenced, fined and jailed for speaking out our faith.
So let the debate continue in this free land…
And God bless the Philippines!
++++++++++++
DO WE WANT TO BE GOD’S ENEMIES?
By Atty. Lyndon P. Caña
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS A FAR GREATER THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY THAN MAUTE, ISIS, THE INSURGENCY, AND ALL OTHER DANGERS
With all due and great respect for all, many people do not understand the extreme danger of same-sex marriage (which proponents try to soften up as civil partnership). Same sex-marriage or union is far more dangerous to national security than ISIS, Abu Sayaf, Maute, etc. Why? Because our government can defeat the enemies of the Republic, as our gallant soldiers have shown so wonderfully in Marawi. But when God becomes our enemy, how can we and who can win against God?
While we affirm that we are all sinners, that God loves us, including gays, homosexuals, lesbians, there is unfortunately no way we can edit or soften His very clear Word, among so many other passages, in Romans 1:18-32:
“18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened…
26… their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
The wrath of God... It is so clear...
That sex has been designed by God between man and woman in marriage, and not between man and man or woman and woman, has been plain since the beginning. And now, although we say we know God, now, we are not glorifying Him but darkening the mind of the people with notions that same-sex union is okay, is fine, is all right. So now, we are dangerously on the brink of making God our Number One threat to our national security and welfare…
Who can handle the wrath of God? What Special Forces or Marine Brigade can we assign to neutralize God?
No matter what and how many problems we face, if God is with us, and is for us, who can defeat us? (Romans 8:31)
But even if we build, build, build, change the Constitution, shift to federalism, declare all out war against ISIS, the NPAs, the enemies of the Republic, if God Himself becomes our Enemy, who can save us? What Martial Law can contain God or neutralize His wrath?
Someone might say, “but same-sex marriage is ratified by 24 countries in the world, and they are the richest, most prosperous countries on earth!” That is answered by the next chapter, in Romans 2:
“4 …do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”
Wrath and anger... who and how can we escape it?
There are just two options towards God's Word: believe it or dismiss it. THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND. To be in the “middle” is to be against it. Even in parliamentary procedure, an abstention is as good as a no because it is not a yes. So either we say “yes” or “no” to God on this issue.
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” (Prov. 21:31)
“If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him, but if man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” (I Samuel 2:25), which, when paraphrased means, “If man is your enemy, God can help you, but if God Himself becomes your enemy, who can help you?”
May the Philippines NEVER RISK making God its Number One Enemy. Love gays and homosexuals with the love of the Lord, but NO to same sex-marriage, NO to so-called “civil partnership”, NO to same-sex union!
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FROM BISHOP BALANO
FACEBOOK
Let me share this observation:
The culture and The Filipino Values:
Pinoy LGBT dilemma.
Pls share this to everyone!
1. Same sex and homosexuality or LGBT is contra sa moral values ng pinoy.
Why? majority of us Filipino cares so much of this Values.
2. LGBT is again not part of our cultural values
3. Philippnes is compose of 80% catholics and 13% protestants or equivalent to 95million and 350,000 lang ang lgbt so ang lgbt is a minority kaya po mas marami ang ayaw sa lgbt outnumber po talaga so pag sa batas nyan madaming lalabas sa kalye para tutulan yan
4. Next philippines are bible believers not necesarily all practice biblical principles.
So normal na gagamitin nila bible kasi iyon ang basehan nila. And lgbt people will be confronted by these bible verses, contra cultura and values kasi lgbt. Bec. Bible believers nga ang mga pilipino e. Tapos even parent ng lgbt most of them dont accept lgbt values and practices.so mahirap talaga para sa lgbt na matangap sila ng mga pinoy. But hindi ibig sabihin hindi natin mahal ang lgbt,
Yung mga practices, values, culture ang hindi katangap-tangap like:
1. Male to male sexual act( anal sex, oral sex) contra values yan ng mga pinoy, kahit si Inay at Itay natin suklam dyan. So magulang mo nga ayaw iba pa kayang tao.
2. Totoo pa ang balita na ang male to male sexual act ang pina mataas na rate na nag papakalat ng HIV-Aids naku lalo ng magwawala si Inay and pinoy community.
3. So hirap na haharapin na obstacle ng mga lgbt nyan. Isa nlang ang pupuntahan nila. Go to congress para maisabatas ang nais nila.
Law Agenda : matangap kami na tama kami at normal kami. Tangapin nyo kami tao din kami. May karapatan din kami. Wag nyo kaming idiscriminate. SOGIE bill ipasa
You can also study yung nangyari sa Brazil,USA, CAnada,Mexico, Sweden
1. Ano impact sa education nila.
a. Text book ng mga bata nabago
b. Yung dating sex education naging SAME SEX EDUCATION - mang-gigil talaga si inay and itay nyan. Contra cultura and values ng pinoy
2. Ano impact sa religious freedom
- pastors are imprison for speaking or teaching the bible against homosexuality.
- so how can we preach the whole truth not partial truth? May ma offend na lgbt talaga.
3. Ano impact nito sa family?
- parents conflict with their child.
- sibling war : patagong ikinahihiya nila kapatid nila, so may silent rejection ang mga lesbian or gay sa family. Hindi nga kasi lahat tatangapin ang contra cultura and contra pinoy values. Gulo talaga.
4. Ano impact sa society natin.
5. So saan tyo kukuha ng referee kung sino tama. Bible para sa mga pinoy! Mga Pare mga pastor and bishops iyan ang gagamutin nilang basehan.
Its now a social issues!
A. Catholics, Protestants will tell you ano ba sabi ng bible: For them the bible is the source of absolute and final authority ng life.
B. Lgbt most of them dont like people who confront them with the bible coming from protestant or catholics and begin quoting bible verses. So ang lgbt tuloy mukhang hindi naniniwala sa bible because offended by C and P pero most of them naniniwala naman
So tirahan ang itsura natin.
So para sa aking bible believers and most lgbt are also bible believers also gawin natin ganito lets submit sa bible authority to establish the truth then submit.
1. Lgbt Pag hindi ka naniniwala sa bible expect you will be offended sa mga verses ng bible
2. Sa mga Lgbt believer ng bible take time to consider read and meditate the bible or tanongin mo nanay mo or tatay mo na bible believer din kung mali or against ba talaga ang God of the bible sa lgbt?
Loving lgbt
++++++++++++
FROM BISHOP BALANO
Mahihirapan talaga SOGIE BILL:
Busted na talaga ito!
Same Sex Marriage won’t pass Senate according to Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Tito Sotto
Sen. Joel Villanueva, for his part, said he OPPOSSES same-sex marriage.
Villanueva maintained that “MARRIAGE IS SACRED” and is an issue not concerning the State. Villanueva is a son of known religious Christian leader and Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva.
“Yung rights ang dapat mas pangalagaan, yung sagradong sacramento ng kasal marapat yata na ipaubaya sa simbahan yan (Their rights should be protected more. The sacred sacrament of marriage should, I think, be left with the Church),” he said.
Sotto likewise said that same-sex union would be more acceptable than marriage.
(It’s a) violation of Family Code, and the Constitution and the Bible.
Same-sex union is enough,” he said.
(Excerpts & Edited from Manila Bulletin Dec 19, 2017)
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By: Julie M. Aurelio
- @inquirerdotnetPhilippine Daily Inquirer
07:26 AM December 19, 2017
Never!
Leaders of the Catholic and evangelical churches on Monday reiterated their objection to the legalization of same-sex marriage after President Duterte turned about and expressed support for gay unions.
In a statement, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes maintained that the Catholic Church could never approve of same-sex marriage and called on Filipinos not to allow it, especially its legalization.
“The trivialization of marriage is one of the fundamental reasons [for] the breakdown of individuals and human society,” Bastes said.
The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) also voiced its objection to same-sex marriage, stressing that it was against the central teachings of Christianity and even of Islam.
“Union between the same sex, for instance, directly contradicts a central teaching of Islam and Christianity—that marriage is only between a man and a woman,” the PCEC said in a statement.
Rights of homosexuals
In a speech at a gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in his hometown, Davao City, on Sunday, President Duterte vowed to protect the rights of homosexuals and invited them to nominate a representative to work in his administration.
“I want same-sex marriage. The problem is we’ll have to change the law. But we can change the law,” Mr. Duterte said to wide applause.
He said the Family Code limited marriage to a union between a man and a woman but stressed that he didn’t have any problems “making it marrying a man, marrying a woman or whatever is the predilection of the human being.”
“I am for same-sex marriage if that is the trend of modern times,” he said. “If that will add to your happiness, I am for it. Whatever makes the person happy, I will give it. Why should I hold it back?”
Bastes, however, reiterated the Church’s firm stand that marriage could only be between a man and a woman, for the procreation of children and the building of a family.
“[The] main great purpose is procreation of children and building a loving family, the basic unit of human society, which is also the domestic church. This is, of course, impossible [in] ‘marriage’ of the same sex,” he said.
The PCEC objected to House Bill No. 4982, or the sexual orientation or gender identity or expression equality bill, and House Bill No. 6595, or the civil partnership bill, which would recognize licensed unions of LGBT couples.
‘Serious errors’
These bills, the PCEC said, were “serious errors that harm not only our Christian faith but also the morality and very destiny of our nation.”
“We believe these bills, if imposed on Philippine society as laws, will become a source of unwelcome tension[s] in our nation. It will only marginalize religion and thus cause the very discrimination it seeks to avoid,” the group said.
Mr. Duterte was previously quoted by local media as saying he was opposed to gay unions because marriage in the Philippines was only between a man and a woman.
He brought up the issue in the past while attacking Western countries that allowed gay marriage, especially those that criticized his brutal war on drugs.
Many countries, mostly in Europe and the Americas, have already recognized same-sex unions. Australia is the latest to legalize it.
Catholic bishops in the Philippines, who also oppose Mr. Duterte’s bloody crackdown on narcotics, have voiced concern over legalizing same-sex marriage after his right-hand man in the House of Representatives, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, introduced legislation that would legalize gay unions.
In his speech at the LGBT gathering in Davao on Sunday, Mr. Duterte did not specify how same-sex marriage would be legalized, but made it clear that he cared nothing for the Church’s opposition.
Almost passé
“Why impose a morality that is no longer working and almost passé,” he said. “So I am with you.”
The President asked the LGBT community to nominate a representative whom he could appoint to a government post, saying he needed “the brightest” to replace those he had recently fired over allegations of corruption.
“You nominate somebody who is honest, hardworking. I give you until the second week of January to nominate,” he said.
Naomi Fontanos, executive director of Ganda Filipinas, a transgender activist group, said she welcomed Mr. Duterte’s remarks but added that “we hope it’s not just an exercise in tokenism.”
“We hope that the President will really commit to the human rights and social justice for all, not just of the LGBTIQ community,” she added. —With reports from the wires
