Pomp And Rhetorics

Image from Salon.com

A lot of people may be wondering why, as an atheist, I have been a bit quiet about Pope Francis’ arrival in the Philippines (and even when he has already left the country). While most of the Catholics in the country have joined in the fan fare surrounding the present Vatican Head of State (some so immersed in adulation that they would suffer through traffic or bad weather just to get a glimpse of their idol), there are still many who have, instead, chosen to follow the events through news sites and social media updates. There are also a lot who have complained about the government money that has been spent just for the Papal visit. Arguments have ensued online, among the Catholics, members of other religious denominations, and nonbelievers, about how Pope Francis’ fans have come to idolize him to the point of seeing him as “almost god”.

I chose not to engage in most discussions about the Papal visit because I think that there is just no point in arguing, debating, or discussing why he should come here and why the country has used a lot of resources for it. I think it is already quite obvious: the man is a well-known personality and a head of a country-state (though one might hear and read of the controversies regarding the Vatican’s statehood and how it came to be) and we just have to make good preparations in order to keep our citizens and a political leader safe during the duration of the visit. But many would say that this was a definite evidence of preferential treatment of a certain religious leader by the government. I think the only glaring difference is that this particular religious and political leader, Pope Francis, is much well-known; perhaps, more well-known compared to others who have similarly visited the country, that was already obviously expected that a huge number of Filipinos will flock to him. But then, again, what people did to maintain security during such events are much more up for debate (jamming cellphone signals in large areas and making traffic officers wear adult diapers; the latter one was so funny that Jon Stewart even poked fun at it on his show).

But what has bothered me for some time, after reading articles, blog posts, and social media updates, is the fact that many people, both believers and nonbelievers, consider Pope Francis as a progressive pope. It bewilders me how a person can be considered progressive if he does not support equality among the sexes, does not exert effort to support and improve women’s and children’s rights, and does not make significant changes from within the institution to address the long-pending corruption and sexual abuse cases. He is not any different from his predecessors; whether that is a good or a bad thing would depend on the person you are talking to.

Many people were glad when Pope Francis was quoted saying, “Who am I to judge?”, referring to his more “tolerant” stance on homosexuality. However, if you look at the different times when he had to give a speech on the issue, particularly during his visit in the Philippines, he was quite clear that he IS NOT tolerant or supportive of homosexuality.

Here’s a quote from his speech at the Manila Cathedral last January 16, 2015:

Here I would like to say a special word to the young priests, religious, and seminarians among us. I ask you to share the joy and enthusiasm of your love for Christ and the Church with everyone, but especially with your peers. Be present to young people who may be confused and despondent, yet continue to see the Church as their friend on the journey and a source of hope. Be present to those who, living in the midst of a society burdened by poverty and corruption, are broken in spirit, tempted to give up, to leave school and to live on the streets. Proclaim the beauty and truth of the Christian message to a society which is tempted by confusing presentations of sexuality, marriage and the family. As you know, these realities are increasingly under attack from powerful forces which threaten to disfigure God’s plan for creation and betray the very values which have inspired and shaped all that is best in your culture.

“Confusing”, “realities”, “attack”, and “disfigure” were strong words used by the Pope to describe the “threat” to his god’s plan. I think it is very plain to see that this Pope will not make any changes from the stand of the Church on homosexuality. Words and quotes may be sugar-coated here and there, but if you look deep enough into it all, nothing’s changed. It is a well-constructed sugar-coating, if I may say.

Pope Benedict XVI, in December 2012, was quoted saying that gay marriage destroyed the essence of human creature and movement to grant rights to lesbian or gay couples to marry and adopt children was an “attack” on the traditional family unit. Pope John Paul II spoke out against same-sex marriage in a book called Memory and Identity, published in February 2005, saying that the pressures put on the European Parliament to support marriage equality is part of a “new ideology of evil”. Actually, Pope Francis is just as consistent as his predecessors, in keeping with the church’s stand on homosexuality. Nothing new, nothing progressive.

Pope Francis also has a problem with the role of women either in the church or in the society. In his speech at the University of Santo Tomas, people cheered when the pope said that “women have much to tell us in today’s society. Sometimes, we’re too ‘machistas’. We don’t allow room for the woman.” People saw it as a pope who finally recognized the importance of women in the society. And yet, he has done little to improve the lives of women all around the world by refusing to do something about reproductive and sexual health problems that many women face. He describes abortion as “horrific” and this, in itself, describes how he stands on the issue. The Pope may have been active in activities promoting gender equality, social equality, and women’s empowerment, but he still fails to directly address and acknowledge that the church’s firm stand on abortion, reproductive and sexual health practices is one of the contributing factors why many women and children still suffer in poverty around the world. How can a pope campaign for women empowerment and equality among the sexes when he cannot even let in women into the clergy and recognize that both sexes can very well serve this position? How can a pope say he supports women empowerment when he cannot give women the choice to do what they want with their bodies?

The current Pope’s efforts in addressing the sexual abuses committed by priests is such a disappointment. The pope has promised zero tolerance for clerical sexual abuses and have called investigation into such cases. However, up until now, we do not know what became of these cases, nor of the perpetrators. Pope Benedict XVI, when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was prefect of the sacred congregation for the doctrine of the faith, which handled complaints of sexual abuse committed by the clerics. There were controversies during his time in this position, when he was linked to coverups and to a letter that seemed to promote a “code of secrecy” by not involving the civil law enforcement in dealing with the sexual abuse cases (if you want to know some more about his involvement in this controversy, please watch Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House of God). Though allegedly, he was able to defrock 400 priests for child sex abuse, we do not know what became of these “defrocked” priests, whether they were given up to the police to serve justice or not. It is this secrecy within the Catholic institution that needs to be addressed but the current Pope seemed to have done nothing yet about it.

For me, it seems that the Filipino people are so easily hoodwinked by pomp and ceremony. Many are easily convinced, especially if they hear and see what they wanted, without regard to everything else to see the whole picture. But perhaps, this is partly because the Pope has employed a good spin-doctor. And here the people are all absorbed and immersed in the cult of personality that has been created and weaved upon and around the pope. Like perhaps some of the commenters in social media have said, Filipinos love their celebrities.

I am not saying that Pope Francis is not a good man or a good pope. I think he is a good man and it is admirable that he has continued carrying on a reputation for frugality, but such is also expected of someone who must teach the flock that the “church is poor and for the poor“. As a pope, he does what is expected of him, who is head of state and a leader of the Catholic church. I don’t think I can really expect him to just suddenly change everything in the Catholic Church. Maybe until I see such changes in the Catholic Church’s conservative stand in many issues, I will not be calling Pope Francis I a progressive pope.