MANILA, Philippines — “I will not deliver fake news, hate speech.”
This is what Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle wanted Catholics to embody as he led the Chrism Mass on Maundy Thursday at the Manila Cathedral.
“Ang dami-dami nang tagapagdala ng bad news, fake news, hate speech. We, today, all the consecrated, all the baptized bearing the Holy Spirit will say, ‘I will not deliver fake news, hate speech,” he said.
“I am consecrated by the Holy Spirit, I will bring good news to the poor and the suffering,” he added.
Cardinal Tagle also reminded those consecrated not to lead others to “imprisonment and enslavement.”
“Those consecrated by the Spirit were proclaimed liberty to captives. Those consecrated by the Spirit will not lead others to further captivity and imprisonment and enslavement,” he said.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA
Tagle then pointed out how the youth only hear bad news, criticisms and their inability to meet expectations.
“Many young people live their lives in bad news. Hindi makatapos ng pag-aaral, kulang sa pera. ‘Yung nakatapos wala namang mahanap na trabaho, ‘yung iba binu-bully,” he said.
He said some fear about going to school, while some want to end their lives.
“May mga bata na ayaw pumasok dahil mabubully sila, may mga bata nag-iisip magpakamatay nalang kasi ang pakiramdam nila, ‘Walang nagmamahal sa akin. Minsan ang mga magulang din po masyadong matatayog ang mga hinihingi,” said.
Tagle emphasized: “So many young people never hear good news. They only hear criticism, they only hear their incapacity to meet the expectations— expectations which are not realistic.”
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA
He then urged those anointed by the Holy Spirit to “live your consecration, proclaim good news.”
“We are consecrated by the Spirit. We are not to participate in the further enslavement and captivity of people, especially the young,” he said. “We are sent as consecrated people to proclaim liberty to the oppressed and not add to their oppression.”
To the youth, Tagle assured: “Para sa mga kabataan na nandito: hindi lang kayo mahal ng simbahan. We want to assure you. You are dearly loved.” /cbb