Blessed are the Persecuted

The headlines today sparked very strong emotions.

I am surprised at how quickly we can be led to question our faith in the priests and bishops who do the Lord's work in the far flung areas of our poor country. Why is it so hard for us to believe that the bishops will use these vehicles for their work with the poor, marginalized and the sick? Why are we so quick to think that these bishops are self-indulgent and elitist?

This isn't the first time the PCSO made donations to religious groups. The bishops weren't the only recipients. Clearly there is a reason why these bishops are being singled out.

It pained me to see the bishops questioned in the Senate. The sight made me remember other hearings such as the ones held for General Carlos Garcia or Lt. Col. Jacinto Ligot. And yet, these people came forward(which is better than how a current Senator answered his own accusations), humbled and ridiculed as they are. They took responsibility and apologized, and returned the vehicles in question.

To me, this was government-backed persecution and very few of us really tried to defend them. But as the Beatitudes go, they have been blessed for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.