The Boxer, the Bachelor, and the Bishop(s)

Roman Catholic Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez is the bishop of the Diocese of Marbel. His ecclesiastical territory, as defined by the Church, encompasses the province of Sarangani, where pugilist Manny Paquiao resides. Many Paquiao is not just a resident there as he also is Sarangani’s elected representative to the Philippine Congress.
The Bishop says Congressman Manny is a friend of his. I do not know whether Manny says the same of the Bishop.
What I know is that before the Paquiao-Mosley fight held at the MGM Grand on May 7, the Bishop gave his faithful ward a piece of advice. He admonished Paquiao that he should stop boxing because aside from it being immoral it is most of all an assault to the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit; therefore on God.
It is an assault against God because punching another human being is like boxing the Holy Spirit since the human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Bishop Gutierrez said. His friend, however, as the world knows, went ahead, without heeding the Bishop’s advice, and beat up Mosley at the MGM Grand to the delight of his roaring fans. As we all now know, too, Manny Paquiao defeated his opponent; a feat that made this once poor boy of General Santos City $20M richer.
(See, what the “kama-o” can do? But not all “kama-os” are created equal. May “kama-kama-o at may tunay na kama-o.)
To follow the Bishop’s line of argument, the logical question to ask is, “did Paquiao defeat the Holy Spirit also?” If he did how badly did he hurt the Holy Spirit? And since both boxers received punches from each other, was the Holy Spirit hurt twice — once in Manny’s body and twice in Shane’s? Remember the human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and at the MGM several bodies, not only those of Manny and Shane, were at the ring beaten up, some to a pulp.
Why doesn’t some bishop now stand up and say that Manny Paquiao be excommunicated like what Ret. Bishop Oscar Cruz said of President Noynoy Aquino of his support for the Reproductive Health Bill, now known as the Responsible Parenthood bill? According to those against the bill, which includes Bishop Cruz, any artificial means used to prevent pregnancy is abortion and therefore murder. Both Paquiao and Aquino must be subject to excommunication if the same logic is to be followed: Paquiao for assaulting God and Aquino for being an accessory to mass murder or serial killing as killing of the unborn would tantamount to that.
The Bishop did not stop there. He went further by saying that the President is unfit to marry because of his age. According to him, record shows that late marriages usually result into broken marriages. While it could be true, putting an age cap to a relationship based on love, for me, is UNCHRISTIAN. Coming from a Prince of the Church, it is most UNCHARITABLE. (And we thought that there is separation between the State and the Church?)
The bishops should focus on straightening the ways of the Church and leave the President to straightening the ways of the country’s governance; leave Paquiao alone. The rest I would leave to God for as the Good Book says, “Don’t judge lest ye be judged…”
***
Philippine Independence Day Council President Minda Neri said that PIDC’s Mabuhay Festival partner ABS-CBN has confirmed the line up of artists to come on July 23 at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto.
Big names of Philippine movies such as Jericho Rosales, John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo, Billy Crawford, and Christian Bautista are booked to wow fans at this year’s PIDC Mabuhay Festival. The list could be more but these are the lead stars the television network will send to Toronto as part of its commitment to the PIDC partnership.
The Mabuhay Festival and Trade Show is a whole day event held annually. Booths featuring Philippine products and services attract thousands coming not only from Ontario but the USA and other Canadian provinces.
While business dealings are happening among various enterprises, the crowd is entertained by local entertainers showcasing cultural dances and songs. The fiesta atmosphere of course is never complete without Filipino delicacies available from the time the festival opens until it closes at midnight.
Of course being summer time there are also other festivals also initiated by Filipino groups in the GTA. Summertime in Toronto and the GTA is always fun time. (P.S. The Philippine Press Club-Ontario celebrates its 10th founding anniversary this year, please stand by.)