MANILA (LiCAS News): Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, president of Caritas Philippines, has challenged the Catholic Church to look beyond the value of donations and to examine how wealth is created, stressing that charity cannot be separated from justice and care for creation.
“Our concern is not only what is given, but also how wealth is generated, how development is pursued, and how our economic decisions affect people, communities, and the environment,” Bishop Alminaza said.
“At the same time, the Church also teaches that charity can never be separated from justice, nor love for the poor from care for creation,” he added.
The bishop made his remarks in “A Pastoral Reflection on Charity, Justice, and Hidden Holiness of God’s People”, which examined how the Church should balance gratitude towards benefactors with its commitment to justice and environmental protection.
The bishop said the Church remains grateful to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions that support its mission, saying, “Every authentic act of generosity deserves our gratitude.”
Our concern is not only what is given, but also how wealth is generated, how development is pursued, and how our economic decisions affect people, communities, and the environm
Bishop Alminaza
However, he said gratitude should not prevent the Church from examining the social and environmental effects of business, investment, and development decisions.
“Authentic development must always respect human dignity, protect biodiversity, uphold the rights of local communities, and safeguard the integrity of creation for future generations,” Alminaza said.
The bishop cited commitments by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines to ethical stewardship, responsible investment, and ecological conversion, including a policy against accepting donations originating from activities that gravely harm people or the environment.
“These commitments are not directed against any particular person, company, or institution,” he said. “Rather, they express the Church’s desire for her own life to become ever more consistent with the Gospel she proclaims,” he added.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Bishop Alminaza said that social responsibility should not be measured solely by philanthropy after wealth has been accumulated.
Charity reaches its fullness when it walks hand in hand with justice
Bishop Alminaza
The ways in which wealth is created, invested, and used for development should already promote human dignity, justice, peace, and ecological sustainability.
“Charity reaches its fullness when it walks hand in hand with justice,” he said.
The bishop also called on the Church to recognise ordinary Catholics whose service often receives little public attention, including parents, catechists, volunteers, young people, farmers, and fisherfolk.
“Their names may never appear in newspapers. They may never receive public honours. Yet they are among the living treasures of the Church,” Bishop Alminaza said.
He urged government, business, civil society, and the Church to help build an economy that serves life, protects creation, and leaves no one behind.
“Above all, may we continue to seek not merely generous hearts, but transformed hearts; not merely successful lives, but holy lives,” he said.
At around the same time, the Archdiocese of Manila conferred the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award—the highest papal honour that may be conferred on laypeople for service to the Catholic Church—on SM Prime Holdings executive committee chairperson, Hans Sy.
The company is currently pursuing a 360-hectare reclamation project in Pasay City that has drawn opposition from environmental groups, scientists, and coastal communities.
Critics warn that the project could damage marine habitats, reduce municipal fishing grounds, displace fisherfolk, and expose reclaimed coastal areas to liquefaction, storm surges, land subsidence, and earthquake risks.
