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Sunday, September 26, 2021

CBAP Statement on the Sin of Historical Denialism

Statement from members and friends of the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP), Bible and Social Engagement (BASE) Interest Group



For a PDF version, please click on CBAP STATEMENT (PDF)

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THE SIN OF HISTORICAL DENIALISM

KUNG WALANG PAG-AMIN SA KASALANAN, WALANG PAGPAPATAWAD.

Ito ang itinuturo ng Biblia. Makikita natin ito sa mga panalangin ng pagsisisi kung saan ang binibigyang-diin ay ang pag-amin sa kasalanan: 

·         “Inaamin ko pong nagkasala kami sa inyo, ako at ang aking mga ninuno” (Nehemiah 1:6).[1] 

·         “Nagkasala po kami at nagpakasama” (Daniel 9:5). 

·         At si David di lamang umamin kundi laging alaala ang salang ginawa: “Mga pagkakasala ko'y kinikilala, di ko malilimutan, laging alaala” (Awit 51:3). 

Maliwanag na itinuturo ng Biblia ang kahalagahan ng pag-amin sa kasalanan o confession of sins. Gaya ng sinasabi 1 Juan 1:9 (PV): “kung kino-confess natin sa Diyos ang mga kasalanan natin, papatawarin nya ang ating mga kasalanan …” 

KASAMA SA PAG-AMIN ANG PAGBABALIK NG NINAKAW, PANANAGUTAN, AT PAGSISISI:

IBALIK ANG NINAKAW! Ang taong nagnakaw, dapat ibalik ang ninakaw. Ganito ang utos ng Diyos para sa taong nagnakaw: “Sinumang magtaksil kay Yahweh at makagawa ng masama sa kanyang kapwa ay dapat umamin sa kasalanang kanyang nagawa, pagbabayaran niya ito nang buo maliban pa sa dagdag na ikalimang bahagi nito …” (Mga Bilang 5:6-7). Si Zachaeus nang magsisi, ay nagsabi nang ganito: “Panginoon, ipamimigay ko po sa mahihirap ang kalahati ng aking kayamanan. At kung ako’y may nadayang sinuman, isasauli ko ito sa kanya nang maka-apat na beses” (Lucas 19:8).

MANAGOT! Maliwanag na napatunayan na sa mga korte na nagnakaw, lumabag sa karapatang-pantao, at nagkasala si Ferdinand Marcos at ang kanyang asawang si Imelda. Iba't iba ang pagtingin ng tao sa mga pangyayari, ngunit ang karanasan ng mga naapi, nagdusa, nayurakan ang karapatang pantao ay HINDI pwedeng takpan ng kabulaanan. Dapat aminin, dapat kilalanin ang nagawang kasalanan. Dapat ibalik ang ninakaw sa bayan.

MAGSISI! Sa kabila ng mga napatunayang pagnanakaw at paglabag sa karapatang-pantao, wala pa ring pag-amin ang mga Marcoses. Sa halip, pilit pang binabago ang kasaysayan. Paano nga naman aaminin ang mga pandarayang ginawa kung tingin nila'y wala silang nagawang mali? Paano bubuksan ang mga matang nabulag or nagbubulag-bulagan? Paano makikinig ang taingang nagbibingi-bingihan? 

Bilang mga tagapagturo at iskolar ng Biblia, mariin naming tinututulan ang historical denialism. Binabalewala nito ang pagnanakaw. Tinatakpan ang pagyurak sa mga karapatan. Minsan nang nagkasala sa ating bayan ang mga Marcoses. Huwag na nating hayaang doblehen pa ang kanilang pandaraya!

MAGWASTO. MAGING TAPAT. IPAGLABAN ANG DAPAT. Lahat tayo ay may pananagutan sa kasaysayan ng pagkaalipin sa ilalim ng diktador. Ang pagwawasto ay pananagutan at responsibilidad nating lahat. Bahagi ng pananagutan natin ngayon ay ang tapat na pagpalaganap ng katotohanan. Sinuman na sumusuporta sa mga kasinungalingan ay kasama rin sa pandaraya. Sila din ay nagkakasala. Sinasabi ng Salita ng Diyos: “Kung alam na ng isang tao ang tama na dapat nyang gawin, pero hindi nya ginagawa yun, nagkakasala sya” (Santiago 4:17, Pinoy Version). Huwag na tayong magkasala! Gawin na ang dapat at ang tama!

 #Never forget. #Never again.


adoremus, restituto, ruta
Chairman, Hesed Adonai Foundation, Inc.
CPA
 
Alejandrino, Miriam Recreo, OSB
Board of Trustee, CBAP
Davao City

Arevalo, Rhoneil Mendoza
Translation Consultant, Philippine Bible Society

Baisas, Bienvenido Quesada, OFM
Friar, Order of Friars Minor (OFM)

CAMAYA, JOEL NAVARRO, SDB
Rector, Don Bosco College, Canlubang

Carreon, Anthony, Quilala
Parish Administrator, Claretian Missionaries

Co, Maria Anicia Bation, RVM
Board of Trustee, CBAP
Spokesperson, RVM

DAVID, PABLO VIRGLIO 
Bishop of the Diocese of Caloocan

Dianzon, Bernardita Dolores, FSP
Corporate Secretary, CBAP
Daughters of Saint Paul

Fadul, Francis Eugene Adefuin
Parish Priest, San Isidro Labrador Parish
Diocese of San Pablo (Laguna)

Flores, Randolf, SVD
Parish Priest, Rector
Sacred Heart Parish-Shrine
Divine Word School of Theology, Tagaytay City

GACAYAN, FR. ULRICH RCJ
Member, CBAP

GOBRIN, ALEJANDRO OCHIA,  Claretian
Local Superior, Claretian Theologate

Guanzon, Fr Zenon Ares
Seminary Formator and Professor

Ibita, ma. marilou
Board of Trustee, CBAP

Ibita, Maricel
Board of Trustee, CBAP

MALABUYOC, DEN MARK OSJ SSL

Malit, Jesus Mendoza
Associate Priest, Sta Cruz Parish, Manila

Manaloto, Christian B.

MARQUEZ, CLARENCE CUEVAS OP
President, CBAP
Rector, Colegio de San Juan de Letran 

Monera, Arnold Tamse
Member, CBAP

Pabillo, Broderick Suncuaco, SDB
Bishop, Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay

 PINE, CRISTINO ROBLES, OFM
Board of Trustee, CBAP

 Rey, Marites Ricafranca
Member, CBAP
 
Roxas, Maria Corazon Ruby
Observer, CBAP
 
Sabanal, Annelle G.
Research Center Director
Asian Theological Seminary

Sorita, Carmelo B.
Graduate Theological Union
USA

XUAN, TRAN VU, SVD
Associate, CBAP
Rome

 VARGAS, NICETA, MOLINA, OSA
Superior General
Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.

Villanueva, Federico Garcia
Faculty of Biblical Theology
Loyola School of Theology

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 ENGLISH TRANSLATION


THE SIN OF HISTORICAL REVISIONISM/DENIALISM

NO ADMISSION OF SIN, NO FORGIVENESS.

That is what the Bible teaches. Confession of sins is emphasized in prayers of repentance:

·         “May your ears be attentive, and your eyes open, to hear the prayer that I, your servant, now offer in your presence day and night for your servants the Israelites, confessing the sins we have committed against you, I and my ancestral house included” (Neh 1:6).[2]

·         “We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and turned from your commandments and your laws”(Daniel 9:5)

·         David did not only confess his sin but he always remembered the wrong he had done: “For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:5)

 

It is clear what the Bible teaches: the value and importance of confession of sins. As the First Letter of John says, “If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing” (1 John 1:9).


ADMISSION AND CONFESSION OF SIN ENTAIL RESTITUTION (RESTORING WHAT ONE HAS STOLEN), ACCOUNTABILITY, AND REPENTANCE.

RESTORE WHAT WAS STOLEN! This is what God commands for the person who stole anything: “ … If a man or a woman commits any offense against another person, thus breaking faith with the LORD, and thereby becomes guilty, that person shall confess the wrong that has been done, make restitution in full, and in addition give one-fifth of its value to the one that has been wronged” (Num 5:6-7). Zacchaeus expressed his repentance by saying this, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over” (Luke 19:8).

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY/BE ACCOUNTABLE. It was proven in courts that Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda have stolen from the people and violated their human rights. Though people have different ways of looking at the events that happened, the experiences of those whose rights were trampled, who were oppressed and suffered injustices CANNOT BE DENIED. NO LIES can cover their pains and sufferings. Those who caused these sufferings ought to confess, admit the sins they did, restore what they stole from the people.

REPENT! The Marcoses have not owned their sins despite the evidence of stealing and violation of human rights. Instead, they are making efforts to change history. How could they admit their deceit, deception, and wrongdoing when in their own eyes they did nothing wrong? How can they see when they are blind or pretend to be blind? How can they hear when they are deaf or pretend not to hear?

As teachers and Bible scholars, we strongly oppose historical denialism that dismisses their theft of the country’s coffers and counts for nothing their trampling of human rights. The Marcoses sinned against our country once, let us not allow them to deceive and cheat us again.

RECTIFY. BE TRUE. FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT. All of us are accountable for the history of oppression under the Marcos dictatorship. To rectify is the responsibility of all of us. Our responsibility calls us to be faithful in proclaiming the TRUTH! Those who support their lies are partners to their deception. They too have sinned. The word of God says,  “Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin (James 4:17 NRSV). Let us no longer commit sin! Let us do what is right and just!

#Never forget. #Never again.



[1] Kung hindi babanggitin, lahat ng salin na gagamitin ay mula sa Magandang Balita Biblia ng Philippine Bible Society.

[2] Unless otherwise indicated, all translations are from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE).