Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle gives his testimony the fourth day of the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City, where around 12,000 participants gathered to promote centrality of the Eucharist in Christian life.聽MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER
CEBU CITY鈥擳hrow away the 鈥渢hrow-away culture.鈥�
Such was the strong statement of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle during his catechesis at the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) here.
Discussing about 鈥淭he Eucharist and Dialogue with Cultures,鈥� Tagle said the Eucharist proposed the culture of gift and sharing.
鈥淚n our time, we see a culture of achievement, of success. People are driven to work hard for self-advancement and for the good of their families,鈥� Tagle said.
He, however, said that in reality, 鈥渉uman achievement is often fueled by materialism.鈥�
鈥淭he said reality, however, is that human achievement is often fueled by materialism, the accumulation, the consumption of goods, even when they are not needed,鈥� Tagle said.
The Manila archbishop said human work that developed human talent and promoted social progress must be encouraged.
鈥淏uying for the sake of having leads to throwing away and we throw away the goods the poor should benefit from but could not afford to buy,鈥� he said.
The culture of accumulation has also become the culture of throwing away, according to the archbishop.
鈥淲ho has something to throw away? Those who have accumulated and they have accumulated what they do not need,鈥� Tagle said.
He recalled that after Supertyphoon 鈥淵olanda鈥� (international name: Haiyan) devastated the Philippines, many 鈥減eople lived in the midst of trash discarded by others.鈥�
鈥淢ay I appeal to you brothers and sisters, when you send relief goods to the victims of natural calamities, do not send what you have thrown away. You are just decluttering your closet,鈥� he said.
Not only goods, commodities
Tagle, however, said the throwaway culture was not only in terms of goods and commodities.
鈥淗usbands who are here, are you tempted to throw away your wife like a home appliance? She is a gift, don鈥檛 throw her away,鈥� he said.
鈥淲ives, are you about to throw away your husbands like junk? Think twice, your husband is a gift,鈥� he added.
鈥淧arents, do you see in your son or daughter that gives you some difficulties, a thing to be thrown away, or do you see in him or her a gift of God?鈥�
鈥淢others, do you consider the baby in your womb a burden or a problem to be thrown away, or a gift of life?鈥�
Cardinal Tagle also pointed out the throw-away culture among politicians.
鈥淧oliticians, will you throw away people鈥檚 taxes for your parties and shopping, or guard them as gifts for social service?鈥� he said. RAM/RC
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