Marist East Asia Province Issues Firm Statement Condemning Corruption

The Marist Brothers of the Schools, East Asia Province, have issued a powerful statement condemning the widespread corruption that robs the poor of dignity and undermines the nation’s future. Citing Scripture and Pope Francis’ call for accountability, the Brothers stressed that silence makes society complicit in “ghost projects, kickbacks, bribery, and graft” involving government officials and private individuals. They urged Filipinos to demand honesty, transparency, and restorative justice, while reaffirming the Marist mission to form young people as virtuous citizens, bridge-builders of unity, and beacons of hope who embody truth, justice, and love.

STATEMENT FROM THE CONGREGATION OF THE MARIST BROTHERS OF THE SCHOOLS ON THE OUTRAGE AGAINST CORRUPTION

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked rules, the people groans." Proverb 29:1

Marist schools are places where we create spaces for evangelization and authentic life in the Spirit where we promote truth, justice and love.

They are places where young people acquire knowledge, skills, values and attitude in life that are positive and humanizing.

As Marists of Champagnat, we are called to be bridge-builders when there is division; beacons of hope when there is despair and confusion, and to be the merciful and loving face of God especially among the young who are at the margins.

In the midst of political confusion, economic difficulties, allegations of corruption in billions of pesos and the apparent moral degeneration, we must continue to seek ways to be transcendent and audacious in promoting SOLIDARITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY as out response to the Gospel impdratives to be prophetic and credible bearers of the Good News. Pope Francis said ih Evangeli Gaudium, "Corruption is a process of death that hardens the heart, ormalizes injustices and poisons hope."The document talks about-the spiritual and social desolation

caused by an excessive focus on wealth and power that lead to the indifference toward the suffetin's of the poor.

As Pilgrims of Hope, we cannot remain indifferent unaffected and "charlatan" when more than 40% of the national budget go to ghost projects, kickbacks, bribery, graft, grease money, etc. committed by our government officials, politicians in collusion with private individuals without demanding accountability. Being silent, we become accomplice to the crime of robbing our people of their dignity and better future. What we need is to combat this social disease with basic honesty and greater transparency in our political, economic and socio- cultural life. We demand attitudinal and structural shifts as a nation.

Let us continue to educate our young people to be virtuous citizens, to be faithful to little things and making our schools, communities and social ministries as "work shops" for personal conversion and social transformation. Making them dynamic and open to educational and social trends that emphasize critical thinking with compassionate hearts.

n the Ecclesiastes, it says: "For everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest, a time to weep and a time to laugh." There is an appointed time according to God's purpose. Now is the time to reflect, to speak up, to seek the truth, to demand

justice.

But as St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians - VERITAS IN CARITATE OR LIVING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, we remind ourselves that we speak truthfully without deceit and anger; acting with kindness and forgiveness only when there is restitution and admission of crime. We call this - RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

-Br. Allan J.de Castro, FMS Provincial Superior East Asia Province