Bishop Gerardo Alminaza.
Philippine Bishop Issues Call for ‘Church of the Poor’
In a seven-page pastoral letter, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos in the central Philippines issued a powerful call for the Philippine Catholic Church and its faithful to transition into a “Church of the Poor.”
He urged Filipinos to move beyond superficial charity and instead confront the systemic “structural sins” that perpetuate poverty and social injustice in a country where 15.5% (17.54 million) live below the national poverty line.
Bishop Alminaza, president of Caritas Philippines, emphasized that poverty is not an accidental occurrence but is often the result of forces of evil, exploitation, and oppression. He challenged the public to resist structures that use the needy to advance selfish interests. A central theme of his address was the rejection of greed, which he identified as the root of social evils like corruption. He argued that the desire for excess, whether money, possessions, or fame, causes individuals to ignore their neighbors and focus solely on themselves. True change, he noted, requires the sacrifice of personal greed to foster a society rooted in care and generosity.
The Bishop also addressed the political exploitation of the marginalized, particularly with elections in mind. He cautioned those living in poverty against supporting politicians who only acknowledge them during campaign seasons. He remarked that those who use the poor for optics or political gain are “more miserable” than the poor themselves. He stressed that the impoverished should not be viewed as mere statistics or numbers in reports but as real people deserving of dignity and sympathy.
To put these words into action, the Bishop hosted dialogues with marginalized groups and encouraged the faithful to support Caritas Philippines, the Church’s social action arm. He highlighted that while the Church provides immediate aid to thousands of families, the ultimate goal is the “liberation of the poor.” By adopting the spirit of Mary’s Magnificat, Bishop Alminaza reminded the faithful that God favors the hungry and that the Church’s mission is to ensure they are filled with “good things.”
Read the full letter here.
Photo: Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, courtesy of P1898, available in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
