when priests go awry

I am bothered sometimes what the motivation of certain priests are in joining the Catholic Church. Are they really in it for the love of God and the vow to serve his gospel, or to meddle with politics?

It's been said many times already that the separation between the church and state is a very fine line. So fine that it's so easy to confuse one with the other. But how can this be? Affairs of the state are not affairs of spirituality. 

I remember Padre Damaso from the Jose Rizal Novels Noli Me Tangere. He was this manipulative priest who kept meddling with the state affairs and personal affairs. And he is using his "spiritual" authority to really scare people. He would recommend ex-communicado status and even threaten you that you will be held in purgatory for not following his own orders. He was one of the most hated characters.

In the Bible, the Pharisees have also been ridiculed for acting the same way. They are priests on show. On show because they declare their faith, the things they do and even how nice they are only for show. But in reality they are the offenders and all. They even incited the public to doubt against Jesus Christ.

Today, we see modern versions of Damaso and Pharisees. Just the other day, while watching news, I saw two priests inciting the public to follow the same rebellion as in Thailand now. Thailand now is having their own version of people power where the rich have seized control of BKK Airport. This has critically paralyzed their tourism economy, not to mention Thai Airways.

Now, these two very caring and smart priests have wanted their wards to the same. Do these priests even realize the scenario we are in at the moment? Do they even know the meaning of recession and economic slowdown? And exactly how valuable each and every hour we put in in our work at the moment?

These two priests are probably just surviving with the donations their loyalists are giving. Hindi nila maintindihan just how tough times have been lately. And the thing is the action they want people to do will have drastic effects to everyone. Is it even in their job description to move people to extra-legal and extra-judicial means? And be responsible for the means of action?

They said this because they feel that the Arroyo government has been very corrupt. But is calling for a mass action a "religious" means? Parang no. Since when is it godly for people to overturn the government in violent and extra-legal means? I don't know.

But in my mind, I am really thinking that these priests from Navotas and Caloocan are just in it because they are bored and wanting attention from the public.

Hey. You got mine and now please shut up.