Let me be clear about one thing first: I have no intention of being guilty of this sin. I have nothing to do with commissions in the NBN ZTE deal, have never been part of either the North or South Rail contracts, had nothing to do with the fertilizer scam, had no part at all in the Macapagal Avenue project, the Centennial Scam or the NAIA 3 bidding, and was definitely too young to have even been aware of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant negotiations.

But I have problems with this sin, on a number of fronts. First, what would be determinant of what is excessive? I do remember my former boss, Enrique Zobel, once remarking of his money that he felt he had "enough" - something you've never heard said by others both richer and poorer than he. But what was enough? And when do we know that someone had more than enough?

Then again, how about those "excessively wealthy" who love to give to the Church, perhaps out of generosity, perhaps out of guilt? What about that? Does their giving help absolve them of this sin? And, if I recall, I once noted that the list of those who have been given the highest Papal awards is in effect a list of the Who's Who of society, the sort of people so excessively wealthy they could easily dash off a check or two in honor of some church project, or in support of an Archbishop's charitable cause. Am I right or am I wrong? Maybe the archbishops of Manila and Cebu would be willing to publish their list?

But my greater problem with this sin is that it is the Roman Catholic Church itself that is, in my eyes, a serious offender. Is it ready, willing and able to admit and to reform?

Think of it this way.

The Man in whose name the Roman Catholic Church was built opted to be born in, of all places, a manger. And, as pointed out by a friend, he was one of the first NPAs, someone with No Permanent Address, someone who went from place to place preaching, teaching, saving. In one instance he even threw out merchants who had populated a place of worship; and speaking of places of worship, how often was he on his knees outside, closest to nature?

Yet we look now at the Church that claims to carry on his teachings, and what do we see? Grand palaces for the princes of the church; a treasure trove of wealth carted off from places far and wide over the years; gold taken by its promoters in exchange for the Cross; land accumulated with the help of civil government with whom the Church was in league.

Now we have second collections, because the altar has to be repaired, its gilt-edged pillars needing a new coat here, or its frescoes needing a restoration there. Our church leaders move around in ease, and sometimes come away from a private audience with political leaders with "donations" that help them look the other way. Maybe part of these is the fault of the parishioners - especially those from the exclusive villages who fall over themselves to write those checks as a way of atoning for their excessive accumulation of wealth. But have you ever heard of a Church leader rebuke them for their latest grandiose edifice or their most recent fat collection?

Don't get me wrong: I believe in a God in some form of higher being or intelligence who oversees all that is. Perhaps I still could not totally accept the idea that we all are simple faults - or products - of the passage of time. But I have serious issues about God's "teachings that some of our fellow men are asking us to believe in, the type of teachings that they pass on to us as (no pun intended) Gospel truth - especially when this flies in direct contradiction to the very life of the person they hold up to be at the center of their own Church.

I cannot imagine how a man born in a manger and who said Mass under the skies, who walked nearly barefoot and shunned the gold and the riches of the civil governments of his time could be succeeded by an organization that thrives on wealth accumulated over years and years, sometimes in league with corrupt governments, sometimes collected by scaring people that they would be condemned to the fires of health unless - unless!!! - they bought their way out of eternal damnation.

In fact, given all these, the thought of a Second Coming scares me - because he who is supposed to come to save our souls may fail to recognize the very organization that had been established to prepare the way for his return!

And then what?

***

After the above controversial piece, allow me to greet a few friends who celebrated special days in the last few weeks. I hope none of you will condemn me to damnation for the views I have expressed above.

Belated birthday greetings to Senator Pia Cayetano, who celebrated her last week while spending quality time on vacation with her two daughters out of town - a much deserved break.

Belated happy fourth wedding anniversary also to Senator Alan and Rep. Lani Cayetano, whose wedding day coincides with elder sister Pia's birthday.