Manila (Fides Service) - "The Word of God Strengthens Family Values" is the theme of National Bible Week in the Philippines. Bible Week, always the last week in January, this year coincides with the Fourth World Meeting of Families 22-26 January which opens today in Manila. The five day Meeting of Families is presided, on behalf of Pope John Paul II, by Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family. The family was the focal point in a message for Bible Week, issued by Bishop Arturo Bastes Coadjutor of Sorsogon, chairman of the Bishops' Biblical Commission, who underlines that the Bible strengthens family values. Stating that stability is a felt need among families today, the Bishop urges parents to read and live the Word of God so they may impart God's commandments to their children and prevent "the weakening and eventual breakdown of family life". Bishop Bastes cited St Paul's Letter to the Ephesians to highlight values that should exist in the family and would reflect Christian humility based on self-sacrificing love for others. "Husbands are to love their wives just as Christ loves the Church…wives should submit to their husbands, not as slaves or inferiors but as they regard Christ" said the Bishop. Children should "obey their parents with a new Christian motivation in the Lord". The message, which encourages families to focus on the Word of God to "rediscover the authentic values of human relationships", will be read in parishes nationwide on January 26, National Bible Sunday.
Bible Week was initiated by former President Fidel Ramos in 1997 for the moral transformation of society. With this in mind, during national Bible Week this year Philippine policemen will have a copy of the Bible in hand to help them carry out their duties, hopefully more spiritually. This is the aim of Jose Lina, founder of the Righteous Leadership movement comprising Catholic and Protestant priests, pastors and lay leaders. Some 120,000 Bibles have been distributed to police personnel. Before receiving the Bibles police officers attend seminars given by Movement members on "God's plan for the country, the qualities of leaders and the importance of leadership". Lina says the whole distribution project was inspired by a passage in the Gospel of Matthew "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all the rest will be given to you". Muslim police will also be encouraged to put their Holy Book into practice. By June this year the copies of the Koran will be distributed to Muslim uniformed personnel. "We cannot impose our religion on the police, so we encourage Muslims to take inspiration from their own Holy Book." (Ucan/Fides Service 24/1/2003)