Social Drains on Economic Gains

Why does the Philippine economy persist in failing to generate enough wealth to cut into the nation’s deep poverty? It is not a monetary issue, this persistently laggard struggle. It has little to do with numbers.  It is social. It is the people infrastructure that relentlessly sucks the life from wealth-building. “Hey, Joe! Whatchu drivin’ … Continue reading

The CBCP Doctrine of Faith, or JoeAm Eats His Hat

An important institution promoting high values in the Philippines is the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (“CBCP”). The CBCP is influential both in the church and in the mainstream of Philippine social and political activities. My blogs contain frequent criticisms of the Catholic Church on two points: (1) the Church’s failure to acknowledge any … Continue reading

The Woman with 14 Kids: A Short Story

Published concurrently on blogwatch.tv.  Once upon a time there was a woman with 14 kids. She was Catholic, living in the Philippines. The woman’s doctor said, “Madam, you have severe high blood pressure, and if you have another child, there is a good chance you will die.” The woman was only 46, so this frightened … Continue reading

China and the Catholic Church

Make no mistake. I like the Catholic Church. I think priests and nuns are among the best people on the planet. They work hard and heartfelt to ease the troubles of people with lots of them. I like the grand cathedrals and local churches, and the spiritual rites, which I can succumb to like a … Continue reading