A church of the poor
Vatican II, martial law, and a Church that stepped into the street.
The renewal after Vatican II gave Filipino Catholics new language for an old command: what you do to the least, you do to Christ.
Matthew 25:40
The Council
The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) allowed worship in local languages, encouraged lay participation, and called the Church to read the 'signs of the times.' For the Philippines the change was immediate and audible: Mass in Tagalog and Cebuano, altar rails removed, choirs and lectors closer to the people. A country that had listened to Latin for centuries now heard its own languages in church.
Filipino leadership
The hierarchy was by now largely Filipino, and its national body — the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, organized in 1945 — became a public voice. In 1970 the Church created the National Secretariat for Social Action, putting an office and money behind the Council's call to justice.
Key terms
Vatican II: The Second Vatican Council, 1962–1965, which renewed Catholic worship and mission.
CBCP: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, the bishops' national body since 1945.
This week's practice
Record one story of faith under pressure
0 of 4 done
Week 5 check
3 questions · no grade, just a gut check
1. What did Vatican II change most visibly in Philippine parishes?
2. Which group is known for its large charismatic gatherings founded in 1984?
3. What made the Church's role at EDSA 1986 decisive?