But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. … I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach …

– The First Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy, 6:11-14

BEFORE the headline topic, profound thanks and kudos to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his September 20 speech to the 77th United Nations General Assembly, nearly 56 years to the day of his father’s own UNGA address, also as our new leader on Sept. 21, 1966.

Three themes urged by the September 18 column thankfully found their way into the 20-minute address, which began shortly after the President was introduced about 19 minutes into the linked video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kXXrwpcgz0).

Besides long-planned statements on international rule of law, food security and economic and pandemic recovery, the address urged “industrialized countries to ... provide climate financing and technology transfer for adaptation for the most vulnerable and developing countries” (24 minutes into the video and highlighted by The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/video/ world/100000008544105/marcosphilippines-un-general-assembly. html?playlistId=video/politics).

President Marcos also deplored “inequalities and inequities within and among countries … evident during this pandemic, when the richer nations immediately received vaccines at the expense of the havenots” (26 minutes). Plus: it urged “decreasing the global stockpile of [nukes and] the proliferation of all weapons” (30 minutes).

In sum, the President projected our nation as a global advocate of peace and solidarity, raised paramount concerns of developing nations, highlighted our singular contributions through health professionals worldwide and the Bangsamoro peacebuilding model, and most crucial for Asian security, reiterated his commitment for the Philippines “to be a friend to all, and an enemy of none.”

Fight for faith

On the headline topic, though it sounds shocking, the question of papal heresy may actually turn people away, even devout Catholics. Many shun doctrinal disputes and leave such matters to local bishops, priests or theologically inquisitive laypeople.

However, that may go against what the Apostle Paul admon