Cardinal Jaime Sin (an overview)
Manila (AsiaNews) Cardinal Jaime Lachica Sin, "divine commander-in-chief" of the Philippines is dead. The highly respected cardinal died early this morning (Filipino time) in Manila's Cardinal Santos Medical Centre of renal failure, aged 76, after two days in intensive care.
Internationally renowned for being a tireless defender of democracy, Cardinal Sin retired in 2003 after leading the Filipino Catholic community of 80 million strong for nearly three decades. During this time, Sin played a pivotal role in the Philippines' turbulent politics, especially in deposing long-time dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. As bishop and later as archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Sin was an outspoken critic of the martial law imposed by Marcos and he also used his influence to champion the rights of the poor.
In 1986, Cardinal Sin led peaceful protests which led to Marcos' overthrow. He achieved the same years later in 2001, when he called people onto the streets in protests which finished the allegedly corrupt government of Joseph Estrada. It was his skill in rallying people that earned him the nickname "divine commander-in-chief". Even after his retirement, Cardinal Sin remained a key backer of current president Gloria Arroyo, who lamented his death in a statement describing him as a "blessed man who never failed to unite Filipinos during the most crucial battles against tyranny and evil".
Cardinal Sin was always clear in his view that religion had a role to play in affairs of the state, a conviction he summed up at his retirement ceremony: "My duty is to put Christ in politics. Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of the nation." A staunch opponent of artificial birth control, Cardinal Sin used his ability to organise demonstrations to protest against state endeavours to curb population growth. In August 1994, he mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in a rally denouncing a state policy encouraging use of condoms and pills.
Born on August 31, 1928 on the Philippine island of Panay, Cardinal Sin was the 14th of 16 children. He was ordained priest in 1954, becoming a bishop in 1967 and archbishop in 1974. He was appointed a cardinal in 1976 at the age of 47, becoming the youngest member of the Vatican's College of Cardinals. Born of Chinese parents, Cardinal Sin visited his country of origin twice. In 1995, he succeeded in bringing a group of Chinese Catholics to Manila to attend World Youth Day celebrations presided over by Pope John Paul II. It was the first time Chinese Catholics were allowed to attend a meeting led by the pope.
Cardinal Sin also set up a seminary called San Lorenzo Mission Institute in Manila. The aim of the institute is to prepare young seminarians to be priests on mission for the needs of the Chinese apostolate, not only in the Philippines but also throughout the world.
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01/04/2004
