By Leslie Ann Aquino
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle believes the desire to take revenge is the reason for the violent cycle in hazing initiation rites.
Archbishop Cardinal Luisito Taglespeaks at the Manila Cathedral as he led the commemoration of the Lord's Passion, Saturday. (MBPHOTO.CAMILLE ANTE)
"Why is hazing becoming worse? How come initiation rites involve hazing? It is because when I was the one initiated, I got hurt and so I will take revenge when its our turn to initiate," he said in his Homily during a Mass at the Araneta Center where his Easter Recollection was held today.
"That's why it gets worse every year that even if there have been deaths, it does not end," Tagle added.
It was last year when University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III died allegedly due to hazing injuries sustained during the initiation rites of Aegis Juris fraternity.
His death prompted Bishop Roberto Mallari of San Jose, Nueva Ecija to call for an end to the hazing practice in initiation rites of fraternities, especially those in Catholic schools.
"Hopefully, they will stop hurting those that are being initiated. I don’t think this is good that they are hurting them,” he said at that time.
"We hope that there would be more essence to brotherhood, especially to those fraternities in Catholic schools,” Mallari added.
In his homily, Tagle reminded the faithful that every person has some form of wounds and even the Risen Lord has them and this He showed to His disciples.
"Jesus transformed the wounds by showing His wounds to the disciples. He reminded them as He reminds us of our capacity to inflict wounds...when we see the wounds of other people, we should be reminded: I have also inflicted wounds," he said.
His Eminence said Jesus showed His wounds not to retaliate or take revenge at those who wounded Him, nor shame His Apostles but to actually stop the cycle of wounding.
"Through His wounds he was inviting them: Let us stop wounding others. He understood His disciples. He knew they were also wounded," said Tagle.
"This is how to stop the cycle of wounding. Show the wounds not to retaliate, but to heal. The wounded one becomes a vessel of transformation of fellow wounded people," he added.